jendearte

long time no post

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:34:47 GMT

So I just realized, after reading some friends' entries, that it's been a really long time since I posted a blog. There are so many new changes, all for the better, that have happened to me in the last few months. The best one, by far, is that one of my best friends of six years and I realized, at sort of the same time, that we were totally in love with each other. Not the kind of love where it's butterflies in your stomach-anxious-head in the clouds all the time kind, but the established friendship-respect-plus all that good attraction stuff kind. And let me tell you, I've never experienced anything quite like it. There is nothing more amazing than knowing that you can be your true self, in all your splendor and evil, and someone out there wants to share it all with you. And loves you more for the stuff you don't even like, maybe. Or even see in yourself. It's been really great spending many evenings cooking amazing meals (yes, he's a great cook too! we are sharing tips), talking, doing chores, playing with Fred, and making art. Plus we are visiting Spain for two weeks after Easter, which is really awesome. Also he recently got to star in this movie that Brett Horton is making, who also sings in the Gardes and has his own music (all of which is really good, I think) http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=27363254 which means I got to hang out in the Paseo in OKC for the first time. That was really fun, we had beer at Galileos then went to Flips for wine and delicious dinner.

Another big change is that I enrolled in the Master Gardener program through the OSU extension office. We have class every Thursday evening from 5:30-9, and each week we learn about a different topic. Last week was soil- testing, fertility, all that good stuff. So you get classroom-type information and then real-life scenarios. And I filled out a questionnaire for peace corps from the Africa ag office asking if I would like to work as a beekeeper, aquaculturalist or slaughterhouse. I said hell yes to first, sure to second and not unless I have to to third. Beekeeper Sixkiller would be really cool!

As far as artwork goes, the Stillwater Artists' Coalition show was a huge success. I'll still be involved in the next show, even though I'll be in Spain when it actually happens, and have been creating a piece for Nude: V, my friend Danny's erotic art show that takes place in Tulsa each spring. The show is March 28th this year, artwork deadline is March 21st midnight.

I still haven't received placement opportunities from Peace Corps, but they are processing my application. I've been cleared legally and medically, and am awaiting dental clearance. My teeth are fine and stuff, but I still have all four pesky wisdom teeth. I assume that's what's holding up the boat. However, I would really like another summer of gardening and poking around Stillwater, but you know, whatever happens I roll with it. After I finish my tour of duty, I might just live somewhere else in the world, so I've been trying to live it up, make visits to old friends, squeeze it all in. I guess maybe that's what some people do if they find out they're going to die. ?

So anyway, I gave another conference talk in Albuquerque, then went to visit my great Aunt- Eva (namesake-ish) in Mesa, AZ. A) I had never been to Arizona before and 2) i hadn't seen her in a few years. We had a really nice visit, went to the Phoenix botanical gardens with new Chihuly installations, and ate some kick-ass New Mexican food. I also tried one of their specialty margaritas made with 1800, which I had not tried before, and came home to replicate the recipe. I did a really good job, apparently, because my head hurt the next day but dang, was it good. Also, I got a huge mural commission and a future all-expenses-paid trip back before Peace Corps, so hot hot AZ here I come!

Que mas, que mas, my friend Melissa moved back to OK from Ft. Worth and we have reconnected after years of her living "abroad" as a zookeeper. She just recently (like yesterday) got a job as a 911 dispatcher, so we should be able to have more fun now that she will have some $$. What's funny is that she met my ex-husband first, he introduced her to me, and the rest was history.

My friend Keri is in love with a Brazilian, which I wouldn't advise doing, but one cannot help oneself sometimes. No regrets, and I did get a couple good recipes out of the deal. I wish her luck, tu da bon (sp?)!

So, as usual, I am really busy but I stay happies that way. My friend Robert, who is visiting OK from Germany this April, told me that I should always be happy since I am so busy. He also called me a lady, but that's another story :) I can't wait to see him!

Stillwater Artists' Coalition

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:22:13 GMT

In the spring, some friends and friends of friends tossed around the idea of having an artists’ group in Stillwater. I caught wind of it and was all aboard. I mean, I have been living in this town for 8 years now, and was so focused on my own “career path” or “personal success” that I never thought of doing something community oriented, at least not starting a group. I’ve done volunteering that benefits the community with pre-existing groups, but that stuff is easy; all you have to do is show up and work.

At first, there were quite a few people who expressed interest in the Coalition, but in the end, it turned out that 3 of us really made the commitment and started holding events. We met at Aspen for a few hours for creative writing and drawing, met on campus for a doodling/sketching workshop, had my old painting teacher and mentor, Dean Bloodgood, bring a miter saw and hold a canvas-making demonstration, then I had a collage/mixed media workshop. All that was sort of in preparation for the big art event we planned to have the first weekend that school was back in. Which we did!

The “seven” show at Vault Video was really great. Of course, a bunch of artists trying to plan and coordinate an event caused some confusion, but I am really pleased with the event in general. I just found out today that one of the artists who exhibited work in our show is a new faculty member in the art department at OSU! People loved the collaborative painting idea, and I definitely learned to bring more tarp next time and to make announcements. The D.J. spun groovy tunes and Language of Light entranced us with their beautiful sounds. Thank you to everyone who pitched it to help do stuff at the last second, and to those who provided me with wine!

