Miles and I got the wedding invitations done today. I do, however, fear that we've forgotten people. Now I get to hand them out at school ever so subtly as to not offend anyone that may not be invited. Ugh, the thought.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, though this will show up as being written on Wednesday) I am going to get some photos framed. That means I get to empty the frames out of my car, make a trip to Hobby Lobby, stock up on white mat board and possibly a couple more frames, make a trip back to school, carry a ton of mat board and some of those frames up to the graphics/photo room and go to work. I always feel bad when I have to be at school late working on stuff. But, I HAVE to do it. I don't have to work tomorrow (luckily) and I don't know what my schedule will be like next week so I need to get as much done this week as possible.

Tonight my mom told me that if I was marrying anyone other than Miles she'd tell me not to. She said, "If it wasn't for you kids I wouldn't do this." Not that she's doing us any favors hanging out here. Okay, let me get this straight. I would never ever tell someone to get a divorce (NEVER). I would never think that it'd be a possible alternative to this. I just don't think they realize that roles that they both play in this whole thing. To each of them everything is the other's fault.

I have too many things to invite people to. Let's see.
April 11th - Bridal Shower
April 13th - Senior Show
April 18th - Bridal Shower
May 9th - Graduation
June 12th - Wedding

They're all so close! I am, however, excited for all of these events. I just wonder how many people in my family will attend these. Especially my senior show. I don't think many people understand what it actually is. I really wonder how many people we'll actually have at our show. I don't get to actually talk to much of my family to make it known to them that this is fairly important to me. Maybe it's not so much that it's important to me, it's just that there's so much work that I need to do and so much time to put into it that I'd like for people to show up. I don't know how much it really matters, but there aren't many people that seem like they're willing to come (on Facebook anyway, since that's the only way I can half track who will be there).

I really hope I don't work much next week. I just don't have time to work. Too bad I can't be too busy to eat junk food. Man, that'd be healthy for me.

I should sleep.

I am going to cut my hair like that after the wedding. I figure I should leave it long enough to put up and what not for the wedding, but I think I like it there.
But, I'll cut it then wish I hadn't. It always works like that.

Portfolio is tonight. I hate that class! I don't hate the actual class. I don't hate the people, teacher, or any of the stuff we have to do (other than the thought of having to create something in Flash), but I hate that it's 5 hours long. Plus, I always eat junk on Tuesdays so I never feel well in there. I should take some stuff to eat tonight. We have bananas here.

So, I am going to search for some photos to print for my senior show (I think we'll be able to each have more pieces than we had planned) then make my way to school. I think I will change to some more comfortable pants before I go. These jeans are just stupid.

How much more are ye better than the fowls?

I have cramps and my back hurts. How lovely!

I've been listening to some Bible studies today. My computer was going slow and kept making them choppy, though, so I need to listen to them again. Also, my computer won't keep the right time. Since daylight savings it's keep going back to an hour behind. That scares me because if I am watching this clock before work or school I'll inevitably be late.

I can't believe there is really only a month and one week before school is over. Forever, over. Like I never will ever have to go again, over.
That's a wonderful thought, but so stressful. I have so much to do. But, that is one topic I constantly talk about on here, so I won't do that today. I'm sure I will tomorrow.

Luke 12:22-24
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

I'm very much looking forward to the summer.
I want to have cookouts and picnics. I want to wear shorts comfortably (which means I need to tone my stupid legs so I'm not self-conscious about myself in them).
Oh, and I also want to decorate a home (apartment, house, duplex, whatever it may be). I want to cook dinner and have people over. I think I'd like to eat then have a Bible study of sorts.

Here is how the rest of my day will go (as far as I can tell):
-I will dry my hair.
-I will read chapters 13-15 of Luke.
-I will get my stuff together and go to Miles' house.
-I will have Bible study with Miles' parents, Miles (unless he's sleeping) and Amber.
-Miles will probably go back to sleep (or stay asleep) and Amber and I will chat for a couple of hours.
-I will probably take Miles to work (he has a hole of sorts in one of his tires).
-I will come home and probably upload some pictures.
-Then I will go to sleep.

I think that's a pretty productive day.

Artist Statement Ideas

I could tell you about myself.

(For example, I like textures and patterns and unnecessary punctuation.)

