Sorry...So Easter

Right, so I have been very bad in updating this, even worse than normal. I’m trying okay!

Quick over view of the last few weeks: Finally moving to a new project in animation, Concept class still annoying, Design is getting boring half the time since he’s basically teaching everything I learned at Moore, Artists Books is still awesome and is defiantly number 1 right now, having nightmares, had such a bad day last week that I chewed off my sister’s head and was about to rip off someone else's too, tutoring is fun as the kids are staring to see that I’m always there, new Seeing Eye puppy came last week - German Shepard male named Diehl, umm.....think that’s it.

Yeah, lots happened - sorry.

Anyway, yesterday was Easter - let’s talk about that!

So Easter is important to me. Not just because I’m religious, but because it really is a family time. Ringling is mean though and doesn’t give us any time off so I had to stay at school. So I had all my friends come over and we had a big Easter Party!

I had been planing this for weeks and when the day actually came is was crazy.

Crafts I did for decoration. [It is on our ceiling]

6am I was up and had to take a shower half a sleep before grabbing a quick breakfast on my way to church - have to say that I still hate the new responses for service. Moving on. I was back at school before 9 and took over 2 dozen eggs up to the Motion Design floor and hid them for people who had to work on Easter. (One was given to the Security Guard.) Then I called home as I opened my Easter baskets and got last minute tips on cooking.

After a quick clean up I set the ham in the oven and started washing dishes - took half an hour. Then it was potatoes (those had to go in my friend’s oven as our was full) then cookies. There was also salad, deviled eggs, hard boiled eggs, cupcakes, and pie.

My feast for dinner. For never having boiled eggs, cooked ham, or made potatoes before....it was good.

“Dinner” was at 1:30 so people could still do work, but we didn’t start until nearly 2 since Greg was half hour late - I refused to talk to him for a while. (The time was decided 3 weeks ago!) While everyone finished eating I went and hid the easter eggs - about 180 - and then it was time for the hunt!

Everyone had a lot of fun and dessert was surveyed outside since it was so nice. Everyone also got baskets from my Grandma.

Dessert and baskets outside since it was so beautiful.

They didn’t hang around too much longer, but did bring everything inside. After quickly organizing everything as saying good-bye to people I was left with Millie Greg and my blistered feet. The sink was over flowing again but I hurt too much to even try. Greg offered to do them for me in exchange for forgiveness. Sure. 

I fell to sleep at some point while they were washing and when I woke up I was alone. Homework then called and later that night I also brought the left over desserts to the MD floor.

Finally, I got to go to bed. I love these things but I really could use one more day...

Midterms and a Break

So, things happened in this gap period.

First off it was midterms and anyone who has been in college, this isn’t the same. Normal colleges give you tests that you spend hours studying. Art colleges give you large projects so on top of the 27 hours of class time a week, you’re also expected to put at least 35-40 hours into all the projects.

In short, you get basically no sleep.

So, yeah. That’s what I was doing.

Anyway, it is now spring break and I’m back at home. My brother is also on break and in New Jersey, but brought with him a couple of friends and are mainly going to be at the beach and New York.

Me, I’m planning on relaxing. I’ve already been to Philly to visit my Grandfather. He was in the hospital for a hip replacement, but was having problems so had to stay longer. Thankfully he’s home now so its all good. 

That night my sister Amanda, cousin Tori, and my Grandmother went out to the theater with tickets my Uncle gave us. The plat was “Priscilla: Queen of the Desert” and was about drag queens. Very funny, and had a lot of sexual references. My sister and I had a blast, Grandma... not so much. I think it would have been better if she was with Grandpa alone.

Other plans include watching TV, going to Books-a-Million, and maybe helping my dad out at the high school with the spring play.

Really, I wouldn’t expect an update until sometime when I’m back at school. I’m on vacation!

Of Interviews and Disney Trips

So last week I had my babysitting interview. First let me say that I don’t think I got the job, not that I think i would take it if I did. The couple seemed very uninterested in me and the mom was just watching the TV for the whole time. I was only asked about 4 questions and it took longer to get there than the amount of time I actually stayed there.

So yeah, I doubt it.

The rest of the school week was okay. Animation went well. In Concept my teacher actually got really excited about some of my ideas which bearly ever happens.

Design. Now that was interesting.

We’re doing these music videos for a band called Birthday Massacre, a gothic rock band. It’s actually a contest that they posted for someone to make them a music video for a song from their newest album. 

Anyway, on Friday story boards were due. I put up mine with about 70 boards while others had 20ish (though each song is about 4 minutes.) Mine were talked about in length since is was the most thought out, dictated, and I was working on my own. They all think I can get it done (even though it is a crazy big bite if work) and they all promised my teacher to keep an eye on me to make sure I don’t go crazy.

Page 3 of 12 in my boards.

