Monday, January 31, 2011

Envious


I stumbled upon this drawing while fiddling online a few weeks ago and I can't get over the beautiful, fine, details. I always admire people who can present a finished product, something that looks so complete, especially when it's just charcoal and graphite. The artist's name is Anne Judell.




Sunday, January 30, 2011

New Direction

It's been a while since I posted an update on my life, and as can be expected, many things have changed. I am approaching my last week of a near two-month stay in Mexico with my family, and although it feels like I just got here, in retrospect, quite a few things have happened.

As usual, our holiday was sabotaged by yet another case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and instead of sitting around the tree on Christmas Eve, I got a phone call from my mother screaming "Call the FBI Chloe!" in response to my stepfather being arrested by corrupt police. I am starting to appreciate the days in between "important holidays" opposed to operating with the rest of the world on the reverse schedule in the interest of avoiding any more major disappointment. New Years day marked the turn around as the family christened the brand new, chemical-free
pool; we swam all day and listened to an eclectic mix over the outdoor speaker system. The next few weeks had less drama, but don't be fooled, we were not low on entertainment.


I will be returning to Minnesota (where the average temperature right now is not above 10 degrees) in a week to train with my soccer team and gather my things before leaving for the Greek Islands to study abroad at the end of February. Each night before bed my mind is occupied with the many possible outcomes this trip may hold:
  • I will live in total bliss and relaxation, a block from the beach, while learning another way to approach writing, photography, and life.
That is actually the only outcome I have been imagining, mixed in with snippets of stress, home-sickness, and a thirst for endless traveling. I am manifesting that while having two sides of my family live in two separate countries has been slightly upsetting at times, it has forced me to adapt to living in a foreign place for long periods of time while learning to refer to that place as "home".

Catch ya later Mexico, here I come Greece!