In the child's mind

Yup.

2006-12-06T01:22:00.000-04:00

Ok, so, I was thankful for lots of stuff on Thanksgiving, and I leave for Miami tomorrow for Art Basel (see previous blog). More later.

The Nole Zone

2006-11-08T11:29:00.000-04:00

I went to my first FSU basketball game last night! Woot! Resa, Andrew and I attended this exhibition game together against NSU which FSU won by like, a gazillion. I gotta say, though...the security there was not that great, and I'll tell you why. The "Nole Zone", which is a student section right by the court is only accessable by entering the arena at a higher level and then walking down MANY steps. Well, with about 15 minutes left in the 2nd half, I decided that I NEEDED a Coca-Cola so I borrowed a few bucks from Andrew and proceeded to walk RIGHT BY the security and entered a hallway that was directly to my right - thinking that a concession stand would be back there. Oh no. There was no concession stand, but there were definately Florida State men's basketball locker rooms!!! I SWIFTLY turned around to be met by a couple of security guards looking curiously at me, so I said, "I'm a little confused." Not even kidding. Argh. THEN, I walked by The Nole Zone, and as I started to walk up the stairs, I saw a couple of guys looking directly at me and laughing. I felt like I was in a bad teen movie. Oh well. I did eventually get a Coca-Cola in a lovely souvenir cup - but not without a few shades of red overwhelming my face. Heehee.

Tennessee's contributions to Texas

2006-11-06T00:20:00.000-04:00

My parents rule. Check out my mom's blog- it's a good read! Armadillo purses.

Today

2006-11-02T11:15:00.000-04:00

Here's 10 things that I know today:

1. I am tired. (stayed at the MFA warehouse 'til 1:00am, then didn't get in my beddy-bed 'til 2:30 am because I was watching pointless TV)
2. It's about 80 degrees outside. No joke.
3. My job right now is to be obediant to what the Lord is calling me to do, and He is the one who moves in the lives of others- not me.
4. I'm glad my voter registration has been changed from Tennessee to Florida.
5. I played four-square last night IN the MFA warehouse, and it was glorious.
6. I will be serving coffee again at It's A Grind in December.
7. This computer says it's 8:03 pm, and it's actually 10:19 am.
8. My little brother is one of the coolest people I know.
9. Last Saturday, Jason and I saw a MFA dance recital and got great seats because we volunteered to hand out programs.
10. Fried chicken tenders dripping with honey mustard is my comfort food, but I wish it was actually something like lettuce.

Rap music party on a Monday night????

2006-10-23T21:17:00.000-04:00

Well, the hoodlums in my apartment complex are BLARING their rap music again. Soooo...I'm about to go over there and tell them to please...if they could...i mean...maybe...um...TURN IT FRICKIN' DOWN!!!! OR OFF! NO WHERE IN THE LEASE DOES IT SAY - "Feel free to enjoy the occasional dance club atomosphere that our tenants will provide." ARGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

Just be...

2006-10-22T18:43:00.000-04:00

Why would I NOT want to spend time with my Creator? Why do I put off spending time in prayer and in the Word with the being who made the universe like I'm putting off doing my laundry? In my heart I know the answer is Satan, but it just makes me really sad that God is just WAITING for me to stop being such a busy-body so I can sit down and realize who I am. I am currently REreading Madeleine L'Engle's Walking On Water, and the first few pages are about learning how to JUST BE. In this state of JUST BEING, when we can finally make ourselves sit still long enough, the Lord leads us beside still waters and restores our souls (like David reflects in Psalm 23). Why would we NOT want to have our soul restored? Do we not have faith?

Art Basel!!!

2006-10-19T17:17:00.000-04:00

Oh man oh man oh man...I get to go to Art Basel in Miami in December!!! FSU is paying for it! I only have to pay 25 little dollars! YAY!

