This month's D Magazine

This month's D Magazine, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

My photo of Renee Rouleau is in this month's D Magazine.

Jacksonpollock.org

pollock lennon, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Addictive.

Couple more on my flickr.

Fun Mom instant message convo

Carissa: penn is hasseling me about what i'm going to be.

i've always been disinclined to halloween. i don't like being scared. i don't like gross things or gore. i don't like messy spiderwebs or ugly teeth. i don't like plastic things or the smell of "made in china." i don't like candy. i don't like knocking on stranger's doors.

and i despise almost all "holiday" decorations. any holiday.

Kate: wow. you're a fun mom ;-)

Penn Lennon Smith 2008

Every year I make a calendar of Penn. Those in my immediate family receive them as holiday gifts. But, they are available for non-immediate family to purchase for themselves. Just click "Buy Now!"

The Art Calendar will be up soon, available to general public.

Annual Portrait Special!

Annual Portrait Special!, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Last year was out of control. Let's do it again, shall we?

If you did the special last year....then you know you need to start booking now. We're gonna have so much fun!

Tell your friends. Southwest Airlines.....this means you. *smile*

Jason Morgan 19xx--2007

When I heard about Jason's death, every memory I had of him popped up.

March 15, 1993 I and a high school sweetheart were sitting outside his house in plastic lawn chairs with friends. (I remember the exact date for other reasons.) His little brother knew my name but insisted on calling me "the little Chinese girl." Jason's nickname was "Frog" but I never knew why. He once did a flip over home plate playing baseball. He was allergic to shellfish. We listened to Tupac on a tape in his new Chevy with the fluffy dice hanging from the mirror. I can still see the picture of us wearing the purple gown and hat and hugging on graduation day.

When I moved to Memphis I and that same high school sweetheart discovered that Jason lived in Memphis too and we grew these beautiful ideas of how the three of us would be back together again...just like it used to be.

Jason came to my apartment in Memphis one night, but the security guard at the gate wouldn't let him in without id or apartment number or something. I didn't find out till after the fact. We went down to the docks where he worked, but he was already on the boat. So we sat on the bank of the Mississippi and talked to him on our cell phone until it gave out.

My whole time in Memphis, I never actually saw Jason in person.

Jason was a good man. A good man with a big heart who's shiny white gap-toothed grin never failed to make me feel better. And I don't go to funerals. I've been to one in my whole life. But, had I known in time, I would have gone to Jason's. And I'm not one to cry about much. And death is just part of the cycle of life, right?

But for right now, this isn't a cycle, this is Jason Morgan, and he was my friend.

My thoughts go out to his mother and family and everyone who knew him.

Hopeshow.tv

Click To Play

This video is also a love letter to my parents. I talked with a lady yesterday, a mom, who explained to me that no matter what the parents always blame themselves. Imagine having a daughter like me out on the street and you are completely powerless over that. I do not know what that is like, considering I have no children. I would hate to find out. But, they must know that this has nothing to do with them. ---Sherry

Follow Sherry's Journey on Hopeshow airing every Monday and Wednsday.

Pass the Peas

Pre-school etiquette class, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

...or sugar, as it were here. I shot a pre-school etiquette class for Advocate Magazine. Yes, at my job I get to go to tea parties. :)

Hopeshow.tv

Click To Play

Episodes 2 and 3 are playing on Hopeshow. Go watch. Go read. Go feel stuff. And keep up. 'Cause it's good.

Road Trip

This weekend Daniel and I road tripped south to College Station, Texas. Maybe I just wanted to get out of Dallas for a bit or maybe College Station, Texas is slightly magical (or maybe my expectations were low) or maybe Daniel is just the best traveling partner ever.

Answer: D. All of the above.


Hanging out with the folks at Creative Space, watching another Tom Conlon house concert, noting the glaring differences between Dallas proper and rural life, and soaking in the amazing hospitality of Every Being In Sight was an appreciated experience. I realized today, the only "real media" we consumed the whole time was live art and conversation. Not even a stereo on in the car.

Like all good road trips, it didn't last long enough.

Camera only pulled out once, but you can view photos here.

Tom Conlon (with excessive use of italics and bold)

Last night I had the extreme pleasure of watching Tom Conlon play for an attentive living room audience.

And this should happen more often. Friends should gather more often in the rooms of friends and respect and wine and cheese and happy. Even this morning, I am still happy.

"It's like crawling under a warm blanket on a cool night."----D.

It's different than the line at the ticket counter and the banal chatter in the venue and the stumbling drunks and the girls who come to impress with their outfit and the crowd insulting what they came to see with their bobble-headed words they can't even hear over some awful sound system. It's different. And it's so much better.

I am practically demanding this happen more often for the good of us all.

