"I Hope You Enjoy This, As I Do Enjoy Our Friendship"

A while ago my friend Matt bought me a book. It was called "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood. It is a wonderfully written, heartbreaking distopia, and I highly recommend that you read it if you get the chance.

Matt and I were supposed to hang out one weekend, however, he got held up in Tampa. When he returned he presented the book to me with a handwritten note on the inside cover expressing his hope  that I would find the same love and inspiration that he felt through this book. Shuffled amongst the pages was another handwritten note. This one was written after he found out he wasn't going to make it back to Orlando in time. He apologized for the lost weekend, expressed more love for the book, and most curiously of all - included an illustration on the back.

The end of the note read: "I drew this fairly recently, and I like it. Actually, I really like the woman, not so much the man. But it was an attempt at realistic art. (When I draw real art, I <3 <3 <3 the 40's.) Anyways, I hope you enjoy this, as I do enjoy our friendship."

I turned the note over to find this little illustration:

A Matthew Dodenhoff original

I've become accustomed to Matt leaving notes and illustrations all over Starbucks when we work together. Almost everyone is meant to draw laughter, especially when accompanied by a silly caption. However, this one was different. No silly phrase, no goofy characters, not even any context. It just looked like to people who's lives intersect briefly on a street corner without so much as a word.

I was touched by the book and the note, but the illustration stayed on my mind. Maybe because it was so unusual, maybe it was because being an artist I don't receive much artwork. 

A few month's later Matt endured a difficult move. Although he remained in Orlando he moved across the city to be closer to work and struggled to get out of a living arrangement with a bad roommate. I had some rough living situations and I could definitely sympathize. Once he settled into his adorable apartment I set to work on his housewarming present.

I took inspiration from his note and decided to recreate his illustration with my style of drawing. I also pulled some ideas from Mad Men and I ended up with this:

From start to finish it took about seven hours and it is one of the first pure illustrations I have done in a long time.  For the most part I create illustrations for myself but this one was made for Matt. 

The 21st Annual Orlando International Fringe Festival

The concept of the Fringe Festival started in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947. Artists who were not invited to perform in the official festival formed their own festival- literally on the fringe of society. All performances and art work are completely uncensored and all of the sales are returned to the participating artists. The Orlando International Fringe Festival was created in 1992 and is the longest running Fringe Festival in the United States.

My first involvement with the Orlando Fringe Festival was in 2008. It was a monumental experience not only because it was my first Fringe Festival but it was also my first time performing with DRIP. Working with DRIP over the years and attending the Orlando Fringe Festival every year have turned out to be life altering experiences.

The 21st Annual Orlando International Fringe Festival would be no exception.

Tod Caviness, writer for the Orlando Sentinel, host of the Speakeasy Open Mic at Will's Pub and the man behind the Poetry Vending Machine. I got introduced to Tod through Mariko years ago because they happened to be roommates. At Mariko's request I booked Tod to read poetry at one of our DRIP Fundraisers. I was so interested in Tod's poetry and performance that I reconnected with my own writing and have become a regular fixture at the Speakeasy Open Mic.

This photo of Tod was taken while he was hosting the Poetry Smackdown at the Fringe Festival. The Poetry Smackdown is a competition where poets perform their best works in front of an audience for prizes. It always promises to be one of the funniest and most sexually explicit shows at the Fringe  Festival. This year the Poetry Smackdown won the Audience Choice Award for best performance at the outdoor venue. 

This was my first year trying a Fringe Festival delicacy - fried Oreos covered in powdered sugar. I have no regrets. 

Curtis and Robbi running the Poetry Vending Machine. For five dollars (or a beer) they can write you a poem of any kind in twenty minutes or less. All you have to do is pick a title and three words you would like to have in the poem. If you are on a tight budget they can write you a haiku for one dollar. 

Curtis and I meet at the previous Fringe Festival in 2011. He performed a piece about literacy called "Future Incryptid" for the Poetry Smackdown that was unlike anything I had ever heard. 

This Praying Mantis landed on the Poetry Vending Machine and decided to become friends with Curtis. 

A view of all the outdoor tents just after sunset. 

This is the ceiling of one of the indoor performance venues. The main overhead light was obscured behind layers of stretched fabric and projected upon with small, glittering lights.

