New Mexico and BEYOND!

Well, we psuedo-Tennessean's made it to New Mexico and back in one piece. Although Alex did almost loose his shoe on the people mover at the Denver elevator. Thankfully, we got the shoe back, but not the leg... we are currently in litigation with a man who claims it's his, but obviously it's ours.

YES! we had fun.
YES! drew got to go to a freakin casino.
YES! Only one of us got sick (drew's karma for going to the casino).
YES! Alex was a bear on the way home, but
YES! He slept for 11 hours! (I haven't slept through this side of 8 am in a year and a half).

Not only did we see my fabulous Aunt and Grandmother, we also got to see my brother who I didn't think was going to be in town till the 2nd. But, ALAS! We got to hang out and go to lunch.

Having lived in the Mid-West off and on for about 10 years now, going back to the SOUTH-West is always an adventure. It's like a completely different world out there. Not just because of all the stray she-buddies running around, but also the architecture, landscape and the people are just amazing. The older I get and the more I go out there I begin to want to move there. It would also be nice to be closer to my family, especially as Alex is getting older. But, Drew wants to move back to Indianapolis, which is also fine, I just hope he realizes the cost of plane tickets as our family expands!!
I went to New Mexico 3 times this years.... that's a RECORD for me! I figured I had to make up for the past 7 years that I have hardly gone there at all.
Christmas was fun, Alex was finally old enough to realize, kinda, what was going on. We had fun in the Snow in Gallup as well. On Christmas Eve I did my grand-daughter duties and took my grandmother to evening Mass, which brought back memories of going when I was little with both grandparents and made me sad. But it was just great.

What's with today, today?

I've been in such a crazy mood all day. And, on top of that, I've had a horrible headache. At first I thought it was a hangover cuz I had me some beerz last night, but It's been all day. I think I should probably start actually WEARING the glasses I have sitting on my dresser. Ha!
Well, I'm trying to get Christmas ready, which is a feat!!! Drew's parents will be here in 10 days and we are having that Christmas early, so it's been crazy shopping time, and wrapping and craziness. I'm sending all of MY families stuff back to NM for the Christmas we will have there, but half of it is still in the Kiln at school, or in the process of being FIRED that I haven't gotten it all boxed up yet. Bleh.
I've decided to take time off of school. Drew gets out of the army in 16 months and I will be able to go to school without taking loans, so we are going to wait until then for me to go back. It's good and bad. I'm still working at Petsmart but we've been so slow!!! And I haven't worked in two weeks because of Finals and whatnot.
Alex is up and walking, being CRAZY. I can't beleive how fast he has grown, just yesterday he was sleeping in between drew and I in bed. It's making want to have another baby. I don't know how people can't want ONE more after they see how much fun the first one is. Yeah, it's really stressful sometimes, and sometimes I loose my cool, but jeez, alex is just so much FUN. CAPITAL F U N.
HAHA.

Maybe next year ;).

I feel so weird.....

So, my bipolar is having World War 67 in my body, and I don't like it. For example - right now, I'm really excited because I got three new Ceramic books, I started a sculpture of my leg that we don't have to even begin till thursday, I finished the one of my arm that we are supposed to finish tomorrow in class, my friend Britany and I are going to talk to our professor about building a Soda Kiln at school, I found five glazes in my new glaze book that I want to try out..... in other words, I'm starting to DO STUFF.....but, on the other hand - my body is freaking out - pissed off this morning for no reason, pushing people away from me that are my friends, getting mad at alex for something stupid that he can't help, mad at my husband...... just stupid shit. I don't want to be angry, or seclusive, or pissed off.... I just am.

I hope some body understands, cause I surely don't.

I'm tired of investing myself so much into so many people that either a) don't give a damn, or b) don't feel like they need to invest their time in me. I shouldn't have to be pathetic and beg people to hang out with me, including my own husband, but sometimes I feel like I do. But then, on the flip-side, I'm coming to realize that I'm everywhere, all the time. I never slow down. I work hard, play hard and sleep hard. But, I like that. I never really have time to think anymore - which I like. In these modern times they (who's they??) make it really difficult for anyone to be absolutly, completely, alone. I'm not saying that I'm afraid to be alone - because I love hanging out with just me and alex, or being by myself in the house, just doing my own thing.... but it's when I'm out - when I'm driving, when I'm throwing, when I'm grooming, when I'm lost inside myself, and inside my thoughts and ideas and craziness, that scares me.
My teacher asked me the other day if I have A.D.D. Maybe I do..... I'm always running from one thing to the next, it's hard for me to just sit still when there is so much stuff to DO. Wake up, get dressed, get alex up, feed alex, pack up car, go to school, make clay, make glazes, read, do research, go to class, eat lunch, run upstairs, make copies, hang posters, do this, do that.....
I love being busy, it's the sadness I feel inside myself that I don't love.

