tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26690782498108578412024-03-05T05:14:03.974-05:00Ashes and GlassAshes to Ashes baby, Dust to DustSara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-11708682666392207302010-11-01T00:34:00.002-04:002010-11-01T00:35:19.318-04:00October WishesTo commemorate the final day of October, I set my birthday balloons free and made wishes for the next year as they flew away. I thought of my Mom and wished she was there with me on this beautiful Fall day. Thanks for the balloons, the love and of course, my life, dearest Mama.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkM7htAFi13pCfwrV1YpkVh-_Tukamop6IdcPHR4af7SbL9GO7A9VMtB23XmPfVjB4PodCiwDjsmxNt0CfFrsFN6sXjUJWsL2p1gY-9OOECaxqcoAdpLOeqVyrjvftSmnKJ9z7U_oCcmV0/s1600/DSC09721.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkM7htAFi13pCfwrV1YpkVh-_Tukamop6IdcPHR4af7SbL9GO7A9VMtB23XmPfVjB4PodCiwDjsmxNt0CfFrsFN6sXjUJWsL2p1gY-9OOECaxqcoAdpLOeqVyrjvftSmnKJ9z7U_oCcmV0/s400/DSC09721.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-30657627497753740632010-10-18T17:50:00.001-04:002010-10-18T17:51:33.393-04:00Seen in Atlanta - October 9, 2010<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOq-o9r37H5lttnyr-OLTO6Syr2nF8IRHZbQqhHQieG2733NrPCm1n37FsnzDQ0D_12L1Oo2ozTiEq7RLW3tCQHCdj-8lBminFTZYpRRNHfw0ON3nZU4xyCE0H4KIfqb7eCrP7PrZnPEr/s1600/IMG00108-20101009-1958.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOq-o9r37H5lttnyr-OLTO6Syr2nF8IRHZbQqhHQieG2733NrPCm1n37FsnzDQ0D_12L1Oo2ozTiEq7RLW3tCQHCdj-8lBminFTZYpRRNHfw0ON3nZU4xyCE0H4KIfqb7eCrP7PrZnPEr/s400/IMG00108-20101009-1958.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The beautiful chandelier at <a href="http://www.tabernacleatl.com/">the Tabernacle</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvhwqJmQYkdxdRFwEsEKl6c7qMV_KMKRiDuYRnD_VGTSGdiSNjWVGYXGGVuZhJEksMbcovHqWxXof2UTm3dxhFkKmeveaJQKzX4vtsfcXaoUQf9Bsun1YIRkGXIo2aQn_MHnsyi0Ip-Pa/s1600/DSC00337.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvhwqJmQYkdxdRFwEsEKl6c7qMV_KMKRiDuYRnD_VGTSGdiSNjWVGYXGGVuZhJEksMbcovHqWxXof2UTm3dxhFkKmeveaJQKzX4vtsfcXaoUQf9Bsun1YIRkGXIo2aQn_MHnsyi0Ip-Pa/s400/DSC00337.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A giant bird and a pretty woman at <a href="http://www.eyedrum.org/">the Eyedrum</a>.Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-49267178915491732122010-10-11T11:28:00.002-04:002010-10-11T11:43:32.728-04:00Butterfly LuckWhile walking in <a href="http://www.oaklandcemetery.com/index.html">Oakland Cemetery</a> on Sunday afternoon, I came across a plot filled with butterfly bushes. Hundreds of butterflies and giant bumblebees flit through the air, drinking from one flower and then the next. Here are three of my luckiest photos from these moments.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZ8ZqLjqNncN4lodzgX4KstTkiiMAoE8Vpt5PIyUeRpj6PA_iCZZ0nE4qG_FDTxgLND4BEW9j9IuBl7p8G6s9eZS8NlkHqdTeKhxWyWPrrNe-LUKa00wGUa7XZQExTtpoRrQHTdLLJa_A/s1600/DSC00382.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZ8ZqLjqNncN4lodzgX4KstTkiiMAoE8Vpt5PIyUeRpj6PA_iCZZ0nE4qG_FDTxgLND4BEW9j9IuBl7p8G6s9eZS8NlkHqdTeKhxWyWPrrNe-LUKa00wGUa7XZQExTtpoRrQHTdLLJa_A/s400/DSC00382.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvAEuBnC0X531DU3Q4evZ_n1diYoZP1RMbltAL05daZZXZ-nOTPsJaw5mzGoMoQkOC3u8JBKTJ3M4JWydYMx6Ka9hoyOKCbp4FOiLAVDHZkSximV709p4JFimnAL4rBNqfJmjvLVyohtQ/s1600/DSC00376.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvAEuBnC0X531DU3Q4evZ_n1diYoZP1RMbltAL05daZZXZ-nOTPsJaw5mzGoMoQkOC3u8JBKTJ3M4JWydYMx6Ka9hoyOKCbp4FOiLAVDHZkSximV709p4JFimnAL4rBNqfJmjvLVyohtQ/s400/DSC00376.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4ZLN0y56WrddK92iv4MEMF1nbgcofeGx9E65nPuB0adDIQMMJL_afC8EE_n25b7WdPe62rgHWYOQK1vWv8tWoyQ8wRFMeHC1E7OEFr0onYSJD8yULcToyslcX14eByvoLEqrSD823pVP/s1600/DSC00385.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4ZLN0y56WrddK92iv4MEMF1nbgcofeGx9E65nPuB0adDIQMMJL_afC8EE_n25b7WdPe62rgHWYOQK1vWv8tWoyQ8wRFMeHC1E7OEFr0onYSJD8yULcToyslcX14eByvoLEqrSD823pVP/s400/DSC00385.JPG" border="0" /></a><div style="clear:both; text-align:NONE"></div>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-51018614722303735562010-09-07T23:19:00.001-04:002010-09-07T23:20:14.121-04:00Seen in Atlanta - first days of SeptemberOn Wylie Street in Cabbagetown, and women's bathroom in the back of the Earl.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdik8hu72LQMBKMKH1FZe6TEqSRskDYFU2cfw1X4Sth5DkJIv09dCSEKPJpeqXGgwWANToXjwn21ci81umCSia6DgR94qgNgFFMCrhO9Rw4qdLUzu5wf8Q-sHZJlNxz4wk4EWx8llaLyG/s1600/IMG00185-20100826-1517.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdik8hu72LQMBKMKH1FZe6TEqSRskDYFU2cfw1X4Sth5DkJIv09dCSEKPJpeqXGgwWANToXjwn21ci81umCSia6DgR94qgNgFFMCrhO9Rw4qdLUzu5wf8Q-sHZJlNxz4wk4EWx8llaLyG/s400/IMG00185-20100826-1517.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ornyZPMj-WBfBhkcJIn0T4ZRtLXkGCrcdsXs7dsRJWUjj1M_01jYq_MkAoi0rvNnksLNv80x8ntKkkq57vIxIu3Y5STs_Xocoj-x0dui8BardHvC0U8d7UYAqfxzAWuIV4w0ZLDMBtRJ/s1600/IMG00156-20100728-2303.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ornyZPMj-WBfBhkcJIn0T4ZRtLXkGCrcdsXs7dsRJWUjj1M_01jYq_MkAoi0rvNnksLNv80x8ntKkkq57vIxIu3Y5STs_Xocoj-x0dui8BardHvC0U8d7UYAqfxzAWuIV4w0ZLDMBtRJ/s400/IMG00156-20100728-2303.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-91412144230167476262010-07-25T15:30:00.001-04:002010-07-25T15:31:39.855-04:00Seen in Atlanta - July 23<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92y2e2RbbCQI8wQmLGP1AkPoVimSEnMiF5dW9mLJaYOX7FhtZT02ag2CSldw2f1T7fGaICZ4FFCTDxbATYCjsLSoZINP6g6jg1ySZny6JL73Ck-vVFy8fFYiU7ECfhIj8MmF1Pp-uIK05/s1600/IMG00141-20100723-1854.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92y2e2RbbCQI8wQmLGP1AkPoVimSEnMiF5dW9mLJaYOX7FhtZT02ag2CSldw2f1T7fGaICZ4FFCTDxbATYCjsLSoZINP6g6jg1ySZny6JL73Ck-vVFy8fFYiU7ECfhIj8MmF1Pp-uIK05/s400/IMG00141-20100723-1854.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Crucified bunny and baby, corner of Dekalb and Krog Street.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8M_NOgODwkMfqfUW58IkDhfevf392czwLZvs64rXlQF100wOymMj0aakpCGdMElhER7_8kY9EgZNjanM9m4PercUJGaiIDQek_MLKLCUrl6zwlR_y7lZLAPaN4GHiety86xEYVZVyMZbp/s1600/IMG00142-20100724-0235.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8M_NOgODwkMfqfUW58IkDhfevf392czwLZvs64rXlQF100wOymMj0aakpCGdMElhER7_8kY9EgZNjanM9m4PercUJGaiIDQek_MLKLCUrl6zwlR_y7lZLAPaN4GHiety86xEYVZVyMZbp/s400/IMG00142-20100724-0235.