Back Very Soon!!!!

Ok, I know I've not been keeping up with this. But soon I will Wow you with my post.

Catching Up

The Relay for Life event was the 25th-26th of July. My team the Monday Morning Art Group did a wonderful job of raising money, we raised over, $2000.00!!!!
Thanks to: Carol,Kaye,Elaine,Deb,Diane,Paulette,Dottie,Robin,and Donovan!!!!

Next, I submitted this photograph into
the photo exhibit at the MAI.
This is called Winter Prison,
and was taken inside my house,
looking out my laundry room window.

And while I was at it, a friend asked me to Stage Manage Steel Magnolias at the Historic Ramsdell Theater .

So yeah, I've been a little busy this month, it's all good though.

What a Weekend!!!!

My Goodness!!!
I have had quite a weekend!!!


Well, it started Friday, where I had to be at work at 6:30 a.m.(I don't think God is even up at that hour)
But I digress...So there I was at 6:30AM getting ready to Board Op on a remote for the radio station. They were broadcasting from the House of Flavors, as we do every other week. They are nice there and Chet and I have done this so often now that we are in a kind of groove- so that is good.
After the remote, I ran some errands, and went to an artist reception. That was fun.

I went over to my friend Deb's house that night, where we planned to watch the Fireworks.

We had a great time, we ended up, going across the street to her neighbors house, where we polished off a bottle of wine, and told stories until about midnight.

Then after a quick sleep, it was time to head back to the station and get ready for the Parade.

The Forest Festival, is one of the big events here in town. So once the Parade was done,(I waved my little heart out!!!) I grabbed Deb and we headed for the Art Fair.
I saw lots of great stuff....
And spent a bit of money...Meanwhile, my husband (who was also in the parade) went to the bar to party with some friends. A great time was had by all.

Then Sunday rolls around. D and I got up and went to breakfast, then headed down to Ludington to the Art Fair (about 30 miles from our house).
We walked all over and I found a pair of shoes I loved.

(these are not my shoes, mine have cats on them!!!!)

Then it was back home, and get ready for the MAI Reception at the Ramsdell Theater, where I drank a little too much wine, but had a great time!!!!

What a fantastic weekend! Aside from spending a little too much money, I had a wonderful time! Now I just have to rest up for next year!!!!

Farewell to my friend

Today, I found out that a friend has passed away.



In this day and age, it is not uncommon for someone to live to be over 100 years old. Willard Scott pays tribute to these individuals on the early morning Today Show.

My friend was over 100. She was 102!!!


When I first met her, she wasn't quite there yet.
In fact, I was introduced to her through another friend a septuagenarian. (the youngest spirit I've ever met- she is the one who informed me of the loss)

Bea was a wonderful lady. Quick to laugh, warm of spirit, and smart. Several years ago, the three of us went up north to Mackinaw Island.


We saw these sights and may others. It was a wonderful trip, a happy one.


In her decline, Bea wasn't able to get out as much and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play Scrabble with her. She would beat the pants off me every time!!!!
She was a very good player. I won't find another opponent to match her any time soon.


In her youth, Bea helped out in WWII as a translator.She was veteran of foreign wars. I mentioned this to her once "Yes" she said,"I guess I am"


She was a quiet lady, however,if you asked, she always had interesting stories to tell.


I love you Bea,


You will be missed

Bea Anderson
1907-2009

Somethin I've never done before....

One might ask, how I arrived at this advanced age, never having done it?

Well, honestly, I never felt comfortable with the people I was with until last weekend.
Now you are wondering what I did....well suffice to say that I ingested an "herbal cake". This type of desert made this way is usually made with brownies, that should help you.


Anyway, aside from making me laugh like an idiot, and giggle like a fool, it was not an unplesent experience. Would I do it again? Well, yeah sure if the situation was right.

Ok, this kinda pissed me off

A Story....



The other day, I went to breakfast with my husband, we go every weekend, it's just something we started doing. We love the food and the people.So please understand my beef is not with this wonderful place.


