Not that many people were even reading this blog (HI DREW, ily), but the past two weeks have been a blur of awesome and busy, so keeping up with a casual blogging routine was really hard. So, um, I didn’t.
My routine consisted of: getting up at 7 (well, it started out that way and eventually it became waking as late as possible to still shovel breakfast in and go to class); eating at 8:30; class from 9 until 1; a quick hour for lunch (greek salad or turkey sammiches); class from 2 until 6. Generally after that we were pretty freakin tired, there were a few movie nights where we ate greek pizza and watched greek movies, but it was free time. I was usually in continuing the work I started when I was in class. I’m a slow worker. Or rather, a perfectionist, ahuhuhuhuhu.
When we didn’t have class in the morning however, my nights were fantastic (though not every night, mom I promise). Two nights in particular stand out to me. The day we went sailing instead of painting was amazing. We sailed the Aegean, water that was ridiculously clear amongst beautiful landscapes and with a group of girls I simply loved and would only grow closer to in the weeks remaining (for the most part anyways, but let’s not get into that). Agios Ioannis was breathtaking. That night we went out for the first time. We hit up our favorite place (pictures to come of our adorable waiter). We brought the party to La Costa, a bar on the harbor which played great music. The bartender there nicknamed me Grey’s Anatomy and she was just one of the coolest sweetest women ever, I’ll see you and your puppy again Margarita, I swear it. She took care of us. I’ve been 21 for a while now but I had never really taken advantage of that? I’ve learned about painting, sketching, watercolor, bookmaking, and drinking whilst here. The moment I arrived on the island I was handed a glass of wine, I think that was just a sign of everything to come.
Anyways, we danced and had drinks and peed a million times. It was just a beautiful experience. Then we stumbled our way back up the crazy steps and hills and alleys to our apartments, somehow.
The other night was similar. We pretty much split into two distinct groups and my roommate and I went out for another night but were sad that we didn’t have the whole crew to do the same sort of thing that we had before. But we were determined! We hit up Vtokos, a place that had recently opened. It was not too far from La Costa, but it seemed much more of a hang out place and people were just chatting and that’s not what we wanted. The other group was there though and they had gotten to know a lot more of the locals so we met a whole slue of really nice people.
My roommate met someone in particular. Uh, we couldn’t get rid of him, haha, gooood memories. But really, he was a creep by the end of it and I wanted to punch him but instead just told him off and ditched him when we hopped a ride back home.
I met someone I fell in love with that night, not in the sense that I’d leave my boyfriend and run off to Greece (I do want to run off to Greece though). He was just one of the most interesting people I had ever met, he had us cracking up the entire night. He was the bartender inside and he came to hang out because the place was closing. I can’t even describe it. His relationship with the other guys that the group was friends with was obvious so they made lots of jokes. He was such a horrible influence. He was constantly cursing. That dude that wouldn’t leave my roommate alone played football on the island and he bought shots for everyone except for him, “You can’t have any! Shut up, you’re playing tomorrow! Fuck you!” But toss in an accent tinged with multiple countries and you can maybe get and idea about what he was like. He only knew us for like fifteen minutes and he was telling us to shut up. It was GREAT.
Cursing like a sailor, having hilarious dry humor, smoking constantly, and dressed in that European metro style where you can’t tell if he’s straight or otherwise, he was fantastic. I could keep him in my pocket to narrate my life and make commentary forever. I bet he has the coolest wife and kids. We didn’t get to see him again but our entire group is just constantly saying, shutup!fuckyou! I’m sure he would be proud. We hit up a place called Raise, everyone from the bar moved there pretty much. It was a great club. I danced for a long time, once we managed to get rid of creepy soccer player, we made our way home and watched the sun rise for the second night in a row. I pulled an all nighter painting the night before, napped here and there, had my critique, ate delicious dinner, watched the Barcelona v. Manchester game with the whole damn block on the harbor whilst sipping mojitos (amazing, I can’t even begin to tell you), went back up to nap a little more and drag my roommate out of bed (she had also pulled an all nighter) to dance and drink free alcohol. Shut up! Fuck you! Great night! Slept from 7 to 1 and went to the most beautiful beach, ever. Life there in one word: great.
