The Tenth Time I Saw Shawn Mullins And The Last Time I Visit Pendergrass

Things went fairly well at Pendergrass, but I don't think I'll be making an appearance there again. I just don't think it's a great place to try to sell art- knock off Abercrombie maybe, but not original art. It's just more trouble than it's worth. I was surprised (pleasantly) when my mom showed up to help out. Not only did it make time go by faster to have some company, but it also allowed me to eat and and take bathroom breaks (not simultaneously). I guess I hadn't thought that far ahead- it would have been a pretty long day if I'd have had to hold it all day considering I started at sunrise and didn't leave until 5:00.

One of my favorite singers, a Georgia boy by the name Shawn Mullins, came to town last week to perform in the series of shows held for free at the old Gwinett courthouse. He's honestly not much of a showman, but man he can sing. Seriously, I could listen to him all day long. I was surprised how packed the venue was since it was an outdoor show, and it was kind of rainy. Like everyone else we just pulled on our raincoats and sang along. Hey look! It's Shawn!

Meet me at the Pendergrass Flea Market!

This weekend only, you can find me at the Pendergrass Flea Market on Route 129! I'll have all the critters from the blossom creek zoo collection, as well as some of my older Caribbean paintings. I even had some framed up! My booth is in the aisle directly across from the animal/ pets area entrance. It's booth #67 I believe. Hope I see you there! Also, I'll have some of my other stuff for sale that doesn't look like it's going to make the move to NYC with me, like this pink vintage number from Paris Sport. I don't know what sport the Parisians would play in a dress like this, but it's kind of harajuku if you wear jeans and/ or long gloves with it.

Coming soon to a hospital near you...

Peter got his USMLE scores back... and he PASSED!!! Not that I doubted he would pass for a second, but it's really nice to not have that looming overhead. So watch out world, cause Peter's officially liscensed to practice medicine (under close supervision).

Life at The Blossom Creek Zoo

The population at the Blossom Creek Zoo has been increasing steadily over the past few weeks... especially within the owl cages. Also, an adorable peanut loving elephant has taken up residence there. Those owls just keep multiplying though. You can be sure there will be more to come.

Oldest 8th Grader EVER

Funny thing happened- I was at Subway, and a woman thought she recognized me. (Here comes the funny part) she asked if I went to South Hall Middle School. I was about to reply, "yes, I went to South Hall", when she finishes her sentence with, "are you excited about 8th grade?" What? I laughed and said I was ten years ago, but now that I'm 23 not so much. That's the last time I go out wearing jeans, t-shirt, and pony tail.

More Flags, More Fun

Yesterday I spent the whole day shopping for something for Peter's mom's birthday, and spending some of my birthday money. I used most of the money I got on art supplies, as well as an adorable little charm bracelet. As with every specific purpose shopping trip, we always get a particular item in mind, then spend all day shopping and comparing them at various stores, to see where we can get the best quality and price. (His method, not mine). Anyhow, I don't know if she'll like what we got her or not, but Peter thinks she will, so that's what matters. I personally already knew what she'd like more than anything, I just didn't know how to wrap it- I mean, do you put my untimely death in a bag or a box?

One of my favorite artists/ bloggers Jane Desrosier made some really nice little tip videos to post on her blog. Click on the link in the "artsy folks" list to watch them for yourself. I was so inspired I went out and bought some gel medium, so I could try some of her techniques. I've done similar stuff in the past using Spackle, but I think gel medium will offer a bit more versatility- I don't think a photo transfer with Spackle would work very well.

Also, I found the camera, but I couldn't photo my new paintings today because it was so rainy and grey out that I couldn't get enough light to get good shots, even with all the lamps corralled around them. Tomorrow I'm going to Six Flags, so I probably won't get it done tomorrow either, but you can expect SOMETHING from me on Wednesday :)

I get a little goofy about birthdays.

About once a year I get a little older... I think this phenomenon is called a birthday.

Yesterday, I was going about my business when suddenly BAM! a birthday just jumped out in front of me and I hit it with my car and now I'm 23. To mourn the passing of my 22nd year a service was held at The Grit where vegan entrees were enjoyed by all. Indeed it's pretty much the only place on Earth where I can eat as much as I possibly could and still feel healthy. Afterward, I was taken to the loveliest cupcake store I've ever seen. That's right- a store primarily dedicated to the making of cupcakes. My foot had fallen off when I woke up this morning, so I think it's safe to assume that the ginormous single serving treat gave me diabetes. (I always say that). Something else I always do is toss tissue paper from gifts around like a juggler. Unfortunately, when I joyfully tossed the piece of tissue paper tucked into the top of the gift bag that Jamie gave me, I discovered that it was, in fact, holding small gifts. Fortunately they seem to have survived my over exuberant gift opening tactics. I really shouldn't ever be given anything.

