Culture

As I sat down to write my paper, I looked up the word culture and started brainstorming. I made a list of words that has to do with culture and then I began thinking about my everyday life and everything I see and do and how it pertains to culture.

-attitudes

-behavior patterns

-development

-growing

-human works

-thought

-lifestyle

-rituals

-civilization

-society

-counter culture

-traits

-expressions

-breed

-social groups

I then asked my friends and family what they think of when they hear the word 'culture', this list is from their responses:

-gumbo

-mardi gras

-dancing

-family traditions

-genealogy

-customs

-languages

-french music

-other world cultures

-holidays dedicated to different races

-food

-coming of age

-diversity

-how people live their life & how they do things

-different religions

-ethics

I then found notes from my human geography class on 'material and non-material culture':

Material culture: physical objects that represent a cultural practice, for example Muslims adamant about wearing a headscarf because women could be seen as sex symbol. This is also an ex. of CODE OF CONDUCT

Non-material culture: wide-range of customs and beliefs passed from one generation to the next

Universalism: certain characteristics among cultures that is a universal range of knowledge, interests, and activities.

When I googled the world culture and looked through the images, this is what I found:

Outsider

So here's my first blog for the semester. I finally figured out my login info, so I'll be posting all the entries I failed to over the past several weeks. Topic: pretend you are an outsider looking in at something in the world, describe what you see out of the ordinary.

Walking around campus, you learn to take in a lot of things by observing whats around you and whats going on. In my spare time, I have come to enjoy this walk, especially in the quad- where most of the action stays. Others walk around with devices attached to them; they cannot function without them. It makes me wonder if these certain things are running our lives like robots. This dependency on technology has certainly taken over our lives. I stare as people run into walls and nearly each other, staring down at this little box in their hands. As I turn the corner, I see people shaking hands, each with matching objects held to their ears. "How rude?!", I think.. and then begin wondering what life would be without these devices.

Others have white wires hanging from their ears, and walk looking straight ahead like they are being controlled by a game. I begin to put myself into a whole different perspective, I pretend that I am in the game also, wondering who's really behind the controller. I realize that people have to have a companion, or another object with them; the people that don't have devices attached to them have someone walking along side of them. I realize that humans have an obsession with needing someone or something else in their lives. No one can walk alone in this game, no one is strong enough to. Each object they posses or protect becomes their obsession, whether its a companion (another being) or simply just an object (technology). This is a fun game to play.

lazy daisy

WOW, I forgot about this place, I've been living life in the fast lane and now everything is starting to calm down. I have lots of blogs to catch up on. First of all, I can honestly say that now I have become a true dog lover :) I was on my way to class and saw this guy standing in the grass next to the lakes ((RIGHT BY THE ROAD!!)) with 6 puppies and only the momma dog on a leash, holding up a sign that said 'puppies! to a good home'. I was never allowed to have any other animal other than a fish or a bunny rabbit or ridiculous chickens as a pet, but as soon as I passed, I knew that if any were left by the time class was over, that would change. Well I forgot all about going back to see the puppies until I was halfway home. I screeched to a stop at the nearest turnaround spot and headed back to lsu, praying that there would still be one for me to take home. Sure enough, the guy was still standing around as I passed and when I pulled in the parking lot, he began walking to his car; I parked right next to him. I stopped him before he put the puppies in the backseat and he informed me that he had just given up because he had been standing out on the roadside for 4 hours, 2 puppies were left. As soon as I laid eyes on the girl dog, I knew she was coming home with me.



She is so sweet and playful, I named her Daisy Duke. When I want to lay down and nap or chill on the couch, she lays right there with me; when I'm doing housework or getting dressed, shes at my feet every step of the way; when its bed time, she parks and howls because she doesn't like to be locked in a room..lol. Can someone say spoiled rotten?

She loves being outside, when she goes to potty (which surprisingly, she was trained very easily to do), you have to make her come back inside most of the time ha. She likes exploring around the house and laying on my treeskirt. She hates loud noises, and can't stand to be away from people

lookout davinci

So I've been on a painting kick. Probably because it relaxes me and it takes so much concentration to complete it, that I can't think of anything else while I'm doing it. This particular one was supposed to be for my dad for father's day, but I was too busy to complete it then. I decided to pull it out this past week, this time maybe it can be for my parent's anniversary. Ok so really, this is just a cell phone picture and it just does no justice to what the painting really looks like.

And this one would be for my awesome aunt :) I don't know where I would be without her.

Sunflowers are symbolic of adoration. Sunflowers turn their heads to the sun, which is the origin of their common name. Isn't that a coincidence. Adoration: the act of paying honor/ devoted love. Wow, so "this one's for yew aunt jenny". I found the meaning of this before I painted it yesterday, its really touching to me actually. This painting was done with love for someone I look up to, for someone I know who will always be there, for the person that means so much to me.. for the one I know I can come to with anything. Perhaps the most important: the person who has taught me more than I can ever thank her for.

Painting is my clutch just like photography. It relaxes me, it makes me feel accomplished, it makes me feel worthy and talented. When times are tough, paint. When all else fails, paint. When your parents don't appreciate your painting, paint for someone else. hahahahhhahaaa
toodles.

angelo!