I could tell you what you expect to hear.

(I like photography and designing and Renaissance art.)

Or, I could tell you what I would really like to tell someone who's curious about why I make things (no, I don't create art).

I like to incorporate God's Word in all that I do. I keeps me sane and makes me realize what is really important.

I could tell you that art is my life and my everything. That artists, like myself, breathe creativity and are inspired by everything and nothing.

(But, that would be a lie.)

And of course, I could tell you that I'm an artist...I mean, I've got the brushes to prove it.

(Really, I'm not an artist. I just like to take pictures with my camera that cost me too much money.)

-------

I'm trying to figure out what I want to do for my artist statement. I refuse to say that I'm an artist (sounds so pretentious) and that I create what nots. I just want to say that I like to take pictures. I like to incorporate the Word into things I make. I look to the Bible for inspiration because it's what I'm passionate about.

It's hard for me to not become outrageously sarcastic when writing this stupid statement. I'm really becoming more and more stubborn as the days go by.

I've been eating a lot of junk today. First I had a small bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee. Then I ate some small chocolate donuts (the nutrition facts said that they had 75% of the saturated fat I should have in a day, ugh) and some doritos. I got home and ate a ice cream fudge bar, a piece of a carrot, and a star crunch. In approximately 15 minutes I'm going to eat some chicken fajitas. It'll be nice to eat some real food.

I went to school today. I'd like to think I got quite a bit done, but I know the list is never ending. I did get 3 bags put together, business cards cut out, an envelop put together, quite a few pictures printed, tea bag holder things cut together, and two boxes put together. I need to put the grommet things and the strings on the bags. I also need to figure out how big I'm going to print a poster that I designed so I can buy the frame for it. Then I need to buy a bunch of mat board and mat all of my photos, finish with the business cards, write an artist statement and a press release. Not to mention all of the work I need to do for printmaking.

Luckily I don't work again until Thursday, and if they try to call me in I'm not answering my phone.

"Answer" used to be really hard for me to spell. The w is completely silent so I never knew if it was anwser or answer. Not that anwser makes any sense at all, but apparently it did when I was younger.

That's the poster I am going to put in my show. Unfortunately I don't think the size will fit any frame easily, so I'll have to adjust that.



This photo (above) is going in my show. I couldn't decide if I wanted it to be in color or black and white. I went with color.


I printed both of those photos. I can't decide which one I'll show. There might be enough space for me to show both, but I don't know if I'll want to spend the money on 2 more frames. They were on sale this week so next week they won't be. I could always just go in at two different times with 40% off coupons and buy them. I guess we'll see how it goes.

Now I can smell those fajitas. Good bye.

I'm going to hopefully get a lot done today. I only have one class from 12-12:50, then I work from 6-9:15. I plan on finishing up the wedding invitations, finding the pictures I'm going to print for my senior show, possibly take a trip to Wal Mart to pick up some double sided tape and rubber cement. Tomorrow I don't have to work (which I am very happy about) so I am going to go to school and get as much senior show stuff done as possible. Which means I get to do all the things I hate. Like, putting bags together, cutting out and gluing together business cards, and cutting mat board. Oh how I hate cutting mat board.

It'll be nice to have some things done, though.

I look forward to this semester being over.

I'm stressed. It's making me breakout. I have to work tonight.

Ugh!

Work shouldn't be bad. It's only 4 hours, after all. It would just be so nice to not have to work.

I got the postcard/invitations back for our senior show today. They look good! I'm quite happy with them. My group has all turned in addresses and Gladys said they should be done by tomorrow. That is a sigh of relief. I'm so stressed about this whole senior show thing. I've decided I am going to offer to buy all the food (and possibly drinks) and take care of getting it there and everything, if everyone will pay me back. I think that would be the least stressful way for me to accomplish that.

I've been working on wedding invitations lately. I think we're pretty far on getting those together. I need to write on and fold returning envelopes to put into the invitation, and add pocket calendar things for Family Radio. Our envelopes look so unofficial, but I don't mind. I think the invitation itself is much more important than the envelop.

Well, I am off to work( :( ).

We spent the day in Kansas City at design firms. First we went to Bernstein-Rein, which seemed okay at first. Then we went to eat. I had Panera, which Miles had told me that I wouldn't like. Surprise! I was neutral toward it. I had chicken noodle soup and it was okay. Not bad, but I'd never go get it again. After eating we walked around the Plaza for a little bit then went to Blacktop. Blacktop was the best one. It was laid back and the people were nice. The last one we went to was Design Ranch. It was very sterile, as I think Megan put it. White walls, straight lines, wood floors. It was nice, but small. Very, very small. I'm sure it's a nice place to work but the lady that owned it kind of scared me.

I have too much to do. (There is always way too much to do!)
In an hour I need to head back to school for Portfolio. I think we're only going to meet for a little bit, so that's good. I am going to print some pictures for photography.

Now I'm full on sweet tea. Ugh!

Kmart is ruining my life.

I have to leave here in 20 minutes. I still need to do a little bit of readying. Ugh! I really, really don't want to go to work tonight. I'd much rather go to sleep.

Tomorrow we're going to Kansas City for Portfolio. I am half way looking forward to it. I know I'm not going to work at any of those places (btw, we're going to look at design firms). I don't even want to design things really once I graduate. I think it'll be a nice trip, though. We're meeting in class for about an hour after we get back. I've decided that my senior show group is going to have to meet and get things sorted out. We are so unorganized. I am trying to get things done for everyone, but I'm just simply getting no help. Oh, I can't wait to be done.

I really just can't wait to graduate. It'll be a wonderful day. Just knowing that I'll never have to go to school ever again. Oh, the joy!

I really need to get my hair cut. I have horrible split ends. Also, I straighten it everyday. I really don't need to, but it makes it smooth faster. I know it's ruining my hair, though. I guess I should make an appointment soon.

I don't really have much to say today.

Man, I don't want to go to work!

Woe is me!

I'm still sick. It's starting to hurt when I swallow from coughing so much. Ugh! Hopefully I feel better tomorrow.

I didn't take pictures of Kenzie today. I actually never heard from anyone about it. Instead I packed up a few picture frames and other random things and took a trip to Hastings to find an article about modern American Art. The magazine I bought was way too expensive and is pretty stupid. It's called "Meatpaper". Yeah, exactly. There's an article about a guy who is a "meat artist". It should make for conversation next Friday in class, anyway.

So my back, face and chest keep breaking out. Nonstop. I never used to have a problem with this. It seems that no matter what I do, how I clean them, how much or how little attention I give them they just keep breaking out. Miles tells me it's because of stress, which could definitely have some effect on it. I just can't lower my stress until I done with school. Oh, I look forward to graduation. I still have so much to do. So...much...to...do.

Payless called me today. The lady asked, "Is this Aleesa?" (She pronounced like Aleesa!) I totally corrected her, but I didn't mean to so I felt kind of bad. It really doesn't matter if you say my name wrong. It matters if you know me, but when you don't know me and you're calling, that doesn't matter. But, really, does it look like it'd be pronounced Aleesa? I don't think so. Anyway, my shoes are in! I am going to pick them up tomorrow after I get out of art history.

I've started to compile addresses for wedding invitations. Oh my goodness, how overwhelming. I am getting myself so confused as to whose address is correct, who I can just hand them out to and whose address I still need. There are just far too many people involved in a wedding.

Want to hear great news? We have termites trying to eat our house. Awesome! Today I killed some of them with Limeaway.

I'm going to bed, goodnight.

I am ready to get out of this house.

Originally I was supposed to take pictures of my cousin Kenzie tomorrow (Thursday). I don't think that's going to happen. I get out of class around noon and have to work at 5. With my time I think I'll go to Hastings and try to find a magazine with an article about modern American art and start to clean my room.

My room is a disaster. I had cleaned it not too awful long ago, then I brought home boxes from work to use for packing. I have nowhere to put anything so it all just sits around in here. Then I have newspaper on top of the boxes, and bags on top of that. We've been buying wedding stuff so I end up acquiring a lot of that stuff...and again I have nowhere to put it. Also, my lighting kit used to be housed in my car, but once my window was shot out I took out everything that could be of any sort of value. I really need to move it back. It's taking up space!
Also, I think I have a mouse living with me...and not by choice. I guess I can't blame that possible mouse, I mean, I have boxes on one side of the room and clothes on the other. There's no wall space anywhere along the edge.

