New School year

Its been a long time since I blogged on this old Blog.I've mostly been posting art to my other blog. But its the beginning of a new school year, and I feel like its a good time to start again.

My classes are so great. I've got Old Testament part 2 at 9 AM Mondays and wednesdays, and the teacher is fantastic so far. I feel like he regards the scriptures in the same way I do, and I love it.

Then at noon, I have a Character Design class taught by Ryan Woodward. He's great, I'm excited for this class even though I'm not exactly the best artist hopefully I'll learn a lot. When we have critique days, we'll be putting everyone's art on either the "good" "alright" or "less effective" walls. I am not really excited for this. I have a feeling I'll be on the "less effective" wall for a lot of the class, but thats life.

After that I have a costume design class, which I'm thrilled about. The professor designed stuff for the Utah production of The Little Mermaid show, and already I'm learning stuff that I will be able to use in animation.

Then Tuesday/Thursdays I have a Shader Programming class at 9 am. I have a  feeling that I won't love the class. I really hate programming, but who knows. My super logical brain might love it.

I had a 2D animation class at 1, but I had to drop it in favor of Shader Programming. Still not too happy about it, but what can I do? Take it some other time I guess.

Finally I have a 3D animation class. Our first assignment is to make a guy jump. Its hard. I don't really know what I'm doing, but hopefully I get really good. I've already been in the lab a lot, so hopefullt the time will pay off.

No classes friday, I'm grateful.

I live above a waffle shop that gives us free waffles/crepes every day which is a great perk. I love it!

So far, Life is Fantastic. I'm going to be working really hard this semester. Keep and eye on my art blog. I'll be posting what I've done in class there.

Birthday

so it was my birthday last Wednesday, and I got this dress. I can't decide if it's to short or not. What do you think?

MY NEW ART BLOG

I decided to make an art blog. You can find it HERE

As most of my Followers are only interested in the art side of things, and as this one was really intended to show my relatives and stuff what is going on in my life, I decided to separate them up. go follow that one instead. Go. Now.

Shoe Envy

Ok here is a secret. I am crazy about shoes. I came across these shoes by Annabel Winship, and I automatically wished I was super rich so I could buy some of these


(These remind me of a pair of blue suede sketchers boots with silver stars I had in 4th grade I loved those boots so much but I grew out of them so fast. I wish I could find a pair my size now. These are kind of like those but with red stars. and heels.)



Yes, they are kind of weird, and funky, but thats why I love them. Too bad they are all between £190 and £370. Yes that is Pounds instead of Dollars, which means they are even more expensive than it looks at first glance. I can't justify spending $200+ on shoes But I can dream. Especially when my sneakers look like this:


These were my favorite, but they also have holes in the bottom, which let water in when its wet out, and wet socks suck, plus the straps along the top, which are held together with velcro, no longer fasten super well, plus there is the fact that there is a huge gaping hole in the back. I don't have the heart to throw them out but I probably will when I move apartments. They were super cool though. *sigh*

I got these over the summer, and I've walked holes in the toes, and on the sides. I walk a lot. What can I say?

Also theses Bass Shoes that are coming out supposedly sometime for the Spring/Summer line make make me drool. I want these so, so bad. I think they will be more affordable than the Winship shoes, but, you never know. UGH I LOVE SHOES

One of My favorite Fairly OddParents Episodes

I'm in this history of animation class where we watch old cartoons. Its really cool. I used to be really super into Fairly Oddparents, and this was one of my faves because they talk about the sweet old school cartoons, Now that I've learned a little about the history, some of the comments and signs and things make more sense

The Fairly OddParents
Tags: The Fairly OddParents Episodes,The Fairly OddParents,The Fairly OddParents Games

Airplane Adventure part 3

So I realizes I never told you what happened on my flight from Vegas to Detroit.
I ended up getting a seat next to this old guy who smelled like cigarette smoke and was carrying a motorcycle helmet. He told me he used to be a member of Hells Angels, but he left because they started caring too much about money. The guy was very chatty, and started telling jokes that would get me kicked out of BYU if I repeated them. They also weren't funny. Then this girl in front of us told him to be quiet, and he started venting to me about how people like her were what was wrong with America, and how she was such a B$%#! and thats how his wife acted which was why he was getting a divorce from her, and how he was a vietnam veteran and I don't know. he just kept talking incessantly and I just smiled and nodded and laughed when it called for it, or mmmed sympathetically when it called for that, because I didn't want this guy to be talking under his breath about how horrible of a person I was. But thankfully when the seatbelt sign when off, he got out of his seat and I snoozed until the seatbelt sign came back on, and he woke me up even though I was feigning sleep anyway, and told me we were about to land.

