Worth hearing, worth seeing, worth doing

blessed

So I heard Elder Perry and his sweet little wife speak tonight, and they both had some wonderful things to say; unfortunately my over-active mind was in a frenzy so I can only sum things up by saying they had an energy together and it radiated from the pulpit. Elder Perry insists we light a fire and start doing what we need to be doing to live productive, inspired lives or maybe that is just what I got from this evening. Shoot, what am doing with my life? It was lovely to shake the hand of such a great man, who is much taller in person. I had only seem him speak in general conference, or seen his individual photograph as he is an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His wife beamed right next to him and I felt honored to hear their words.

I could only dream of such moments as I lived in South Dakota, and General Conference was about all we had it seemed. I was able to hear from Elder Perry this evening, and Elder Cook joined our ward a few weeks ago due to his own inspiration to get to know the students he makes decisions about, decisions that effect their futures. It was lovely to hear from him, however brief it was. I was also able to meet Elder Wirthlin a few months before he passed away, in his homeward, and I knew I was in the presences of a chosen and inspired man of the Lord. He was very sweet, and I stumbled over my words in my nervousness in meeting him. I had heard him speak to a large single adults crowd, along with Steve Young, relaying some glorious moments in their football days and the roads they took that got them to the present. Apparently it all takes a significant amount of work and patience. I suppose that leaves me hope.

I was also able to hear both Elder and Sister Oaks share a message with us, and the trials Sister Oaks had while she waited to find Elder Oaks. It was a unique story and shows us it is all in theLord's time. I loved hearing their words as well. Sometimes I think I am ready to get married, and sometimes, I wonder when the right time will be? I have much to prepare for, and I suppose that is all I can do right now, but I learn beautiful things everyday, even those trials I am going through are beautiful in the end. I have learned so much lately, and I am finally grateful for everything. I feel peace. I miss him sometimes, and I still love and care a lot about him, and I hope he knows that as well because it is nice to be dear to someone. It is important to remember even those who are called to lead the Church as a whole had their own struggles and still struggle sometimes, and knowing everyone struggles gives me hope, because the Lord will help us through whatever he gives us, and sometimes it is tough love, but that is just part of His eternal love, pushing us to see our potential, and eventually helping us achieve it. This is a wonderful thought I think.

I am so blessed to hear the words I need to hear, be it through the Lord's servants or other vessels around me, or in the Book of Mormon he so graciously gave us as a guide through this lifetime, a little "blue" handbook. We are pretty lucky to have this book, with the teachings of our Lord and Savior on the American Continent, and once again be reminded of the very struggles even the most righteous had as well, and suddenly we know it is all part of the Lord's Plan. I will love my challenges, if not at first, perhaps one day, and I will love the people involved in my challenges. I am beyond blessed to be in Salt Lake, central to the work going forth, with opportunities left and right to hear the Apostles of the Lord, to shake their hands, and thank them for the those words. It was been a beautiful day, and I am just so blessed to be here. I love life, and I love everyone who is in my life. I love my Heavenly Father, and that is never-changing. I get to thank Him for all I am blessed with everyday, and ask Him for the things I need help with in my life, and He listens, and loves me in return. I think we all have it pretty good. You are loved, and that is pretty great.

love, Jordan

brick o' cake

I pretty much just ate a brick of cake. it was not even that great, but I ate it anyway. Do you see a trend occurring? I either A. eat poorly or B. enjoy creative snack choices; regardless I am full and ready to sleep it out. I remember someone telling me you get crazy dreams when you eat chocolate before you sleep. I really hope this was true and I am not just making this up because I dig a good dream-venture. I will be sure to let you all know if I get on of those good flying dreams out of the deal or something, they tend to be my favorite, and if I do, I think I will eat blocks of chocolate cake every night. It would be worth it. K, peace out homies.

chester cheeto: he so fine

You know there is a problem when you have to type with one hand because your other hand is busily gathering puffy cheetos for your mouth to eat, and you keep thinking to yourself "one more cheeto and then I will use both hands to type." It is truly frustrating when one cheeto turns into four and four turns into eight, and you see where I am going with this, and suddenly nothing spectacular has been written becuase I could not stop eating cheetos, sorry friends, maybe another night. toodles.

