http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:shimmerella&section=today deviantART RSS for by:shimmerella en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:59:02 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/11706657/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/11706657/ Tue, 06 Feb 2007 07:10:17 PST
I added one submission, maybe I'll add more in the next few days.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi. Hope y'all are doin' fine.

]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/10782918/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/10782918/ Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:27:42 PST
I am looking forward to going home for Thanksgiving this week. I should be leaving Tuesday. I plan on driving home after my last class ends at 4:15, getting a good night's sleep, then spending Wednesday afternoon and night cooking with my grandmother as is our tradition. We will undoubtedly stay up late working on Thanksgiving preparations and get up early to finish them. I'm sure we'll start Thursday morning with a hot cup of tea, and when we finish cooking it will be time to eat! Dinner time is usually around 2pm on Thanksgiving.

Friday some friends from home and I are having a leftovers picnic at the beach to catch up on old times and watch the sunset. This will be awesome. Friday is also the Texas A&M v. tu game, and i look forward to that with only a slight bit of anxiety.

Saturday is Christmas tree day! My gramma and I will put the Christmas tree up and any outdoor decorations. And if I'm SUPER lucky, I'll get to open BIRTHDAY PRESENTS!! HOORAY! The reason being that I won't be home again before my birthday (which is Dec 11) and it is imperative that my grandmother be able to see my reaction to the gifts she give. Etiquette maintains that giving a gift early is preferable to giving one late.

Sunday I'll go to church and then have a big farewell lunch with my family before I head back to school.

Then... brace yourself! It's time for finals a week and a half after my return. I look forward to the end of the semester.


In other news:

We're having a student ART SALE. I'm really excited about this and I hope I'll get to make a little bit of extra holiday money to spend on gifts for everyone. I'll take some snapshots of the pieces I create for the sale and try to post them here as scraps.

I just finished a 30" x 42" self portrait in charcoal. It was an interesting process to say the least. Right now I'm working on a 36" x 40" object that is "valuable" to me, per my professor's assignment. It's my mother's college graduation tassel, which has a lot of special meaning since I am now attending the same school she did and especially in light of the fact that she's been gone nearly 6 and a half years. Anyway, I didn't want to do anything ordinary. I've been getting bored with the drawings of the rest of the class - people trying to mimic real life in their drawings and getting things hideously wrong. Instead of doing that, I'm doing the entire drawing in pointillism! It's been a HUGE pain in my butt so far, but I will finish it if it kills me (mostly to spite the folks who said I wouldn't). In retrospect, I wish I had started this project in india ink rather than charcoal. I think it would've progressed much quicker.


So that's what's going on in the world according to me. Hope y'all are doing well. Wish I had more time to give to you! But I'm still around from time to time watching.

]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/10481014/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/10481014/ Sun, 22 Oct 2006 21:10:28 PDT
BUT the good news is that I figured out that I WILL be able to add the double major I want in Studio Art!! HOORAY!

I've been taking Art 101 - aka drawing - this semester, but I haven't done anything remarkable in there. Just testing and learning theories of drawing, line, value, etc. Next semester is jam packed with my other major courses, but I will be able to take a painting class!

And this summer I'm taking a sculpture class and a ceramics class. Beyond that I don't remember what I'll be taking nor am I going to bore you with those details.

But suffice it to say that I will be doing more ART! Even though I will have half-killed myself by the time I complete the degree and even though I still won't have much time for dA ()... still, I am excited.

]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9980403/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9980403/ Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:56:07 PDT
So it's a sad day - I cleared my messages completely of submissions. I mean, it was getting ridiculous - i was at over 800 and there's no way I'd ever get to all of them. So at least this way I'm starting fresh and new and I'll look at what's submitted. If there's something you think I'd like but that I missed in my watch, please send me a note or something with a link. That would be cool. I don't mean to be unsupportive, but ... I was never going to get around to more than 800. It was just discouraging.

Anywho, I have two papers due Friday. Hence the reason I'm procrastinating. Really, I'm getting worse and worse. Not good. But I AM ahead on the reading for all my classes, so that's good.

Geez... the amount of time I manage to waste is astounding.

Also, my roomate is yelling into her phone in Chinese. Is it just that Chinese is spoken at a naturally higher volume? Because she seriously hurts my ears sometimes. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9675701/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9675701/ Thu, 10 Aug 2006 09:37:34 PDT
Zlatko: I will get you that bike list asap. Like, by Monday. Don't buy the bike from Performance. Fit, fit, FIT! That's what's important.

