What Is This "Maymester" You Speak Of?

Well, it's Memorial Day.  I'm looking at the last week of May and my last week before I join the ranks of the working world.

I've spent the last three weeks since graduation continuing my education.  I've been part of a small archaeological dig focusing on the Hopewell Moundbuilding society of the Midwest.  It's a class I'm taking mostly for the experience, should I change my mind someday and decide to go back into academia.  I think that this experience could be useful no matter what I do for a museum, actually.  The more I can relate to my colleague, the more informed I am and the more helpful I can be.

Even though I've been in the field for 10 hours a day in every weather condition Ohio can throw at us and then spending many evenings with my fellow field school attendees, I've still been playing with my creative side.  Unfortunately, I rarely continue with one project for very long.  There's been a lot of bouncing around.  It's like my mind really can't believe I have THAT MUCH FREE TIME and can't decide what to do with it all.  I've been drawing, writing, modeling, and even making bracelets out of Starburst wrappers.  (And I'm getting really good at it, too.)  One day at the dig last week my team hit a thick layer of soft red clay that was really easy to mold, so I made a bear out of it.  (It was going to be a dolphin, but the clay wouldn't support a long beak so a bear it became.)  And I'm going to design the T-shirts for our dig.

This is my bear.  He's made completely out of 100% natural clay I dug out of the ground.  I'm pleasantly surprised he's still in one piece.

Then, this coming Sunday, I leave Columbus to go do big-people work.  It's sad and relieving all at the same time.  For now, though, I'm just going to have fun digging and seeing all my friends before I move out.

And isn't my bear ADORABLE!?  :D

Moving On

I officially graduate from the Buckeye University as an undergrad in three days.  And man, what a trip.

Sentimental-wise, it still hasn't hit me yet.  I don't think it will until my diploma is in hand.  It's been a wild 5 years!  I've changed so much, I realize.  I've become more critical of things, but willing to keep an open mind.  I'm not as timid as I was.  I've made friends and done things that, when I first came here, I'd never even dreamed about.  It's definitely been really bitter-sweet for me.  As much as I complained about the classwork and the city, I'm going to miss it a lot.  I could go on and on, but it's finally spring in Ohio with nice sunshine-y weather and I think a post that heavy should be saved for another day.

One perk of graduating is that, even with an 8-hour-a-day job, I'm going to have more FREE TIME!!!  It'll be so weird to come home and not have a million papers and projects to finish.  But I'll have more time to help out with the farm and to work on my art and other projects.

And I have so many projects in mind!  I've been enjoying the last few days off between the end of classes and graduation with no obligations.  I was bumming around and procrastinating on my wish-list of activities because I have so many that it was overwhelming, but I finally sat down today and began to churn stuff out.  I've been on an ocean kick lately (though if you know me you'll know that I'm always on an ocean kick!) and I've been designing dresses inspired by my favorite ocean creatures.  I've made them for a paper doll (one of my weird hobbies) and I'd definitely like to post her here for others to see/print out.  I also want to get around to finishing the project for my portfolio and try a new paper mache recipe, while keeping up with my Tai Chi and Italian.

Hey, gotta keep busy somehow.  :P

Until next time!

Post-It Notes Are My Best Friends

I don't know if it comes with the creative territory, but I'm obsessed with lists.  Every time I think of a new project (which is often) or am considering improvement on a current one (which happens almost as frequently) I just have to write it down.  Like, it bothers me if I can't put my thoughts to paper right now.  This can be a problem, as I tend to think a lot when I'm doing something mundane- say, walking to class, at work in the kitchens at school, or in the shower.  You know, places where writing is a bit more difficult (though I did discover Rite-in-the-Rain notebooks.  Mille grazie to my geology professors for assigning them to us!)

As a result of this obsessive-compulsive habit, I tend to have a lot of paper on me.  Old notebooks, mini notebooks, composition notebooks, the margins of my class notes, Post-It notes... If you can write on it, I probably have it stashed away somewhere I can find it quickly.  I've even used blank sticker labels at work once or twice because I just had the greatest idea ever that just had to be recorded!!!  This kind of bothers the environmentalist in me, especially because every project or subject just has to have its own notebook.  I have the same problem with my sketchbooks.  But typing it out on the computer just doesn't really feel them same.  Which doesn't really make sense, I guess, when you consider the amount of random Word documents and electronic Post-Its I have on my screen at any given time... 

My hypocrisy knows no bounds.  Also note the snazzy background from

Colonial Williamsburg's website.

Funny... My room is a space of entropic organized chaos, but when it comes to my art supplies or school work it must be organized exactly.  I claim selective creativity.  Or something.  I had a word in mind but I lost it.

Anyway.

I know I can't be the only one who does this.  But it'd be cool to hear a shout-out from my listy brethren, too.  Let me know all the wacky ways you keep your creative ideas down!

The Art of Nomming

Today starts the week-long game known to some as "Humans vs Zombies" and others as "Infection" at Ohio State.  This game is the wackiest, nerdiest game of tag you've ever heard of.  (If you have heard of it, you probably don't need to read this next paragraph.)

The game takes place anywhere from 2 to 10 days at college campuses across the United States, though according to the official Humans vs Zombies website, there are games happening all over the world!  Everyone starts as a "Human," with the exception of a handful of hidden players who are "Original Zombies."  They start the game by "infecting" humans.  A Zombie infects a human by tagging him/her, just like in regular tag.  But, Human can defend him/herself.  Different campuses have different rules, but most games I've played allow rolled-up socks, NERF guns (and similar brands of projectile-dart toys) and "blowpipes" made of PVC, through which a player shoots foam NERF darts.  If a Zombie is hit by a sock or dart, he/she is "stunned" for a set amount of time.  Many schools also have missions that follow a plot.  The outcomes of missions dictate how the game will go.  For example, if the humans successfully complete a mission, they may get "safe zones," "cures," or the zombies may be stunned for longer periods of time.  If the humans mess up or the zombies complete an objective, the zombies may get shorter stun times, "mobile respawns," or even earn special abilities.  By the end of the game, everyone is a zombie (unless you're terribly lucky) and it's a grand old time for everyone.

I came into the game a lot later than most of my friends- in fact, that's how I met most of them!- but it's been quite the experience for me.  I've met new people, gone to new places, and learned so many new things.  Things like:

• Socks are probably your best bet for survival.
• Certain people can never be trusted (If you're from OSU, you probably know who you are.) 
• You can make some wicked stuff with duct tape, PVC pipe, and foam.
• If it seems like a good idea at the time, it's probably not.
• Rule #1: Cardio.

But there are also the more existential things to life.  Things like:

• Teamwork.  It's amazing how fast you'll bond and work well with someone when your "lives" are in jeopardy.
• Leadership.  Someone's gotta step up and keep the group together when things go down south fast.
• Problem solving.  How many buildings can I use as shields between where I am now and where I need to go?
• Courage.  It's surprising what you're capable of when you (literally) "stick to your guns" and charge headlong into a hopeless situation.
• Sportsmanship.  Yeah, it sucks when you get tagged, and it's OK to be upset.  But it's even better to acknowledge defeat and join your new Zombie brothers with your head held high.  It's a lot more fun, too.

This actually sounds like a decent resume header.  Huh.

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This is my last week-long game; after I graduate I'll be confined mostly to weekend "Invitationals."  They're a lot of fun, don't get me wrong, but it won't be quite the same experience as living in horror for a full week.  So, I'm going to make the most of this one, continue to develop the skills listed above, and go out with a bang.

And maybe nom some brains along the way.

Creativity on a Budget

If you're an artist, you may know the feeling of being short on both supplies and funds.  (And if you're not an artist, I'm sure you're familiar with the term "starving artist."  There's often a good reason for that.)

One of the things that I've come to be familiar with as a hobby artist is making do with what you've got.  I prefer pencil and paper to other mediums, not just because I'm good at it but because it's often more affordable.  There's nothing wrong with using Crayola if you know how to use it.  (Indeed, be amazed by this awesome drawing- all in Crayola crayon!)  Art supplies as gifts are not uncommon in my family.  And I use Hobby Lobby coupons like they're gold.

But the best way to save and be creative is to recycle.  It's awesome for the planet, too!  (If that sort of thing tickles your jimmies, of course.  You could also look at it as saving you space in your garbage can, or not wasting things, if you so prefer.)  I have a small collection of cardboard boxes that I hope to turn into bases for dioramas, for example.  Old newspaper is a classic recipe for paper mache.  (Pinatas, anybody!?)  There's all kinds of cool things you can do, if you think hard enough.

A good friend of mine (known to the Internet community as Elrenia_Greenleaf) is one of the most thrifty and creative people I know.  She can make a spaceship out of a popsicle stick, old Styrofoam packaging, plastic wrap, bottle caps, paper clips, and an old set of headphones.  Seriously.  Her work often inspires me to design my own dioramas and props for things.  (Then I run into the problem with another resource- time, but that's something for another day.)

What creative things do YOU do on a budget?  I'd love to hear your stories and ideas!

Where Did My Hour Go?

Ahhhh.... Spring Break!!!

Probably one of the best things about being in school is the break.  There is nothing that tastes sweeter than being allowed four to thirty days of blissful nothing after working your blood pressure up doing projects, papers, and homework for eight weeks straight.

And, as this may be my last break ever, I am thoroughly enjoying it as best as I can.  Practiced Tai Chi Ch'uan on the Student Oval on Sunday, built two 500-piece puzzles in one day, have had pretty much the entire library to myself, and have been catching up on all the drawings I've been dying to start or finish since January.  I do, admittedly, have a homework assignment due in a week, but I did a lot of it in class anyway and I want time to RELAX.  No work.  No school.  Just the things I want/need to catch up on.

Unfortunately, Spring Forward snuck up on me and I lost an hour.  Which is sad, because usually I'm right on top of things like that.  Oh, well.  I'm surviving without it.

My history instructor gave me this excellent book called "Unlikely Allies: How a Merchant, a Playwright, and a Spy Saved the American Revolution" by Joel Richard Paul.  This book is both thrilling and hilarious!  It's a true story, but the things that happen and the characters in it make you wonder...  I'm still reeling from the first big twist!  The chapters are pretty short and, to be honest, they're pretty event-based with little embellishment, but it's a quick, entertaining read.

Cheers!

What's Going On

The last of my midterms was yesterday (huzzah!) and I'm now looking at the second half of my last semester as a full-time college student.  It's kind of strange.  Very bittersweet.  As cliche as it sounds, the last five years have flown by, but I feel like I'm just now beginning to enjoy it.

I've finally realized what my dream is- to design exhibits for museums and zoos.  I know who I want to work for.  Well, I've actually kind of known for a while but only just now acknowledged the fact.  But things are working out- I've finally started working towards it.  It's like the opening scene of Disney's Princess and the Frog:

"Yes, you wish and you dream with all your little heart. But you remember, Tiana, that old star can only take you part of the way. You got to help him with some hard work of your own. And then... Yeah, you can do anything you set you mind to."

 But I'm sure I didn't need to tell you that.  And it's true.  Nothing can come out of nothing.  So, here I go!  I hope to have something to show for it soon.

And on a completely unrelated note, I'm going to Indiana this weekend to be nommed by zombies at Purdue's 2nd Humans vs Zombies invitational.  I always have a ton of fun, so I'm really looking forward to it!