The Challenge: The bag of Cheetos asks: see if your arm is as long as 29 cheetos puffs.

The answer: I have a 10-12 cheeto arm span. I am officially afraid of 29 Cheeto span people.

google-able

It is official, I am official. My name "Jordan Huntington" when typed into the Google search engine, my website magically appears, not just merely on the first page, but it is the first on the first page. Apparently, Google just really likes me, because right below the link to my website, is the link to this very blog in front of your pretty little heads, unless you have a large head; however, I do love all sized heads. Then, shortly after those two links, is an additional link to my portrait blogspot sight, which I probably should just get rid of now. So, there you have it, put it to the test, or just believe me. I am officially Google-able. It feels glorious to be Google-able. Even the word Google-able is fantastic. Life is better this way. l'extrémit. (the end: in french) also learned through google. Ti Amo Tutti (italian for I love you all) and Gute Nacht (good night in German). Google is love-able and I love to be Google-able. ende (end in German).

Digital Imaging Final Project: I am Every Color

Bright Eyes everyone.

eight by eight

inspired by miss Lindsey.

8 books I have loved
1. Twilight series (most recent)
2. Angles & Demons +
3. The Giver
4. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy +
5. Perks of Being a Wallflower
6. Book of Mormon
7. The Apology
8. The Coming of the Lord

8 favorite places to eat
1. Olive Garden
2. Cafe Rio
3. Senior Max
4. Home
5. Edward/Petty residence (they got skills)
6. Wingers
7. Subway
8. In comfort

8 things that happened yesterday
1. slept in
2. showered the good shower
3. ate left over thanksgiving
4. watched my sister and mother make my grandmother's old recipes
5. laughed.
6. cried.
7. ate pie
8. said happy birthday to someone

8 things I am looking forward to
1. Christmas lights
2. Christmas music
3. Christmas
4. Family
5. Final projects
6. To figure this life out... one day, see how this will end.
7. Reading tonight
8. Ham!!!

8 concerts I would love to attend
1. Menomena (again)
2. Bright Eyes
3. Bob Marley (if it were possible)
4. Fight!
5. Daft Punk
6. Ben Harper
7. Iron & Wine
8. Sufjan Stevens

8 places to visit
1. Venice
2. Mexico
3. Canada
4. Cambodia
6. Cayman Islands
7. Rain Forest
8. China

8 favorite movies
1. Elizabethtown
2. The Fountain
3. The Notebook
4. Everything is Illuminated
5. Ratatouille
6. Sleepless in Seattle (mostly for the music)
7. Harry Potters
8. Lord of the Rings ( basically any good adventure)

8 great songs
1. Ben Harper - Suzie Blue
2. Beirut- Elephant Gun
3. Bob Marley- Could You Be Loved
4. Bright Eyes- This is the First day of My Life
5. Bobby Darin- Beyond the Sea
6. DeVotchka- How it Ends
7. Justice- D.A.N.C.E.
8. Menomena - Wet and Rusting
9. Sufjan Stevens - Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois

8 amazing photographers
1. Robert ParkeHarrison - Architects Brother
2. James Nachtwey- Rwanda (1994)
3. Edward Muybridge - Study of Motion
4. Eugene Aget - documented a changing Paris
5. Francis Frith- travel photographer
6. Amy Jorgensen- Body Archive
7. Richard Avedon
8. Robert Frank

8 impacting things I have heard with my own ears
1. "If you make a mistake, make the best mistake you ever made." -grandfather
2. "Be selfish if you need to." - amanda
3. "If you are looking for a certain response, tell it to yourself." m.p.
4. "It is okay to not be okay." s.k.
5. "Always stay as sweet as you are." -grandmother
6. "I have never met someone so truthful." w.e.
7. "That is what parents do." - my mother who supports me through everything.
8. "Would you stop, and LISTEN!?" -anger/very right father

broken

this hurts. it hurts really bad. it finally sunk in today, and i feel so broken inside and so broken outside. My soul has already wanted to scream, it already wanted to deny and float along as if nothing had happened, as if there were no change... but that was awhile ago and there was a calm before my storm. Today, it was different though, and it finally hit me, and I finally remembered, remembered everything, every smile, every sigh, every touch, every look, every everything and it hurts so much right now. I allowed myself to dream, to hope, and that makes it hurt even more. I keep telling myself I am strong, that this minute will be over soon, the next hour will be behind me, and I will have made it through another day, and they told me if I could make it through the day that it was strength, so I told myself I was strong. But, I wasn't, because I merely distracted myself, I let myself drift, refusing any reality, and I did it the next day, and the day after that, and perhaps the day after that, and then I felt myself screaming inside. It was swimming through my veins and I remembered how it had entered through my eyes, through my ears, through my nostrils, absorbed through my palms, and porous skin, silently ambushing my heart. I finally felt it all pushing toward the surface, as any body would react to a poison, and it hurts today. I had even tried to talk myself into letting this happen simply for the idea of actually "living" the way you would see someone living in a sensitive moment of a muted film still before the symphony of misery wraps their souls in a blanket of euphoric drama. I ask myself now, when does it stop hurting, when do we see the irony, when do I get that bitter-sweet moment of comic relief, a small sense of satisfaction for this sacrificial, self-destructive Hollywood moment? Everyone was telling me, "A good heartbreak is healthy," and now I can have this important life experience, making me stronger for the future I suppose. But, what if it was all in vain, what if my head is so filled with with garbage from everything around me to even recognize when I have something good, something great, standing right in front of me? What if I cannot even trust myself? That is a terrifying thought, the thought I may not even have my best interest at heart? I guess we are all at risk when we believe we have to live like that, live up to masterly-crafted expectations because we risk losing ourselves in this case. I guess this is all part of the process, the process I have heard so many people talk about, and suddenly I realize my feeling of being alone is felt by everyone, and we are all in this together, this act of living. My heart was broken yesterday, is broken today, broken tomorrow, and quite possibly the day after that, but it is healing, and I hear these things take time.

love, jo.

Some of the Greats

I once heard some say "Your art will be $h%* it you are not experiencing." Here I am with anger, grief, hatred, love, passion, compassion, and to think I would have nothing to do with it. I am going to take it and go.

Dorthea Lange

"Migrant Mother"

Dorthea Lange believed photography was going to save the world. Her husband asked her "What is it going save the world from?" This is one of the most influential images in the history of the world taken on a not so special day, during a very difficult time. She documented the depression and she said her camera became and appendage. She later wrote her experience while photographing people like you and me forced into such difficult times, "It is difficult to photograph a proud man in a background of poverty."

Richard Avedon

"Dovima with Elephants"

Richard Avedon took photography to an entirely different level, fashion photography quickly left the studio and flooded the streets, mingling with a surreal reality. Avedon spoke, 'The way I see is comparable to the way musicians hear, something extra-sensory. Not judgmental. I don't differentiate between an idea of what is beautiful and what is not. What I see is a reaffirmation of the many things I need to feel. It has to do with obsessive qualities, not explainable. I am a natural photographer. It is my language, I speak through my photographs more intricately, more deeply than with words."

Robert Cappa

Robert Cappa brought us the truth. He had one thing to say that would affect photography forever, "If your pictures are not good enough, you are not close enough." This photograph was taken next to a man just shot, in mid fall, ending his life. Cappa was right there, right next time him.

Diane Arbus

"Crying"
and sometimes how i feel

Diane Arbus began photographing after her husband taught her the art, and they tag teamed some of New Yorks 5th Ave. fashion, creating very brilliant images together. Their success was there, but something was missing for her, she needing something else and she insisted she could no longer photograph. Her husband told her to go home and figure out what she did want to photograph and after serious contemplation she realized she wanted to photograph what was "evil." Her photography however, eludes a sense of the "forbidden" instead of "evil." She kept a diary containing hundreds of pages of what she would photograph if it were acceptable, things she saw everyday. In our culture it would be inappropriate to photograph our crying child, we save our rolls of film for little Johnny when he is building his sand castle at the beach; we would never photograph his reaction when the tide comes in and his creation is washed away. She later expressed, "My favorite place to go is where I have never been."