It was kind of overwhelming to process how I felt about it all too soon after the event, but I feel refreshed and ready to go, and able to write.

The collaborative painting is actually really beautiful and is sitting in my shed right now. We three brainstormed about where we could display it so all community members could see, even tossed the idea to friends. One day at work this week, I received a lightning bolt type revelation; what about the library? I asked the director, and she said “bring it in.” Woo hoo! How exciting. Rolf helped me devise a method by which we can hang it, so maybe this weekend it will come to be.

Anybody who makes art, enjoys art, or wants to be around artists is welcome to attend any event we offer. I hope that the coursework of my last semester will allow me some time to continue with my own art, as well as remain active with the Coalition. I know we all have busy, crazy, hectic lives, but damn, aren’t they fulfilling as well. I know I wouldn’t be happy if I wasn’t pushing myself, at least some of the time.

stretcher frame/canvas making workshop this Saturday, July 12th at 11am

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:58:10 GMT

Hello,

On behalf of the Stillwater Artists Coalition, I am holding a stretcher frame/canvas making workshop at my house this Saturday, July 12 at 11am. I live at 824 S. Monroe in Stillwater, the brown cottage lookign house on the NW corner of 9th and Monroe Streets.

This event is free, but you need to bring some of your own supplies. Dean Bloodgood, my old art teacher and mentor, will lead us in the tried and true way to make your own frames. If you want to stick around and stretch and prime your canvas, feel free. Just bring canvas and primer (gesso or latex house paint) and a staple gun if you don't want to wait to share mine. I have hammer, nails, saws, wood glue, etc. but you can bring your own if you don't want to wait to share mine, either:

Depending on how big of a canvas you want to make, or if you want to stretch the canvas over the frame, or just make the frame, bring

1x2s (this is wood, you can get at the lumber yard on 3rd and Perkins or at Lowes. They are 8 feet long, so make sure to get the straightest ones you can, otherwise your canvas will be a little crooked)
wood glue
hammer
nails (make sure they aren't longer than 1")
staple gun
canvas
gesso or other acrylic/latex primer (house paint works ok)

Dean will also bring some supplies. You can also bring your lunch if you want, and I do have a restroom and running water.

If you have any questions, just reply to this email or you can call me at 918 906-0227. I rarely answer my phone, so just leave a message and I will do my best to get back to you. If you know anybody who might be interested, let them know when, where and what to bring. It's open to everyone, and it will be fun.

Hope to see you Saturday!

Jenneffer

updates

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:48:32 GMT

so what is everybody up to? if anyone is interested in a low-key get together sometime (after the 4th of course) let me know. it's been forEVER

peace corps and artists in stillwater

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:27:20 GMT

So I applied to Peace Corps, and after my telephone interview, got nominated to serve in Sub Saharan Africa on an agricultural/forestry program! The next step is filling out all these medical forms..sheesh! I have to get a physical, and all sorts of vaccination records, etc. Also a dental and eye exam.

After I am medically and legally cleared, they can invite me to serve in a specific country and program. This one departs June 2009, and I can't wait.

Also, I have been involved with the Stillwater Artists Coalition, which is really neat. The aim is to get artists in Stillwater together and making art, to benefit the community by having shows and getting more people involved. I will host a canvas making / paint workshop at my place sometime, so if anybody wants to come, and either learn or bring expertise, i will post when i know for sure the date. it will probably be a saturday, either next weekend or next next.

Cinco de Mayo

Sun, 04 May 2008 18:42:11 GMT

I love to have Cinco de Mayo parties. Not because I'm Mexican, or really celebrating liberation from the French, but I really dig Mex. food, colors, fiestas, and music. (And I also like to dress up like Frida Kahlo) Turns out my friends love it, too! And they ALL have great taste in food, namely because they brought things like delicious enchiladas and flautas, green slime, cerveza and vino, and mmm guacamole. Here are a few hightlights from the celebration

monsterofmud, falfax's arm holding green slime, and techix

lookingaskance and andrea d

falfax and techix

nick and monsterofmud's arm

Go here to see the rest!

sweeney todd

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:25:37 GMT

i watched this last evening, and i must say, i'm impressed. I wasn't sure because I typically don't like musicals. There was only one song I didn't like, but I didn't even not like it that much. :)

I think it might have been cooler if sweeney didn't die at the end, but i assume burton was just trying to follow the original musical story.

is this true that helena bonham carter and burton have a child together, or did I mis-hear when watching behind the scenes?

St. Patrick's Day (fake: by fake i mean church changed) 2008

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:30:16 GMT

Le party began at 2pm, but I didn't arrive until after 5. I awoke at 8:30 so I could try and photograph my painting I just finished, in order to get it burned to a CD and mailed off to IAO gallery in OKC, to submit for an art show. Although I know next to nothing about photography, I thought I would be able to at least take a decent picture. I think I did, except for the big shadow on the bottom left corner (oops!) but you here it is

"Twixt," oil on canvas, 117"x79"

So this is one reason I've been working my a$$ off, as well as writing those fun papers for grad school. Sometimes it's hard to choose between friends and school, or social life and art, but it just must be done. Sometimes.

