Here comes the bride....

This was an assignment to make a magazine article or front page for a magazine. I chose to do the front of a bridal magazine, because one of my friends from back home had just got engaged and I thought it might make her even more excited. It was a really fun project and it was kind of fun to feel like I was in control of the front page of a magazine.

"Modern Briar Rose"

This semester I am in Vector Graphics, and our mid-term assignment was to use gradient mesh to make a realistic looking piece. I had a lot of trouble on this piece because it was originally just supposed to be the face at the top. I worked hours and hours on making the face look as realistic as possible, and then Prof. Blum told me that people/faces are one of the hardest things to make look realistic. So then I decided to completely change my piece, and make my subject a rose. After finishing the rose, I was satisfied with it's realistic look, however I was still not satisfied with the whole composition of the piece. That is when I decided to combine both ideas to make this piece. It's my ideal artistic representation of romance with a modern twist. I called it "Modern Briar Rose" because Briar Rose was actually the german translation for sleeping beauty. This piece immediately made me think of sleeping beauty after I finished it; however, it looked like a more modern piece that would be displayed in contemporary art, rather than art from medieval times (like the original sleeping beauty). I hope you like it!!

Internships over G.P.A.??

So, you're fresh out of college and looking for a job. You have a 3.5 G.P.A.... but no internship or experience. What do you think will be more of a factor when trying to find a job??? You're G.P.A., or your previous related work experience??? Well, before it would've been your G.P.A., but today students are saying that the top question on any employer's mind is about your internship, or experience. For student who held full time jobs while going to school, an internship may not have seemed practical at the time, but now they're really kicking themselves for it. So what do you think should be more important?? or should they be equally important??? I would like to know your opinions!!

SHOES

These two guys, Tim and Eric, have made multiple crazy video clips that are absolutely insane! Some of my favorites are "Hard Hitting Questions", "Muffins", "Love Letters", and many more. The clips I have here on my blog is called "Shoes" and I get such a kick out of it. I think it's hilarious how the same actor plays so many different characters, and does such a great job imitating adolescent girls that think that material possessions make a break their popularity... plus how airheaded they can sound! Anyway, if you watch the clip and want to comment at all, I'd love to hear people's reviews! Enjoy!!

A barbeque stain on my white T-shirt...

It never fails, the last month of school seems to drag on. The second hand on the clock seems to get slower and slower, and assignment and end of the year projects start mounding up. Not to mention, the motivation behind the completion of these projects becomes almost inauspicious. Our minds are filled with thoughts of hot days by the pool, on the beach, or in a boat. Our friends become an accessory to our everyday apparel, and we live each day like the summer will last forever. Those three months are pretty much the best thing a college student could ask for! So how do we get motivated for this last month of dreaded exams and projects??? Good question. Honestly, I haven't quite figured it out yet. The only motivation behind my view on this last month of school is ending the year with the grades you wanted at the beginning of the semester. So many student start out the semester working hard, going to every class, being responsible, etc. and then as the semester progresses, the motivation seems to start to die a bit. Well, for the last month of school, remember how much you wanted those good grades at the beginning of the semester, and just imagine yourself looking at your grades in a month in a half or so. What a waste of time it would be to not get the grades you wanted after you worked so hard in the beginning! Are you really going to let the last month of school ruin it all??? Good luck fellow classmates, andmore importantly, have a great summer!!!

Rawlings

One of my good friends recently showed me the Rawlings website. He works for Rawlings as a product manager, and took a lot of pride in the company's website. I was actually pretty impressed with the graphics, however I told him that I would make a post on my blog so that anyone who wanted to could give their personal opinions on how to make the page even better! If you have any suggestions, just let me know!

Bark at the Moon

You know those things in your life you know will eventually happen, it's inevitable, but you just try not to think about it, hoping it will never happen? Well, last Wednesday was exactly that for me. For some people, this story is a completely foreign language to them; for the others, they can relate to how I felt.

The summer before my first grade year was my 6th birthday, and all I wanted was a puppy! I'd been begging for one non-stop ever since my mom had my little brother, and I was upset it wasn't girl! So I begged for a puppy... a girl puppy! For my birthday, we drove about 30 minutes away, walked into a kennel, and about 7 caffeine pumped little white balls of fur came racing towards me and knocked me over. I couldn't have been happier. It was then that I saw her! She was perfect... andI named her Reba, after the country singer.

