Irish Address

Here's where you can send me the wonderful cards that I know all of you are dying to send:

2 St. Lawrences Rd.
Howth
Dublin 13
Ireland

And obviously you address it to me.

Irish Way of Life

I'm excited. In two days I'm heading back to Ireland. I promise to keep this updated with photos so everyone can see what I'm up to. I'll also put up my address when I get it so everyone can send me stuff...hint hint.

Emotions Running High: Beware

So, today I think is the first day that I've realized that I'm going to be leaving soon. The reason that I think this is because I felt like crying about 4 times today over stupid sh*t. At work I did end up crying, but because the guy on the other end did. I've been calling the old folks at work (1958 grads) and today I finally got one that had recently passed away. So recently that it was within the past week. Boy did that make me feel like crap. All of the emotions of everything going on in my life boiled over and I just broke out with tears. I think that may happen rather frequently over the next few weeks. (Hence the 'beware')

I've also been thinking about the fact that when I come back things are going to be extremely different for me and for Ann Arbor. The majority of my friends are going to be moving on with their lives soon after I return and the small hope that this town would be the same as the past four years will fall to pieces. I'm not saying that I won't like Ann Arbor, it's just going to be different, and as most of you know, I don't deal with change at all well. I adapt pretty quickly, but it's a rough stretch in between. I'm going to have to get a new job, what I don't know. I might want to work at a random place, or maybe I'll finally have the drive to do something with my life. I've felt a little useless since I've graduated, I don't really feel as if I'm doing anything. I've been busy hanging out with friends, which is definitely great, I love doing that, but at the end of the day I feel...well, pointless. Goal-less. Jobless. Career-less. I just don't know how I'm ever going to do anything good for the world. I don't have the drive, nor the experience to do anything worthwhile. People are telling me that going abroad is 'something' but to me it doesn't really feel like anything. I kind of wish I was working somewhere making a difference in someone's life...through art. Basically I kind of want my career to start, and this whole going to Ireland thing is kind of getting in my way. I think that it's going to be a great experience, but why am I doing it. I guess I feel like everything I do from now on has to have a point. There has to be reason behind it more than just 'well, I really want to do it,' because that's how I feel about Ireland.

I hate leaving things behind and that's what I feel like I'm doing right now. I'm going to miss all of my friends dearly and I really hope that they don't forget about me. It's always a fear, and a possibility. Change sucks, but is necessary and I know this. But it's hard...

Ireland (Part 2)

The countdown begins now. It's less than a month until I leave for Ireland again, and I'm extremely excited. I know it's going to be very different from last time, in more ways than one.

1. I will be working as opposed to going to a small art school.

2. I will be living in Dublin as opposed to a small small village on the west coast of the country.

3. I will have more time to travel.

4. I already know quite a few people that live there so the whole transition will take less time.

5. It's been two years, I've changed, they've changed...I have to keep reminding myself of that.

Also, I feel like I've become a lot closer to many people living in Ann Arbor than I was before so I think it's going to be harder to leave, but easier to come back. And yes, I am coming back. Everyone keeps asking if I'm actually coming back. The answer is yes and there's no real need to worry about it. I love Ann Arbor/Michigan/the USA, it's just that every once in a while I like to get out. The last time I went to Ireland it changed my life. How could I not want to go back to a place like that?

Ok, so here's a visual comparison of what my life in Ireland was like before and what it may be like soon.

This is where I lived before:

This is where I may be living in a month:

This is where I went to school before:

And this may be where I'll be working soon:


There's quite a few things I have to do/find before I go though, like I need to find my old cell phone that I had when I was there before. So much to do, and a surprisingly short amount of time to do it in. But at least I don't have any thing else to do really.

List of things I'm going to miss:
*Snow (good thing there's been quite a lot of it this year so far)
*Family
*Friends
*Movies
*Ann Arbor
*Samdog
*And surprisingly enough, I'm going to miss Telefund...I never in my wildest dreams thought that that would happen.

Our New President

Barack Obama, the new president of the United States of America.

