yes manicule

Return to Sender...

2010-02-10T20:36:00.001-08:00

Dear Reader,
I was recently hand delivered a piece of mail from my dear friend Mallery. She had misaddressed the envelope, and it was therefore returned to her residence. But look! The post office had used a very special stamp to signify exactly where my letter needed to go: "return to sender", inside of a manicule, pointing toward her address. Of course I had to follow it. Mallery's place is like a second home to me, and she didn't seem to mind that I interrupted the much anticipated sleep of a snow day. Now that's a true friend!

The manicule must have know that I needed to collect these lovely sign-up sheets that Mal had made for me. Imagine my luck that such a mishap would give me a beautiful manicule to follow to a good friend who I owed a visit anyway. Finally, a mix-up made in heaven.

With love,

Laura

The manicule turns my birthday to gold

2010-01-26T10:04:00.000-08:00

I recently celebrated my golden birthday. If my birthday cake is any implication of the coming year, then it's going to be a fantastic one, filled with adventure! Who knows what places and experiences this finger is pointing toward? You can bet I'm going to find out.

The manicule likes to party

2009-12-21T18:41:00.000-08:00

Remember when the manicule told me to go to the SAT TEASE DANCE CLUB AT 10 PM? Well, I sure did- and a good time was had by all, thanks to the manicule!

Har-manicule!

2009-12-20T21:46:00.001-08:00

Dear Reader,
I was recently in Bloomington doing some holiday shopping, when I came across a great manicule! It was pointing to a music store which happened to be just what I needed. I was after a harmonica for a young musician in my life, and this was the perfect place to find it.

The manicule likes good music

2009-12-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader,
I was rummaging around in my car today when I came across the song listing for a special mixtape that I received this summer. And guess what? The page contained a manicule, or what was "supposed to be a pointing hand".

What the manicule meant, of course, was that I needed to listen to the mixtape. Which I promptly did!

It was a sight for sore ears.

The moral of this story is that the manicule has excellent taste in music.

An evening of manicules

2009-11-29T20:34:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader,
Tonight I went out to meet some friends for drinks. In the parking lot, I saw a beautiful manicule pointing in the opposite direction I was headed. Of course I followed it.

I could eat this manicule for breakfast. Yum!

Trying my best to do the "sidewalk" to the theatre.

Luckily, I sidewalked to a sidewalk that was very well lit.

The theatre was closed. I think that the manicule must want me to return on Sat for the Dance Club. As I could not follow the manicule any further, I continued on to my original destination. But once inside I was met with another manicule, even more beautiful than the first...

It was leading me to the restrooms! Just in time!

A very happy ending indeed.

The manicule I could not follow

2009-11-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader,
I hope that you had a safe and happy Thanksgiving. My dear friend Erika sent me this photo yesterday, and as I examined it I found a manicule! My mind raced as I tried to think of a way to travel back in time to follow it, but I decided that I should be spending the holiday with my loved ones rather than attempting such an unlikely feat. This taught me a valuable lesson- sometimes you just have to let the past go to enjoy the present.

The manicule makes me try strange and delicious new things

2009-11-20T21:48:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader,
I recently found myself at Noah's sub shop in Marion, Indiana. I was on my way out the door when I received this sign:

Well, if you say so... how about an arsenic and old lace milkshake?

Fortunately for the longevity of my life, the sign did not literally mean poison. It was pointing toward ice cream. Decisions, decisions... The PB&J milkshake was recommended as a unique treat, so I thought I'd walk on the wild side. The manicule would want that.

Peanut butter, strawberry jelly, vanilla ice cream, and who knows what else?

Served up with a smile by Noah's own Tj Swanson

Delicious. But in a very strange PB&J milkshake sort of way. You must give it a try if ever you have the opportunity!

Some of my best friends are (the aim of) manicules

2009-11-16T12:30:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader,
The other day I went to visit my good friend and good neighbor Elizabeth. Elizabeth has introduced me to many manicules, herself being a printer, graphic designer, and type-aholic. And what did I find when she greeted me at the door???

She had this shirt made at a designer's convention, where there was a gentleman who would print a number of different symbols and type on anything. She did say she felt a little guilty for not picking a shirt up for me, but I'm just glad that it exists in my neighborhood.

As I had to follow this manicule and it was leading to a very dear and bright face, I decided to show some love with a peck on the cheek.

The manicule brings me lunch

2009-11-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader,
Today was a very important day in the history of this blog. This day is probably second in importance only to the day I actually created it, which was Sunday. I followed my first manicule.

I was at work, minding my own business, when all of a sudden I realized that I was very hungry. It was 2 P.M. and time for lunch. I reached into the folder of menus we keep in the break room, and lo and behold, like a sign from heaven, I saw this manicule:

It was then that I knew that Jimmy John's is what I must have for lunch. So I ordered a vito with hot peppers and extra Italian vinaigrette. And freaky fast, it was delivered to me. Just look at this amazing sandwich!

It was just what I needed. My first experience with saying yes to the manicule was delicious and satisfying. Who knows what tomorrow may bring?

The journey begins

2009-11-08T17:04:00.000-08:00

Dear reader,

Thank you for stopping by to visit. My interest in the manicule was sparked several years ago when I recieved an old print set for Christmas containing a stamp of the symbol. Since then it has only increased, even resulting in the original manicule stamp tattooed on my body for the rest of my life. I am now ready to take my love of the pointing hand to the next level, by following every one I meet to wherever it may take me.

Almost everything that I love to do is going to give me carpal tunnel or arthritis in my fingers. In fulfilling my own goals and desires, I am also ruining the means by which they are achieved. One of my greatest visual joys is seeing hands pointing the way in books and on signage. The human hand is a very meaningful symbol, and to me the beauty of the manicule lies in the fact that a simple line or arrow would have sufficed. Nevertheless, homage is paid to humanity's most powerful tool with every pointing fist.

If you would like to learn more about the history of this wonderful symbol, I would recommend reading Toward a History of the Manicule by William H. Sherman> http://tinyurl.com/manicule

Who knows where the almighty manicule will lead me? I will do my part to answer every index with my feet, devour every mutton-fist with my mind, and capture every pointing hand with a camera. You, dear reader, will have to check back soon and often as I chronicle the journey.

With love,
Laura