Salt of the Earth

It’s still spring break- only a couple of days left. I feel like I got a good break and I have completely enjoyed having the boys home with me. We haven’t gone anywhere special or done anything spectacular. We’ve played UNO and watched KING KONG and a bunch of bad sci movies together. We went shopping and they got their annual pair of sandals for the summer. We’ve been to a few art stores to get supplies, we’ve had lunch with really good friends. Today we are meeting MIck for lunch. Other than that, we haven’t done a whole lot of anything and I must say, it’s been awesome. This is what spring break is all about!

Monday we all go back to school-only 10 weeks left until summer vacation. I think this term will be a lot of fun. BUSY, but a lot of fun and I am greatly looking forward to it.

Did I mention I love having the boys at home with me?

T

so ‘they’ say that accidents happen in threes… I thought my two big spills was enough but no… the third one happened tonight. A container of feta cheese.. not ALL of it, but a lot of it. RIGHT as i was setting stuff on the table for dinner. So that’s my THREE. Can I be done now?

i just realized tonight- I haven’t had bronchitis in a whole year. Prior to that I was getting it every couple of months. I am so happy. I didn’t even get the cold the boys just got over. I think that is a good sign that my body is finally healing. Doc said it would take a full year. I go back next month for more tests. In the summer when I first got my diagnosis April seemed so far away. Now it’s just a couple weeks away. I feel MUCH better. I feel MUCH better than i did a year ago. In every way. I hope next month test results are good ones.

I’m still reading the book my little buddy Miles gave me. It is SO helpful to me. I love the exercises in it.

My feet are cold. I’m getting into bed and snuggling up to my electric blanket.
T

Ever have one of those days where you want to stomp your feet on the ground and say the F word a thousand times- even add Y and ed to the end of it just to feel better? I had one of those yesterday. And not that the day was bad- because it wasn’t. I just kept dropping things and things kept spilling and I kept tripping.

Thomas was invited to 3 birthday parties yesterday. Obviously, had to choose only one. He chose one that was from 4-9, 30 minutes away, Harry Potter theme. So Mick and I decided we’d just hang out in Vancouver and take Graham to dinner and to the mall. Mick and Graham got in the car and Thomas and I were getting a bag to put his gift in. I dropped a container of Gesso (primer paint for canvas for my acrylic painting class) and it exploded. Not only is there a HUGE circle of it on the floor, but my purse, my pants, the walls, etc….. I cleaned as much of it up as i could and then hopped in the van with a wet rag and soap so I could clean my pants and purse. That just didn’t make me happy. Mick and Graham and I had fun looking around the mall and having dinner- and all was forgotten and chalked up to ‘shit happens’. Thomas and his friend (who we had to take home) made these little plant things as part of herbology lesson for the themed party. I had them in front with me so they wouldn’t fall over- which they did anyway. Freaking soil all over the passengers side in the van….. I HATE dirt/potting soil/ etc…. ESPECIALLY in my car. F WORD F WORD F WORD F WORD!!!!

When we got home I got into bed. I didn’t want to chance spilling anything else.

It wasn’t until I dropped Thomas off at the party that I realized he and his friend were the only 2 boys invited. 10 girls two boys. Someday, that’s going to be REALLY awesome but as of yesterday- the girls were nice, but that’s IT! I was reminded of something that happened at conferences last week while we were walking to another class room. These girls were standing in the cafeteria and when Thomas walked in they all said “HI THOMAS”, and then started giggling. I ask Thomas who they were and he shrugged and said “i don’t know, fifth graders”. He didn’t know names- or really even care. just kind of cute….

off to start my accident free day!
T

The kids had their conferences yesterday. They went very well. I am, as always, very proud of my chitlins.