by the time I got to Detroit I was so tired I wanted sleep forever, then this alarm went off in the airport right as we were about to board, I was about to cry at that point because there was no way I wanted to be stuck in Detroit for longer than I had to be. But they let us board anyway, and I was so relieved, I ended up getting the whole row to myself so I stretched out and napped until the sun shone in my face and I took that photo out of the window. I love clouds. I was seriously tired, and I think that if I could have checked the baggage under my eyes at that point I would have had to pay a fine, they were so large.

I got home and I slept from 10 AM to 10 PM It was awesome.

Shut up and put your money where your mouth is

I'm in Las Vegas right now, and I just have to say, the airport is AWESOME. If only I was 3 months older/there weren't these intimidating guard people standing around ready to card people I'd definitely try my hand at the slots. I have this unfortunate problem (that I'm sure I won't mind in a few years) that I suppose I look a little bit younger than I am. True Story: a 16-year-old thought I was 17, and a lot of parents of people I met my first week back at school thought I was a freshman. I'm just so well preserved.

Anyway, my flight here was less than an hour, and I sat next to this really nice Samoan woman with pinkish hair where she tried to cover up the grey. She also had this scarf that resembled a feather boa. She was coming to vegas for her daughter's 21st birthday, her son plays football for the U (our rivals. so uncool). I usually meet really awesome people on planes. Airports/planes are some of the best places to talk to people/eavesdrop/ people watch.

My last flight wasn't very long at all. It was less than an hour and I was siting in the emergency row. For future reference, the emergency row is the BEST if you are in coach because it has SO much leg room, and what are the odds that there's going to be an emergency really?

My stay here may not be as glamorous as THis:


but one day maybe, I'll come here just for fun, and it will be the responsible, mormon version of this, with maybe one or two pulls on the slots just for kicks.

Traveling is an adventure.

You would think leaving Provo for SLC at 1:45 for a flight at 5:14 would be plenty of time.
This is not true.
At least when 2 car wrecks are involved.

Yep we were stuck in a 3 Hour traffic jam. I shouldn't complain. There are worse ones We got off the highway, but traffic was still backed up in Sandy, UT. We were trapped there for a lot longer than I would have liked. but its OK now I get to go on a 4 leg journey that, once I get on the plane, will last 13 hours. Awesome.

I am currently sitting in the Salt Lake Airport. It is 6:45 PM and because I missed my original flight, This is how I'm getting home:
Departure-SLC 8:00 PM
Arrival-Vegas 8:27 PM
Departure-Las Vegas 11:40 PM
Arrival-Detroit 6:29 AM
Departure-Detroit: 7:30 AM
Arrival-Baltimore 9:05 AM (finally!)

About that photo; I don't wear glasses. I use them to cover up the unfortunate shadows under my eyes I got from staying up until 3AM finishing a project, and subsequently having to wake up at 6:30 to turn it in. Also, I forgot to put in my anti-frizz cream when I took a shower last night because I was really tired. So my hair is a mess. I'm going to be super cute when I land in MD.... not.

I think this is Karma for giggling at the Stake Christmas Devotional in which there were a lot of really unfortunate mishaps. Yet they were also funny. (a girl messed up away in a manger, and sung the line "the Little Lord Jesus asleep in his bed" as "Baby Jesus asleep on his head" I couldn't help myself. It all went downhill from there.)

Lately it feels like every time I fly home for christmas it turns into an adventure. All I want is to get home. I will update when I get to Vegas.

Wishful thinking wishlist!

