Jenna's House of Idiosyncrasies Version 9.0 // Critical Darling, Commercial Flop

This morning I was walking to work, through downtown Athens. Athens is a college town. 9 AM, Christmas Eve, downtown Athens, it's empty. Besides being eerily quiet, there are also about a billion parking spaces. And yet, there she was, the meter maid, wearing a Santa hat, giving out parking tickets to all the naughty boys and girls.

Merry. Freakin'. Christmas.

A YEAR IN RETROSPECT... a survey that actually means something, stolen from here. Read More »

Why do I feel compelled to answer “How are you?” with “Super!” even when I feel like shit?

Is “Fine.” not freaking fake enough for me?

Geez.

So if you haven't heard yet (or if I forgot to call you because Friday and the succeeding days have been such a whirlwind) I did not get into the Lamar Dodd School of Art here at UGA this semester. What does this mean, you ask?

Well I've given it some thought, and it simply means my plans for next semester have changed. I'm going to only one class next semester (an art history, the very last of my non-studio requirements), and take a semester to hopefully both:

1. get a second job

2. figure some things out about where my life is going at this point

I know it's surprising how well I'm holding it together, seeing as how I've been working towards this for years now. Read More »

You're Generally Indie. There's nothing wrong with
this. You like music all over the map and
aren't adversed to listening to some Top 40
here and there. You just know to comment that
The Neptunes are the best producers around
right now. You don't feel the need to debate
constantly with other music geeks, because you
know that Pavement were the best band of the
90s.


You Know Yer Indie. Let's Sub-Categorize.
brought to you by Quizilla

Also an FYI: if you aren't in the small catagory of people I am living with/have lived with, you aren't getting any x-mas presents from me until July.

Plan accordingly.

"Wednesday blows. Monday, for all its problems, at least offers the prospect of a fresh start; and Friday we love, of course. But Wednesday? Vile. Squatting between what you hoped to have accomplished by now and what you might eke out if you haul ass for the rest of the week, Wednesday points to where you come up short. It's a captious narc of a day. Wednesday, you suck."

                  - Lily Burana {emphasis mine}

Portfolio review is coming up far to fast for my taste.

So when even your art teacher notices, you know it's for real.

"So what happened? You seem to get into a mid-career slump. You used to be so lively, and talkative. Did something happen in your life?"

I sigh. "Nothing specific really."

Without any hesitation on his part: "Depression."

I'm amazed I've become that easy to read. I guess when you are wrapped up in your own thoughts all the time you forget about that veil you're supposed to be putting up for everyone.

"I noticed it before, and I'm sorry, I should've met with you earlier, I just thought that it would be a temporary thing."

I nod and sigh, staring at my hands. "So did I."

At our conference it was decided that this is the week where I've got to crack down.

"I know it's hard, but you just have to really focus and push out the thoughts of despair. Just concentrate on precision, and don't let your mind wander."

From just anyone the "you have to just suck it up" argument would sound trite and insensitive, but his words and tone make it sound like he knows exactly what I'm feeling. For the first time in a long time I feel like someone is working for me, to pull me along. This semester has driven home for me how quickly I've had to become an adult, and almost completely support myself (emotionally), because the people I could use as role models and mentors let me down, or they are wackier than I am, or they just don't care.

Today Carter has given me hope.