Monday, October 27, 2008I AMA Shift An unexpected change Open and welcoming doors Growth Introspection Definition Claiming title Humbly basking in small wins Losing what was once The crumbs left behind I can’t sweep them up Growth Introspection Definition I Am 
Sunday, July 27, 2008Home From EthiopiaI’ve been home for a little over a month now. My trip was extraordinary! I traveled with a group of 10. I only knew Dr. Soronsen prior to the trip. I was a little nervous about setting out on a two week journey with eight other people I didn’t know. I quickly got over that as the group was a fantastic group of women. Dr. Soronsen was the only male. We had a blast! We traveled throughout the country. We flew but also had several all day bus trips where we were able to see and experience the country. I expected to see poverty, but was still staggered by the enormity of it all. Despite the poverty, I was amazed by the happiness and contentment of the people I met. I fell into a pattern of waking up at 4 am, Ethiopia time. As a group, we generally had breakfast at 8 am. At 6 am I would venture out of my room and go for a walk looking for coffee. I usually found a coffee house or a pastry shop where I could journal, (amongst the men). Walking back to the hotel, I usually encountered students walking to school. I was approached by curious students. They would practice their English on me and always had many many questions. One of my co workers had sent me on my way with bags to give as gifts. I honestly didn’t understand who I was going to give gifts to, but I packed them and these kids on my morning walks got bags. Canvas bags to carry school work in. Talking to the kids, one of the common themes I found was that they needed pens.
I made contacts to send school supplies back to two schools in two different villages. I told a co-worker about this. She held a pen drive at work and I have over 250 pens to send back to the schools I made contact with.
I have never felt so free.
Sunday, April 20, 2008San Antonio Rock & Roll Marathon and 1/2 MarathonAbout a month ago a good friend of mine started poking me in the side about training for a Marathon. I was like, “WHAT? A MARATHON?”. Last week she started pitching the idea again and to appease her relentless campaign I agreed that I would consider it if i could get up every morning for a week. I didn’t truely anticipate that I would, but some how I managed to get up every morning at 5 and work out. So I have committed to train and run the San Antonio Rock & Roll Marathon and 1/2 Marathon I am going to do the half marathon. I am real excited about this. I want to walk away from 2008 and say I accomplished this. It turns out that I know several other people who are also training, and my mom is going to train and run as well. The hardest part for me will be staying motivated and keeping up the momentum for this long range goal. But I have family and friends involved and hopefully we will all be able to keep eachother motivated.
See you at the finish line!
Monday, March 03, 200825 Facts About Women WorldwideThis was taken from She-Power. I stumbled upon the site and found the list interesting. Thank you Lu for the stumble hit! Muah 1. 80% of the 50 million people around the world who are affected by violent conflicts, civil wars, disasters, and displacement are women and children 2. In 2004, 48.8% of the seats held in parliament in Rwanda were held by women. Contrast that to Cuba where 36% of the seats were held by women, and the USA, where 14.3 % of the seats were held by women. Saudi Arabia and the Solomon Islands are just two countries where there are no women in parliament (UNDP, Human Development Report 2004) 3. In 76 countries, less than half the eligible girls are enrolled in secondary school 4. Women own only 1% of the world’s land 5. Approximately three million women in the USA sport tattoos 6. A Saudi Arabian woman can get a divorce if her husband doesn’t give her coffee 7. 43% of Australian marriages end in divorce. of those who remarry, 65% of them will divorce again. By the time you try for marriage number 3, your chance of getting divorced is about 75% 8. The women of the Tiwi tribe in the South Pacific are married at birth 9. It is illegal to be a prostitute in Siena, Italy, if your name is Mary 10. In parts of Malaya, the women keep harems of men 11. The two highest IQ’s ever recorded (on a standard test) both belong to women 12. In Kenya where 38% of the farms are run by women, those women manage to harvest the same amount per hectare (2.47 acres) as men, despite men having greater access to loans, advice, fertilizers, hybrid seeds, insecticides. And when women were given the same level of help, they were found to be more efficient than men, and produced bigger harvests 13. Over half a million women die in childbirth every year in Africa and Asia 14. Nearly 1/2 of all Indonesian women have had their first child by the time they are 17 15. In the USA, unintended pregnancies account for almost half of all pregnancies 16. According to The World Health Org., 40 per cent of girls aged 17 or under in South Africa are reported to have been the victim of rape or attempted rape 17. In Sweden, 76% of mothers work, the highest percentage in the developed world 18. Australia, New Zealand and the US are among a handful of governments that do not require women to be paid some form of maternity leave. In countries as diverse as Russia, Colombia, Laos and Morocco, the government foots the entire bill for three to six months of maternity leave 19. By age 55, 95% of all U.S. women have married 20. In 2007 the world’s richest self-made woman was Ms Zhang Yin, a Chinese paper recycling entrepreneur 21. Only 5% of Hollywood feature films are directed by women 22. Today, Japan leads the world in condom use. Like cosmetics, they’re sold door to door, by women 23. Seventy percent of women would rather have chocolate than sex (Poll taken in a 1995 women’s magazine) 24. Australian women have sex on the first date more than women the same age in the USA and Canada 25. China is considered the next big marketing opportunity for the tobacco industry because only 3.8% of Chinese women smoke, compared with 63 % of adult males When you research the state of women around the world, I am sad to say that finding inspiring facts and figures is difficult. There is much that I left off this list, simply because I didn’t want to send everyone into a black mood for the day! We may look around at progress in developed countries and feel women are better off than they’ve ever been, but we are such a minority. The story is completely different for much of the world’s women, who are suffering from the same persecution, and deplorable health and living conditions that they’ve endured for centuries. I’ll try to remember that the next time I’m complaining about my life. If you have access to a computer, shelter, breakfast in your tummy and are able to read this, then you already have so much to be grateful for. Have a great day. The writer signs off as Kelly. She did not site any references, but I still found the “facts” interesting.