I really gotta get this place cleaned up. Having my room like this just frustrates me. I try to walk to my closet and hit my leg on a box or air conditioner. I trip on shoes and knock pictures off my desk all the time.

I think it'd be better if I don't take pictures tomorrow. It'll give me time to get some more packing done.

I worked tonight 5-9. Initially I was supposed to work on checkouts, but Hannah asked if I wanted to trade her for Home Decor. So, I was in Home Decor. I got a cart so I could gather my go-backs. I couldn't find a place on the shelves for this Martha Stewart pitcher and glasses set, so I pulled out a trusty RMU, but of course it wouldn't let me log on. So, Kristi pulled out her more trusty RMU and found out that there was indeed no home on the shelves for it. So, I did a price check to see if we still even had it in our system or if I should damage it out. It was still in the system but had been clearanced out for $3.00. I bought it. I couldn't resist. It comes with a glass pitcher, 8 regular sized glasses and 8 smaller glasses. Of course the pitcher is heavy, but who cares? $3.00!

I'm proud of that purchase.

So, I'm still sick.

It's now 8:30 pm on a Tuesday evening.  Generally I would be in my Portfolio class until 9:50 going crazy because 5 hours is way too long for one class.  Tonight I am still in class, but not technically in class.  Make sense?  Okay, so, we turned in our stuff for midterm by 7 and now we can leave whenever.  Of course I can't!  That would be too easy.  Instead I am sitting here working on a PowerPoint about Michelle Black, a photographer who I love.  No, I don't love, love her, but I am a big fan.

It's taking forever.  PowerPoints always take me hours upon hours to finish.  I wish I could just wrap this up and go home.  I'd love to go eat some corned beef (I actually really love that stuff) then go to bed.  I'm starving.

Today I've eaten half of a banana, 3 crackers with summer (somer?) sausage and cheese and a thing of yogurt.  I generally eat for the fun of it.  I've been hungry today, but nothing sounds good.  But, luckily, corned beef does, and there should be some at my house tonight.  I hope it's not gone by the time I get home.  I'd cry.

I guess it'd be best if I did get back to work.  I mean, I would like to keep babbling on about absolutely nothing, but I would like to go home and eat food a lot more.

Tootles.

This is just me complaining. I will understand if you don't read it.

I skipped pilates today. I woke up really stiff and a little achey. Miles was here this morning and he said, "I don't think you should go to Pilates today." I just responded, "I don't think I'll argue with you on that one."
It was nice to not have to rush this morning. I sat around for a while, drank some coffee, then got ready slowly. Miles napped on the couch.
I've been up and down all day today. I feel totally fine, then I feel horrible. Right now I'm pretty in between. I'm stuffy and can't really taste food, but other than that I think I'm fine.
I had to work 5-9:15 tonight. Right after I got there I was bombarded with other employees and customers. One lady threw her arms up and walked out of the store disgusted because I said I would get one of the cashiers some change then I'd be over to void something in jewelry then do an override for 70% off something. Apparently that was not good enough for her. She was "in a rush." Come on, people, if you're in a rush, don't go and try to buy jewelry, it is a well known fact that jewelry takes a while to buy. There's all that unlocking and locking of the cabinets that you have to do. Then (!) another lady had picked up the wrong converter box in electronics. I called back for them (which is totally something a cashier can do on their own!) and asked Jay if we had any of the Zenith or Magnavox converter boxes which are $49.99, as the one the customer had picked up was $59.99. Problem solved.
Okay, so none of that would be too bad if I was feeling okay. But, I wasn't.

The first senior show was tonight. I wish I would have been able to go, but of course, as previously mentioned I was working. I went to school around 9:20 to work on some stuff for portfolio.

Oh! I had taken my plate from printmaking into work with me today. I had it in my bag and I don't know if heat has any effect on it, so I thought to be safe I should just put it in my locker and surely I'll remember to grab it before leaving. Of course not! I share a locker with someone, and I'm really hoping she doesn't work tomorrow. You can't touch the plate with your hands, the grease will etch the plate and ruin it. Oops. The only good thing about it is that it's my first plate, so if it's messed up it doesn't really matter too much.

