This has truly been the semester from hell. Yes I know I've been absent and I see my lack of recent posts has not really been much of a traffic deterrent... but let me be a good blogger and at least post something new.
So, I've survived. I'm now just awaiting final exam results from my classes to ensure I made it clear over the bar. When I haven't been in class, I've been studying and when I was not studying, I was being tutored and when I was not being tutored, I've been preparing for an exhibition.
Yes I know again. More strangeness. Me? Study? Being tutored? Preparing for an exhibition? That's a whole lot of focus from me than I've ever witnessed. All that to say, I'm exhausted and spent these last couple nights being way too burnt out to do anything other than sleep.
I must say I'm a blessed child though. In the end, everything has worked out.
With that said, I shall not squeeze my exhibition post into this one. No, for it is deserving for a post all by itself. As soon as I've completed my edits, it shall be up.
So... ciao for now.
Check back in half hour or so...
Eco's first Art Gala fundraiser.
Here are some snippets... a bit late I know.
But I've been busy.
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The art exhibition itself...
Us and our professors...
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| Myself, Christabel, Mr. Nimrod, Makeda |
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| Myself & Mr. Nimrod |
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| Ms. Rusk, Ezra & Dr. Pilcher |
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| See Krisma singing and Jodie on the sax? |
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| Tara and Leyana |
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| Wayne....singing *gasp* |
Ciao
I know how much guys generally to love hats... and who doesn't love a nice snap back? A fitted could only do so much, but a snap back? A snap back removes the limitations of a perfect fitting so that you could wear your hat just... the... way... you... would like to. Thus, permitting versatility and comfort.
So a dear friend of mine has a wide variety of official New Era snap back hats for sale. There's a wide range of colours, teams, etc. You want it? There's a good chance he has it... and if he doesn't, he can most likely get it for you.
The following photos are from the selection currently available for sale.
And... the whole collective photo...
And how much do they cost? Only 75$ E.C. per hat.
Interested?
Call Chuckie at (473) 414-1470
"I'll find my words when there's no one talking...
I've found the words if I could just stop thinking...
Be patient, I am getting to the point."
-Jack's Mannequin 'Spinning'
Thus, let me start with my valid excuse. I've been super busy. This has got to be my most ambitious, stressful, unprecedentedly busy semester ever. I would say I'm doing way too much, but if something is truly too much to handle, you wouldn't be surviving it to tell the tale right? Semester's fortunately almost over. It goes without saying that I don't think I shall be aspiring to do a repeat anytime soon. I'll just go catch my breath in a corner when it's all over and hopefully be able to say at the end of it all, I succeeded.
Aside from my hectic school life... On the plus side...
LONG PHOTO POST AHEAD...with potential stomach turners... consider yourself warned
I took part in another market day, this time it was at Spice Island Beach Resort.
(And yes, I once more have a fair stock of amazing prints ready for sale, compliments Caesar, and already framed.)
And I finally got my art blog/webby up and running ... Shelli's Art Work
Then Sher and I were on DayBreak Grenada performing poetry sometime last month for 'International Women's Day.'
I grumble a bit about it because I don't think I was prepared enough... But there's always another time. The impromptu experience was fun nuntheless and has taught me I need to start writing on a greater variety of topics if nothing else.
Tuesday surprised popped in for a week! Before that surprise visit, I haven't seen this missy since, 2009?
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| I got to practice doing a cascade braid in her hair. Muahahaha a willing victim! |
And.... Maurissa flew in too! Ok, so I moved from rarely seeing her annually to her popping in a few times in a couple months. Good times nuntheless... This is how the games night (with lots of munchies) got launched and we started to run the dominoes, truptral, pitt, etc. simultaneously. Next thing you know, it's a competitive something running with actual teams as everyone joined in to play, you'd be inclined to say we're gambling watching the events take place.
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| Her, myself and my mum at her mum's birthday dinner. |
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Then, for my Ornithology course, one of our labs involved learning how to skin and mount birds for specimens. This one below is a Black-Bellied Whistling duck. Apparently it got blown off-route and landed in Grenada as they're supposed to be non-migratory.
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| Battered and bruised initial road kill. |
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| As good as new. |
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| Montana roadkill... also known as the Great Horned Owl. That hole which his index finger is at is the ear. The ear is covered by feathers so you have to kinda poke and prod inappropriately to find it. Interesting random fact, owl ears are high and low. Meaning on one side of the side it's higher, and on the other side it's lower. How the sound bounces back and is received by the owl, helps it to determine exactly where the prey, or disturbance is coming from. |
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| Great Horned Owl The feathers were really soft. It felt like petting a puppy. Soft enough to make me do the whole girly "awww" and momentarily ponder having one as a pet just so I can pet it whenever I want. |
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Then... there was the dissection of a chicken with our VP(Visiting Professor) Dr. Kirkley. (He also did the mounting of the birds above, and brought the Great Horned Owl for us to see). Didya know that birds breathe differently to humans? They have air sacs that contain the air, first inhale, then push it to the lungs, first exhale, then next inhale, exhale. Therefore, if the bird was a smoker, the puff of smoke wouldn't actually come out until the second exhale. Also, when they exhale, all the air is expelled. Whereas, we humans exhale a little and inhale fresh air to freshen up the stale air that remains in the lungs... *ahem* Smokers?
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| Skinning. |
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| Chicken's eyeball |
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| Krisma...and her odd fascination with the chicken head. *perks eyebrow* |
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| Skin.............................body |
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| Learning to wire the bones to build the mount. |
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| Krisma and the eyeball *perks eyebrow* |
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| Myself and Wayne |
Chemistry Labs!!
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So there! You're officially up to speed with (mostly) everything important between January and now. It's like I never left, no?
Deuces,
kiss kiss.
These are just a few of my 2011 memories.
( If you don't see a photo of you, it's because I ran out of space,
or just don't have a photo of us/you. )
So... this year much happened, much didn't happen. * I started gymming with Shads - started all hot and sweaty, rewarded ourselves with KFC and called it a day. * Candice and I convinced ourselves there was some booty growth - regardless how minimal. * Reaquainted with lots of old dear friends, in that 'soul food' way. * Met some awesome new ones, beautiful souls. Discovered some toxic spirits as well. * Made it to too many parties, including Sandblast and regrettably, Unity Ball. * Got myself involved in way too much drama and other unmentionables. * Saw Becky, Nata's lil sister, literally grow from a little girl to a teenager in like a flash of a minute - how do they grow so fast? Hell, I saw Nata and Shad's grow up pretty fast this year too. * I saw people enter my life. I saw people leave my life. * Did way too much crazy stuff with Sherry, partner in crime. * I cut my hair. * Attended lots of girly tea parties. * Got the wheels turning with my paintings. * Finally, got back on stage and started performing poetry again. * Networked like crazy, met some amazing contacts. * Snorkeled in the Carenage. * Took part in filming of a clip. Started another Eve of Eve (New Years). * Explored the forest like I live there... * I switched degrees (to a double), then I switched back. * Found some sort of momentum with my blog posts - I know, I know, not good enough... but I'm getting there. *
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Funnily enough, the general consensus I've been gathering is that 2011 has been a year from hell for many and has inspired some great changes. Perhaps, that's the real 'ending' that shall happen in 2012. The death of some things from one's life after the suffering of extremities of 2011. A year of Enlightenment per se. Regardless of all that's being said, as cliched as my next words are, next year really and truly does feel like it's going to be a good year. A "mine-for-the-taking" year. I encourage everyone who stumbles across this post to make it your year too - really.
As Jamal said on his FB 2011 closing note, "2011 has not been one of my best years...way too many people left me with just memories and holes in the heart this year..."
But with that said, regardless of how disappointing a year it's been, there were many good things that happened. I've had some very happy times this year as well, many good surprises.
I've had health, good friends, family, and surprisingly good fortune with business. I had many tests, all of which made me stronger. Surprisingly good grades. Also, many experiences, especially those under my field of study, that were truly priceless and rewarding.
I guess it's all how you frame it in a context, as with the 'glass half-full/half-empty' analogy.
I guess it's all how you frame it in a context, as with the 'glass half-full/half-empty' analogy.
"...but I can't delay anymore...the time for mourning has passed, whether we feel we can adjust to it or not...and 2012 really isn't a year to feel sorry for oneself but rather to get it. And all the other things and such and what-not.
Basically what I'm trying to say with all my disjointed attempts is this: While 2011 more or less sucked for me, it had its bright moments. Remember that hope is the proverbial fuel of our starship to the future and while it does good to remember the past, it does not bode well to dwell on it and allow it to cast a shadow on the present, thus affecting your future. This was the harshest lesson I had to learn this year and one I had to learn very quickly to keep what I wanted...
The Hope that tomorrow will be better, the Wisdom to remember that having hope alone may not be enough and hard work WILL have to be put in towards that better tomorrow and also the Knowledge that you won't always be alone.Raise a glass to the future, because if I'm not mistaken, it belongs to you and I. Cheers."
-Jamal
Cheers to the good memories and good friends that made 2011 tolerable, and in odd ways, memorable.
Kisses!
Shelli