Check out *PaintedHouse because she is awesome and is full of support for everyone around her.

Uh... doubt anyone is really reading this, but woo hoo and such for new things.


PS - I have to buy a laptop pretty soon. If you have reccomendations (I think I'm excluding Apple, as much as I'd like a Powerbook) please please let me know. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9620509/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9620509/ Sun, 06 Aug 2006 18:28:00 PDT ). Anywho, I don't think many read this so I'll give you a synopsis. Basically, I was researching the arts in middle Georgia and came across the website of susan welsh.

[link]

I was flippantly viewing her gallery when I came across her mixed media piece entitled "4 Freedoms." (You can view it here: [link] ) I like the piece alright. I mean, I don't like to dwell on the events of September 11 because I am a bit too sensitive about the entire thing and it gets my mind set on a track that I don't often need to consider.

Anywho, the title 4 Freedoms set my mind on a path of logic that is confusing at best and the explaination of which would be time-consuming and unnecessary (as is all this verbage about it). Well, my brain landed in a Bill of Rights series. At first the ubiquitous basics sprang to mind - freedom of speech, religion, press, etc, but I wanted to expand the series to include assembly, petition, protection against unreasonable search and seizure, etc. The number of works will total 7. 6 of the 7 works will be single tones on square canvas (though whether it will be canvas, paintboard, or whatnot I haven't decided) with variations in only the shade of color. The 7th piece will be encompassed by all 6 tones of the accompanying works and will be oblong - the same width of the other six, but height to be twice that of the other works plus a couple of inches to allow for hanging display separation. It's going to be mixed media, also, which is a lot of fun. And I need practice with mixed media, anyway. All the works will be somewhat abstract, of course, each conveying a separate right or freedom or whatever. I'm going to put in some research time of international documents and constitutions to include possible excerpts of human rights so that the art will be less ameri-centric.

It sounds pretty basic, but bear in mind that it's only a rough idea. I haven't even been shopping for it yet (but I'm about to walk out the door!). So while it's simplistic in nature now, I'm sure it will evolve and change along the way. And it's the first real, plausible idea I've had in quite a while. Trying to create abstracts with no path or goal in mind is difficult and has been wearing on my patience.

I don't know if I'll ever scan or post photos of the completed works here, but that's somewhat losing sight of the point. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9607612/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9607612/ Sat, 05 Aug 2006 12:11:41 PDT ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9425418/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9425418/ Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:39:39 PDT
Later that night I went waltzing through the most gorgeous Ritz Carlton ever in my pajamas like I owned the place. It's amazing what people will believe if you have the right amount of attitude and confidence.

One day we chartered a catamaran (a big sailboat) for the afternoon. Went out to sting ray city and got to feed gigantic (6' !!) stingrays with chopped squid. I picked one up and wore it on my head like a hat! hehe

Went snorkeling and scuba diving through a coral reef that was simply amazing. I saw sea turtles, nurse sharks, baracudas, parrot (rainbow) fish, flounder (with 2 eyes on one side!!), and some gigantic sea urchins!!

I have quite a few underwater photos, but they're being developed right now (boo hisss, I know).

My SLR went with me, but funnily enough I was having too much fun enjoying the people company to even think about busting out the camera for a solitary excursion. I will say this, though. I want to go back to photograph more. The architecture there is so unlike most resort towns. Everything is nice and clean (lines wise), beautiful but not tacky colors, pretty much as good as I could ask for.

We ate and shopped and ate some more. Plus, we ate. Oh my gosh, we had some food. The hotel pool and live music every night was a big plus. The cabana boys (that's what we lovinly called our servers, ha) were awesome guys, too. Most nights we sat out at the cabana sipping whatever fruit drink until 2 or 3 in the morning.

I learned how to play Texas Hold 'Em on this trip, too! That was cool. And we did have a low key late night where we watched Interview with a Vampire. I'm not sure why I like this movie so much, but I do.

I know I am missing a TON of details, but the trip is so new and fresh that it's all kind of a blur. So... ask questions! Or comment! Or whatever else tickles your fancy. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9395988/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9395988/ Sun, 16 Jul 2006 15:06:20 PDT ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9300369/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9300369/ Fri, 07 Jul 2006 09:58:07 PDT ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9180817/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9180817/ Sun, 25 Jun 2006 16:50:39 PDT
I ordered my new pocket digi!

I haven't gotten it in the mail yet, but when I do it will look like this:

[link]

It's a Samsung Digimax S600. 6.1MP with 3x optical zoom. I know, it's not great. And it's certainly no DSLR. But it will be great for snapshots! My budget was $200, so I got the camera, the memory card (1GB), and the rechargeable batteries + charger for $215 including shipping.

Other good things - my new (to me) bike is here! It's gorgeous. When I get the pocketdigi I will have to post some pics.

Had a logistics meeting about the trip to Grand Cayman today and it sounds like I am going to have a blast. So all is good here except that I have little time to spend on dA. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9074646/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9074646/ Thu, 15 Jun 2006 08:08:48 PDT
Yesterday was my only day off this week. I took my truck in for an oil change, I'm sure it appreciated that. I would usually do it myself, but I didn't feel like getting greasy and it was overdue. Then I went to this new bookstore I found a few days ago. It's a little used one owned by a tiny old lady who, coincidentally, also goes to my church. I say it's little - it's 4 big rooms. I dropped in for about 20 minutes a few days ago, but had to rush out and only got to glance into the second room. When I walked around it yesterday, I found a staircase with a large landing packed full of books, and an entire upstairs area with two large, but cramped rooms. I bought a first edition copy of Gone with the Wind for $25. That was my splurge. I also got a copy of Grimm's Fairytales in German. It was printed around 1900 sometime. Another interesting find was a Lutheran Catechism from 1921. It's in German and I'm sure the language is a bit outdated so it will be somewhat difficult to translate. But I am looking forward to it - not to translating it, but to understanding it. I'm getting to the point where, if I'm reading or speaking to someone in German, I can think in German. Not very well, mind you, but it's coming along.

Did I mention - the copies of Grimm's and the "katechismus" cost me a grand total of $.75? The Fairytales are separated from the cover binding, but otherwise seem to be well intact. I am going to look into some book restoration techniques. It's illustrated and absolutely beautiful. The Katechismus is paperback but in very solid condition.

Additionally, I got several other leather bound books and a few paperback titles that I'd been meaning to read (or decided to when I saw them). Grand total I spent $37. I know, I know. That's crazy. The old woman is going to search for some nice copies of writings by Ambrose Bierce. I do so love pretty books, and Bierce is hard to find in any condition.

Sooo... other than that, I relaxed. It was a good day. I'm working all tonight and tomorrow night, and Saturday I'm working a double. But hopefully that means much money, since I paid for my trip to Grand Cayman yesterday.

Ahhhh - life's crazy. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9001648/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/9001648/ Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:35:35 PDT
Also found out some friends of mine are restoring a steel bike frame, and since they have nothing to do with it (too small for either of them) they are giving it to me! So yay, I'll have a bike to put fenders on and ride in the rain!

Looking at a steal of a deal on a Waterford, too, not that I expect anyone reading this to really understand what I'm talking about.

And I think it's time for a new car. Well, a "new to me" car. The truck is getting good gas mileage for a truck (think 18-23mpg) BUT I'm still spending like $250/mo on gas. I figure if I get a car that gets 30-35mpg, over about two years' time I can save the amount of money in gas that I spent on the downpayment, and selling the truck will pay most of the other cost. Anyway, this means once I get the car I need to buy a roof rack. Yes, I'm gonna be one of those dweebs with a Yakima on the top of an otherwise good looking car.

And, I need a new computer. I think this one's gonna be a lappy. I may end up adding some memory and a tv tuner to the desktop, but I've missed my lappy a lot since it blew up during midterms last fall. I think it's time.

So... lots of changes coming, yay! ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8940559/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8940559/ Thu, 01 Jun 2006 13:02:46 PDT clfry about it, but it seemed weird that he was doing one of those tag deals without tagging anyone! Okay, so here we go.

...by

5 First

- First Pet's name: Taz - an albino kitten who was the devil incarnate
- First Piercing: 6 weeks old, both of my ears
- First Crush: First grade, his name was Josh.
- First School: PCCS in Panama City, Florida
- First Kiss: Kindergarten, my friend Keith definitely kissed me in Chapel during school. I just knew I was going to hell for that.