Oy vey, I am going to go to bed.

I'm miserable.

So for the past couple of days my mom has been coughing a lot...very badly. Yesterday I went to KC to shop for bridesmaids dresses with Mandy, Miles' mom, Aimee, Amber and Cassie. First we ate at Granite City then shopped some around Zona Rosa. So, initially I planned on the dresses being a light blue (more of a periwinkle than a turquoise). On Tuesday I had gone to Payless to pick out my shoes (I am getting blue shoes...I just want them...okay?!). I decided that we'd just get some brown dresses for the girls and later add a blue sash that will be matched to the shoes, and they'd wear blue shoes also. I thought it be much easier to find brown dresses than blue dresses that were the same color of blue as the shoes. Oh how wrong I was!

We went to Delias, Forever 21, Dillards, Charlotte Russe, Aeropostale, Dressbarn (it was closing down so there weren't very many things there and everything was about 70% off), Gap, New York and Company and Ann Taylor Loft. We found nothing. So, we headed over to Maurices and David's Bridal. Nothing, again. Mandy and Miles' mom headed back to town, and Aimee joined up with Josh. Cassie, Amber and I were determined to find something. We headed back to St. Joe and went to the north shops. Kohls was first, then DressBarn, Target and TJMaxx. Nothing...of course. So, we headed to the mall. We went to JCPenneys, Vanity, Deb, Pacsun, Maurices, Sears and finally Rue 21. We finally found something at Rue 21. They're knee length, brown!, empire waisted and only cost $20. Woot!

It was quite the day.

While we were in KC I started to cough a little bit. My throat was really scratchy, but I wasn't feeling any pressure or anything. After we got back Amber and I headed out to school so she could fix a poster for Graphics II and so I could print a list of addresses that Aimee used for her wedding. I started to feel a little worse, so I came home. Miles came over and I made some mediocre macaroni and cheese then took Nyquil and laid down. Around 3 I woke up because Miles was laying the opposite way on my bed and I couldn't move from right up against my wall so I couldn't get comfortable. I got up and was really upset because my back hurt and I was coughing. Miles went to Wal Mart to get me some Vick's Vaporub, Delsym and cough drops. I took some Delsym and put the vaporub on my chest and went back to sleep. Today around 7 I woke up because my back and head hurt. I kept falling back to sleep then I'd wake up, resituate and go back to sleep. This went on until about noon. I threw up once (pretty, I know). Miles called me then came over. This time he brought a Sprite and some Bayer Back and Body for me. He rubbed my back and neck, fixed me a glass of 7up, gave me some medicine and read me a few chapters of Proverbs. I started to feel better because I always do when someone is taking care of me.
Finally, I fell asleep again...but it went back to how it was this morning. Sleeping for a few minutes and waking up because of my back and head. I just got out of the shower, so now having a towel on my head is kind of making my neck hurt. I don't know if that makes sense, but I think it's true.

Moral of the story: If your sick, having someone take care of you will make you feel 20 times better.

Other moral of the story: Stores should carry more brown dresses.

A friend of a friend...

A friend of a girl I used to work with had a baby prematurely. On facebook the girl I worked with had her status and such as something about how God loves that baby. Now I'm not going to say that God doesn't love that particular baby (how would I know)...I'm just going to say that we simply cannot know.

One day about a year and half ago (or so) I was driving with my friend. We passed a church and I was talking to her about churches. I mentioned that God doesn't love everyone. Her response was, "God doesn't love everyone? But, if God doesn't love me then who will?"

I remember when I was younger talking to my mom about God and who he loved. I remember asking, "So God loves everyone? Even a robber?" And she said, "He loves everyone, even a robber." And of course it probably wasn't in those exact words.

At the end of my grandparents' answering machine my grandpa says very plainly, "And remember, God loves you."

Okay, so you put all of these anecdotes together and what in the world am I trying to say?

Simply, I'm saying that God does not love everyone.

Malachi 1:2-3
I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? said the LORD: yet I loved Jacob.
And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

Romans 9:13
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Psalm 139:22
I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

Psalm 5:4-5
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

Proverbs 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

John 17:9
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Okay, so I'm sure this idea throws everything off-kilter. Generally it is said that God loves you and it's up to you to become saved. Whoa, wait just a second...back it up.