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Back of the ladies restroom door at 97 Estoria.Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-57625645370847157572010-07-24T15:42:00.000-04:002010-07-25T15:44:58.213-04:00Summertime Skies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvKfZFYPoBuFhWJxnpQFlqD7vVffC1e6yglFd7t2VFR2hZbSuvhTXkRj9XVouuNdZFrXglzmkMdz7IpTijiCdxZbBZwdQzhrJz1qokxygciLpH2gj4jwqBOmNPlgC1j6g6O6rN9YV1ro2/s1600/IMG00119-20100708-0903.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvKfZFYPoBuFhWJxnpQFlqD7vVffC1e6yglFd7t2VFR2hZbSuvhTXkRj9XVouuNdZFrXglzmkMdz7IpTijiCdxZbBZwdQzhrJz1qokxygciLpH2gj4jwqBOmNPlgC1j6g6O6rN9YV1ro2/s400/IMG00119-20100708-0903.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Morning sky over Union Station, Washington DC.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHCLQqWVHsm9FFbG7p3lbdfETcJY-ZDW2l0JEqjBhCgN63lE97m1ZyzfFBIZ32HFRS2aOsdZz5MnnN5qKz1rqGo_0XaiKVFBrw5866k7wXozlJR5guJTFQ3KhoWLrtD0P1e3r0uX1ig2a/s1600/IMG00129-20100714-1006.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHCLQqWVHsm9FFbG7p3lbdfETcJY-ZDW2l0JEqjBhCgN63lE97m1ZyzfFBIZ32HFRS2aOsdZz5MnnN5qKz1rqGo_0XaiKVFBrw5866k7wXozlJR5guJTFQ3KhoWLrtD0P1e3r0uX1ig2a/s400/IMG00129-20100714-1006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A thunderstorm forming over the Georgia State Capitol.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOmxRTAoNtd3zSjLr8zzGvcWhICTlbaXuRple8WX-tb7fXS1TVACDmsUcmT-B3J4jf-pVhsHtEQrUVvimEa1w7xqBlcPcUTeV8g7CYpF-kaoGWER7pfN8bwWyG38hXr03f-cgcNfzn3Yy/s1600/IMG00140-20100721-1522.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOmxRTAoNtd3zSjLr8zzGvcWhICTlbaXuRple8WX-tb7fXS1TVACDmsUcmT-B3J4jf-pVhsHtEQrUVvimEa1w7xqBlcPcUTeV8g7CYpF-kaoGWER7pfN8bwWyG38hXr03f-cgcNfzn3Yy/s400/IMG00140-20100721-1522.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Light burst over Courtland Street, Atlanta.Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-6486354606644270112010-07-02T00:10:00.001-04:002010-07-25T15:45:42.126-04:00Sky lightsI am obsessed with light in the sky. Also, I'm going to have to become more covert with my photography while driving now that Georgia has its texting ban in place.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0KYP8UdFgQLc7j6NSstmhPd5H8SvdjeDHuQRh7aU6gzO4HdKzbOULqGXLVgP7LRSmAZtNletcsWwJlck6rPuWZ4xxWTaFiPuQTpmSAIVZMB1jcZrhbe8oTOcut4IV1Jv2qcNqdb9ODfZ/s1600/IMG00114-20100627-2014.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0KYP8UdFgQLc7j6NSstmhPd5H8SvdjeDHuQRh7aU6gzO4HdKzbOULqGXLVgP7LRSmAZtNletcsWwJlck6rPuWZ4xxWTaFiPuQTpmSAIVZMB1jcZrhbe8oTOcut4IV1Jv2qcNqdb9ODfZ/s400/IMG00114-20100627-2014.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489373108868309298" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzec1alO2c7q2C5Tp0JhB12UZFAAToSrok-yEd7uT40L9mA8VizaTO3IuqxfSAhn9E7ebdeeptU_hzjLfKOrhCvLCheHpA4_Ul9gOVJ9nbh0sQ2rmt3-RraTLw9PDOxMvuv1XJgN3gln5E/s1600/IMG00083-20100525-1803.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzec1alO2c7q2C5Tp0JhB12UZFAAToSrok-yEd7uT40L9mA8VizaTO3IuqxfSAhn9E7ebdeeptU_hzjLfKOrhCvLCheHpA4_Ul9gOVJ9nbh0sQ2rmt3-RraTLw9PDOxMvuv1XJgN3gln5E/s400/IMG00083-20100525-1803.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489373212400241618" /></a>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-68994323808143363352010-05-23T21:49:00.001-04:002010-05-23T21:52:02.641-04:00One Magnolia, Four Days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPy1ReYVo5J6NwurFdINANIyn4bvxERJdDdYGmUKGD634gx7A8hHeTfHNtQjkUiDqkyDZ1HTurRPvbNjD5qL1BasPM6I7DOqlYCHN_RMwoTpivlZDSB59wsTZKjC0JVC4Twh9uIGLMznyW/s1600/magnolia.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPy1ReYVo5J6NwurFdINANIyn4bvxERJdDdYGmUKGD634gx7A8hHeTfHNtQjkUiDqkyDZ1HTurRPvbNjD5qL1BasPM6I7DOqlYCHN_RMwoTpivlZDSB59wsTZKjC0JVC4Twh9uIGLMznyW/s400/magnolia.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKxq2VPbi0g33BTCC4hF1thIOEd7wpKlh3Jdju6KN1SiqGGgSp4r-bUvsgE0OKM-IuUbVTctrmDVDZL7ygEz2zVVpXPTQwAGIGjXWAOOcpyRITkKdICEGEaJLuO2QP1iOblFturOnFK2f/s1600/IMG00074-20100517-1936.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKxq2VPbi0g33BTCC4hF1thIOEd7wpKlh3Jdju6KN1SiqGGgSp4r-bUvsgE0OKM-IuUbVTctrmDVDZL7ygEz2zVVpXPTQwAGIGjXWAOOcpyRITkKdICEGEaJLuO2QP1iOblFturOnFK2f/s400/IMG00074-20100517-1936.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrFILqshY6ft8xqpaXWOZhOxwBbC1xkZhf9qE3IcYp9jXd6DG_q_8ttzRlSUpVlCs3iE7ky1XzXCN2Sx6EP_Q7URhJG4FnDFKhD0W_Mxfv99ABHhhkwB6phvPP9zgXfIiHp8zARotatbg/s1600/IMG00077-20100518-2309.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrFILqshY6ft8xqpaXWOZhOxwBbC1xkZhf9qE3IcYp9jXd6DG_q_8ttzRlSUpVlCs3iE7ky1XzXCN2Sx6EP_Q7URhJG4FnDFKhD0W_Mxfv99ABHhhkwB6phvPP9zgXfIiHp8zARotatbg/s400/IMG00077-20100518-2309.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPeVUKV5GvIGOIeMPXrwT2z23WLDa9-OlNvikaycZg_Soj_RLfZSYlziXdNbOQAWC2LCJmups9_3w_cXfNxcU4OafLEOEE6AFkv-v_sUPjNODrburQuEoyAX2ztuDLpvbjCfnGrrN4o_W/s1600/IMG00079-20100519-2024.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPeVUKV5GvIGOIeMPXrwT2z23WLDa9-OlNvikaycZg_Soj_RLfZSYlziXdNbOQAWC2LCJmups9_3w_cXfNxcU4OafLEOEE6AFkv-v_sUPjNODrburQuEoyAX2ztuDLpvbjCfnGrrN4o_W/s400/IMG00079-20100519-2024.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-57685356816272823872010-05-07T11:34:00.004-04:002010-07-25T15:45:58.576-04:00The Charging Atlanta SkyIn my tenth year in this city, the stunning Spring Sky of Atlanta still compels me to take pictures while driving.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NDXq_XKDq-5uZrlSBnsFsh0G1mOKMbYwzvyi2HgfX9dcAWLO6AmWHWAUm_AeDbmg3CiCd0QWQA1UhcpWODJIydSf5w0Yfgg-uYJNIIGHJhG96oHT62HSnS4QH411HMODZNhhqfymn8oF/s1600/IMG00057-20100506-1924.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NDXq_XKDq-5uZrlSBnsFsh0G1mOKMbYwzvyi2HgfX9dcAWLO6AmWHWAUm_AeDbmg3CiCd0QWQA1UhcpWODJIydSf5w0Yfgg-uYJNIIGHJhG96oHT62HSnS4QH411HMODZNhhqfymn8oF/s400/IMG00057-20100506-1924.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />At Memorial and Boulevard.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZAdIP2-e6Td20zboiVl8ItlJbHNdHSP5io0jM_i-wsD8fQLQzxChORPXtpwspZUyzdWVC2tUqkqy0RrGWnwKZr4AMHhuaEE4Nl8Gu8ERLwJnTeeluUaX9wvz3gqAAwkBcI8mSZmbyOvn/s1600/IMG00041-20100502-1746.