post 52?

Tonight? Oh no, but be assured it will happen. 

Though the velvet curtains may have been pulled on our class, my blog shall remain.

ADV Introduction to Creativity. 

We had a good run

twain

Lousy day?

Here, have some Mark Twain.

Always seems to do the trick for me.

He has a point you know.

behind the card

Dear relatives, far away friends, co-workers, and anyone else on my mom's Christmas card list.

Sorry about you ending up there.

I'm sure the last thing you want showing up in your mailbox just in time for the holidays is a glossy little piece of paper with our three faces plastered on it. 

Ugh. Talk about a holiday buzz kill. 

Shoot me an email and I'll see if I can make sure your address gets 'lost' next year.

But to make up for it, enjoy one of the lovely outtakes that I believe really captures us accurately. 

in the spirit

One of the neat things about windows is that they're pretty darn washable.

As are dry erase markers.

See where I'm going with this?

In celebration of the Christmas season I feel something must be done to up the festiveness.

So over the next few days I'm going to get my Expo markers and get my dorm room into the spirit of Christmas.

Finals?

Hahaha, that can wait.

I've got some serious garland to draw. 

3D

Have I mentioned I love Wired?

Yeah. 

Well I love Wired.

I get the magazine and like to browse the site when I've got time, and I just came across this article about how Staples plans to offer 3D printing just as it does regular printing in stores.

No word on how long this could take to reach actual stores, but as soon as it does-

I. Will. Be. There. 

http://www.wired.com/design/2012/11/staples-goes-3-d/

now you see me

I'll be honest.

When I left the theatre I was way more excited about

 this commercial than I was about the movie I had seen...

http://nowyouseememovie.com/

SO MUCH EXCITEMENT.

Assuming that any future trailers until the release are just as good as this one, I think it's safe to say I'll be at that midnight premier. 

orbitz

I can't be the only one who remembers these.

I remember liking them when I was little,

but now that I re-evaluate the thought of a drink that is just congealed enough to allow for suspended particles... It doesn't seem quite as appealing. 

wired christmas

Here's a fantastic list (from a fantastic magazine's website) of awesome gifts to give some of those people on your Christmas list that are proving hard to shop for. 

They're all under $50, which is still a lot to spend- so don't check it out in hopes of some cheap little stocking stuffers. 

http://www.wired.com/reviews/2012/11/wl_under50/

ogallala

For a recent chemistry project we were told to read an article about a current event,

then give a brief summary of it, and our opinions on it.

Bet you're excited now huh?

Okay fine, I won't make you beg:

The article I read:

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/02/07/texas-water-district-acts-to-slow-depletion-of-the-ogallala-aquifer/

--& now what you've all been waiting for: MY opinion--

(and it is overflowing with grammar, spelling, and general writing errors- but lets just say I didn't remember that I need to write this until 3hrs before the class it was due in. When you look at it from that perspective, It's amazing that the thing even makes sense at all.)

--------------------------------------------------------

The depletion of the Ogallala aquifer out on the high plains of Texas is a well recognized issue. We have been pumping water from it at a much faster speed that the aquifer could ever hope to replenish itself in accordance to. So the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District has set a pumping cap of 1.75 acre-feet per acre per year in an attempt to slow/combat the depletion of this source. They hope to ensure that in 50 years, 50% of the Ogallala groundwater remains.

            Outside of the textbook (but also in relation to what we’ve been learning) I can relate to the Ogallala crisis first hand. My family has a farm out in the heart of the high plains (city of Muleshoe to be exact, and in the Baily/Lamb counties) where my grandparents have lived and farmed for the past 80+ years. I was therefore quite familiar with the issues and points brought up in this article. For instance, as is mentioned in the story, my grandparent’s farm did have a windmill that pumped their water when they first settled there, and I can remember my grandpa using flood irrigation to water our cotton when I was younger. Just last year we replaced our previous method with large crop sprinklers.  My dad has told me of how drastically the water pressure has changed from how he remembered it as a kid. We’ve even had one of our wells go dry in the past year.

            It is very alarming, but there are many different things to be blamed. This article mentions how the use of flood irrigation wasted so much water, but that is a very weak explanation.

