High Fashion Crime Scene

"Employing the power of fashion to disguise or distract,
or to draw our attention away from the otherwise gruesome subjects..."

Half Prada

Phones

Oscar's Grass

Melanie Pullen's High Fashion Crime Scenes are undoubtedly unique. I find them fascinating. At the same time, I feel like I almost shouldn't be looking. They incite multiple feelings and emotions in me...and leave a strange taste behind. Beautifully frightening. The ones above are my favourites.

I have a certain appreciation for artists who are not afraid to take risks. To explore the more controversial or 'taboo' subjects. To creatively use their art as a means of portraying a deeper message. Even if what you or I get out of it is completely different than the artist's intent, the message is still out there. Somewhere. Opening doors for discussion, debate, acceptance, understanding.

I like the concept of interpretation. I like the conclusions different people draw out. The variations. We are all so different. Yet still the same, still equal. What means one thing, may mean another. What means nothing, may mean something. What shocks, may not shock. What is acceptable, might be unacceptable. What is beautiful, may just very well be.

You can look at any piece of 'art' and appreciate it, but the question is does it impact or change you? Does it cause you to think? More importantly, feel? I like to know that I am not just coasting through this busy life, numb to it all, unemotionally stuck. Which is why I like her work.

melaniepullen.com

Blind Date

Just Friends

He's a speed dater. He knows I know. He does it while I'm around. I call him on it. He says we're just talking. Just friends. Okay okay, he'll delete it. Whether he actually does is moot. It's not the first time.

I am finding other things out that I'd rather not know. Now that I know, it changes everything. He, in his stupidity, leaves himself wide open. I've seen some of his conversations with other women. I am now wondering how much dialogue I've missed in between these and since, and how much of this past year has been a lie:

January
Him: R u madd at me? im sorry i should have just told you the truth, mmy girlfriend still lives with me, but we are breaking -up, we have been for a few months now, i relize now i was wrong and just should have been more honest with you , and i dont blame you if you never wanna talk to me again, again im sorry hope i didnt hurt your feelings, cause that was not my intention..hope we can still be friends.....(banging head on wall)....
(what's that honey? I didn't know we were breaking up. Or is this what you say when the lady you're leading on finds out about your girlfriend)
Her: yah that kinda turned me off...well good luck with getting yourself/relationship worked out. sure we can be friends

February
Him: not to much, dealing with relationship problems.i think we have fallen out of love ,,,just isnt the same anymore, i dunno what to do, maybe its best if we break-up, im not holding much hope for our future at this point.
Her: Aw that sucks, she has just changed from what she was before? Do u think she is cheating on u?
Him: ya well i dunno, i know she hasnt cheated and neither have i but i have lots of options..lol, i think she just misses her family in alberta too much

April
Her: You actually have a gf, don't you? You were really looking for a playmate? I thought you were kidding.
Him: Im kinda guilty on the girlfriend thing..., but yes a playmate would be fun, but not if would wreck are new found friendship
Her: your karma will kick your ass. Put yourself in her shoes....what if she was out seeking a playmate. No friend of mine cheats on his girlfriend
Him: Actually i have never cheated on anyone ever , im guilty of flirting thats all, Sometimes i like to filrt that s all

Is it wrong of me to check up on him? To go behind his back like that? Probably. In fact, I would agree that it is. In normal circumstances, I would not break that trust. However, when your boyfriend spends more time typing on the computer than anything else, including his partner... suspicions are hard to ignore. Call it a woman's intuition. And it was right. Once again. And that, to me, justifies why I did what I did.

I feel like I've lost my faith and trust in men, and the entire concept of relationships, even marriage. With this relationship, past relationships and people I know in relationships who are unhappy, detached, cheating, separating, divorcing...I mean, what the f**k is the point? And yet, I know that this is just a copout. And unrealistic, might I add.

The whole situation has been tossing around in my mind for a while now. The answer seems obvious but it is the coming to terms with it that's the hard part. And first of all, I need to figure out what it is that I want and am willing to settle for.