On another note, thank you to techix and lookingaskance for hosting a fun and always eventful party! That cabbage was really awesome, as was the mint ice cream pie. I should have brought more hummus, but oh well.

BTW the recipe is:

cook 1 lb dried chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) in a slow cooker on high with 6 cups of liquid: I use organic chicken or veg stock, but you can also use water as well. (If you use water, I would throw in a half teaspoon of dried herbs) FOR SIX HOURS. The chickpeas should be very tender by this point. If not, keep cooking until they are.

To make hummus: chop 1 small onion or half 1 large onion and saute in a little oil or butter for about 5 minutes, or until soft. Dump this into a food processor with between 2 T and up to 1/4 cup of any kind of nut butter or tahini. I use whatever I have on hand, usually peanut or cashew butter. I usually use a few T and then add more if I need it. Also add at least 3 big cloves of garlic (more if you're a garlic freak like I am) and give these a little chop before you throw in there. Add 1 T olive oil (extra virgin is best), you can always add more if need be. Add 1/4 cup lemon juice (usually this is 1 lemon). Puree until combined, then add 2 cups of the cooked chickpeas.

The onions give it a nice depth of flavor, while still allowing the chickpeas to shine through.

Here are some shots through the afternoon.

Click here to see them all!

adventures with a stapler

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:42:30 GMT

So I've experienced a lot of trouble involving staplers this last week. No, my name is not Milton, thank you very much. But my name is not Mud, either, so I still carry on.
I am an oil painter, among other things, and make my own canvases. Each year, I try to make at least one, for an art show my friend Danny puts on called Nude. I decided to dig the pieces of a stretcher frame out of the shed and put together a giant frame to make a giant painting. A few weeks ago, when the weather was nice, I did all this, with a few trips to Lowe's and digging around in my studio.

This week, I tried to stretch the canvas over the frame, and this involves a staple gun. I bought a new electric one, because I have small hands and using a manual one causes them to get tired, when making giant canvases. However, after 5 staples, it just stopped working. I promptly mailed it's ass back to the manufacturer, but was without a staple gun. (I have bought at least 3 over the years, some have been stolen, some lost by me). So I call my friend to see if I can borrow hers- turns out, it's a little smaller than standard size and I cannot find a staple in town that will fit the darned thing. After this realization, I decide to go ahead and just buy another manual gun, the $10 variety.

Finally, around 6pm last night, my assistant (read: boyfriend) and I proceeded to staple away and finally got the thing stretched. And boy, is it a beauty- tight as a drum, just begging for some gesso. (For those non-painters, gesso is just an acrylic primer used to cover the surface of an oil canvas, so the oil doesn't seep through the back.) The plan was to put the first coat on this morning before I had to go to work, but unless I wanted the neighborhood cats, limbs and dirt to be stuck to it, I had to wait.

I like to remind myself that these little "bumps" are what Steven Pressfield calls "the Resistance" in his book The War of Art. This book was recommended to me by one of our interlibrary loan librarians who is also a writer- she truly understands what it is to be tempted by life NOT to fulfill your creative calling. There are so many excuses we can make to not do stuff we were born to do. So let this be an inspiration to you creative minds out there- just because you staple stuff to your face doesn't mean you should let that deter you from your cause.

BS

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:11:22 GMT

so i submitted this paper to the grad school paper competition earlier this week, although it was a few days past the deadline. they said they would have to think about accepting it because it was late. well, now they decided that it would set a bad precedent, yadda yadda, and they will not accept it.

guess what, bitches? i submitted two conference proposals past the "deadline" and both were accepted. see where I take my paper and get it published now!

Boo Ya.

latest conference presentation

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:38:55 GMT

Last week I was in New Mexico presenting a talk at a conference, SW/TX Pop Culture and American Culture Conference in Albuquerque. This conference is multi-disciplinary between the social sciences, spanning everything from libraries, museums and archives, to gender, to film and history, just all sorts of subjects and disciplines. I presented a talk about creating the Myspace page for the Stillwater Public Library, and how and why other libraries can and should utilize the technology, also discussing the presence of Millennials.

Also sitting on my panel, Libraries 2.0: Bridging and Networking, were two Native American librarians discussing their experience from the Rez to a high-tech Academic Library setting, and a new librarian who is utilizing government-run Mashups. In case you guys haven't heard about mashups, they are pretty neat, when utilized correctly. I learned about them in a web design and usability class last year, that's when I made the myspace page, but in essence, it's taking 2 websites or web applications, and combining them into one integrated program or site. One really neat one was Google maps and U.S. Census bureau- you can visually map out census data, instead of just looking at the numbers.

Of course, as usual, I am super nervous before the talks, but once it actually gets to the point when I stand up to speak, everything is fine. It's like the anticipation just takes so much energy- at least I was scheduled to present on the first day, to get it over with, so to speak.

