Confession

I had a weird,horrible, and wonderful school year 08-09. The stories I could tell about my very isolated struggle might not be so interesting. But since the first day of last summer I have been working on making sense of the whole experience. I am just finally coming to a point where I can begin organizing the internal chaos. I am just now feeling courageous enough to post images from last years lessons.

This year has been a bit of a struggle, like haven't the vigor I once had. I am still doing work I am proud of, but its like I am working with a spiritual injury that hasn't fully healed.

Anyway. I have updated www.artsprouts.blogspot.com

I haven't included much from this year. I am posting lessons from last year. Having not done this created a burden that feels a little lighter. I will feel much "lighter" when this year's work is included on the blog. I don't accept comments on artsprouts, but if you would comment here I would really appreciate the feedback.

Rainbow Frogs

So yesterday Randy says to me that I should color the frog green. Today I am watching a news report about an ice festival in China. The sculptures were colorfully lit. So I think, "Hey I can do this. I have a color wheel." Voila psychedelic frogs.

Snow Princess Harriett

We finally got the heavy wet snow that is perfect for snow sculpting. I like to build sphinx-like characters. A few years back it was a snow bunny. Kadie helped with that one. Of course she is in Minnesota (proof she is a Michigan girl and not afraid of snow and cold-she went to Minnesota) so there was no team effort for snow building today.
When I was visiting J and Joel in NYC this past summer we found a carved white toad. I wanted it to be a frog so I could buy it for Kadie as a souvenir. You see Kadie has an albino African Mud Frog that we have had for twelve or thirteen years!
So in honor of Kadie (Best wishes in the play-offs tomorrow kid!)I made a sphinx like Princess Harriet. Yay for snow days.

Finished

I confess that I just finish reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I began the book at the end of summer. I got put off by the grim customs and took a rest from it when I got to part two. I only recently picked it up again. I reread the last chapter of the first section, and within a few paragraphs of the second section I was locked in. The writing is done so well that the reading goes quickly.
I have known that Things Fall Apart was a literary classic, but for which criteria I do not know.
But I think of all the books I have read this ending was the most surprising, sobering, and ironic. I don't think I will ever forget the last few lines of this book. Achebe is deserving of every credit due him.

The Ice Star

A Burning Cold?
There are times when the internal fires seem to go cold. One can feel frozen spiritually. I like the metaphor these images create.

Tragedy and Comedy

Have you discovered vimeo? There is a story on there called the Last Moments with Oden. It is a painful and sweet documentary.
http://vimeo.com/8191217
Take time to cheer yourself up with some of the 'favorites." People are so creative!
I love how the internet, self publishing, self producing, the likes of youtube, vimeo, etc., has opened up the public's awareness to the marvels of human creativity.

The man in the clip said he has become "more sensitive with age and Thank
God for it." I think we are coming into a more sensitive age in history. The conceptual/creative age needs empathy.

Oh! Yipee!

I'm excited! Four of the five student works I submitted to the Region III show were selected to go on to the next level of competition in Lansing! Those selected in Lansing go on the governor's traveling exhibit for one year! Region III includes Lenawee, Washtenaw,and Monroe counties. I don't think any other teacher had more works selected than me in the elementary division.
My one regret was that I didn't have any work to enter from the middle school. I'm not working there - for now - and this is a good thing. I'm with the DK in the afternoon and this is good! Still, I am so proud of the work I did with the Middle School students last year, and I would have liked to share their talents with the world.
yay yay yay

BOCK OFF!

It was parents weekend at MLC. We saw our girl and caught a teeny bit of the festivities in town for Fasching (German Mardi Gras). Colorful scarves are hung from wires.


The Narren (fools) run around town cheering and frightening people. They have wooden faces! They gave us a pin and some beads!

We saw them at Joni's; we go there for breakfast. I like to go there because they sell turtles that are shaped like turtles. I bite off the head first.

