Guess what!?!







They're opening a Harry Potter Theme Park in Orlando Florida!!!
To learn more click this.

What We Did Monday

This monday we did a sort of Father's day thing because this Father's day is the day after Annalee's wedding so like yeah. . . . any way we went to the national spy museum which was actually really cool. Out of all the museums I have ever been too this one was deffinately one of my favorites. Afte we were done at the museum we went to this Ethopian resturant. The food was ok, but it was kind of fun because they didn't give you any silverware and you had to eat with your hands.


P.S.

Tomorrow is Corries Birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CORRIE!!!

I am very tired

I am very tired. Today my whole family got up at 6:30 and drove to Annalee's friend Christine's house where we picked her (that beig Christine up). After a gizzillion hours and seceral very interesting games of twenty questions we finally arrived at FRostburg. Then we went and sat in a crowd aditorum on very hard seats and watched Annalee and Eric graduate. Twas pretty awesome. We (being Christine, the Pruitts, and the Garlens) went out to lunch at ruby tuesday. Then we helped Annalee pack up some of her stuff into our car and drove home. I fell asleep in the car four about four hours. Now I feel really sleppy, I mean sleepy.


P.S.
If you want to see pictures Beccah wil probably put them up on her blog

I need Help!

This summer, I'll be babysitting Kyla everyday for one week. What sort of things should I do with her?

I have a new cousin!!


Lilly Kate was born today, I'll try to get more info up later, but right now I need to go to bed.

My Brain Feels Like Mush

Today I did the IOWA's tests of basic skills. I know I messed up some special thingy and one of the science questions and something on the social studies but other than that I think I did pretty good. I'm very neverous though. And Scared. . . . Yeah so my brain feels like mush. We started the tests around 9 o'clock and ended around 3.


I think I am going to do something far less productive and far more satisfying. Banging my head against the key board!

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Th Binding of the Blade

Under the influence of my friend Bex, I have started read a series of the books called the Binding of the Blade. The first one (Beyond the Summerland) ended most not good. Encase any of you ever want to read it I shall not elaborate, but I feel a need to tell you the it left you thinking "AHHHHHHHHHH."

So I moved onto the next one with high hopes of some sort of closer.

The Bringer of Storms started of with two cities trying to kill each other, and then it got worse. Main characters die suddenly and it rains throughout the WHOLE book. Not the happiest setting.

The Shadow in the Deep was the hardest to read mainly because all it talks about is how people bunch of decision making and journeys into waste lands filled with death. Oh yeah, by the way, it rains or snows throughout the entire book in this one too

This one is probably the most depressing and most hopeful book out of the series so far. Lots of people, lots of people are doomed to die, oh yeah, and the world is ending. At the same time though hope is renewed because certain events (which where talked about throughout the Shadow in the Deep) finally happen!
So what do I think of these books? Yes, they're full death, darkness, and doom but there's also this sense throughout all of them that everything, some how, is going to turn out all right. The Author really makes you think about God and your beliefs and stuff. L. B. Gram(the author) though he may have an extremely annoying writing style, talk a lot about how God is control of everything. I like that. So in conclusion...
I like 'em!!!
Now my only wish in the world is that he would hurry up and finish the final fifth one!!!!!!!!!!!

Annalee is leaving tomorrow; she is going to Chicago for some sort of job interveiw. She's also coming back tomorrow.

Wedding in 27 days. ek!

Very bored and nothing to do.

29 days to... oh well, you people know

To sick to say anymore, explain later

30 days till Annalee's wedding

31 days till the wedding. O.o

Harry Potter Count Down

A Mother's Day Summery

This years Mother's Day was kind of complicated. I shall try to explain it as clearly as possible.

Saturday: Annalee came home on Saturday around three o'clock. Once she arrived we went to see Spider Man 3. I thought it was pretty good. Kind of cheesey at some parts, but hey, what super hero movie isn't? It had some pretty cool effects, but some parts were just painful to watch. It also had a ton of bad guys.

