30 Days Project Part II: Day 28: Happy Thanksgiving

Wondering what this project is all about? Check out my first post for Day 1 to get the back story.

My Thanksgiving started with the wonderful Gun Young Kim, roommate, studio-mate, and fellow ceramist. We made a total of 5 pies the scent of pumpkin and apple filled the house. What a wonderful start to a very thankful day. Recipes on tomorrow's blog post.

After a slow morning baking pies, I headed north to the great state of Michigan to visit my family. On the way I made a stop in Detroit to meet my sister and her fiancé. I arrived early and spent a little time waiting at their house. I made a salad for dinner and explored her cupboards to see what kind of dishes they use, see photo below.

On the way to the west side of the state the unthinkable happened, we made a stop at the yellow arches you know the place they are everywhere. I have spent a lot of time avoiding them. The last time I went to a McDonalds was last time I was in the car with my sister and her fiancé. The last time I chose to go to McDonalds that must be back in high school over 10 years ago.

Good or bad McDonalds brought a new adventure to this project. It was a very late night stop somewhere around Lansing, MI off of highway 96. I ordered fries the only thing I could get myself to eat and my sister who was excited about the project asked if she could use my cup to order and chocolate chip frappe. I explained my project and the workers who were happy to fulfill my request. They even poured the frappe directly into my cup without wasting another cup, I was very thankful! 

At the end of the meal my sister and I looked over at her fiancé and we notice the large pile of trash that is covering the table in front of him. It was an interesting variation to there ceramic dishes we had in front of us. He even posed for a picture, see below. I guess I had my first real experience with 'fast food' this evening, I think it will be a last.

Fancy Thanksgiving breakfast garlic, pepper, eggs,
homemade salsa and morning routine.

Salad lunch fresh greenhouse lettuce,
mango, goji berries, blackberries

We are headed to Michigan!

Dinner when I arrived in Detroit, MI
hanging with the little man, salad with goat cheese, pecan,
orange, and avocado.

Bored and waiting ever so patiently for my
sister and her fiancé to arrive. I decided to see
what kind of dishes she had hiding in the
cupboard. Plain white Corning Ware, I might
be suggesting an update soon….

The yellow arches.

Explaining the project.

They did not waste a cup and pored the drink directly
into the cup.

I ordered french fries.
Collette ordered a chocolate chip frappe.

Steve with all the waste he created.

Collette & I

30 Days Project Part II: Day 27: "fast food" rejected my plate

Wondering what this project is all about? Check out my first post for Day 1 to get the back story.

Breakfast Snowville Creamery yogurt
with blackberries & morning routine.

Leftover lunch curried turnip soup with rice.

I had such a good time yesterday eating out that I decided to have dinner at what I would consider a "fast food" place. I have wanted from the beginning of the project to eat at a place that I knew would serve food on styrofoam, aluminum, or anything that would go in the trash and not breakdown. This evening I headed out to high street the main road the runs through campus. It has fast food lining the east side of the road, one after another. It was a little overwhelming, as I do not often visit this place. I settled on Chipotle, it was a little further down then I wanted to walk considering it was freezing and I was carrying a large box full of dishes. I was relieved once I made, that was until the attendant started talking to me. I explained my situation and he was what I would consider aggressive and mean. All I wanted was to use my own plate but after a short deliberation there was absolutely no way in the world I was going to walk out of Chipotle with any kind of burrito. So I wrestled with it in my head, I really wanted Chipotle, was I willing to sacrifice my project for the food I wanted. It was in my mind the healthiest option I could possibly make, plus it sounded good. My better half decided the situation was simply not right. I completely understand from a sanitation standpoint why a fine establishment like Chipotle might not want to accept my plate but…. When I got home I looked up there website and they even have a tab Food with Integrity making all sorts of claims about the food they serve and the environment. And yet they would not let me do something as simple as use my own plate, hmm. This is getting me thinking…. 