There are more things I want to type up but that was just a quick synopsis of my favorite two nights. I’ve had the most amazing time. The people on that island, the entire life there, is too beautiful for words. I didn’t want to watch us depart, when I was on the ferry I sat with the blinds closed and slept the entire ride, I woke up when we reached the mainland and my heart was broken. I stepped out groggy, dragging my stupid luggage which is slowly but surely dying, and what I saw, which just two weeks prior had been amazing and charming, was awful to me. It killed me. We drove back into the main parts of Athens and every kilometer was more soul crushing then the last. It’s not Skopelos. I wanted to go back so desperately.
I want to wake up and step out into a sea breeze, roosters crowing, cats meandering onto my balcony, throwing on a pretty sundress and sandals, creating art, eating delicious healthy simple dishes, enjoying cocktails, enjoying life the way only that place can have it. I want to go to the beach every weekend, beaches that are untouched by the horrible tourist nonsense that pollute every beach in the states, the water clear enough to see every detail of the pebbles and sand between your toes. The sun is strong and hot, draining as we napped. I don’t know if I’ve ever enjoyed simply napping on the beach like that. Then we would get up, walk to a taverna with a view and enjoy a greek beer (refreshing like nothing else I’ve ever had) before the taxi driver we asked to come pick us up would do so. Shit, I’m in love with that place. I really am.
But I’m back in Athens now and I go back to the United States on Friday. My complete disinterest in the city was made worse as tourist season is beginning to pick up. Our first few days here were lovely and awe-inspiring, there were tourists but now there are really tourists. They’re everywhere. The restaurants are overflowing and the streets are super busy.
We traveled to Mycenaea today amongst many other adorable places, it was a blast even if it was long and draining. I was back into that mode of: holy shit, I learned about this in class and now here it is I AM TOUCHING ANCIENT ROCKS AHHHHH. It was flippin amazing. Driving back though I’ve taken up that appreciation again, the one I had started out with when we first got here. It’s a city and has it’s quirks and it’s awesome, it’s a combination of ancient and new and of people from all over. People are a little less friendly though, understandably, tourists are beginning to overrun Plaka and it only gets worse from here. I honestly can’t even imagine that.
I still don’t want to go home. I love my family but my life was reaching a point where I was bored. I did the same stuff all of the time. Always. The only way to change that I suppose is to continue what I started here. I decided I was going to make this trip and I made it happen, it was my doing. I was determined. I just have to be determined for everything else to add the spice in my life. Woah, almost a Spice Girls reference right there. Next year I would love to come back to that island, I really, really would. Ideally, I’d come back with my favorite person in the world so I could share the experience with him as well. Then we never leave, ahuhuhuhu. I’d also really like to see Italy. Then I’m going to graduate school. I think I’ve decided what I want to do. And rather than be unsure, I have to be confident and decisive. On that note, my summer will continue to be amazing. He’s coming to visit me next month, or the one after, dunno, but it’s happening. And I’m going to go in August. I’ve already decided. I have to look at schools.
I’m going to continue to paint. I’m going to continue to be happy. This was exactly what I needed, even if it has made me a total beach snob.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Day 3
You know you’re somewhere remote when your laptop can’t find a single wifi link, not even a tiny faint one that’s password protected.
I can manage though, today has been long, but spectacular.
The view from my window more than makes up for it.
After waking up bright and early and hauling my giant suitcase down the tiny claustrophobic elevator (which hates Jessi and I, I might add, it’s a long story), we hopped on a bus and drove past Marathon and Thebes (ffff so cool) and began our adventure to where we are going to spend the majority of our stay here in the beautiful country of Greece. It was a long bus ride but every time I woke up from little moments of sleep I was greeted with fantastic sights.
Greece is so very green, vegetation here is simply luscious, dotted with wild flowers red and yellow and purple. The weather has been no less then perfect, not too hot and not too cold. The water, oh good god, the water is blue. Just, blue. In fact near the shores where you can see the pretty rocks on the ocean floor it seems almost turquoise. From my seat in the back of the bus I could see the fish under the shallow waters. The waves are gentle except when rocked by adorable sail boats and fishing vessels. All of it hugged by expanses of mountains and olive trees.