Ok, having said that, I was finished with my breakfast and decided to use the restroom. I went in, did what you do in there and came out and washed my hand. I'm trying to remember if I told you anything about myself...


Ok here goes... real quick....
I have a heart condition which I will tell you more about later. Because of this , at the age of four(4) I had a stroke. It affected my left side to the point that I wore braces on my left foot/leg until I was out of school. (I had a very evasive surgery) but now I can walk brace free.
The stroke also affected my left hand and arm. Some people with stroke become paralyzed on that side, I was lucky, I have regular continuous spasms on my left side that keep my hand and arm up a lot of the time(like you raise your hand in school). So that is what I deal with daily.


Having said all that, here is what pissed me off...As stated, I was in the bathroom and came out to wash, my hand/arm was very bad that day(some days are worse that others), and well there was a lady waiting for a stall...And she said to me "can I ask what happened to your arm"...I was in a mood, so that is why this has affected me so. I get this a lot really,but that day for some reason, it really rubbed me raw, I smiled, told her "I had a stroke, but that I was doing great."


Then, I could've kicked myself cuz what I wanted to say was, something smart assed "I'm possessed by the devil!" Something! Anything! A friend suggested "A witch turned me into a newt....I got better....well, ...except for this!!!" I like that one!!!


Ok, I'm ranting, but I kinda thought it was rude...I wouldn't do that...At least not until I got to know the person better. Am I wrong?


It has affected me, I don't know why exactly, she wasn't trying to be rude, she wasn't trying to be anything-she was just curious, and it got the best of her.

Craziness

Never a dull moment for me really

Yes, lately I've been as busy as this little guy.
(yes, it's a beaver)
But I'm not complaining, things are pretty good , my health, aside from some fatigue is pretty good.

Right now, me and women I hold most dear are gearing up to participate in the annual Relay For Life Event.

We, (the Monday Morning Art Group or MMAG) started doing this last year, when one of our own was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Then, right before the Relay I got the news that cancer was to play a very personal role in the life of a family member. ( I will expand more on this closer to Relay)


It's a fabulous event and I encourage everyone I know to participate at whatever level they feel comfortable.

Test

Test.....yay!!!!

Sent from my iPod

Ode to Spring!!!

Spring is here!!!
Yes this is news
When you spend all your winter in the frigid cold, when Spring actually arrives one is joyous...
I live by the lake so Spring and Summer are a wonderful time around my little town.
We can finally shed our winter skin and bask in the warm weather.
Right now all the trees are budding and trying to grow all their beautiful leaves, the ice cream shops are gearing up for long lines again.
And you can never get enough in the Summertime!!!
I love it,
Hell yes I'm excited!!!

Wow what a weekend!!!

Yes, It's been that kind of weekend!

Ok... Saturday, I went down to Holland MI with the M.H.S. Forensics Team for Regionals

I am so proud of my team!!!

Forensics Regional finalists were:

Christian Parks

Paul Purdy

Jordan O'Hagan*

Cameron DeCillis*

*A note on Mr. Cameron and Mr. Jordan
These two gentlemen were chosen to represent Manistee High School in Forensics at the State level!!!!
Cameron in 4th Place Oratory
Jordan as an alternate in Informative*

I judged 4 (modules)

• Storytelling

• Duo open

• Poetry

• And Duo 9/10

Let me just say that every student I saw was impressive and ready for competition!!!

It looks like I may be judging Finals in Flint MI @ U of M

........

Then on Sunday....

I went down to Grand Rapids to Mary Free Bed Rehab Center,

for the 27th Art Show Reception...

Here are my three pieces:

Elements and Seasons

Pen & Ink, marker

Head and hands Polyclay:

'Bethany'

Medicine Wheel Polyclay and PMC

I received 'honorable mention' for this piece.

Thank You to the Guild, they put on a beautiful reception.

See you next year....

Very Excited!!!

Very Busy Weekend this week...