I also heard a really neat panel, The Law and the Internet: Taking Digital Chances, which was a young sociologist/historian talking about internet gambling and reflections on our society, and an art historian discussing digital art and how this creates issues with provenance, and how society begins to value originals, or maybe it doesn't? It really got my mind working. The conference lasted from Wed-Sat, with Joy Harjo as the keynote speaker, but I just attended through Thursday lunchtime. I wanted to explore Albuquerque, and then the next day, we went to Santa Fe.

People had told me how Santa Fe had become super commercialized, but it seemed really neat to me. Sure, there are tons of expensive galleries for art and jewelry, but also artists who sell their wares on the streets. The views are just breathtaking- the geography and landscape, as well as the dwellings where people live. On our way to find the "plaza" where all the museums and historical sites are, we drove around some older, more economically challenged communities as well. So I guess we saw the rags to riches, all in our one day there.

We stayed at this place called The Hacienda at Santa Fe, and it was just really neat. My conf. in Albuquerque was at the Hyatt, but this place was so much neater, not to mention cheaper, than the Hyatt. Also, we were quoted the lowest price, but got an upgrade to a room with a balcony overlooking the (closed) pool (water crisis) and the main "drag." The Hacienda's restaurant, Amaya, was in the lobby of the cozy hotel, which really felt more like a lodge, and the chef specializes in "innovative Native cuisine." We couldn't resist, so after trekking all over Santa Fe plaza all afternoon, we cleaned up and dressed up, and went downstairs to investigate. Two of the last guests to arrive before the restaurant closed, we had a quieter evening than we could have had we arrived earlier, and each ordered a glass of wine. Deciding that we weren't really starving, we decided to forego the appetizer, and just wait for our meal. The menu was short, but the list included interesting choices, like roasted snapper, rabbit sausage, and Navajo vegetables. While we waited, we were served some crusty bread, and a trio of flavored butters.

Finally, the entrees arrived- I ordered the Navajo vegetable platter, which consisted of artichoke/sundried tomato couscous served with oyster and shitake mushrooms, apple mashed potatoes, butternut squash flan, and steamed spinach. It was the most wonderful meal I have ever eaten in my life! The flavors were so complex and complimentary, and the textures just danced around in the mouth. The New Mexico sparkling brut I was sipping really helped accentuate the light yet rich flavors going on in my mouth. Donovan ordered a trio of meats, including roasted lamb, homemade rabbit sausage, and pork loin. He expressed the same sentiment about his meal, but I can't personally testify to the deliciousness of it.

Another exciting highlight was the Turquoise Trail- this is the scenic route one can opt to drive between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, which is simply amazing. We did get a little lost on the way, because the signs are pretty crazy leading to the trail, but it was definitely worth it. Just when you think you can't be amazed anymore by blue skies, brown and purple dirt, orangey-red steppes, you just round another curve and BAM! something more beautiful and different catches your eye.

Although I am pretty broke now, the trip was worth it, and I can't wait to go again. Next time I would like to travel around Taos and see many of the other art museums. We did see the Fine Arts museums in Albuquerque and Taos, but there are so many others around.

stuff

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:14:37 GMT

A couple of weird things have happened:

1) Dennis Kucinich dropped out of the race. Even though the Simpsons made fun of him the other day, and almost everyone else does, too, he is the only candidate who had any true sense of making changes for the better in this country. I understand his need to focus on his Congressional responsibility, (He is a congressman from Ohio and has been for decades) I don't really know who I can support now. Plus, I am too busy to even hear about it from the news, my friend Keri told me via a MySpace comment...which leads me to point #2

2) Ever since the end of the holiday breakfest 2008, I have been supremely overwhelmed. Normally, I work best under pressure, and love the challenge of trying to juggle work, school, and other aspects of life. Some people I know have worked 40+ hours a week during graduate school while taking a full load, and some even with children. I am barely making it so far with a 6 hour courseload and a 20-25 hour workweek plus an internship.

3) I am actually getting burned out at my job. This tends to be a pattern, I get sick of a job after 2 years and start to sort of unravel. It's not new or challenging anymore, and just thinking about doing programming outside of my regular schedule plants a new zit on my face. Um, I know it's great work, how lucky I am, blah, blah, blah, but I think it's just time for something new. and Yes, I realize I am a totally typical Millennial

4) Also I guess I am worried about the future. I am applying for an internship at the Ringling museum in Sarasota for summer in the art library, but if I don't get that, I guess I will just stay here until I finish my Masters program (3 hours left after this semester plus defending a portfolio). What if I do get it? What happens when I graduate? I don't think want to just start working 40 hours a week. Maybe I do? I think I want to get a Masters in art history and paint some more. I am just nervous about it, keep overbooking myself and friends? Like I have time to hang out with anybody, let alone do anything cool like go out of town.

I hate for this journal entry to just be a bitchfest, but I keep having these "breakdowns" which aren't really, but they leave me feeling worse than before, instead of better. Probably the cold weather is playing a role, as well- ick.

the investigative inquisitions of the reference librarian

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:46:00 GMT

There are very few things I really dislike doing at work- one of them is usually helping people find genealogical information. However, today was quite different. For some reason, things were super busy at work as soon as I clocked in at 5pm. One patron was visiting from out of town to search for a grave of a family member, and needed some help with microfilm and cemetary stuff.