Every winter before christmas I put together a wishlist of stuff I'd love to get if I were related to fabulously wealthy people. But I'm not, but its fun anyway. So here it goes:


Scott Pilgrim vs. The World on DVD. This movie is so awesome I can't handle it. $17.99


A Bowler Hat The hipster in me wants a bowler hat SO badly I can't handle it. I'd wear it all the time. I think they're so cute. $31.99 (I almost want to buy this myself, but being the tightwad I am I can't bear to part with that much money for a hat. Plus there are only 2 left. by the time I make up my mind they'll be all gone)


A gift card to Modcloth.com. There are SO MANY cute clothes on there, my wishlist for their website is way too long.


Mint Green 2002 Ford Thunderbird I love these cars. I don't know if they are old lady cars or not, but I think they are awesome. $17,599


The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Graphic Novel I really like this Artist's work. and I figure its about time I get into comic books a bit. What better place to start than the Wizard of Oz? $19.79


This Sandwich: Artisan bread, smoked Gouda, provolone, salami, roasted red peppers and an over easy egg, topped with rosemary $ ?.?? However much ingredients like this cost


Iceland

France
Trip to Europe/Iceland. I want to see the world so bad, plus I'm a big fan of the European way of life. I want to experience a different culture so badly, plus its so beautiful. And the food looks so delicious, and getting a change of pace would be wonderful. $Priceless. But also a lot Probably


Photoshop CS5. I will probably end up buying this for myself because I need it. Plus I want to get really good at digital painting.But its SO expensive. $199

But what I really want is to go home to Maryland. I'm probably not going to get any of these things (I asked for an expensive tablet for christmas so I'm not expecting anything besides that), I mean it is Wishful thinking after all. But thats ok. I just can't wait to see My family and be back in Gaithersburg.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Review

So its 3:30 AM and I just got home from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I was sporting my Harry Potter Snuggie at the theater, which did fetch a couple compliments. I'm pretty sure its the single best purchase I've made to date.

But I'm not here to discuss my awesome snuggie. I'm here to talk about the movie. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1. Now, without trying to spoil it too badly for those of you who haven't seen the movie and haven't read the book, (but lets face it, if you haven't read the book by now you probably deserve to be spoiled for being culturally obtuse.) and keeping in mind that it is nearing 4 AM and I'm getting tired, I will tell you exactly how I feel about this movie.

I went into the movie, expecting absolutely nothing. I had only seen the trailer maybe 3 times over the summer because I feel, based on a past experience, that I can enjoy a movie for what it is so much more by knowing as little about it beforehand as possible. Now, I'd read the book of course, so I knew what would happen, but as with all books-turned-movies, the directors have to chose what they're going to leave in and take out, and change for the sake of pacing.

That being said I think that of all the Harry Potter movies to date, this one captured the essence of the book the absolute best. You really feel the hopelessness, the fear and the stress of Harry, Ron and Hermione as they are out on the run without Dumbledore to help them in their plight. You get this sense right from the start which is a great way to put you in the right emotional state from the get-go. We have to remember, the biggest, baddest villain of all time is back, oppressing, killing, and generally terrorizing all of the people. The Wizarding world is in a dark place in the midst of all this and I think it was very right for them to set the tone this way.

Now don't get me wrong. There are plenty of opportunities for laughs which they handle successfully which make it very enjoyable, diffusing quite a lot of the heavy scenes so the audience isn't too overloaded by the desperate feelings that can only come about from war. And there were two moments where a few tears may have been shed. There are also some really intense parts, namely the part where they visit Bathilda Bagshot's place. In the book, this is probably the scariest scene and it had me jumping and gasping and even screaming a bit. There are a few other places that garnered this response from me as well to which I say "bravo" to the filmmakers for allowing me to get so wrapped up in what is going on.

The one part I really wished they had put in was the part where they see the plaque that says something to the effect of "Here is the spot where Lily and James Potter died, but Harry is still alive and kicking, yadda yadda" and there are all these encouraging notes left there in wizard graffiti that say stuff like "good luck Harry, we believe in you", and Harry is really uplifted by that. That was one of my favorite scenes just because its nice to see evidence of other people believing in you.

Now there was some controversy about a "nude scene" in this film. Its basically a really creepy vision that comes out of the Horcrux that Ron has to destroy, of Hermione being all "Who'd ever want you when we have Harry Potter in comparison?" and then the super smooth and shiny Hermione and Harry visions start making out and you get this shot of them that artistically turns in to billowing clouds in sensitive areas. basically you just see the sides of them bare-skinned, but nothing is really shown, its mainly implied.