            One of the main issues is that some farmers are insisting on growing crops that are not indigenous to the natural environment of the area. But at even greater fault than the farmers are the dairies and feedlots. These two forces are buying up and taking over massive amounts of land. They will sometimes buy  five farms in an area and leave four of the five dry and untouched (which is needless to say, horrible for the soil,) and then on the fifth farm plant a crop like alfalfa which requires more water than almost any other crop, to use as feed for their cows. To do this they connect the wells from each of the farms and pump insane amounts of water into the concentrated area where they’re  growing their feed. Thus, eventually several of the unused farms are sucked dry.

            It is sickening to have to fret over whether or not we will be able to pump enough water to keep our small cotton harvests alive, when the dairies are gluttonously draining the country.

            I also find it ironic the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District is based in Lubbock. Lubbock is the nearest ‘large’ town to most areas of the high plains. However it does not truly sit upon the Ogallala , rather it kind of lies close to the bounds and of it, or at the most on top of an edge that is not actually full of fresh water. Anyway, Lubbock being a large city requires a lot of water- and where do they get a good portion of that water? You guessed it, the Ogallala. The fact that is isn’t traditionally within their boundaries or moral rights to use means nothing. So they found a piece of land on the edge of Muleshoe and on the tip of the aquifer to buy. They only needed this one edge because that was more than enough to tap into our portion of the Ogallala in Baily County.

            They built an underground tunnel, around 60 miles long and large enough to stand in, to pipe our water into the city.

So it’s just ironic the this High Plains Water Company has gone to all this trouble to point fingers at farmers, regulate them, chastise them, and talk of the massive damage- all the while telling us it’s our fault and its up to us ‘irrigators’ to fix this problem and stop all the harm we’re doing. They’ve got to limit us ‘crazy farmers.’ Teach us what to do to save the Ogallala from our destruction.

            Sweet, sweet irony.

            According to the Lubbock water resources site, residents of Lubbock consume approximately 37.5 million gallons of water per day, or about 13 billion per year. 3.25 billion gallons of that comes from (surprise, surprise)  the Baily County Well Field near Muleshoe. Which is exactly where our farm, and all our neighbors get our water from.  The remaining 9.75 billion gallons come from Lake Meredith just outside of Amarillo.

So tell me again, dear HPUWCD of Lubbock how the simple farmers are the ones to blame for this disaster because they hadn’t been using the correct crop sprinklers? That’s one pill I refuse to swallow.

In an article from the Lubbock Avalanche Journal the following is quoted from Ches Carthel, (Chief water engineer for the City of Lubbock.)

“The water we get from Lake Meredith is what’s called a renewable resource, so it’s a much more reliable supply of water.”

“The water in Bailey county, while it is a higher quality, is a limited supply.”

“When we use it, it’s gone.”

            At least he makes one point I won’t squabble over. He’s right, our water is of fantastic quality. You don’t know what water truly is and was meant to be until you’ve had a glass pumped straight from a cold, clear, underground lake.

            Don’t tell the citizens of Lubbock that though. By the time the city has processed the water for them, it tastes no different from our tap here in the Big D.

little heros

I don't know how, but I stumbled upon a site/blog that cosists only of a neat little comic strip that is updated twice weekly. The story is just a fun little catalog of the actions and adventures of the main DC comic book heros, except-

they're little kids.

It's really quite cute & well drawn.

Definitely something I'll be keeping up with.

http://limbero.org/jl8/1

germans

Kuby's is a cool little German restaurant/grocery store we've got here in 

Highland Park in Snider Plaza that is chocked full of character- and meats.

Schnitzel. 

future buddy

Okay, I've got it all planned. 

My future dog will be a black french bulldog.

He will be perfect and I shall name him Sherlock.

But what is a Sherlock without a Watson?

If I then decide to get another dog to keep Little Holmes company, he will have to 

be a little tan french bulldog whom I shall name Watson.

The future looks bright.

oh memaw...

My grandmother is a 90 year old woman whom has lived her life out on a farm in west TX.

She's opinionated. And loud. And hilarious.

One time we were at sonic and my brother, whom didn't know what an ocean water slush was (its just blue coconut) made a casual remark about wondering what it tasted like.

My grandmother: "WEll. I'd imagine It's be kinda salty."

We were in front of a Jimmy John's once, and in the window was a little sign that said "Free Smells."

My grandmother: "What the HELL is a free smell?"

And most recently, she broke her hip.

