happiness is clementines

I was grocery shopping the other day, and on an impulse, I bought a box of clementines.

Contrary to what the Beatles may tell you, happiness is actually, small, round orange fruits. I brought two with me to campus today and each time I got to eat one, I was overjoyed with the sweetness and juiciness of this simple, but exquisite food. There is a happiness that is only found in eating things that taste good and that are good for you. Yes, I try to find happiness in the simple things.

Beautiful.

Delicious.

Happiness.

documentation of a set design

Today was a good day. I began with low expectations because I threw together the last of my shoddy preperation for class at about 3:30 this morning. I woke up late. I got jelly all over myself. I didn't find anything good for lunch. But, as it turns out, I had fun at work and got everything finished that I needed to, Scenic Design 3 was good, and I stayed awake for my art history classes. Wheee!

So, about my design class . . . I'm working on a design for Midsummer Night's Dream and I thought that maybe you'd all like to see the process.

Today, I presented my initial thumbnail ideas (that I sketched while watching The Two Towers last night . . . soooo good . . . ) and some concept/color ideas. Here we go.

hello, script breakdown!

my original line drawing:

add some color, modify ideas, and sort out some different looks:
(pretend that the back of the stage is black, not white . . . the white looks a little strange)

ideas for the columns:

(draping idea for the columns)

some fabric samples:

and lastly, the color palette:

(this one is my favorite)

Stay tuned, because after talking to my professor today (part of why it was such a good day), I have more ideas . . . many more. It can only get better from here. And, the drawings will get better, too; I promise.

Rebecca

It came tonight. I have been looking to buy this film for over a year. Probably closer to two. Yes, I have finally purchased Hitchcock's Rebecca---Criterion Collection #135 . . . Academy Award winner for Best Picture in 1940.

You may be inclined to ask, "Whyfor is this an event worth noting?" Well, my friends, the film is definitely out of print and rather difficult to come by. I remember being in high school and looking online at Criterion Hitchcock DVDs (including Spellbound and Notorious) for $33-$35 and thinking how expensive they were. How very naïve of me. I did not realize that they were all soon to go out of print. And, for the last while, I have been searching diligently for a reasonably priced copy of my dearly beloved Rebecca. A week or two ago I saw some copies going for over $120. I have put bids on eBay as high as $80. A few days ago I snagged one for the low price of $60. Now, it is mine.

I watched it tonight and loved it more than ever. It really is a masterful film, especially for its day; it's suspenseful, fascinating, and I relate to it. I love the characters---the innocent Mrs. deWinter, the distant Maxim, the haunting Rebecca, and the psychotic Mrs. Danvers---and the ending is perfect. It's melodramatic and the characters are overplayed, but it is brilliant. I suppose the film is an acquired taste. Sometimes you see a film, watch a play, or hear a song and it just clicks into you. It becomes part of you. I know of no other person who loves this film as deeply as I, and I can understand why. It's okay, though. I have my own copy now and I'll just watch it by myself whenever my little heart desires.

I haven't even gotten started on all the special features. Oh, there will be many hours of joy ahead.

death by midterms

This is me right now:

I survived, but only barely. I felt like I was going to be sick today for several hours before my exam . . . and that was only one of three midterms this week. I don't think I failed this one, but I didn't do well. I have been ill for several days now, and never before in the history of my education have I had so much trouble trying to study for an exam. I put more time into studying for this exam than I have for any test in a while, but I just could not focus. I hope this does not become a trend.

At any rate, I love my voice right now. It almost makes the stuffy head, coughing, sore throat, and trouble sleeping worth it just to have this voice. I love Kathleen Turner.

And lastly, I am officially swamped. I have a ton of designing and drawing and creating to do this week. People keep telling me that the reason I'm sick right now is because I don't sleep enough. I'd like to pose the question, Why haven't I been constantly sick for the last five years? I just hope my body can last a little longer before I give it a break. I need to pull some late nights to get these projects done by Monday. I'm sure that by the end of the weekend there'll be hell to pay. Revolution everyday. My poor body.

Night showers are great. Ponder life in there.

I watched Groundhog Day this evening with some friends. Conversation inevitably turned to what we could do if we had a Groundhog Day, and the first feeling I had was that of alarm. I thought, "What if I hadn't gotten in bed until 6am the night before so I had to live eleven years of perpetual exhaustion due to lack of sleep??" No matter how early I got in bed each night, it would still be as if I had barely slept. Every day. That was a frightening thought. I would like to have a Groundhog Day . . . maybe not for eleven years . . . but it would definitely be an experience. It's interesting to think how much more honest I would be if there were absolutely no consequences. Perhaps I should keep that in mind more often.

In other news, I got a nice paper letter from John last night. He wrote some pretty great things that made me feel quite a bit better about how we left things. He really is a terrific friend.

And now, off to shower and possibly get right to bed . . . because if tomorrow is today, I want to be rested.