Jen

There's no beginning to this story . . .

Well, I just had one of those days at work where the morning flies by and then the afternoon drags along and by time it's 4, you want to either pack up your stuff and leave or sit around surfing the internet - neither of what I actually got to do.

I did have a brief discussion of whether or not I should stay at Columbia another year to get my MFA. I pretty much decided that I only wanted to stay here for the MA after the whole incident with that teacher last semester. I finally made a permanent decision about two weeks ago, and ever since then, I've been debating if I made the right decsion or not. It's even hard for me to list the differences between the two degrees. . . hmmm. I think the MFA lets you teach at a graduate level. It's a bit more prestigious too. The MA lets me teach - maybe - at an undergraduate level? I don't know. They really don't tell you those things here, probably because they (meaning the faculity) want you to stay for the 3 years and make their wallets a little fatter. Anyway, registration ends in about three weeks, so I have to make up my mind, and quick. After that, there is really no turning back.

Besides that, I have a checklist of things that I want to get done before school starts back up - here's the list as of now :
-Go to the Dentist - appt. next Wed. at 10:00
-Fix taillight on car - Crawford Auto?
-Dispute Capital One bill -find bill first
-Get tickets for Austin, Texas
-Register for SPE*
-Sell unused computer items on EBay
-Learn how to use EBay - the "U"
-Donate shit

This is a direct translation from a piece of paper that I have in the little calendar that I carry around with me. No, I will not be donating actual shit, it's clothing and two very ancient computers that I have for some reason.

I'll let you know how it goes.

*Society for Photographic Education

Jen

You can never get him out of your head

Holy shit it's been a long time. Meaning, since we blogged.

Funny how you think your semester is over and then you are still working on a project one and a half weeks later. So yes, we are still getting our act together for that Public Arts Class. We met with the kids about four times total, which for some reason, was incredibly draining. I applaud all teachers after that experience. I'm not sure if it was my sense of guilt or the fact that these kids had a rather short attention span, but I felt like I had to be their personal entertainer. I just wanted to give them all a lot of a attention. Especially after the second night we spent time together. One girl, Angel, told me, "Thanks for showing up again. Sometimes people won't come back." I felt as if I had to be that person to come back and make a difference. Makes sense?

Anyway, I won't be seeing the little rugrats for a couple of weeks as we finalize plans with Viacom and wait for the billboards to be posted. It's really exciting, but I just want to have my break!!! Five freaking minutes where I don't have to think of school!!!!

Work has been busy too, and I haven't had any time to do my own work. I've also been on a cleaning spree. . . Tonight is the first night of Jen's garage sale. . . I cleaned out my closet and all the clothes I just don't wear anymore are on a huge pile on my floor. Anyway, if any of you ladies of the blog want to look through it before I donate it, let me know.

Well, back to work. Hopefully other people will update too!!!

Jen

You don't know what you've been missing

Bri, that really sucks about the job. I can't think of anyone MORE qualified for the job than you. It's just their loss. Jackasses.

I don't have much else to report besides the fact that I think I may have instantaneously got a cold. i'm just sitting here, working on some stuff and then I sneeze. Now, I feel all congested and kind of tired. Is that all it takes - one stupid sneeze?

Tomorrow, I will be a teacher of sorts when my public arts class (a mere 5 of us) meets with about 10 12-14 year olds. This public arts class is the class that 4 of us grad students constrcted last semester when the class that we wanted filled up too quickly. We've been working all of this semester on our final project - 4 different billboard designs that will be spread out between 60 or so billboards (which have been donated by Viacom) throughout the city. In order to get the funding to printout the billboards, we have to work with OCAP (Office of Community Arts Partnership), a program that arranged for our group to meet with these inner city kids. I'm really excited to work with the kids - hopefully it will give us a fresh look at the project.

I need some kleenx.

PS. Beck - I looked at the CA pictures on line. I forgot how great they were!

Becky

News from Ohio: Today I walked into a piece of glass that I thought was a door. I think that my nose might be broken. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Jen

It's 8:52. Where are you?

I'm in the digital lab, doing some last minute printouts for class tomorrow. I may stay and do some extra research on Yoko Ono. Not for me, but for class. I'm writing a paper on her. She has done so much stuff, from painting and sculpture to film and performance art. Don't forget Plastic Ono Band - on one album, she has this song where she just screeches "why" and the next song is "why not." I haven't figured this one out yet, but she studied italian opera in New York. Obviously, it wasn't for singing. . .

The reception went well - it was pretty tame except for the homeless woman that was filling her styrofoam cup up with more alcohol after she finished it. I missed Shirana's lecture (which I really wanted to be there for) only because I was making sure that we had enough food out for the vultures, um, I mean patrons.

This weekend I spent time sleeping and getting ready for the presentation I gave monday morning. Have I mentioned that I will be ESTATIC once this week is over?

Yesterday I spent one and a half wasteful hours at the DMV getting a new drivers license. I waited in this very uncomforatble chair for 45 minutes while this computerized system calls out random numbers that aren't necessarily in order. Then, when I get up to the counter I find out three things: 1)The woman that is helping me is so nice and happy that I feel really bad about the food stuck in her teeth. I still didn't tell her. How do you bring that up to a stranger? 2) Once you prove that you are you, any information can be lied about, they don't care. For instance, I told her that I had moved so I took out a bill to prove it. She tells me that she doesn't need it, I can just tell her. Isn't this vital information? 3) I don't get a new picture because my license expires when I'm 25. Here's a better explanation: My picture on my id is of a just turned 21 year old me. I had short bleached blonde hair. Now I have longish red hair. I still look the same, but I have been questioned about it in the past. That part isn't as stupid as the fact that since my license expires when I'm 25, I have to come back in 1 year to do the whole thing again. You would think that the license would expire 5 years from the date you get it - such as me getting a new license this week means it would expires when I am 29 - not so.

