...and then I was a slug

The time came and went when my friend, Jeff, came to visit me for Christmas. I thank his gracious mother, Linda, for agreeing to it since that is usually the time when she gets to see him. My friends that I live with went off to NYC to have a grand time: eating, walking and breathing all things New York. I got to stay here in Dallas where it decided to snow, again, for the second time in about ten years.
Here are a few pics and a video from my Christmas:

a short video shot from  Deerfield neighborhood while driving around looking at Christmas lights:

They also have a house on Quincy street just off Ohio that has the lights adapted to the music! It's really cool because they didn't just play Christmas music, they had a Michael Jackson mash up while I was there. The video that Jeff took didn't come out very well because you can't hear the music at all, but still worth a visit. That house also had a hot chocolate stand set up and all the proceeds went to Support the Troops.

two videos from the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert: (I put them on YouTube because I thought it loaded a lot faster than from my link)

In the beginning (click here for awesome video)

 and <click here for this awesome video!>> 

toward the end (I love the lightning bolt-like effects especially when the dancers come out)

We also took a visit to the Sixth Floor Museum downtown at Dealy Plaza. In case you don't know, this is the old school book depository building from where JFK was shot. The tour was actually an experience I did not expect. If you get a chance to visit Dallas, you should go there, it will change your life.

Here is a picture of me looking out the window down at the intersection where our president was assassinated. 

a view of the old courthouse from the side of the JFK memorial

And, finally, Christmas dinner. I thought "Let's get a whole roasted duck like from 'A Christmas Story'". I found one at an Asian market near my house. We went in to order it and when they brought it out, it was beautiful! The skin so crispy, the head attached. But when they prepared it for us to take it away, they chopped the head off! Not very Christmas Story at all, but I still ate it and enjoyed it. I think Jeff did too.

our Christmas dinner: roasted veggies, duck (head removed) cakes and rice balls

do I twiddle my thumbs?

So, as you know classes ended Friday and I'm sad. I love school. I got a call today from one of the counselors from school. At first I thought, "Uh-oh, what did I forget to do?" but she was just calling to check up on students. She told me congratulations on my perfect attendance so far. I said, "Well, I'm paying way too much money to miss anything." I was hoping my perfect attendance would result in some money off my tuition, but nothing yet.

Well, what have I been doing then, since class let out? Working, of course, at the cash register at JoAnn's. It's so monotonous it gets on my nerves, but it's only temporary, so I'm okay with it. I went with some friends from school to take a shy guy into one of the adult stores here. I tried on this apron and he did too, but I promised I wouldn't show his.

I ventured out one day to a costume shop here and found Huggy Bear's new pimp shoes. They didn't have my size, but I could soooo rock these.


And I've been on a short hike out to the nature preserve near the house and found this HUGE acorn!

Tim advised me about the squirrels that hang out at that place and how big they are. "They're like the ROUS's...Rawwwrrr!!" (see a video of the ROUS's here from the movie "The Princess Bride")

I said I'd just punt them if any bothered me.

And, since I've been driving around town and it's been warm - it was just about 80 degrees today! - my little hula girl looks like either she's about to blow chunks, or just blow, not sure about that.

I hope everyone has prepared for Friday, 12/21/12, the end of the Mayan calendar. I am, I have my sunblock on hand. But for now, I will be preparing to bake cookies for my friend that is coming to visit me for Christmas. I'm pretty excited about it!

ok, just some pictures and captions

my final drawing for Observational Drawing class

my final project for Design Fundamentals class

me making a snowman ornament at ArtLoveMagic in Deep Ellum
last Friday outside of Buzzbrews

inside Buzzbrews music plays

"the game" Valerie and I have been sending back and forth through
the mail since May! Now she's in D.C. so we will continue...

how I'm feeling...listen to it here

Done in the style of...

For my final project in my Design Fundamentals class, we had to research an artist that was on our list and then sketch up some drawings done in the style of that artist.
My favorite artist, Frida Kahlo, was on the list. I discovered her when I was living in Mexico. Seeing her paintings was the first time I truly could actually feel what was on the canvas. The research would be easy since I have a great biographical of her.  But, I wanted to use this opportunity to learn about a style and artist I had never seen or heard of.
I chose Rene Magritte, a Belgian Surrealist/Futurist artist.  I checked out some books from the campus  library and have been looking and reading about some works on a website. I feel like I'm still getting the hang of what surrealism actually is. I have a loose grip of the meaning so I hope what I drew will be approved. Take a quick look at that link to see a few of his paintings, then check out my rough sketches to see if you think my drawings are done in his style.

top left: energy (the sun is replaced by the timepiece), top right: supposed to be a shark in the morning coffee
bottom: supposed to be a coffin sitting where Lincoln would be placed at the Lincoln Memorial

from one artist to another

As many of you know, I entered a blogging scholarship contest. I had posted my essay for you all to look at on Facebook. I think a total of three people looked at it, so thanks. Anyway, I wasn't even chosen for a finalist and I'm pretty ticked about that. Obviously my blog is not original or inspiring or anything else they were looking for. Should I try again next year anyway?
For now, I find solace in my blogging friend, CC. She was also older when she decided to go to art school and I like reading about her college days.
Here is an excerpt from her blog, Heartland Daily. Enjoy!
The sketchbook and the Greek

also, here is a link to a video of Duffy singing "Mercy", I like this song and heard it yesterday at Park Tavern when I was walking past to go to Whole Foods for a snack while on break in class.

Well you see judge, what had happen was....

