Trebuchet, Bold and Gray

I had my final Final yesterday! I love school and everything, but I was soooo glad to get this semester done and over with. It was just too much with work and music and everything. I have too much for this next year that I am going to focus on - writing music, designing clothing, my trip to the U.K., my own photography, etc. - so I probably won't be going back to school for a while. I have finally come to terms with myself and the fact that I don't function the same as everyone else, so I'm just going to do things my way, even if it takes me forever to do it.

I'm looking at my fingernails and how long they are, and it makes me happy at first, because my hands don't look half so manly as they do when my nails are short, but then I look at them more and it makes me sad, because it means that I haven't played guitar in a long time. Granted, I have had lots of school stuff to work on, but I really should make more of an effort to find time to play.

I got a free Christmas tree! I really liked the real tree I had last year, but having a real tree is pretty much a mistake if you have cats. Like I do. Of course, cats will climb any tree, whether real or fake, but real trees means hundreds of pine needles all over the floor with every mad antic of a cat. So a coworker gave me a fake tree for free! Apparently she changes her tree every year and has too many. It's a slimline, but I really like it. I haven't noticed any broken or missing ornaments, and I haven't caught a glimpse of a cat dragging off one of my feathered birds either, which is huge.

And now, for your viewing pleasure- Since it's been so long and you are feeling so deprived, here are some photographs I took for school on SLC urban minimalism. Enjoy.


P.S. any of you folk who live near Magna (or who would take a trip to Magna for an excellent reason such as this), I suggest you visit the Kiwi Bakery. New Zealand food. Oh delicious. Eat there. Just do it.

*sniff*

So, at work I got moved to a new cubicle - cubie no. 7 in 4 1/2 years - so I'm back in the room I was in the first 2 1/2 years of my employment. I went into the bathroom, which I haven't been in for 2 years, and guess what?

It still smells like My Little Ponies.

I have got to figure out why.

(P.S., you do know what I mean when I say it smells like MLP, right? That sugary-sweet smell that came with practically all soft plastic toys made in the 80s? Seriously guys.)

And, specifically for YOUR enjoyment (or purely my own), a photo depicting the ultimate mesh of My Little Pony and 80s film:

12:14

12:14 at the kitchen table
A glass half empty, cracked and casting shadows
Across my hand

A steady humming from the T.V. set
Reminds me I've been talking to myself and
I'm not good for conversation

I used to like the thought of being alone
But the feeling only lasts so long
And now the feeling tells me I was so wrong

(chorus)
Help me see
Help me believe
I'm looking for you, but please
Look for me
(repeat)

Starlight leaking from the window pane
A million tiny faces kissed my tangled hair
And I was more alone

An invitation from a static song
A frozen moment and I swear I felt your heart beat
To the breaths I would take

I used to like the thought of being alone
But the feeling didn't last too long
And now the feeling is telling me it's time to walk on

Help me see
Help me to believe
I promise to look for you, but please
Look for me
(repeat)

It isn't sane but the mind knows nothing
And when my heart finds you, I'll let it explain
I hope it can explain

12:14 at the kitchen table
A glass half empty, cracked and casting shadows
Across my hand

Yellowstone

Here are some pics I took while my family was at Yellowstone over the weekend:

So...I'm a little freaked out by the Geico commercials. Why do the people smile after they realize they are being freakishly stalked by a wad of cash with ridiculously large eyes? Does no one else find that disturbing? I mean, how does a dollar bill dial a phone number anyway?

New Wedding Pics

Here are some of the photos I took for my friend's wedding reception:

It was at a family home, so there wasn't a variety of backgrounds, but I think the results turned out pretty nicely, eh?

This One's For You, Brian!

So over the weekend I had a family reunion and I mentioned a scientific study I had read a while ago, on the 5-second rule, to my cuz Brian. I couldn't remember the results, so he wanted me to let him know what I figured out. He said, and I quote, "You should blog about it. Because you would." It appears he was correct. This one's for you!

