Saturday, December 30, 2006

2998














Ordinarily, I wouldn't be writing about President Gerald Ford. Even on the occasion of his death. That's not to say I didn't respect the man. I think he stepped up at a difficult time in history and both literally and figuratively brought us all back from the edge. We're facing perilous times again in this country and I don't sense another Gerald Ford waiting in the wings ...

2998. That's a frightening reality. By the end of the year we are likely to see that number reach 3000.

Actually, I'm writing tonight because I'm off for the next four days ! Sunday, New Year's Day, Tuesday's National Day of Mourning, and my regular day off this cycle, Wednesday. I am fried. Tired, a bit cranky and largely uninspired. I keep thinking I'm going to be rested. That I'm going to find some time to catch up on thank you's and letters and everything else collecting dust in my art space. I've added to the contents of the box sent to me by blueness, and I'm prepared to pass it along ASAP.

Maybe I'll write tomorrow. Maybe I actually WILL get a good night's sleep.

Ahhhh .... yes .... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ's

Monday, December 25, 2006

Merry Christmas !


Saturday, December 16, 2006

Is it windy over there ?

















( BTW ...these are three DIFFERENT trees, in different locations on my route ! )


I've seen it windy here, but never like this. I am assuming it's just Georgie's " mojo-juju " acting up again. ( Don't ever let her tell you she's anything but a powerful, super-hero-like chick. It's always the mild-mannered ones who pack a big punch ! ) Actually, I'm loving this crazy weather. And it's not even winter yet !

The post office has been pitch black the past two days. I work in a dungeon. Really. No windows, so no natural light. With the power out, we tried to case ( sort ) our mail by the light of headlamps ( small ones ) that attached to caps on our heads, or to bands that wrapped across our foreheads. Crazy, I tell ya ! The P.O expected us to be there and work with no lights or heat, but provided us NOTHING to get the job done. The headlamps were things we had brought in ourselves, as were the dozen or so flashlights. What a classy place, that P.O !

My route looked like a war zone in places. Littered streets, with branches, debris, fallen trees and power lines. A bit surreal in places. No one on my route was hurt, and by tonight I am assuming that most folks have their power back on.

At our house we never lost power. We have had the kids over since Friday AM and tonight we had ourselves, the kids, my folks, my sister and her partner and my aunt and uncle. ( Plus two extra dogs ) Kelly LIVES for nights like this. She was completely prepared with food( buttermilk fried chicken, stuffing, coffeecake ), coffee, tea and warm comfort. She's a great hostess and I'm sure everyone was happy to get warm and fed ! I'm lucky. She's a good person. No, a great person ;)

We missed a show on Thursday night because of the storm. We were going to see Kevin Kling. Google him. He's a fascinating character and a hilarious, engaging storyteller. The Theater refunded our tickets immediately. Bravo to the Seattle Rep !

Sometime in the next few days I have a LOT of presents to wrap. Back-wrenching amounts. Probably a hundred gifts ( since we wrap stocking stuffers ). I shopped smarter this year, but it still strikes me as too much.

This is a hard time of year for me. Work is busy, days are shorter, and my drive seems longer. I have a hard time staying connected to people, though I try like hell not to lose touch. Other people are blogging about this too. Connecting. It's part art, part science, part patience and a very specific formula that balances each of these. It's like juggling plates.

Really. Glass plates.

Juggling.

I am already daydreaming about my first vacation week next year : Paint the bathroom, do art, take a drive or two, and stack the plates for awhile .... Ahhhhh .... doesn't that sound great ...

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

PORTLAND





Happy Birthday To Me ! ( Again ! )












While it might not seem like a big deal to some people, today is the day I quit smoking ! I seem to have had a bit of a brain-fart on the year, but I believe this is my " magic " birthday of sorts ! 12/12 and my 12th year as a non-smoker ! Yay for me !

I know I promised Portland pictures ... it was an awesome weekend and we had a blast ! Everything from HOURS at Powell's, to a wonderful dinner out, to the Tea Zone, which I absolutely fell in love with ! The pictures are on my phone. I'll offload them as soon as I find the energy. They won't be brilliant and crisp, but if you can handle hazy and soft ... stay tuned !

Friday, December 08, 2006

2923 !















It's not even the middle of December yet and already I am thinking of New Year's resolutions. I used to believe they were the big joke. You know, some great excess you acknowledge in December ( eating, spending, etc... ) and you resolve to do it different with the turn of a calendar page and a new year. This year, I seem to be hammered with hints about changes I need to make.

First. I am absolutely overwhelmed with " stuff " . I have, to some degree, become of those people I hate : the conspicuous consumer. I need to resolve to find a new way to " capture the essence " of those things I love. I don't have to buy them all. I'm not sure how to thin out the " stuff " I already have, but I'm thinking it will involve giving things away to people who will appreciate them more than I can. It's not crap, mind you. I have some great " stuff " . It's just that after awhile nothing really is special when it is competing for attention with all the other special things. I think that Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote about simplicity in a way that makes sense.

Second. Paper. I am buried in it. I HAVE to resolve to re-use more. We do a good job of recycling, but what we need to do is begin to eliminate the need for some things. Plastic baggies, for example. An unnecessary part of my lunch. I have a great lunch case I use everyday, but I waste baggies to hold my goodies. Yesterday it hit me like a ton of bricks. TOO MUCH WASTE. Like I said, we recycle well, but we USE too much of certain products. I need to change my whole thinking about this.

And my art room needs more actual art coming out of it ! I have stacks and piles of paper products looking to be transformed into something else. It seems I'm collecting more " stuff " to create WITH and actually creating, less. Remember the art-o-mat project I was working on ? I'm STILL not finished with it ! Can that even be true ?

Third. I need to stay focused on positive things. Traffic alone can absolutely ruin a perfectly good day for me. I need to find some alternative ways to spend that time so I don't feel so aggravated by the inevitable. I can't change the commute, so I need to change how I FEEL about the commute.

And just generally, I need to GROW LOVE, and GROW KINDNESS and GROW PATIENCE. Am I expecting too much ?

At any rate, we are escaping our everyday lives this weekend by taking a train trip to Portland. We'll be staying at the Hilton Downtown and spending most of our time at Powell's Books. I can't even tell you how giddy I am to be going somewhere that will not involve sitting in traffic, but WILL involve rooms and rooms of books. Sounds like a wonderful treat, to be sure ! Pictures when I get home !