We took a ferry to Skopelos and it was actually pretty snazzy though slightly uncomfortable, not helped by the fact that because I wanted a window seat I opted for a seat that was getting directly hit by the sun. It was WARM. Along the way I was just amazed with the lovely sights while I nibbled on Greek potato chips and distilled water that seems to be the norm here. When we finally got to the island after several hours (the ferry made a few steps prior to ours) I couldn’t help but giggle to myself: my life is so cool right now, gad damn.
The town we pulled into was just adorable, and I had thought that the ones we had seen prior were nice, maybe it’s because we were greeted by open arms and smiling faces and just, a loud and excited welcoming party that made the difference.
I honestly can’t explain how lovely this place is.
They plopped our suitcases on a truck and hauled them away to our hotel and we all went grocery shopping. We needed food for two weeks!
Definitely didn’t plan for that at all and neither of us brought too much money, but we managed! Our initial reaction was simply, meh we can just come back when we need more stuff. But after the trek by car my opinion of that was swayed, but we’ll do it if need be. We need to explore anyways, we’ll make an afternoon of it and go out to eat some souvlaki and drink and then make our remaining purchases. Whether or not we make it through the winding roads and steep climb back is anyone’s guess though. It didn’t seem that far up initially but I was probably desensitized because we only just climbed the acropolis and then the marketplace and back to our hotel in Plaka and it wasn’t as far as it seemed.
We made adorable purchases for our meals. The foundation only provides large group meals and breakfasts. Everything else is up to us.
Olive oil is officially going to be one of my cooking staples when I get back to the US. Nice crusty bread dipped in olive oil and vinegar is heaven. And salads. And just everything, hot damn.
Our rooms have the most amazing view. I’m waking up to the sea, an expanse of blueblueblue that just seems to extend forever. Our accommodations are really nice and a lot better then I was expecting and I was just spazzing over the views and the smells and the delicious breeze from the water. That and our adorable groceries.
Our studios are right up the street and god that place is spectacular as well. The same classic white walls and red tiled roofs that mark the entire town so distinctively, the same views, and we have the entire enormous space all to ourselves! There’s just 11 of us total, I believe.
We’re all pretty much in awe of this place. It was one thing to be in the city, a city with the acropolis looming overhead (spectacular), but life on an island is so different from anything that I have ever experienced. There aren’t views like that back home.
Anyways, after the day we were all pretty tired but we have a big amazing dinner (I ate lamb, are your proud of me mom?) and we all drank and talked and enjoyed each others company. I had my first hard liquor, something that was similar to ouzo, very strong and very giggle inducing (not so proud of me, mom?). I would have just stuck to sipping wine (I like white more than red) but our host insisted. It was so yummy.
The wine is okay, paired with olives (from the garden, can you imagine?) is pretty alright. But the drink was minty and licorice-y and it warmed my mouth and throat. Ahhhh, we’re not really allowed to have harder drinks from the bars because they’re generally not very high quality at all, but that was so tasty.
We stayed up late and got up early, breakfast is at 8:30 and Jessi and I woke up early to get to the studio. I enjoyed a spinach and feta cheese pastry and a small bowl of greek yogurt with walnuts and honey and raisins. And a cup of coffee and some apricot nectar. I am most certainly going to change my diet to more greek like when I get back home (not that I EVER want to leave this beautiful place).
I can manage though, today has been long, but spectacular.
The view from my window more than makes up for it.
After waking up bright and early and hauling my giant suitcase down the tiny claustrophobic elevator (which hates Jessi and I, I might add, it’s a long story), we hopped on a bus and drove past Marathon and Thebes (ffff so cool) and began our adventure to where we are going to spend the majority of our stay here in the beautiful country of Greece. It was a long bus ride but every time I woke up from little moments of sleep I was greeted with fantastic sights.
Greece is so very green, vegetation here is simply luscious, dotted with wild flowers red and yellow and purple. The weather has been no less then perfect, not too hot and not too cold. The water, oh good god, the water is blue. Just, blue. In fact near the shores where you can see the pretty rocks on the ocean floor it seems almost turquoise. From my seat in the back of the bus I could see the fish under the shallow waters. The waves are gentle except when rocked by adorable sail boats and fishing vessels. All of it hugged by expanses of mountains and olive trees.
