This Saturday I went to my volunteer meeting and then went shopping. Two stores looking at home decor stuff and not buying anything. I did however order a bed-in-a-bag queen set. I don’t have a queen bed or an apartment but I’m working on it.
I saw some really nice DC shoes but I wasn’t going to spend $50 on shoes, that would be crazy!
Last Wednesday I went and read my poem in front of the Mayor. My dad met me there.
After my volunteer meeting, I drove to Kaukauna to try and photograph some eagles and owls. I was unsuccessful in spotting any of each. Before I went to 1000 Islands Nature Center, I tried to find a new park that people said was a good eagle spot. It was by the factory on the river and I honestly dont know what the factory does except to say that they use a lot of trees/raw lumber. Anyways I was by the factory and I did a u-turn past their security building and then this white SUV parks over by my SUV and stops there looking at me while I was taking photos of the river. When I finally turned around to walk back to my vehicle, the man drove off. In my mind he was either concerned about what I was photographing or he was a perv who saw this short person and when I turned around he saw how much facial hair I had and took off.
I did succeed in getting my old shoes quite muddy and wet. It was the first outing with the camera this new year. I typically wait until middle of March every year. I’d love to show some photos I’ve taken but I really don’t want to turn on my loud laptop and screw around on photo shop right now. Maybe later in the week I’ll add photos.
I did add to my poem after listening to some Button Poetry on Youtube. I think I’m finally starting to shape the poem in the direction I want, which is to avoid as much anger as possible.
Today I upgraded my binder/planner to something more professional. I also bought a spiral daily planner which I rigged to my binder using floral wire. Then I added some note cards and bought some gold paper clips to use as tabs.
The other day I remembered that April is the Book Fair which is a week long series of events in the area. I always read my poetry at their poetry slam.
Since I’m getting closer to moving into my own apartment, I’ve been thinking more about my novel and being able to write some concepts out and have them around to look over and edit. I haven’t been writing because the fan on my computer runs hard and loud. I’m looking for a new laptop but apartment and vehicle take precedence.
Yesterday I received word that my poem was selected as one of five to be stamped into sidewalk in Appleton.
I went and bought a small banquet table that will also serve as a dining table. It converts into a longer table for two people to fit comfortably.
Before that I went to Target to get my brother an apartment warming gift . I was in the store for almost two hours. I didn’t want to buy something that would force him to commit to a color scheme but of course that’s what goes through my head. I’m sure he doesn’t care about clashing colors like I do. I ended up buying a clock in my state of defeat. I left with an overwhelming headache.
I found a vehicle in the area. It’s my Metallic Grey Hyundai Santa Fe. Now I have to talk to the auto guy at the bank to see if he can get a better deal. I didn’t want to spend more than I currently have in the bank but I also don’t want a vehicle that needs a lot of maintenence because of an abundance of miles or age.
I thought that I had done a lot today but apparently not so much. I went to my weekly group volunteer meeting and then I went and bought a lunch bag for work.
As far as my art prospects are concerned, I have made some progress in editing my future video poem. I do better when I’m listening to other poets perform. I started watching a bunch of Paul Tran poems. That put me into the poetic mood.
I have not touched my novel manuscript or my camera. Things are a bit crazy right now.
The following YouTube video from Full Sail University is why I got up the guts to start this website, my personal brand across other social media outlets, and this daily blog.
I still re-watch this video from time to time to remind myself to remain dedicated and disciplined in everything that I do. Unfortunately it can be difficult to remain on top of everything every day. But I’ve been able to stay on a daily posting basis, even if I forget and post a little bit into the next day such as today.
With my social work prospects, I want to continue to write about policymakers and community-based resources. I also want to do some journalistic interviews with managers and supervisors. I just hope I haven’t burnt that bridge before I attempt to cross it. My natural inclination is to play devil’s advocate so that I can see both sides of an issue.
Anyways, I hope this video helps you out in your professional development and personal goals. It has certainly helped me in both areas of my life.
I am fulfilling a goal to write and publish more. Appleton is going to review and possibly publish poems on sidewalks. Please let me know which one you like best.