When I worked as a court clerk in Amarillo, that statement above usually indicated to me that a good story was emerging and I should sit back for a moment from my note-taking. Most of the stories were pretty inventive (Southerners are born story tellers) and some needed work. The reason I bring this up now is because I have a story.
After Observational Drawing on Wednesday, my classmate, Cody, asked for a ride back to the dorms where he lives. Even though it's in the opposite direction from my house, I don't mind; it's only a few miles. "But," I said. "We're listening to 80's tunes." He laughed and said "Yes!" He's 18, he thinks the 80's are cool.  At the stoplight, my friend Nick (the 19 year-old who yelled at me for driving around downtown Dallas at night by myself; I still think it's cute that he was concerned) pulled up next to us and rolled down the window. "Hey, you got your skates?" he asked.
Cody shouted back "No."
"Not you-Vicki. Hey V, you got your skates?"
I looked over. "Yeah but you're not gonna wear them."
He laughed. "No, let's go skate on the trail I was telling you about. I got my longboard." He jerked his head to the side to swish his long hair away from his eyes.
"Okay." I said, turning up the M.C. Hammer song playing on my All 80's station.
"Cool. Follow me."
I looked at Cody. "Why do I have to follow him? I know where you guys live."
He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know."
So we get to the garage at the dorms to drop off Cody and to leave my car. I pull on my skates and stand up, balancing. Nick rolls over on his longboard and says, "Whoa. You gonna make it?"
"Relax. I got this."
We start down the sidewalk, cross the street and start heading downhill. At that point I should have crouched down, but I stayed up instead. Then a set of railroad tracks appeared and I thought, "I can jump that." I had jumped things before...several years ago.
Yeah I didn't make it.
I landed on my right wrist, of course. That was it. No bumps, scratches; forehead was intact, nothing broken.  Nick freaked out though and came running over. "Oh my God! Are you okay?!"
I laughed, got up, brushed the dirt off my pants and said "Dude, I'm fine." I lifted my arms. "See?"
"Don't do that."
"Don't put any railroad tracks in my way."
We skated past the train stop to the Angelika Theater where I walked down the stairs on my toe-stops. When we got to a steep hill toward the crosswalk, Nick turned to me and said, "You better hold on to me." After my last stunt, I had to agree with him. I took his arm since I didn't want to end up in the middle of a six-lane intersection. My wrist was starting to feel sore.
Once we got to the trail, everything was pretty smooth. Most of the people were jogging. Of those who were biking, most of those bastards rode like they were on a mission, yelling "On your left!" as they whizzed past us.
Nick was doing a switch-foot trick on his board and I asked him, "Are people staring at me because I'm the only one wearing old-school skates or because I'm old?"
He looked at me and said "I think it's because of that awesome black Pea Coat you"re wearing."
"You're a nerd."
When we finally stopped about two and a half miles or so, I went to adjust my skate laces. That's when I realized something was seriously wrong with my wrist because, wow, it hurt when I yanked on the laces.
"Nick! Give me piggy-back ride."
"What?"
"My wrist hurts. I don't think I should skate anymore in case I fall. I didn't bring my shoes."
"Walk in your socks."
"Walk in my socks?" I scrunched my eyebrows.
"We'll go back. Take my shoes."
So he longboarded for a ways in his socks and I clomped along in his big man-feet shoes. I said "How do I look?"
He said "Everyone looks good in those shoes."
On the way back we shared stories. He told me about his ex-girlfriend moving to Australia and I told him about the time my friend April and I snuck into the Shania Twain concert.
"Who?" he asked.
"She's a country singer from Oklahoma, like you. You don't know her?"
"Do you know everybody in North Carolina?"
I gave him an incredulous look. "Uh, yeah."
He laughed.
We got back to the garage and I found my car. "Ah my salvation! See ya later." I said.
"Bye. Sorry you fell."
"I'll be okay. I live with a nurse and a pharmacist."

Well that's the story about what happened to my wrist. I'm doing everything left-handed: eating, going potty, brushing my teeth, fixing my hair. I even put on makeup yesterday left-handed. good thing I had been practicing using my left hand for cases such as this. I mean, you never know. Comedian Kathleen Madigan once told her brother that her financial plan was to learn to write with her left hand. "Not gonna get any money from the bank if you can't sign that check...who's laughing now?"

Okay, so here's a test for you. Don't worry, it's not being graded. I had to finish my class assignment yesterday drawing with my left hand. See if you can pick out which ones are lefties and which ones are righties.

the check marks only show which ones my teacher picked for me to ink up in a larger scale

it's in the atmosphere

Even here in Dallas, the leaves are changing color and they were blowing all around the courtyard during the school's fall festival. The Chefs galley served up two kinds of chili: meat-full and meat-less, served with all kinds of fixin's. Both were good and both were free! All you had to do was sign in.
The social clubs set up tables and games with goodies and games encouraging students to sign up. One group, SHIFT (student harmony in forward thinking) introduced a Soultrain dance line. They played music and we all took turns dancing down the line. Some people sat eating their free chili and watched. We all had fun for an hour before classes started up again.

I do not love lamp

I normally love my Observational drawing class, but today I got upset at a stupid candlestick!
The teacher set up the still life which contained a draped sheet, a bottle, a clear vase and two silver ornate candle sticks. I started drawing and I just could not draw today. Every time I put a line on the paper, it was off. Every time I tried a different approach, it was off. Finally, I just sat there drawing circles until break time, then I continued to draw circles trying to get my ellipses right to draw these things. When we took another break to walk around and observe other students work and to see ours from a distance, all I had was three circles on a page. I told everyone that I had started over about four times at that point. One girl said, "Well, they're very nice circles." She was trying to cheer me up.
After that we had about an hour and a half left. I finally just said, screw it, I'm just gonna draw these stupid circles. Then I started connecting them and soon it turned into a candlestick. I threw up my hands and yelled, "That's it! I'm done, I'm not drawing another candlestick." Everyone was peeking around their easels at me and the teacher came over to critique it. She suggested a few adjustments and said, "Good start. Now you just have to finish the others." Which I did. The rest didn't take me but a few minutes to knock out and my classmates were impressed that I drew everything so quickly.
Now I just have to finish the shading and the background, but that is the easy part.
Stupid candlestick, I hate you.

