long time, no see

wow, i have been so busy that i have not even had time to look up and take a breath. i cannot believe that school is almost out for the summer...i have had so much work on my plate that the fact that today is already a week into april has caught up on me.

only 4 weeks!!!

summation

this week has been hectic, many tasks to accomplish, meetings to attend, papers and other such things to write. i am glad that is has come to and end. i am looking forward however to the college art association 96th annual conference that is taking place at the end of the month in dallas. there are a lot of outstanding scholars and artists coming!

also, a strange occurrence, i was sitting in my living room late on tuesday night, and the whole house shook, and then an additional rumble a few moments later...it was so unsettling. i don't know what it was, but i heard that people felt it all over town.

i am contemplating going on the london trip with professor stark and dr. way this summer. i think it could be a really awesome opportunity to earn some credits and get away from dallas for a while. i will see...if i end up getting one of the internships that i applied for i will most definitely take that opportunity, but if not, london would be an incredible alternative.

we shall see.

crazy day

today was so odd, the wind almost made me take flight, there were fires on every corner, and tree branches falling all around me. the art building's lights went out, and as a result my museums class was cancled. the world was definatly weird today.

this semester is going well so far, busy...but going well none the less. i have so much on my plate, what with my classes, my job, my family, my friends...when is a girl to sleep?

i applied to MoMA for an internship that would take place over the summer, I also applied to the Guggenheim, i have my fingers crossed that i get one of them...we'll see.

tuesdays are so exhausting...i have political science from 9:30-10:50, archaeology from 11:00-12:20, latin american art from 12:30-1:50 and then museums from 6:00-8:50

oh the busy days, homework filled nights...i need a cup of coffee from jupiter house...

committment

i have finally committed to which classes i will take this semester. my schedule includes; topics in latin american art (20th-21st century mexico), art of ancient rome, understanding art museums, popular american music and archaeological science. i think all of them are going to turn out to be extremely interesting and i can't wait to learn about all of these subjects. i now have two jobs on campus, i am the student assistant for art history methods for dr. abel, and i am a staff writer for the yearbook. it will keep me busy, but i think it will be a lot of fun!

new year

i don't know about the feeling others have, but often i do not feel any different after the ball drops in times square, and the calender page turns from december and january. it seems often, that january first is simply another day, nothing out of the ordinary - but, this year i feel the monumental quality of the new year. i see a year full of possiblity, hope, beauty and peace...a year that i will delve into fully without restraint, a year marked by so many tremendous events. i have secured a new job on campus, i will be serving as a student assistant for art history methodologies at the undergraduate level, i am applying for internships for the summer in new york, and a myriad of other things. i hope and pray that the new year will bring peace and love to every individual out in the world who seeks it. that is my wish, that is my dream. happy new year to all...and to all a good night.

the end of one, the start of another

as the semester begins to come to a close, i am busy studying and outlining final essays, making sure i don't have any outstanding assignements that i might have overlooked and forgotten to turn in. i am looking forward to a break over the christmas holiday - a break however that will be filled with work. i will most likely be working more hours at nordstrom, as this is the bussiest time of year.

today was extremely busy, i helped one woman go through the whole store and find the gifts for all those on her list, i gift wrapped all her packages and then i took them all out to her car for her - which by the way i wish i had put my coat on before exiting the building in my less than warm blouse...it was quite cold in the green garage this afternoon.

i have 3 finals left, so i hope those go well! good luck to all art and non art students on their finals!

also, props to the studio majors, i have seen the work displayed in the light well as well as the cora stafford and the work is very impressive!!!

merry end of the semester!

only one week after this and then i am one more semester closer to graduating! i have one of my final papers completed - that was on Camera Lucida by Roland Barthes, i have one paper to write on the social history of Diego Rivera, i have a special project to finish, one history unit and 4 exams - then i am finished! i am so excited for christmas this year, it is the first year i am gainfully employed with an employer who acctually pays above minimum (and i mean minimum) wage! so i can afford to buy thoughtful, lovely gifts for my loved ones. i have all of my christmas shopping selected - and on hold at nordstrom ( my place of employment) because wednesday is an employee shop day which means 30% off!!!!! which helps a great deal - and what a coincidence that nordstrom scheduled an employee shop day on the same day as pay day?!? hmmm....