Update Quickie

If it seems like I've stopped posting real, current photos it's because I have- I haven't found my camera in weeks, but I'm moving soon, so I'm hopeful it will show up then. I honestly don't have a clue where it could be. The last time I remember having it was at a memorial day cook-out.

Also, I have a bunch of new paintings done, but I haven't been able to photograph them yet, because of the aforementioned missing camera :( however, I will probably be scanning them and posting them on www.loveaboveall.etsy.com sometime this week, if not this day.

She's no wackadoodle...

Yesterday my dear Jamie got baptised at Athens Church (an Andy Stanley satellite church that takes place in the Classic Center). I can't say how impressed I am with her taking that step. I know for me it was easy because that was where I was raised- I was pretty much always involved with one church or another, so growing up it never really seemed like there was any other way to be, but Jamie's parents stopped taking them to church when they were still kids. They got mad about a comment she made about how they stopped going to church when they moved here and they took offense and said, "well you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink", but DUH, you have to actually LEAD it to the water first. Not kind of take it half way and drop it off and say, "eh, if you were really thirsty you'd find it yourself". I think it's really important to raise kids in a christian community, i.e. church. Someday I want to have or adopt kids, and they WILL be involved in church. A Christian church, NOT some wackadoodle Arnold Murray semi-cult. I used to kind of like Arnold Murray, but I've come to dislike him more and more... not that I am totally against his teachings, I just hate that it discourages people with otherwise Christian beliefs from participating in an actual church... also he's kind of a wackjob. Google "Arnold Murray" Shepherd's chapel" to see what I mean.

At Athens Church people make a video of their testimony, and it's played right before the service to introduce the person getting baptised. Jamie's video was so cute! Her room mate (who initially brought her to the church) actually started to cry. It was so emotional. So many people love her- over a dozen people who don't go to that church or even live in the same town, came to see her get baptised. I have never seen so many people come out for one person like that. After the service we all went to DiPalma's In downtown Athens- one of our favorite restaurants. Almost every time we go downtown we have lunch at DiPalma's... except for that one time at Doc Chey's, but that's a different story. I knew several of the people that came from high school, but I hadn't seen in years. I hope to go back to Athens soon; visit Jamie and The Grit :)

To riding my bike midday past the three piece suits... to fruits... to no absolutes!

It only took all day, but I am now the proud owner of a Roma commuter bike by Scattante. Mom and Brad and Peter and I all jumped in the Jeep to make the trip to Atlanta- I don't really know a lot about bikes so I really wanted my Brad's opinion. Peter knows a ton about roadbiking (but I think he's a little Scattante crazy) and mom just wanted to come along. Anyhoo- we left fairly early, and got there around 11:00. We were finally helped by an employee around 12:00, but by that point we had looked at almost all zillion bikes they had, and decided collectively that the Scattante Roma was indeed the best bike for the purpose of commuting around town, and also it was a good deal at the discounted price of $549. (Brad and Peter actually bought it for me! birthday present). I was a little proud for having picked out the best bike without even really knowing it, and anyone who thinks $549 is insanely expensive hasn't bought a new roadbike- they get crazy expensive- although it definitely wasn't the cheapest there- cheaper ones weigh a ton and have crappy parts on them that will have to be replaced.

Moving right along with my story about the day long trip to the bike store... at twelve we finally got a guy to hear us say we wanted to buy it... only problem was they didn't have one up on the shelve that would fit me. It took the schizophrenic ADHD ridden clerk over half an hour to check to see if there was one in the back... which there was which took HOURS for them to build... so we went to The Varsity for lunch and came back and waited some more. I could have just came back another day to get it, but it is such a long drive up there I really just wanted to take it home that day, and for the first several hours everyone was on board with waiting out Performance's insanely slow service, but after a while folks started getting on edge. When they finally finished the bike we raced to the cashier before he could disappear, and I rode it out to the car... where I discovered that it clicks freakishly loud in 6th gear. I thought about taking it back in and saying, "Hi I think you've put something together wrong, could you please fix it?" But my will was so broken after the long wait, and evening rush hour traffic was building up, so I just slung it on the bike rack and headed home. Next time I'm trying to politely alert pedestrians of my presence I'll just kick it into 6th gear and watch while they dodge the rapidfire gunshot sounds. It's a really beautiful bike though... and super light. I love everything about it except that I had to buy it at Performance Bikes the day before 4th of July. I think if I had've come any other day, the service may of been better. I took it for a ride as soon as I got home and it is super fast. It is much faster on the road than any of my mountain bikes ever dreamed of being. I'm a little wobbly when coasting downhill, but Peter says I'll get less wobbly with practice. I'm actually kind of surprised with how much I love this bike. I'm pretty darn excited to take her out for a long ride on Saturday :)