Friday, November 26, 2010

Facebook Friends: Chris - Chris

Chris Denton
Chris Denton, of the Chris & Sally Dentons, SHOULD be higher on my list of friends by now. We all liked each other very much when we met and in the few times we've seen each other since have said "Oh! We should hang out more!" - but, in a I-really-REALLY-mean-it kind of way, not the Oh-this-was-really-awkward-so-let's-pretend-it-wasn't kind of way. But, as these things go when you're not in college and every night isn't Saturday night, we hardly ever see each other. It's been years. And in that time they've become parents, so we pretty much blew our chances. Too bad. It could have been great.

The Chris-half of Chris&Sally is a handsome, sweet, witty, rock-making, wife-loving, semi-nerd. A solid type of guy. The kind of guy who responds to everyone who posts on his facebook page. How many of us can claim such kindness? Not this girl.


Chris Lucas
Chris is always grouchy. It's part of his charm. Not a mean-spirited kind of grouchy, more of a "This is bull shit– Hey! Let me get that door for you. - Damn the man" kind of way. I have a real fondness for those who posses a cantakerous heart of gold. Now, granted, I only see Chris at work, so maybe that's why he's always 1/2 grumpy. Maybe, when he goes home he puts on his short-shorts and breaks out into song and dance WHAM-style, but if he does, I don't wanna know about it. A real good grouch is hard to find.

He also make's a mean hand-crafted table. (no pun intended)

Chris Nanney
There seems to be 2 Chris Nanneys that exist in my world. The one I've known and been friends with for 13 years and the one that's on facebook. The Chris I know is lovable, funny, affectionate, fiercely loyal, sweet as sugar, sarcastic, goofy, great for long thoughtful talks, gives the best hugs, is covered in tattoos, bedazzled with piercings, and shreds the guitar with his tongue sticking out in way that is entirely endearing. I love that Chris. But, the guy that runs his facebook account seems like kind of a potty-mouthed dick. Don't be fooled, ya'll! The real Chris is a kitten!

Chris Ward
Chris really blossomed after high school. Maybe he was blossomed IN high school and I was too busy trying to be cool (whatever that is) to notice. I DID notice what a nice, genuinely friendly guy he was and I also noticed that long flowing hair of his that I wanted to cut off. Well, he cut it off and still managed to become a local rock star. I saw him and his wife a few years ago after a Cardinals game and he seems to have grown into a very handsome and nice man with that same genuineness about him. But, I was pretty drunk that day, so, who knows.


Chris Willey
It seems to me that there are 3 types of artists. The kind that have tons of passion, but not a lot of natural talent (though they can learn), the kind that are born with talent, but not enough passion to really do much with it and fall desperately short of their potential (I fall into this category), and then, there are the Chris Willey's of the world. The artist who has both.

Chris was one of my professors at CMSU. She used to walk around the room reading things like The Painted Word aloud to us while we were working on our latest illustration project. Always trying to talk us into caring more about what we did. Can you imagine trying to talk a bunch of college kids into caring about their art? ugh. Shoot me. I wish I could remember more of what she said now that I actually DO care. Back then I was far to busy obsessing about transvestites, glitter, and David Bowie to really hear what she was saying. I started to come around towards the end there, though. Here I am, 8 years later, and a little smidge closer to becoming my own Chris Willey. My artistic-zeal train has finally left the station and is picking up steam. Slowly. But Surely.

Check out Chris Willey's work RIGHT HERE.

Interesting sidenote: When someone asks me where I was when 9-11 struck, my answer is: "Chris Willey's class."

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Facebook Friends: Casey - Chris

Casey Tegeler
Here's what I remember about Casey from school: long hair, long legs, big brains, cheery warm smile that was always on, and a great genuine laugh that went with her smiley eyes. And she was also super nice, unless she was in the pool. Then look out! (Not really.She was nice even then.)


Chad Frazer
Chad has a HUGE heart. One of the kindest and gentlest spirits I know. Kind people with huge hearts and gentle spirits are not immune to making bad decisions with irreversible consequences - that absolutely does not change who he is to me and what he's meant to me. This guy has the potential to do a lot of good in the world. He will always be my friend and I look forward to seeing the man he will become.


Chris Allen
Little Boss. The Ruiner. Dream Killer. Chris. Call him what you will. This guy isn't just my art director at the good ol' Saint Louis Science Center, he's my pal. We all sit in one big room with no partitions. Some people might like their privacy. Not us! We get to know each other pretty well and could probably write pages on each others likes, dislikes and quirks. I'll try to reign myself in when it comes to my co-workers. You can always read more at my now defunct DCS Daily Blog.

