That felt like pancake batter...

I am officially starting to freak out a little.

Friday night I had a very scary dream about some guy sort of inviting himself into an apartment we were renting. It was a bit freaky. The lesson is trust no one. It was very vivid and took place in Iowa. There were many details I remember, but what do they mean.

It's going to be an interesting journey, on many levels. We're going to rely on the kindness of strangers, but how far can you trust someone. You know what I mean? I'm a very friendly person, but I also have that gift of reading people. I think most people do, but ignore the ability. They'd rather just ignore everyone.

So I know I need to trust my instinct and of course just be careful-right?

On a different note-
Over the weekend I had a great visit with one of my oldest friends from Orlando. John emailed me from our High School Alumni site and asked where in New York I lived. We wrote to one another, he's been teaching in NYC and he came up on the Hudson line on Sunday. It was very cool to see him. We went to 1st grade together and we were inseparable. He used to come over to my dad's Burger Chef because it was near where we both lived. I was always there and he would come over as well. And his very dear mom was our art teacher at our elementary school, so I have to say she played a role in my art career decision.

Ok-so this is my second grade photo-I don't have any 1st grade pics here. And they are horrible. I'm wearing a white turtle neck with cat eye glasses.
Like a nerd I wore my Good Citizenship badge. The photographer even asked if I wanted to take it off-no way Man! Check out the severe bangs.

Peace and love

You'll see Amarillo, Gallup,New Mexico...

I was tagged ages ago by Mary Bishop and now everyone has done this meme except me.

8 Random things about PG.


1-I was extremely jealous of my friends who had cute, short middle names. In the 2nd grade I would sign my work Patti Ann, or I'd use Patti Jane sometimes as well.

2-I like playing the same cassette tape in my car for long periods of time. For about 3 weeks I have had Flying Burrito Brothers. The time before that was a best of Squeeze tape. Just don't let me listen to New Order for too long.

3-My first job I ever had was when I was 17 and a camp counselor for the YMCA. (I swear that and/or being a lifeguard is the best job for a teen.) I loved it, but those kids exhausted me. I started off with the 7,8,9 year olds. By the end of the summer I had the 11 and 12 year olds. They're a tough group but I got along with them well.

4-I almost went to Grad school in Las Cruces, NM. I was looking forward to living in the desert.

5-I have one birthmark and it's on my lower back.

6-I can do minor toilet repairs. Once at a gallery opening, I was in the ladies room and the toilet kept running, so I lifted the back lid off and placed the hook back on the handle. Is that gross I did that? I just kind of feel if there's something broken and I can fix it, why not make the world a little better.

7-I cannot program the vcr. I have no idea how to do it.

8-I have vague memories of going to an amusement park when I was little and it was fashioned after the Old West. Who thought this was a good idea to have people having shoot outs in the street around little kids. I can remember thinking, man that's loud and very annoying. Maybe I would enjoy it now, but as a 5 year old it's kind of freaky.

It's a sunshine day...

Yikes a rooney. Well here's the stinky old tank that was buried under our lovely driveway.


Isn't it just gigantic.

And here is the hell mouth they opened. They worked all through the rain which is why I wasn't out there taking pics. My son just sat at the side window all day watching.

"Momma come quick, there's a waterfall." Oh good, a waterfall is not something I want in the driveway.

I made a decision to go see my mom in a couple of weeks. I'm not really looking forward to it but it's something I need to do. I may even have to clean and throw stuff away. This is not going to be fun, but necessary. Everyone on the planet is going to guilt trip me as to why I can't live with my mom or closer. I love being hassled by family.

The project is still a go. I recreated the blog so it's not directly tied to me. wedding project
Now I have one giant comment. And check out the web page in progress as well.
weddingproject-us.com


And, and I decided to get my hair cut super short for the beginning of the project as well.

Pictures will follow soon.

Building higher and higher...

So I have had many ups and downs in this past week. I do really well when when I have a list.

