Safe air.

Today I went to a garage fire for work.

Fires are pretty exciting, but of the two I've now been to, the flames are pretty much gone by the time I get there.

Anyway, I got an alright photo, one I think is good enough to share.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=692484241&v=info&ref=profile#/photo.php?pid=2044445&id=692484241

Also, I learned that the tanks the firefighters wear to go into the smoky fires to breathe make a really loud and screeching noise. Safety first, I guess.

Power outage bike ride.

I don't feel like I have much to say lately. But I hate that I haven't been updating, so here's a quick bit.

Today the power was out for a few hours, not sure why. But thank goodness for natural gas, because I was still able to make a fried egg and toast on the stove. And I even got coffee, cold, from a little packet and milk, it was good!

Then I did something I've been wanting to do for years.

I got on my bike and rode the 9ish miles into the Alpena city limits.

But I didn't stop there, I rode to my moms work, then across town to the post office, and then to get food in another part of town. Then to the beach to eat my food and read. I kept going all around town and read 3 chapters today. I figure I biked close to 20 miles today. My legs and butt were a bit sore, but not too bad.

Then I locked up my bike in a secret hidden location (Sytek park in the trees, haha) and hitched a ride home with my dad on the motorcycle. I love motorcycles!!

So this was all inspired by Warren, and Claire. Warren biked in 2.5 days to Alpena from Lansing. And Claire wants to bike to Alpena from Ann Arbor. She's invited me to go down there and bike up with her. I'm really really thinking about it, and I think it would be AWESOME.

I love living!

Staying Sharp

You know how if you don't do something for a long time you sort of loose your strength in it and forget a little bit?

Last summer I failed to keep myself up on art stuff, and I suffered.

This summer I've been fortunate enough to get an internship being a photographer for the Alpena Newspaper.

I hold a camera basically everyday. It's been great for my work.

The other day I noticed growth in my photos and I'm pretty happy with the way things are going. Sure I have a long way to go yet, but growth is growth and I'll take it by golly!!!

Tomorrow I'm going to go in to work a couple hours early to put photos on my external hard drive for my portfolio and I'll get working on putting photos on here. I have some on Facebook already. Also I need to get around to updating my other sites. I have a myspace for my photo work but I'm thinking about deleting my account, myspace is old news.

I might work on creating a new artists website.

So for now, check out my images on Facebook, and http://cu.thealpenanews.com

-Roz

Despite output, there's still input.

Based on lack of posts, one might think I have been locked in solitary or my brain has stopped learning. Not so. I just lost steam for a while, and I'm not promising I'll get it back soon. But I am acknowledging I need to get off my butt and making more out of my time this summer. 

(skip the next two paragraphs for a shorter & more meaningful read.)

I've been working for the Alpena Newspaper now for two weeks. I take photos for them. It blew at first, but I'm getting use to the cameras they have, which are Nikons like mine, but have different settings and different types of lenses. Also, I am trying to get more in the mindset of "Photojournalism" and out of the "Art" mindset. A few other struggles, if you are interested: 1 there isn't much going on in Alpena to photograph, less so on bad weather days 2 i feel like a creeper when i drive around peering out my windows for something to photograph 3 sometimes it takes a lot of courage to ask folks if i can take photos of them.

I haven't really accomplished much else since being home. I made a purse (see post below) I bought more fabric yesterday to make two more purses-I couldn't pick and there was a sale and I had a coupon, so I figured I'll make two and sell one maybe. I got some books prepared to sell online, but UPS was closed for the weekend, so it'll wait til tuesday. I've started cleaning out my bedroom and sorting my numerous belongings, but it's a daunting task.

I'm rambling.

Change is a part of life. I welcome it, and every so often reflect on how I have changed. I want to know that my changes are for the better, and if they aren't, I set out a path to better myself. [recent bad changes: laziness, gluttony]

In some of my younger years I was very stubborn in my ways. I wanted to make my own mistakes and learn everything on my own. I did things the tough way and taught myself some lessons. I've learned now to listen to others and take advise given to me. At random times in life I find elders giving me life advise and I listen carefully, remember and take into account.

