1 down, 7 to goo.... (semesters at Ringling)

I apologize outright for procrastinating this long to write another post, but seriously, I have good reason. Its just hard to keep this updated when I don't know if anyone reads it. That being said, I'll keep going.

To give a huge recap on recent events, here's whats been going down.

• Went to To Philly with Lindsey to see her Art Institute buddies.
  

• came back to Florida to start my second semester at Ringling School of Art and Design
• Celebrated Lindsey's Birthday. Made her a cake, got her the Ghost World comic, a Tenacious D mag, a brontosaurus we Christened "Ringo Gertie the Dinosaur", a Threadless tee, and 2 tickets to see Of Montreal in April. I think she liked the gifts.
  
• had a birthday party for her with the regular hooligans.
  

• Bought myself a old record player from Goodwill to play the records Lindsey's been buying me. Still need to buy a needle (which costs like 30 bucks) :(

• I started my first real Animation course at Ringling which has been so surreal and amazing. I actually work at one of the desks that was used by Disney Animators since the '60s! Check it Out!:
  
  Its crazy that I'm finally getting a taste of what I came to school for. Best thing is, I love it and I'm not that bad so far.
  

Here's my first two animations I've done so far. They're really short and don't look like much, but there's alot that go into it. Each second of animation takes roughly 24 drawings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RwRhxkkH7Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd_W4W3Ipwg

I'm currently working on a "flourbag animation" which apparently every animator experiments with at some point.

• Saw both Children of Men and Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny in theatres. Children of Men knocked my socks off while the Tenacious D movie made me chuckle but left me underwhelmed.

• Going to see both Less Than Jake with Lindsey and Deerhoof with Jay in the near future. So excited!!!
• Started selling my old textbooks on Amazon. Made close to 2oo bucks. oh yeah.
• Got my first actual job working at where else? the reception desk at the job center on campus.
• celebrated 5 amazing months with Lindsey <3

Over the next couple weeks I'm working on securing an apartment space with 3 of my friends at the campus apartments for next school year. I also have to start working on my awesome v-day gift and day for Lindsey.

If you get a chance, buy the new Shins album. Its pretty awesome. Better than expected, and it comes with stickers.

Christmas Wrappings

Today I go to pick up Lindsey for New Years and I'm pretty excited. Christmas was great. This year it was less about getting expensive gifts and more about giving some special surprises. My mom loved the original Beatles shirt (see previous post), Caitlin liked the custom apron that said "no, you do the dishes", Jess liked America: the book by Jon Stewart, and I think Lindsey will like her gifts as well. I'll be reviewing my best albums of 2006 in the next post. Happy Holidays!!

Too Much Egg Nog

Here's the "Too much Egg Nog" 2006 Christmas mix I promised last post. I don't know what it is, but no matter how crappy and "un-christmas" likemy day is, these songs seem to give me a tasar shock of christmas spirit. Hope it works for you as it does me.





1.Belle and Sebastian - Christmas Time is Here
2.Bright Eyes - Blue Christmas
3.Eels - Everything's gonna be cool this christmas
4.Sufjan Stevens - That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!
5.The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
6.Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!
7.Weezer - The Christmas Song
8.Death Cab for Cutie - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
9.Sujan Stevens - Lo How A Rose E’er Blooming
10.Brett Dennen - The Holidays Are Here (and we’re still at war)
11.Sufjan Stevens - What Child Is This Anyway?
12.Belle & Sebastian - O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Happy Christmas (War is Over...)

(...If you want it) -John Lennon

It has been quite a long time since my last post on here lots going on lots to mention. I would lie and say that its solely because I have been so busy (which I have), but in reality I lost interest for a while to keep this thing updated because I have no idea if anyone reads this or cares. So, its going to be a little haphazard with posts for a while. Lets see...I could go over my near-death experience involving a speeding truck...or I could go over the recent news that Southwest Air lost (and later recovered) my luggage, the first time I ever used baggage claim (note: never again). But I'll spare you.

Instead, I'll use this post in another way. There has been alot of good news recently.
First off, I passed all my classes at Ringling! (All B's and one C because I'm terrible at Art History) I'm really excited about the next semester too, all new teachers and classes and my Intermediate Figure Drawing class goes from 8:30 till 3 pm! I'm not sure how that works, but it will be interesting. I hope this next semester is just as amazing as the last.

