http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:DecemberGirl&section=today deviantART RSS for by:DecemberGirl en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:53:52 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/25542465/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/25542465/ Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:02:09 PDT
However, I will try to keep posting when I can. This summer I am working at the Santa Fe Photography Workshops - the #1 photographic workshops in the world. Photography is definitely a huge part of my life, and I have already learned so much in this first week.

What I post this summer will most likely be from the workshops.

~ K

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/22504450/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/22504450/ Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:13:02 PST
I am flying to Italy tomorrow and will be studying in Siena for the next four months. I will be taking A LOT of pictures, but don't know how often I will get a chance to update my dA account. So if you don't see any updates for a while, be patient - I will post pictures eventually!

If you want to hear about my travels, feel free to check out my travel blog: [link]

Ciao!

~ Katie ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/20926143/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/20926143/ Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:47:37 PDT I have never been to Europe before, so this is a whole new experience for me (but kind of scary given that I will be flying, settling in, and being in culture shock all by myself).

I'll be flying to Rome for orientation on January 12, and then taking a train to Siena on the following day.

I can't wait to start taking photographs over there! All the ones I've already seen show that it is an absolutely gorgeous place. Hopefully I will be able to take some photos and maybe put my style in the photos as well (since nobody likes a copy cat).

Right now I'm stuck between being completely elated and absolutely terrified. But, I've wanted this for a long time. I'm sure it will be amazing after I get used to the culture and Italian way of life.

~ Katie ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/20147266/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/20147266/ Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:47:01 PDT

~ Katie ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/19549300/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/19549300/ Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:09:06 PDT Phew. Now I have less than a month before I am off this island for good.

I'm sick of this island now, but I'm sure when I'm back in Ithaca I'm probably going to start missing the people and sights from this place.

And...there's lots of drama at work. And by drama, I mean employees hooking up and whatnot. Kind of scandalous too, given that some of the people involved already have significant others. Must be the summer heat...

Dance like no one's watching ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/19225603/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/19225603/ Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:53:41 PDT
Missing family & friends....

I need a hug, but don't have anyone out here that I could ask and not be awkward about. haha.

Can't wait to get back to Ithaca. UGH.

Dance like no one's watching ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/18433326/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/18433326/ Wed, 21 May 2008 15:23:09 PDT

I have had SIX full-time job offers (partially due to problems with people getting visas - a good portion of the workers on MV during the summers are from Europe). Today I accepted the position of hostess at the Harbor View Hotel in their restaurant. I'm starting tomorrow morning! It's a full-time position that offers discounted housing (phew! that was the deal breaker!). I'm also planning to work a second job part-time. It would either be at the Colonial Inn as a front desk agent, or at The Seafood Shanty, also as a hostess. I'm planning on working 60 hours a week. If worse comes to worse and it's too much, I'll drop the part-time job. That's the plan as of now...so, we'll see how it goes?

It feels really great to be self-sufficient and nearly 100% independent - even if that means paying my own rent and buying my own groceries. I am doing all this job hunting and house-hunting myself . This is definitely great preparation for when I study abroad in Europe next Spring. Better to do it now in the U.S. than in Greece or Italy - where more or less everything will be pretty foreign to me.

My Nikon lens is currently in New Jersey for repair, so I've had to use my older non-DSLR camera out here. When I get my Nikon back in working order, I will hopefully be able to muster some time to go take pictures and put them up on here (one of the other major reasons I chose to come to the Vineyard for the summer: new photo opportunities).

Hope everyone else's summer is off to a great start!

~ Katie

Dance like no one's watching ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/18353787/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/18353787/ Fri, 16 May 2008 15:31:05 PDT
Worst case scenario: I won't find a place to live (or job) and will be moving back for the summer to live.

So, I am unpacking from moving back from college, but I am going to have to pack to leave again. Kind of pointless, but whatever.

Mom & Dad have warned me that housing is so expensive on MV over the summer that I most likely won't make any money - all of it will go to food, rent, etc. Oh well. If nothing else it will give me a new place to explore and take pictures of to hopefully expand my portfolio. Right?

We'll see how this all goes. Everything will play out as it should.

~Katie

Dance like no one's watching ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/17989234/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/17989234/ Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:30:21 PDT Annoyed.
Sick of people being stupid (AKA: guys).
Tired.
Headachy.
Needing to vent.
Only 2 weeks left?
No employment plan for summer.

And so it goes...

~Katie

P.S. Sorry this isn't an uplifting journal. I'm just all of the above right now.

Dance like no one's watching ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/17454818/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/17454818/ Sat, 22 Mar 2008 08:12:02 PDT
***

Upon realizing this, and being fed up with working at Panera (I've been there for nearly 3 years), I decided to apply for two different internships that cater to my Photography major.

I applied to be a Photojournalism intern at Jacob's Pillow. [link] It includes everything I love: photography, dance, being on my own, a somewhat secluded, back-in-the-woods kind of place. I have yet to hear back from them, I've emailed and just left a message the other day.

***

I've also applied for the work/study position at the Santa Fe Workshops. [link] I took a week-long workshop with National Geographic photographer, Joe McNally, a couple summers ago (for those of you who have been watching me since then, you might remember me discussing it here in my journal). To be quite honest, this is my dream internship . I want nothing more than to be in Santa Fe all summer working and learning by taking some of the workshops offered. This is the package deal. It might also be a good place to network...

And! I received a call from the SF Workshops on Wednesday! They have 25+ work/study applicants (the lady said that there were a lot of *highly qualified* people who applied...). They're having a hard time picking, but were calling the top 6 to talk to us and just get a feel for if they kind of match the person they saw on paper. There are 3 positions available, and I'm in the top 6!!!! To be quite honest, I am absolutely shocked that I'm even being considered in the final round!!! This is such an amazing opportunity on so many different levels that it would truly be a dream come true if I am selected as one of the 3 work/study people this summer. But...I only have a 50% chance...so....we'll see. They're supposed to make their decision by this coming Monday. If I get a phone call from them, I'm in. If I get an email, it means I didn't make it. I'm trying really hard not to expect anything. As my Dad told me, maybe I should have applied a few more places....2 isn't really enough. I agree now...but hopefully something will come of either Jacob's Pillow or SF.

Stay tuned,

~Katie


P.S. On another note, this week I finally made it official with a guy I've been seeing for a while.

Dance like no one's watching ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/17086505/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/17086505/ Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:45:10 PST
You know what? Leaving them in the dark has the potential to hurt them even more.

There are ways to say things calmly and directly that are more effective than being defensive and vague. (or being vague as a form of defense...?)

So for those I have hurt because I have been vague, defensive, or just not upfront with you; I'm sorry. I never meant to.

I'll leave you all with some lyrics from John Mayer's song, "Say". It became my new personal theme song about a week ago.

Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as your eyes are closing
*Do it with your heart wide open*
Why?
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say...




Katie

Dance like no one's watching ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/16963772/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/16963772/ Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:53:25 PST breathe " when I can't focus and slow down by myself.

My life is now consists of dancing about 10-15 hours a week. I am performing with the Latin dance company this Friday at a Family Carnival on campus. Then, on Saturday, I am driving to a town over an hour away to a ballroom dance competition. I kind of don't feel as prepared as I think I should, but somehow things always seem to work out. I'd be the last one to admit that I may be spreading myself too thin between school, homework, dance and modeling, but... I'm spreading myself too thin . I'm addicted to being busy - which I think I've already mentioned in previous journal entries.