Then came the weekend, and with it DISNEY WORLD!!!

My grandparents were taking my youngest cousins (8 and 3) to Disney after being on the Disney Cruise for a week and had asked if I wanted to join. 

Of course.

So Friday after class I left for Orlando and meet them for dinner at the Hoop-de-Doo where my Grandpa got chosen to play the part for an angel, a role my dad played a few years ago.

The next day we went to Magic Kingdom without my Grandma as she had been sick all week. But we had fun anyway and Oliver (3) was pretty well behaved. Erica (8) had an appointment at 11 to be turned into a princess as I went exploring with my Aunt and Uncle for 2 hours before we all met up again at 1 for lunch with the princesses at the castle.

Snow White visited us at our table and even gave Oliver a kiss.

After that we headed over to Epcot and I was annoyed that the new version of Test Track was already out of fast passes and the line was 190 minutes long for stand by. Sorry, but no. I was able to convince my cousin to try Mission: Space - the less intense version and she loved it. She then got my Grandpa to go on with her a second time. After that, Figment, and Spaceship Earth we had dinner at the Land and the little ones were ready to crash.

We dropped the kids off at the hotel and I headed back to Magic Kingdom with my Aunt and Uncle as it was open until 1am. My Uncle had never been to Disney and my Aunt hadn’t been since the 80’s or something so it was fun, though they were confused as to why I was acting so weird. What can I say, I’m more tempered when I’m watching over people, but have me alone in Disney and I’ll act like the kid I am.

It was exhausting and my feet hurt but Sunday was not a day to rest as I had to drive back to school, do animation, concept, do some reading and cook Sunday night dinner (Megan’s Birthday - ravioli).

But I had fun, and I got it all done, so no harm no foul.

Things Are Looking Up

So after the horrible week before, things are finally starting to look better.

After a day filled with nothing but reading, last Sunday was work. I got up early for a weekend and went to the labs to do animation work and was thankfully able to finish before 3:30 when others were getting there.

Sunday dinner was pushed up to 5:45 because of the Supper Bowl at 6:30 that I wanted to see even if no one else did. So I made something simple and traditional for my family football dinners: pepperoni bread.

Everyone loved it and I was glade I made three long logs of it (though one was just cheese). But that wasn’t the best part of the day.

Brenna was back.

She came hobbling in a cupel minutes late just as we though someone should go to walk with her. She’s got a cane now and has to give herself daily injections for at least 6 months. As thin as ever and looks even more tiered than normal, but alive. 

According to the doctors, another hour and she would be dead. I can thank God that she was at her Aunt’s house that weekend because if she was here, no one would have noticed. Living in a single room has perks, but no one would know...

Enough sad.

Back to the good stuff.

Artists’ Books is going great! We just made 3 new hard cover books and they look so great. I can hardly believe I made it when it looks so real!

Animation is also up there. We’re almost done this project were we’re animating the CARTOON NETWORK and NICKELODEON titles on screen. Joe normally only tells you what’s wrong during process critiques, but other than a few comments he has actually been talking about what he loves!

One of my CN ideas.

On top of that Disney Imagineers came to the school to talk about their different internships. I can’t apply since they only accept 3rd years minimum, but I got to talk to them about a model making internship and got their contact information. Now I have them on LinkedIn and I even found my favorite High School teacher, Mr. Alten!

This week I also started volunteering at a local community center to tutor and help kids with their homework. I’ll be going once or twice a week to help out - though I have to brush up on my math...

And on top of all that I got an interview! I had signed up onto an site to find babysitters and caretakers (care.com) over a year ago with an idea to get a local babysitting job. I apply often to ones that work in my schedule but never got a reply.

But I just checked my email and there was a message received an hour ago asking if I was still interested! I was so excited that I replied right away to schedule an interview from their times. So on Wednesday at 3:30 I meet a couple and their 2 kids. I would love for this to work out. 

I’ll let you know how it goes. Promise.

When It Rains, It Pours

Really this has not been a fun week.

After kicking it off with Brenna in the hospital (she’s doing fine by the way) the week was moving like normal. Once night I was finishing up some work at the table when Garrett came in to hang out with Kortney. Nothing new there.

Yeah right.

I honestly think they forgot I was there as they started talking. I started hearing words like “treatment,” “last time,” and “leaving.” After nearly 2 hours of this I figured out that Garrett had bin told he has cancer and was to go to an appointment the next day to discuss treatment. 

The argument for the first 2 hours was if he should get it or not. He said he should just die and Kortney wanted him to live. It then became another 2 hours argument about touching and what they are to each other.

Seriously, I think they forgot I was there.

Millie, my other roommate, was absent for most of it. But around midnight when the 2 of us were in bed they were still going at it. I think they argued until around 2 or something.

I later found out that he was told he has ‘Hodgkin Lymphoma.’