In other news, I've really gotten into the "spirit of Christmas" you might call it. Before I left for Pennsylvania, Lindsey and I were listening to heavy doses of Christmas classics sung by modern artists. Anyone else's ears would be bleeding from the high level of x-mas music, but not us. I even made a great Christmas mix of songs called "Too Much Egg Nog" (more about it at the end). Lindsey and I even dressed up as a crazy old couple for some Christmas card magic. I do enjoy that sweater from Goodwill. We also made a high speed video of us putting up her fake tree in her apartment:

I was having the hardest time figuring out what to get my mom for Christmas until I found this item. Its an original shirt from the '60s featuring the Beatles' faces in lace. It cost an arm and a leg, but it was worth it. I got so many other cool gifts for my family and friends, that it gets me excited every time I think about it. I've come to the conclusion that Christmas may never be as magical as it was when I was little (for reasons I don't feel like discussing), but I'm going to make the most of it with the people I'm with.

I'll save my Christmas mix for another post. This one is long enough as is.

Thanksgiving Road Trips and Winter Blues

Last Wednesday, Lindsey and I went on a 10 hour (turned into a 12 hour, more on that later)road trip to see my relatives and family in North Carolina for Thanksgiving. The weekend prior, we had traveled to Jacksonville to visit her family. I must say that Lindsey is one of the easiest people to get along with on a terribly long and potentially boring ride. Somehow, we managed to not drive each other crazy the whole trip. Of course, it wouldn't be a road trip without getting lost at some point, which we did. During the last hour of the drive, after I had been driving for 7 hours straight, I nearly went crazy when the North Carolina signs and Mapquest sent me in the wrong direction. Took another hour to find our way back.

Thanksgiving dinner and seeing my folks was great. Overate of course and watched my family dance at a local family owned restaurant like only they know how. My uncle did the "Jerry," his patented dance move only he and my sister know how to maneuver. By the end of the night, we had the whole restaurant up and dancing. I think Lindsey got a real good understanding of how crazy my family can be sometimes.

Winter has been kinda tough around here (wait, let me explain before you say, "yeah, you life in Florida..."). The weather is great actually, its a little surreal I must say waking up to 80 degree weather...in December. I recently got my tuition payment information and realized my Art School dream could easily come to a screeching halt. I've come to the conclusion that money sucks...and that Art School is expensive. Its worth every penny, don't get me wrong, but I wish there was an easier way to pay for it than just huge loan after huge loan. I need to win the lottery or something...quick.

Here's a selection of pieces I completed recently:

3D Kinetic Sculpture showing movement



Zombie Bowler 3D Sculpture



Fabric Drawing for 2D, Facial Drawing for Figure Drawing

Happy Turkey Day!!

Today, Lindsey and I are going on a 10 hr road trip to North Carolina to meet my family at my relatives. Enjoy the break everyone! Don't overdose on Triptopan...


Here's a hilarous video I found of bunch of kids playing "LARP" or Live Action Role Playing. Words cn't express the sheer absurdity of this. "Lightning Bolt! Lightning Bolt!" (facebook readers click on original post)

The Grand Old Opera

Tonight, Mekayla, Jay, and I are going to see Mozart Festival Opera Don Giovani. I've never seen an Opera before, so this should be interesting. Monday, I get to see The Pink Floyd Experince, whatever that is. We're required to see 3 performances at this theatre for class. Hopefully I wont fall asleep.

In other news, I'm starting to come down with some throat illness that makes it hurt off and on, makes my voice raspy, and makes me cough alot. Hopefully my immune system is in a fighting spirit and I'll pull through really quick, because this weekend I'm traveling to Jacksonville with Lindsey to meet her family and see some sights around there. I don't want to be bed ridden.

Then, on wednesday, we're getting in the car and taking a 10 hour road trip to visit the family at my relatives in North Carolina for Thanksgiving. I think Lindsey is going to have a really fun time, and it will be great to see my family again.

On a related topic, Lindsey and I are going to celebrate 3 months soon (yayy!!). Its crazy that its coming up so quickly. I'm kinda worried, because none of m previous relationships have lasted past the 3 month mark. So far, we haven't had any major bumps in the road, so here's hoping I can write about the 4 month in the future...

It All Seems Different when You're Younger...