It ends in a super cliffhanger of course, because its "to be continued" it just makes me mad because I'm not going to get a chance to see the second part till July.

The only place where the effects really bothered me was when Hagrid and Harry were getting chased by deatheaters in the flying motorbike, and they're on the road darting through cars, its clearly like, 99% CG but the cars and the road were just way too clean and unreal or something for that scene to look legitimate. it looked like a funny dream sequence or something with how unreal it looked. But I mentioned it to my friends, and they didn't seem to notice. I think because I'm learning how these things are created I'm starting to lookout for things like that.

As far as the rest of the animation goes though, it was awesome. I loved the part where Hermione tells the story of the 3 Brothers. its all animated and in silhouette and I'm a sucker for that, and its also way stylized and very cool.

Also Bill Nighy is the Prime Minister of Magic and he just sounded so much like Davy Jones I couldn't help but giggle a little.

It's like looking in a Mirror



That's all I have to say about that right now. I need to see it again when I'm more awake in the brain.
I have a way of rating movies by asking these questions: Would you see it again in the full priced theaters (as opposed to the dollar theater)? and Would you buy it on DVD.

The answer to both of these is a huge, resounding YES. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a Harry Potter fan.

Personality Quiz Rezults

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion |||||||||||| 43% Stability |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Orderliness |||||||||||||||| 63% Accommodation |||||||||||||||| 70% Intellectual |||||| 30% Interdependence |||||||||||||| 60% Mystical |||||||||| 40% Materialism |||||||||||||| 60% Narcissism || 10% Adventurousness |||||| 30% Work ethic |||||||||||||||||| 80% Conflictseeking |||||| 30% Need to dominate |||||| 30% Romantic |||||||||||| 50% Avoidant |||||||||||| 50% Anti-authority |||||||||||| 50% Wealth |||||||||| 40% Dependency |||||||||| 40% Change averse |||||| 30% Cautiousness |||||||||||||||||||| 90% Individuality |||||||||||||||| 70% Sexuality |||||| 30% Peter pancomplex |||||||||||||| 60% Histrionic || 10% Vanity |||||||||||||| 60% Artistic |||||||||||||||||| 80% Hedonism || 10% Physicalfitness |||||||||| 40% Religious |||||||||||||||||||| 90% Paranoia |||||| 30% Hypersensitivity |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Indie || 10%

Quick art update.

So Things have been pretty busy around here. The Animation Program is quite a lot of work, but I'm enjoying it. I still feel like I'm not quite up to par drawing-wise compared to some of the other people in my year, but I feel like I'm getting better, and I'm learning a lot. So besides this inferiority complex that I've internalized, and is secretly messing around with my confidence, I am enjoying myself.

There are a few other things I need to scan and stick on here, but here is some of the stuff I've been working on recently.

I'll try and post an update on my life soon. But first I need to take some photos.


This was the first prompt: Tree Crabs of the Lonesome forest. I sort of designed him after a coconut crab, but the teacher said he had the face of a rapist/ sex offender. I was going for creepy, and those are the creepiest kinds of people I know. So I guess it works?

This is a practice on value, using markers is super unforgiving. but hey, this was just a practice,

This was for the Urban Vinyl toy designed around the theme of "Disturbed Circus" I'm still not quite friends with the markers yet, so I'm not super happy with the tones added, but hey, this is a learning experience

this was for the imaginary friend one. I hashed out the base drawing super late last night... I think? I don't know. I've been staying up way too late really and the days are blending together. Anyway, there are some issues with this that I need to fix now that I'm looking at it after not looking at it for several hours, but its a little late, I turned it in already. Oh well. Que Sera Sera. I'll fix it for myself one day.

I am an Animation Major

I got the letter in the mail today. I am officially A BYU Animation Major.

After two years of working really hard. I finally made it. I'm so happy.
On saturday, I heard two of my friends got in, but my major hadn't changed online, so I had convinced myself I failed once again. I cried and whined on my tumblr on sunday, because my great aunt is in town we went to DC. I tried not to think about it but I was so bummed the whole time. Especially in the art museum. Then I get home from babysitting and I opened the mailbox. A BYU letter is waiting. My hands were shaking and I saw the word "pleased" rather than "regret" and I FREAK out and run in shrieking. Best day ever. 8/9/10 was good to me.