-Because she was taking a walk when a little dog started yipping at her, and she didn't like that. So she tried to take a swing at it with her cane and fell.

MEMAW. 

background

My current desktop~

Kind of perfect....

starbucks

Starbucks refreshers

I fell in love, and then they were gone.

Taken. "Out of stock" 

My only hope is that one day they will return, and we shall be united. 

Just the cool lime though.

They can keep the other one. 

Cool lime is mine. 

creative application

So to be a creative advertising major at the Temerlin Advertising Institute of SMU you have to have to  go through their application process, and if they like you, you can be chosen as one of 17 they accept.

The only question:
WHY NOW?

We had a 11x17 piece of paper to answer this however we wanted.
Really. We could do whatever.
Intimidating, no?

My entry-

And lo & behold they let me in!

How bout' that?

I (was/absolutely still am) pretty freaking excited to say the least.

**If you don't get it go YouTube the old Tootsie Roll commercials**

obsession

Polymer clay mini food

OHMYFREAKINGGODSOAWESOMEOBSESSIONOVERLOAD

translation: Please enjoy these pictures of small polymer clay foods

One day.....one day.....

to do & be done

To-do lists  keep my life running.

They exist on anything and everything that I'm around when I have a pen in my hand.

Really, I mean everything. 

All I have to do is bravely stick my hand down into the dark depths of my purse, and I'll come up with not only peppermints, coins, & ancient artifacts- but many a to-do list as well.

On movie tickets, gum wrappers, receipts, business cards- you name it,
 I've planned my day on it.

For me, they relieve stress.

When I have an insane amount of stuff to do (always)

and a lack luster memory (what was I saying again?)

It tends to get unmanageable when relying memory alone.
& thus things slip through the cracks never to be heard of again.

Though 'cracks' might not be the right word.
When things like the start time for a final get lost (IT ONLY HAPPENED ONECE OKAY.)
I'm more inclined to call them gaping pits, or black holes.

Anyway, I have a few posts to go until 50, but I know what I'm going to post for each of them.
(That's a step in the right direction isn't it?)
So my blog will momentarily be serving as my digital to-do list.
And what do I mean by that?
I'm glad you asked, it's quite simple really:
I'm about to just crazy post 18 or so entries with nothing but a brief description of what will go there once I go through and actually write it.

It's a fool proof plan if you ask me.
But I did come up with it so I might be a little biased.
Yet again, I'm pretty awesome so it probably is fool proof.
Yeah. Definitely fool proof.

Warmest of Regards,
Lauren

i see what you did there

Conceptual advertisement literal vs. symbolic meaning breakdown....ready.....GO: 

In a Denotative/Literal sense you see broccoli. Just a chunk of broccoli that looks a little boxy of course, like a 3D version of pixilation. 

In a Connotative/Symbolic sense you understand the pun. Broccoli is considered to be a very healthy food that is good for you, so Norton Anit-virus is playing on that by saying 'Keep your computer healthy' and then alluding to the message that their software is like broccoli for your computer. The whole broccoli message is made even catchier by the fact that their broccoli that is symbolizing their computer product looks pixilated, and when we see pixels we think computers. So it just ties it all together in a nice way. 

On a side note- major bonus points to whomever made this. 

When you think of 'clever advertisements' -computer security software doesn't usually make the list. 

So kudos. 

reflect

I found this quote on some quote website awhile ago, and have been saving it ever since.

I love it.

The background picture is from a blog called "work of hand." 

I found it a fun site to scroll through, though I am not sure how much of the photography on it actually belongs to the blog's owner...

And finally- yes, the complete thing is a little ghetto and cliché. 

A quote in white words over a scenic picture- the originality is overwhelming I know. 

But I didn't make it for any reason other than that the quote looked ever so lonely when simply typed.

So you can just shield your eyes if you have a issue with my quick & easy PowerPoint poster. 

-WHOA-

Yeah. That's right, I said it. 

Layin' down the law, tellin' it like it is, ain't no sugar coatin' 

home skillet bro.

miniature munchables

Alright, weird confession time:

I love miniature things.

I mean I really love miniature things.

 (the greater the detail & smaller the size = the more likely I am to completely freak upon sight) 

Those little realistic hobby doll houses? Model train setups? Mini tea sets?

Love, love, love. 

