Mare Blog

health and Wellness

2010-05-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm making a new blog!! I found myself wanting to post recipes and nutritional findings on this blog and I thought that would be way toooo much going on. So.... Here's a link to my other BLOG. This one will still be up and running, I just won't but health crap on here =)

MY NEW BLOGGIE <-----------click me

mare 0_o

Sketchbook Page 1

2010-05-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

TV doodles

Went to the LA ART Walk last night. There was a plethora of little Hipsters.

Urban Green Thumb

2010-05-06T00:22:00.000-07:00

So, my grandmother's a pretty intense gardener. She's been diligently working with my younger cousins on thier little garden in Alabama. Which I think is great, kids really do need a hobby other than playing computer games.

[side note]

Yes, I am a hypocrite and yes I work on the computer for a living, but I feel like I can still rant about the youth now, because I am no longer one of them.

I had a wonderful wild flower garden when I was a youngster. I think having hobbies like that are healthy. They nurture responsibility, and give you a sense of accomplishment whether it be tangible or just visually aesthetic.

Trickle, wanting to spread her green thumb literally across the US, sent me some bread to get my urban garden up on it's feet. To your right is a picture of my very own tomato plant. Tomatoes are ranging 2-5 bucks a piece at the grocery store (which is ridiculous) and I'm joining the crowd in putting my foot down.

Time to start making my own, Damnit! 0_o

Blankets

2010-04-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

So, I've been bouncing back and forth on the idea of creating a graphic novel.

     But with graphic novels, the imagery is just as potent, if not more so than the writing. Which unfortunately is a little intimidating. I've been on the lookout for a little inspiration, so I decided to read Blankets by Craig Thompson [a 582 page graphic novel]. The amount of pages originally seemed quite daunting, but the nice thing about graphic novels, apposed to regular novels, is they read very quickly. I personally went cover to cover on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

     I decided on this book, because I got several recommendations, and it won three Harvey awards and two Eisner awards. Which doesn't really mean much to me because I had never heard of those awards. But like most of the populace, I feel like it makes a book better. What can I say, I'm a sucker for successful marketing.

     The book was a coming of age tale, that had really honest and genuine feeling. Parts of it, I really did enjoy ; including laughing out loud several times. Although, I felt like some moments were made to seem important and then quickly dropped and never re-visited. I also was a bit underwhelmed with the choice of where the novel chose to end. I feel if a story gives you an in depth insight to a moment in life, more closure is necessary.

The symbolism of the blankets throughout the book, was really intriguing. After I finished the book, I thought back to blankets that I had throughout my life and began personifying them. Think for a moment what they might have had to say, and what about your life they saw that you probably don't remember. Blankets can be such a comforting object. Whether you curl up with them on a rainy day reading a book, or crashing on one after a long day at work. That inanimate object creates such a powerful sense of comfort and consistency, more than anything else in your life. Blankets stay with you through jobs, through friends, through significant others. It's interesting to me that a lifeless object can have such a direct affect on so much of your psyche.

It was a good read. I wouldn't say that I loved it, but it warmed my heart and I reminisced a little.

Thinking Bad Thoughts...

2010-02-21T05:15:00.000-08:00

When staying up late your conscience starts to alter it's state.

Or so I found out as my late night/early morning progressed. Nothing exciting really seemed to be happening. It was a normal Saturday morning. Not as much traffic and moving about as a weekday, but other humans began getting up to run their weekend errands. I was too busy hissing at the sun, trying to find as many scarves as I could to tape over the windows (Now that I mention it, scarves work quite nicely to block out sun. They aren't as heavy as sheets or blankets, so tape works well on them. And they still let in like a very soft , dim blue, light.) Now my building isn't very large, which I like because it's relatively quiet. I say relatively, because I am taking into consideration the somewhat unpleasant looks some of my fellow tenants give me. So, I imagine that I am the "relatively".

Well, this nice little Sunday afternoon, around noontime, I started to hear excessive noise outside my apartment. I jumped up in an over excited effort to get away from looking at my monitor (which I had been looking at for at least 20 hours) And there was one of the mothers in my building walking up the stairs to her apartment. I had found this odd #1 because I had never seen her or her daughter before and # 2 there was a trail of people following behind her. This trail was constructed of her daughter and maybe three other boys, all carrying something.

*INTEREST NOW THOROUGHLY PEEKED*

What was in the boxes? Seems like a simple answer. People put all kinds of objects in boxes, books (I'm starting to doubt people actually read those anymore [I think most people keep them to fill up bookshelves and have something to talk about over a glass of wine and yes, I am one of those people. But I don't yet have a bookshelf, I have a pile next to my kitchen], clothes for goodwill, and ex boyfriend crap that you seem to carry along with you for excessive periods of time. But what were in her boxes? I peered out my window and followed the trail of boxes to a car parked outside the gate. And by car, I mean pickup truck filled to the brim with more boxes, all steadily flowing into apt 24! I started counting the boxes in the back of the truck, 1, 10, 40, 50.........112! What could a single mom with one daughter possibly have the need for 112 boxes in a one bedroom apartment. Then it finally hit me as one of the boys turned and I was able to finally get a glimpse of the writing on the side of the box.