Last Saturday, Lindsey, Kayla, Jaime, Alice and I went to Disney World (for Free!! Kayla's uncle works there and was able to get us all in for free). This was very special for me because I had not been to Disney since the age of 10. My favorite rides back then were Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I remember vividly going on the Space Mountain ride at least 7 times. Now going back, I knew it would be a test seeing how these rides stack up to my more mature self. I was faced with some disappointments, from not having the euphoria I once felt as a kid riding these rides, but I was thoroughly entertained for the most part.
Some of the best rides I went on this last trip were The Great Movie Ride, The Tower Of Terror, The Haunted Mansion, Disney's Carousel of Progress, Star Tours. I seemed to enjoy watching the animatronics this time around, wondering how they made the robotic characters so life like.
Pirates of the Carribbean was a letdown mostly for the unnecessary recent inclusion of Johnny Depp's character and other movie likenesses that reminded you that this isn't what you remember from your childhood. The ending of the ride was lackluster and leaving you with a sense of "is that it?"

Star Tours was still awesome. Probably because I'm a star wars nerd at heart.
Overall it was a blast and Lindsey and I had a really great time. For free!

See more pics from the trip here

The Happiest Place On Earth

Tomorow, Lindsey, Kayla, Alice, and I are going to DisneyWorld!!!! (for free!!)

I can't wait!!!! (haveb't been there since I was 10!)

Dems Control Majority In House and Senate; But Is This Really A "New Direction?"

I was glued to Jordie's TV late Tuesday watching as CNN tallied the votes and declare the Democrats as the House majority. My mouth dropped to the floor. Apparently, this is the first time in 12 years that the Democrats were in control of the house. I had expected the Dems to give a hard fight, but to ultimately loose and go back to the "Republican Rule" congress.

For the past six years, the Democrats in congress have been twiddling their thumbs, unable to make any real change or progress in congress because the Republican controlled the House and Senate in Congress and owned the Executive branch. This one party rule created a system of self-serving, pocket-lining, 100% Bush backing deals. Over the past few years, with the war still going nowhere, congress being the laziest it has been in the last hundred years, and a president living in denial. At the polls Tuesday, the people decided that they want change.

Will there be any actual change or accountability in the new Congress environment? It will be hard to tell. Already the wheels are turning for good things (hopefully) ahead. The day after the results, another jaw-dropper: President Bush announced that the Secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, was stepping down from office. This comes a shocker after only a week ago, Bush reassuerd that Rumsfeld was staying put. Although bush denies it has anything to do with the Mid-term results, it is way too coincidental. In truth, the results have created a shake up, that even the President realizes. After learning that the majority of the American people were not happy with the progress in Iraq, Bush suddenly receded from his "Stay the course" mantra; that his Iraq policy was "not working well enough, fast enough,"- he remarked after announcing that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was stepping down.

In related news, with Rep. Nanci Polosi becoming (the first woman) speaker of the House, former Speaker, Dennis Hastart (at left) stated that he will not fill in the shoes of Minority Speaker (sadly though he will still be in congress). This man in question has done more business in Congress for himself and his hometown than the nation and is as corrupt as they come. Read all about it in Rolling Stone's article on the 10 Worst Congressmen. Very insightful.

Read the full article here for a new understanding how little progress Congress has made in the last 6 years.

My concern with the new Democratic leadership is if they will actually bring about great change in Congress and end the corruption that has plagued Congress over the last 6 years as they have promised. All commitees will be led by the Dems, meaning that if they take the initiative, they can scrutinize and examine many facits of the war, on the Bush administration, on Halliburton, and so on. This can all go to shit if Democrats get lazy and sit on their asses much like the Republicans did before them. If the Dems can reach across the isle to make compromises and not alienate the Republican, then much progress can be made. And if Bush is all for working with a democratic majority and not vetoing everything to shit (which he has a longstanding history of never using his veto power) then we may be making steps in the right direction over the next 2 years.

Here's some great Daily Show/Colbert Report videos concerning the mid-term elections:
(facebook viewers go to "original post")

Ted Haggard -eating his words

If you haven't heard of Ted Haggard in the news recently, he is (was) the head pastor of an evangelical church who has recently stepped down because a gay male prostitute he had hired for sex and Meth recently came forward and explained what has been going on. Apparently, the guy was upset how Haggard was being a total hypocrite when he preached the word of God and was adamantly against gay marriage. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that with Haggard's fame over the last couple years; he has been invited to the white house on many occasions and is a friend of Bush's. More on the story here
This is just another example of the religious right's hypocrisies and immorality in the Bush administration. Another recent example is where Mark Foley a republican rep. of Florida was caught sending sexual messages to underage congress pages. Mark my words, this is just the tip of the iceburg....
Here's a video I found from a few years ago where a reporter met with (ex) Pastor Haggard to talk about his congregation and things heat up. Priceless.