What is Art Basel, you might ask? Well, here ya go - copied straight from the website:
Art Basel Miami Beach takes place from December
7 - 10, 2006. The international art show in Miami Beach (Florida) is the American sister event of Art Basel in Switzerland, the most important annual art show worldwide for the past 37 years. Art Basel Miami Beach is a new type of cultural event, combining an international art show with an exciting program of special exhibitions, parties and crossover events including music, film, architecture and design. Exhibition sites are located in the city's beautiful Art Deco District, within walking distance of the beach and most hotels and restaurants.
An exclusive selection of 200 leading art galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia will exhibit 20th and 21st century art works by over 1500 artists.
The exhibiting galleries are among the world's most respected art dealers. They will be showing exceptional works by both renowned established artists and cutting-edge newcomers. Special exhibitions will feature young galleries and video art. The show will be a vital source for discovering new deve-lopments in contemporary art and rare museum-calibre art works. Art collectors, artists, dealers, curators, critics and art enthusiasts from around the world will participate in the event. Top-quality exhibitions in the museums of South Florida and special programs for art collectors and curators, will make this art show a special place for encountering art and the art world – the favorite winter meeting place for the international art world.

Art Basel Miami Beach is the most important art show on the American continent and a cultural and social highlight of the Americas.

Goodbye, TBS

2006-10-17T23:39:00.000-04:00

Due to my EXORBITANT amount of TV watching, I have decided to unplug my TV for a week. I know...a week doesn't seem like a lot, but hey, I gotta start somewhere. I think my friends on TBS (Raymond, the King of Queens, and the girls of Sex and the City) will be fine without me.

Flies and goosebumps

2006-10-16T14:01:00.000-04:00

Yuck. What a weird title to this blog. What I am about to describe is actually quite pleasant.

Elizabeth came to visit me in Florida! YAY! We tanned, we swatted, we ate food. Fantastic.

Yesterday was quite a day. We set out for St. George Island ( about 2 hours south of Tallahassee) at about 4:00 in the morning. Just kidding. It was about 8:00. As were walking out the door in our swimsuits covered by shorts and t-shirts, we tried to pretend that it wasn't cold out...because it was. I think we were both telling ourselves, "Well, it will warm up, and the sun will be out more, and we'll be on the beach, and beach=warm." Heh-heh-heh...

We finally arrived at St. George at about 10:15. We saw a Subway, pulled up because we thought, "Like, how cool would it be to like, eat Subway on the beach, like?" After we bounded out of my bug-splattered car and went up to the door, alas...it didn't open until 11:00. Dang. So we drove to beach (about 8 minutes away) and enjoyed a lovely beach walk. Well, that's an exaggeration. It was lovely company, but it was cold and windy. We prayed to the sun gods and performed our sunbathing dance in hopes that when we returned to the beach after lunch, the sun would have miraculously appeared because God loves us.

We returned to the beach, and tried to eat our sandwiches without them, or us for the matter, blowing away. I even took a few look-how-much-fun-we're-having-at-the-beach pictures, but that still didn't coax the sun out of its hiding place. The sun and Satan must be hanging out again. DOH!! I gotta hand it to us, though...we were DETERMINED to lay out in our swimsuits on the beach. After waging war with our beachtowels to not blow away, we laid down...and then we started to look around. To our right some boys were playing football - in jeans and long sleeved shirts, and to our left some lady was sitting in a chair reading a book - in a SWEATSHIRT. We gave up on laying out, started to build a sandcastle to kill the time, and then...THE SUN CAME OUT! We immediately tossed the sandcastle aside, as if it were an old stuffed animal that we had suddenly and without warning overgrown. We laid out for a good 30 minutes, then the sun disappeared again. We gave up, and decided to drive a little farther (towards Panama City) and find another beach. We hadn't been in the car 4 minutes, and, as if on cue, the sun burst forth triumphantly - taunting us and laughing at us...pointing his stubby sun-ray fingers at us. Argh. We drove on.

About 20 minutes down the road, we stopped at another beach. It looked promising. The sun was out and the beach looked nice. We were so proud of us. Lots of "GO US!!!", hand slaps, and joyous laughter errupted from my vehicle. We laid our towels down in the white sand very easily this time because there wasn't much wind. We had just gotten settled when..."Ouch! What WAS that?"
"What?"
"Something frickin' BIT me!!"
"Uh, I don't know wh- OUCH! Dang it! Me too!"
Yes, you guessed correctly. Beelzebub had unleashed the razor-toothed flies from Sheol to prey upon our tanning flesh. Or maybe it was a plague from God. We decided that these particular flies could count as flies, gnats, AND locusts. Argh. So to escape that, we played around in the water a bunch, and threw around the Kairos frisbee. Ah...if only there was a Kairos magazine..this pic could definately have the following caption with it on the cover "See what Kairos is up to this summer!" or "Kairos reaches those at the beach!" Feel free to add your own caption.

