Life is Beautiful

Before you read this post, read this post. In fact, don’t even read this post. Only follow that link and read that post, then, if you don’t feel immediately like getting up and doing something worth living for there’s something wrong with you.

So yeah, hey everyone! I’m still here, I promise.

My life is so different than it was a few months ago. I’m not sure I can actually put it into quantifiable terms. It just is. And it’s good. Very good. Maybe we can talk about it in real life next time I see you, but for now I’ll just reread A Million Miles In A Thousand Years and let my mind percolate.

Guys, I’ve met some really interesting people. Like, really, really, I-want-to-have-long-conversations-with-them-on-a-daily-basis interesting people. It’s pretty cool.

In other news, Nathan and I have officially moved in with the new roommates, Ryan and Kelli. (Two of the aforementioned people.) And it’s going really well. This apartment is big. As in, my old apartment was so, so tiny and this one is normal sized so it’s awesome. We have a fireplace. And a legit porch. And we’re on the bottom floor and our kitchen opens into our living room. And we have every video game console known to man. It’s pretty legit. I just kind of don’t want to leave most of the time.

My last final of the summer quarter was today. I’m glad to have a break this week. Especially because it begins with a Jenny & Tyler concert and a DC*B and Gungor concert and ends with my birthday! I plan on painting and doing lots of art in my free time this week. And doing lots of spontaneous, unplanned things.

As of Monday, Liz and I have been dating for FOUR whole months! (Hey, Liz, it’s been such a blessing and SO much fun, I’m looking forward to the future, dear!) Liz is a really, really wonderful person. Beautiful, fun, joyful, exciting, and unpredictable. I’m really enjoying this relationship.

Life is happening, things are changing, and it’s so good. I’ve had to do so many adult things in the last month that I never thought I was old enough or aware of things enough to do. It’s crazy. I’ve gone apartment shopping (and decided on an apartment, and filled out all the paperwork and everything) without my parents even being involved except for where I asked them to be. I’ve tried to get student loans, I’ve had to deal with defensive driving and getting a ticket, I don’t even know. It’s so cool to be able to do things.

Have I mentioned I’ll be twenty-one next Saturday? Not gonna lie, I’m kind of excited. It’s the last real age restriction besides being able to run for president. (which I don’t really have to worry about, ha!) But yeah, I’ve decided to start keeping up with this thing again. It helps me sort out my thoughts and keep some things in line.

What is everyone else up to?!

 

Today I went Kayaking with Kelli, Austen (both fellow baristas) and Mark (a guy who comes to our store a lot). And it. was. awesome. Guys! I can go KAYAKING in the middle of the city I live in! It’s AWESOME.

Then I went to First Thursday with my community group. Which was also amazing. Music, food, and art vendors all out on South Congress. The. Bomb.

Now I’m home eating cherries.

Success.

I love this city.

So.

So.

Much.

Though, I get to be in Houston this weekend! See y’all soon!

Preeeety Crehhsy

Redesign!

Bam.

This is what happens when I’m bored in my media business law class. ha.

Anyway, life is happening, guys! A.J. graduates next weekend! Graduates from HIGH SCHOOL. Which means he’s going to COLLEGE! In BOSTON! It’s crazy.

When did we all get so old?!

Molly and Joey are getting married. Mitanjeli and Jordan are getting married. Nick is going to junior high! (He’s doing drumline. He’s going to be so cool. haha.) I have a job. I have an apartment. When did I become so old?

So yeah.

Life is preeeeeety crehssy right now. In such a good way.

(and yes, Google Chat is a thing of beauty)

This weekend my family is coming up for Memorial Day. We’re going to Ink’s Lake, which will be great. Next weekend I’m going to Houston for AJ’s graduation (and I get to see Liz in real life! Don’t get me wrong, google chat it the bomb. but yeah.)

So that’s the next few weeks.

What’s going on with you?!

Bright Summer Skies

This is what I’m looking forward to. I want water, I want light.

I’m on my lunch break right now, drinking my pretentious Starbucks drink (venti soy chai with two shots, because I can.) and thinking about this summer. It will be amazing, I’m sure. I fully expect people to roadtrip to Austin whenever they get the chance!