Thin Mints

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!! 112 cases??!?! I thought I was hallucinating. Now this is the part of the story where my conscience started to become distorted. And I began wondering how easy it would be to patiently wait, watching their window for the next time they left and steal all their boxes and hide them in my bedroom. How likely would it be for me to get caught?

What would I give at that moment to take a bath filled to the brim of Samoas? (probably anything)

Soon after that, I decided to go to bed. When you start thinking about committing serious crimes for cookies, I think it's a sign.

...Or as Marlee likes to remind me a Cea gene.

*On a side note, I did some research, and there are 12 boxes of cookies for each case of Girl Scout cookies, that is roughly 1,344 boxes of cookies. There are also roughly 28 cookies per box. That means there are about 37,632 cookies literally 20 feet away from me, at this very moment.

How to Pull an All Nighter

2010-02-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

So, my schedule has, yet again, become corrupted. It's 8:14 am and I haven't gone to bed yet. About a month ago, I made myself pull an all nighter because I found my self going to bed at 9am and waking up at 6pm. My productiviity had gone down a spiraling black hole. The problem is, even though I was able to re-set my clock (getting up at 5am and being in bed by 10 pm.....which felt wonderful), I wasn't able to keep it. It lasted for about two weeks, and then slowly but surely I started to regress. I think working on a computer as often as I do causes this newly found weakness. I'm not even in school anymore, I thought I would be finished with them. Oh the irony!

In a bit of a rut...

2010-01-26T10:49:00.002-08:00

So I have come to the conclusion that sometimes, you just need to fall into a rut. You may not want to, but in most cases it is inevitable. I have found myself there and similar to the times I have found myself there before, I pout.

And you begin to question yourself.......

"Why me?"
"Why not me?"
"What did I do wrong?"
"Why I am forced to struggle so much?"

I looked over towards the wall (where my bookshelf that I will get at a later date) resides and I glanced at the top of the pile of books and there was one I had borrowed. I hadn't read it yet, but I really feel that the best time to read a good book is when you're in a rut.

I won't give you a synopsis, you can Google one if you feel the need. I do, however want to just give you two passages that seemed to be relevant to me and my current rut.

"...Things just happen in the right way, at the right time. At least they do when you let them, when you work with the circumstances instead of saying, "This isn't supposed to be happening this way," and trying hard to make it happen some other way. If you're in tune with The Way Things Work, then they work the way they need to, no matter what you may think about it at the time. Later on, you can look back and say, "Oh, now I understand. That had to happen so that those could happen, and those had to happen in order for this to happen..." Then you realize that even if you'd tried to make it all turn out perfectly, you couldn't have done better, and if you really tried, you would have made a mess of the whole thing."

"...Do you want to be really happy? You can begin by being appreciative of who you are and what you've got. Do you want to be really miserable? You can begin by being discontented...Wisdom, Happiness, and Courage are not waiting somewhere out beyond sight at the end of a straight line; they're part of a continuous cycle that begins right here. They're not only the ending, but the beginning as well. The more it snows, the more it goes, the more it goes on snowing."

uhhh.. I actually do feel better. Thank you Pooh. Well you and Benjamin Hoff.

Time to watch some Winnie the Pooh cartoons

Avatar

2010-01-15T07:54:00.003-08:00

So I originally had my doubts about the film, but I was working on a project for freelance and it was based on the movie, so my interest was peeked. You will hear mixed reviews about the film, but you will also hear a consensus that the effects are ground breaking. However, the story line is in no way, new or different. I would say that the film falls into a category somewhere between a futuristic Pocahontas with blue aliens and Fern Gully. I do think that it is a film you should try to see in theaters, if you can. Weta has topped it's self again *puts on surprise face layered in sarcasm* If you are a tech-y and/or movie buff, it would behoove you to check out the following link.

http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=5434&page=1

It gives a little insight on the specs of the movie, specifically how they went about creating the environments for the Navi, lighting, rendering issues, and their mocap approach. And if nothing else it has a couple of pretty pictures from the film. Bye

Immunity

2010-01-08T10:59:00.003-08:00

What is it about January and me getting sick? I have lived in semi-tropical places for the past 6 years and it seems that even though it's 70 degrees outside, my body knows it needs to flake out on me.

I began my demolition of tissues yesterday. I was given a large, brown Trader Joe's paper bag to tote around the apartment with. The gigantic mound of snot covered tissues was not too appealing, sitting next too the couch. So as I travel back and forth from the couch to the kitchen carting my TJ bag in one hand (which is already mostly full at this point) and my box of Kleenex ultra soft tissues in the other I begin to wonder what it is that makes me sick.

I really don't remember missing many days of school when I was younger for being sick. There were the occasional days I might fake it, to miss a test or something, but I think that falls into the category of "right of passage into adult hood".

