Lauren
Campus: Orland ParkProgram: Graphic Arts
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Graphic Design program here at Robert Morris. I
realized at a young age that art was my calling. I've
been painting, doodling, drawing, decorating, and
creating things for as long as I can remember. My love
of scrapbooking led me in the direction of Graphic
Design. It's just like doing scrapbook layouts, only
with a computer. For a few years now I have been
putting my art talent to work by doing murals for
people in their homes. I especially love doing animal
murals and clouds for nurseries and playrooms, and
faux window murals in kitchens and bathrooms. When I
am not painting, I'm usually at school, working at my
part-time job, or spending time with my boyfriend of
five years, John. I love fall weather and taking walks
when the air is crisp, especially downtown near the
Planetarium or in the forest preserves. When it's too
chilly to be outside, I like to go bowling. I think of
myself as a good listener, and I love giving advice to
people about school, relationships and even things
like nutrition. I have many goals about living a
healthy lifestyle, and I love it when people ask me
how they can do the same. I am very anxious to
graduate and get my Bachelor's Degree, and I know my
time spent here at Robert Morris will help me to
achieve my goals of making a name for myself in the
art and design world!
Next on Real Life...
Well my weekend is pretty much over but I am looking forward to the fact that I don't have school tomorrow. It will be nice not to have to set my alarm in the morning...what an irritating noise! Do you ever squirm just by hearing the sound of an alarm clock going off in a movie or T.V. commercial? I know I do.
So, Friday was pretty easy going for me. I slept a little later because I had stayed up until 12:30 a.m. watching Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty that my mom taped for me. I'm a little ticked that they moved Grey's Anatomy to Thursday because it's on at the same time as CSI...so now we have to tape one show and watch it later on. I'm pretty sure they move the most popular shows to the same time slot because they are competing for viewers. Anways, getting back to Friday...I had to work from 1-5 which wasn't too bad. Work was kind of slow. My boyfriend John came over in the evening and suggested we go see the movie "Employee of the Month" with Dane Cook and Jessica Simpson. I heard the movie got bad reviews, but honestly, I thought it was pretty good. Everyone complains about Jessica Simpson being a bad actress but I think she was pretty decent. The only reason the critics probably didn't like it was because there was no violence, nothing blowing up, no guns, sex, drugs, and very, very little potty humor! The movies with that stuff usually gets great reviews - go figure!
After the movie I got a sweet tooth but knew there was nothing in the house that would cure that! I suggested pie and tea from Baker's Square as an after-the-movie-treat. After a huge slice of strawberry rhubarb for me and french silk for John, it was time for me to go home and go to bed since I had to get up and work on Saturday morning. That's never fun! I somehow managed to roll out of bed and get myself there at 7:15. Thankfully the phones were really quiet and I didn't have to stop what I was doing in order to answer them and take orders. Our driver was swamped with deliveries and was pretty much all over the southland...I had to deliver 7 of the more local ones, like Orland and Tinley. I did get a $2 tip for one of them! WooHoo! Haha, I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but it makes our day. Since most of the Edible Arrangements are gifts that are being sent out, most people do not expect them, so therefore they don't have a tip ready since it's a surprise to them. Unlike ordering a pizza, you know it's coming, so you usually have something ready for the pizza dude. I did get to take a special delivery though...it was for my Aunt Cindy. A friend of her's from work called in the order on Friday and I took the call. I was so happy to hear one of my family members was getting an arrangement! She just had knee surgery and was received it as a get well. She was thrilled!
After getting off of work on Saturday I had to take a run over to Jewel to get a card, some flowers, and cake mix for my Mom and Dad's anniversary which is on Monday, the 9th. Thirty years!!! I also got them a gift card to go see a movie. I tried to sneak a nap in before we left for dinner but that didn't work out too well since we spent about 2 hours trying to figure out where we were making the dinner reservations. No one could decide on what they had a taste for until my dad suggested a steak dinner. We settled on Jack Gibbon's in Oak Forest. My Dad always heard that they were one of the best steak places in town. I felt like I went back in time when I went there...it's got an authentic 50's retro feel to it...I guess not much has changed since then! Honestly though, I do have to say that I don't think I have ever seen steaks as big as the ones they serve there! It reminded me of the "old 96er" (a steak that basically looks like half of the cow) from the movie The Great Outdoors (by the way, great movie if you've never seen it).
After our evening was over we went home and I fell asleep on the couch for two hours while everyone else watched a movie. I thought after that little nap I wouldn't be able to fall asleep when I actually went to bed - but I was wrong about that...I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow and slept like a rock the rest of the night. Today was spent relaxing and just spending time with the fam again. I'm very lucky that I have cool parents and actually have fun hanging out with them! They know how to have a good time. My mom and I went "browsing" this afternoon. I saw a dark cherry wood poster bed in the sales paper for a furniture store and wanted to check it out. I've wanted a poster bed for as long as I can remember. However, the whole bedroom set would set me back about $5,000. *Sigh* Maybe one day when I when the lottery...
