On a Whim On a Wednesday: Thank you, Joe Butt

So this first week of school...
(don't worry, I'll be explaining the significance of "Joe Butt" in just a moment)
...has solidified what I already knew but had yet to
dive into
and
submerge myself
mind, body, and soul:

I NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHO I AM AS AN ARTIST.

You see, I am taking this class called,
"Business for the Professional Artist."

And it's kinda a big deal for me.
Because this teacher is not only a wonderful illustrator, he ALSO is quite the successful artist (in terms of making a living off of it for his entire life).

And, well, if his lectures don't just hit on ALL of my weak points....
"This field is beyond competitive, and you will only be successful if you,
a. Know every detail of the market today.
b. Know every detail of the market TOMORROW.
c. Are able to confidently and verbally propose to clients what you have to offer.
d. Know for YOURSELF what you have to offer.
e. Are EXTREMELY self disciplined.
f. Do not succumb to distractions. Avoid excessive "hobby-ing."
g. Have a professional, online portfolio available at all times.
h. Have impeccable attention to deadlines and punctuality."

And SO,
even though I have yet to actually have an official assignment in this class, I have actually been spending most of my "homework" time on it.

Because I decided to dive into it.

Completely.

Like this....

...but far less graceful.
And so my sketchbook has become my beloved friend.
In fact, most of the time I don't even bother to put it in my backpack whilst gallivanting around campus.
Because it is only a matter of time before I want to pull it out and scribble some new raindrops (words) in my brainstorm.

First, this brainstorm began with the "clouds" of
"What do I know about?"
"What are my interests?"
"What are my potential artistic markets/fields?"
"What do DO with it all?"

Each of these clouds proceeded to shower.
Heavily.
All sorts of raindrops/words/phrases,
from "Da Vinci"
to "stuffed animals"
to "fumage"
to "the universe"
to "biospheres"
to "greeting cards"
to "graphite realsim"
to "rhythm"
to "oil lift-out"
to "flying kites"
to "ceramic sculptures."
Needless to say, this storm was beginning to get a bit
out of hand.
And so, I sought shelter.
(Meaning that I took a break from working in the printmaking studio and planted myself in a good spot on the floor in the hallway of the art building).

And I thought back to something that my teacher had said:
"Your artistic style is who you are."
Which prompted me to write the following "cloud" in my sketchbook:
Who am I?
This "cloud" has done 2 things.

1. Filled my mind for the rest of this day with an
epic Jean Valjean performance.

2. Led me to THIS:
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp

It is a personality test.
And not just the kind you fill out in a magazine.
But the kind that is kind of a big deal and nationally recognized.
Or something official like that.

I had my skepticisms....
But THEN it showed me my results.
And good golly, it just about hit me right on the mark.
Down to strange little things I do that I didn't know a computer was capable of picking up on just from my answering a few questions.

The result came in the form of a four-letter personality identification.

I,
Monica Christiansen,
am an "INFP."
Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Perceiving.
(I think they cheated a little bit on the "N" part).
And I was brought to a webpage
describing us "INFP" people.

These are my favorite parts:

1. The personality description was written by a guy named "Joe Butt."

2. The first thing it did was quote Moby Dick.

3. "INFPs never seem to lose their sense of wonder."
I have always explained to Austin that much of my personality is based on having a good "sense of wonder." Like some people have a good "sense of humor."
Yeah, I thought I had made up that term...
apparently it is just part of being an INFP.

4. "It's as though they live at the edge of a looking-glass world where mundane objects come to life, where flora and fauna take on near-human qualities."
Um... that is pretty much my EVERY SINGLE DAY.

5. "INFPs have the ability to see good in almost anyone or anything."

6. "INFPs struggle with the issue of their own ethical perfection, e.g., performance of duty for the greater cause."

7. "INFPs live primarily in a rich inner world of introverted feeling."

8. "...quixotic nature of these usually gentle beings."
....usually???

9."...greeting the world on behalf of feeling."

10. "....a sound basis for the development of literary facility."

11. My fellow INFPs include
Homer (NOT the simpson),
St. John,
William Shakespeare,
Luke Skywalker,
A. A. Milne,
Laura Ingalls Wilder,
Mr. Rogers,
Neil Diamond,
Doug Funny,
Calvin (Calvin and Hobbes),
Anne Sherley,
James Taylor
Julia Roberts,
Fred Savage,
Bastain (The Neverending Story)
Tommy PIckles,
and...

E.T.


All I can say is...

YES.

I'll be right here,
Monica.

Tuning in to Tuesday: Firebird Palooza

What do "Fantasia 2000,"
Evan Lysacek,
and my recently begun
Fall semester
all have in common?

BEHOLD:
Igor Stravinsky's The Firebird

Technically, this piece is really a whole Russian ballet worth of music. But it is commonly performed as individual "selections of The Firebird Suite."