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZAdIP2-e6Td20zboiVl8ItlJbHNdHSP5io0jM_i-wsD8fQLQzxChORPXtpwspZUyzdWVC2tUqkqy0RrGWnwKZr4AMHhuaEE4Nl8Gu8ERLwJnTeeluUaX9wvz3gqAAwkBcI8mSZmbyOvn/s400/IMG00041-20100502-1746.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />At Six Feet Under.Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-7501352428462703562010-05-06T23:16:00.006-04:002010-05-06T23:45:46.811-04:00Ashley's Charmed ChalkI love the street that I have called my <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/search/label/Home">home</a> for the last five years. From being the setting for some of my favorite <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2009/03/in-like-lion.html">sunsets</a> to my frequent <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2009/02/visitor-returns.html">hawk visitors</a> to <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2008/12/carwash-whistled-jingle-bells.html">Carwash's whistling</a>, my life on this south Grant Park street has been charmed.<br /><br />For the last couple months the <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2008/02/wummer.html">lovely young lady</a> that lives next door to me has been using my sidewalk as canvas for her chalk murals and messages. I absolutely beam each time I pull into my driveway and see that there is new rainbow dust sprawling the expanse of my house and rush out of my car to get a closer look at her latest art.<br /><br />Ashley's accuracy in message choices is uncanny. Returning to Atlanta after a trip to Chicago I was greeted with "Home Sweet Home". After a particularly rough day at the Capitol her chalk encouraged me to "don't worry, be happy". The last night of the legislative session my sidewalk was emblazoned with "SARA YOU ROCK" in block letters. And sometimes it'll just be loopy swirls around hearts and skulls. Yesterday's message was lovely, and complete with details like the earth, a banana peel and her entire family's hand-prints- her mother told me she insisted they all make their mark:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrB8HH5wKxxQh_J-CeWVmznfO7QYCrPIlnJnLw-01Eqxl0oqWni2utuoxHvSsiv6qpuIcZwHkE9WE2E1soxoXOmI4YBNdvec4Ampu5XLsmgPQpKYvqUAHahNpXcvN1lNC-RIuQZucPvj8/s1600/IMG00056-20100506-0915.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrB8HH5wKxxQh_J-CeWVmznfO7QYCrPIlnJnLw-01Eqxl0oqWni2utuoxHvSsiv6qpuIcZwHkE9WE2E1soxoXOmI4YBNdvec4Ampu5XLsmgPQpKYvqUAHahNpXcvN1lNC-RIuQZucPvj8/s400/IMG00056-20100506-0915.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I can be an absolute cynic and occasionally indulge in intellectual snobbery but my god, there is something about a message from a 5th grader that The World Is In Our Hands that completely melts my dark little heart. When I got home today I noticed that Ashley added another part to the message right in front of my front door:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsr_Ofy6XHdIETztBQ3-QhuxhKUr7UFPqIeQ3_2kiyjB-OT1_F4xu1zO0QZAIpdf4pzYxckinSRZW8oEIYSxnFEVMS_c6VxTAAH3yqqQlpCZEoF8upPUJjGI34R9x-x_lbjTF5LnlXEGy/s1600/DSC09301.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsr_Ofy6XHdIETztBQ3-QhuxhKUr7UFPqIeQ3_2kiyjB-OT1_F4xu1zO0QZAIpdf4pzYxckinSRZW8oEIYSxnFEVMS_c6VxTAAH3yqqQlpCZEoF8upPUJjGI34R9x-x_lbjTF5LnlXEGy/s400/DSC09301.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><i>I</i> am so glad to be neighbors. Thank you Ashley, for being such a dependable and delightful sidewalk cheerleader.<br /><br /><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(As an aside I just have to note my deep joy and wonder that after months of blog silence, both my lovely </span><a href="http://thisishowiwillgetfamous.blogspot.com/2010/05/from-vault-sincere-apology-to-city.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">sister</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and I publish </span><a href="http://thisishowiwillgetfamous.blogspot.com/2010/05/from-vault-sincere-apology-to-city.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">new pieces</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> within a day of each other)</span></em>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-47740337772011565972009-11-10T22:07:00.006-05:002009-11-10T22:13:01.621-05:00One of Us<div align="center"><em>Someday, the light will shine like a sun through my skin & they will say, What have you done with your life? & though there are many moments I think I will remember, in the end, I will be proud to say, I was one of us. </em>-Brian Andreas </div><div align="center"><br></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvqrV-IHIzySbGYfBFUgI0ap36W86zA4vE9qTVYJtpAK0eVDn8cSsrNNBxmeKRUp1gCMjFlVA_H1Fic1AMHgvXNZD6CMaC_Yzoh_1Owjv1Yl7c63ytMFtjR6mjqt_61nkrp4YpBg2uEqS/s1600-h/IMG_0968.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151311534752058850" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvqrV-IHIzySbGYfBFUgI0ap36W86zA4vE9qTVYJtpAK0eVDn8cSsrNNBxmeKRUp1gCMjFlVA_H1Fic1AMHgvXNZD6CMaC_Yzoh_1Owjv1Yl7c63ytMFtjR6mjqt_61nkrp4YpBg2uEqS/s400/IMG_0968.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-55858858103810190172009-11-08T18:05:00.001-05:002010-07-25T16:36:31.797-04:00North Georgia Mountain Sunset<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXR0xGgkABY4Idc1AQOpeAmijUS1ah2EdfX-YX6KGzOQ4aSrUr061fuZ-Dj16j6kWfXmR2peE10TUdI3dsOwIRvHFpvgHGi7w2SDKQBaOFuI5qs4Va48Pys_Z8uj75MMjc5S56XorWBm5/s1600-h/DSC08980.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXR0xGgkABY4Idc1AQOpeAmijUS1ah2EdfX-YX6KGzOQ4aSrUr061fuZ-Dj16j6kWfXmR2peE10TUdI3dsOwIRvHFpvgHGi7w2SDKQBaOFuI5qs4Va48Pys_Z8uj75MMjc5S56XorWBm5/s400/DSC08980.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaowrY_821UN7BTirxRKn9XzNr3EHZj76ZGak0gUtkgztrIzTRKC2zqNhyQfoLUaqBPkPiiinZ391ogd_eikO4QAeEZujKohLLzYst72MfCiwG24qBy5NzajIGNfWsZV2Fqx4Oa69YeMuf/s1600-h/DSC08983.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaowrY_821UN7BTirxRKn9XzNr3EHZj76ZGak0gUtkgztrIzTRKC2zqNhyQfoLUaqBPkPiiinZ391ogd_eikO4QAeEZujKohLLzYst72MfCiwG24qBy5NzajIGNfWsZV2Fqx4Oa69YeMuf/s400/DSC08983.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9LmdQFWd5VVDnub172TuEXGQhCVn8FDjKVEbGrRx2YDCW4XD8VyI9fRFSJTkc5w-29siDioEpHBAByLU9cdjN5QB8C6mLXdhte-_Q2TcZLSa48YyQHBcixx9ma3zYUoQg0iNElkumlqx/s1600-h/DSC08991.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9LmdQFWd5VVDnub172TuEXGQhCVn8FDjKVEbGrRx2YDCW4XD8VyI9fRFSJTkc5w-29siDioEpHBAByLU9cdjN5QB8C6mLXdhte-_Q2TcZLSa48YyQHBcixx9ma3zYUoQg0iNElkumlqx/s400/DSC08991.