i love the cooler weather, it is lovely, i just hope it lasts! i have been eagerly waiting for it to arrive. all of my house is decorated, even the outside - i am pleased with the result this year - it looks awesom.

well back to the social history of Rivera!

first day on the floor

yesterday was my first official day on the floor at nordstrom. i made a slot of sales, i thought that my total net sales was at around $700 or $800, but when i looked it up on the computer before i punched out for the night it was at $1,390. so that was a nice surprise, especially since we work on commission! so that was a happy saturday! i have a lot of course work to get done today, i have 2 papers in history oh photography as well as the rest of my honors contract that i am doing for that class. i have a paper i need to start working on for latin american topics - it is on diego rivera and the social aspects of his life that attributed themselves to his art. then i also have a paper i need to work on for survey, but before i can do that i have to go to the kimball. then i have 3 more units of history homework i should get done...i have to work tomorrow after class, but then i have the rest of the week off until black friday. oh, the hustled pass of my life!

me in 'real life'

this semester is almost over and i can't believe it! i have had a busy weekend, going to dallas, going to highland village, i went to dinner tonight and then i went to see 'dan in real life' it was such an amazing film - the best i have seen all year. steve carrell was so awesome in his delivery and the supporting cast (diane weist, john mahoney, juliette binoche) were stellar. it is a must see, i higly suggest this film to everyone!!!

on friday i went to the first session of the 'medieval art symposium' it was pretty interesting, however, the session i went to was all english majors, not art history, so their papers didn't cover visual culture - only the geographic side of medieval studies. so, interesting, but not my area of study.

this week is going to be busy, i just got a new job and i have training tuesday, wednesday, and thursday - i have an exam on friday, a project due in history of photography, and a project i am working on for the president's council dinner that is on saturday. but the prize at the end of the road is thanksgiving - i am not a 'big eater' but i am looking forward to the holiday, family time, rest, and macy's parade! who doesn't love the parade?
this is me in real life.

home stretch

i cannot believe that the semester is almost over. it is now november and there are only a few weeks until finals - that is simply hard for me to grasp. i believe that i only have one paper left in each of my courses, one exam and two finals, so that is nice that the work load i have is almost complete. i am currently going through the interview process for a new job and i am really looking forward to that opportunity. i need to sit down and work on some of my internship applications this week, because due dates are coming up before you know it. there are now only 51 days until christmas...wow that is even harder to believe.

well, the home stretch is being made.

autumnal state of being

today was beautiful, cool, crisp, perfect!
that's all

order of the weekend

this weekend has been busy but good. yesterday i went to campus for the theater department's costume sale - i picked up a gold column dress that i can utilize for something for my halloween costume, then went grocery shopping, made dinner and went to a play - "a shayna maidel", which was quite good. today, i got up early and did some house cleaning, planned the decorations for the halloween party i'm throwing, did homework, and then i went down to addison for an event that UNT was involved in with the texas muslim women's association, it was for UNT to receive a scholarship endowment for graduate studies in islamic art history - which is a great advancement for UNT. i don't know that much about muslim culture, but it was really interesting to be apart of what went on. when i got home i finished making out my class schedule for spring and registered as of about 51 minutes ago. i think that next semester will be rewarding but challenging. 17 hours isn't too many, but it is enough to keep me busy, that along with being a member of the art staff for the north texas review and possibly taking on a part time job - keeping busy is always good!

the fall

today was so beautiful - the rainy morning and the cooler temperatures, so lovely. i love the fall, it is so marvelous, there is nothing better than a crisp fall day. midterms are fast approaching and i have a lot of work to do this week and not enough time to do it in, but i will get by. i am still trying to decide on which persona i am going to inhabit on the 31st - halloween is one of my favorite holidays and i am trying to figure out who i want to be. . .who knows, i will have to throw something together last minute no doubt with how busy i am right now. i love being busy though.

submit

i am now a proud member of the north texas review : a journal of art and literature and i think it is going to be a great experience! we are looking for submissions in the categories of art, fiction, non-fiction, poetry and other forms of creative writing (i.e. song lyrics, plays, screenplays ect.) there is a limit of 5 submissions per person and a 15 page limit on written entries. there will be more information on the ntr website soon.
if you have any questions email me or leave a message on my blog.
efj0004@unt.edu

reign rain

this weekend was a nice break from classes - i feel refreshed and ready for the upcoming week. it was so nice to get a little rain over the weekend, i love the rain - it fills me with so many nostalgic emotions and wonderful memories from my childhood. memories of sitting in my living room, the rain pouring down, reading a book and having a cup of tea. it is the memory of moments like that, that are worth holding on to.

