Sometimes life just feels like this.

Dog Versus Branch

Goodbye 2008

Wonder if anyone will miss this year? Lord, it's been a long, tough one. Here's some memories that I'll remember:

The ELECTION - I was glued to the t.v. and newspapers. Exciting stuff for a change!
New art shows that I haven't been able to get into before.
My son transforming from a boy to a man. He seemed to change overnight.
My daughter becoming even more interesting and more fun to be around.
The Caylee Anthony Case.
The Nancy Cooper Case.
Summer days on the beach.
The Wilmington Marathon.
My son getting into BIG trouble (a couple of times).
My daughter getting into BIG trouble - once (which is enough).
My son getting accepted into NY Maritime - a proud day.
Dominican Republic trip.

You know, when pressed to remember things from the past year, it's kind of tough. That's why journaling is so important. Otherwise, you forget all the good stuff.

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! I'll toast to your happiness, wealth, health and general well-being.

Resolutions

So, do you make resolutions? I can only remember making one - that was to learn how to windsurf. I didn't do it, and can't remember making one since. I still would like to learn, but not enough to make it a resolution.

The closest I can come is this, which considering I haven't made any recently, is pretty good:

I resolve to start journaling again
I resolve to train harder to be faster for the spring
I resolve to get my a** in gear and get a lot of new paintings done for the summer shows
I resolve to do the right thing and be as compassionate as I can be.

That's it! Got any?

Sigh.....

Merry Christmas everyone! Are you all as "family(ed)out as I am? Well, it's not family, it's just the "gotta see this one, gotta see that one, back in the car again." Not really a problem when you think about it, but it can certainly be tiring. Once Christmas is over, it takes everything I have to not take everything down - the tree, the lights, all of it. It'd be nice to have a switch to hit that would take us immediately to spring. January through April is such a bear to get through. Those Rehoboth store vendors who work 9 months of the year and take 3 months off to go someplace tropical have exactly the right idea.

Haley and I will be going to A.C. in January for a dance convention. Not tropical, but a nice break away from it all. Gotta stay busy to avoid cabin fever.

Okay, well it's off to "that one" - another family visit. Here we go!

Christmas/White Elephant party 2008

Partayyyy

Getting ready for the Christmas party tonight. We're doing a white elephant exchange again, which is always a lot of fun. I bought a beayyoooootiful gold plated singing Elvis ornament. It sings Blue Christmas and is wonderfully tacky. Some lucky person will be unwrapping that tonight and screaming with joy.

I'll get pics on here after the party at some point, provided I remember to take some. :)
Here's a few shots of the updated mini progress, which has screeched to a halt till after Saturday.





And here's some pics of my daughter singing at her Christmas concert the other night - with her new dark hair!





Have a great weekend!

Hair color and holidays

Last year at this time, when my daughter's hair was becoming "dark" with her summer highlights fading away, she asked if she could add some highlights to combat the brown that was coming in. An initial "no" from me was dragged on to weeks of asking and with me finally agreeing. We tried a home highlighting kit, which ended up making Haley's hair mostly orange. Horrible. It cost about $80 to have it fixed at a local salon, but even that didn't totally take care of it. By the time the summer came, the sun had bleached it out so it was starting to look normal again. Now this December, her roots were coming in very dark. So she had medium blonde hair with dark brown roots. Yeesh. She asked if she could have it evened out so the roots matched the rest. (I was totally okay with this, but hadn't suggested it because Haley has always shuddered in fear at the thought of ever having dark hair like mine.) So, off to the salon to hopefully get her back to zero. Well...her hair color is now as dark as mine, and maybe darker. Oh. My. God. I was so afraid she was going to flip. Surprisingly she didn't, and actually said she liked it. The colorist went a little dark, but hopefully it will lighten up a little after a few shampoos. I'll get a pic of it later and post.