This person was very grateful for the help, and I learned a lot along our quick journey. We jetted from microfilm to internet pass to map of Payne County to cemetery index, to finding a map of the townships. Phew! I did forget that we have a gigantic map of Payne county, including townships, mounted in the main library by the bathrooms, but we also had a pocket sized map in the locked case. (Locked case is for rare or really old items we want to keep. Overflow for this stuff is called the "reference closet.")

Anyhow, sometimes I have to tell people to come back on Tuesday or Thursday from 12-4, when our volunteers from the Payne County Genealogy Society are here to volunteer. As much as we can help with all sorts of things, these people are total experts and can help much more quickly and probably better than at least I can.

But, it was super cool to be able to help the patron find what he needed. Also, it was really neat for me to see how much I've grown as a librarian, because things really do get a lot easier after a year or two of experience. Especially at a public library. Think- baby and bathwater analogy. Also, (yeah I know, also again?!) it was fun to have a really challenging reference question. Usually it is ready ref stuff like, can you help me find a website or an address or phone number? Or I have a computer question. Easy. Go brain!

my holiday break thus far

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:53:14 GMT

I was sure that this Christmas I was going to be really sick, as usual. I had a sore throat for almost a week before, but no other symptoms. When I left on Monday morning for the airport, all signs pointed to the acheyness that accompanies a sickness. However, when I woke up Christmas morning, at my parents' house in CO Springs (as I have done for the past 7 years), the soreness was gone- it was a Christmas miracle!

I am the oldest of 5 siblings, two of whom still live at home with my mom and dad. Usually, the holidays were really hectic times, with a circus-sized family full of youngsters. This year, my youngest brother is 14, and growing up. I didn't even recognize him when he and one sister picked me up from the airport- he is about 6 inches taller than when I saw him in May, and looks like William Miller from <u>Almost Famous</u>! So, Christmas was really low-key, and awesome. I woke up earlier than almost everyone, and commenced making breakfast for everyone. Everyone includes my mom, dad, two younger brothers, and one younger sister. The other younger sister lives in Tulsa and doesn't get to take time off for Xmas like I do, so she was not there. I decided on homemade biscuits, Amish gravy, scrambled eggs with mushrooms, onions and peppers, and sausage.

Since my youngest brother was awake, I enlisted his help. Usually this means he will do something part of the way, or take a really long time to do it, so it's more of a teaching/fellowship time than actual help. But anyway, it turned out delicious, and we all ate together (awwww) at the table, which is something I love, before we started to open gifts.

My family has never been into the material possessions thing very much, but we still <i>do</i> give gifts, even if they aren't expensive. I usually paint or draw my gifts, and/or give books or something like that. But my parents still give us a stocking, which is always the coolest part. You never know what could be lurking in there, especially around the toe. The neatest thing I found was a scarf and matching gloves made in Nepal from recycled materials. Yes! Also a bicycle bell that reads "I <3 My Pet." Also very cool.

The days were spent cooking and cleaning (i like to do this, especially the cooking part), including an Indian feast of Aloo Gobi, Dal Palak, and curried green beans served with Jasmine rice and yogurt. Never before had anyone in my family eaten Indian food, so it was a real treat for me to get to introduce them to it. I even took them (minus dad and oldest younger brother) to an Indian market in CO Springs.

For once, I did NOT want to come back. It was so nice to relax and not be sick, and not think or worry about work or class, or anything, for that matter. No I did not win at Monopoly, Balderdash or Scrabble, but kicked butt at Rummy, Battleship and Guess Who.

Kick Butt Movie Soundtracks

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 23:39:33 GMT

I have never seen this movie, but Great Expectations (1997) has a freaking awesome soundtrack so far. (and I'm on track 3)

1. Finn (Intro) by Tori Amos
2. Siren by Tori Amos
3. Life in Mono by Mono
4. Sunshower by Chris Cornell (if I ever had the cojones to do karaoke, it would be to this song)
5. Resignation by Reef
6. Like a Friend by Pulp
7. Wishful Thinking by Duncan Sheik
8. Today by Poe
9. Lady, Your Roof Brings Me Down by Scott Weiland
10. Her Ornament by the Verve Pipe
11. Walk This Earth alone by Lauren Christy
12. Breakable by Fisher
13. Success by Iggy Pop
14. Slave performed by David Garza
15. Uncle John's Band by The Greatful Dead
16. Besame Mucho by Cesaria Evora

Halloween 2007

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:16:33 GMT

I just love Halloween. I wanted to make a super cool costume this year, something original yet really good. So I came up with this

My friend Elsa and I spent the evening at the Stonewall Tavern, and I entered the costume contest, sweetly winning 2nd place= an hour's worth of tattooing for free, and $30 cash!

Here are some other Halloweeners, people really went all out this year:

This is Elsa holding my dog, Fred. He ate and rolled in some of my face paint, by the way, if you can see the green around his collar. He is festive, too, I guess!

There are tons more pics. I have them already uploaded on Facebook, and may get more up on photobucket or flickr in the days coming. Enjoy!

weird dream

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 23:21:19 GMT

Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me
No really, I had to do that. I <3 the Smiths!

But really...Last night I dreamt that I was walking alone through a hospital. It was barren and old, stained yellow in many places, sort of like one would imagine seeing in a horror film. I was trying to find my way out, like I was stuck in a labyrinth. After many unsuccessful attempts, I finally located a door that opened.

I was holding a tin of holiday butter cookies, and eating them as I sneaked into the room. There were large, steel tables and big drawers on the walls. I realized I was in the morgue. The mortician was tall and slender with black hair, and he was making orgasmic pleasure sounds as he stood over a body that was lying on the table. Both the mortician and the body were wearing white lab coats, but it didn't appear as if the mortician was moving. I was scared and everything was fuzzy, so I closed my eyes, slunk down in the corner of the room and cocked my head to one side, pretending as if I were sleeping, leaving a half-eaten cookie falling out of my mouth, with crumbs and all.

Moments later he spoke, but didn't look at me and said something like, "I didn't know anyone was in here, excuse me." And he went about his business. Suddenly, I realized I had come to identify a body. I didn't know why it had to be me, because the body was the brother of a friend I don't even really talk to anymore, but I had discovered my purpose nonetheless.

The mortician went to the wall of drawers, and began to open them one by one. There were four in total, and he opened the 3rd from the left drawer first. After he pulls open the drawer, he pops the top of the coffin-type apparatus where the body is held, and out comes a teenager. He also has black hair, but he is moving. I tell myself this is only rigor mortis, but the boy is trying to sit up and walk away. The mortician keeps shoving the boy back into the coffin, but not very effectively. I have moved away from the corner but am now huddled below the wall of drawers, so I can see everything more closely.

While he tries to shove the young person back into the drawer, the mortician opens another drawer. This body is also male and with black hair, but is not as young as the first body. He looks as if he has been frozen for awhile, so he moves more slowly. But he is also trying to get out. It seems as if the mortician has the limbs of an octopus, for, while he is trying to fenagle the bodies back into their drawers, he opens the third drawer. As he is opening the drawer, I become frightened. I know this is the body I am to identify, but I don't want to look. After all, I did spend time with him on two occasions, although briefly. I hold my breath.

The body is huddled, in the fetus position, on the slab. He wears shorts or some sort of loin cloth. He, too, has black hair. I know it is him even though it doesn't look like him, and I have to leave. The mortician has allowed one of the bodies to get out of the drawer, and it is creepy. I back away from the scene without turning around, and nobody seems to notice me. I follow the curve of the wall to get away from these people, and find a back door. I push it open, and find myself in a long, narrow corridor. I take a few steps right, and see another door. Is this a supply closet? I wonder. The door swings when I put pressure to it, and the floor slopes wickedly fast and curves around, and I assume this is a chute for bodies, and I will find an incinerator. I must find another way out.

Back toward the door, I take my chances and go back inside. This time, I am brave and I head right for the octopus-armed mortician and the creepy undead bodies and head right for the exit. I am so ready to get out of this hospital! I run, anywhere, and finally find an exit door.

I exit and find myself at the back end of the football stadium at OSU, but the stadium is where the Physical Sciences building is, and it looks as if I have just walked out of Ag Hall. There is no parking around the stadium, there is lots of grass, and pretty redbud trees are blooming. The sun is shining brightly. I am drawn to the stadium. There are no ticket takers and no din of a roaring crowd, but I know there is something going on.

Set up like a parking garage, the stadium is built like the Flavian Amphitheatre in Rome. I find myself winding all the way to the top, but when I look, I realize there is a baseball game going on. People are wearing orange and denim jeans, but they are subdued, at least from what I assume a fanatic would be like.

Unimpressed, I follow the path back down to the basement to see what else is going on. I run into one of my sisters, and she is wearing a sports uniform. "What are you doing here?!" I exclaim, half surprised to see her, but really puzzled about why she is there. "I tried out for the team," she says. "The basketball team. We're up next." Hmm, what next? I walk with her a little ways into the stadium and we run into my dad. He smiles and gives us a hug, and says, "Good to see you girls!" No explanation, and then the end.

????

oktoberfest

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:32:07 GMT

Last Friday, I went to Oktoberfest! I hadn't been in 5 or 6 years (maybe longer!), so this was my triumphant return. Firstly, my friend and I get to the entrance and I realize I had forgotten my I.D. in the car. A must have, for a true Oktoberfest cannot be enjoyed without beer. It's no surprise I forgot my I.D., as I would forget any part of my body if it was not attached.

Trek back to car, get I.D. and proceed to the entrance. So we walk around to get our bearings about the place, (before beer) and discover that fake money must be obtained to eat or drink anything. ? huh ? I'm sorry, but beer-drinking-patrons need no extra steps to worry about. At least we figured this fact out before we stood in a very long line. :)

After the first glass of Spaten Oktoberfest, I felt giddy and excited. How festive the atmosphere, smelling of fried dough, roasting meat, baked goods and ... mustard? 1/2 way into our first pitcher, my friend calls and we are supposed to meet her at the entrance. Somehow, we got lost! Then, I made one keen observation: never follow the guy with the pitcher!

