sun studio

MSN had an article this morning on "Touring America's Pop Culture"... in that slideshow was Sun Studio in Memphis, TN which I went to last 4th of July... wanted to post a few pics from my first trip to the birthplace of Rock & Roll!

The Sun rises on rock ’n’ roll (Memphis, Tenn.)

In 1952 Sam Phillip started Sun Records at 706 Union St. in Memphis, Tenn., and two years later a young truck driver named Elvis Presley recorded his first song there. Other musicians discovered or recorded by Sun Records in the early 1950s included Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins; together with Presley, they became known as the Million Dollar Quartet (the subject of a 2010 Broadway musical by that name). Sun Studio has since the location for recordings by acts such as U2 and Def Leppard; more recently younger touring artists, from Jakob Dylan to Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, have recorded there, their work broadcast as Sun Studio Sessions on many PBS stations. In 2003 the site of the record company and recording studio was named a National Historic Landmark.  The legendary building is open daily, with tours given hourly from 10:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Above: All of the hit records produced and recorded at Sun Studio (in that exact room!) Here I am sangin' with THE Elvis Presley microphone...the exact one that recorded some of his biggest hits. I even stood on his same X on the concrete floor where he swayed with those hips. What a tour!

i'm in love....

It is the love that you love. 
It is love that makes you dream. 
It is love that wants love. 
It is love that makes us cry ... 

But all those who believe they love each other, 
Those who pretend to love, 
Yes, all those who believe they love each other 
Will never cry ... 

In love, there must be tears 
In love, we need ... 

And those who have no tears 
Will never love ... 
We need both, and so many tears 
To have the right to love ... 

My love, oh I love you, 
You make me cry often ... 

I have given my tears, 
I cried for a better love to you, 
I paid so many tears 
To always have the right to love ... 
Forever ... the right to love!

**so few things in life are about us... love is all about us and how that love transcends everything making us shapable, lovable, comfortable and loyal partners. I have never felt this way before...I love him with all that I have.

delicate walls...

 

"Imagine you’re strolling down a fabulous old street in the heart of Paris and you spy a wonderful decades-old mansion, sooty with age and covered with gargoyles and window boxes overflowing with lavender, roses, honeysuckle. You stop to admire but then, out of the corner of your eye you see a big black wrecking ball about to smash the building down. 'Noooo,' you cry as you clutch your Lulu Guinness handbag and rush in, determined to save the age-old hand-decorated plastered panel walls." -Kathe Fraga, artist

 

Today I found some amazing hand-painted French wallpaper by Kathe Fraga and really wanted to share. What a gorgeous one-of-a-kind way of creating a colorful, lively and energized space that has all of the charm and beauty of art with the conceptual idea of wallpaper...that's divine.

 

"One Step A Mile" Screening in Chicago

"What we can't see makes what we can see. One mustn't despise a good feeling."- Joe Archibald

I auditioned for an indy film while living in the Windy City and Ian Bogere, a grad from Columbia College, took a chance on casting me for the role of Chanel, a hooker with a heart of gold. I play Joe Archibald's love interest who shows him another side to life. The side where love can conquer all despite losing parents, being shunned from society and not having any place to turn. Honestly, it was one of the best experiences of my life thus far and I am honored to be a part of such a film. Ian's hard work and dedication to making "One Step A Mile" screenable is a testament to his character and creative talent. It is being screened tonight in the same place where I went to audition that spring morning. The message of OSAM is to hold on, put one foot in front of the other and choose to LIVE life no matter what happened yesterday. I love that message. And... it's so fitting for the screening to be tonight, for I too, have found that same undeniable magic that only loving someone great can provide you. 

One Step A Mile and it's been one month ago today since our chance meeting...life is so amusing.

solitary by Klimt

Seated Woman, with Open Legs, 1916/17

Pencil, red crayon, highlighted in white,

57 x 38 cm

Oil on canvas, Austria

Sitting over coffee this morning with my lifelong friend and confidant I was taken by this female form and the loveliness of her face. Klimt has been described as a great "psychologist of womanhood" yet consisted mainly of erotic and sexual enjoyment-no more. They say that the type of art you are naturally drawn to liking says a lot about how you live your life. Up to this point, I have lived alone, worked in a city without family and had no real attachments to things, so I must say that seems about right. I am drawn to single images of a person not a group, making solitary moves...