I miss Ryan and Jill. They made me calm down and sit and relax and watch a movie without doing five things at once, and just be.
I miss Heather and two years ago. When I was living in the RV and just being me. Now, don't get me wrong, I am happy and I am so glad for the past two years of my life - but it was nice, then, to be alone. After Myles broke off our wedding and I was just ....me..... for 5 months. It was nice. I didn't have to divide myself up between so many things that I can't keep track of..... I didn't feel like people and things and projects were just chipping away at me, piece by piece.

I look in the mirror now and I see wrinkles, and lines on my face that I don't remember getting, and I see my mother. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing - but I just don't want it to go so fast that I start forgetting things. I forgot the death-a-versary of Ryan. Which made me sad. I'm forgetting so much that happened to me - my old counselor was right - I did need to write things down so I would remember..... and now all those times my therapist told me to have a diary really means something. I never wrote in a diary - ever. And now I'm missing everything. My ex-boyfriend's dad had a journal he wrote in everyday. I once asked him why, and what he wrote, and he said "I just don't want to forget what I did on this day ever" and I said, "All we did was go to church have lunch and then hang out all afternoon and then had dinner" and he said "exactly".





All I did today was go to school and then to work and then came home and worked on a project.



Exactly.....

A glimpse into my day.... for all of you that don't know..!

So, tomorow is monday, the weekends have been going by way too fast lately. But I think that's because I've started to dread mondays. This past week has been one hell of a week however, so I am kind of excited to start a NEW one. Drew was injured.... something involving boiling water spilling on him and he spent Monday and Tuesday at the doctors. Then I got the flu wednesday and spent all wednesday afternoon in bed. Friday that turned into a sinus infection and then saturday the fluid drained into my ear, and now I have a massive ear infection. Not too mention friday was spent at the ER with alex because he was sent home from Darcare and, of course, I couldn't get a doctors appointment.
Ok, so anyways -
Tomorrow I have a critique in ceramics at 8, a quiz in spanish at 10.10 and then I get a little breather from 11 till 1.20. Then I have Art History till 2.30. THEN I go straight to work till 9. EGH. It makes me tired just thinking about it.
BUT. On another note -
Alex is JUUUUST about walking. He can take one or two steps then falls or leans on something. He has gotten lazy, however. We will call him and he will try to reach for our hand, if that's too far away then he plops right onto the floor and crawls.
What a brat!!
He's started getting a little attitude too! He will have a HISSY fit if he doesn't get what he wants, which he can't ever have because it's always things like a glass, or drews laptop, or the remote control...
The winds from the hurricane hit us this morning.... we didn't have phone, internet or cable all day. A whole bunch of people still don't have power, I guess. My friend melissa went outside to find a telephone pole half-way leaning over her front yard. Hopefully everyone is keeping safe.

Well, I am beginning to watch the tv more then write on here, so I will sign off for now.


ps - you should all watch the new series Fringe. It's amazing!

I was going to wait till Veterans Day... but.....

My husband has been my husband for 2 years. (Almost). I have known my husband for 9 years. He was my friend for 7 years before we got married. He has a Mechanical Engineering Technology Degree from Purdue and he really likes to play beer pong. He is addicted to computers. He likes the history channel and the military channel. He can push all my buttons at once and it makes me laugh even though I am so mad at him i could cry. He cried with joy when when HE read the "You're Pregnant" on the pregnancy test. He painted my sons bedroom when he had a little too much to drink. He puts up with my bipolar. He puts up with my spending habits. He puts up with me.
He overcame diversity when he was three months old and was adopted by his parents. he knows he's asian. He knows he's awesome.
My husband went to basic training a week after he graduated from Purdue. Not by force, by CHOICE. He didn't do ROTC, his college was paid for. He didn't HAVE to join. He did it because he thought... No, he KNEW it was his duty.

My husband is a soldier in the US Army.

My husband is my hero.

My husband makes me proud every morning at 4.55 am when he wakes up and get's ready for Physical Training. He makes me proud at 8.50 am when he's showered and changed and ready to go in his army uniform. He makes me proud when he comes home at 5.35pm and takes a shower and puts his pajamas on. He makes me proud when he has to work over nights, when he works late, when he's on training, when he's at school......

My Husband Makes Me Proud.

