Been busy, been neglecting lj too much. School and social fall occasions kicking in. But here is a scene of a more relaxed time from last summer in Italy. I took this picture with Jennifer's camera of her, Sara, Caity, Angela and Lillian in the Castiglion Fiorentiono piscina. Every one has to wear a swimming cap there. What a wonderful place that was and will be again the next time I visit.

Tags: swimming
Current Mood: fine
Current Music: WFMU - "Track 1" by Evil Hippie

It finally stopped raining daily and got hot. Yes.

Working at school yesterday and today.

Syllabus, schedule, foundation faculty and TAs, ordering things, talking.

Then swimming at the aquatic lap pool. I hear Barton is open. Will be heading there this weekend.

Back to Studio Thursday and Friday and weekend.

That's it short and quick.

Tags: school, swimming, weather
Current Music: WFMU - "Khor Tan Gor Mee Hua Jai (The Night Chicago Died)" by Painoj

After Jerry's yesterday and talking to Matt R. got around to swimming in the afternoon.

Later Dan drove us down to San Antonio last night to see Eduardo Munoz's work as part of Art Pace's New Works: 07.2. The other two exhibitors were so lame, but Eduardo's work shined. It was also good to see a gaggle of former photo grads and Lawrence in attendance.

Mowed my lawn for the second time in a week since arriving back from Italy a week ago. No rain since then, lots of sun and heat.

Barton is open again after flood cleanup. I'm there this afternoon after Aron J drops by.

Continue to draw sitting on my front deck and plan on bring my sketch book to the pool.

In case you're interested in our weather in time zone CDT....

Tags: art, barton, drawing, opening, swimming
Current Mood: dripping sweat
Current Music: WFMU - "Baby! Baby! Stay Gone" by Armand Schaubroeck Steals

After going to Orvieto on Friday, yesterday a small group of us drove to Pitigliono another city on a sharp cliff built on tufo, volcanic rock, and riddled with caves.
Rome next week and then Venice for four days.

Warm weather today. I think I will venture down to the swimming pool for the first time.

Tags: italy, swimming, tufo
Current Location: Castiglion Fiorentino, Arezzo, Italy
Current Mood: bene
Current Music: WFMU - April and May - [Korean title #7]

With the temperature nearing 90º I went and swam in the pool for the first time since New Years Day. It's been closed an awful lot this year: cleaning, dredging, recovering from floods caused by our heavy rain. Good to get back into the 68º water and swim my half mile. Video from YouTube below starts with shots from below the pool where the creek starts to flow into Town Lake. It's the beginning of my summer vacation for a week before summer school.

Tags: barton creek, swimming
Current Mood: kinda warm
Current Music: WFMU - "(i don't want to go to) chelsea" by elvis costello

Morning met with CP and AF. Then got some keys made, rented two DVDs for 71 cents (2 buck credit and a twofer day). Then to police station to get report needed by school for computer stolen.

Then to O's for lunch and the pool for swim. Over 80ºF here today, clear and bright. Bikini day at the pool, lots getting ready ahead, tanning even before spring break tanning season. Open lanes though, not many swimmer around 2PM. New warm season hours coming after march one.
Outdoor Lap 7am-10pm weekdays & 11am-8pm weekends

At school now waiting for a lecture by Andy Rubin then dinner with him and the printmakers.

No computer at home, no web, no email, no streaming music. Cut off until a replacement hopefully this week

Life goes on. Friday Brinks Security will install stuff and on a completely different front a replacement microwave will be installed courtesy of my home warranty.

Started a small 5x7" painting on board for ArtHouse benefit, continuing on another and still on startup stage on another. Will have another long weekend coming up after class tomorrow, openings and what not.

Tags: installation of security features and mi, no net, painting, school, swimming
Current Mood: here for now
Current Music: erika.net - Joy Division Isolation

Studio time in the morning, painting may be completed. Some bills paid and then to video store and swim.