Sunday: Woke up and gave Mom her presents. I got her a big tea cup filled with jelly beans, Beccah got her the latest get Fuzzy Book, Elaine and Corrie got her a lavendar Bath and Body Works kit, and Annalee got her a mini german rose bush. We went to church, Dad did snack there, came home and ate delicous steak cooked by Dad, went on a walk at some park, came home, had a lot of relitives over, at a huge dinner, ate dessert, gave poeple presents, and then watched my Big Fat Greek Wedding before we went to bed. T'was a tiring day.

I Want To See This

Llama Song

I need Ideas!

Mother's day, Corrie's Birthday, and Annalee's wedding are coming up and I need ideas. Anybody got any?


P.S.
Sorry Maggs, but I don't think I'll be able to offord a lama this time either

This is Tonks

This is Nymphadora Tonks and she is awesome. She is probably my favorite character in Harry Potter. I hope they do her justic in OotP.

A Record of Recent and Up Coming Events

Yesterday Beccah went to Prom. She borrowed a dress from a friend from work and she looked beautiful. If you want to see pictures of her then go to her blog because I'm pretty sure she'll put 'em up there.

Tonight Elaine and I are going to the girls night out at the church. Who's going?

Something that is being said a lot around my house theses days is "after the wedding." Which is only 45 days away. AHHH!

Beccah is now my hero because she found my hoodie. : )

Beccah and Elaine have Guild coming up next week. Its kind of funny because Beccah's kind of freaking out and Elaine is totally cool about it.

Oh yeah, Beccah also has the SAT coming up this weekend. T'would be cool is you could pray for her.

And other than that nothing else is really going on . . . oh yeah, except me going crazy

My Research Paper

Starving Artist as a Career Choice

By: Noelle M. Pruitt

Teacher: Marsha MacLeod

Date: March 21, 2007

“Art is the study of various creative visual ways to express human thoughts, interests, attitudes, emotions, and ideas” (32). This is how Paul Phifer describes art, but there are many different ways of describing art and the artist. Becoming a successful fine artist is difficult, secondary training is recommended, money is scarce most of the time, one must constantly be thinking up new, original ideas, the job outlook is bleak, and the hours can be long, but a successful artist can command the respect of more than just a few people.

There are several effective ways to begin the road to becoming a successful artist. “Many colleges and universities offer programs leading to a bachelor or master’s degree in fine art,” states the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but you can also obtain knowledge and a degree in fine arts by going to an independent school of art and design. “Schools of art . . .also offer postsecondary studio training . . . leading to a certificate in specialty or an associates or bachelor’s degree” (U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Art schools tend to focus more on studio work as opposed to colleges that are more academically centered. Another way to start on the road is to study the great masters. “Artist can learn much from other successful artist, especially those whose art has stood the test of time,” Diane Lindsey Reeves declares in her book Career Ideas for Kids who like Art (45). Art masters such as Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Homer, Cassatt, Monet, Rembrandt, and Picasso are all worth studying thoroughly and in depth.

There are a variety of jobs in the art department. Some of the most popular are cartoonist, illustrators, and sketch artists, but there are many more. Each artist must fall into one of two categories: self-employed or commercially employed. A cartoonist might draw advertising, but most draw political, social, or sports comics. A sketch artist job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is to “Create likenesses of subjects with pencil, charcoal, or pastels.” Though some sketch artists will sell their work to individual patrons as a pleasure product, most work for law enforcement agencies (such as the police or the FBI) working with victims and witnesses trying to identify suspects. Other sketch artist work with newspapers, magazines, and television stations portraying closed courtroom scenes. “Illustrators typically create pictures for books, magazines, and other publications and for commercial products such as textiles, wrapping paper, stationery, greeting cards and calendars.” The difference between self-employed and commercially employed is that commercial artist must work very hard to meet deadlines, while self-employed artists spend more time trying to establish a good reputation and building a list of interested clients. “63% of artists are self-employed” (U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics).