We took a ferry to Skopelos and it was actually pretty snazzy though slightly uncomfortable, not helped by the fact that because I wanted a window seat I opted for a seat that was getting directly hit by the sun. It was WARM. Along the way I was just amazed with the lovely sights while I nibbled on Greek potato chips and distilled water that seems to be the norm here. When we finally got to the island after several hours (the ferry made a few steps prior to ours) I couldn’t help but giggle to myself: my life is so cool right now, gad damn.
The town we pulled into was just adorable, and I had thought that the ones we had seen prior were nice, maybe it’s because we were greeted by open arms and smiling faces and just, a loud and excited welcoming party that made the difference.
I honestly can’t explain how lovely this place is.
They plopped our suitcases on a truck and hauled them away to our hotel and we all went grocery shopping. We needed food for two weeks!
Definitely didn’t plan for that at all and neither of us brought too much money, but we managed! Our initial reaction was simply, meh we can just come back when we need more stuff. But after the trek by car my opinion of that was swayed, but we’ll do it if need be. We need to explore anyways, we’ll make an afternoon of it and go out to eat some souvlaki and drink and then make our remaining purchases. Whether or not we make it through the winding roads and steep climb back is anyone’s guess though. It didn’t seem that far up initially but I was probably desensitized because we only just climbed the acropolis and then the marketplace and back to our hotel in Plaka and it wasn’t as far as it seemed.
We made adorable purchases for our meals. The foundation only provides large group meals and breakfasts. Everything else is up to us.
Olive oil is officially going to be one of my cooking staples when I get back to the US. Nice crusty bread dipped in olive oil and vinegar is heaven. And salads. And just everything, hot damn.
Our rooms have the most amazing view. I’m waking up to the sea, an expanse of blueblueblue that just seems to extend forever. Our accommodations are really nice and a lot better then I was expecting and I was just spazzing over the views and the smells and the delicious breeze from the water. That and our adorable groceries.
Our studios are right up the street and god that place is spectacular as well. The same classic white walls and red tiled roofs that mark the entire town so distinctively, the same views, and we have the entire enormous space all to ourselves! There’s just 11 of us total, I believe.
We’re all pretty much in awe of this place. It was one thing to be in the city, a city with the acropolis looming overhead (spectacular), but life on an island is so different from anything that I have ever experienced. There aren’t views like that back home.
Anyways, after the day we were all pretty tired but we have a big amazing dinner (I ate lamb, are your proud of me mom?) and we all drank and talked and enjoyed each others company. I had my first hard liquor, something that was similar to ouzo, very strong and very giggle inducing (not so proud of me, mom?). I would have just stuck to sipping wine (I like white more than red) but our host insisted. It was so yummy.
The wine is okay, paired with olives (from the garden, can you imagine?) is pretty alright. But the drink was minty and licorice-y and it warmed my mouth and throat. Ahhhh, we’re not really allowed to have harder drinks from the bars because they’re generally not very high quality at all, but that was so tasty.
We stayed up late and got up early, breakfast is at 8:30 and Jessi and I woke up early to get to the studio. I enjoyed a spinach and feta cheese pastry and a small bowl of greek yogurt with walnuts and honey and raisins. And a cup of coffee and some apricot nectar. I am most certainly going to change my diet to more greek like when I get back home (not that I EVER want to leave this beautiful place).
Friday, May 13, 2011
Day 1 & 2
Traveling to Greece
Two days without sleep and not knowing at all how long you have or have not been traveling due to multiple time skips (I AM A TIME LORD), dinner with my family (chicken tenders! and it was adorable but also kind of sad because I am so used to being with them for EVERYTHING and now I was leaving them omg). Then off off off, and then I was in a different country, a different world! (It was France). And then later after a short transfer and a very long and very interesting conversation with a very interesting woman who sat next to me (in several languages, I might add), I saw the amazingly clear blue waters of the Mediterranean.
I traveled from Washington DC, we left the house 5:30 for my 9:50 PM flight, I didn’t arrive in Athens until 4:30 PM.