And it is, well...

SPECTACULAR.

Now, back to those 3 seemingly unrelated items.

First, I fell in love with this:



And then, during the 2010 Winter Olympics,
there came THIS:
(firebird theme really gets going around 1:23)



And if that is not one of the most
inspirational performances ever,
I don't know what is.

And then, a few days before this semester began, I got this email from my orchestra teacher:

I do recall my eyes tearing up a little bit.

That is how crazy in love I am with this piece.

And please....
PLEASE.
PLEEEEEAAAAASSSSSSE.
If you only watch one of the videos in this post,
MAKE SURE IT IS THIS ONE:



Because although it skips over the
EPIC "danger" music part,
it makes up for it.
Because that right there is
STRAVINSKY HIMSELF.
And if his explosion of emotion at the finale doesn't just say it all....

Oh, and if a slow cacophonous chord progression isn't really your cup of tea, feel free to skip to 4:20.

And if slow lyrical passages aren't your thing, either, go ahead and jump over to 6:00 for the emotion explosion itself.

It may very well be that I have the most
euphoric orchestra performance
of my life coming up.

Updates surely to come :)
The best conductors need only use energetic fist pumps,
Monica.

On a Whim on a Wednesday: Okay, School. Bring it On!

As you probably know, college and I have had quite the rough history.

And as each new semester approaches, I get a new bout of MOTIVATION.

And I pretty much ROCK the first 2-3 weeks.

And then... meh.

Life happens.

But do I let this cycle stop me?

NO WAY!
(Said like the kids in "The Magic Schoolbus," intro song.)

Because, with as much difficulty school and I have caused each other, it honestly is just about my
favorite thing ever....

Because I like classes.
I like learning.
I like teachers,
(even the crazy ones).
I like studying.
I like homework.

Not to mention being on THIS amazing campus:

Yeah.
I love it.

And this coming Monday just so happens to be the first day of Fall Semester.

And I just so happen to be taking THESE awesome classes:

Advanced Writing/Critical Thinking
University Orchestra
Business for the Professional Artist
Watercolor I
Printmaking I


Excited OUT OF MY MIND,
Monica.

Mountains, Trees, and Mondays: Hiking Souls and Hiking Soles

I've had this crazy idea in my head for some time now.

And it goes like this:

Every Saturday that permits, I want to go hiking.
Because everything about my soul/personality yearns for hiking.

And for goodness sake, THIS is where I live:

Hmmmm.
Yeah, I'd say it's about time to get myself out there.
But this CRAZY idea of mine has two flaws:

1. Winter is approaching. Fast. And I'd rather avoid hypothermia and frostbite, thank you very much.

2. Although I have a hiking SOUL,
and even hiking SOLES...
(meaning my beloved hiking shoes that I even drew a picture of once in art class)

...I don't exactly have a hiking BODY.

Because although things like
loving fruits and veggies,
doing yoga every morning,
attending a campus that is
built on the side of a monstrous hill,
and having a job where I lift heavy things and climb scaffolding and run around like a chicken with my head cut off (clearly this needs a post of its own in the future),
keep me in pretty healthy condition...
...that doesn't mean I'm ready to just up and hike all of Yellowstone.

Because I am also hypoglycemic.
And I have long suspected that I have exercise-induced asthma.
And the altitude here is KILLER.
And... I'm really just not that great at cardio stuff in general.

So, before I go out and take on REAL mountains,
looks like I'm going to be starting with some more figurative mountains.

Indoor heated gym with treadmills and stair climbers, here I come,
Monica.

Sweet and Savory Saturday: Brownies Save the Day

Now, despite this post's title suggesting that this day was bad enough to need saving, it was actually one of the best days I've had in quite a while.

There was even a beautiful thunderstorm.

Which always is rejuvenating.

...until it does THIS:

Not cool, rain.

Not.
Cool.
The remedy?

There are 2 parts.

PART I
Changing into pajamas with lightning speed the second I get home.
(Which explains why I am not actually WEARING the jeans in that picture. No way was I taking the time for a photo op).

PART II
These.

mmmmmm.
And what makes them even BETTER is the fact that I hardly had to do ANY work to make them.

Because this is one of those fancy shmancy recipes that makes a BUNCH of dry mix at a time.

Like this:

Mix together
8C sugar
5 1/2C fllour
2 1/2C cocoa
4 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp salt
Then, when it rains on your pants, you can just pull one of these:

To make 8x8" pan of brownies, combine
2C mix
1/2C melted butter
2 eggs
vanilla.
(Oh, and throw in some chocolate chips if you feel like it. Apparently from that picture, I only halfway felt like it).

Cook for 20 min. at 350.
Ending this post abruptly because I have to get my hands on those bad boys,
Monica.