Summer '09

Life has been pretty nuts the past 2 months! I successfully finished a crazy semester and have had a fun start to summer!

I wrote a 34 page senior thesis (viewable here) which I got an A on! I presented on it for 45 minutes with the help of prezi.com, (viewable here) and then edited it down to 15 pages (viewable here) to submit it to the Religious Communication Association Pre-Conference, and it got accepted! I will present my paper in Chicago on November 11th!!

I did alright in my other classes as well, although I got a B+ in my C.S. Lewis class which bumped me down to graduating magna cum laude instead of summa cum laude. I wrote a cool paper for that class though, titled "C.S. Lewis and Postmodernism: Differing Approaches to Love and Sex."

I wasn't able to devote the time I wanted to pottery with everything else going on. So I didn't make very many pieces this semester. I will be doing a 2 credit independent study next semester though, and I have a relatively light load other than that so I'm hoping to have more time for it. I did win the Grace Purchase Award in the Juried Art Show! So my lidded vessel that I named "Reef" is now part of Grace's permanent collection.
I also made a fountain for my final project, I'm not happy with the glaze colors, I used low-fire glazes instead of the stoneware glazes. And it splatters some, so it's not going to work for indoor use, but perhaps someday when I have a nice garden area I'll stick it out there :-)

















For the final group project in PR/Ad Writing my group won for the event/print material/radio spot that we put together for R&D Motorsports.

And finally, in Media Production after the first few audio/video projects (including a before/after of my apartment!) I took on a project with United Way that counted both towards projects in that class as well as an internship credit (or 2 maybe!). I am making their 2009 Campaign Video, we started at the end of March and will be finishing the whole thing up by the end of June. The video is very close to being done, here's a sneak preview!

I will be doing one more video shoot (B-roll stuff) and putting a few of those clips in the video, as well as doing some separate testimonials that will be on the DVD as extras. It has been a huge undertaking, but very fun and a huge learning experience. I used the studio at the high school for my interviews, I used Grace's Canon GL2 to shoot with, and I got a fabulous photographer from Grace to take some awesome stills for the video. I've been putting the whole thing together in Adobe After Effects because we wanted to do a lot with text and that has been cool learning how the program works. The possibilities in that program are seemingly endless!

So, that's the low down on school.

Other than that I had the privilege of being in my friend Michael's wedding, as a groomswoman :) It was a wonderful, fun and stress-free wedding. Us groomspeople looked like waiters!
The fabulous Jennifer Buehrer took the amazing pictures!! We spent the morning in downtown Chicago, cruising around in a limo and stopping to take pictures!!




































I also took another trip to Chicago to see the music stylings of Dent May and his magnificent ukulele. I got this picture with him :-)















For Memorial Day some of the food snobs at Cerulean gathered for a delicious picnic!















And, my dear friend Aaron left on his across-the-country trek :( He was the only friend living here in Indiana that knew me for a long time, saw me through a lot, and was generally just a legit, non-superficial friend... I cried quite a bit leading up to his departure.







Time for bed, that's all for now!
~Tina

Come quick sweet sleep...

Oh my, I should not be awake. Just can't turn my brain off. Turned in a big paper this morning, which is great, but now it's on to the bigger paper.
I worked a double today, so didn't get anything accomplished all day. Should have gone straight to bed when I got home, but instead went into school/cleaning mode. Cleaned up my apartment, sorted mail, cleaned out my purse, got all my research together for paper writing tomorrow, scoured the library catalogue for books I should go check out tomorrow....

I have to be up in less than 5 hours to take Joe to Ft. Wayne to get his wisdom teeth out. AND, I was going to take a nice break from paper writing tomorrow evening and go see the play at Grace, but oh no, no relaxing enjoyment for me, I was asked to video-tape it, actually was asked to video-tape two showings of it, but no can do, one is more than enough!!

Ugh, feeling a lot overwhelmed. Sleepytime.

~Tina

Crunch time...

Well, I'm in the last few weeks of school and everything is winding down.

Pottery - I won the Grace Purchase Award for the lidded pot (with a coral reef theme) I entered in the juried art show, so there's $100 coming my way!


I'm done with pottery minus glazing three pieces, I made a cup with an orchid carved into it, a bird "apartment complex" (3 stacked bird houses) and a fountain.

Media Production - done with the silly projects I was having to make for that class. Now it's the United Way video all the way!! Which is going well, I've done 2 out of 6 B-roll shoots and will be doing the interviews May 6-8th at the high school's studio.

Senior Seminar - I am writing my term paper which is due on Tuesday the 28th and I present on it Thursday the 30th. Then done!

PR/Ad Writing - One more project for a client (R & D Motor Sports, probably a radio spot) and I think one more exam.