So today Im stuck babysitting this precious little joy. This would be Angelo, my godchild :)

He's so cute and he loves to laugh, although he does his fair share of whining!! He's so photogenic, when you take a camera out or tell him to look for a picture, he stands still like he knows exactly what to do. SHAAA

Its nice to have a day to myself not having to worry about anything. I definately wish it wasn't so bloody hot and muggy outside, I would work on some paintings. O well, toodles.

when life becomes a struggle, look up.

This past week has been a test of my emotions. I have been through so much with everyone in my life, I have really found out who my true friends are and who the people are that will always be there. I have learned that no matter how hard it is to stand up for yourself, you have to hold your head up. I don't believe in revenge, I believe in forgiving and forgetting, no matter how hard it is. I believe that all things are possible with the Lord's blessing on my life. I have had some amazing people enter and exit my life recently, and even though it is hard, I realize that I have to keep going and only allow things to make me stronger, not break me.

This weekend, I had the busiest weekend that I've had in a while. Despite all of the rushing and confusion, I really had time to stop and smell the flowers. I did a wedding at the Louisiana Castle, it was the most beautiful place I've ever seen. The day was so perfect, the sun was shining bright, the birds were chirping, and yellow butterflies surrounded me. Since the day my pawpaw has died, when I see a yellow butterfly, I always think of him. It's comforting to know that his presence was there with me, I couldn't have asked for anything more relaxing for a Sunday.
I love everything about weddings, from the silly pictures to the smell of the cake; from the groom putting on his cuff links to his priceless face when his bride walks down the aisle. Photography has become my clutch, I don't know what I would do without it. To know that you are giving someone memories to hold on to forever just drives me to put my all into it and not only to take a picture, but to capture emotions and make them memories. I hope to do photography for the rest of my life.



I also don't know what I would do without certain people in my life. It's good to know that not everyone will turn their back on me when I need them. AmyLynn has become the person I look up to the most. She inspires me beyond belief and is always there for me with the best advice. The whole ride up to the Castle, we talked about my family and she just really got my thoughts and emotions flowing. Mrs.Deb has become like my second mother, she has taught me that life is tough, get a helmet and don't take anyone's shit. She's one strong woman and I admire her for all she's been through. We just got to talking about family and my dad, and how he really has no clue what he's doing to me emotionally, which I was blind to before this talk, because I thought I was MiSS TOUGH STUFF, but it really broke me inside to even think about what they were telling me. Mrs. Deb said there was nothing more emotional than seeing her husband cry when her daughter walked down the aisle.

Every wedding I have done lately, my favorite part has become the father/bride dance. It breaks me inside but I love taking the emotion and putting it into a photograph. They're always laughing, crying, kissing, and looking into each others eyes. A look that goes deep into each of their souls, where you can almost see their heart; telling each other 'I love you so much'. The best part about this dance would have to be the music. Each song the bride picks seems to be a reflection of their lives together. Whether its 'I Loved Her First', 'My Little Girl', or 'Butterfly Kisses', I could stare all day and be happy for them seeing the way the father looks at his newly-wed daughter.


There's nothing more in this world that I want than to heal the relationship between my dad and I. When I look back at old memories, I was daddy's little girl, and I don't understand how it could be gone just like that. I remember going camping, learning to ride a bike, boatriding, sitting in daddy's lap fishing, and him coming to tuck me in every night. I will hold onto those forever. Not everything in life is understandable, and thats what's life is all about. Yes, I have made a lot of bad decisions and mistakes, but I have only grown to become the person I am today. I don't like letting things get to me and when I feel like I have told everyone how I feel, and there's no one else to go to, releasing my thoughts in writing comforts me.
There's nothing I can do but keep on keepin' on .. Gittin er' done .. and rockn' and rolln' baby..
Don't let anything steal the joy in your heart that you have been blessed with.

dream it & rock it

"There is a fine line between dreams and reality, it's up to you to draw it. "
-B. Quilliam

So I found this quote today and it really hit me that I have a lot of huge dreams that seem impossible to reach. If you don't take it upon yourself to make things happen, they will be dreams forever. I want to reach for the stars and even if I don't get one, I know I won't come out with a handful of mud. I think reality has hit me and I realize that I need a change. Life may seem like one big party, but it only lasts long enough until reality hits. It seems like I live on one big rollercoaster and the same things happen again and again and I'm ready to stand in line for another ride. I want to get away from here and go experience and live and discover new things and somehow do it all fearlessly. I won't let another opportunity drift away. I guess I have my aunt and Jordan to thank for always being there for me and always making me lift my head up higher. Because of them, I know that I can make anything happen; I just have to make an effort and follow my heart.

"All the things that make you mad,
All the baggage in your past
Don't leave much room for a girl like me to be
So I'll fill her up with hope and worn-out dreams"

-Miranda Lambert

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. "
-Eleanor Roosevelt

With that said, I am applying to a college in Georgia. I plan on transferring from LSU to SCAD, Savannah College of Art and Design. I think its time I breakaway to reality and start life.

"Pack the good and leave the rest
I'll drive until I find the missing piece
You said I wouldn't get too far on a tank of gas
And an empty heart
But I have everything I'll ever need"

-Miranda Lambert