T-Shirts

To prep for the release of my new webcomic, I have started a Zazzle store wherein merchandise shall be sold.

At the moment, there is a single t-shirt up. Please help support the start up of the comic, and my further survival, by purchasing a t-shirt.

Back

So I've arrived back in the states. I had tacos--really good tacos--and some rootbeer and today, a Mt. Dew. Score.

There is a cat in my lap.

I'm still a bit jetlagged, but that takes a week or so to go away. The picture is the last one a took of school. Pretty, right?

In any case, things are a bit strange for me. Being back in the states is culture shock at the moment. And the other day I saw the biggest woodpecker I've ever seen in my life. Enormous creature, no idea what kind it was. Still waiting to hear about a few agencies and a couple jobs.

So far, the only thing I know for certain is that this fall I'll be attending OSU. More school! Of course, OSU is just a stop over to pick up the credits I need to get into Grad school at Queens, or Delaware, or NYU or John's Hopkins... I like all of them.

Anywho, that's all for now.

Cheers.

The Language Barrier -- Websites

So, in Italy, the blogger dash starts in Italian, until I sign in and then it's in English, now that I'm in Amsterdam, it's in Dutch. So is the Yahoo search engine.

Sure, one can change the settings back to English--if one can translate the instructions or has prior practice. You'd think the language preferences of your laptop would override the language jurisdiction of your web-provider. Especially when that web provider's own website isn't even in Dutch.

In any case, everyone here speaks English. I do mean everyone. They also all assume that I too can speak English.

It's a bit refreshing after being in Italy for so long. Another oddity, everyone at the airport thus far has thought that my bright red top hat (yes, I'm travelling in it because I don't want it flattened in my suitcase) is awesome. I'm also not getting half as many strange looks as I thought I'd get for having a winged teddy bear stuck through the handle of my backpack.

Oliver has gone everywhere with me. Except Dublin--but that was a logistics issue. He's my travel companion when Sophie isn't here, and thank god because it means I have someone to talk to (kidding...maybe). In any case, everyone here takes a look at me, takes in the black nail polish, dyed hair, silver jewelry and plaid converse with my starry black and purple scarf, the top hat and the teddy bear, and then they smile and compliment the hat.

Welcome to the Goth airport. Seriously, I've seen more goths, psuedo-goths, hippies, alts and etc since being here than I did my entire time in Italy. I also met a rather nice gay couple and a man with fantastical taste in glasses. They were awesome, I'll have to sketch them up and post it.

Meanwhile, it's raining here and sleep deprivation has given me a headache and the chills. I've not slept much over the last few days so this long stint isn't helping but I simply can't fall asleep without a cohort.

And that many windows at my back.

Ah well. I should be flying out of Europe and back to the states this afternoon--volcano not withstanding--so wish me luck.

Volcano?

So...there was a volcanic eruption in Iceland. The ash cloud has been spreading across Europe grounding flights.

I fly home soon...yikes.

As things stand now it looks like everything will be clear before my flight, but I've got my fingers crossed none-the-less.

The picture is of the curtains at the Savoy Theater in Dublin. I saw Alice in Wonderland there over spring break, and Leap Year. Alice was awesome, I need to see it again. Leap Year was cute. I really like Amy Adams so...plus, cute Irish guy. Irish accents are very soothing to me.

Plus it's given rise to my saying "Just throw it in the wash, it'll be grand!" to make Sophie laugh when she's feeling out of it.

Anywho, think good thoughts for me and I hope to get home right on time. *knock on wood*

Shiny New Things

Well, I'm one test away from finishing out the semester...whew. Also, I've changed the look of my blog, as you may have noticed.

In anticipation of my new comic strip, The Woes of Writing, the MC is now my blog background.

You'll learn all about that little guy when I get the first strip up. I'm hoping to do this one once a month.

In other news, I'm three days out from my flight HOME. Another big breath. I have to pack, donate the things I have no room for and at some point get a good night's sleep. Poor Sophia was ill the other day, but she's on the mend. I caught the same thing a week or so ago and it was no fun at all.

Also, you may notice I have a new link, that's right, I have a LJ. It's devoted purely to my writing, so if you are at all curious, that's where to look. Fictionpress folks should take note of the LJ as it's where notices regarding updates, sneak-peeks and new information is posted more regularly than on my profile of FP.

This is the street of Little Love, near where I live.

Today we discuss frescoes. Before 5000 BC wall paintings were made mostly from tempera techniques. Like the cave paintings, using blood or oil or no binder at all.

The affresco technique started around 1500 BC, as well as the lime white technique which are similar to one another but not the same. The earliest of which are found on the Greek island of Crete.

Encaustic paintings came next and were used first in Roman murals, and then Graffito and finally oil on wall in around 1400 AD. The Roman murals no longer have any wax remaining on them. During the excavation of Pompeii it was hoped that traces of the wax would be found, but thus far they have not been.