Graham’ s teacher told me that he was doing VERY well especially in reading. He tested at a 4th grade level. In math he tested at a 2nd grade level. The only area where he is in need of help is his hand writing. In all fairness to Graham, he is only a first grader. His teachers said they keep reminding themselves of that- BUT that he still needs to practice at home. I so remember having the very same problem as a child. My handwriting was horrid. Graham showed me his journal and he had one paged tagged to read to me. It was called “The Best Day of My Life”. It was about the day I took him to my art class with me just a few weeks ago. His favorite part was … “just being with mom all day and eating a big sugar cookie for dessert” So very sweet… His music teacher had left a note for me to see her about his music grade. (He got an E for exceeds.) I tracked her down and she said that Graham shows exceptional skills in music and that I should consider putting him in piano or voice lessons. She also said that she only gives out a few E’s a term and that Graham deserved one. Very cool.

Thomas’ teacher said he’s doing exceptionally well and she has NO worries for him at all. He reads at a very high level and his math and social study skills are at a much higher level as well. His cello teacher said the same thing- that he was VERY talented but needed to practice more. Thomas had to write a story about a topic of his choice for state testing. HIs topic was “Must Have a Mustang”. A few months back he had asked me why i wanted a Mustang so badly. (Every time I see an old one I go crazy) I gave him several reasons and he turned it into a really cool paper. He did a really good job on it- I’m very proud of it and him.

Finished up one of my dry points last night. I ended up adding some water color to the dragons and some gel to the eggs. I ended up buying a couple frames from the craft store – big gold ones. I am very happy with the way it turned out. I made 6 editions total. I am going to put one in each of the boys rooms. They are thrilled. I’ll take a picture and put it in my gallery.

more later
T

I like to think that over the years I’ve learned to control my hot temper. I can’t say for sure who I got it from since both of my parents can be hot heads. My fathers’ nick name throughout school was Thunder Cloud- which is think is pretty self explanatory. My step father is pretty even keel except when he works on cars. Then the words and temper fly like the wind.
As for my temper I know it appears every now and then- mostly when I’m really frustrated, when I’m on a time crunch and things aren’t going the way I’d like them too, or when any type of car trouble arises. Mick on the other hand, doesn’t freak out in the same situations that I do. This morning is a perfect example. Went to take Thomas to school (Graham was still in my bed sleeping off his fever) and Thomas said ‘You have a flat mom”. So we hopped in the truck- which is in need of repair BIG time right now. We didn’t get above 25 mph but at least we got to school on time. When I got home Mick was outside trying to remove the flat and put on the spare. At some point not only our jack but our lug nut wrench got stolen from the van. Mick improvised and got the jack/wrench from his truck. Wrench to the truck didn’t work for the van. (at this point i would have started to get frustrated and my temper would be boiling) I called a neighbor and she brought over one that worked. Mick was on the ground getting the tire, then wrenching off the old one, etc…. I was completely amazed that he was so even tempered. He didn’t even snip at me once or say one naughty word. He didn’t complain that he was cold or that he had to crawl on the ground or under the van. I would have been doing ALL of the above because I HATE car issues. I HATE getting dirty I HATE crawling under cars I HATE car issues. But I truly love and appreciate my husband.

I hear the new season of the Sopranos is HOT HOT HOT…. I am still waiting season 5 from the library.
T

Spent all Friday in the studio. It was awesome. Mick picked up the boys after school for me- he worked from home. So i literally got to spend the entire day printing. On the way home I got caught in a hail storm. The sun was shining though- and it was actually really beautiful.

Thomas woke up on Saturday complaining that his left ear hurt. I KNEW it was an infection. So I called the doc and we went in and got some antibiotics. When we got home Graham sat next to me on the couch and just kind of melted on to me. He made my right side all hot and sweaty and so I felt his head and sure enough- fever. Took temp- 101. Within a coupe hours it was up to about 104. I laid down with him on the love sac and he fell asleep. He continued to sleep for about 4 hours. He went to bed with me last night around 11pm and fell right to sleep, right next to me. He didn’t move from that position all night. His fever is 103 today and he’s sleeping again. Thomas’ ear is much better and doesn’t hurt so much. Poor kids. HOWEVER-my paper cut is all better now so life is good. (thanks Kathi for the recommendation! I’ll be picking some up tomorrow!)

