Wednesday, December 9, 2009

A+

Just thought I'd mention. Heh. Showed up for my Art final, and was told by the instructor, "I've been watching you all term and already know your grade, A+, you can go home." Didn't even take my portfolio or look at the extra credit stuff I did. He actually laughed at me for doing extra credit stuff. Aaaah. Ambivalence.

Them Pesky Centaurs

In case it hasn't been obvious, I've recently finished reading Ted Hughs' Tales From Ovid, and have been revisiting it chronically, even whilst getting a head start on Heinrich Heine's Journey To Italy. Over winter break I intend to finally make a trip to the library, seeing as my reading list at this point is only twice my height.

Today is the day of my final Final, Figure Drawing, I've posted here a pair of drawings I will not be handing in, so I spread them out on the carpet and took pictures of them with the digital camera - not the best quality bute eh.


























In other news, I'd like to draw your attention somewhat belatedly to the Pro-Test movement, headed by Laurie Pycroft, a young man who at the age of 16 had the cojones to take on some of the (in my opinion) scariest people on the planet - Extremist Animal Rights groups. I don't know about you, but this kid inspires the heck out of me.

Winter break is almost here, which means, more than anything, that I will have time to seriously, seriously clean the kitchen. It might seem strange that I am looking forward to that more than any other side effect of a month long vacation, but you haven't seen our kitchen.

I've signed up for next term's classes - Math 111, and a 1 credit PE class.... Ice Skating.

Why?

Because I can. ...And fencing was full.

Still pending on the 1 credit voice class, but for some strange reason I don't think the instructor's going to deny me.

Every morning the grass and roofs are white with frost, which I get to see only because I wake up early to go to the gym before the sun rises above the houses and thankfully melts it all. We've been promised snow several times this week, something I have, as you can imagine, been quite ambivalent about, but now I am glad to say it probably won't be happening till next week at least. Snow during break is fine with me, snow while still rushing to class and waiting at bus stops? NA ah. It's averaging at about 15 degrees outside, and all the we all get home with chapped hands and knocking knees - last night everyone but me arrived home after dark (I finished early on account of my math final) so I cooked up a huge warm pot of stew and baked whole wheat low-fat garlic bread. I am quite popular.

Yui finally got her driving permit so Danika and I are going to practice with her a little in the parking lot later today.

And now I must be off, glory awaites... or slidenotes do, anyway.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Nine Tenths of the Pleasure



GAH FINALS.

But other than that, joy.

Thanksgiving was incredible, music, food and family, what else could a person possibly need in life? Carried my textbooks all the way there, cracked 'em once, and just let things lie. The result was apparent in my grade on Tuesday's test - but I've since then been allowed to retake it, and managed to wrestle that 73% up to an 81... still not remotely the grade I was aiming for, but turkey will take it's due, and I've already started cramming for the final. Still managed to hold onto my perfect attendance record despite yesterday's game. Yui and I, as the 'foreigners who just don't get it' were forced to silence our anger and misgivings at the warped town. Yes, I suppose living across from the stadium is stupid, but what do I know? I'm still trying to figure out why they pick up the ball, why it isn't even really a ball since it ain't exactly round, and keep touching each others' butts.

We won, naturally, TAKE THAT BEAVERS!!.... Whoever... you are...?

And here I am, having done 4 practice finals this morning, and now procrastinating instead of doing another. I can almost smell winter break... my Figure Drawing Final, while an amusing concept at first, has turned out to be far from a joke; it is an hour and a half of slidenotes, that is, making rough but accurate copies of the work of the masters, then expressing in the margin our impressions of composition, figure-ground relationship, the use of negative space, the heirarchies of size and focus, and all in the type of language that appeals to this man, Adam Grosowsky, my brilliant instructor. It's going to be a blast. I also intend to represent this picture:

In charcoal for extra credit. Isn't Jessica beautiful?

I have a few rants planned, and more news to impart... but it's nearly noon and I have to do some more practice tests before I head out. Love to all and Happy Holidays whatever that means...!