We were tired and hungry, to be honest I don’t really think I slept all that much on the initial cross Atlantic flight. I did manage to watch two movies, The Black Swan and the Kings Speech, and I still had plenty of time left to have fitful snippets of sleep.
The second half of the flight didn’t take long at all and I actually learned a great deal of things and have decided that I am going to make a conscious effort to be more positive and forward thinking. My current adventures happened because I decided it was going to. I said, nope, I’m going to do study abroad. I’m going to go to Greece. I’m not going to miss out on this amazing opportunity.
And I didn’t.
We’ve spent two days in Athens, tomorrow we leave bright and early to travel two hours by bus and one by boat to get to where we will spend the majority of our travels: the beautiful island of Skopelos.
I just finished, somehow, cramming all of my clothing into my carryon and ramming that into my main suitcase so that I can just travel with one thing to drag long and not two and a purse. All of my precious items are on me, I’ll carry them in my small backpack and everything else I have is in the suitcase. Somehow.
This city is spectacular. There is just something so amazing about this city where modern comforts are juxtaposed to ancient architecture that has stood proudly for many, many, MANY generations. The city is lively and colorful, the people are so friendly, the food is fantastic. Today, my little Nike shoes touched the soil of myths that inspired its very name.
I am currently EXHAUSTED.
We got up at 7 to eat the amazing breakfast buffet offered by the hotel, delicious, and then went on a guided tour from 8 and didn’t get back to the hotel until 4:30. We trekked our way through steep slopes and slippery stones up the acropolis. I didn’t cry like I said I would but I was deeply moved. It’s remarkable. I can’t even put into words the sort of respect I have for the place. I, just, goodness it was amazing.
We viewed the many sights there, as the Parthenon is not the only edifice, contrary to popular belief, and proceeded to the new museum. I unfortunately don’t have pictures of that because it wasn’t allowed. However, I assure you, it is lovely. I wish that there was more preserved for them to put on display.
Every time Greece digs for something, like their subway system for example, they find new archaeological sites. That is so beautiful.
Quick lunch with most of the group, um hello new favorite way to eat bread. Just dipped in olive oil and vinegar, and pasta just the way I love it, tossed in olive oil and gently seasoned and paired with sun dried tomatoes, onions, and olives, and with a little bit of cheese.
I also can’t stop stuffing my face with Tzaziki (sp for sure) and pita.
The food here is just too good.
Following lunch we were all still exhausted but we went down to the agora and the marketplace on foot. Greece is very green. And the people are incredibly varied, I love it. Eventually we were back at our hotel and my roomie and I, Jessi, don’t know how and ended up doing the same. Good location man, everything is connected.
I’m not going to detail every step just now. There was free time and fun hotel times and dinner (TZATZIKI) and more hotel fun times, evil elevators, and nighttime views of the acropolis, and of the city.
I’m having a blast, granted tomorrow marks the start of work since it IS a study abroad course. But it should be work that I enjoy.
In a country that I am loving, so much.
Two days without sleep and not knowing at all how long you have or have not been traveling due to multiple time skips (I AM A TIME LORD), dinner with my family (chicken tenders! and it was adorable but also kind of sad because I am so used to being with them for EVERYTHING and now I was leaving them omg). Then off off off, and then I was in a different country, a different world! (It was France). And then later after a short transfer and a very long and very interesting conversation with a very interesting woman who sat next to me (in several languages, I might add), I saw the amazingly clear blue waters of the Mediterranean.
I traveled from Washington DC, we left the house 5:30 for my 9:50 PM flight, I didn’t arrive in Athens until 4:30 PM.
We were tired and hungry, to be honest I don’t really think I slept all that much on the initial cross Atlantic flight. I did manage to watch two movies, The Black Swan and the Kings Speech, and I still had plenty of time left to have fitful snippets of sleep.
The second half of the flight didn’t take long at all and I actually learned a great deal of things and have decided that I am going to make a conscious effort to be more positive and forward thinking. My current adventures happened because I decided it was going to. I said, nope, I’m going to do study abroad. I’m going to go to Greece. I’m not going to miss out on this amazing opportunity.
And I didn’t.
We’ve spent two days in Athens, tomorrow we leave bright and early to travel two hours by bus and one by boat to get to where we will spend the majority of our travels: the beautiful island of Skopelos.