I know when I left for NCSA, at 17, the frequenting of sickly-ness began. So, besides the fact that most kids leaving home for the first time have minimal hygiene regiments, I thought that being a clean, healthy girl would be enough to resist the germs. Not the case, between them and the stress I would soon endure, I had no chance.

My immune system has never been the same.

Life is funny.....

2009-11-20T00:24:00.006-08:00

you can't have your cake and eat it too

It has become extremely apparent to me that one can not enjoy everything life has to offer all at once. I think you have to have a priority of what is important to you at "that moment". My whole childhood I dreamt of being a career woman. My intense desire came from watching Pretty Woman and Working Girl countless amounts of times. Whether it be the amazing outfits (including mini skirts and shoulder pads that grazed your ear lobes) or just the confidence that came with the conquering of their younger and more naive, passive aggressive versions of themselves.

But now it's me. I have become the Vivian Ward and Tess Mcgill of my own reality. I have begun to feel "stuck in the mudd" as far as my career goes. I feel like I keep trying to break in and it is just not my time yet. Which, ironically, I have come to some what appreciate. I have never been given something I can't handle. I have definately hit some pot holes along the way, and come out with some groovy scars, but I think that is what makes a person interesting. I know I could sit at a bar and go toe to toe with the 300 lbs biker guy and compare battle wounds, and the possibility that I might win is not too far fetched. I believe that says something about me. Either way, I am floundering at the moment and hoping that my career engine starts soon.

But back to the cake part...For the first time, in a long time. I am really happy. I love waking up in the morning and I'm surrounded by positive energy. Well positive energy and cake. I have since moved on from my (not so healthy) liquid diet and found a wonderful friendship to replace it. I no longer dread coming home after work, which I have for years. I find a true comfort at home now and I would not trade it for anything.

Included are pictures of chewy oatmeal cookies sandwiched with cake frosting.
Another piece of my newly found joy

New Hair...

2009-11-05T22:18:00.004-08:00

So, I did it. I finally chopped off all my hair. And I love it. I've been wanting to do this for as long as I can remember, but for one reason or another I always choked. I was supposed to get it cut with my wonderful Cousin Marlee, but I ended up taking another year to graduate. So while she took the plunge. I just got a bob. But with a new city, a new apartment and the beginnings of a new phase of my life, I could not imagine a better time. I of course had some support to help me make the chop, though. Having long hair all of your life makes you so fearful of ever loosing it. Which to some may seem silly, "It's just hair" "It'll grow back" . Yet, I think for many women they connect long hair to their connection to their own femininity.

Which sounds ridiculous, but as I sat at the front of the salon waiting, looking t the pictures that I brought. My heart was racing.

This is what I brought in and here's a pic of me.

I got a job!!

2009-09-22T22:12:00.011-07:00

Seems like it has been ages. I've now officially had my second day of work. I am doing contract work though. So hopefully, they will love me, lots more jobs will come into the company, and I will have tons of work to do. It was definitely surreal on my first day of work. Going from being unemployed to your first straight 8 hour work day is a little disarming. My schedule has been all over the place.

I've been doing crew for a while and was only rowing on a mixed 8 on Wed morning at 445 AM. And about two weeks ago, the captain of that boat asked me if I wanted to start rowing at 445 on Mondays on a 4. I've been dieing to get back into a 4 because the work out is much more intense. You can't really slack off on a 4. So as I woke up on Monday morning, Susan (the captain of that boat), asked me if I wanted to row stroke (which of course I did) I haven't rowed stroke since HS, but man does it feel good. The part of me that loves a good power trip was incredibly thrilled. However a few days before then I was also, out of the blue, asked to join another boat (an all womens 8, that may compete) Which currently is rowing three days a week.

So I'm currently rowing Monday morning on two boats from 445-715, Wed 445, Thurs 545, and Sun at like 745. I am going to try avoid getting a gigantic trapezius, but I make no promises.

I don't have a picture of me rowing on my new boats yet (1) because it's pitch black at 445 in the morning and (2) because the few days it isn't pitch black, I forget my camera. They will come soon. Until then, here's a picture from my HS 4.....
(I'm the Hispanic looking one in the middle....and no I am not Hispanic)

But back to work talk... It's so weird coming off of an unemployment schedule and reverting back to a 9-6pm. It's like my brain can't handle it just yet. I have to get coffee during my lunch hour and usually walk to Starshumcks, because it literally takes my whole hour and its a nice little break. I think the walking is good for me. Except for today because I decided to wear heels to work. Which is fine and I definitely looked cuter, but I definitely also have blisters. Oh the sacrifices I make to look good, they really are quite ridiculous.

Oh PS> in case you were wondering the Pumpkin Spice is back is season...

Oh, and one of my other favorite drinks... That's right Evan Williams Egg Nog. It's is divine! If you haven't given it a chance yet, I definitely recommend picking some up. Or just invite me over, and I'll bring over a bottle. There's nothing better than a friend with a smile on a cold day with a nice cold glass of egg nog. WINTER is almost HERE!!!!

