Great new music by Keb Mo

Holiday Favorite!

Lifeguard commission

Not sure if the problems with the sign are from the photo or are really there. Have to go back and look.

Goodbye 2011

Another year, another boatload of crap! Well, not entirely, as we always get the good with the bad, and every little thing in between. This year is ending quite a bit differently than I had hoped, but if you believe that everything happens for a reason, you may actually get some sleep at night. There's something about the end of each year that brings a mixture of hope for the next year, disappointment in hopes/dreams that didn't happen in the current year, and happiness for being exactly where you are, if you're lucky.

With another year, comes another year of knowing who I am, and being okay with it. While running today, I was reflecting on a few things, brought about by a few happenings over the past week.

Label Away

Call me a liberal. I'll be okay with that and completely agree for the most part. But there are parts of me that are conservative too. My demeanor, for one. Not always, but usually. I support the death penalty, but would prefer that the sentence comes with DNA proof. No mistakes should be made. I'm okay with people having guns, but would prefer that people with mental illnesses or past criminal records do not get the privilege of owning one. Yeah, they might get them illegally, and that's their issue. Keep your guns, but don't point them at anyone in aggression. Defend yourself, fine. Keep them as trophies, whatever. Hunt with them. I don't like hunting either, but I guess I get why people do it, in a small way. I couldn't kill an animal unless my life was in danger or I was putting it out of its misery, but if that gives you a thrill, go for it. That doesn't mean I want your bloody deer meat or goose breasts in my fridge or crock pot. And don't use the "but you eat chicken" 'cause I don't. Or ham, or cow...so find another argument for that one. Call me a hippie freak, I'm okay with that too. You keep your guns, I'll choose not to, and we can all live happily, right?

Religion versus faith. HUGE difference. Faith is having faith that there is a higher power, and to me, it doesn't matter what higher power that is. That entity is who YOU pray to, who you lean on, who is by your side when you're sick or scared to death or grieving. And if you have no higher power, then it's whatever gets you through. Religion is what people kill each other over. Religion is "I'm right, you're not and you're also going to burn in hell." Religion says my God is better than yours, I interpret the bible this way and I'm only going to pull things out of the old testament or the new testament to prove how right I am. Please. This is such an incredibly personal matter. Keep it that way. Share it with your church family, but please do not shove it down my throat. If you try to convert me at  a dinner party, I will never return to your house. If you hand me religious pamphlets, I will refuse them. You have no business in my relationship with God, and I'll stay out of yours, and we can all live happily, right?

Abortion. No one likes it, duh. It's painful and gory and horrible. It is ending a life and changing another life forever. But until you've walked in that woman's shoes (and if you're a man....sorry, you just haven't and you never will) then stay out of it. It's not your business, it's hers. The argument that some women use abortion as birth control is as lame as they come. Could some women do that? Sure, I suppose. But they are few and far between, and one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch, as in many other situations. (Faking cancer, faking rape, faking a robbery, taking welfare or disability under false pretenses....crying wolf.) Could adoption be an alternative? Of course. Being adopted, I'm all for it. But it's an intense, painful, emotional 9 months to carry a child just to hand it over to a stranger. Not everyone can do it. Let's be okay with that. You don't have to like it, just get out of the way for the women who have to make that painful decision. And we can all live happily, right?

Political system - Come ON. Wow, we have a system that is so amazingly flawed, and it's upsetting to realize it probably isn't going to change anytime soon. The parties have splintered so badly and it's become slightly akin to the religious/faith paragraph. Regarding religion - it has no place in a political campaign. I don't need to know if you're Christian, Jewish, Mormon, whatEVER. You go to church? Fantastic. Keep it to yourself. Don't care. Going to church does not make you a good person, it makes you a church going person. Being a preacher doesn't make you a good person either (at least there's no guarantee.) There are plenty of crooked preachers out there. So why does it matter? Dunno. And the bigger question is why do you have to be rich to be a candidate? Have we ever had a normal, middle class candidate? All this fundraising and donating causes corruption at the very base of the system. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours, see you in the white house. It's bullshit, and most of them are full of it. And by most, I'll say 90% at least. The lies are incredible and the skeletons in the closet? Don't get me started. Repub, Dem, whoever...adulterers, liars, cheats. Far worse than the average person because they've got more resources to dig deeper into their personal pit of evil.

Relationships. I heard recently that "every woman has the love life she wants." Meaning, those who have good relationships have set themselves up to receive them and those who don't have done the same. I'm shrugging here, because who knows. Sometimes you know you're with a schmuck and you stay, and sometimes you don't recognize a schmuck until they show their true colors. But I do believe that the older you get, the harder it is. And until people stop looking for the green on the other side of the fence, I'm not sure that most relationships stay faithful (and that includes emotional fidelity.) Most people I know have cheated. Ain't that uplifting? Merry f'ing Christmas!

