reverb10 :: Ordinary Joy.

What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?

This year was actually filled with moments of true joy, from dozens of everyday activities with the kids and sharing life with my entire family on more than just special occasions to celebrating the milestones of my best friend’s career and our near-daily texting sessions about everything and nothing at all. But I think my greatest moments of joy have come through my daily photo project. I saw the world more clearly and more intimately than ever before, and I began to develop a sense of composition and technique through the discipline of finding that “one great shot” in each and every day. I see things now that I never saw before, and I’ve become much more bold in following my heart without fear of what others might think of me. And in doing that, I’ve inspired a few others to do the same!

Looking back through my year of photos, I found two that created a slight quickening of my heart as a smile also came to my lips. These are my two favorite self-portraits of 2010. I love them because they were not planned and have no great meaning or story associated with them. Instead, these photos were both taken spontaneously when I looked down and saw something surprising. When I come back to these photos in the future I won’t recall the circumstances nor my reasoning, but I am positive that I will smile. And hopefully, I’ll feel the same surge of joy that I’m feeling now.
 

heart

 

shadow

 

reverb10 :: Wonder.

How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?

Just over a year ago I challenged myself to take at least one photo per day in order to begin a habit of “becoming aware.” In doing so, I began to see things in my world that I’d never noticed before. And this year, more than ever before, I saw the unbelievable creativity of the clouds in the sky, as if my God, the Creator, hand-painted each and every horizon for my personal pleasure. I’d be willing to bet that more than a quarter of my photos for all of 2010 contain images of the sky. I know I pulled off the road more times than I can count just to capture one breathtaking view after another. I even remarked at one point that I’d never seen such clear blue skies and amazing clouds in all of my life. The response? “They’ve always been there. You just haven’t been looking.” And so I’ve learned to look. And my heart skips a beat each and every time. Our God is truly AWE-some.

This is one of my favorites: a lightning-filled sky caught on film!
 

 

Sunday Seven :: Best Popcorn Entertainment of the Summer

 

In no particular order, these have been my favorite entertainments of the summer, viewing-wise.
 

ONE
The many tv series on the TNT and USA networks, including Leverage, Dark Blue, White Collar, Burn Notice, Memphis Beat, Rizzoli & Isles, Covert Affairs, and Psych. The best television is happening on cable!
 

TWO
Rubicon on AMC. It reminds me of 70s-era thrillers like Three Days of the Condor crossed with A Beautiful Mind. And it stars an old favorite of mine, James Badge Dale. It’s like I created this show all on my own!
 

THREE
Salt. The more I think about it, the more I love it. It’s the best kind of summer movie: none-too-heavy, action-packed, with beloved actors and characters that continue to resonate after the credits roll.
 

FOUR
Summer Under the Stars on TCM, as well as the movies from 31 Days of Oscar that still linger in my DVR. One of my all-time greatest pleasures is, and has always been, film marathons featuring favorite actors. And when those movies are pre-80s classics, it just doesn’t get better than that.
 

FIVE
Gilmore Girls: The Luke and Lorelai Romance. I’ve never returned to the entire series of Gilmore Girls, but when I ran across the beginning of the Luke & Lorelai episodes I knew I had to watch them to the end. For me, it’s the best part of the series, and the added bonus of Lane and Zack’s romance plus the Rory/Logan story just reminds me how incredible the series was and how little has come along since that can compare. I’m laughing like I’ve never seen these episodes before.
 

SIX
Top Chef on Bravo. Every time I watch, I get hungry. But I’m also just amazed at what the chefs can do in such little time. I also like that this season has less D-R-A-M-A than previous years, which means more focus on the important part: all that amazing food.
 