almost done

stupid candlestick

ArtLoveMagic

ArtLoveMagic is an organization here in Dallas that does exactly what the name implies. They hold art events and I went to one on Friday. Last week when I decided to go, I told my friend and classmate, Nick, about it and he said he wanted to check it out too, so when Friday came, he gathered his posse (random people from the dorms) got on the DART and headed my way. He called to see where I was and I told him I had taken a wrong turn and was lost downtown instead of where I needed to be in the neighborhood of Deep Ellum. He yelled at me. "What are you doing driving downtown by yourself??!!" I thought it was cute, he's 19 and concerned about me. I told him "Relax, dude, I've been in far more dangerous places before. I won't get out of my car, I promise!"
Finally I found the place and a spot to park with out having to pay (bonus!). We met up and had a blast dancing, meeting random people, getting faces painted and watching really cool artists create pieces. Later, the group walked with me to my car (I had to go to work in the morning, ugh, always ruining my nights) and they headed in another direction to Geo-cache.
I'd only be 20 again if I knew what I know now!

a sugar skull I created at the event

someone dressed as a ghost on stilts in the courtyard where most of the artists were gathered

one of the artists working (I liked the Batman painting)

When I start to look my age, will I still be young?

School is cool as far as my classes go. I'm getting better at inking, pencil drawing and shading. I'm learning all about color and the use of it in design aspects. I get along with my classmates just fine. I get stopped in the student lounge or in the hallways, "Hey Vicki! You going with us to such and such?" or "I loved that thing you brought up in class last week...."
A friend of mine from school had a little crush on another classmate and we talked about it. That's when I realized that there is nobody in school my age for me to date. The suggestion was made to meet guys at a club or a bar. Well, I've done that in the past and it's not the way to go, even for funsies.
Dating was not an aspect of going to college at my age that I had thought of before. My concerns were: "will I be able to keep up in a technology-rich environment" and "will I be as smart?" Not "who will I meet up with Friday night?"

Projects

One of the things I like to do at school is to see if I can guess what field of study a student is in by looking at them. I do pretty good most of the time. Interior designers are easy to spot, they look high-class. Fashion students are usually pretty easy too, they're either fashionable or have their own fashion that starts the trend. Most graphic design and web design students look pretty normal: minimal if any tattoos, more often natural hair cuts and colors, clothes not too weird or too trendy. Students in the animation program are sometimes difficult to describe, but I can usually spot these "colorful nerds" with their pink spiked hair and anime comics attached to them. They don't all have pink spiked hair of course, some are green. Culinary students are the easiest. They wear their uniforms of black and white checked pants and the white double-breasted black trimmed shirt and are always carrying food!
My friend Jerrad is a culinary student. When he talked about the slow cooked greens they made in their American Regional class, I decided I should show him how regular Southerners cook greens. We made dinner together: he made pan seared tilapia topped with sautéed mushrooms and onions in a white wine reduction sauce, he also made the acorn squash I suggested by baking it first with salt and white pepper then mashed it with butter and rosemary, and I made the collard greens. Simple, easy collard greens, nothing fancy, just delicious! And he really like them. Of course, I loved them because I made them and I know what I'm doing. I will share my knowledge here:

First, wash and chop your greens (no stems!). Next, fry a few strips of bacon in a deep stock pot until crispy. Crumble the bacon and while pot is still hot, add a little water to cover the bottom. Scrape the bacon leavin's (apparently this is called "deglazing", but whatever). Add a handful of greens and cover. Let them cook down for a few minutes, then stir in another handful of greens and, if needed, just enough water to keep the bottom of the pot covered. You want to essentially steam the greens, not boil them! At the last handful of greens, add a splash of apple cider vinegar and salt and pepper. Let them cook down until they are all a beautiful dark green.

In other news, I completed a project in my Color Fundamentals class using my nemesis of a program: Adobe Illustrator. I had a good idea and I was able to make it work. The teacher liked it and said I followed the directions as to how many groupings of colors was supposed to be present. Other students had some good themes too: Fairy Tale, The Kraken, Fashion.
Mine was Random Thoughts.

it's all in the interpretation, see

With this drawing challenge I've been doing, I realize more now than I did before that to draw or paint people well, the expressions are all in the eyes and mouth. I did notice this before, but since I wasn't practicing, I didn't "get" it. Also, I realize the importance of the artists interpretation more now. Sure, I can draw my feet or a chipmunk with an acorn in his cheek, but did I put my interpretation in the drawing? No, I haven't. But I am learning, so I'm sure it will come to me.
Today's challenge is to draw something with my favorite color. My favorite color is purple and I think I'm going to try a dragon. I painted a dragon before for a friend of mine when she had her bookstore. It will be different using colored pencils though, I'm sure.
So here is that and also the other drawings I did earlier this week.
All critiques are welcome, although I'm sure I already know what needs improving. Enjoy!

my first dragon...she's stealing jewels!

an animal I think is cute

my favorite outfit...pajamas!

something I've never drawn before...my feet

supposed to be my mother...she's wearing a turkey hat

another word for challenge is....(not this!)

