I always feel like a real art student when I have paint on my hands. I have splotches of grey primer on my hands right now from priming my monolithic ovaloid for 3D Design (I know, its a mouthful). I like to pretend that I'm a hardcore studio art major, when really I'm just a simple art history major who feels more comfortable reading about art than producing it. But today I actually kind of enjoyed Design class nonetheless. I think I'll like 3D better than 2D
This is going to be a long week, I can already tell. It's only Tuesday.
That sculpture is our art teacher's inspiration for the monolithic ovaloid project, just to give you an idea. The only difference is, while his sculpture represents something-a person's head-our don't. They're just designs. Oh, and the sculpture is by Constantine Brancusi.
"WEATHER ALERT - Baylor Closed Wednesday Due to Weather
Jan. 17, 2007
•Posted at 7:54 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17
Due to the icy road conditions, Baylor University officials have closed the university on Wednesday, Jan. 17. No classes will be held."
Snow Day!!
This is such a cozy day. I'm loving it (not McDonalds). I'm at Common Grounds right now with Molly, sipping on a hot chocolate. When we got here there was only one other patron. It amazing, some might say a phenomenon. We got pretty excited because we had out choice of seats. I'm in the best seat right now, one of the tall cushioned benched in the back. I like knowing what's going on, watching people, being aware of my surroundings, and this is the optimum seat for just that. I can see both the front and back doors and into every room. And I'm in a corner, so I can lean up against the wall and put up my feet. It's wonderful.
I love this weather, until I start to think about the homeless population in Waco. When we got here, there were two homeless guys that always hang around Common Ground sitting in the back room on a couch. Once more people started coming in, they got kicked out, because more seats were needed for paying customers. So now they're outside in the cold. And they were really nice. One of them told me he heard a girl saying they might cancel class tomorrow. I told him that was exciting news. He doesn't go to class, obviously, yet he still seemed excited for us. And the thing is, when I'm in Common Grounds, I'm not usually a paying customer either. A lot of times I just sit and read without buying a drink. I guess it just makes people uncomfortable when they share a couch with a homeless person. I would too, to be honest. It's just a sad reality, poverty. It's easy not to think about. That reminds me of a Derek Webb song, Rich Young Ruler, "Poverty is so hard to see when it's only on your TV or 20 miles across town. We're all living so good. Did we move out of Jesus' neighborhood? Where he's lonely and not feeling so good, going through our trash."
I just realized I put two lids on my hot chocolate. I've been drinking it for like 15 minutes.
edit:
I just read this one this guy's blog:
"For several years I've had this nagging thought, and it's one that many of my friends have shared. If the generations before us believed they were so right about something, even to the point of using biblical texts to justify their hate, then what evils do I, and those like me, hold to that I have no clue about.
If I may take a slightly Catholic (big "C") turn to end this post, I'll just say that as we take this day to honor Martin Luther King, I can only pray that he has compassion on whatever wretchedness is within me that I am blind to, and that, as one of the host of witnesses talked about in Hebrews, will see fit to intercede for me."
I did it guys. Yesterday, along with two of my roommates and some friends, I conquered the rock in the SLC. I made it to the top! It was fun, a little scarey, but fun. It's not that big of a deal, lots of people do it, but it's something I've been meaning to do for awhile but have been too scared to attempt. So I'm proud of myself.
p.s.
I love this weather! Everywhere is so cozy
I'm at Common Grounds right now for the first time since I've been back. It feels so good, like sitting back into an old couch that has your signiture butt groove in it. Like that. It feels so comfortable. And the music is so nice. And everyone is reading or writing or talking. I'm in a really grand frame of mind right now. I feel like this semester will be a good one.
I actually enjoyed my design class today, which I was kind of wary about. It's because I'm not particularly comfortable in studio art classes. I think that I'm capable, but I'm just not as comfortable with everything as say, a studio art major is. These people have been taking art classes like this since high school and are also in drawing and painting and photography and blah blah blah and know the professors and other art students and here I am, a little Art History student, not knowing what's going on. Oh well.
But anyway, back to what I was saying. I'm in a good frame of mind. It's cloudy right now, which I like. Good weather for sitting in Common Grounds and studying (which is what I came here to do, but still haven't done.) I played raquetball (is that one word or two?) for the first time yesterday. That was fun. I'm not so good at it though. And I've decided that I'm going to climb that rock in the SLC. I've never climbed anything, and I've wanted to, but have been afraid of making a fool of myself. Well, I got over that in the last 24 hours and have decided that I will conquer that rock. It is mine! I just have to find someone to climb it with me. I don't want to go there by myself. That's too scarey. Also, Sing Alliance practice is going splendidly. I'm having fun.
Now I guess I'll do some of that studying I mentioned.