But here's the good stuff.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Loving someone is no guarantee they'll love you back, but love them anyway. If you're healthy, be happy for it. If your kids are healthy and happy, rejoice. Learn your lessons with grace and dignity and always leave room for forgiveness and trust. Smile more and if you don't feel like smiling, fake it till you make it. Smiles are contagious, and we all certainly need more happiness in this world. Allow yourself to enjoy the beauty of Christmas without the commercial trappings. There's a lot of fun to be had in decorating a tree with a child or someone you love, and that doesn't cost much. Walk around to look at Christmas lights, it'll get you out after 5 p.m. And know that as long as winter feels, spring is right around the corner. Easter clothes will be in the stores by January......

Merry Christmas, and clasp your hands together real hard and pray to your higher power that 2012 will be happy, health and for crying out loud, BETTER!

Too funny.

This Christmas cd rivals Buble's new one. Diana Krall's Christmas songs

and one just for fun.

Cool galaxy effect.

Secret Garden

She'll let you in her house

If you come knockin' late at night

She'll let you in her mouth
If the words you say are right

If you pay the price
She'll let you deep inside

But there's a secret garden she hides

She'll let you in her car
To go drivin' round

She'll let you into the parts of herself
That'll bring you down

She'll let you in her heart
If you got a hammer and a vise
But into her secret garden, don't think twice

You've gone a million miles
How far'd you get
To that place where you can't remember
And you can't forget

She'll lead you down a path
There'll be tenderness in the air
She'll let you come just far enough
So you know she's really there

She'll look at you and smile
And her eyes will say
She's got a secret garden
Where everything you want
Where everything you need
Will always stay
A million miles away

?

So, the question of the moment.....can someone else "save us" or are we responsible for saving ourselves? And if you spend your life waiting for someone to save you and no one does, then what?

Just pretend I've added the American Idiot video to this post. I'm wearing it out.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-november-15-2011/jerry-sandusky-phone-interview?xrs=share_copy

What is it with men?????

Post Marathon

Recovery week. I haven't run since Saturday, primarily because I could barely walk until Tuesday. Most of the soreness is gone now, so I lifted today and got some stretching done. What I've determined after the workout:

• My upper body strength has diminished greatly. I've been focusing on running/legs for months and ignoring everything else.
• It's really hard to lift my arms after today's workout. When I went to put on my earrings, I couldn't believe how much each arm weighed. Maybe it was the earrings.
• I have been completely slacking with yoga. My flexibility has waned as well. I'm still crazy-flexible, but not as much as I was. When I got into pigeon, I nearly whimpered.

So, a little run tomorrow, to shake out the cobwebs. During marathon training, running becomes a "fix". I'm jonesing. Will probably do a slow 2 miles. This week is about recovery, which is as hard as a taper. (Ya wouldn't think so, would ya? I should enjoy it, and am trying to!)

Painting - well, that's another thing altogether. I have been in the biggest creative block I've been in for a while. No ideas, no desire. I get little flickers now and then, and now it will be back. Just gotta set a goal, because I'm like a dog chasing a rabbit. Have to have something to go for, or what's the point?

Commie.....hahahahahaaaa.....love it.

I wish this guy wasn't so good looking. I think he's kind of hot. LOL.

Marathon Results - I did it!

https://www.raceit.com/results/default.aspx?event=2665&r=1565

You're So Cain

And yet another contender. Another politician. This time a Repub. Doesn't matter which party, just another scumbag. I'm sure there are people who believe that the women are making this up. That's what we women do...we wait for the opportunity to have our chance to accuse politicians of sexual harassment because we love to talk about graphic details and have our faces and names plastered across the news. Many men don't "get" sexual harassment and pass it off as nothing. If you're a woman, not only do you "get it" but you've been subject to it many times over the years. Usually we do nothing. But when you're a person in power and you're harassing your subordinates, you're going to get in trouble. Oh, and of course.....there's the fact that Cain is married. SURPRISE SURPRISE!

Marathon Count Down continues

Okay, so two days till the marathon. Whoooooboy. I'm ready. Scared, anxious, but ready. The weather is predicted to be perfect. Low of 40, high of 60, and plenty of sun. LIKE it. Most of the marathon is mental (for me anyway) and I've been practicing positive thinking. Imagining crossing the finish line and seeing 3:xx instead of 4:xx. I only need to make 4:00 or less to qualify for Boston. Not that I'm saying I'm going to run Boston if I DO qualify, but I would like to say I DO qualify. I would also just like to break 4. For me. I feel like I've trained better this time and am more focused on that goal.

SO. I will let ya know!

Little Sister

Conversation between my little sister Chloe and I: (Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization)

C: How old are you?

K: Older than your mom.