Procrastination. Denial. Those are my words for the holiday season. I have moments when I really love it all, but those moments tend to get squashed in all the "to do" moments. Ack. I am definitely not a shopper, so most of what I buy is done online, in my jammies in my warm house. No crowds, no parking issues. What is kind of nice about this holiday is that I think it's going to be more authentic, considering most people are cutting way back on buying. I really think the whole buying thing is the least important and least fun of the whole holiday. I much prefer the music, the decorations, the family and the feel of it all. It will be nice to see people putting more thought into their purchases and keeping them small and meaningful. One of Haley's and my favorite thing to do this time of year is watch "25 days of Christmas" on the Family channel. All those good Christmas movies. She loves to sit by the fire with the Christmas tree as the only light and watch them. That's the kind of holiday feeling I'm talking about. And my son, since he's newly in love, he's a joy to be around. He's lit up like a tree himself.

I'll do a little wrapping tonight so I can see what I still "have" to do, considering I can't procrastinate much longer.

60 degrees and all is well

Wow, wouldn't it be nice if 60 degrees was as cold as it got in the winter? I think so...this is my kind of December, even if it's only for one day. I actually woke up last night and was too warm! We got to take a nice trail run today. Even the birds were singing. I think they were confused.

Just stopped at Wawa on the way home for a magazine to read before bed. But what I saw is going to keep me up for a while. A couple were fighting in a car a few spots down from me. I looked up when I heard them yelling, then saw the guy punch the girl directly in the face. I was stunned, never have seen anything like that in real life. I went inside, debating what to do. The strange thing is, on my way out, a Lewes cop pulled up next to them. Pure coincidence. It wasn't his jurisdiction, but I filled him in on what happened, just as the girl walked next to us, in to the store, sobbing her eyes out. He said he'd call the State Police. I hope he did, and I hope they got the guy. There's no need for that, ever. Really made me feel sick.

My son has a new girlfriend and is totally smitten. It's so funny, he walks around the house whistling and bouncing on his feet. He's hugging a lot too. It's nice to see.

Here's some photos of the mini's - some complete, some in progress.

Decorating

This is a pic of Haley decorating the tree. She did the whole thing herself, and did a pretty good job. It used to be that she would only decorate at her own eye-level, so nothing high on the tree and nothing low. She's very proud of her final product this year.


Here are some pics from the Children's Beach House Show. I sold two. Haley and I had fun dressing up and enjoying the opening night.

Sherry and Karen being goofy.


This year's featured artist - Anita Peghini-Raber (hope I spelled that right. Very talented and a very nice person too.




Pat Staby made this hilarious Sarah Palin pillow. She said she has made four and sold all of them!

Norman Rockwell

Here's a pic of the whole clan, minus Amy (working, poor thing) Allyson (in CA) and Robert (taking the picture). This is before the food coma.

Paintings

Here's the latest two - one is finished, one is on its way.

This is "View from the Beach House", photo credit goes to Haley. (Lord, if I sell this painting, I'll never hear the end of it.)


This is #1 of 100 4 x 6's. "Looking up". They're so cute and they go so quickly. It's not done yet, but it won't take long.

17 year old testosterone.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=59848739&albumID=777297&imageID=41000267

My son posted this pic to his myspace page. At first I laughed, then I cringed, then I lost my appetite. Lord.

Lard

http://www.heartattackgrill.com/

My friend Sheridan sent me this link. At first I thought it was a joke. It's not.

Ignorance and Want

Here is ignorance - difficult to think of how to paint ignorance on a person without making them slack-jawed with a dunce cap. And dark green fabric....there's a challenge.

And here's Want.




I don't know how they will work on stage, we'll see.

Stage 2

Here's an update to the latest. Breaking for tea, I'm freeeezing.

Chugging along

This one's done. Now named "Prime Seating", taken in Prime Hook Delaware. This one will be going to the Children's Beach House Show on 12/3.



And if I'm very lucky, this one will go too. I've just started it. It's actually from a pic my daughter took at the Children's Beach House art show/bbq in August - that beautiful view of the ramp down to the ocean. I've got the sky blocked in, a beautiful near sunset, and will work on the rest today. Hopefully it'll be done (and dry) for the show.