5 Last

- Last Time You Smoked: A victory cigar last November
- Last Food You Ate: Kashi Go Lean Crunch for breakfast
- Last Movie You Watched: Nanny McPhee - you should watch it, too
- Last Song You listened to: Veggie Tales - Silly Songs with Larry
- Last Fight: I've never been in a fight.

5 Things you are wearing

- Soffe shorts
- hair rubberband
- A&M t-shirt
- Watch
- unmentionables

5 Things you've done today

- Unpacked
- Checked email
- Took a shower
- Paused to check my appearance in the mirror
- Worked on my book

(not necessarily in that order, mind you)

5 Favorite Things

(This is gonna make me sound boring) Family stuff being a given...
- Photography
- History
- Economic trends
- Cycling
- Music

5 People You Most Trust (no specific order)

- My family
- My best friend
- My Pastor
- My ex (weird, I know)
- Myself

5 Things You Want to do Before You Die

- Spend a year abroad
- Finish my book
- Drive across country and see everything I want to along the way
- Learn how to paint
- Finally figure out all the buttons on my camera


You happy now? ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8909116/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8909116/ Mon, 29 May 2006 07:37:08 PDT
But if you're not, rejoice! I will most likely be leaving more comments than usual because I'm not as bogged down. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8839835/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8839835/ Sun, 21 May 2006 22:45:55 PDT
Mosquito repellent. I knew there was something I forgot to buy. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8792596/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8792596/ Tue, 16 May 2006 20:17:38 PDT
Anyway, I want to ask a fun question or something, but I really am brain dead right now.

What I can say is _ Watch Nanny McPhee!! It's so magical and the cinematography is great! The coloring and lighting makes the whole movie very surreal. Excellent children's movie and actually, I think it's perfect for any age. I am a sucker for these kinds of things. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8549374/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8549374/ Sat, 22 Apr 2006 09:41:50 PDT
More to come from me soon. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8267461/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8267461/ Sat, 25 Mar 2006 17:28:25 PST
Whatever. I hope you enjoy it.

And =lostheart better submit again soon. Or I will go to Germany and kick his butt. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8006862/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/8006862/ Sun, 26 Feb 2006 09:14:41 PST
That said, I really enjoy observing other deviant work and critiquing it when I feel I have something to add. What I do NOT enjoy is having my watch cleared just to come back two days later to 80 or 90 deviations. If someone submits more than 6 or 7 deviations at once (and that's on the very high side), I clear all of their work from my watch, usually without even looking at it and definitely without commenting. And then I'm irritated so I don't give my full attention to anyone else on my watch, either. It is seriously annoying to be flooded by one or two users. It takes away from everyone - including the person who flooded watch lists everywhere with so many submissions, because rarely do most people take the time to look through all 11 of the submissions you put up. I mean, I know that it's done with good intent. Maybe you're trying to catch up or maybe you're cataloguing your entire history - but DON'T submit all at once! There WILL be a time when you'll get a block or won't produce as much because you're busy. Save some for then!

I'm just going to start taking people out off my watch list who habitually flood it with submissions. I know that sounds catty, but it seems like the best course of action. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/7773196/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/7773196/ Wed, 01 Feb 2006 16:39:50 PST ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/7596268/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/7596268/ Fri, 13 Jan 2006 20:14:27 PST

I'm working on my first painting. I don't know if it will be any good, but it's a lot of fun putting it together. It's interesting to try new mediums now and again. I think I may even combine them and put charcoal on it in some places. Who knows? The possibilities are endless. I just wish I had more colors. Maybe I will go buy some more tomorrow. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/7482566/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/7482566/ Sun, 01 Jan 2006 19:37:43 PST

I hate songs that do not have a definitive ending. DO NOT JUST FADE IT OUT. THAT'S STUPID. Man, whadya do live? Do you sit there and sing softer and softer? Because if so, that's unoriginal, boring, and shows the creativity of a five year old, if not less (because most five year olds have not yet boxed their imagination). I mean, what were you thinking? Hey, we have a great chorus, a couple of catchy verses, and maybe even a little depth. But we can't seem to figure out how to finish it like adults, so we'll just add a little fade to the end of a chorus and call it finished. Dude, seriously. (I swear sometimes I sound like a surfer, but whatever.)