Apparently, I know (kind of) how to do the chicken dance...news to me! The kraut was good, as was the stollen. I should have gotten a pretzel, but figured I was already at carb overload from all the beer. I got to see some leiderhosen, but not as much as I'd expected. Cool hat pins, beer steins, and some neat wood art from this guy with the last name Cluck.

Rating: four stars

whipping boy, the

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:13:28 GMT

My whole life, I thought that Roald Dahl was the author of the book called The Whipping Boy. Just now, I was helping a kid look it up on the library catalog, and behold: Fleischman, Sid is the author. As soon as I looked at the book's cover, however, I was instantly transported to 1989 (or whenever I read this book for the first time) and remembered seeing the author's name.

This book haunts me, still today. It was a powerful story, a poor boy who took the well-deserved whippings of a spoiled, rich boy.

How funny, though, that when I have mentioned this book to other people, nobody ever corrects me. :)

If anyone else has read this, please let me know what you thought (think) because I told the kid to read it late at night with a flashlight under the covers. Tee hee!

guybrarian

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 21:25:38 GMT

guybrarian (noun) : A male librarian in a female dominated field.: With so many women studying library science, Tim felt conspicuous as the only guybrarian in the class.

Don't believe me? Well, it's not officially in the dictionary yet, but it's been submitted.

new userpic

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:46:57 GMT

My new userpic is from my friend Mike. He has lost 50 pounds in the last two months, and is on his way to lose a lot more. His blog has some more information, if you're interested. Anyway, we got to hang out last weekend at Sound Pony when I was in Tulsa for class, and he told me he'd lost 50 pounds. I didn't think I could tell, because I guess I'd always had the image of him from high school in my mind.

But, on his blog, he set before and after pics, and it's amazing! I have to give props to anybody who is wiling to change their life to be healthier. I can only use them as motivation to keep myself on the right path.

funny book furniture

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 20:16:47 GMT

For more of this wonderful, hilarious art, click here

Taos art comes to Tulsa and Norman, OK

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 18:21:20 GMT

(taken from August edition, OU monthly e-newsletter)

this is pretty exciting! The Gilcrease museum has a small collection on display of Taos art, and I've never actually been to the Fred Jones Museum to see what they have, but this is bound to be great.

Besting proposals submitted by several major art museums, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma and the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa and have been jointly selected to receive the renowned Eugene B. Adkins collection of art.

The Adkins Collection, valued at approximately $50 million, is among the most important private collections in the nation of works by the Taos artists as well as Native American works of art. It includes more than 3,300 objects in a number of categories, including 1,100 two-dimensional works, 370 pieces of pottery, more than 1,600 examples of jewelry and silverwork, and nearly 250 pieces of other Native arts.

The selection of the Philbrook-OU partnership was announced at a press conference July 16 in Tulsa at the Philbrook Museum of Art.

In making the announcement, Ted M. Riseling, chairman of the Adkins Foundation Board, said, “The Adkins Foundation Board is extremely pleased with the proposal from the University of Oklahoma and Philbrook Museum of Art. We are looking forward to working with both institutions to provide a home for this magnificent collection and are excited about the educational opportunities the proposal provides. We feel very fortunate to share this collection with the people of Oklahoma and the many visitors who will be able to enjoy Mr. Adkins’ generosity.”

“The Eugene Adkins Collection further solidifies the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at OU as one of the leading university art museums in the entire nation,” OU President David L. Boren said. “It also means the university’s museum will have a collection of work done by the master artists of the Taos art colony which is unexcelled by any art museum in the country.”

The university will add a new 6,500-square-foot gallery on an additional floor above the original art gallery building of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art to house the collection and to honor Eugene Adkins. OU also will add a curator for the collection, additional graduate fellowships, and an Adkins Presidential Professorship in the history of Western American art.

Boren added, “We are also especially excited that the decision of the trustees will enhance the partnership between OU’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa. By joining as partners and alternating exhibitions of pieces from the collection which each will have, the people of Oklahoma will continuously have the opportunity to view the major master works from the collection. Philbrook and OU will also increase shared internships and scholarly research on the collection and will consider additional joint initiatives in the future. By partnering in one joint Oklahoma application to the trustees, OU and Philbrook helped assure that this magnificent collection with historic ties to Oklahoma will remain in our home state.”

The George Kaiser Family Foundation has generously agreed to provide Philbrook with approximately 10,000 to 15,000 square feet of space in the historic Brady District to house the Adkins Center. The Center will include public gallery space for the presentation of objects and special exhibitions derived from the Adkins collection and Philbrook’s own; research facilities that advance public engagement with the collections via the adaptive use of technology; and incorporate the Lawson Library with a collection of 1,100 volumes focusing on Native American history and culture.

The Adkins Collection contains more than 400 paintings by such distinguished American artists as Maynard Dixon, Worthington Whittridge, Andrew Dasburg, Alfred Jacob Miller, Victor Higgins, Charles M. Russell, Nicolai Fechin, John Marin, William R. Leigh, Leon Gaspard, and Joseph H. Sharp. The collection also includes impressive examples of Native American painting, pottery, and jewelry by such famed Native American artists as Jerome Tiger, Maria Martinez, and Charles Loloma.