Then I've got the first 2 of the 100 for 100 4x6's on the table, with the underpainting drying. I'll alternate between those and the other two commissions that are waiting. And good news, the client for the big commission is happy with the final product. Yay!

Slovenly

I just went into my studio this morning and sighed. The rest of the house is clean, but the studio is a MESS. I've been working pretty steady and my fung shui is definitely off kilter. (I have no idea if I spelled that right...fung shwaaaaay.)


The painting on the easel (can you find it?) is the big commissioned piece, which hopefully, is done. The client is coming to look at it after Thanksgiving. (I better clean the studio by then.) Here's a pic. You probably don't see the changes, because they're pretty small, but they're there....about five hours worth.


I've got several projects going on at once, which is pretty typical for me - this is a painting in progress - trying desperately to get my inventory back up. It's not done yet, but it's getting there.


The light was so pretty that day.
I'm still working on the set for the Christmas Carol show out at the theatre in Georgetown. This is a sign in progress, that will be hanging from one of the flats.


and THIS...this doesn't look like an art project, does it?

Well, it is. A very unusual one. This is a dress that one of the characters in the play wears. Usually when she lifts the hem of her skirt, there are two small children under it, one representing ignorance and one representing want. Instead of actual children, they want me to paint representations of ignorance and want. My brain definitely cringed when I heard that. Still thinking on it.

So what the hell am I doing posting? There's a lot to do, some of which I didn't even mention. Ack. Off to work.

Dance off!

Good

It's good to have friends.

It's going to be a busy winter...

Just got another commission. Wheeee!

SUN!

Thank God!

Ah, a dull moment around here.

That's a line from Bell, Book and Candle that I particularly liked. And that is, indeed, the current situation. They happen so infrequently. And you know, dull is probably not the word for it. Just quiet. Getting laundry done, painting a commissioned piece that should go pretty quickly, wondering if the rain will ever stop.

This latest commission is for a house painting - a watercolor this time. I used to do exclusively watercolor but have been painting in oil for the past year. It feels strange to switch back, but MAN, are watercolors FASTER! Whew, I'm just breezing through this one, and that's a good, good thing. The sooner I can get these 3 commissions done, the sooner I can get my inventory back up....which has rapidly depleted.

Speaking of that, two paintings sold at the Blue Jean Ball a couple of weeks ago - Prime Hook Peace and Lewes Farm. I don't think I mentioned that, and if I did, I apologize. It's been a crazy couple of months and half the time I can't remember what I've said to whom and when.

Haley starts rehearsal for "Nuncrackers" tomorrow, a fun Christmas show, in a non-traditional sense. I'm still working on the set for Christmas Carol, out at Possum Point in Georgetown. I'm taking a mini break from theatre, but hopefully will get out and audition for spring shows. I miss it already.

Speaking of spring - my winter project is to "borrow" Duane Keiser's idea (a fabulous artist, you can find him at duanekeiser.com. He did 100 4x6 mini paintings and sold them for $100 each. 100 for 100. Love the idea, so am tackling it as my winter thang. Hopefully it'll keep me occupied in the long, cold, dark winter days as I count the days till spring.

Oh, and I'm now represented by Hardcastle's Gallery in Centreville DE. Thanks to Leo for hooking me up!

Peace out! :)

POP!!

All smiles here!

Cautiously optimistic

I don't think I've ever felt real excitement over a Presidential Campaign before. Sure, I've been interested, and have always voted, but this one is different. I can't turn the t.v. off, and I'm NERVOUS! But yes, optimistic as well. Exciting stuff.

I'll let you know if I pop the chilling champagne tonight or not!

Bell Book and Candle - finis

We had such fun. Here's a pic of the cast.

And here's what our view is like when we come down the back steps to the stage. Beautiful. Check out that crescent moon.