C: 'Cause my friends asked, is she 50?

K: (laughing) um no.....Chloe, I'm not that old. I'm 47.

C: Maybe it's because of your wrinkles.

K: (laughing a little more, but feeling suddenly like a dinosaur) My wrinkles??

C: Yeah, but that's okay. Just put some cream on them.

K: Cream??

C: Or guacomole.

Awesome cover.

Academy of Music tonight - sold out show

Gravity"


Something always brings me back to you.
It never takes too long.
No matter what I say or do I'll still feel you here 'til the moment I'm gone.


You hold me without touch.
You keep me without chains.
I never wanted anything so much than to drown in your love and not feel your rain.

Set me free, leave me be. I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity.

Here I am and I stand so tall, just the way I'm supposed to be.

But you're on to me and all over me.

You loved me 'cause I'm fragile.
When I thought that I was strong.
But you touch me for a little while and all my fragile strength is gone.

I live here on my knees as I try to make you see that you're everything I think I need here on the ground.
But you're neither friend nor foe though I can't seem to let you go.
The one thing that I still know is that you're keeping me down
You're on to me, on to me, and all over...
Something always brings me back to you.
It never takes too long.

Marathon Count Down

http://www.richmondmarathon.org/spectators.htm

I'm starting to get excited. The marathon is in 13 days. Yikes!! I feel ready. Like I would like to be at the start line NOW. Tapering is hell. Feels like a slow backslide. But, it's recommended and supposedly necessary. Just messes with ya head. The next 12 days will be (hopefully) alcohol free, nutritionally dense and full of good sleep. We'll see!!

Happy Halloween

I think I'm getting old. I did nothing last Halloween and here it is Halloween again and I have no plans. I did paint faces, traditionally, at Sea Witch all weekend....but no parties, no costume. How incredibly boring. The thought of losing interest in Halloween bothers me. I only put out a few decorations also. Mainly because I'm just too pre-occupied with other crap to do it. But it still makes me sad. It is my favorite holiday, after all. And ya know...the Post Secret is right on. What's with every girl dressing up like a slut? Good Lord. Doesn't it get old?

Just Soup

Okay - here's my soap box for the day.

A local soup kitchen was granted an "Extreme Makeover" here in Sussex County last month. This soup kitchen has been in existence for quite a while, albeit in another location. The new location requires a permit to actually SERVE the soup there. She can make it, but can't serve it (okay.....now I've discovered that bureaucratic inadequacies are everywhere.)

So, the neighbors in this...what I would call..."at risk" neighborhood, are upset about the possibilities of child molesters, rapists, drunks, thieves, etc. invading this soup kitchen and endangering their families and quality of life. Okay, FIRST....Cool Spring is a huge drug cell in Sussex County, so the drug dealers are already there. But let's think about what's happened in Sussex County over the past couple years. I don't need to go back any further than that, because recent history gives me plenty of ammunition.

There are people in our lives that we expect to be able to trust, right? Religious leaders, teachers, coaches, doctors, police officers, etc. These positions are naturally held to a higher standard because of their duties and responsibilities. They are dealing with people's trust, and often times trust that is greatly needed in times of duress, tragedy or illness.

In Sussex, we've had a well-known pediatrician end up in prison for savagely molesting and raping hundreds of local children while they were in his office, getting medical care.

We've had a football couch who has been convicted on doing the same to his own children.

We've had our share of priests, police officers and teachers who have been on the front page for any number of offenses - sexual abuse, fraud, theft, rape, you name it. THESE people are our neighbors, all the time. They are the people we "know" and "trust". These people were not frequenting soup kitchens, but had families and children and jobs and enough money to pay their bills.

We can't control who the bad guy is, where he lives or who he'll assault next. Just because people who are down on their luck frequent a soup kitchen when necessary, does not mean that our community is in any more danger than it is every second of every day. We all take risks every time we walk out the door, and everytime we put our trust in another human being (Bernie Madoff???) The trick is to learn how to recognize the risk and still HOLD ON TO YOUR EMPATHY. There's enough coldness, cruelty and inhumanity in our world without putting the stiff arm on a soup kitchen.

Amazing creativity

A classic at Halloween

Mary J Blige morning

Wow, harsh Post Secret. People can be so completely messed up and mean sometimes. Whew.

It's a beautiful morning. A little cool, but just right for October. Sun is shining brightly, sky is blue, MJB singing soulfully. Haley had her junior year homecoming last night. She looked amazing, as you can see. I took the photo of her laughing, which I absolutely love and she hates. She begged me to delete it, but I think it's one of the best photos I've ever seen of her. It really captures her spirit.

5k in Wilmington today, at the Logan House. Haven't been there since I was about 18 or 19. I barely remember what it looks like. Jimmy, my bro, is running the 5k as well, so that should be fun. A little sibling competition.

