When I got out of work today (at 2pm, early cause we're in a weird week of ceremonies before we officially close for February break), I told myself that I would go to the gym and finish up a piece of art. It's this super large drawing that's going to be in an action here. Anyway.  It's now 7pm, and in an effort to effectively procrastinate, I wanna put out some thoughts that have been gestating for a while. Then, I swear, off to the gym.

I wouldn't say that I'm a person who lacks direction, but more a person who has too MANY directions. Since I was a senior at Michigan, every time I've sat down to map out my future, it has looked more like a pasta-brainstorm than a clear projection.

There were the dreams: Artist, Art professor, Writer, Photographer
The social justice work-for-nothing gigs: Social worker, Jewish community organizer
The things I kept returning to: art teacher, special needs teacher, school media specialist/librarian
And, the back of the mind parental dreams: doctor (OB/GYN), lawyer

Murky too are the “where” and “with whom” - east coast, west, midwest, abroad, single, woman partnered, married to a man, womanizer. See, I kind of want everything.
( this is kinda long~Collapse )

When people ask me how I've been, I say that I've been reading a lot of Harry Potter lately. After seeing the trailer for the 7th movies (squee!) I realized  hat I couldn't remember very much besides who I liked to slash with each other and that the big D died (to put it bluntly).

Thus began my search for HP books in Korea. Between my middle school, the high school and the public library, I have the entire collection. Within a week I had consumed the first three years at Hogwarts. There are times when I hate Harry~ that he seems so self absorbed, and that much of Snapes complaints about him are (somewhat) true. There are a few things that I didn't catch when I first read them many years ago, and a handful of 'errors' or inconsistencies within the story.  eeeer those I can just let pass..because it's just as amazing. When I first read a HP book I was in  6th or 7th grade, and Harry was just about my age. Who didn't dream of going to Howgarts (instead of RASGHA) and dueling, having a pet owl, sitting under the bewitched ceiling of the great hall and eating chocolate frogs?

On my desk now is Goblet of Fire, which I scooped out from the high school library as soon as I got in this morning. The book is freaking HUGE. I can't wait till I have a moment of free time, to crack it open.

What are your favorite YA books - or what did you read in middle school that you like to go back and read again?

ALSOALSO, my friend Ami came to Korea to visit! But she's a much better ljer than me, so I'm sure she'll make a better post about it than I could ;p In sum, We ate a lot of food together and played Mario. Bliss! Ami, come back soon! ^o^

(Hufflepuff icon love. I got my house pride~)

HEALTH CARE!! HEALTH CAE!!! AAAAA!

something to come back to :)

in two hours i go to thailand. wow. What a year this is....

Dear Seoul,
WHY ARE YOU SO FREAKING COLD??? I don't want to leave my apartment. I Just want to huddle on my heated floor under blankets an watch tv on the net. How can you be so cruel to a poor girl from Florida? ;_;
No love,
Naomi



Dear Japan,
Please be warmer. Please?
looking forward to seeing you,
Naomi

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMI!!!

AAAAAAAAA after two days of failed code-ing, my website is finally updated! yay so happy. now to make more art!! yesss!

http://www.whoiszaslow.net


ALSO KOREA IN A WEEK. holy poo!

Leaving A2 in the morning for Miami. So many thoughts.

I think its weird how you spend time, so much time with someone, that you stop seeing them. I mean you still see them, but small details fail to register: the sharpness of a nose, slights changes in weight, the lines that show our age, no longer 19, no longer 21, slinking down a road of twenty-somethings moving to different places. You look at a photograph though, and it pause a second. Or maybe you stood at the bar too long, drink in hand, searching for a familiar face in the crowd only to realize it was right in front of you. The face you always see, but seen as it was when you first recorded it in your memory, inscribed to it a life, a type of relationship, a trust.

You have to take a step back to see the changes - good, bad, whatever. I think though, that it's easy to forget.

I found out Michael Jackson was dead on the 25th at 6pm, right as the panel my students and I were in ended. One of them looked down at a text message she had gotten while we talked about Interfaith ASB trips at UM, and said with disbelief - Michel Jackson is dead. He just died.

Now, I didn't grow up on Michael, not at all. But there was a point during senior year, in the art studios, that Nate sat me down and we watched MJ videos for hours. I was struck, not by the dance moves (which were hot) or the glimmering, shiny sets and costumes, but by the message. What other pop artist has addressed environmentalism, racism, classism and injustice to the extent that Michael did? I grew up hearing people drag him through the dust, god knows he had more problems than a normal person, more inner demons, the abuse he experienced in life by the hands of his father, and the abuse he caused others.

But Michael was great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI9OYMRwN1Q



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNl2Pm9-7Vk

I can't imagine him growing old, a Dorian Gray of sorts. And now he's gone, with his voice and his messages. Kanye, I hope you pick up the slack.