Don't worry, I did not go hungry this evening I walked back towards the studio and made a quick stop at Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches. Who happily, maybe I should not say happily as it was the night before Thanksgiving and I am sure everyone wishes they were home with family. But it was accepted and I ordered the only thing I have ever gotten from JJ the #6 Vegetarian Unwich. It turns out the unwich really needs that paper wrapping to keep it together but I made it work without! I hope you are enjoying the adventure of this project as much as I am!

Making my way to high street to check out my 'fast food' options.

Walking down high street, box in hand, rotating hands,
as the box gets heavier and heavier.

First stop: Chipotle
& things did not go well. 

Thankfully I did not go hungry and
Jimmy John's accepted my plate.

The plate in action! 

Dinner is served.

First time at the fountain with my cup.

Jimmy John's #6 Vegetarian unwich provolone,
avocado spread, cucumbers, lettuce, tomato & mayo.

It was much harder to eat then I had expected.
The paper wrapping that typically holds
the unwich together it turns out is an
important function of the unwich.  

All smiles around here.

Clean up was simple, wipe down with a
napkin and head out.

30 Days Project Part II: Day 26: eating out

Wondering what this project is all about? Check out my first post for Day 1 to get the back story.

Today, I decided that everything that I consume would come from outside my home. So I indulged a little and went out to eat for all my meals. It made for a heavy, expensive, but fun day. A big thank you to Gun Young and Michelle who followed me around taking photos so that you would see what its like in the day of the life of Jeni and the Box.

The day started with some anxiety over where I was going to find breakfast. I decided that I did not want to go out of my way to pick something up because I did not want to waste any time over this decision. So I settled on Panara Bread because I knew it was on route with the destination. We missed a turn and ended up at Global Gallery, a little coffee shop in Clintonville that I notice each week at the farmers market but have never been to. It was a wonderful experience, friendly staff, and they even gave me a discount for brining my own cup. I ordered hot tea and muffins and it was nice that the cup fit on the plate and I was able to carry the plate, balancing the cup and the box to a table. Once I ate I felt a whole lot better about this day. Considering this is probably only the third time I have ever eaten breakfast outside of my home since moving to Columbus this was a big step!

Lunch posed a few more issues. It snowed the entire day. I know myself well enough to know that it is difficult for me to go out to eat during the day but the snow it sure does not help. So I waited in studio until I could not take it any longer probably around 3:00 (I usually eat lunch between 11-1). So two very hungry people left studio I had to bring few plants from my review back to the greenhouse so we loaded the car, stopped at the greenhouse, unloaded, stopped at Columbus Clay for some materials and finally arrived at the North Market downtown Columbus. We ordered lavender bubble tea from Bubbles and the women working was very interested in my project and asked if I sell my work! For Lunch we had pad thai from Nida’s Thai the cashier took my plate without question and when I received it back it was wrapped in plastic wrap. Even with it wrapped I had no possible way to carry the bubble tea, the plate and the box. With out help I would have had to eat there. I am now thinking about a set of dishes that when full of food and drink can still be carried with ease.  

Dinner brought on another round of stress. I teach a late evening course that runs until almost ten. When I eat at home or the studio this is not really a problem I have a snack before class and I usually eat in studio after class. I could not even imagine where to eat this late at night. I drove north to a restaurant I had wanted to visit and of course it was closed. Ended up calling Harvest Pizzeria in German Village and the kitchen closed at ten so we headed directly there and made it just in time. Ordered a salad and two amazing pizzas! The people were wonderful. We were even seated at a bench so my box could sit next to me. At the end of the evening, no one was left in the restaurant and the kitchen was finishing everything up so I asked if they would not mind washing my plate and they did! So I placed the clean plate back in the box and headed home, exhausted, and full!

Today, I met so many wonderful people that I would not have met otherwise. I had great conversations with people from all over the city. I am thankful for today because it gave me a new perspective on this project. Todays experience created new idea and possibilities for my future work.

Leaving my home with the box in hand.