I've heard all over the place people are finally proud to be an American. I've always had faith that this is a great country, because of the potential we have to make a difference, but can't deny that in recent years that faith has been tested. 

We are finally going to be able to change the things that need to be changed, and prove that we live in a new world.

I can't even express how happy and excited I am.

Pooped

I would say that today is the first day in a long time that I'm actually, honest to god tired. I've gotten about 5 hours of sleep over the past few nights, due to fun movie making. I always forget how much I like something until I do it again. I'm even willing to sacrifice my free time/sleep to help out on these projects. 

Yesterday we went to Cedar Point to shoot some scenes from one of the movies that I'm production designer for. The park was closed and we were pretty much the only people there. We got to drive through the park to the Mantis (the ride we were shooting on). It was odd being there when nobody else was. It was also weird playing around on a park ride where we had full control of when the ride went out. I wasn't feeling so well but I still rode it once, which was enough for me. Some of the extras that made it out rode it 8 times...which is the direct cause of their recent loathing of the Mantis.

After we were done shooting yesterday I drove back by myself so I could surprise a friend at his 21st birthday partay. I stayed out for a long time even though I was extremely tired. I only got a few hours of sleep last night because I had to get up early to head off to work on some last minute Art House shoots. It was pretty relaxing, but still, didn't get much sleep and now I'm starting to doze off. Oops, probably should have taken a nap today, but, I'm not very logical sometimes.

Recaping this weekend so far:

-Movie Making

-Cedar Point Adventuring

-Driving...Lots of Driving

-Halloweening

-Surprising Friends

-More Movie Making

-Sleeping in Espresso Royale

AND the weekend's not even over yet. I'm back in town to go to another friend's birthday dinner, and then off to Wiard's Orchard to go to some haunted houses. I don't normally like haunted houses but I thought, hey why not?! Mmm, I'll probably pee my pants, but hey, that's why mother nature invented laundry detergent, am I right?

Sunny Fall Days

I love love love the weather, and I love love love the colors. Suddenly when I woke up this morning a bunch of leaves were on the ground and it looked amazing. Amazing enough that I decided to take a walk with my camera. I ended up walking around for about and hour and a half.

Some shelf mushrooms on a dead log

Deer skulls galore

Trees

Swirly twig...or something like that

I randomly found a patch of the woods where all of the trees oddly bent into the ground. If anyone knows why that would happen, can you tell me?

I found a leaf stuck to the side of the tree

Then I started seeing faces in the trees

I call this one "Whistling Cyclops"...haha

You see the old man face?

I should take more walks like this. Maybe I'll find more old men in the trees.

We're family, of course we have that special connection...

So in completely separate incidences, both me and my brother made posts on our blogs about voting. Hurrah, finally a confirmation that we're related...we have ESP. If that doesn't confirm it I don't know what does.

This is what Zac posted:

Get Out and Vote

It frustrates me to hear people saying that they broke down and registered to vote, but they're still not going to vote. Why not? It takes little time, and your vote does matter no matter how much you think it doesn't. Think of it this way, if everyone who had this mentality (which is probably a good chunk of the population) didn't vote, their votes combined could sway the entire election. The way to make sure that doesn't happen is by getting everyone out of their houses/apartments/dorms on November 4th.


http://slackeruprising.com/

Slacker Uprising is Michael Moore's newest addition to a long line of politically charged films. However, it's not like his other movies. For one thing, he's released it free to the public as a downloadable film. Secondly, he's given away all of his rights to the film, which means anyone can show it, and anyone can make money off of it. Thirdly, this film is not like his other films. He doesn't constantly spew skewed facts, but shows the audience what his Slacker Uprising tour in 2004 (before the election) went through. All he wanted was to inspire people to vote, and promoted the not-so-radical idea that a single vote does matter.

Watch it if you love Michael Moore, watch it if you hate Michael Moore, watch it if you have doubts about whether your vote counts or not. Michigan has a record breaking 95% of it's potential voters registered this year. That's huge if you think about it, but only if all of them go out and vote on November 4th.

Happy Birthday Sputnik!

51 years ago today the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into orbit. As a result the space race began.

