Hang Me From the Ceiling and Make It Look Like an Accident.

FINAL ACT: Daniella Mia's Brickell Penthouse


Enter Bill Anderson and Tom Peters; Vicoprofen PR Representatives


     BILL: She's freezing cold already. No one is going to believe she hung herself.

     TOM: What the hell do you suggest we do? The last thing we need is another death in the media.        They've been dropping like flies lately, how do you suppose we explain this one? Genius.

     BILL: Look at her eyes Bill! For Christ's sake man, she's turning purple.

     TOM: Fine, then go grab the plastic out of the trunk, and make sure no one is around. Hurry up!

     BILL: No way, I told you after the last girl I'm not doing that again!

     TOM: You heard what Carlyle said; damage control. You're waisting time, just go get it.

Exit Bill


Monologue


     TOM: What is it with young people popping these pills. They all wind up the same; dead or crackheads.  Now I have to clean up your mess, and try my hardest to make sure no one finds you. You couldn't pay me to take this stuff anyway. Stupid girl.


Re-enter Bill


     BILL: Here, but I'm not touching her.

     TOM: Look, the faster we do this, the sooner it's over with. Lay it there. Now shut up; help me move her.

     BILL: So, where we dumpin this one?

     TOM: Same place we dumped the last one.

     BILL: Hey look at this.

     TOM: What?

     BILL: She would have been 24 this July.

     TOM: Too bad, she's pretty cute. What a waste.

Exit Tom & Bill with Daniella Mia.

The End

     Recently, I have been on medication to treat my wisdom tooth. All four are impacted, and one in particular has been causing me pain. My doctor prescribed me Vicoprofen to treat the pain. It is a Hydrocodone and Ibuprofen mix. The following is information copied and pasted directly from the Vicoprofen site:

Ibuprofen can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. Do not use Vicoprofen just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG). Seek emergency medical help if you have chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, or problems with vision or balance.

Ibuprofen can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines. These conditions can be fatal and can occur without warning at any time while you are taking Vicoprofen. Call your doctor at once if you have black, bloody, or tarry stools, or if you cough up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Hydrocodone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person this medicine was prescribed for. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Vicoprofen. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding while taking ibuprofen.

     What is it about modern medicine that we trust in so much? When you think about it, the number of knowledgeable people in any given profession, who are really good at what they do, are few and far between. Mechanics, Teachers, Lawyers, usually it's very hard to find a good one, and you practically need to sell a kidney to afford them when you do.

     I'm not knocking modern medicine entirely. I don't think voo doo, or animal sacrificing, or any other far out alternative is superior. However, just because someone is wearing a white coat, stinking of latex gloves, we assume they know what on earth they are talking about. Or that modern drugs, such as the narcotic, addictive Vicoprofen I was prescribed, is okay for us to depend on.

     Take any of these pain killers, for example. Zanax, Vicoden, Oxycodone. Drugs that affect your hormones, brain chemicals, stomach and intestines, create addictions, suppress you appetite, not to mention completely impair your coherence. Then you have marijuana, marijuana with NO medical illness, ailment, or addiction directly related with it in the history of medicine, and it's illegal?

     Hack through another limb of the medical industry; obesity. Like 99% of the country is fatter than fat, suffering from heart problems, diabetes, and God knows what else. Yet, they served Pizza Hut and McDonalds everyday at my high school for lunch, with no health and fitness type education in any of K-12, or ANY trace of mandatory physical education after elementary school. But don't worry, they'll pump you full of meds by the time you hit 30.

     Don't think I've hopped back onto my soapbox. Modern medicine is responsible for some incredible things. It saved my dad's life when he got cancer. It gave us an extra 5 years with my grandpa. It brought my niece into the world safely. What I am discussing is the human mentality of not worrying about something unless it poses an imminent threat.

     If eating a big mac would immediately put you into cardiac arrest, would you eat it? If having a beer would cause your kidneys to fail instantly, would you still take a sip? If taking one Vicoden pill would make you look like my photograph, would you still oppose legalizing marijuana? Why do we wait until the last minute to remedy things?