Surprisingly, I am currently holding my own with the food situation. Dancing and being really busy leaves little time for eating and sleeping, but I haven't really dropped any more weight in the past few months - which I'm sure my parents and doctors will be happy about. Eh. Crazy to say, but I don't have the time or energy to focus on what I'm eating, how much, and when/where I'm going to exercise when my life is filled in so many different ways. Maybe friends, dancing and classes are filling the void that my ED once filled in my life.

Sorry for the rambling and menagerie of topics. I suppose I could go more into details about my life, but that is Top Secret, Confidential information...ifyouknowwhatimean.

Always,

Katie

Dance like no one's watching ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/16504496/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/16504496/ Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:40:09 PST
I have time for classes, homework and friends. I'm so busy with everything that when I'm not dancing or otherwise fulfilling some obligation, I try and squeeze in whatever time I can with friends. I guess this could be considered "me time" to a point, but not the kind I'm looking for.

I need the time to kick back, lie on my bed and just let my mind wander. I have so many things I need to sort through on my own - but yet I can't find the time. Maybe I'm not trying hard enough. Or maybe it's because when I actually do take the time to just sit and think, I feel lazy. I'm beginning to wonder if I am obsessed with being busy and being productive because...hmm...maybe part of my feeling of self-worth comes from whether I have accomplished anything that day. I have To-Do lists all over my room. It always feels so good to cross something off of it. And those days I don't get to cross anything off? I feel like I wasted the day.

However, when I do lie down to try and think, I am usually exhausted. Clearly: Lying down + bed + exhaustion = falling asleep.

So yeah.


I'm a mess.


~Katie

P.S. What a surprise to see =ibentley34 had bought me a subscription for my birthday!!! Thank you so much!

Dance like no one's watching ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/16166475/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/16166475/ Sun, 30 Dec 2007 12:32:57 PST I can't use the "I'm a teenager" excuse anymore (not that I ever did), but I am taking advantage of the "I-can-call-the-shots-because-I'm-the-birthday-girl" excuse. hehe.

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season!

Katie

P.S. I love that in a matter of 2 weeks, my social life has gotten completely out of control and crazy-busy. I guess it could be worse...

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/15968666/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/15968666/ Mon, 17 Dec 2007 05:08:39 PST trying to relax a little bit.

Actually, now that I think about it, I'm only going to be home for about 2 weeks of my month long break. Two days after I drive home from college, my family is driving (11 hours) down to West Virginia to see my grandparents. Then come January, I will be flying to Colorado with my mom to support her as she gets her quilt photographed to be published in a magazine. Ironic how I'm a photo major, but apparently couldn't take pictures the way that they needed to be shot or whatever. I don't know. But I'll get to see a little bit of the inside as to how a magazine is run, and what kind of equipment they use for photographing.

...and I want to find a place to ballroom dance while I'm out in Colorado for a week.

And now I have to go finish my final photo project...

Happy non-denominational holiday to you all! Stay warm and stay healthy!


Katie

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/15667423/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/15667423/ Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:48:21 PST
]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/15469806/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/15469806/ Sun, 11 Nov 2007 19:51:28 PST
There was a point when I decided that I didn't want to be defined by my past. And I think that point was when I came to college. I purposely made a decision to not mention anything to anyone out here (at college) about my struggle. I didn't want people to define me as "that girl" or watch every move I make regarding certain things. The last thing I need is more people to worry about me and be on my case. And to this day, almost a year and a half into my collegiate career, I have only told two of my friends out here. I don't know. Maybe I'm making too big of a deal out of it. Maybe other people really don't care. Maybe I just build it up so much in my mind, and other people wouldn't react as strongly as I think they would. But honestly, it's a double-edged sword in more ways than one. And it's something that I'm not really willing to deal with yet. It's not something that you can bring up out of the blue, there has to be an appropriate segway in the conversation.

Anyway. I am sick of writing about this right now.


The end.

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/15180225/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/15180225/ Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:57:47 PDT

I'm back in the swing of things again - and really trying to manage my time better...I think it'll keep my stress level down if I don't procrastinate (and limit my AIM usage).

Also, I'm sooooo happy because I found this perfect class (in my opinion) for next semester. It's called Theraputic Dance and Movement Therapy. It's a 1-credit 3-day weekend course in March, but I want to take it SO BAD. If the class is full by the time I'm allowed to register, I may very well fill out an override form. I help teach the ballroom dance club and competition team here, but I'd really like to branch out a little and help people who could benefit physically or emotionally from dancing.

In terms of my photo classes - I'm finishing up a large-format shoot for my Intermediate Photo class. I'm almost done with my "Day in the Life of..." project for Photojournalism where we had to follow someone around and document the full extent of their day. I also have to shoot a sports event before next Tuesday. It's honestly just one photo project after another...

Oh! My mom is going to get published in a magazine for this amazing quilt that she made!!!! So, sometime before Christmas I will be flying out to Colorado to support her through this outstanding accomplishment while the quilt is getting photographed professionally. (not to mention that I love to travel...and depending when we need to fly out, I may get to miss some classes )

I need you to know
I'm not through the night
Some days I'm still fighting to walk towards the light
I need you to know
That we'll be okay
Together we can make it through another day [link]

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/14891338/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/14891338/ Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:17:20 PDT
I'm happy again.

Things are finally starting to fall into place.





Katie

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/14801959/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/14801959/ Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:10:16 PDT It's from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie.

Really, this is just an excuse to change my journal. I got sick of looking at the other one. And, I don't really feel like writing about everything that is going on my life - I don't want people's sympathy, and I feel like most people wouldn't even read it/care anyway.

So...yeah. I hope everyone is doing well. I'm hoping to get some new pictures up soon, but college comes first.



~Katie

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/14461968/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/14461968/ Sun, 02 Sep 2007 20:39:21 PDT
You might agree with it, but when it actually happens
99% of girls don't realize it 'til it is too late and
that guy who did it is so frustrated that he has moved
on to someone who will take notice.

From a guys point of view:

We don't care if you talk to other guys.

We don't care if you're friends with other guys.

But, when you're sitting next to us, and some random
guy walks into the room and you jump up and tackle
him, without even introducing us, yeah, it pisses us
off.

We don't care if a guy calls you, but at 2 in the
morning we do get a little concerned.

Nothing is that important at 2 a.m. that it can't wait
Till the morning.

Also, when we tell you you're pretty/ beautiful/
gorgeous/cute/stunning, we freaking mean it.

Don't tell us we're wrong. We'll stop trying to
convince you.

The sexiest thing about a girl is confidence!

Don't be mad when we hold the door open. Take
advantage of the mood we're in.

Let us pay for you! Don't "feel bad". We enjoy doing it.
It's expected. Smile and say "Thank you."

Kiss us when no one's watching. If you kiss us when
you know somebody's looking, we'll be more impressed.

You don't have to get dressed up for us. If we're
going out with you in the first place, you don't have
to feel the need to wear the shortest skirt you have
or put on every kind of makeup you own. We like you
for who you are and not what you are.
Honestly, we think a girl looks more beautiful when
she's just in her pj's, or our t-shirt and boxers, not
all dolled up.

Don't take everything we say seriously.