Ephesians 2:1-9
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:4-7
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing and regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

John 15:16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Lamentations 3:26
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

So, it's not up to us. It's all up to God. The question is, do you trust God to protect and call his elect?
(My next update of sorts will be election/predestination oriented.)

------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIYXHLlxD8U

That's the link to the video for "Lovestoned/I Think She Knows" by Justin Timberlake. You can pretty much skip the first 3.5 minutes. But, from approx. 3 minutes and 45 seconds into the video it gets to the "I Think She Knows" part. I just love it! I keep listening to that part. It's just so pretty.

Today we're going dress shopping. Originally it was going to be me, Cassie, Amber, Aimee, Mandy, Miles' mom, my mom, possibly my grandma, Kris and Kenzie. As of today it is going to be me, Cassie, Amber, Mandy, Aimee, and Miles' mom. My mom is sick (excusable, she's coughing up a storm and I know I'd be miserable). Kris and Kenzie are babysitting. My grandma I think just doesn't want to go. The good news is that we'll have fun.

I didn't try so hard today to get a lot done. I woke up later than planned. I had my alarm set for 9, and I ended up getting out of bed around 10. After getting ready I went to Wal Mart to pick up some no bake cheesecakes and blue fingernail polish. I made the cherry cheesecake then tried to get to work on some stuff.

I didn't go out to school today. I just couldn't pull myself together enough to think about doing that. But, I did finish my first plate (as much as I can finish it now, I still need to do a wash on the blacks to make them blacker). Also, I arranged photos that I'm using for a PowerPoint into folders. Then, I started to find photos that I've taken of people that I like. (Not people that I like, but photos that I like...but I actually like the people, too). I am going to put them on a CD so I can give it to Katie to show her mom. Katie is a junior that I work with. I'm trying to snatch her up for senior photos.

I had to work at 4 on checkouts. I don't really like working on checkouts. But, the awesome news is that tomorrow I'm on checkouts again...from 3:30 to 9. Wait a second, that's not awesome at all. Hmmff.

Miles took the wedding invitations and RSVP things to get printed today. They look good! I'm super happy with them. The only bad thing is now I have to cut out a bunch of stuff, but it's much cheaper this way. And, if you know me (or definitely Miles) you know that we're a couple of cheap people.

On an entirely different note, I am going to exercise! I am going to eat right! Probably not right, but much better than I have been eating.
I have this problem:
1) I'm at school during the day - there's no food at school other than vending machine food (okay, there is food in Poppellwell, but it is so far away and I just don't want a hot dog!)
2) I'm at home after school - we really don't have much to eat other than snack foods or foods that need to be cooked forever and need something to go along with them. So, I end up either eating something very unhealthy from here, or I go and buy something very unhealthy from Taco Bell or McDonalds.
3) I'm at work at night (except for Tuesdays) - I'm always hungry when I go on break. If I have cash or enough change I'll just get something out of the vending machine (problem), but if not I'll bring my card with me and when I go on break I'll buy a pop and candy bar. I always tell myself I'm going to buy something not as horrible as a candy bar, but we don't have anything even remotely healthy up front. If you really want to get technical, we don't really have much of anything healthy at Kmart.
4) I really just don't enjoy exercising.

I am going to just suck it up and do it. I've done it before.

I wonder how many sentences that I write start out with the word "I"...probably a lot because I'm completely self-centered!

Two in one day, this has to be a record.

I need to clean. My room is driving me insane. My car is too, actually.

So, I spent a few hours at school today. Luckily my encounter with invitation making improved.

I've realized why my business cards didn't upload correctly. I shall reupload them at some point in the future.

Maybe I do like designing things. Oh no! After I showed Aimee the invitations I designed for our wedding she told Josh, aka brother-in-law, that I should design wedding invitations. I would love to do that! I think it'd be fun...and totally not selling something. Oh how I'd love to not have to put prices on things I design.

The first senior show is this next Monday. I'd love to go, but for some reason I thought there was a possibility I'd have the day off. HA! Of course I don't have the day off. Next week I work Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. What is going on?! Sure, it's only a total of around 20ish hours, but 5 days. The thing is that I need some time to just get some work done. I'm not one of those, "Oh man, I only work three days this week!" I'm one of those, "Oh man, I work 3 days this week!" I have asked for the 30th off though...and April 11-13. I like asking for days off.

