Photo Essay

I posted my entire photo essay on my posterous site. A link to it is posted under the blogs I follow.

Paths

We all know the quintessential interview question, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" We put together a cookie cutter response that we think the interviewee wants to hear, but we don't necessarily answer truthfully. This is not only an important career question, but an important life question. We should ask this question of ourselves and answer with complete honesty. It provides a check and balance to make sure that we are seizing the opportunities to follow our dreams, create our own happiness, and live life without regrets.

For so long I avoided this question. I was not happy with where I was in many aspects of my life, where I was headed, and even afraid to make that decision to change that path. As I am slowly figuring out, we must be honest with ourselves first, begin asking ourselves the difficult questions, and take responsibility for the answers because in the end no one else determines our path.




image via idg's flickr

Dreams

"Dreams are answers to questions we haven't yet figured out how to ask."

~ X - Files

Happy Friday!

image via peacelovebellavita.blogspot.com

Photo Essay

I have decided not to change my photo essay topic, so Eight Rod Farm it is. I have played around with some of the pictures to make them a little more interesting. I will try to post them all to the posterous site once I am all done, but here is a sample in the meantime. Let me know what you think.

ABC's

This is a photography project that I recently completed, in which we had to find letters of the alphabet in unconventional ways. Now you will look at things and start seeing letters too!

Extravagance

I love reading celebrity gossip just as much as the next girl, maybe even more. People magazine is one my favorite reads at the gym and what better magazine to take to the beach then US Weekly. Every once is a while (OK it is becoming increasingly familiar) I am totally disgusted with some of the things that I read and vow to stop reading the smut for good, so hopefully it will make an impact of some sort. Today is one of those days.

I am baffled to read the headline about a certain crazy celebrity couple throwing a $100,000 birthday for their child's 2nd birthday. Do you remember your second birthday? Is it because your parent's didn't spend $5,000 on your birthday cake? I doubt it. I bet your cake was homemade, which means it was more special.

You just wonder when too much becomes too much. I am in no ways claiming to be a saint in the materialism department. I have too many shoes, far too much clothing, and generally too much stuff. It really is puzzling that these so called celebrities become role models when they make such poor choices as flaunting their extravagant lifestyles when people are loosing their jobs daily. Sorry had to get that off my chest!

Hinge of Destiny

Isn't it crazy to think that every decision we make effects our lives, from the smallest decisions to the major ones? While this is kind of scary, it is also empowering to realize how much sway we have in our lives.

"Choices are the hinges of destiny."

Attributed to Edwin Markham & Pythagoras

Cheers

The end of "75 and Sunny" has come to an end. Tonight I will be drinking the wine that TB and I made during our sobriety stint. Cross your fingers that we make it out alive. Have a great LONG weekend and unofficial start to summer!

Image via JustABigGeek's flickr AND it is Newport!

Greenish Thumb

There is just something about getting your hands dirty that is so rewarding. Since moving back to Narragansett, I have taken to mowing the lawn, raking leaves (hate it), and tending for the tomato and basil plants. Let's hope that I don't kill them.

"Unemployment is capitalism's way of getting you to plant a garden."

~ Orson Scott Card

To Every Season

This warm weather has me thinking about summer. At the beginning of every season, I tend to make a list of things that I want to do, activities to try, places to go...so here is some of my summer list...

1. Sea Kayaking

2. Catch some live music at a vineyard

3. Go to the Newport Storm Brewery

4. New Hampshire zip lines

5. Jamestown fireworks (they are amazing)

6. James Taylor
7. Skydive

8. Take a surfing lesson

9. Camping

10. Day Trip of Martha's Vineyard

Can't wait to start these new adventures!

image via Roobottom's flickr

Hiking

I wrote a while back about a place that I took a hike at, Ten Rod Farm, and I had wished that I brought a camera at the time. This weekend I went back armed with a camera and plans to shoot for my photography essay. I came home with pictures that were a tad boring and a tic. I think I am changing my photo essay focus.

Monday Morning Blues

You know when everything just seems to start off on the wrong foot in the morning and it leaves you in a funk?

Well, this morning after taking a nice hot shower, I stepped in cat vomit. Yes, you read right, cat vomit. And although I know it is not his fault that his stomach was upset, it drives me crazy. He is like a vomiting cat ninja. Instead of doing it say next to his litter box, which would obviously ruin his bathroom routine, he vomits on the brown and orange '70's linoleum between the kitchen and hallway right at the corner where I would have no hope of seeing it.

This whole incident comes only two weeks after I stumbled upon cat vomit BEHIND the blinds of the bay window. Hmmm what to do, what to do...

Alright so he may look less like a ninja in this picture and more like a porn star, but can't you see the vomit scheming going on in his eyes. He secretly enjoys it.

Drawing Class

I finished my drawing final project, so here it is. The picture looks better on my other site, but thought I would post it anyways.

Books

I love reading. I always have. I am more of a fiction reader than anything else, but I decided to try the book "Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler. It is precisely why I read fiction books. I am bored and having trouble reading it. I also have the problem where I have to finish a book completely. So I am hoping that as I get to the next chapter, it will get better. The premise behind it sounds inspirational.

What I am looking forward to is sitting on the beach with a good FICTION book and letting the hours slip by.

Image via flickr phyllis.aka.muffins

If you have any good books to recommend, please share.

