Trivia and paint and unbelievable weather

So, team trivia is FUN. Name an 11 letter word that starts with C that means something that is done in secret. Have been playing for the last 3 weeks, and surprised that I'm enjoying it so much. Livens up a boring Tuesday night.

Got a little painting done today. Seemed like I wore more paint than I got on the canvas. Also squeezed in a run over lunch, which leads me to....

unbelivable weather! Today was so gorgeous. The ocean was blue/green and glassy, with sets of waves that were peeling perfectly, even had the pretty ocean spray blowing off the top of each wave. I really felt lucky, having the opportunity to run down the boardwalk and have that as my view over lunch. Running by Gus and Gus was difficult though...the smell of those french fries...yum. You could have had the beach almost entirely to yourself today, it was a little slice of heaven.

The rest of this week looks as hectic as the past couple of weeks. Managing to get things done, but slowly, slowly. Getting a half hour here or there to spread mulch or sketch in a canvas or clean is about as good as it's getting. I'm trying to keep the weekend somewhat open so I can have some time to focus on one or two things at a time, instead of 7 or 8.

Bon soir!

Good and Bad

My Uncle Hub died last night. He was a really, really cool kind of guy - very laid back and funny as hell. He cussed like a sailor, but not in a trashy kind of way - just was part of his normal speech. He especially cussed at golf on t.v. or when speaking of golfers on t.v., or when referring to his golf game. :) By the time they found his cancer about a month and a half ago, it was already stage five. An aggressive cancer, similar to pancreatic. The good thing is he didn't suffer for too long. The bad thing, of course, is that he did suffer and it did take him quickly - we didn't have much time to get used to the idea. So, we miss him and will continue to miss him. He and my aunt were married for 51 years, and fortunately got to celebrate their 50th in fine fashion last year at a party they threw for the occasion. I'm especially glad now that they did that.

Lots to do here and in the studio. Time to get to it. Here's today's fave P.S.

O'Keefe

"I hate flowers - I paint them because they're cheaper than models and they don't move! - Georgia O'Keefe


Who'd have thunk it?

So, it's Friday and I haven't been in the studio much this week. Everytime I had it scheduled, some other extremely pressing (sarcasm here) matter came up. My son had a mini-emergency regarding coming home this weekend....just HAD to come home, and because it was an urgent matter for him, because an absolute emergency for me to deal with. (Sarcasm again...could ya tell?)

Sherry and I will be face painting tomorrow, hopefully not in the rain, at the Fun Fest at Winswept Stables. We volunteer our time, and all the money raised goes to the Ladies Auxilliary for Beebe Hospital. A good cause - they raised money for a new mammogram machine last year. Good work ladies.

Another commission came up yesterday, taking me to seven. Painting, marathon painting is in my future. Gotta block out some major time.

Goethe - can't find a quote I don't like.

Man surrenders so readily to the commonplace, his mind and his senses are so easily blunted, so quickly shut to supreme beauty that we must do all we can to keep the feeling for it alive. No one can do without beauty entirely; it is only because people have never learned to enjoy what is really good that they delight in what is flat and futile as long as it is new. One ought at least to hear a little melody every day, read a fine poem, see a good picture, and, if possible, make a few sensible remarks.

-Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832)

random

What a week so far. Very busy, very little time for much other than working and sleeping. The random minutes in between have been filled with "must do" type of things and filling out lists for things that can wait for the weekend. The good thing is that it makes the time go by fast, the bad thing is...well, it makes the time go by fast.

Had a great yoga class tonight - this particular teacher works a lot of mental suggestions, almost therapy-like- into his asanas, which I find particularly attractive. I'm so blissed out by the time I leave.

I'm looking at something beautiful at this moment. Something peaceful. And once again, feeling that life is indeed, good.

dreamin'

So, isn't the subconscious amazing? How someone can mention something in passing during the day - you listen, process, seemingly forget about it - until you sleep. Then your subconscious comes along and WHAM, says "did you think you were going to get away with not thinking about this?? Not so much!" That's how I woke up this morning; with one of those very real, very intense dreams right at dawn. The kind that makes you just lie there and say "whoa." So, I'll be running at lunch to try to process all of that, and hopefully leave it in the street somewhere.

DAMIEN RICE. Have been listening to him on satellite radio. He's a new favorite.

the race

The race went well - ended up being the first female, so very happy about that. It felt so great to be racing again, I guess I missed it more than I thought. I was smiling as I was coming down the chute.

We also got some beach time today - Lewes Beach was picture perfect, absolutely beautiful. The weather was amazing. Had some good laughs too.