     As someone very dear to me would say, make smart choices and good memories. Try being preventative, rather than corrective. When you overdose on bad decisions, life will just hang you from the ceiling and make it look like an accident. 

Do something stupid and put it on the internet.

I love pineapple soda.

Enjoy :)

Child's Play: The Reality of Perception.

I remember when I was a pink power ranger.

 Even now, I can still remember lesson plans from my days as a teacher. Let's not leave out my dabbling in witchcraft; chanting away most afternoons. I remember being Barbie and Ken's real estate agent, trying to sell them their dream house. Busy little me, I was their car salesman too. I mean, who doesn't want a corvette... really?

I changed jobs frequently, then.

I could have been anybody, then.

Of course this was before the real world. Real being the transition from toddler to teenager, to hourly wager. Before social circles and music genres. Before reality t.v. and bikini sizes. Before the real world came into play, my biggest worry was how to avoid my neighbor Patty beating me in box ball.

I'm not saying I would go back to that time if I could. Growing up is confusing enough the first time around. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I find myself rather envious of that blissful lack of awareness; awareness of real things. 

What is reality anyway? Perception is the only answer that comes to mind. A cognitive assessment derived by means of our only connection to the real world; our perspective.

What shifts our perspective over the years? Is it that as we get older, we become more sensitive to reality, or do we grow callous to it as time goes on? 

Golda Meir said that, "a miracle is nothing but a shift in perspective". Maybe getting older, and having seen things from that perspective, is the miracle we all take for granted. Maybe the ability to imagine, and play, and dream, is a miracle only realized from a shift out of that perspective. 

I still imagine things I want.

I still dream.

Looking back, I would have rather have fallen and scraped my knees, than not played on the swings.

This article is dedicated to Tatiana. The little girl in the pictures, and a maker of miracles.

All Eyes on Soph_Eye: An Interview With Sophie "Soph_Eye" Matera.

If you have an ear for music, you''ll want to keep an eye on Soph_Eye! Soph_Eye's charm glittered just as much as her cityscape backdrop from our roof top photo shoot.  Fusing elements of Hip-Hop, Drum & Bass, and Soul, Soph_Eye's smooth vocals and dope beats make her the most promising of local artists!

ODE: Soph_Eye, what first got you into music?

Soph_Eye:  My Mother. Since I was born I've been listening to everything from Bach, Beethoven, and Vivaldi to Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin; Annie Lennox is probably my biggest vocal influence. My mother has a video of me as a toddler, jamming in my diapers to "Walk Like an Egyptian", totally clinging to the t.v.... Yeah, I have to give that one to mom.

ODE: You mentioned you used to break dance, how'd that come about?

Soph_Eye: Well I always admired breaking.  I came across it through friends, a couple of my boys were getting in to it as well, so we were all kind of learning from each other. Another friend of mine took me under his wing, and he was the one who really taught me how to get down. Six hour practices for two years. It was crazy, but I fell in love with it.

ODE: Tell us what it's like for you to be on stage...

Soph_Eye: Being on stage is a challenge; it's like an adrenaline rush. There is something about knowing that people are seeing me, and knowing they are watching and enjoying themselves, that's fulfilling for me. Being on stage is a way for me to sort of test myself, and force myself to be unashamed of what I do. It's just fun...

ODE: Your music is laced with several sounds, ranging from Hip-hop, to Drum & Bass, to Soul... What type of music would you say you make?

Soph_Eye: I like to think of myself as a soulful singer. All of those genres have influenced me. Even as far back as jazz and blues, those feelings of sound have hit me the hardest. I think they help fuel me.

ODE: You've built quite a following fan base. What do you think has helped you gain so much momentum?

Soph_Eye: Being receptive to people, and open to ideas really, rather than being a negative individual. I'm so appreciative of my listeners. Honestly, I feel beside myself when I see people's reaction to my performing. I go on stage with the mentality that I'm doing my job, and I hope you as my audience enjoy it. When people approach me after a show and tell me they liked it, it's just unreal. 