An artist job outlook changes through the years. The first two years, according to Guide to Your Career, artist have little to none income. These years can be labeled the years of learning. This refers to the fact that during these years artist must gather opinions, study other people’s art, get instruction and try to immerse themselves into the art community, trying to get their names out there. Many artists are still learning their trade in this stage in life and are most likely taking classes or doing workshops. “Five years down the road . . . many artist still experimenting with ways to pay the rent.” This phrase may cause laughs and smiles, but it is so true it’s not even funny. Artists are still honing and experimenting with their art skills. Ten years into their trade, artists could still be experimenting with their techniques. To an artist, time is irrelevant; one must still produce new, original works. Many will feel frustration. More and more people are becoming artists, but the demand for art is not growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook says this; “Only the most successful artists are able to support themselves solely though the sale of their works. Most artists have at least one other job to support their art career.”

The phrase “starving artist” is humorous because it is often true. “Sometimes artist have to apply some of their creative energy to creating a profitable avenues for their art” (45). When Diane Lindsey Reeves wrote this in her book Art Careers For Kids Who Like Art, she was putting it mildly. “Keen competition is expected for both salaried jobs and freelance work; the number of qualified workers exceed the number of available openings because the arts attract many talented people with creative ability” (CollegeGrad.com). “Median annual earnings of salaried fine artist . . .were $38,060 in May 2004. . . .[T]he lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,390 . . .[T]he highest 10 percent more than $68,860.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics may be blunt about money for commercially employed artist, but its results are even bleaker for self-employed artist. “Earning for self-employed artist vary widely. . . . [M] any . . .find it difficult to rely solely on income from selling paintings. . . . [L] ike other self-employed workers, freelance artist must provide their own benefits.”

Ron DiCianni and Thomas Kinkade share two things in common; they’re both artists and they both use their art to evangelize. Dicianni’s website states that he “has been an illustrator for twenty-five years” and that he has “Dedicated his talents solely to the task of proclaiming the Gospel. His passion is to renew visual artist in the church.” Kinkade is known for the beauty of his paintings. He once told Christianity Today that “I love to create beautiful worlds where light dances and peace reigns. I like to portray a world without a Fall.” Both Kinkade and DiCianni view their artwork as forms of evangelism. The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship probably best explains how art can be an effective evangelism tool. “Art can create identity. Art can define space. Art can dramatize . . . parts of worship. . . . Art can shape movement. Art can mark time. Art can anchor memory.”

Self-discipline, creativity, imagination, perseverance, and concentration are all key characteristics to becoming a successful artist. Self-discipline is important because an artist’s biggest critic should be himself. Creativity and imagination go hand-in-hand and are most likely the biggest weapon for an artist. People are not going to be interested in buying something that looks like everyone else’s work; they want something new and original. Perseverance is major since an artist doesn’t have an easy job trying to get jobs as self-employed or commercially employed. Concentration is also important because many artists work long hours and must be able stay attentive to every detail of his, or her, work.

An artist’s life is riddled with hardship, but successful artists leave their fingerprints through history,Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Homer, Picasso , Vinci, Cassatt, Monet, and Rembrandt went through many trails, as doubtlessly Kinkade and Dicianni did, but history will always remember these artists. They have impacted young people in a world a thousand years away from their own. To think of maybe leaving one’s own fingerprints on history is certainly an inspiring thought.

Work Cited

Bernstein, Alan B. and the editors of the Princeton Review. Guide to Your Career 6th Edition

New York: Random House, Inc., ©2006

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship-Visual Arts in Worship, April 14, 2007

http://www.calvin.edu/worhsip/stories/visual_worship.php

CollegeGrad.com, February 19, 2007

http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/proft2/shtml.

DiCianni, Ron - Biography of Christian Artist Ron DiCianni- Christ-Centered-Art

<http://www.christcenteredmall.com/stores/artdicianni_biography.htm>©1998-2006

Gale, Thomas, “What is Christian Art and What Does it Look Like?”

Christianity Today ©2000

Phifer, Paul, College Majors and Careers

Ferguson, New York ©2003

Reeves, Diane Lindsey, Career Ideas For Kids Who Like Art

New York: Checkmark Books, ©1998

United States. Department of Labor, April 15, 2007

Bureau of the Labor Statistics Occupation Handbook 2006-07Edition

©2006