Seventeen Muses

Broomball, my new favorite game in the world. You give 30+ kids sticks and helmets and you're sure to have a great time. It's a game played on an ice rink with a rubber ball and sticks called "brooms" although they look like a cross between a lacrosse stick and a hockey stick. You wear shoes instead of skates so your feet feel like they've gotten frostbite within about 10 minutes. The rules are the same as hockey only we had 15+ players on each side, instead of 6, and you can kick the ball as well.

It was epic.

I think I have at least ten bruises, three of which are on my right knee and shin and look gnarly. I played defense the whole time which basically meant I made mad dashes towards the walls to cut the offense off, usually missed the ball because the sticks are way smaller than hockey sticks, and proceeded to fall on my ass. I am not a competitive person but the beast came out last night and I had a blast. Overall I did a good job and although we had one guy on our team and were against a team of mostly guys, we won 5-3.

In other news, as a follow up on the February resolutions, I lost five pounds this month, not just four and I did finish Dear John today. It was sad. I cried. It broke my heart. I hope I never have to deal with a situation like that. I'm scared to watch the movie because I'll probably just cry more.

I'll post my March resolutions tomorrow.

This is in relation to my February Resolutions! I know February isn't quite done yet...

1. Keep bedroom spotless Check!
For the most part, this was true. I slipped a bit towards the end when deadlines were crazy but I plan on cleaning it back to spotlessness again tomorrow morning or tonight (February isn't done yet).

2. Finish Senior Project portfolio (sort of mandatory for my graduating) Check!
Of course I did this! I finished about a week before many of the people in my school and it's already turned in. Lots of stress gone!

3. Watch less TV Half Check!
Well the Olympics killed this. But other than those and my normal shows, yes, I did watch less TV. This was a bad resolution was this month.

4. Work out more Check!
I definitely did this. Anyone who is close to me can testify. I've been doing balance ball cardio interval training and I've been going on really awesome runs where I do over a mile of run/walk intervals. I even added sprints and a third of a mile more last time! The rain has been really unfortunate though and now that I'm getting the hang of this, I'd like to add in more strength training. March resolutions?

5. Lose another 4 pounds Hopeful Check (pending)!
I know I have lost 3 pounds this month at least but I don't weight in until tomorrow morning. Thus far though, I have lost 12 pounds from Thanksgiving time. Go calorie counting! No, I don't think I'm too young for this. It gives me a better understanding of food and makes me more aware of my health. I recommend it to anyone, even if you just want to maintain your weight.

6. Do ALL my calculus homework Check!
Except for the night where I was convinced we didn't have homework, yes. And even then, she didn't check it and she doesn't care so yay! For your information, I have at least a 114% in the class so don't preach me about being a bad student. I won't hear it.

7. Finish at least 3 books Hopefully Check!
I've finished 2 so far: Blood and Chocolate and The Lovely Bones. Both were great but I liked The Lovely Bones better. Very well written. But anyway, things got busy and I'm about a fifth of the way through my third, Dear John which I am desperately going to try and finish this weekend but I don't know if I can. I won't beat myself up about it though. Things have been insane with all these deadlines.

8. Blog more often Check!
I blogged more than January but not by much apparently. This will be added again to March's resolutions.

9. And of course I want to live to my full potential, in happiness, health, and education. Check!
I think I have definitely done this. Despite all the stress, this month has been incredibly productive and I've balanced my health and happiness well while getting things done.

I'm excited to write March's resolutions! It's good to know I didn't outright fail any of these!

I should just do all my photography on miniatures.

I have just finished all my projects due March 1st! I am free until then! Free!

I completed the following this month:

1. Senior Project Portfolio
2. Cal Grant and FAFSA
3. Italian Art School Application
4. County Scholarship Packet

Okay, so five things doesn't look or sound like a lot but it took so much work and I'm very proud of myself. Heck yes. And I managed to read two books this month so far. I'm starting my third today so I'm hoping to finish by the end of the month.

This was a successful month.

I can survive in college.
I can survive in college.
I can survive in college.
I can survive in college.
I can survive in college.

Next step: WAIT.

College decisions start coming in March. I'm so nervous, so excited, and I can't wait for March to be over and done with. Stanford decision comes out April 1st.

Fingers crossed!

PS- Lost? What the hell? You promised us answers this episode only to tell us you can't show us a preview for next week because the answers come then? I'm beginnning to not believe you anymore.

Dear Monday,

You illicit fear from full grown men. You make students cry and teachers tremble in their boots. You bring all of civilization into a well of angst.

Okay, I may be exaggerating a bit but you could take it easy on us, once in a while. Just maybe.