Tonight's film was the bleak Hungarian film Kárhozat, Damnation. Very slow, repetitive, like what happens when you cannot forget and move beyond the end of a love affair.

Tags: film, painting, studio, swimming, video store
Current Mood: better than the film
Current Music: WFMU - Bunny Clarke - Be Thankful for What You've Got

After talking to two of my many favorite grad painters I went to a long meeting where I had to sit at the head of the table and which I did not enjoy and has caused me trepidation and anguish. After that I did get a Hoover's lunch, saw the noisy land arts exhibit at the crl and picked out some films at video store central.

Then there was these two torturous, monotone, read lectures that will remain forever nameless. I came home and watched a film that was forgettable and I can't remember it at all, I forget. Thankfully.

So back to school this Friday and set up a projector, made coffee and extra sheets for other forgetful ones in advance of the printmaking grad screening. All print faculty attended and we got our prioritized list of acceptable printmakers worked out. Lunch with Ken and then paper work, orders (someone quit making more work to figure out what was purchased and what wasn't), writing a job advert trial description and other things like xeroxing stuff to hand out next week.

Sun was out, went swimming after two days thinking I was getting sick or just allergic (neither).

My damn microwave is on the fritz, it only works now when my house is 65ºF or colder. Came home and was able to radiate lasagna, make a salad and sit down and watch. Picnic at Hanging Rock directed by Peter Weir. Beautiful, victorian, Pre-Raphaelite girls, mystery.

Tags: dinner, film, forgetable, hell, meetings, microwave, swimming
Current Mood: burnt out
Current Music: WFMU - "La Création du Monde" by Bernard Parmegiani

Traffic was terrible all day in Austin, coming and going. I guess everyone that had been stuck off the road decided they had to drive around. Schools opening and legislature too added to the mix.

I think first day with drawing students went OK. Small group, all female studio majors, all but one Texas natives.

Around 4 o'clock temperatures yesterday were still in the 30's and I thought there would be no one or very few swimming laps outdoor. Wrong. Every lane was in use. 82ºF water was welcoming, steam was rising and finally getting back to swimming after was great. Makes one wonder, when the weather really warms up that pool is going to have heavy use. I was just getting use to the relaxed use over the winter break.

Met at Dan's with the reading group and had a good discussion about the last two books since half the group missed last month. On Beauty is what we will be reading next.

Got home after 11 at night and was happy to see that my bent over, once ice laden, trees were now standing upright and ice free.

Meet this afternoon with Chair and assistant chair of studio then an opening at Art House this evening and another two tomorrow night at the CRL and Art Palace.

Then studio time for me. School starts in ernest next week and will barrel along.

Image is painting by Seth Alverson

Tags: art openings, class, school, swimming, traffic
Current Mood: good
Current Music: WFMU - Scott Williams show

Returning to civilization: I woke up before dawn, had an expresso (need to buy more today), sparkling mineral water and green tea. Took a shower and shaved for the first time in days. Went out side with my weapon, broke the ice sealing my truck shut, started her up, turned on the defrost on high, got out and chipped and scraped off the 1/4" sheets of ice that had accumulated on the windows.

Not going anywhere until this afternoon. Temp is still a bit below freezing and drizzle is coming down. Just want to return four video and get four more each two for the price of one. That and a trip to CM for more trail mix, free seafood with coupon, Illy Expresso can and whatever else it takes to spend 40 bucks to activate the coupon.

For now back to painting in my studio.

One great thing about this storm is that we've had almost 7 inches of rain this year already. No return of a draught for awhile it appears. That and rain is forecast for the next five days, but without the frigid cold and ice.

Looking forward to a swim in steaming water tomorrow at school after my afternoon class. They better not shut down campus again.

Tags: civil society, shopping, swimming, truck, weather
Current Mood: roaring to get out of here
Current Music: WFMU - "From Bedrooms to Bass Bins" by Mochipet