SEVEN
The Expendables, not because it’s a good film — truth be told, I haven’t even seen it yet and don’t expect it to be a good film — but because it’s the literal definition of “popcorn flick.” Any action film that combines ALL of the major action stars of the past twenty years along with a few tough guys who haven’t even been seen for most of those years, well… it just begs to be seen! And with much popcorn and a crowd full of people who can appreciate Stallone, Willis, Schwarzeneggar, Rourke, and Dolph Lundgren. I can’t imagine anything better for the sweltering days of summer.
 

Yes, Stallone’s image is missing from that display. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, people?!?
 

retro photo month :: day six

 
I’m not sure if the tradition of the spring horse began with me or if I was just the next in a long family history of children to while away the hours on the faithful steed, but I can tell you that every child born after me in the family has enjoyed this or a very similar equine companion. The distinct ::squeak::squeak::squeak:: of the springs simultaneously annoys and comforts those within earshot, and its rhythm is soothing to the small rider, intoxicating even. All of my memories involving the rocking horse are filled with joy, both from my own experiences and those of the kids who came after me.

  circa 1970
 

this month’s photos

    

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Retro Photo Month was inspired by Elizabeth Dillow. Be sure to check out her own collection at {a swoop and a dart}.
 

Summer Film Series – Vol. 8, No. 3: TOY STORY 3

July 1, 2010, at Studio Movie Grill in Plano, TX

On this blog I regularly proclaim the pure genius of the Pixar dynasty and never moreso than when I speak of the Toy Story films. In my eyes they will always be the standard by which all other animation (and technologically advanced films) are measured simply because Toy Story was the first of its kind and changed the face of movies forever. Digital had always looked digital before Woody and Buzz arrived on the scene, but after that moment just fifteen short years ago, a whole new world opened before our entertainment-loving eyes. I hold Toy Story dear for very personal reasons, as well, including the fact that it has crossed the boundaries of four generations in my immediate family alone and endeared us all to its world of lifelike toys with the biggest hearts we’ve ever known. And while I love witnessing their continuing saga, I honestly didn’t believe that the third installment could truly be “the best of them all,” as so many moviegoers proclaimed. But I was willing to have that proven to me, so I went to the cinema with a completely open mind and open heart, giddy with excitement for what was to come.

Toy Story 3 is a gift to us who have walked with Pixar and the toys since the beginning. It is a rousing adventure story for kids and a love letter to older fans. In a word, it offers “closure” on the franchise and on the relationships we have built with these rich characters over the past decade. The script uses college-bound Andy to take us through the emotional release — and emotional it is, as entire audiences have been heard weeping during the final act of the film… myself included! — and it provides a beautiful portrait of letting go with the assurance that all will be well in the future. Yet, before we reached that poignant farewell, the ride that took us there was supremely satisfying and contained some of the most brilliantly crafted scenes of any Pixar film to date. True to form, the creative minds behind the film also placed Hollywood homage at exactly the right moments and with perfect finesse. I’m particularly fond of a “prison” scene that adapts Clifton James’s monologue from Cool Hand Luke. I believe I shed as many tears during those moments of laughter as I did in the heart-wrenching scene at the end. And it is these kinds of scenes that stay with me. From Woody’s cry to “Save the children!” whereupon we see a line of crazy-haired Troll dolls trapped on a speeding train, to Buzz Lightyear’s transformation into a Spanish lothario, Toy Story 3 filled the treasure trove of memorable moments to delightful capacity. I couldn’t have been happier!

I didn’t leave the cinema declaring this third film the best of the series — I still hold the first one so dear and find the second one better and better with each successive viewing — but I did find myself fulfilled by the experience. The saga does seem complete to me. I would always welcome more well-crafted tales of the gang, of course, but these three main stories seem to comprise a complete odyssey. Like Andy, I was able to send them on their way with confidence that my time with them had concluded as it should. Now I look forward to reliving the entire tale again and again in the future, and just maybe I’ll get the chance to introduce these beloved characters to yet another generation some day. And I can’t imagine they won’t be loved as dearly.

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image via Rotten Tomatoes and linked to source