this week i have a lot of work to do, but i really don't mind - i am enjoying my classes and all the other work i am doing right now. there is a great deal of satisfaction i feel when i push myself to accomplish everything i set out to do. i try not to listen to people when they tell me it isn't possible, or there isn't enough time. i think anyone can accomplish whatever they wish if they wish for it hard enough and do the work to make it happen! there are no limits, just edges.

mellow

tomorrow i have my first exam for the semester, i am not worried about the exam however - i think it will go smoothly. i cannot believe how rapidly the semester is progressing, it is flying passed me so quickly i feel like i going a hundred mile an hour. even though i am busy, i am enjoying every moment of my life right now. it goes to prove all you need to be happy is to be surrounded by great people, and keep busy - the rest is irrelevant and superfluous to happiness. my advice to anyone feeling overwhelmed with things in their life right now is simply to step back, take a deep breath and evaluate what is really important to you, and what isn't move it down on your to do list.

london calling

tonight i am taking some much needed rest from work. today has been very busy, i just got a new car (my first new car!) and i had to go purchase a parking permit. first i went to the bookstore, and was informed that they no longer sell them there, so i had to go over to campus police and buy one there. after that i had a meeting with one of my professors to discuss the work i am doing for my honors contract. the meeting went really well, i am extremely excited about the project. following my meeting a had some time to kill before going to my 3:30 class, so i got some reading done and filled out my application for the london study abroad trip that is taking place over the summer. the trip is sponsored by COVAD and is led by dr. way and dr. stark. i think this trip would be a great experience for me would also allow me to receive 6 advanced credits towards my degree. after going to class, i ran by the super market and then came home and made dinner, did the dishes, got some homework done, did some yoga, and now i am sitting reading and relaxing. it is the calm i have been waiting for all day.

night on the town

today was so enjoyable. for starters i was up until 5:30 this morning and as such i slept until 11:45am. i got a little house work done, and then i went down to the amon carter museum and saw the frank gohlke exhibit that they have on display. i thought his work was quite interesting and the exhibition was huge, i think there were probably around 60-70 pieces in the show as a whole. after that i went to dinner with some friends and family - which was nice as i don't get a chance to do that very often, and then i went to a classical concert at TCU. it was a piano trio and i greatly enjoyed the opportunity to hear them play. so today was lovely. tomorrow is going to be busy, i have two classes, i have to work on a project for a class, i have errands to run, and i'm sure there will be other little surprises that will pop up as the day progresses.

no class

so i was wrong, i didn't have class today - they were both canceled. i did, however get another paper back. i got an 'a', which makes me happy going into my weekend.

today was so lovely - i went to campus this morning to make my tuition payment and then picked up my paper, then i went to the park and had lunch. it was just such a beautiful day out, with the breeze and the clouds moving in and out - it was sublime. i love picnics, well basically anything that gets me outside. i love to be outside and enjoy the day, i think this is mostly due to my upbringing. being raised in a bohemian- home school environment in the gorgeous location of sedona, az, it has fueled a desire in my life to have a strong connection to nature.

i feel so happy and at ease with my life right now, i have adjusted to my environment (denton) and i feel really strongly about the course work i am undertaking. i am looking for some sort of a part-time job, but if one doesn't turn up i am not going to sweat it - what will be will be, i cannot control what happens in life, i can just enjoy the ride.

one more class

i have class tomorrow, and then i am free for weekend fun! i'm going down to the photography exhibitions at the amon carter on saturday, the purpose of going does fulfill a requirement for a class, but i am excited to see the shows.

i need to get some things done around my house this weekend as well, i need to organize some things, do laundry, get grocery shopping done, ect. i don't, however, have a lot of homework this weekend, so that is a nice breather. i think the bulk of work i need to do for class is reading.

lately i have been trying to decide what i want to make my official minor. currently i am a french minor, however i am really interested in international studies - focusing on regional studies of europe. i think that, coupled with art history, would be a really great combination. i have to think about it...