Alley Art Festival

We participated in Downtown Aurora's Alley Art Festival on Aug. 28th, 2010.


As the Fugly Duckling's first art show, we were all anxious to see how we would be perceived.  It ended up being an unexpectedly beautiful day, and we even sold stuff!  I made ~$70, and our booth made ~$700 thanks to Chryssa's amazing painting sale.All in all, we made ~$700 more than I expected and had fun doing it.  On top of all that, we have tons of awesome pictures, a lot more confidence, and another show coming up!


We will be working with the Quad County Urban League at their art show on September 29, 2010 in Aurora, IL.  More info to come!

Fugly Duckling @ Etsy

Fugly Ducklings

Alexandra and I have been customizing rubber duckies all week.  We plan to sell them for $3 at the Alley Art Festival next Saturday.

The Fugly Duckling

In better news, the Tawdry Owl has a sister, The Fugly Duckling.  We are basically selling the same stuff but more (see below).  The Tawdry Owl was originally created with a different image and business plan in mind, so the collective of artists that formed around it decided to create a spin-off company dedicated and open to artists that want to sell their re-purposed, recycled, and embellished goods.  You can fan our Facebook page or buy goods on our Etsy page.

PEER PRESSURE ENTRY

So, my friends have been tormenting me about blogging more.  My argument is that I didn't want this blog to be a journal where I piss and moan about how much life sucks.  However, I've got nothin' else going on, and people seem to think that this type of writing is more "real."  Thus, I've folded.  Here ya go:

I am actually so broke right now that I can't afford to work.  I booked a promo job in Chicago for today, but I literally only have change to my name right now.  I can't fill up my gas tank with change or pay $30/day to park in the city.  I can buy a train ticket in change, but then I have to worry about getting 2 miles to and from my destination, meals, emergencies, etc.  If they paid cash, it would be okay, but I won't see a pay check (as good as it may be) for 6-8 weeks.  Which, brings me to my next point:  Although they pay incredibly well, I HATE doing promotions.  They are so boring and tiring that a chimp would actually be more qualified to work them.  I take that back, what's a dumb animal that won't mind the boredom?  I'm pretty sure a chimp would bail out after like 15 minutes.

On top of having a degree that cost me $80 grand, which I won't ever be able to pay back, and not being able to find a job with it, I am living back at home with my mom and brother.  Approximately every two weeks, she calls to pass along all of my brother's complaints about having me, my partner, and our two dogs living under the same roof as him.  Lately, she's been pressing the I'm worried about your future line b/c, well, it's valid.  She's not planning on living much longer and can't afford her own lifestyle, let alone ours.  Thus, it makes sense to worry about how I'm going to survive, especially since my bro desperately wants us out.  Who cares that I do dishes twice daily, wash everyone's laundry, and continuously follow them around picking up all the shit that they absentmindedly leave in their wake?  That doesn't make up for the fact that the oven, lawnmower, and air conditioning are all broken (at no fault of anyone in the house), and no one has money to pay to get them fixed.  Who cares that I apply for dozens of jobs every week but can't so much as get an interview?  Shit - make that a rejection letter.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.  Until my next mood swing....

The Arizona Boycotts

When I first heard about the new Arizona law being proposed, I was not surprised.  Racial profiling of the Latino population in Arizona has been a public issue for years now.  However, I was surprised when it actually passed. 

Legalized discrimination is okay in Arizona.   This may be the case for few bigoted extremists, but now it has been made representative of the general public by the leading Arizona politicians. Given the uniqueness of the border states, I am always surprised when they turn on their own communities.  The rest of the country tends to view Mexicans as migrant workers or the poor laborers, rather than as a substantial part of their own community, but things are different in the South.  While the South has a long history of racism, the Southwest is also Mexican and Native American territory.  None of this information is new to anyone.  I am just always so shocked to see blatant colonizing still happening today.

I lived in Arizona for 2 years, and I loved the state.  I had hoped to move back some day soon, but as long as this law stands in effect, I can't do that.  One great thing about Arizona is the diversity in people and communities.  This law seeks to destroy that and endangers all of Arizona's community members.

Politically and psychologically, I understand the timing of this event.  Republicans are pissed about Obama and his "socialist" policies; The economy is in the shiter and people are fighting over jobs;  A general feeling of discontent and powerlessness has taken over the nation.  However, it is still amazing to me that a racist minority has managed to overthrow centuries of Americans combating bigotry and have managed to get such an non-progressive law passed!

The real reason I chose to blog about this issue is not just to rant about these jagbags, but also to highlight the small glimmer of hope and light at the end of the tunnel.  All morning long, I have been responding to petition requests, pleas for support, and boycotting proposals.  Last night, I actually saw mainstream news coverage on the backlash that lasted for more than 15 seconds!

The fact of the matter is, the general public is not happy about or supportive of this law, and they are not only speaking up about it, but they are actually taking action.  Nationwide, people are boycotting Arizona-based businesses, tourism, sports teams, and more.  They are taking to the streets and protesting outside of immigration and other government buildings. 

It's about time America truly recognized not only the contributions of Mexicans, but of immigrants in general.  Our country was founded by immigrants; Our land was colonized by immigrants; Our nation was built by immigrants; and America thrived from the labor of immigrants!  We have a long history of immigration, and it's time that immigrants and those who support the immigrant populations stop letting the general public dehumanize them and classify them as third class citizens!  After all, when it comes down to it, Americans ARE immigrants, most more so than the Mexican population that is so volatiley discriminatized. 

21st Century Bartering

This is my throw back to the simpler days before Wall Street and Corporate America fucked us all.  I am going back to the simplest form of exchange that I know of.  It's not exactly capitalistic, but I guess if you wanted to screw people out of their stuff so you can gluttonously horde it all, you could call it that.


What am I ranting about?  BARTERING  

In 2nd Grade, Mrs. Birch's class exchanged valuable possessions with our neighboring classes.  We, of course, were learning the version of American colonization where the settlers pretended to share their goods  with the Natives, in order to survive in the foreign land.  Of course, we all know now that this was all pretend niceties used to serve the agenda of the colonizers, but the main theme stuck with me over the years:

As long as we have energy in the form of skills, labor, goods, etc, we can always trade our boring, old toys for new and undiscovered ones! 

With all of this said and the well-known fact that I still am not working for cash, I have decided to start a network of individuals that are known amongst my trusted friends, local, and willing to share their goods and services.

Check out my new Facebook Group:  21st Century Bartering

Why did you even go to college?

"Why did you even go to college?" is a question that I have been asked on more than one occasion, including by my self.

I could make $10 an hour hocking crap to the capitalist-driven general public, but I want to "help people," so I went to college.  Now, I owe well more than my life is worth to the U.S. government, Sallie Mae, and credit card companies.  Yet, my college degree is only god for $10 an hour, entry-level work.

To be clear, a salary is not a concern for buying a house or investing but rather to sustain my life and pay off Discover card, who calls me at least fourteen times a day, and Sallie Mae, who clearly didn't get the memo after they told me (repeatedly) that there was "nothing they could do to work with my situation."  If I even planned to pay off my debt, sustain a family, move up in the social ranks, and invest in retirement, I would need to start at $30 an hour.  I would be perfectly willing to work my way up the financial ladder, but at my age and with my debt, I don't see how that could be fiscally possible.  I say this because I have already been working my way up the ladder for the past decade, and it caps for me at $10 an hour apparently.

Wouldn't it be amazing if the U.S. was one of those "backwards" countries that provides free education?  Or, better yet, one that pays you to learn a trade that provides a social service (similar to Germany)?

Move to America where you can make your own future! 

Unless, of course, you were raised in an Americanesque society that requires you to owe your life, as well as first of kin, just to even play Career Person.

It's amazing that people so intensely and desparetly fight off immigrants that make-up the grunting back-bone of American society, but they don't expend that same energy fighting to change a system that allows people of more progressive (in my opinion) societies to enter into our workforce with an advantage.  People say that immigrants are "stealing our jobs," but the fact of the matter is, our capitalist system, and thus our own society, is enthusiastically giving them away!  The capitalist system is flawed in that it charges us outside of our means to operate within it.  Yet, rather than change it to help us, Americans fight the "commies" and "socialists" and "immigrants" and "Change."

Wake up America!  Capitalism has failed us.  Our government has failed us.  It's time for some serious reform.

Religion and Politics

They say you shouldn't talk religion or politics with friends or family b/c it causes rifts.  While I understand this approach, I find i almost impossible to adhere to.  First of all, religion and politics are constantly intertwined.  Secondly, what else is more important that the two guiding forces in one's life?