High school senior Jillian Clarke conducted a scientific study during a six week internship at the food science and nutrition department of the University of Illinois. It basically consisted of dropping food on the school floors for different timed intervals to see when the food began to collect bacteria. Now, I am a 5-second rule observer, so I was a little disheartened to find that they discovered a transfer of germs before 5 seconds. However, what needs to be taken into consideration, in my point of view, is the floor upon which the food is being dropped. Obviously. In another study I looked at, they tested their food subjects on floor surfaces that had been generously tainted with monstrous amounts of E coli and salmonella for the purpose of the study. Of course those food pieces are going to be contaminated instantly, silly people. But in Ms. Clarke's study, the floors she tested were swabbed beforehand and found to be surprisingly clean. The bacterial numbers were too small to count. Now, would that make you sick? Probably not. However, all floors are not created equal.
Let's also look at the type of food being dropped. Of course nobody is going to eat a scoop of ice cream that has fallen out of its cone. (At least I hope not). But what of other foods? In a seperate study (Yes, this seems to be a fad among young scientists) they dropped apple slices versus skittles on the floors of their school cafeteria and recorded the results. The apple slices showed no signs of bacteria for about 30 seconds, while the Skittles remained "clean" for about 5 minutes. (Again, another clean cafeteria floor? That's the most unexpected thing I discovered during this whole research thing.)
All in all I guess there is no solid answer. To be on the safe side, health experts advise to err on the side of safety and don't eat anything that has touched those nasty, germ-laden floors. Bacteria is everywhere, it's true, and many harmful germs can be found on a number of surfaces. Are all surfaces guilty of harboring E coli and salmonella? Heavens, I don't know. But I think I'm still going to eat that stray skittle anyway. Especially if it has fallen on a school cafeteria floor, apparently.
I'd also like to mention that Jillian Clarke won the Ig Nobel prize in 2004. It's a parody award granted for "research that first makes you laugh, then makes you think." How cool is that?

And that's my random post for the day.

Oh, OOOHHH I'd like to rant really quickly, before I take my leave, about how disappointed I am that the newest and final Georgia Nicholson book does not come out until October. Want to know how disappointed I am? SO DISAPPOINTED! Gah! I can't even talk about it. Good night.

A New One

Today I got called "Jerk Store".

Yeah, I don't know either.

I also photographed that wedding reception this past weekend. I got some really nice photos out of it, but I think I need a better camera. Any suggestions? I was thinking Canon 40D, anyone ever use one? I'll post some of my edited photos once I've got them all finished. :D

Back in Black!

Ahhh, it feels good to be back, in my blog, doing blogging things. Like blogging. :D In some black clothes!

So I'm photographing another wedding tomorrow. Well, not the whole wedding, just a reception. His photographer couldn't make it to this one. Which is kinda lame, right? You're a couples' wedding photographer, you should be going to every part of their wedding - it's your job. Well, they almost dropped the other girl and hired me on to do all their sessions, but they didn't. And that's ok. :) However, I've been recruited to photograph another couples' wedding in the hopefully near future...the bride's dad is causing some trouble and they don't have a date anymore. So sad. But I'm rooting for them!
I've updated my online portfolio if anyone would like to take a look:

http://www.artbistro.com/member/BellaPazzo/albums

Hopefully you'll be able to see them - I had someone say they couldn't get into my albums. That is, if you want to see them. So I've mapped out the rest of my educational career, and I'm a little disappointed. Because of the way prerequesites and semester-specific classes work, I will only be able to take 3 classes for the next 3 semesters to graduate, and then I will have one class left - ONE CLASS - that I won't be able to take until the following spring, so I won't be able to get my degree until 2011. *crycrycry* BUT it's all good. :) This way, I will be able to pay for the semesters much more easily, and we have to admit, at least I am getting my degree (tiny little associates degree it may be) and I am going to do what I love. I was quite worried for a while, because I have been planning all this time to be able to support myself by myself, and knew it was going to be a difficult thing, but I kept forgetting that one day I will be married, so I won't have to go it alone. O_o at least I think I'll be married, haha.

So I think I'll post some pictures up here. I went to Midway with my buddy recently and we hit Cascade Springs and Bridal Veil Falls. Yay, artistic opportunity

There you have it. I'm off to buy a wedding gift. Joy of all friggin joys.

I Really Wanted That Thing

That's a line from the song I was just listening to. Nothing special.

I have had so much orange juice, you would not believe me. Well, you might. It hasn't been SO much. But it's been a lot. A gallon maybe. I've been sick, it's all I've wanted.

So I've been on this creativity kick. (Noooo, really?) I like writing. I wish I had good ideas like my mom. Well, I think I have good ideas, just not the skills to put everything together into something interesting. I've been putting something together for my mom's birthday though, so I might learn stuff. :D

Lake Powell is in four days! I'm so excited; I've never been before! I just hope this cold clears up first. I need to load up on the beef jerky though - otherwise it won't feel like a camping trip. Can't have that!

My mom told me about a contest today, so I will be designing a wedding dress in the hopes of winning a trip to New York and maybe opening a few doors!!! I love designing clothes, so I'll see what happens here.

