My Mirror Speaks

I suppose that it's almost that time; my birthday is in 3 days. I have attempted to not bother people too much with the count down to it as I usually do. I've always enjoyed the count down to my birthday, but this year I fear there would be too many people annoyed by the incessant reminder of it.

My birthday really is one of those things that makes me truly happy. Of course, I have never had a birthday as was planned. There's always been something that has gone wrong or awry in it and there's always been something that has made me cry or travel off course... though, it has just prepared me to plan better for the future birthdays.

This birthday shall be quite low key.

I had hoped to get a tattoo, but I will wait on that. I already have and/or know what most of my presents from friends are. My grandmother gave me $50 and a card at Thanksgiving because she missed my birthday last year. (I was living in Alabama last year... ...spent my birthday in Baton Rouge with the boys... one of the best birthdays that I've ever had - all because of the company.)

With the $50 I went a little shopping on Black Friday. It wasn't planned that way or anything. It was in the evening and I decided to go to Target for some makeup that I had needed - when I got to Target I remembered about the sales, took a look around and found an amazing leather bomber jacket for $15. I have needed a new coat for a few years and so I bought it. It turns out that panned out quite lovely since it ended up getting VERY cold and raining that night, which made me thankful that I had bought a coat. I ended up spending the rest of the $50 on the makeup that I needed... and beer. :)

For my actual birthday I'm not quite sure what I'll be doing (besides replying to Facebook birthday wishes). I know that I have a sushi date with Jennifer on that day... so I am very much looking forward to that. I think we're also going to have sake and champagne... so... fun, fun!

Saturday (the 3rd) I know we're doing the majority of the birthday celebration by going out... seeing a movie (I've already picked to see My Week With Marilyn again... it was amazing) and to drink a little bit. I've invited some friends that I haven't seen in a long while... I'm hoping that maybe one of them will come. One thing that I've learned about my birthday is to never let your hopes weigh fully on those who are able to attend. It seems that that's where I end up letting myself down and that's where I always end up getting sad.

Plan for the worst & be happy when it doesn't suck + alcohol = decent birthday.

My favorite thing about my birthday is turning it into a multi-day event. :) That's definitely the best thing about being a product of a broken home; I always got to enjoy a week long birthday celebration. My birthday (and I believe ALL birthdays) is too big to fit into one day - it must span at LEAST 3 full days. (Consecutive days.)

I'm sure I'll write another blog about how the actual birthday went... but for now, I'll zip my trap on babbling about the day. ;)

Today 100 Monkeys landed in Sweden (hey, I'm Swedish! I've never been to Sweden, though...) and tomorrow they start their first ever European tour.

While I couldn't attend, I'm definitely nowhere near as sad as I imagined that I would be. I've never missed a 100 Monkeys tour yet, but that doesn't even damper this for me because my heart is so absolutely swollen as I watch my friends accomplish their dreams. <3 The word "proud" doesn't even begin to cover it. The only bad part that I can see of this is that I won't be able to be with them on my birthday like I was last year... other than that... only amazing and prideful joy coming from me. ^_^

Moving on again...

I took a series of [pretty serious] photos yesterday. Inspiration strikes at the most random times... but when it does, you must grasp it fully.

I haven't been inspired lately. I haven't even really touched my camera in quite some time. Tyler Shields says that a camera is just a really expensive paper weight if you don't use it. I firmly believe and agree to that... but I'm not about to force anything. When inspiration strikes, I grasp it.

The title of this photo is called "The Mirror". I believe that it's something where everyone can relate to at least one photo.

And while this photo was not inspired by this song, this is my favorite song about mirrors:



Edit:

There's something quite amazing about mirrors. While they are an unpolished version of yourself, how your eyes perceive them and their reflection can always differ or censor. A photo, however... a photo can never lie. (Photoshop - THAT is the lie, not the photograph.)

Something to think on.

I hope that y'all had a good Thanksgiving (to those who celebrate it) and I hope that you're looking forward to and getting ready for December!

You Can Tell Me I Look Lonely...

...And I'll say you look the same... 

Life changes so incredibly quickly for me. One day I am sitting here thinking about how fucking hot it is in my apartment... how I can make a legit profit off of my photos... how much I hate where I am living... how much I miss my road friends...

...The next minute I have plans to go to Lawrence on Thursday to pick up an AC from my Daddy and now I do believe I have plans to move... to... Wisconsin...

The reason for this blog, however, is to say how much I truly appreciate the fact that I have met so many amazing... fantastic people because of this tiny little band that I love.

I wrote out this insanely long blog... and then I realized just how much I need to censor myself now... which, sucks... So... take the time to think about how small things make big waves in your life. If y'all leave some comments of how small things have changed your life in big ways, I maaay finish typing out my blog with what I was going to say...

xx

Opportunity, Hear It's Knock

[insert the lyrics to what you're currently listening to here]

Sometimes life treats you bad... sometimes life treats you good. Sometimes you have no idea what the fuck life is all about until it's over. Life can be a little shit, a perfect angel and a facetious bastard at times. Or all the time.

For the past couple months life has both been good to me and been a facetious little bastardy shit. I love irony as much as the next person, truly, I do... but there are some times when I have to say, "alright... ha ha... enough is enough."

Also, as you may know by now, my mantra is - BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.

I managed to get my camera without having to sell my guitar... something I would call a definite win. Jennifer bought me that guitar for my 25th birthday (which I just had in December...) and she was a little (err... a lot...) pissed off that I was going to sell it... but alas... I needed a DSLR.

Now that that has happened, before I can even get the camera into my hot little hands (Friday) - I've started lining up new projects and plans. This year... suffice it to say... will be the busiest, and is already, the best year of my life.

I can't discuss any of the projects I've got my hands in right now, but I am so beyond thrilled to be involved in them... so honored to get a chance to work with the people associated with them. Insane.

A year ago... well... let me go back into my blog a year and see where I was, shall we? I was in Twitter drama... I was living in a hotel... I was completely unhappy with my life and only wanting/looking forward to one thing... which... if you knew/know me... it does not need to be said aloud.

Hah.

Oh lord... see, this is where that "be careful what you wish for" shit comes into play.

Swiftly moving on.

Me in May 2008:

Me in May 2009:

And, this would be where I would post a photo of myself from 2010, however... the only photos that have been taken of me in 2010 are on my mothers computer... but... you know... haven't changed much from April... LOL Here's April 2010:

With Jake Miller of The Kissing Club.

You know... I have changed so much... changed so much in the last year... in the past two years. I used to take an obscene amount of photos of myself, trying to stay the person I was when I was 8 years old... and now, I really am not in a lot of photos... Interesting. I still love to take photos with my friends - (such as this photo of Jake or the photo of me with Jay, Ben and Larry...) but other than those couple photos, the week that I was out with the boys, Willow, Jessie and Jennifer - there are maybe three other photos of me.

Insane.

You know... I started this blog with a specific purpose...

When an opportunity knocks on your door, you must answer. However... it seems that too many opportunities have knocked and now I have to start turning some down. :( This saddens me, but at the same time - I must keep my artistic integrity intact.

I am so excited to see where the next few months will take me... (Oh the places you will go!) and I am even more excited to share this journey with y'all.

Rock on,

Jodie