all hallow's eve and all hallow's day

Halloween! My favorite holiday. Who wouldn't like an excuse to dress up in creepy, kooky, strange and almost endearingly bizarre costumes that would normally get stares? I for one wouldn't. Even so, Halloween in Savannah was vastly different from the Halloweens of before.

I think this is the first time I haven't gone trick or treating since I started trick or treating. Even so, it wasn't a bad Halloween at all, even with the lack of candy I shouldn't have anyway. Granted, I had planned on going trick or treating in the first place, but things got a little busy. Friday was also the day to sign up for classes for next quarter (which I accomplished with a little bit of a trouble); the people I were going treating with had sign up times of 7:30, so we planned on going right after they signed up. So you know, I spent Halloween with Jasmine (my roommate), two of her friends, Joe and Will (costumes, respectively, were two Japanese rock stars, a fairy, the Spirit - a comic book hero- and Elmo). I was done getting ready by a quarter to 8, but after everyone came over (including three people I didn't know who just invited themselves along), it was closer to 9- and then we decided to run around to another room, then finally left.

Thinking that the stores in the mall would pass out candy, we went to the mall. Unfortunately, that closed at 9:30, and it was 10 when we got there. Barnes and Noble was open for some reason, and there was a kid's corner, so Will decided to go inside and make an appearance. (That, by itself, was worth a trip to the mall.) After that, all six of us (with Will riding in the trunk, since the car could only hold 5 people - but don't worry, he was comfortable) went to IHOP for a 10:30 meal with a creepy waitress who wouldn't stop staring at Will. Once we had our fill of pretty good non-SCAD cafe food, we went to Wal-mart... of course. Subsequently, Elmo got a lot of attention (he really was a celebrity all over the place), and we ended up talking a bit to a 6 and 11 year old.

Post Wal-mart, we came back to the dorms and watched the Batman Movie (with Adam West), and went to bed, exhausted, around 3a.

Next day (or rather, later), tea time! One of my friends, a sophomore (who I may be a roommate with next year), really enjoys tea and told me of this tea room in Savannah, so Will, Joe, I, Meghan (my friend), Jen (her roommate), and one of Jen's friends went for "full afternoon tea". Unlimited tea of any kind on the list, quiche, finger sandwiches, sorbet, and little cakes were on the menu. I'm not much of a tea person, actually, but it was a wonderful experience, and the French Vanilla tea, with a lot of creme and sugar (it's very bitter without) was really good. I also tried Vanilla Jasmine, Pomegranate, and... another tea which I can't remember the name of at the moment. The bad part? $30 per person, tip and tax included... which I guess isn't too bad for food, drink and 2 hours worth of entertainment. I certainly wouldn't mind doing it again - but maybe it's something I should reserve for more special occasions... or once every half year.

After tea, we ran to CVS and Fed-Ex/Kinko's, then headed over to Boundary Village (dorms) to watch "Keeping Mum", a very good British movie, and "The Producers", which was hysterical.

And... I just got back. For two days, a lot of fun stuff happened -- so there you go!

Halloween can still be fun without having to go trick or treating... but I'd still like to go, regardless.

...and here we go again!

So it's been a while, hasn't it? What's happened in the world of Katie recently? Quite a bit, I suppose.

Last Friday (October 24th), was SCAD's Masquerade Ball. The costume I wore was made from scratch (or at least parts of it were). I got the material for the straight jacket two weeks before the Ball, and I was working up until that Friday to finish it in time. Aside from the many pokes I got from the needles, as I had to hand stitch the whole thing, and the slightly steep price (to the tune of about $60), I think it turned out pretty good. I ended up getting the rest of my costume and makeup at Wal-Mart. Not exactly the most flattering get-up, but it turned out pretty nice. I'll have pictures up when I get better ones (the current ones are all blurry).

The Ball itself was pretty cool. I, however, am not much of a dancer, and that's the whole point of going to a Ball... so it kind of defeated the purpose, aside from hanging around for two hours looking at the collection of costumes there were. Getting there was a lot more interesting, however. The whole day was raining, and unfortunately, as it got later, it started down pouring. By the time we were ready to go, it was like typhoon weather... but we decided to go anyway! So, long story short, we ended up dressing up in our (us being Will, Joe and I) shower curtains; Joe had my umbrella. Will was the best though; he went as Elmo (using a toddler's costume, at that), and to keep himself dry he put bags on his feet and over his head. It was greatly amusing... After we hung around for a while, we came back to the dorms.

What did we do when we got back? Laundry, of course!

With bad timing on the planning part (their's, not mine), there was a mask-making workshop the very next Saturday. Will and I went to it, and it was pretty fun, though we only made masks, not decorate them too. (Apparently, come next quarter, there'll be another workshop that includes both parts. I'll probably go to that as well.)

This week has been pretty much all homework, which I didn't do much of during the weekend. Today, of course, is Halloween! I might be going Trick or Treating and to a party later. At 4:30, I'll be registering for my classes for next quarter, and Saturday, I'm going for afternoon tea at a tea room here, which should be fun.

Anyway, I should be going. That's all for now! Expect new pictures soon!

end of week 5

Week five done and gone already? It's gone slow but fast at the same time. About now, kids are/were panicking about midterms and the tests that apparently go along with them. (I just happened to get the good end of the stick; no midterm projects or tests for me!) October is in full swing, Halloween is leering around the corner, and I'm working on my costume.

So what's been going on lately? A lot, and then not a whole lot at the same time, I guess. We just finished with line drawings in Drawing 1; we're moving onto value now, which the class can collective say is a hell of a lot more fun than just drawing the shapes without shading. (Me? I couldn't care less about what we do, because it's drawing and that's all there is to it.) In 2-D design, I don't know what to call what we're doing, but we're being productive - although still working in just black and white. Survey of Western Art is... itself: boring yet intriguing all the while.

As far as "non-school" stuff goes, not much there either. I have yet to attend a meeting of Queers and Allies (Joe is really bugging me to come), but provided I can borrow some guy clothes, I might be going to the Gender Bender Ball (with a theme of "Moulin Rouge"... hm) that's hosted by Q & A. Next Friday is the Masquerade ball which I am thoroughly excited for, but I won't be going in a mask (at least, at the moment). This summer, I think what I might do is (aside from working some and all the normal stuff) make a really elaborate dress. I've never really had that much time to make costumes for Halloween, because I think up things late and I'm a procrastinator. BUT, if I start this summer and keep at it, I could make something really special and really good.

...Or, that's just me dreaming unrealistically.

My current costume (a straight-jacketed Harleen Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn, from the Batman series), on the other hand, is coming along well enough. Another trip to the pathetic, dinky Goodwill in town is in store so I can get some white pants... or a trip to Target/Savannah Mall tomorrow. I'd also like a comfortable chair; Joe and Will come over a lot for movies, since they don't have a TV, and all the things I have to sit on are my bed, the floor pillow, and my always-uncomfortable stool. A comfy chair would be a lot nicer, don't you think?

Anyway, I've gotta jet; people to see, things to do... same old, same old I suppose, so ta for now.

gym and rightful lack thereof

Why SCAD will never need to require P.E. for those that live on the 3rd and 4th floor, don't take the buses, and have classes that require heavy supplies:

3rd floor to bottom: 6 flights of 8 stairs each = 48 stairs

1 block and a half of walking distance from end of stairwell to buses (minimum of a mile-long bike ride, one-way if the bus isn't taken)

Depending on the class, upon arrival either minor walking or up a few more flights of stairs

Return journey: take all of the above x2 (repeat as needed)

Include meal time travels: if going to Cafe SCAD, take 3rd to bottom stair amount and add 3 more flights of 8 (24 stairs) doing down

(That makes a trip to Cafe SCAD worth 18 flights of 8 stairs each, which is 144 stairs... surprisingly excruciating.)

Add in carrying a book bag to classes, or an art supply box (~ 5 lbs.) and a portfolio (~ 15-20lbs)


So, added all together, in a week, I will bike 4 miles and take 2400 steps just to get to class and food combined. Occasionally throw in that 20lbs portfolio, and a few more flights of stairs (note that the extra flights come with the portfolio classes). These are only the required amounts I need to go through to make sure I get to class without taking the buses.

Moral of the story: I'm going to hate stairs for the rest of my life.

everyday life - end of week two

Week two at Savannah; has two weeks really passed already? It's remarkable - and makes me a bit uneasy. So, what can I say about these two weeks? They've been both incredible and unremarkable.