Life is a struggle. Help from others is now welcomed. 

I've also learned to welcome the bad as much as the good. I think I've become an optimist. In some ways like the ones extremely portrayed on screen. When life gets tough, when I am loaded down with homework, stress, illness, breakup, hard work, penniless and the like I actually have the thought, "This is life, I am living, and I like it. I wouldn't have it any other way." See, I know that even if life is looking horrible now, it will look up, if not soon then eventually. The bad times will be in my past and life will be more pleasant again.

The lesson: I am happy.

In tough times and in smoother waters, I love life. I live. I am in control of my life. I wish this upon you.

-Roz

My first purse

I made a purse for my friend for her birthday. I used a pattern and learned a lot! In the past I've made a number of things but always with the help of my mom in sewing and measuring and pretty much I just sat there and watched her and sewed what she told me to sew. This time I did it all on my own. And I'm really proud of how it turned out. Next week I plan on getting more fabric and making one for myself.

It's not meant to be reversible, but I guess it works with the blue on the outside too.

There are a few things that I could have done better, but I don't have the experience and I didn't have the time. I did quite well on the darts, pleats, edge stitching, measuring and cutting and assembling. But some of my stitch lines are not perfectly straight, hey, I'm human. And my slip stitching is very amateur. That had a lot to do with the lack of time, and some to do with my skill level.

If you would like me to make you something, I might have some time this summer to make stuff, but I would charge you the cost of the materials and a little for labor. I'd like to think that after I make my own purse I'll make another one just to sell, but we'll see.

Bag Lady

A Brief History of the Messenger Bag

It All Started on a Telephone Pole

The bicycle messenger bag, as we know it today, has its roots in New York City in the 1950s. Legend has it that Globe Canvas, owned and operated by the late Frank Demartini, began manufacturing heavy-duty canvas shoulder bags for telephone linemen. These bags were designed for easy access to tools and supplies while the linemen  were suspended on telephone poles.

In the late 1970s, bicycle messengers in New York began using bags from Globe Canvas for their daily deliveries. In response to increasing motor vehicle congestion in rapidly growing cities, the bicycle messenger profession grew. The bicycle messenger community developed an identifiable subculture.

I found a website for messenger bags that will last longer than you will. The company is based out of San Francisco and has some really good looking bags. Timbuk2.com

I got the history from their site.

You won't get me down.

I Won't Be Left Behind

I run my fastest, but still get beat. 

I land on my head when I should be on my feet. 

I try to move forward, but I am stuck in rewind.

Why do I keep at it?

I won't be left behind.

The harder I am thrown, the higher I bounce.

I give it my all, and that's all that counts.

In first place, Myself, I seldom find.

So I push to the limit

I won't be left behind.

Some people tell me you can't.

Some say don't.

Some simply give up.

I reply, I won't.

The power is here, locked away in my mind.

My perseverance in my excellence,

I won't be left behind.

Make the best of each moment,

The future is soon the past.

The more I tell myself this,

The less I come in last.

Through out my competitions,

I've learned what winning is about.

A plain and clear lesson, 

Giving up is the easy way out.

So every night before I go to bed,

I hope in a small way I have shined.

Tomorrow is a brand-new day,

and I won't be left behind.

-Sara Natchman

(Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul)

A letter to the lady looking for a house-sitter, the managers of the restaurants I applied to, Student life, and everyone else interested:

You might think I don't have what it takes. You might think I'm not good enough, strong enough, qualified enough, or experienced. But listen here, I've struggled before and I count on struggling still. But I do not give up.

Hear that?!

I DO NOT GIVE UP.

Put me down, reject me, ignore me, disrespect me, doubt me, look down on me.

Don't let me play your reindeer games. 

It's your loss.

I know I've got something to offer. It's too bad you can't see that.

The more you put me down the harder I try. I will prove you wrong, just you wait and see.

-Roz