School is moving along. I'm having lots of fun, but I can't wait for it to be over. I'm planning a trip to England (Ireland, Scotland...) at the end of the summer, so it will be nice to have my extra time back so I can get a second job or something. I'm trying to fly my mom out with me too. I guess ever since I got my passport (when I was going to China), it's been burning a hole in my safe drawer. :D I have to go SOMEWHERE. And why not to the lands of my ancestors? I feel a need to go there anyway, so I'll keep hoping and saving. My grandma told me about our distant relatives in England who would let us stay with them. Bonus!

I'm also thinking about buying a house at the end of the year. That $8000 back from the government sounds pretty nice. :) I just need a small one. I'm sure I could afford a 30 year mortgage, if I can find a nicely-priced one. I've already seen some for sale, so hopefully I can find one in Midway or something later in the year that I could afford. I'm really excited about this; I've been wanting to get away for a while now. I just like to be out taking care of myself, you know?

OH! I'm so excited, my cousins want me to do their baby photographs! She'll be born very soon! They want me to do the really cute stuff, like the tiny baby feet in the daddy's hands and stuff - this is awesome! I have to buy stuff though! I want these to be perfect! I guess if people want me to keep taking care of their photographic needs, I could go into that business. :D I do love taking pictures. And I'd rather work for myself than anyone else anyway. Ooooh yay. That's another reason I really want to go to Europe. The photographic opportunities will be amazing! Wish me luck!

Phwoar!im cookies.

My computer had a virus!
Then my uncle fixed it.
Then my family's computer had a virus!
And then my uncle fixed it.

I shall make have to make him cookies.

So the one time my work finally agrees to put me into another position (I have only been trying for about 2 years now with no luck, because I would take too much training, and they don't have the time for training. Humbug.) and they tell me that I can't do it part time. Well, 3/4 time is what I'm doing. Anyway, that was not a nice trick to play on me. But it's going to be ok because I am going to Lake Powell in a few days and I won't have to deal with them anyway. I'll get to camp and play and boat and they will be stuck sitting between grey walls with nothing but ornery branch managers and motivational posters to keep them company. That sounded bitter. Do I sould bitter?

I'm coming down with something. You should see me right now, I have a wad of tissue stuffed up my right nostril. Haha I still find it funny, despite how crap I feel.

So I read two Shannon Hale novels in two days. I think I'm becoming a fan.

P.S. The title of this post was supposed to just be "Phwoar" but it somehow ended up like it is now. I decided to keep it that way. "Phwoar I'm cookies" (ish) sounds so much more interesting.

Hello!

I miss blogging! School and work make it kind of difficult. But school is awesome and work is not bad. I get kind of annoyed though, because I have a class with this group of kids fresh out of high school who think they are hilarious and just know everything about art and say "like" every other word when talking to each other. :D Not nice of me, I know, but it's true. I still get proposed to every other day at work, but at least the guy's stopped with the secretary thing. And I now have nothing else to say but that I could really got for some waffles right now.

Achtung!

Ish. This is not a warning, but more of an alert. It has come to my attention that the office gadgets cannot be found on the Office Humor Blog, to which I looked and agree. The layout has changed since I was last there. :( Anyway, here is a list of really cool toys for your office/cubie that you might find interesting:

http://www.gadgetvenue.com/10-cool-office-desk-security-gadgets-09040839/

Except for that lipstick stun gun. While I would love one of those, it doesn't seem too office-friendly. I also found a website that has all sorts of geeky gadgets (some that are listed in the above link):

http://www.thinkgeek.com/

!!! Yay !!!

There's A Spider On The Wall...

...And I'm afraid to kill it. Spider-squishing is a mood thing. Some days I'm not afraid at all (like a month or so ago, when I saw a spider on a box above my head, stood up, took off my shoe, and initiated a powerful WHACK that startled my coworkers), and some days I am. Days seem to affect my mood, and today is a Monday. Since it has not been proven otherwise, I will be forced to assume that deep down in the heart of the most dreaded day of the week, lies the evil and sinister power of FEAR.
It's kind of funny though, since I'm not usually afraid of spiders, and here I am, inching my way past it, since I can't give it a wide berth, given the narrowness of space between the wall and the cubicles. I figure it will eventually make its way up the wall and behind the clock, or make it to the little mysterious hole that seems to serve no purpose. Or maybe overnight it will find its way into my plant, as that seems to be a favorite spot among spiders. My old pet spider Houdini used to live there. Haha ok ok, on with the post.

