Facebook Friends: Coryn - Dana

Coryn York

Cory is a beautiful girl with perfect eyebrows that I feel was born in the wrong decade. She should have been a flower child. I picture her natural environment to be a muddy music festival that she arrived at via hitchhiking.

Courtney Holtmeyer

Courtney, no matter how many kids you have or how much older you get, you'll always be Tim Leake's sweet kid sister to me.

Craig Markus

This once skinny, funny and slightly awkward teenager must have gone off and cocooned hisself sometime after we graduated and come out a successful man-sized husband and father of three beautiful children–once again reminding me how truly far behind I am in the game of life. Thanks a lot, Craig!

Dana Harris Schultz

If I was a teenage boy, I would hope and pray that a girl like Dana would move in next door. Grace Kellyesque beauty, brains, and a sense of humor that keeps you on your toes with just enough weirdoness to be unintimidating. Way to be, Dana. Way to be!

Dana Johnson Cuneo

This gorgeous girl is always so well put together that she makes me feel homely when I show up to parties in my only pair of jeans (that fit) and my shirt-of-the-week. I'm always happy to see Dana. She's got such a sisterly quality, and not just because she is one.

Facebook Friends: Chuck - Cori

Chuck Smith

My dear, sweet, intellectual, creative friend. When I first met Chuck he had loooooong beautiful raven black hair that any goth-metal enthusiast would give their right steel-toed boot to whip around at a hardcore show (forgive me if I just mixed genres.) I imagine the stiffs on campus thought he was a freak–which I think he probably prided himself on–but Chuck is one of the warmest and most genuine people I knew/ know. I don't know if my memory works the same way as most folks. I don't have very clear memories about things, dates, or details but I have very clear memories of my feelings. When I picture myself walking into a room full of people and seeing Chuck there, my heart warms up and I think "Thank, God. Chuck is here."

Clayton Moore

Clayton was one of our presenters at SciFest 2010. But, really, "presenter" seems like too small a word for someone of this magnitude. He's a first class Edutainer from Science Museum Oklahoma. He packed our house. Standing room only. The man has a gift. As an artist, I get asked about 4 times a year to illustrate someones book that they haven't written. Clayton included himself on that list. I really wish he would write that book because I know it will actually be nothing but brilliant.

Cody Mason

Cody is the soulmate of my soulmate. There could be no better man for her. Cody, a geologist, looks like a Calvin Klein model, has the soul of a philosopher, the adventurous-cunning spirit of Huckleberry Finn and the outdoor know-how of Bear Grylls. (I am always impressed by people who thrive in the outdoors since I'm such a panzy.) His beloved and myself are two very similar creatures. We thrive most when we feel safe, adored and challenged. Cody provides all that for her in spades. Sarah can always count on Cody to tell her she's beautiful, to tell her when she's being a baby, and to remember the car keys while she's busy thinking about what animals she can paint in tutus.

Corey McNamara

Corey Mac is an extremely special guy. The great-wise-leader type. The Braveheart of ministry. Not that he's going to paint himself blue and ride about saving his countrymen in a loincloth or anything, but I think out of all the people I've come across in my life, he'd be the most-likely to do such a thing. I wish I was half as brave as he is. And, for Corey, life isn't just about smothering out hopelessness with love for people all over the world; he wields a pretty fierce sense of humor, too. Granted, I only knew him for about half a second about a hundred years ago, but that was enough. Some people leave a mark on your psyche that doesn't really go away. He may not see himself this way at all, but this project isn't about what you think of yourself, it's about what I think of you; and Corey, I think you're inspiring, strong and thank God for you and others like you who aren't afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty living outside the box for the good of mankind.

Cori Green Roton

I haven't seen Cori in about 6 or seven months. I went to her page and noticed that she just had another baby! Life sure changes fast, especially when you're not paying attention. Cori is one of those people who LOOKS like she'd be shy and reserved, but that ain't so. She's a smart, strong and opinionated woman. I love it when people surprise me. She's also Mom to the only 2-year-old germ-a-phobe I've ever met.

Facebook Friends: Christian - Christy

Christian Mendoza

I don't remember a ton about Christian from High School other than that beaming white smile he was always wearing. The same one that I can sort of pull off when I have a wicked summer tan and a box of crest white strips.

Christie Jordan Filla

Oh, Mrs. Filla. A beacon of wisdom, respect and faith. Christie (uh, Mrs. Filla) isn't one of those mom's who threatens to throw your stuff out on the lawn if you don't clean your room, SHE DOES IT! A woman of her word. People like me need people like her in my life and luckily she passed down those dependable traits to my beloved BFF, Katie. Practical, organized, caring and so analytical it makes my head hurt. Oh, and did I mention freakishly patient? All those traits she has had for all of the 16 years that I've known her. But one adjective that I would bestow upon her today that I wouldn't have when I was a teenager, is WARM. Not that she was ever cold, but she definitely has a glow about her that wasn't always there. Now it's the first thing I notice.

Chrissy Stone

In the sitcom of my college years, Chrissy Stone is the fiercely witty hippie with expensive taste and ever-changing hair color. Every time I accidentally wander into a head shop or catch a whiff of patchouli, I think of sassy and slightly aloof Chrissy Stone.

Christine Ellington Yount

I work with Chris. She's a fundraising machine and St. Louis Cardinal fanatic. Clearly we have nothing in common other than our likeableness. I like working with Chris. She always leaves me plenty of room to be creative.

Christy Jacoby

So, this is an odd case. I don't know Christy Jacoby, but after my art show at the foundry last May, I got a friend request and a glowing email from her husband - through her profile - telling me how much he liked my work. So, basically, Christy Jacoby's husband sent me my first (and only) piece of fan mail from someone I don't know. I go back and read it when I feel sucky.

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."

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.

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.

Facebook Friends: Caleb - Carly

Caleb Spinks
Everyone has that guy in class who isn't afraid to break up the monotony with a little bit of socially outlawed humor. Yes, I'm talking about farting in class. Openly and proudly. I actually just laughed out loud thinking about it.

Callie Poole
Sometimes I wish I could reset my life and start over following in Callie's path. I had the pleasure of meeting this fine woman last year during my 3 day fun-a-thon with my dearly beloved Sarah Steppelman in Tucson, Arizona. For those of you who seek to live a life-less-ordinary and don't give a rip about the materialistic finer things in life and want to actually make a difference in peoples lives (and not just talking about it) - this is the kind of person you want to imitate. Callie Poole: Teacher & Adventurer, spitting in the face of taking life for granted.

Candi Logue
This is going to be a long one:

There's a huge group of people I went to high school with that are still thick as theives. We always refer to them as "The Friends." This is a huge group of people, folks, and Candi is the undisputed Matriarch of them all.

Now, I love practically everybody. Even people I dislike. I have always been this way. But, some people I love a little more than others. Candi's one of those people that is extra special to me. Maybe it's because I wanted to be her friend SO BAD before we actually were. I vividly remember walking through the eighth grade hallway, a greasy fat mess on one of those days where I actually made an effort to NOT look like one, and walking towards me was Candi Miller. The most popular girl in school. As she walked by, she pointed at me and exclaimed "Oh my god! I love your shoes!" That's all it took. My day was made. I no longer felt like a greasy fat mess. I had cool shoes. It was another year before we became friends and it was well worth the wait. Here are some of my favorite things about her:

1. She is one half of the best couple I know (Casey you will meet here soon.) I swear - it slightly terrifies me that I may never love & adore someone as much as these two love & adore each other. They totally blow the bell curve for the rest of us.

2. She gives me hope. In high school, Candi definitely out did us all in the messy department. I don't think I ever once saw her bedroom floor. But, as soon as she became an adult - she cleaned up her act. Her house is so cozy and clean and beautiful and reflects her completely. Now, I'm 30 and still a total slob - but if Candi can do it, so can I!!!

3. She always knows what is going on with EVERYBODY.

4. EVERYONE loves her. I mean, IT'S CANDI!!! (those who know her, will understand this. I can't quite put in to words why she's so loved - she just is!)

5. Candi is one of the sweetest people in the world, but she doesn't take crap from anyone. And she doesn't let her friends take crap from anyone either.

6. She is gorgeous, hot, and (yes, they are different) and always SO PUT TOGETHER.

If ya'll don't know Candi, I pity you.

Candice Palmer Posey
Now, if anyone were to tell me that they were going to get married right out of high school, first I would tell them that they are crazy and try to talk them out of it. But then, if they still insisted on doing it, I would immediately send them to Candice and her husband Rob. That's what they did and from where I'm standing they have an absolutely incredible marriage. Candice is pretty, pretty, pretty, sweet as sugar and a natural-born super mom. At least she makes it look that way.

Carly Rees
Carly was my BFFMS (Best friend for middle school.) I moved to O'Fallon in seventh grade and she took me in when I didn't really know anyone. One time we were sitting in my basement with her then-boyfriend who happened to be my then-neighbor. These two just STARED at each other all gooey-eyed. For like two minutes!! No talking. Just staring. I think this may be the root of my fear of awkward silences. Maybe it was all rainbows and flying hearts for these two, but I just wanted to barf. She was way better at being in relationships than me.

Things that ALWAYS remind me of Carly are: Greenday. Clam Chowder. Silk shirts. Campgrounds and infusium leave in conditioner.