Tis time to sleep. I like to sleep.

Here I am trying to be busy.

I am really trying to be productive today.  I don't know how well it's working.

I've been trying to design the invitations for our Senior Show.  I don't like them!  I think I am thinking way too hard about it.  Maybe I need to add a texture?  Maybe I need to figure out the font I am going to use or if we are definitely going with black and white instead of color.  Ugh.

After I gave up on those for the day I thought it'd be a good idea to work on my business system for myself...for portfolio. 

This is what my possible business cards will look like.

The colors are way off.  The background isn't supposed to be brown...and the turquoise should be a light green.  

I just spent way too much time trying to get the picture of those to upload.  I need to get to work.  

I went to lunch with my grandma. We went to KFC and it was tasty.
After we finished we stopped by Payless so I could check out their dyeable shoes. I found some and I think they're adorable.They'll be satin and blue. I'm stoked. The blue that I think they're going to be isn't exactly the blue that I had in mind (but it's close enough not to fret over). So, instead of having blue dresses for the bridesmaids I think we're going to go with brown and some kind of blue accent. That way I can match the blue accent to the shoes and not have to worry about the blue of the dress not being the same blue that's on the vests.

I really didn't get much done today.

First I did the lunch thing with my grandma, then I went to check out the shoes, and came back home to watch Collin while my mom got her nails done. He's a funny kid and he calls me Isa. We were supposed to take photos for my senior show stuff today...but I wasn't notified of any happens concerning that...so as far as I know nothing happened. Oh well! It was nice to have a day away from school, even though I just feel like I've skipped classes, and I hate that feeling.

I also didn't take pictures of Kristi like we had originally planned. It was not a pretty day out.

Tonight we're taking Miles to Red Lobster. It's a mediocre place to go when you don't like sea food.

The wicked are estranged from the womb...

I feel like I was somewhat productive today.
First I woke up around 9. Then I readied myself up for the day. I went to Wal Mart to get some chapstick (I'm horribly addicted), lotion and bubbles. Afterward I went to school and printed some stuff from my tea and clothing companies to eventually cut out and construct. I fixed the RSVP things and invitations for our wedding. Then I grabbed my first plate so I can finish it at home tomorrow (Tuesday...hopefully!).
So, I can cross all of those things off my list.

I am supposed to go to lunch with my grandma tomorrow. I like my grandma. She likes to try to get me to go to their church. I don't think that's such a good idea.

After work tonight I went to Miles' house and ate some pizza. After eating we read Proverbs 19 and 20.
Proverbs 20:1 is one of my favorite verses ever.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 20:9
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

There is this idea of an age of accountability....
Proverbs 20:11
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
....And I don't believe it.
Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalm 58:3
The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Matthew 23:9
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

To Do

I have so much to do. It's almost ridiculous.
Let's see...I'll make a list (I love lists!)

-Finish painting my wedding cake topper.
-Pack up stuff that I don't need.
-Print/Construct things for my senior show (Apr. 13!)
-Fix the map for our wedding invitations.
-Fix the RSVP thing for the invitations.
-Find addresses for the invitations.
-Finish drawing on my plate for printmaking.
-Prepare two more plates and figure out what I'll draw on them.
-Take photographs with verses on hands and feet for photography.
-Make a PowerPoint about a photographer to present.
-Take photos for Senior Show self portraits and invitations.
-Frame things for the show.
-Clean my room (it needs it very badly and it's driving me insane.)
-Start to exercise, I'm such a bum.
-Work on designing stuff for my uncle.
-Take photos of my future niece for her 4th birthday.

That's all I can come up with now.
The photos with hands and feet will be in this style. I'd like to do backs, but I can't find many verses that talk about backs.

I like to use verses in 'artwork' that I do. It makes it not such a drag to have homework.
FYI, the plate I'm currently working on is inspired from Song of Solomon 1:10.
I did a painting inspired by Job 3:11.
My tea company in Graphics III was Meleah Tea Co. Meleah is one of the Hebrew words for 'fruit.'
My wine company in Graphics II was called Marah vineyards. Marah is one of places the Israelites go in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. There is water there, but it is bitter until Moses puts the stick into it.
I had originally wanted to name it Sychar, which means drunkeness, but I thought Marah was prettier.
Oh, and the name Mary comes from Marah, thus Mary means bitter.
In typography I made a book with photos of body parts and verses that talk about them.