Soft & Supple

Is my skin. Every so often, I like to mix up some oatmeal for a facial cleanse or mask. Why go to the spa, spend money and time, when you have everything you pretty much need at home? More importantly, I'm trying to limit the amount of chemicals my body takes in, so I like to know what's in the goop I put on. Not to mention, it's kind of sexy fun mixing and messing and conjuring up crazy concoctions. I wanted to add something else and figured cucumber would probably make the most sense. It works well on the eyes. Judging by the feel of my skin, it works well there too.

To make the mask: Grind up 1/2 cup of dry oatmeal in a coffee grinder so it's fine like flour. Add in the juice of 1/2 a cucumber - however you want to do it. Blender. Processor. Good ol' fashioned muscle, although that doesn't work quite as well, you end up having to squish it all in your hands and squeeze the juice out. However, this makes for a tantalizing sensory experience. The look, the feel, the smell. Oooh, heaven!

Once you've had your fun, just wash your face with warm water, then rub the mix onto your skin and leave on for a minute or two. Too long, and either 1) it will become, literally, like glue, sticky and tough to wash off or 2) the boy will come home and exclaim something to the likes of: "Ewww, it looks like you dipped your face in a bucket of puke". My bucket of puke no doubt, because I would TOTALLY do that while you're out galavanting around. Disregard the mouth vomit and instead, think of how lovely your skin will look and feel. In the end your skin will thank you. You will feel refreshed. Rejuvenated. Soft & Supple. Like a nipple.

Classic Beauties

600+ sexy cars showed up on that fine hot summery day...

Show 'N' Shine '09 ~ Qualicum Beach, BC

The Philosopher and The Wolf

"The wolf is art of the highest form and you cannot be in its presence without this lifting your spirits."

I just finished an intensely enthralling book by Mark Rowlands entitled: "The Philosopher and The Wolf - Lessons from the Wild on Love, Death and Happiness."

If you haven't read it yet, I suggest you do. Believe me when I say: it is so worth it!

Rowlands writes about the eleven year bond he shared with his wolf Brenin and, as a result, what Brenin taught him. He discusses the differences in the way humans live their lives, in comparison to a wolf. Humans tend to live and define happiness in regards to a timeline... everything progressing toward some future fulfillment. This of course, is futile because each valuable moment is slipping away in the pursuit of others and eventually swallowed up by the inevitable: death. Wolves, on the other hand, find their happiness in simple moments. Repetitious, fulfilling moments. Each of which is complete in itself. Self-contained. Enough...

Of course, this probably doesn't make too much sense without the entire context, and for that you will have to read it.

Read it and be moved...

I Like You

Short and sweet.

Hot for Doctor

Having switched provinces, two years after the fact I figured it was probably time to find a local doctor for when I need one. After numerous long calls, snickering receptionists (like it's such an absurd thing to request a female doctor - they've got the same parts - makes sense does it not?) and no luck in my quest to find one...I bit the bullet and made an appointment for this afternoon to meet with the only doctor available to take on new patients. Good ol' Doctor C.

On a side note, have you ever noticed how many people gawk at you in the waiting room of a medical office? Close your mouth, avert your eyes and read a freakin' magazine or something. I'm not gawking at you, so kindly do the same, weirdos.

I had brought my book and was patiently absorbed when I heard my name called out. I looked up and found myself a hypocrite. Here I was, book in hand, peering over the top of it, gawking at the cutest doctor I have ever seen. Cuter, even than Patrick Dempsey. I somehow managed to grab my bag, book and stumble over to where he was casually waiting. What happened from there on in was a strange blur of medical history and professional banter, all I could seem to focus on were those gleaming blue eyes and charming smile.

That is until he shot me right back into reality:

"So, when was your last pap?"

Like it was a question about the weather.

I was like, huh?! Whhaaaaaaaooooooooooooohhhhh....that. Yeah. I was thinking there is NO WAY in HELL I will be able to pull it together to get through THAT one, with YOU. No offense buddy!

That I somehow made it through those awkward fifteen minutes of introductory dialogue was nothing short of a miracle. Especially the part where he recommended making an appointment for a physical. I would have liked to have seen my expression at that point.

However, Doctor C did seem like he knows what he's doing and there was something about him (besides the very obvious) that appealed to me.

Hmm. I guess we'll have to think about that one now, won't we.

Dirty Words

Ah, George. What would we do, if you hadn't graced us with your presence...