Also, I want to go camping on the beach. It’s really weird that I don’t live an hour and a half from a beach anymore.

So, I signed up for classes next quarter (which starts halfway through July) and in a fit of excitement signed up for three classes (twelve hours!) on tuesday and one from 1-5 on thursday. So I’m pretty much going to die, or it’s going to be wonderful because I’ll be able to do things on long weekends. I’m going to have four day weekends EVERY weekend! Also, it will help my schedule to be more open for work, which is good cause I need the money!

Also, I’ll be in Houston Saturday night and Sunday! I’m excited. I haven’t seen my whole family in FOUR EVS. Yes. Four.

Anyway, I’m quite looking forward to the summer months.

BRING IT ON.

We Could Steal Time

So much is happening right now! I can’t believe that we’re playing at the BAFBC dnow in a week! It seems like it was two months away only yesterday!

Starbucks is going great. I still love it. Free coffee. Free food. Amazing people. Actually having a job. It’s the bomb.

Taylor visited last weekend and a great time was had by all! Saturday was seriously one of the best days of my life. Taylor, Nathan, Riley, Bethany (a friend from Ai here) and I all drove downtown and painted a piano together on a hill overlooking Austin’s beautiful skyline as the sun was setting (there are pictures on FB!) It was just SUCH an amazing, beautiful, joyous time. It was like breathing deeply after weeks of short, shallow breaths.

A week of two before that I went to see Jenny & Tyler again in Waco with Allison and Maritz Bitz, which was a blast. After the concert, we visited this amazing coffee shop called Common Grounds (I think) and it was beautiful and the coffee was great.

Between those two events, I was in Houston for almost a week to stay with my brothers (mostly Nick) while my parents spent their 25th anniversary in northern California. I’m pretty jealous that they got to go, but it was great seeing everybody back in Htown, AND getting to play Sunday morning with Kevo, Katie, Andrew, and Mr. Bill was a blast. PLUS, Mel, Liz and I went of a photo excursion to do a double-exposure experiment with color film that turned out pretty cool.

Anyway, Gungor concert on Sunday and I’m PUMPED.

Also, dnow in a week! And I’m SUPER PUMPED.

I’m pretty much pumped to be alive right now.

Also, did I mention one of my design professors this quarter is Marc English? He’s fo real. Google him.

.Zach

Life Lately.

Does anyone still read this? haha.

Lately:

I’ve been pouring myself into laying out this book of poetry for my publication design class. We have full-sized galley’s due Monday, along with four ideas for the cover. Here is some of the art that’s going into the book:

The first is for a poem by Ryan, the second is for one by Trey. Third: Eric, I think. Fourth: Trey and Eric. Fifth: Katie.

Lately:

I have been enjoying my new, non iPhone, cell phone! It’s an android, and I am enjoying it immensely. And, interestingly enough, it fits my personality: It’s called the Inspire.

The weather has been fantastic.

I’ve been working on a website for my art, design, and information about myself. I’m kind of excited because I’m coding it myself (with the help of my Web Layout II Prof.) It’s going to go live this weekend, and it’s REALLY cool. Though, it’s not even worth looking at if you’re not running Chrome of Safari. Just saying. So prepare yourself. (Can we say CSS3?) Spoiler: Each page has a title with scrolling images behind it.

I took Riley’s pictures and AJ’s senior pictures, both of which I need to get a move on editing.

I got a legit old film camera with two lenses from a family friend in San Antonio. It’s a Nikon FG from the early 80′s. It’s all manual from what I can tell. I’m excited to try it out.

Anyway, that’s what I’ve been up to. It’s Nick’s birthday today, too! He’s 11! Also, I’ll be in Htown this weekend.

Brand New Melodies, Songs So Sweet

So, it’s been a while since I posted on here and I’m getting tired of seeing that picture of a journal on the last post. If you’re just DYING to hear from me, I have been posting much more frequently over at merereflections.org with Trey and Eric. Let’s see, what have I been up to?

Well,

I’ve been slaving over a project for my Publication Design class, and it’s been oh so delightful! Seriously. I’m getting Trey, Eric, Katie, Ryan, and Erin to write poetry for me and it’s going really well. Every time I get a poem in my inbox from one of them and read it I’m pleasantly surprised at how good it is, seriously, guys, they’re all amazing.