Now, I know that a lot of the time, at least with the younger generation, we tend to get on the internet out of habit, and then poke around not knowing what to do. I figured I'd provide some alternatives to my above-mentioned verb "poking around" and list some productive things I sometimes do online while I wait for things, like my notes to get signed, or my reports to load (which, surprisingly, can take a reeeaaaally long time). And if nobody cares, this is here for my benefit anyway, since it's easier to have one place to go when I need something to do. :D

1. www.freerice.com
This is so much fun! You go to this website and you test yourself on subjects like math, geography, language - all while donating rice to third-world countries for every correct answer (For free! The sponsors pay for it). You may not be geeky like me, but I love learning these kinds of things, and I now know practically every country in the world, and it makes me feel smart. I like to feel smart.

2. www.chordbook.com
Since I'm not good with knowing what notes and chords sound like in my head, I can't just take a break, pull out my guitar and write them down while at work. So I go to this website and figure what I hear in my head, then write it down to put into a song later. It's pretty dang awesome.

3. http://puzzles.about.com/library/java/blfourrivers.htm
This is just a fun, mellow game I like to play. Kind of like Mah Jongg.

(P.S. my coworker just squished the spider. O_o) haha

4. http://obscuresound.com/
I adore this blog. If you like finding obscure music like I do, you will adore this blog too. (Note: I directed you here once before, when I mentioned Katzenjammer.) :)

5. www.literaturepage.com
Books! I love to read. This is a good place for lots of classics, so if you're into classics, heeeeere ya go.

6. http://www.splicemusic.com/
Make your own music and remixes! Pretty fun.

7. http://www.officehumorblog.com/
The Office Humor Blog! Not only does this website offer awesome pranks to pull, office-related poetry, jokes, and other stories, but it links to many other fun places, like websites that sell amazing office-worthy toys like a USB-powered plastic cannon, an air-gun, mugs, stickers, and document stamps (My favorite: "I don't have time to read this crap!")

And there you have it. My favorite productive internet time-wasters. Enjoy!

So I started on the hoodies I was going to make my siblings for Christmas. The first one is coming along really nicely, but my mom and I can't figure out how to use the button-holer. (Well, she can't remember, I just have no idea. :D) But I googled it today and I think I may have it. Bwahaha! I still need to finish my coat! But of course....all that's left are the buttons. Haha.

So I'm about to go on my lunch break over to Borders to pick up one of three books I need: The complete works of Jane Austen, Book 2 of the Gentleman's Trilogy, or Book 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire. I'm just not sure which. D: Waaauuugh, decisions! I only have one coupon right now!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

I'll admit, I have never been one to care much for resolutions. I figure, why wait until the end of the year to make changes in your life that are obviously important enough for you to want to change, when you can pick any other day of the year that is SOONER than December 31st?Why wait? And we all know that virtually nobody keeps their new year's resolutions anyway. So I figure I might as well not make any at all, because heaven knows I'm not motivated. -But- I have changed a little bit these past few months. My motivational level has risen, my temper has straightened a bit, and I'm ready to make some changes. On New Year's Eve I didn't really officially make any resolutions, (I kinda slept straight through the new year... :D ) but thinking about it, I would like to:

1. Get to bed earlier. It even says so in the scriptures! Go to bed early and get up early because it's good for your health, and it gives you more sunlight hours, which is also better for your mood! Plus, getting up earlier would leave me more time for these next two:

2. Go to the temple more often, and

3. Get more excercize. I don't mean go to the gym all the time, but I'd love to run in the mornings, or do my yoga video. Plus, I really need to start going to the temple. I just got my recommend recently, so I can, but now I need to go.

4. Cook more.

5. Sew more. I've been doing these ones more often recently, which has been an immense home skills builder, and has made me more confident in my future.

6. Read more good books. I have also been doing this one for a few months already, but I would like to continue it.

7. Build my talents. I have been losing some of them, and I don't want to. Hopefully I can find time in my soon-to-be crazy schedule. (School starts in a week!)

8. Get on a budget!

9. Do well in school, and keep going!

So that's what I have gotten myself into for this next year. I'm thinking I can pull it off, if I manage my time well. Wish me luck! I'm really serious about these. :D

And maybe I'll mention here what a dork I am. I have been using this awesome moisturizer for about a month or so now, because it actually moisturized my face, was oil-free and all that good stuff, but I realized just the other day that it is actually a cleanser. I don't know how I missed that, but I did. So I've been putting cleanser on my face, my skin soaking it in all night and day, but the funny thing is that it didn't even ruin my skin! It totally acted as if it were a moisturizer. Calamity averted.