Hilarious windshield notes. You know you've wanted to do this....and maybe you have.

Where the heart is willing, it will find a thousand ways. Where it is unwilling, it will find a thousand excuses. - Arlen Price

Come on baby, now throw me a right to the chin.

Don't just stare like you never cared...I know you did.

Wine Tasting and Art Show

This was a small event (2 artists) at Irish Eyes In Lewes, September 29, 2011. The Dairy Queen painting sold, which was nice. The sunset from the deck was amazing.

Never leave something good to find something better because once you realized you had the best, the best has found better. :)

Couldn't be much funnier.

Mud

Interesting Post Secret.

The 2011 Delaware Mud Run and the De-Va's. (Delaware and Virginia girls.) Fun!

Fredman - post from late July that I neglected to post.

Solution to deception and misdirection: Tackle everybody!


By Dave Frederick
Jul 29, 2011

Share Artist and athlete - “She’s got everything she needs, she’s an artist, she don’t look back. She can take the dark out of the nighttime and paint the daytime black.” - Bob Dylan.

Kim Klabe, 46, won her age group at the Lewes 5K July 23 in a time of 23:38. The heat index before the race was “forget about it” but Kim, who used to work as a fitness instructor at the Y before taking a job at the Rehoboth Art League, is always cool under the pressure cooker.

Saturday, Aug. 6, Kim will open her first one-person exhibit at Peninsula Gallery on Savannah Road, coincidentally if not ironically across the canal bridge in Lewes. In times of economic uncertainty, art is considered a smart investment. The exhibit of oil paintings, just like my roof shingles, is called The A-Z of Lewes and Rehoboth. The exhibit continues through Aug. 31. It can be previewed at www.peninsula-gallery.com.

This video has been on this blog numerous times, too many to count, and usually for one particular individual. However, this time the posting is a blanket posting. It goes out to the current state of our political system, judicial system, educational system, welfare system...give me a minute, I'll come up with more. Oh, let's throw in the media too. I don't subscribe to the "liberal media" being a proper or accurate tag, but I do believe that the media is full of hungry, self-serving people who, like all of us, want to get ahead in our careers. Their job is about getting the news out there, whether it's truly news or just sensationalism. And boy, do they do it well. They basically lead us around by our noses on a daily basis, and lead us to believe that, for example, certain political candiates (whoever is "hot" at the moment) are the forerunner....the next prez...the next scandal, WHATEVER. And we watch, and we listen and we EAT IT UP and believe it to be true. I don't care if you are a robot, uh...I mean a watcher of Fox News, or any other news provider - they all do it. They all slant in different directions at times, some more than others...but they all do the same thing. They are interested in improving ratings, climbing their own personal ladders, and keeping us...the dumbed down people of the United States of America, informed about what THEY think we should be informed about. In 100 years, all new people, none of it will matter to us. But right now it does, so we get sucked in, jerked around and come out feeling dirty, dissatisfied and generally unhappy. I wonder how much of our trouble is created by our own hands. Jesus.

Something's Missing

I'm not alone, I wish I was.
Cause then I'd know, I was down because
I couldn't find, a friend around
To love me like, they do right now.
They do right now.


I'm dizzy from the shopping malls
I searched for joy, but I bought it all
It doesn't help the hunger pains
and a thirst I'd have to drown first to ever satiate

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
something's missing
And I don't know what it is
At all


When autumn comes, it doesnt ask.
It just walks in, where it left you last.
And you never know, when it starts
Until there's fog inside the glass around your summer heart:

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
something's missing
And I don't know what it is
At all

I can't be sure that this state of mind, is not of my own design
I wish there was an over the counter test, for loneliness.
For loneliness like this.

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is
No I don't know what it is

Something's different
And i don't know what it is
No I don't know what it is


Friends -check- Money -check-
A well slept -check- Opposite sex -check- Guitar -check- Microphone -check- Messages waiting for me, when i come home-check-

How come everything I think I need, always comes with batteries
What do you think it means



How come everything I think I need, always comes with batteries

What do you think it means

aaaahhhh

I never thought of Lucky as being scary, but after seeing this picture of him, I totally get it. Dustin gets scared of things like this. I couldn't read Dr. Seuss to him, we had to edit the video of Jurassic Park to take the scary parts out, he was terrified of the oompa looompah's on Willie Wonka. Now if you've seen Dustin recently, he's 6'6" and it's hard to imagine him being scared of anything.

What are you scared of? I'm scared of ticks that burrow into my skin and have their back legs sticking out so I have to almost operate to remove them. Now, that's scary. And disgusting. And it happened. Ant it was awful. And I get totally skeeved out just thinking about it again. Lucky the Leprechaun can't compete with that, if you ask me.