In any case, I finished my art piece for the Italian art school and I'm mailing the application either today or tomorrow. I have this other piece that I may or may not include but I don't have a good slide of it yet.



So yes, that is a close representation to what my backyard looks like. The clouds are easily the best part. Could you tell?



And this is my most recent piece for my portfolio. I love it. I just need a better slide of it.

As far as things due on March 1st go...
-Senior Project Portfolio
-FAFSA (today)
-Cal Grant
-Art School Application (today or tomorrow)
-Scholarships (4)

So it looks like I'll be working on scholarships this week! Oh the joys of being a high school senior. I think I'll take a break today, nap, finish The Lovely Bones, and go on a run. I am set on making today good.

Why is my to-do list longer than it usually is? I have...
-History homework
-Calc homework to review
-Chemistry homework
-Landscape painting
-Senior Project
-Scholarships
-Cal Grant
-A messy room
-The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Most of which, I am looking to finish. The Lovely Bones is amazing. Haunting, thrilling, and a really good book for late-night reading. The first chapter is almost unbearable to read as Susie Salmon describes her rape and murder as if she were commenting on the weather. I'm over halfway through it and I have no idea what to expect. Definitely not predictable.

Next on my reading list is...
-Dear John (I have to keep convincing myself that I am not a cheap reader just because I've been reading all these movie books)
-The Notebook (a lot of convincing...)
-A Clash of Kings (started-book 2 of a 4-book fantasy series I own until the next 3 were planned... need to catch up!)
-Pride and Prejudice (started)

Now to get to it!

I think this speaks for itself. I laughed myself into oblivion on this one. Check it out.

I was reading my Twitters from last year. I used to be a lot less witty but I was also really angsty. I often complained about work in the chemistry lab and my summer college class, which, granted, was a lot for a teenager in her last high school summer.

I'm laughing at my sad attempts at being witty and sarcastic. I beg for more time, less work, and pity from the evil excel gods. I switch from auctioning off my job to being sad on my last day, from having a really bad day and then having a great weekend. I complain about not having the motivation to write and then post gleeful word counts on how far I've gotten on my novel (wow, I've written 65,000 words since September!).

However, some are hilarious (at least to me).

Blow off homework to write? I think so. :]

Practical Use For An Isotope #1: Making Angela feel like an idiot.

Summer chemistry homework rocks!

Three cheers for getting things done and still failing at life. :P

I love my president! He called Kanye West a jackass. :]

The Vampire Diaries... Like Twilight only more original and they can kiss without him going postal on her. I'm hooked.

Wrote a ton (up to 45,000), finished my suicide shoes, hung out with the boy, and gave my kitten a bath (she stunk). Productive weekend. :]

Scary that I used to consider this productive...

mdzbfsdjkghjkdfhngf Keyboardforehead. Today was meant to be Saturday... And then I woke up and it wasn't.

Men. Not so much.

Awesome. I have my drivers license test today... And its pouring rain. First rain of the season. Good planning.

PASSED MY DRIVER TEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D Pouring rain, in a car I've driven once, after waiting an hour and a half! Woot!

It was a good day.

CSI:NY On Demand. Almost as good as chocolate. And less guilt.

College applications have switched me back.

Dear Twitter, you bore me today and for once, I will complete my calculus homework and will not give into your indulgent, time-sucking ways.

Twitter, Twitter, go away, come back on a more boring day.

My future husband is going to be a dancer. It's a requirement. And possibly a part-time brain surgeon.

Are my standards for my future husband unrealistic? Maybe. Am I going to abandon them? Hell no.

Need job.

Obviously a change of pace from the summer.

My mom and I vandalized a picture of Sarah Palin today. It was awesome.

We have awesome bonding sessions.

Long day. Will spend rest of 6 waking hours doing homework, reading, and eliminating the kink in my neck. Food may be included.

Cannot shed this angst.

I just got an idea for a four-part vampire story entitled Evening, Novel Lunar, Ellipse, and Smashing Morning! :P

Oh I'm so witty!

Evidently, I have lost my mind.

I woke up and it was 21 degrees outside... This is CALIFORNIA. Go away cold. You have no place here.

I need a life.

These last couple of days, you wouldn't be able to tell that it's still winter! I took some really cool photos. I encourage you to take a look at the full size of each, especially the last two.

Our holly bush.

Daffodils.

Bees in the cheery blossom tree.

And this...

My Florence art school focuses around figurative drawing and landscape painting so in order to balance my 10-piece submitted portfolio, I'm pulling out a really amazing landscape painting for my 10th piece. I've done landscapes before but usually I paint ocean views on wood and in a much smaller size. This lovely pieces is 18-24" and of my backyard (which is pretty cool to do). So far, I've just done the sky and clouds and the base for the hill.