Flushed Away and Mr. Borat

Thursday night, Lindsey and I went to see Flushed Away because Dreamworks gave Ringling School an advanced free screening (So nice of them!!) I was expecting the movie to be kid orriented and boring but was hapily surprised. Flushed Away is a fresh, fun movie for the kids and for the adults. From the creaters of Shrek, and by the same guys who made Wallace and Gromit,the story rotates around this rat who lives the rich but lonely life until a sewer rat flushes him down the toilet and he accidently gets involved in a jewel heist. The story itself is not the movie's stong point, but the inside jokes and singing, screaming slugs and french kung fu frogs make it a laugh riot. For keeping the movie fresh for a mature audience while still being child appropriate, Flushed Away should get an award.
Flushed Away-4/5 stars

Saturday, Lindsey and I went to see the new film Borat which is fake documentary on the reportings of American life through Kazakhstanian reporter Borat (played by Sasha Baren Cohen). The film mixes real interviews with unsuspecting americans who believe they are really with a foriegn reporter who is not informed of american practices. There is a story arc involving Borat's fake home country asking him to travel to America and get a slice of "American life" to document and help his country progress. The film works well to showcase some of our darkest bigotries while giving us many memorable moments and laughs so hard that it hurts.
Borat-5/5

Superheroes, more zombies, and Alice in Wonderland

Last Tuesday was Halloween and, as everyone should already know, it's my favorite holiday of the year.
My usual celebrations included a huge elaborate display in front of my house, on my porch, and in my garage. This year, I am far away from home and had to get used to a new way of celebrating my favorite holiday. Lindsey and I decided to host another party at her place. The plans would include movie -Dead Alive: one of the best zombie movies ever made and directed by Peter Jackson, food, Halloween music, and of course...costumes were mandatory.

Here's some pics from the night's festivities:
Superheroes Assembleeee!!!

We convinced Mikaela to wear Lindsey's Alice In Wonderland costume and it was a match made in heaven...
Zombie Jordie and Zombie Kayla prepare to do battle as Tank Girl Alice looks on.
Lindsey is totally pumped to carve pumpkins as I prepare to do battle with her.
It was a great time, we baked a cake, carved pumpkins, built a Halloween ginger bread house, ate weineies, and everyone loved the movie. Although there were no tricks, we had alot of treats and a great night.

Tim Curry, The Undead, and Time Warp Enthusiasts

Went with Lindsey to see Saw III last Thursday. It surpassed my expectations of a "Saw" movie. Why?
Because:
A. it had Jigsaw (yeah, no big surprise there).
B. It had tons of gore and body parts being broken and mangled and
C. It had a "Surprise!" shock at the end that probably made M. Night Shyamalan cry.
Overall, this series has managed to impress me the most of the new horror movies released over the last 5 years. The ending as I mentioned earlier, was a shocker, but it seemed cheated because there was a lack of information at the beginning. I really enjoyed Saw III for the way it has still managed to stay fresh over the years as a series. If the guys behind it are smart, they'll figure out a way to keep the series going for years to come, most likely making tons of money along the way.
Saw III-4/5 stars


Saturday, Lindsey and I prepared for our zombie costumes. We spent at least 2 hours each on our makeup alone, using prosthetics, latex adhesive, toilet paper, among other things...

Here's 2 videos of the makeup process:



Finished Product:

more pics here

After terrorizing Ringling for a bit, we headed out with Alice and JP to see Rocky Horror in Tampa. After waiting for about an hour, we got in.

We watched the Rocky Horror movie while actors reenacted the scenes and audience members yelled out lines and threw props at specific moments of the film. It was awesome. Because Lindsey was a "virgin" to the whole experience, she had to go up on stage with Alice while male "virgins" ran a relay race involving spanking the female virgins in a line. Lindsey was quite sore and tired of wearing the costume by the end of the night. There was also a "costume contest" we almost won, but lost to some lame kid wearing a duct tape transformers costume he made. Damn popularity contests... Still it was a great experience overall and we were "dead tired" when we finally made it back. (lame pun...I know...)