Airing Dec 3, at 10pm

Thanks for ruining my birthday in advance, MTV.

I don't know why but I've decided to make a list of all my favorite baby names. Maybe it's because I've hated that my name is so common, but at least the spelling is different.

Girls:
Aurora
Olivia
Lorelai (rotten gilmore girls almost ruined it for me)
Payton
Jet
Patricia (after my mother)
Ophelia
Aurelia
Lucinda
Aiofe (pronounced Eva, Gaelic)

Boys:
Elliot
Anderson
Peter (after my dad)
Luca
Penn
James (not Jim or Jimmy, but James)
Milo
Xavier
Baskin (as in Leonard, not Robins)

Because I'm a nerd I'm drawn to Italian and Gaelic names (my heritage) and french names for some random reason.

Holy bad blogger/photographer, Batman!

, originally uploaded by cmaio.

This was the last image I've developed since July. Unacceptable.

Menage a Trois

For the past five months or so this has been my standby choice in wine. Menage a Trois is what the name literally translates, a "household of three", what were you thinking? Double entendre aside, this light and flavorful red is a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet. Zinfandel being the dominate flavor. I've had a variety of foods with this beaut and have yet to find something it doesn't go well with. It's incredibly smooth. Friends that are not so into wine or prefer whites even enjoy it. Made in 2007 (great year) and released in 2008 it's one of the best reds I've had for $15. Its regularly priced at $12.99 but often on sale for $10.99, I've even seen it available online for $7.99 Thank you, California.

The Bad Photoshoper

This, in my opinion is epic graphic design fail. I saw this in Baltimore just before I moved and have been meaning to post it. I should submit this to Photoshop Disasters. Really, it would have been easier and cheaper if they just wrapped the dress in police caution tape.

Wanted: Photo excursion buddy/buddies ASAP

My friend Kristen gifted me some expired 35mm print and slide film from possibly the 70s/80s. She said it was kept refrigerated so it should still be ok. I'm hoping for some color skews though. She also gave me a bunch of 120 print film which I'm very excited about! I just need to get out there and shoot. So, Rachel get your new lens. Ryan and Alex get your butts up here. Going on photo excursions alone just does not seem exciting.

Such a bad blogger.

I know, I know. So I've been telling myself I'd make a post for weeks now, and I'm just finally getting around to do so.
No one likes a dusty blog.
My original idea for this blog was that everything I'd post in it would be art related, but I haven't been feeling very inspired lately. And what is even worse than not feeling inspired is that I feel like a tool saying I don't feel inspired. Epic art fail.

So I've been thinking/talking with some of my more single friends about dating and have reached several conclusions I'd like to share.

1. Emoticons are deal-breakers. No if-and-or-but's about it. I"ll say it again. Emoticons are deal-breakers.
2. In the beginning at least, minimal textural contact. Meaning somewhere around the first, second and maybe even third date don't try to have a conversation though text messages. Texting to say you had a great time or to confirm plans is one thing, but you can't get to know someone through text messages, you can't read body language or hear their tone of voice through texts.
3. If you are dating someone older than you and you have a hard time with it, you're probably too young to be dating that person and should date someone your own age. While there is nothing wrong with dating someone older or younger than you as long as you connect and relate with that person and all the good stuff. I've got this friend... we'll call her Jane. Jane gave her number to a guy that is maybe two years younger than Jane. We'll call this young man Tarzan.Tarzan thought that Jane was "so old' and would send her texts saying things like "Hi, mom! Let's have a drink this weekend." Now, Tarzan being the misguided soul that he is probably thought the mom comment was cute. News flash, Tarzan, it's not. You might as well have thrown an emoticon in there.

I've also come to the conclusion that dating in the suburbs when you don't drive is virtually impossible. Yet another reason why I need to get the hell out of the suburbs before I lose my mind.