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-77302864952660125292009-11-07T18:08:00.000-05:002009-11-08T18:16:43.460-05:00Heavy Metal Saved My Life<a href="http://www.mastodonrocks.com/">Mastodon</a> and <a href="http://www.dethklok.org/">Dethklok</a> played at the Tabernacle in Atlanta last Thursday - it was an unbelievable show. My only regret was that I went to the right side of the stage so I couldn't see Brent Hinds (who was on the left) hardly at all. Nonetheless, I managed to take a few METAL pictures:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gyXkJAoL6CNoE6-mroT3TwAKjjrIc5JurJa_XZuz95oKeWH1eNo70N1i5t6BLD9LIGaMGd5cpLUySUjPTnshhtfP-fL7e_XHBx3bKvdJNsVErpjCAH08Ydrf_5RDcN54fb91LCFaz-Km/s1600-h/DSC08933.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gyXkJAoL6CNoE6-mroT3TwAKjjrIc5JurJa_XZuz95oKeWH1eNo70N1i5t6BLD9LIGaMGd5cpLUySUjPTnshhtfP-fL7e_XHBx3bKvdJNsVErpjCAH08Ydrf_5RDcN54fb91LCFaz-Km/s400/DSC08933.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRC0xduA9pZrLsLZCVKVUh17ivw0AUqtaY5eyTQ5WbU-XJjmuYLt-5vmMp341wu3mIaA6R9X8xFAFCSyS5XEQU88fT0_mGc91BEyfmbQG5W0CdTJW82F0Sw-p1zSIkpDQMll9pJJ7Y_rE/s1600-h/DSC08959.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRC0xduA9pZrLsLZCVKVUh17ivw0AUqtaY5eyTQ5WbU-XJjmuYLt-5vmMp341wu3mIaA6R9X8xFAFCSyS5XEQU88fT0_mGc91BEyfmbQG5W0CdTJW82F0Sw-p1zSIkpDQMll9pJJ7Y_rE/s400/DSC08959.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIO5zVLeFs2Rx_9M0AKYCuH0RJcrc75xwtp6OAiyZEMh1fBZsBwGrzNQAM32sDBDUvJJUwUpqH-rhtECfkmaLsbByfOHOx3_YPGL_uWREfR6lw7hQNwWtEuQhs8zSKGymrDPMZ8ViMec9O/s1600-h/DSC08965.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIO5zVLeFs2Rx_9M0AKYCuH0RJcrc75xwtp6OAiyZEMh1fBZsBwGrzNQAM32sDBDUvJJUwUpqH-rhtECfkmaLsbByfOHOx3_YPGL_uWREfR6lw7hQNwWtEuQhs8zSKGymrDPMZ8ViMec9O/s400/DSC08965.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And I shot a video of Mastdon especially for <a href="http://www.thisishowiwillgetfamous.blogspot.com/">my sister</a> who was feeling a little jealous that night:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kqUchuP_4M8&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kqUchuP_4M8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-68050704360387542632009-11-02T21:58:00.003-05:002009-11-03T10:51:16.330-05:00Goodbye, NicoI am so sad to learn that Nico the beautiful Beluga Whale, <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/aquarium-beluga-dies-in-183738.html">has died</a>. I visited Nico and his sisters at the Georgia Aquarium so many times and shot <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zz8p1oRNPc">this video</a> of him during our visit on Ela's birthday:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5Zz8p1oRNPc&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5Zz8p1oRNPc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Nico was the most playful of the three belugas, always twirling and diving and seemed like he was smiling and waving at us. The Aquarium had moved him and his sisters to Texas while they built the new dolphin exhibit- he died there. He is the third Atlanta beluga to pass away- I have written about <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2007/12/marina-goodbye_01.html">Gasper and Marina</a> previously.<br /><br />My heart is heavy with the knowledge that we won't get to see that sweet and magnificent creature again. Here's a favorite picture from the <a href="http://www.ajc.com/">Atlanta Journal Constitution</a> to remember him:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ajc.com/multimedia/dynamic/00267/beluga-yoga_267447c.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 459px; HEIGHT: 340px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.ajc.com/multimedia/dynamic/00267/beluga-yoga_267447c.jpg" /></a>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-61744744022234716572009-11-01T20:46:00.003-05:002010-07-25T16:36:31.798-04:00A Visit to Oakland Cemetery on Dia de MuertesToday was the first time I have ever visited Oakland Cemetery on <a href="http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/history/a/dayofthedead.htm">Day of the Dead</a>. I thought of my beautiful grandmothers as we strolled through the park at sunset. The full moon was floating above and the red sunbeams shined through the trees. I smiled as I left a <a href="http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/sweetsanddesserts/ss/candyskullhowto.htm">sugar skull</a> by my favorite <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JQRLAB3Hf9goud3sPusx6w?feat=directlink">headless woman</a>. Thanks to Raoul and his lovely visitors for inspiring today's walk!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfagkhbUYHnZ1qGsy4s2FtXKNz6TsMxJpXK_fR27WGJC1viYEAtRoWQNuaiQ717_sayjqyD19WxZZ7MJT30SJfiN04v5JzfT6nuHBqD8jwK6xgp8hFAeAU_X9EyBHxkeKPOOjsro5Itvo/s1600-h/DSC08894.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfagkhbUYHnZ1qGsy4s2FtXKNz6TsMxJpXK_fR27WGJC1viYEAtRoWQNuaiQ717_sayjqyD19WxZZ7MJT30SJfiN04v5JzfT6nuHBqD8jwK6xgp8hFAeAU_X9EyBHxkeKPOOjsro5Itvo/s400/DSC08894.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcu07y53fAvdMQd7luXwunhrG9CRjtJNizWXFIj5vF06lRcDxtEn2wu-_qiTLMpXus-rZgtZ58ykVYbP-mA1D6ES_RohZcTyY_SIgS91ArFd77RilJ-xPYXMOh4E8Tb2AjTaaURFwto4t/s1600-h/DSC08892.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcu07y53fAvdMQd7luXwunhrG9CRjtJNizWXFIj5vF06lRcDxtEn2wu-_qiTLMpXus-rZgtZ58ykVYbP-mA1D6ES_RohZcTyY_SIgS91ArFd77RilJ-xPYXMOh4E8Tb2AjTaaURFwto4t/s400/DSC08892.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8_ovLZRnsSAHVAZ63pBoQcaUd2NIqwKhb8zkTRqN98t94u4I1BDq7slbC8hdqKsz8bKFYdHlagsoMyTE3tAzw58yqDqEjLj1WNmJmR3r89yuijluxU0a6uQv3mcTbujN9pwUyz0tR1q1/s1600-h/DSC08893.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8_ovLZRnsSAHVAZ63pBoQcaUd2NIqwKhb8zkTRqN98t94u4I1BDq7slbC8hdqKsz8bKFYdHlagsoMyTE3tAzw58yqDqEjLj1WNmJmR3r89yuijluxU0a6uQv3mcTbujN9pwUyz0tR1q1/s400/DSC08893.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-36659246860225068622009-10-28T22:50:00.000-04:002010-07-25T16:36:31.800-04:00Fire in the Berry TreesAlso for the list of favorites: visiting my <a href="http://www.berry.edu/">alma mater</a> during beautiful leaves season.