In a month we will celebrate Veterans day. The day we honor those who serve our country so that I can go to college. So that I can study art. So that my son can have a decent chance to do something good. So that I can vote for Barack Obama. So that I can sit here on a sunday night slightly buzzed from beer. So that my friend Sara can teach Japanese in Japan. So that my friend Lindsey can be happily married to her wife. So that us Americans can be FREE.
I know that I sometimes pretend that I am Australian. Sometimes I hate this country (when I remember columbine, and when I think about our healthcare system).... when I realize I will not make money as an artist, or an art teacher.......

but that does not mean I am not proud of my husband and all of our friends that serve our country so selflessly. Who still like to come home and play beer pong after working on helicopters all day.

For the past couple of weeks I have been listening to this song by Toby Keith. 'American Soldier'. I remember this song and others like it after 9/11. But it hasn't been until this year that I really felt it.
I know I am counting down until June 10th, 2010. But, I'm counting down for my husband to be 100% safe. Not for him to get out of serving his country.

So - I will leave you with the lyrics to 'American Soldier'.

And to all you Veterans.

From the Bottom of my heart.
Thankyou.

And drew -
I love you.


I'm just trying to be a father
Raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother
Everything to everyone
Up and at 'em, bright and early
I'm all business in my suit
Yeah, I'm dressed for success
From my head down to my boots

I don't do it for money, there's still bills that I can't pay
I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway
Providing for our future's my responsibility
Yeah, I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be

And I can't call in sick on Mondays
When the weekend's been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays
And sometimes all night long
You can bet that I stand ready
When the wolf growls at the door
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady
Hey, I'm true down to the core

And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice
Oh, and I don't want to die for you
But if dyin's asked of me
I'll bear that cross with an honor
Cause freedom don't come free
I'm an american soldier, an american
Beside my brothers and my sisters
I will proudly take a stand
When liberty's in jeopardy, I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the frontlines, sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American soldier
Yeah, an American soldier, an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters
I will proudly take a stand
When liberty's in jeopardy, I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the frontlines, so sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American
An American
An American soldier

Everyone else is doing it.....

What were you doing ten years ago?
1998 - Hmmmm..... I was living in Australia, getting ready to move back to America. My dad and Roxanna were in the middle of a nasty break up and I was living with friends of my Dads.

What are five (Non-work) things on my to-do list for today?
1. Help Sara decorate for her husbands(Travis) surprise birthday party at my house.
2. Clean my house for the party.
3. Take care of Alex (of Course!).
4. Do the Laundry.
5. Make Travis's 'pimp' cup for tonight!

Five snacks I enjoy!
1. Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip Cookies
2. Red Bull
3. Chips and Dip or Salsa
4. fruit
5. cereal

Things I would do if I were a billionaire
1. Pay off my student loans, and heathers, and my brothers.
2. Buy a house for my father, and one for my mom and one for Doug, my way-ward brother.
3. Take Drew, Alex, and a bunch of friends on a cruise or to vegas, or somewhere fun.
4. Buy a house for Drew, Alex and I in indianapolis.
5. Donate to Muscular Dystrophy.

Places I have lived
Singleton, Australia
Snells Beach, New Zealand
Okinawa, Japan
Indianapolis, Indiana
Banning, California

5 Jobs I have had
1. Server for Special Occasions in Australia at the Bowls Club.
2. Hairdressers Assistant at the Looking Glass in Australia
3. Dog Groomer
4. Carpenter for Ball State Theatre department.
5. Runner/Pee-on for Emens Auditorium in Muncie, Indiana

5 Things I want to do before I die
1. Take my whole family and rent a house on the Outer Banks for vacation
2. Go to Europe
3. Have two more children
4. Get my degree and masters degree
5. Move back to australia.

The ups and downs of being manic-depressive

Ehg. This week has just been one long drawn out depressed zone of yuckiness. Oh well. Hopefully I will get out of my funk soon enough.
I started working at the petsmart here in town on monday, and i have to work in a couple of hours. I'm really worried that I'm going to crash and burn before the end of this semester, and school hasn't even started yet. I'm freaking out because I don't think I'm going to graduate with my art degree before Drew gets out and we move, which means I'm going to have to just fall back and get my theatre degree - or stay here with alex for another semester after drew leaves. Ugh. At that point we will have another baby too. Maybe I should just give up and stay home and make babies. ...... no offense but BORING.
I apologise for this craptaskticness.

I'm done.

Oh dear, and other things.

