Salt of the Earth

Shel Silverstein has a new book out- he completed writing it before he died in 1999. it’s called Runny Babbit and it’s wonderful. Several of the first letters of words are switched (i.e. Runny Babbit=Bunny Rabbit) and it’s just hilarious. The boys and I have been reading it the last few days and there are quiet a few tongue twisters in there. So far- this is my favorite one:

RUNNY’S HAND-NEW BRAT

Runny got a present-
A lovely hurple pat.
He put it on and pasked his als,
“what do you think of that?”
One said, “Ooh, it’s storrible!”
One said, “Yuck-it hinks!”
Now Runny Babbit never asks
What other theople pink.

T

I woke up to the strangest dream this morning….. Several of my art friends and I were trying out for all state band and we left the playing room to go to the bathroom. In doing so, we apparently left the building and got lost on the way back. I was riding on a motorcycle and pulling them behind me in this open carriage like thing. We kept having to turn around and look for this building that we were previously in. So I asked directions from this lady and we finally found the place. I was able to ride my motorcycle up the ramp (minus the carriage) and I saw that there was a tiny ledge we had to climb on to get to the room. I said I’m NOT doing this- I want it to be in THERE-and I pointed across the street to this one level, easy accessible building. So we all walked over there and found the room. When we got in to the room it was filled with all these violinists and a table full of chocolate chip cookies. The lady who was sponsoring us told us our tryout time was over and that due to the circumstances she just decided who was going to be in all state but that we had to sell these chocolate chip cookies for a fundraiser. So I asked ‘who got it?” and she said ‘all of the first chairs’. Which meant me- because I was a first chair in middle school (in real life)-but at that point I realized I hadn’t played my sax in over 20 years. strange….

I know there’s some hidden meaning in there but what it is- i have no clue.

T

I love the Sopranos- especially Carmela Soprano. She’s so awesome. At times she can be crude but I really appreciate her ability to stand up for herself and not take shit from anyone. My favorite all time line from her is “what the fuck are you crying about”? Mick and I are a season behind since we are watching it on DVD. Always makes me crave Italian food after we watch a few episodes.

had my doctors appointment yesterday. She took more blood and gave me a complete physical. And i mean COMPLETE. I am having complications from the anemia. We’ll have results back sometime this week and then I’ll know what is to happen next. Worst case scenario- if the anemia gets worse I’ll have to have a blood transfusion. Other than that I’m in great shape.

Had my hair trimmed today. My hair dresser wanted to curl it and make it look wild before I left. She gave me little ringlets. I looked like Strawberry Shortcake minus the bonnet. I’ll be happy to wash out all the crap she put it in and do it my way tomorrow.

I used to really be into scrap booking- and I tried to do it today but just didn’t have the enthusiasm. I kept thinking about these new oil sicks I got- and how i wanted to go and draw/paint with them. Guess I’m just in a different gear right now.

The boys school had a yard sale today to raise money for the 5th grade party. Thomas begged me to go- he loves yard sales. We caught the tail end and got a bag of stuff for $1. I got a dust ruffle for our bed, 3 HE-MAN pillow cases, a quarter collecting book for Thomas and a reading book for Graham. I was so excited about the HE-MAN pillow cases. HE-MAN ROCKS!!! I used to watch that everyday during summer vacation when I was younger. BY THE POWER OF GREY SKULL- I HAVE THE POWER!!!!!!!! Thomas said he didn’t want one on his bed cause he doesn’t think He-man is cool. In an odd way- i am kind of glad……

Off to watch Sopranos with Mick.
S. Shortcake

My husband was in the paper today- WITH a picture of his bare feet and then one of him standing on the max. I liked both pictures. The pictures were accompanied with a lengthy article on his choice to not wear shoes. I however, always wear shoes. I rarely go bare footed- the exception being when I’m in the shower or in bed. The main reason being I have very sensitive feet and I don’t like the feel of texture on them- especially if it’s something i’ve stepped in. I guess you could say I support him on this choice- and he has become more considerate of my feelings about it over the years. The hardest thing for me is the dirty looks and whispers of disapproval he gets from people while we are out. He’s ok with this- it’s his choice. I don’t think that I’ll ever get used to seeing people give my husband dirty looks or hearing their nasty comments made about him as he walks by. (I know… sticks and stones…) It’s hard for me because I love him and I don’t like people to think or say those things about him. It hurts me. I’ve tried to grow a thick skin over the years but there are times when i hear the whispers or see the numerous dirty looks and it just breaks my heart. People can be very narrow minded and cruel. I guess that’s just human nature. I am always questioned on why my husband doesn’t wear shoes- and it’s hard to give an answer that people can understand. “because he doesn’t like them. They hurt his feet” That usually is followed by ‘why doesn’t he get bigger shoes?” and it goes on and on. Over the last year or so I’ve started just shrugging and saying ‘you’d have to ask him”. and now with the published article- they won’t have too.