ODE: What advice would you give to other young aspiring artists?

Soph_Eye: Don't give up, or allow external negativity to influence you. If your that passionate about what you want to do, what you put out is ultimately what finds its way back to you. There is nothing you can't have if you want it badly enough, you just have to work at it... really hard.

ODE: What can Soph_Eye fans be on the look out for?

Soph_Eye: Well I've been working on Drum & Bass music, and I'm in the process of branching out to other styles of electronic music. I'm even toying with some ideas of jazz and getting back into hip-hop. There might be some cover songs in the near future as well. Most exciting is I'll be performing at Winter Music Conference. Other than that, I'll be working on putting my album together, so there's a lot to anticipate.

ODE: If for some reason you couldn't make music, what would you go after instead?

Soph_Eye: I'm currently pursuing my Bachelors in commercial music at Florida Atlantic University. If I couldn't make music, I would totally manage someone else; I can definitely see myself promoting. The way I look at it is I'd still be getting someone else to where they want to be. I also want my own publishing company. Either way, I plan on sticking to the business. Music will always be it for me, whether I can sing or not.

Come check out Soph_Eye hosting Stank Love this weekend at South Beach's Jazid!!! 

1342 Washington Avenue

Miami Beach, FL

Find this event on Facebook for details- Stank Love. 

For songs, events, and more from this artist, add Soph_Eye on Facebook- Soph_Eye.

Black and White: Hints of CHANEL.

Black and white. Those were her favorite colors. In the early part of the 1900's, she was considered a woman ahead of her time; and quite avant garde. She refused to wear cinches, feeling that women should be able to look fabulous while still being comfortable. My point, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel was one badass lady.

Today's outfit has hints of CHANEL. 

Black tipped manicure

Mix & Matching with Prada messenger bag.

Cap-toed studded clogs.

A Splash of Summer: Button-Up Suits.

Clearly, I am OBSESSED with strapless bathing suit tops this year! 

Colorful, and almost a retro style striping; I love this pattern! There are buttons on my bathing suit... enough said.

These bags are a little known secret, so gossip about them to everyone! Dime Bags are originally from Colorado. They are made from hemp, with organic cotton lining. This eco friendly bag is perfect for any summer outfit...

Draped-like (as best as I can describe this adorable top) bathing suit tops are timeless. Let texture take the lead next time your looking for a suit!

Check out more great bags like this at DimeBagsAreForever.com, soon to be featured on AGirlsBestFriend.biz, a must-visit site for art, music, and life, for girls who mean biz!

Style Clash: Heavy METAL.

I'm digging metallics, really anything that's 'industrial chic'. Somewhere in this ambiguous vision I picture the Industrial Revolution; different shades and textures of shinny metal everywhere!

Give me Ambition.
Give me the American Dream.
Give me endless possibilities.

Naturally, the geometric elements of heavy machinery finagled their way into the outfits , hence the conic top, and the tube shaped heels. I love the directions new styles are taking, stark lines & bold shapes!

Top: 90's BCBG
Belt: Vintage Italian Leather
Pants: See by Chloe

This jacket is dope. It was custom tailored, so it's a one of a kind, made specifically for yours truly! There was some makeshift cinching involved in shooting Ms. Cuadra, to say the least.

Jacket: Doll Fit

This necklace is one of my FAVORITE accessories! I'ts a Loehmann's buy that I've had forever (fashion junkies- Loehmann's is where it's at).

Headband: Blanc Couture

Shoes: Calvin Klein
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

I don't know what got into me this week. Maybe it's more what's leftover in me, still lingering from the new year. Beginnings always move me to reflect on past times, ironically enough. There are a lot of new things in the works this year, all waiting to be cranked out and sent on down the assembly line.

Stay tuned to see what's in store... Next week expect:

"Dogs, Clogs, & Photo Blogs."
"Enlightened Style: Lotus House Thrift Boutique."
"Turn Back Time: Classic Color Scheme Tribute"

GUEST SPOT: Shoot & Interview with music artist SophEye!!