All in all, it was a good day. We did end up driving to Panama City, drove around there a bunch looking for a nice seafood place next to the water, but then decided that Ruby Tuesday was about the same thing...aka...we were really hungry. We both slept like logs that night, and then slept in until noon today. Ahhhhhh...glorious. Fun with friends. :)

Well, ok.

2006-10-15T23:32:00.000-04:00

Yeah, ok. I miss blogging. A real blog is in the making right now - will be posted with pics and everything in less that 24 hours.

2006-09-30T23:17:00.000-04:00

Argh. I quit blog.

Brain dump

2006-08-30T08:44:00.000-04:00

This picture really has nothing to do with this post, but I just wanted to post a FL pic. The words that follow are from an email that I sent Ashley a few minutes ago:

I have visited some churches here, and I think I might
revisit Calvary Chapel. They seem pretty cool....and
the pastor is excellent. I know I need to be in
church somewhere for the whole corporate worship thing
because it's important, but I really want to do
something on campus, too. I'm just not sure what
organizations like the BSU and CRU have for
grads...the websites seem to be undergrad oriented,
which makes sense, and they should be,
but...actually...this next thought is hot off the
presses of Robin's morning journaling...I really feel
led to lead a Bible study for Christian artists - and
by artists I mean musicians, visual artists, dancers -
whatever. However, I really want to go through
Walking On Water! I'm getting ready to do a series of
paintings on the struggle with being a Christian
artist. It's lonely being a C.A. sometimes because
you're not weird enough for the art crowd, but too
weird for the Christian crowd, even though that's NOT
how it should be. I wow...I could go on and on...but
I won't because my fingers might burn off from typing
too fast. ANYWAY, this idea may not even manifest
until next year, but I really think it's going to
happen at some point. I think I could have more to
offer undergrads if I have lived here for a year. Ok,
I just did a total brain dump on you....I hope it made
sense...lol...

2006-08-24T09:46:00.000-04:00

Don't worry, people. I didn't get washed away in Troy, AL. I am in Florida and doing orientation stuff. I'll post more later. I was going to post a pic of me scaling a palm tree, but Safari kept quitting on me when I tried to upload it! Ok, bye for now.

How to put yourself and others in danger

2006-08-15T21:24:00.000-04:00

Weeeeeelllllllp, I'm in Troy, Alabama.

Here's how to put several people in danger on the road:
*Play the song "Call on Jesus" immediately after the song "Now Behold the Lamb" by Kirk Franklin and the gang, and you will notice that your hands will slowly lift off the steering wheel - praising God. Don't worry. It's safe.

On another note, there is a huge storm that is hitting Tallahassee tomorrow when I'm supposed to move into my apartment. Awesome. Oh, and this same storm followed us all the way down here. It was a miserable drive, but we're here, and safe, and looking forward to another deluge tomorow. Actually, not. More like dreading it. But it will be ok.

2006-08-11T13:46:00.000-04:00

Triumphant Snow White. Don't we all have a little Snow White in us? (what???)

CD Binge

2006-08-07T22:34:00.000-04:00

Ok, so...wow...I have never done this before - I bought NINE Compact Discs today at the same time. I remember the days when I used to save up my allowence monies to buy ONE CD. So, I'll give you the list. Laugh, cry, gasp, and so forth:

Thelonius Monk's Greatest Hits
Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself
Kate Bush - Aerial (2 disc set)
Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (2 disc set)
Butch Walker and the Let's Go Out Tonites - The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker (although I might take this one back because it has a parental advisory sticker on it that I just noticed...hmmmm...)

So that's it.

2006-08-04T15:52:00.000-04:00

Today was my last day at It's A Grind. It very bittersweet. George made some delicious breakfast casserole, which we offered to a few customers as well. Yesterday Josh and I made a list of everyone that we've worked with in the mornings, and it really took me back. George has recently hired a couple of new people, and they are reminding me a lot of me when I first started there almost a year ago - being nervous to work the drive-thru, learning how to make drinks, learning all the regular customers drinks and names, asking lots of questions, forgetting to clock in (oh wait, I still do that...!!), and generally being excited to work somewhere new and cool.

I have seen It's A Grind in all of its seasons. I remember handing out drinks out of the drive-thru window with a huge coat a scarf and gloves (until Chris Thompson put white chocolate powder in them one morning...hahaha...I think I revenged by squirting Chai syrup on him or something) on those cold January and February mornings. I remember when it started getting Springier the regular customers would start lightening up a little (much to the dismay of Seth). And now that the summer heat has hit, the blenders are buzzing a lot more with frozen yumminess ready to quench all those dry mouths and satisfy the sweet teeth.

