20 Things I Am Looking Forward To

1. Finishing my animation for this dance collaboration.

2. Seeing my big semester long animation playing in Aitken tomorrow, better known as the Cinematheque theater.

3. Having everything rendered in HD.

4. Burning DVDs.

5. Being done with so many projects.

6. Not working on any websites for a good while.

7. Owning the Adobe CS5 Production Premium.

8. Being all moved into my new apartment.

9. Playing with Mia all summer.

10. Working in a flower shop again.

11. Going to the zoo.

12. Seeing Nicholas!

13. Tanning on the beach and lightening my hair.

14. Sailing.

15. Picnics.

16. Making more animation sketches over the summer.

17. Making more animations with Mia.

18. Making an animation with Nicholas.

19. Having a sleep schedule. It doesn't even have to be normal. Just some sort of schedule will do.

20. Sewing dresses.

Let's start with #1.

Off with their heads.

I'm still working on my paper. But I've got a good start, and I'm at the point where I talk about the formal aspects of specific stop motion animations. So I've been watching a good amount of Svankmajer. I recommend you do the same. Here is part of his film Alice from 1988. Unfortunately, I don't own a copy of it and have only seen what is available on YouTube. And yet, I am certain that it is the best take on Wonderland out there.

Bunny Sunday!

I'm a little busy right now, so a video will have to suffice this week. At least it's totally awesome! I'll post the making-of video some other time. It's incredible. They had flocks of stop motion animators running around with colorful rabbits throughout New York City. Can you say dream job?

My biggest To Do lately has been finishing this paper on stop motion Surrealism. I really do enjoy the topic; it would just go better if I had a little more caffeine in my system. I'm trying to do as much as my brain will let me tonight. It really isn't due until Tuesday. And hey, last semester, I wrote 14 pages in less than 12 hours. I think that takes talent.

Today,

I put on a dress.
I packed a suitcase.
My mom picked me up.
We drove 3.5 hours.
I did some little stop motion experiments on the car ride.
I had a French toast bagel with raspberry cream cheese for brunch.
We arrived in metro Detroit.
I walked into a flower shop.
I talked to the owner.
I had a mighty fine interview.
I got a job for the summer!
I went home.
I gave Mia a giant hug.
I played Polly Pocket.
I drew pictures of Alice in Wonderland with Mia.
I had a delicious dinner.
I watched iCarly iBloopers.
(I love that show.)
I watched Disney's Alice in Wonderland with Mia.
We watched some special features about the animation process.
I got her to fall asleep around 10pm.
I went into the kitchen.
I've been working on my research paper.

Tomorrow,
I will go with Mia to Sunday School to help her make a rosary.
I will go get my haircut (after over a year).
I will make an animation with Mia.
I will go back to Cleveland with my mom.
I will read some more books for my paper on the way.
I will work on my paper until I die.
I will go to the Cleveland Institute of Art Design Spring Show for a little while.
I will work on my paper until I die.
I will go to mass.
I will work on my paper until I die.

I really don't mind writing papers. In fact, I usually enjoy them...when I actually have time to work on them. Especially the papers I've written at CIA. So far, I've written one about unicorns, and another about self-portraits and Facebook. This one is about surrealism in the medium of stop motion animation, so I feel like I can spend hours on Youtube watching everything by Svankmajer, and claim that it's homework. It's rather tempting. Here, check out his version of Alice in Wonderland. His take on the caterpillar is amazing.

Now,

I am getting back to work.

Notes to self.

\

Images by Fadedfilmstrips & Recovering Lazyholic. (Click photos to go directly to them.)

I  have a few little reminders hanging around my apartment right now. I've been wanting to make more, but I think that will be a summer project for my new apartment! I'm still incredibly excited that everything worked out. You have no idea how much lighter I feel right now. I still giddy!

I think my reminders would be something along the lines of these:

• Rise & Shine (by my bed)
• Check Your Ego (This is currently on our bathroom door.)
• Second Star to the Right (above my animation table)
• Make Up Your Mind (by my mirror)
• Smell the Roses (by my window)
• Make Something (in my studio)
• Eat More Greens (somewhere kitcheny maybe)
• Play That Funky Music (by my record player)

What sorts of reminders would you make for yourself?

Ps. In a surprising turn of events, I will be heading home to Detroit tomorrow for a job interview! Let's hope it goes well. If not, at least I get to see Miss Mia. She already told me that she wants to make an animation and play Alice in Wonderland. I was thinking it might be fun for us to make some necklaces out of Sculpey. Oh, and I have a paper to crank out this weekend as well.