So, I'm bad, I over-promised and under-delievered and now I suck. Sorry. But..... I've been busy. Yea, yea, you say - but really, I have. First there was the wedding extraveganza and then we went to Las Vegas, and then came home to normalness for about two weeks, and then went camping for 4 days AND THEN, Alex and I moved to indianapolis for a month to help Heather out with Ben while Matt was in California. So needless to say, the past two months have been rediculous. And, to top off on all that - i forgot how to spell. Can't you tell?
Ha.
So, Alex and I are back in Tennessee, finally to stay, at least until I get another bug up my butt and want to go somewhere. We got back on Tuesday night and for the past two days I have been unpacking and organizing and getting ready to go back to school in a couple of weeks. We start back the 26th and I'm already stressed!! To top THAT off, I'm going to be working this semester, like really working, at PetSmart because I need money. And they can give it to me.
AND Drew pretty much let our house shit on itself for a month, so now I've been trying to get the yard (front and back) put back together so that we don't look like the trashiest house on the street. But I think the abandoned house next door takes that cake, no matter what ours looks like!
There really isn't much else to say. Alex still isn't walking, and I don't think he will for awhile. He goes back to day-care on Monday, and I am sad - but I need a break, and will take it!! I'm glad that we have the option for me to have a break - even though next week I will be running around going to various doctors appointments. I think I have one everyday... so not much of a break, but at least it's something.
Drew leaves the end of september until right before my birthday, so that will suck - but I can handle it. I've done it before and will do it again.
OH - guess what I get to do for my birthday??? I'm going to Monday Night Football - Colts VS Titans!!!! YAY. My husband is the greatest!

oops - alex just woke up and drew is about to be home from work - back to my life!!!!

Update (again) - part ONE!!

Well, we just got home from travelling for the past two weeks. Drew, Alex and I left tuesday, June 10th for Indianapolis and our faux wedding. We stayed with Heather Tuesday and Wednesday night. Tuesday night we went to a bar on the Southside - Bubba's and met up with some of Drews friends from high school, drank some beers and ate some wings. Wednesday I was hungover (thanks to cheap tequila in my margaritas). Wednesday night we were going to go out downtown Indy and up to Ruths Chris to see matt, but I was exhausted as was drew and heather, so we stayed in. It turns out Peyton Manning went into Ruths and we missed him! Matt was very dissapointed in us!
Thursday drew and i moved into the Sheraton on the northside and went about our business getting things together for the party. Thursday night Drew, Heather, Matt and I went to Scotty's Brewhouse for some beers, martinis and dinner. It was delicious and a great time!!! (I came out much soberer then the first time I went there - when I spent $80 on shots for people!!). Heather and I had a 'flight' of martini's. They were three 4 ounce martini's in themes. Heather had the 'Keep the doctor away' and I had the unwind. Mine had a margatini (not a fan) and a lemon drop (very yummy!). Friday we tried to just relax all day - haha. I dropped drew off at his mom's to do laundry and Jessica (the babysitter) and I ran errands around the northside of indianapolis. We pick drew up around 2 and then he went to get my brother, chris, from the airport in a torrential down-pour!!! It took them about an hour and a half to drive back to the hotel - it usually takes about half and hour!!! So, during this time Jessica and I got ready and got alex ready for our drinks and appetizers at Ruths Chris's. We were supposed to be there by five. My crazy mother-in-law was there at around 4 wondering where we were!!! Drew and Chris got back to the hotel around 5 and we got ready and were at the resturant by 5:15. We had a Great time!!!! Much drinking and eating was done by everyone!!! We all had a great time and spent a lot of my father-in-laws money. But, just his side (including drews mom's side) of the family alone drank about $2000 worth of alcohol in the course of 3 hours, so they couldn't complain either!!!
It was awesome hanging out with my brother - as heather calls him - her second husband.... :) After dinner we went back to the hotel and Chris, Heather, Jessica, and James got into the hot tub for awhile - that was also fun and relaxing.


Ok - that was Tuesday until Friday -

Saturday and Sunday will be part two and then vegas will be part three!!!
Meanwhile - I've got to get drew, alex and I packed for Jazz on the Lawn at the winery here - Beachhaven - we haven't been before, but I'm excited. We're going to take some chicken and food from KFC, drink a couple of bottles of wine, and listen to some good music!!!



so -

to be continued!!!!

UPDATE!!

Oh my. Sorry about the long break in between updates. I had to finish finals. That was a job in of itself. Then I went back to work semi-full time. That tired me out (it's been forever since I groomed dogs more then one day a week!!). Then we bought a house to flip. That is crazy.
Ok -
one by one -
Alex update: Alex can now pull up to his feet!!!! It's very exciting. Now we have to take all the batteries out of the remote control so that he doesn't change the channel when he gets up on the coffee table. There really is no stopping him now. He officially is in that stage of stranger anxiety, and wanting his momma. The other day when I left his daycare he cried for the first time. That's weird to me!! It breaks my heart, but at the same time I'm like great! Now I won't get anything done!!! He is definately his fathers child however, he constantly runs for the computer, speaker cords, tv, anything electronic - it's all over!!