Stop using magazines/media as your bible.

Don't talk about how hot Shane West, Brad Pitt,
or Josh Groban is in front of us. It's boring, and
we don't care. You have girlfriends for that.

Whatever happened to the word "handsome"/"beautiful?"
We'd be utterly stunned by a girl who greeted us with
"Hey handsome!" instead of "Hey baby/ stud/ cutie/
sexy" or whatever else you can think of.

Girls, we cannot stress this enough: if you aren't
being treated right by a guy, don't wait for him to
change. Ditch this sorry disgrace to the male
population and find someone who will treat you
with utter respect.

Find someone... ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/14139945/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/14139945/ Sun, 12 Aug 2007 21:11:00 PDT
So:

Canon or Nikon? Why? (I already have my own feelings about this topic, but I am looking for yours...maybe I can learn something new)

Suggested model for your above preference?

Any other recommendations for equipment, etc.?

Money is not an issue, so I want to hear your best suggestions. I need something to last me the remainder of my college years - and possibly into my professional career.



*********************************************************************************************************************************

I have two weeks left before heading back to Ithaca College. So - this is kind of like crunch time for me. I'm trying to get everything in that I have been meaning to do. AKA: A girls night and a night of clubbing. I'm kind of sad that I haven't been clubbing at all this summer.

Blah blah blah. You've already heard all this stuff before. I am stressed and not as happy as I used to be....so things haven't been going as great as I hoped recently.

On a more positive note, I just returned from visiting my grandparents in West Virginia. It was great to see them and hear stories and life lessons.

I don't tell many people this, but they are the two people that I most look up to when it comes to love. They are one of the few couples in my life that I have seen hold true to their wedding vows - "in sickness and in health". They would do anything for the other. They love each other unconditionally. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful role models in my life. I only hope that one day I can be just as good of a wife and partner. They are both such an inspiration to me.

They are both in their 80s now, and my Gramps' health is failing, but their love for one another is still evident. He still calls her "baby". And, the other evening Granny was walking into the kitchen to get something. As she passed Gramps, she gently held his face and kissed him on the lips. It was such a sweet gesture...I wish I had caught the moment on camera.

*sigh* At least I have something to aspire to. Because, that's exactly how I believe marriage should be - true to the vows and unconditional - and I can only hope that that's how it turns out for me.

I hope you all have someone or something that inspires you...it's a wonderful feeling and motivator.

Best wishes,

Katie

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/13794445/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/13794445/ Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:45:40 PDT

I had lots of fun meeting new people, and rooming with a girl from North Carolina, and one from Ohio. Each morning we would wake up and the minute our feet hit the floor, we would start complaining about how much pain our feet and bodies were in. It's always better to have some other people to commiserate with, and at least understand exactly how you feel.

The one night that we weren't dancing, my roomie, Andrea, and I went to downtown Washington, D.C. to take pictures, etc. We even danced in front of the White House!! (some people were watching us, and others were kind of like...wtf?) Hehe. We were a little crazy that night. I have to look through the pictures, but I may upload some of them soon.

And...I am currently fighting tendinitis in my ankle (from dance camp). It's not as serious as it sounds, but it's going to take a little time to heal...and probably even longer since I refuse to stop dancing.

In terms of my dA - I am working on uploading the pictures from my Intro to Photo Final Project from this past semester. I also am going to work on putting up some that I took at a local fair last weekend, and the D.C. pictures.


I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their summer!

Katie

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/13536815/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/13536815/ Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:19:46 PDT

I am flying to D.C. in about 7 hours for a 5-day ballroom dancing camp. This is an amazing opportunity for me because I will be learning from national and world champions! I have only been ballroom dancing for 9 months, but I am really wanting to improve, and hope this camp will help me to do so.

I will be dancing 8-9 straight hours a day and hopefully meeting a lot of people from all over the country.

Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know what's going on. I will definitely have a follow-up to this journal sometime after I return.


Take care,

Katie

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/13235620/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/13235620/ Wed, 06 Jun 2007 06:30:46 PDT

My life currently revolves around working at Panera and ballroom dancing with my summer partners - and becoming better friends with them. I have been learning A LOT, since they know more dance moves than I do. It's hard to believe that we just started dancing a week ago, and we're already really good friends. I guess dancing together just kind of gives you that connection sometimes.

AND!!!!!!!!!! I have convinced my parents to let me go to the Independence Day Ball Camp in Washington, DC!!!! It's an intense ballroom dancing camp where I will get to learn from national and international champions. I will be flying down there (by myself) June 29th and coming back the night of July 4th.

Other than dancing and making money, I haven't had much of anything else going on yet. I'd really like to see some of my girl friends soon (clubbing anyone???), but I have to figure out my work and dance schedule - since they are both very much consuming my life at the moment.

I'm really hoping to have some time to upload some new picture very soon; I feel like I've been slacking here on DA, so I'm sorry to those of you who are watching me.

I hope everyone is having a good summer!

Much love to you all,

~Katie

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/12933226/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/12933226/ Sat, 12 May 2007 18:51:08 PDT

BUT! I am out in Ithaca for another 2 weeks - taking a class called Women in Pop Music. Really, taking this class was an excuse so I didn't have to go home so early.

Anyway, plans for the summer:

**Working at Panera (ugh)
**Ballroom dancing with between 1 and 3 different partners
**Ballroom dancing classes/social every Wednesday night
**Clubbing (multiple times, hopefully) with the girls
**Trying to locate some modeling gigs to make a little extra money on the side and maybe start a portfolio
**Meeting up with my friend from college, Carolyn, at least once
**Shooting a lot - hopefully some different things, such as: street shooting, portraits, special events, etc.
**Redecorating my room...the pink walls and stuffed animals gotta go
**Having my mom help me make a ballroom costume (tentatively)
**Applying for scholarships
**Working on my autobiography/memoir...possibly, we'll see though

Otherwise, I'm just trying to shift gears in most every aspect imaginable. Freshman year was crazy at times, but I don't think I'd change it for anything. I learned a lot about myself, as well as other people and personalities.


Well, I hope everyone is doing well! I'd love to hear what you all are up to - either artistically or otherwise. Have a great summer!

Katie

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/12725551/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/12725551/ Wed, 25 Apr 2007 03:04:29 PDT
Might as well do an update...

Dance is slowly but surely taking over my life. I mean, this is even more so than when I was actually enrolled in ballet classes 6 years ago. This is hardcore (in my opinion) eat-sleep-breathe dance. (And, hey! It's actually National Dance Week - April 20-27 - so you guys should all be gettin' your groove on, anyway! ) But yes, I can't seem to get enough of dance.

Actually, I have decided to minor in dance. I told my parents about this, and didn't exactly get the response I was looking for. My dad basically said, "Then, you need to find out how you can make it pay off. (or something like that) I told you at the beginning of the year that if you wanted to dance, you could join a club, but I wouldn't pay for you to take dance classes at school." Ouch. Funny how I actually don't remember this conversation AT ALL. I guess the thing is that my original plan was to minor in journalism, and I may still do that yet. I don't think it would be that hard to pull off a double minor - so I very well may end up doing that.

Okay, I'll get off the dance tangent...I am just so passionate about it that when I get going, it's hard for me to think of anything else.