At about 11:50 AM this morning, as I was counting down my drawer for the last time, all those memories starting flooding in, and I started to get sad. I held back crying until I was hugging Josh goodbye, and then the floodgates opened (dang it, I'm such a girl...lol). Then I handed George my key to the store. He let me keep my apron. Working at It's A Grind has been a terrific experience. I've made some terrific friends, drank some very good coffee, eaten too many doughnuts, and learned more about myself. Ah...on to Florida...

Not the whole story, but a glimpse.

2006-07-31T23:28:00.000-04:00

My visit to Gulfport, MS in a few photos.

Driving by the Superdome in New Orleans on I-10. All I could think about were those news reports of scores of people lined up waiting for a bus to take them out of the city after the hurricane.

Here's where I laid my little head to rest each night. The ghosts in the church played the piano to lull me to sleep. Joke.

My Dad (in the yellow shirt) is helping someone cover their roof in the pouring rain while I sit warmly in the car.

Just one of the many...

Dad and I went to Smoothie King a couple of nights for a little fun.

Ah, Gulfport.

2006-07-27T18:45:00.000-04:00

I'm in Gulfport, Mississippi right now.
My Dad is taking a nap for about 20 minutes (highly unusual).
I painted a lady's walls today.
I had a Caribbean Way smoothie last night.
My face is grody from all the sweat and lack of makeup.
My camera is being a doody-face.
Favorite book of the moment: The Artist's Way by Julie Cameron
Sorry I haven't blogged in awhile...my life got kind-of uninteresting.

Adventures in Cool Springs

2006-06-24T22:01:00.000-04:00

So...you think it's the same person weaing those shoes? Well, it's not! Crazy, huh? The black-footed one is Arley, and the large, Bigfooty one is me. We were shopping for wedding shoes for her but didn't find any. However, we did find these cute shoes, so we each bought those instead. Oh, and we had to focus on driving a lot because we would get distracted and take the wrong exit off the interstate. Here's another funny thing -

These kids are SIBLINGS! HOW????!!! One is a beanpole and the other is a pumpkin! Seth mentioned that the smaller one just looks like he may have broken off the other one like you would pick off a tick (last part is my addition). Weird things at the mall. Oh, and I drank a yummy strawberry slushy...part of which I spilled in that shoe store called "shi." Oh well. So goes life...you eat some, you spill some.

Geek time

2006-06-21T21:17:00.000-04:00

Ok, I know that I'm not alone when I say this...but does anyone else have a smart book? Ya know...a book that makes you feel really smart when you read it because you learn so much cool geeky stuff that you're interested in. I am currently reading a smart book. It's called Nothing If Not Critical, and it's a selection of Robert Hughes essays and critiques. Who is Robert Hughes, you ask? WELL, he's one of the most famous contemporary art critics...right up there with Clement Greenberg (who pretty much put Pollock on the art map!), and these essays are just plain amazing because he puts into eloquent words what I have trouble expressing. For example, I've never been a huge fan of John Constable, even though he's very popular (especially in England!), and after reading Hughes's critique on one of his exhibits, I understand a little more WHY I don't like him. SO...anyways...what's your favorite and/or current "smart book?"

Alright, already...

2006-06-13T21:59:00.000-04:00

I need to paint...soon. I am getting ansty and bored with myself, and I know this particular brand of boredom and restlessness comes from not expressing myself creatively. I've been going to the pool a lot, which is fun and relaxing, but there is only so much a tan will do for my inner well-being.

Speaking of art, Arley and I did an art show (huh? did an art show? does that make sense? oh well...) at It's A Grind this past Saturday. We each sold a little something, and then my favorite part was trading artwork with her. I also saw Seth and his new lack of hair. Yes, that's LACK and not LOCK. Pretty fly for a white guy.

Lately I've been feeling very strongly that I need to memorize Psalm 27. I was reading it the other day because I was cross-referencing something else, and the Lord nudged me to think very strongly about memorizing it. The chapter has a lot to do with having confidence in the Lord in the midst of attack...yikes.

Argh...

2006-05-30T17:45:00.000-04:00

I am tired of myself. That's about it.

