snowflakes

Merry Christmas everyone!!!



for your enjoyment ...

http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/



email me your snowflakes you make so I can post my favorites
courtney.anne.bell@gmail.com

If you like

Takashi Murakami, then you'll like this too ...

http://www.supertouchart.com/2008/12/04/wtf-filestakashi-murakami-gets-loose-at-art-basel/

and in case you would like a Moving Forest ...

http://eyeteeth.blogspot.com/2008/12/moving-forest-at-urban-play-2008.html

or in case you need to build a staircase ...

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2008/11/22/unusual-and-creative-staircase-designs/

for the car lovers ...

http://jalopnik.com/5100389/artist-creates-wireframe-lamborghini-countach

I want to

write a monologue ... and actually have the guts to perform it ...

i hate you because i don't

"I hate the way you talk to me. And the way you cut your hair.
I hate the way you drive my car. I hate it when you stare.
I hate your big dumb combat boots And the way you read my mind.
I hate you so much it makes me sick — It even makes me rhyme.
I hate the way you're always right. I hate it when you lie.
I hate it when you make me laugh — Even worse when you make me cry.
I hate it that you're not around. And the fact that you didn't call.
But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you — Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all."

yeah ... that.

oh the possibilities ...

When deciding on a Halloween costume you should always ask John. Why? Because John knows best. At least he thinks so. So I asked John. "John, what should I dress up as for Halloween? I can't decide." After thoughtful consideration John gave me a few suggestions.

1. The evil queen from Snow White. According to John we have a similar bone structure in the face ... okay.
2. Little Bo Peep. I didn't want to know why.
3. A peasant from the 18th century ... I suppose I can do the low-cut tattered dress with long curly hair ...
4. A mermaid. I always was a little jealous of Ariel.
5. A countess ... why not?!
And my favorite:
6. Little Miss Muffet. At this suggestion all I could think of was that I would have to carry a bowl of curds and whey (sp?) all night and I didn't want to do that. But John looked at me as if to say are you serious? and responded "No way, you carry a plate of steak and lobster." And then he recited, "Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet eating her steak and lobster and drinking a glass of chardonnay. Along came a spider that said to her, 'Little Miss Muffet, why don't you paint the town with me? You have been on that tuffet way too long. You need to come out and we will paint the town red.'" ... pretty much the best rendition of that nursery rhyme ever.

that adult thing ... or something like it

So I just got a job at St. Madeleine's Sophie's Center and I'm pretty excited about it. St. Mad's is in the business of teaching and helping developmentally disabled adults ... pretty sweet! I didn't get the art instructor position I wanted at their gallery but I'll be teaching/assisting in the art department on the main campus.
The only thing is ... I'm used to just being an irresponsible college student ... now I'll have to work full time ... while still being an irresponsible college student. Kinda scary huh?! That's right ... I graduated and apparently can't get enough of school. So I will be going back to take some prereq classes for my credential program I want to start next year ... YAY!
In case you are wondering ... I would eventually like to be teaching high school art classes during the school year and running a high school-college age art camp in the summers (... somewhere for people to be creative without the pressure of having to be genius). This will eventually lead into homemaker and stay-at-home mom, naturally (hopefully).
That's it for now.

The "Armani of Armour"

So apparently we should be walking down the street in bulletproof clothing now. Sure, no big deal ... afterall what's another $9,600 when you can withstand a blow from a mini Uzi by looking fashion forward in a polo shirt?! Miguel Caballero, the genious behind the designs, started working on them in 1992 while studying at a university in Bogota. Many of his classmates were sons of politicians and, since the country was in the midst of its civil war, they wore bullet-proof vests daily. No need to worry about those bulky, uncomfortable vests anymore though ... Caballero to the rescue. Now you can be fashionable and safe all at the same time! But all joking aside, I can see the use for these garments on high profile politicians/leaders who need to be safe yet presentable at public events or just in the streets. In case you are wondering though, this safety apparel is on sale at Harrod's in London. Oh, and PS. if you are looking for a job in safety fashion and you think this is it ... just know that Caballero himself will probably put you in one of his designs and shoot you ... happy initiation into that company!

"I is disgustipated"

Look .. it's Popeye and his mommy ... aren't they pretty?!

she took the midnight train going anywhere ...

How are you today breast ... I mean, ma'am?