I posted pictures from dinner on Saturday night...my parents, My sister and me, and John. There's also a pic of Johnny and me on our 5 year anniversary this past June, and also a picture of Ned, this HUGE, fat spider that lives out on our deck. :)
Well today I am starting my very first Robert Morris blog! I'm really excited about this...it's something I never would have thought a college would offer, and I think it is a great way to get to know other students, and for other students to get to know me. Some of you may have viewed my profile and read that art is my passion and calling in life! I spent a little over two years as a self-employed mural painter. All of my work was through word-of-mouth. However, I havn't gotten any calls since March. It is great that I was able to make my own hours and work when I wanted, but it's hard not knowing when you will get your next paycheck. And come on, we all know how expensive our books are! :)
I now work part-time after school at Edible Arrangements in Orland. For those of you who don't know, we make arrangements that look like a basket of flowers out of fresh cut fruit. I like it, but during the holidays it can get pretty hectic. I honestly don't know if I would even have time to paint murals anymore if I got the call for them. It's a lot harder now that I can't pick when my classes are. So, I think everything worked out for a reason. Maybe when I am done with school the mural painting will pick up again. But let me tell ya, it can be a lot of hard work. Some people think that painting pretty little pictures on walls is not strenuous, but they are wrong! Six to eight hours of being on my feet or a ladder all day, plus lugging all my paints and equipment from the car to the house and to the room is a lot of work. My right shoulder and neck have suffered some abuse from constantly holding my arm up to paint for long periods of time...but no matter how much work it is, I still love it. So, I finally feel like I got a break this week! It's hard getting used to no summer vacation. I am only taking 3 classes this quarter, and they don't seem to produce a lot of homework which is good! I now have thursday and friday mornings to relax before I have to go to work at 1.
My sister just got back from Hawaii with her husband...they went to celebrate their 2 year wedding anniversary. Oh how I would love to go to Hawaii! Maybe someday I will get there! The last time I went on a real vacation was January of 2004, to Palm Springs California to visit my Uncle John and Aunt Mary. I did take a trip to Iowa in July, but I can't really consider that any kind of vacation. My Aunt Mary passed away after an 18 year battle with cancer. She was such a fighter and never gave up, even when her doctors told her she had only 7-10 years left. She was an inspiration to many people around her, and no matter how sick she felt she always had a smile on her face...even until the very end!
Speaking of relatives and vacations and all that, my Dad's cousin is coming in from Florida next week, and then she is going to come again with her son around Thanksgiving. We always have so much fun when they come in. Then Uncle John is going to come and see us in December, since it will be his first Christmas without Aunt Mary. :( I am not used to being home in the mornings like this, and it's nice that I am still in my PJ's, sipping a cup of tea, typing my blog, thinking about how I can still catch part of the Price Is Right! I used to watch that show every morning during the summer when I was a kid. I was pretty darn good at it too. Maybe one day I can go out to Cali and test my luck! Speaking of luck....you know how Kiss FM has that "pay my bills" thing? And old friend of mine from grammar school won! She said they were helping with her car payments. I am not sure if they pay off the whole thing, or just make one monthly payment or something. I sent her an email to find out all the details. Wouldn't it be nice if someone paid your bills? I would absolutely love that!
I just looked out my window and it looks like a nice sunny day, but I bet it's chilly out there. I hate when that happens. If it's chilly outside I'd rather it be gloomy, and if it is sunny, I like it to be warm. I love fall...I really do. I don't like when it's so hot that you feel like you want to melt and you have to blast the AC and close all the doors and windows. I like sweater and jeans weather. This week's weather has been absolutely nuts! First it was about 80 degrees on Sunday and a little too warm for me. I sat out on the deck and felt like a pig roasting on a spit! I don't like like that...I am all about being anti-sunbathing and anti-tanning beds, etc. The last thing I want is to be about 29 or 30 and starting to show some wrinkles and crow's feet. EWWW! So, I avoid the sun if I can. Getting off my little rant and back on to the weather....so then Monday we had these nasty storms and SUPER humid air, which left so many people, including my boyfriend, without power. And it left me looking like a poodle....haha, curly hair and humidity do not mix well! Then yesterday it was really chilly out, but sunny. It's crazy - I never know what to wear in the morning. Will I be hot or freezing? Do I wear shorts or a snowsuit? You know how Chicago is, all 4 seasons in one day. Hopefully we will have a nice weekend. I would like to do something on sunday since I don't work, like go horseback riding or something. I havn't done that since I went to Wisconsin Dells for vacation when I was a kid. One thing I am doing this weekend for sure is celebrating my Mom and Dad's 30th wedding anniversary! I can't believe they have been together for 30 years...actually more, since they started dating at the ages of 14 and 16. That's what I call true love! My sister, my boyfriend John, and my brother-in-law Jim want to take them out to dinner on Saturday night, and I think we'll have a cake too. We all love the Fuji Japanese Steakhouse here in Orland, which is right by school, in the Michael's Plaza. They have a hibatchi grill and they cook right in front of you. They have the most fantastic fried rice and green tea ice cream! I plan on taking a few photos and discussing it in my next blog!