Next was something we were expecting. 

My family raises puppies for the Seeing Eye and Wednesday was the day that Kramer, our first Golden Retriever, left. It’s sad but I honestly don’t think that he isn’t going to pass. 

Then something really bad happened.

My youngest sister got home from school yesterday. Mom was at work, Dad had been out all day. She went to use the water and nothing happened. When she went downstairs she was meet with nearly 4 feet of water.

It's so deep that the chairs float.

Somehow the main water heater broke and was leaking for who knows how long. It wouldn’t be too bad if the basement wasn’t finished. Now everything is ruined. The carpet, walls, furniture, piano, DVDs, game consoles, photo albums, family games, Dad’s set designs, Mom’s fashion show materials, Michael’s bed set. The list goes on for ages.

Things really aren’t looking good for this new year. Hopefully this is the last of the bad karma for the year.

Just When You Think You're Fine

A week has already gone by somehow, yet it seems like it’s only been 2 days....

Classes are really starting to pick up, kind of. Artists’ Books class is still a bit slow, but for now we’re working one our projects in class. I made a 2 inch tall Harry Potter out of only paper with arms, legs, cloak and all!

Animation is still the same as we have yet to move on from the ball bounce.

Concept actually went well. Our style frames for the Channel 4seven Ident was due on Thursday. I turned in 4 instead of 3 in hopes of extra credit since Jill doesn’t really like me. Most people were told to re-do them since she didn’t like any, or didn’t think the ideas were coming across right. But she actually picked one for me! On top of that is was one made only in photoshop -  something she told me I was horrible at last term and to not bother with!

The style frame the Jill loved. She actually said loves!

Design was odd since the class is split into 2 parts. For the Icon parts I was the only one in class who did the assignment right and didn’t have to re-shoot my image. For the Type part, I so did not do the assignment right....

The weekend came along with anime club, weekend homework, and SUnday dinner. This week was Broccoli Cavatelli and Cheddar Garlic Biscuits. It turned out great even though I was so confused I had to call my Aunt in the middle of prep. But Things worked out in the end and everyone just left to finish last minute work. 

In the end a good, if hectic, week.

Or so I thought.

As I write this I find out that my roommate from last year, one of the very few people I’m comfortable with here in Florida, was not where we all thought she was. 

Normally she is first to get here for Sunday Dinner. This evening I knew that there was a Leadership Meeting for Officers of clubs who ask for funding. Our friend Ben had to go so we all figured that she was there too.

Until Facebook updated.

“Day of firsts....First ride in an ambulance....First time I’m staying over night in a hospital...First time I miss dinner.”

What?

I texted her as she wasn’t answering the questions online. She was visiting her aunt in Tampa when she collapsed in the bathroom and couldn’t breath. An ambulance was called when they found life threatening blood clots in her lungs. 

Not good.

They took CTs and x-rays. She’s been put on an IV, oxygen, and blood thinners. Thankfully it seems to be getting rid of them, so extreme measures aren’t needed. They don’t know when she can leave though or what caused them in the first place yet.

So yeah, another week at art school......

In the Swing of Thing

Obviously it’s been weird trying to get back into the swing of doing classes and there blog updates. Sorry. I’ll try to be more regular.

Not much has been going on. I’m getting use to my new class schedule as well as my roommates. So far my favorite classes are Animation 2 and Artists’ Books. Least favorite is Concept 2. Big surprise.

So. What am I doing in this?

Well, in a class called Arts in Concept we’re comparing music and literature of a time period and sees how it evolves. Kind of cool.

Design 2 is split. Half the time we work on icons and the other half we work of type - this time with it animated and put to audio. The teacher is slowly turning into my favorite teacher here.

Animation 2 is cool since we finally started to work with a 3D animation program called Cinema 4D. Right now we’re finishing a ball bounce. Fun.

Concept 2. Jill. She and I just don’t click. On top of it all year we’re working on branding. Completely not a thing I’m interested in at all.

Artists’ Books is fun. Basically the class is book binding. Yeah, I took one at Moore College, but this on is more focused and has a smaller class. Currently our project is to take a book apart and use the parts to make a sculpture of something that reflects back to the book.

Other than that not much has happened.

I dragged a bunch of people out to Cold Stone the first week because I was craving it all day. 

Cold Stone after dinner.

Sunday night dinners started up the first week with just ordering pizza. Of course even though I call at 3 for a pick up at 4:45 they didn’t have it. Not that it wasn’t ready, but that they didn’t even put the order in so dinner was half hour late.

This late Sunday we celebrated Kevin’s Birthday since we missed it before. We had spaghetti, sauce, and meatball with some rolls and veggies. Then homemade ice cream cake and VEGAN chocolate almond “buttercream” cupcakes with raspberry glaze. Turned out well.

So yeah, not much yet, but things should be picking up soon.

Until later.