But, more than any other form of miniatures- I love miniature fake foods.

Don't even get me started.

I love fake food when it's normal sized, so shrink it and I'm obsessed. 

So is it really any wonder that when I'm given clay of any sort,

 the first thing I do is break out the mini food?

Fun to make & fun to obsess over later.

Win, win.

(win)

Therefore last semester during finals when I should have been studying,

I made miniature food instead!

YEAH. I clearly deserve an A+ in life decisions.

~below are the fruits (and pies, and cookies, and pastries) of my labor~

Mmmmmmmm,

so

much

miniature 

And now you might be thinking to yourself, "This is so weird...."

To which I would reply, "Have you seen the rest of this blog?"

portfolio-ish

So, remember several weeks ago when I said I was going to post some of my work?
(okay, fine, it may have been more like a couple of months ago-but that's not the point)
ANYWAY.
I've come through, and hereby present to you some of my portfolio.
This is the majority of my 'for public viewing' portfolio.

Yes. I have it sectioned into what I will allow others to see and what I will not.
Don't think you're missing out on anything though. Trust me, it's for your own protection.
The things that hide crammed under my bed are quite happy there.
The horrors of old self portraits, washed out watercolors, and smeared chalks...**shudder**

Thus, their more 'approved' brethren are what I shall share with you in part today.
I won't drown you in details, stories, opinions or dimensions.
Instead I'll just have the pictures, and the medium used below each one (plus a little bit of commentary- I mean, this is me we're talking about- a little bit of commentary is always there whether you want it or not.)

Now then.
LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED.
-Okay, fine. That is a little to dramatic, but
"Lets scroll down in a distracted and un-focused manner to briefly scan this random person's art before switching to Facebook," wouldn't have looked as cool in caps.

**Might I suggest just looking at them the size they are on the plain blog page, these images are not of HD quality, and bigger isn't always better. They'll look nicer on a smaller scale anyway. ** 

Don't judge to harshly- this one is pretty small in real life, so of course it doesn't look any better blown up on your computer screen. (Colored pencil) 

Skeleton still life. Yeppp. 

But no, the paper is not naturally that discolored- what you see here was done via the computer once scanned in. The drawing isn't edited at all though, just it's coloration. (Pencil)

This one is pretty big in real life. Well, big in my opinion..

(Grey markers)

In here for nostalgic value more than anything- 

this was one of the first things I did in Art 1 in 9th grade.

Awwww. (Colored chalk)

(Colored pencil)

This was done in a slightly hurried manner, so it's rough patches are evident. 

Yellows and greens just refuse to blend as nicely as reds and oranges do, which is weird because theoretically all the pencils should be the same consistency, only of different colors.

But unfortunately that's not the case. (Colored pencil)  

One of the few non-realistic things I've done. I enjoyed it though.

Mostly because the piece I had done before this one was the black and white street above, and after spending that long on that many little grey bricks- I needed a serious break. (Colored pencil)

This one is pretty small, and old.

Well, I say 'old.' Five years ago maybe?

(Scratch board)

The second micrography I've done.

(Pen & ink)

No comment. I just. UGH. no. 

WHY DID I HAVE TO RUSH THE LOGO?! WHYYYYY

(Colored pencil)

The most recent colored chalk still life I've done.

And it's still not very recent. Darn you college.

(Colored chalk)

Yes, yes, I know I already posted this one. 

But it was a couple of months ago- so here, have another. 

(Colored pencil)

The first micrography I ever did. This scanned version makes it look extra weird though...

(Pen & ink)

---------------------

"You have hereby reached the end of this post and are now free to move about the internet.

If you'll follow your curser to the red 'x' or dot you will find that exits are located to your upper left or right hand corner. Don't forget to tip your blogger, and thank you for viewing Lauren's partial portfolio. The one stop blog for all your trifle loving needs."

 ---------------------

Warmest of regards,

Lauren

(P.S. shot out: Mr. Hines. Should you ever stumble upon my little blog here (because lord knows I will never actually tell you about it) I will be amused to hear your take on all of this. Distressed by the fact that you found it, but amused. So many posts of poor grammer, and rambling paragraphs. I can just see you there sitting in your room smirking at your laptop as you read...)

da 'brero

Oh look, it's me. 

IN A SOMBRERO.