Dreams

I saw Inception on thursday and ever since then I've been thinking a lot more dreams...

On friday, I dreamt that there was a Justin Bieber concert, and all these Justin Bieber fan moms were at a bar waiting for their kids to get out of a concert. For some reason I was in this bar just sort of hanging out. (Maybe I was a mom, maybe I was waiting for no reason, Maybe I just like bars in my subconscious) Anyway, Justin Bieber and his posse/entourage walk in and I'm going "woah" Justin Bieber, all casually over my drink. And he starts talking to me, and I realize I'm in love with him, and he's into cougars, and I wake up. Creepy. I don't even like Justin Bieber really. I mean he's ok but I don't really listen to his music so much. I think when my radio alarm goes off in the morning they were talking about him, and thats where that came from.

I once had a dream also where my sister was running away with Justin Bieber to Ireland, because no one would think to find him there. I didn't want her to go because she hates wool sweaters, and you need to get one if you go there I guess.

weird.


Ezra Miller & Zoe Kravitz
I also dreamt that Ezra Miller, the boy on Royal Pains who plays a hemophiliac and who I also find really hot, showed up at this restaurant that was decorated yellow and green that was closing soon and I like freaked out and I was blabbering on how much I liked him and trying to hug him, I was trying to think of something witty and unique to say, but I just sounded like any crazy fangirl and I creeped him out, so I didn't become his girlfriend.

Things I've Learned this Summer

Since that post I did way back in April, I've gotten over my missing of school. I love Summer vacation! I am learning invaluable lessons so far...


1. I get why everyone makes such a big deal about Marilyn Monroe. I can't really describe it but the woman was a star. She knew how to work IT.
Movie list: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Seven Year Itch

2. Driving into the gutter is a VERY BAD THING.

3. Earthquakes CAN happen in Maryland...

4. Water is better for you than I thought

5. Werewolves are better than vampires, even if Bella is too much of a fool to see it.

Just look ad Edward's nasty body compared to Jacob's. If I saw that I'd run the other direction. Barf. I wish I had a photo of Taylor Lautner's back. I find his back muscles incredibly hot. Is that weird?


Even Van Helsing knows werewolves trump vampires


5. Whoever is responsible for coming up with the stories for Pixar is a genius. (That means YOU John Lasseter-my Hero)


6. Fireflies are kind of magical looking against the backdrop of nighttime, and forest.

7. I can babysit for days

8. 90's cartoons are the epitome of good children's television

9. Romeo and Juliet are fools

10. Cool Guys Don't look at explosions


11. Luray Caverns air is 98% germ free


Other stuff I've done this summer:

Baked some delicious cakes
Saved a lost turtle
held a sparkler for the first time ever
watched my Sister graduate high school

went to a Nats Game.
Stuttered embarrassingly when someone asked me if a seat was open
Looked at beautiful east-coast highway scenery


Basically this is one of the only summers where I wasn't longing for fall/winter. Although, the halloween decorations at Michael's did warm the cockles of my heart...

That's all for now folks!

What the...? Earthquake in Maryland??

"A magnitude 3.7 earthquake occurred in the Potomac-Shenandoah region at 5:04 a.m. Friday morning, according to U.S. Geological Survey."

Here I was just laying snug in my bed when all of a sudden I feel and hear a this rumbling sound way early in the morning. And the creepy thing was it lasted way longer than thunder, and if felt way stronger. I thought it was my imagination/a dream but I heard my mom and sister react to it too. I thought about moving under a desk, but in my mind it was inconceivable that there would be an earthquake HERE of all places. So I was lying there thinking about it, so I do the first thing that comes to mind. I get online to see if that wasn't just me. Facebook statuses start changing and someone finally links to the facts.

I have to admit my thoughts were muddled I feel like I was irritated it woke me up, then confused thinking "What the...? is this an earthquake?" and by the time I was about to go into disaster mode, and get under a desk, it was over. I think I was sort of thinking about Pushing Daisies, as I was woken since I did watch 3 episodes with my sister the night before... weird.