Also, and call me crazy, I HATE internet grammar abreviations, like OMFG! and those people who type half in l33t and half in English. WTF? And don't butcher your grammar! (I realize I am a hypocrite as I start that sentence with "and," but we all have shortcomings.) And this "..." thing, that's called an ellipsis, and IT'S ONLY 3 DOTS!!! The maximum amount of dots used is 4 when you are ending a sentence with an ellipsis. This is not difficult, people. When the internet was first mainstreamed, it was hailed as a road to continued and improved literacy. It seems, however, that it has become in many cases only a venue for lazy people to create a language nearly all their own made up of letters, symbols, shortcuts, and butchered spellings. No, I don't "luv" you. I don't think "ur" cute. GET OVER IT and use your language like you should.

Geez louise.

I must be 50. Or 21. Whatever.

But happy new year everyone! I'm really in a great mood, believe it or not.

I got the insane urge to book a flight to Europe earlier. A February flight from Atlanta to Paris is less than $600. Crazy that I could go to Europe for 2-3 weeks on, what? $2000? I almost did it, but that would be mid-semester and irresponsible. But after I hear back from the boyfriend, I may just book that flight in May for $850. I have never been to Europe. But I can speak the language! Yes I can. MmHmm. Ich spreche Deutsch, et je parle francais, aussi (but I don't know the keystroke to make that damn cedilla). How fun it would be! Oh, the photos I would take. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/7443449/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/7443449/ Wed, 28 Dec 2005 20:54:48 PST
My charcoals that were damaged in the move are beyond restoration to their original form. I have, therefore, decided to use them in a collage. I bought my first canvas today and a range of blue, red, and yellow paints, plus some random objects for texture and some major good glue. We'll see how this turns out. I do so love texture, so immediately there's a plus.

I am kind of at a stuck point with my digital collage attempt. I finished the fairy I was working on, but now I don't know exactly what to do with it. She doesn't fit like I thought she would. And I'm afraid she distracts too much from the other elements. Those other elements are a totally different problem on their own. It's difficult to streamline all the ideas I want to include into one piece of art without it being too busy. And no one will get it, anyway. Blah. I'm frustrated with that, so I think I'll leave it alone for a couple of days and let my mind cool off a bit. It's amazing how different things look when you stay away from them a while.

My bestest friend is having her baby tomorrow morning! She's scheduled to go in at 5am. I told her I'd be there around 8am when they gave her the drugs to induce and everything. I don't wanna get up so early, especially since it will mostly just be a lot of paperwork and boring stuff. I'm taking two books with me to read, too, because there's no way I'm going into the birthing room. Ew. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/7424137/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/7424137/ Mon, 26 Dec 2005 16:22:00 PST
[link]

I have NO clue how to do anything like that in PS7. Everything I've tried comes out cartoony. But still, I will persist. I am determined to finish this collage. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/7421468/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/7421468/ Mon, 26 Dec 2005 09:57:20 PST ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/5723274/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/5723274/ Wed, 22 Jun 2005 12:06:08 PDT
Hope all is well out in cyberland. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2927704/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2927704/ Tue, 20 Jul 2004 17:25:31 PDT ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2802076/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2802076/ Sun, 04 Jul 2004 12:44:48 PDT is how I feel about our boys.

Today at church I met for the first time the new Aggie that has been attending since about February. I haven't been home since then. But I was so excited to meet him! He's in the navy, sweetest guy ever (and HOT! They don't make 'em anywhere like they do in Texas). Anyway, he says to me "I'm leavin' in a couple of weeks for Corpus Christi. I was really excited about getting to see another Aggie football season, but I found out yesterday that I'm getting deployed right after I move." >Cue shock on my face. Reading my mind the Aggie says, "Oh no no, I'm not going to Iraq or anything. I'm just going to Central America to do some mine sweeping." To which I replied "Oh, well if it's just mine sweeping, then...."

Mine sweeping! Can you imagine? Our military gets a really bad rap. We didn't plant those mines there, but it's our boys on the line cleaning them up.

Anyway, that's my preaching for today. Hope you have a great holiday! I'm headed out to a concert and then on the boat to go swim with some dolphins and watch the fireworks over the ocean. Ciao! ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2750902/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2750902/ Sun, 27 Jun 2004 21:14:27 PDT



So true. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2682722/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2682722/ Thu, 17 Jun 2004 13:26:53 PDT
*hums*

I love two-steppin.'