Marathon

About midway through marathon training, and as to be expected...I am at the "so over this" phase of the training. The long runs are up around 16-17 miles, with the mid-range runs at 9-10. Not fun, and there is a real need for excessive amounts of energy to make this happen around working full-time, trying to rest, and having a life in there somewhere too. This is why I don't do tri's anymore and wouldn't consider training for an Ironman. The training just sucks up so much of your life. Granted, it's for a relatively short amount of time for a pretty big pay-off (of just general satisfaction) but still.

A front just moved through, bringing rain and ushering in what is supposed to be a cool weekend. I resist cold weather with all my might. As good as fall weather may feel and as nice as it is to run in, the end of summer and the warm temps just makes me sad. I'm trying to just focus on the good part, which I'll be able to do...until about January. Not thinking about that right now. Oh wait, I just did. Shit.

Compromise and moderation are not dirty words.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/opinion/the-last-moderate.html?_r=2&src=ISMR_HP_LO_MST_FB

This article sums up what I've been trying to say (mostly unsuccessfully) when discussing politics with someone lately. Gang warfare, divided parties....imagine trying to work in an office that operated this way. Nothing would get done, and no one would want to come to work.

RAL Outdoor Show

Here are some shots from the August show. Great turnout.

Pics

Here are some shots from the Children's Beach House BBQ, 2011. This is the charitable event that I painted the Klimt chair for. (That was terrible sentence structure.) The theme was Cirque de CBH or something. This aerealist (sp?) was amazing.

Here's my panel of art. Nothing sold!

View from the CBH. Right on the Delaware Bay.

Butch Emmert, auctioning off Jean Doran's toychest.

The crowd

Butch auctioning off my rocker.

VVG

Brilliance

Moped Guy

As I was running this afternoon, I could hear some very loud talking/shouting coming up behind me. Turns out it was a guy on a moped. Polyester polo shirt tucked into khaki shorts (belted, of course) talking on a cellphone, riding a moped. I suppose he was shouting because he couldn't really hear over the thunderous kick-ass engine of his moped. He was shouting (but not angrily) "what did you call me??" My guess? You're a total tool.

Seasonal transition = intensive introspective

Introspection is the process by which someone comes to form beliefs about her own mental states. We might form the belief that someone else is happy on the basis of perception – for example, by perceiving her behavior. But a person typically does not have to observe her own behavior in order to determine whether she is happy. Rather, one makes this determination by introspecting.




When compared to other beliefs that we have, the beliefs that we acquire through introspection seem epistemically special. What exactly this amounts to is discussed in the first part of this essay. The second part addresses the nature of introspection. Though the term “introspection” literally means “looking within” (from the Latin “spicere” meaning “to look” and “intra” meaning “within”), whether introspecting should be treated analogously to looking – that is, whether introspection is a form of inner perception – is debatable. Philosophers have offered both observational and non-observational accounts of introspection. Following the discussion of these various issues about the epistemology and nature of introspection, the third section of this essay addresses an important use to which introspection has been put in philosophical discussions, namely, to draw metaphysical conclusions about the nature of mind.

Outdoor Show

Here's a shot from the RAL Outdoor Show.  A good crowd this year. Sales were down for me, but did okay. The Peninsula show closed today, and they will have a new opening on Friday. An on it goes.

Stuff

An earthquake and a hurricane in the same week. Interesting. Felt the earthquake, and what a weird feeling that was. Got evacuated for the hurricane, but it turned out that people inland got hit much harder than the coastline, which was the opposite of the prediction. Spent my birthday in Virginia and had a great time.

The weather is cooling down nicely. This is the last day of August, and that really, really makes me sad. I get all melancholy and weepy when summer ends and fall begins. Something about that transition that just gets me. The one good thing is that the end of the stupid striped monstrosities (seen above...in front of my car...a very, very bad place to be) will be going away very soon. The beaches are less crowded (but will be nuts this weekend) and the nights are cool. Windows open...summer sounds, nice breezes. I'm trying to focus on the good stuff, and will be okay, as usual, until after the holidays. Then it's a teeth clenching, deep breathing, heavy-drinking 3 months until spring hits again. LOL. No, but seriously.

Dover DE and disappearing into a sad time warp.

I had to get my car serviced today, and since there are no dealers in the Rehoboth area that service foreign cars, I had to drive to Dover for an 8 a.m. appointment, which meant getting up early for something completely boring.

I thought I'd walk to find some breakfast, rather than sit with the senior citizens in the totally void of natural light, dimly painted and broadcasting Fox News lounge area. So I was pointed in the direction of Nino's, who serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. On Route 13. Sounds great...right next to the tire place.

Here's some ponderings on Nino's Diner.

