The gift that keeps on gifting.

The past two days I've been sleeping. Ah, recovery is sweet. I'm excited about Xmas now. The fam is here and I'm ready to party. The kids will be the best part, opening their gifts, and what not. I'm also looking forward to my love and my family combining this year. Powers unite! It's going to be wonderful.
My head is also beginning to clear. Not by much yet, but I feel better. I'm relieved to put this semester behind me. I passed all of my classes(thank God) and I'm going to do some, not necessarily "soul searching", but figure out what made this past semester so strange and make sure it doesn't happen next semester. My final semester...
I'd rather not dive into that quite yet.
For Xmas I am making everyone(women actaully) boxes. I've bought various beautiful papers and am constructing. I have the super glue fingers to prove it. My boyfriend doesn't understand how I learned how to make a box. I find this to be fascinating since I thought everyone knew how to make boxes, especially him since he is a custom wood worker. I guess I have one up on him in this department. Muahaha.
Either way, I'm enjoying building and being creative. I hope everyone likes them.
Now I need to be off to shop for my father and brothers, the hardest to shop for...How do you shop for men? It shouldn't be so complicated to shop for your own blood.
Until next time.
Happy Holidays!

The Happier Version of Me

Thank you for my grade. I appreciate it.


I am so glad this semester is finally, finally over....

Now let's party. Hard.

Cause I'm Marvelous

Shirin Neshat. Right now I am doing a final presentation on this amazing woman. An Iranian born artist, who moved to the U.S. when she was 17, Neshat's work was heavily influenced by the Islamic Revolution in 1979. She was not allowed to return to her homeland during this time. Until 1990 Shirin Neshat had been in exhile, but when she finally could return home Neshat was shocked by the massive changes in politics and the society. The treatment of women in Iran inspired Shirin to create this series of photographs composed of women in habjis and guns. Neshat drew and wrote on the images. I love the exquisite beauty of all her photographs. I'm very inspired by the passion one image reflects. This image particularly speaks to me. I love the hands and the design perfectly drawn upon the hand. She is amazing.

I am almost done. I see the light. Then it will be time to party. Party like it's 1999.

The trick is to keep breathing.

This is a documentation of my final year of college. I am about to get personal here. Probably bordering on the verge of whiny or "pitty party" worthy. You've been warned.




I cannot do anything right. Or at least this semester is themed around that idea. I am frustrated. I feel tangled up in knots, ropes, chains, whatever. If I had a knife, a key, maybe I could break free. I know it will all fall into place and the end of the semester will be the same as all the others. But I can't help worrying myself sick. Especially since I have felt this semester has been the weirdest of them all. I just want it to be over. It's dragging on... repeated nails on chalk board... I'm irritated. I feel hopeless. Can I not please anyone??? I'm a smart girl. I know what to do. I'm creative. But you'd think(judging by the things said to me by some teachers....it's more like bullying.) that I was some dumb, hopeless kid. I am not. So please stop trying to belittle me as if you are so much better than I am, my lovely teachers. Please, stop treating me as if I remind you of that girl who treated you like shit in high school, for I am not. You are too old to be acting this way toward me. As a teacher I feel it is their responsibility to do just that, teach. Or perhaps encourage, something rarely provided at my college. Only this year have I encountered encouragement from one or two teachers. How disappointing...
What also angers me is the fact that this is college... the way things are working around here would make anyone cringe. Ugh.
I've written 4 versions of my Media paper. At this moment I am mutating them all into one. I've had 3 english majors read over them and give their opinions. I am determined for a good grade. I'm trying so hard. This is my spilling my guts out here. I'm trying to make you see how hard I try. I am no bullshit. I am not that student who waits till midnight to begin writing. I've been writing. I've been thinking. Please, please, give me a break... I sound pathetic. But like I said, this is a very personal entry. It stems from the sadness and stress baring down on me at the end of the semester. The worries that I have overflowing in my head. The upcoming graduation(I hope.) There isn't much left for me to do, but freak out. I apologize to those who read this and find me oddly depressing or just too prissy for their tastes, but I'm being honest. If you were me, you'd feel the same.
I'll make it to the finish line. I'm just following the turtoise's style not the rabbit's... it isn't by choice though.