And to think, I left Utah at the end of the semester sad, but deep deep down feeling that there might be an earthquake, and if there was one I wouldn't be around to feel it. and Maryland goes and has one...

I just experienced an earthquake.

Not a big one.

But an earthquake all the same

*sigh*

Coming home has not been all its cracked up to be. I've been incredibly bummed out basically since I got home I think because well, several reasons. I'm going to list them here because once I realize what's wrong with me, I can fix it.

1. I have NOTHING to do. Basically all I've been doing for about the past week is watching TV and sleeping because there's nothing better to do. In Utah I always had SOMETHING to do, or SOMEWHERE to go.

2. All my friends are still at school. That is the problem with BYU getting out so early. I know it makes us more valuable as far as getting internships and jobs goes, but for someone who doesn't have a sweet internship All that means for me is my non-Utah friends are still at college while I'm here. Being bored. Alone

3. Its Raining... Its Pouring. So I want to get good at roller skating and biking. but its basically been raining ever since I got home.

4. My life has no direction. At church people were like "Oh what's your major?" I don't know. Animation has rejected me but they keep telling me I'm almost good enough. If I apply in August, this will be the 4th time I'll be applying. I don't know if I should do it, even if they seem to see potential. they keep asking me to reapply. Just let me in already!!! If I don't apply/don't get in again what will I major in? I don't know. I'm a little lost.

5. My mom is driving me nuts. Here is a conversation we had as we were driving past a little smart car: Mom: You should get a little car like that. I could just see you driving around in something like that"
Me: I want to get an orange beetle and name and name it Julius.
Mom YOU CAN'T GET A CAR THAT IS TOO MUCH MONEY. YOU NEED A JOB you can't afford insurance what about...(
Me: I saw a car online for like $5000, and insurance would be like $200 or so for 6 months.
Mom: What do you need a car for anyway?
... this conversation went on for a long time until my mom just got so mad she didn't say anything else to me.

and then today my sister and my mom are all "Oh you think you're too good for us now"
What?! No. its just really hard for me to have nothing to do or say and just sit around doing nothing.
Also Its hard for me to listen to my mom order me around patience is something that she has nothing of, and I do things at my own pace.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

ok This is going to be a quick post. I am sitting in the terminal waiting for my flight to board currently so I can get back home to Maryland. I brought 2 suitcases, a pretty full backpack, and my laptop case. one of my suitcases, was like 20 pounds over the 50 pound weight limit, so I spent like 20 minutes taking out clothes and moving them around so I could fit everything.
I ended up having to unzip this front pocket thing, stuffing clothes into every crevice of my backpack, and my laptop case, and I was shuffling around with all these extra jackets and when I went through security super slow because I had to use like 3 bins to put all my stuff. I'm sure it was quite pitiful looking. I never thought/wanted to be the kind of person that hated airports, but the hassle of lugging around a gigantic backpack and bags full of haphazardly rearranged clothes sort of changed my mind about the whole ordeal. I need to fly somewhere else sometime this summer to fix my perception.

I miss the days where it didn't matter how much luggage you had. Not that I ever knew those days (I don't think. Did the early 90s have limits on luggage?) I do remember when they used to give you better snacks for free.

I sort of wish I was in an alternate reality where there were no such thing as terrorists, and therefore no annoying airport security measures, and not everyone and their grandmother flew so people like me could bring a bag without having to move all my clothes around, and people would think I'm a cool jet setter.

End of the Semester

So, Its the end of the semester. I'm actually really bummed I'm not staying around for Spring or Summer. I feel like my life is so much more interesting out here. I mean, check it out:

My friends and I played Holi at the festival of colors!



I made a delicious quiche. With so much cream and bacon and cheese. All by myself! I also made an apple pie. No photos of that though... It was even more delicious


I applied to animation again. Good heavens I want to know if I have a major or not right now. (that top one got oddly cut off. oh well)

I was an extra in a cowboy movie. We went to a Saloon! how cool is that?

and besides that, I went classic skating and had cool fun dates and I made friends with fantastic people. I'm really going to miss everything and I think it would be fun to stay in the summer for a cool chiller atmosphere. I'm trying to get excited about heading back to Maryland. perhaps I'll make a list of why its awesome there, because I can only think of like, 2 things right now...