So I just would like to say Happy Birthday to Sputnik. I guess maybe I should say Happy Launchday, but whatever. Semantics.

Bruises

Can't help it, I love this song.

Elephants and Cuddle Fish

Over the past month(ish) I've been staring at the stars every time I come home. It's so dark out here that I can see more than I've been able to see for a long time now. This reminds me of all of the things that I wish I could be doing...like working as an astronomer. I can't figure out why I chose the path that I did. No matter what I do, I always wish I was doing something else. I don't feel like movies are for me, no matter how much I love working on them. I just feel like I'm not that good at it. The problem is that I don't feel like I am good at art either. I do, however, miss art, now more than ever. I miss making art, I miss talking about art, I miss going to shows, I miss going to museums, I miss so much about it. But I'm starting to question how I am going to live. Do I work on movies? Do I paint? Do I go to get a completely different degree? Well for now, I'm just lost.

The only good thing about this? It's finally fall. I love that I can wear a sweater and not sweat my a** off. It feels nice outside, it smells nice outside, and I can't wait for the colors to finally change. It's my favorite time of year.

I like orange, and I like berries, and I like fall.


Oh, and recently I've decided that Elephants are my favorite land animal. Cuddle Fish are my favorite water animal.

Arty Farty

I have a proposal. Right now, all of my thesis paintings are just sitting on the floor at my parents' house, which is not at all where I want them to be. I would like to hang them up in the house, but our walls are old and falling apart already without a heavy painting on them...conundrum. So here's the plan, I am offering them up to friends and family to hang in their houses under one condition, that if ever I need the painting for a show (unlikely as that is) I will take it back for the duration of the show, then return it. I really just want them to find a good home, and not have to go to the happy farm (aka the barn). Let me know if you want in on it.










The Michigan Theater painting is already claimed, but I thought it would look odd without it.

First Day Off

Today is the first day that I've had off in nearly two months, and I don't even really have it off. I have to go to work later, but I feel so bored. I haven't had time to just sit and watch a movie in so long that I forgot how boring that really is. I like being with people, and now that I'm not, it's starting to suck...a lot. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do now that everything is done. It's confusing to have something to do everyday and then just have it be over. Also, school's starting soon, but not for me, and today I just had this realization that the art school is going to continue on without me? Really? How? I don't get it. Not that I want to be back in school, it's just that I think I lost the one and only consistent element in my life. Every year, school has started in the fall, ended in the spring, and now what?

Ok just going over things and apparently I'm doing it online. I need to find something to keep me busy. Being bored is an unfortunate symptom of relaxation.


I think I may just miss my girls. Not only is it hard going from being busy to bored, it's hard not seeing the same people everyday, and may not see all together again...forever...sad.

NOWAY!

Haha, I'm on IMDB now. Wooooooooo.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3095163/

Also, here's a neato photo from the Olympics...


I wish I could get back into archery. Maybe that's something I can work on when I am at home by myself in the coming weeks. Just to keep myself busy. I'm too busy right now, and I know when that ends I'll go crazy. I'm going to have to get a few jobs or pick up a few extra hobbies. ARCHERY! Woot.

Movies

I feel bad because I haven't been in contact with a lot of people recently, but that's because I'm working on Art House now. It's making me busy. Happy, but busy. I'll be much more free to do fun things once we're done.

Love you all!

Shut Up, It's Fun

iTUNES! What?!

How many songs? - 2,671
Hours worth? - 6 days, 22 hours, 43 minutes, and 6 seconds

Sort by song title:
First song: A.M. World -Loudon Wainwright III
Last song: /=/=/ -Andrew Bird

Sort by time:
Shortest song: Muh Nuh, Muh Nuh -Space Ghost (0:17)
Longest song: Troubadours The Annoying Noise Of Death -Rilo Kiley (22:03)

Sort by album
First Song: 3 A.M. -Matchbox Twenty
Last song: C'mon N' Ride It (The Train) -Quad City DJ's

Sort by artist
First song: On The Table -A.C. Newman
Last song: Let Me Go -3 Doors Down