YEAH. That's right. 

Warmest of regards,

Lauren

mission impossible

I guess mission statements don't always have to be cliche 

generic slogans on old company websites.

 A "mission statement" is just a fancy word for something you already have.

It could be your goal, your plan, your 'bucket list' of sorts.

Your beliefs, morals, hopes, and dreams.

Anything central to your life as you live it.

Usually vague, and hard to define.

Always there, just rather elusive.

So a 'mission statement,' should you have one, is not a fancy saying to crochet on a pillow.

It's just a little bit of yourself that you've managed to nail down into a phrase.

But it's simplicity is what makes it so hard.

I can't wonder what might have happened.

I will speak up. I will be part of it all.

I shall surprise the world and myself by noticing life as it passes,

and never going un-noticed. 

Although lets be honest. 

That would make for a pretty awesome crochet pillow.

Warmest of regards,

Lauren

if i should die before i wake

I'll try to keep this short and simple.

Our final 'big' creative project for Professor Baronet's class is- 

'Design your own tombstone.'

Well. I can honestly say that I've never done any project even remotely similar to this. 

The concept is alarmingly exciting, yet cold and sobering at the same time.

Thought provoking to say the least.

To truly get into it you would need a better understanding of the project as a whole, which I might try to summarize in a later post, but for the time being I shall delay.

Context wise all you need to know is the prompt for Part 1,

"Write 2 sample eulogies (friend, family member, future spouse, etc.) 300-500 words each."

So I have drawn up this post as a means of submitting one of my eulogies.

We'll call it an EXTREMELY rough draft to say the least, but anyway
here's my attempt for eulogy number one:

It’s a Tuesday at 10:45.

And if I sit still, and stare straight ahead- I can almost see her.

Almost but not quite.

I have to be careful, for if I turn my head her way – even for an instant – she’ll leave.

She won’t be unzipping her little white pencil case.

She won’t be sipping her tea.

She won’t be absently scribbling in her notes.

She won’t be there.

The difference isn’t earth shattering. Just slightly empty.

If she were here, I still wouldn’t hear her.

We wouldn’t speak.

No pleasantries to miss, besides the occasional “Hey,” or “Good Morning” we might share if she was having what I would assume to be an especially great day.

But now I’ve noticed.

Maybe I didn’t at first.

I mean sure I got the email-

the one they send when we lose someone.

And I would like to think that I left hers up for at least three seconds longer than I usually would.

Not out of recognition, or reflection; no.

But perhaps out of surprise at the very least.

 After all, it isn’t uncommon to hear of a

‘Former, vice co-chair of pre-alumni communications’

whom bit the dust

But just some girl?

We were the same age,

 though now I’ve surpassed her and she’ll never catch up.

That’s not what’s supposed to happen.

Not to us.

I guess from there it took about three weeks.

Three weeks to note her absence.

First week; ill perhaps?

Second week; must have quit.

Third week; she might have been ‘her.’

That girl that no one speaks of because she never spoke.

I still have her pencil you know.

The one from that rainy Thursday when we had a quiz.

“Does anyone have a pencil I could borrow?” was all I asked.

“Sure,” she replied and handed me this small yellow, pink, and chrome thing.

“Thanks.” Said I.

“No problem.” Said she.

But I can’t return it now.

What an odd item it would be to place at a grave among the flowers.

So I’ll keep it, at least for a while.

At least until I stop wondering what might have happened if I had ever said hello.

At least until I forget.

It’s a Tuesday at 10:45.

And if I sit still, and stare straight ahead-

I can almost see her.

Don't laugh! It's not THAT bad... 

Oh and yes, I did seriously dodge that whole "friend, family, future spouse etc" thing."

In case you didn't pick up on it, the eulogy above is one from an imaginary person

that might sit beside me in some random class.

Not exactly anyone I would have an emotion connection to.

So yes, this was an extreme delay from having to dig to deep, or seriously

contemplate anything to depressing.

But I suppose I'll have to dive right into all that emotional mess for my next one.

I'll admit that I'm not the sort of person to wear my heart on my sleeve,

or (God forbid) share feelings. 

Therefore, if by some strange turn of events I do really get involved in my next eulogy, don't be surprised if I don't actually post it- or if I do we'll see how long I manage to keep it up. 

 Warmest of Regards,

Lauren