Photography stuff is going okay. I am actually in the process of shooting my final project for Intro to Photo. I couldn't really think of a decent theme, but settled on "Americana" - bascially what defines America and Americans - stereotypes, lifestyles, culture, traditions, appearance, etc. I'm not horribly excited about it, but I have at least 5 more 36-exposure rolls to shoot. The 10 final prints are due in a week - but I'm working on it. I'm actually going to go out and shoot this morning if I am actually awake enough and able to function. I need to research some new places to shoot, though, because I keep shooting int he Commons area downtown, and I feel that my shots are all going to be similar if I keep doing that. So, maybe I'll do some reearch while I'm up...

Oh yeah. I got an on-campus parking ticket yesterday. Let's just say I wasn't too happy about that.

I guess that about sums up the last few weeks of my life...or all that I'm willing to share, anyway.

Take care, everyone!

Katie

P.S. I found housing out here for an extra two weeks, so I will be able to take my May session class! YAY!

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/12408359/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/12408359/ Sat, 31 Mar 2007 22:02:40 PDT

For those of you who don't know, I was a model for my college fashion show. The show was the 30th, which meant that there were A LOT of rehearsals this week. It was a lot of work. It was a lot of fun. There was some drama (when you get that many girls [and some guys] together, modeling, when is there ever NOT?). But, all in all, I would definitely do it again.
Before Spring break, it was looking pretty rough. When we got back, it was evident that everyone had worked their pieces over vacation, and we would be ready to hit the runway two weeks later....and we were, for the most part.
Backstage was CHAOS, but I can't imagine any show that isn't chaotic backstage. We pulled it off, and that's all that matters.
Oh, also, ~sgorgos has some great pictures of the show:

[link]

[link]

[link]

[link]

[link]



ALSO, I applied for internal transfer into the communication school here. I was accepted (!!!) and will officially be majoring in Cinema and Photography - Still Photo Concentration once I fill out the paperwork. So, honestly, I don't think last week could have been any better. (Plus, I got a 97% on my Spanish test)

Oh...I am doing another ballroom competition in two weeks. I guess it will fill the void left by modeling - for now anyway.


I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying SPRING! Happy April!

Katie

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/12179563/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/12179563/ Wed, 14 Mar 2007 10:42:55 PDT
Well, not even love necessarily.
...
...
...
...
...
...
I guess I just have to be patient.

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/12096775/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/12096775/ Wed, 07 Mar 2007 17:32:23 PST

So, what have I learned so far while at college?

1. Reach out. Branch out. Put yourself out there. If people don't accept you/want to get to know you, that's their problem. (granted it doesn't feel too good...)

2. People don't know your past, thus making college a great place for new beginnings.

3. Ballroom dancing is friggin' AMAZING!

4. Help others. Take time to listen. You never know when you may need the favor returned...

5. Nothing compares to home cooked meals.

6. College is all about BALANCE. Between classes, homework, a social life, extracurriculars and sleep...there is time for everything if you manage your time accordingly.

7. When you go to Ithaca College, long underwear is a NECESSITY during the winter.

8. Smile. (Yeah, I know that was random, but it makes you a more approachable person)

9. I can listen to everyone else's iTunes when I'm in my dorm.

10. There are a lot of creepy guys that ballroom dance...but a lot of nice (and cute) ones, too...

11. Sometimes you function better after 4 hours of sleep, rather than 9 1/2.

12. Snow days DO happen in college! (They're rare, but it makes them all the more special)

13. Compassion and understanding. 'nough said.

14. Have food in your room for late-night snacks.

15. Find a "hug buddy"!

16. Care packages are awesome.

17. Keep your parents updated regularly (weekly phone calls, maybe an email or two in there, too)...because they like to have a general idea of what you're up to/how you're doing.

18. Live it up! I know it's really cliche, but you're only young once.


Hope y'all are doing well!


~*Katie*~

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/11922787/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/11922787/ Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:45:17 PST ) I just want to apologize for how I've been acting this week.

Stress, as in: homework, classes, personal issues, relationship issues and friends' issues have really been consuming a lot of my energy.

But, things are getting worked through. I am trying not to procrastinate. I am trying to manage my time better. I am trying to talk to people...although I feel like I've been pushing a lot of people away...

Anyway...ON TO HAPPY STUFF!

I am doing another Ballroom dance competition in 1 1/2 weeks. My partner and I will be doing six dances: Rumba, Swing, Jive, Tango and ChaCha (American and International). It's funny because after my first competition back in September, I decided I wasn't going to do it again. Even though we didn't get called back for either of the dances we did, I don't think I was really discouraged. I think it might have been more that I felt like everyone was so serious into it...and I had only been doing ballroom for 3 weeks at the time. Yeah, so needless to say, I will be eating my words.

A few weeks back, I auditioned to be a runway model for the Spring Fashion show that Ithaca College is having. I have no modeling experience, but made the cut...I'm REALLY excited!!! Rehearsals have been a lot of fun. We're not just walking the runway. Some people are also dancing and doing other crazy stuff. It's not the "serious" type of modeling, as in: we can smile if we want. Also, I am at the top of a scene (AKA: the first one out) with two other girls so I'm really excited about that. However, I am going to have to learn how to completely change into another outfit in 30 seconds flat. Should be interesting....

The director's motto is "Hit it. Get it. Or, get out." And believe me, he's SERIOUS. They are continuing to make cuts. You don't show up, you're out. You don't pay attention, you're out. You don't have "what it takes" anymore, you're out. But, I talked to him the other day asking when we would find out if we had been cut. He told me, "Don't worry. You're in." So...that was encouraging to hear that I will definitely be in it. (and believe me, I will NOT be missing any rehearsals!)


Oh...Photo class is going okay...lots of work. I'd rather be out in the field shooting, rather than in the darkroom though. It's so frustrating figuring out what filter and exposure time to use. We learned how to make prints the other day. So, when I get a decent print (might already have one...), I will see if I can use my friend's scanner so I can submit it here.


All right, I've rambled on for long enough.

I hope everyone is doing well. I'd love to hear what you guys have been up to!

~*Katie*~

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/11668203/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/11668203/ Sat, 03 Feb 2007 07:30:58 PST
I have already learned a lot in my Intro, even though I already knew a decent amount. I just received my first assignment this past Wednesday. I have to shoot a roll of equivalent exposures and bracketing. I know I won't have a problem with it, but I am just going to have to get used to using film (and Black and White!), and not having the immediate feedback from digital.

My hope is that if I get some good shots out of this class, that I will be able to find a scanner and submit some of them on here.

So hopefully as I learn more about photography, my skills will continue to get better and better (that would only make sense, right?).

I hope everyone is doing well! Take care!

~*Katie*~

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/11522594/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/11522594/ Sun, 21 Jan 2007 19:43:44 PST
- just bought her first car ('95 Honda Accord LX, 5-speed! )

- is readjusting to college life

- is trying to figure out what she wants to do this summer

- has just been flattered

- is trying to appreciate all that her friends and family do for her

- just turned 19. She's not supposed to know what she wants.


I don't know what I want. I'm unsure of where I'm going. But I am following my passion. Things have a way of

working out.


~*Katie*~

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/11227314/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/11227314/ Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:31:28 PST

Since it is in between semesters (read: no homework), I will hopefully have more time to upload pictures. I have a real backlog - stuff all the way from summer until now. And...I am having to deal with not having an editing program that can do borders. Because of this, I feel like a lot of my pictures look unfinished - they don't have the final quality that I would like to see. So, hopefully I will get a program that can do all the editing that I need to do. When that happens, I will be going back through my gallery and adding a border to most of the pictures that are missing one. Or...do y'all prefer to see pictures without borders??

Well, Happy Holidays to you all. Here's to wishing you a happy and healthy 2007.

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/11073133/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/11073133/ Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:15:04 PST
Finals are next week.

It's hard to manage time.

I'm addicted to Scrubs.

Spanish will kill me.

No time to take pictures.

Dancing rocks.

Panera trip next week.

Music is my medicine of choice.

This was random.



~*Katie*~

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/10911705/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/10911705/ Fri, 01 Dec 2006 10:04:00 PST It's always good to see friends and catch up.

So....college:

I had a ton of work this week but finally got through it all.

I've also been out dancing recently, which is a ton of fun. It's crazy getting used to everyone's different style, but I love it nonetheless. I got my "feet wet" in the social dancing scene before Thanksgiving break, and now I'm kind of addicted (not sure if that's a good or bad thing). I still have a lot to learn, but have been picking up tips along the way thanks to one of my Ballroom instructors.


So, between classes, homework and dancing, I'm keeping pretty busy. I wish I had more time to upload stuff here, but it's been a little crazy. And, ironically, there's still not ANY snow here in Ithaca!

I hope everyone's doing well! Take care!


Katie

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/10687650/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/10687650/ Sat, 11 Nov 2006 08:06:43 PST

I signed up for classes earlier this week. I was able to get most of what I wanted...except for the Intro to Photography course. I'm going to have to wait and see if there are any seats left after everyone has registered, since I'm technically not a major yet. BUT, I did get into The History of Photography, which should be interesting.

On Thursday, I attended Prom Take Two. This was a class project (not mine) that turned out to be a huge success. Everyone wore their prom gowns from high school, and all the guys had tuxes/suits on. Everyone looked so good! Anyway, I got to meet some new people, make new acquaintances.

Everything was going great until my dress broke! The strap that goes around my neck snapped! (wardrobe malfunction if you will...but not to that extent ) I was able to find some safety pins to fix it though, which was very good. When I walked back in, I was being called out onto the dance floor, along with another girl and two guys. I was in the dance-off for PROM QUEEN! Haha, one of the guys and I felt like we had to keep out-doing the other couple, so needless to say, things got a little crazy! Being flipped over in a prom dress is quite interesting...as is trying to slide through a guy's legs (get your mind out of the gutter!!!! It was Grease-style, if you've ever seen that movie), only to hit your back REALLY hard on the floor. I had a headache for the rest of the night. But, I had a really fun time despite all the mishaps.

Yesterday, I went on a photo assignment to take pictures of a music and dance dress rehearsal. I absolutely LOVED it! What better than combining three things you love: photography, dance and music??? I found that I would REALLY like to continue doing dance photography...I think it's right up my alley. I will try and get a copy of some of the pictures I took from The Ithacan's computer. (I have to remember to ask about that) I'd love to upload some of them here...so we'll see.

Ok, this journal entry is already way too long, so I will stop there for now.

I hope everyone is being well! Enjoy this weather before the snow comes!


Katie

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/10531302/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/10531302/ Fri, 27 Oct 2006 20:02:29 PDT
I got my mid-term grades for my first semester in college, and am doing very well.

Everything else going on in my life really seems to be challenging my faith, strength and beliefs, so I'm really struggling with that. But, things have to get worse before they get better, right? Or, am I wrong for thinking that?

What have I been doing about this? I have been trying to focus inward. In essence: I'm turning my back on the world. Take from this what you will, cause I see it as both a good and a bad thing. I just really feel like this is what I need to do right now.

Take care, everyone. I will try and keep you all better updated once I get a better hold on my life and myself.

~*Katie*~

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/10377537/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/10377537/ Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:49:49 PDT I'll finally get to see my boyfriend and family sfter being at college for nearly 2 months.

And...last week I got a picture published for the first time! It was just in my school newspaper [link] both in print and online. It wasn't the greatest picture, but I was just happy that they finally used one of mine.

Also, in other news, my parents attended the 4-H Awards Banquet for me earlier this week. They picked up my state photography award for me. They also found out that this photo got a PERFECT score from all 3 judges! (only without the black border)




I'm actually looking for suggestions as to what people would like to see added to my gallery. Due to school work, I haven't really been able to take as many pictures as I'd like, or really get off campus for that matter. So, I've kind of been limited to taking nature pictures. While nature is my favorite subject, I'd like to hear from you guys what you'd like to see me do. I'd love to broaden my knowledge of photography. And, while I'd like to take posed pictures of people, I don't know any well enough really to ask. Any suggestions?

Here are some of my older/less well known pieces that I'd like to share with you guys.







EDIT: Oh crap! My subscription runs out tomorrow!


Please vote in my poll if you haven't done so already, th... ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/10282442/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/10282442/ Wed, 04 Oct 2006 13:22:45 PDT I take opportunity of any chance I get NOT to wrie in a complete sentence.

- Ballroom competition was soooo fun, we didn't place (@ 50 other couples in swing, 70 in cha-cha) but we learned a ton

- Picked up a photo assignment for The Ithacan - I'll find out tomorrow if they used any of my pictures

- I hate Spanish class, and the professor hates me - might there be a correlation there?

- Have a TON of homework, I HATE essays!

- Am considering majoring in Photography now and minoring in Journalism, rather than majoring in Journalism

- Downloaded Adobe Lightroom Beta 4! OMG, I love it - being free might have factored into my opinion (also that I didn't have an editing program for about 2 months, hence why I haven't really been submitting too much here)

- Loving the freedom of college

- Missing my family, boyfriend, and friends back home

That about sums it up!

I hope everyone is doing well.

~*Katie*~

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Member of ~Minolta =dysmorphics *macrophoto *sunsets =flower-club *Ex-po-zure ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/10026649/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/10026649/ Sun, 10 Sep 2006 09:58:37 PDT

I have some awesome classes and professors, so I can't complain there. I have a decent amount of work, but I have taught myself not to procrastinate in college, so am not feeling as stressed as I did in high school. (not yet anyway)

I joined The Ithacan - which is our nationally acclaimed newspaper - as a photographer. I figured it would give me a way to keep my skills sharp, in addition to meeting new people, and doing what I love - taking pictures.

Also, I attended the Ballroom Dancing Club meeting yesterday. We already learned the salsa, which was a lot of fun! (with the exception that the girls outnumbered the guys 2:1...so another girl and I are going to try and recruit some more guys ). I'm also seriously thinking about joining their Ballroom Dancing competition team, but the problem might be finding a guy that wants to compete. I might have to hop over to Cornell for that - since they have a big BR dancing club there too.

Otherwise, I'm trying to continue to make new friends, which is a little slow, and stay out of trouble.

I hope everyone else is doing well!

~*Katie*~

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Member of ~Minolta =dysmorphics *macrophoto *sunsets =flower-club *Ex-po-zure ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9865463/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9865463/ Sat, 26 Aug 2006 18:49:05 PDT
I am leaving for college tomorrow at 7:00 AM. I'm pretty nervous, but everyone says I'll be fine - so I sure hope so.

