"We miss you so badly."

9:16 AM Posted In , Edit This 0 Comments »

I found out from a wall post via facebook. Alexander McQueen had apparently commited suicide. There really isn't much for me to say other than I was and still am devastated. His hand print on fashion will live on forever. His influence will continue to spread through the minds of transitional creatives around the world. I will continue to create in memory of his work but most importantly his life. R.I.P. Alexander McQueen.


I just wanna make you clap again.

7:12 PM Posted In , , , , Edit This 0 Comments »


This Christmas my grandmother asked me what I wanted. I didn't really have anything big that I've really been wanting other than a mixing board and a 15.1 megapixel canon digital camera. Those items were just too much to ask for and I felt that this Christmas I wanted to shake things up a bit. I wanted to find joy in simple things that make me happy. The list I gave her went as follows...

1. A 5 pack of Medium Hanes V-Neck T's.
2. One pair of socks from each, my grandmother and grandfather.
3. A Clapper.

The request for Hanes T-shirts made me feel, in that moment, that I am truly, my father's daughter. I say that because every year from my grandparents, my father gets new socks, underwear and Hanes undershirts. My reasoning for the V-Neck T's were for a much different reason then my father's reasoning. I want to wear the simple T's in remembrance of the King of Pop, MJ. He made them a staple of his wardrobe and I too will begin to make them a prominent part of my daily look. I also think Dan Rapp is cool because he wore nothing but V-Neck T's all summer.

The request for socks....... hmmmmmmm. Not sure how to explain how that came about. I was really influenced by a, now dear friend, that I met in Vienna. She's from Norway and along with her being an amazing friend she inspired some of my style interests. She would wear socks in a very unique way. I loved it! The idea of taking an article that is generally used for functional purposes and making it evolve into a prominent accessory really made me smile and got me to thinking. So, I thought it would be cool to ask my family to get me socks. Not just 'blaah' socks though. I wanted them to put some thought into the pair that would adorn my feet. Needless to say, my grandparents rocked and so did the rest of my family. So now, if you see me, ask about my socks!

Last but not least, my final request was, yes, a Clapper. Why? Why not? It has become, along with the 'Chia Pet' one of the highest bought gag gifts. Two years ago my family switched up our normal 'Secret Santa' and did a 'White Elephant' gift exchange instead. My grandparents brought a Chia Pet and a Clapper. My sister got the Clapper. One day, about three months after Christmas, I walked into her apartment and when we walked into her room..... Clap Clap Clap, lights on! I lost it! She actually used it. I looked at her like she was the weirdest person for ACTUALLY using it! After that day though, it has grown on me. I have found, over the past year, a love for the silly gaget. As silly as the concept may seem, it rocks! I wanted one for myself and fortunately, through the grapevine, my Aunt, Uncle and two cousins got me a Clapper for Christmas! I think my Aunt was a little nervous that I was going to be disappointed but I have to say that my reaction was quite opposite. I love the little bugger. The first night I used it I think I clapped the light on and off 100 times. I just layed, snuggled into my bed, smiling and clapping away because I didn't have to get up to turn my light off! With three simple, Clap Clap Clap's joy swooped into my life. So Akon, if you truly want to make someone "....Clap again." Then I suggest getting that special someone a 'Clapper'.

"One Time"

3:02 PM Posted In , Edit This 0 Comments »



This kid is so freaking cute. What a doll. I'm a fan.

Vera Gagme.

7:31 AM Edit This 2 Comments »



It's been a battle with my family since this brand emerged on the scene, Vera Bradley. I think it was the middle of high school when the epidemic started. It was right after the north face fanny. Apparently quilted bags that had matching accessories were the new thing. I have to say that Ms. Vera is brilliant. The way she is running her business is just adding to the frenzy. Her simple marketing structure of releasing a few patterns a season and then discontinuing them is so smart. The sad thing is that everyone feeds into it and then they have to get their hands on their favorite pattern before its existence is over. Then they will find a new pattern and bam, new obsession and new goal of owning EVERYTHING in a new pattern. Simple marketing plan. This is were I have an issue and my hate for Vera Bradley stems, the principle behind it. I do really dislike the aesthetics as well but there are a lot of brands that I don't care for their look but they aren't creating a consumer crazy, cookie cutter sub culture.
You can find these bags, well patterns (I say pattern because she has expanded WAY farther then a bag) in any sorority, private high school, public high school for that matter, it's with in those institutions that the sub culture of Vera Bradley thrives. Then there are the rules, do you mix and match patterns or do you stay true to the pattern that you first started with until you're forced to find a new pattern? I say if you lose sleep over that, then you have a problem. Then again if you own more than three patterned sets of Bradley's stuff I, personally, see that as a problem as well.

Here's another problem I see, the Vera Bradley outlet.......


........... anxiety.

So now that i've established the principle of Vera Bradley which makes me uneasy I would like to voice my frustration of how my family likes to persuade me into using her stuff. Not to mention guilt me into using her stuff.