Mer, save a cowboy for me. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2656900/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2656900/ Mon, 14 Jun 2004 08:31:03 PDT if you're gonna see it all
Got to put your foot above the rest
if you're gonna rise at all
Got to spread your wings and fly
if you don't want to fall
'Cause it's the road that you choose
that takes you through it all.
---
Who knew Texas country was inspirational for more than road trips and drinkin? To be quite honest, the song I pulled this from isn't the greatest. The verses tell a great story but it's not that well written. It is kind of catchy, though.

It just gave me a shot of ambition to go out and study or do something to further my goals for the future. So I've been studying for the LSAT non-stop lately. Been thinking about law school a lot, though I don't know if I'll ever really do it. I like this undergraduate thing so much that I don't even have a projected graduation date (blasted double degree and 220+ credit hours). So the LSAT is really far off, probably a couple of years. But I guess you can never be too prepared, right?

The weeks' been full. I had visitors in from Florida and we were doing the tourist thing non-stop. I didn't get to show them everything I wanted - we didn't even get to see the Bush Library. But it was fun. Lots of walking and talking on campus, playin' 42 and pool, dancin', a mini road trip, and Django Walker in concert. Eventful to say the least, but I'm glad it's over now. I'm tired.

I think I'm becoming an old woman sometimes, I swear. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2557517/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2557517/ Tue, 01 Jun 2004 11:18:42 PDT
The good news is I've been taking LOTS of pictures lately with my Canon. Instead of just trying for neat shots I'm actually experimenting with learning the ins and outs of the camera. Kind of lazy of me to think I could take great pictures with everything on auto settings, huh? Anyway, this means I have LOTS of stuff that I can't wait to submit.

Which leads me to the bad news. The reason I have so much time to look really tan and take lots of pictures is that I still haven't found a summer job, which means I don't have the money to get the film developed yet. I wanted to get a quick DA fix in and submit something with my silly digital (just for snapshots and such), but I sent it to Germany with my friend Jason so he could keep a photography journal for me while he's gone. So alas, until there's a job and less photo-productivity, there will be little to no submissions. Life's funny, ain't it? I finally have the time and urge to be active again, but I can't really contribute because now that I have time I don't have money. It's an evil conspiracy, I tell ya! ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2543362/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/2543362/ Sun, 30 May 2004 14:14:56 PDT
Anyway, life is great. A bit slow right now, but hey you can't complain about that. Slow is better than dramatic, right?

It's summer! And I'm tan. And all is good.

Look for a new deviation soon. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/1504751/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/1504751/ Sun, 07 Dec 2003 22:43:43 PST
Hope y'all like my new piece. It's simple, but it reflects many parts of the lifestyle I desire to have. Simple, beautiful, peaceful....

Gimme a shout. I miss DA. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/792154/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/792154/ Tue, 03 Jun 2003 19:00:32 PDT
Why did I sign up for summer classes? I'm not a masochist, I swear! 12 hours this summer, and it ain't gettin' easier in the fall.

Oh well.

Nap time.

*yawn*

---
Give me an army of Westpoint graduates, and I'll win a battle.
Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win the war. -Gen George S. Paton ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/774506/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/774506/ Thu, 29 May 2003 17:29:08 PDT
I'm submitting again, whoda thunkit? And now my page views seem terribly low. I guess I'm gonna have to get my tail in gear.

---
Give me an army of Westpoint graduates, and I'll win a battle.
Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win the war. -Gen George S. Paton ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/774505/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/774505/ Thu, 29 May 2003 17:28:47 PDT
I'm submitting again, whoda thunkit? And now my page views seem terribly low. I guess I'm gonna have to get my tail in gear.

---
Give me an army of Westpoint graduates, and I'll win a battle.
Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win the war. -Gen George S. Paton ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/572030/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/572030/ Thu, 27 Mar 2003 12:37:40 PST Give me an army of Westpoint graduates, and I'll win a battle.
Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win the war. -Gen George S. Paton ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/555126/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/555126/ Thu, 20 Mar 2003 09:22:35 PST
Have fun in TX, +achfoo---
Give me an army of Westpoint graduates, and I'll win a battle.
Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win the war. -Gen George S. Paton ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/510277/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/510277/ Sun, 23 Feb 2003 17:30:23 PST
It was good.