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5-KdlwCzqq32e6f_1ypBWUKANg4S1qyhP-dyIBs2Ssw83ADetdhIabVPv1NKSIcVOvSMQK2p3AkRZrwbnu6Dan24do6cyxRWBX0OOvXBWZajjnkvFr15psrz5CbC02lYcZltdl7LYc8y/s1600-h/DSC08838.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5-KdlwCzqq32e6f_1ypBWUKANg4S1qyhP-dyIBs2Ssw83ADetdhIabVPv1NKSIcVOvSMQK2p3AkRZrwbnu6Dan24do6cyxRWBX0OOvXBWZajjnkvFr15psrz5CbC02lYcZltdl7LYc8y/s400/DSC08838.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBr-KEu4z5OmqPtcILXaBbibGYisEcmMxRgNn_3KsIdQVF17PYCrPUiFQeMKlfc680nPYmHQS9KNJAqu74kibXWcZSsESLLi6LZLqCu2eyP0M7Xx-Pxr3eJylYCRvAb5DeQQvE-eQxOWAV/s1600-h/DSC08840.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBr-KEu4z5OmqPtcILXaBbibGYisEcmMxRgNn_3KsIdQVF17PYCrPUiFQeMKlfc680nPYmHQS9KNJAqu74kibXWcZSsESLLi6LZLqCu2eyP0M7Xx-Pxr3eJylYCRvAb5DeQQvE-eQxOWAV/s400/DSC08840.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0YOjdH1VIa_UhbaGiQxsEsWmm1zjMWJS5NSQWc9BHvHQzxkoc1UDZgfKL31k6j_Ct-uXKiRfZK7lYQi7EBC1Btx45qaZj0lKAzq_XbcJ-FE61gA6pI24jZvbRATwsZSK74qyx4pkXS5l/s1600-h/DSC08834.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0YOjdH1VIa_UhbaGiQxsEsWmm1zjMWJS5NSQWc9BHvHQzxkoc1UDZgfKL31k6j_Ct-uXKiRfZK7lYQi7EBC1Btx45qaZj0lKAzq_XbcJ-FE61gA6pI24jZvbRATwsZSK74qyx4pkXS5l/s400/DSC08834.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-32398007228589706832009-10-27T22:39:00.002-04:002009-10-27T22:47:44.034-04:00Northwest Georgia Fall FireFor the list of favorite things: A campfire in the mountains on one of the first cold weekends of the season.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiHbe-Ld2uLoCu-5ToCLzvp97avyVnqTGwqLYRT9dxbeIYd86_tkVyVYBULX_V3l-IdV2Z-QWtFvBqCw_qxDNgyCF3I6YvWr97ZRkHOAxwy2thqd0O8XBf_05xc25EArJllFSv4sgGAh4/s1600-h/DSC08811.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiHbe-Ld2uLoCu-5ToCLzvp97avyVnqTGwqLYRT9dxbeIYd86_tkVyVYBULX_V3l-IdV2Z-QWtFvBqCw_qxDNgyCF3I6YvWr97ZRkHOAxwy2thqd0O8XBf_05xc25EArJllFSv4sgGAh4/s400/DSC08811.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrprqEdDu0JOQslvotrFTEmm3Ly4rts11Ggo9MFJ9m1du8DLdsIihrGHkX3gi9_7ulDq8YgEJo5E9JRWrI0GwIGCuAGZrAGNPvJEZXohFZzO79M1SFhVIBfr_hU__lhCEwuffmIJ6zrIp/s1600-h/DSC08814.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrprqEdDu0JOQslvotrFTEmm3Ly4rts11Ggo9MFJ9m1du8DLdsIihrGHkX3gi9_7ulDq8YgEJo5E9JRWrI0GwIGCuAGZrAGNPvJEZXohFZzO79M1SFhVIBfr_hU__lhCEwuffmIJ6zrIp/s400/DSC08814.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VBjKtKFGngyfy3MVNJlYCkk6r1pz6XLlj1_0bGmR3v2ZJIvMLfilZtMiMd7OPXJVlbbVB89YhOi1MUIfef8KIKxzYK6Q8-AuFpMgJl9SlFspB0tnHc0Jzm8HFsdqt1Wwmn3yvjN1ZGcX/s1600-h/DSC08818.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VBjKtKFGngyfy3MVNJlYCkk6r1pz6XLlj1_0bGmR3v2ZJIvMLfilZtMiMd7OPXJVlbbVB89YhOi1MUIfef8KIKxzYK6Q8-AuFpMgJl9SlFspB0tnHc0Jzm8HFsdqt1Wwmn3yvjN1ZGcX/s400/DSC08818.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-35784581765148606962009-09-29T21:48:00.005-04:002009-09-29T22:31:36.300-04:00Alan and JustynaJustyna exclaims as she tears past her guests that mill below the Mexican paper flags, "This is the only song I can dance to!" She grabs Alan who is deep in conversation with his father at the end of the pew and pulls him to the front of the old church with the blue organ. Their friends play a dark melody from the altar-turned-stage as the two embrace in their dance. A child ballerina twirls around them. The guests gather to watch the one moment that might be described as traditional on their wonderful wedding day. Alan twirls Justyna in circles over and over as she strains to keep her balance. Without warning, Alan takes off running, apparently to make a lap around the church. He pulls a laughing Justyna behind him. Her steps are tiny and quick, well able to keep up even in heels.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxpnX_beYrnnH3baGEGTJWkm4utzXw8owbubhbWy6pGAualG2Flhu1OjxmqKQEdymOWNzReE0S0B09zgMHVBpnTV0JQLMI_JOO-xclSxG8Q0QeeIac663IBXOGb2XkJ_ajMGvHR5W2j1n/s1600-h/DSC08358.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxpnX_beYrnnH3baGEGTJWkm4utzXw8owbubhbWy6pGAualG2Flhu1OjxmqKQEdymOWNzReE0S0B09zgMHVBpnTV0JQLMI_JOO-xclSxG8Q0QeeIac663IBXOGb2XkJ_ajMGvHR5W2j1n/s400/DSC08358.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-71505601358871307342009-09-17T07:56:00.003-04:002009-09-17T18:41:36.256-04:00Dreams of A Secret Agent[part 4 in a series of art pieces inspired by my dreams]<br /><br /><strong>Dreams of A Secret Agent</strong><br /><em>spanning the last five years</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXXvN2Bb1kptjYbihvv9KF2RnZXWoUuinpt5mQS8hpfyZpyd7C-gAh0TY5lSNpiN9Jd1yvvTnh93DrG6wgdhaTYRu7OwP8Kl_Gws6loOOV0VwrfiQBaVK4QfmZzsHbI5Y8xjpR7gIX6-F/s1600-h/le+meme+reve+00000.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXXvN2Bb1kptjYbihvv9KF2RnZXWoUuinpt5mQS8hpfyZpyd7C-gAh0TY5lSNpiN9Jd1yvvTnh93DrG6wgdhaTYRu7OwP8Kl_Gws6loOOV0VwrfiQBaVK4QfmZzsHbI5Y8xjpR7gIX6-F/s400/le+meme+reve+00000.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">7" x 5" paper, thread, acrylic and glitter on canvas</span><br /><br /><em>This piece is about a theme that has wafted through my dreams for years. Well, a person, really. A <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/search/label/Secret%20Agents">Secret Agent</a>. No matter where on this planet he is or I am, the connection remains and it is particularly strong in dreams. One of my very favorite dreams featuring him is called <a href="http://one-second-time-machine.blogspot.com/2008/10/good-to-see-you.html">Good to See You</a>.<br /><br />When I think about this connection that spans distance and time, I am reminded of a song on <a href="http://www.concreteblondeofficialwebsite.com/">Concrete Blonde</a>'s <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUnYH4vCf-I">Walking in London</a> album, called Les Coeurs Jumeaux (the twin hearts). There's this somewhat silly interlude in the song when Johnette speaks in french. Though I often roll my eyes at her unnecessary pronunciation of the letter s in several of the words, the line that sticks out when I think of the Secret Agent is "on rêve le même rêve".</em> We dream the same dream.<br /><br /><em>Don't get it twisted though- the woman in this piece is not in Muslim dress- she has just wrapped her black scarf around her head to keep her hair dry because it is raining. Or maybe she's about to take a ride in her father's amazing vintage red convertible.