For Fasching the Schell Brewry holds the Bock Fest (a "high gravity" beer permissible during Lent for its high food energy). Bock means billy goat in German. "This is why so many bock beer labels feature goats. But where’s the beer-goat connection? One theory suggests that the traditional time to brew bock beer was under the sign of Capricorn, the goat. Another tells an amusing story of a drinking contest between a Bavarian duke and a knight from Brunswick. Each was given a cask of beer from his opponent’s store. After a few drinks the knight found himself on the ground while the Bavarian remained in his seat. The embarrassed knight blamed a goat that had found its way into the courtyard. The Bavarian, who also happened to be a brew master, laughed and told the knight, “The Bock that threw you over was brewed by me.” http://beer.about.com/od/boc1/a/BockHistory_2.htm
The festivities get pretty wild so on the door of Target the sign says . . .

Just as our trip began I told Randy that the question I have been asking myself a lot lately is, "Am I really seeing what I am seeing?" There were many "HUH?" moments over the weekend including when I read the words on this former school bus.

There were many moments I wish I had pictures of, the one I most regret not getting is that of the fog and hoar frosted trees Saturday morning. It was at once eerie and beautiful. This image came from the Star Tribune in Mankato. It was taken that morning. Turns out it was a special weather event in Minnesota, and I was there to see it!
http://www.startribune.com

WARNING!

I saw The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The girl at the video store said I might want tissues. Not really, I was thinking more like a bucket to vomit in, and two sleeping pills to get some rest. It was almost impossible to really sleep after seeing this movie. A beautiful heart felt movie about a boy with an unprejudiced heart (like Babe), but the quick and painful ending . . . YIKES!!!

ICE HOUSE DETROIT

Go HERE!!!

http://icehousedetroit.blogspot.com

I made a comment on Feb 7.

Documentary

For all you documentary fans take the time to see, "Man on Wire." It's about the "artistic crime of the twentieth century." Breathtaking! You will see the beauty born out one man's pursuit to fulfill his artistic destiny.

HAAA! Boo Hoo sniffle sniffle

The Flight of the Conchords is so funny! The music videos are my favorite part. But wait the show has been canceled. This is a tragedy! The actors are amazing, the writers are doing some of the most original work out there, and the production enhances the writing, directing, and acting.
I don't like how Scrubs has a cartoon feel to it. I don't like how Big Bang Theory seems like a sitcom (canned laughs), but the characters are funny.

My Favorite TV Shows

Chuck - a comedy/drama with a Get Smart feel to it. Office - the mock-umentary style is fresh. 30 Rock - has humor that is quick, fresh/surprising. There are a lot of big egos on that show.
Pushing Daisies - was one big weird fantasy, it reminded me of Big Fish.
Northern Exposure - had that "magical realism" feel to it, where magical things would happen to ordinary people.
X-Files - there was always a surprise!
Friends - cause there are people like that.
Monk - is a high functioning "dysfunctional." I think people want to be high functioning in their dysfunction.

Goin on

Reading:
Treasures of the Creative Spirit
My Devotions
Diamonds and Toads
The Talking Eggs

Watching:
Cold Comfort Farm
Born into Brothels
Heartland

Day Trippin:
To Ann Arbor for Randy's birthday. Shopping at Downtown Home and Garden. I bought my mom a polish pottery cup, and I bought myself some seeds (French larkspur-Parisian Pink, Heirloom nasturtiums - Alaskan Mix, Fragrant Four O'Clocks - Broken Flowers, Heirloom Morning Glory, Glacier Star) We had beer at the Jolly Pumpkin (Oh my God so good)along with pita and dips: roasted red pepper with walnuts, fresh hummus, and edamame. Dinner at Shalimar was Lamb Marsala, and hulwa for dessert (hot carrot pudding with cardamon).

Events:
Listened to Kadie's basketball games via podcasts.
Lenawee Council for the Visual Arts Youth art show.
Ma's b'day party. Ma made tiaramisu for dessert, yum.

Currant concerns:
Haiti
Two teeth which are angry and unhappy
No exercise
Not enough time to read
No time to make art

Cool Finds:
A previously viewed copy of A Good Year for $4.95. I love this movie.

Waiting on:
A root canal
The Flight of the Conchords Season one (I hope it's good) from Netflix.

Yay for February!