It's the big 26th Annual Mary Free Bed Art Exhibition

I'm very excited this year for some reason, this is my 6th year participating...I love this show, it's one of the only ones I do a year. To be categorized in the company of some of these people is quite frankly, an honor!




I consider myself an artist, however the work some of these people can produce is awe-inspiring!
This year I chose to try and create a full sized infant as my big project, I had a couple setbacks, but I did it (twice).


First try....





Second try to be posted soon....



In addition to the MFB Reception, I'm judging a Regional Forensics Tournament
Think of it as Drama Club to the inth degree. Some of these kids are amazing!!!
Here's a link to the National League to give you an idea.
Or you can look at Forensics pieces by actual contestants online at you tube.



Wish me luck....

A New Start

As projects go, this is one that I fully intended to maintain well, we see how that all worked out.

From here on out I'm going to try to maintain this blog... we shall see what happens....

What to tell you ….well, I'm still with my husband. A wonderful man I would marry again tomorrow.

Still in Northern MI. It was another horrible winter, but the sun is starting to shine in a springtime sort of way- No snow on Easter this year!!

Yay!!!

I admit it is criminal that in the last YEAR I have not posted anything.... This is going to change very soon...I promise!!!

Much to say, but way too late and must get to Bed!!!

I shall post an update very soon!!!

Catching Up

What to say, what to say....

Well, let me catch you up a little. I was to go back to KS last Month Aug, however due to an injury I suffered, I was unable to go.

I guess I can't just leave it at that huh? Well, one Wed night I decited to get my hubby and go to the new pub within walking distance of my house...well we both drank a tiny bit too much and had to do the pub crawl back home (never having done this, I was somewhat confused and asked my lovely husband to carry me.) As stated neither of us were feeling any pain so when he dropped me on my tailbone, I didn't think much of it. Except, that I didn't get to sleep that night and, after having x-rays at the hospital the following Sunday, decited that a 14hour ride in a car to Topeka Kansas was not in my plans any longer. D was disapointed naturally, but he was a good sport and didn't give me too much grief.

Having said that, my friends were wonderful the whole time I was layed up especially Deb and Ash, they both checked on me daily. I Love You guys!!!!

Since then I have been busy working toward my trip to Pittsburg/New York I'm going on a Polymer Clay Retreat the end of Oct and then heading up to NY to visit my friend Sue. I can't wait!!!! It's going to be so much fun

I'm still working at the Radio Station engineering the football games on Friday nights soon however, I'm going to be doing basketball in Nov. and that will be about 3-4 nights a week.
Good Money!!!<---smiling---

Anyway, I'm slowly getting my studio togeather and I'm doing more and more art. It's all good!!!!

Bye for now,

The Feirdo

Just returned from Oz!!!

Must tell you about my receint adventure in travel....


As stated in my title, I reciently returned from Oz or Kansas as the case may be.


Let me just tell you that KS this time of year is HOT!!!!!


I honestly thought I would expire several times....


Now you may ask "Why on earth would you go to KS in the Middle of July in the first place?"


And to answer that question, I state here and now that I love my husband!!!! I would not travel to KS to go to a 20th year High School renunion with or for anyone but him!


He had a wonderful time, I on the other hand shook hands with a bunch of people that I will never see again who don't know or give a damn about me.


Anyway, aside from meeting a bunch of phony people (there are a couple exceptions) and smiling untill my face hurt, we did have a pretty good trip. As stated he had a wonderful time, and I did enjoy walking around the zoo in Topeka with him.



I now take a moment to honor the Artic Fox that was overheating on a stump in the Topeka Zoo. You could just hear him thinking..."Kill me now!!!!!"
Most all the rest of the animals were inside avoiding the opressive heat....Unlike us Tweedle Brothers who decited to roam around the Zoo!!!!

click here to read about this picture

Now about those exceptions I was talking about, David and Irma. David went to school with my husband and Irma his girlfriend, made the whole renunion situation bearable for me. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness and friendship!!!!

Ok here is the punchline......we get to do it all again next month!!!!!! Not the renunion thing next month it's a wedding.

