hey all.
I justwanted to let everyone know I'm doing okay. After weathering ike at the farm, I just returned to Houston. No power at my place or my parents, but hopefully it'll return soonish. For the time being though we and most of houston is in the dark.

It's been quite an adventure, that's for sure. Not too much major damage except several downed trees and debris.

Ok phones running out of battery so I gotta go. Peace and hope everyone else is safe too.

Date:	2008-07-16 16:28
Subject:	recent stuff
Security:	Public
Mood:	thoughtful

stacey and I broke up. It's sad. I don't want to talk about it much.

What I did want to write down, so that I'd remember, is the fun random thing that happened yesterday.
Melanie, christine, and I got take out chinese food in Montrose and took it to hermann park to eat, where there just happened to be a disney under the stars thing going on. We followed the disney music to the hill and watched the second act while munching on fried rice and egg rolls. It was amazing and perfectly right for how i was feeling/what I needed.

It also felt good to roll down the hill. Even though I almost lost my phone in doing so. :)

that's all for now.

Hm, it's been awhile, so I guess I should record what's been going on recently.

I went on a fabulous tubing trip, was in a mediocre drag show, went to galveston, and yesterday biked to the library and took some fun photos.

There are pictures (mostly of the tubing trip that chase took) on my flickr page here.

Other than that, I dunno. Things have been pretty good.

How have you been?

This spring break was incredible!

The first weekend I drove up to Austin and hung out with Taylor, Heather, Nao, and Gabi. We had lots of fun. Highlights were the kite festival (long live the Riverside Flyer!) and taylor+heather's birthday party.

The main part of the week I spent alone at the farm (well, not really alone- there were the horses and cows and hunter the cat there to keep me company). It was very relaxing and great to work with the horses and get back to nature.

The last weekend Stacey and I went on a romantic getaway to a bed and breakfast ranch in Cat Springs, Texas that was just gorgeous! Everything was perfect and the hostess was so nice. While we were there, we:

-Ate eggs that I'd taken from the chicken's nest less than an hour prior
-Fed deer, a camel, 2 buffalo, emus, horses, cows, pigs, wild boars, burros, and so much more
-Caught a really enormous catfish
-Grilled out outside
-Took nice walks

So overall it was a very relaxing week. I enjoyed it (and needed it) very much.
here's a slideshow with some of the highlights (in chronolgical order):

Date:	2008-02-24 21:28
Subject:	!@%$@%!!!@%$!
Security:	Public
Mood:	crappy
Music:	elton john

About an hour ago while we were eating at Chuys, Stacey's car got broken into. Again.
Among the things stolen was the radio. and my backpack.

In it were my notebooks for all of my classes. and my computer. right now I'm so devastated. It's not even so much the computer as it is all of the photos I'm never going to get back. All of my schoolwork, all of my art. Did I mention my schoolwork?

I don't even know what to say.

hey guys,

I made a blog to post photos of and briefly talk about something I find interesting.
basically, art inspired by or made with cheap stuff I find. I'm going to try to update it every day.

check it out if you want:




Also, on an unrelated note, we have a home rugby game tomorrow on campus @ noon. Make it out to support us if you can!

Date:	2008-02-13 19:48
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	energetic

Oh. My. Goodness...

I just got an e-mail saying that I'm a finalist for a major (read: $50,000) art prize. That's a pretty big honor, to be picked out of the 100's as one of the best 150 or so. I'm pretty blown away right now.

edit: here's the piece I submitted. I have to get it framed!

edit again: just so yall know, I'm not going to win, but it's cool just to be chosen this far.

wow, I'm pretty bad at updating this, but there have been some update-worthy things happening so I'll give it a shot.

Firstly,

New Years!

Ok, so this is about my halloween.

I briefly tortured Jasper into a costume. he's a deatheater/necromancer/Charon.
(Inspired by his favorite toy. the photo in the background is from yellowstone)

( more fun photos back here... )

This weekend has ben pretty good!

So what happened?

Friday-- Went out to Chuy's and ate yummy tex-mex. then, went to Ari's birthday party and met a few people. Went home, snuggled with Stacey, and fell asleep

Saturday-- Woke up at FIVE THIRTY AM to get a ride out to Austin with the rugby girls to watch some women's national cup tournament action (rugby). Volunteered to carry water for a game and it was great to watch. Also, so many diverse fun lesbian- watching times! Wish Stacey could have been there. So after my shift, Taylor and Gabi pick me up and we head to houston. On the way home I start reading Epileptic, a graphic novel. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys human drama and/or graphic novels. Anyway, we get back to Houston, Stacey and I work on laundry for a bit and then Stacey is off to Beaumont to get his second shot of Testosterone. My mom and I watch the last episode of House that she had TiVo'ed. Thenn.. Taylor picks me up (with great timing) and we go to number's and dance the night away. There were a few songs where I just got lost in the music and that is a great feeling. I was just dancing for the fun of dancing. It's funny, if I were younger, I'd never believe that those words would come out of my mouth, but it's true. Crazy... After number's stopped playing good music, we left and headed to Rice, checking out briefly the scantily-clad NOD-goers and doing some more people-watching. And eating chocolate chip pancakes. Yum.

So that leads me to now. Where I'm all ready for bed. I'm going to curl up on my bed and read the book until I fall asleep. It's now 2:46 AM. I'm getting pretty exhausted!

Oh, but before I forget, I just saw a silly huge bike parade pass right by my apartment. Out the bathroom window I saw maybe 100 bikes go by, all with glowsticks and some people in costumes. Strange... At 2:30 in the morning.. Kids were there too.

Meh. Goodnight alll!

Date:	2007-10-21 21:24
Subject:	GLSEN
Security:	Public
Mood:	calm
Music:	Swing- Ani Difranco

Hey, I was wondering if anyone who reads this knows of contacts to get to the GSAs of Houston-area high schools.

Reid, I'm looking at you..

I tried looking up GLSEN houston, but no luck so far. Even if you just know the name of the gay friendly teacher at your high school, that would be great! Thanks.
If you don't want to post it publicly here, that's cool, e-mail me at arhill@rice.edu


PS- In case anyone's wondering why, Stacey and I were inspired to try out the ally program in high schools. Thought the GSAs might not be a bad place to start.

Date:	2007-10-20 19:57
Subject:	Picnic OMG!
Security:	Public
Mood:	content
Music:	prince of peace

We went to a picnic today!



The ferrets seemed to enjoy themselves. Especially Juniper.

Date:	2007-10-19 22:26
Subject:	question time!
Security:	Public
Mood:	amused

1. Real name and/or screen name:
2. Birthday:
3. Place of residence:
4. What makes you happy:
5. What are you listening to now/have listened to last:
6. Do you read my LJ:
7. If you do, what is particularly good/bad about it:
8. An interesting fact about you:
9. Are you in love/have a crush at the moment:
10. Favorite place to be:
11. Favorite lyric:
12. Best time of the year:
13. Weirdest food you like:

RECOMMEND-

1. A film:
2. A book:
3. A band, a song, and/OR an album:

PLUS-

1. One thing you like about me:
2. Two things you like about yourself:
3. Put this in your LJ so I can tell you what I think of you.~~~Only if you really want to...
4. Optional. Post a picture of you...

yay fall break = extra time to sit around and do nothing

I'm feeling a bit uninspired today, and I don't know why.

So I'll tell you about my weekend.

the first part was superb. went to phyllis frye's talk, which was interesting.
Then off to the farm to play with the horses and relax in the Gorgeous weather!
Quincy's eye looked a little swollen so we flushed it out as best we could with saline solution and then cold compress and then neosporin.

Hmm, then was the little daytrip to galveston yesterday. Stacey got his first shot of T. We had a pretty good time. All of this driving has stressed me out a bit, and i went to bed at 9 pm last night because I felt sick. I had weird dreams and woke up and here i am!

Date:	2007-09-21 13:29
Subject:	Damn you Comcast!!!
Security:	Public
Mood:	annoyed

This is just a rant, but I for one really dislike Comcast.
No, it isn't because of the takeover. It isn't even because of the price increases. Or the way 19.99 for 6 months turns into $33.65 for 3 months then $52.62.

No, it isn't even because I was just on the phone with them for almost 20 minutes being switched from billing, to tech, to internet promotions and nothing was accomplished.

Mostly, I hate them because I can't leave them.

I want to just cancel my service and tell the lady talking down to me like I'm an idiot to cram it! I know that particular offer I signed up for isn't there in front of you lady, because when I signed up (3 days before the takeover) it was a Time Warner offer. I could deal with the fact that you shafted me out of my introductory offer. Fine. But at least be upfront about it and not sneak in $20 a month like that after just three months. Did you think I wouldn't notice?? I just get annoyed and want to cancel my service.

But I can't.

Because in this city, apparently it's okay to have a monopoly on cable internet and nobody else provides in. In the fourth largest city in the US, we have one singular cable internet provider. This blows.

What the hell ever happened to free competion to keep them honest and keep the prices reasonable?!

I know, I know. You're thinking, "Why not just get dial-up, or DSL?" Here's why: I have no home phone line. And I don't plan on getting one. I'm one of those crazy college kids who eschews that 'necessity.' The cost of an active phone line plus DSL is still more expensive in most cases and will be much slower. I just want cable internet. From any other company.

sigh...

If anyone has any constructive comments
(i.e. if you know of an internet service cheaper than $50 a month in the 77004 zip code) holla back.

Date:	2007-08-29 16:25
Subject:	PRH opening and more
Security:	Public
Mood:	calm
Music:	Monica Sex

wooo!
The opening was great.Since then, things have been coming by very quickly.



!!!!!!!Everyone look at page 29 in this week's Houston Press!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I'm kind of a big deal. j/k.)

Sorry this is so hyper and silly.
I'm now blagging about my art stuff seperately at my new website:
www.ameliareiffhill.com

Click on 'news' at the bottom.

I'm updating it frequently, so bookmark it please.

ok, also school started and it's been really wet and rainy but good.
I'm only taking 13 hours because I need a break and 4 years of Rice will be just fine I think.

my classes:

Sculture (special problems) Animal Behavior (bonus counts for D3 credit!) Painting (special problems) Fencing (PE credit, but is actually pretty cool) Research (Independent Study) Methods of Teaching: Art (also a cool one)

Oh yeah, and we went to a drag show last weekend. that was tons of fun!
Also, this summer was nice because I got to hang out with the Taylor when she was in town! yay!

Date:	2007-08-04 10:00
Subject:	sigh..
Security:	Public
Mood:	determined

Well, kind of a dissapointing morning. Went out to catch the horses, and they just weren't being very cooperative. Doesn't matter so much, though, because even if I had caught them, there's nowhere for me to work with them because a bull is in the paddock. I can move horses, I can move cows, I can even move bulls sometimes, but not in an enclosed paddock where I could get trampled. So it's just sort of frustrating. I'm trying to lure the bull into a smaller enclosure I can keep him in for now, and hopefully the horses will come back this afternoon so we can get to work.
Just a slow start after a few weeks away is not very promising.