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.
Goodbye, Mojave on Flickr by icatchfoxes (melissa olson)
Self portrait, Mojave Desert, September 2012
Once a mid-western girl;
ALWAYS a mid-western girl.
(Source: icatchfoxes)
GPOY: This has been an amazing trip thus far edition.
I love where I’m from. Have I made that clear? Northeast Ohio is spectacular, and so are the people here. This photo was taken in what became my office for the day: my parent’s sun room. The wind blew the trees around all day and the sun filtered in around me.
So much has happened, yet I just cannot find the words to express exactly what that means. For now, just know that I intend to spend my free time in this state in the best ways I know how to spend a midwest summer. I’ve already accomplished several of the usual activities and some new ones as well, but I guess that’s what’s so wonderful about coming home: I’m never really sure what’s about to happen.
My only regret: yesterday I got the worst sunburn I’ve had in years. (note: it cannot be seen in this picture because photobooth doesn’t have a UV detection setting)
GVOY: Sometimes I get serious about using my typewriter. This was in 2009 in my college apartment just before I had to vacate the premises because my roommate had already graduated.
(Source: icatchfoxes)
[m.olson]: PROXIMITY
PROXIMITY
Where items are placed in relation to each other is another important gestalt consideration. Proximity relationships will generally dominate over similarity relationships. The strongest control is available when the two are used together.
There are four specific types of proximity relationships that will be studied in this lesson: close edge, touch, overlap and combining.So similar and proximal. Is half better than none? Probably. I just can’t help but get the sense that the asymptote reference is also fitting in this situation. Never touching. Similar things, symmetrical things, mirror images hurtling through space toward each other only to never be close enough. I hope I’m wrong. I just can’t help but be cynical. I’m not a penguin for crying out loud.
I’m really not a penguin, which is actually a pretty upsetting realization if you think about it.
[this post is from the fall of 2009. I re-read it looking for an old photo this morning and I really felt like this is all entirely applicable still.]
remember when things were simple?
Watching a silent city out an open window and eating otter pops was one of the major highlights of my weekend. When did I stop slowing down and just looking, just listening and just being? I need more nights like that one.
(Source: icatchfoxes)
This is Amanda and I last night at her house. She is one of my all time favorites, and I can’t imagine my life without her. There are just some people who come into your life, and it’s like they were always there beside you and you hope they never leave.
Happy Caturday, y’all. This is picture of me and Novella from almost 6 years ago.
Family Farm on Flickr by icatchfoxes (melissa olson)
I’ve peered through this window more times than I could possibly recollect. No one except members of my family have ever traveled to this place with me. Several times in my life I’ve imagined that I’d taken a friend to this rural farm in Pennsylvania. All of these memories are imaginary, and I’ll always replay the long summer dusks spent swinging on a tree beneath an old oak tree behind a barn that was built 3 generations ago…
horseshoes on Flickr by icatchfoxes (melissa olson)
On my grandpa’s farm in Pennsylvania.