An outdoor performance by Paul Strickland and Chase Padgett. I had the good fortune of seeing one of Chase Padgett's one man shows earlier in the year called "6 Guitars". In his performance he portrayed six different musicians and their history with six different genres of music. I had seen Paul Strickland's show "A Brighter Shade of Blue" in a previous Fringe Festival and loved his insightful take on life. I was actually very sick during his show but still remember how it lifted my spirits. I saw his new show this year "Paul Strickland: Jokes, Songs, A Hat, Etc!" and had just as much fun. 

At one point during the Fringe Festival I found myself wandering through the main venue looking at the artwork on the walls. I happened upon Paul and Chase stilling in an out of the way corner practicing songs for a future collaboration. I watched for a moment then asked if I could join them. They welcomed me into their corner and I continued to watched them practice. They sang the sweetest, most soulful version of "Georgia On My Mind" that I have ever heard. I felt privillaged to be present for their jam session. The following day they were able to get time on the outdoor stage which is when this photo was taken. 

On a side note, Curtis and I wanted to see another show at the festival but since the alternator in my car had to be replaced during the Fringe Festival I was too short on funds to purchase any more tickets. Curtis had four "Fringe Bucks" - just one shy of being able to get a ticket. He asked around and it was Paul Strickland who gave one of his Fringe Bucks so that I was able to see one last show. That kind gesture was very much appreciated. 

And when it was all said and done I saw a lot of great performances. If something catches your attention please feel free to follow the links: 

The Screw You Review Presents Lady Winifred for President -A hilarious drag show about running for office and trying to avoid scandal. Screw You Entertainment

Paul Strickland: Jokes, Songs, A Hat, Etc - Paul sharing some wonderful stories and life experiences with some musical performances. Paul Strickland

Scientist Turned Comedian - He studied for years to get his PhD, and then he realized that he wanted to do stand-up. Tim Lee

AAAAAAGGGHHH ZOMBIES!!!.. Because Zombies $ell - This silly 10 minute puppet show literally took place in a closet.

Dog Powered Robot and the Subsequent Adventure - Some former DRIP members put this amazing show together. A futuristic play about robots featuring an unbelievably elaborate cardboard set and a very well behaved pomeranian. Dog Powered Robot

I Married a Nun - A 77 year old world traveler's incredible journey through life and love. D'yan Forest

Connected: An Interactive Experience - An interactive show with dance and storytelling about connecting to other people in your life. The Connected Experience

GGG: Dominatrix for Dummies - A surprisingly heartwarming story about a woman who trained to become a dominatrix and now gives self help advice. Self Help Dominatrix

Voice Activated - An acapella group that will blow you away with the maneuverability and scope of the human voice. Vox Audio

The charming glow of the Poetry Vending Machine disco ball during one of the final nights of the Fringe. 

Curious about the Orlando Fringe Festival? Check out http://orlandofringe.org/

The Birds of Prey Center

The Birds of Prey Center is one of the lesser known gems of the Orlando area. Located on the corner of a residential area, it has a lakeside view and beautiful accommodations for its birds - many of which will become rehabilitated.

This is a Red -Tailed Hawk - one of the largest and most wide spread raptors of North America. Interesting side note: this bird's screech is so iconic that it is used as the go-to sound affect for any bird of prey depicted in television and movies. You may not have realized it, but you have probably heard this bird's call more than other.  

As I was walking around I happened to look down and see this little door tucked away at the base of a tree. 

This Great Horned Owl is part of their out reach program. He injured his wing during a fall from his nest and due to his ease around being with people his is one of the birds at the center who makes regular trips to schools to support awareness. 

Two of Florida's smallest birds of prey - The American Kestrel (in front) and a falcon, poised on their tiny perches watching the rain behind the safety of the screened in patio. 

A couch inside the center decorated with crochet and hand sewn pillows. 

The Reminder

I made a lucky find in one of the antique shops downtown. I was looking through the jewelry and I was having a blast. It reminded me of all those time I would go through my grandmother's jewelry with my mom as a child. My grandmother, who passed away when I was only two years old, had a modest assortment of costume jewelry. Fun, colorful pieces made of metals, plastics and resins ranging mostly from the 40's through 60's. Only a few small, delicate items were real and valuable. The majority of her collection were fashion pieces of little worth, but they hold sentimental value simple because they belonged to her.