Seems like all I do lately is go to work (which I don't care for too well, but it's a job and I need some dollars) and go to school (which I love and wish I could afford to go everyday). Sure, a few sporadic days I go out and find something to do with someone, but it's  not enough. So, I found this challenge of sorts on a website deviantArt. Its a 30 day drawing challenge, so far I'm on day 3 and realize how much I need instruction on getting things right. I can see what's wrong, I just don't know how to fix it. Here are my pictures so far:

day 3

day 1

day 2

The first one was easy, I was able to capture my persona using props. Day two is supposed to be a picture of my friend Jarred. I got frustrated with this one because I couldn't get the eyes and mouth right. So I gave up before I tore it up. Day 3 is the worst. These two women are really great, my friends Sherry and Melinda and I drew them to look like old men. I realize that the expressions are found in people's eyes and mouth and I just could not get their eyes and mouths right and I don't know how.

My Design Fundamentals teacher says "We're going to draw some thumbnails of your designs, then we're going to ink them. I know a lot of you have never inked before, so how do you get good at inking? You ink!"

Guess I'll keep trying to draw then.

Have you tried the opera? It's delicious!

I got to school yesterday and decided I was starving so I went down to the student lounge to get a snack and, surprise! I forgot my wallet! Well, I started counting the rogue change that had been scattered around inside my purse and began to make little piles of pennies and dimes. Students passing by saw this and a few donated to my cause. I'm glad they know what it's like to be hungry, I mean, we're all "starving" artists, there, right? After about five minutes or so I had amassed a small cache of almost five dollars, but I had to be in class, so my stomach would have to wait. At break, two classmates and I wandered over to the 7-11 for burritos and I was happy.

In Color Fundamentals class, I read about "synesthesia" which is when you hear color or can taste color for example. If you've ever experimented with LSD, you probably know what I'm talking about. I have not. Some people, however are naturally born this way and it seems like a really cool way to experience the world. I found out I was not born this way: I tested myself from the example in our textbook. An artist named David Hockney listened to an opera, L'Enfant et les Sortileges , and created this painting:

Ravel's Garden in Night Glow











I listened to the opera and didn't get anything - at all. I basically sat there wondering what the hell was happening and then got bored with that and started thinking about a sandwich.
So, I guess I'm going to have to rely on my eyes and logic to create rather than trying to hear or taste colors since I'm not interested in doing the drugs.

squeaky wheels still get hosed

Some of you don't know this, but I am a fan of George Takei (Mr. Sulu from Star Trek) on Facebook because he posts a lot of funny stuff. He occasionally has commentary on certain subjects and I enjoy reading them. One subject is that he is gay (which I knew) and that he used to be a Boy Scout (which I didn't know). Since finding that out, I've seen other news related to boys in the Scouts that are coming to terms with being gay and have been denied all sorts of Boy Scout things: badges, honors, etc.
 The BSA states in it's laws that the organization is open to all boys, I don't believe there are any provisions after that. However, I did read that blacks were not permitted to join until the abolishment of Jim Crow laws. Okay, fine, we in America had an absurd set of rules for racial inequality at one point and the Scouts overcame that, as well as other controversies in their history. That being said, I realized in reading all these articles that most of the time it's not the boys in the troops that have a problem with their fellow brother, it's the older leaders. And their probably old white men.
Now, I go to an art school, and maybe it's because I go to an art school, but the students there don't seem to care if you're gay, or black, or Asian, wear a ripped cookie monster t-shirt with Cavalli jeans or have green striped hair. We don't care! People are people and I can guarantee that you can not tell your heart who to love or what to do about it. You love who you love and that is that.

live long and prosper

My tongue does the dance of many flavors

My teacher for observational drawing has been teaching students how to draw for over 30 years, so I feel pretty good about this class. I need to learn how to draw. At first I kept thinking, "Am I the only one who has never taken an art class before?" Another student said she never had and she didn't feel confident about her drawing abilities, so that made me feel better to know I'm not alone.
"We'll be drawing from life," my gray-haired teacher said. "not from a two-dimensional photo. The light will be different. You'll see." She talked about our final project and how we will use our own items and stage them to draw that composition. I'm excited about this and I want to give it some thought. Who would the drawing be for and what should it include? Mom and Dad naturally come to mind first, but we'll see. Any thoughts?
Our first class assignment today was to sketch something she set up so she could evaluate us and gage our skills so far. We took about an hour to pencil out one of the objects she put out. I picked an exploded-flower-starfish-hybrid looking brass thing and everyone else picked the genie-looking bottle or the copper spittoon looking can. We put our 18x24 drawing pads up on the huge easels, which I've never used before. I had a small one when I was about 12, but I don't remember much about it. Anyway, I had a difficult time trying to adjust to drawing upright: how do I hold my pencil, where do I put my hand? The teacher walked around a few times and I finally told her "I don't know what I'm doing." She said, "You're doing well, you picked a hard one, but you have good perception." Then she explained again to the class that this was just an exercise to see where we are in our skills and that we will learn about depth and value and shading and a whole bunch of other things. She promised and I believe her smiling face.
Here is what I drew today:

Since class got out early today, I decided to try a beer at Park Tavern which is just up the fountain stairs from school. I popped in and a baseball game was on, but I sat at the bar anyway. I'm not afraid of these Rangers fans, I just wanted a snack. The menu is a short selection of gourmet delights. Between roasted red pepper hummus and the pulled pork sandwich with cheese curds, I went with something called "the little jar of jam". It's bacon jam (yes, you read that right) with a  side of pickled cherries, sliced brie and garlic toast from Italian bread. The pickled cherries taste like cherries, just a tad sour. The jam had the consistency of butter with finely crumbled bacon and had a delicate sweet barbecue flavor, which was enhanced with the pickled cherries on top. When I read bacon jam on the menu, I knew that was the snack I had to try! So, let me just say that if you are ever in the shops at Park Lane, stop in for a beer or glass of wine and a snack. I went at happy hour and paid ten bucks for a beer, eats and a tip. http://parktaverndallas.com/north-dallas-restaurant-wine-sports-bar-microbrewery-menu