Mom: "Kasper, do you want this wallet I got the other day?"

Me: "Is it Vera Bradley?"

(I got no comment she just showed me it as if I wouldn't recognize it as a VB product)

Me: "Mom, I don't like her stuff, period. It's nice and all for you but I don't want ANY of her stuff."

Mom: "...but Kasper it has this great place for your coins and it would look nice with the pattern I got you last time."

Me: "I didn't even want that Mom, I only use it cause you got it for me for Christmas and I felt bad and guilty for not using it."

Mom: "It's not that bad...."

Me: (I walked away.)

Now it has come to my family making remarks about how I am "too cool" to wear VB stuff. It's annoying but you know what, Yes! Yes, I am waaaaaay to cool and awesome to conform to standards set by those who are to self conscious to let their true style shine and guess what, I don't want Uggs either. Are my accusations based on stereotypes, mostly. I do have lots of friends who wear VB and I love them just the same. In fact I have three pieces thanks to my family but that doesn't mean I like, respect or agree with her brand. There is a problem that needs to be recognized and then stopped. I guess as long as VB isn't showing in Paris, London, Milan or New York's fashion weeks I will just suck it up and continue to deal with the over population of quilted patterned stuff.

26.2+88.8=115

6:24 PM Posted In , , , , Edit This 0 Comments »
Tonight I ate dinner at my grandparents house with Emily P. We went over for a farewell to my Paw paw's hamburgers and to write our itinerary for Nerinx Hall's pre-season meeting we're having this wednesday. If you don't already know, Emily is Nerinx Hall's new head swimming coach and when she was told she could choose her assistant coach, naturally, she chose yours truly, me. I'd like to think of us as "The Dream Team". Anyway, while we were eating dinner at my grandparents tonight we got talking about running with my Paw paw. He used to be a big time runner. I'm talking running marathons all the time, St. Louis, Chicago, Boston... any marathon. He held the record for his age group in the St. Louis marathon. Yes, he was good. All of this I already knew though but tonight I found out really, just how crazy-awesome my grandfather was (and probably still is). He has ran a total of 115 miles at one time! Obviously it wasn't non stop but it just so happens that there is an event held in Cape Girardeau of all places that is a 24 hour run/walk. Apparently crazies come out and see how far they can run in 24 hours! He ate dinner and would walk a little bit and even changed shoes at one point, how amazing. And get this, it was around a track! He circled a track for 24 hours! Now I can't help but wonder who the hell counted these peoples laps because if they had to do it themselves that would be awful. I can barely keep count past one thousand yards when I'm swimming let alone 115 miles of running! Now that is an achievement. My grandfather has also made me question the integrity of the sport itself, long distance running, such as a marathon. Now a days people only do it for completion and I have upmost respect for that. My two my swim was for completion but what about time? Pushing your self to be the best? Making a commitment to the sport and the culture that comes with it. It's almost become a trend to finish a marathon. Apparently back in the day it was for time and the times to qualify were harder then than they are now! Now, in 2009, with all the people just completing a marathon it's going to become a norm. It could be seen as artwork. Printmaking for instance, you have 100 prints of an image as opposed to five prints of another, which will be worth more, more meaningful? The one that doesn't have as many made, it brings the value up. So if most people complete a marathon, where is the meaning? I would hope that it is internal because to the outer world now a days it's not as big of a deal. Or is it? Who knows. I know one thing though, swimming is for me and i like watching running from the sidelines!

My name really is Kasper.

5:17 PM Posted In , , Edit This 0 Comments »
I have had a lot of reactions to my name. Most of the time it's the same one, "wait, Kasper isn't your nickname! It's your real name?" I know it might be hard to believe but yes, it is in fact my legal name given to me at birth. For the longest time I didn't know there was anything different about my name or maybe I should say special.

Yesterday when I was opening the pool I had a woman give me response to the fact that my name was Kasper that I had never heard before.

Upon her hearing someone say my name,

Veronica: Oh my gosh, they call you that?!

Me: Yea, well it's my name.

V: That's your real name?

M: (I thought to myself, "No, it's my fake name, an alias.") Yup, it's really my name.

V: Woooooow, your parents must have a great personality.

M: (nervous laughter) haha, yea, I guess.


I couldn't help but think to myself, did she mean to say, "wow, your parents have a good sense of humor." As if naming your child Kasper is a big funny joke. I wanted to say, "Yea, well if you think my name is interesting you should hear what they named by my twin sister!"

Needless to say I love my name, almost as much as I love myself. haha

Collaboration with Mr. Hirst?

6:57 PM Edit This 1 Comment »
I can't help but dream big and think that this is a possibility for Linnea and me. Why not? I am rationalizing this and I think that it is an opportunity of a lifetime! Not to mention the fact that we would be getting paid. The flight is a bit price-E but other then that we would have a place to stay and we get paid so that will help with the other expenses of the trip. What an awesome way to ring in the new year too. I'll continue praying. :)

http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/poplife/twins.shtm

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