---
Give me an army of Westpoint graduates, and I'll win a battle.
Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win the war. -Gen George S. Paton ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/496356/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/496356/ Sat, 15 Feb 2003 21:59:43 PST
I heard my uncle's funeral was beautiful, but I didn't get to see it. I didn't make it home until Thursday afternoon. Long story, just know that our legal system is way too sluggish.

The awesome thing about the trip, though, was my friends. It was so much fun hanging out with them again after missing them for a month. Sure, I have lots of awesome new friends here, but you can't replace the old ones, y'know? I spent most of my time with them and not nearly enough time with my family, but I don't feel guilty about it not one bit.

I miss him. Need I say more? I could talk about him for hours upon hours...but it still doesn't change the fact that he's in my home state and I'm...not - 750 miles apart.

Valentine's day was as good as could be expected. I had lunch with the gals and then we all went and got manicures and pedicures together. Then I went to a Robert Earl Keen concert. All y'all from outside of Texas probably have never heard of him. He's an awesome country music guy and boy does he know how to perform! Plus he has a few Aggie songs so he's really popular around here.

What else? Ethernet in my room is down. At the latest it should be back up Monday. I haven't bought the scanner yet, though. Someone hit my stupid truck while it was in a parking lot and didn't bother leaving a note, so I have to pay to have it repaired. That ate my scanner money and then some. My poor truck.
---
Give me an army of Westpoint graduates, and I'll win a battle.
Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win the war. -Gen George S. Paton ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/476713/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/476713/ Mon, 03 Feb 2003 18:14:18 PST
Still, no matter how you slice it, driving all through the night is going to suck. Tomorrow I am going to be running around like mad tying up loose ends. I have to go tell all my professors what's going on and work out deals with them, I have to pack. I have to pick up my truck (had one of the tinted windows fixed - previous owner had an oakley symbol embedded in the tinting and I really didn't like that). Make time for some meals. Have to let my room mates know. Blah blah blah...then Silver Taps at 10:30. Then as soon as that's over I've gotta bolt and hit the road. Sounds fun, huh?

On top of that, Saturday I have to retake the SAT. So tomorrow I have to remember to call and have my testing location changed. Fun, fun.

I decided to stay in town through Sunday so that I could go to my home church. So I'll be driving back sometime Monday, hopefully in time to make classes on Tuesday.

Aaaaanyway, the overwhelming likelihood is that I will not be on devart during my stay in Florida. So y'all pray for me. Driving straight through the night and managing to look half decent come funeral time is a superhuman task.
---
Give me an army of Westpoint graduates, and I'll win a battle.
Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win the war. -Gen George S. Paton ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/462449/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/462449/ Sun, 26 Jan 2003 21:27:44 PST
Should have the new scanner by the end of the week (yay!).

Things here are great. I love College Station. I bought a big, white Ford F150! YAY!!! I love my truck.

Anyway, keep your eyes out for new submissions from me in the next week or so. I'll work more on commenting in the next few days, but I have a busy week ahead of me (dude, I can't even tell you how much stuff I have already planned, sheesh), so don't be disappointed if I don't get to you. I promise I'm doin' my best. Have to write a paper, too...ugh.

But life is good. Winter's almost over, so smile! ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/446978/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/446978/ Fri, 17 Jan 2003 16:03:20 PST
Well...here's to y'all. I'm here in spirit, but I can't submit.

And yay for lostheart! He's been on my devwatch for forever and he's in this issue of 20! ~lostheart -Check him out! ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/442980/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/442980/ Wed, 15 Jan 2003 08:18:31 PST
College rocks. I don't know how people even compare it to high school. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/431920/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/431920/ Wed, 08 Jan 2003 17:27:51 PST
Just in case ya wanted to know. I'm so excited about going to school here! I'm FINALLY in Texas! No more just talkin'.

It's weird though, moving out. I started unpacking and then it hit me how many things I didn't bring, and it didn't even occur to me to bring them. Stuff like toilet paper, q-tips, hand-soap for the sink, a trash can, trash bags...weird stuff that you don't have to buy when you're at home! Luckily, they put TP in my bathroom before I came, and tomorrow I can go out and buy all the other stuff I need once my car gets here.

Dude, moving out is so weird....

And Mer! Once I get settled and we get in a routine for the semester, you gotta meet me at Billy Bob's, the world's largest honkey tonk! ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/413766/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/413766/ Sun, 29 Dec 2002 00:55:56 PST
I like that little green guy icon. I don't know how a greeny with pointy ears and a flat head means smart, but I'll leave him there because I think he's cute. I'm not feelin' real smart right now anyway, so it doesn't matter that he doesn't look it.

