Technical Difficulties

So, I keep getting a funny "unable to process your request right now" from google. so I can't switch the domain name yet. Until I can: https://carmeneckard.wordpress.com

Revamp

I'm revamping my blog. It will be nicer to look at, I think, but it will make your RSS feeds stop working. So...if you wanna keep hearing my updates, you'll need to type in the address (www.ahurricanecalledcarmen.com) and click on the RSS button. Thanks!

Oh and also, I'm pregnant!

My best friend

Funeral is Today

Brian's funeral is today (Sept 1) at Drum's Funeral Home in Conover. The receiving is 5:45-6:45.

Brian Deal

My friend died yesterday. I've not blogged in a long time, and I promise sometime I will. I have lots to tell you, but today is sad. Brian was too young to die. He was my friend. I can't get his laugh out of my head. Please keep his friends and mom in your thoughts and prayers.

Allison took this picture a few years back, on my porch.

My Bertha

I love my dog.

My living

Several people have asked what I'm up to these days. Several other people have seen me out working various jobs, and were surprised at the different type of things I do. See, this is the thing. I get bored easily. I can't think of any one thing I could do for 40 hours a week and stay happy. So, I've found a way to be able to do everything I enjoy, and actually make some money from it. It's a very good thing.

I thought about just writing a huge entry about all the things I'm up to, but that seemed like it would take a long time. So, I've made an outline. If you want details about any particular thing, e-mail me at Carmen@carmeneckard.net.

I. Jon Eckard Photography-I manage the business end of things, and assist Jon when we are on shoots. Occasionally, I shoot, but I'm a work in progress.

    A: Commercial Photography
        1: Website Photography
        2:  Annual Report Photography
        3:  Catalogue Photography
        4:  Billboard Photography
   B:  Event Photography
        1: Grand Openings
        2: Parties
        3: Fundraisers
        4: Catered Dinners
    C: Portraits
        1: Headshots
            a. Professionals
            b. Performers
        2: Family Portraits
        3: Senior Portraits
        4: Babies/Children
    D: Weddings
        1: Wedding Day coverage with album
        2:  Engagement Portraits
        3: Bridal Portraits
        4: Rehearsal Dinner coverage
    E: Stock Images
    F: Art Prints
        1: Nature
        2: Figure
        3: Others

II: Vocal Performance
    A: Weekly performances at Smokey Creek Barbeque
    B: Available for hire
    C: Karaoke Host

III: Party Host/DJ
    A: Host parties with music. Karaoke/games are optional.
    B: DJ Weddings.
    C: Annual 80's party and Halloween party at Beef O' Brady's

IV: Trivia Host
    A: Weekly game @ Beef O' Brady's.
    B: Private parties with custom games.

V: Model
     A: Figure Model at Hickory Museum of Art.
     B: Model for Jon Eckard Photography.
         1: Commercial print work.
         2: Art Prints.
     C: Model for local artist, Kate Worm.

VI: Data Entry for Pixelspace.

VII: Blog Designer.
     A: Hurricane Called Carmen*
     B: Trivia with Carmen*
     C: Karaoke with Carmen*
     D: Carmen Eckard *
     E: Moore County Kennel Club
     F: Carolina Terrier Association
     G: Canine Common Sense
     H: Hickory Brides

* Created for myself or one of my businesses.

VIII: Teacher at Hickory Museum of Art
     A: Art classes for children.
     B: Drama classes for teenagers and children.

IX: Substitute teacher for Catawba County Schools.
            

Bliss

1: It is Spring, which is the best news I've ever heard.  I'm delighting in ever single blossoming tree and burst of color I see.

2: We got a studio! We'll be moving in over the next week or two. So freaking excited!

Our address:
520 8th St NE
Suite 206
Hickory, NC 28601

3: 14 days of teaching left. When I'm done, I'll write a big post about the whole thing. It's been a doozy.

4: School lets out at 1:10, then no school for a week!!

5: I'll actually get to see my mom's whole family, and my dad's whole family on Easter. Should be awesome, except my granddad is sick, and fading. That doesn't fall into the category of bliss, though. Send your thoughts and prayers his way. 

A heavy sigh of relief

This was one of the biggest reasons I voted for Obama. I didn't think he'd be able to do it, though, because *some people* were really making everything hard. But, yay! It's not perfect. But it is a lot better.  My favorite part: No denying or dropping for pre-existing conditions. 

Picture by the White House flickr feed.

Woogle

Coming Up

Hickory Museum Of Art Calls For Artists For “Art On The Avenue” -

The Deadline Is April 1

Hickory - The Hickory Museum of Art is gearing up for its 9th annual ART ON THE AVENUE festival and is accepting applications for artists and artisans who would like to participate. The festival will be held on Saturday, May 1 from 10 AM to 4 PM on the SALT Block lawn behind the Museum. Interested applicants should contact Ann Hinson or Ronni Smith at 828-327-8576 to register no later than April 1.
Art on the Avenue is a popular, free family fun event.  It features artists and artisans who set up booths to display and sell their work. Many provide demonstrations and educational opportunities for visitors of all ages and interests.  There will also be children’s arts and crafts, animals, food, and music throughout the day.

This year, entertainer, educator and trivia host Carmen Eckard will be the festival’s emcee between 10 AM and noon. Eckard will also tell stories and coordinate youth performances. DANG! –  the instrumental funk – rock trio of Charlie Zagaroli (guitar), Milton Hawes (drums) and Chuck Feimster (bass) – will perform throughout the afternoon hours. A multi-generational transition will be presented by DANG! and audience members of all ages between noon and 12:30 PM.  

Last year, Art on the Avenue drew over 2,000 visitors and more than 30 artists participated. This year the Museum plans to accommodate more artists and expects an even larger attendance. This year’s Art on the Avenue festival is being sponsored in conjunction with the Hickory International Council’s Spring Fest (held at Union Square).

Woogle

Take this survey! Please!!

My friend Alan

Things I should mention:

1: I'm doing karaoke every week at Smokey Creek Barbeque, Friday nights at 6:30. It is very family friendly, and don't come if you want to drink. www.karaokewithcarmen.com

2: Still doing trivia. www.triviawithcarmen.com

3: May 1 is the annual Art on the Avenue at the Hickory Museum of Art. I'll be the DJ.

4: I've started teaching full time high school drama for 2 months. I like it a great deal, but it is very different from what I expected. Did you know that in the hands of a high school girl, Facebook is  a very fierce weapon?

5: We're doing LOTS of photography. If you have any need for photography, let me know. We do lots of commercial work....product shots for catalogues and the internet.  We also do portraits and weddings. You can see our most recent work at www.joneckard.com.

6: Maybe that is all...I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all I have to do, but I love every bit of it, so I won't whine. Now, if you all cross your fingers, I may post again before 4 months go by.

Pictures

I have fallen down on the job. I haven't updated anyone in quite some time, not even Twitter. I don't have an excuse. I just didn't feel like it. I still don't feel like writing a lot. However, I have lots of pictures I can share.

That one above is a picture of my lovey dove that I am fond of. I took that when we went with Jon's family to look for Christmas trees. We didn't get a tree this year, because we were (still are) remodeling our kitchen, and we were short on space. But, we went with everyone, and took pictures. This is me:

It was cold. Much as it has been cold for a million years, now.

And this is my brother-in-law, Thad, with his girl, Rebecca:

 

Moving on...my family (I don't like me in this photo, but whatever):

That one is my sister, Laura, who just got married and is also giving me a nephew, then my mom, who looks amazing, and me.

 

I love this picture, but I don't know why. My sister was trying on her dress to show me.

This is the snout I love to smooch on:

And the rest of her

These are pictures I took while Jon was working, and I was at our friend's house. I think they are lovely, so I'll share:

Big Bang Theory/Horn in the West

I don't watch Big Bang Theory, but they did mention Horn in the West yesterday, so I'll share the link. I worked at Horn for several summers during college. It was the best of times, and the worst of times.

My sister's wedding

You can see the rest at www.joneckard.com, then click weddings, then "Laura and David".

Top 10 of the decade

*Let's all just pretend that I didn't stop blogging for a month.

Seems to be pretty obligatory that I write this post, and as I start writing it, I only know 2 or 3 things on the list. I'm guessing the rest will flow. I'll start off by just saying what I was up to 10 years ago. I had been away at school for 5 months, ASU, and I was home for Christmas break. I was 18, very studious, and extremely messy (sorry Allison). Instead of ranking my top 10 in order of importance, I'm doing this chronologically.

1: I figured out who Carmen is. I really needed to get out on my own and make some mistakes, and pay for those mistakes before I figured out who I am. I started doing that in college, year one, and I suppose I still am...although I have a pretty good idea these days.

2: Started a lifelong friendship with Allison, who became my roommate and best friend about 7 months into the decade. I talk about her a lot on this blog, and you can read her list here. She just got engaged, and I'm tickled for her.