Uhhhh ......I was talking to a friend the other day and he had never even tried egg nog period . Which I can't under stand how you go through twenty some odd years of life, and multiple Thanksgiving and Christmas parties and never given the chance to sip on a glass of egg nog?!?!?!

Cheers

being broke

2009-08-25T22:46:00.004-07:00

Being broke is an interesting concept. I remember when I was little being broke meant that I couldn't get the shorts I wanted from pacsun or the new no doubt cd the day it released. (I do miss my tragic kingdom)

I'm now 24, I say this only because I was on the phone with a friend the other night and literally could not remember how old I was. I remember laughing at my mother when I was younger because she had a hard time remembering. "How do you not know how old you are??, I would laugh, "It's your life you've lived it". And there I was on the phone desperately trying to figure out if I was 23, 24, or 25. Sitting there like an idiot counting the years, disagreeing. Not believing that I had been 24, so it has begun. I think now more than ever I my adult mind has begun to set in.

Not in the way that "I'm a grown up now", or that I don't watch cartoons, and don't consume sugary cereal (becasue I definatly do both). But more so in the way that I am beginning to calm down. The rush to get to that perfect age has come to a blaring halt. The need to be older, to have experienced more is slowly starting to diminish. I have finally just reached the point where I live my life and what happens, happens. There is no more school, no more preconceived notions about how my life "should be", just me and the days that go by.

Now, don't get me wrong and think to yourself... "omg, mare is calming down the world is coming to an end!" Trust me, drama could find me in a dim, light-less cavern . My life is still filled with tensions, and excitements. I don't think I would be myself if it weren't. I can see future complications coming my way, but for right now I'm at ease and trying to ignore their possibility. I am peaceful and happy at the moment so lets stick with that.

In closing I leave you with this...I think it's the closet thing to how I feel at the moment

New Movie Recommendation!!!

2009-07-31T18:10:00.006-07:00

So, I've fallen in love. I can truly say that I've never felt such a deep connection with a film. I saw it in theaters about a week ago. Watching the movie, my heart would sink and actually hurt and not even 10 minutes later I would be practically peeing my pants. There was so many magical moments in this movie. I think everyone in their life time plays ether Tom Hansen or Summer Finn, I know from personal experience I have done both. Neither is less or more painful, but I truly think that for an individual to feel and love with out consequence or condition you have to experience these moments.

The soundtrack is so perfect, whenever I listen to it. I'm instantly drawn back to the film.

The Director is Marc Webb and like many of the other film makers I love, he began in music videos. Directors who start in commercial work and music videos have such a different sensitivity to the film medium. You can tell that every moment, every second is given the same care and concern.

I'm including the trailer in my post, but it does not give the film justice.

Job Hunting Blows

2009-07-17T18:39:00.004-07:00

ssooooo, I've decided I'm crazy. I've been job hunting for about a week now. And I have no leads. Which in the big scheme of things isn't that big of a deal, but I worry... ALOT.

My student loans are on hold at the moment, along with 87% of the country. The amazing part is that the recession and all that has followed, I knew was coming!!! And I jumped off the cliff regardless.

When I was a sophomore in high school I had this teacher. I no longer remember his name, but I do remember he was black and had a great mustache, similar to a 70's porn star. It was a course on the economy, mandatory of course because I would never in my life sign up for that class willingly. But there was one lecture that he gave that has always stayed with me.

"EVERY THING IS CYCLICAL"

The Economy, Fashion, Life it self.

I sat in the class of 17 or so and at 16 I didn't think I could give less of a shit what he had to say. I was more worried about what route I was going to take to my locker after class to maybe cross paths of the cute guy I had a crush on. Times were simpler then, but I digress.

He said in the next ten years, the economy is going to crash. The stock market will go, people will loose jobs and be too in debt to live comfortably, simple jobs will be harder to come by, and the country will go into shock. Now to be fair that was when I was 16, so it only took 8-ish years. However, it was a close enough prediction as far as I'm concerned.

I've been on craigslist looking for any kind of work I can. I even sent my resume to Pinkberry, a yogurt shop, paying 9/hr. I soon got an e-mail back stating they had received over 200 resumes for the position and were basically going to have a 5 hour job fair in which they had all the submissions pooled in one room and we would all be judged. Needless to say, I backed out at the last minute. I've had a job since I was 14, here I thought I had an amazing resume. I can barely compete with the high schoolers looking for some summer income.

So, like many of the other people my age, just getting out of college and trying to start a life of success. I can't help but feel totally screwed. My fingers are crossed that it doesn't take as long as the last recession to recover, 20 years and I will already be in my 40's.

I'm officially in Los Angeles

2009-07-10T10:14:00.003-07:00

So, this has definitely been the most interesting month of my life. I didn't think such complete chaos could have been crammed in four weeks. Magnificent clutter and confusion.

Life is funny in the way that it often challenges you with numerous problems all at once. The older I get the more I learn about my individuality and how the more i try to control it, the more rambunctious it gets.

