Its late getting out for I was waiting on a phone call from my Vesid
counselor. I had to let him know about the changes in the schedule
and
also why one of them was being made, a class dropped. Not because I
can't handle the class; I can't handle doing a 13 hour day and that is
without trans****tation added in which brought it up to between 14 and
15
depending on how slow the cab was in getting me to and from college!
So right now am doing two three credit ceramic's cl*****, the second
half of the art Survey which has been changed to pass/fail for credit,
and as the instructor reminded me I could still fail it but its now
based on class participation and how well I do the assignments and not
on grades which makes it easier! And the final three credit course is
a
glorified health course. Which should be interesting. I get to do my
first assignment for it on Monday, and also pick up my first extra
credit item for it on Tuesday. My blood pressure from an authorized
location. An authorized, meaning authentic location; i.e. doctor's
office, health center at school; where you work if in a health related
field that takes blood pressures! None of the machines at the Walmart
etc. That is easy. The assignment which I will be doing Monday is
easy
too; I just will act like I am speaking at a meeting! I have to give
a
talk and teach how to use a relaxation technique! I am using one that
I
was taught in Junior High which is a combination of visualization and
muscle relaxation and basically is a form of self-hypnotizing
yourself!
I use it quite often when trying to get to sleep and my mind is in
overdrive! When I talked to the VESID counselor his reaction was "I
couldn't even handle 13 hour days; who'd you schedule it like that" I
told him the truth I didn't have a choice these were the only times
the
courses were offered! The addition of the Ceramics 2 was a bonus and
it saved me the trouble of having to hunt down a 3 credit course to
replace the late evening one. That one I can do in the fall in a
combined course that includes it and the next level too. Which is
fine
by me and him also. The Art Survey I don't have a choice; its a
necessity and 8:30 in the am is the only time it is offered.
In Ceramics 2 we are building a piece or pieces dealing with the theme
of healing! Either ourself or something! I have chose to us my
broken
hip and learning to deal with life with extremely limited mobility
that
it has caused! The pieces are coming along well for there will be
three in the completed set! Ceramics one like I said was working on a
foot high coil piece; it kept shrinking! I got fed up with it picked
it
up and threw it against the bat and collapsed it! Two of my
classmates
stared wide-eyed and yelped "YOU CAN;T DO THAT". I just told them
yes I can and just did. For me tra****ng stuff that isn't working is
quite normal in ceramics. I got complimented on the fact that I was
able to throw away and destroy pieces that either didn't work or
weren't
going like they should beth in Maryland and Illinois. So I started
over
again, using one to 1 and one-half inch thick coils and a pinch pot
bottom. Finished it with a two inch thick coil that I twisted in a
spiral motion and attached to the top to turn it into a narrow
elongated
basket. Going to call it a God Box and I got complimented by the
instruction on the size of the coils and the way the exterior looked
for
no coil shows and it looks like rough tree bark. It will make the
silent auction at one of the reunions in the future! I was concerned
because she had told another student that the handle he wanted to use
could be used. It was not right for the piece of work. Mine she
looked
and told me it exhibited the quality of what clay can do quite well
and
approved it so now it is drying and waiting for its first firing!
And in March I get to go to the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its a day
trip
sponsored by the JCC Art Department. Going to cost $15 and its open
to
the public as of February 1 and Troy has already told me he will have
his money for it on my table by the 3rd so I will be paying for us
both
on the 1st for I get a little check in on the first of the month! Woo
Whee! I haven't been to a good museum since I moved. Used to go to
the
St Louis Museum of Art and grew up gong to the Smithsonian Institutes
so
I miss good museums.
Kathy G.