As I've gotten older I feel that I share her taste in jewelry. I have a few small valuable pieces but most of my jewelry is comprised of a multitude of cheap assorted plastics and metals. I never spend much on any of them but I do enjoy the variety and trendiness that comes with fashion jewelry. I often hope that I will one day have grandchildren who enjoy looking at all of my antique plastic adornments.

So as I was rooting through the jumbled displays of antique jewelry in this shop I found this ring. 

From the top it looks like a flower and from the side it resembles a pine cone. The stones are fake and a little cloudy with age. Some of the prongs that hold the stones in place are bent. Yet of all the pieces of jewelry this one felt like something my grandmother would have owned. I paid five dollars for it and it reminds me of every afternoon I spent looking through dusty jewelry boxes with my mom; touching the tangible reminders of someone I only know through photographs.

Mom's visit to Orlando

My mother's birthday is always close to Mother's Day so she decided to come visit me in Orlando and make an event out of it. I enjoy having her around so we hit the town.

For her birthday dinner I took her to Lake Eola Wine Bar. We had some samples of white wine and split a cheese plate with three fancy cheeses from all over the world. We felt very cosmopolitan as we sat on the patio and enjoyed some people watching. The clouds above were thick and gray but only a light mist of drizzle fell from the sky. The small glistening lights hung throughout the awning pointed the way to the heart of downtown. 

After dinner we took a walk around Lake Eola and got to enjoy seeing the many small baby swans who had recently hatched. The colorful and stormy clouds above the city provided for a beautifully impressionistic reflection over the water. 

The following day we went walking around the Antique District of North Orange Avenue. We found ourselves in Washburn Imports - a store specializing in wooden imports from Asia. I found this serene statue in front of one of the windows toward the back of the store. The bottom half is rough wood and the top half blooms into this intricate carving. The screen behind the statue gives the impression that it is radiating its own life force. 

The outside patio of Washburn Imports. If you look very closely you can see the reflections of my mother and I in the piece of glass behind the chairs. 

An ornately jeweled chandelier handing from the warehouse ceiling. At first I was disappointed that the image came out a bit blurry, but the more I looked at it the more I loved it. The angle and slight blur help ignite some fire and life into a traditionally static object. 

Some large pots on display outside of a garden shop. I love the look of the rich clay against the glossy  sheen of the cobalt blue glaze. 

Lazy Sunday

With my work schedule being as hectic as it is I usually have a long list of things to do and places to be. On some very luck days I am afforded to opportunity to sleep in. On those rare and beautiful mornings I can look forward to waking up at my leisure buried under a lush comforter with sunlight streaming though my window. I am also fortunate enough to have this fuzzy little face snuggled up next to me. Giving me an adorably persistant reminder that it is past his feeding time.

The Buddhist Temple of Tampa

My father instilled a great love of word religion and culture in me from very early age. His curiosity about life often leads our family into some surprisingly exotic adventures. For example, one day we ended up at Wat Mongkolratanaram - a Thai Buddhist Temple located in Tampa.

The stunning golden detailing of the temple was the first thing we laid eyes on as we strolled up from the parking lot. The temple itself is very small but completely breathtaking. 

A serene Buddha greets visitors along the walkway. 

On Sundays the grounds are open to the public for a large scale Thai buffet. 

My sister Jenny reverently carrying her bowl of soup down the steps. 

A view of the sunlit picnic area from the dock. 

These signs were placed randomly all around the Temple area. Each one was hand painted in English and Thai and had different saying on each one. "True love never runs smooth" is a personal favorite of mine. 

The colorful Thai desserts. 

My sisters Jenny and Liz. 

A small sculpture overlooking the river. 

Another shot of the Buddha statue set against the trees and temple roof. 

Orchids on display at the market. 

Golden dishes ceremoniously laid out with pennies.

While I was at the Temple I got used to seeing all of the inspirational quotes painted on the wooden boards. As I was walking around I came across I metal folding chair propped against a tree. It had Thai script written across the back. I was intrigued because it had no English translation and I'm not sure that it was even meant to be seen. I still thought it was beautiful in its peaceful isolation. 

One of the Buddhist Monks ambulating around the perimeter of the Temple. 

My sisters sitting on the edge of the dock watching the catfish gather as the afternoon approached.

I was lucky enough to snap a picture of this little boy who was so enthusiastic about feeding the catfish that he got rice all over himself. 

Jenny enjoying her time on the dock. 

A sample of the vegetables being sold at the market.

One last view of the temple lit by the blazing afternoon sun.