So, a new chapter in my book has begun and I really only hope 1. That it doesn't much resemble the past few years I have spent at school and 2. I will find some more turmoil. It seems I tend to thrive on that.

Genetics....

2009-06-10T14:10:00.004-07:00

I often somehow stumble in to the "nature vs nurture" argument. As often as it is a topic of conversation, i still have yet to figure out where the line is drawn. If you know me at all, you are familiar that I often resemble a hitchhiker carrying hundreds of pounds of emotional baggage on my back. As attractive as that imagery is, I also understand that psychological baggage is all relative.

So who do we blame and how long should we stay connected to our past, whether inherited or observed?

Starting to make the move.....

2009-06-05T20:08:00.003-07:00

So I leave Florida in 20 days and I'm pretty excited. As well as scared. I'm just gonna jump and hope that I am nimble enough to land on my feet. I am taking one of my best friends with me in a trek across the country in my little blue toyota. Florida to LA should take about 4 days of driving. I've never really driven for longer than three hours consecutively so it should be quite interesting. I've been "IN" cars for lots of road trips. I've made a fair share of treks from CT to NC to FL, but nothing like this.

School is over and I now have to prepare myself for real life. The life with out school. I know it is often the subject of many conversations, "what to do after college". I've been in school for so long and I think I need to re-discover my interests, but with the thought of looming bills and loans hanging over my head like an angsty cloud peeing on my ginnie fro.

Trying to fit my life in a small sedan has been much harder than I ever thought it would be. I am constantly reevaluating the amount of clothes I have and trying to figure out what is REALLY necessary and what I am hanging onto for my pack rat tendencies. And I'm heading to NC for the weekend to sort through some more shit. Hopefully I won't take anything back with me... but I do love my scrap books.

Backing it up

2009-05-07T08:01:00.003-07:00

It's hard to imagine that this 5 year trek is almost finished. I have so much of my life I need to catch up on. Ironically to push my self ahead and be what I want to be, I had to ignore myself.

My mental capacity has dwindled. I haven't read a book it what seems like to be forever. My body, has been compared to applesauce. And I haven't been able to live in my apt as clean as I would have liked to. But as I back up basically my life for the past, too many years, I have a feeling that I will come back. Back to my self and my life and I will be even more prepared for my next adventure.

It's Official!

2009-04-29T11:22:00.003-07:00

I'm Pregnant..........

I'm just kidding

I'm just graduating!!!!!!

I have less than a week left of schooling. And I think it's been quite anti-climatic so far.
Graduation is next week. And I'm ready to bolt!!!!

Senior Film Poster

2009-04-19T22:04:00.002-07:00

Kitties

2009-04-01T21:40:00.003-07:00

Not everyone is a fan of cats... Every once and a while (mostly every other day) I like to look at fluffy things. In tough times it often helps to keep my spirit up and in this final week of thesis I need that extra push. But oddly enough, I did not find comfort in fluffy, but quite the opposite.

I know there is a plethora of animal pictures on the net, but here are ones I found and are cute (in my eyes).

a while ago

2009-03-27T18:21:00.002-07:00

So, I've been looking into independent projects lately.

The likely hood that I'm going to a studio is currently becoming less and less likey.

But honestly I do like independent stuff, or commercial work. There is a bit more room for individual creativity. I came across this a while ago and forgot to post it up.

It took one full day of shooting and then two years of post production. Yes, I said two whole years. Created by Bruce Branit in Kansas City it's a really nice little short.

World Builder from Bruce Branit on Vimeo.

Independent piece number two mike just found today on Victor Navone's site. A former Pixar employee decided to branch off onto his own and create crew972 based in Tel-Aviv, Israel.

I'd love to work on stuff like this. A true combination of the two worlds. For some reseon I appreciate this more than complete Cg movies.

Adrenaline Lemmings CGI test from Alex Orrelle on Vimeo.

First Car

2009-03-23T19:18:00.004-07:00

It is finally official!!! My name is Marianne. Thanks to a wonderful woman at the Danbury Clerk's office, who I unfortunately hassled quite a bit. Thank you Brenda!!! With my intense nagging skills, I was able to turn it around in a matter of weeks! Which is fantastic and now I can go on to getting my DL with my name spelled correctly. I am thrilled, it truly is the little things in life and don't let anyone ever tell you different.

I did buy my first car a few weeks ago, but because of the DL incorrectness, I decided to get everything straightened out all at once. So, next stop the DMV to get a DL and then I will register my new baby. She is naked with out her poor tags. This damn Florida pollen is pissing my off though. I just detailed her like a week ago and she's already covered with those evil little yellow dots. Oh well, she won't be in FL long.. I hope.....

Oh, and..... I already printed out the forms I need to get a passport. It costs 100 bucks to get one printed, so I'm deciding if I want to do that right away or not, I have a few car expenses that I need to get out of the way. I knew I was going to have to get new tires, but I didn't know that I needed them immediately.

I found this out the hard way, when me and Mike pulled up one day (about 4 days after owning the car) and saw the tire was already low. *sigh* We had to get out the doughnut.