Next up is the large oak trees at the base of the hill, some detail on the hill, and then the lovely vineyard with all the pretty mustard flowers that dot it right now.

I love weekend to-do lists. When I have a list, I usually plow through things. I'm off to a late start because I was recovering from my sleepover yesterday and my cat mauled my right hand so writing and typing is a challenge. However, I have tomorrow off as well and I'm not doing anything from now until then except work and having dinner at my boyfriend's house tonight.

Also, I've noticed a trend. Everything important is due March 1st. FAFSA, the Cal Grant, my Senior Project portfolio, my Italian summer school application, and several scholarships are all due March 1st. You know how many I've actually completed? None. Why? Because our taxes aren't done yet. It's all a floodgate after that because most of them are waiting on those numbers.

Joy.

So with a short intermission to share my stress, I'm off again to complete my weekend to-do list!

You can bet I'm up to no good.

Today, me and some family members went out to dinner and I downed a 1/2 pound cheeseburger with bacon, grilled onion, tomatoes, and lettuce. I am now considering exploding and I've sworn off food until tomorrow night, with the exception of fruits and veggies.

Tomorrow, I'm hanging out with my boyfriend Robyn in the afternoon to watch the new Office episode and eat celery. Then Allison's coming over for a sleepover where we will watch the Olympics and The Time Traveller's Wife (as we are both huge fans of the book), and make origami dragons and onion boxes and theorize about Lost. It will be supremely epic.

Sunday, I have a date with Robyn. He's going to be making me dinner (I'm concerned seeing as he doesn't cook...) and we're going to have a Scrabble rematch. Last time we played, I was smashed in an embarrassing loss.

Monday is unplanned but I have lots of art to catch up on and I need to apply to my Italian art school and keep up with scholarships. It'll be good to have one down day.

Live long and prosper!

Project Summer Italian Trip is in full swing. I've got a California art school I'm applying to in Florence and my parents are preparing to set me with up with loads of United miles to get me there. Overall, expensive trip but I think we can get enough miles and scholarship money to make it work.

I'm hoping to leave the first month of June, right after graduation and return early July. I'll be staying in youth hostels, travelling the countryside, reuniting with my Italian kin, and drawing on the streets of Florence. I couldn't be more stoked.

Applications for the art school are due in March so I'm beginning that and then I'm teaching myself Italian because while I can understand much of it when spoken, I can't speak more than ten words.

All the stars are aligning. The art school is inexpensive, trustworthy, with transferable credits, and with dates that line up with my travel plans. I'm so excited. I just found my Standard Deviants Italian DVD! :D

Ciao bella!

You know how parents take loads of pictures of their kids? Is it weird that I do that with my cat?

The other day, I walked in and my cat was sitting in the computer chair with a dash of light slicing across her face and the moment was absolutely perfect. Her body and ears were in darkness but the golden light was making her face glow. She was staring at me with her large, amber eyes like backlit grape leaves in autumn. I ran to snatch my camera before the moment was gone and long behold! I captured it!



One of the most impressive photos I've ever taken. Definitely remarkable for a point-and-shoot. How striking.

For the record, it took about five minutes to get her to open her eyes. All she wanted to do was nap in the warm light so I have ten other photos with the same lighting but her eyes are closed or half-open. This was the only decent one.

Can you imagine me as a mom... "No! You can't fall asleep until I get the perfect picture! Keep those eyes open or you're grounded buddy!"

Hope we all had a happy Monday!

I love tea,


and art,


spying on my cat with super telephoto.


I love this face,


and this face,


and THIS face.

This is a story that is incredibly personal for me and I'd like to share it.

For the last two days, I've been leaving the house with absolutely no makeup on my face. None. I wake up, wash my face with cool water, and apply a lovely moisturizer from Aveeno.

I have a skin condition called Keratosis Pilaris (KP). I was born with it and it has plagued my self esteem throughout my life. Friends will touch my arms and ask if I'm cold because they think I have goose bumps. I have the rare treat of not only having it on my arms (where it is the worst) and my legs, but also on my face (keratosis pilaris rubra faceii). It's like having a bumpy, red rash all the time. And it is always worse in the winter.

"Though people with keratosis pilaris experience this condition year-round, it is during the colder months, when moisture levels in the air are lower, that the problem can become exacerbated and the goose bumps are apt to look and feel more pronounced in color and texture." Wikipedia

My brother had rosy cheeks as a child. I didn't not. That's my KP. I don't mind the bumpiness, dryness, and itchiness as much as the redness. People don't touch my face and the bumpiness isn't too noticeable visually. The dryness keeps my face acne-free so I can't really complain there. And I've had it long enough to know not to scratch--although the itch on my arms is often unbearable.