After that delightful tidbit, I went back to school to partake in the Game Night that was set up. I met Jarred and he invited me to play a game called "Apples to Apples" at his table. This is a great fun game! I had never played it before, but I had seen it played at my beloved 806 in Amarillo. I knew I should have crashed in on those college kids playing when I had the chance. A few students popped in and out - you need at least four people to play - and we kept the game going for a while. Later, I meandered over to the food trucks parked along Greenville (road? boulevard?) and tasted Korean tacos. Yes, Korean tacos. The sauce was spicy like the kimchee red peppers and I had mine with beef, Jarred had his with pork. I thought of my friend Jeff and I think he would have liked it, too.

squash it with the gauche ('cause that's how you say it)

I'm excited that school is back in session, I like the idea of school: learning new stuff, seeing new people.
Today, my class was color fundamentals. This is an introduction to the principles of color and an exploration of color theory as it relates to design. There are a few fashion design students in my class and the rest of us are graphic design. The class calls for no prerequisites, but I think design fundamentals should be one of them because when the teacher was talking today about it, I was lost already. That is the class I had to drop last quarter because I couldn't get the loan I wanted (and needed to stay in line with the rest of my classmates). But, I have that class later in the week, so hopefully I'll be ok. The first few weeks we will be using my "favorite" program: Adobe Illustrator. (this should also be a prerequisite, because if I hadn't taken the intro class for it last quarter, I would totally have no freakin' clue today, at all)  This is one that left me crying last time, I loathe it and I'm horrible at it. In class, while the teacher was zooming along, I really felt as if  I still don't know anything, I could barely keep up. Most of my classmates are already familiar with this program and with color theory and mixing colors and the properties because they've had art classes before or have taken it in high school.
I have not.
So every single thing that comes out of the teachers lips is brand spanking new to me, just like when I went to Mexico to learn Spanish. Hue, saturation, gauche paint, value....I've only heard these words before, I don't know what they mean!
Well, I managed to do the assignment today and got started on next weeks assignment so hopefully that will help me keep up, but I didn't really understand what I was doing. I hope this will come with time when I have a chance to read more and absorb it on my own time.
Two of my classmates that I had in last quarters classes did help me after class, and I thank them! I don't know what I will do without them when I won't have classes with them in the next few quarters...make new friends, I guess?

me leaving for school today...Zara says "bye 'icki!"

I've got a lot of reading to do now...

Frankenstein can sing!

I had a great four days off. As you know, on Monday I retrieved my books and craft items from my friends house in Denton. Tuesday I spent the day putting everything else away (I still have a mess) and watched the baby for a few hours (We spent some time looking for the bunnies in the front yard). Wednesday we went to a park that was supposed to be awesome with a huge maze and play things and what not...turned out to be really small, no slides or swings. Just a one way maze in the shape of Texas and an old caboose. But we did find a place that had really good red pepper soup. I also watched a zombie movie called "Exit Humanity" I got from the Netflix.  The story was set ten years after the Civil War ended. I was ok, but the previews is what got me. There's this weird horror type movie out that won a bunch of stuff at Sundance called "Chop". Seems Quinton Tarantino-ish, but without his flair. I will need to see if it is available on Netflix, too.
Thursday I spent the first half of the day at my new scrapbook store finishing my friends book from Alaska and started on her Hawaii book. Then, I drove down to Dallas to the Pocket Sandwich Theater to watch "Frankenstein the Musical".  This theater is great; small, but big enough to enjoy everything the show has to offer: dinner, drinks, desserts, music, the play and your neighbors. The tickets were only $10 and since I was by myself, I was seated next to an older gentleman (probably around 60) who was also by himself. His friend was the violinist in the orchestra for the play and he came down at intermissions to hang out. The man I sat next to is a teacher at SMU and was saying how he loves to be at work around young people because they have so many new and bright ideas and everything is new to them, then he goes home and there's nothing but old people around, boring and set in their ways. I thought this was funny, but it's true.
The play was a hoot. Mostly based on Mary Shelley's book, but with musical numbers like "Ghost Story" where everyone danced around, twirling. Then there was an upbeat gospel like number, I think was called "God made man, but man made monster" or something like that. The "choir" was singing and clapping. All the actors did a really good job, there's a lot of talent in that little place and I can't wait until the next show "Curse of the Mummy".
When the waiters came around to collect for the bill, my new acquaintance paid for my dinner! How nice, huh? Maybe I'll see him again, he was a nice older man.
And now, today, I got work, again....but I get to go to school today to get my new schedule and a few supplies for my new classes: color fundamentals, observational drawing, and design fundamentals.
I wish I could afford to take more classes. Hopefully when I apply for another loan next year, I can.

click here to read a great review of the play!

Smells like college....

