163/365

163/365
Originally uploaded by rebeccashane

Work Hard : Party Hard

Jump on it, originally uploaded by rebeccashane.

My Color Wheel

my colorwheel, originally uploaded by rebeccashane.

I am slightly addicted to color theory. I seem to have a way to creep a color scheme into EVERY lesson I do with my 7th grade. I am not sure why. We were given the task to create a colorwheel during our student teaching. I still use this colorwheel to this day. Everything on this board moves thanks to VELCRO!

So, what's new?

It's been a while since the last posting. Since then I had left a retail job, kept my part time gig at a local children's museum and started working my first teaching job. While teaching I was hired at another school district *that I am very pleased with*. My new job starts in the fall. After 10 weeks of 7th grade art I finished off the school year with a trip to Maui, Hawaii where I got married to my High School Sweetheart. The ceremony was a private sunset affair followed by lovely dinner with family. While in Hawaii my very loved brother in law lost his fight with pancreatic cancer. He had just turned 37. We flew home for services and family support. Life is different now. I normally have the words, I generally have some deep rooted emotion that might muster up some kind of poetic connection to this tragedy.. Not this time.

My heart breaks for my brave sister and her loss. Her life is turning the page to this new chapter and all within light speed. As a mom of a 3 year old, days must pass, never having enough time to go, do, run. Nights must stay too long. The silence of bedroom is deafening.

My life has revolved around pictures for the past 7 years. Hungry for something captured, amused by memories. I live for my photographs. Jim has been my 2 year muse for snapping shots whenever in his presence. These digital memories are like whispers of love, laughter, togetherness and candidness. When I think of Jim, I think of all the times we waited just to hear ourselves talk, never really listening to each other. Then something happened when his son was born, I started to listen. His words became valuable. I want sure at the time why.

I wasn't there for his passing, I was in Hawaii getting ready for my wedding. But I believe we had our goodbye. It was back at the hospital when the doctors said there was nothing more they could do. We embraced and his words were like pure poetry. We both looked at each other full of tears and said that we loved each other. I had never said those words to him. I am glad we had that moment. I will always remember, honor, and love my brother in law Jim.

Holey good golly.

My week goes like this:

• Monday: Job 1/Interview/callback/Accept teaching position(now Job 3)/Freak out.
• Tuesday: Job 1/Grandmother's Brain Surgery/Job 2/Acceptence Email from RIT Fine Arts Grad School
• Wednesday: Job 1/Grandmothers doin good/Job 2/48 Free Crayola color pencils
• Thursday: Education Expo/Grandmother Hospital Visit/Sister Promdress Shopping
• Friday: Job 2/Mom's 50th Birthday Bash

it goes up and it goes down.

Laces
Originally uploaded by rebeccashane.

Life isnt adjustable to comfort: We all start out as these shiney bright and new people in the world, and then life happens. We learn, struggle, and all along we are growing. We create bonds with other people, spirits, and souls. They come and they go. Are we all just passing by on the way to somewhere special.
Talking with my sister today I shared with her a thought I had about death, and the intimate simplicity it has. Its not this distant unknown void anymore. People come and they go. The time in between is what exactly? A young friend of ours passed away last year before 30. The question is always "Why did God have to take him/her from us?" or "Why them?.. They had their whole lives to live" - On the other hand, why isnt the question "Why am I still here?" "Why wasnt it my time?"
We are young, some die young. We are middle age, some die middle age. We are old, some die old. What I know is that we all die. We all leave this place, so if it is something we all do, why is there fear? Why is there saddness? Why is there anger?
Is it in the win or the lose? - Does that feeling stem from the fight?
I want to say that for those that are taken from us, there is pain, there will be pain. I encountered so much pain from my grandmothers death almost two years ago. She was in my thoughts daily, and nightly I cried. But time heals these things. Time will heal all things. It is all we have. There is no guarantee for anything. When it is time to go, it is time to go.

getting on with it...

Happy New Year - is long overdue. Things have been hectic, and all together good since the new year. Looks like things are going smooth. We are planning our wedding and the new year has been good to us. We were in great need of the holiday season ending as soon as possible. Our wedding countdown is on and I know it will be here sooner than we could ever imagine. btw- this is my Yahoo Avatar that Ive geared up for the big count down ;)
With the 'big day' ahead I am sure all couples go through some kind of jitters, right? Well for me its knowing that I only have about 185 days left of using the last name I was given at birth. That is an interesting feeling knowing that your identity as you know it will be changing for the rest of your life. Its scary, and yet inviting? My fiance' has noticed that I am a slob. I've tried to be consistent, so this should be no surprise. lol. For those of you that are married, cheers for getting through the obstacles of wedding planning!

My Graduation

I did it. I got my Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts. The journey had been an amazing one. I am still reeling over how I did it. All but my last year of school I was working full time and attending classes full time. Then again I wonder how some single moms do it with kids. I dont want to slow down or reflect - I just want to push forward and look towards a Masters program. All the lessons are away, and its time to break out the paints. I have things inside that are ready to come out. Im looking forward to painting for myself and finding out more of what Ive got goin on in this head of mine. A thanks to all that have been there, put up with me, and watched me face this storm. Its over now!

The countdown is ON!

Working retail for the holidays is actually pretty interesting. There are those customer that come in line and spend about 1000.00 in one shot. There are customers that don't care about deals and savings. I found myself actually getting nausious after ringing up purchases because they are all put on credit cards. I started to look at Christmas in a new light yesterday. "You think he will like it?" "Would a 20 year old wear this?" "Is Scooby-Do the same is this character?" (Pooh). People are aimlessly purchasing gifts in hopes that the recipent will be pleased. No matter what the cost. They will put themselves in debt to make other people happy. It was pretty upsetting. So I tried to give every customer the chance to save money yesterday with coupons. I pointed out where it showed how much they saved on the receipt. They all smiled and walked away. If anything I made note of the 1.97 items coming through my line. I shopped after my shift. I spent 56 dollars on 16 clothing items. That averages $3.50 per item. My receipt says I saved 300.69 dollars. YES. I KNOW HOW TO SHOP. Happy Smart Shopping Everyone. Don't put yourself in debt. Make gifts.

Black Friday

As if I wasn't stupid or insane enough, 21 days until graduation I experienced my first day working in RETAIL. I now work PT at a local department store just for some extra Holiday cash. I havent finished my training yet. I hadnt even touched a register until they threw me on the floor with Black Friday shoppers. It wasnt aweful, but I have to say- I am stilll learning. If the customer has a question - I have a question too. There is a sweet discount benefit that I hope to take advantage of for the shopping season. But for now I hope I dont loose my mind from pissed off customers. TIS' THE SEASON!