The greatest monday.

Snooze button.
Bare legs.
Perfect temperature.
New film.
A much needed group reconnection.
Some even more needed conversation about why we do what we do.
Good vibes about a current project.
Excitement about a new one.
A quick and painless history class.
An even quicker and very enjoyable studio class.
An extension on a large and important project.
And two very pleasant and (sort of) unexpected encounters.

Still Life With Woodpecker, p.65

"I love the self-conscious romanticism of the outlaw. I love the black wardrobe of the outlaw. I love the fey smile of the outlaw. I love the tequila of the outlaw and the beans of the outlaw. I love the way respectable men sneer and say 'outlaw.' I love the way young women palpitate and say 'outlaw.' The outlaw boat sails against the flow, and I love it. Outlaws toiler where badgers toilet, and I love it. All outlaws are photogenic, and I love that. 'When freedom is outlawed, only outlaws will be free': that's a graffito seen in Anacortes, and I love that. There are outlaw maps that lead to outlaw treasures, and I love those maps especially. Unwilling to wait for mankind to improve, the outlaw lives as if that day were here, and I love that most of all."


I'm not an outlaw, I don't ever intend to be, but that's a beautiful chunk of book.

I want to forever remember the wind tonight. Its perfect temperature, perfect noise, perfect arrival. As I walked home, it filled the spaces between my arms and my ribs and made a home in the fibers of my shirt. I was carried down the street like a feather- light, careless, and free.

I could not be more pleased.

Got approved for my dream studio. Woke up a bit earlier than expected, going to finish reading I Am Legend, then start my day at the gym. Then summer fruits and summer breakfasts, followed by some lounging and I guess I'll show up to work at four.
:)

Truly taking time for yourself is a surprisingly hard thing to do. There's this constant whirlwind of responsibilities and relationships around us at any given point, and taking two seconds to truly figure out what you need can become last priority.

As scary as it was, I made the time (as best as I knew how) to truly figure out what I needed, and for the first time in a while, I feel my heart and my head are in the same place. I know that my pieces aren't the only ones to be picked up; I just hope I haven't ruined anything.


Hallelujah to time, hallelujah to peace, hallelujah to trust.

I have four appointments to view four different studios in the next two days. Here's to finding a home!

Man, it's been a while. I wish I shot outside more; I really enjoyed both of these days.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/krystalisfree/

I miss producing work and feeling connected to the Chicago photo community. Where's my missing link?

It's been so long since I've acknowledged the existence of this blog.
I say this all the time, but I really want this writing kick to stick around.

Spring, you and I are going to get along just fine.

Also, RIP sandals and the soles of my feet.

Conscious efforts.

"Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can."

- The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

And then there was nothing.

Chakra Exploration.

The Second or Sacral Chakra:

"This chakra often offers us the opportunity to lessen our "control issues" and find a balance in our lives, teaching us to recognize that acceptance and rejection are not the only options in our relationships. The process of making changes in our life stream through our personal choices is a product of second chakra energy. A well-functioning second chakra helps one to maintain a healthy yin-yang existence."

Physical dysfunctions: lower back and pelvic pain.
Foods that fuel the Sacral Chakra ("Nourishing the sexual/creativity center"): sweet fruits (melons, mangoes, strawberries, passion fruit, coconut, etc.), honey, nuts, and spices such as cinnamon, vanilla, and sweet paprika.



I don't know how much I buy into all of this, but one can never have enough balance in their life. Also, having nothing to lose in the face of new experiences is a beautiful feeling.

I wish I was better at keeping up with this blog.

Best non-snow day ever.

Skipped my first class anyway.
Had a great second class.
Successfully put fliers over the entire campus and sold unwanted concert tickets in about 10 hours.
Bought 120 film for my new camera!!!
Bulls vs. Magic game.
Boyfriend.
Matt Wes agreed to collaborate a bit with me for my final digital project.
Found the PERFECT picture for my haircut that hopefully is happening tomorrow??!


I feel like a 12 year old girl.
But my excitement about everything, really, is too much to contain.

I'm so stoked on this project. Fingers crossed, crossed, crossed.

4 of 5.

As far as my classes for the spring semester, there is just one territory left that I have yet to tread. I do not have high expectations for the second leg of Art History (having heard from others about the ways of my teacher), though I am completely open to and hoping for surprises. That being said, the other 4 classes that I have been to thus far in the week have been WAY more than I was expecting. I spent probably two hours total reading and responding to my very first assignment for Evolution of the Mind, but I leave the assignment with (seriously) a completely different view on humanity and evolution. I am sad for those stuck in schools that refuse to expose its students to the studies of Charles Darwin. It has nothing to do with whether you believe in God or not, whether you embrace Evolution or the Creation Theory. Plain and simple, the man was a genius. With technology, books, school, we are privileged to have access to the ideas and the teachings of numerous people from all parts of the world. The thought of excluding any great mind from that opportunity is disappointing. If nothing else, if of his evolutional findings were left out completely, we could at least have a model for nearly flawless, objective critical thinking. I am, however, thankful for the timing- that I am just now at this age and at this point in my life being pushed to delve into what Darwin found.

...I lost my train of thought.

"For my own part I would as soon be descended from that heroic little monkey, who braved his dreaded enemy in order to save the life of his keeper, or from that old baboon, who descending from the mountains, carried away in triumph his young comrade from a crowd of astonished dogs-as from a savage who delights to torture his enemies, offers up bloody sacrifices, practices infanticide without remorse, treats his wives like slaves, knows no decency, and is haunted by the grossest superstitions."

You go, Charles.

New camera.
New eating habits.
New breath.
New realizations.
New outlooks.
New love for a very familiar human.

For the first time in my entire life, an actual new year.

My new iPod is broken but my old heart is working just fine.
Everything looks a lot brighter these days.

I haven't been giving Chicago the love it deserves.
Sorry, girl. :)
This is going to be such a damn good semester.

Whose standards am I limiting my work by?
I'm ready for rolling waves of fresh ideas and new approaches.

I've been watching an absurd amount of LA Ink lately.
If you are any sort of artist
and you need any sort of inspiration,
you should do the same.