So apparently, " In Middle English the word was ekename (from the verb to eke, "enlarge"; compare Swedish öknamn). Later, an ekename developed into a nickname when the "n" shifted through junctural metanalysis." (according to wikipedia) Whatever. I liked my version better.
I also like Baked Barbecue chips.
Well, nothing essentially bad happened yesterday, the first day of classes. No wallets were lost, no bike crashes had. I think this semester will be alright. Nothing exceptionally exciting. Some moderately exciting things, but nothing exceptional. It feels like I never left.
And Sing Alliance practices are in full swing. They're fun. I'm glad I'm enjoying it because it's 2 hours a day, four days a week.
And you will be pleased to hear that my keep-up-with-the-news resolution is in full swing. I've started both today and yesterday with a look at the news. Go me.
I wonder if the first nickname was "Nick" and that is why they are called nicknames. Or maybe Nick was the first guy to make up nicknames for people. "Hey, what did Nick name you?" and Nick knew everybody and was giving everyone little personalized names and so people would just cut out the middle man and ask. "Hey, what's your nickname?"
I'm watching Friends right now. It reminds me of Waco. I'm looking forward to getting back but not looking forward to the studying and busyness.
I bought a Regina Spektor CD the other day with a Sam Goody gift card I got from Santa. I'm really enjoying it. Here's a music video of one of her songs, "Fidelity," for your viewing and hearing pleasure..
In other news, I've decided on a New Years resolution: to be more informed about what's going on in the world, to keep up with the news. Perhaps I should subscribe to some sort of news publication, such as Time or USA today. Any suggestions? I also made the obligatory resolution of getting into shape. I'm really going to do it though and in fact already started a month ago to develop the habit of working out everyday (that was a really awkward sentence). But once I get back to Baylor and become busy again, it will be harder to keep up with it. Wish me luck!
Oh yeah, and happy new year!!
I'm leaving in a few moments for Plano to attend a New Year's gathering with some friends.
Lots has happened since last we talked.
Well, I'll be seeing you. Perhaps I'll come back with some New Year's Resolutions I've decided on. Perhaps I'll tell you what they are.
I got a quesadilla maker from my mom for Christmas. It's like a waffle maker but....for quesadillas. So today, instead of my usual half a turkey sandwich with Baked Nacho Cheese Doritos, I made myself a quesadilla for lunch. For lack of other ingredients, I just grated myself some cheese and had myself a pretty tasty cheese quesadilla. And, not being able to find salsa, I dipped it in ranch (because, like a wise man once said, everything is better with ranch). And I'm satisfied. So far today has been quite an adventure.
Later today I got to MidWinter and will be gone until Friday. Just so you know.
The living room is littered with gifts and wrapping paper; my stomach is full of pancakes and biscuits and bacon and eggs and orange juice and coffee. It must be Christmas.
We wrapped Shiloh...
And there is now only one Christmas gift left under the tree. It looks so lonely...
I'm watching VH1's "Top 40 Videos of 2006," and at the same time realizing that most music videos by females are not so much about their song, but how hot said female is. And they are all hot, of course, so it gets pretty old. I think if I were to make a music video, I would just stand there, fully clothed, and sing my song. Or not be in it at all.
I just spend the last hour at a new coffee shop near my house, Buon Giorno Coffee. It was an hour well spent--reading, drinking coffee, supporting the local coffee shop peeps. It was my third time to go there and I have been pleased to find it pretty busy every time. Perhaps it will be able to compete with Starbucks and survive. The owner (who has a pleasant accent. English or something or other, I can never tell the difference.) saw that I was reading Blue Like Jazz and commented on what a good book it is. I concured. He then asked if I was a Christian and then what church I went to. He told me he led a church nearby as well as owning the coffee shop, that he opened the coffee shop in order to develop relationships in the community and such (I'm paraphrasing). He made a point to say that it wasnt' a "Christian" coffee shop, though, that he didn't want to alienate people, just serve them coffee. (I added that last part, about serving coffee. He didn't say that, but I figured it was implied, since it is a coffee shop). So that was neat, I thought. If you are ever in the Grapevine/Colleyville area, you should stop by Buon Giorno Coffee on Hall-Johnson for a cup o' joe. (It also as free wireless interenet. Starbucks can't beat that.)
I think it would be fun to open a coffee shop. It would be hard though, because of the Starbucks empire. Don't get me wrong, I like Starbucks-a lot-but you can't deny the fact that they are everywhere, which probably makes it hard for local coffee shops to survive.
Here is a question for my public, if you know the answer: Why is the Sound of Music's "Favorite Things," considered to be a Christmas song? Anyone?
In other news, my toe nail is falling off (sick OUT). I think that is of note. I postulate that my running shoes are to blame and so I've bought a new pair for myself for Christmas. I'm pretty excited about 'em.
