At This Point in My Life

sage advice

I've been reading The Accidental Masterpiece: On the Art of Life and Vice Versa by Michael Kimmelman. Last night while I stayed up way later than I should have reading, I stumbled upon this sage advice - given to Eva Hesse in a letter from Sol LeWitt:

"Learn to say 'Fuck You' to the world once in a while. You have every right to. Just stop thinking, worrying, looking over your shoulder, wondering, doubting, fearing, hurting, hoping for some easy way out, struggling, gasping, confusing, itching, scratching, mumbling, bumbling, grumbling, humbling, stumbling, rumbling, rambling, gambling, tumbling, scumbling, scrambling, hitching, hatching, bitching, moaning, groaning, honing, boning, horse-shitting, hair-splitting, nit-picking, piss-trickling, nose-sticking, ass-gouging, eyeball-poking, finger-pointing, alleyway-sneaking, long waiting, small stepping, evil-eyeing, back-scratching, searching, perching, besmirching, grinding grinding grinding away at yourself. Stop it and just DO."

 

"Our" swallowtail caterpillar is dead :( 

I spent most of the morning working on a tattoo design. No, I'm not getting a tattoo, but I have given my design students the task of designing a tattoo for part of their project on color. As I mentioned before, I am completing all of the projects that I assign to them. If they choose to, they will apply their designs using a homemade method I learned about from a former BFA student. I am pretty excited about this...hoping they will be excited too. So far it seems like they are. Prior to the middle of the week, I was grading, grading, grading - like it was my job. Oh, I guess it sort of is. I am SO tired of grading projects, sketchbooks, and midterm exams. I have a brief but appreciated reprieve until the beginning of November - when the next project is due.

This afternoon I spent my time in the kitchen mixing up two batches of sausage balls for the weekend wood firing. YUM! I also fixed Indian food for the first time without the help and guidance of mom. I haven't tasted it yet, but I'm guessing that it will be good. Here are the recipes: 

Pilaf for a Curry Banquet

Mughlai Chicken

 

swallotail

this little guy (or one like him) is living on the lime and mandarin trees in our backyard.

Maybe someday he will be a Giant Swallowtail like this one

I discovered the caterpillar yesterday when I went out to pick peppers. I have to say that I was amazed and intrigued since I have never seen this type of caterpillar before. I hope that I am able to watch the transformation/cocoon process. 

On another note, last Friday Lee and I went to MSU (Starkville) to see a demo and lecture by Peter Beasecker. I am really glad we went. It was worth the drive. The demo was only 3 hours long, but the conversation was good. Peter's lecture was great. I took lots of notes during both the demo and lecture.

Most of my time these days has been spent working on the 2-D class that I am teaching - re-working powerpoints, editing project handouts and vocabulary, etc. I am actually putting myself through the rigors of completing all of the assignments I'm giving so an enormous amount of my time has been spent working towards that - getting caught up and staying ahead. By the way it's midterm!  How did that happen?!

I finished reading The Alchemist and I Am An Emotional Creature. Ensler's book was a good read, though tough at times. Now I am reading Ensler's Insecure at Last. I am sure it won't surprise you that I have not quit adding books to my "Need to Read" list....pile 'em on.

Lee and I received a package from Conner today that contained a mug and a plate. Sweet! I always like packages. 

Well, I should get back to work on the project 3's handout - COLOR!

12 cups of BASIL

I'm not even sure where I should begin. I'll start with now (note that I wrote this a week or so ago).

This morning I skipped my bike ride and picked 12 cups of basil instead. That is the most basil I've ever been able to pick at one time. So, I made LOTS of pesto and froze some of it.

I am currently reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and I Am an Emotional Creature by Eve Ensler. The truth is, I have started reading too many books at once. So, I have decided to finish what I've started...one (or two) books at a time. I am discovering books that interest me faster than I can read them. 

Here are some books I enjoyed reading this summer: I'm Down by Mishna Wolfe, Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India by William Dalrymple, Paradise Piece by Piece by Molly Peacock, and Aama in America by Broughton Coburn.