Is it me or do cars always look sad on doughnuts?

It's like 1/3 of the size of the other tires.

It is interesting the things found in a used car. So far I've found a garage door opener, a car clip of Saint Christopher, and while I may not be called a religious person, I think I may keep it ( Call me superstitious if you will), a picture of two creepy little blond boys, some pencils, markers, and lots of change (most of this was found in the trunk when replacing the flat)

Movie Recommendation

2009-03-14T14:00:00.003-07:00

So, I saw this last week. But I will make it today's post because I am currently waiting on a render to finish. So besides Coraline which I saw a few weeks ago, I haven't really gone to the theater much. But last week me and mike decided to go on a whim and there were several movies we were considering. Watchmen had just been released, but I'm not much of a fan for going to see big movies opening weekend. I often don't have the patience to deal with people. You could say I've gotten crabby with age.

But from time to time I do enjoy "I'm going to unrealistically beat your ass" movies. So, we decided to go with Taken. I am generally a Liam Neeson fan, But between this movie and his part in Love Actually( as a sorroful widdow) man talk about not being a cookie cutter actor.

I won't give much away, but I will say if you have a female between the ages of 12-20, that you deeply care for, don't go.

The Deer Hunter

2009-02-26T21:06:00.005-08:00

So here's my movie recommendation for the day.

Mike brought this home from the library yesterday.
A classic that I had never heard of, but it has some of my favorite actors (Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken, Robert De Niro)

This film is about the preparation for two different rites of passage : marriage and military service.
The characters are sent to Vietnam and you are shown the devastation and the life alteration that happens during and after the characters return home.

There are so many beautiful acting moments in this movie.

this picture recieved 5 Academy Awards 1978 * including Best Picture

Debate

2009-02-25T17:38:00.002-08:00

In my cultural belief's class we often have debates about some of the larger controversial battles pertaining to our society. Today's happen to be about gay marriage and whether it was natural or not. I have always been one ready to jump onto someone's back and gnaw off their trapezius deltoid (figuratively of course)

In a debate in class today I came up with the question...

Is normal synonymous with natural?

In attempt to figure this out first we mus define the two words.

Normal -adjective
1. conforming to the standard or the common type ; usual ; not abnormal; regular; natural
2. serving to establish a standard

Natural -adjective
1. existing or formed by nature (opposed to artificial)
2. based on the state if things in nature

(to be cont)_

Job Time

2009-02-24T16:30:00.003-08:00

So,

Its getting closer and closer to the time where my ass needs to find a job.
Which in this economy is scary. But unfortunately, I took a semester off and I have no grace period as far as the monies go. So, I need a good job and I need one soon.
Like, May 10th would be perfect. Possibly a little later if I have to move. My current apt is going to be bulldozed over in June, so hopefully something before then. But my point is company research is really coming into play now. Unfortunately a lot of the companies I really admire and want to work for in the future are all over the globe. Which then brings me to my "new" problem.

The problem isn't "technically new", it started about 24 years ago. My grandmother's name is Marianne Cea. My mother, being somewhat of an Italian traditionalist, decided to name me after her mother. The interesting part I found out is that when you are born your birth certificate is created about a month after your birth. I know my mom well and I am aware that she isn't to attentive to minute detail. So, like any new mother she received my birth certificate in the mail and quickly filed it among the papers. Unbeknown to her was that my birth certificate was a victim of a horrifying typo. I say horrifying because I can not imagine a pour soul with the name MarLanne.

It isn't really a weekly event to pull out the ole birth certificate and review it over an espresso and some biscotti. So, I found out when then printed it on my driver's license. Everything thing else I own says Marianne, except for my driver's license and birth certificate.

Now here is the other fun part, because I have names that are not the same, I can not apply for a passport yet. Which is only a problem if I ever want to travel or work in a country that is not the united states....=/

(Both of which are major goals in my life) So, for now I will call offices that don't call you back and leave messages that probably won't be answered. The ironic part is that you are given a 30 day grace period for typos and errors in birth certificates with no questions asked. Let this be a lesson to my self, always PROOF read!!!

The Crisis of Credit

2009-02-20T18:50:00.002-08:00

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

The Short and Simple Story of the Credit Crisis.

Found on http://vimeo.com/3261363

by Jonathan Jarvis

Her Morning Elegance

2009-02-19T11:41:00.002-08:00

I'm so glad stop motion is alive and well.

The Women's Kingdom

2009-02-18T15:58:00.003-08:00

The Women's Kingdom

Definitely check out this video, if you have 20 minutes to spare I would say watch the full version (the link I posted is only for the short version)

Here is a link to the article if you would like to watch the longer version

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2005/07/introduction_to.html

So, basically this is a short documentary. In southwest China there is an ancient culture called the Mosuo. This culture is Matrilineal (meaning the subject's female relatives are traced back in a matrilineal line, to the total exclusion of males) . These women find no need for marriage and are completely self sufficient.
"Why would you want the marriage license to handcuff yourself?" a blunt-spoken Mosuo woman named Cha Cuo asks

They practice what they call "walking marriage" in which a woman may invite a man into her hut to spend a "sweet night," but he must leave by daybreak. If a pregnancy results from this union, the child will be raised by the woman and her family.

