Life, in pictures

9 April 2009 | 7 Comments

I am a writer and express myself in words, always words (millions of words… I thanked Nicola last night for being patient with me while I processed something, and she laughed and said, Darling, if I couldn’t cope with processing we would have split up nineteen years ago). But when it comes to events in the real world, I often like them better expressed in pictures. There’s something about photographs — their power to capture a real person in a real moment (or a not-so-real moment), the sense of being there — that I find compelling.

If I want to learn about an experience, deepen my understanding of it, I’ll go read about it. But often what I want is to know how it felt. The best photographs dissolve the barriers of space and time and bring me straight into the moment, the immediate there-and-then. Novels and stories put me into the moments too, of course, but they are a process. Probably why I do them (grin). Words take me into myself: photos take me bang! straight into other places.

I grew up with LIFE magazine. In my day, LIFE and National Geographic were the pinnacles of photographic journalism — information and story crystallized into a single arresting image, or series of images. Humans, the world, stillness and motion, life and death, the majestic and the ridiculous — moments of real life that will never come again, but we can see them. In pictures.

I’m still puzzling through my response to photos. I must say that mostly, other people’s vacation pictures and endless wedding photos don’t really do much for me. My wedding photos feel special to me, in part because they were taken by our friend Mark, also a writer, someone who knows how to tell stories in pictures and in words. But even so, I don’t expect them to be special to other people (grin). Mostly, I find my own life as captured in photos less compelling than the real thing. But good photographers record the story, not just the image, and there are some stories of my life that I wish very much I could have such a clear, true record of. That would take me back bang! to the there-and-then. Just for a visit. Just for a moment.

Posted by Kelley | Filed Under blog, life

Life’s for sharing

8 April 2009 | 5 Comments

This was filmed at Liverpool Street Station in London earlier this year, during an actual commute day (in other words, real people are in for a real surprise).

Forget that it’s a commercial. Just have fun.

And because Fun = Good, have some more (thanks to Jennifer for pointing me to this one).

It’s a great ad campaign. It makes me want their phones and their service. And that’s fine with me. If they have this kind of imagination anywhere in their company, and the wit to approve this and make it happen, they can have my money. Because look how much fun everyone’s having. The people dancing, the people watching, the people sharing it all on their cell phones… Look at the comments on YouTube from people who went away a little more happy for having seen other people dance, smile, share.

I hope, I hope, that this is what the future really holds. That the mighty interweb and all our technology won’t just be about retreating into our little fleshpods and broadcasting ourselves one-way into the world. I hope that the future really is about connectivity. We have so much that’s hard to share right now; look how easy it is to share the good as well. Now there’s a thing worth doing.

I stand in awe of all the ways that human beings can create joy. Aren’t people amazing?

Posted by Kelley | Filed Under being human, blog

Women inventing cool stuff

6 April 2009 | 3 Comments

I’m sure you already know that women have invented some really cool stuff
(and yes, a lot of them did it like Ginger, in high heels and backwards).

I’m not good for much today — still making my stand at the precipice of microbial infestation, repelling invaders with my mighty ibuprofen and vitamin C — but I betcha none of these women would have let a little illness stop them from inventing frozen pizzas or torpedo guidance systems. And as soon as I stop hacking my lungs up, I’m going to be just like them.

Women who make things impress the hell out of me. I made a box once that would hold a full water glass stable on the nightstand so the cat couldn’t knock it over at night (our Bella, Zack’s sister, had a passion for bopping things until they fell down). It was just a little thing, but I made it myself, and it pleased Nicola enormously. It’s probably the only useful thing I even conceived and executed in that particular inventive way.

So I admire the women in this article tremendously. If you know about any other cool women inventors, please feel free to share here.

Enjoy your Monday.

Posted by Kelley | Filed Under blog

Viral

5 April 2009 | 4 Comments

By which I do not mean “viral marketing,” but “viral ick.” Am curling up with comfort paraphernalia (tea, books, movies, ibuprofen, and the occasional grim thought about People Who Think It’s Okay to Go Out Sick and Infect Others).

Have fun. Go see if you think Nicola looked like David Bowie back in the day!

Posted by Kelley | Filed Under blog

Party! Sale! Wow!

3 April 2009 | 1 Comment

It’s Nicola’s Party, so you know it’s award-winningly fabulous. And now it’s on sale!

Why are you still here? Go Party for less!

This shameless sweetie promotion is all you’ll be hearing from me today. I am having an official Day Off, enjoying a book and a cup of tea and the company of my favorite person. I hope you’re having a good day too.

Posted by Kelley | Filed Under blog

Foolin’

1 April 2009 | 2 Comments

I don’t do April Fool’s pranks myself (I just fall for them. I am so gullible.). But in honor of the day, here’s a very funny roundup of some of the best April Fool pranks ever from companies you may know and love.

Enjoy your day.

(And read everything carefully! Because people are EVIL! Yes, BayAreaKen, I’m talking to you!)

Posted by Kelley | Filed Under blog

Interview – Nebula Awards

1 April 2009 | 2 Comments

I have a new interview posted at the Nebula Awards website. Thanks to Charles Tan for offering me the opportunity, and to Rochita Loenen-Ruiz for asking great questions. I enjoyed the chance to talk about “Dangerous Space.”

Posted by Kelley | Filed Under blog, news, writing

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