What I wanted to say though is that I will be checking my deviantART messages everyday, but I probably won't be uploading anything for a while. I'm sure college work will take some getting used to, as will the whole new college environment.

I will try to keep you guys updated with the big news.

Best wishes,

Katie

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Member of ~Minolta =dysmorphics *macrophoto *sunsets =flower-club *Ex-po-zure ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9693968/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9693968/ Fri, 11 Aug 2006 17:58:25 PDT

The highlights of my trip included:

Grand Canyon
Monument Valley
Mesa Verde - Navajo and Pueblo ruins (and almost getting struck by lightning)
Santa Fe!
Day 1 - shooting people and portraits downtown
Day 2 - Ghost Ranch - I nearly passed out from altitude sickness
Day 3 - Canyon Road - assignment: color
Day 4 - Eaves Movie Ranch - working with real models and actors from western movies
Day 5 - architecture at first light, but it was conveniently raining at 5:50 in the morning

Albuquerque and the old Route 66, went to the Petroglyphs National Monument and saw a wild rattlesnake
Saguaro National Park - saw a wild tarantula
Home again, home again, jiggidy-jig

I honestly could've stayed out there for another week, but we had already been gone for 2 weeks as it was. I will definitely be saving up my money to do another National Geographic Photography Expedition, as well as getting a better camera => the camera is the priority right now.

As for other things...I'm getting ready for college, but have a few health "hoops" to jump through first. Leaving for college is seriously contingent on my weight right now. (if you want details, note me, I'm not going to go into it in this journal)

Other things are going fine. I'm staying busy - going out with *Maco70 regularly, working and trying to clean my room (the ongoing saga).

I hope everyone is having a happy, safe and cool summer!

~*Katie*~

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Member of ~Minolta =dysmorphics *macrophoto *http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9506013/ Wed, 26 Jul 2006 21:56:54 PDT
I've been very busy at the National Geographic Photography Workshop in Santa Fe. My instructor is Joe McNally. He has shot for magazines such as Life, Time, Sports Illustrated and National Geographic! So, I am truly learning from the best of the best.

This city is so colorful! It's the third largest art trader or producer (can't remember which) in the world. It is also the oldest city in the United States. (or maybe it's St. Augustine in Florida - excuse my brain, it's mush right now)

Regardless, I have had several different photography assignments...the first being to shoot random strangers on the street who signify the "true essence" of Santa Fe. I had never really shot people before, let alone go up to random people on the street to ask if I could take pictures of them. So, that was all new to me considering that I can be quite shy at times. But, the class really liked two of the pictures I shot. I have been getting a lot of positive feedback, as well as advice, so this is a great learning experience for me. I have told several people that I really feel that I am "in my element" here in Santa Fe and in a photography class.

Today our assignment was to shoot colorful things. (and let me tell you, this is the perfect place fore that!) I shot over 700 frames in about 3 hours...so I'm going to upload those on my laptop (lappy - hehe )tomorrow morning.

I hope everyone is doing well. And...you all better be ready for my photography critiques from now on! I have learned a lot these past 3 days (2 more to go!), and now I really know what to look for in successful photos.

Take care everyone.

~*Katie*~

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Member of ~Minolta =dysmorphics *macrophoto *sunsets =flower-club *Ex-po-zure ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9423765/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9423765/ Wed, 19 Jul 2006 07:21:47 PDT Maco70 , for buying me a 3 month subscription!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am leaving for Santa Fe in about 3 hours (6 hours if you count until takeoff). I can't wait! Now that I have a laptop, I will be checking in periodically while I am on vacation, so I won't be straying too far.

I have recently joined more clubs here on deviantART. I felt like I could become more active here, and also wanted to join clubs that had the same interests as me. The clubs are linked at the bottom of this journal.

On a final note, I have been featured in both =runwhileyoucan's and =jayfp09's journals. Please swing by their galleries if you get a chance.

~*Katie*~

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Member of ~Minolta =dysmorphics *macrophoto *sunsets =flower-club *Ex-po-zure ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9342223/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9342223/ Wed, 12 Jul 2006 13:35:26 PDT
The four artists that are featured are those who had the most impressive galleries based on subject, color, variety and most importantly....QUALITY.

As with the last journal feature I did, I ask that if any of these pieces catch your eye, please let the artist know. We all thrive off of praise, as well as constructive criticism. Deviant Art is a community, please help to support each other.


~Christinayoder



Christina has a great gallery that varies between black & white and color photography. She has a great eye for nature shots and has the ability to capture the beauty in anything and everything.


~RobNeill



Taking a look at Rob’s gallery is a must. He has something for everyone, from nature to cars, animals to people, he’s got it all! Not only does he have a wide variety of subjects, he also has the quality (that we all like to see) with every picture.

~too-much4you



You can tell that Pedro has an eye, as well as a passion for photography. In his gallery, he showcases many still lives, along with architecture, some na... ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9325315/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9325315/ Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:04:54 PDT That doesn't seem right...is my pageview counter malfunctioning? (I was pretty sure the day before that my pageviews were already in the 4,000's, not 3,000's)

~*Katie*~

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Member of ~Minolta =dysmorphics *macrophoto and *sunsets ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9294858/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9294858/ Thu, 06 Jul 2006 17:35:58 PDT I plan to continue doing this wheneevr I have a little spare time.

On another note, I am starting to get excited about my trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico in about 2 weeks! I will be attending a National Geographic Photography workshop, so hopefully I will come back with more skills, more pictures and more inspiration! All I have to do now is fork out $100+ to invest in a tripod.

*******************PURPLE JOURNAL FEATURE**********************

I decided it was about time to start promoting other artists other than myself. (haha) So, I ran a thread in the thumbshare forum asking people to share their purple photographs and photomanips - since it happens to be my favorite color. I also decided to feature some artwork that I had ed in the past that met these requirements.

All I ask is that if something here catches your eye, please go support that artist and let them know!

http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/9178604/ Sun, 25 Jun 2006 12:35:25 PDT

During the beginning of the week we had a GREAT time! The town of Ithaca has over 150 waterfalls within it. So, needless to say, I have quite a few pictures of the waterfalls that I need to upload, along with a few other random things that I took pictures of. So, stay tuned for more deviations!

Honestly, it's such a gorgeous town! There's all these neat little shops and restaurants (all quite delicious from what I could taste!). I think Ithaca will definitely make a perfect home-away-from-home for me!

So, Wednesday night I moved into my dorm room for orientation. My mom left and I went to all the activities that they had planned for us. As I was getting ready for bed that night, I started feeling really nauseous. When I got out of the shower and back into my room, I ended up vomiting all over the floor. (My poor roommate.... ) Mind you, this was already 11:00 at night. I went to bed feeling much better. Well, turns out that I wasn't. I threw up again. So, I called my mom and midnight so she could pick me up and I could stay at the hotel with her.

I was still sick the next day, but somehow managed to take all my placement exams, etc. On Friday, the last day, I picked my fall semester schedule. I'm so happy because I got almost all of the courses I wanted to take! Also, I planned my schedule so that my last class for the week is on a Friday at 10:00 in the morning! LONG WEEKEND, EVERY WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I'm still sick. I threw up yesterday at work. But I'm doing okay so far today.

EDIT 6/27: I have been featured in =hellemester's journal, so please pay her a visit if you have time.

