Buon Giorno!

Morning! It's about twenty-to-twelve here right now, and I had some time to update you on my life, so here we go!

Robin made me a wonderful little "I Miss You" mix. I just wanted to brag about that. :D

Anyway, I've basically been attending class, eating, and hanging out with my main peeps! David got food poisoning (perhaps from falafel that was cooked in the same pan as meat--David is vegetarian). :( But he's doing better now. I'm going to try and download Gossip Girl for us to watch soon to get him back to 100% health!

I met with my MICA advisor/professor for independent, Kevin Labadie. Why do I always end up talking about faith with practical strangers? About intimate things? I swear, I could tell you a few sex stories ALREADY about some people here. It's crazy.

ANYWAY, I mentioned that Melissa and I are Christians (he asked how we got so close), and he took that and ran with it. It wasn't a personal thing, though. We discussed the differences between philosophy and faith, and he told me a story about this comparative religion teach he attended a party with once, and she said that all religion is philosophy, because religion is the "search for God". I about had a stroke when I heard that. I seriously put my hands over my face and had to keep myself from screaming in frustration! Thankfully, Kevin agreed with me, and defended our point to that teacher. Kevin is an agnostic (who went to Catholic military school--YIKES!), but he understands faith and understands that faith isn't a search for God, but a relationship WITH God.

Either way, it was nice to delve into that side of a teacher, and to be able to have those personal connections. I made a few simple observations about Kevin to him--mismatched socks, jittery, always in motion. Kevin noted that I seem very perceptive--detective-like, and with my sense of justice and passion, it could border on blackmail/vigilantism! I liked that. :P I've never thought of myself as having those scary tendencies, but it's reassuring to know that I have some capacity for bad-assery. :D

I think I might base my independent body of work on the concept of secrecy, told in cut paper, selective silhouette--pulling out important details on the paper with a blade. Secrecy has been a big part of my life in general--well, I should say, having the power to release the secrets has been. I like that power, and it's exciting to think about translating it into something visual and illustrative.

I'll catch up with you guys very soon. I'm going to Pisa and Lucca this weekend (have I mentioned that?), so I hope to bring home some pretty pictures!

Love and miss you guys. I hope you're all well! Update, update!

-A.