Maybe neither seem like priorities in on your life, but religion and politics are cut from the same cloth - they establish rules for living life that have severe punishments if not followed.  For some people, family is a similar guiding force, and thus, not to be upset.  However, for people like me, family is neither a ruling force nor a guiding one.  Family can be chosen, despite popular belief.  I make this choice, and in doing so I choose a family that shares my humanitarian beliefs.

Over or under? Qualified that is...

I applied for a job in the North Aurora warehouse of the Aldi grocery stores today.  It wasn't something I intended on doing, but the opportunity arose, and I took it.  They pay their warehouse employees $17.50/hour! 

Although the process was extremely easy, I left feeling like a jackass.  I was embarrassed by my application because I have a university degree and tons of work experience, and I was applying for a job that, with the exception of a good work ethic (which I also have), requires very little knowledge or skill.  It was ackward submitting it to the executives that were running the "job fair," while we all knew that I was not applying to work with but (very obviously) under them.

Leaving, I knew that there was zero chance of them ever calling me for an interview.  However, the curious part was my sudden realization that while some may see me as "over-qualified," it is actually more likely that I am "under-qualified" for the position.  I have light stocking experience, but no warehouse priors.  I can't lift really heavy things, I wasn't referred by anyone (not actually true, but I failed to mention this on the application because I'm a nimwit), I'm not certified to operate any heavy machinery, and so on...

As usual, the question becomes, what am I qualified to do?  No one in my field wants to hire me because I don't have the right job experience, and no one in service-type jobs wants to hire me because I have a degree.

There is nothing more infuriating to me than a solid Catch 22.

The Tawdry Owl

My good friend, Nikki Rice, and I are opening up a new business.  We have been making fun crafts in our free time, and we've decided to sell them online at our new Etsy shop, The Tawdry Owl.  She likes to describe our work as "Tacky-Chic Items for You & Your Home!"  I'm not so much a fan of "tacky" as I am "colorful," but it's a collaboration, so there will be lots of variation in products.  Thus far, I have pumped out a bunch of recycled catalog picture frames that are super colorful and fun.  Check out our page and keep an eye out for new products and pics!

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Here are the frames I've made thus far...

Short Letter to President Obama

Originally posted March 2, 2010

Dear President Obama,

As a former resident of Chicago and a current resident of a Chicago suburb, I know how important it is for Chicagoans to have model politicians, something that has been lacking in this otherwise great city for some time now.

As President, you have the opportunity to finally set the example that not only proud Chicagoans but also proud Americans can look up to and strive to simulate.

Today, I am asking that you live up to the promises that convinced the American (and Chicagoan) public to elect you President of the United States of America.

You can do this by standing by your promise to remove all combat troops from Iraq by August of this year.

Americans are heartbroken in the face of continued deaths in Iraq and disowned as millions of dollars continue to be diverted from their communities, homes, and dinner tables .

Please end the cycle of disappointment and betrayal that Americans have been experiencing over the past 7 years and take the higher road that is the road to freedom for all citizens of the world.

I am one of many people who are part of a campaign that pledges to monitor the progress of withdrawal from Iraq because we feel this is in the best interest of both Iraq and the United States.

1,000 US Military Deaths in Afghanistan

Originally posted February 18, 2010

So, in my spare time, I work at the American Friends Service Committee in Chicago. As an apprentice there, I am learning all kinds of cool stuff about the peace movement and non-profit orgs, etc. The AFSC is a Quaker anti-war group that has been around for almost 100 years and has strong international presence.

Anyway, I wrote a Letter to the Editor today, and I figured I would just throw it up here as a reflection on my non-feminist activism:

It has come to my attention that we are nearing the 1,000th U.S. military death in the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan.

As I reflect on this milestone, I must wonder many things: Why are we still there? Why are so many dead, including so many civilians? Why have Americans stopped caring?\

Although I do not have the answers to these questions, I must assume some responsibility, along with the general public, for not doing more.

It has become obvious that, despite losing so many of our friends and family to this almost-decade-long war, Americans have become bored and uninterested with this conflict. Despite the bodies returning home and the suffering and deaths of so many innocent Afghan civilians, there is no huge, nation-wide, peace movement.