Over the next couple years, she chewed up shoes, and garden hoses, and flower beds. She dug holes in the yard looking for rodents she would never catch, and she barked at possums at night and kept the neighbors awake. It didn't matter though, she was still the greatest new addition since my baby brother! Years passed by, I finished grade school, high school, and then packed my bags for college. It was the day I left for college, when Reba came outside to say good-bye, that my dad looked at her and said "you know Andrea, she's not a puppy anymore, dogs don't live forever."

Now, of course I knew this, but I wasn't going to actually think about it! She was still that crazy little puppy I remember. My freshman year rolled by, no problems, and now my sophmore year was coming to a close. Over Christmas break this past year, I could tell she was slowing down, and her breathing was inconsistent... but in my mind, she was still healthy. Then came the call on Thursday morning. "Andrea, you remember how slow Reba was around Christmas time? and, do you remember how she was struggling to get up and down? Reba isn't with us anymore... she passed away last night."

My immediate reaction was "Yeah right... good one dad! You really fooled me!" But he wasn't joking, and I knew it deep down. The hardest part was when my dad said that she laid down in the front yard while my brothers and my dad were playing baseball, and then my mom came outside, and everyone was there for her for her last moments alive. Everyone except me! My dad said she kept lifting her head and looking down the road, almost like she was waiting for something.

I don't think people always understand how personal pets can be. Animals really can become part of the family, and an important part. I will never forget my dog, or how I used to dress her up in little baby dresses, and put her in wagons and pull her around the yard. Or even when I would build tree houses and she was the guard dog! She will always be our family dog, no matter how many we have. She will be missed, but she will never be forgotten!

Women's Football League- Seriously!

I was recently looking on MSNBC and found that there is actually a women's football league. It isn't getting much recognition yet, just because the lack of respect our society still gives to women in contact sports, but it is slowly gaining popularity. There are women from 23 to 43 playing this game. It is growing and growing with more teams being added every year. The women however are still having to pay for their own way to be players in this league, because of the lack of support. I think that women should have the same respect and the same priveleges as men do in this sport. There is no reason why two guys that tackle each other should be held at higher honor than two women! Many of these women are moms too! Can you imagine going from dropping your kids off to school, to working for eight hours, and then going to football practice, and still having to put dinner on the table and help your kids with homework??? Plus I'm sure there's a lot more to it! These women deserve the attention that they are working for!

My Experience with "The Secret"

After reading the book "The Secret" for my spring break reading assignment, I have been very excited to put it to the test. In small ways, I have seen it work! I've found good parking spots when I'm late for class. I've talked to friends that I haven't had contact with for a year or so. But even more recently, I think I might've cured my flu! Now, I know this sounds like a load of bologna, but I truly am starting to see the true powers of it. After getting the flu, and spending a night in a half on the bathroom floor, I decided it couldn't hurt but to try to use "The Secret" once again. After setting my mind positive, and in "Secret" mode, I was perfectly healthy within six hours. I know this might sound like I had the 24 hour flu, but I truly feel like there was more power behind it all. I'm really starting to see the real power and truth behind the message "The Secret" is saying.

Kids with Special Needs

One of my co-workers came up to me recently and asked if I would be interested in babysitting her eight year old son this Tuesday and next Tuesday. She told me that he had been suspended for 10 days, so she was kind of in a bind. I was extremely hesistant until she explained the story. The incident is about her son, Paul.

-Paul is eight years old, and he has autism. Paul occasionally gets upset, or throws fits to which he needs to be removed from the classroom. The last couple times they have taken him to the principal's office, where he become extremely overwhelmed and upset. Paul's mom and dad have talked to the staff and asked them to take him to a conference room, or a counselor's room, but not the principal's office. Last week, Paul was having one of his fits, and they took him to the principal's room where he became, like usual, very upset. A local police officer was called to the school, and eight year old Paul, with autism, was handcuffed because he was said to be a threat to the principal and teachers. Paul was suspended from school for 10 days. A couple days after his suspension, Paul's doctor reported that his incident was the cause of a bad reaction to his new medication. Even though the school was notified of this, the 10 days of suspension was not shortened or even thought to change.