Nathan has settled in here in Austin, and it’s going well. Green Bay Packers and Godzilla paraphernalia have begun to pop up in our apartment, and it’s kind of funny. Austin is becoming home, which is wonderful, because it’s beautiful here. I feel more like myself, if that makes sense. Like, I don’t have to try as hard to be someone, I can just be. And it’s fine.

That said, I’ve also begun this fantastic book called Common Prayer which was compiled and written-ish by The Simple Way, of which Shane Claiborne is a part. The book is basically liturgical prayers and Bible passaged and bits of Christian history laid out so that there is some to read every day, and I must say that reading it has been really enriching. That combined with The Valley of Vision, which I just got this week, and that my missional community is reading Ephesians and you’ve got yourself a very content Zach. SRSLY, if you don’t have Valley of Vision: GET IT. Also, I’ve been keeping a rather intense prayer journal (the book regimen is def helping) and it’s making me happy. I’m FINALLY actually keeping up with a journal of some sort! It’s quite exciting.

In other news, I’m currently in the process of trying to get a job at Starbucks, which is reallllyyyy exciting. I’ve been interviewed twice, which is the normal amount of times, and am waiting to hear back about whether or not I have a job. It’s weird though, because it’s almost like God is preparing me to not get the job, because I’ve gotten two really out-of-the-blue design jobs this week. One from an admissions girl from the Ai in Houston for a graphic for her wedding, and one from a guy who was recommended to me from Michelle Sanders (bless her!) for what could possible end up being 20+ iPhone app designs and a steady stream of money over the next few months, which is AWESOME. All I can say is, God provides.

And, Hallelujah!

Now, enjoy one of my favorite photographs:

Robert Doisneau’s The Kiss

To Go Further Up, and Further In

You should probably go buy the song: With Everything (Hillsong United)
Number of paintings I am currently working on: 4
Number of paintings I am working on that have birds in them: 3
Days until I come back to Houston for Christmas break: 5
Amount of excitement I have for seeing family/friends: ∞
Finals until I’m done with this quarter: 5

Okay, so, God is so good. Have I mentioned that lately? I’ve been learning to trust that he is perfect even when I don’t understand everything about him. (Which I’m learning is all the time, but it’s okay!)

Also, I’ve started watching Miyazaki movies. They are all amazing. You should probably watch Spirited Away, and Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and Porco Rosso, and Princess Mononoke, and My Neighbor Totoro. And the rest of them, too.

I’ve randomly spent a lot of time with the people in my missional community this week. It’s been great.

It’s always interesting to see people get used to that weird excited noise I make.
heh heh heh.

There Must Be More to This Provincial Life

Everything is converging! This is going to mostly be a post about continuing and unfinished art projects.

Here I am, two weeks left of this quarter. I’ve been in Austin for 3 months, I’ve gotten a job but it hasn’t started yet (gahh!), and it’s finally cold outside. I’ve got lots of projects in the pipeline, but no money (ehh) and Saturday is cookie day! (yess!)

I’m currently working on a painting for Katie, and one for Marissa. Katie’s is going to be a fantasy-themed painting, and I’m really excited about how it’s going. Marissa’s is going to be something fancy saying “Am I lost, or just less found?” I also bought a giant canvas (2′ x 4′) to paint with something. I had an idea, but I’m not sure about it now. I wanted to paint a scene with really tall birch trees with fall leaves on a hilly landscape. And of course, in the tradition of landscapes by me, there would be mountains in the background. But what else is new. And I considered putting a lion in it, but again; what else is new?

Other than those, I just finished an assemblage thing with leaves and sticks and an old textbook I got from Goodwill called “Morphology of Plants,” that I’m going to sell at a show (hopefully) at school. I want to do two more similarly with two other textbooks I got called “Advanced Mathematic Engineering” which I would make look kind of steampunk-y and “The Science of Gemstones.” I also started a painting of one of the photos from the glow face paint shoot Eric and I did a few months ago. I’m not sure if I like it though. It’s on loose canvas and it’s started buckling.

I need to make cookie dough for Saturday! My mom asked me to make all the dough that needs to be chilled the night before so that it will be ready on Saturday. Good gravy do I love Cookie Day.