Ripley’s Aquarium of The Smokies

The shimmering scales of the Piranha

Electric Eel

Elegant Moon Jelly

Sawfish 

Lionfish

Two tangled Jellyfish

Frogfish

The fascinating Cuttlefish 

SkyLift Park

The view from the hotel balcony in Gatlinburg Tennessee.

Gliding over a beautiful stream.

Photo by Teresa Kasper.

SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America.

Heading back down.

An Afternoon in Savannah

 Some beautiful sites in Savannah Georgia.

Mom outside the Capital Bee Company, where we had a wonderful honey tasting. 

Johnson Square.

Wright Square.

Metal bee sculpture on the ceiling in one of the walkways.

Tybee Beach.

Driving over the Talmadge Memorial Bridge.

My Tribe

I got tagged in tribe challenge on Facebook and decided to celebrate some of my longest and most impactful relationships.

What better way to kick it off than with my longest friendship - Laura. Our parents were friends before we were born and I only lived four months without her in my life. There must be thousands of photos of us together. My first sleepover was at her house. I can’t even begin to count how many shenanigans we got into or how many horror stories are parents could tell. No matter how much time passes between seeing each other we never miss a beat. She is smart, stunning, a wonderful mother, and I don’t think that anyone has made me laugh more than she has. 

Visiting Washington D.C. with Laura in 2011.

I’ve known Emily since I was three years old. The list of shenanigans and blackmail photos is probably a hundred miles long. We were both obnoxious Leo’s but any time we got together we dialed it up to eleven and broke the nob off! I had a rough year when I had gone to visit her in California but when we were together I just remember laughing for days straight. She is someone who can turn the most mundane trip to the grocery store into a ridiculous adventure and a story for the ages. I have seen her grow from some difficult times into the amazing woman she is and never lost an once of her sparkle. She is beautiful, wild, and unstoppable. I have enjoyed every minute of her company. 

Visiting Emily in California in 2016.

My third longest friendship is with Rochelle, who I met when I was six years old. We were neighbors and she asked me if I wanted to be friends. My family moved when I was nine years old and I don’t know if I would see her again. We were miraculously reunited in middle school when after three years of changing schools I ended up at the same school where her mom was a teacher. We recognized each other immediately and it has been delightful wackiness ever since. I can’t think of any other person who can bounce between art and science topics with such enthusiasm and fluidity. She also taught me the value of hugs in middle school when she wrapped her arms around me when I was having a bad day. I have been a hugger ever since. She is extraordinarily kind and exquisitely unique. Watching her raise her little girls has made my heart melt.

Hanging out with Rochelle and her daughter Ellie in 2019.

I have known Amber since I was fifteen. We met in Marine Biology in high school when she sat next to me. I loved hanging out at her house eating nachos, talking about boys, and watching MTV. Not long after we got to college my relationships with my first roommate and my boyfriend collapsed. I would not have come out of that mess as well as I did without her help. Her straight forward, no nonsense approach to problem solving is something I have always admired. When we became roommates I experienced a physical and emotional stability that I hadn’t known in years. We were always laughing, sharing clothes and cooking up a storm in the kitchen! I’ve watched her take on grad school and become this incredible teacher and roll model. Seeing her ride the roller coaster of the adoption process waiting to be the mother she already knew she was. The outpouring of love that she has for her children is so incredibly special and they couldn’t have ended up in a more wonderful home. I am so proud of her and everything she has accomplished! She is fearless, radiates grace, and is completely unstoppable! 

Enjoying a girls weekend in Tampa with Amber in 2013.

I met Mariko at Dandelion Cafe back in 2008 when I was looking for an internship. She was working on the WET show for the Fringe Festival that year and asked if would be interested. I said yes. Working on the WET show was unlike anything I had ever done before and was the first time as an artist that I felt like I was part of an art community. I was so impressed that when the show was over I told her that “she would never be rid of me”. Over the years it is incredible to see what was accomplished. Working a myriad of jobs within DRIP I learn what I was capable of and acquired skills I never thought I would have. She is the reason half of my clothes still have paint on them. Most people that I know in Orlando I met thru her. She is innovative, boundless, and compassionate. It is so hard to put into words just how much of an impact she had on my life. What an incredible ride! 

Mariko and I in the DRIP venue on I-Drive around 2012; before all the renovations. 

I met Tink somewhere in 2012 shortly after we got the DRIP venue on I-Drive. My first memory of you was going out to eat at Cici’s pizza. I remember I thought she was intense and very smart. She was instrumental in getting the show off the ground and keeping it running. I couldn’t believe how much she knew about lighting at such a young age. Through the long hours we got to know each other very well. I so fondly remember our many conversations on the loading dock, our little pre and post show sing-a-longs, and our 3am gas station snack runs. Her sass and spunk are truly legendary. And she was reason I got into the SCA. She knew I’d love it right from the start and it brought so many wonderful people into my life. She is the common link between my two wild adventures. I am so proud of all she has accomplished and how she has grown as a person. She is strong, a unique mix of crazy and down to earth, and immensely fun to be around.

With Tink on her wedding day in 2017. 

Ten Years

I made my first post on Currents and Color ten years ago on July 29, 2010.

I wasn’t sure what direction I was heading in, but I’m glad I took flight. For the ten year anniversary I wanted to reflect on my two largest and most surprising categories:

Writing 

Writing came to me later in life. I remember I was given a diary as a child and balked at the idea of journaling something everyday. It seemed laborious. I didn’t do anything particularly exciting and I had no deep, dark secrets I was holding on to. I was still too young for serious inner reflection. 

In high school we were given a journaling assignment and it turned me off writing for years. My sophomore English teacher was the only one I had a hard time getting along with. She wanted us to write something about our lives every day. I found the assignment dull and approached it with a very matter-of-fact sensibility. The teacher criticized me for not using enough “flowery words”. 

“Do you want to read bullshit or do you want to read information?” I protested. 

She was not thrilled with my response and I had nothing flowery going on in my life so it felt pointless to use flowery words. To top it off most of my high school and early college years were plagued by the “Gordon Rule”, a guideline for writing that meant that anything need to contain a minimum number of words. It forced me to think in terms of length as opposed to quality. You had to jump a hurdle, not create something impactful. Haikus, poetry, song lyrics, and short stories can be brilliant forms of expression. A powerful experience is created by meaningful content, not by merely hitting a predetermined number of words. 

Once out of high school it took a while for me to come back to writing. My best friend Amber suggested a start a Live Journal. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I was old enough for inner reflection and without the needless demands of high school I was free develop a style that fit me. 

As a grew into my writing I became more aware of my internal struggles. I was better able to articulate my thoughts and I found my voice. I branched into writing poetry and short stories. I have always been a talkative person but a lot of what I write about would not come up in most conversations. I tend to struggle with complex emotions and writing has allowed me to pull a lot to the surface that my have remained hidden. For as talkative as my be, there is still much that brews internally. Writing has become the bridge to that innermost world.

Photography 

Another avenue that came to me later in life. I never thought I would love photography as much as I do now. But I stumbled into a photography class at a Photoshop Conference and I haven’t been the same since. 

Boston Changed Everything

If writing was the bridge to my inner self then photography was the vehicle. I often take photos of fleeting or seemingly insignificant moments that become catalyst for writing prompts. What starts off as luck or observation becomes part of the bizarre mosaic of events that makes up my life. 

I find that I enjoy big and small moments in equal measure. I try to see the art in every day subjects like bugs, lizards, or even the oil leak in my car. 

I spent a significant amount of time photographing some behind the scenes moments at DRIP. The show we created was stunning but the mechanics of how it came together were equally fascinating to me. 

I captured my adventures through the SCA and learning how to fence. I chronicled the healing of my broken nose. I love taking pictures of my best friends children and catching people when they aren’t looking. 

The photos I take while traveling can be the most exhilarating because I’m always seeing and experiencing something new. I spent my childhood watching nature documentaries with my dad and admiring the photos in National Geographic magazines. Small trips only fueled my desire to take bigger trips. I found myself similarly awestruck with the soaring vista of the Brazilian skyline and the sleepy stray dogs napping on the beach. The breathing stained glass windows of St. Chapelle and the overlooked patterned floor beneath my feet. 

Collecting all these little moments to build something great. It was a way to showcase my artistry and maintain my creativity while I had day jobs, obligations and responsibilities. I was able to hold on to that dream that most people dismiss as foolish. I remained an artist. I am immensely proud of that. 

The one year anniversary post, which explains how I go started - Full Circle

My first post - Art at Steak n’ Shake

Morgan

Morgan, the second child of my best friend Rochelle and her husband Justin, was born on January 28th, 2020.

Holding Morgan while Ellie dances in the background. 

Big sister holding her feet during tummy time. Morgan has a beautiful silver streak in her hair. 

Safe in mama’s arms.