five things, february 28

1. I think my pharmacy thinks we're cooking up a meth lab. I bought so many cold meds yesterday that I had to purchase them in two transactions. YIkes! It's for me and my husband, I hastily explained. I don't think she cared. She just wanted me out of there before I needed 911 for lack of oxygen due to the coughing.

2. I think the Seth Rogen story from this week was really interesting. He was on Capitol Hill to testify about his charity to support research into Alzheimer's Disease. Only two senators in the subcommittee he spoke before stayed for the whole testimony and several people, according to Rogen FELL ASLEEP during the meeting. Now to be fair, there were several staffers in attendance, and those are the people Rogen is really speaking to. Congressmen and women are too busy in other meetings. And raising money. Oh, that. Seems a shame doesn't it?

I'm glad Seth Rogen went to congress, and I'm sorry he spoke to a bunch of literal empty chairs. I understand that Alzheimer's has touched his family personally, and I applaud his work. What I wish he'd gotten up to speak about (anyone? any celebrity?) to a roomful of empty chairs was how important it is to fund basic research, including Alzheimer's. That next great discovery? The great finding that cures cancer or limits the march of any other nameless disease will only come with more money put to basic research. But if congress isn't listening to the Alzheimer's talk, they likely won't listen to that one either.

3. I think I'm not sure I can't wait the week until this movie comes out. Wes Anderson, I love you. And seriously, that movie poster? Frame worthy.

4. I think I'm so glad my mom sent me this link from the New York Times. I'd breezed past it when it hit my twitter feed, and having her send it to me made me pause and really look. We talk about these kinds of things a lot, the photographers I hang with. There's all sorts of buzz these days about how our compulsion to photograph every experience causes us to remember less not more. So what happens on vacation? Where's the balance between capturing your memories and enjoying your time away? For photographers, especially. At my photography group we talk about how reluctant we are to pull out our big cameras in favor of our phones. I'm not sure where I fall, but I think about it, especially when I'm traveling, a lot.

5. I think I can't believe next week is the last week of the General Assembly session. Cal graduates next Saturday, and then he's home for good. So bittersweet. In the meantime, Neel and I are going out to dinner every night next week.

five things, february 21

1. I think as I'm trying to write this post the US vs. Canada gold medal hockey game is in sudden death overtime. I have no real idea what's going on, but I'm having trouble concentrating. And... Canada wins again. Darn.

2. I think I found this article, in the Harvard Business Review, fascinating. Even if it's not a regular thing, we all bump up against times when we're less inclined to want to get something done. Some interesting strategies offered here.

3. I think I'm so thrilled to be beginning my 4-week camera phone class today with my good friend Kim. She is a phenomenal photographer who inspires me every day, and I'm simply looking forward to hanging out with her a little more. Our class is called "Ditch Your Gear" and it's all about getting the most out of the camera you have right in your hand. I'll let you know how we get on.

4. I think I'm super proud of Cal this week. He's been battling a cold pretty much since he left us on Sunday, and he worked hard to power through. Can't wait to pick him up this afternoon.

5. I think one of the highlights of my week was attending a talk by the photographer Platon at The Norfolk Forum speaker series on Tuesday. It was spectacular! Honestly, when I linked to his site, I didn't know which page to pick. Click on the menu and look around. He's photographed so many famous and no-so-famous people around the world, for Time Magazine, for Vogue, for The New Yorker. Chances are you've seen at least one of his portraits somewhere. (Oh, and Erin, if you scroll around on the movies & television page, you might see something of interest [cough-GaryOldman-cough].) And his photo of Philip Seymour Hoffman gave me chills. I went with my friend Artemis, and we'd heard that Platon was a compelling story teller. We weren't disappointed. I could have stayed for hours. Every portrait had a story behind it, and I want to hear them all. Add to that, Platon has great sense of the human spirit and a great understanding for our capacity for compassion and kindness.

He said to us, before he stopped speaking and took questions, "What's the one thing you'd do if you weren't afraid?" There are all sorts of versions of that question floating around these days, but somehow having this amazing man ask it, as we faced all these photos of such amazing people (some you'd want to know and others you decidedly wouldn't), it really struck me. It's been in my mind a lot anyway. My fear. My general stuckness. And then I see something like this, and I think, what right do I have to be stuck? What right do I have to be afraid?