Diners can be cool, or they can be morbidly depressing. Paper placemats with local advertising all over them, really really bad artwork, and shiny seats that stick to your bare skin. Two old people having breakfast together, and they never spoke a word. But they perked right up when their food came, and the wife thought her husband's omelette looked bigger, so she wanted to switch. Another guy came in, who was Mr. Something or another...everyone knew his name. Dover's Norm. He was extremely bugged because they were out of  "patties"...which I'm assuming means sausage patties? Oh, and the music...MUZAC....god help me. It was enough to make anyone jump out the window, and it was a one-level building. I swore to myself I'd remember the name of one of the songs...which was bad enough in it's normal state, but when turned in muzac, became a whole new kind of hell. The waitress made me the most sad of all. They had her in a pink uniform, like the kind from "Alice" and all I could think of was how much money could she possibly make, working at Nino's for breakfast? I watched her sweep the pile of coins left on the glass-top table from the previous customer. Coins. They went into her apron. I kept picturing her counting them out later at her own kitchen table and it made me really, really sad. Yuck. Did she want to be a waitress or did her life just turn that way? What did she want to be? She was probably 45-50 years old. Kids? Husband? Where did she live? Could she pay her bills? Does everyone go through this kind of questioning in this kind of situation or am I just a freak?

General Apathy and Major Boredom

Play it again Sam.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

You know what's wrong with you, Miss Whoever-you-are? You're chicken, you've got no guts. You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, "Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." You call yourself a free spirit, a "wild thing," and you're terrified somebody's gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.

Sometimes.

Sometimes you don't know what you're going to feel about a certain situation until you're in it. Then your reaction can surprise you and yet not surprise you at the same time. Like you knew it was a vague possibility, but the thought of having that particular reaction that crossed your mind for a minute was so terrifying that you immediately pushed it out of your mind, out of fear that you might will into happening. Sometimes you have to plan to act a certain way because you need to have that rescue net in place to ensure you won't go into that dark place. So you do, and it's not authentic at all, but at least it's a safe place to be.



website

New images on website - finally!

Do the Dewey

So, I've been running from work into Dewey to do 6/7 mile runs. Very interesting territory, pretty unlike running the trail, or anywhere else for that matter. It's fun to hear the little bits of conversation from people as I run past them, and to just notice the people and what they're doing.

One snippet heard from a girl on a bike, said in that annoying, cloying valley-girl voice - "last time I was here, I got soooooo wasted."

Two guys walking, one carrying a case of beer, the other with an unopened wine bottle in each hand. Just trudging along, heads down, like they were reluctantly headed to another night of heavy partying.

Another guy walking along looking the same way, but carring an opened, half-drunk, 2 litre bottle of coke in his hand, holding it by the neck and looking as if he were still recovering from the night before.

And let's do a little lesson on common sense and basic courtesy, shall we? Runners typically don't like to run on the sidewalks because of several reasons: the concrete is actually worse for you than the asphalt, there are other people walking or standing on the sidewalk, there are curbs that are dangerous when you're running. HOWEVER, sometimes if there is no shoulder, we may have to get up on the sidewalk. This means....if you are walking two by two or four by four or more, you may want to dig down deep into your selfish little soul and maybe drop back a little to single file? For just a second? Especially if the runner coming toward you is teetering on the edge of the curb, trying to stay out of traffic and trying not to break an ankle by falling off the curb so your fat drunk ass can take up the whole sidewalk? Hmm? It's amazing how often this happens, and people look at the runner like....YOU MOVE!

 Okay, I'm done.

Here's a smile.

Sex without love is merely healthy exercise. ~ Robert A. Heinlein




Save a boyfriend for a rainy day - and another, in case it doesn't rain.~ Mae West

hahaha

New one..

But what to call it. It's a "private" beach path that leads to a nice, secluded private beach that I'm not supposed to use, but do anyway. How about "Hidden from You?"

Parental Advisory. But sometimes it just need to be said.

Calling Gloriaaa

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2011/08/gloria-steinem-on-false-feminism-of.html?spref=fb

The people our founders came here to escape. I particularly like that one.  :)

ooooh...scandalous! and not surprising!

So the world would be a painting, and I'd live inside with you..

Tulips in progress. This is a big one...25 x 36 or something like that. Maybe 24. Anyway, just blocking in right now, but having fun doing something different. Will be done soon, for the outdoor show next weekend.

Power

Many of us have do not understand what personal power means. We have been given the false notion that power is bad,that it is something we use to exert our will upon others. In fact, when our personal power is intact, we are neither overbearing nor meek. We have a clear sense of our strength and the impact we can have on others. This actually enables us to be more sensitive. Personal power is what permits us to work on behalf of our dreams and desires. It allows us to realize that we are worthy and deserve to be heard. In addition, our personal power lets us extend the respect we know that we deserve to the people around us. There is no reason to be afraid or ashamed of fully owning your power.