More pics here.

Also, many thanks to "Miss Kate" who apparently plays a mean game of Little Bear and makes "awesome Awesome good quesadillas with hot sauce" and who generously watched Mr. Penn so I could enjoy such a night.

How could you resist?

Penn at work with mom, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Fun and responsible babysitter needed.

Contact.

Nellie McKay

I've been a fan of Nellie McKay since I caught her on some crappy headphones on a plane ride to some destination I can't remember.

Click here to listen to full concert.

Refugee Camp Exhibit

The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) announces "A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City," an 8,000 square foot interactive exhibit that asks the public to imagine they are among the 33 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDP's) worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes to seek refuge from war or conflict.


The experience is extremely well done. I regret not telling you all about this before it was over.


I bumped into the Amazing Fred and his family.


Of course, Penn went with and while we walked and listened we discussed how we have a house and a car and a bed and food and toys and a grassy yard and a dog(s) and a cat and school and books and a television and we're happy. And if we think we can't have everything we want it's only because we are wanting too much.

Seems to be a tough concept for more than just three year olds.

And we went to the exhibit for a variety of reasons. One, to see that not everyone is as safe as us. Not everyone can make the list we just made. And if we have it within our power to help other people be safe or be happy, we must do it. We must at least be aware. We must at least increase our perspective.

We talk a lot about what a "good person" is.

It's funny how many things fall under that category. "Put your dishes in the sink and clean your room." Yes. This is part of being a good person, I promise.

Look for more of my Refugee camp photos in the upcoming Advocate Magazine.

Click here to see more.

Some also on my flickr.

Hopeshow.tv

Click To Play

Hopeshow's first episode is up!

Among the great people involved, Dallas-based Hopeshow is webbed up by your friendly Daniel Miller featuring music by Johnny Citizen and this episode shot by Hal Samples.

God's own optimism

Whenever it's pouring down rain around me and the clouds suddenly part and the sun suddenly breaks through on top of my head I feel like Mother Nature's Optimism is slipping through the cracks in the sky.

Or I feel like I'm about to get beamed up.

Listening to: "Whisper"---The Slack

Piano Man

Penn, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Today we made our first chords.

He is a little confused as to how we can have the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, but not the rest of the letters.

(Taken with camera phone.)

AF Nikkor | 70-300mm 1:4-5:6 G

I've used this lens maayyybe four times. So, I think it's time to part with it. Clean and in perfect working condition. Comes with hood, cap and bag. $100 + shipping, obo.

Contact me if you want it.

My team, Your team

D. and I have been playing a game: Player 1 draws a character with a power. Player 2 then draws a character whose power cancels the power of that previous character. Repeat.

Click here to view the full set.

Hopeshow.tv

Hopeshow is live!

The HopeShow shares videos about the inspiring real-life stories of courageous men and women who have overcome challenging circumstances in their lives. We are devoted to enjoying life, promoting positive energy, new possibilities, journeys of exploration and tapping into a spiritual strength and comfort.

Portrait on black

This brother and sister are naturals.

Shot in Space.

POSITIVENEGATIVE

POSITIVENEGATIVE, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Inspired by...

Trinity Bicycles...

Velodrome, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

....is using my pic! I'm so bummed the races are over.

House turns 100

A house in Munger Place turned 100 and got it's own party.


Best birthday party for a house I've ever been to. Penn got to go to work with mommy again where he earned an "Awwwww" from the crowd by shouting from a herd of children in the yard, "Momma! I love you!"

He then earned a "Gasp!" by playfully throwing some ice at a kid.

Them's the breaks of taking toddlers to work. *sigh*

Look for more in upcoming Advocate.

I can't believe this is my baby

In person, he is, for the most part, a typical three year old. There are flashes of brilliance between the spastic play of boy and the never-ending ramble of his excited voice. But he is a three year old boy.

Until the camera comes out. And when the camera comes out there is a giant sense of age and confidence on his face. You can see what he'll become, somewhere. Not just what he'll look like, but what he Is.

Remarkable.


He helped Hal Samples out on his shoot for J. Hilburn and was such a trooper.

Some photos on my flickr.
Click here to see the rest.

I also decided to give Penn his own set in Flickr.

Dallas Young Democrats and Club Dada

Last Tuesday's event was a lot of fun.


Cash earned her keep at the "photobooth" in Space.


Afterwards we went to Club Dada to watch The Felons. I Love the Felons! Run Run Run played after them. I took some pics not because I think you should listen to them, ahem, but, ahem, because they were trying to play Rockstar with some smoke machines and strobe lights.


Just a reminder, folks, no amount of red light and smoke machine will improve the sound of your band.

Click here to see the full set. Couple more on my flickr.