Let's make happy
Awesome Things
The Electric Company
Jun 10th
Did you hear that Seseame Workshop is producing new episodes of The Electric Company?
I don’t have any specific memories of the show, which was in reruns on PBS by the time I was around to see it, but it must have made an impression on me, because everything I imagine about childhood in the ’70s seems to be based on the show: cheery diversity, music that was both educational and smart, and swirling animations in yellows and reds.
Here’s a delightful clip with Morgan Freeman that I could watch over and over again. I love its totally analog quality.
The new episodes are supposed to begin airing this fall.
Suitcase Table
Jun 9th
The same day that I scored a delightful rubber cat at the Hell’s Kitchen flea market, John picked up a fun foldable table.
As you can see, the sides of the case become the tabletop, and the seats unfold from the inside to make a picnic-style table. Pretty cool! It would be even cooler if the table weren’t kind of rickety-feeling when you sat on it, and if it wasn’t reealy heavy when folded up.
Empty Windows
May 28th
I took this photo with my phone camera a few weeks ago. It’s a building on 11th Avenue in New York, not far from where I live.
I like how it’s a normal building, then it just stops, as if part of the backside melted away. Not sure what’s going on here.
Save the Merpeople
May 12th
Last year, husband John worked with the nonprofit organization Oceana to write and direct a humourous commercial about the plight of the merpeople, whose habitat and chances for a hot date are being destroyed by reckless overfishing. The idea was that the fake campaign would encourage people to get behind a real (and very important) cause.
The finished commercial and accompanying website are now online for all to see. (My friend Sarah Ries stars in it as the lovely-but-desperate “Merbachelorette.”)
If you like what you see, please visit the website to find out how you can help protect ocean life and ecosystems. The merpeople will thank you.
To Japan!
Apr 10th
Did I mention I’m going to Japan? I’m leaving in about 12 hours!
Husband John and I will be taking his mom and big brother on a 10-day tour of Tokyo and Kyoto, with a stopover in Nagoya to see friends. Yay!
I wasn’t necessarily expecting to return so soon (it was just about a year ago that John and I went for our last vacation), but the timing just worked out for all four of us. I think it’s going to be a riot to go with two people who’ve never been and don’t speak the language. We’re planning on lots of sightseeing, shopping, eating, and other fun activities that are so much more exciting there than here for some reason. Like crane games!
Like last year, I might be a tad bit slow to respond to emails, but I’ll be online when I can, and still posting to the blog.
I’m also hoping to find tons of toy inspiration and the prizes for this year’s Mochimochi Photo contest!
Speaking of the photo contest, it’s not too early to start working on your entries! The contest will probably be a bit earlier this year—I’m thinking summertime or thereabouts. Here’s an amazing photo already from Giolou.
Ninjabunzilla! I hope I get to meet him in person in Tokyo.