Amazingly, I had no school and no work today! I took the opportunity to make the trek to Denton to finally move my books and craft stuff out of the garage of my gracious friends. (thanks again, by the way, I still have my costumes in there)
Since I was in this college town, I decided to try a new restaurant that opened on the famous Fry Street  just off the campus of UNT. I circled the block a few times looking for the place called MacDaddy's and also a place to park. Every time I circled the block, there was a fresh round of students gathering at the cross walks, so I don't know if anyone noticed me or not (like you could really miss MY car anyway, right?). Fry Street, even in the daytime looks like a cool place to hang out. It's the type of place I've been looking for in Dallas: typical college drag with bars, coffee joints, vegetarian and  pizza places, loung-y type hangouts that beckon those reaching for higher learning or higher something.
I finally did find my eatery. I don't know what it was before (most likely a really cool bar that had to close for some monetary reason) but it is a converted mechanic garage. Orange is the primary color, and there is some seating outdoors, too. I ordered the snack-sized Mac French Onion. Everything is served in a skillet and everything is macaroni and cheese based! Mine had caramelized onions and smoked bacon. It was ok, I would have liked a topping of fresh cheese and more onions. Even though it was "snack-sized", I was full for quite some time. I would go again if I was in the area. Who knows when that will be since I live what feels like light years away.
Once I got back to Plano, I started to unpack my beloved books and craft supplies. Oh, how I've missed skimming my bookshelf for something to browse or even to be able to jump into any chapter of my most favorite story in the wide world: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Vern. I have 5 different copies. I should have kept one with me, I don't know why I didn't. Anyway, when I got to unpacking, I also found my going-away basket from my friends from work and my writing group. I read the cards and got a little choked up. I do miss my peeps in Amarillo and I hope they miss me. I opened my "prescriptions" for creativity that a few in my writing group gave me. They were messages or craft items stuffed into pill bottles for me to keep. I have them lined up on my workspace now. I think it was a really cute idea!
I have almost all my stuff unpacked and put away now, so hopefully I can take advantage of my week off from school and do some crafting or scrapbooking.

my French Onion skillet at Mac Daddy's today

You better work, work it girl...

I went to a fashion and portfolio show tonight for the graduating fashion design students at school. It was fun! I think I was the only graphic design student there, but I wanted to see all the students work in fashion design. I see them in the hallways with their dress forms and patterns and measuring tapes and what nots, but I never get a chance to see anything they've done - until tonight. Of course I didn't have my camera with me, but let me tell you, there is some talent out there that will give the people on Project Runway a challenge! I "facebooked" a few and looked at some portfolios of their work.
The runway show was great. The first part was a design contest for masks. Some were your basic Mardi Gras feathers and beads looking things, then there was one with a huge plume and danglies and sparkly things and I loved the one that was brown and black and gold and had a huge beak on it. That one didn't win though. There were six designers and they were all so different. I had three favorites. One was called Funhouse and it reminded me of a demented, dominatrix Alice in Wonderland type theme. Bright, bold and geometric. Another was Metal Militia. It was black on black with studs and spikes and skulls. It was fun and still wearable, believe it or not. My other favorite was different than those two, it was called Forever and For Always. The designer called it "a country wedding for a city girl" and it was! Lace and satin and some ruffles. It was nice.
Below are some pictures I scanned from the program.

Metal Militia

Country Wedding for a City Girl

Demented Dominatrix Alice in Wonderland

I've been feeling, not exactly bored, but missing something lately: adventure. I am missing an adventure. I love my friends in Denton and try to see them when I can, but it's sooo far. And even though I am living with friends, we never get to do much because of the baby, so I am still trying to find new friends. Preferably single and over 25ish. I just want someone to go somewhere with so I don't have to go alone. If you know someone like that, send them my way!

...and in the final run, we have, art!

Okay, this is my final week of classes for this quarter. I had my final project for my Introduction to Graphic Design class yesterday. I did a powerpoint, with music (! I learned how to do that stuff in another class) comparing who would win in  a fight: coffee vs. tea. Durning the presentation, while Thomas Dolby's song "She blinded me with science" played in the background, I had samples and we took a vote. Coffee won 8 to 5. Other kids had really cool movies that they made using iMovie or Flipnote from the DSi. So I learned from them, too, since I'm still not cool enough to do something like that. Next time then.
Tomorrow I've got my final exam in my Intro to Design Applications. This is the class where I got exposed to all the design programs I'll be using like InDesign on Adobe. We have the written part tomorrow and we have to turn in the practicum by end of class. But, I've been working on mine already so I won't have to stay late, and one of my classmates is doing the same thing so we've been working together. Well, I've been working, he's been playing Sims and helping me, which I really appreciate the help because some things I just can't remember how to do. Our assignment was to use all the programs we reviewed to create brochures, charts, information and a webpage for a national park. I chose Mount Fuji in Japan. It wasn't too difficult since I had a lot of information already from when I went a few years ago.
My last class in Perspective Drawing, we took our final last week. The instructor went over the information, I wrote down my little notes and thought, "good I have these to go over for the test next week." But the guy said, "Okay, who wants to take the exam now?" Of course everyone's hands shot up except mine. I felt  like the last kid standing during a round of musical chairs. I know I missed a few questions, but I think I still did well. We also have a final drawing to turn in. Everyone else used their drawing from the previous assignment, which was to draw a building from a photograph. I, of course, had to be different and started another drawing, which I think was better because I got more practice and advice. So I hope that turns out well, too. We have until the end of class to turn in the final drawing.
Now, please enjoy a few pictures from school:

my group for our "design the decade" project. Ours was the 70's and we were the only group to go old school and do a live collage during our presentation. The teacher really liked that idea and it was my idea.

my final drawing for Perspective class. It is my second attempt to draw something this big and in pencil. I did use a range of pencils for the drawing, but I think my shading and shadows are way off. Still, a good first try, I think.