Just a Few of Chris's Top Talents:
Clean line design, making muted color palates, delegating, reminding me of what I'm supposed to be doing, slow-talking, giving kudos (and when he does, you know he means it), running meetings, complaining, guilting me with invisible guilt lasers that shoot out of his eyes, intimidating people with silence, making folks laugh, totally pulling off the two-earring look, telling Rhonna and Iris stories, making birthday cards, Christopher Walken impressions, giving people nicknames based on their physical flaws, opening his paycheck with three taps and a blow, putting up with my endless nonsense and messes, online zombie killing, giving me a hard time, sticking up for me when other people give me a hard time, and last but not least, decipherin' his wife's half-made-up grocery lists

As you can see from my little list, Chris is a pretty talented guy.


Chris Almond Smaglis
Chris is a transplant to St. Louie from down south. Don't you just LOVE a good southern accent accomponied by a hearty, beaming, genuine laugh? I sure do. When I met Chris, I liked her immediately. And I haven't seen her since.

Chris Bertel
I'm around Chris and his family so much that he christened me Cousin Jenny. (I think the kids were getting confused.) Chris is just one of the nicest, easy-goingest, good-naturediest people you'll meet. But, listen carefully when you talk to him. That sweet voice is usually slinging in a few clever good-hearted insults your way. Blink and you'll miss it with a "Wait. What?"

He's also father to two of the most adorable and brilliantly quirky children (even Oliver who is going through a weird phase of not really liking anyone but his parents.) To them he has passed down his brains, his wit and his freakish attachment to Chapstick.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Facebook Friends: Carol - Casey

Carol Floyd
Let me start off by saying that this is a horrible rendering of Carol. BUT she is always the photographer in her photos and the few I had to choose from were small and far away. Sorry Carol!!!

Carol has played three roles in my life. In high school, she was my friend, Chad's mom. In college, for a few months, she was my boyfriend's mom. Now I'm thirty and she's my personal friend. (Who I haven't caught up with recently - but still.) Carol is a strong woman and has been dealt more than her share of blows. She knows more about sufferin' than most of us, but she remains strong in faith throughout it all. Not only that, she makes her living counceling others through THEIR problems. She's always sharing so much wisdom at bible study and I am proud to call her my friend.


Carol Siegler Martin
Carol is a gorgeous girl and still looks exactly like she did in school which isn't fair because she's married with two kids. She should look AT LEAST 4 years older than she actually does. Her and I keep running into each other lately. Hmmmm. Clearly she's stalking me. The fact that she manages to stalk me on her own turf is merely a coincidence. Hopefully, she'll keep doing it even though Katie's wedding is over. Being stalked by Carol ain't so bad.


Carrie Mackintosh Kelsey
Carrie was my best friend the first several years of my life back in Gainesville, FL. Coincidentally, our mom's were best friends when they were kids, too. Both families moved away from G-ville around the same time. Hers moved to NYC so her dad could write, produce and star in the Christian musical masterpiece Upside Down. (My favorite home-movie is of Carrie and I acting out this musical in my living room wearing tutus.) My family moved to St. Louis so my dad could do whatever it is that he did with the phone company. You'd think we'd never see each other again, right? WRONG! When I was 10ish, my family made a pit-stop in Gainesville on our way down to Sanibel Island. While walking through the isles at the Kash n' Karry, who should I bump into? That's right. Carrie Mackintosh. Both our jaws dropped. She just happened to be in town visiting her Grandma. WEIRD, right?? We were able to convince her Grandma to give her up for a week so we could take her to Sanibel with us. Thank, God, because that led to the making of my second favorite home movie of all time. The pool skits. We wrote about 40 skits - all hilarious (to only us) - and all ending with one of us falling or being pushed into the pool. I remember thinking we were geniuses. My poor dad. He filmed them all. Looking at them now, I realize what a patient man my dad used to be; and also how obnoxious I was, and, lets face it, still am.

I haven't seen her since then, but she lives in Gainesville again with her husband and two adorable little kidlets. Maybe I'll see her at the Kash n' Karry next time I swing through town.


Carrie Sota
I really really like Carrie SO MUCH. Although we've known each other since high school, we haven't really gotten to know each other until recently. And JUST when it started getting good she up and moved to Chicago. Whatever, Carrie. I mean–OH! I'm so happy for you! Seriously though, Carrie is SO NICE and adorable and tiny and knows how to take a joke and make fun of herself. A quality I highly admire.


Casey Logue
Casey radiates goodness. The other half of my favorite couple in the world. The Brad and Angelina of O'Fallon. Casey is one of those people you just want to curl up and take a nap on. If people can have a warm and fuzzy aura - Casey's got that. Literally one of the finest human beings I know. Kind, generous & hilarious. And he really listens when you talk to him. You know, sometimes when you talk to people you can tell they're only half listening and half thinking of what they're going to say next. Casey is really good at making you feel like you're loved and that you matter. All that AND he's super manly and drives (or rides?) a Harley. Those guys are rare. There's nobody like Casey. I'm am actually getting a little misty just thinking about how wonderful he is.