Blaue Reiter

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning. . ."

www.flickr.com More of spartanjen!'s photos

 

Diary of a Mad Homeowner

• The tiller is my enemy. It makes the jackhammer look like my buddy.
• The things that live under the rocks cannot possibly be earth life forms.
• Fixing up old windows makes me willing to sell anything to be able to afford to just buy new ones.
• I'm an equal opportunity gardener - if it grows a flower, I like it. I don't care if it's officially classified as a weed. I get mocked for this.
• Dirt and gravel should only be moved once. Wherever it lands, that's it.
• No one I ask has the same opinion about anything. Therefore, I end up listening to myself way more than I should.
• My friend K turns into a superhero when having to back up a truck attached to a trailer. Her superhero name is 'exorcist', and I almost didn't reach minimum safe distance the other day when the transformation occured.
• There's a very good reason the top of the ladder says "This is not a Step", but the fact that it's an option is the problem.
• There is no such thing as a "Five Minute Fan". Don't fall for it!
• Dang near anything can be fixed with Gorilla glue and spackle. Mixing them together is even more amazing!
• The word "caulk" has to be said very carefully when asking for assistance.
• Ebola didn't originate in Lake Victoria, Africa- it was born and lives happily here at the SLC dump.
• My spiderlicious basement did not, in fact, kill me when I had to go down there.
• Almost anywhere in instructions where it says "drill a hole", you can substitute "bang the shit out of a screwdriver with a hammer"
• The two different screwdrivers have inappropriate boys names - they are not commonly referred to as "star" and "line"

posted by: spartanjen at May 29, 2008 01:12 | link | comments (5) |

What is it?

posted by: spartanjen at May 27, 2008 00:18 | link | comments (4) |

I love the rain, when I can curl up and watch it from the nestled comfort of a safe, warm space. Powerful memories live there, among the nesting instinct. The sound of rain hitting the roof instantly transports me to another time and place, with a nostalgic pull toward moments that can never be again, but were so powerful that each time they're summoned, they spring to life - an eternal afterlife of their own.

The rain inspires daydreams of being safe and cozy in a cave, wrapped in furry idle warmth. It is the ultimate comfort, watching the world turn greener, clearer. It washes away the haze and the glare, temporarily leaving a greener, clearer world.

However, being unfortunate enough to have to be out in it is a different story :)

posted by: spartanjen at May 26, 2008 09:05 | link | comments (2) |

Spring

The birds are singing, flowers are everywhere, and my muse is back :)))))). I thought I had lost him forever this time, and then BAM! there he is. But no longer Mic, now Tez? No matter who you've morphed into, damn glad to hear from you :)

Some things transcend time. And labels.

posted by: spartanjen at May 25, 2008 22:24 | link | comments (1) |

Demon in a Puppy Suit

Today, Chewie realized mere wood is no match for him.

He was actually laughing when I opened the door.

He now has an adamantine crate.

posted by: spartanjen at January 07, 2008 23:19 | link | comments (7) |

Controversial Art - Your Opinion. . .

I'm going to be doing a lesson on some different controversial artworks as a part of my "What is Art?" unit, and thinking about discussing some of the most potentially offensive pieces out there with my regular (beginning art - 9th-12th grades, ages 14-18) classes, whereas I usually save that for my advanced classes (usually a little older, 16-18).

The two most offensive artworks I have shown and led discussions and debates on are here, they're the first two. What I've been musing over the last few days is, should I introduce these to all of my students? I'm not worried about legal ramifications - in my class disclosure that parents/guardians signed, I forewarned them that we would be having discussions that might be offensive. What I'm pondering is, as parents, do any of you believe that your 14-18 year old is too young to learn about these in class? Do you think 14 might be too young? It's something any of them could, but would be unlikely to, find on their own on the internet, or in some magazine articles. We're also going to be discussing many other non-religious controversial artworks, censorship, the first amendment, and public funding. I always tell my classes that we're going to be looking at/discussing possibly offensive artworks - some of them religious, and offer an alternative assignment in the library on censorship and obscenity.

So, weigh in please - Monday is when I have this planned. . .

posted by: spartanjen at January 04, 2008 00:25 | link | comments (6) |

Too Sexy for My Blanket!

Best of everything for the new year!

Love,

 Jen and Chewie

posted by: spartanjen at December 31, 2007 23:21 | link | comments (6) |

posted by: spartanjen at December 31, 2007 01:36 | link | comments (3) |

Snow Angel

posted by: spartanjen at December 30, 2007 23:44 | link | comments (4) |

My New Baby

This is Chewie. I got him from the pound a month ago. He's a Beagle/Pointer mix, which apparently means he hunts everything and then chews (shreds) it. His full name is Chewie Shredder Snapjaw Demon McCoy. So far, his victims include 2 fuzzy slippers, a Bluetooth, many assorted GLASS beads, a couple of rolls of toilet paper, and grout. Yes, grout. The kind that is inbetween tiles. On the floor. But he loves to give kisses, and that makes up for just about anything :)

He loves the dog park - yep - here in Salt Lake, they have whole entire parks just for dogs, where they can run around and play together, and if they happen to be the above demon, make a grab for dog poo baggies and tear them open befor mommy can snatch it away. We brushed our teeth for a long time that day. . .

This was me for Halloween. But unfortunately, I went to a party populated by 23-year-olds that spent the evening saying "Yeah, Gene Simmons. . ." You can't tell in this picture (who, by the way, I took with Jesus, but apparently he doesn't show up on film. . .) but I was wearing knee high silver boots, a silver cape, and the rest of ACE FREHLEY's garb. The low point of the evening was when an unusually daft twit thought I was from the band Poison. . .

So, in addition to settling into SLC, which I LOVE, I'm in the process of attempting to buy a house. Boy, they don't mention how much fun that is. Yep, 38 years old and i'm buying my first house - but that's OK - instead of accruing something called equity in the last decade, I have an amazing bead inventory :) Priddy sparkly things in all different colors - now what, may I ask, could top that?

Snow is gorgeous. Ice is eeeeevil -  but it hasn't claimed me yet. I would like to have 6" spikes in my shoes everytime I go outside, but no one seems to sell those. Surely I can't be the first person to want those? Thank all things holy for covered parking - I don't think the princess would do well with a "scraper". But boy is is funny to watch the plow come by and bury the cars that are parked on the street!

posted by: spartanjen at December 29, 2007 01:24 | link | comments (3) |