It's a typical day at the Old Navy, I am putting away the go-backs (the clothes that the millions of customers try on and don't have to put away themselves ... or put back on the hangers correctly, or at all, ... and the clothes they leave all over the store) when I am asked to go to the front and take over for the cashier who gets to go home (oh joy ... now I actually have to deal with the customers ... and talk to them ... with a smile ... fun). I am then told that this is where I will be spending the rest of my shift (longest two hours of my life). I patiently walk to the front of the store with my manager (who whispers to me that the customer in front of us is wearing something very inappropriate ... that you can see through her shirt) and log into the register. Guess who customer number one in my line is? ... yep ... shirt lady. I kindly keep my eyes on her face (after noticing that the 'see-through' shirt was in fact a fallen shirt exposing only one of her breasts ... awkward) and ask the usual "did you find everything okay today?" and ask if she would like to save 10 percent by signing up for an Old Navy card (something I don't believe anybody should actually do). Here ... Let me paint you a more detailed picture: Shirt Lady is a lottle (misspelled on purpose) over weight. She is wearing a tight, tan-colored halter top ... the kind with the bandeau top that ties from the center up around the neck. Over it she is wearing a cropped, tan, knit shirt that ends just below the chest with wide holes (imagine fishnets). Now the interesting part ... one side of the bandeau top has shimmied its way down exposing her breast which is squished against the cropped sweater thing and clearly visible through the holes. Hmmm ... First of all, how do you not notice your exposure? Trust me, you would at least feel a slight breeze or something. On top of all this she is with her three kids who are running around and being obnoxious (sounds like they should be 3 year olds, right? Wrong. They were all around 10-12). Question: What kind of child doesn't tell their mom that her breast is hanging out of her shirt? Ahhhh. So here I am trying to decide whether I should say anything and what I should say to her ... imagine if I was one of my male co-workers ... so weird. Anyways, I finish ringing her up and as the line is dying down (thanks to my manager) I find the perfect opportunity to prevent further embarrassment for the poor lady. "Ma'am, I just noticed ... I think you should fix your shirt, its fallen in the front." She laughs sheepishly and, embarrassed, thanks me for letting her know. There ... that wasn't so bad was it? ... and then she decides to 'lighten' the weird moment by stating, "I hate having a small chest, you can never feel that happening." Excuse me? What am I supposed to say to that?!? All I had was an awkward laugh and a "have a good evening" for her.
ps ... I don't think that size determines whether or not you can tell when you are exposed ... just a thought.

Graffiti - Bridge to Life

The Message ... graffiti style:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1137883230/bctid1509297822

The Shed

still one of the best songs

The Rocket Summer - "Never Knew"

just ran into a few someones today
Someones that I never really knew
And I used to think how I had them all so figured out

But no, none of it's true cuz I never knew you
And now the truth of it is, is I wanna be like you
So hello, good friend, I wanna be next to you
For my head, for my heart, for whats true

So I'm burning the thoughts of the things that I once said
Because you tore down the walls that the world has put inside my head
And I just get sick of things that we think, we think we know

And no, none of it's true cuz I never knew you
And now the truth of it is, is I wanna be like you
So hello, good friend, I wanna be next to you
For my head, for my heart, for whats true

So take me and save me and change me and then make me
And embrace me and then brave my heart for you
No, No, cuz I can't go on without you
And it's time for something we never knew, oh

And no, none of it's true cuz I never knew you
and now the truth of it is, is I wanna be like you
So hello, good friend, I wanna be next to you
For my head, for my heart, for whats true

And as they strolled along
My heart broke out in song
From all the things and the thoughts and assumptions that I had wrong
See now I'll be on my way to make this claim
I'll make it famous in everyway
I'll make it stay when I will say that...

No, none of it's true cuz I never knew you
And now the truth of it is, is I wanna be like you
So hello, good friend, I wanna be next to you
For my head for my heart for whats true [x3]

she goes which way ...

Facebook Bumper Stickers

I have recently decided that making my own bumper stickers on facebook is much better than trying to find them in the umpteen million that are there ...

Trees (cont'd)

In case you were wondering where my vacation home is ... here it is. Although the pictures are from two different times of the year and they don't show the main house I wanted to show you part of the house and my vehicle to get there. The walkway you see in the first picture goes from my bedroom balcony to the lookout where I paint and watch birds. The second picture is the 'garage'. My vehicle actually flies ... yeah ... I get in it and it transports me to this remote location. You can see at the bottom the beginning of the walkway that leads to the actual house. I know you are disappointed that I don't have a picture of the house but I can't give too much away ... it's my getaway ... from you.

Trees

In case you didn't know, I have a semi-ridiculous obsession with trees. I just think they are amazing. When I saw this tree I almost cried ... because I want to live in it. Wow.

I Want A Fort

Everyone should have a fort. One time we transformed my entire living room into a fort. It was amazing. You may think this happened when I was little ... it was last year ... I was a junior in college ... pretty fan-freakin-tastic if you ask me.

Growing Younger

Sometimes in life we just have to stop and look at things through the eyes of a child. I remember childhood as a time when colors were brighter, the birds all sang a pretty song, and imagination was not stifled by everyday affairs. To be child-like is something I strive toward ... not to be immature or irresponsible but to open my eyes to greater possibility, more imagination, and a greater sense of joy and wonder.

Help Me Believe - Nichole Nordeman
"Take me back to the time
when I was maybe eight or nine
and I believed.
When Jesus walked on waters blue
and if He helped me I could too
if I believed.
Before rational analysis and systematic thinking
robbed me of a sweet simplicity
when wonders and when mysteries
were far less often silly dreams
and childhood fantasies.
Help me believe
'cause I don't want to miss any miracles.
Maybe I'd see much better by closing my eyes
and I would shed this grown up skin I'm in
to touch an angel's wing
and I could be free.
Help me believe."

The Flowers of Anza-Borrego

Happy St. Patty's Day! It was such a beautiful day so we decided to take a trek out to Anza-Borrego to see the beautiful wildflowers that sprouted up all through the valley. This was followed by lunch at the Miner's Diner in Julian and then an awesome night at Hooleys hangin' with amazing people!