American Idol ReCap

2006-05-24T21:27:00.000-04:00

Katherine + Meatloaf = SICKOUT!!!!
Boys in black performance = awesome. taylor on the harmonica rocked my face off
Clay Aiken wannabe being surprised by the REAL Clay Aiken = weird and hilarious - very much in the spirit of the show
Elliot's momma = awwwwwww!!!
The Golden Idol awards = unnecessary
Anything Mandessa or Elliot sang = rockin'
Brokenote Mountain Cowboys = melted cheese
Prince = friggin' YEEESSSSS!!!!!
Taylor winning = yup. good.

At least I didn't pay for it.

2006-05-22T21:27:00.000-04:00

This is what a great actor looks like. Not bad, huh? Hee-hee... I will now admit to everyone that I have secretly rented really bad movies ON PURPOSE just because Johnny Depp was in them. Tonight, however, was a particularly embarrassing example. I trotted into Blockbuster tonight at about 6:00 pm to rent a movie - didn't really have anything in mind, just felt like watching a movie. I strolled around in the New Releases, like always, and came across Crash. I picked it up and walked to the front because, hey, it won Best Picture, so it can't be horrible. Well, I get to the checkout and the nice young man tells me that I can rent any one movie in the middle sections for free. So I browse around pretty quickly, and come across Johnny Depp's face...the movie - The Man Who Cried. I picked it up immediately because (dang, I'm shallow) he looked attractive on the cover. I didn't even look at the back cover. I can't believe I'm admitting this... SOOOOO, I get home, pop it in the DVD player...and bam... I'VE ALREADY FRIGGIN' SEEN IT!!! Not only that, I rented it last year for the very same reason I rented it this time - Johnny Depp's beautiful face. Oh well. I think I see some lightning coming down out of the sky heading straight for my heart. Argh...

Goodbye, Factory

2006-05-14T17:00:00.000-04:00

Saturday my Dad and I cleaned the last of my things out of my art studio at The Factory. For the past couple of weeks I had been anticipating this as a somewhat apathetic departure, as I am VERY much looking foward to the Fall, but I actually was a little sad.

I remember last September when I moved in, I was so entertained by the idea of ME selling my artwork just a couple of months out of school at a cool place like The Factory. I had graduate school at the forefront of my thoughts, and knew that I had to create some really interesting and cohesive work so I would be accpeted into some school, somewhere. I also knew that this might be the only time in my life when I could pursue something like this, so I had better make this a wholehearted attempt.

Now, after being accepted at several schools and then deciding on Florida State University, I am starting to look back at my time in The Factory. I met some really cool artists, one of whom was a special mentor to me.

On Saturday, after every last painting was packed, Deborah prayed over me and annointed me. It was very special. I feel very excited about the future, but I think I will miss my little space at The Factory more than I know.

Paint and the Middle Ages

2006-05-10T17:29:00.000-04:00

I am so proud of my new artist friend, David Morris. He has depicted the time between the fall of Rome to the time of Columbus on 9 window panes using the following various media: acrylic paint, weird papers, oil pastel, sand, modeling paste and ribbon. A few weeks ago, Debo (his cool Mom), asked me if I would help David with this project that he was doing for school, and I pondered... an oppurtunity to teach a little about art... any member of the Morris family... slinging paint... It was a no-brainer. Here's the AR-TEEST in action.

I had a great time. Woot.

Bending

2006-05-09T12:09:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I bought a Pilates DVD at Best Buy for about $6, and I like it so much that I feel like I should drive back to Best Buy and give them another $10. Above is me doing Pilates on the beach. Ok, seriously, though, I really enjoy pilates. I feel so energized but relaxed at the same time when I'm done with the workout. Now, don't get pilates confused with it's cousin, yoga. Yoga is more stretching and holding poses. Pilates has some stretching parts, but it is mostly toning.

The gap between Gulfport and home

2006-05-02T23:33:00.000-04:00

Please pray for my Dad in Gulfport, Mississippi. Encourage him and my mom through your blog comments, as they both have their own blogs (look under my "Friends" list). This is a difficult time for both of them. Our family covets your prayers. Blessings...

Oh, apartments.

2006-04-29T18:59:00.000-04:00

So I went to Tallahassee this weekend to look for an apartment with my Dad, and we found one! And it is awesome! And it is SAFE! And it is great! And I like it a lot! The End.

Easter awesomeness

2006-04-16T22:06:00.000-04:00

Today, on this Easter Sunday, the LORD allowed me to be a part of an amazing time of worship.