Drew update: Drew didn't have to go to the school this week he thought he was going to have to do, but instead he's been busy at work with change of command ceremonies. A whole bunch of people are retiring, or getting promoted or moving, so he has to get plaques and inventories and other Army stuff done before everyone leaves. But, he is officially in charge of his shop now, the other Sargeant retires this month. He has also been working on the house, last weekend was all the demolition and this weekend it looks like there will be more of the same!

Amber update: I passed school with flying colors. I made it on the Deans list, and if it hadn't been for a B in my Drawing class (thanks to a dumb teacher), i would've had a 4.0. But, oh well. My mothers day was..... disappointing (mainly because of my husband). I've been busy working and running around pricing things for this new house. I'm also trying to get ready for our faux wedding in June and vacation to Vegas, which is coming up FAST and I am crazy busy.
Well, I guess that's about it. Just living life, one day at a time!!!

Welcome back to the land of the dead... soon to be living!

Well, my whole house is on quarintine. Nevermind the spelling. Drew is sick. And he never gets sick. Alex is sick. But he always gets sick. I have a hurrendous cough and allergies. (Again, nothing new). Molly keeps eating the food that alex throws on the floor and has disgusting, nasty, vomit-worthy diarhea. Thank god that after roscoe left she stopped pooping in the house. Hopefully. Tomorrow is the last day of class and I'm not going. I didn't go yesterday or today either. I'm trying to take care of my sick men.

I have a favor to ask - yes, again. But this time it is a selfless one. A little boy, Hunter, that went to daycare with Alex was accidently run over by his step-father last friday. Hunter passed away as a result, and I just wanted you all to pray for Hunters mommy. I have no idea what I would do if this happened to me. The closest has been when my aunts ex-husband ran over her dog. And that was a dog, and not even my dog. So, please keep Hunters Mom in your prayers and goodwishes.


I have to go sleep, I've been up since 4 am with sickies. Bleh. Sorry for the short blog, will write more soon!!

Lions and tigers and finals oh my!!!

Well, it's been awhile since I have updated! I've been so busy at school. To catch you up - I ended up entering the fruit and fabric drawing into the art show. I didn't win any prizes, but it is/was fun to see my drawing up with my fellow artists in an art show. And now that I have the anxiety of entering a show over and done with, hopefully I will be able to enter, and maybe win, some more shows!! Lets see - I've been busy getting my work done for finals. I'm going out of town this coming weekend to seattle, and finals start a week after I get back, so I have tomorrow, and then the weekend before finals to get my work done (I work this sunday so there isn't a hope for me getting anything done). I've also been getting stuff together for mine and drews 'fake wedding' this summer. To make a long story short - drew and I eloped November of 2006 so that we could start collecting on the Army benefits (living expenses and health insurance for me). Well, we were going to have a big wedding June of 2007. That changed when, two weeks after we eloped, I found out I was pregnant. But, drews mom still wanted to throw a party and all that jazz, and so, after waiting for a year and a half - we are having a reception/party/prom on June 14th of this year. This sounds like fun, and since drews mom was going to plan everything I thought - ok - what the hey. Except I didn't count in that I would have to address envelopes, organise babysitters for alex, find tuxes for drew and alex, get shoes, get my wedding dress altered..... etc. So it's basically added a whole bunch of extra work for me that i don't need right now. Oh well. It will be loads of fun, and then afterwords we are going to Las Vegas for four days!! YIPPEEEE!!
Alex had pink eye this past week - it flared up last friday and we took him to the ER on saturday. I stayed home with him Monday and it's better now, except now I have it!! ICKY!! Mine flaired up yesterday and I went to the ER (the clinic had already closed), and they gave me the same medicine alex had. I think I caught my flare up in time and I hope it will go away before I have to go back to school on monday. I stayed home from school today, but I still had to work. It was fine while I was at work, and not even the dog hair bothered it, like I thought it would.
On another note - i've reconnected with a whole bunch of old friends from Australia and New Zealand through facebook, and it's been so much fun learning about everyone and hearing about their lives now. The weirdest thing is now I am having horrible dreams about my past. I hope it will pass. Through this reconnection I have realized how lucky I have been, and how many people have influenced my life in both good and bad ways. I think that my actions have been the bad ways, however. And I've realized how I have taken advantage of people and the opprotunities I have had. That sucks. Maybe that's why I've been having bad dreams.
What else has happened?
Oh - we went on a picnic last sunday and played frisbee and soccer. That was lots of fun.