Shoe foot
Tina

I’m still smiling I’m still happy. I woke up early this morning and felt excited. Sometimes in the morning hours- right before I’m fully awake I come up with these ideas for paintings, prints or drawings. I had one of those today for my next print. As always in the back of my mind I fear failure. But for today, I’m going to ignore that and just be happy.
T

Today was one of those days that just leaves you smiling and feeling really happy inside. It was a good day. No, it was a freaking good day. Started out in life drawing. I finally had myself all motivated to draw naked people- even got some new conte to use in class. NO model scheduled for today. (third time this term GRRRRRRR). So instead of sticking around for yet another impromptu dry point lesson Anna, Miles and I decided to skip class and head to the art store for a ‘few’ supplies. In my van we go- laughing all the way. We intended on only getting a few things, and only staying for a little bit- two hours later we dragged ourselves out of the store driven by hunger pains. Being in an art store with fellow artists can be dangerous for a few different reasons. ONE- great minds (bad humor) think alike. We laughed and laughed and laughed especially when Anna and Miles discovered a box of clearance smocks and fanny packs and began to play dress up. (still not sure why those things were in the art store) Secondly- when you have other people who know and love art supplies it’s very hard to not get them and try them. Third-art supplies are expensive. Fourth-never say you are only going to buy JUST TWO of anything-chances are the two other people with you will talk you into the WHOLE set and new brushes. (right Miles? How you liking those new oil colors?) Good fun. SO we paid and left the store and headed to my favorite Mexican place for lunch- Rico Taco. (drive through home made food- not like taco bell MUCH better). Once again, we laughed the entire way back to school.

Having a morning like that had me in a really good mood. We had our critique today in printmaking. Howard, my teacher, told me BOTH of my pieces were successful and one of my techniques surpassed the master. I wanted to cry I was so happy. He spent the most time on my pieces and kept going back to them and using them as examples. He pointed out every area he liked and told us why he liked it. He kept saying over and over just how much he liked my prints…….. I can’t even explain the feeling I had/ have. I truly enjoyed working on these prints- and I liked them and felt good about them. Until the critique- that was good enough for me. I never imagined such amazing feedback- such encouragement. (my teacher from last term lacked in this area) I am so very happy and very excited to start working on my new projects and extremely happy to have a teacher like Howard.

The sun was out today- which made it all the more beautiful. I need to stretch a canvas now for painting tomorrow. I am LOVING that class.

SMILE
T

Yesterday we had Scoutcapades (regionals for pinewood derby). Our day started out at about 8am when we checked in for the races. Graham’s race was first so we checked in, weighed his car and had a picture taken. It seem like it took FOREVER for the race to begin. Once it did Graham was pretty disappointed because his fast little car wasn’t doing so well. In the end Graham got 4th to last and was sadly, beat by the Weesner twins. We had a couple of hours in between races so we took advantage of the cool events various troops had put together for the day. About an hour before Thomas race- Thomas started getting nervous and kept asking me every few minutes what time it was. I kept trying to calm his jitters down- all the while my heart was beating fast, butterflies were in my tummy and my hands were all sweaty! Once again it seemed like forever for his race to begin and once we heard ‘gentleman start your engines- I tried to remember if I had remembered deodorant that morning because I began to sweat. . I felt a bunch of shaking and i looked over to see Thomas nervously taping his foot on the floor- and I noticed I the shaking was coming from me bouncing my right knee up and down. I got a grip and turned to Thomas and said “you know, I’ll be proud of you no matter how well you do…..” and he gave me a half smile and nodded. Then i said “but I’ll be REALLY proud of you if you win” and he busted out with a big ol belly laugh. The race began. He was in the second one – i think- and the Grim Reaper kicked some serious ass. Thomas second race- same thing. Third or fourth, the big brother of the Weesner twins car barely beat Thomas. His first second place of the day. He continued on to get first in all but one. At one point he tied with the track record (228.4) , until fast Andrew’s car broke the new record 230.3. We had our eye on 3 other cars that were giving Thomas some serious competition and getting some of the same scores as Thomas
-Chance, Weesner, and fast Andrew. (in the end they tally up all the speeds and that determines the winner) Since the Weesner car beat Thomas once and Thomas beat his once- and the speeds were so similar we just weren’t sure how it was gonna pan out in the end. We KNEW fast Andrew would take first- but the other 3 places were up for grabs. They had all the boys go to the stage for pictures and trophies and they started out with 4th place. Chance took that. Third place went to Weesner. I looked over at Mick at this point- worried that Thomas hadn’t placed at ALL because I was SURE that Weenser boy’s car had done better than Thomas. Then they said second place- THOMAS RING!!! I was jumping up and down like a fool. Thomas got his trophy and smiled- a bit disappointed he didn’t get first. It took Thomas a few minutes for everything to sink in and for his heart rate to return to normal- but in the end he was very happy. We stayed and did a few more activities and then came home and i took a nap. I was completely worn out.

