What's the Thing All Successful People Have in Common?

Successful people are successful because they have mastered the delicate art of maintaining good relationships.

#trueStory

Crying, Milk & Why They DO Go Together

I'm reading a new book titled 'One Last Thing to Do Before You Die' by Steven Goldberg It's about a guy who feels everyday unpleasantries out weigh everyday gems, so much so, it makes more sense to off yourself than continue to exposé ones self to all the horrible things humans do to one another. After the last 24 hours, I will admit to becoming a little more sympathetic to the authors plight. In the book, one character says the famous '...no use crying over spilled milk...' Phuck that. I wholeheartedly disagree. I tested this theory out last nite and I gotta admit, I honestly think a good guttural scream & a few tears might have done me some justice. I definitely got misty eyed when the cabby I was in forced me out of his cab to use some dodgy ATM, go out with me as if watching my back and drove off leaving me stranded at 2am in below 20 degree weather - gotta love new york phuckin city! -from f12 MobileStudios

things I want for Xmas, PT 1

Dear Santa, I've been a REALLY good girl this year and would like the item below for Xmas. As I realize I'm older, I'll do my best to only post what I really really want :D Thanks in advance! -coRRen

Buy the The Shot Glass Lens Set at the Photojojo Store!

Habits of the Heart - I Shot the Cover!

Alexandra Estevez is FANTASTIC!

It's out! As many of you know, I've been working on getting back into the swing of my photography & it's been a long time coming! Big THANK YOU to Talib Kweli for making this happen & Ms. Alexandra Estevez for being such a trooper :D

click here to download

My Life at Apple

It's been 6 hours since I heard the news. A visionary and one of my idols passed away.

I'm still in shock.

I got the news on my iPad... then double checked on my iPhone.
lol
Starring at the ceiling, listening to Cody snore, it dawned on me:
my whole life is connected to Steve Jobs.

It all started back in 2002. A co-worker returned from the Apple Store SoHo with some new device called an iPod. 20GB of music in your pocket. It was unheard of and very very inviting. The idea that every song I'd ever heard could be played at any time was too much to handle. I wanted one, badly.

Before I jumped on board, I took a trip to the SoHo store where I soon became a main fixture. Even though I was there to check out the iPods, I became entranced by the iBook. It was waaaay outta my price range but I knew I had to have it. I visited the store as often as I could, sitting in on all the free workshops and saved up a little over $800 bucks - still not enough for a new machine. I made what I'd now call a blasphemous move, I got my first mac on eBay - lol

From the moment it arrived, I don't think I did anything else but touch it for 2 weeks straight! A proper mac owner, the feeling of pride I felt when I attended the free workshops was indescribable. I found myself in a sponge like state, soaking up everything Apple. I would go to the Genius Bar and pick the brains of the über smart guys & gals for all kinds of tips & tricks. Little did I know I'd soon become one of them.

I'd always see Pax with my questions or problems. This was back when you didn't need appointment to see a genius. You could walk in & jump in the queue. You could even wait to see the genius of your choice - although I'm positive this wasn't supposed to happen - lol. Even still, the folks there were always kind, courteous, helpful and full of info.

The one thing I didn't love about my mac was it was white & looked like everyone else's. I found a website that thought you how to "customize" your iBook. I'll never forget the looks, comments & stares I received after I stripped my white iBook and changed it blue & green. All the geniuses asked how I'd done it, other customers looked at my mac like it was the coolest thing in the store. I'd earned the respect of the Geniuses and you couldn't tell me nothing! They thought I was cool & I felt like I was an honorary member of the club. Shortly there after, I got me my first iPod and my world was forever changed.

I spent every waking moment organizing my iTunes library. Looking back, it was iTunes that made me so good with Apple software. My iPod held the soundtrack to my life. Eventually, the iPod Photo was released and my jones of Apple products increased ten fold! Having all my music AND all my dope photos in my pocket seemed like a no brainer. I remember going to a VIBE magazine event & showing folks photos I'd taken of the Wu-Tang Clan, Pete Rock, the Beatminerz, Scarface & Erykah Badu on my iPod. It felt wonderful to be on the cusp of technology and present my work in a way most photogs weren't.