It's always bittersweet when it ends. That's why we keep coming back.

this is halloween

Halloweenie

I love Halloween. It's my favorite holiday, by far. No stress, no gifts, just lots of spooky fun stuff and great parties. I used to drive my mother crazy with it as a kid - would start talking about it in September.

This year I won't be having a party (bummer) because Bell Book and Candle is on its second weekend (fun though!) and the theatre is showing Rocky Horror afterward. That's one of my favorite movies. Sick and twisted, but a Halloween classic. So I'll be getting my fix thataway.

My son is too big for trick or treating (though he still wants to) but my daughter is going. She's planning on dressing up in something crazy and going out with a pillowcase for her loot. I'm sure she'll load up...and then I'll find candy wrappers in her room until springtime. She'll have to hide it all from Robert - he's a sugar freak. It's pretty safe from me. Now, if it was pizza.....

Dusty has introduced me to Guitar Hero. The new version has a singing option. (that's what I'm talkin' bout!) So he plays the guitar and I get to sing. Got to create my own avitar as well (a character). My alter ego - Katrina. She's very cool, all goth'd out and wild on stage. Love it.

I still haven't gotten around to posting pics from New England. The past few weeks have been nuts. Next week will be quieter, so hopefully I'll get some painting done and some other things that need doing.

Happy Halloween to you!

Waaaasupppp?

Doesn't it just figure?

Tonight is dress rehearsal and tomorrow is opening night. And I have a COLD. Ugh. Nothing like a runny nose, a nasally voice and a head full of cotton when you're on a dusty stage. I'm saying many bad words at the moment. (Where's the vitamin c.......)

What would you do with $1,600?

So, we're back from our trip. It was fun. We could have used a few more days to explore, but we did as much as we could and as much as we had energy for.

One of the exciting things that happened on this trip happened in the hotel lobby. I was standing by a big fireplace (it was cold) waiting for Tina, when I happened to look down at a pretty red leather chair next to me. On it was money. On closer inspection, the top bill was a hundred dollar bill. It was one of those "hmmm" moments. I reached down to pick it up and realized it was a WAD of hundred dollar bills. 16 of them, folded in half just as pretty as could be. I held them and kind of turned around slowly in my spot, looking for someone who might have been "punking" me. No one there. Just me and the green. That moment was one of instant ethical dilema. I walked over to Tina, money in hand and told her what happened. Her eyes bugged out, just as mine were.

I debated for a split second on what to do, but like a good girl, took it to the front desk and explained what happened. Their eyes bugged out too. The manager relieved me of my instant windfall and locked it in the safe in case the rightful owner returned. (At this point I was really hoping the rightful owner wouldn't end up being the entire front desk staff - dividing it up and going shopping). I left my contact info and Tina and I were on our way.

The next morning I stoped back down at the front desk and asked if the owner claimed the money. He did, (according to the woman at the desk). He called after realizing what happened - he was quite a ways from the hotel by this point. He apparently described where he was sitting, how the money was folded and how much there was. He drove back and retrieved it. The disturbing part of this story is that I did not receive a phone call from either the hotel, telling me the money was claimed, OR the owner with a thank you. Now, I have faith in human kind, and I am still holding out hope that the owner will at least drop me a line in the mail saying thanks. (Please mister, don't make me lose faith).

So the question is, what would you have done?

When I get a chance, I'll post some of the pics from the trip. Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera on the train to Boston and Salem (stupid) but have some great shots of Mystic.

RUDE?

Quote for the day.

"Denial is a common tactic that substitutes deliberate ignorance for thoughtful planning"

By: Charles Tremper

Upcoming Stuff....

Tina and I have planned a New England road trip - Mystic Connecticut, Boston and Salem MA this weekend. We're getting away from it all and doing the Thelma and Louise thing. Robert asked me to keep on going if we see Brad Pitt hitchhiking. (Damn!) I'll take tons of photos and post them when we get back. We're psyched!

