Dear Santa,

Hey there! It's been a while. Well it's that time of the year again and I'm fairly certain you know why I'm writing. So let's cut to the chase. Seeing as I'm considered a "grown up" now, I suppose one would think I should ask for something "sensible". Well, I'm glad you know me better than that. This year I'm going to keep it simple, though. I just want a book. Doesn't matter what book, as long as it's good. If you need ideas, ask Sarah Weiss at the library in Rockwell City. She has a million on a list she wants me to read :-). You could even consult my book list for school.
Just to update you on what I've been up to, I'm currently trying to start up a private piano teaching studio at home for a little extra income. Next semester I'm starting up harp lessons for fun (I've always wanted to learn how to play). And I'm thinking about getting involved in some ballroom dancing type stuff.
Well, I know you're a busy guy this time of year so I'll end my letter with this: Thank you. Thank you for always being one of the best parts of my childhood. You've made everything magical and I can't imagine having the Holiday spirit without you.
Love Always,
Ashley

Eye Twitch

I have recently rediscovered an interesting reflex of mine that kicks in when I'm annoyed by something: My right eye twitches. One situation in which this came to my attention happened as I was strolling through the store to my beloved music section. I was in no hurry because the particular band whose album I'd planned on purchasing was not particularly well known and I had been a fan since their humble beginnings. I was extremely discombobulated when I saw a group of giggling teenyboppers perusing my favorite music store and not in the Pop/Hip-hop aisle at Wal-mart where they belong. The next thing I know, they're skipping off with the last of the usually few albums that I wanted!
What really irked me was the fact that they had only heard one song from a particular movie which I will not name that the band had done for the soundtrack. They Googled it; saw that the lead singer was hot; and thus found where the current album was sold. *Eye twitch*

I used to work in a library before I started art school. Every day, this one lady sat at one of the computers and downloaded songs off the internet until closing. I was closing up one day and she came in, 5 minutes before I was supposed to lock the doors, wanting to use the computer. I politely told her that the computers had already been turned off for the evening and she'd just have to come back the next day. She went nuts on me, saying I was being inconsiderate and she'd get me fired. By this time, I was tired, hungry, and thoroughly ticked off at the fact that I'd worked double hours without thinking to bring my lunch. It took all the composure I had to look her in the eye, ask her if she was finished, and told her that I was locking up now and if she did not leave I had the right to call the authorities. But what really got her was the *EYE TWITCH*. I knew it because she was startled the second it kicked in. She left in a hurry. The next day she tried to report me to my boss who looked at her incredulously and subsequently blew her off.

What habits or reflexes do you have when you're annoyed?

Dans mon cite favori

The lights of Salt Lake remind me of a jewelry box. Ribbons of light and sparkling dots cover the valley and part way up the mountains. I could stay awake all night to just stare at them and be inspired by the way they light up the earth but in a way don't even compete with the ceiling of stars. People are always complaining about how the night sky is overpowered by the city lights. I happen to enjoy the blend of the bluish black velvet sky and its silvery stars and the warm gold and red glow from downtown. Then again I've always liked things like that. Perhaps I'm just silly and overly dramatic. But somehow I don't believe that matters. There's something nice about being able to see things this way.

Contemplating Faces

Lately I've been working on my portrait skills. One thing I've noticed is that the easiest faces to recreate are the either the least interesting or the most familiar. Therefore I've made it a personal rule not to draw uninteresting faces and just focus on making the face I'm working with more familiar (I'm hoping that makes sense). One of the first portraits I ever did was of myself. Becoming more familiar with my own face laid the foundation for studying others. I've noticed that my face isn't pretty in a conventional way: rounded structure, large eyes, full lips, slightly upturned nose. It's more whimsical than "hot" and I like it.
I have two subjects that I've been really excited about. One is a very dear friend of mine and the other is her brother. What I like about their features is that they are obviously related, I've never seen siblings look so much like each other, but at the same time they're completely different. So trying to capture the similarities enough to make them look related but keeping the characteristics that make them so definitely unique is difficult.
My friend's face is something of an oval with a tapered chin. She has large, blue eyes framed with well arched brows and a straight sort of British looking nose. Now what I like best about her face is the hardest to draw lol. Her smile is exquisite. Big and sunshiny! Just as a smile should be :) She's kind of an elfish sort. I like it.
Now her brother has the same ovalish face but with more angles (well that's cause he's a boy). His mouth is very serious looking but it makes a very nice smile (I suppose one could say it's dashing?). The nose is the same as his sister's. Now the eyes are where I get stuck. They're just as expressive as my friend's but more mischievous looking. That look of being up to something gets me every time. But it makes me smile when I get it right!
Now here's your challenge, look in a mirror and find the things you like most about your face and leave a comment below!!! :D