Inside the Mind

Well, this semester promises to be an exhausting one. My virtual class is called Secondary School Experience, and one of the 4 credit hours is for a 40 hour internship, hopefully they will be able to place me close, but it is looking bleak as to my student teaching placement, that may have to be out of town. I tried driving this weekend, was scared almost rigid until my wife coaxed me forward, I drove about two blocks.....in a perfectly straight line at about 10 mph.....yay me...the rest of the classes and work will certainly make my workload significant, especially as I have Educating Exceptional students as well.....ugh....so far its ok, and I breezed through the rock ID in Geology....heh....anyway, did some pics this weekend, deciding what I like and what just didn't work, I got into several shots, but I need to adjust them just a little, maybe stylize one or two....anyway, its off to bed for me as I have a long day tomorrow, and homework to work on while at work. 

It has been a tiring week....we have a quiz and an exam to study for next week. We met with the replacement instructor for our photography classes as our professor is out ill. My best wishes go out to him and his family for a speedy recovery. I got accepted into the college publication for summer of 08'....thats kinda cool.....I feel like the stuff I create and compose is actually appreciated by more than just me and my wife. Need to rebuild the fence and strengthen the attachment of the boards....already took most of this morning, probably take several more as I need to bore holes, get bolts and nuts etc., fixed the gate latch...again...and seeded grass and fertilized it.....here's hoping in 4-6 weeks of watering and such we see healthy shoots of bermuda grass start up.

I did another two hours of my early field experience and it was really cool....I thank Mrs. Pahls for letting intrude into her space. One of the kids asked...."what are we ever going to use this for....?", and I thought about that for a while.....then it came to me that despite how good someone may be at art, creating something allows a person to not only stop a moment and think about what they are creating, it helps introduce them to more complex problem solving ability.....how can I do this?, what will happen if I do this?.....it also allows the kids to tap into a side of themselves that they don't get to use much, especially when worrying about tests, and peers and what the girl/boy across the aisle thinks of them. For me it helped me to get a lot of painful and hurtful feelings onto paper, where they couldn't hurt anyone, even myself....self expression and creativity are important for everyone to explore, and everyone has them to some degree or another, they just haven't necessarily been honed to a useful level, that's why its important to be there to help these kids hone these abilities, rather than just doing as they are told all the time, especially in high school, they are getting much closer to being adults and can appreciate these things when they recognize them...or so I hope.....

Happy that people are coming by to take a peek at least. Finished cleaning up the computer room here, that was an undertaking.....trying to get my passport renewed as I may apply for a scholarship next spring that encourages travel....course it also requires researching all the culture you plan to absorb as well.....I'm thinking it may be the best chance to get to see Ireland and have the opportunity for some truly incredible pictures......here's hoping.

I just got my prints back from Mpix, the 8x10 of Creation looked awful, had lines across it, so I sent an email to Mpix and they sent a new print out right away....the 8x14 and the other 8x10's look great though. Anyway, probably just talking to myself anyway, seems no one is looking anymore....not a terribly exciting person I guess.....I did however get the third piece done, called it "Time", then looked at the three and decided that they really don't fit together.....Time and Creation do, so I may do one or two more and complete a series. Well, off to bed for me, I need to make myself more visible so I will think on how to do that. Please don't be afraid to comment on any of my work, at any time.

well...I'm already exhausted this week has been a rough one already....still three more days to go....I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to talk over the diabetes again (reminder - need to exercise more and watch my portions), and I work Saturday, so it will seem like a short weekend. I'll have to do my reflection podcasts by Sunday and the typed one probably Thursday. I'm almost finished my curriculum assignment and was accepted into the teacher ed program. I finished two pieces today, one was simply hand coloring some yellow into a high contrast black and white. The other was the third to the tryptych....I hope it cements the feel of the three together, I need to get prints done at Mpix and then set the three into a frame for a tryptych, though I think I will keep a set separate as I feel like Creation is a strong enough piece to make it on its own. 

Ok....today was exhausting....spent 3 hours in the studio with a bored 4 year old.....I am wiped out, managed to get her room cleaned up and better organized storage wise, a definite plus, maybe now she'll not destroy her room looking for a toy she wants. Pics look like they turned out pretty good, studio work always intimidates me, never know if the lights are right. Had a scare though, the synch cord and hot show surged near the end, no idea why just a fzzt and the smell of ozone and i batted away the cord....the camera wasn't harmed...thank the goddess....I about freaked until I checked it and it was good, never even did a thing to the pics I had taken. Anyway, I had some thoughts about what I wanted to do for the next collage, my wife suggested warm colors to offset Creation but keep it bright so it offsets Dues Ex as well....and possibly use a different human element such as a child's hand or something.....something to think about I guess.

Seems I post more frequently here than I do at anyplace else.....wonder why I feel more comfortable posting here....anyway, I have gotten my two photography credits approved for summer semester, I'm just taking them as interior design crediots and they'll adjust my degree summary...I hope...I should also know by Monday whether I have been approved for the teacher education program, this is good as I am pretty much left with just the classes I couldn't select until I was accepted and my portfolio and show.....even thoughthose are both next spring I am nervous as heck....especially about the show. Time seems to be a priceless commodity these days, as there never seems to be enough of it.....I have three podcasts to have done by Monday and I would like to finish my studio work this weekend so I can work on my digital projects....I wasthinking of doing another piece along the lines of Creation in colors and setup.....but I haven't gotten beyond those basic concepts....what I'm hoping to do is a Triptych with Creation, Dues Ex and this third piece. Not sure how it will look....I also want to do some detailed hand coloring when I get some time.Well, with luck I will get one or all of the podcasts done....been learning a lot about social networking and the internet in my learning technology class. Anyway, I am off to try and get something completed today.

Well...I for one am glad that the majority of this day is over.....had to drive 80 miles to get stitches out from an extraction last week, it was gloomy and miserable the whole way there and back, and our daughter was being as annoying as possible on the return trip, mostly trying to stay awake and not take a nap...heaven's forbid she ever sleep...Art History professor is ill and looks like she will be for some time, photography professor as well.....I send them both my well wishes and a speedy resolution to their ailments. Still need to create a podcast for learning technology and finish my studio work this weekend, as well as sitting in on more high school or middle school classes for observation sessions for early field experience. I feel about exhausted at this moment....anyway....hopefully it will all work itself out in time. Again, feel free to browse my gallery(s), tell me what you think about what I have posted.

Well....this is a new venture for me, but one that I feel was necessary...I like the fact I can have a place that holds my portfolio, Ideas and Resume all in one place....nifty really. Anyway, I'd really like to hear what people have to say about my work...