~Melissa
Sunday, February 17, 2008I haven’t blogged in how long?So, how long can one go without posting a blog on thier own website? I figured I was reaching the end of some sort of “keep yourslef valid” timeline. Things here are good, art production is happening but at a snails pace. My media is the same, but my form has changed. I am producing, but not posting as much. I am still trying to find my new voice. I am going to Ethiopia in June for two week. I am busy getting my visa and shots taken care of. Things here are good.... im a busy and happy girl. Life is good. Melissa
Sunday, October 21, 2007Zombie Walk San Antonio 07Igby loves zombies, so when I heard about this I of course had to let let give it a try. It was the first ever in San Antonio. Apparently they have Zombie Walks in NYC and in Seattle. The masterminds dreamed this up and made it happen after a night of zombie movies. I was completely blown away by how many people came out. I think there was over a hundred zombies. Here is Igby in full make up.
Here is Ibgy in the Zombie walk.
Group Photo
I tried to keep to the side lines and let Igby do his thing. I have some more photos posted on my Photo Blog It was surreal seeing this mob of zombies walk from the Tower of Americas to the Alamo. For the most part, people were welcoming and enjoyed it. The crowd was so big that I couldn’t see what was going on in the back end. Where I was stationed.... the zombies were cool and not overtly trying to scare children or cause a nuisance. The organinzers had asked that we didn’t disrupt the local businesses and I was glad to see that the Zombies were compliant. I got Igby dressed and ready but didn’t get myself made up. Next year I will definantly participate. Cheers and Happy Halloween! Melissa
Friday, October 19, 20078 Hour Comic Book DayHow cool is this. I am pleased to see something like this come together here in San Antonio. The original thought is a 24 hour type of marathon where comic book creators make a 24 page comic book in 24 hours. Here in San Antonio it is going to be an 8 page book in 8 hours. Lots of cool people are participating like the world famous Alfredo Lopez Jr. , his lovely partner in crime Alejandra Gomez, and the dark and mysterious Mike from Screaming Samurai Studio, as well as several others. It is taking place at the Downtown San Antonio Library. So go pay off your library fines and stop by to see San Antonio’s greatest Geniuses and Masterminds at work.
Art is life… come out to support your local artists. Cheers - Melissa
Wednesday, September 05, 2007Check Out This Art ShowSome of my favorite people will be showing this Friday at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. Based on the list of artists, I believe this will be a show jam packed with talent. I cant wait to see it!
Best of luck to everyone! Melissa
Saturday, August 25, 2007Comic Book Artist GuildMr. Alfredo Lopez has gotten involved in the Comic Book Artist Guild here in Texas. It is a new chapter and he is helping get it launched.
What a wonderful artists group to have in San Antonio to add to its already diverse art scene. Igby and I are planning on stopping by. Igby has always been a huge Spiderman fan. Thanx Freddy for the invite! Hope you have a great turnout! Melissa
Monday, July 09, 2007New ProjectsI have a couple new projects I am about to start on. The first one I was commissioned to do for a co-worker who lives out here in the sticks by me. The structure is called a Hay-V. It is used to feed horses and cows. They put the hay in it for them to feed off of. The thing I am most excited about it is working off the rust. I am craving the dirty and physical work it will take to get the rust off. I see myself out in the sun next weekend getting sweaty and dirty. She has many acres of land and the Hay-V is in an area she is landscaping. We agreed on how I will paint it..... my vision is abstract and earthy.... can’t wait to show you the outcome.....