Watching this film was very interesting, because I am such a skeptic of marriage. To see a culture, where marriage is not a mandatory course of life is puzzling. Not that you can't do that in the United States, but often you turn into the Cat Lady, the Ice queen, or a Whore. Not many people respect the idea of not being married in the United States. I just don't think marriage is what it used to be. There is no longer a need to work together to figure things out, to save the family, to not be able to leave the farm because it is your livelihood. Now a days if things aren't working in the marriage you can run to the courthouse and apply for divorce just as easily as you whimsically ran there to get hitched in the first place.

Howl's Moving Castle

2009-02-17T13:22:00.005-08:00

So, anyone who knows me, knows that I am not big on Anime, Manga, or anything in that realm. I don't know if I killed the passion when I was a preteen by watching endless episodes of Sailor Moon.

Fighting evil by moon light
Winning Love by day light
Never running from a real fight,
She is the one they call
Sailor Moon....she's the one..
Sailor Moon moon moon...

Wow.. I can even remember the theme song... the things that are imprinted in your head when you are young often surprise me. I even went as far as dressing up as Sailor Mars (the bad ass with black hair) for Halloween one year. My mom custom made my costume. *sigh* I am fond of memory lane.

Anyway, that was initially supposed to say "I don't like anime", but I didn't explain it as well as I would have hoped. OK, so what I was going to say, before I was rudely interrupted by my brain was... There is a film I watch quite often, and that usually means I watch it at least 6-10 times a year ( Don't assume that I am crazy, I have only owned the movie for a year or so)

Hayao Miyazaki is fantastic! Different people in the animation world have different favorites. I would say that my favorite, hands down, is...

Howl's Moving Castle.

I'm not sure if it's story, the art, the matte paintings, the animation, or just Christian Bale's voice, but there is something so quirky and appealing about the film. I love movies where the main character is a woman and becomes strong and independent. The wonderful thing about this film is that the main character is turned into a 90 year old and finds her inner strength after living in the body of an old woman.

And the castle is so neat looking! Who would not love a ginormous castle that just ran around the hills. similar to an RV, but so much fancier 0_o

Now the movie is based roughly on the book, a few hundred pages, that I read over Christmas break. The book was nice because like most books translated to film, you loose a lot of the story, because there is no time. And the movie Pearl Harbor was a great example of not enough editing. The general public does not like sitting for more than two hours, and a book takes weeks to read, so I'm sure you can do the math. Anyway lots of my questions were answered when I read the book, but I was left a bit unhappy because it was in fact a children's book, so it read a little slower than I would have liked. I often prefer books a little more complicated where I actually have to think about what I'm reading as I'm reading.

Anyway. watch it, soak in the animation and enjoy Christian Bale's voice (the one not coated in the f word) =/

Taxidermy

2009-02-16T14:37:00.008-08:00

So, I don't know what my attraction is to weird and curious things but I have a connection to taxidermy. I even convinced a group of fellow CA students to create a piece that encompassed it. I ran over to borders over the weekend and picked up the most recent issue of Bust.

And low and behold an article with a new age artist/taxidermist. Now to be clear, I've never been a fan of deer heads on walls or fish dipped in a hard transparent coating with their mouths open. I have an attraction to oddities. Chinchillas in attack mode, A stuffed cat that sits in your kitchen on top of your refrigerator and stares at you as you grab for your weight watchers ice cream bar out of the refrigerator. Unfortunately, I don't have that yet, my life size Animal Muppet (c) will have to suffice for now.
So Sarina Brewer is my new found taxidermy idol. It's very endearing to find someone with weird quirks similar to yours. Hooray for the web, and Google!
Now, I know you can't tell me that I haven't spiked your interest.

http://www.customcreaturetaxidermy.com/

Another women who is not afraid to get her hands dirty, I <3 it! as per usual, photos have been included! href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gXk4PxK5P0Q/SZnyo8Vw6KI/AAAAAAAAAQw/otKuACZFeoI/s1600-h/2gg.jpg">

Takin a break

2009-02-15T12:05:00.003-08:00

So, thesis has begun to wear me pretty thin. Its gotten so bad to the point that I wake up nauseous. Friday afternoon, I took a bike ride to the theater and went to see Coraline. Well, let me re-phrase that. Me and Mike took bike ride downtown for food, and we passed the movie theater and I decided to take a mental break and watch a movie. If you haven't gone to the theater to see this movie, you definitely should. I have included some pics from the film to spike your interest!

renders

2009-02-08T20:42:00.001-08:00

So I've been rendering the past couple of weeks which has been quite a pain, because for whatever reason Maya doesn't like rendering my 1,000 tampon boxes... Excessive crashing makes me want to pull out my hair. However, I have had time to pa rouse around blogs other people post. One that I have fell in love with is

http://thepioneerwoman.com/

This blog is well written, which is a plus, because you are able to enjoy her stories, and she paints a beautiful picture of her life. (annnnddd It had pretty pictures! which is always a plus)

And her house is gorgeous, in that all wood, and rustic type way.