I just finished, somehow, cramming all of my clothing into my carryon and ramming that into my main suitcase so that I can just travel with one thing to drag long and not two and a purse. All of my precious items are on me, I’ll carry them in my small backpack and everything else I have is in the suitcase. Somehow.
This city is spectacular. There is just something so amazing about this city where modern comforts are juxtaposed to ancient architecture that has stood proudly for many, many, MANY generations. The city is lively and colorful, the people are so friendly, the food is fantastic. Today, my little Nike shoes touched the soil of myths that inspired its very name.
I am currently EXHAUSTED.
We got up at 7 to eat the amazing breakfast buffet offered by the hotel, delicious, and then went on a guided tour from 8 and didn’t get back to the hotel until 4:30. We trekked our way through steep slopes and slippery stones up the acropolis. I didn’t cry like I said I would but I was deeply moved. It’s remarkable. I can’t even put into words the sort of respect I have for the place. I, just, goodness it was amazing.
We viewed the many sights there, as the Parthenon is not the only edifice, contrary to popular belief, and proceeded to the new museum. I unfortunately don’t have pictures of that because it wasn’t allowed. However, I assure you, it is lovely. I wish that there was more preserved for them to put on display.
Every time Greece digs for something, like their subway system for example, they find new archaeological sites. That is so beautiful.
Quick lunch with most of the group, um hello new favorite way to eat bread. Just dipped in olive oil and vinegar, and pasta just the way I love it, tossed in olive oil and gently seasoned and paired with sun dried tomatoes, onions, and olives, and with a little bit of cheese.
I also can’t stop stuffing my face with Tzaziki (sp for sure) and pita.
The food here is just too good.
Following lunch we were all still exhausted but we went down to the agora and the marketplace on foot. Greece is very green. And the people are incredibly varied, I love it. Eventually we were back at our hotel and my roomie and I, Jessi, don’t know how and ended up doing the same. Good location man, everything is connected.
I’m not going to detail every step just now. There was free time and fun hotel times and dinner (TZATZIKI) and more hotel fun times, evil elevators, and nighttime views of the acropolis, and of the city.
I’m having a blast, granted tomorrow marks the start of work since it IS a study abroad course. But it should be work that I enjoy.
In a country that I am loving, so much.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Hey blog, long time no see!
I am a bad mother, but I will use you again because out of all of my resolutions the only one I earnestly kept was the one to try and travel and that is exactly why I want to use my blog again!
I want to post pictures of my upcoming summer, people want to live vicariously through me, for some reason (y'all crazy).
It looks like it'll, honestly, be the greatest summer I've ever had. A taste of all that's to come, I hope. I have study abroad, loads of projects, a class or two I want to take, a potential visit to South America, a potential visit from the boyfriend, and a 90% chance of a roadtrip across the US to meet said boyfriend's family. Let's hope gas prices don't keep up their current pace! I'm considering grad school and there are a few schools I'd like to visit as well, so that will happen, my brother is looking into universities as well, so there is that to look forward to as well. On top of that the both of us will be traveling to hear beautiful music quite often we've decided.
I've finished Junior year and I didn't have perfect attendance, far from it to be honest, and my grades were not perfect (but they were quite good), but the world didn't end, it all turned out rather well actually. I struggled with the semester but it wasn't really with difficulty of work. It was more struggling to find motivation and inspiration to get started on anything. I don't really know why, it was just something I couldn't bring myself to do. I knew exactly well that there were mountains of work that I had looming just around the corner and yet I still chose to ignore it all until I absolutely had to. Sure, I work great under pressure but I do believe that I could create even stronger pieces if I allowed myself the time.
Granted, a designer generally has caffeine in their veins and late nights will happen either way, but they'll be late nights with projects that are that much better.
Perhaps a change of pace this summer will do me good, I do feel like my life has gotten fairly stagnant and very routine.
I'm not the only student who was dealing with the same sort of issue, I think it's a combination of the season, Fall is usually more enthusiastic, and simply being burned out after three years of school. I haven't asked any of my Senior friends (well, they're not seniors anymore as of this past Sunday, CONGRATS LOVES, I'll miss you all so much), is it a common occurrence?