October 24 is the LDAF Blue Jean Ball at Nassau Valley Vineyards. Last year was a blast. This year I'm donating an original oil to the live auction and will be displaying two originals as well. That night is also OPENING NIGHT for Bell Book and Candle at the Milton Theatre. So I'll be running from the Theatre to the Blue Jean Ball. Hope you can make one or the other - (wouldn't recommend trying to do both.) BB&C runs October 24-26 and October 31-November 2. It's a cute show. Nice and light and only about an hour and a half.

My son has been accepted at NY Maritime Academy. He leaves for college August 09. WOW. Hard to believe. That'll just leave Haley and I, which will be so weird. She is going to be turning 14 this March and is showing some of the wonderful traits (ahem) of being 14 already. Lovely.

Prime Hook Peace

This is the finished piece. 3 commissions to think about now and more originals to get done. I need to grow more arms. Hmm...the picture is a little crooked, and that's another canvas supporting it over to the left. Oh well, you get the idea.

New painting

Remember when I went to Prime Hook a few weeks ago? Here's a new in-progress painting of a cute little oceanfront home there. It was so pretty against the blue sky. It's not done yet, but I'll post it when it is. I enjoyed working on this one. (Still have to finish the commissioned piece, ack!)


My daughter came running up to me this morning and said "you've got to see this! There's a big teradactyl looking thing on the roof next door!"


"Ah yes Haley, that is the elusive roof egret." And for the record, I have no idea how to spell teradactyl. If I'm right, it's luck.

YMCA Block Party

Every September, the Y holds a Block Party, which runs up and down Baltimore Avenue. It benefits the Campaign for Kids. There's a bunch of local restaurants giving samples of foods, bands, facepainting (me) a few artists, etc. Here are some shots.

Little did she know she'd earn a nickname at the Block Party. She is now known as "Choo Choo Judy".


And there's that handsome Michael Sprouse, a fabulous local artist.

And yet another handsome devil - Robert. He was my art assistant again. What a guy.


And finally, just in case any of us enjoy Baltimore Avenue just a wee bit too much, there's the water tower, reminding us where we are.

Moose, theatre and cutie-pies

An interesting weekend.

Robert and I went to see "The Spitfire Grill" in Milford on Friday night, performed by the Second Street Players. They did a fabulous job. Loved the show. I wasn't familiar with it, but Robert had seen the movie version of it years ago.

Saturday was a "Family Fun Fair" out at Winswept Stables. It's a fundraiser for the Cancer Center at Beebe and I had volunteered to face paint. We've been having tons of rain, so I wasn't sure it was going to happen. The rain held out and there were lots and lots of kids. I was the only facepainter, so I got my butt handed to me for 4 hours. Still, the kids love it and I do too. Here's a pic of one of the cuties. He kept grinning and grinning because he could see his face in my sunglasses.



Saturday night was the Crab Feast at the MOOSE LODGE in Middletown Delaware! Whoohoo! It was a benefit for my friend's daughter's cheerleading squad. Here's a pic of Michelle and her husband Scooter. We've been friends since childhood.

They have one of the happiest marriages I've been around. They've been together for about 20 years.

So, the Crab Feast - great crabs, big silent auction, d.j. etc. The dj played mostly country music for the first half and then switched to dance music. Most of the dance music was current stuff, but inevitably they switched to the standards...you know, "Old Time Rock and Roll", which means that "Celebrate" isn't far behind, and then "We are Family" and of COURSE "YMCA", as you can see below.

But the most interesting part of the evening, besides watching a group of four or five very nice women doing shots and hooting was THIS GUY.


He came out of nowhere. He started off wearing his Harley Davidson shirt with the sleeves cut off and his boxer briefs. THAT took a minute to take in, and I couldn't get my camera ready because of my delayed reaction. When I realized he was stripping, I snapped out of it. Here's some of his crazy dance moves - all done to "Old Time Rock n Roll".



We asked him afterward what was up with the stripping. He pointed at a guy at a table, and said, "that fool bet me $75 I wouldn't do it."
Nuff said.