I have tried every moisturizing brand in the book. I've been to a dermatologist, I was put on an experimental regiment by a local cream-maker. Nothing helps. So, I have worn makeup every day of my life for about three years now to cover the redness. Until now.

I found this moisturizer: Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer. It's a sunblock, it evens tone, and it moisturizes. It's worked for me and after about a week of twice-daily use, the results are showing and the redness is way down.



I'm not wearing any makeup and I didn't Photoshop the picture. Do you see any redness? I've also been drinking a lot of water thanks to Camelbak which has probably improved my skin condition some.

The point is... I think a lot of women don't try--they just expect their skin to be beautiful all the time but the truth is, your skin won't always be beautiful. Whenever I got frustrated with a treatment not working, I would give up and give in to wearing makeup all the time.

This has been a positive experience in the new year and although my KP will never be healed, as there is no permanent treatment, I've found an easy method to keep it at bay. I couldn't be more thrilled with the results. My self confidence is way up and I've been inspired to ditch all the makeup.

I am a die hard Lost fan. So, needless to say, I was stoked for last night's three hour premiere. The first hour was a recap; nifty but a bit boring (I passed the time by studying for my calculus test).

Allison and her mom also watch Lost so for the entire night, Allison and I were shooting texts back and forth with our reactions and theories and exclamation. Commercial during the recap hits and Allison calls.

Allison: Hey, the baby's name... It's Erin, right?

Me: Yup.

Allison: And who's the mom again?

Me: Claire...

Allison: Oh okay, that's what I thought. My mom wanted to know.

Hang up... Commercial ends...
Show: Aaron, Claire's baby who was born on the island...

We were cracking up. The recap covered pretty much everything. Good time for new Lost fans to join.

And then the show began...

Me: THE ISLAND IS UNDERWATER!!!

Allison (two seconds later): Underwater!!!

Like seven people died... One came back to life! One who we all thought was dead was actually alive but then died anyway... Not to mention, there are two of each character running around at the same time under different circumstances. Explain that Lost writers!

I am 150% more confused than I was before. Awesome. That's the sign of a successful Lost episode. However, it is the last season and us fans want answers. We deserve answers and I have a feeling that we will get them.

I'm in AP Art this year and by May we need 12 Breadth pieces (aka- old, ugly things that we dislike but that got us to where we are now) and 12 Concentration pieces. I have my Breadth over, over, over! I'm working on my 4th and 5th pieces of my Concentration portion, two of which are shown here. These are listed according to when I did them (about).

Each can be enlarged.


Shadows and Lace
Art 1 - Portrait Drawing, Graphite
The only thing from Art 1 worth showing...


Electric
Art 2 - Prints, Ink Press
Kiera Knightly


Self Portrait
Art 2 - Prisma and Chalk Pastel
It looked cooler back then but this was the beginning of my creepy style.


Goodbye to the Morrow
AP Art - Prisma, Chalk Pastel, India Ink
Another one that looked cooler in the beginning. The Prisma loses contrast because it gets waxy so it looks bad on camera.


Strips
AP Art - Black and White Charcoal
2-hour practice


Shiny Objects Still Life (SOSL)
AP Art - Black and White Charcoal
Just to show that I am capable of doing things other than portraits. This was a real stretch of my technical skill.


Nightlight
AP Art - Graphite
Took me like half an hour.


Distance on the River
AP Art - India Ink, Water Color
I realized I needed to show something expressionist in my breadth.


Swim in Life
AP Art - Chalk Pastel
This went through 123,354,576,234 stages and may or may not go in my concentration.


Angel of Death
AP Art Concentration - Black and White Charcoal, India Ink, Cardboard, Acrylic Paint, Collage
Love this one. Her hands are skeletal!


My Dreamland
AP Art Concentration - Black and White Charcoal, Water Color
Best piece of art I've ever created. The end. AND, it's not creepy!!!

Stay tuned for more pieces!

My New Year's Resolution was to set months resolutions because everyone knows resolutions only work for about a month anyway. So I set mine for last month and I pretty much accomplished them all. Of course, I make really vague ones. This month, I'm hoping to make them a little more public.

1. Keep bedroom spotless


2. Finish Senior Project portfolio (sort of mandatory for my graduating)


3. Watch less TV


4. Work out more


5. Lose another 4 pounds


6. Do ALL my calculus homework


7. Finish at least 3 books


8. Blog more often

And of course I want to live to my full potential, in happiness, health, and education.

Cheers to February and another wonderful month of the new year!