My goal is to fire up my creative instincts again and to immerse myself in projects I find thoroughly enjoyable, that's the summer plan! That and another summer of intense health!
I've had a lovely semester and the entire point of having a blog was to keep track of my life and be able to look back in loving embarrassment someday. Plus I had hopes of finding likeminded people. The summer before my senior year of college seems to be a good place to try to pick this all up again, changes are bound to happen in the comings months. There are so few things I'm sure about at this point for what I want from life, but I imagine that is a natural thing.
I'm not sure if I want to delete the old entries or not, I'm sure some of them will make me cringe. Current layout is temporary! I dig it and all and I needed a change from the last one I made, but I'll get around to it this summer.
Look forward to more posts!
More art! In all shapes and sizes!
And just, fun times to come.
Tomorrow I'll post the sketches from the week and the state of my packing.
I want to post pictures of my upcoming summer, people want to live vicariously through me, for some reason (y'all crazy).
It looks like it'll, honestly, be the greatest summer I've ever had. A taste of all that's to come, I hope. I have study abroad, loads of projects, a class or two I want to take, a potential visit to South America, a potential visit from the boyfriend, and a 90% chance of a roadtrip across the US to meet said boyfriend's family. Let's hope gas prices don't keep up their current pace! I'm considering grad school and there are a few schools I'd like to visit as well, so that will happen, my brother is looking into universities as well, so there is that to look forward to as well. On top of that the both of us will be traveling to hear beautiful music quite often we've decided.
I've finished Junior year and I didn't have perfect attendance, far from it to be honest, and my grades were not perfect (but they were quite good), but the world didn't end, it all turned out rather well actually. I struggled with the semester but it wasn't really with difficulty of work. It was more struggling to find motivation and inspiration to get started on anything. I don't really know why, it was just something I couldn't bring myself to do. I knew exactly well that there were mountains of work that I had looming just around the corner and yet I still chose to ignore it all until I absolutely had to. Sure, I work great under pressure but I do believe that I could create even stronger pieces if I allowed myself the time.
Granted, a designer generally has caffeine in their veins and late nights will happen either way, but they'll be late nights with projects that are that much better.
Perhaps a change of pace this summer will do me good, I do feel like my life has gotten fairly stagnant and very routine.
I'm not the only student who was dealing with the same sort of issue, I think it's a combination of the season, Fall is usually more enthusiastic, and simply being burned out after three years of school. I haven't asked any of my Senior friends (well, they're not seniors anymore as of this past Sunday, CONGRATS LOVES, I'll miss you all so much), is it a common occurrence?
My goal is to fire up my creative instincts again and to immerse myself in projects I find thoroughly enjoyable, that's the summer plan! That and another summer of intense health!
I've had a lovely semester and the entire point of having a blog was to keep track of my life and be able to look back in loving embarrassment someday. Plus I had hopes of finding likeminded people. The summer before my senior year of college seems to be a good place to try to pick this all up again, changes are bound to happen in the comings months. There are so few things I'm sure about at this point for what I want from life, but I imagine that is a natural thing.
I'm not sure if I want to delete the old entries or not, I'm sure some of them will make me cringe. Current layout is temporary! I dig it and all and I needed a change from the last one I made, but I'll get around to it this summer.
Look forward to more posts!
More art! In all shapes and sizes!
And just, fun times to come.
Tomorrow I'll post the sketches from the week and the state of my packing.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
goals
- 135, by the end of the year
- straight a's
- not a single absence
- blogging
- travel
- weekly sketches
a good year
- straight a's
- not a single absence
- blogging
- travel
- weekly sketches
a good year
Sunday, January 9, 2011
2011 episode 1
That other blog I wanted to do will currently be on hold, possibly indefinitely. Hopefully it'll pan out because it's something I really wanted to do.
In other news I am going to try and sum up any interesting things that I do more often; I didn't do an awful job of it for my first shot last year, but I lost track of it and fell out of the habit of writing anything except what was necessary. I used to love to write and read so much and those were great habits that I should pick up again!
I have this notebook hidden away in my room, I should get rid of it because it's pretty embarrassing. It's not a diary, far from it really, it was a fanfiction I had been writing. I set up this whole tale in the Harry Potter universe, it was awful. For whatever reason I was a Ginny and Draco lover and decided they were meant to be (though I'm sure we all know by now that that isn't the case). Ah, to be 13 again.
