I've decided that video blog thing will never happen again. I deleted it. I'm too awkward for the moving pictures/talkies. For those of you reading for the first time; You missed it suckas! Anyway, I don't have much time to devote to this. In fact, it's just an act to procrastinate on school work. But! I'm graduating in 2 weeks and with the ample time provided by unemployment, one of my goals is blogging. I like it so let there be blog!

Other Goals for Post-Grad:

Write and Illustrate a children's book

Find a Job

Prepare all my own meals

Find a Job

Buy a Bike I like more

Find a Job

Visit friends

Find a Job

Practice being a wizard with Photoshop and Autocad

Find a Job

Practice just being a wizard

Find a job

Read :)

o and Find a Job.

Any Suggestions?

Increase the Peace,

Liz

Lost without it....

SPOILER ALERT
I'm unsure of what people are Lost on. I get it. And the things that weren't answered entirely I have enough imagination to explain for myself. The montages were corny. It doesn't matter how much I loved the characters... Sayid and Shannons reunion was particularly gag worthy.That being said, Lost ended well. I'm glad they didn't discard the ... purgatory idea just because people guessed. There was a reason people could guess, it worked best, it fit. What, you wanted aliens? And I appreciate that what happened to them on the island was real. It was their life. The purgatory side scenario was only in the last season. It allowed us enough time become invested in their lives through flashbacks, flashforwards and the island (which was their reality). Some plots were left to float like What was up with Walt??? He was special we know that much. Walt left in Season 3. Bye Walt, you're an afterthought to me now. I'm glad they explored the mysteries that were present. We learned exactly what the passangers of 815 learned and we learned it along with them. BREAKING NEWS: Just like the survivors,You will not have everything figured out when you die. Get over it. Jack did.
The themes transgressed. I loved the close attention to those things. And it all ended with my favorite theme: Faith.You see I'm a Locke, a man of faith.

In my opinion there is only one thing to be truly pissed off about. WHY DIDN'T DANIEL FARADAY HAVE AN ENGLISH ACCENT!? He taught at Oxford and his mother was! I just don't get it.

Thanks LOST for giving me friendship, a few laughs and a couple of good cries. Thanks for peeking my interest in culture and challenging me to explore the world around me. I've read books because they were mentioned in LOST and Im glad I did. I'm a better person because of this show.

** I chose that image because the Season Finale of Season 3 was the most beautiful moment in television... simply incomparable.

YOU ALL SUCK

YOU ALL SUCK!!!!!!! For 2 reasons: 1. No comments on my Ellen video (how am I supposed to get my job like that???) and 2. You are all too far away and I miss you already.
The summer will be just fine though. Alot of work but I'm here with overall nice people.

Sullivan= 2 stop lights, the theater and a McDonalds. Closest Walmart is 30 min away. But! Doug Wilson of Trading Spaces and Moving up lives here. So yup..... really cool I know.

The theater is a great space with alot of support from local communities. Our first show, Showboat is already sold out for the duration of it's run. Call me for a more detailed description of my life a la Sullivan IL.

Here is my apartment:



Thats niiiccccccceeeeee.

Please continue to pray for me that I keep a good attitude and don't get to being too lonely.
Love

Here is the beginning to a new segment in my blog called:
Liz's Quest for Ellen Domination
I would love to work on the Ellen show after I graduate and I thought I'd become a little more proactive. So, leave a comment and tell Ellen why she should hire me!
And Ellen, if you see this, I graduate in December and can make the move in January! You''ll be receiving my resume weekly until you call :D

I decided to start the segment off with a bang by traveling to LA and filming a video. Thanks to Lisa for filming.

The March

Hello. Long time no write. So here I am.