Where is our cross-country march? Where are those Obama-voters who were promised so much more? Where are those embarassed to continue calling themselves "American" after we've been sold out by our own government once again?

As we approach this tragic milestone of the Afghan war, I think it is important for all Americans to reflect on this conflict and consequential death toll; to reflect on what we each have done to support or oppose this war; to reflect on how we can live with ourselves, knowing that we have, in some way, contributed to the deaths of 1,000 of our fellow Americans, as well as an uncountable amount of innocent Afghan citizens.

Making My Own Apples to Apples Cards

Originally posted Febuary 3, 2o10

I recently discovered the game, Apples to Apples. This game is great for parties, fun, and easily travelable. Unfortunately, most of the cards are boring as hell. Thus, I've decided to take it upon myself to make my own cards that will be slipped into my own home version for more excitability.

Here are some samples and a few links for clarification. Feel free to borrow them for your own game!

Red Cards = Person, Place, Thing, Event

Green Cards = Desciptors, adverbs, adjectives, etc.

Red Cards:

Drama Student - Insert gag reflex here.

Mooseknuckle - The cameltoe's les distinguished male counterpart.

Pitchfork - Midwestern celebration of Lesbos.

Fonzanoon - Fart bubble biter!

Penis Apache - Mount that trophy!

Ringworm - Same fungus that causes Athlete's Foot and all the more reason to ditch gym class.

Yeast - Who's bakin' bread? Mama's bakin' bread!

Analrapist - Analyst + Therapist = Tobias Funke

Green Cards:

Zealot - Extremist, Radical, Fiend

Gay - Lover, Unseasonably happy, Sublime

Stank - Rank, Funky, Duckbutter

Stiff - Arthritic, Congealed, Rigid

Ravenous - Insatiable, Starving, Veracious

Queer - Atypical, Eccentric, Questionable

*Thank you Nikki Rice for your assistance in the creation of these cards.

To School or Not to School?

Originally posted February 1, 2010

After taking my sweet a** time getting my undergraduate degree, in just shy of a decade, I finally graduated with my BA from DePaul in June. Now having been out of school AND unemployed for a solid seven months, I can say that it's officially time to change-up The Plan. The problems are many: I'm broke; I owe the banks, credit card companies, and Federal government tens of thousands of dollars. I'm sick of school. I am either not qualified, not properly located, not interested, or simply unaware of any jobs that have managed to surface in this still sinking economy. Sure, the Feds say it's getting better, but based on the number of adults-returning-home (myself included,) I have to disagree. I've found that adults living at-home with the parents that plagued their pre-twenties' existence is rarely a choice.

Now the question has become: How do I, once again, get out from under my mother's roof and resume my place as a contributing member of society, rather than a leech on the welfare system? Now that I think about it, my unemployment is probably running out soon...

Here are some options that I've been contemplating:

1. Return to college and get an MA, in what? Public Administration? Journalism? Education?

2. Join the Peace Corps or other such agency?

3. Keep applying from amongst the hurd for the same entry-level positions, demanding over-qualified, extremely under-paid, out-of-options employees?

On top of these issues, I need to re-locate. Spending the year in constant adjustment to the fluxuating seasons and weather extremes of Global Warming makes living in Chicago seem both hostiile and unreasonable. Arizona, California, and the likes are begging for my migration. Unfortunately, without the money to travel to visit, interview, etc., such a move has been little more than a burden on my seasonably-depressed existence.

All in all, what I really want to do is go to areas in need of humanitarian efforts: war zones, poverty-stricken areas, etc. I want to help, but also to learn, travel, and live. Unfortunately, I have few skills I imagine would be required of such work and little interest in first aide. Bandades and condom distribution are one thing, but cutting into or closing up flesh is a whole nother. What type of work does this leave? Should I get a degree in counseling? Would that even help?

Too many questions and too few answers. If anyone knows of any doors wanting to be opened or has input at all, feel free to offer up your suggestions.

GE

Returning to my blog

So, I started this while I was a student at DePaul University in Chicago and the 2008 presidential election campaign was going on. After that, I moved on and more or less forgot about it. However, "I'm back to let you know that I can really shake it down." I had started a new blog, but I am going to copy my recent posts here and, hopefully, be inspired to post regular entries from here on out. Here it goes!