Ok, back to cleaning the house.
T

Along the way : Jack was in the studio all day Friday with me and filled me in on the details of his life. He was one of the first to be sent over to Iraq when the war broke out. He’s been trained in some sort of combat thing where he is considered a lethal weapon. He’s not allowed to strike first and if he does he can go to jail. His mom taught him to cook at an early age and had him give me some of his family recipes. MMMMMM He was planning on going back to the war but got married to his high school sweet heart. He still talks VERY quietly. When we are conversing I find myself watching his mouth and squinting (i don’t know why- but squinting seems to not only help me SEE better but hear better as well) so that I can try to read his lips or something. He’s VERY tidy and he even sweeps up my wood shavings if he’s cleaning up. Some how , he manages to NOT get ink all over his hands and face. (I’ve yet to master that one). He’s a good guy and glad he’s on my side.

I have a paper cut…. I hate paper cuts. I am the BIGGEST baby when it comes to paper cuts. I got it today in my drawing class when I was flipping paper over my drawing board. It’s across my knuckle on my thumb so every time i bend my thumb it hurts so much….. if crying would make it feel better I’d do it. I’d even throw myself down on the ground and kick my feet if I knew it would make me feel better… It’s so tiny but it hurts SO very much. oh i hate paper cuts…….

Printmaking was absolutely wonderful today. I laughed the entire time. I love those people in there- they are so much fun. I am hoping to print tomorrow but am not sure if I will be able to get into the studio. It’s important that I do….. I need to get my rhino done. I’m a little stressed about it.

Today was also my last drawing class -for this term. We had my favorite model. I was very pleased with my drawings. They were by far, the best that I’ve done since my midterm portfolio. I have been drawing with my left hard the last two classes. It’s a technique that my teacher believes in. Seems to be working.

Spring break starts next week. The boys have almost 2 full weeks off. I’m excited and looking forward to just chillin at home. We have talked about going to the beach for the weekend. I’m trying to decide which would be more relaxing. I don’t ever sleep when I am at a hotel BUT I’m also not consumed with doing housework and all that. I’ll decide after the weekend- after I’m done with finals.

I dreamt of fish last night. Spooky fish in a tank. The kind that scare me and I dislike greatly. One of the fish was eating the other ones whole- then it would throw them up and swim away. I woke myself up by saying out loud “that’s disgusting.- stupid fish”

T

Along the Way There’s this guy in my art class. He has a hispanic name which is very hard to pronounce and I always forget how to say it. His last name starts with a Y but you pronounce it was a hard J. So I call him Jack. Now everyone in the class calls him Jack- even the teacher-it’s pretty funny. He’s been very quiet until the last few classes. Now he chatters and laughs with us and he’s a really nice guy. He’s a Marine but doesn’t really act like one- other than the occasional ‘yes sir”. He served in Bagdad for awhile but wants to be a cop and a DJ. He blushes SO easily- especially right before he laughs. He’s probably 22 or around there but there is something very child like about him. Not maturity wise- but more like innocence. He talks very quietly but says funny things when you can hear him. He was asking me what we had to do in Life Drawing because he was thinking about taking the class. I told him that new students had to pose nude for the first 3 classes. (ha ha) After he realized I was kidding he blushed, shook his head, blushed again and then laughed. He’s taking the class again next term. He’s a good guy.

SO Trey was on top of Ryan and strangling him after Ryan kicked his ass good and hard- then Marissa walks in and starts screaming (she’s always screaming). SO Marissa sees Treys’ druggie girlfriends gun on the floor and she shoots Trey- leaving him to crumple over on the floor right next to his brother. Summer and Seth get there JUST in time to see what has happened BUT just hours before Sandy-Seths dad was admitting Seths Mom Kirsten (aka KIKI) in to an alcohol treatment center because she’d been tippen the bottle a bit too much lately- (because her heart was broken from her hot co-worker moving away to New York and her husband harboring a fugitive who just happened to be hot AND his ex girlfriend AND the sudden death of her father Caleb) …… that pretty much sums up the last episode, season two of THE OC….. with the exception of the fact that we STILL don’t know who the father of Teresa’s baby is yet…. sigh…. it’s going to be a long wait for Season 3 to come out on DVD.