So there's my adventure.

I have to get going because I don't want to take the L home too late.

Jen

What else in this fucking room, reminds me of fucking you.

I love that line.

What a long, long week! Besides having to do a shitload of work, I a) passed my candidacy! Huzzah! B) had my end of the semester review, which went really well and c) lost my wallet. I’m not sure if I really lost it or someone took it, but either way, it’s gone. A coworker of mine is also missing her wallet, so it’s a little suspicious. I would hate to think anyone took it, but so it is the world we live in. Anyway, all cards are cancelled, but I find myself without and id or a way to get cash quickly. I wonder if this will help me to budget?

Tonight we are having the opening for Max Becher and Andrea Robbins -a husband and wife team who document cultures that have been “misplaced"; Alan Cohen - he found this place in Ecuador that actually has the Equator marked on the ground and has documented this “improbable border" as he calls it; and Shirana Shahbazi- who happens to be my favorite photographer of the show. Shirana’s work is not only beautiful, but is breaks down the ideas of what we might think of Iran. It makes the country seem less unapproachable and romantic. She will also be talking about her work around 6:00 this evening. Stop by between 5 and 7 tonight if you are interested!

Becky

Hey there folks. getting used to getting up early again really sucks. just ask greg - I don't think he got out of bed at 6:30, well, ever until this monday.

I'm back to a long commute again, which means I am back to searching for something decent to listen too. Although my CD player is working again (yay!), I found that I really need some sort of conversational radio to keep me awake in the morning. Unfortunately I have a few problems - my AM radio does not work due to stupid guy at circuit city who installed my CD player, and all of the morning shows on FM really suck!

I did hear something funny yesterday as I was flipping - I turned on the zone who's morning show is Brooke and Jill who are really really really annoying, but they were making fun on Avril Lavigne so I was chuckling. Then they played her doing a cover of Chop Suey by System of a Down at a show recently and it was really really funny. she stinks. hehehe

alright, back to work. blah.

Jen

play a song for me

I think I just finished all 50 prints that I wanted to have by this Wednesday, which is Candidacy Part II. I can't even imagine how pissed I'll be if this one goes wrong for some reason. A Columbia faculty member will die.

Actually, I thnk all will be fine and well, I'm still a little bitter that I have to go through this nonesense twice. The only good thing is that it helped me to get my act together for my end of the semester review which is on Thursday. All these reviews confusing? Try being me.

I didn't really get a chance to talk about Vegas yesterday. It was MUCH BETTER. No Santa Fe Station to "get cigarettes" (which really means gambling). No Christmas Dinner at Ceasars Palace. Just a nice family get together. I did get to go go-cart racing which I kinda sucked at. Oh - and snowboarding. Here's the story. I'm sitting on the ground, putting my board on when this old guy spills out and runs over the entire top of my right hand and bangs up my wrist pretty bad.

Stupid asshole: Did I break your back or anything?

Is it just me or is this NOT the thing to ask first? Isn't it, "are you okay?" or, "I'm sorry that I'm so stupid and that I hurt you." You know, either of these would do.

Me: No, but you ran over my entire hand.
Stupid asshole: Good! I'm glad I didn't break anything!

Then he leaves.

Hello?!?!?! Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I know I have another good story, but why is it that I can never remember them when I want to write them down?

Even the flight home was bearable because I had no one sitting next to me. Boo - ya. I read this fantastic book called "Ask the Dusk" by John Fante (I think this is the spelling). He's an Itailian American writer that was doing his own thing during the Beat period. He kinda has the same style, but it's based much more about his heritage and the homeless/poor scene in LA at the time. I highly recommend it.

okee - dokey, I'm officially spent. Josie has a new favorite toy that she likes to bring in my bed, while I'm sleeping, and swat at it and meow happily.

Bye.

Jen

the ghost of what should have been

I'm at school today doing some prints for next week, so I thought that I should finally write something. My two weeks off from school have been really great and I am not looking forward to all the work that I'll have to do for finals next week. Eh.

Anyway, here I thought that I'd have some time to write while I wait for my ride, but it looks like that time has just been cut short.

One thing I do want to say is that it was so good to see you again!!! One year is much too long, don't you think?

All of the blog crew (minus Christie) went to see Owen and Bob Nanna at the Fireside last night. It was a reunion of sorts- besides seing Mjarc, I got to see a familiar face from the past... It was nice, really nice. I also met some folks from My friend goes left. Jen is such a good name. : )

Ok, gotta run. I'm sure I'll be here late tomorrow night, and I'll be writing.

Becky

Happy New Year!!

Well, its back to the old grindstone in my old cubicle here in Willowbrook - its good to be back but not today when I would much rather be sleeping.

There was a rockin party on new years thanks to the girls in Wrigleyville which lead into a nice new years watching movies in my pajamas.

Okay I need more coffee before I can come up with anything coherent, so look for more from me later....