Surprise! I’m sharing.
November 11th, 2008 by admin
I wasn’t going to post this, but I really want opinions on it.
Here’s the thing: this is my final project for my Women’s Studies class this quarter. The class is called “Mythmakers: Rewriting Violence Against Women.” The assignment was to “revise a work that is participating in the perpetuation of a damaging myth about violence against women.” I chose this work to revise, because I’ve become very interested in the idea that men who strangle or choke women are trying to not only cut off the voice of the victim, but the collective voice of women. So I repainted it, and this is what I came up with. What do you think?
Sometimes I hate it, and other times I think that the use of color and the way the women’s “voices” propel the attacker back are really powerful. Other times I think it looks as though it was painted by a ten year old. Any way I look at it, though, it is a sure sign that this course was valuable for me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t care.
I haven’t gotten a grade back, but I think I’m ultimately happy with the painting.
A Day of Rest (Not)
November 11th, 2008 by admin
I have day off mid-week today, something unheard of while school is in session thanks to my full course schedule and my job at the writing center. So, am I relaxing in a bubble bath, or curled up with a good book and a glass of wine? No, I’m cleaning my neglected house and offloading photos from a month ago. However, I can’t really complain since I spent the weekend playing WoW instead of being productive.
Anyway, finals are next week(wish me luck) and then I will have more free time than I know how to handle, so I’m sure you’ll hear plenty from me then. UNLESS all of my talents are being poured into the novel I’m supposed to be writing, as NaNoWriMo has snuck up on me again.
Until then, here are some highlights from the last few weeks:
Katie turned 3:
And Karen turned the big four-oh. We surprised Karen with dinner, planned by “Tricky Vicki” with great success. She actually had Karen convinced that she picked the restaurant for the evening, when we’d been waiting there all along.
She doesn’t actually need these glasses, but Dad sure thought they made a funny gift.
You know how I can only get one of my beautiful nieces to cooperate for the camera at once? On this particular evening, Katie wasn’t exactly cooperative, but Joslyn really went out of her way to take a bad photo.
Let’s hope SHE never actually needs these glasses.
Quickie
October 21st, 2008 by admin
I’m busy, Chip’s busy, Kory’s busy, we’re all still addicted to WoW, and Riley is almost as big as Lilly already.
Happy Halloween!
Labor of Love
September 11th, 2008 by admin
*tap, tap*
Is this thing on?
Things have been rather busy lately, so I am just now getting around to posting some photos I took over Labor Day weekend. I don’t expect to be posting a ton in the near future, since school and my new tutoring gig will keep me fairly busy.
First, this is my favorite shot of the weekend. I know you can’t see her face too well, but in black and white Katie looks so classic, and the shot reminds me of something from a magazine.
Next we have JoAnne and John, who are such a cute couple it’s nearly impossible to be cranky around them.
Don’t ask about that last one. I said they were cute, not normal.
My favorite subject of the weekend was Sarah. I told Kory she is his future bride, but he just looked at me funny. I wasn’t kidding. She’s a very sweet girl and man, is she photogenic.
They will give me beautiful grandchildren. (Did I really just type that?)
Speaking of photogenic, here’s Melissa.
Contrary to appearances, Melissa was not sitting in the back yard naked. Sorry fellas.
No post would be complete without a Riley update - she wore herself (and myself) out running around trying to snatch hotdogs from plates and terrorizing small children.
I leave you with my second favorite photo of the weekend - I left the redeye in intentionally, because I think it’s funnier that way.
I love kids.
Pens
August 19th, 2008 by admin
For his birthday, Chip’s Ma got him the accessories necessary for turning pens on the lathe, something we’ve both been wanting to try. Chip’s first attempt was incredible … neither of us will probably ever make a pen this pretty again (it’s the one in the center):
Only trouble is, the wood wasn’t labeled so we have no idea what it is. If anyone recognizes it, let us know. Even the fine folks at Woodcraft were stumped.
I made the cedar pen on the right … people probably think it’s filled with drugs, because I’ll pull it out and sniff it from time to time. I love cedar.
Chip rounded out the set with an acrylic pen (left), which Kory really likes. It’s pretty, but from what I could tell by watching Chip I don’t think I’d like working with acrylic very much. I love the smell of the wood while it’s turning … acrylic just smells like plastic. Burning plastic, if you let it get too hot. Plus, tool marks show more readily on acrylic and are more difficult to buff out. It’s nice and shiny when it’s finished, though.
Kory wants to learn to make pens too, so cross your fingers that no one loses an eye!