When I was a teenager, I used to think it was so amazing to see the choir "perform" on such grand occasions like Christmas and Easter. I remember getting goosbumps quite often during not only those special worship times, but other Sunday mornings as well. I know now that those goosebumps were Christ moving in me. I wanted to be a part of the choir so badly when I was younger, and now, as a 23 year old young woman, I have had the tremendous opportunity and blessing to do so.

These are just a few of the words from some songs that we proclaimed this morning:

"You opened the way for world to live again..."
"Hallelujah, for all you've done!"
"...through his poverty, we might be rich..."
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

Lined up backstage with trumpets blaring out front, I stare up directly into a blinding stage light that is partially illuminating our path. Our cue comes and we "stream out like ants" (as Vicki would say!) into the choir loft. Then we sing. I had been practicing with my rehersal CD for weeks now, and the words had become a part of me...a part of my daily worship that I experienced in my own car. I was telling everyone the day before that I couldn't wait to proclaim the good news that these songs held, and now the time had come. I sang with all my might and heart, (I even danced a little!) and I believe that the LORD spoke to me through these songs even before I entered the church this morning so I could share with others. This is what I learned about leading worship today- having a personal encounter with the LIVING Christ through the songs' words and music, and then making sure that everyone else knows that you have had this encounter by sharing those same words and music!

Argh...

2006-04-16T18:59:00.000-04:00

So, I just ate about a million of these...argh...fiber, please, someone...

Why do I keep watching cartoons?

2006-04-09T00:10:00.000-04:00

So lately I can't seem to stop watching "kid" movies. The idea of a child's innocence and pure imagination is very interesting to me (thus the name of my blog). Lately I have watched An American Tail, Lady and the Tramp, and just tonight I finished The Rescuers Down Under, which had a really funny part in it. This mouse doctor was getting ready to operate on Wilbur the albatross, and he started calling out all the surgical instruments. However, instead of calling out "Scalpal!" or whatever, he screams, "Bring me the epidermal tissue disrupter!" which is actually this giant chainsaw that is lowered down from the ceiling! I'd say that is some MAJOR tissue disruption!!! Anyway...I digress... I have also read Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-glass which is the sequel to the former, and I'm getting ready to do a giant painting about it. Children have this amazing ability to be totally swept into other worlds and let their imaginations carry them so far away that they actually are in a different reality. It seems like the world that we live in slowly corrupts that ability. No wonder Jesus told us to have faith like the children do. If we can't put pure faith into our head knowledge of Christ, then we are not only limiting ourselves tremendously, but not fully understanding what we KNOW about Christ.

I think another reason that I have been neck-deep in "kid" movies is that I am in a point of my life where figuring out where I came from and why is very important to me because it gives me great stability.

Uh, life? Anyone?

2006-04-02T19:41:00.000-04:00

Life is weird. So is being a Christian. One minute I feel great about my life and where the LORD is leading me, and the next I feel really defeated for no reason other than the enemy is attacking me on issues that I am sensitive about. I have so much to look forward to, but lately I seem to be dwelling on negative stuff for really no other reason than I am just plain selfish. Sometimes, like my friend Arley said once, it's so much easier to be negative and to stay in a bad mood than to bring yourself out of it. In other words, it's hard to stay focused on the positive, which seems crazy, but that is how I feel right now.

I am a sap

2006-03-29T22:13:00.000-04:00

As much as I tried not to, I definately cried during "An American Tail" (the ORIGINAL, not the Western one). I tried to prepare myself for the heartwrenching and heartwarming scenes by making fun of them secretly in my head, but, alas...I am a sap.

Trip to visit FSU

2006-03-25T16:17:00.000-04:00

This weekend my mom and I visited FSU so I could check out the MFA program a little more and get a feel for the campus. This first picture was on highway 231 - about 3 hours away from Tallahassee.

What the heck is a "Bird Pot" and why did someone put hours and hours of precious life into creating a giant metal chicken? Yikes...anyways...well, once we arrived on campus, the scenery took a nice pleasant turn for the beautiful. The live oaks gently grew over the clean Tallahassee streets, and the FSU campus was pretty impressive. I visited with one of the art profs there, and felt very good about possibly going to school there. This next picture is of the old capital building.

On our way out on Friday, we stopped at the Tallahassee Natural Science Museum which is all outdoors. Here is a picture of me as a bat,

and then a really cool picture of my mom and I in a live oak tree.

I'm pretty tired, and have lots of errands to run, so if you want to know more about the trip, call me or email me.

Coffee, chocolate, and naps

2006-03-20T18:35:00.000-04:00

I just felt like writing because it is cold and rainy outside, so here goes...

Today has been a pretty good day. I went to work at my normal time (5:30 am...also known as dark-thirty) at It's A Grind Coffeehouse. The picture above includes my good friend Ashley, who used to work there. I served coffee to some interesting people. Some people seemed to be in a good mood despite the nasty weather. I really enjoy seeing the "regulars" there because it makes the coffeehouse feel like a little home instead of a place of employment. The longer I have worked there, the more I like to make complicated drinks. It used to scare me, but now I actually enjoy it when someone orders a double-shot, no foam, half-caf, 2 splenda, 1 pump of vanilla, no whipped cream, extra-hot latte.

After work, the family and I went out to lunch at Puckett's in downtown Franklin. When we first walked in and sat down at our table, my brother pointed out to me that the members of the band Audio Adrenaline were sitting a few tables away. I looked over to verify, and sure enough, three guys with cool hair and an open Powerbook sat conversing. Then we ordered our food. I ordered roast chicken with mashed potatoes and baked beans, and it was quite delicious. There is something so calming about eating at local places. The servers are a little more laid back, the menus aren't as fancy, and it's generally a lot quieter than a popular chain restaurant, which I enjoy A LOT because the atomosphere makes for easier conversation.

Now comes my favorite part of the day so far - our next stop after lunch, which was The Cocoa Tree. Anyone who knows me knows that I love my chocolate. This place has a fabulous drink called "Drinking Chocolate". It''s pretty much melted chocolate with a little bit of hot milk in a cup, and it is a slice of heaven. It got thicker with each sip...yum! It was just what my body needed on this cold rainy March day.

Then I took a really long nap on our couch, wrapped up in a red down blanket. This has been a great day.

I have an awesome family

2006-03-10T12:54:00.000-04:00

As I grow older (and hopefully wiser) I realize more and more that I have been blessed with an amazing family. My brother makes me laugh more than anyone else on this planet and is very creative and neato. We have more in common as we grow older, I think. He's a great friend.

My mom is an amazing godly woman who has taught me so much about how to be a godly woman...probably more by example than anything else. She is hilarious, creative, and extremely suppportive.

And last, but definately not least, my wonderful father, who keeps me from going off the deep end. His practicality and tremendous support is a deep well of strength that I draw from often. He is also a pretty funny guy.

Here's to my wonderful family. I am so blessed to be a part of it!

de Kooning

2006-03-08T23:10:00.000-04:00

Willem de Kooning (1904-1997) was one of the greatest painters of the 20th century. He became very well-known in the 40's and 50's - especially identifying with the Abstact Expressionts (Jackson Pollock is included in this group as well). I was reading an article today about him in ArtNews that explores the last paintings that he ever created. As you can see from this picture, which is one of his most famous pieces, called "Woman, I" (1950-52), de Kooning was an artistic genius. He used MANY layers of color and thickly applied paint to reveal his subject - here, a woman. The article suggested that his dementia in his later years was clouding his artictic genius, and that even sometimes his works looked so unfinished, that his employees would have to finish the paintings for him. However, there was also a side that claimed that these vastly different works were beautiful explorations of color and sensual line. It seems to me that the loss of one's mental faculties could open up the door to the purest form of painting because one would not be encumbered by the superego. Now, please understand... I am not advocating illegal drug use that would lead to a loss of these mental capabilities! I do think, however, that it is a rather beautiful idea to paint with no thought of the outside world or its restrictions and rules.

Ontology

2006-02-27T14:27:00.000-04:00

Ontology: the metaphysical study of the nature of being and existence. Madeleine L'Engle, in her first book of The Crosswick Journals called Circle of Quiet, talks about ontology in reference to nature. The blueberry bush, seen here, reminds her of the burning bush that Moses encounters in Exodus. She goes on to say that this plant is an example of pure ontology. "A bush certainly doesn't have the opportunity for prideful and selfish choices, for self-destruction, that we human beings do. It IS. It is a pure example of ontology." This concept is very intriguing to me. Until the part of ourselves that is put on us instead of what simply IS us, is burned away (by God), then we are not being all that we can be.

