water rising. etc.

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THIS IS THE WEEK the F/M area has been preparing for months — flood time. The river is supposed to crest around 41 feet on Sunday or Monday. I’ve been noticing flood walls go up and streets close down, completely filled with dirt barriers. I crossed the Red River while driving on the Interstate earlier this afternoon, and the water has risen to a level where one-half to three-quarters of many trees in Lindenwood Park are submerged. I’ve never seen anything like this.

Last time the area flooded I was thankfully in Europe, and never got to experience the sandbagging, flood fighting, evacuating, etc. On the flip side, missing out on Flood 2009 leaves me with no idea what to expect. Everyone that’s described the past flood to me summed it up in one sentence: “The town shut down.” Thankfully my apartment shouldn’t be at risk, and from what I understand the city is much more prepared this time around then in 2009 (though there is an urgency for sandbaggers, and I’m seriously considering volunteering). Regardless, there’s going to be obstacles with the city in a frenzy.

I just received a phone call from my supervisor at work telling me that I’m likely going to have to evacuate my clients during my weekend shift — they’re already packed and ready to go, and to just grab their meds and flee to a hotel.

Things are getting interesting.

two songs (that got me through the past three days)

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Adele | Make You Feel My Love
This song makes me feel like hugging everybody, probably crying a little bit (happy tears), putting my arms around several friends and swaying side to side, then falling onto my goosedown comforter and sleeping the rest of the day. Oh, and eating chocolate. Lots of chocolate.

Okkervil River | Okkervil River Song
I feel like I should be in a forest when I listen to this, or down by a river, or swinging from a tire swing into a lake, or sitting around a campfire with a banjo. That’s the beauty of this song. It takes me to a place that’s entirely uncivilized.

• • •

Going to push through this paper (it’s been connnnnnnsummmmming my life for three days), hand it in today (after I crank out an annotated bib) then:

01. GALLERY OPENING RECEPTION!
      4 o’clock, Center for the Arts
      5:30, Awards ceremony
    
&   6 o’clock, sleep.

sunshine. hallelujah.

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ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS MY DAD SAID TO ME when I stepped into the new car wasn’t “Don’t spill anything,” or “Take good care of it.” He didn’t even say, “Don’t hit a cow with this one.”
He said, “You’re not going to have that sunroof open in the winter.” That was five years ago, and as hard as it’s been to contain myself, I’ve always honored his command.
This week I am finally able to slide back the sunroof that’s been capped in snow for the past five months and dissolve the winter blues. It feels so liberating to see sunshine and feel 40 degree air, I might keep the roof open until next November…
xx
j

of rings and things.

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MY MOM TEXTED ME THE OTHER NIGHT to tell me that yet another high school classmate of mine was engaged — the second in one week. Initially I was astonished by the news, but it should come as no surprise. Both ladies have been with their guys for well over two years and are wrapping up their college years, stabilizing their lives and determining where they’re going from where they’re at. Of course they want their partner with them forever! I am incredibly happy for them in every way.
I forget that we’re 23, and not 17 anymore. These were the girls I used to wreak harmless havoc on the town with, play tennis with, and went through the growing pains of acne and junior high History classes with. We’d run the halls and play with our food at lunch! My mind is saying, “NO! NO! Not yet! Stay young forever!” but there’s no stopping time. Their next stage is not driving their rusty Oldsmobiles and Buicks down Broadway with their eight best friends squished in the seats, but looking ahead to more adulty things.
I know I write a lot about the strains of growing up — and trying to grasp that I’m growing up — but it’s constantly on my mind. My memory is sewn together by flashbacks of everything, and I’ve been deeply affected by particular people, places, and moments that only seem necessary to reminisce. It’s difficult for me to live in the “now” because of my love and longing for the past. I don’t know if I felt happier or if the world felt safer at five, twelve, or seventeen —  but I always miss the days. My friends’ engagements reinforced the fact that life is unfolding each day.
At this point in time, I find it difficult to “make moments.” With a life is so saturated in school, friends and family in other cities, a boyfriend 1800 miles away, and the consistent stresses I put on myself to succeed, it’s so easy for me to feel totally lost. School and a long distance relationship are two of the greatest, most difficult undertakings, and I’m in the midst of both. I feel lagged. When does my interest in cookware and Martha Stewart kick in? Should it have by now? And why do I feel so behind in the adult game?
I can only compare these days to my junior high track career: Starting a race in the outside lane, running hard, and finishing in sixth place…
How does one alleviate this hurried feeling?

not getting anything done. feeling cozy. whatever.

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IN TERMS OF GETTING THINGS DONE TODAY, nothing has really been accomplished. I’ve written about two paragraphs on a hefty paper that’s due Thursday.
If there is anything good to come out of this lazy situation, it’s that I took a long, hot shower and hunkered down in my room in my bathrobe for about four hours…which, despite not getting anything done, feels incredible. 
Tallyho! 

SIX awesome things as of late

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 01. Why haven’t I been blogging? I’ve been working…here, there, everywhere. The gallery is in transition with a new show, and that’s where about 3.5 days of life went. It’s the annual Student Juried Exhibition and this years juror was Target’s corporate art curator, Lisa Melander. I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with her, as well as attending her lecture and she is a wise and talented MSUM art alum! 
We had approximately 150 entries submitted to the juried show, which Lisa whittled down to her 80 selections for the exhibition. Since all the selecting was done with the artists unidentified, she didn’t know that she’d selected both my submissions for the show — when I was in the room! I had to silently contain my excitement, but now I can share it with the blog world. Another exhibit!
Among the selected pieces is Seriously, a 3D text sculpture. You can see it on my website here.
I was scrambling down to the submission deadline to prepare the piece for the show. I actually had to clip the letters apart (they’re made of three pieces: wood, hardware cloth, and steel mesh) to PAINT THEM again, and reassemble them by sewing the pieces back together with clear fishing line. Everything must have worked out in the end because I was accepted! (My second piece in the show is the previously exhibited ‘Rubbish & Bosh’ outdoor sign.)
‘U’ before I sewed it back together in a typographical surgery of sorts. The operation went smooth.
B. FOOD:
BIG cookies that I ate during a studio break:
…and a fellow studio artist’s lunch: cold pizza with imitation bacon strips (she’s also a vegetarian). I found it rather interesting/repulsive, but mostly liked the colors:

III. An art department sign that made me feel a little better:

 FOUR: Going out and having fun (when I finally found the time) and immersing myself in environments with people that are possibly in the same situation as me (but probably not):
5: It’s APRIL, which means it’s almost May, which means it’s almost August, which means it’s almost December, which means it’s almost internship time, which means I’m ALMOST DONE.
Seis: Today is the first day not wearing my winter getup (hat, gloves, etc.) and it. Felt. AWESOME.
Here comes the sun.
xx
j