3: I developed a work ethic, which has held steady, and I also learned that not only do I not have to think inside the box....there actually is no box. This discovery really enabled me to come into my own.

4: I started teaching, taught for 4 years, then quit teaching. All 3 of those things were good. Quitting, maybe the best now that I think about it. Of course 112 teachers lost their jobs in this county this year, so had I not quit, I'm not sure I would have a job anyway.

5: I got my dog. I always used to think that people who never shut up about their dogs were dumb...I mean, it's just a dog. But then I got Bertha, and she made my whole life better. Every day, she cheers me up a thousand times, and tells me what she is thinking about just as clearly as some English speakers I know. I love her, and she changed my life.

6: Got married and divorced. Again, both good. I really learned a lot about myself and human nature during those 3 years. I hurt my ex husband, and I regret that, but there are things you can't learn in school, and I learned them in that marriage. People, don't get married at 21.

7:  I moved to Hickory. I lived in several towns growing up, and I was determined to settle down. I really like it here. Clearly, I'm surrounded by people I like, and I've also learned what people to avoid.

8: I met Jon Eckard, then I married him, almost that quickly. What followed has been the best 2 1/2 years of my life so far.  I can't explain all the ways that he has changed my life, but he has. I love him very, very much, and I'm tickled that I get to keep him forever.

9: I had sort of a natural revolution, where in I simplified my life and cut out most chemically based additions to it. I still drink coca cola though, although I know it isn't good for me. Things are better since I've done that, and I have overcome most of my ailments.

10: I fixed my relationship with my dad. It took approximately 2 decades to screw up, and one to fix. It is a lot easier to be a happy person when you're on good terms with both parents.

I realize this is kind of a boring list, but I assure you the decade has been a doozy.

I feel like I am standing on wonderfully solid ground, and I'm ready to face many more decades. Unless the world ends in 2012.

Happy New Years!

New Website

I made a new personal website. I had one before, but I decided it was ugly, so I made a flash one. It is a little self obsessed, but since it is a personal website, I'm good with that. If you're bored, let me know what you think...pretend you don't know me, and it is your first impression. I think it does a swell job of summing up my personality visually, plus it points you to my trivia website, Jon's photography site, my blog, and some different social networks.

So, without further ado...click here!

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

Well, I guess lots of things have happened since the last time I talked to you guys. One of those things involved my eye exploding.

Clearly, it didn't really explode...but it was terrifying.  It has now been 10 days, and it is almost back to normal. I woke up 10 days ago and saw a little red when I was brushing my teeth. Then, I pulled my eyelid up, and nearly passed out. Now, this has never happened to me, and I was scared. I woke up Jon, and it freaked him out too. I was heading to school, so I stopped by the nurse. She said, "It may be fine, but go to the doctor as soon as you can." When I got in class, the kids were all, "Mrs. Eckard! Your eye looks so much worse today!"

Wait a minute...worse? I asked them what they  meant, and turns out, it actually went bad on Thursday, and I just didn't notice. How do you not notice that?

So, I call the eye doctor, and I talked a person, who asked me questions like "does it hurt" and made me an appointment for later in the day.  The answer, by the way, was not really...it was uncomfortable. It was dry, and it felt like it was a little swollen, but there wasn't actual pain. Except the pain I felt from looking like a total freak, and that was pain, let me tell you.

Have you guys met me? Do you know how vain I am? Do you know how much I hated being ugly ugly for over a week?

So, I go to the doctor. I went to Graystone in Hickory, because they're the best for eyes, apparently. I was in the building for less than 30 minutes. The doctor was in the room with me for less than 3 minutes. He said, "You're fine. It's like a bruise. It will go away. Nothing to be done. Go home." And then the receptionist was all "That will be $210." Seriously!!! $210 to say "Go home."

Being fine was good news, but I was kind of bitter that they didn't do anything and it was so expensive.

All my friends were so cool...acting like they hardly noticed. But I knew they were lying. I was proven right when I went to teach 3rd grade. Every single student asked about my freakish eye, and they couldn't stop staring.

Anyway...it is mostly better now. It's a little discolored, but it looks yellow or brownish, not blood red. I'm giving it 2 more days before it should be back to normal.

Moral: If you wake up with a freakishly red eye, but it doesn't hurt, save your $210 and Google "Subconjunctival Hemorrhage". On Twitter, @Bradhaas tried to save me some money, but I was too freaked out to listen. I should have. Thanks anyway, Brad.

Also, side note: What happened to spell check on blogger? I can't find it!