This story really upsets me because I don't feel that the school district was meeting the needs of Paul. He is a child with special needs, and one request (not to take him to the principal's office) was completely ignored. Not only that, but an eight year old child should not be put in handcuffs unless someone's life is in extreme danger... not for throwing a temper tantrum.

Tiger gets Second

For any golfer, or any fan of golf, you probably watched the Master's this past weekend. This course was extremely hard and you could tell how frustrated the players were getting. But this wasn't the only shocker of the event. The biggest shock was the outcome of the match.... where Tiger Woods came in second. Who was the winner??? An uknown golfer named Zach Johnson who couldn't even go to his hometown state university for golf. Zach Johnson was ranked no. 56 in the world, and only had one PGA victory to his name. But this golfer took hold of the reins and knocked the mutiple timing champion to number two! Go Zach Johnson!

Happy Feet

While I was recently at home, my 11 year old brother and I watched the move "Happy Feet". At first I was hoping that I could maybe get a nap in during the movie, because I thought the movie was going to be boring, or too childish. The movie was suprisingly really good! The voices of Britney Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Robin Williams, and Nicole Kidman really bring life to this movie. The songs are all recognizable, and are redone in a very respectable way. Not only that but the overall message of the movie is so touching, and it is such a good message to spread to people of any age, but especially kids. I would recommend to anyone to sit down and watch this movie. It made me laugh, and even tear up a couple times. In a way I think we've all felt like the main penguin "Mumble" at times.

Tattoos

I think tattoos are a form of self-expression and it's personal. I think they are very special, and to everyone they are important for different reasons. I really don't understand why society today has labeled them as being so trashy, or unprofessional. I mean, I don't think that "Sexy" tattooed on a girl's lower back is exceptionally nice or personal, but tattoos that really stand for something, and are respectable should not be held against people. The reason I am frustrated with this topic is because I have a cross on my inner right wrist. I did this not spontaneously, but after lots of thought, and it has a very personal meaning behind it. My parents and other people have commented on how it may cause problems when it's time for me to look for a job. Why should my talents and my work ability be lowered of held at different standards just because i have an image on my body that most people don't have??? It's not hurting anyone, and it's not affecting my focus of my work habits. I think that this view from society has become seriously warped. Still, I do not plan on getting it removed, and I do plan on getting another one!

New Artist- MIKA

One of my favorite new artists is the unique sound of Mika. He had been compared to the lead singer of the old favorite "Queen", Freddie Mercury, Elton John, David Bowie, and the Scissors Sisters. He was born in London and trained by the Royal Opera House. His music is different, and his sound is new and fresh. His first hit "Relax, Take it Easy" was released in the United Kingdom and made a huge bang. His first hit for the U.S. however was "Grace Kelly" which was shown on MTV, VH1, and other music television. Another one of his hits it "Love Today" which is one of my personal favorites. In many other countries his album charted in the top 10, but in the U.S. it was only #29. I really feel like this album should've charted higher, but I think he has plenty of time to get a top 10 album. Mika has become one of my personal favorites and I hope more people can open up to his music and learn to love it as much as I do!

"The Secret"

I just got done reading "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne. It was a very good book, and I will definitely take a lot of advice from it, however I'm a little skeptical to the fact that all the success in the world will be achieved and all of your dreams will come true as long as you tell yourself you will. If you think about fortune, love, success, etc, you will have all of those things. In my opinion, it doesn't work that easily. Thinking about it is only half of the process... but actually working hard and taking the steps to achieve those goals, are a big part of the process. I loved the book and realize that keeping a positive attitude makes a huge impact.

A Kid Again for Just a Moment...