It was a day....one of THOSE days

Everybody has them. Those days, one of those days. You know what I mean.
Yesterday I was all screwed up. I had a plan: go to school to finish my final project for a class then go to work, then go to a store to get a few things to present for another final project in another class.
That's as far as I got. Oh, I went to school, I even called one of my classmates to remind him that he was going to school too to do his project. It all started when I went to the print lab to scan an image I'd drawn so I could convert it to a computer graphic. I took my flash drive out of the computer, went back to the classroom where we were working, put in my flash drive and it was empty. Erased. Gone. Deleted. How the hell did that happen?? I took it to the tech guys and they didn't have an answer and could't recover it, at least not so anything would be functional. We went back to the same computer and nothing was there either. All the work I did was gone. *snap* just like that.
Luckily I had already printed out what I needed for the first part and saved my homework on the hard drive at school, but I still needed everything to use it to work on the second part. I did have some stuff saved at home, so the only option I have is to go back to damn school again today after damn work...again.
Then I got to work and we got paid. Yay! right? Hmph. I opened my paycheck and immediately thought "Is there another one in here somewhere? This ain't enough" Well, it was all correct, I just get screwed on taxes, you know, because I'm independent without children, so why not tax the hell out of people like me who don't have to support anyone else?
Then, we only had a few rude customers yesterday. One lady I dealt with was in a hurry to get to a soccer game and needed to make these hair barrett things. Well we didn't have anything she needed and I tried to offer alternate solutions, but she was not having it, all she wanted to do was complain, so I apologized and left her to stew. She came up to the register with those things anyway, still with a grump on her face. Nothing worked on this lady. She must have had her tampon in backwards or her kotex on upside down. Then, another lady came up to the register with a few things and a spool of ribbon, which was sold by the yard. I asked if she wanted the whole spool at forty-four some odd dollars and she said "Hell no. I just need 10 inches." I told her she needed to get it cut and ticketed at the cutting counter where she got it and she threw up her hands and said "Oh forget it! I give up" and left, almost stomping.
Someone didn't take their nap I guess.
Not too bad a day, but it could have been better, no doubt. I just wanted to go home and lay down so I forgot to go to the store. So I have to do that today too. Poop.

Now, please enjoy this video from Limp Bizkit: Limp Bizkit video

now it's time to breathe

As some of you know, I moved last weekend from a piece of a bedroom in an apartment in Dallas to a whole bedroom to myself in a house in Plano (about 16 miles north of Dallas).
My friends whom I live with helped  me move my stuff: it took a van and two car trips for my stuff since I didn't have a bed at the time. I helped them move their stuff one car load at a time throughout the week. That took a lot longer. On Sunday, when they rented a  moving truck, I was scheduled to work, so I did. I thought they didn't have that much stuff, just big furniture and a few boxes and that shouldn't take long with four other people helping, right? Well, after having worked 8 hours at a cash register all day, I drove to the new house around 7pm, they were still unloading the FIRST truck load. I got there just in time to help push the 400 pound wardrobe closet upstairs. After much straining a groaning and squeezing and grunting, we finally got this behemoth in place, and it's never moving again. Whoever rents this house next will inherit a giant wardrobe cabinet. Someone said "It stays here now, it's the closet to Narnia." So that was the first truck load, like I said.
 Wow, they got a lot of stuff. So I changed my clothes, moved my tired feet to my car and met them back at the old place to load up more stuff. This took until about 11pm or so. When I drove back to the house, my feet and legs were hurting so bad they itched. I really really wanted to help unload the last truck load so they  could return the truck, but I lay on my mattress that had been delivered two days prior and that was that. I hurt to even think about getting up. It felt like the Viet-cong were chewing off my feet. I peeled open my eyes and could see the bottle of ibuprofen I left on the window sill, but couldn't reach it. I tried to use my powers to move the bottle to me, but since I wasn't in the Matrix, it didn't work, so I just lay there. I was a bit still stiff the next day, and I had to work - again. Luckily I had no school and work was not until 6pm. I bought me some insoles which have been like miracles for my heels.
The rest of week I spent going to school and working and being tired. I thought about writing on my blog, but we had no internet, so I just looked at my computer. I finally got my loft bed delivered on Thursday and assembled it that night. Took me 3 hours! But, it's up and I have lots of room to move around now. So, I am writing this while sitting at my new desk under my bed. I like it. It's like a fort and forts are fun!
Now I'm going to climb up to my bed and watch a movie.

me, under my bed, still in my work clothes 

Five o'clock in the a.m.

So, as you know, I got me a J.O.B.
I was scheduled to help with the stock crew today. They start at six....in the morning! Which means, I had to rise out of bed at five....in the morning!
Anyone that knows me already knows Vicki and morning are not friends. I never say silly things like "Good morning", for example.  Now, I knew there was a five o'clock in the afternoon, I've seen it, I like it. That's when class is over and I go get tacos. Me and five p.m. are tight. But, there is another five o'clock...it's in the morning, waaaaay before 7 a.m, which is when I used to get up when I worked in Amarillo. And I thought that was early, but it's not as early at 5 a.m.
Whoever gets up at that ungodly hour - on purpose - has got to be loose in the head. There is absolutely nothing worth doing or seeing at this hour. Trust me, I witnessed it today.
As I drove to work, I saw a guy jogging. Yes! Jogging at five-thirty in the morning! First of all, I don't understand that time of the morning, second, I don't understand this person jogging, third, I really don't understand this person jogging at this hour! Unless he's training for another Rocky movie or some sort of marathon, I feel sorry for this guy who is obviously insane in the membrane.
Back to me now. There is an R. Kelly song that starts out "my mind's telling me no, but my body is telling me yes...." I was singing this part of the song in my head because I normally think and feel like I'm still 25, but today I was saying "Vicki, you're forty years old, what the hell are you doing up at this hour going to work at a part-time job?" So, today, my mind was telling me "no, you can't be 40, you're 25"  and my body was telling me "yes, yes, you are 40."

Then I had to go to class. My group project this week is designing a decade. My group got the 70's. Thanks, not only am I old enough to be everyone in my group's mother, I was also born in the 70's.

                    Please enjoy this musical selection from Cypress Hill "Insane in the brain"

Am I gonna get a brain cramp?

