My IEP

Ok, I tried the blackboard checklist (only one item to start with, so more like a sign than checklist), per Erin's whiteboard example. & for 1) It was nice to get my old notes down! Felt like a Procrasti-killing act. & for 2) I actually did it. (Sorted my laundry after 2 months of Procrasti, and ultimately resorting to bathing suit bottoms for undies.) & for 3) It's nice to have a conversation with myself that way. (I wrote coaxing words on the sign. & instead of a check mark, I wrote Thank You India for some reason.) I've been trying to have frequenter intimate exchanges with myself- extending kindness instead of always the hustle & bustle business relationship. -Did you do the dishes? -No, I didn't have time... -Fine. I'll do them. (That's the stuff of a bad marriage. And I want to embody LOVE. Within. And spilling out.) I even had a date with myselves in the park today. We had a good talk. So, point being, Blackboard Phase 1 a success. I think I'll keep the items under 3 for now, though. Like an IEP. (An Independent Learning Plan is what the special kids get, y'know.) We'll see how that comes and goes.

Dreaming or Doing, That is the Question

The land of make-believe will always keep me from waking up early to "Get Stuff Done." Why would I close the door to dreams when I don't have a gun pointed to my head? This morning I went to a party in a huge basement covered in tin foil, that had six bands on six stages & they would take turns playing. I hung out with my family in Loomis, and my brother Eames talked in a Gabriel Byrne accent the whole time. I kissed my boyfriend in Vegas (not like a wedding chapel, haha, just a slot machine bank). 


How is that less important that separating my laundry so that on sunday I can paint instead of doing laundry?? Dreaming is the stuff of painting! I'm thinking of never doing laundry again. Sending it out instead. I'm not even kidding. I'm going to check prices today. Two months of avoidance is enough. I'm taking control of my life by Sleeping In and Paying People to Do Things For Me.

Moving

I put up two white boards in my bedroom. One has long-term goals on it, and is big. The other has daily tasks on it, and is half the size.

I haven't altered the long-term goals one in a while, although I should - some of them have changed, and I think some of them could be more specific. I think I will do that right as soon as I publish this post.

I have not been clearing the daily tasks board daily, so maybe it is a weekly tasks board. If I sit up in bed, it hangs on the wall opposite me. I think having Must Dos hit me in the eye every time I get out of bed has helped me keep cognizant of what steps I need to take to get where I need to be.

I am researching graduate schools. Right now on the top of my list are Syracuse and Unviersity of Oklahoma, although I must admit the tornados yesterday kind of knocked OK down a little. A lot. (Why is it that none of the Craigslist rental ads assure me that I will have a basement or cellar? Shouldn't that be standard in Norman, Oklahoma, which is right in Tornado Alley? Doing a keyword search of those terms yields nothing. Crazy? Crazy.)

I am beginning to study for the GRE with Kaplan's guide, which is conversational and talks to me the way I like to be talked to: dirty. Haha, jk. It talks to me sensibly and tells me the math will not be a problem as long as I fully understand the critical reasoning behind the four or five basic types of math problems that appear on the test, and that that is totes doable. Thank you, Kaplan. I love you.

What else? I am wearing a pretty dress to work tomorrow. I shaved my legs in preparation (twice in one week, what has come over me?!). I am going to apply to a few more jobs right now. I just paid off two small remainders on credit cards. Peace, peace, peace of mind.

At work today I had little to do so I wrote a paragraph of ideas for the novel. The novel about two girls who are friends. Lately I have been writing about this band they are in and the songs they sing/yell. (Noise rock electronica experiemental band, of course.) Actually lately the theme is pulling itself toward an identity of: being about how: the protag wants to be an artist - a writer, a musician, a painter, a conceptual artist - but nothing ever quite materializes. I want the reader to want to strangle her for not making anything truly happen, always being full of ideas and not any realization of them. SOUND FAMILIAR??

That's my update. Ciao!

Photo Display in May

Today my main administrative task at the International Services Office was to create a photo display to use at an ISO Graduation Reception, and after adorn the blah walls of the ISO. This was the perfect gateway into Artsy Fartsy May! I scoured the photo archives for quality large and small group photos (Halloween Party, Apple Picking, Cherry Blossom Festival, Easter Egg Dying...), printed the ten best shots on 8.5"x11" glossy paper using Kodak photo ink, matted them on 11"x14" black spongey boards, and got 10 black business card holders at Staples to stand them up. The end result was stunning, if I do say so. AND I stayed under budget! Later this week I'll post a picture of the display, so you can decide for yourself if I have a future as an art gallerista...

who knows where the wind blows

i finished my last assignment today & decided to take the rest of may to avoid cerebral activities. like trying to fix up essays for submission for publication.

painting the quote quilt for the living room is acceptable. dance classes, ok. exploring the city, great. maybe even turning that into a dating in dc on a dime blog, fine.  toying with a screenplay synopsis, fun.

just nothing academic. only things with soul and beauty and mess. projects that make my heart flutter & my thoughts dance. jazz, not bach. this is my creative vacation. laaaaaa!!!!!!!

When I was a kid...

I once told my grandparents I was going to go write in my diarrhea. 

That is about all I can manage to get myself back on this blog.  I miss you lovies!