Few Oklahoma families have deeper roots in Oklahoma than the family of Eugene Brady Adkins. His father, Eugene Sloan Adkins, born in Chouteau, owned and ran the Adkins Hay & Feed Co., which he established in 1917 in Muskogee. His mother, Bess Brady Adkins, was a member of the pioneer Tulsa Brady family. His grandfather, W. Tate Brady, who came to Indian Territory at age 17, was one of Oklahoma’s most prominent early-day citizens – a developer, entrepreneur and civic leader in Tulsa. Tate Brady opened a mercantile store on Main Street in 1890 and, in 1900, built the famous Brady Hotel, Tulsa’s original first-class hotel.

The Brady home, where Eugene Adkins’ mother grew up, was modeled after Robert E. Lee’s mansion and remains one of Tulsa’s most impressive residences. The home is located in Brady Heights, and residents have been fund raising in Oklahoma’s Centennial year to place a monument at the entrance to the neighborhood recognizing the “Tulsa Spirit,” a term coined by Tate Brady.

The Adkins collection will complement the already outstanding collections held by the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, including those acquired within the past 12 years: the Weitzenhoffer Collection of French Impressionism; the Richard H. and Adeline J. Fleischaker Collections, the museum’s first major collection of Taos art; the Thams Collection of Southwestern masterpieces; the Tate Collection of masterworks by the Taos Society of Artists; and the R.E. Mansfield Collection by some of the world’s most celebrated Native American artists.

Also, for art fans, Botero's work is coming to the OKC art museum in late September.

Retrospective exhibition opens at OKCMOA Sept. 13

The Baroque World of Fernando Botero opens September 13 through December 2, 2007. This retrospective exhibition, drawn from the collection of the artist and assembled over the last fifty years, has been organized and circulated by Art Services International, Alexandria, Virginia. The exhibition’s 100 paintings, sculptures, and drawings were selected by Dr. John Sillevis, curator of the Gemeentemuseum, The Hague.

The exhibition will be presented in eight sections, highlighting the best works from various stages in Botero’s development as an artist. The show includes favorite works that Botero was unable to part with, as well as pieces reacquired years after they left his possession. Many have never before been exhibited in public. Thus, this exhibition provides a long overdue opportunity to investigate the complex workings of this talented artist not only by viewing some of his most renowned masterpieces, but also by studying his most personal works of art.

baby sitting

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:31:43 GMT

So today is the first day of my baby sitting adventures with little six-month-old Marley Fagbenlay. He is the son of my friend Elsa. His daddy is Nigerian, hence the funny last name. He is a pretty fun litlte guy, smiles and laughs a lot, but is a little fussy sometimes, probably because he's teething.

I am the eldest child of 5 siblings, so I've done my fair share of kid watching, but it's been quite some time. I was almost 12 when my youngest brother was born, so he was my buddy. He was only 6 when I was 18 and left for college, and when he was little, I would take him to the mall with me or someplace, and people would always say how cute "my son" was. Ha! 17 or 18 year old with a son? Well, I guess in Oklahoma it happens a lot.

I've never really thought of myself as a "kid person" or especially "not a kid person." Never had a burning desire to have my own children, nor have I felt really adamently that I don't want to have kids. Just sort of plan to NOT until I'm prepared/old enough/ready, has been my plan.

I've always thought of my pets as my kids. From my very first kitty in spring of 2003 named Egg Roll, to my dog Fred and cat Einstein, and adopted kitties Bob Marley and Bo Jangles, who live in my house right now- they're loving, some a little crazy, but very dear to my heart. So this baby-sitting thing I'm looking at as an adventure. I was pretty nervous at first, wondering if I forgot to do something will it screw Marley up forever, but I think we'll be okay.

I've already changed my first diaper and we've conquered nap #1, so I suppose it's all downhill from here. Or uphill? :)

John Waters

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 03:20:23 GMT

Now here is one creepy guy. I went with the old lady to see Hairspray, and John Waters had a cameo as "the flasher." I hadn't seen the original, so this was my first experience with the musical/movical whatever it is. Actually, I was impressed with the movie's depth on many levels.

Firstly, the cast was really talented. But realistic, both visually and musically. For example, some of the singers didn't really sound perfect, but were very soulful. Also, the main character is a chunky girl, not a Barbie teen-queen.

Secondly, the whole racial integration issue NEVER COMES UP IN REVIEWS, so how was I supposed to know it was there? But, I'm glad it was. I wonder how few people really did stand up for the right thing, in a time where doing so would land your ass in jail???

The dancing/choreography was really good, too, in my (novice) opinion. There was lots of dancing and I enjoyed it. It wasn't really very cheesy like most other musicals I've seen [Cabaret, All That Jazz, and Chicago not included].

I'm not going to do more then mention John Travolta in drag. I guarantee he is only there to make some $$$, which I find sad and depressing. But, admittedly, it was kind of funny. So go see it, or rent it when it goes to video. I don't know that for this flick, it really makes much of a difference.