-from The Daily Om.

A conversation with Haley today went something like.....

Just because a woman doesn't have a whole lot going for her (according so some people) doesn't mean she should latch on to a guy and get married because that's her only aspiration. You have to reach...far..for many things you want in life, and actually reaching those goals make them that much more valuable. The hardest things to reach are usually the things that make the most difference in your life and are what keep your life exciting. Never settle for the easy stuff.

Openings and p.r.'s

Here's a couple of shots from the Dam Mill Race in Millsboro Saturday morning. The bottom shot captures my face just as I'm beginning to smile, realizing I'm going to p.r. Which means I finally broke 23:00. I was a very happy girl. Took my age group, which also made me smile.

The opening went really well. Sold six that night, which isn't too shabby! Don't know if anything else has sold yet, but will pop in over the weekend to check it out. I have a lot of pics, and will post soon.

The renaissance is responsible?

And now I'm officially scared.

Okay, so I'm on a Bachmann kick today. But this article totally put me over the edge in full-out fear and concern for anyone who supports this kind of thinking in a politician. If you want to be this kind of Christian, meaning a fundamental Christian, that's your choice. But that whole separation of church and state thing is kind of important, and religion is far too personal to even have a place in the political arena. Keep it to yo'self and stop scaring me. Really.

I can't help it, I just find it funny.

Unfair?? Puhleeze.

This cover is not surprising to me at all....and it has nothing to do with bashing women.

Couldn't have said it any better.

Extremists....in ANYTHING skew everything and cause chaos. I mean really, can't we all just get along? The water in the middle is FINE, come on in!

tea baggers

ssssip

Offender

You've heard me mention them. No wait, you've heard me go on and on, ad nauseum about them. When I came back from lunch today, there was ONE IN OUR PARKING LOT. Taking up 3 spaces, mind you. Three. Yet another reason to recognize them as probably the most obnoxious part of the summer season. In my opinion. This is the only time I ever fantasize about owning a rocket launcher.

The A to Z of Lewes and Rehoboth opens at Peninsula Gallery Aug. 6 - - CapeGazette.com - Covering Delaware's Cape Region - Inland Bays, Atlantic Ocean, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Milton, Dewey Beach, USA

The A to Z of Lewes and Rehoboth opens at Peninsula Gallery Aug. 6 - - CapeGazette.com - Covering Delaware's Cape Region - Inland Bays, Atlantic Ocean, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Milton, Dewey Beach, USA

Paolo

Rehab

I guess I shouldn't be shocked, but am anyway. She was a mess, but a mess who could sing.
Amy Winehouse

Hot Chelle Rae

La la LA
(it doesn't matter)
LA la la
(whatever)
La LA LA
oh well.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

How are you "different?"

This is for everyone who thinks homosexuality is a choice. If you're hetero, try to imagine being gay. Is that palatable to you? Pretending or trying to be straight when you're not is the same thing. I can't wait till Michelle Bachman's husband comes out.....just a matter of time.

Noontime, Surf Avenue, complete!

D Day

So this is the week everything needs to be sent to the Gallery. Images, sizes, prices, artist statement, bio....am I forgetting anything? Oh, the paintings. Well, I think they can wait, but the advertising will be starting soon so all that stuff is due now. I wrote my artist statement last night, and am "sitting with it" for a day to see if it needs tweaking. Here it is, if you're interested. I'm taking any and all comments/suggestions.

Artist Statement


As an artist, it's easy to wait until you feel like painting, and therefore can be easy to put off until that moment strikes. Sometimes it takes putting the brush to the canvas to bring that moment on and turn a non-creative moment into a very creative one. A hectic day can be forgotten with a few brush strokes or cuts of a palette knife. I like to keep in mind what my aspirations as an artist are and keep my hands covered in paint to always remind me that I love what I do.

I choose what I paint by my surroundings. Sussex County is a beautiful place to live and sometimes it can be dangerous to drive around when something really breathtaking catches my eye. There have been many times I have pulled over on the side of the road to capture a field while it's being harvested, the shadow line falling across a roof, or the sun kissing someone's shoulders just so. When I've captured something good with my camera, it's all I can do to get home as quickly as possible to begin capturing it in paint.

Rehoboth and Lewes A-Z shows my love affair with this area. Each painting is a piece of something I find beautiful about being here. Most start with a red underpainting, my favorite color, which I consider to be a fitting tribute to each by beginning it with something that makes me smile. Time, something I'm almost always conscious of, fell away with each of these paintings. Every minute lost to sleep was re-distributed into the focus and passion I felt as I completed each letter. When you look at this show, I hope you will find familiar scenes that will start conversation and maybe make you smile as well.

Noontime, Surf Avenue, in progress

Love this.

Whooped!

