NEW DAY'S DAWN: 2009

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

'Gotta wrap this stuff soon!

TURN ON YOUR SOUND & SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE TO SEE HOW MY PROJECT PLAYLIST.com PLAYS!
(This is what my social networking project was about!)

Well along with un-bought and so un-wrapped Christmas presents...I have this unwrapped project paper I have been whining and wincing over for way too long now. I feel old in this class and have struggled to keep up to speed I guess. But at least I see I am not the only struggling or with inquiries! Questions are good and part of this class project - right? I've been spending much time on this and in the HCC of MAC lab but mostly this project has been a grave distraction (in and of itself) to me.

I AM a music buff so when I go on playlist "to work" I play! I have multiple lists...my Christmas playlist alone numbers on toward 200 selections! Oh my music is good for the soul though and as my teenage son shared one of his playlist.com lists via an email...I guess the social aspect became real to me!

After all these weeks "in and out" of this hybrid "Digital Media Culture" clas, face-to-face or NOT and working in the lab...it's funny that I have come to the conclusion Ken must NOT like to blog much either! I am pleased with mine and hope that it has been what was expected for the course and in this social aspect as well. I have been struggling to find things on others blogs and have posted questions based on what subject matter and whose blogs seemed active.

Now that it is December I am going to change my playlist here to an abbreviated list of Christmas Hymns because I think in our culture we are moving away from the true meaning of Christmas and it grieves me. I hope you enjoy it and that the practical application of playlist.com being linked to my digital media blog will helps me to pass this course with flying colors!

On another note I am taking my kids over to the Chesapeake Gallery this week since I missed the opening and talk because my Hubby was hospitalized that evening. I hope the JJ Weiss display will help me kill two birds with one stone...making this a homeschool field trip for them...and fulfilling the gallery review requirement for me here! Now if I can just get the time before the last class to write that! Yes...Gotta wrap this stuff soon!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Working on my playlist.com project in the MacLab...gobble gobble!

Several times I have come into the Mac lab to work on this project...usually it is reasonably quiet.

Sorry to sound so motherly but today I felt like the atmosphere here was a place of general disregard for those who were seriously at work!

Yes..several loud turkeys "gobbling" here this afternoon...
maybe they were excited about the upcoming holiday...
a few were especially irritating me with their boisterous talk,
live and on their cell phones.

Okay well enough said there! Now it is "class time on a cyber week" and I feel ill-equipped to participate. I am STILL feverishly working on the paper aspect of my research project. Here is a screen shot of the title page of my power point on playlist.com which is finished!

I see some have posted stuff regarding our social network assignments...I am at a loss of how this is going to flesh out for me and my final grade in this course ...Ken I am trusting you really are a very understanding soul of sorts!

Here's hoping I can figure out how to post my contribution to the ART 108 class project place when I my final draft is fit for public consumption!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING THOSE IN MY ART 108 CLASS! Gobble Gobble!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Stuff happens and I can only do what I can do!

I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW STUFF HAPPENS!

On my way to the Chesapeake Gallery last night, where our class was meeting...I got a call that my husband was headed to the hospital with chest and arm pain!

It's hard to believe how quick things can go wrong in life...he had felt bad a few days earlier and I asked him to see his doc earlier BUT!

At this point our 8-year-old asthmatic son was with him when he took ill...so just one more thing I needed to be concerned about of course.

Certainly both my son and husband matter to me...so I put my class meeting on the back burner, turned around and quickly drove to the ER.

I enter and there sits my sickly child stuck in a hospital triage room...during the H1N1 scare time...
when no kid under 12 is even allowed in the place (unless they are a patient themselves)!

As of now they are not exactly sure what caused Hubby's pain episode...
if his stress-test goes well today they will release him.

Hopefully, THEN I can get back to focusing on my class..
and the research paper/project...that I still need an extension on...
I can only do what I can do!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Grief...now sickness

Well last week was all about grief...
I lost rest by staying up late sorting through pictures for the tribute and pulling an all-nighter to see the video timed just right with the 50 pics that visualized the 59 years that my uncle, Henry Bennett, Jr lived.