I think it's funny that Shiloh likes having his butt rubbed (he's my dog, by the way). He just came up to me whilst I was sitting here and I started petting his back and he repostitioned himself so I was petting his butt, He always does that. Marco didn't do that. And also Shiloh always freaks out when Will leaves. LIke just now, Will, Allison and Bailey all went to the studio to record and now Shiloh is freaking out, running around and whining. It's pretty annoying and kind of sweet. Mainly just annoying.
Ok, you HAVE to see this.
My house is making a lot of noises this morning. There are men outside doing yardwork and men above working in the attic, I think on the air conditioning or something. As we were eating breakfast this morning we kept hearing noises right above our head, like "pings!" and "thwats!" It was pretty funny/frightening.
It's only 11:10 and I've already accomplished so much. I've come closer to finishing my Christmas shopping, I've ordered my textbooks, and I've sent in my money for our electricity bill. Not a bad morning. It's interesting, having to worry about things like paying bills. When I got the email from Molly about how much we owe for our electric bill, I thought to myself, "Oh dear, and I still need to buy so many Christmas gifts. Perhaps I can hold off on paying the bill for a little while, they'd understand." I was thinking this was a perfectly reasonable assessment of the situation when it dawned on me that really, things like bills are supposed to take priority over things like Christmas presents, not the other way around. I'm not used to thinking like that.
Ok, I'm tired of strange men walking around my house, espeically when I'm here by myself. I'm going to do some more Christmas shopping. Perhaps I'll stop by a Coinstar first...
I'm home now, have been for two full days. It's good being home, but sometimes I get to feeling restless because there is so little to do. And then when I have a ton to do during school, I wish I was at home doing nothing and feeling restless. A person is never satisfied. What else is new?
I saw "The Pursuit of Happyness" this evening. It was a good movie, but I don't really wish to see it ever again. The majority of it was just so depressing. But like I said, it was still a good movie, I just didn't really have a good time watching it.
I worked out today at Lifetime. All by myself I went. It was nice. Working out just makes a person feel so much better about herself.
I just spent the last hour or so being in and out of a nap on my couch. I never nap, but this was actually kind of nice. I don't remember actually being asleep, but I remembering dreaming. Like, in one dream my dad gave me a Christmas present that was kind of like a backpack, back more like a baby bag. And it could stretch out really long and fit a lot of stuff. I kept having ilttle dreams like that.
And also I'm done with this semester now. I finished my finals today. They were pretty painless. Not a walk in the park, but not a walk in downtown Waco at night either. For part of my Italian final I had to write a story using the words wedding, sad, sheep, to chat, and to say. I wrote a story about a man that was in love with a woman who worked as the restaurant where he ate lunch every day, but he was sad because she never talked to him. That is until on day when he ordered sheep for lunch. When she heard him order sheep, she said, "I love sheep!" After that every day they would chat while the man ate his lunch. One day the man asked the woman if she would like to go to his cousins wedding with him, but she said no. He asked her why and she said it was because she didn't like weddings, she always ended up eating too much cake. The story ends with the man saying, "Non capisco le donne!" or "I don't understand women!" The end.
I also got a five dollar Target gift card today for having the third most volunteer hours in Habitat for Humanity. That was pretty surprising. And I sold my books back and got some extra cash for Christmas shopping. So all in all, not a bad day.
So I just saw "Stranger Than Fiction," for the second time. It is such a good movie. Oh goodness. You simply must watch it. And if you don't catch it in theatres, than you can watch it with me sometime, because I will definitely be buying it.
And also, this is a really good song/video. They showed it in church last Sunday. It's "Mad World," by Gary Jules. It's one of those beautifully depressing songs.
What a splendid time of year. Finals, presents buying, studying, shopping, stressing, weight gaining, money spending, wrapping, increasing landfills. Oh joy. Oh peace. Oh Christmas.
Sorry, I'm really not that cynical. It just kind of came out.
I worked out with Rachael last night at the SLC. They have TVs going in front of all the cardio machines, and on one of them, the one right in front of me, the Victoria Secret fashion show was airing. I got to watch girls with perfect bodies that all look the same parade around in underwear and angels wings. It was funny because a lot of them, along with their bra and panties, were wearing mittens and warm hats. And of course the angel wings. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me. I was starting to feel a little down on myself, cause I'll never look like them, but then I stopped looking at the TV screen and started looking at the people around me-girls who were bigger than me, smaller than me, the same size as me. That's what's beautiful, how none of our bodies were the same, there's beauty in that variety, in not looking as the same like those dastardly Victoria's Secret models.
It's one thing to think that and write it in a blog, and it's another to actually believe it and to feel actually beautiful in one's own skin, not despite one's un-perfect body, but because of it. That's harder.
Hey, that reminds of me of a Kendall Payne song: "Me and B we hate supermodels. It's not that we know anyone personally. It's just that I'm tired of being compared."