I am amazed at the incredible amount of information going through my head at all times: night time, day time, drive time, sleep time, class time, work time, all the time.
There is just so much stuff to remember. Then I get mad when I don't remember something and I shouldn't because there is a humongous load of info shoved into an itty bitty living space.
Man, I got:

• school stuff:  how to work my design programs, which methods to use and when, projects in three different classes that I'm working on and ideas for them, when things are due
• home stuff:  since I'm moving to a new house, I gotta remember the address and how to get there and how to get around my new town
• city stuff:  how to navigate through the city and what roads lead to where and where places are
• a new job:  I got a clock number to log in everyday, a locker number and combination lock, how to run the register and all the little tidbits that come with that task, where things are in the store, how and what to charge by the yard, spool or piece and how to run those machines, samples, remnants, scanners, printers (lions and tigers and bears, oh my)
• And I'm reading a book for book club and one on the side

These are just a few things that come to mind right away. Now I can't remember the rest and I'm mad about that.

I need a chocolate.

It's because I'm awesome...

I finally got hired! Hallelujah!

Joanne's Craft and Fabric Store apparently thought I was awesome. I was interviewed Friday morning by a very enthusiastic store manager. I'll start out at cashier and fabric cutting, everyone does. Then, in October, I'll work stock overnight to load up for the holidays.
Even though I'll only get eight bucks an hour, it's something and sets me in at what I figured will be the least amount I can earn and still have money to spend and save and give to my hosts.

I'm just so relieved to have a job. I start Tuesday.

"I knew you could do it! Alright!"

stupid hormones

Today I really felt overwhelmed at school. Not because I'm paying a lot of money to be there (that's the reason I usually feel this way, just thinking about all the money I'll have to pay back one day keeps me from sleeping sometimes).
Today we touched on Photoshop. Today was the first day I have ever seen or attempted to use Photoshop. Today I left school crying.
The two guys sitting on either side of me today already knew how to do all the basics that the instructor went over what seemed to me, at warp speed. I paid attention as I normally do, but some things I just couldn't remember. So when it came to the exercise to create a picture, there was just one thing that kept hanging me up. It's just so frustrating to want to do something and can't figure out how or remember what was just said about it half an hour before. There are just so many things and every single one of them in brand new to me. The class might as well have been taught in Hebrew today. I finally had to ask the teacher and he helped and was patient. He's an older guy. He could tell that I was frustrated. I told him that today was the first time I had ever seen this program and he said I was actually doing pretty good. I might be, but I still feel sort of left behind when all the other kids (I call them kids, because they are kids) are done with the main assignment and have moved on to more technologically advanced things that I couldn't even fathom if I tried.
What worries me most is this: These are the tools I will be using as a graphic designer and I can't see myself doing the things with them that the other kids are doing. I have the imagination, I just don't know how to implement my ideas. Will something like that lead to me not being able to find work after college?

I need to put tape on my map already!

It's true. When I moved to Dallas, I got a map at one of the gas stations and have started to wear holes in it already. I use it for everything: finding my exit, finding alternate routes, to write on when filling out job applications, swishing flies out of the car, et cetera, et cetera. I have notes on it, arrows, my address and circles around favorite places so I can find them again. It's the best $2.99 I ever spent.
Today I used it to find my way to the Galaxy UA theater on the east side of town.
First I went to Half Price Books, one of my favorite places here, and strolled around, browsing and browsing books and books, making a wish list. Then I headed over to the movies. On the way, I wanted tacos so I pulled into a shopping strip where I saw a sign that read "MexiCali Mexican cantina and cafe".  It was situated along side a steak diner called The Lonestar and a Thai/Asian market that I can't pronounce and a laundry mat. At first I couldn't tell if it was even in operation, but I drove closer and noticed the neon sign blinking in the window "open". It's quite a nondescript place, like I said, I couldn't even tell if it was open for business, but I went in anyway. I was greeted openly with a smile and "Hi there! Table for one? Sit anywhere you like, we'll get you a menu."
A girl brought out chips and a brownish-red salsa that was actually pretty good; just spicy enough to want to drink a beer with it. I told the waiter I just wanted a couple of tacos and he suggested the lunchtime special: two tacos with rice and beans for $4.99. I got two chicken, one crispy and one soft.
I gazed around at the decor. Mostly typical for a Mexican cantina: red and green walls with the chile peppers hanging down and blankets draped over stuff. Then I noticed the homemade light fixtures made out of coffee cans and the wear and tear on on the doors and some of the floorboards. It seemed like a local place and I asked the waiter about it. He said "yeah, it can get a little crazy sometimes, but mostly it's pretty calm. Lots of regulars."
While the food wasn't that great, I did enjoy the atmosphere  and the friendly staff.
Next on my faded map, I found White Rock Lake Park. After making one or two turn-arounds, I was driving along the lake where bicyclers and casual strollers were out and about enjoying the 100 degree heat. On the other side of the road were huge houses, miniature mansions really, and beautiful. One street I drove down had tall trees that draped over the road and the houses were set away from the street. For a few minutes I felt like I was back East, then the next corner I was back in Dallas. I could see the tall buildings off in the distance behind one mansion.
The park was nice and I think I would enjoy finding it again when the weather is about twenty degrees cooler.
For now though, I need to tape up my map.

White Rock Lake: fishing, boating and trails for bicycling and strolling- all in the middle of the city!

I just don't know...

I was walking past the elevators at school today and two guys were waiting to catch the next ride. The door dinged and a girl stepped out, she appeared flush from being outside. One guy said "wow. you look hot." She looked at him then kept texting on her phone as she walked away saying "gee, that's super inappropriate." And the guys looked at each other as if to say "what?"
The whole time I was thinking "Bitch, if a dude told ME that I looked hot, I'd say 'hell yeah!'" and keep on strolling.
Maybe that's just me, though.
see how the Pussycat Dolls do it...