"Love is an attempt at penetrating another being,

but it can only succeed if the surrender is mutual."

~ Octazio Paz

Quote and Image via http://peacelovebellavita.blogspot.com/

75 and Sunny

This coming weekend is the last sober weekend of the "75 and Sunny" plan. I have enjoyed it so much that I was thinking I might try to do it next year too. I also learned a few things about myself along the way as well.

I learned...

... it is ok to stay home on a Friday night alone.
... waking up Saturday morning with a clear head is the best ambition to try something new.

... I don't need alcohol to dance, laugh, and have fun every time I go out.

... to enjoy going to bed early on a weekend night.

... I have a major sweet tooth when I don't drink. :)

... I check more things off my list to try and do things.

... I am more comfortable with myself.

... I don't doubt myself as much.

... I don't feel like I have to drink when others are, even if I get asked a million times why I am not.

I really think that the timing of "75 and Sunny" was impeccable. I don't think I would be where I am right now with school, my confidence, happiness, and mental state if I had not taken this time to really step back and concentrate on myself in a healthy way. Even though in the grand scheme of things sixty something days does not seem like a long time, it really has impacted my life in a huge way. While it is tempting to booze the summer away, I think that this experience has made me realize how important it is to give yourself a chance to be itself, without drowning in wine. Don't get me wrong I cannot wait for that glass of wine...

image via Flickr.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31168871@N02/3429807663/

Siesta

I recently watched the movie "Vicky Christina Barcelona" (movie was alright, guys will envy the main male character) and it really made me long to live in Spain or somewhere foreign where art and culture are fostered and appreciated in a way that it is not here. As Americans begrudgingly head to work every day, I long to take a siesta mid-day, take an impromptu walk at night and stumble upon a group of people playing the guitar, or simply walk through the streets and appreciate the historical architecture surrounding me. So as you can see today I am day dreaming...

Image via Flickr.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ancama_99/2223749656/

Happy Little Things

Recently the blog "Rockstar Diaries" has been posting various lists from people about the ten little things that make them happy. Well I have been thinking about this pretty much non-stop since the posts started and I think I finally have a list, although I could probably make it alot longer. I do think it is important to think of the "little things" frequently to realize just how lucky and blessed we are in life. So here we go....

1. Picnics

2. Getting a text message that reads, "Banquet Beer" when my day is just plain

3. Going somewhere new for the first time with someone special

4. Getting goosebumps when I hear bagpipes live

5. Having a bowl of cereal in bed

6. Finding the perfect gift for someone

7. Clean sheets

8. Lingering smell from someone special

9. Burying my toes in the sand

10. Making dinner and then eating it outside on the deck

Notice it doesn't say dancing with someone other than MY partner at dance class. Yes, it is creepy.

Anyways, you can find the link to Rockstar Diaries on the side if you would like.

Photo via Flickr.com @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/intangiblyawesome/12229085/

Mother's Day

Sunday is Mother's Day and it has gotten me thinking about what my favorite memory of my mother might be and I think I have come to a conclusion. It happened when I was little, maybe 3 or 4, and she would take me with her to Jazzercise and then to Whole Foods after. I think it was the fact that it was just the two of us and that I felt a part of the whole experience. I remember feeling "older" and special. There are obviously many more memories, but this one seemed to be the one that brought back the best emotions. So Happy Mother's Day!

image via Flickr.com

Posterous

So one of my professors asked us to create a blog to act as a kind of portfolio to display our projects and track our progress through out the next year and a half. I will probably just post my projects from Design classes, photographs from Photography (they look much better on that site), and maybe some of my drawings and keep this one as it is. If you want to check it out, the site is:

http://mjclark.posterous.com

I will also post it on the side of this blog under "Blogs I Follow." Feel free to share it, leave comments, and critique my work. I appreciate any feedback that I get as it helps the learning process. There isn't too much on there yet, but hope to post more soon. Hopefully you will see my work improve and enjoy looking at the fun projects that I get to work on.

Cinco de Mayo

I wish I could partake in Cinco de Mayo festivities with some

homemade guacamole and margaritas.

Image via CoastalLiving.com

Lists

Lately, I have been thinking about the last couple of months; what they have taught me, allowed me to do, and just got me thinking about things. Mainly I realized that I stopped taking time for myself. I really believe that although losing my job was awful and I don't particularly recommend it, it has been an amazing opportunity to take back my time and concentrate on myself.

Early into my new found "free time," I made a list of things I wanted like to do at some point. Some are outrageous, some are simple, but all have pushed me to stop talking about doing things and get doing them. Losing my job became a great lesson that things are not always secure; your life can change in an instant. I realized that I was always waiting for a better time to take that art class I have always wanted to take or go on that road trip. So I made a decision to no longer wait for a better time, but get moving and fill my life with many adventures and have never been happier.


This week starts a new adventure...swing dance class!

"Contemplation often makes life miserable.

We should act more, think less, and stop watching ourselves live."

~Nicholas de Chamfort

Photo via flickr

The Birthday Celebrations Continue...

Today is my dear friend Heather's birthday! I love birthdays, not only my own but other people's. I think it is important that each person is made to feel special as it is their day, a personal holiday. So...I hope that she has a wonderful birthday! She is one of those friends, that type of person that is supremely genuine. I have never read the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven, but I know the premise and deep down I know that we were meant to be friends.

Image found at MarthaStewart.com