[m.olson]

I'm Melissa. This is where I write things down and share new things. Sometimes I even post cute pictures of cats...

if you're looking for my portfolio,
it can be found here, or by clicking any of the links across the top of this page.

I just moved back to Ohio after living in the central valley of California for almost three years. People still mention that I'm all grown up and keep asking how being an adult is going, but I really don't know what they're referring to.

I'm officially a (self-proclaimed) curator -- OF GIFS. GIF CONNOISSEUR. Check it out. My GIF blog even made it to buzzfeed once.
ONE MORE CHECK OFF MY LIFELONG INTERNET TO-DO LIST.

Albums of note UPCOMING/2011/2010/2009
A list of albums from the year that had staying power. Not a top album list, because I haven't heard every album, so that just seems a bit silly to me -- the whole "of the year" thing... although I suppose in my own mind that's what they are...

THE ARCHIVES

Nostalgia
a place where I keep things that are already memories and store things that are currently in my life that will inevitably become memories. Vague enough?

Vestiges of a Life Soon Forgotten
A photographic series devoted to images taken in and around my apartment where I lived for 3 years in college. I moved out for good in December 2009.

Photobooth Sketches
photobooth documentation of sketches i have done and/or found.

Monthly Self Portrait Series
This was a short-lived project that sometimes shows up without warning again on my feed, but definately cannot be considered an "on-going" thing.

My New California Life
What started as an essay series about my experiences living on the left coast turned into a general account of my life here -- through words, photos and other ephemera.

jef etters tips of the day
Jef Etters was a colleague of mine who gave me life tips on a daily basis via a telephone call from a rotary phone. I would then transcribe the tips and post them here for the benefit of all mankind. He didn't know what tumblr was (nor does he now), but he did want to share all his wisdom with the world. enjoy.
PLEASE NOTE: Jef did finally get free long-distance after 7pm EST and will occasionally call to give me tips to transcribe. Be on the look out, it'll change your life.

ScreenCaptureSeries
Funny and or poignant things I feel the need to share with the world via screen capture. This project carries on with the luck that the internet will continue to bring the lulz. I think the odds are in our favor.

Home

So here’s some news: I’m moving back to Ohio.

… And I can’t even explain to you how much I’m going to miss Fresno.

This decision has been a long time coming, but I am excited to be able to be close to my family again for at least a little while. I’ve grown to love it here in Fresno. I’ve made friends that are more like family and had the opportunity to work at my favorite job to date. Fresno has become a second home to me, and that’s something I can say for certain I will hold on to, no matter where I end up in the future.

They say home is where the heart is, but now my heart is in two places. I’ve spent the last two years getting to know this city and it’s absolutely wonderful inhabitants, growing up and finding my true passion. I’ve met so many people who have changed my life beyond measure, encouraged me to pursue my passions and (quite literally) helped me find my voice. I don’t think I will ever have the words to thank those who have encouraged me here, who have helped me become the person I am today, who have loved me and been there for me through some really difficult situations. I feel so blessed to know each and every Fresnan I’m lucky enough to call a friend.

Fresno has taught me to:

Embrace the under-dog mentality
Persevere
GO FOR IT

This brings me to my second piece of news: I’m (finally) launching my own business.

In the next two months I’ll be going on adventures, packing my life into boxes, completing several photo shoots and sending emails to a few folks that would be dream clients. I’m already busy planning my going away party as well as working on launching my new portfolio website.

I can’t wait to see where life takes me. I know from this point on there will be no escaping the way I miss people I cannot be near, but this is part of life. I can’t take everyone with me everywhere I go, but that isn’t to say I won’t nag you constantly to come visit me wherever it is that I am (or ask to crash on your couch wherever YOU are).

Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my life, especially during this season of change.

Special thanks to Creative Fresno, The Hide & Seek Family, Mayor Ashley Swearengin & her staff, Suzanne Bertz-Rosa, Hilary Malveaux and the entire team at Catalano Fenske & Associates. All of you have shown me just how amazing Fresno can be, and for that I am so grateful.

Additional thanks to my dear friend Ryan C. Jones for taking the photos that accompany this announcement. I can never thank him enough for his encouragement and friendship.

(Source: icatchfoxes)

# being an adult is terrifying

# california

# icatchfoxes

# moving

# my new california life

# ohio

# personal

# ryan c jones photography

# GPOYW

I ran so hard I couldn’t catch my breath

I’ve been having these rolling feelings; like waves or gusts of wind. I recently decided to switch from running in the morning to running at night. By recently, I mean today. I ran once in the morning (when I was lucky enough to actually wake up early enough to make the temperature outside bearable for such activities).

I alternate running as hard as I can for as long as I can with fast-paced (read: power) walking. I find this makes for a more effective workout than just jogging for an hour. The route I take puts me on an underpass beneath railroad tracks. Tonight, I ran farther than I did when I ran in the morning, but was hesitant to turn around. I wanted to just run forever, as if it were something that would be a sustainable activity, albeit a cowardly one. Then, over the music in my headphones, I heard a train whistle in the distance. I didn’t stop to think how far away the tracks were, but luckily I did stop to make sure I wasn’t going to get hit by a car as I made a 180 back toward the underpass.

I wanted so badly to be beneath the crushing sound of the engine, the cars, the weight of it all. The railroad is the closest thing this city has to the sea, with its rhythm, motion and vast power. I wanted the sound to become syncopated with all the waves of feelings in my head, to balance it out, to get lost in it, for it to get lost in me…

I could see the train. I saw the headlight and the engine. I heard the sound grow as I approached. I was almost there. Then, just as it had arrived, the train was gone. The rushing stopped, the sound faded, the weight rolled onward. I stood and stooped down at the edge of the underpass and considered just staying there to wait for another train, another disaster, another ocean.

I think part of growing up is realizing that a lot of your dreams will come true if you want them to, but also that a lot of your dreams are likely outside your control. The ones that are outside your control are the dreams that you can’t hold onto or get discouraged by when they don’t work out. Those are the dreams that you can change, or they become the ones that make you forget about all the ones that are attainable. Those are the dreams that can be the downfall of everything else if you let them control you. When you realize that, it’s really hard for you to be sad about it. It isn’t hard to be disappointed, but being sad seems silly when it’s so easy to shift.

(Source: icatchfoxes)

# my new california life