Alex can crawl! HEAVEN HELP US ALL!!!!! Haha. He still kind of army-crawls, but he's getting there. My life is officially over!! No more leaving alex alone in a room. I think it's time I pulled out his playpen again and he can crawl around in circles in that!!
I went to the neurologist this week for my wrist/arm. She ran some tests and declared I have nerve damage in my wrist (on the OPPOSITE side of the injury/surgery scar- weird!). But then she has referred me to a hand therapist to see if there is anything they can do. All the tests she ran, however, have made my wrist WORSE this past couple of days - but hopefully it will get better. It also doesn't help that I have started throwing bigger and bigger lumps of clay (3-7 pounds) and before I was throwing about 1 pound balls. But, it's so much easier with more!! I just kind of grin and bear it to get through the day - but I can't live with this pain for much longer. They have got to do something!!!!
Well. Drew is getting up early to go to the casinos in Paducah tomorrow for the day (it's about and hour and half away) and I have alex all day - so I need to get some sleep. I will leave you with some pictures.
The drawing is my final for my Drawing 2 class - a self portrait of me and alex. It is unfinished right now, but I have put about 5 hours worth of work on it so far. The others are from our picnic last weekend.

Good night all!!

This week sucked, and other sucky things....

Well, thank goodness this week is OVER. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't wait for tomorrow!!! For some reason everything and everybody this week has just been weird. People have either been rude, cranky or just plain dumb, and that's me included!!! So, hopefully tomorrow will be GREAT.... although I only have 4 weeks of school left!!
I can't wait for summer! We have so much stuff planned for this summer.... including putting hardwood in our living room and tile in the kitchen in may, a surprise going away party in may, having a fake wedding in june, going to Las Vegas in june, and going camping over the fourth of july for drew's birthday, and then Alex's first birthday will be the conclusion of the summer, on August 10th. YAY!
Now, if I can just make it through the next four weeks without losing my mind, or killing my husband!!! HAHA. Just kidding. Kind of! :)

My first entry into an art show.

So, US Bank in Downtown clarksville sponsers an art show every year to raise money for their scholarship they do. It's ten bucks to enter into and you can only do one entry. Well, I am entering something. And I'm scared Shitless. I don't know why, however, because they hang and display everything given to them... haha. I guess I'm just scared that all these people are going to see my drawing. The biggest problem is I only have three half-way decent drawings to decide from, and they are all from Drawing class at Austin Peay (two from Drawing one and one from drawing two). The choice I have to make is between these three:






and




and







As of right now I have one vote for the fruit and one for the light/books....
I'm nervous, and there is a 100% guarantee that I will be getting into the show!!!

EEK

The weekend come to a close...

I'm sitting right now at my computer upstairs while alex is playing behind me with his toys after a busy weekend, once again. 

Yesterday we all got up early and got ready to go to Nashville. After stopping at IHOP for breakfast we went to the Opry Mills Outlet Mall in Nashville to take a look around. Drew bought me a watch at the Fossil outlet there and I got some new flipflops at Old Navy for the summer. We then went to Sams Club... what a trek. We go to the Sam's Club on the southside of Nashville when we need formula for alex rather then going to the one here in Clarksville. The Sams in Nashville sells his brand of formula (Similac Soy) for 28 dollars for 36 ounces. Walmart and Target sell it for 26 dollars for 25 ounces. So, in the long run, it's worth it. Especially since he goes through a half a can at home and half a can at daycare a week. Only five more months of formula though, thank goodness. It's very expensive!! So we stocked up yesterday - I almost died when I saw the bill, but then realized that we bought 12 cans of formula, as well as diapers and stuff we all use a lot of. But, our Sams is up next month and I don't think drew is going to renew it, so we had to stockpile. 

After Sams we went to downtown Nashville to the Frist Museum to see the exhibit 'Monet to Dali'. Drew just wanted to see the Dali and Surrealist work, but I'm more interested in the Impressionism stuff, so it was good for us to get some culture. They had a couple of Picasso's, which drew thought was cool, and they had some Monet's and a Mondrian which was really cool. I discovered Mondrian in 9th grade, and it was awesome to finally see one in person. Drew doesn't really get it, but going to a Museum to see people I admire is awesome to me. It's like going to a concert or something. You hear the music, and buy the cd's - but there is nothing like an upclose and personal experience with it - you know? 

Anywho - we met up with a guy drew works with and his girlfriend and mom so then we met them a little later for dinner at the old spaghetti factory. I had never been there and was kind of dreading it (I thought it was like buca de beppo and I hate that place) - but, besides the service, the food was pretty good. Alex got his first taste of ice cream and he was loving that crap. It was busy because the predators had played, but we had a nice dinner. 

