[OH AND MY FIRST VBLOG IS BEING EDITED and is ON THE WAY]

MY Newest project, which very well might evolve into my BFA thesis focuses on a few mining towns that are left in West Virginia. I have had my fill of the mountain state this summer, and I think it has connected some wires in my head. I started to ask myself what makes these little rustic rural outposts unique, and what can be said about how they came to be...This helped me figure some things out, and in my search I came across a much more relevant and interesting story. Mainly having to do with the coal mining towns that are still intact. The beginning stages are in the works.

Saturday I had the opportunity of watching one of my best friends tie the knot. The wedding was awesome, the ceremony itself was one of the best I have ever seen-Incorperating new concepts with very traditional ideas. LOVED IT.On my way back home from the wedding I came across a massive train wreck.

It was the first time I had seen such a mess in person and obviously had to grab the camera...

“And you also can create the life you want. 'Follow your bliss' is not lightly said. There will be consequences and choices to make, but there's integrity in following what you know you should be doing for yourself" Martha Blowen

This quote is from Martha Blowen. She created the Soleil Press, which focused on publishing works that articulated the immigrants point of view. Works that were done by immigrants and had a like minded perspective of dealing with the thoughts of creating a new place,how to cope with change, and remembering and celebrating the old.

I find great significants in these words for a number of reasons, but mostly because of the 'here and now'. I see my time in college as being a time of crossroads, of change, and of learning that will only further determine where/how I live my life.. That is to say that I can only hope that the Ramen Noodle meals and apartment hopping is a temporary affair.

With this comes much deeper considerations like what I'll be doing, who I'll be with, and always heavy on my mind *WHERE* I'll be. Perhaps it's my upbringing in such a proud region of the United States, Appalachia, that the Where outweighs the 'who' and 'what'. This summer has been a good one. This year has been less good, but yesterday I got a clean bill of health and will have my final surgery on the 29th of June..To make a long story short. It's been a long year, but the fact that the first half was bad, in my mind only means that the second half has to be great.

I'm in the final week of my silkscreen class, and the final is giving me some very good stress. Deadline Deadline Deadline. Its challenging my craftsmanship(if I have any). I've decided to pull an all nighter tomorrow night if necessary rather than tonight, and I'm taking a bit of a break.

My grades for the Spring semester were rather spectacular, and weren't what I had expected. I've become very critical of my own writing and works because I feel like I haven't gotten my writing back to par since the Euro experience. I'm uploading some photos of a project I did not too long ago in Silk screen, It's titled-"A New Shade of Lincoln". After silkscreening it in Green, Blue, Red, and Black I decided the color would have to be DRASTICALLY different. [as you can see]

This summer is turning out to be a good one. I'll have to elaborate on that note more, but I've found a few amazing people in Morgantown. I've also forgotten what it's like to have a big sister in town. It's refreshing and challenging at the same time.

It's also extremely ironic that after I've sworn that 2010 was the WORST year of my life, it may currently be in the running for the BEST year as well. NOT because of action, setting, or circumstance, but because its put a great deal in perspective.Sometimes it's not what building you look at, but in what aspect you consider it.

Theres much more to come when I get my head on my shoulders. next week-