~*Katie*~

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Member of ~Minolta and =dysmorphics ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8979453/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8979453/ Mon, 05 Jun 2006 17:59:31 PDT

I had my party yesterday and was having so much fun that I lost track of time. I loved celebrating with family and friends.

I have started a photographic series called "Mom's Garden". Throughout the summer, I will be taking pictures of flowers in my mom's garden as they bloom. Below are the pictures that are already in the series. I have a lot more that I have taken in the past few weeks that I plan on weeding through, editing slightly (if needed) and then posting. So, I'll be starting that tonight.




I just wanted to thank all my new watchers that have added me to their friends list in the past month or so...I really do appreciate it.

~*Katie*~

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Member of ~Minolta ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8857148/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8857148/ Tue, 23 May 2006 18:29:38 PDT For those of you interested, there is a picture of my BF and me from the prom in my gallery.

* This is Seniors Finals week at school. Once again, I am putting off studying right now. I'll get to it eventually though.

* Last but not least: I want to debate! You and me....in this journal...NOW! For some reason, I just want to debate with people right now. I'll let you pick the topic and then, if I have an opposite stance on it, we can get to it. NOTE: I have never been on a debate team or anything similar to one, so please forgive me if I am not too good at it.

Here are the rules:

1) Be respectful, no swearing at me. (I don't personally don't swear at all) There's a line between funny and disrespectful...don't cross it. Also, please don't use all caps.

2) This is meant to be a friendly debate, so... HAVE FUN!

3) There are no other rules.

Are you up for the challenge? Let's go!

~*Katie*~

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Member of ~Minolta ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8652311/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8652311/ Tue, 02 May 2006 13:24:08 PDT

On another note, I got home from the band trip to Toronto, Canada a few nights ago. I made lots of memories an dhad a really good time. We did lots of different things. We went to the Toronto Zoo, a science museum and a couple malls. On the way home, we stopped at Niagara Falls and went on a Maid of the Mist boat tour of the falls. My pictures didn't come out as good as I hoped they would, but I still got a few good ones, which I will try to upload sometime soon.

However, on the way home, we had a big problem. One of the chaperones on the trip had to be taken in for questioning at customs (coming back into the United States). It turns out that he was born in Poland and moved to the United States a while back. However, he didn't have a birth certificate OR passport, so they couldn't let him pass through. His wife was also on the trip, and decided to stay at the border with him. The man gave permission for the 5 buses to continue home (after waiting for over 2 hours hoping he would get through customs). We later found out that he was cleared to come into the United States at 8:30 that night and also had to pay a $300 fine.
Needless to say, we ended up arriving back at the school at 2:00 in the morning.

I was one of maybe 2 or 3 band members that went to school on time later that day. And I'll tell you, I don't function very well on 4 hours of sleep.

On a last note, I was recently featured in *runnerboy49 journal and a few others that i can't think of right now.

I hope everyone is doing well. Sorry for the long journal entry.

~*Katie*~

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Member of ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8469982/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8469982/ Fri, 14 Apr 2006 14:01:57 PDT
I do nature photography mostly because it's what interests me and because there are very pretty places around here. However, I want to try and branch out some, but don't know what to try. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have tried to shoot a few still lifes and a little bit of architecture...but I'm hurting for subjects. What I'd actually really like to try is shooting people and emotions. But, the problem is: I don't want to take pictures of anyone I already know (I just want to shoot someone that I don't know anything about), and I don't want to ask random people. So, I guess I'm at a loss.

Does anyone have any suggestions of other things I can take pictures of that aren't already in my gallery? (I also like to shoot wildlife, but sometimes that's hit or miss)

By the way, the weather here has been GORGEOUS! I am definitely in the mood for summer now.

Oh, and my subscription ran out earlier this week. I think I may have to break down and buy one...

~*Katie*~

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams... ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8327082/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8327082/ Fri, 31 Mar 2006 19:56:54 PST
But, I guess the BIG news is that I got accepted to ITHACA COLLEGE! This was my first choice college, and I got in! YAY! The only small downfall is that for some reason I wasn't able to get into the Communciations college. So, they put me in the college of Humanities adn Sciences. I was disappointed, but I e-mailed the communication department there to ask some questions. They bascially said that if I get good grades (GPA of 3.5 or higher) and show interest in the communication field (join the TV station, newspaper, etc.) that it shouldn't be a problem doing an internal transfer. They also suggested getting the required H & S courses out of the way while I'm in that college, so when/if I get internally transferred to Communications, that I will have some/all of the requirements filled.

On another note, I have to say that I this weather!! It's been in the high 60's, low 70's this past week where I am. I decided it was time to break out the capris, flip-flops, and even a skirt today. I'm so glad it's finally starting to get warmer...although, it actually wasn't bitterly cold this past winter.

My boyfriend and I went to the park today to hang out and watch the sunset. (and oh how I missed watching sunsets!) I also got a few pictures that I think will look really good once I upload them....I might even do it tonight (I always get anxious to see if my pictures turned out any good...)

Thanks for everyone's support after reading my last journal entry...I appreciate it.

Enjoy the warm weather!

~*Katie*~

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8265576/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8265576/ Sat, 25 Mar 2006 13:45:02 PST

I think I need some hugs...

I guess that's it.

Katie

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8150911/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8150911/ Mon, 13 Mar 2006 15:31:19 PST
I have been shifting some deviations around, moving some to scraps and some from scraps to the regular gallery. So, take a look around if you wish.

I've been relaxing recently, maybe even a little more than I should. I guess I'm trying to enjoy my Senior year as much as I can, take it all in, etc.

Among the senior events I'm looking forward to is PROM!!!! I decided to be frugal this year. I don't want to spend over $150 on a dress that I will most likely only wear once, so I have asked my mom to make it. She's a really good quilter and used to make her own clothes when she was my age...so I have faith that it will turn out nice. I already picked out and bought the fabric. So, maybe I'll put some prom pictures up...but that won't be for a few months. Prom is May 19th.

(my boyfriend) Mark and I are on a mission to find a date for a couple guys and girls (or at least I am anyway...). However, people at our school usually ask people to the prom before Christmas even rolls around.

On another note, my Gramps is very sick and in the hospital. So, if you believe in praying, could you please say a little prayer for him? My family and I would appreciate it.

Well, I guess that's about it.

I hope everyone is doing okay and enjoying the nice warm weather...if you live close to where I do.

Take care,

~*Katie*~

P.S. Don't forget about my shout box!

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8027529/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/8027529/ Tue, 28 Feb 2006 12:30:31 PST
02. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. I can touch the computer desk

03. What is the last thing you watched on TV? the closing ceremony of the Olympics

04. Without looking, guess what time it is? 3:08 pm

05. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time? 3:09 pm

06. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? the music my mom is listening to in the kitchen, me cracking my knuckles and typing, and the clock ticking

07. When did you last step outside? about 15 minutes ago to take care of the rabbits

08. Before you started this survey, what did you look at? people's away messages

09. What are you wearing? a gray, long-sleeve shirt; one of my favorite pairs of jeans, 3 rings, 2 earrings, a watch, underwear, bra, socks, sneakers....I think that's it

10. Did you dream last night? I don't rember, but probably

11. When did you last laugh? in school at lunch today....

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in? a wreath, pictures and paintings

13. Seen anything weird lately?

14. What do you think of this quiz? I like quizzes....

15. What is the last film you saw? Monty Python and the Holy Grail (compliments of my boyfriend)...oh, I lied....I just watched some random movie in English today, but I don't remember the name of it

16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy? I would buy a laptop, a car, my own house, (and a laptop, car and house for all of my friends). I would also pay for my friends' and my college tuition and all the other college fees, a front porch for my parents, a better car for my brother, I'd go on a SHOPPING SPREE!!!, a really nice prom dress, and a trip around the world for whomever wanted to come with me!!!

