One Track Mind

I know I haven't blogged much this semester. I've been pretty busy. In fact, I admitted to some friends that I may have bit off more than I can chew what with 15 credit hours and working part time. It seems the minute I get one thing done, five more assignments demand my attention. I stay up late to get more reading done - which makes me tired during lecture - which requires more reading on my part to understand my notes - which leads to, well, you see where this is headed. A typical day might start at 6:45 am and end the following morning at 1am. I yawn a lot. I'm sooo sleepy.

It rained in Athens on Wednesday. This meant I took the bus instead of riding my bike. The bus crosses a train track - one I've never seen used during my career at UGA. I was surprised to see some actual train cars 'parked' on the track that particular afternoon. I noticed one of the cars had been tagged by a graffiti artist. My yawn was interrupted by a chuckle as I read what the paint said.

My train of thought preciously. Seems the graffiti artist is having a tough semester as well.

Virginia is for Lovers. So I went to D.C. instead.

Question: When are broken hearts a good thing?
Answer: Why, on Valentine's Day, of course!

Two weeks ago I received a text from Scottie the Hottie: What are you doing for Valentines?
'I'm single... nothing special. Maybe a movie. You?'
"Going to D.C. Want to come?"
'Driving or flying?'
"Flying. You can use my buddy pass."
'SURE!'

And so the adventure began. Scottie the Hottie needed a break from the city, especially since his most recent ex-girlfriend lives in town. Valentine's Day is tough if you're single but especially rough when a place sparks so many memories - which can be avoided if you travel to a different state and do some sight seeing.

Mission: Get Out of Town
Destination: Washington, D.C.

We spent Saturday walking. The weather was perfect. While walking, a sculpture garden caught my attention.

First there was this guy. Or gal. I'm not really sure of the gender, just that s/he seems to be missing something.

This piece was at the intersection of Peel and Banana.

The Wizard from Emerald City was there.

So was this funky, uh, thing. I loved the curves.

Oh, more curves! I really like how the tree curves to the dirt symbolizing creation and strength...

Speaking of trees, this is the National Christmas Tree. It was planted a few months before I was born. Tell me, which one of us makes 30 look good?!

(Hint: there is one correct answer and it doesn't rhyme with Fashional Mistress Key.)

Oh, and Obama was there. He didn't say much though. I thought he was a bit flat and 2 dimensional, but that's just me. All in all, Mission Get-Out-of-Town was a success. Thank goodness for friends who work for airlines, for buddy passes, but mostly, thank goodness for ex girlfriends!

A Final Love Letter: Part III

Although I didn't realize at the time, November 1995 was a sad month. Bill Watterson announced his retirement from writing the comic strip Calvin & Hobbes.

Moment of silence please.

Thank you.

I think this is why I love this mural. If I didn't know better, I'd say our Calvin friend is desperately trying to escape the grasp of some evil monster below. The monster attempts dialogue with Calvin boy but the 'eeps' and 'orps' go unanswered.

Until you look around the corner.

Seems someone understood the monsters and answered back in foreign tongue. Anyone versed in graffiti? I'd sure like to know if I'm posting something vulgar.

You say it could be gang related?!

Eep! Orp! Gotta jet! Calvin...wait!

A Love Letter: Part II

I had a roommate in college who loved this pickup line. “Wanna come over to my place for pizza and a make-out?” She would wait for a reply in the affirmative then say, “Well, I actually don’t like pizza but come over anyway.”

Every time I drive by a mural that marks the entrance to a pizza joint in town, that pick up line comes to mind. At first glace one sees a group of people running towards a common location. Someone holds a sign for PIZZA and other for SUBS.

But look again. Closer this time...

Is that a pregnant woman next to a bride and groom? And what’s with the boy dressed as Robin? A broken leg; an umpire; and what is that nurse holding? I don’t know what type of pizza/sub party this is but I’m not hungry anymore. Suddenly I don’t like pizza. And please don’t come over anyway.

...and lest you forget what town you are in, where is everyone running?

To see the gator leashed by the bulldog of course!

That’s right. Go DAWGS.

A Love Letter: Part I

The first few months after I moved to Athens, Georgia, I tried, unsuccessfully, to find people exactly like my friends in Utah and Texas. The restaurants just weren't the same. The street names were funny. I did not like Georgia. The transition wasn't overnight. Little by little I figured out the roads. I tried new foods. I met some wonderful people. I started to enjoy Georgia. Of course, it would never be home but, at least it was bearable.

Athens is a fantastic city. It has a way of helping the most stubborn person fall head over heels in love with the culture and idiosyncrasies of the city. I found these jazz murals tucked on a side road near my office. The man with his harmonica, a hand strumming a guitar, and the woman clutching the microphone seem to wash away my Monday blues each time I drive to work. It's little details like this that make this city come alive.

I never thought I'd say this ~ Athens Georgia, I love you!

How Nice

Michelle Johnson over at Shades of MJ told me something nice. Nice Matters. She even gave me a little banner to put on my sidebar. How nice.


Thank you Michelle!


Originally I didn't know who should receive this award, but since I've taken two weeks to think about it, I finally narrowed it down to Trevor's Blog. I found Trevor's Blog after the 2008 Bloggies. (Best Kept Secret Weblog Nominee) Trevor is an artist. Each blog is a story and picture - both by Trevor. He has used his talent to help children in South Africa and Central Africa. He has uplifted children who have cancer in the United States and entertained children of officers stationed at Guantanamo Bay.

So Trevor, this is for you because Nice Matters!

Waste Not, Want Not

What the... is that a bus coming towards me?

No. It's actually three buses cut and welded together to form a bus stop.

I don't know who decided to turn the bus stops into works of recycled trash but that's the trend here in Athens, Georgia.

This one, I'm sure, made the local skateboarders upset. Look at all this perfect rail ~ practically screaming to be used except that only a few inches exists between each piece.

I can't figure out if this is an old Tetris game or the TV set from Barney.

Just be careful what you throw away. Who knows ~ one day our stop signs might be old, unfinished ring pops!

Stop, Look, & Listen

Today you are treated to more of my grade school art. These papers were stapled together thus making the weight too heavy to hang on the fridge. My art is just that good. No fridge. Just memory books. Stuffed in a box. Shoved in the basement.

Anyway, the lesson must have been on safety since I'd glued red, yellow, and green dots to a stoplight on the first page. The next three drawings, as you will see, indicate the safe way to cross a street.

I Stop: If I had to choose which limbs to go without, the picture indicates I'd keep my legs. This means I'd have to learn to type with my toes but that's an entirely different post.

I Look: A rare self drawing done during my jack-o-lantern days. Oh, and I like to think outside the line.

I Listen: Whew, good thing I grew into those ears. Good thing I gave up wearing bandanas. And good thing I'm no longer bald.

Next lesson: asking friends to jump out at red lights and hit the pedestrian crossing button so the light will turn green.