Research

2009-01-19T13:07:00.003-08:00

I love some of the imagery I find when I look for Thesis reference. The following dress is constructed completely out of tampons.

Other similar costumes found here...

http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2007/11/12/Spectrum/Wearable.Art.Sparks.Sassy.Haute.Couture-3094606.shtml

Music Video

2009-01-19T10:36:00.003-08:00

So, I would say this is pretty up my alley. Fun animation, interesting transitions, and a girl with a 300 lbs frog... you can't really go wrong

Apocolypse Theme

2009-01-19T10:33:00.002-08:00

Website is up and running!!!

2008-12-11T13:12:00.002-08:00

Link to my NEW Website!!!

My Portfolio....Part III

2008-11-21T13:49:00.003-08:00

My Portfolio....Part II

2008-11-21T13:46:00.003-08:00

My Portfolio....Part I

2008-11-21T13:43:00.002-08:00

oh.. ....Mr. Rogers

2008-11-11T09:20:00.003-08:00

Website Soon to be Up and Running

2008-11-08T17:00:00.002-08:00

So, i'm starting my website...

everything isn't up and working yet,

but here's a sneak peek

http://www.ringling.edu/~mmcintos

Any thoughts?? Lemme know...

Afternoon Delight

2008-10-20T15:50:00.001-07:00

Vote For this Animation on Ani Boom!!

Watch more cool animation and creative cartoons at aniBoom

Adrian Molina

2008-10-20T15:36:00.002-07:00

This is a short I found (on my friend Lindsay VanderGalien's blog) by Adrian Molina, a story board artist in CA.

It's a little PSA that he created concerning California's Proposition 8, also known as the gay marriage ban. =)

Blendtest

2008-10-19T13:00:00.001-07:00

Finally Animating!!!!!!!

2008-10-15T19:01:00.003-07:00

So, I'm finally on to animating, not really rendering, but I'm working on a rendered blendtest, this isn't the final image... I still have some tweaking to do... but it's coming along =)

Character Head

2008-09-21T14:55:00.001-07:00

So here is the head to my Thesis Character Jeff, I had UVs done, but I've made edits since, so the textures dont match up at the moment. I'll post more soon =)

Ode To Joy

2008-09-18T08:10:00.002-07:00

Starting Senior Year

2008-09-18T07:21:00.010-07:00

soo, I've finally entered the final stretch.. I'm already a month in..
Model is basically done, I'll post soon... Until then

I found this on the "Thinking Animation Blog" Angie Jones and Jamie Oliff, two animators in LA, always a fun blog to read and see interesting animations.

http://thinkinganimationbook.blogspot.com/

These are animations by Nathan Love, another fun animator you should check out... http://www.nathanlove.com/

lil Chin

2008-02-28T19:27:00.002-08:00

Taking a doodle break.....

First Pass Textures.....

2008-01-30T11:26:00.001-08:00

I don't know If I am going to keep them, but these are my... First Pass Textures much editing still needs to be done...but things are coming along....

New Character Turnaround

2008-01-30T11:20:00.000-08:00

So, here's my updated character design

<3 muppetss

2007-07-04T08:32:00.001-07:00

*Doodle of Statler and Waldorf*
Summer is flying by and I forgot my underwear.....

Finalizing my Textures

2007-02-11T19:54:00.000-08:00

Texturressss...........Nope I haven't done the Eyelashes yet.... sowwwrrry...... Blends and rig due this week........ AND pre-pro makes me wanna cry...

First Pass Texture

2007-02-07T21:43:00.000-08:00

Body map finished, Don't worry I won't keep the scary skin tone, this is just first pass texture =)

WIP- Model Progress

2007-01-28T00:24:00.003-08:00

So, here's a quick screen grab of my most recent model.... should be finishing it up in the next week. And Then it's on to Blendshapes!

Next Semester's Caricature

2006-12-23T02:09:00.000-08:00

This is my caricature of myself... for next semester's model.

I <3 it, It makes me laugh everytime I look at it... I hope it does the same for you

DrawingForAnimators

2006-11-20T20:37:00.000-08:00

These are my first digital paintings.....ever... sooo.. I didn't expect greatness, but I think they came out ok.....

Render Tyme

2006-10-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't like soup????? hmmm??

I threw this together today

Quick shots... I'll post the animation soooon

Quick Animation Shot

2006-10-08T13:48:00.000-07:00

hmmm....colors

2006-09-26T16:45:00.001-07:00

whoooppp Silhouttes

2006-09-12T18:51:00.000-07:00

umm... so I'm on

2006-08-06T22:09:00.000-07:00

Work to come soon... Un fortunately Target is slowly taking away my soul... and I'm trying to get it back