I'm in a very weird place that I think it's impossible to describe but that some may be able to relate to. My last blog touched upon it. In one way, I'm the happiest I've ever been and the most content. I love where God has me, who he has me here with and he's blessed me so much that I can't help but have faith in His faithfulness. Everything having to do with where I am in my walk can directly correlate with the fact that I am graduating in T minus one year. I have always been confident (at times overly so), I've always done well in art, I've always been able to make friends but it's how God has refined me in these past few years in Springfield that I'm utterly proud of. But with contentment comes this scary gray zone I like to call COMPLACENT. I'm comfortable to be here and I'd stay in a heart beat but I'm struggling constantly with not being stagnant. God has claimed to have plans for me and I need to trust that. Let me tell you in the most blatant way (and this is where my mother has rubbed off on me) it. is. as. scary. as. cuss. (haha, cuss)
This is why Im leaving come December. No matter what. God, I'm yours.
I have an amazing bible study this semester, of girls who have taken/will be taking all sorts of routes. I see God in their lives and I'd be a fool to deny him in my own. All 7 of us are graduating in the next year. It's good to know I'm not the only one with unceasing wonder and worrying for whats to come.
So friends, my brothers and sisters, I ask that you please pray for me this year. That I can continue to be content with what I have and hopeful for whats to come. Pray for me and others in my shoes as we take the march.

Speaking of March... it's almost here.
Mustache March
I learned how to ventilate wigs this time last year and this is my Salvador Dali mustache I made. Look boys, I'm in too!

I have big plans to paint my bike with an Art Nouveau motif. I'll start this weekend. Pictures soon.

Next week is my second theater conference this semester, SETC. Ill soon be figuring out where Ill be this summer for my internship, very exciting. I'm currently designing a production of The Cradle Will Rock so thats keeping me busy. Here are pictures from the show I just finished, a modern/urban Macbeth:

In Progress

Show Night

I feel like I have passion again for creating, which I'd lost from burnout. I've been encouraged and God has allowed me to feel accomplished in my talents.

I've been crafting like crazy. My goal is to start making some of these things to sell. Then I want to donate 100% of the profit to different organizations starting with the Alice Project. My way of tithing. I'll post more details as I know them but let me know if you are interested!

Hair Accessories
A Pin I made for my friend Austin (pic is blurry, my bad)
FELT! Owl Paint Brush Holder, Stuffed Raccoon, Cassette Tape i Pod Case
I've knit Scarvies!
A drawstring bag I made for my mom's clothespins!

Also, Ive made a commitment to myself. I'm only taking 12 hours of school when I'm used to 18, so I've decided to buy a book with every paycheck and read more for PLEASURE!!!!!!!!!! yay! Look at all the books I got for Christmas and since:

That's 21 books right there.

Thanks for reading!
Love and Rockets,
Liz

and yes, that is the closing to the show "My Life As Liz". She stole my life so I figured I could steal her sign off ;)

Peaks and Valleys...

It has been darn near forever since I last blogged... well since the end of the summer which is still a considerable amount of time. A whole semester has passed! Nothing much to update you on concerning the fall. However to recap quickly, here are some highlights:
1. Grizzly Bear Concert
2. Bob Dylan Concert
3. Omaha trip (first birthday since I turned 16 that I was in the presence of family and friends)
4. I was accepted back in my program.
5. I got a 3.8 taking 18 hours and working on two shows. Sucka!

This semester should be considerably less stressful overall. Although I have no plans to see any amazing shows... yet. That is subject to change.
I was sitting in my Technical Writing class today talking about resumes and instruction manuals and blah blah blah when it occurred to me, I have time to blog.

I then zoned into the lecture in which we were actually talking about brainstorming, at which point I zoned back out and began to take the few tips I'd heard and brainstormed for what I would write about in this very blog. After the substantial time that has lapsed since my last post, I didn't know what to talk about. Where should I start? Finally, as I was thinking about all the things I had to say, everything that I've found encouraging and everything that has seemed dismal, I noticed there was a theme (!),
Peaks and Valleys.