See the days events HERE

T

today i spent the entire day pulling prints. i got a lot done and I was very happy with it. The beginning was a tad frustrating- as i was using new paper and the large press. I generally use the little press or print by hand. I am now using the big press- and I don’t know that I’ll ever go back! Don’t get me wrong- i love the little press- but for big prints- the big press is awesome. I was having trouble getting the pressure correct- and after about 4 tries I got it perfect. The paper I used was a little thin- but turned out beautiful. I had to leave my prints there to dry- but I will post pics next week.

Ankles are still a bit swollen today. I read that it takes 48 hours for the iron to leave your system. Hopefully by tomorrow my ankles will be their normal size again.

We have BINGO tonight at the boys school. Very exciting and good fun.

Pinewood Derby regional finals tomorrow. Hopefully the boys cars will kick ass. I mean, hopefully we will have fun and be good sports.

Enough for now
T

i talked to my drawing teacher today about my frustrations. She actually took the time to help me figure a few things out- which was really awesome. I feel a little more hopeful and maybe just a little more motivated now. She sat down and showed me how to use ‘tools’ to draw. It was great considering I’m a very visual person. Personally I think she should have done this WAY back in October- but that’s just me. Would have saved me and more than half the class a hell of a lot of frustration. I just feel I should be MUCH further along than I am-and that that could only happen with guidance. Life Drawing is cognitive which by definition means the intelligent processing of information. well, if information isn’t given then how can it be processed.

i had a very eye opening email conversation today- with someone who made me see things a different way regarding this family shit going on. I think that my conclusion is that confrontation will only make it worse (unless it’s me or my kids being attacked). There’s not much I can do- because everyone has a difficult person in their family. What I can take and learn from all this is that I can just try to be a better person in my family. I know how it feels to be treated badly- and hear bad things being said. I don’t want to put anyone in that position. So I guess I’m saying that I am learning from the mistakes of this particular, difficult individual. I don’t want to be a difficult person that people dread being around and no one knows how to relate to.

I am going to stop taking iron as of today. My feet and ankles are so swollen it hurts to walk. I’m guessing it’s a side effect or that I have some crazy allergic reaction. I noticed it yesterday- and it’s worse today. I quit the iron for a few days to see if that works.

Tomorrow I print. All day- well, until the kids get out of school. My new printmaking teacher paid me the HIGHEST compliment- he said my piece was organic. In the printmaking world- that is the thing you strive for. And I have finally achieved it.
T

Sometimes I wish I wasn’t so wishy washy. I struggle with trying to take the moral high ground vs. standing up for myself. It’s that whole sticks and stones thing again. Is it better to take an insult punch and walk away- or stand your ground and let the other person know they better not mess with you again. There are advantages and disadvantages to both- and sometimes it’s really hard to weigh them out. Some people are imbeciles. There is NOTHING we can do to change that. But does that give them the license to treat people like crap- over and over again. Lets say you dislike their behavior and find them rude and insulting and down right nasty. Do you confront them or just walk away chanting ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me”. Is confronting them even going to make a difference or make it worse. In NOT confronting them- will they eventually run out of nasty things to say and stop the behavior on their own? I just do not know. I guess in the end if it’s a direct hit to me or my children then I have to stand my ground regardless of the consequences. And I’m ok with that.

Had painting yesterday. Ahhhhh painting….. we did mono-chromatic still life. Sounds boring as hell i know but it was really fun. I’m still trying to get used to acrylic paints- I’m so used to watercolor. I tend to thin my paint out to make it more pliable like watercolor- instead of just painting with the thick, lustrous paint. I had a question for my teacher yesterday and she explained it so well. She not only answered my question adequately- but made me feel like I understood it. (as opposed to being appalled that I didn’t already know the answer.) I found some amazing life drawing pictures in an art magazine that I am going to take into my life drawing teacher and explain to her that THIS is how I want to draw the human form. It’s contour drawing- and does not have all the squiggly lines in it and details. It’s just so simple and beautiful and it captures the human form in such an amazing way.

It’s 3:30am. I fell asleep early last night and now I’m wide awake. I’m going to try to sleep at least an hour or two more. we’ll see.

T