1.
Your life is your message
to the world.
I want to be like the trees
and help people breathe
without them knowing
it’s me.
2.
The truth is…
I don’t want to
heal these scars.
Healing means going
back to the beginning.
I am a passport
of never never lands
others will never travel.
3.
Dear child,
I will make you
a recipe for disaster.
By the time you
make it for your children,
you will call it a revolution.
No preparation needed,
just small catalysts
and visionaries willing
to take action.
My poetry hasn’t made any significant strides so far this year. I’m still working on a piece that I want to turn into a poetry video. The piece is trying to blend body image with beauty in nature and overcoming your past because you are worthy of making yourself a priority.
I haven’t touched my novel manuscript since probably November. There is just so much that has to be re-written in a dialogue format rather than a narrator format. It isn’t really that I have to add chapters but that I have to augment existing chapters. I still so far in to the process have not developed a voice for my other main character. I’ve done some throw away scenes where I try and get the character reacting to different emotions or situations.
One thing I did accomplish was finding a unique name or label that I needed to be able to cement a big issue. While I have other issues that make sense in my head but I can’t seem to verbalize or write down in a coherent way. It all centers around magic and equivocation and people believing that they are making a free will choice but they are really being manipulated by the magician.
As far as my photography, it is normal for me to take a break during the winter time. I’m just not that in to snow covered nature. I also fail each year to try and photograph owls out in nature during the winter. I usually reboot my efforts when the bald eagles are nesting along the river ways. I did check the State Fair website and there is no list available yet for the photo entry categories. I also want to try and do some consignment for my photos. Even if it doesn’t do anything, I still want to follow through with putting some photography in some local consignment shops.
I went to the open house for the new Thedacare Cancer Center. I went there with an eye for architecture and design that welcomes clients and provides an open, safe, and non-clinical environment.
The wood slats across the upper windows is dual purpose for aesthetics and also preventing the sun to bake clients and employees. A design aspect that was overlooked at Encircle. Much of the artificial light is balanced with an abundance of natural sources through windows and skylights.
I’m not sure if I would have approved of a plant scheme throughout the space whose common name is “Mother-in-law’s tongue!” However it is nice to see real greenery throughout rather than artificial.
The colors and textures throughout blend together very nicely. All of the art prints on the walls are metal or canvas, so they can be cleaned and sanitized. They said that most of the art came from local artists. Another reason why I went was to see if they needed any nature photography. Because if you go to Encircle’s Mammography department, you’ll see a collection of 35 flower photos of mine that I gave them to fulfill the natural feeling they needed.
I absolutely loved that clients had the choice between receiving their chemotherapy in an open group environment or a private room. I think the open space option really lends to a community support atmosphere. You never want to feel like you’re alone, and the open concept really lends to opportunities for connecting with other families going through the same circumstances.
The only thing I didn’t like was the dark yellow cream paint color near where the radiation machine is located. I’m not sure if it was a purposeful color choice for the presence of radiation. I would suggest a different color. Maybe a vinyl brown wood or brown which is used as an accent wall across from two patients’ cancer survival stories. As soon as I saw that dark yellow cream color I had an operating room/surgical feeling in my gut. It was an immediate trigger in my brain.
Looking at the hydroponic garden yesterday brought me back to the winters where I grew seeds in the basement under fluorescent lights. Other teenagers liked playing video games and watching South Park; I enjoyed being able to see, smell, and touch green plants in the middle of Wisconsin’s harsh winters. By some miracle no government agents even showed up to question why we were using so much electricity in a basement or why there might have been a very large heat signature.
My original plan after high school was to become a horticulturalist or landscape designer. But then I really liked my psychology 101 class and changed majors. But then in my senior year, I really fell in love with Environmental Psychology at UW Green Bay with Dr. Wilson-Doenges. Learning how nature and architecture blend to create welcoming spaces. We had to redesign environments that we thought didn’t work well or didn’t give a sense of safety or invitation. My small group redesigned the newly renovated giraffe exhibit at the NEW Zoo in Suamico.