As usual there are goals that I want to set for myself after this new year and they're actually goals I can attain. Yeah, the usual healthy resolution is in play, I've fallen astray but I know I can hop back onto the right track and continue the beautiful and excited weight loss expedition. I want to be a better artist, I'm a lazy artist, I am awful at practicing and finishing things and I want to work on that. Overall I want to be able to pick up personal projects, be it illustration or otherwise, and finish them, push them to the point that I am satisfied and content with them, I want things I can be proud of. But I am god damn lazy sometimes when it comes down to it, it isn't even completely laziness, it's impatience.
After almost three years of school I know that coming up with a successful piece is something that doesn't happen immediately, it takes time and dedication, it takes thought and planning, more so then people realize. I want to work on this. I want to sketch if not daily then at least a few times a week slowly I'll become more comfortable with it, I know I will. So that's all I have, I'll keep a giant 10kby10k pixel canvas open in PS and pop it up whenever I'm bored or something. I also need to play around with Corel Painter which has a really nice feel but I'm not comfortable in. The creative suite makes me feel at home, and painter is a different world altogether.
Looking back at last year's resolutions I don't know just how successful I was. I did alright with the blogging for about half a year, I need to make it more interesting though. I just ramble forever about nothing. It's a personal blog, yeah, but even still. I didn't explore all that much last year, dislike! Though, I did visit New York for the first time (it's amazing and dwarfs my little beloved city). I wanted to make sure I put in full effort into everything I did and I think for the most part that went really well, again I sort of lost it by the second half. Last semester wasn't awful but it was certainly, grade wise, the most average marks I've ever received, in my entire life, ever. I want that perfect straight A's, for sure this year. My GPA is hanging on by a thread to that Dean's List and I need to give it a boost.
I said I wanted learn to love completely and I think I did achieve that, I let myself go and just allowed myself to love unabashedly. It's good, great, but at the same time man am I vulnerable.
In terms of the boyfriend I did say I was going to be more patient and more caring and I think I did okay at first, at this point I think I have been very patient and I don't care about him any less, I think the fact that I am still in the relationship shows just how much I care about him. Now that I look at it, I stopped blogging right after that major event, or rather, that lack of a major event, I don't know. I wrote up a few entries here and there that never got published but yeah I pretty much stopped at the end of August. That's interesting. Significant as well. I still can't even really talk about it because I get upset about it still.
I wish I was just in a normal relationship, by the end of the year I guess I'll know for sure whether or not it'll continue. We'll have to have a serious discussion and we'll have to have serious decision making by then. I had hoped we'd be further along at this point in time, that would make those upcoming big decisions much easier, but things do not always pan out how you want. I am being very patient, but I think there is only so much anybody can take, it sucks that there is this strain on the relationship because I feel just as strongly as I ever have about the two of us together in the future, about how nice it could be. It's going to reach the point where I'll have to make career decisions, life decisions, and whether or not we'll be making those together is to be seen. For now I will focus on the present though. Presently I want to sleep, so I'll upload the sketches, which is actually all I wanted to do at all. I'll type up an actual list of "resolutions" tomorrow, and maybe go more in depth about the relationship thing, but probably not, it's a difficult and complicated subject.
Good night.
These are awful.
I'm trying to figure out color, it's hard.
Click the thumbnail for a larger view!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
I'll probably do a year recap but I'll be retiring this blog I believe, especially since I haven't regularly posted in months.
I didn't do so bad and this was probably my best attempt at this entirely.
I do believe I'll be starting another blog, a joint one, with an actual theme next year though.
We'll see how that goes.
For now it's winter break and I'm enjoying being lazy, though there are some things I need to do.
I've got Netflix going nonstop, thank goodness for Instant Queue.
The end.
I didn't do so bad and this was probably my best attempt at this entirely.
I do believe I'll be starting another blog, a joint one, with an actual theme next year though.
We'll see how that goes.
For now it's winter break and I'm enjoying being lazy, though there are some things I need to do.
I've got Netflix going nonstop, thank goodness for Instant Queue.
The end.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)