When I moved to London in 2003, I was more nervous about not having access to the SoHo store than moving to another continent! When the Regent St. Store opened it was like a clone of the SoHo store but bigger and the people had accents - lol. I didn't visit so much for the help, I considered myself a mini-genius by this time - but it was an extension of the clubhouse in NYC and made me feel at home just the same.

When I moved back to the states, finding work was a lot more difficult than I anticipated, mostly due to the car accident I'd been in. From physical therapy to Turning Heads to Metropolitan Antiques, I was shooting but not making any money. However, when Steve Jobs announced the release of the iPhone, I kid you not, I cried. My dream of a phone that would sync with all the stuff on my Mac came true & I knew I wanted to be apart of where ever Apple was heading next.

One day, I left my job shooting high end trinkets, walked into the Fifth av location & asked the first person I saw how you got a job working for Apple.
His response "www.jobs.apple.com"

YUM!

Opening Crew of W14th St

I went home that nite and applied. Within 3 weeks, I was part of the 250+ crew preparing to open the West 14th St. location. That was November of 2007. It was the most fun I'd ever had at any job. From the jumbo Apple branded cupcakes to the daisy chain of people unloading the trucks to the non stop clapping in of the first customers, to meeting Mary J Blige & Whoopie Goldberg. To say it was an experience is definitely an understatement. It changed my life. I stayed on as a Specialist then Mentor then Workshop presenter before I left the company briefly to pursue a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with the founder of Island Records, Chis Blackwell.

When I returned from Jamaica, I was asked to come back to Apple and had the option to go back to W14th or open yet another location, this time on the Upper West Side. Getting onto what I like to call 'Apple Island' is no easy fete. Legend has it, its easier to get into Stamford University than Apple. Not sure how much truth s behind that but it's takes a special kind of person to be on team Apple & I was so happy to be home.

me with my UWS co-workers in CPW

In the four years I've been with the company, I've meet & seen some famous faces. The day I saw that black mock turtle neck walking around the store, I was truly star struck. All I could do was smile - I was too nervous to do much more - he didn't say anything, just looked in my direction. I was less than 20ft away from the man responsible for my favorite gadgets & all I could think was "he really does wear a mock turtle neck everywhere!"

If I could have said anything to him it would have been thank you.
Thank you for standing alone & believing in yourself.
Thank you for thinking big.
Thank you for the iPod, iPhone, & iPad all of which have seen me through the highs & lows of these past few years
Most of all, thank you for my Apple family. From Tice's Corner to Hong Kong, we have great days & not so shiny ones but we alway have each other.

Rest in Power Steve

-fin


-corren c.
Creative
 Upper West Side

I LOVE Sundays in Brooklyn

Cody at Vinnie's

Mostly because there's so much to see, do & photograph. Today, I took a walk down Bergen St. with @MissLadyT  & the Codster. On the way, we came across Vinne's Styles and stopped in to say hello to the homie George. As I'd never been to the shop, I was happy to see something new (to me anyway) with some really dope merchandise. From Kixx to Threads, Vinne's has it all! There were a few things I'll be goin back to pick up but that's for another post. The guys (George, Brandon & brothers Polo P & Jacob) were sooooo cool. Not only were there drinks, the grill was crakin' too! Burgers & Hot Dogs courtesy of Chef Boy R George :D

After our stint on Flatbush, we headed back to our own neck of the woods, Clinton Hill. Recently, NYC tax payers money has gone to "sprucing up" the end (or beginning) of Putnam Av by morphing it into a newly created pedestrian plaza. 

I gotta admit, I was really hoping the little protest we had over the summer would have been more effective but si la vi. To commemorate this new addition, Rich Medina DJ'd on a make shift stage right out front the Clean Rite! 

Rich Medina skoolin' da youngins
(click to peep his City Guide)

Cody: Almost Famous

So... I get an email today stating that the photos I submitted of my ADORABLE pup were accepted on Bloggie Doggie!!!