First five songs that come up on shuffle:
1) A Better Son-Daughter -Rilo Kiley
2) The Sound Of Silence -Simon & Garfunkel
3) I Want To Break Free -Queen
4) Hey You -Pink Floyd
5) Madonna -CocoRosie

Search the following and see how many songs come up: (and favorite song):

Sex: 8, I'm Too Sexy -Right Said Fred
Love: 132, One More Night (Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead) -Stars
Hate: 3, Whatever Gets You Through The Night -John Lennon
Death: 60, I Will Follow You Into The Dark -Death Cab for Cutie
You: 327, You -Rogue Wave
Heart: 46, Kicking The Heart Out -Rogue Wave
Rain: 22, Red Rain -The White Stripes
Day: 96, Salesman at the Day of the Parade -Rogue Wave
Night: 30, The District Sleeps Alone Tonight -The Postal Service
God: 35, Motorcade -Beck



I don't know I have some of these songs, don't make fun of me because I have some crap music on my computer. (I don't know if you can tell from the last section, but I still love Rogue Wave the best.)

Mural

So, I painted this mural for a friend's movie. The direction I was given was this; I need a guitar, minimal colors (no neon), needs to be big, and you know those abstract desktop designs that apple has as a default for macs? yeah that's your inspiration. This is what I came up with...




It was fun painting it though.

Out in San Francisco

So here I am, reading my April 1932 edition of National Geographic, just like any other typical Sunday afternoon, when I come by this article. It's titled, 'Out in San Francisco: Fed on Gold Dust and Flattened by Sea Trade, a Pioneer Village Becomes a Busy World Port.' Naturally, this catches my eye. First of all, apparently grammar was different back then, 'today' was not one word yet, it was spelled 'to-day'. Little things like that make me happy, like I'm getting a backwards glance at our society. Anywho, this article goes on about San Francisco, of course, but I came across this section labeled 'Masterpieces of the Tattooman's Art.' It's slightly laughable:

To-day, new structures rise where old ramshackle frame hotels housed the visiting sailors. The tattoo artist still survives; for this is a seaport-and seamen like it. (what?!?!)

Odd are the tales the needlemen can tell-of women patrons asking to be decorated with patterns of scorpions, spiders, and other creepy things; of a wealthy woman who had her will tattooed on her back, and an English sailor with a portrait of King George on his bald head; a zealous missionary with a picture of the Last Supper on his chest, and another who was tattooed with the Ten Commandments.

"Dragons, lodge emblems, anchors, cupids, fat women in tights and out-all these are favorite designs," said the tattooman. "But the most interesting case I ever heard of was that of a sentimental sailor, whose favorite song was 'Where Is My Wandering Boy To-night?' He worried because so few people knew the words and music. Finally he had them tattooed on his chest; then, when he was lonely, in some far port like Capetown or Sydney, he could stand by a music-hall piano, take off his shirt, and have the 'Professor' play and sing to him."

The advertisements in the back are pretty amazing as well. Here's one:

DAME FASHION can't lead American men around by the nose!
'The Big Chain is Back'
Why are more and more of our best dressed men turning to substantial, man-size watch chains-the kind their dads and granddads wore when they were 'young men about town'? Why are the up-and-coming fellows who set the pace in social and business circles giving any chain that might be called 'dainty' or 'delicate' the go-by?
It's because 'the big chain' is smarter and more sensible. It looks as if it were made for MEN! It's strong, sturdy, masculine. It has character and bulk enough to 'set off' a man's clothes to better advantage.
The smart new designs in the 'big chain' are put out by Simmons. And, incidentally, this famous old house was making fine watch chains back in the days when the 'old timer' in the photograph above was shopping for his.
The better jewelers in all cities handle Simmons Chains. Why not have a look at these smart new, big calibre chains for yourself!

These people must have loved their watch chains...right, cause that's important. The bigger the watch chain, the bigger the...well you get it.

Nothing's changed really in the past 70 years...well, I guess I can't say nothing, we spell 'today' differently, but that's pretty much it...haha, yeah right.

Why Not?

Why can't this happen to everyone?