Birthday weather

2006-02-18T14:09:00.000-04:00

This is what it looks like on my birthday. Snow. And ice. Oh well.

Last night kicked off the "birthday season" as my mom likes to call it. I went shopping with Elizabeth, and she bought me a pink shirt to wear to go swing-dancing in tonight (if the weather is ok!). Then I rushed over to Shogun where my cool friends Brittney and Jackie bought me dinner. I put soy sauce in Jackie's Diet Coke while she wasn't looking, and it was pretty hilarious when she took a huge swig of it and then promptly spit it out. When I told my brother about all this, he said, "Geez, Robin...she paid for YOUR dinner!" Oops...

Stages of awkward

2006-02-15T12:57:00.000-04:00

The following is a shortened version of what Seth, my brother Jeff, and I have deemed "The Stages of Awkward." Actually, there are no stages..it's just kind-of a list...eh-heh...

1. Jockward - awkwardness with jocks
2. Stalkward - awkwardness with stalkers
3. Dockward - awkwardness with sailors of docks
4. Lockward - awkwardness with locks of hair
5. Flopward - awkward flopping
6. Wardward - awkward use of the word "awkward"
7. Chewbacward - (for example) - "Oh man, I don't understand this wookie language. This is so chewbacward."
8. Stockward - awkwardness with stocks, as in, the old school prison device
9. Flockward - awkwardness within a clique of geese
10. Misunderstandingward - elaborating on something you're not a part of
11. Brothward - awkwardness of chicken broth

There's the Top 11.

Friend leaving

2006-02-10T19:35:00.000-04:00

This is my cool new friend Ashley, who I had the pleasure of meeting at our mutual place of employment, It's A Grind Coffeehouse.
She is one of the most interesting, understanding, thoughtful, and funniest people I have ever met. She is an artist in that she writes and thinks artisically and outside of the box. I'm so glad that God brought us together in this friendship! We are reading Walking On Water by Madeleine L'Engle together, which has been an awesome experience thusfar. She is moving to South Africa for mission work, which she will awesome at. I am going to miss her terribly, and be sad that she isn't here, but find peace in knowing that she will be doing exactly what God has called her to do.

Winter blues

2006-02-10T18:25:00.000-04:00

The winter blues definately hit me today at my studio at The Factory.

I walked in about 10 minutes later than usual and after shrugging off my grey peacoat I plopped down in my black office chair which has a couple of random spatters of paint on the seat. I got up to charge my iPod and gazed down the long, cold, empty hallway which should have been busier because it was right at the peak lunch hour. As I peered out my huge window that offered me no solace on this colorless afternoon, I longed for weather that prompts t-shirts and iced coffee.

Despite my mood, I did have an enriching conversation with a mentor of mine whose studio is right next to mine. We ate shortbread cookies, drank sugar-free hot chocolate, and as the steam warmed our throats, talked about the work that God is doing in our lives.

I suppose winter is good for something...it makes me be still long enough to look inside myself and make sense of the unsettling.

What I spend a lot of my day doing

2006-02-09T18:55:00.000-04:00

studio
Originally uploaded by rgvinhim.

Painting is a constant struggle but also a constant joy.
Half of me feels like a child, while the other half is reaching into wisdom beyond my years and intellect.

African Art Awesomeness

2006-02-06T19:04:00.000-04:00

I just returned from the Frist Center a few moments ago where my mom and I saw an intriguing exhibit about African art. I was so fascinated by the differences in culture and had to constantly remind myself to not try to compare these art forms to anything in Western art. I believe that art is more appreciated when it is examined in its own context...for example - there were large hanging cloths called kente cloths which were worn when one wanted to convey a powerful political statement, but it would be totally unfair to say, "Oh, that looks like a quilt" because then it loses meaning. Instead of just being what it is, it is now competing with a totally unrelated idea. HOWEVER, I understand that part of what makes art art is what the viewer brings to it...so...it's a very fine line. Anyways...I digress... Another interesting fact: Breasts, instead of their usual sexual or lactation connotations, are perceived as symbols of POWER! Whoa!

Ah, a new place to rant

2006-01-07T02:42:00.000-04:00

Hello, my name is Robin Venable, and I am a recovering MySpaceaholic. I started this blog thing mainly because my cool new friend Ashley is going to South Africa for a year, and she will be posting all her South African coolness on this thing. So...this is a somewhat short post, but I will be cooler later.