It all comes down to this.

The semester is coming to a close. I'm sitting here thinking about what I've accomplished and what I hope to accomplish next semester. There will be much more trashing. Much, much more trashing of the dress. My teacher on Wednesday told me I had not evolved as he had hoped I would over the course of three months. I may not have evolved in my photography(to his eyes anyway...) but I have been going through some things personally. I'm hoping the fog of the semester will fade and let me finally settle. I have two more finals that I must conquer before the end is here. Monday I have no class but loads to do. Tuesday is my Digital final. Wednesday... let's not discuss that. Thursday is just a presentation and a small insignificant meeting with a teacher. Blah blah blah.
Tuesday should be interesting since I actually photographed myself for this project. I also made a pretty box out of fancy paper for it too. I hope that will just pass with ease and I'll walk away with only some small bruises.
I just need to pass. I've worked hard. I have put my efforts in where necessary. I never dilly dallyed more than usual(I am an artist, procrastinator by nature.) I just hope all goes well and ends well. I don't fear failure, I just hope no one has a change of heart and removes mine. It's my last year. I need mercy. Alot. But I am no slacker nor am I stupid, but I worry. I worry so much it hurts sometimes...
I see the silver lining though. It's coming in the form of Christmas, family, and friends. The new year sounds refreshing. I've made a big change and I'm excited to see where it takes me.
Wish me luck.

Dear Santa.

I seriously haven't gotten into the spirit of the holidays this year, well, not so far. But Christmas is only 2 weeks away and I don't feel like I'm ready. Normally, like I said before, B101 is blaring on my radio and I've heard Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" about a billion times over. Not this year. I feel disconnected from the whole holiday thingie. This makes me sad. I feel like I am missing a key component here. Is it the weird weather changes? The odd semester that is almost done??? Or is it me? It's sort of frustrating.
My Xmas tree is still not up. There are some lights strangling the bushes outside, but not much else. By the looks of the street, I may not be the only one missing the cheer. There aren't alot of decorations creating false day outside. I thought after Obama won the election we would suddenly burst from our sad little cages and feel reassured and ready for change?? Now it looks as if the recission is doing much more than ruin the economy, it's ruining people's love of the holidays.
I should bake cookies or make gingerbread. Maybe make gifts or push for the Xmas tree. I should be excited because Coal and family will be here in 11 days. It'll be super fun. I should be happy that the semester is closing and I can put these weird past couple of months behind me.
I hope.
But in the mean time...

Dear Santa,
I've tried to be a good person this year. I really have. All I want for Christmas is the holiday spirit at the least. If you could bring that in a box wrapped in shiny paper with a big bow I'd be very appreciative.
Thanks.
Kat

Hire me!!!!

http://perezhilton.com/2008-12-08-new-director-for-twilight-sequel

Thank goodness! Like I mentioned before, I hated this movie. It didn't do any justice to the book. I really enjoy the Twilight series(despite its teenage perception...) The movies need to be darker and sexier. This movie had nothing. Like I also told you before, Robert Patinson is hot, but his acting could have been worked on. The chick that played Bella definitely needs to read the book and REMEMBER THAT BELLA ISN'T A VEGETARIAN... give me a break. Just cause the actress doesn't eat, doesn't mean our main character shouldn't either. Sheesh.
Can we hire me now to do the next couple of movies properly? I'll make them hot. I'll make them worth their salt.
Am I cynical? I guess so, but I can't stand the fact that such a crappy movie received rave reviews. People need to stop making shitty movies out of great books.
If you are actually looking for a good movie-book to watch, I suggest "The Namesake", absolutely amazing.
Take a page out of that director's book people before you make a horrible version of "New Moon".