Summer Days

Well, I finally got registered for summer classes at DCCCD. Finally. I had to berate someone on the phone in order to get them to acknowledge that they had received my transcripts, but once that was done, it was smooth sailing. So, I am taking a five week chemistry class beginning the middle of next month, and then an online biology class right after that. It's going to be an interesting summer. The good news is that, as long as I pass all my courses, both over the summer and in the fall, I graduate in december! Yes.

However, amidst all the excitement and celebration is the nervous anticipation of The Next Step, namely, What To Do After College. It is the question that gnaws at me like a mosquito bite, the one that I can't seem to get away from, no matter how much I might ignore it because it is the question that people will not stop asking me. "So, what do you want to do after you graduate?"

And, like so many others, I do not know.

I mean, I have ideas, just nothing concrete enough to go about describing to my grandmother. Vagueness is the name of the game, but I'm getting to the point of no return and I would really like some solid ideas of where I'm headed before I'm thrown into the fray. Obviously, I would like to make painting a fully time gig, but that's not going to happen for a while yet, and I'd really like to do something interesting with my life instead of just settling on the first thing that sticks. I'm thinking seriously about linguistics right now, but I'm worried about getting into too academic a field. I've hated a lot of my literature studies because it just ends up being a lot of useless people pontificating to one another about their own cleverness. Opinion is presented as fact (which, I understand, is basically how things work), and only the eloquent survive. All the while, only a handful of people every century come up with any new kind of way to see things, and no one really puts anything back into society. Acadamia is this huge culture-consuming machine that just eats and eat and only ever produces waste. So, I am weary of entering into a career field with limited practical application. Plus, I'm not that smart and terribly unmotivated when it comes to research. It is boring.

So, practical application, people, whad'ya got?

On the bright side, the vacation party went really well last night! It was really nice to hang out with friends and see my mommy.







And now we anticipate my little sister's high school graduation! How exciting!

Chelle Lynn

Memorial Weekend

Over the weekend, Mr. Johnson, I, and several of our friends stayed with a friend's parents at their house on Lake Texoma. Much fun and revelry was had. We even created a deity: the Rock God.











It was quite the fun time adventure.

On an art-related note, I have begun the long-anticipated (by me, at least) Firefly Versus Lightning Bug series. I have three pieces done and I'm excited to see how far I can take it. I am in the process of getting them up for sale, so go to the etsy sometime today to check them out. Comments are appreciated (as are purchases)! ;-)

Hope that everyone is having a wonderful week!

Chelle Lynn

Auto-Mobiles

Everyone is familiar with that dreaded little red "Check Engine" light on the dashboard of every car. In the case of my 2002 VW Golf, it is roughly in the shape of an actual engine (although, in reality, it looks like a faucet.) That apologetic little light went on about a week ago, and I waited until yesterday for it to go away on it's own, like a head cold, or summer mosquitos. When this didn't happen, I took it to the shop and expected a call saying that I would have to fork out $400 for some dinky part that I probably don't even need. There went my summer clothes money. It was a pain, I was annoyed.

The call came.

The repairs would cost $1,300.

All because of a little red light.

However, I can't really complain, because in the end, I have a new timing belt (plus some other car stuff things I don't remember), my car has been looked over by professionals, and I can reasonably expect that the Golf will be ok for a little while yet. And who needs money, anyway? Not this lady. Nuh-uh.

As for painting news, I've started on a series that I've been planning for months. It's called Firefly Versus Lightning Bug. I'm really excited about it, I think it's going to be a really fun collection. I'm also planning to fill out the Cross Vine Giggles collection over the next few months. I really enjoyed working on it, and I think that it can be a really successful collection if I put some more time into it. So, exciting new things are coming...well, exciting for me at least.

Everyone be safe during the Memorial Day weekend!

-Chelle Lynn

New Website

I've been trying to code a new website by hand...html...by hand...ALONE. Yeah, it's not working, so I got on weebly.com today and put together something that will do in the meantime. I'm so technology retarded that I can't even figure out how to publish the thing on my own domain, so I'm going to wait for the hubby to get home so that he can do it for me! He will also be cooking me delicious brats tonight, so I'm very excited for his return.

How sad is it that I've spent more time lately trying to set up a website so that I can sell paintings than working on the paintings themselves? I actually don't even have any canvases now, and I need to go pick some up. Don't judge, all you art snobs out there. I buy my canvases. I do not stretch them myself. I am a horrible artist.

Lastly, I'd like to give a shout out to Lauren Mille of LMiller Photography. She recently took some portraits of me and the Mr, and the ones that I've seen so far are AMAZING. She did a fabulous job, we are totally blown away; plus, the session was really fun, we both really enjoyed ourselves. We met her at the Dallas Museum of Art Garden and wandered around downtown Dallas, stopping at interesting sites. She really made seemingly mundane surroundings into vibrant, interesting photos. She has a really wonderful eye, and her editing is great. So, if you're needing some photos, she the one you want to go to! I'll be sure to post the photos once they're all done.

Hopefully I'll have some actual paintings to post soon, as well as a fancy new site! Stay tuned.

-Chelle Lynn