The Knife + Opera = Amazing /  by Jessica Peterson

Weird at its best!

The Knife (along with Mnt Sims and Planningtorock) scored an opera inspired by Charles Darwin last september (I would have given any appendage to have seen it). Fortunately a studio version will be released March 1st (HURRAY)! Read more on the Album, Tomorrow, in a year at Pitchfork.com where you can also download one of the tracks.



Thanks heavens for creatives like these to keep us all entertained.

Monday... /  by Jessica Peterson


Had lunch with oldest friends Ryan and Vic
feels like we were the characters in Seinfeld
and I like that

Hours on the computer trying to prepare for something I can't really prepare for

V and I watched a movie about passionate people
who have gone crazy

I talked with C on the phone for a while about magical people
and the people
we make magic in our heads.

and used
A chalkboard in my room.
For notes, lists and drawings.



Hope Tuesday is as nice to me

The best day ever... /  by Jessica Peterson

Not really but this is what made me happy today.

I slept in (shouldn't have made me happy because it is one of my resolutions to not be such a lazy ass)... anyway, I slept in which felt nice because I was up late last night. I missed my church meetings (also no good). I went to a friends church that started later in the day. When this was all over and I was on my way home my tummy told me it was very hungry, I told tummy to not get too excited because I knew I had nothing of greatness at home to grace it with. So I get home and to my surprise I see 5 ice cold diet cokes sitting in the snow outside my house, strange I know (Max had pulled them out of the garage and all over yard last week to revolt against his house-banishment) So, I gathered the cokes like a hen gathers her chicks, took them in and gave them a quick bath before their consumption (gross maybe, but oh so worth it). I open the freezer with little expectation of finding something to go with my Diet Coke and then there they were, my soul lit up like Oliver's did on Christmas morning... A GIANT BOX OF TOASTER STRUDELS! A.) I am not sure when the last time I have had a Toaster Strudel was, I am guessing it has been at least 15 years and B.) I had no idea they even made Toaster Strudels these days. I ripped that box open, examined the lovely preserve laced pastries and the adorable frosting pouches all lined up so bravely. I placed them gently into the toaster and watched them slowly descend down into the black cavities of warmth and when they returned I drizzled that sugared frosting on them like there was no tomorrow and I ate them... I ate them real good.
It has been a good day.

Anyway.

This really hasn't been the best day ever, actually it is a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10. I am just procrastinating doing my work.

The End

Healer/Idealist /  by Jessica Peterson

The other night a few of us sat around and took the Myers-Briggs test. I am an INFP.

Here is a little of the Healer/Idealist Profile I grabbed.

  • Warmly concerned and caring towards others
  • Sensitive and perceptive about what others are feeling
  • Loyal and committed - they want lifelong relationships
  • Deep capacity for love and caring
  • Driven to meet other's needs
  • Strive for "win-win" situations
  • Nurturing, supportive and encouraging
  • Likely to recognize and appreciate other's need for space
  • Able to express themselves well
  • Flexible and diverse
INFPs are highly intuitive about people. They rely heavily on their intuitions to guide them, and use their discoveries to constantly search for value in life. They are on a continuous mission to find the truth and meaning underlying things. Every encounter and every piece of knowledge gained gets sifted through the INFP's value system, and is evaluated to see if it has any potential to help the INFP define or refine their own path in life. The goal at the end of the path is always the same - the INFP is driven to help people and make the world a better place.
INFPs present a calm, pleasant face to the world. They appear to be tranquil and peaceful to others, with simple desires. In fact, the INFP internally feels his or her life intensely. In the relationship arena, this causes them to have a very deep capacity for love and caring which is not frequently found with such intensity in the other types. The INFP does not devote their intense feelings towards just anyone, and are relatively reserved about expressing their inner-most feelings. They reserve their deepest love and caring for a select few who are closest to them. INFPs are generally laid-back, supportive and nurturing in their close relationships. With Introverted Feeling dominating their personality, they're very sensitive and in-tune with people's feelings, and feel genuine concern and caring for others. Slow to trust others and cautious in the beginning of a relationship, an INFP will be fiercely loyal once they are committed. With their strong inner core of values, they are intense individuals who value depth and authenticity in their relationships, and hold those who understand and accept the INFP's perspectives in especially high regard. INFPs are usually adaptable and congenial, unless one of their ruling principles has been violated, in which case they stop adapting and become staunch defenders of their values. They will be uncharacteristically harsh and rigid in such a situation.
In general, INFPs are warmly affirming and loving partners who make the health of their relationships central in their lives. Although cautious in the beginning, they become firmly loyal to their committed relationships, which are likely to last a lifetime. They take their relationships very seriously, and will put forth a great deal of effort into making them work.
INFPs are "natural" parents. They accept and enjoy the parental role, seeing it as the natural extension of their value systems. They make use of the parental role for developing and defining their values further, and consider it their task to pass their values on to their children. They take their role quite seriously. Warm, affirming, and flexible, the INFP generally makes a gentle and easy-going parent in many respects.
INFPs are warm and caring individuals who highly value authenticity and depth in their personal relationships. They are usually quite perceptive about other people's feelings and motives, and are consequently able to get along with all sorts of different people. However, the INFP will keep their true selves reserved from others except for a select few, with whom they will form close and lasting friendships. With their high ideals, they are likely to be drawn to other iNtuitive Feelers for their closer friendships.

I don't really expect anyone to read all of that...

One of My best friends is also an INFP (holler Claire!), we have been kind or ridiculous about this whole things because now everything we talk about somehow turns into a personality dissection and why we are reacting to life the way we are... I guess INFP's only
make up 1% of the population so when we find each other we are able to bond well, and because we are very misunderstood it's nice to know someone with similar inner workings.

Anyway... it has been a lot of fun and more eye opening and helpful than I would have ever thought a generalized personality test could ever be.

You should try it.

/  by Jessica Peterson


Annie Leibovits
Sebastiao Salgado
Sally Mann
Alec Soth



I've been spending a lot of time in the library doing research and gathering photographs for for the class I am teaching this winter semester. It has been a huge blessing for me to sit down and ingest all of this amazing work, I feel inspired. Grateful to be able to have so much at my fingertips.

Sledding /  by Jessica Peterson

It's better than I remembered.


Gotta love T's pants...



Mom sleds for the first time in years.
Brave woman.

Chuck and his dudes




I love these of Oliver.

I love Abby's face in this one!
Snowman.


I can't even begin express my gratitude for my family.
I would take these moments over any by far.
I love you guys so much.