Imperfections: A Lovely Little Story

Got this from a friend in e-mail.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!!!
Kirsten

Imperfections


An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course , the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream " I am ashamed of my self, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them."

"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are,
there would not be this beauty to grace the house.

"Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

To all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!

Happy Mothers Day

For about the last two years, every Monday morning I get together with some women for "Art Day". I truly love these women. We are a good group, we came about during a time in my life where I was looking for an outlet where I could just hang out with other Artist and maybe some talent would rub off. I had been doing my own art, but I was stalemated where I was at the time. Some of us are schooled in classic art methods. But there are others of us, myself included who have no "formal" training. It is the ones who do that offer critique in loving and supportive ways to those of us that don't have the 'book sense'.

Now I'm going to mention how these wonderful human beings have personally helped me. First off let me mention, that at 37 I am the youngest member of the group....( unless you count Roxy and I don't really only because she is 3 and well, a dog-I'm not being derogatory she really is a pet of one of the members-kind of the group mascot)

but I digress...

Over the past few years these women have supported me in so many ways:

One helped to 'get me in' at the radio station

They all have come to MFB to show their support, some even came twice!!! (or really tried to):)

They threw me a wedding shower---It was beautiful!!!!

They came to my 'Wedding'. One put up the decorations, another went with me to Traverse City (60 miles - one way) twice to plan, then shop for food,then lent me her silver for the Reception. Another lent me her home for the reception, another made sure all the food got put out and then that everything got cleaned up. And still another, offered to buy the cake and in the past has subtly helped me out with my art (A few days after the 'wedding' this person showed up with 2 big packages-stating gifts for the wedding.)

I have no family in town, and these women have supported me time and time again. I am so fortunate to have them in my life. I look up to them, and consider them equals. But have it be known, that every once in a while, they treat me like a daughter(and I love them even more for it)

so

Happy Mother's Day

to

Elaine

Robin

Paulette

Deb

Renee'

Carol

Pat

&

Kay

Cheers!!!!!

It's time for this years Mary Free Bed Art Show

I entered, and last Sunday, Donovan and I got in my little car and traveled down to GR(Grand Rapids-approx 2hrs south of us) It was my fifth year participating in the show, and the shows' 25th year- A Silver Anniversary for the MFB Art Guild. They even gave the participating artist a lovely silver frame with the invitation for this years show-art work done by Gerald Pudlick(who I am honored to call a personal friend)***be sure to check out what MFB has to say ***

It was a wonderful event, the ladies of the Guild really go all out and make it a very special day for us(the Artist)

For those of you who are unaware, the Mary Free Bed Hospital is a wonderful facility that works to help people with mental/physical limitations caused by birth or accident/injury. I, myself have never been a patient of MFB however, I did attend The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, when I was much younger. I still remember my experiences there.

Now, back to the art show, what makes this show special, is that all the participants have some sort of mental and/or physical disability. There are so many fascinating, creative, and very talented people at this show that I am again, honored to be allowed to call them my contemporaries!!!

I am so fortunate, to have the people in my life that I do, several of my friends came down from north west MI to see my work and support me in this show, while others supported me with wishes of good luck and sending their love. Thanks so Much to: Robin, Chuck, Pat, Elaine, Renee', Deb, Paulette, and as always, to my Donovan- I love you all so much!!!!!

One other person I wanted to acknowledge, my friend Verlie. a woman who in her own right is an extremely gifted and talented artist. Take a look. Verlie also was the person who introduced me to MFB.

Earth Day

Tomorrow is Earth Day, and while I by no means think of myself as a conservationist, I do wish to support efforts in my own meager way. The images are frightening, however isn't that the way that Americans seem to be motivated best? By fear.

A point hammered home by watching Micheal Moores' Bowling for Columbine. Which I happened to catch the other day.

Perhaps fear is the wrong motivater, maybe what we need to do is develop a helping and sharing mindset, one that encompasses the need for the things that need to get done so that the next generation can enjoy the nature and animals that we fleetingly enjoy today.

What do you think?