This is a time of great change...and transition.

My blog has moved to samtaters.wordpress.com

Fall...And New Beginnings

Things have been a little crazy, quit one job, started a new one. Up and downs...mostly ups. So I've been a little out of the loop as of late. For this, I apologize.

Recently took a job at Maryland Institute of Art (MICA) in the Advancement Department. It's like night and day. The stress level is almost zero, I'm surrounded by positive and professional individuals. I've only been there a week, but I feel settled. Working on getting my office situated, right now it is bland and sort of depressing. That will change soon.

I'm getting pumped for the MICA Art Market. I get the chance to support the students, faculty and staff. It doesn't hurt that it's a great opportunity to get unique handmade items for a great price. This is only their second year doing it, but I know it's going to be a big hit.

In other news, the weather is a-changing. I love the fall. I'm a knitting, cat cuddling, grandma sweater wearing kinda gal. I'm already starting to go into hibernation mode. It also so happens that I only really enjoy alcohol in the Fall and Winter. Tonight was wine, tomorrow will most likely be a Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale kinda of night. Hmmm...

#Bmoretweetup

It all started with Gavin and I just wanting to drink and hang out. It ended up with 15-20 Twitter users drinking and mingling at Holy Frijoles in the Baltimore neighborhood of Hampden. I think I speak for everyone in saying I met a lot of great people. I'm sad to say I didn't get to talk to everyone, but I hope that's not the case at the next Baltimore Tweet-up. I'm determined to ensure the next event is on a weekend. I'm currently surviving on 4 hours of sleep...and I'm pretty sure when I woke up this morning I was still drunk. This work day should be interesting. All signs point to a great night and a successful Tweet-up! Thanks to all who attended and spread the word!

If you were there, comment and I'll add you to my blog roll here and make sure I'm following you on twitter.

Also, Jake and Gavin over at Charm City Podcast did some recording from the event, so that should be up relatively soon. I apologize for anything I may or may not have said. Don't judge. I believe there was also some flip-camera coverage...that may surface one day.

Until next time, Follow me on Twitter.

Baltimore Book Festival : Michael Ian Black Impregnates Me.

For those in the Baltimore region, Friday thru Sunday is The Baltimore Book Festival. If all goes as planned, I will be on hand for AT LEAST Saturday's festivities. As, I must see one of the loves of my life, Michael Ian Black. He will be promoting and signing his book My Custom Van: And 50 Other Mind Blowing Essays That Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face, and bringing the laughter. I'm psyched, as I missed him the last time he was in town.



This past week's Charm City Podcast gave mention to this subject, if you care to take a listen.

I leave you with an episode (#6) of Wainy Days. Although Michael doesn't utter a word in the episode, I'd still like for him to make babies with me. It also happens to be a down-right hilarious episode. Props to Mr. David Wain.

Baltimore Crafters

The Charm City Craft Mafia and Baltimore Etsy Street Team (BEST) are making themselves known in Baltimore after having a large presence at both Hampdenfest and Artscape. Utilizing a variety of crafting / art making methods, the members of these two groups have a lot to offer the consumers / art and craft lovers of Baltimore. Craft on, crafty bitches!


TigerLillyShop makes nature inspired jewelry. My favorite series features flowers or seeds pressed into, or sometimes encased in, brass. Even more beautiful in person.



Val Lucas, a MICA graduate, runs BowerBox Press. Using a Colt Armory press rescued from a basement, Val prints mainly books, cards, and stationary.


Illegible Ink, whose name stems from a grade school experience, uses the linocut printmaking technique. The artist focuses on nature for her subject matter, which is cut out of a linoleum block, inked, and then printed on wonderfully colored and patterned papers.



Other notable members of The Charm City Craft Mafia and BEST:

Red Praire Press


Block Party Press

Spaghetti Kiss



Pistol Designs

Green Museums

"Green", "Sustainable", "Eco-friendly". It's all we hear about these days. Well, you have to sit through yet another mention. Sue me.

On my car ride to pick up lunch this afternoon I was listening to WAMU, which provides my daily NPR fix. The Kojo Nnamdi Show had a great segment on museums facing eco-challenges. Museums are an afterthought in the quest for all things green. It is often difficult for museums to implement large scale and costly improvements without cutting back on important museum programs that benefit its visitors as well as it's community.
Props were given to The Phipps Conservatory and Arboretum and The National Building Museum, just two of the museums mentioned that have adopted more eco-friendly practices.

There is a big push for all new construction to be LEED certified. I'm a proponent and understand that importance and goal of LEED certified architecture / building. I just wish to place emphasis on reusing and repurposing existing architecture. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, PEEPS!

Definitely worth a listen.

MacAttack

After longing to have my own Mac since I first touched one, 5 years ago, it has happened! I came to the conclusion that I hadn’t truly treated myself to any splurges in quite some time. I got a fairly good bonus in July, which I clung tight to until we had moved into the new place and settled, should any unexpected expenses arise. That bonus was burning a hole in my pocket, and I knew if I didn’t spend it on a Mac, I’d just do something completely reckless / far less rewarding with it.

Andrew can account for me being super indecisive and going back and forth between whether I wanted a Macbook or iMac. There were a lot of things to consider, and boy did I consider them. I have to admit, I never go into a purchase, no matter how small, without exhausting my options. Sometimes it’s a good thing, sometimes it just drive me and those around me crazy.

I got a great deal, thanks to the old trusty student ID (even though I’ve long graduated – GO TIGERS!). I have to say I’m extremely pleased with both the purchasing experience and the products! I find myself spending far more of my free time glued to my Macbook exploring Apple related blogs (and Lifehacker) trying to maximize my computing from here on out!

Any suggestions for applications/software I shouldn’t live without? Gavin over at Gavin 1980 hooked me up with SimplifyMedia so I can stream my iTune at home to my iPod Touch and my work PC. I’m also enjoying sharing iTunes libraries with some good friends via SimplifyMedia. That brings me to my next question:

What would be the easiest way to go about transferring the music from my old iTunes library on my Dell Laptop to my Macbook? I have an external hard drive that’s actually never been used. I wasn’t sure if any sort of formatting issue would rear it’s ugly head. I’d like to think they sell some sort of USB connector that can connect two PCs together so I can just click and drag. Suggestions from all your smarty pants out there?

Enjoy a random PhotoBooth shot of my kittens, cuddling on the back of the couch. I swear they also have bodies, they're not just heads!