'83

I have these dreams I'm walking home

home where it used to be

everything is as it was frozen in front of me

here I stand six feet small

romanticizing years ago

well it's a bittersweet feeling

hearing "Wrapped Around Your Finger" on the radio

and these days

I wish I was six again

oh make me a red cape

I wanna be Superman

oh if only my life was more like 1983

all these things would be more like they were at the start of me

I had it made in 83

thinking about my brother Ben

I miss him everyday

he looks just like his brother John

but on an eighteen month delay

here I stand six feet small

and smiling cause I'm scared as hell

kinda like your life is like a sequel to a movie

where the actors' names have changed

well these days

I wish I was six again

oh make me a red cape

I wanna be Superman

oh if only my life was more like 1983

all these things would be more like they were at the start of me

if my life was more like 1983

plot a course to the source of the purest little part of me

and most my memories have escaped me

or confused themselves with dreams

if heaven's all they want it to be

send your prayers to me care of 1983

you can paint that house a rainbow of colors

rip out the floorboards

and replace the the shutters

but that's my plastic in the dirt

whatever happened to my

whatever happened to my

whatever happened to my

whatever happened to my lunchbox

when came the day when it got thrown away

don't you think I should have had some say in that decision

more like

more like

more like 1983

I absolutely love this song. Not only is John Mayer my favorite artist, but some of his songs really just make amazing sense. This one really makes me wish I was a kid again. Doesn't it seem like we all grew up all too quickly? I remember those days when my big decisions were 'Should I play Barbies first? or dress up?' And you could eat whatever you wanted. Doughnuts for breakfast, ice cream for lunch, and candy for dinner! It's okay... you'll work it all off at the park tomorrow! Sometimes I really miss those days, and this song is awesome to reminisce to. I hope you guys enjoy it too!

Once a cheater always a cheater?

Is the old saying once a cheater always a cheater true??? The link above is about a couple people who have described their own views on cheating, and if that old saying is true. My personal opinion is very torn, for many different reasons. If a person can cheat once, they can cheat twice, and they will. I really honestly feel like the only exception is that people can make mistakes once, and if they truly do everything in their power to make up for it, admitting to the truth, changing their lifestyle, etc. , they won't cheat again. But... if these things aren't done, they become an addict of cheating. And it doesn't stop at just one relationship, it affects all of them thereafter. My best advice to anyone out there that knows their "partner" has been a previous cheater... get out of the relationship. I know it's hard, but you probably deserve better. Or if both you and your partner arer cheaters, I guess it all works out okay. For the honest ones, find an honest person that will treat you right! Because you deserve it!

Britney Spears: The Bald and the Beautiful?!?!?

"In a wacky new move, BRITNEY SPEARS made headlines again this weekend, taking a pair of electric shears to her head and shaving off all of her hair.After going back and forth between blonde, black and brown, the recently separated pop princess decided to forego hair altogether. According to numerous reports, the mom of two small children visited a Tarzana, Calif. hair salon on Friday, and reportedly asked veteran stylist ESTHER TOGNOZZI to shave her head. When the woman reportedly hesitated, advising her to wait, Brit used a pair of electric clippers to shave her hair off herself.The songstress was then spotted at a Los Angeles area tattoo parlor, where she reportedly got two new pieces of body art.Britney separated from husband KEVIN FEDERLINE in November, and has made headlines lately with her party-hopping ways. The couple has two young sons together, SEAN PRESTON, 1, and JAYDEN JAMES, 5 months."

-http://www.etonline.com/celebrities/news/38866/index.html

I'm completely disappointed in Britney's most recent rebellious and shocking act. I seriously believe in second chances... maybe even third chances, but this girl is now officially "off her rocker." Why did she shave her head? For the publicity? I doubt it. She gets enough attention with her constant love life changes. Was it to make a statement? What could shaving your head possibly make a point about? Is she trying to say that if guys can look good bald... so can girls? Was it to maybe take her away from the pop princes title, and instead be given the title "The Bald Princess formerly known as the Pop Princess" ? Who knows. Britney's last couple of years have been uncomparable. It sems as if she is starved for attention. She needs help... more than just her reported one day of rehab too! Can someone please take this unstable celebrity out of the media for one second and seriously just get this poor girl some help?!?!?

The Best Roomates Ever

Now that I'm in my second year of college, I've met plenty of new people. But the most important people in my life here at school are my roomates: Megan, Anne Marie, and Danielle. They are all unique and special in different ways, but more importantly they have become my family. We celebrate birthdays together, sit in the living room and watch television together, and we are there for each other through the tears and the smiles.

My roomates Megan is in her last year of college, and she is studying to be an accountant. I know what you're thinking, she's probably the anal one of the group, constantly cleaning and doing little obsessive compulsive things, and you're exactly right. She is such a funny person, and she's always making everyone smile. She is an amazing person to talk to because she tells it exactly how it is, nothing is sugar coated. She is also a ton of fun, always ready for something exciting. I'm really going to miss her but I know we'll keep in touch.