Between having only a handful of homework assignments over the weekend, going to the mall and attending the Gamers' Guild meeting on Friday night, this weekend has been pretty hectic. Friday was the Major's Fair (where I found out if I wanted to pursue a minor in Historic Preservation, Interior Design would complement my degree as a major), after which Joe and Will (two guys from two doors down) went to CVS, Kroger and a few of the halls to get stamps in our "Passports". (The passports are just that for our First Year Experience class, where we need to visit different halls and social/major/etc. events for stamps.) Saturday, we went to both Savannah and Olgethorpe malls and did laundry. Today was homework... and still is homework.

I think it goes without saying that I'm homesick without the sick part; I really miss Illinois... but not so much Illinois as I miss the people who live there. I feel a little disconnected from my friends, but I have the opportunity to contact them. I miss my parents as well, but I try not to think of them, because I know if I do too much, it won't be pretty.

Other than that, life at SCAD is, well, life. I could use a few more friends, but I've got a few contacts that I could ring up and ask over - when I have the time, and the nerve to do so. I spend most of my time with Will and Joe; they're really cool guys, and hilarious. I'm sure, if anything, they'll be my "best" friends for quite a while, hopefully more.

Food kind of sucks here at Cafe SCAD. The meat is fake, the bread is dry, the selection is questionable. (In retrospect, we did have some good food tonight: country fried steak and real potatoes.) It's edible, though, and better than Glenwood's food with the fact that there's considerable variety.



I'm really glad I decided to get a planner. I'd never remember anything.

arrival

Here we are: Savannah, GA. Imagine yourself in a city that's roughly the size of Chatham, is a compacted version of Springfield (downtown and somewhat busy streets included), and that has 90% humidity with 100 degree weather. It's a rather... interesting mix.

Despite the heat which, on move-in day, was nearly unbearable for third-story occupants, Savannah's pretty much like any other city, save for the fact that there are 24 garden squares and at least 3/5ths of the city is a historical district. Spanish moss (a pale green hair-like plant that looks like it'd be a lichen but is in fact a flowering plant) hangs from almost every single tree. There aren't many bugs, but you'll sweat off 10 pounds if you walk around in the sun all day. All in all? I'm really glad that my dorm room has an air conditioner.

Speaking of dorm room, the dorm life isn't bad so far. My roommates are both pretty cool (and a little goofy, but I guess that's what happens when you go to a private art school). The actual dorm is fairly large for three people, and we have a bathroom all to ourselves. (The only problem is toilet paper. We got here last Friday and we've already used two rolls of TP. Yikes!) We've come up with a pretty nice arrangement for our stuff that leaves a little space for socializing.

Classes, so far, have been otherwise uneventful. Monday and Wednesday I have Survey of Western Art and Drawing 1; Tuesdays and Thursdays I have 2-D Design; and Thursday I have First Year Seminar. Exciting, right? Yeah. Getting there was no problem, except the cramming of people into tiny buses and getting off at the wrong hall for Drawing. (Yeah. That sure was fun.) It takes about 15-20 minutes to bike to all the halls I need to go to, which is better than taking the bus - about 30 minutes. Add in the fact that getting supplies is so damned expensive and the line at Ex Libris is 50 minutes long... allocating time is a really good idea!

Anyway, back to the drawing board. That's all I have for today. (Or, at least, that's all I'm willing to write out before being lazy... Hah.)

the beginning of the end

Well, here we are. Another summer gone and school right around the corner.

As of right now, four of my closest friends are gone, gone, gone. Two are staying here; the third is due out before I leave, and then I'm off to Savannah. I've gotten some shopping done. I still need to clean my room and sift through my wealth of sometimes-useful, almost always-crap stuff and find out what I need to survive 9 weeks of art & socializing away from home.

I won't lie; I'm kind of scared shitless. It's a love-hate relationship. On the one hand, I'm starting a new chapter in the book of my life. I'm experiencing new things. I'm getting an education. (I'll also be within an hour's drive of the beach.) On the other, I'm leaving behind my family, my friends, and everything I've known intimately for the past 12 years. I'm stranding myself in a world of unpredictability, where the only people I want to hold my hand are a long-distance phone call away.

Am I ready? Who knows. I think a better question is "Can I adapt to this fantastically new and utterly terrifying change of pace?". I certainly hope so. The last thing I want to do is dive head first into a pool of newness to find out that I can't swim without those little arm-floaties.

Good bye Chatham; Hello world!