Back to School as a More than Mature Student

Well, today was orientation day at ACAD (Alberta College of Art and Design) for first year students - including me! I decided in the new year that I needed some structure in my life as well as motivation to take a quantum leap out of my artistic comfort zone ... so I applied to Art School. Much to my surprise I got in and have started an amazing journey! My friends and family are very supportive although the honest ones can't keep themselves from making amusing comments - my husband has promised to get me a Dora lunch box and my friend wanted to be assured that I was not planning to dye my hair pink or get any tattoos or piercings.
For an addicted analytical thinker like me, I am enjoying the generational culture shock almost as much as the artistic experience. I am loving the young folks who are my peers - I am simultaneously surprised at how similar and different we are. I am really impressed with how receptive they have been although I think I managed to embarrass one of the student ambassadors today who was handing out free stuff - it was condoms and lubricants - he did very well until I asked what it was - must have been like handing birth control to your grandmother. Things have definitely changed since my first trek through student life in the 70s and 80s.
It is all bringing back fond memories of a future full of potential and unknown adventure and I have some pangs of nostalgia watching it in these young folks. However, I don't think I would trade places - been there done that and I am very pleased to be unstressed and approaching the whole experience on my own terms. Best go for now so I can get up early to stand in line for a parking pass in the morning! Fun, fun, fun.

Needle-felt Trolls

It came to my attention that a local library was looking for a Library Troll. Cyril is very interested in this position and has written the following letter of application.

I hope that you will agree to me becoming your resident library troll. Up until recently I held the position of Bragg Creek bridge troll, but with the recent floods, I have come to the conclusion that this position is no longer a viable option. Besides there hasn't been a goat over the bridge in years and the deer are just too wily.

 In exchange for room, board, and onsite use of your library materials, I can offer my services to address delinquent returns. My only condition is that any offsite retrieval missions occur between midnight and sunrise - I do not do well in sunlight. Besides, I think you will find my persuasive techniques are most effective after dark. I can also guarantee that I will not cause any loss of limb or life while on the property unless permission is provided in writing. Offsite I will use only those tactics necessary to achieve successful retrieval of your materials from members. We can negotiate the terms of this condition (for example, I suggest one finger per each month after notification of overdue materials).

Yours sincerely.

 Cyril A. Troll

While making Cyril, I was amazed at how much detail and character you can get into faces, so... I could not stop at one troll. 

Here is Cedric... 

He is still recovering from watching his bridge wash away down the Elbow River. He is submitting a proposal to the government to fund bridge reconstruction by establishing "Troll Bridges." After dark, the resident troll collects a user fee - there should be no issues with non-compliance.