When I come back from a long weekend at home:

What I do during online classes:

Detroit Zoo

Today my roommate Alexa and I checked out the Detroit Zoo. A majority of the animals were being super lazy - lame! But there was something really awesome: the prairie dogs! Plus they had sweet tunnels so that you too could be one of the dogs.

"Syria by the Sea"

"Syria by the Sea" by Frederick Edwin Church (1873)

This afternoon I spent some time at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). Let's be honest, 95% of what I find truly compelling or appealing in art is usually very textured - BUT this painting is not and it is captivating. It was one of the first ones I saw on my way in the door in an exhibit on landscapes. This picture does not do it justice whatsoever. The piece is Church's commentary on how civilizations come and go, but nature is still there.

Greatest Mistake

"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one." -Elbert Hubbard

Another Classic

So as I've been scurrying around like a flustered chicken in a coop because I'm moving to a different country in a few days, I have so many people to see, things to do, etc. Anyway, I have been turning to music to soothe my soul a bit. (Also to make packing significantly more exciting). So since I have been, I have rediscovered two musical truths: 1. Johnny Cash is basically untouchable in terms of quality and his ability to transcend lines of age, class, and geographic location while presenting innovative work, and brilliant story telling. 2. Motown songs are all about heart and soul. Otherwise they would just be dumb pop songs. Some of them are, the classics and the masters conquered the bubble gum to bring about real emotion and depth through the quality and inflection in their voices. The Temptations, Al Greene, and a few others absolutely have got expressing the feelings of human existence on lock. I promise that I don't just love Motown because I'm moving to Detroit, it's been a life long favorite. My family can attest to that. But today, here's a song from the Temptations:

Enjoy your day gentlepeople : D

"When the Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash

I'm feeling pretty anxious this morning, just thought I would share my unabashed optimism ; )