</em><br /><br />Read/see the other dreams in this series, <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2009/08/mona-lisa.html">The Mona Lisa</a>, <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2009/08/angel-singers-visit-me.html">The Angel Singers Visit Me</a> and <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2009/08/feather-and-butterflies.html">The Feather and the Butterflies</a>.Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-27736399338590646502009-09-16T08:12:00.000-04:002009-09-16T10:50:29.671-04:00Four Years Into a DreamIn honor of my fourth anniversary in my very first dream home, here's a love letter I wrote in September 2005 right after moving in.<br /><br /><strong>I'm in Love </strong><br /><br /><em>I'm in love -- madly, passionately, deliriously –- with my new home. I’m dancing in my walk-in closet. I stare adoringly at my bathtub. I flirt with the walls and tease them with paint color samples. I sit in the center of each room, most of which are not at all set up yet, and blow smoke rings towards the ceiling. I open and close my liquor cabinet just to look, not to make a drink. I get choked up pulling up on the parking pad to notice her newly pressure-washed shingles. The dishwasher leaks, the washing machine breaks, and I just shake my head- she can still do no wrong. I sleep deeply each night and wake up to notice that birds have built a home right above my head.</em><br /><br />In 2009 I've still got the love, but it has been colored by the realities of the challenges in making a relationship work. I roll my eyes as I think that this will be the third year in a row that I've had to repair my roof because <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2008/01/liveass-possum-chasin.html">Blossom the Possum</a> moved in. And how having to replace three major appliances this year meant that doing the back splash in my kitchen gets put off till next year's tax return check.<br /><br />But my god, do I love my Atlanta Sky Blue bedroom walls- they still make me feel like I am floating when I lie in my high bed. And my craft room has been the birthing place of <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/search/label/Art">more pieces</a> than I ever dared to hope to create. Art actually fills my home of four years- my own and others as I've grown less and less intimidated to decorate the walls that are permanently mine. And hawks <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2009/02/visitor-returns.html">regularly visit</a>. And as I watched robins pull worms from my freshly rained upon front lawn this morning, I heard in my head, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RIbtTGOBsw"><em>All the World is Green</em></a>.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1RIbtTGOBsw&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1RIbtTGOBsw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-15651925013907834272009-08-30T23:59:00.007-04:002009-08-31T00:27:40.947-04:00The Mona Lisa[part 3 in a series of pieces inspired by my dreams]<br /><br /><strong>The Mona Lisa</strong><br /><em>dreamed October 15, 2006</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcth9rJ8y2P1NHnSmGlXDLWYjttwMyx2Fv7rFi02sdL0y7p9sDb9gbEWwbhxVCCSng2wQO16VL7OZPsEH8WA_tQS-6lYzfFe_tPDR2blU2YSCzB1aYbRUfOJdrA4Ynj5Lj79GGLTqz5nfl/s1600-h/mona+lisa.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcth9rJ8y2P1NHnSmGlXDLWYjttwMyx2Fv7rFi02sdL0y7p9sDb9gbEWwbhxVCCSng2wQO16VL7OZPsEH8WA_tQS-6lYzfFe_tPDR2blU2YSCzB1aYbRUfOJdrA4Ynj5Lj79GGLTqz5nfl/s400/mona+lisa.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">7" x 5" paper, acrylic, glitter and resin on canvas</span><br /><br /><em>I dreamed that I was walking by myself down a cobblestone street in </em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonmel"><em>Clonmel</em></a><em> at night. I peer into the window of an empty grocery store with a big candy display. I walk further and see a dark window framed by burgundy velvet curtains. I look closer and see that the Mona Lisa is set up on a stand just inside the window. I smile at what a cliche the great painting seems in such a demure setting.<br /><br />I hear a heartbeat and look anxiously around me. I am still alone. I look back at the Mona Lisa and she has started to glow. I press my forehead against the windowpane. Her face changes into a skull, the skin on her fingers peel back and show bones. At the center of the subtly smiling skeleton is a beating heart, straining to escape its ribcage.</em><br /><br />Read/see the other dreams in this series, <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2009/08/angel-singers-visit-me.html">The Angel Singers Visit Me</a> and <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2009/08/feather-and-butterflies.html">The Feather and the Butterflies</a>.Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-21677559713491025822009-08-29T00:23:00.005-04:002009-08-29T00:57:49.327-04:00The Angel Singers Visit Me[part 2 of a series] Every 4-6 months, I have an epic dream. These are dreams that are like journeys charted to my internal map that feel like salve on my soul. They are aptly timed and make my blood course through my veins. I suppose there is a part of me that feels like dreaming this sort of dream is like having a spiritual experience, or at least receiving a message bigger than that what a fortune cookie can deliver. The next piece of art that came from <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2009/08/feather-and-butterflies.html">my recent class based on my dreams </a>is an Epic Dream.<br /><br /><strong>The Angel Singers Visit Me<br /></strong><em>dreamed August 10, 2008<br /></em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3qJgJ_0MPHHH_ZSVUhoT-8JJbh_VSieiTBnNMI8TOwVHnsXDwLf25xQqwcetSzHfSya35Dy1rp2KqHKNxL4gsid0e5RpePNIPyo0Reb6DDlMrvXQ-dmWjEvNB-qkGTiElSDFmlB0alSW/s1600-h/tom+waits+angel+00000.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3qJgJ_0MPHHH_ZSVUhoT-8JJbh_VSieiTBnNMI8TOwVHnsXDwLf25xQqwcetSzHfSya35Dy1rp2KqHKNxL4gsid0e5RpePNIPyo0Reb6DDlMrvXQ-dmWjEvNB-qkGTiElSDFmlB0alSW/s400/tom+waits+angel+00000.