This sketch was really beautiful to me and I wanted to share. The 25th Anniversary book of KLIMT by Taschen was picked up on a sunny day in LA at the Grove...love that store!

i (heart) fall

Thievery Corporation is crankin' on the iPod this morning and I have the windows open throughout the entire house. I love this time of year when the air is cool like a breeze coming off of the ocean. the leaves have begun falling making any drive exciting and colorful with burgundy hues highlighting the hillsides. traveling to St. Louis last week for business, I remembered why the Ozarks in the fall is like nowhere else. I wanted to share a few snapshots as of late and send warm fall fuzzies to all of those fall lovers out there...

PEACE

Lots of great stuff has transpired since the last writing...fall has begun, the house is getting painted, I have began to work out again, my nails haven't been bitten since July and I met a great guy who makes me blissfully girly ( i know, what?!).  

That being said, I was cleaning out my desk today and rediscovered the Universal Peace Covenant written in purple on a single sheet of paper that a girl that I (in true Marissa fashion) serendipitously met in the Denver airport on a layover gave me. She was a dedicated member of the School of Metaphysics which is headquartered in Springfield, my hometown. We talked for a few hours about life, the teachings of the School and how her life had been impacted by simplifying. She didn't own a cell phone, computer, didn't have an email address to give me. She simply had an address in a small town where she practiced her newfound teachings and lived a solitary yet meaningful and purposeful life. 

I read through this today and realized that this covenant is what we all need with us doing the seeking, teaching, learning and thus attaining. I love to meet people but I must say this young woman was an old soul who taught me so much in that short period of time. Here are some of the main points that fall at the top of each paragraph.

Peace is the breath of our spirit. 

Peace is our birthright. 

Our world is in the midst of change. 

We affirm that peace is an idea whose time has come. 

World peace begins within ourselves. 

Peace is first a state of mind. 

Peace is active, the motion of silence, of faith, of accord, of service. 

Peace is achieved by those who fulfill their part of a greater plan. 

Living peaceably begins by thinking peacefully. 

Peace be with us all ways. May Peace Prevail on Earth.

a sunday in september

the last 3 weeks have been eagerly rushed, emotionally demanding and yet surprisingly exciting. i have been granted a new look into the life of yours truly. single again and alarmed that independence feels this good, i have taken a closer look at what makes ME happy, content and never yearning for more out of life. i guess i am hard to please. a bit OCD. a tad impatient. (that last statement made me laugh aloud) since my life has been spent being in a rush. 

but for the last few weeks, i have taken the time to just be. like the common song, i have enjoyed simply doing nothing and anything at all. i am learning that in those moments of silence are when you learn the most about your self. 

i love the fall weather, the rain has been steady and sullen but has made the heat of the summer subside nicely into crisp, clean air. projects abound and life is joyful again. trips are planned, birthdays celebrated and memories made like Adele sings about.

happy 25th day of September, whoever you are regardless of where you are today...we are both on a journey to finding happiness, love and laughter within. 

downtown at dusk

 There are some really aesthetically pleasing old buildings in downtown Springfield. Historical Commercial Street is another spot where snapping photos is a favorite past-time. I wanted to share a few of my recent photographs....

happy birthday, LoLa

Today you are 12. How is that possible? Time has flown by as you have grown into the most amazing, beautiful and unique people in my life. Life has taken me to different physical places but I have never stopped adoring, bragging or highlighting your lives and accomplishments no matter where I was. The best memories of my life involve the two of you and I am so honored to have you in my life. 

I am proud of your character, humor and most of all, your unwavering strength through life's twists and turns. You are good. You are simply divine. Stay purely sensational! Never change your morals for anyone. Always say thank you. Never take anything or anyone for granted. These are my wishes for you on your birthday. 

9.1.99 was the day the world would never be the same. I love you more than you will ever know. I am always there through this journey. I love and admire you.  

With love and laughter,

Aunt Rica