!Feliz Cumpleanos !

Happy Birthday to Whitney (birthday was a week ago) and my Dad (today)! Last year I made Dad this carrot cake, wish I could be where you are to make you another one. Happy Birthday to two of the best people in my family!

how it went...

so I went to my full faculty review on Friday. It was in the museum of art conference room. I showed a powerpoint presentation of my work (twenty slides.) It was going okay until someone said, "you haven't talked about your work, or explained it very much yet. Could you talk about that?" That's when I kind of exploded internally. I can't TALK about my work very well, I'm sure the person wanted a nice, concise oneliner "my work explores the idea of spectatorship in our perverse world." I make art so that I don't have to talk. I felt myself getting angry up there in front of all my professors. And then I ended up talking about the recurring dream themes that I always have, how Mossie used to eat cornbread and onions with her friend in a playhouse, how I'm annoyed when people, especially LDS women, don't allow themselves to be upset or feel deeply. Like we're just supposed to be dumb and happy all the time. So I came off sounding crazy AND like an angry biznatch. Great. The faculty asked me what I liked so much about James Ensor. I replied I liked how gross and ugly everything is in his work, and I enjoy his negative social commentary. One of my professors asked, "Does it bother you that people will think your work is negative? tell us about that..." I'm wondering when I signed on to BYU if I signed something that said my work will not include nudity nor will it be negative. Where does it say we will only make "happy" stuff? I didn't anticipate such an emotional response to the review. I think I'm losing it.
Nah, I'm just learning how to talk about my art. Next time though, I'm just going to hem and haw, and give some generic response (Like Bob Dylan in the documentary "don't look back," he didn't give anyone a straight answer.) Better to be safe, than do an emotional vomit. So when you're asked, "How are you?" Just say "Fine."

First Year Review

Part of being in the MFA program here at BYU includes a graduate review after your first year. I am to show all of what I've been working on during my first two semesters here to all of the art faculty. Tomorrow is the day, it shouldn't be too bad.

Getting Hitched.

Eric and Lissa, actually did it. They got married. Hooray! It seems like the impossible became possible. I lived through the whole drama leading up to it. I was actually with them on their first date. (why? Not sure why I didn't get the hint and leave them alone) We were dumpster diving behind Haggens grocery store on Bill Macdonald Parkway. Eric found some cake in a plastic clamshell and they were feeding it to each other, or something like that. They asked me if I wanted any. negative on that.
Hey, hey the gangs all here. don't be decieved by the sunshine, it was freezing cold that day.
Eric's father, sister, and mother.
Not the most flattering picture of us, but it's all I got. It was a beautiful wedding. Lissa was a real princess, she was even wearing make-up AND a bra. I will miss our friendship as single sisters dearly, but since I was already friends with Eric too, then it will be more fabulous to hang out with both of them, especially since they'll be in SLC this summer!

Lazy Saturday

Back to Beautiful

I'm going to Seattle and beautiful Bellingham for the next couple days. Lauren and Ruby will be there, as well as these folks in wedded bliss!

More musings in the gem state

I went to Rexburg with the Washingtons on Saturday for Parker's farewell talk. He leaves April 2nd for the Mexico City North Mission. Knowing many great Mexican people, and having been to Mexico City myself, I'm rather excited for Parker. Showing Grandma the mission map.

As Parker towers above me a goood foot, he came down to my level for the photo, he's going to be doing that a lot with the chaparritos in Mexico. (that's "short people" in espanish)
Mack

Taylor and Tav

On another note, it was WEIRD to be in Rexburg. I haven't been there in 6 years. I saw my old house and all the sidewalks I used to walk in the freezing cold. I remember after my swimming class my hair always froze on my way to my next class. Kori (Fish) Crowther and I used to live across the parking lot from each other, Sharae Howard lived around the corner. I used to run into Chelsea (Lybbert) in the library and women's locker room. Julie (Wright) Crews used to work at some natural foods store, and I'd go see her there and buy Dr. Bronner's Magical Hemp Soap. I went to Taco Time with Jim and the boys one time. I think Parker ordered a ChocoTaco, I always see that item on the menu, but that's the only time I've ever seen anyone order one. I also used to walk at night and pick up huge blocks of snow and then chuck them at peoples' doors and run away. (note: all those women I mentioned are married, weird. I'm the lone surviver of many of my friends, but not my mission companions, ha ha Beddes and...Beddes... you're the only I could think of. ok. not funny.)

I was talking to Grandpa about Rexburg, and the lonely yet sweet memories, the town holds for me. He showed me the hotel that he and Grandma stayed in after Lez died. We also drove past Jim and Lez's house, and saw where Alison lived across the street and would come over to help when Lez first got sick. It is awesome to see how life goes on, tough times come and we heal over. The Lord sustains us and blesses us. God is good.

All Growed Up

Who can name all those baby cousins?
Don't be mad Mom, I put a funky picture of myself on here too.
When I get lonely and bored in my studio I watch our old family videos on my computer and then I can't help but make a few stills. Life goes on, amazing.

In the Gem State

I had a grand time in Idaho.

The Wind Beneath My Wings

You know it's a bad sign when you're on a date and you're thinking, "I wonder if I listen, validate, give some positive affirmations, then he'll stop talking about himself or is he the type that always talks about himself?" I just want someone to be for me, in the words of Bette Midler, "the wind beneath my wings."

Is that too much to ask? Sister Marjorie Hinckley in speaking about President Hinckley said, "I am very grateful for a husband who always lets me do my own thing. He never insists that I do anything his way, or any way for that matter. From the very beginning he gave me space and let me fly."
I don't do a lot of flying, and I don't have feathery wings. From the picture below you can see that I just have wind-blown hair. Find me a man who likes my wind-blown hair, and I think we've got something.

P.S. I'm going to Idaho this weekend which will include visiting this lovely person:

Sweet Nothings

Ahhh, it's nothing. no big deal. go ahead, eat your heart out. I may not live to see tomorrow, due to an overnight artery clog followed by a heart attack. These donuts (really spudnuts) that Chelsea, Cami, and I made tonight were scrumptious. We ate our fill before the boys came over so as to keep up that feminine mystique of eating like birds. (When really, that all depends upon the kind of bird. Does a pterodactyl count as a bird?) The donuts were a big hit. That's all folks, just posting about donuts...