1:  Alisa!  You have so much stuff to do, and you’re doing what??  Doodling in your sketchbook?

2:  I am trying to decide on a hairstyle, thank you.

1:  You could at least be doodling a part of the newspaper that you’re redesigning.

2:  Look at my to-do list!  I’ve accomplished a lot today.  Besides, a haircut is necessary.

1:  A job is necessary.

2:  I’ve got it covered.

1:  Where?

2:  In my head.

1:  So basically, it doesn’t exist, and you’re doodling hair.

2:  Yes.

I hate arguing with myself.

In his book Escapism, Yi-Fu Tuan explores the relationships between humans and nature. He argues that humans invite nature into their lives by planting gardens and growing grass, but try to escape that nature by trimming it back, forcing it into patterns and designated places, and arranging it according to our standards of beautiful.

I’ve thought about that a lot since I arrived in Colorado for the summer. My stereotype for Coloradans (particularly people who live in the Denver Metro area) is that everyone is very environmentally conscious, runs up and down mountains in the summer, skis all the time in winter, bikes to work or takes the bus, and is generally aware of their actions towards nature. Because of my stereotype, I thought that more people would prefer natural-looking flora over manipulated, pristine rows of common suburban plant-life. I was wrong, and I found that yuppie troops march in full force, leaving in their wake highly-structured and tightly-scheduled gardens.

I went looking for an ungroomed plot of nature that was within walking distance. I promised myself that I would look without touching, appreciate without prying, and seek to find beauty in even the ugliest of creatures.

All but the second-to-last photo are unposed.  Project Portraits has quickly become my personal favorite Flickr set.  

I’m spending the summer in the Denver suburb of Lakewood, Colorado, with a group called Project Impact. We are a group of 30 or so people who all have the same goal this summer – to grow and strengthen as people, and to help out those around us. Because we’re all in college, we’re working full time jobs, and then doing volunteer projects in the evenings and weekends.

My mentor was a Project participant in years past, and she really encouraged me to go. I was a little apprehensive about participating, mostly because I didn’t know what to expect. We have two weeks to find a job that may or may not put a black scar on my crisp white resume? I will be moving in with a group of girls that I may or may not get along with? My family group of girls is going to be paired up with a brother group that may or may not be made up of immature boys?

Two late-night jam sessions, a couple home-cooked meals, and a set of clean dishes later, I’ve become very appreciative of my brother group. One-hundred business inquiries later (this is not an exaggeration), and I’ve been hired as a hostess at Johnny Rockets and Chili’s. Ten days later I can’t imagine not knowing the girls I’m living with. Everyone has been so honest and open; I feel like I’ve known them my whole life. Things that might normally be awkward to do to people you’ve only known for a couple days are totally fine and accepted. Case in point: