A piece I have been working on for a couple of weeks. I am starting it off as a black and white painting, so I can focus on the values, then I will add some color over that.

jack got up early and went to the library this morning.  he rented me the movie hillary and jackie.  its about jacqueline du pre, a famous cellist who had ms.  recommended watching for everyone 

If you're in the vicinity of my house and need a cold, refreshing drink, my son and his friend have set up a limeade stand across the street from my house (in front of friend's house). 

Support yer local businesses!!  ;-)

Americans (Americans living in America) are fucking scary...

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2008/07/15/hhs-moves-define-contraception-abortion

I found Alex's pants from last Pennsic. I thought I'd already given them away, but there they were. Certain that they'd be too small now, I had Alex try them on. They fit... barely, but they do. I DON'T HAVE TO SEW HIM NEW PANTS!! You don't know how happy that makes me!!

In slightly related stuff, I have a friend coming with me this year and bringing her two kids. If anyone out there has loaner garb they don't need for Pennsic (or stuff your kids have grown out of), let me know if they can borrow it. The girl is 9 years old and the boy is 11. He's tall. She's average for her age.

New Simon's Cat! I think our Luna was a consultant on this one.

One question.

What's with all these movies in the last couple years, mainly comedies, that all look like they're made in the 70's? With the 70's hair styles, clothing, and drag brownish colors? They're really giving comedy a bad name, if you ask me.

Not to mention a majority of them have Will Ferrell in them, and he's just not funny and makes movies worse with his presence. He's not funny. Yes I've seen several of his movies. Yes I've seen him on SNL. I think I've given him a fair shake. He's not funny at all and makes movies worse with his presence. Even Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

I hate feeling icky. Went to bed last night with a MONSTER headache. Attributed it to the start of a new diet wherein I consume little to no sugar. Figured it was sugar withdrawal.

Woke up with the headache. Feels sinus-y. Not congestionified sinus-y, just pressure and that damn headache.

Stuck with me all day despite consuming drugs to alleviate it. Hurts to move... as in every time I move my head it feels like I'm banging my brain against my skull... and mah brain doesn't like feeling that way.

Decided to postpone tonight's classes as a result. Can't really focus on anything today. I ran a few errands earlier, thinking the drugs and fresh air would do me good. I was wrong. An hour later I felt like death.

Man, I hate feeling icky! Here's hoping a good night's sleep helps!

Go here now.
http://community.livejournal.com/randompictures/3932590.html

( what is that? This is what I see. )

The wonders of the natural world makes me want to break out into song, too!

So the class is going fairly well, with the exception of the instructor who is 69 years old, keeps forgetting to bring his hearing aids to class, and regularly gets things mixed up in his head, causing him to give incorrect information in lectures. Such as trying to tell us that Down Syndrome is developed during mitosis (it's actually during meiosis), and that red hair is a dominant allele (yeah, nope). For the benefit of myself and the other confused faces in the classroom, I repeatedly asked for clarification since the textbook clearly contradicted his statements. I'm not sure he likes me much. I feel for the guy, but really. We're tested on this. 

But I digress.

Last night, we got the specs for a presentation that we have to give as early as 7/22. It is to be 8-12 minutes in length, with a 250-300 word written summary, a lecture, and a visual presentation of some kind. Requirements are not too stringent, so it should be fine. 

I have to announce my topic by 7/17. It has to be something related to Human Growth & Development, and should preferrably be something with a sense of personal attachment.

I had a great idea to create a cell model for a freshly created zygote, and to have an interactive-type presentation where I have people pick from various grab bags of genes and we play Build-A-Human. However, as irenejericho pointed out, this would constitute *alot* of work :)

Anyone out there have any other nifty ideas?

My son and his little friend have found a plastic recorder with which to play.

scratch that.. with which to blow a single annoying tone over and over and OVER AND OVER!!!!

They are on the friend's porch. Mom kicked them out because of the noise. I get that... totally, but the noise now travels across the street and into my open windows.

It's humid. It's hot. Now it's irritatingly noisy. Time to shutter up and turn on the AC and maybe have some peace! I've had enough stress today thankyouverymuch.

On the plus side the Pennsic U edits are looking like they'll be done an in the book. yay.

Hmmmm... it would have a Scandinavian/Anglo-Saxon kind of theme, ala Meduseld in 'Lord of the Rings' and have microbrew ale and mead, of course, good wholesome food and of course there would be live music and nothing but heavy metal. No freaking alternative or dance music or punk or anything else that sucks, just pure, good ol' fashioned heavy metal, whether it's traditional metal, Finnish folk metal, Swedish death metal, operatic power metal, whatever. If it's metal, we'd have it.

And one of the ales we brew would *have* to be named "Shoggoth's Old Peculiar" and every night at closing to signal the last drink I would play Alhazred's "Strange Aeons".

What would I name it? Not sure... 'Hammer of the Gods' or something equally cheesy.

Come join my student troupe, Lotus Bloom and members of Blue Lotus Tribe at the Martini Room in Elgin next Wednesday!

We'll start at 8:30 with a Lotus Bloom performance and then move on to a dance floor mini-lesson and plenty of open dancing.  After that myself and members of Blue Lotus Tribe take the stage! 

The Martini Room is located at 161 E. Chicago Ave in Elgin
$5 cover charge.

Visit http://www.rakschristina.com for the details and future Martini Room dates!!

Summer Workshops with Christina in Chicago
Jasmin Jahal School of Dance
4037 N. Milwaukee Ave in Chicago
Tuition is $35 for each workshop

Sunday July 20 - 1:30-3:30pm
Fundamentals of Belly Dance : Sharp Accents and Shimmies

This Fundamentals workshop will focus on pairing quick muscle contractions with the isolations to create sharp, strong accent movements with plenty of "oomph!"  We will also cover common shimmies and how to execute them properly.  This class is great for the absolute beginner, for the continuing level 1 student, or for anyone who wants to get back down to drilling the basics.  No experience necessary.

Call 773-777-4037 to register.  Visit http://www.rakschristina.com for details!

 

It's still funny as hell...



Play the game here...

http://www.joecartoon.com/cartoons/652-wuss_in_a_blender

Poll #1220007 Dress me for Faire
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: Friends

I'm going to Bristol on Sunday. Should I wear: