Those of you who went to Fallout last night and filled the dance floor during my metal portion of my DJ set, thank you! I've NEVER seen so many people on the dance floor before! That totally made my night.

For those of you who did not go to Fallout, you missed out. Big. But don't you worry... I am officially a Rocks employee now. Woot!  That will be nice to get a little extra money (considering that I will only get $50 a day with the substitute teaching gig). I would most likely do Fridays and Saturdays, considering that I should leave the weekdays to be available to sub. It makes me sad that I don't think I can do Monday night Sacrosancts or Thursday night Grinders as often, but from the responses that I got from last nigth and last Saturday, I think I can manage the day changes. So if you didn't catch the awesomeness from last night, there is much more to come.

Tucker seemed pleased with my set. He pretty much let me spin the entire night, which I've never done before. I played a lot of stuff that I would not normally do (the same ol' tunes), but it got people dancing.

People that I didn't expect to see came out. I saw Fabian and chatted up with him with Scrubs stuff. Kyle made an appearance, which made me very happy. I knew he would come back sooner or later, but it was nice that he came out to the night that I played.

Now, I'm off with my four hours of sleep to go visit Dan in NoVa! Toodles, kiddies.

*huge sigh of relief*

It's OVER! The semester is finally over and I survived! This semester sucked hardcore, but I managed to make it through.

My Speech class is one that I am the most happiest to be done with. Towards the end, the class got REALLY cliquey. The only two people that I liked talking to was Stephanie (the girl who sat next to me) and my professor. I wish I could have delivered my speech like this: "You'll all a bunch of bastards. Why don't you just piss off?" (thank you, Eddie Izzard) Needless to say, I punched my ticket.

Speaking of a class where I punched my ticket, I'm so glad that Basic Jew is over. I felt like I was hosed unnecessarily during my crit. The people who did the least amount of work got praise while I busted my ass and got criticism and not much praise. Granted, this is not my field, I am not a conceptual, three-dimensional thinker. Though I busted my ass on those stone settings....at least Susann, Susie's TA, was very helpful and supportive, even during my times of frustration...which was often. That's another class that it is very cliquey.

My critique for Ceramics went really well. That's one class that I didn't mind going to. I actually might miss that class and the people in it.

My last teaching day for Practicum was kinda anti-climatic. Even though I had planned for Dr. Burton to be there, I did not anticipate for the fifth graders to go to an assembly during my class period. What was worse was that I only had them for 10 minutes. I essentially had an art history and discussion period and no art activity. Which is a shame because I really liked this lesson. On Wednesday, Dr. Burton took our Practicum class to the Village for a celebratory breakfast. That was a pleasant surprise.

Two Saturdays ago, Dan and I were involved in a community yard sale. I sold about $100 worth of items. I wish that I was able to sell a couple more things, but it was a shame that this event wasn't advertised more. These couple days, I have been buying art books and stuff for lesson plans with that money like Picasso postcards (thank you Diversity Thrift!), photography lighting books, and some Audubon prints.

I got accepted to substitute teach in Chesterfield County, but I have to wait until I go through the orientation period and get my tests and background checks done.

DJing at Fallout has been going well. Thursday night was good, but last night was great. It was my first time DJing on a Saturday night. It was nice because "Mom and Dad" were not in town so I got to play a lot of stuff that I wouldn't normally get to play. I got a lot of compliments too, which always makes me feel good. Depending on my schedule for substitute teaching, I might only get to do Saturdays. With substitute positions,a lot of teachers would like to take Fridays off. So if I need to teach all day, I can't go out on Thursday night and get home around 3am only to wake up three hours lately.

My apartment is generally in shambles with random art supplies and the like. I hope to sell a couple more stuff, especially get some sterling silver refined (get the market price per ounce) and my other jewelry supplies. I will probably keep the glaze for a clay lesson in the future, but for now it will be collecting dust.

I would like to do more photo shoots, especially before the wedding I'm photographing in mid-June. I need to get back into the swing of things so things will go smoothly.

Speaking of art, I was able to go to First Friday with Eric, Bri, Amanda, and Kyle. It was nice to hang out with them outside of the "scene". I saw Tom, who taught my senior portfolio class. He lost 75 pounds! I almost didn't recognize him! He had work in the ADA gallery. It was flippin' sweet.

Oh my Gods. What a crazy month it has been.

I hate having to cram the past couple weeks into one entry, but here it goes in my plus/minus list (to keep my sanity and prove that I am not all angsty)

+ DJ-ing at Fallout on Thursdays for Grinder (industrial/EBM night) is going really awesome. Two weeks in the row of great music (provided by yours truly) and fun times. I just got the green light to DJ some Saturdays at Fallout, which I am so stoked about. Don't worry Fallout peeps! Good music is coming!
+ Last Saturday, Ronnie and I went to DC. I got to see Dan and his "man lover" Joe (okay, they are not REALLY gay...just in the way that Turk and JD from Scrubs show "guy love"). We went to the Freer Gallery, which had some great Japanese screen art and European Impressionistic portraits.
- During the field trip to DC, I got hit in the arm by a stranger waving around a large stuffed snake (no, that is not a euphemism). Not a brushing up against my arm hit, but leaving a bruise on my upper-arm hit. If I weren't wearing my NAEA shirt (could be used for ID-ing the suspects for this guy's death) and if we weren't in a crowded room with priceless gems behind glass, his ass would have gotten a beatin'.
- After a week of stress/PMS/crying every day, I vowed that I did not hate all humans; just the annoying ones who don't apologize sincerely after hurting me and the people in my Speech class. Oh my...that class has just spun out of control. It feels like high school. + Speaking of school, I just got my application approved to substitute teach in Chesterfield County (where I have been student teaching this semester) after I am done with classes. Woo for having a job for a month and half (from the time that I am done with classes to the last day of the kiddie's school. What I am doing after that, don't know.
- My digital camera is on the fritz. I would like to have taken more photos during my lesson plan presentations for my portfolio, but everything will be blurry and purple. Granted, my camera is about 4 years old and has survived everything from alcohol being spilled on the body to crowd-surfers. But I like my camera...)c: I don't want to get a new one if I can help it.
+ Here are some of the art projects that I finished lately:
   

+ TODAY! Diana is coming down to Richmond! OMG! I haven't seen her in forever. *squee* Fallout tonight. (c:

Beware interwebs! I might break you today with my LJ entry.

To all concerned citizens, my wrist is doing better. I went to the doctor on Wednesday. No carpal tunnel or tendonitis, which is good. I just wore a brace and took some aspirin.

Wednesday was kinda crazy. Well...I should say that I was kinda crazy that day. I was working my rings for my 2pm crit around 11am. I had to do two major additions to my rings. Susie helped me out, but I wasn't very cooperative. I could tell that she was not pleased with the fact that the things that should have been done before my meeting with her wasn't completed. She pretty much did the rings for me, which makes me feel more like shit. I'm aware that I am not a jewelry major. This is just an elective. I should worry about. I think I was more upset with the fact that I was not prepared and it was clear to tell that my professor was not pleased. I think people liked my rings.

Here's what the final product looks like:

On Thursday, I had a crit for ceramics. Two hours before my 2pm crit, I had to epoxy the parts that blew off of my duck while it fired the first time. After moving the chairs and sweeping up my area, I was ready and much more pleased with my results:


Now the real question is...where will I put this 2 foot tall duck in my apartment?

Later on Thursday night, I went to Fallout to do a practice run with Jackie. Even though the way that they do transitions between songs is not what I'm used it, I guess I had impressed Jackie and Heather with my ability to pick it up quickly. I will do one more practice run on an off-night and then....watch out Fallout peeps...DJ Snap will be taking over...for at least Thursday nights and maybe Fridays and Saturdays. Time for different music, yes?

Photos from Fallout will be posted in a different entry.

Ronnie's birthday was yesterday. I had vegan birthday cake (which was really awesome) and I spun for about an hour and a half. I stopped by Fallout for a bit. I mostly socialized. I spoke with Fabian for a bit about having some of my photos from the Synthetic Nightmare shows in a DVD that he is preparing. It's nice that I am getting recognition for my work and will get a little bit a money for it. Later on, I went to 3rd Street with some people from Fallout. This guy that Halo knew was....something else. Terribly drunk and on something, talking about the most random shit. We were all just laughing and trying not to get too creeped out by this guy.

Today I still have a lot of work to do for lesson plans, a speech, and generally cleaning my apartment. Though I would love to see Bella Morte at the Dawning tonight (considering that I've missed all of their past shows at the Jaxx with Hanzel und Gretyl), I don't want to screw myself over Sunday night/Monday morning while I am cramming all of my stuff for school this week.

Monday night is going to be fun. It's Marchoween! For Richmond peoples, come out to Rocks on Monday. I will be spinning. Dress up as if it is Halloween. Rehashed costumes, last year's costume, or a new costume are all appropriate. Costume contest, music, and prizes will be had.

I think I'm on the verge of getting carpal tunnel. After spending a couple hours in the studio working on my rings (they look pretty sweet, btw), I think too much filing with a death grip killed my thumb.

Right now my right hand is swollen in pain.

Oh carpal tunnel victims, what is your advice (besides going to the doctor, which I plan to do tomorrow)? I have a wrist band thing that hooks around my thumb, a "puffy cooshin" mouse pad. I had someone massage the hell out of my thumb  (it was painful but it felt better).

I'm not too surprised that this is happening now. Lots of repetitive stress in front of the computer. My two studio classes are killing my hands.
I wish I would look as cool in gloves as Tifa does.

Well, besides that crappy bit of news, I've been in full music mode lately. I'm spinning on Mondays at Sacro. I've got a bunch of new music lately. I've been averaging about 10 or 15 albums a month and I'm almost to my next big CD booklet of doom. I went to a concert last night (the East Coast Goth/Industrial Festival at Alley Katz). With the metal show at the Rocks, a holiday weekend, and the growing popularity of Fallout, it was still a pretty good turn-out. I took lots of photos, particularly of Synthetic Division and Myotis. It was cool to see Shawn and Marshall perform again. The last time that I saw them was in October! Kyle was in attendance, rocking out to this creation.

Speaking of photos, I got a new camera lenses lately. It's a beaut! It ranges from 28mm-135mm, can go as low at f/4 and has an image stabilizer. It popped it's cherry last night. ^_^

Ugh. Can't type anymore. My hand really hurts.

There is an LJ content strike on Friday March 21st (from midnight GMT to midnight GMT, but for east coast people it starts Thursday March 20th at 8pm). Some of the reasons are listed here and here

Do not post anything on that day.

I suggest that every LJ user go under strike for one day, to prove a point to LJ that they can't boss anyone around, cannot censor or remove interests from one's journal, and restricting new memberships for free accounts.

So, who's with me?!

Happy Pi (π) Day everyone!

Have a slice of your favorite pie today.

The above photo is from a photo shoot in Studio Lighting (it's a couple years old). Never got around to showing it.

For some reason, I've been having "A  Little Priest" from Sweeny Todd (the Broadway one, not the one with Johnny Depp) in my head. Maybe it's the image of popping pussies into pies...

Rocks is ALIVE!!! OMG!

I just got the news from Rat Bastard

Throughout the rest of March at Sacrosanct (Monday nights starting at 10pm), it is FREE!

That's right, bitches! F-R-E-E!

If you couldn't come out before because of money issues, you have absolutely no excuse to come out.

Hopefully you'll catch me spin as well.

It is with great sadness that I attended an apocalypse party/funeral? party for The Rocks on Main Street. For those of you who aren't in the Richmond area, there was a mighty wind last night. It was so windy that the tent area outside of The Rocks literally ripped out the steel pipes and created a path of destruction, fucking up a couple cars.

With the success of Fallout and the stability of Mars Bar (and needless to say the large amount of money that may be needed to replace the patio area), it may not be sensible to keep the Rocks operational.

So Sacrosanct is cursed. First the Raygun. Now the Rocks.

Although it would be of my wildest dreams to have Fallout be the new home for Sacro, there is much ambivalence and uncertainty. I was fully aware that Fallout's opening would be the end of the Rocks (come on, free attendance, a HUGE dance floor, free pool tables...who can deny that?). The one thing that I really liked about The Rocks that Fallout and Mars Bar combined do not have is precisely the thing that got destroyed during the storm last night.

Oh the irony.

So for those who missed it, you missed a good farewell (hopefully temporarily) to the Rocks. Drinks were uber cheap and everyone was nice and toasty-drunk.

So, here's to the Rocks. *toast*

In other news, Fallout on Friday was a blast (Star Wars vs. Star Trek night). Holly and I's Princess Leia slave costumes were bad-ass, considering it took us about 5 hours and less than $30 to make it. Dan came down this weekend, said farewell to the Rocks, hung out at Fallout, and watched "Death at a Funeral", a very funny, very dark British dramedy.

It is officially Spring Break, but I don't know how much of a break I will really get. I need to work on my rings and my new ceramics project...and lesson plans...and everything else. -_-

Yesterday was actually the overall best day that I have had in a while.

The day started off with getting enough sleep and spending the afternoon (not the middle of the night) preparing for my 3rd grade lesson in the morning. I think I liked my 3rd grade experience better than my kindergarten experience. Even though the COW (computer on wheels) wasn't up and running until half-way through my lesson presentation and I forgot to show my demo model until half-way through the art activity, I think the kids got really into it, particularly the boys. My lesson was abstract flower oil pastel drawings in the spirit of Georgia O'Keeffe.

Jewelry was okay. I worked in the studio for about 5 hours and didn't get much progress on my wax rings for casting, but I think I'm going to take a chance on Wednesday and see how it turns out.

Before Sacro, the tres DJs went to SumoSan for sushi. I spent more money on myself for food than I ever before, but my food was effing awesome.

I thought that Sacro was going to be really dead last night, but it's the most people that I have seen in the bar for a Monday night Sacro in like 2 months. Seriously, we have had such low attendance. But  I think it was a combination of Ladies' Night and the nice weather that brought people out. I played 2nd and I think everyone really enjoyed the music.

I was talking with Donnie towards the end of the night, and he was telling me how much he appreciates having me as a friend. I thought that was so nice of him.

I think, unfortunately, I may be getting a little bit of a cold...or it's allergies (damn Spring-like weather!). I can't breathe out of one nostril and I have a little bit of a cough. But other than that, life is doing alright at the moment. ^_^