Fun weekend, but man...am I tired. Here's the latest painting, "Deauville morning." I see a couple things I want to fix on the concession stand, but other than that, it's done.

Bell Bottom Blues

One of the most achingly beautiful love songs out there. An oldie but a goodie.

Bicycle season

Oh, it's that time of year again.

Little Rehoboth, with its minimal sidewalks, shoulders and parking, is crowded to absolutely capacity once again. Each year it seems like more and more people come, and Rehoboth has done nothing to remedy the (non) parking situation, or the fact that we still pay antiquated parking meters QUARTERS....and to add insult to injury, it's not like you only have to put a few quarters in, you get 12 minutes for one quarter. This means that having a roll of quarters on your person is pretty necessary if you want to park for any period of time. Assuming, of course, you can actually find a parking spot. Considering that most people don't carry cash on them anymore, most people also don't carry rolls of quarters on them. Need change? No problem. There's two change machines. In all of Rehoboth. BUT they're ONLY on Rehoboth Avenue, so if you need them and you're way down by the Henlopen Hotel....well, sorry....guess you'll have to give up your treasured spot and drive back to the change machine, or walk there and take the chance that you'll get a ticket while you're walking the six or seven blocks to get to the change machine. That'll take you about twenty minutes to get there and back, if you walk fast, and I can pretty much promise you that that is plenty of time for an energetic parking meter enforcer to take care of you, real quick. Well, you can always go into a shop to get quarters, right??? Not so much. Shop owners detest giving quarters, and frankly...they can't keep enough quarters on hand to begin to accomodate the tens of thousands of people here. And besides, they have a business to run, and don't fancy themselves to be banks.

The other alternative is a parking permit. Locals who live in town (I kid you NOT) have to have parking permits if they want to park in front of their own homes. Uh yup. Other locals who don't live downtown really bristle when it comes to buying parking permits. It seems insulting to pay for something like that, when you park there the other 9 months of the year for free. Stupid, stupid....but we have to play the game too. Dart? The Shoobie bus? Yeah, you can do that, if the bus schedule works with yours.

But let's talk about bikes. And the God-awful red and white striped buggy things. I love to talk about them every year, it never gets old. For me. I was driving to work this morning, coming down Columbia Avenue. Two abundant women were in front of me on bikes. Now, they were riding at a pace that amazed me - I always thought that if you pedaled that slowly, you would actually fall over due to the lack of momentum. But amazingly enough, they remained upright. They had their litte "Rent Me at......" metal license plates dangling from their bike seats. They wore no helmets and certainly were in no hurry. Why, they were sightseeing! They were on vacation. And it didn't matter that they were driving in the lane....there was no shoulder...well, there kind of was a shoulder, but it was all rocky and stuff.....so they "rode" in the lane. I patiently lagged behind them, smiling broadly as I watched them thoroughly enjoy their vacation and work diligently on burning at least 20 calories at that pace, and waited for my turn to quietly pass them. I couldn't pass them, of course, because Columbia is 2 way traffic and cars were coming toward me. The pleasantly abundant ladies were not concerned about me getting to work on time, of course, because they were on vacation after all, and really....that's what Rehoboth is all about, isn't it? I mean really.

And the striped buggy things? If bazookas were legal, and I could strap one to the front of my car or just carry one strapped across my chest, I would. I would blow each and every one of them off the road in an instant. From a distance, close-up, wherever they may be. You'd have to be here to get it. They are the foulest, most obnoxious touristy things around. They take up lanes, full sidewalks and the majority of the southern end of the boardwalk. And yeah, they pedal those really, really slow. But they won't tip over because they're on four wheels. They also like to stop completely, with no warning, in the middle of wherever they are, to adjust junior's helmet, eat a piece of taffy or extinguish their cigarettes.

Ain't life grand???

More funny stuff.

Yeah, so this is funny, but it's also dead-serious. As we age, it's easier and easier to know what you want, don't want, can tolerate, and can completely throw out the window for a new ouitlook. Below is the list from the newspaper column, Times column - "don't date us if...." and just for fun, I'll add a few of my own. But I'll title mine "I'm not dating you if....."

You are over 35 and wear a ponytail, especially if you're bald on top.
You have a criminal record, and it looks pretty likely that you'll continue to add to that record.
You live with your parents.
Your conversation skills consist mostly of grunts.
You drive like a d*ck.
You are an extreme chauvenist.
Slob.
Unemployed with no hope of becoming employed due to any variety of problems.
Belong to the "tea party".
Believe that exercise is for sissies or that running will eventually ruin my bones.
Hate music.
Watch t.v. Constantly.

The fun part about these kind of lists is that they're different for everyone and there's no right or wrong. For every list, there's a counter list from someone who wants all of the above. That's what makes life so interesting, yeah?

new in progress....closing in on being absolutely done.