Where does the box ride in the car?
Well usually the trunk but sometimes a passenger seat.

First stop: Global Gallery in Clintonville, OH
waiting in line for morning tea and muffins. 

At the beginning of this interaction there was a little hesitation, I think because the box is so big it can be a little intimidating until I open it and you can see what is inside. She kindly accepted my cup for tea and served the muffins on my plate. Gun Young had the idea to share the plate. I have been talking about making a travel set of two dishes so that I could share with the person I was having a meal with.  She decided to not waste a plate and had her muffins put on my plate, what a great idea!

Muffins sharing the plate.

Thank you Gun Young!

Second stop lunch at the north market.

Entering north market. 

It is really hard to resist bubble tea. If not impossible for me.

Eat up!

I decided on Pad Thai from Nida's Thai. 

Lunch Pad thai with veggies & the best lavender bubble
tea I have ever had.

Washing the plate posed a few problems.
I located the bathroom but after washing
all they had was a hand dryer, so I made it work. 

Dinner at Harvest Pizzeria in German Village.

Spinach and Arugula Salad with cambozola, apples,

toasted walnuts, cranberry, house buttermilk dressing.

Pizzas: Goat cheese with sopressata, basil, cherry tomato &

Fennel Sausage with Canal Junction gouda, 

smoked provolone, online, fennel pollen

30 Days Project Part II: Day 25: live life to the fullest

Wondering what this project is all about? Check out my first post for Day 1 to get the back story.

Katrina,  Jeni, Tonya

Today, was difficult as every November 25 has been for the past seven years. Seven years ago, I lost a best friend, a soul mate. A young women who changed the course of my life. I had met Tonya only three years prior during my first day of cheerleading practice at a new high school. Her passion, her love for life, and her energy filled the room. It was only natural that we would unite and during my senior year we became the closet of friends. Both Katrina, Tonya, and many others filled my life with so much joy and memories I will carry with me forever. When I left for college, Tonya was still a few year younger then I was but we stayed close friends. We would frequently meet for breakfast/lunch or whatever we could make time for usually meeting at the Good Earth Cafe, we could spend hours talking about art and life. We were supposed to meet on Monday, after I returned from a trip to Colorado with my family. I had cancelled the week prior because I was overwhelmed with school. My heart ripped open when I found out I had lost my friend. And Monday when we were supposed to meet it felt even worse. I still ask myself how could I have been to busy for my friend? I have forgiven myself now, but that does't mean it doesn't hurt. Tonya left me with a new perspective on life, and friendship. Two things I have made sure to fulfill in everyway possible. 

If not for my relationship with Tonya, I would not be the artist I am today. I might be a maker of things but I would not be a graduate student in ceramics, I would not have studied art education, and I would not have been an art teacher. Tonya was born an artist and I am not sure I was. I crawled and felt my way into it. I found clay at a very young age and I fell in love with it. But I was never very good a drawing and so I simply was not an artist. How could I be if I could not draw… That was until I met Tonya my first real art teacher. Tonya believed in me when no one else saw the potential. She taught me to see the world in a way I never had before and to draw what I was seeing. I still might not be the best at drawing but I sure can form the clay! Each day I wake up thankful my life has taken the course it has. I am so much more then a maker of objects. My art is making a difference. Thank you Tonya, for touching my life in such a deep way. For giving me the courage and confidence to be the artist, I knew I could be. 

Live life to the fullest. -Tonya

Todays, post it dedicated to all my friends. The ones who were there to help me through the very difficult time of losing a friend and those that came after that helped fill the painful void that remained. 

Breakfast of stewed apples with cloves

Morning Routine.

Dinner and Dessert.
Growing up I had a favorite meal, it was my go to, eat it no
matter what kind of meal. It was and still is grilled cheese
and tomato soup. It was just what I needed today. And a
piece of my first every homemade pecan pie.

Lunch almond butter and raspberry 

jam sandwich with blackberries.