Phew. That just made me tired writing about it. 

Today we just hung around and cleaned. I went to the movies this afternoon with Melissa to see The Other Boleyn Girl. It was really good, and now I really want to learn about the Royals, cause I had NO idea what was going on.... but it was really interesting. Anything that makes my mind work lately I have been a fan of. 

Oh, I also found this website this week - www.postsecret.com and I thought it was amazing. You should look at it if you haven't. 

well, Alex is getting hungry - so yet again - the child beckons!!!!

Weekend goodness

Well, the weekend was busy and fun. Friday night I spent most of the night doing my homework and trying to get some stuff done. Saturday I helped my friend Natalie clean her house and decorate for her daughter's birthday party which was that night. Can I please just say that my kids will NOT be allowed to have sleepovers. Holy crapoly. That was crazy!!! Six nine year old girls spending the night together is nuts. But, thank goodness we all made it through the night in one piece! Sunday I worked all day and then came home and did MORE homework!!! But, I got everything finished (almost). I have a little more to go on my hand drawing and then it's done. 

Alex is doing good, we both are suffering from allergies this week - I'm allergic to Tennessee and I think he is too. I came home early today from school so I could take some medicine and try to dry up a little - but it didn't work. Alex is almost crawling. He can army-crawl a little and he does, constantly!! I will turn my head for two seconds and he will be across the room!!! 

Well, I guess that's it for now, I've got to feed Alex and put him down for a nap and then try to do some laundry.... fun!!

One down, five thousand to go...

Well, I have spent all evening in my 'studio' modifying my plaster casts into something with texture. I guess I should start at the beginning.... In my 3 Dimensional Design class we made balloon plaster casts the second week of school. We put them aside and did a different project (carving alabaster). Then he informs us on thursday afternoon that we have to modify our balloon plaster casts into something that has texture on them. He showed us examples of what worked and what didn't so we had the basic idea. That's the key word - he likes them basic. This is one teacher where I will do what I know he will like, instead of doing what I think is awesome (basically, because I need the A for my G.P.A). So I went to walmart today to see what I could find. I ended up glueing glass pebbles to one and pipecleaners to another. Oh well, we will see what happens!!  At least I knocked down one thing on my list, right?? 

Now tomorrow I have to start my 'egg' drawing, help Natalie set up for her daughters birthday party and then attend that. Sunday I work.... eek. 

On the subject of work - I went back to work today part time because we really need the money. I went to my morning class and then worked from 12.30 until I finished. All the clients were very happy with their dogs, which is awesome because I haven't worked since January!! And since Melissa just opened the shop all the dogs have to look super-duper good. I'm lazy, so this new client motivation helps me. I did two yorkies, a cocker and a shih tzu. Dog grooming is just like riding a bike - it all comes back to you within about point zero seconds. But, it's nice to get back into it, although I know tomorrow my back will be aching and my wrist hurting. Boo-hoo!!

Well, Drew just came up and informed me that he was going to bed and I guess I will too. 

But, one last note before I go - 

I wrote in my sketchbook this morning that I needed to stop 'slipping by' in life, and I need to start doing things. So - I guess that will be my 'St Patricks Day Resolution' - START DOING THINGS... 

Here goes............

It's all downhill from here - or HOLY CRAP I HAVE A LOT OF STUFF TO DO BEFORE THE END OF THE SEMESTER!!!

OK - I just realized that it's after spring break. Which means that this is the time when the teachers say "we have so much to catch up on because I've been running behind" which translates into "you better not have a life, a job, a family, anything to do besides be here, in the studio, or at home working on all the extra crap we are going to give you so that you can catch up on what you've missed because I've been sick/at a conference/out of town/on vacation." 

So - by thursday I have to

1. throw 20 cylinders on the wheel (I have two so/so ones done)

2.  draw my hand holding an egg using value and line

3.  do about 5 half page essays on different sculptures I like

4.  modify two of my plaster balloons into something that represents texture. That's just for school. 

That doesn't count the fact that I have a lecture to go to tomorrow during ceramics class so I have only two class periods to do the cylinders, I work tomorrow afternoon and sunday all day, I have a birthday party on saturday afternoon/night that involves 9 year olds and me helping Natalie with the decorations and food, taking care of my child, cleaning my house, making sure the dog is fed, doing laundry, trying to get drew to pack up his army gear that is strewn about our spare bedroom, sand down the old sewing table I got from goodwill so I can paint it and put it in the spare bedroom....... the list goes on. 

HOLY CRAP I HAVE A LOT OF STUFF TO DO!! 

So - It was nice knowing all of you this semester... see you in May when I can relax (hopefully!!)