One thing has been on my mind like crazy since Christmas. The Future. It hit me like a Bay Harbor Butcher bag to the ocean floor, "This time next year I'll be done with school." I'm only leasing an apartment through next December which means FURTHERMORE (always wanted to do that) that I won't be in Springfield. Hard to explain, but I feel like if you know me, I wouldn't have to. Springfield is home. College has been such a blessing in my life. Here, I've become someone I'm proud to be. I have made friends I want to display like trophies and I have received an education that has refined my talents to be something I'm happy to put my name to.
I'm on a high peak looking down at all that God has blessed me with and the view is great.
Next year, I'll be scared. I'm going to be on a quick decline into a frightening valley. The worst of it is in the unknown.

What the crap am I going to do!? Seriously feel free to give me suggestions. I'm going to send Ellen DeGeneres my resume everyday after graduation until she gives me a job. I've also been making up characters in preparation for my SNL audition. *Insert your idea here*.

But I have faith in the valley. It's easy to say that a year out, but I KNOW that even from the valley I'll have a great view. I won't be able to see everything from where I'm standing, only what's right in front of me. That's all I need though. I could always look back at the view and smile. Some of the things I love the most are great illustrations of how peaks and valleys have their places. Icthus for instance has years where numbers are off the charts and the next year could only have 30 kids committed. It always makes a comeback because God has blessed it and the people who love Icthus, who pray for Icthus, who have Icthus to thank for *Insert your story here*. Saturday Night live goes through it's waves too. I mean we can all figure it will be awesome when I'm on ;) but that show sometimes just has an off skit, show or season. I still love it and it always makes a comeback because God's blessed it. Haha... but really, I have faith in these things. What disservice am I doing God when I don't have faith that he would do the same in my life? I have to figure there will eventually be an incline somewhere towards the horizon.

This light....

It's funny (funny ironic not funny haha) that I ended my last blog talking about Micheal J. Fox. The reason I love him so much is my grandma.
No... she didn't insist I watch the Back to the Future trilogy over and over again (although I did), she wasn't a die hard fan of Family Ties and I'm pretty sure she didn't care for Spin City. The reason she was so fond of the young man was because he was an advocate for Parkinson's Disease.
He was diagnosed with the disease himself 20 years ago and has since gathered millions of dollars towards research and written many charming and witty books on the subject in effort to raise awareness. Books I've read and enjoyed.
My grandmother had Parkinson's for the last 10 years. Lately she began to slip and yesterday, she died.
We had gotten a phone call a couple months back from her nursing home to warn us that they believed she was at the end of life. We've had this time to prepare. I'm very thankful for that. I got to be with her the day she died as well. Being able to say a proper goodbye was truly an answered prayer. It's like she waited for us. Thanks grandma.
People tell me I'm like her. That makes me proud. The friend's my mom grew up with are always telling me that. She never got mad. check. She was always DOING something and rarely sat down. check. She loved jazz. check. She was independent. check.
These are things that don't really explain her though. She loved, she really loved and I loved her. But hooooww she loved is where I can really identify with her. She wasn't much of a cuddler. You may be laughing because well... CHECK. My grandma didn't love me through a hug although I had received them; but, she showed me love. She always saw where I was coming from in my prepubescent tantrums and calmed me down with soothing words. She encouraged me to pursue my dreams and no one elses (she was a military nurse in WWII even though her family protested, cool... I know). She loved me by having a plate of mashed potatoes and bacon ready each time I walked in her house. Weird combibation, I know (and yes I did have a chubby stage) Those were my favorite foods as a child and she knew that. To this day I still love the odd combo.

RIP Joan Erffmeyer
I love you. I love you. I love you.
I'll miss you.

With old life, comes new.
Jimmy Morrison, my seregate brother, is a father for the first time tonight. Congrats on introducing a baby in the world Jimbo. Be good to it. Illustrate that life is really, truely beautiful.

This week has been really wonderful for reminding me that. It's been a nostalgic one.

Much needed time with family. Like my adorable goddaughter, Claire.
Much needed time with friends. They see you through everything all the while thinking the very best of you. I miss Patty; it's good to give her a hug.
Much needed time with those odd, quirky, untitled relationships that kind of work as friends or family. Like the funniest, most interesting, crazy family I know: the Lawless' and their Irish Wolfhound :D. Madagan.

I saw this light... and it was beautiful