17. Tell me something about you that I don't know: I'm your sista from another mista!

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do? Wow, what wouldn't I change? Our world could use a lot of help: end world hunger, protect the ozone layer, end natural disasters, end every kind of violence; make health, medical and dental insurance free; and make everyone happy and healthy ALL AT THE SAME TIME! Oh, and prevent over-population. LOL. I know that was more than one thing, but I just had to list all of them.

19. Do you like to dance? OMG! Anyone who knows me knows I LOOOOOOOVE to dance! I don't think I would be able to live if I wasn't allowed to dance!

20. George Bush: Is the president of the United States and his Vice President just shot a guy while hunting.

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her? I've always liked names that weren't so popular.

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him? (see above)

23. Would you ever consider living abroad? Study abroad: most definitely...Living abroad: not sure

24. What do you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gates? Let's go clubbing!

25. 4 people who must also do this in their journal: Maco70 and anyone else who is feeling ambitious!

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/7980906/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/7980906/ Thu, 23 Feb 2006 13:16:44 PST
Let me just say that if you have never played Spoons (the card game), you are definitely missing out! I don't feel like going into the rules or anything, but for those of you who know....the game got pretty violent last night! I have a few scratches on my hand.

I also must add: ICE CREAM SUNDAES ARE AWESOME!

Also, playing hide and seek at 18 years old is pretty fun too. XD
******************************************************************
I have been accepted to another college. I haven't gotten the official acceptance letter, but I got an email inviting me to attend the Open House for Accepted Students. So, I figure the letter is on the way.
******************************************************************
The ladies Olympic figure skating final is on tonight, and I hope Sasha Cohen wins!

******************************************************************
Lastly, I would like to share a secret (well not really) "recipe" that I discovered is delicious! Make a baked potato in the microwave (be sure to puncture the skin first so it doesn't explode!). Then, cut it in half, sprinkle grated cheddar cheese on it, and put it back in the microwave for another 20 seconds or so. Then, put some salsa and sour cream on it. Lastly, ENJOY!!!!!!!!! Seriously, try this....it's soooooooo good! (Makes me want to go make one right now...lol)


That's it for now....
~*Katie*~

]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/7937237/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/7937237/ Sat, 18 Feb 2006 19:19:44 PST [X] I think I'm ugly sometimes.
[X] I have many scars....*define "many"...more than 2?...then, yes*
[] I tan easily.
[] I wish my hair was a different color.
[] I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
[] I have a tattoo.
[X] I am self-conscious about my appearance
[X] I have/I've had braces.
[] I wear glasses.
[not sure] I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.
[X] I've been told I'm attractive by a complete stranger....*what I consider a stranger could be different than what you consider a stranger*
[] I have more than 2 piercings.
[] I have piercings in places besides my ears.
[X] I have freckles....*yes, they're very faint though*


Family/Home Life

[] I've sworn at my parents.....*I don't swear*
[sort of] I've run away from home.
[] I've been kicked out of the house...*My parents aren't that mean*
[X] My biological parents are together...*Luckily, my parents know the meaning of "forever"*
[] I have a sibling less than one year old...*I'm pretty sure I'd die if I did*
[X] I want to have kids someday....*Gosh yes!*
[] I've had children.
[] I've lost a child.


School/Work

[X] I'm in school.
[X] I have a job.
[] I've fallen asleep at work/school.
[X] I almost always do my homework.
[X] I've missed a week or more of school.
[X] I've been on the Honor Roll within the last 2 years....*try the last 7 years! *
[] I failed more than 1 class last year.
[] I've stolen something from my job.
[] I've been fired


Embarrassment

[almost...] I've slipped out a "lol" in a spoken conversation.
[] Disney movies still make me cry.
[X] I've snorted while laughing.
[X] I've laughed so hard I've cried....*many, MANY times*
[] I've glued my hand to something....*haha, no*
[X] I've had my pants rip in public...*well, at my cousins' house*

Health

[] I was born with a disease/impairment.
[X]I've gotten stitches/staples.
[] I've broken a bone.
[] I've had my tonsils removed.
[X] I've sat in a doctors office/emergency room with a friend...*hmm, well, sort of*
[X] I've had my wisdom teeth removed.
[X] I had a serious surgery.
[X] I've had chicken pox....*OMG YES! And I gave them to everyone else in preschool! *


Traveling

[X] I've driven over 200 miles in one day.
[X] I've been on a plane.
[X] I've been to Canada.
[] I've been to Mexico.
[X] I've been to Niagara Falls.
[] I've been to Japan.
[] I've celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
[] I've been to Europe...*I wish*
[] I've been to Africa.


Experiences

[] I've gotten lost in my city.
[X] I've seen a shooting star.
[X]I've wished on a shooting star.
[X] I've seen a meteor shower.
[X] I've gone out in public in my pajamas.
[] I've pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
[X] I've kicked a guy where it hurts....*well, he had protection...does that still count?*
[X] I've been to a casino.
[] I've been skydiving....*that's on my list of things to do!*
[] I've gone skinny dipping.
[] I've played spin the bottle.
[] I've drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
[] I've crashed a car.
[X] I've been skiing.
[X] I've been in a play.
[] I've met someone in person from myspace.
[X] I've caught a snowflake on my tongue.
[X] I've seen the Northern lights.
[] I've sat on a roof top at night....*one of my fantasies...on a summer night...*
[X] I've played chicken.
[X] I've played a prank on someone.
[X] I've ridden in a taxi.
[] I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show (in the theatre, thank you).
[] I've eaten sushi.
[] I've been snowboarding.


Relationships

[] I'm single.
[X] I'm in a relationship. *smiles...*
[] I'm engaged.
[] I'm married.
[] I've gone on a blind date.
[] I've been the dumpee more than the dumper.
[X] I miss someone right now....*OMG YES!*
[X] I have a fear of abandonment....*sadly, yes*
[] I've gotten divorced.
[X] I've had feelings for someone who didn't have them back...*haven't we all?*
[] I've told someone I loved them when I didn't.
[X] I've told someone... ]]> ~DecemberGirl http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/7846312/ http://DecemberGirl.deviantart.com/journal/7846312/ Thu, 09 Feb 2006 12:11:10 PST I just got my first acceptance letter from a college in New Hampshire! OMGZ!

Oh, and there's more!!! They are giving me a scholarship for $12,000 A YEAR!!! Which means up to $48,000 over the course of 4 years (but I have to maintain a 3.0 average...which shouldn't be a problem).

OMGZ!

Now I know I at least have the OPTION of going to college. However, this school isn't my top choice, so I'm still crossing my fingers.

All right, I'm done now. I just had to share the good news!

~*Katie*~

Dance like no one's watching... ]]> ~DecemberGirl