I bought the best pair of jeans ever created today. Yes, they're mine. So ... sorry to those who were in search of them. They are no longer for sale.

The quest for the perfect cowboy hat trudges on. I went to three different western wear stores today and didn't find one I liked. It's so hard to find a pretty womanish cowboy hat in size 7 3/8. I have a melon head. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/411322/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/411322/ Fri, 27 Dec 2002 13:04:07 PST

And I miss Mer. I think she's somewhere around Dallas right now. And my other favorite Aggie is in Dallas for the holidays, too. So sheesh, I need to just pack up and haul off to Dallas. They stole all my favorite people.

]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/407654/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/407654/ Tue, 24 Dec 2002 22:43:09 PST

And for all the knights in shining armor out there...what would us gals do without you? You're wonderful. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/402402/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/402402/ Sat, 21 Dec 2002 16:18:01 PST ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/400057/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/400057/ Thu, 19 Dec 2002 22:04:51 PST ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/398507/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/398507/ Wed, 18 Dec 2002 22:31:05 PST
I'm discovering more and more lately that I'm proud of the south and being southern and I never ever want to leave the south.

~American by birth, southern by the grace of God.

I'm such a rambler.

And here's a question: why is it that nearly everything people say, everything I say, trigger a song in my head? ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/384517/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/384517/ Mon, 09 Dec 2002 20:45:18 PST achfoo doit utiliser le traducteur. Il est temps d'apprendre le français! Vous êtes un homme chaud, Nate. Serez-vous mon chevalier dans l'armure brillante?

Ok, seriously though - it's time for English. My head's starting to hurt.

I don't really have anything important to say except that ... it's almost my birthday! Yippee!! And today I talked to my attorney and my stock broker and I think I got all the kinks ironed out with my inheritance stuff and the move to Texas and tuition and all that junk. And as soon as it's for real fixed, I get to buy my new car! So huzzah!

And I'm bubbly and happy and all that good stuff. I wanna jump up and down and do a little jig and...I just might. So look out, Nate! You might have some competition.

J'ai appris de la nouvelle information aujourd'hui. La meilleure chose que j'ai apprise est un surnom pour mon ami sexy. Ainsi celui c'est pour vous, NayNay! *clink*
]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/379101/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/379101/ Fri, 06 Dec 2002 15:56:31 PST

So I got to "talk" to *meredith for the first time today. Hooray! I always hear *achfoo talk about her, but I never have actually talked to her myself. Of course, stupidity on my part initiated the conversation, but ... whatever it takes!

I'm still in a happy happy mood, just being silly. I'm not sure why. I'm working on drawing a piece right now of a girl staring out a window with her hand on the glass and a guy staring back in with his hand on the other side of hers. This perspective is hard, though. I can't get the angle right for the second hand. I need someone to just sit there and hold their hands fingertip to fingertip for me. I really gotta get away from needing a visual on everything. Ah well, silly me.

Thanks bunches and bunches to *achfoo for gettin' me started on my drawing again! You're awesome man, and not just at jigs.

And yay for *meredith who had my back when I screwed up! ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/377647/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/377647/ Thu, 05 Dec 2002 17:37:08 PST

So we had karaoke, too, a contest. I won. For those of you who haven't try it, do! It doesn't even matter if you can't sing. Just go up there and have a good time. It's such a liberating experience, I'm still in a good mood from that last night. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/376539/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/376539/ Wed, 04 Dec 2002 23:58:38 PST
But I don't care. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/372954/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/372954/ Mon, 02 Dec 2002 20:29:33 PST
Pardon me, I'm just a bit elated.

So cross your fingers and pray for Francione.

You suck, 'Bama!



(here's to nail files thrown down air vents *clink*) ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/371436/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/371436/ Sun, 01 Dec 2002 22:52:56 PST


So, have a good week my friend. And good luck with finals. ]]> ~shimmerella http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/364682/ http://shimmerella.deviantart.com/journal/364682/ Wed, 27 Nov 2002 15:36:48 PST
For y'all Americans, Happy Thanksgiving. I wish the best to you and yours. Eat well, watch football, visit with family. ]]> ~shimmerella