M Bostrom, good friend and gossip source, has landed a sweet job at NC State. Among other things, it's a pay increase and a way out from under a relatively unpleasant boss. It's also a way to ensure that she doesn't ever have to teach composition again, unless she just wants to.
This puts her on the 'administrative' track in academia, and from close experience I know that she'll be great. She might even pick up that great line From the Master:
It's in your contract.
7.26.2007
7.24.2007
Weekend report
W and I visited Blakbuzzard and Hambone this past weekend; it's our second trip up to Chicago since we moved. The Little Boy got to stay with Uncle B and Aunt R, and we're thankful they had such a good time while we were gone.
It's hard to know how to describe how good a visit it was. We did some neat stuff: Waited up on Friday night for the Harry Potter book, celebrated the Buzzard's Birthday, played Guitar Hero II, ate deep-dish pizza at Giordano's, went to a late movie on Saturday night, ate cobbler and ice-cream for breakfast. I browsed their bookshelves, we told stories back and forth about old days in Chapel Hill and about what's happened in our lives recently, we played with the kitties. And enjoyed the peacefulness of their flat.
One of the greatest blessings we've had over the past decade is to have had these two as friends, and it's so nice to know that distance doesn't necessarily diminish love.
Thanks, you two, from the bottom of our hearts.
It's hard to know how to describe how good a visit it was. We did some neat stuff: Waited up on Friday night for the Harry Potter book, celebrated the Buzzard's Birthday, played Guitar Hero II, ate deep-dish pizza at Giordano's, went to a late movie on Saturday night, ate cobbler and ice-cream for breakfast. I browsed their bookshelves, we told stories back and forth about old days in Chapel Hill and about what's happened in our lives recently, we played with the kitties. And enjoyed the peacefulness of their flat.
One of the greatest blessings we've had over the past decade is to have had these two as friends, and it's so nice to know that distance doesn't necessarily diminish love.
Thanks, you two, from the bottom of our hearts.
7.14.2007
Maybe a big breakthrough
from an email from my youngest brother:
By the way, for those of you who don't know, I was contacted the other day by an "art dealer" who found me through my website. He works for an online art dealer called Art Exchange which markets art to high end buyers (hotels, publishers, etc.). They take presentations and booths to big art expos and fairs to develop contacts, and they have several working contracts such as an art selection deal with the group choosing the art for the Trump Collection (yes Donald Trump). They work with something like 3000 artists, and the average income for their artists is $110,000 a year. Pretty impressive.
Well, this guy saw my violinist painting, and he said that they would really like to have that painting at the upcoming Las Vegas Art Expo. In fact, he was extremely complementary, and he said that my painting would easily be the best painting they would bring. He said "It's an attention grabber. Our other artists will do better because that painting will draw people in to the booth."
Now, I have to pay them just like I would any agent, but they only take 10% commission, and my work would be getting incredible exposure. So all that is to say that with Mom and Dad's help (insert "thank you" to parental units here) I've worked a deal with them that will include six of my pieces in their marketing slideshow, which is the main thing everyone looks at during the expo. They have it going nonstop in the booth, and they take it to meetings and presentations with buyers. In addition, I will have space for 20 images on their website, a 90 day feature spot on the home page, and a continued relationship with them for future events. So with a little investment, hopefully this will pay off. I (We) can't afford how much it would cost for me and my work to physically be at the show because of the enormous cost of framing, shipping, plane ticket, etc., but hopefully having my work in the marketing material will pay off.
The show is Sept 27-29, so please be in prayer about it for me. Even if I get just one good contact, it will be worth it. Also, pray that this will motivate me to paint and remember why I love it so much.
By the way, for those of you who don't know, I was contacted the other day by an "art dealer" who found me through my website. He works for an online art dealer called Art Exchange which markets art to high end buyers (hotels, publishers, etc.). They take presentations and booths to big art expos and fairs to develop contacts, and they have several working contracts such as an art selection deal with the group choosing the art for the Trump Collection (yes Donald Trump). They work with something like 3000 artists, and the average income for their artists is $110,000 a year. Pretty impressive.
Well, this guy saw my violinist painting, and he said that they would really like to have that painting at the upcoming Las Vegas Art Expo. In fact, he was extremely complementary, and he said that my painting would easily be the best painting they would bring. He said "It's an attention grabber. Our other artists will do better because that painting will draw people in to the booth."
Now, I have to pay them just like I would any agent, but they only take 10% commission, and my work would be getting incredible exposure. So all that is to say that with Mom and Dad's help (insert "thank you" to parental units here) I've worked a deal with them that will include six of my pieces in their marketing slideshow, which is the main thing everyone looks at during the expo. They have it going nonstop in the booth, and they take it to meetings and presentations with buyers. In addition, I will have space for 20 images on their website, a 90 day feature spot on the home page, and a continued relationship with them for future events. So with a little investment, hopefully this will pay off. I (We) can't afford how much it would cost for me and my work to physically be at the show because of the enormous cost of framing, shipping, plane ticket, etc., but hopefully having my work in the marketing material will pay off.
The show is Sept 27-29, so please be in prayer about it for me. Even if I get just one good contact, it will be worth it. Also, pray that this will motivate me to paint and remember why I love it so much.
7.05.2007
Adventures with Faculty, Vol. 2
I had a political science professor stop by the other day to ask about one of his students who happens to be taking the composition class this term. She's doing fine.
He then asked me if I'd read the Kabbala. I did a double-take, whereupon he pronounced that it was "pretty good, but it'll mess with your mind." Let's see: fabled Jewish mystical/occult text. Yep, that'll mess with your mind alright.
He then asked me if I'd read the Kabbala. I did a double-take, whereupon he pronounced that it was "pretty good, but it'll mess with your mind." Let's see: fabled Jewish mystical/occult text. Yep, that'll mess with your mind alright.
Live Earth
Umm, isn't it just a bit strange to be holding massive rock concerts, which will necessarily involve enormous power and travel expenditures, not to mention pollution, for the sake of an environmental cause? Roger Daltrey said "bollocks" to that, and I'm feeling like I'm with him.
It reminds me of those idiotic NBC spots where celebrities like George Lopez explain to us the finer points of parenting. "Aha! I'd never thought of 'hugging, not slugging' my child, but since a TV comedian says I should try it out, I'll give it a shot!" Why should I give a rotten *@&#$%^ what Keith Urban says about, well, anything?
It's almost as if--call me crazy--these people, like the Prius owners featured in the NYT recently, are all about ostentatious displays of their piety. Now let's see if I can remember any teachings about showing off one's religiousity . . . hmmmm. . . I'll get back to you on that one. But really, it's for a good cause. There's no need for this misanthropic skepticism, is there?
It reminds me of those idiotic NBC spots where celebrities like George Lopez explain to us the finer points of parenting. "Aha! I'd never thought of 'hugging, not slugging' my child, but since a TV comedian says I should try it out, I'll give it a shot!" Why should I give a rotten *@&#$%^ what Keith Urban says about, well, anything?
It's almost as if--call me crazy--these people, like the Prius owners featured in the NYT recently, are all about ostentatious displays of their piety. Now let's see if I can remember any teachings about showing off one's religiousity . . . hmmmm. . . I'll get back to you on that one. But really, it's for a good cause. There's no need for this misanthropic skepticism, is there?
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