Yes, I’ve been consumed with bad TV and carving my woodblock. Doesn’t get much better than that
T

This week is finals week for me. Next week I just show up for critiques and to pick stuff up. SO this week i have to get a lot done. My drawing portfolio is done- just need to put it together. Hopefully I’ll have the pictures uploaded before I turn them in.

I’m currently working on the rhino. it’s turning out ok. The process is killing me- and I’m finding it very challenging. but I think I’m actually digging it. It’s A LOT of carving and a lot of drawing and a lot of getting things in the right place. it’s a cool process.

My shrink called today. My insurance has approved 8 more sessions. I haven’t been to my shrink since before Christmas because I had used up my alloted sessions. For the most part I’ve been fine-I’ve worked through all the crazy shit that plagued me for many, many years. There’s just a little left-more recent shit. so I guess that’s what we will work on.

I got the second season of 21 Jump Street from the library. I used to LOVE that show when it was on. I’d race home from college to watch it every day. I think by that point it was on syndication? I remembered several of the episodes from way back when. I also got the second season of The O.C. …. yes I know not the best thing to watch but I’m addicted.

Thomas brought home a beautifully, green wrapped package for me today- filled with St. Patrick’s Day cookies and tea. The bag on the inside said “to Tina Ring from your secret pal.” I was very shocked- happily- but confused because I don’t have a secret pal….. I called my friends to see if they sent it to me- but they all said no. So I guess I have a St. Patrick’s Day stalker.

Off to take a bath- I’m fighting a cold- the first one in a year!!!! I feel like I can go either way- full blown cold or fight it off. So it’s a bath and bed for me.

T

I’ve been reading this book my little buddy Miles gave me. So far it’s pretty good-there are parts that I find preachy and a little 12 step-ish but for the most part it’s very informative and beneficial. It’s based on the thought that things happen in our life that hinder or help us achieve our goals and that you need to resolve the ones that hinder in order to live a full filled, creative life as an artist. Part of that process is called time travel where you go back into your past and find the situation and reasons why certain things hinder your development- then you write about them in order to process them.

Two things came to mind for me but were significant enough to make me stop doing art for 16 years. The first was negative feedback from a watercolor teacher i had while I was in college in California. I don’t really remember the details other than he really loved my paintings- IF they were flowers. Sure, flowers are pretty and all, i just wanted to paint people and other things. My teacher used to constantly tell me “STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW!” I disregarded what he said and I ventured out one time and painted an Asian woman sitting on a hard wood floor. I was VERY proud of this picture. We had critiques and my teacher would pick a few of our paintings and then we would pick a few. I choose the Asian lady and pinned it up next to the 4 floral ones my teacher picked. He oohed and awed over my flowers but when he got to the Asian lady he flat out said “i don’t like it, it doesn’t appeal to me.” I was shocked and argued with him about it trying to point out what I found beautiful. He continued to criticize it in what I found to be an unfair manner. I was hurt and angry. I ended up leaving the class early (and probably very dramatically) and I went home and cried in my room for hours. I didn’t go back to his class again- only to pick up my pictures. He had left me a note that he wanted to see me and that he wanted to display some of my FLORAL pictures in an art show. I remember that feeling like it was somehow insult to injury so i took a sharpie marker and wrote on the Asian lady’s matt board ” ART IS NOT DONE TO APPEAL TO THE VIEWER. THIS IS MY CREATION” and I signed my name and left it on his desk. I took all my other paintings home with me minus the Asian lady with the heart broken message on the matt board. Some how I got this painting back because I found it and the matt board just yesterday while I was looking through some old art stuff. Over the years I’ve thought about this situation and convinced myself the painting was probably out of proportion and hideous. When I saw it yesterday, i realized I still really like it. It appeals to me. And that is really ALL that is important. I googled the David McGuire- convinced he’d died and gone straight to hell, but he’s still very alive and painting beautiful watercolors. Looking back I realize he was a very good and fair teacher. He taught me a lot and he was a funny guy. With the exception of his harsh remarks about my Asian Lady, he was a really good teacher and an amazing artist. I can live with that.

T