And lastly, C.S. Lewis - Writing a paper (tonight/tomorrow!) that's due on Friday, a little more reading and then done!!!

Accomplished.

Today was one of those days where I feel like I got alot done. Here's a run-down.

1. Was able to be of assistance to my grandmother this morning when she needed to run to the pharmacy, kept an eye on grandpa for 30 minutes.

2. In class - discussed an article that my professor (an article reviewer) gave us to read, looked at the sloppy writing, poor word usage and unacceptable research. This exercise should help me be a better writer/researcher.

3. In class - continued my effort to learn Adobe After Effects, made some progress. E-mailed a professor about a summer class I'm taking. Participated in class by reading/discussing a radio spot I wrote for the Northern Indiana Fat & Skinny Tire Fest.

4. Cleaned my apartment, did laundry, went through clothes and sorted out a large pile to get rid of and a large pile to pack away until fall.

5. Met with one of my professors to discuss my internship with United Way and the logistics of using music (royaltyfree? copyright free?) in the video I am making for United Way.

6. In class - was extremely relieved to find out one of our pottery projects has been eliminated and the remaining three are very do-able, time consuming, but probably not frustrating. Decided on my "Clay and Mechanics" project, a fountain! Here's some I found online, any of them catch your eye?!





Discussed with professor possibility of using one of his photography students to assist with United Way video, capturing stills when out shooting B-roll.

7. Went to Wal-Mart and dinner with the boy, went over ideas/logistics for United Way video.

8. Finished cleaning/packing clothes away. Researched some things online. E-mailed three people in connection with the United Way video.

Phew..... :-)

Alphabet Meme :)

A is for your age: 22
B is for your burger of choice: Mmmm, big and juicy, medium rare-medium, lettuce, onion, ketchup, mayo, mustard, fancy cheese :)
C is for the car that you drive: 1982 Mercedes Benz 240D
D is for dog's name: Don't have dogs, have dog nephews; Leo and Bailey.
E is for an essential item you use each day: Used to be computer, but now I have a Blackberry and I'm on the computer way less. I'm gunna go toothbrush :) haha, I do love brushing my teeth after every meal.
F is for your favorite television show: The Office and 30 Rock.
G is for favorite game: Nerts (also known as Nertz, Nerf, Gluck, Peanuts, Popeye, Pounce, Solitaire Frenzy, Scrub, Stop, Squeal, Squeak, Squid, Speed, Squinch, Swish, Racing Demon, Race Horse Rummy, Lucky Thirty, Grouch, Hell, Hallelujah, Mertz, Moofles and Nerds).
H is for hometown: Jonesville, MI.
I is for instruments played: Piano and cello.
J is for favorite juice: V8 Fusion Peach Mango.
K is for what you'd like to kick: Stress to the curb!
L is for last restaurant you dined at: Cerulean, always... :)
M is for your favorite muppet: Kermit the Frog.
N is for number of piercings you have: 5; I have 2 in each lobe and one in the upper cartilage of my right ear.
O is for overnight hospital stays: Um, none because I was admitted to the hospital, and 4-5 staying with people in the hospital.
P is for people you were with today: So far haven't really hung out with anyone today, I have said hello to my Uncle Mike and first cousin Skye who are remodeling the upstairs bathroom to be more wheelchair accessible.
Q is for what you do in quiet times: Watch TV/movies, sleep, light reading.
R is for regrets: Plenty of regrets, but also a thankful trust in God and His forgiveness and His sovereignty.
S is for status: Relationship status, in one. Current Twitter/Facebook status, "C.S. Lewis, love, sex, and our postmodern world. Reading and writing about aforementioned topics."
T is for time you woke up today: Woke up, 8:30am. Got up, 8:50am.
U is for what you consider unique: Definitely people, and I pray that God gives me more appreciation and patience for everyone's unique traits :)
V is for favorite vegetable: Well, apparently avocados are fruits, so I pick squash, any kind, love 'em all.
W is for your worst habit: I have so many... being critical, procrastinating, and worrying are the ones that get to me the most.
X is for x-rays you have had: Head when I was a baby, dental, that's it!
Y is for yummy food you ate today: It's still early, I've only had a toaster strudel and a glass of chocolate milk!
Z is for zodiac sign: Not into that stuff...

Randomness....

1. I like beads, yarn, fabric, savory food, drawing with chalk on the driveway, all flowers except carnations, the color green, libraries, kids museums, Washington D.C., learning, people that challenge me to grow spiritually just by how they live, traveling, fountains, live theatre, funny YouTube videos, Etsy.com, Hulu.com, outdoor activities that aren't too extreme, Goodwill, H&M, my brothers dogs, blowing bubbles, being a waitress, going really fast on a motorcycle, reading about food and restaurants, my MacBook, Real Simple magazine, Diet Coke with lemon.............................. :-)

2. I played with my brother and his friends growing up, so I played a lot more war and spies than house and dolls.

3. I kind of feel like I grew up an only child because my brother moved out when I was 12, but I also kind of feel like I have two older brothers because Rob moved in when I was 16.

4. I do not like The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, but I went to the midnight showing for each with my friends, peer pressure gave me an expensive, uncomfortable, 3 hour nap. At least I never did drugs.

5. I fell in love with a little boy named Andrew when I was 15 years old living in Uganda. I got a tiny taste of what a mother's love feels like.

6. One time I ramped a dead deer on the highway going 80mph. It was out of control, I think I got air. I was so afraid that there would be blood and guts all over my car!

7. I've gotten pulled over for speeding at least 5 times and never gotten a speeding ticket. I don't cry, or bat my eyelashes. I apologize, and pray.

8. I have no gravitational pull towards Bath & Body Works, or any of those girly, smelly stores. I was once told by a guy that I was the first girl he'd ever seen walk past one of those stores without even gazing in longingly.

9. I really, really like balsamic vinegar. When I'm eating pasta by myself at home, I put balsamic vinegar on it. It tastes delicious, but looks gross which is why I don't do it around others.

10. I used to never drink the last inch of milk in my glass and it drove my dad nuts. Now buying milk is a splurge so I drink every last drop that I pour.

11. Never, ever buy an iPod shuffle. It's probably the most embarrassing, quasi-useless thing I've ever spent money on. Don't be a cheapo, just get a real iPod.

12. I bought a kiln a month into my first semester of pottery. I'm now in my second semester and I really hope that down the road I will be able to set up a small at-home pottery studio.

13. I had such great style in high school (I think!) and I'm not sure where all that creative styling energy went. But it is gone. I miss it.

14. I used to dye my hair all the time. It's been platinum blonde, various shades of red and brown and one failed black attempt that turned out dark purple.

15. My mom and I used to be HGTV junkies. We were all about the home decorating/crafting.

16. Once my mother made me drive myself to the emergency room, with one eye swollen shut, because, "it's Saturday and I have things to do."

17. When I was little (8?) I would go out to Kimball Camp to play with the Berreses and we would build these amazing houses out of the enormous wood pile.

18. I got glasses when I was 7 and was in awe at the cobwebs in the trees that I'd never seen before.

19. My brothers first was a VW Rabbit, my first car was a VW Rabbit (but better; a convertible). My brothers second car was Toyota Celica, my second car was a Toyota Celica (but better; newer).

20. I had braces when I was 8 and 12, I didn't mind either time. It was fun changing the colors to match the holiday of the month.

21. When I was in Alice in Wonderland I didn't have any scenes after the very beginning of the show so I would go home and shower off my nasty makeup, then do a McDonalds run for the rest of the cast, then put my rat costume (sans makeup) for curtain call, much to the chagrin of my director.

22. I sat on a dirt floor in a hair "saloon" in Uganda for 10 hours to get extension/weave put in. It took 6 hours for my friends to take out.

23. My mom tried to throw me a surprise party but she named the invitation "surprise" on my computer. Who wouldn't look at a document named surprise?!!

24. I watched the movie "Twister" on the way to Florida during a big rain/thunderstorm. It was awesome. Better than an IMAX.

25. When I was little I wanted a big wedding with lots of bridesmaids wearing every color of the rainbow. Now (after seeing how much weddings cost, and seeing the stress they induce) I want to have a small, simple wedding, kinda hippy-ish, and having any attendants will be up for debate.

"Tina Turner Burns Down Legs For Insurance Money" :-) Haha, that's what I just used for my first audio project for my Media Productions class. I did a mock news story on the "case" complete with some background music by Tina Turner herself ("Disco Inferno" repeats the words "burn, baby burn" over and over again), and some sound effects, a nice fire whooooossshh and crackle!

I FINALLY FINISHED CLEANING!!! On Friday I worked lunch and after work I chilled out for a while and then went into cleaning mode. I was almost done when I needed to change for a night out, so I texted my date and asked him to give me 15 extra minutes before he picked me up so I could finish cleaning and then change my clothes :-) It feels nice to have all my clothes put away, my living room all tidy, my floors all clean, etc....!!

I sold a $245 bottle of wine at work on Saturday night! I've served the people before, but never expected this out of them! The guy just said to his wife, "honey, we're going to order this one, Opus One, that's a big name, what else are we going to spend this money on?" AHHHH!!! Haha, I have never seen that wine sold a night I worked, or heard of it being sold another night, and never dreamed I would sell it! It was exciting, I brought the bottle home as a trophy :-)

Well, I guess thats all for now.

~Tina