It's just what I do.

For my last birthday Miles bought me this wooden plaque thing that has my name on it.
It says:

Alysa
"Princess"
The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
-Psalm 45:13

When he gave it to me he had memorized it and a few of the verses around it. It was sweet.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

I enjoy the spell check that firefox comes along with, until it tells me that I've spelled the name of a state, day, etc. wrong because I didn't capitalize it.

I think I want to start cooking more. I like to cook. Well, no, I don't like to cook. I like to eat things that I've made that taste good.

Sundays are nice. I don't work on Sundays. I don't work on things for school on Sundays. I wake up, eat breakfast, sometimes chat with my family, listen to Bible studies from www.familyradio.com, get ready, go to Miles' house, eat dinner, and have Bible study with his parents, him, and Amber. It's a nice day.

At one point in my life I thought it be a great idea to get a tattoo of an ankh. Then I thought it be nice to get a tattoo of a lotus.
For some reason I like Egyptian symbolism. The good news is that I never followed through on either of those.

Here is my mini Bible study for the day.

II Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Revelation 3:2-3
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remains, that are ready to die: for I have not found they works perfect before God.
Remember therefore how thou has received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

I Thessalonians 5:1-7
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

http://www.familyradio.com/english/connect/audio_archive/echoes/frame/download/
That's what I'm currently listening to.

In-tro-duc-tion

I had a beautiful introduction all typed out (so, it wasn't beautiful, but you don't know that for sure...so I can say that it was, ha!).....

then my power went out.

Jerk.

Anyway, umm...I'm blogging like a mad man.

I woke up at 5:45 this morning. I had to take the exit exam for school this morning and I had spent the night at Miles' house. My alarm was set for 6:15, so I could come home and get ready and be there by 8:50. Miles woke me up at 5:45 and asked if I wanted coffee and breakfast. So, I had coffee and breakfast.
The exit exam wasn't horrible, but it was stupid. The math was nice. I like math (what a weirdo).
After I got done with that Miles and I went bowling. I lost the first game...I was using an 8 pound ball. In the middle of the second game I decided that I should try a big ol' 10 pounder. Right off I got a strike. I ended up winning that game. Then we played another, I got my best bowling score ever in my life. 138! Spectacular. I would have probably gotten past 150, but I sucked it up in the 10th frame.

In other news, my back hurts from standing for five and a half hours. No, it's not terribly long, but it still hurts.

I always get so bummed when something makes me lose what I've written.

I do ramble a lot. It's never about anything important, either. It gets to the point where whoever I'm talking to will blatantly stop listening and start talking to someone else. I'm convinced they aren't even trying to be covert about it.
I like the idea of not having to care if anyone reads anything. And not caring if they do read it and are annoyed. Oh well. It happens.

I used to blog often. First it was LiveJournal. Then it was Xanga. Then the occasional MySpace blog. Then the even less often Facebook note. Now this? Don't expect it to last for long.
Maybe I should try to keep it up. I mean, I am going through some things. No, not bad things. I'll be graduating college, looking for a job at a horrible time, and getting married. Oh, I am ready to get married. I want to move from my house and live with Miles. We're good together.

I look forward to not being around all the clutter that is in here. I like to have a clean space...but that is hard when the amount of things you own takes up more room than the room you actually have available.

I like to take pictures. I bought bubbles as an accessory for pictures that I wish to take of people (senior, children, engagement, wedding (ehhh, kinda), etc). I wanted to see how the bubbles would photograph. It's nearly impossible to get photos of bubbles when you are the one that has to make them and take the picture on a windy day.

You know, I like The Bible. People often tell me I should read other books and sometimes I respond with the "yeeaahhh..." that means, "I don't want to say no, but there is no way I'm going to read that..." I'm sure it sounds closed minded to people, but I just read my Bible. That is my reading material.

I think it is now more important that I wash some clothes and clean off my bed. I'm a tired lady. Miles is supposed to come over so we can watch movies. I like that boy.