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">8" x 8" acrylic, glitter and xylene transfer on claybord<br /></span><br /><em>I was at a bar with my parents, siblings and cousins that is near my cousin Layla's house that has pictures of heav metal bands all over the walls. I am surrounded by loved ones and about to eat a delicious cheeseburger named after Mötley Crüe.</em><br /><br /><em>I look up and see a small group of people in front of me; </em><a href="http://www.neilyoung.com/"><em>Neil Young</em></a><em> is standing among them. I gasp and slowly move towards him. As I approach him I beckon to him to come in close so I can tell him a secret. I whisper in his ear<br /><br />"You are one of my angels."<br /><br />He looks into my eyes and says back, "because of my voice?" I nod. He then grabs me and and spins me around him in a giant embrace. He is beaming. I ask him<br /><br />"Do you want to know who else are my angels?" He nods. I start listing<br /><br />"</em><a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2008/05/ya-viene-el-sol-ozomatli-brings-sun-to.html"><em>Asdru from Ozomatli</em></a><em>, <a href="http://www.jerrygarcia.com/">Jerry Garcia</a>, <a href="http://www.perryfarrell.com/">Perry Farrell</a>, the <a href="http://porcupinesingers.tripod.com/">Porcupine Singers</a>... most importantly, </em><a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-cant-believe-i-finally-saw-tom-waits.html"><em>Tom Waits</em></a><em>..." Neil interrupts me and whispers close in my ear and says "Well, you're in luck then, darlin'."<br /><br />I look up and on the little built-in stage Tom Waits himself is getting ready to play. My hands fly to my cheeks; I can't believe it. He plays two songs for us. He starts with "Cemetery Polka" and I just stand there staring at this madman 5 feet from me. I think he played a trumpet at one point which I don't think he really does in real life. My family is looking over at me smiling, so happy to see me so thrilled. My dad takes a picture of me.<br /><br />Then Tom starts on "</em><a href="http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/tom_waits/who_are_you.html"><em>Who Are You</em></a><em>", one of my very favorites of his vast repertoire. This song includes lines like "I fell in love with your sailor's mouth and your wounded eyes", lines that I have often thought if any man ever says to me I will marry him then and there and live happily ever after.<br /><br />Tom was singing directly to me and he sings the line "I did my time in the jail of your arms" and its like a skipping record, he repeats that line 3, 4, 5 times just staring intensely into my eyes. I can feel Neil behind me with his hands gently on my shoulders. And I smile through the tears that are spilling down my face, because now I know why we were whispering- this is our secret.<br /><br />After he finishes the song, Tom mumbles something incoherent into the mic but I swear I can make out that he says something like "you heard the important part," and I know he was talking to me. And he ambles offstage and Neil follows him.<br /><br />I bite my lip and start walking towards my smiling family. </em><br /><em></em><br />Read the first dream in this series, <a href="http://ashesandglass.blogspot.com/2009/08/feather-and-butterflies.html">The Feather and the Butterflies</a>.Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-87826349552436388282009-08-28T00:01:00.004-04:002009-08-28T00:24:53.407-04:00The Feather and the Butterflies[<em>part 1 in a series</em>] I took a wonderful class at the <a href="http://www.callanwolde.org/">Callanwolde Fine Arts Center</a> this summer called <em>Photo Collage Your Dreams</em>. I was drawn to the class because I have chronicled my dreams for decades in journals. Now, instead of writing in journals I contribute to a blog of dreams that my sister and I founded, the <a href="http://one-second-time-machine.blogspot.com/">One Second Time Machine</a>.<br /><br />I have dreams that range from the magical and sublime to the bizarre and silly. I have dreams that chill me to the bone. I have always wanted to try to depict them as art pieces and never felt like I had the right tools to even attempt it. Finding and learning new techniques for visually depicting my dreams is what made me so excited to take this class. Now that it is complete, I couldn't be more pleased with the experience.<br /><br />The class was taught by a lovely woman who is a wonderful artist, <a href="http://www.elizabethdangelo.com/">Elizabeth D'Angelo</a>. Beth taught us techniques of transferring images onto canvas and claybord using xylene and spoons, layering them with washes of paint, embellishing by carving and even covering the surfaces with resin (which involved a superfun blowtorch!). She is a warm and thoughtful person who encouraged our writing as much as the visual art, and created a space where we easily and openly shared about our dreams - which often can be quite intimate.<br /><br />The subject matter of the pieces I made was strictly dreams I have had and written about. Some of the dreams are detailed and complex, others are sound bytes and brain flashes. In the coming days I will post the images along with their corresponding dream here. Today is the first.<br /><br /><strong>The Feather and the Butterflies</strong><br /><em>dreamed October 5, 2008</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVtaRjIwSG-jV4B6cIbkEoYE6xLSgAUyZHRYYknbU6vsMD3sBd2i4nUjkjA1BvUFViA-wGw1i39LHYJvSqbz4XwMNJxFrkJ0SJBt5gBQb_r6HU5XnTCIgFDoEMLfU31hk4EAfvY5V3XxT/s1600-h/butterfly_feather+00001.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVtaRjIwSG-jV4B6cIbkEoYE6xLSgAUyZHRYYknbU6vsMD3sBd2i4nUjkjA1BvUFViA-wGw1i39LHYJvSqbz4XwMNJxFrkJ0SJBt5gBQb_r6HU5XnTCIgFDoEMLfU31hk4EAfvY5V3XxT/s400/butterfly_feather+00001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">5"x7" acrylic, resin, xylene transfer and feather on claybord</span><br /><br /><em>I dreamed that I woke up and realized that the beautiful blue feather that Jill recently sent me - that I hung on my bed above where I sleep - had been eaten away. It was skeletal but for a few wisps and the silver spiral remained. I showed it to my mother who said "Looks like the butterflies ate it. Those butterflies eat everything." </em>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-3096255374580321372009-08-27T00:18:00.011-04:002009-08-27T01:41:47.441-04:00I'm Super Human for You - the Flaming Lips visit Atlanta<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpX0BHTNSPHwSge6Egi5I9vIzRlL6vTW5oE7gUjlgVviBX5ok6VbazDxaqRIuku-aXfrGEv4iVdwehLsearpZ0dcgDhZnd-85OntQI-EUp7vJad865Jm_m-N8ZaAxc64RhngA6-W0xQXb/s1600-h/DSC08437.