I still need to post those on here...as it does not seem like the funeral home's pictorial tribute is up and running on their site...just the obit and the picture are there now and that link is not working on here.

Coming through a time of personal grief is bad enough and now I am seemingly being hit with sickness. Tonight I was feeling way too ill to go into the Mac Lab but I have been trying to get going on what I can do at home for my Digital Media- Social Networking - Research Paper. Here I am, stuck home, with a plethora of distractions and this sick AND tired feeling that looms like a gray cloud here - especially over me anyway. I am trying to live up to rule #1 of motherhood, "Mommies have no sick time to take!", but I feel like I am losing the fight.

At least my research assignment subject matter, playlist.com, involves tunes...
oh how music has always been such a mood-lifter for me. I can use a lift as I am attempting to learn what more I can about playlist.com as I endeavor to create the power point and write a paper of background info, and my opinion of its practical use and/or lack there of.

Thankfully, I am well on my way knowledge-wise...using it on a previous blog and having already established it on this, my class blog, weeks ago! I like playlist.com's as a widget of sorts because it is a means to add a music player for the enjoyment of the readers of my blog.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Late for Class...Lots on My Mind...

I was late for class tonight with lots on my mind. As the death of my Uncle Henry is settling in I am distracted by much. So I missed a neat concept of visualizing, drawing and sharing my social network with the class. As I think about this..I have just lost contact with another person who I dearly loved...and no internet network can reach there!

There is plenty I have to do for school but I am right now preparing for Friday and the funeral. Already, I have begun to pen some remembrances of my uncle which I may share as a sort of eulogy. He enjoyed his family and farm so the goal is to try to pull together a pictorial tribute of our memories of him that can easily be set to Aunt Lynn's choice song and included in the service as well.

You know, at times like this, I seriously thank God for photography and my inspired moments of creativity. I am especially happy I was blessed to get this photograph of Uncle Henry in his tuxedo at his son's wedding in January 2007! I am not a serious lover of equine, like my uncle was, but I know someone who nearly is, and inspired by that influence, I captured this January 2009 sunrise shot of two horses grazing in a snowy meadow near my home. Ironic and yet not...because God does work in mysterious ways...these two pics together will likely make up the cover of the funeral bulletin (which I hope to share at some point also).

Above all else, I desire to see my Uncle's funeral service honor God...and the strong man whose life-race was run with the vigor of a true race horse - competing for the likes of the triple crown!!!

Monday, October 26, 2009

The "P"s have it!

I am not sure who in this class can relate to my situation...I have had a bad habit of creating my blog posts and leaving them sit in my drafts box these past couple weeks.

Well can I just tell you?...In my family of origin we have some DNA issues...kind of an "all or nothing" mentality as we strive for excellence. Like many creative people, I am a darn perfectionist, maybe even bordering on going to Camp OCD! So it takes me longer than many people to put a piece of work to bed.

Even though these posts may be simplistic in nature they did need to be polished. But it is a serious fact that I am working to overcome my tendency to procrastinate on finishing projects.

I think my issues with both perfectionism and procrastination are born out of pride. Internally I have a notion that what we share is part of our identity, personality and maybe future legacy. Well that can make one feel...well...pretty exposed!

Personally, I have come to realize I am not necessarily comfortable sharing the painstaking process that comes with working and waiting on the creative flow. I used to think that my issues were just perfectionism and procrastination but I am also seeing my pride is a big stumbling block as well.

Monday, October 19, 2009

My Class Presentation

Well I stressed out over my Michael Mandiberg class presentation because at first I thought it "has'wanted to get a good taste of keynote first. I had planned on presenting it in keynote...but between the mac lab schedule vs. my busy life schedule I ended up doing most of my research and creating slides at home anyway!

At east I learned from my last course to save the power point as a pptx and to make sure to save it a couple places and even email it to myself for good measure! It was a challenge in itself to figure out how to capture a picture of this title page to a format that I could use to post here on my blog post. I guess I am learning by doing and that is a good thing!

Michael Mandiberg was an interesting artist to both study and present because he's very eclectic and environmentally aware. On this the second night of presenting our artists...mine did seem to spur class discussion. For all my personal challenges at home and in the lab, it makes it all worth it when you get an "A', which I did and I am relieved!

Note: Credit to my sources for the images above and they all are substantiated in my links to websites via my delicious account. (See sidebar hot link to go there.)

Monday, October 12, 2009

Mind boggling truths!

A friend recently sent me this Youtube link...

the information therein is an attempt at helping us wrap our minds around a very big world made small by information. I thought it was a very appropriate thing to share given the subject matter of this class.

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=lUMf7FWGdCw

Note: You will need to "pause" the music in my playlist box below (scroll to bottom of my blog) in order to watch and hear this Youtube video I am sharing.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

T-t-t-t-too much time on their hands!

I've been feeling ill most all of today, but despite that crimp, at least I made it through the duration of our face-to-face time together. I found it interesting to see, hear and experience some of the various artists' creations shared during our class presentations so far.

Although, I think most artists serve as a means to stretch our cerebral prowess...others just leave me with a cartoon bubble of question marks above my head with many interrogatives:

-What was THAT all about?

-Was THAT the original/intended product/outcome?

-Were they perpetrating for question's sake or pure public disdain?

-Doesn't such randomness show a vivid imagination but not necessarily produce for the collective benefit or positive consumption of our society?

In my humble opinion the creations, ramblings and muse of some of these people, termed digital artists, strained my brain and absolutely stretched my limits for tolerance of such. So maybe you think I am blunt, not politically correct or have a personally narrow definition of real art? If so..so be it...I have been around longer than majority of you and almost- as-long as the most of these self-proclaimed artists. Furthermore, they may all have vivid imaginations but most show little talent by my standard for true art! Although I may not be able to quote you a text book definition for "true art"...I sure "know it" when I "see it"!

In conclusion, I barely manage to steal time away for my personal artistic endeavor but I try to make the most of it when I do. Time to me is a commodity and artistic pursuit is a serious personal privilege...neither of which should be taken lightly nor wasted on the warped or plain weird! So maybe ALL these artists, featured thus far, just have entirely "t-t-t-too much time on their hands"!!!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Is it just me?

The class calendar is kind of confusing to me...aside from the assignment notations I CAN now see...at times it appears "blocked out" in red and is unreadable. Is it just me?

I FINALLY got things squared away with the glitch on my college email account...THAT was not just me! The guys in the tech department fixed whatever the issue was with the system not recognizing me!

On a positive note, just for fun, I added two gadgets to my blog...music and a site meter! I am working out the details on my class presentation for our next face to face class meeting. You could say Ken assigned me a "unique" artist to present.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Chocolate Links...I mean...Delicious Bookmarks!

Okay so it is not enough that I must journal my feelings for this class via this blog...now I must share the cyber places I visit also!

Hmmm...when I think of the word d-e-l-c-i-o-u-s my first thought (like must females) is CHOCOLATE!!!

As pleasing as the word is to my palate, I must now use it to bookmark my research information. So as tough as it is for me to focus on research instead of something from the cocoa family...I am going to try hard to direct my thoughts toward this artist I was personally assigned (Thanks ALOT Ken!). So off to collect and analyze adequate information on Michael Mandiberg (oh my word - do you see that his initials are MM - like m & m's) FOCUS FOCUS Terri!

I am going to try hard to hyperfocus in class and purpose to really use this application for my artist assignment over the next two weeks! Let's see what I learn or shall I say...at least "sample" from the candy box.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

I must be getting old!

Between trying to get into my college email account and reading articles in fine print...the literal and figurative headaches of being a student at my age are becoming more of a reality. (Not complaining - simply commenting!)

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Computer Life

In my opinion, to those who have encountered computers, these have become a necessary part of everyday life! Furthermore, the digital age has ushered in such a plethora of information that we are bombarded with moment by moment; this serves as enlightenment to some and a grave distraction to others. As a home-schooling mother, student, photographer, business owner and very social being (who is an old timer of an ADHD being)...it has come to be a necessity in most all areas of my daily life! I am not sure what the future holds for the computer but I do have a list of things I hope it does not dictate as far as personal freedom and privacy goes.

NEW DAY'S DAWN