What is graffito you ask? Well, I've done one and it can be viewed just to the left. Graffito is done with a black/dark/red/other color in the first layer of the intonicco (which is the mortar layer) which is then covered with a white wash of lime.

While the layers are still damp, a stick is used to remove the white and reveal the desired design.

In this case, a skull with the Latin VIXI, which means to Live.

In prehistoric cave paintings earth colors from clays and charcoal black were frequently used with a blood or milk binder. In the cave paintings that have lasted it is because of a natural carbonization which occurs because of the type of stone and the level of moisture in the wall.

The carbonization process is the process by which a fresco solidifies into a wall. The slaked lime (Calcium Hydroxide) which is used in the intonico and other mortar layers carbonizes when in contact with the CO2 in the air to become Calcium Carbonate (CaCo2). This makes the wall paintings very strong.

In the case of Egyptian frescoes, vegetable gum bound pigments were used on a gypsum base which is appropriate for the climate they are in. In a more humid environment this sort of wall painting would not last. The Egyptians produced the first artificial color, which is known as Egyptian Blue. The process itself is not known, but it is thought to have involved copper salts and sand.

By Medieval times this color is lost to time.

To the left is a traditionally execute fresco (by moi) in two sections over two weeks in bon fresco (affresco) and a secco work on top (egg tempera).

I've also done one in Lime White, but I don't have a photo of that one just yet. In any case, these techniques are still used today (by artists and professional fresco painters), though many modern artists do not use the proper technique.

I finally found a photo of one of my applet arts! Sophia ate this one, she promised me they were


delicious, which I believe seeing as they were all eaten. The little birds are cherry tarts with a candied cherry in the center. My theme for the food was "Things that Naturally Contain Cyanide", as I discussed cyanide in my chemical presentation.

I don't like cherries myself, but reliable sources promised me they were good.
The sun is out today, and the freesia in the garden is blooming (which I will photograph). I head home in a little over a week...wow. Waiting to hear on two agent submissions and a couple job offers. I dislike waiting intensely.

The opening of the Conservation Show (to show off to the school what we've been up to) is tonight. We went with a movie theme. I think it looks great actually. My poster is based on Tim Burton's early pencil drawings and is about my bookbinding DIS.

Before the show I'm going to have to take a nap though. Finals are next week, a pair of exams and my final thesis is due. I think it's going to be okay though. I've got the chunk of it done now and I'm fairly happy. One more draft and I'm all set.

Happy Easter...

Well, it's Easter, and here in Florence that means alot. Gorgeous creations at the local bakeries (This one is from Gilli near Piazza Republicca), eggs, chocolate, cake...yum. This doozy of an egg is one I don't even think I could eat.

Too pretty by far.

As for me, I went on spring break to Dublin. Gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous. My pictures are currently classified (IE, I took them with Sophie's camera and haven't gotten them from her yet), so you'll simply have to make do with pretty eggs.
On a further note, I'm still working on my thesis. Getting close to the line here, and I've got the chunk of it finished. So close...so very close. Tomorrow we're going to go watch some fireworks and eat brunch with the rest of the conservation trolls. (No, I'm not using the royal we here, I mean me and Sophie) I'm making pasta salad.
And speaking of things I've made recently.That's not something I've made recently. But I couldn't find a picture of the apple tarts I made...dammit. They were pretty good, apparently. I didn't get one. I was very ill last weekend. Honestly it's the sickest I've been in years. I'm still on the recovery so my eating habits are all funky. I just couldn't stomach the thought of eating apples so...my class enjoyed them very much though. Just cooked chopped apples with cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, honey and lemon juice put in dough shells(precooked) and then topped with sweetened cinnamon marscapone cheese and some almonds. Served cold.

Here's another photo of the window at Gilli's. I don't think the dog is made of chocolate, but it did come with chocolate eggs and the fact is, it's adorable beyond all reason.

I've been sending out submissions to agents and magazines.

I've decided to make a count.

Agent Submissions - 6
Rejections - 3
Awaiting Judgment - 3
Accepted - 0
Manuscript Submissions - 5
Rejections - 3
Awaiting Judgment - 2 (also awaiting my shipping them)
Accepted - 0
Magazine Submissions - 4
Rejections - 3
Awaiting Judgment - 0
Accepted - 1 (unpaid, school publication)

That's a bit depressing, eh? More depressing, three of those no's were this past week alone. I've applied to some jobs recently as well, which I won't disclose out of superstition. I really, really, want one of them. Really. Really really really. See, I'm reverting to a four year old just at the thought. In the meantime, I await the judgment of the agents I've submitted to (three separate projects for those of you wondering) before sending out those two manuscript submissions. I'd also like to be in the states when I do it.

In further news, I've been accepted into college for the fall, so that takes care of a few things. I'll be continuing for a BA in Archaeology which I plan to use as a platform for my paper conservation MA plans. I highly recommend having a plan. I plan to continue to make plans. As not planning seems to get me into trouble.

Cheers.