Next is Anne Marie. She is also a senior going to school for education, however she still has another year or so of student teaching. My relationship with her is actually quite interesting. This first semester we hung out and started getting to know each other, but nothing more than that. The after Christmas it seemed like we really started getting to know each other, and how much we are alike. An easy way to sum us up, very very carefree and easygoing. We love everyone and love having a good time. I'm going to miss her too but I'll have another semester or two with her, so I'm thankful for that.

Last but not least is Danielle. She has really become a great friend to me. I get along with her well, because I feel like she is a lot like my friends from back home. The best part of her and my friendship is that we can just hang out her and me, and have a blast! We've had to do it on many occassions, but it always seem like we make so many good memories. We've cried together and laughed together, and the best part is... I still have another season of volleyball to play with her! She will also be back for another year, and I'm excited to see where our jouneys take us!

Just a Small Town Girl.....

I have lived in the small town of Hermann, Missouri all of my life. The town consists of 2,500 people, and the closest Wal-Mart is 40 minutes away. A trip to the mall was an all-day event, and our fast food is Subway, until my junior year of high school we finally got a Hardee's. My grade school class had a whopping 15 people in it, and my graduating high school class was around 80. Everyone knew everyone, and to me that was probably the most annoying thing ever. Until recently, I never really appreciated my home town, but now I realize how great my roots really are.

I have no problem with city people, and do not mean to make anyone upset. Some of my best friends are from the city and I actually want to live in Chicago someday, so I will become a complete city person. But there is a definite difference in people who come from a small farm town, and people who grew up in the city. It's the small things. Guys are probably one of the biggest differences. City guys usually don't talk with a draw, twang, accent, or just plain slow, and they usually dress a little more in fashion. Country guys tend to wear whatever , without a real sense of knowing what looks really good, or know what's the hot thing on the market right now, and you can usually tell from a guy's dialect if he's from a small town.

Although small town guys don't usually dress as hip, they have a very old-fashioned view on how to treat women. You can usually expect a small town guy to do things by the book. Such as open doors for you, pay for the meal, compliment your outfit, etc. Whereas city guys aren't so much as likely to do things in this way. I think it's because guys in the city are used to women starting to have more power in the work place and such, so they look at them like an equal. If I open the door for you, you should open the door for me. Or if I pay for the meal tonight, you should pay for it tomorrow. Nonetheless, both types of guys are awesome, there's just a definite difference.

Another thing I've noticed is keeping friends after high school. And I know this does NOT apply to all people, situations, etc. I've just noticed it a lot with the people I've met. Kids that grow up in big schools in the city don't seem to keep in touch as well with their friends, or at least keep in touch with many people from high school. Of course, there is always going to be two, three, maybe 4 that you talk to often, but that's about it. I think that it is like this because in big schools there are so many kids that you have many different friends, not so much a lot of close friends, but a lot of friends. In a small town you are forced to hang out with the same people almost your whole life. Your best friends are your best friends from day 1, and you are with them all of the time. This may be because you and your best friends really hit it off, or simply there's no one else and that's who you ended up with. I keep in touch with so many people still to this day, after two years of college. I still consider them my best friends, and I still have many of the same friends I had in high school. I don't go to college with ANY of them now, and maybe will only see them a handful of times throughout the year, but we make time for each other, and talk almost every other day.

Family is last but of course not least. And this is probably the craziest part of all. Until I came to college, there was a lot about life that I was very naive about. First of all, I thought everyone was like me and my friends from back home and I thought everyone's families, including aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, great-aunts and uncles, second cousins.... etc. all lived in the same town as you, or at least within a half hours drive. Then I came to Lindenwood and met people who live in Chicago, and their aunt and uncle lived in South Carolina, and their grandparents lived in Pennsylvania, and their cousin now lives in Florida, and you get the picture. It was really hard for me to understand growing up and not being able to go to my grandma's house every Sunday for family dinner, and by family, I mean EVERYONE. I've really come to appreciate how I was raised and where I was raised. It's crazy to think about things being any different. But even though I appreciate my childhood, I can't wait to live in the city and experience that lifestyle too! It's an experience I'm definitely ready for!
http://www.hermannmissouri.com