Edit: Chip did some digging and discovered that the mystery wood is Red Palm. No wonder I like it so much.
The Early Bird Gets the Hot Air Balloon
August 17th, 2008 by admin
Since Kory was in Louisville this weekend with his dad, I was left in charge of Riley the Wonder Pup. As in, I wonder if she naps all day just so she can experience the joy of waking me up in the middle of the night to pee/poop/play or just look at me funny. Chip and I have been staying up to watch bits of the Olympics, so come Saturday night we were both beat.
Normally I will sleep until 10 or so on a Sunday, just because I can, but such a luxury was not what Riley had in mind. She started making noise around 7:30, and I lay there hoping that Chip would suddenly become a morning person and volunteer to take her out. This was not meant to be either. So I blearily got dressed and stumbled downstairs to let the dogs romp in the yard. After a few minutes of reading and enjoying the cool morning weather, I glanced up to see this rising above the trees in my yard:
Which makes me wonder - do hot air balloons frequently pass over my house in the morning, and I’m just never awake to see them, or was I just really lucky this morning? I can’t have been too lucky, because I stubbed my toe while running inside to grab my camera.
And of course, since I already had the camera out I had to snap a few puppy portraits. Riley is growing crazy fast, and Lilly is, of course, as beautiful as ever.
Chip snapped this one a bit later in the morning - she looks like I felt, but I never got a nap.
Lucky dog.
Puppy Paws
August 13th, 2008 by admin
It would appear that our Riley is not going to be a particularly small dog. It would also appear that I am slightly obsessed with her puppy paws.
Here, she is glaring at me out of the corner of her eye for disturbing her nap:
Here, I am focused on her giant, adorable puppy paws.
Some people claim that puppy paws smell like Fritos. I am not quite obsessed enough to confirm or deny this suggestion.
I can tell you that puppies are like babies - you can watch them sleep forever.
Riley (girl, not boy)
August 8th, 2008 by admin
We accidentally bought a new puppy today. Accidentally.
I have never bought a dog before - I always adopted. However, this little thing really captured my heart when I saw her at the pet store, and I just couldn’t let her stay there. I’m not sure what it is about this little puppy, but she grabbed my attention instantly and I couldn’t stop thinking about her … it took me a while to convince Chip and Kory that she needed to come live with us, but they both agreed and Riley is officially the newest member of our family. And dangit, she is CUTE.
Plus, Lilly loves running around with her!
If you hadn’t noticed, I can’t stop taking pictures of her.
Also, Chip is very upset that we now have another pet with an androgynous name. But he’ll get over it - Romeo and Tatie have yet to complain.
Employed
August 5th, 2008 by admin
I’m officially employed again, or at least I will be after I fill out the requisite mountain of paperwork. I just accepted a position as a tutor at Wright State’s University Writing Center, where I will guide young collegiate minds through the challenges of academic writing. I’m hoping this will give me some insight as to whether I would rather teach or run screaming from the field of academia to rejoin the corporate world after graduation. Wish me luck!
Dayton Air Show, Chip’s Birthday
July 29th, 2008 by admin
I don’t remember why we didn’t go to the Dayton Air Show last year, but I won’t miss it again. It was a great way to spend a Sunday, and an even better way to celebrate Chip’s 33rd birthday.
Louisville friends Jennifer, Jason, and Austin drove up for the event, and Dayton friends Jeremi and Stacey, with their kiddos Xavier and Xander attended as well. Jeremi, in addition to working with Chip, is a photographer on the side. You can see his amazing photos here. Pride dictates that I point out that Jeremi has a much nicer camera back than I, though we were shooting with the same lens.
All of these shots are straight from the camera - I’ll post some of my favorites after I play with them in photoshop as well.
All-female skydiving team the Misty Blues opened the airshow:
There was a lot of stunt plane action:
There was a Wright Brothers replica that I still can’t believe actually flies:
There were some really big planes:
And this stunt plane, whose pilot was a total show off:
Some older models:
Oh, wait, that’s just Jeremi. Well, he’s kind of an older model. (Just kidding, Jeremi. Please don’t hurt me).
The Starfighters, which look like something out of a sci-fi movie:
Some seriously cute kids:
And finally, the fighter jets (my personal favorites):
I’ll stop now with the fighter planes. But they’re just so COOL.
Oh, and there was this ridiculous truck with jet engines. It topped out around 375 mph, I believe.
The sun deserted us for the Heritage Flight, but it was still lovely:
We then adjourned to the house to celebrate Chip’s 33rd year of residing on planet earth. Most of the time, anyway: