the good picture book

the above picture was created by a polish illustrator named januzc grabianski...i love his illustrations. i found him when I went to a giant used bookstore with bill in detroit. the little Bible story book caught my eye simply because the illustrations were so beautiful. i tried to scan some more in, but they don't do them justice. but you get the idea. lately I've running across artists i like and finding out that they're polish?

10 days

deadlines drive me mad
deadlines relieve me
they hang over my head like a nasty dark cloud
they make me prioritize
if only everything was graded
then i would always have someone to please
and receive quantified feedback
because when everything is suspended in abstraction
i get lost
i hate deadlines
i need them

10 days


UPDATE:
Now the research is really in!

If I didn't have a substitute for children on the blog with plants, then this truly serves as my substitute. The brainchild is in and it was a long, excruciating labor. My classmate said, "I feel like I've had a 300 lb. man on my back for several months who is about to climb off." Well said, my good man.

So, baby or 300 lb. man...it's over now. All that's left is an exam, a presentation, a final, and oral interview, a term paper, and a research project to turn in...wooooooohooo!!! PTL for education. For women especially.

Should I be ashamed of taking pictures of myself and some documents in the plaza parking garage, near kinkos? I think the rich people thought that was suspicious.





That said, this is what I feel like doing right about now...











 

The research is in...

So today I presented my research for my thesis which I've been working on all semester. I was totally organized and ready for it, but unfortunately I was the last to present today. I think everyone was more interested in the clock on the wall than in patterns of Kansas public opinions and statute history concerning immigration, a socially constructed social problem. Yeesh. The one place I'm likely to find people who are willing to engage sociological issues.

I share the following in honor of one of my classmates who also presented. See if you can guess his topic...

riggin' the garden and a few Tom Bday pics

This is the aerial footage of my little seedlings. The set up is a bit "whiskey tango," as Bill and I say.



I spent all Sunday afternoon removing the insane amount of rocks from this area of my grandparents garden. The previous owner must have put them in along with a layer of dilapidated plastic beneath the rocks. The soil was clay that hadn't been worked in years, so that was fun. My grandma lent me some wire and wood for a make-shift anti-bunny invader fortress.


Perhaps this is what people post on blogs when they don't have children...




A little after the fact, but here are some candid pics of the lead up to the revealing of Tom's bday gift.








L'Chaim!

Las Plantas

Personal favorite responses form the previous post:

Gasoline
Sharpies/permanent marker
Freshly opened bag of Lays.

Oh, and disgusting award for Dillon...although the smell is very recognizable. Especially when he takes off his shoes after work.

So, my seedlings are off to a good start. I'm wanted to plant the squash, zucchini and peas this weekend but it just work out given Bill's move and taking care of my ex-boss's garden while they were out of town. Hopefully they survive a little longer in tiny urban studios before moving to a more spacious home.




My dad helped me set up a grow light in the basement, so that's where I've been starting the little teenies.

nose knows

soap
almond oil
my grandma
Tokyo Milk
fresh bread
coffee
Biolage
william's room
lilacs
whatever is frying
Herbal Essences (original)
first breath leaving the house

favorites of the ol' factory. What are yours?

also, is it just me, or does that last one sound like "Flander's Field?"

ever so

inspired by maeret, ee cummings, and spring.

Cocoon is spun
that wings may grow
he dormant lies
'til time to go
though it seems a fearsome trap
as thrashing, pushes to break out.
Don't help him, or you'll handicap
his strength for flying here and fro
delicately, ever so.

Winter comes to call for spring
and 8,000 seasons ago
Seed of Heaven died that life
could come from frozen ground below.
Scraped knees and shattered hearts
subtle, tiny hands to mend
and open windows in dingy parts.
Wait patiently for Whom you know
comes delicately, ever so.





[art by olga ziemska]