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpX0BHTNSPHwSge6Egi5I9vIzRlL6vTW5oE7gUjlgVviBX5ok6VbazDxaqRIuku-aXfrGEv4iVdwehLsearpZ0dcgDhZnd-85OntQI-EUp7vJad865Jm_m-N8ZaAxc64RhngA6-W0xQXb/s400/DSC08437.1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374504298405133074" /></a><br /><br />When you come to a party at my house, you can count on there being a big ass spread of delicious food, the cocktails will be flowing, good music will be playing and there probably will be (at least) some glitter-based decorations. Expect no less at my house. I was raised right by the Queen Hostess, the lovely Louise Totonchi.<br /><br />Similarly to my party philosophy, the <a href="http:///">Flaming Lips</a> know how to throw a rock n roll show. From the moment the first note was strummed at <a href="http://www.classicchastain.com/">Chastain Park</a> tonight, confetti, smoke and balloons filled the air. A quick glance around me revealed dozens of giggling, joyful people awaiting excitedly their chance to hit one of the fifty balloons up in the air. Oh and there was even <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQnUYT2_KfM">a man in a Space Bubble</a>:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eQnUYT2_KfM&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eQnUYT2_KfM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Flaming Lips frontman <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Coyne">Wayne Coyne</a> projected love and joy from the stage, declaring that despite the heavy Georgia air in August, "I'd wear a polar bear jacket, I'm super human for you." And he wouldn't have stood out at all in such a fur- the stage was filled with costumed lovlies, boy and girl bunnies, King Kong (who wielded Wayne on his shoulders for a whole song), a giant butterfly, a giant catfish- all dancing nonstop. An ingenious feature was a video camera mounted on Wayne's microphone; watch this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pep6gaVHak">footage of <em>Fight Test</a></em> both on stage and with the mic cam view projected behind the band:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7pep6gaVHak&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7pep6gaVHak&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I should mention that the Lips know how to treat their party guests. From the moment tickets were bought, we received a link for a free download of three songs from their yet to be released album which included <em>Covinced of the Hex</em>, my highlight of tonight's show. A few days later a link was sent to three b-sides. And if that weren't enough, they also promise to send a link to a recording of the entire show we saw tonight. Nice hospitality! <br /><br />It was a terrific show tonight. We were grateful that the sky waited until we were in our cars to open up and shower, but that the lightning didn't hold back its contribution to the spectacular light show.Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669078249810857841.post-31588632037417975552009-08-09T12:33:00.007-04:002009-08-27T01:29:21.880-04:00It Felt Like What I Wanted<em>I wrote this piece during an exercise in a memoir writing class I took this year. Each week we would write vignettes based upon phrases offered by the teacher. In this case, the phrase wound up being the opening line.</em><br /><br />It felt like what I wanted. The tang of sweat above his lip lingered on my tongue as he pulled away. My lips felt bruised from careless contact with his facial hair. "He probably only shaves like, once a week," I spoke with great authority to my girlfriends that evening.<br /><br />It was the sort of midsummer's day that made you wish that you lived at the beach rather than in the suburbs. As the sun baked my shoulders I sucked down every last drop of the fountain cherry cokes we bought at the corner gas station, then crunched each piece of ice left.<br /><br />I could taste the cherry coke on his breath, too. He was older, 16 to my 14 and I knew it was fate when I learned his birthday was four days after mine. He loped down the street next to me like he had a guitar slung across his back. His red hair was between stages - him wanting to grow it long, his mother wanting it cut. He was tall and thin but I could see the definition of his muscles as he grasped my elbow.<br /><br />We sat under a maple tree on a stranger's lawn just blocks from the building where we both took ceramics. Each day prior to today I had meticulously chosen my outfit in anticipation of seeing him: babydoll dresses with leggings, always black but sometimes small flowers to be feminine. This day though after sleeping through the alarm I pulled on beat-up, cutoff jeans covered in bleach stains - the rock n' roll equivalent of tie dye - and sharpee drawings of Led Zeppelin symbols. Of course it was this day that he announced that we should leave class and go for a walk to escape the clammy room of clay.<br /><br />As we strolled down the neighborhood streets he'd ask me questions and then laugh too hard at my answers. We would halt momentarily to allow the occasional breeze to tickle our skin and the leaves above. In one smooth move he sat down cross-legged. I followed suit and felt grass and tree roots under my legs. I couldn't take my eyes off of his freckles and his blue eyes.<br /><br />He smiled as he kissed me. The butterflies that had been dusting my stomach walls lifted up through my lungs and out through my shoulder blades.<br /><br />Years later I would see him at a show where his band was playing. He shined when he smiled as told his friends gathered at the bar "This is the girl who taught me to kiss." I rolled my eyes, nudged his shoulder and announced that I would buy the next round.<br /><br />As I turned toward the bartender I smiled and closed my eyes for a second. <em>He</em> was the one who gave me what I longed for. My first kiss.<br /><br /><em>Written of course, for Mike.</em>Sara Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11834433861766953645noreply@blogger.com2