16.7.09
10.7.09
9.7.09
Summer Projects
This summer, I realized I needed some creative outlets, after our place was decorated. So, I have a few: making my own cards, gardening [rather, potting], researching some personal interests and writing college-like papers [insane, I know], organizing recipe collection, and making containers for my ever increasing photograph and negative collection. Its fun- but I realized I dont space these things out, I get an idea and I want to do it all in one day. So things are accomplished quickly but then I need new outlets- have any ideas for me?
Me in my "office/kitchen/laundry room/ game room"
Me in my "office/kitchen/laundry room/ game room"
yes, it is a recycle bin we use for a card table outside- but look at the flowers!
envelopes, candles, card stock, labels, and silver pen
my paint brush and new color of choice
ironic island
Researchers have found a new use for a drug found in the soils of a South Pacific Island-- anti-aging! Incredible, eh? Apparently doctors already use this drug for many things and now, lab workers are frantically finding new uses for it- Hurrah!
Read whole article here: Tests raise Life expectancy
But, what would like to point out, is that this drug is found in the soil of EASTER ISLAND. The "when-found" completely un-populated, yet anciently civilized island we all know from its row of carved statues. Historians are not certain how the population was wiped out- but think, if it was disease or age or "natural" [as in, not war], they were walking on top of the cure.
Read whole article here: Tests raise Life expectancy
But, what would like to point out, is that this drug is found in the soil of EASTER ISLAND. The "when-found" completely un-populated, yet anciently civilized island we all know from its row of carved statues. Historians are not certain how the population was wiped out- but think, if it was disease or age or "natural" [as in, not war], they were walking on top of the cure.
5.7.09
Autobiography: Easy as I, b, 3
1. Where did you take your profile picture?
Is it still the one of me in the hat? Then, at the skate park in Dundee, Scotland.
2. What exactly are you wearing right now?
black comfy pants and pink tank top
3. What is your current problem?
the poor job market
4. What makes you happy most?
waking up next to my husband
5. What are you listening to at the moment?
the kitchen fan and Hillsongs
6. Any celeb you would marry?
No thanks. Too much drama.
7. Name someone with the same birthday as you?
Courtney's brother and dad. and Juan.
8. Ever sang in front of a large audience?
Sadly, yes.
9. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
Yes. Grace Kelly- but that was when I was younger. Not anymore.
10. Do you still watch kiddy movies or kiddie TV shows?
Only Wishbone.
11. Do you speak any language?
Some French- forgot most of it. Fluent in Clayne PigLatin tho!
12. Has anyone you've been really close with passed away?
how close?
13. Whats your favorite band?
Jump
14. What's something that really annoys you?
Waking up to an empty can of coffee.
Chapter 1:
===============
1. Middle names: Elizabeth Hammes
2. Nicknames: Claire Bear, Clammes, Clar, All-American Buncheese, Canadian Claire, Ass-Face [its a long story that is not as horrible as the nickname makes it sound], etc
3. Current location: At kitchen table, my current office
4. Eye color: Green, on a good day
Chapter 2:
===============
1. Do you live with your parent(s)? only when I escape to Charleston
2. Do you get along with your parent(s)? yes
3. Do you have any Siblings? Sometimes too many
Chapter 3: Favorites
===============
1. Ice Cream: Mint Choc Chip
2. Season: Autumn
3.Shampoo/conditioner? Garnier or Pantene
Chapter 4: Do You..
===============
1. Dance in the shower? this sounds dangerous- AND fun!
Sing? sometimes
2. Do you write on your hand? messy hands bother me. no.
3. Call people back? Normally.
4. Believe in love: yes!
5. Any bad habits: dont we all have these?
Chapter 5: Have You..
==============
1. Sprained stuff: no
3. Had physical therapy: no
4. Gotten stitches: if so, dont remember
5. Taken painkillers: yes
6. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling: snorkeling
7. Been stung by a bee: yes, once.
8. Thrown up at the dentist: no
9. Sworn in front of your parents: in jokes, yes.
10. Had a detention: Yes, cause I stood up for this kid in my class who was getting one undeservedly and they did the typical "you want detention too?" i was dumb and said "fine."
Chapter 6: what/who was the last?
===============
1. Movie you watched? Lost in La Mancha
2. Person to text? Brandon, Mum or Stu
3. Person you called: A potential employer
4. Person you hugged: Brandon
5. Person you tackled: Brandon
6. Person you talked to on Skype: I guess Justin and Andra
7. Thing you touched: water bottle
8. Thing you ate? chips and queso
9. Thing you drank: water
10. Thing you said: "Thank you very much" to lady for taking message for me.
Chapter 7: Future
===============
1. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? New city, new job, new home... maybe preggie.
2. 10 years? Depends how the next five go.
3. In 50 years? Surrounded with family- either biological- or in some remote country teaching folks how to read and write
4. Where do you hope to live? on the coast
5. Do you want to be famous? only if its for writing or historic preservation
6. Do you want children? yeah i do.
Is it still the one of me in the hat? Then, at the skate park in Dundee, Scotland.
2. What exactly are you wearing right now?
black comfy pants and pink tank top
3. What is your current problem?
the poor job market
4. What makes you happy most?
waking up next to my husband
5. What are you listening to at the moment?
the kitchen fan and Hillsongs
6. Any celeb you would marry?
No thanks. Too much drama.
7. Name someone with the same birthday as you?
Courtney's brother and dad. and Juan.
8. Ever sang in front of a large audience?
Sadly, yes.
9. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
Yes. Grace Kelly- but that was when I was younger. Not anymore.
10. Do you still watch kiddy movies or kiddie TV shows?
Only Wishbone.
11. Do you speak any language?
Some French- forgot most of it. Fluent in Clayne PigLatin tho!
12. Has anyone you've been really close with passed away?
how close?
13. Whats your favorite band?
Jump
14. What's something that really annoys you?
Waking up to an empty can of coffee.
Chapter 1:
===============
1. Middle names: Elizabeth Hammes
2. Nicknames: Claire Bear, Clammes, Clar, All-American Buncheese, Canadian Claire, Ass-Face [its a long story that is not as horrible as the nickname makes it sound], etc
3. Current location: At kitchen table, my current office
4. Eye color: Green, on a good day
Chapter 2:
===============
1. Do you live with your parent(s)? only when I escape to Charleston
2. Do you get along with your parent(s)? yes
3. Do you have any Siblings? Sometimes too many
Chapter 3: Favorites
===============
1. Ice Cream: Mint Choc Chip
2. Season: Autumn
3.Shampoo/conditioner? Garnier or Pantene
Chapter 4: Do You..
===============
1. Dance in the shower? this sounds dangerous- AND fun!
Sing? sometimes
2. Do you write on your hand? messy hands bother me. no.
3. Call people back? Normally.
4. Believe in love: yes!
5. Any bad habits: dont we all have these?
Chapter 5: Have You..
==============
1. Sprained stuff: no
3. Had physical therapy: no
4. Gotten stitches: if so, dont remember
5. Taken painkillers: yes
6. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling: snorkeling
7. Been stung by a bee: yes, once.
8. Thrown up at the dentist: no
9. Sworn in front of your parents: in jokes, yes.
10. Had a detention: Yes, cause I stood up for this kid in my class who was getting one undeservedly and they did the typical "you want detention too?" i was dumb and said "fine."
Chapter 6: what/who was the last?
===============
1. Movie you watched? Lost in La Mancha
2. Person to text? Brandon, Mum or Stu
3. Person you called: A potential employer
4. Person you hugged: Brandon
5. Person you tackled: Brandon
6. Person you talked to on Skype: I guess Justin and Andra
7. Thing you touched: water bottle
8. Thing you ate? chips and queso
9. Thing you drank: water
10. Thing you said: "Thank you very much" to lady for taking message for me.
Chapter 7: Future
===============
1. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? New city, new job, new home... maybe preggie.
2. 10 years? Depends how the next five go.
3. In 50 years? Surrounded with family- either biological- or in some remote country teaching folks how to read and write
4. Where do you hope to live? on the coast
5. Do you want to be famous? only if its for writing or historic preservation
6. Do you want children? yeah i do.
Mairn Elise
This weekend, I met my little 5 day old niece, Mairn. She is cute. And I wanted to steal her but my brother wouldnt let me. Here is her video of life on James Island with me.
24.6.09
havent reads
I was looking through the bookshelf pictured above when I realized I should divide my books into "have reads" and "havent reads." That way I can be one of those old people with thousands of books on her shelves, all "have reads." Would you rather speak to speak to someone like that, in all her intrigue and allure, than the individual who surrounds herself with books for fluff, decor, and an air of intelligence?
And so, the list of "havent reads" goes like this:
Calligraphy
Steppenwolf
Praha
The Great Kettles
Jasmine
The Bonesetters Daughter
Memoirs of a Geisha
Houses that Change the World
That is not as bad as I had thought. I suppose it helps that many of these were from lit courses where I was forced to read at break-neck speed. I dont think I will ever really read "Calligraphy" but I will start my small list at The Bonesetter's Daughter and see where the reading world takes me [if I can escape the haunts of the cathedral builders in Pillars of the Earth first].
And so, the list of "havent reads" goes like this:
Calligraphy
Steppenwolf
Praha
The Great Kettles
Jasmine
The Bonesetters Daughter
Memoirs of a Geisha
Houses that Change the World
That is not as bad as I had thought. I suppose it helps that many of these were from lit courses where I was forced to read at break-neck speed. I dont think I will ever really read "Calligraphy" but I will start my small list at The Bonesetter's Daughter and see where the reading world takes me [if I can escape the haunts of the cathedral builders in Pillars of the Earth first].
16.6.09
math or history?
Hold fast to dreams,
for if dreams die,
life is a broken-winged bird
that cannot fly.
for if dreams die,
life is a broken-winged bird
that cannot fly.
I have had these words from Langston Hughes taped to my laptop for some time now. Rather than being utterly inspired, I find myself despondent. What happened to my dreams? Am I selling out by trying a career that I have never envisioned myself in? Am I losing sight of all that I am if I turn towards this job, this degree, this life? Or is this what I was supposed to find all along and somehow got distracted along the way? How does one stay true to oneself while trying new things? Is it fear that holds me back? Or is it the sense that I will be giving up on my dreams?
For years I have been gearing my studies and jobs towards history and preservation work. And I have loved it [even when I felt completely lost surrounded by architecture grad students in HP 410]. But, after working at JJs and meeting with Ray and discussing goals with my husband, the pathways have turned. I find myself looking into MBA programs, searching out marketing and sales jobs, wondering how I would look in business suits. But I am not EXCITED about the idea, I am excited about the prowess, the success, the money [honestly], and the idea that one day, we could own our own place.
It is nothing compared to a different type of excitement. The one I feel towards my passions. I am thrilled and intrigued when I find historian jobs and preservation internships and project director jobs that I could one day [not now, not enough experience or schooling to be a project manager] apply for. I am more intrigued by teaching high school history than I am selling math textbooks. And so, why am I doing this? Is it to prove myself? Is it cause Dad has always said I would be good at sales and business? Is it to a step to get out of Clemson? Is it a step towards business school? Is it just a way to get back to Charleston?
How have I so lost my way and why is it so hard to see clearly from this thicket of brambles?
For years I have been gearing my studies and jobs towards history and preservation work. And I have loved it [even when I felt completely lost surrounded by architecture grad students in HP 410]. But, after working at JJs and meeting with Ray and discussing goals with my husband, the pathways have turned. I find myself looking into MBA programs, searching out marketing and sales jobs, wondering how I would look in business suits. But I am not EXCITED about the idea, I am excited about the prowess, the success, the money [honestly], and the idea that one day, we could own our own place.
It is nothing compared to a different type of excitement. The one I feel towards my passions. I am thrilled and intrigued when I find historian jobs and preservation internships and project director jobs that I could one day [not now, not enough experience or schooling to be a project manager] apply for. I am more intrigued by teaching high school history than I am selling math textbooks. And so, why am I doing this? Is it to prove myself? Is it cause Dad has always said I would be good at sales and business? Is it to a step to get out of Clemson? Is it a step towards business school? Is it just a way to get back to Charleston?
How have I so lost my way and why is it so hard to see clearly from this thicket of brambles?
6.6.09
a visit to the cheese molding pit of despair
Once upon a time, there was a magical land smelling of sulfur and illuminated by head torches, pocket flashlights, cell phones, and the sparkle in a child's eye...
In this tunnel, named Stumphouse, a railroad tunnel was being built: a project doomed by war and poverty to be forgotten. Until a school called Clemson used its moist atmosphere to mold its legendary bleu cheese. Today, the tunnel is visited by locals and tourists, playing Tom Sawyer and Becky. There are three sections... the first is safe, the second eery, the third flooded with stale rain water and reeking of swirling clouds of sulfur. Illuminated, it looks like this:
But in reality, it is a dark dark place, with no light...
We were a little bit scared and giddy. For more entertainment, especially when Crazy Claire came out, see Life in the Orange Sky
Nearby, is the famous Issaqueena Falls where you can sneak behind the waterfall, if you are sneaky and wear your best stealth gear.
In this tunnel, named Stumphouse, a railroad tunnel was being built: a project doomed by war and poverty to be forgotten. Until a school called Clemson used its moist atmosphere to mold its legendary bleu cheese. Today, the tunnel is visited by locals and tourists, playing Tom Sawyer and Becky. There are three sections... the first is safe, the second eery, the third flooded with stale rain water and reeking of swirling clouds of sulfur. Illuminated, it looks like this:
But in reality, it is a dark dark place, with no light...
We were a little bit scared and giddy. For more entertainment, especially when Crazy Claire came out, see Life in the Orange Sky
Nearby, is the famous Issaqueena Falls where you can sneak behind the waterfall, if you are sneaky and wear your best stealth gear.
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