Second is my Dia De Los Muertos Project. I don’t want to divulge to much, but it is going to be 7X8 feet in size. It will have 350 skulls and has to do with the war. I worked out the math last week. I’m excited to start it. I miss Igby. Life is good.... on with creation! melissa
Monday, June 18, 2007Is it Igby or is it Me Who is Collecting the Comics?About two months ago my son discovered Marvel Zombies and the Ultimate Fantastic Four. I was tickled by his enthusiasm and had no problems indulging HIS new interest. I started researching the comic series on line and we started to frequent comic book stores around town looking for the books. With in two months time I had managed to get my hands on the first printing of Marvel Zombies #2, #3, and #4. This weekend I came across the first printing of #5. It’s the cover with Zombie Spiderman and the bride. All I have left to find is the first printing of #1. I would like to get all the variant covers too. I have quite a few of them already, but it’s the first printings that are the big prize for me. So I will be out on the prowl for the first printing of #1. After this collection I will move onto The Ultimate Spiderman. I also have had my eye out for Starship Troopers Marooned part 3 due out this month. This one is of particular interest to me because one of my best friends and artist extraordinaire has done the color work for the cover. Now my opinion about Freddy Lopez might be a bit bias, but if you ask me I think he is one of THE MOST TALENTED colorists out there. Starship Troopers is due out this month. So find the nearest comic book store and buy the issue before it sells out!
Your Local Comic Mama,
Thursday, May 24, 2007Super Monkey Ball and Marvel ZombiesWith Igby turning 9 I found myself a little blue at his B-Day Disco Bowling Party. As I watched him interact with his party guests I realized that my little boy isn’t a little boy anymore. It made me wonder how long until he doesn’t want to snuggle anymore? How long until his friends become his “world”? How long until he wont let me call him sweetheart or kiss him on the cheek when I pick him up at school? With a sigh, I sang and clapped as he blew out his candles. The first thing we did when we got home was set up his Wii. He and his cousins were foaming at the mouth as I read through the instructions. My 9 year old nephew kept telling me “Aunt Melissa, I can set up. You don’t need to read the instructions, I’m good at this.” He probably could have set it up fast than I did, but I had a point to prove to myself and in no time at all the Wii was up and running. Ok… so my blues were swiftly washed away when I strapped the Wii controller onto my hand and battled the boys I was soo afraid of growing up. New game system… clean slate…. my mini victories at Super Monkey Ball and mastering the Wii took me to a new high. The competition and smack talking tail spinned me into a world I though I knew…. But didn’t. It is time to step up to the plate and learn. Barney and Blues Clues were no brainers. Super Monkey Ball is far more entertaining. But that isn’t all my son is looking at. The media isn’t as “innocent” as I would like it to be. I am a liberal parent. I am open about subjects others wait to confront. But none the less, I need to know what he is looking at. Not only do I need to know, but understand. I only hope I can keep up. He has a new comic passion for Marvel Zombies. I found the whole series and sub series on line today. I almost bought them, but I think searching for the missing volumes together will be much more fun! Life is good…. Comic book stores and Super Monkey Ball suit me just fine…. melissa
Monday, April 30, 2007Running The Numbers"Statistics can feel abstract and anesthetizing, making it difficult to connect with and make meaning of 3.6 million SUV sales in one year, for example, or 2.3 million Americans in prison, or 426,000 cell phones retired every day.” ......... Click here for the article and pictures. This was just too cool not to post. The artists name is Chris Jordon. Give his website chrisjordon.com a look. Its well worth it. It has some fantastic images. Melissa
Thursday, April 19, 2007Earth Day 2007Sunday is Earth Day. I was disapointed to find a lack of celebration on the web. It only exemplifies the need to post and remind people how important our resources are. Without the Earth where would we be? It’s that simple. For Earth Day Igby and I are making canvas grocery bags. The plastic bags they give us at the store, most of them even if reused in the home end up in a landfill somewhere. There are a few other ideas like 18 Seconds, a campaign to switch out your light bulbs for more earth friendly bulbs. They are more expensive… but make a big differance in how much energy is used. There are lots of other small things you can do like....
*choose products that are not over packaged
If you would like to order an official Earth Day Flag they are available. My post might be a little late to order for this year.... but if you ask me everyday should be Earth Day. Take a stand.... make a differance.... if everyone did something small it would all add up to something big! Earth Day is Sunday.... What are YOU going to do to love your HOME? -Melissa
Wednesday, April 18, 2007National Poetry MonthIts National Poetry Month. I had signed up at a couple differant sites for a “poem a day” email for the month. I took a particular shine to this one. I really enjoyed reading what work of his I could find on the web. Think I may even pick up one of his books.
The Coming of Light
Mark Strand
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