Haha - just kidding. But, I really should probably get off of here and do something on my list of stuff to do (or at least bug drew until he does something on my list of stuff to do!)

Good night everyone! 

Photos Session Deux!

OK, here are some photos from the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial that we stopped at on our way out to Gallup. It was awesome. We were there right as the sun was setting and I got some pretty decent photos with my little digital camera. I've been thinking alot about taking Photography in the fall, if not to learn new skills then just to learn how to take decent pictures of my art for my portfolio. But, I hear it's really expensive, and I'm already taking Painting in the fall, and that alone is over $500 in supplies. So, photo 1 might have to wait until spring. Anyways, here are the shots:





(this one is my favorite)





OK, now we have some SPRING IS HERE pictures!!! I'm so proud of my little daffodils - they made it through forever! I actually think that the people that lived here before I did planted these around the base of our tree in the front yard and in our front garden, but I will claim these are mine!








OK, and finally, the last of the pictures for tonight. These are some drawings I've done this semester in my drawing 2 class. We are working on the figure, and it's really not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I'm still struggling on a little bit, like I want to draw what I KNOW is there, instead of what I SEE is there, but I'm starting to SLOW DOWN and get the feel of things. (I still like Ceramics better... although today I could've thrown three hundred pounds of clay at the wall...more on that later).... so - here they are!!:








So - there you have it.
Have a great day tomorrow everyone!!

Photos Session One.

OK, so I am going to try and post some pictures on here.... this will be my first attempt. Hopefully I can do this and won't have to ask drew for any help.... but, I doubt it!! It is kind of handy having such a computer-orientated husband, but if my son builds his own computer before he is 10, I'm going to be in a lot of trouble!!! 

That would be alex a couple of weeks ago!


Yay! Drew taught me the html thingy, and I did it. Yes, I had to ask his help - but now I can claim that I did all the future ones by myself, right??
Ok, I have to go finish dinner now, but I will repost after dinner with the pictures from our trip (hopefully!).

OK - My first, real-life post.

Well, Drew, Alex and I got back yesterday from our 'Road trip to the West'. We left Thursday, Feb 28th to drive to New Mexico to visit my family - who have never met my husband. So - we stay in Memphis Thursday PM, get up friday AM, stay in Oklahoma city (after going to see the memorial - that's crazy - all those tiny, little chairs lined up representing the children that died - SO SAD), Ok - stay in OK City Friday PM then arrive in Albuquerque Saturday around 3. We went to visit with my Aunt and her boyfriend and my father Saturday evening and had a lot of fun. Had breakfast with dad Sunday and Drew tried Red-Chilli for the first time - needless to say he did very well (the toilet, however - not so fond). Lunch consisted of going to Old Town and eating with my cousin, Jason, and his wife. This was also fun. Jason and Drew talked computers, while Maresa seemed mortified that Alex was screaming (for fun). I highly doubt kids are in Jason and Maresa's future. Dinner Sunday consisted of BBQ steak and crablegs made by my aunts boyfriend, Tim. And it was awesome. Monday was more site-seeing in Albuquerque and more food.... Tuesday we made the drive to Gallup (on west side of New Mexico) to visit my Grandmother, Aunt and Uncle. (More eating involved here). On Thursday we started the trek home.  Thursday PM we stayed in Amarillo, TX and Friday we were GOING to try to make it all the way home - but - the great SNOW-GODS in Arkansas decided against that plan. So, we got stuck in the snow in Arkansas and ended up spending the night just outside of Little Rock. We got up early yesterday and finished our journey home. YAY, we are home. 

Well - all it sounds like we did was eat and drive. We did eat a lot, and we drove a lot. But we had fun. Drew really enjoyed my family and I hope vice-versa.  

So - now we return to the regular routine of school, work and life... but our mini-vacation was very fun!!

Well, hello there!

Hello any and/or all people that may read this. I've decided to start this blog as opposed to blogging on 'myspace' because I think it's time for me to grow up and be an adult... kind of anyways!! 

I guess an introduction should be in order - 

My name is Amber Noe (well, that's my maiden name) and I'm 26. I live in Tennessee with my husband who is in the army (Drew), and my son who is 7 months old tomorrow (Alex). We have a soon-to-be 5 year old dog (Molly) and a nice little life. As I said before, my husband is in the Army, and I go to school full time and I work (occasionally- like when we need the money - which is ALL the time!!). I'm a dog groomer, and have been for what seems like forever, but I'm trying very hard to finish my Bachelor degree in Studio Art. It's difficult, just like most things! 

I guess everything else you will need to know about me will be disclosed in future postings... 

I guess that's all for now. !!

Thanks for listening.