I didn't make it to the studio tonight though, the only "down" part of my day, but plan on getting there before AND after work tomorrow. Can't neglect the painting.

:) Life is good.

Cannonball!!!

I'm running the Cannonball Run today in Lewes, the first race I've done all summer. The last race I attempted - the 1/2 marathon in Lewes that I trained for all winter - was a disaster. Not physically, but mentally, due to the multi-disaster month of April for me. It all came crashing down in a supremely unwelcome way at about mile five. So, I took the summer off to give my wrecked head and heart time to heal. Now I feel ready. I hope I am.

Today's Post Secret. I've always been told that it's difficult to beat a polygraph, but I have a pretty strong feeling that I know someone who could.

Commissions, coolness, comedy

Close to knocking out two of the long list of commissions (not a bad problem to have). I will post them soon - charging the camera battery.

Planning on doing a painting of the Townsend barn...the one on or near the proposed Lingo/Townsend shopping center that's being proposed (and battled against by Lewes residents) just in case the developers win and the barn gets torn down. Saw it from a different angle the other morning and had one of those AAAAAhhhhhh, look at that...moments. It will be a nice auction piece for the LDAF Blue Jean Ball next month. The only problem is that working full-time cuts down (seriously) on studio time.

Went to Que Pasa last night - beautiful night (cool, but beautiful) and sat on the beach while having dinner...then walked on the beach at night....one of my favorite things to do. It was deserted, nothing to see but the boardwalk lights off in the distance. I could hear people in their houses on the beach, talking and laughing, a very peaceful kind of thing. Also got to catch LSMJ at the Rudder for a bit. That lead singer is going to have serious neck problems, if he doesn't already. I'm just sayin'.

Watched "Yes Man" yesterday and loved it. Jim Carey just cracks me up. I'm no smarter for having watched it, but sure got some great laughs - the scotch taping of his face was particularly hysterical, though I'm embarassed to admit it.

FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY getting back to racing. Tomorrow. I have had such a hellish time of it over the past couple of years, that all competition and motivation just got drained right out of me. Now I'm starting to feel like myself again (thank God). I have no idea what my times will be like, but I'm going to really try not to care. Just feel like moving my feet, very fast. We'll see.

Pondering again....

I don't know what it is about Fall, but it's a tough transition for me. I really, really love summer, and I actually like Fall weather, but know that Winter is on its heels. This is the season where I consciously have to practice living in the moment to keep my mind off of the winter season. Besides, we really got kind of ripped this summer, didn't we? June was a wash out, and then even after that, the weather was pretty mediocre. Fall has swept in very quickly and pushed the meager summer weather out to make way for what is forecast to be a bitterly cold winter. WHAT FUN!

Love my new job at the Art League. Today is "move the office furniture around the way you want it...and paint the walls a different color...day." I'm looking forward to getting organized and comfortable in the new space. The office is really nice, and has two big windows that look out to the Paynter's Studio, which is nestled under many large trees, so the sun filters through. It really is peaceful and serene back there. The people are great as well.

Rachel Getting Married

For some reason, I thought it was comedy. Not so much. Talk about a depressing movie! Tina came over to watch it with me, and she said "I don't think this is a comedy...I think it's a pretty heavy movie..." and she was right.

So anyway, I need to get organized. Quite a few commissions coming in, and now that I'm working full-time, I need to get some major time management going. Instead of doing things like watching life-sucking movies and blogging. :)

Today's Post Secret fave - true dat!

Art League

I am finishing up my first (partial) week at the Rehoboth Art League and really love it so far. My job largely consists of planning all the educational programs here, including recruiting instructors. If you are an artist/artisan/creative spirit and would like to teach here, or know someone who would be a good fit, please contact me. I am currently lining up programming for January-April.

Here's a shot from the Outdoor Show that was held this past August on the Art League grounds.

Post Secret Fave.

Today my nephew turns 15. FIFTEEN, OMG. That means Haley will be turning FIFTEEN soon too. I remember that year better than any year in my life, and it was miserable for me AND my poor mother. I am living in fear that I will have the ultimate karma payback waiting for me in March.

If you have any ideas for what you'd like to see offered in the art field (programs, speakers, workshops, classes....) let me know, I'm compiling an idea list and would love to know what Sussex County wants.

My friend Sheridan sent me this, and while I don't recommend it, (you'd probably go to jail for it) it did give me a good laugh.


Enjoy your Labor Day, avoid the traffic, be safe!

RAL

Wow - big reason to smile. I was offered the position of Educational Director with the Rehoboth Art League and will begin next week. Very, very excited. My brain is in high gear with possibilities. :)