Stuff I Love: Unlovable by Esther Pearl Watson

THIS. IS AWESOME. OH EM GEE. If you care for me at all, please give me $ so I can buy this.

A SOON-TO-BE TEEN CLASSIC

Loosely based on a teenager’s diary from the 1980s found in a gas-station bathroom, Unlovable details the sometimes ordinary, sometimes humiliating, often poignant and frequently hilarious exploits of underdog Tammy Pierce. This remarkably touching and funny graphic novel tells the first-person account of Tammy’s sophomore year in 1985, from the first day of school to winter break. Her hopes, dreams, agonies and defeats are brought to vivid, comedic life by Watson’s lovingly grotesque drawings, filled with all the eighties essentials — too much mascara, leg warmers with heels and huge hair — as well as timeless teen concerns like acne, dandruff, and the opposite sex (or same sex, in some cases).

In the epic saga that is Unlovable, Tammy finds herself dealing with: tampons, teasing, crushes, The Smiths, tube socks, facial hair, lice, celibacy, fantasy dream proms, gym showers, skid marks, a secret admirer, prank calls, backstabbers, winter ball, barfing, narcs, breakdancing, hot wheels, glamour shots, roller coasters, Halloween costumes, boogers, boys, boy crazy feelings, biker babes, and even some butt cracks. Tammy’s life isn’t pretty, but it is endlessly charming and hilarious.

Originally (and still) serialized in Bust magazine, Unlovable includes over 100 new pages created just for this edition, which is handsomely packaged in a unique hot pink hardcover format with sparkly blue glitter that would make Tammy proud.

“GOOD!!!” – Lynda Barry

“From the moment I laid eyes on Unlovable, I knew immediately that I had to run it as a series in BUST. Tammy Pierce is such an endearing underdog, and her teen-loser ways keep me coming back. No matter how cool or smart you may be as a grown up, I think there is a little Tammy in all of us.” – Laurie Henzel, BUST Magazine Creative Director

“Unlovable is why we all want to forget about our high school years, but we just can’t help but reliving parts again to feel the pain.” – Eric Nakamura, GIANT ROBOT Co-Founder

“I laugh and laugh and laugh, then I feel bad about reading someone’s diary. This would be a horribly mean book if Esther didn’t love everyone in it so much…. So I keep reading. And I laugh and laugh and laugh.” – Jordan Crane

“This book reminds me of my life. It’s like looking in a mirror and the mirror has stickers and tooth brush splashes on it.” – Leslie Hall

416-page two-color 5.75″ x 5.75″ hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-56097-955-5

In stock: Late Jan./early Feb. 2009
In stores: Mid-Feb. 2009

Video Archives: Naked Fun With Kaos Blac

One of my goals for ’09 is to collaborate with friends on creative video projects.

Last week my friend Bryan aka Kaos Blac asked me to shoot some footage of him dancing in random places around the city for Ebony Bones‘ collaborative video for “The Musik”. It was snowing and gross outside but I decided to risk it.

Besides freaking out tourists, our adventures took us to Union Square during a mini snow storm, where we encountered a group of Improv Everywhere cohorts who were wrapping up the 8th annual No Pants Day.

I asked the group if they would dance with Bryan in their underwear and they agreed! This little vid was shot right before the epic footage that can only be seen in “The Musik” when it comes out.

Check out more pics from Kaos Blac’s Ebony Bones shoot on my flickr and stay tuned for a mini behind-the-scenes video diary of our adventures.

Finding Obama: Inauguration Weekend Tales, Pt.1

The closest I’ve come to President-Elect Obama was last fall, when I pretended to shake this cardboard cut-out version’s hand in Union Square.

It’s incredibly surreal, being able to look forward to a progressive president who I actually care about. I have a huge grin on my face because a few hours ago I was told that in less than ten days, I’ll be in D.C. (my first time) for inauguration weekend!!! I’ll be working with my colleagues to cover many aspects of the ceremony and related events.

My role will be as an additional shooter and digital producer. It’s going to be an amazing, historic event and I am thrilled to be a part of it in any capacity. I was working through election day in November and missed out on celebrating in the streets with my friends. This more than makes up for that.

When I was in elementary school, I remember one of my teachers saying there will never be a black president. This was the same teacher who skipped over the Martin Luther King, Jr. chapter in our history book. This was the same teacher who spoke glowingly about manifest destiny and ridiculed me for daring to challenge that. This was the same teacher who made me dress up as an indian for our Thanksgiving project and wondered why I was offended. I wonder, what is she telling the students now? 🙂

It’s tiny actions that alter world views. My mother owning her own business altered my world view (based on everything I was exposed to) that Latina women were property and not supposed to be independent. Obama deciding he would ignore negativity and not give up has changed history. Obama’s candidacy inspired my long-standing Republican step dad Larry to change parties, just so he could vote for Obama. Tiny actions change the world.

I am hoping while I am in D.C. that maybe – just maybe – I’ll get the chance to shake Obama’s hand.

It may not happen, but still. Even the idea that it could be possible blows my mind.

ps: My initials are D.C.

IT’S DESTINY! 😛