As soon as I told you guys about the Wedding Project, I had some bad news from my mom.
She was scheduled for a routine type surgery-today actually, but her doctor wanted one last test. A CT scan of her pelvis. The test came back, and a lesion was found on her liver. At first I thought, well that's common, but she probably needs that checked out before surgery. So the surgery was cancelled and an MRI appointment was made. Then I got an email from my sister and she used Cancer in her note. Yes I freaked. Then I started looking into liver cancer(what a bad idea) all of my mom's symptoms are the same for liver disease.

Immediately our world was changed. If she had to have treatment, I would have to be there and drive her to appointments. In fact all of us would because we won't have a house soon. If that were the case, we had a plan. The project would be postponed.

MRI was done. made us wait OVER the weekend. Jeez why do they do that? It was a painful wait, but I tried reassuring my sister, we'll deal with this one thing at a time.

Monday afternoon, my mom called and the lesion is just a lesion. YAY! It's a collection of blood vessels. They'll want to do another scan in a few months, but she can reschedule her surgery. And my sister found out that a medicine my mom takes will cause lesions. The catch 22 of this is she needs to take this medicine before and after surgery. Can you believe that? Immediately I had J going to Whole Foods and the Vitamin Shoppe to find Milk Thistle because it's fantastic for the liver.


Ok-so we've been wanting to take the wee man to see the Empire State building. We did it over the weekend. It was a good time to be in the city and nice to get my mind off of well everything.

So beautiful.And now on top with a lovely view of the Chrysler. Oh after a crazy hour wait. Good thing we had a nice lunch and mommy had a Thai iced coffee. Yeah, I'll walk up those extra 6 flights and not wait 20 more minutes.

Then here' s The Rock front and center with Central Park in the back. There is something I love about the GE building. Very nostalgic, I don't know why.

And here's one of my last entries for this sketchbook. I'm Empire obsessed.

Andy Warhol looks a scream...

So please show your I.D. at the door...

So did anyone check out Live Earth?

We watched parts-saw the B Boys looking like secret agent men. I can't get over Mike D's afro.I'll always love those boys. Madonna-eh. The Police were good, but they really don't need extra people coming out and singing with them.

Well there has been some crazy crazy stuff happening here.
Someone wants to buy our house-hooray!
The downside is that their inspector thought there was an old oil tank under the driveway.
The potential buyers hired a sonar guy, and yup, there's a stinking tank under the driveway. Isn't that glorious fun. So guess who gets to pay to have this tank dug up? Yes, us. I completely freaked out over this a couple of weeks ago, but now I'm just taking care of business. TCB baby.

I have some photos to post-I'll update later.

And go here for the big plan. And come back to me.

Peace and love in the lower 48!

bring the yellow tape to tape off the sack race...

Any of you ever wonder what it's like to live with a man who was a skate boarding punk? This is the best youtube I have seen in a long time and it is completely my family. Thanks of course to J the ex punk who sent it too me. I can't stop watching it.

Diamonds in their smiles...

I thought and thought about this weeks SPC. I like challenges and this is my AIR. We have a beautiful wind today and I started taking down the drapes that I washed.

And then I was just messing around and I like this pic. I like my new T that I have ripped and altered.

More SPC here.

just a beer light to guide us...

Happy 4th to all my Stateside friends. There is something about seeing a parade with a band dressed in authentic clothing from the 1700's rat-a-tat-ta-ting on the snare that really makes me teary and proud. It's going to rain here so I think the fireworks are out. Sniff.

This is from Acumamakiki, and I really liked this meme.

Here's how to play.

First, remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom spot like so.

susie j

yoga glam girl

creative everyday

sticking to the point

paintergirl

Next, select 5 people to tag.

I know not everyone wants to do this, but I hope some will.

Now the questions.

what were you doing 10 years ago? I was working. Somewhat happily at The Loaf. J was going back to school to finish his degree in design and we were happy living in Atlanta. The future was ours.

what were you doing 1 year ago? I was prepping the house to sell. Painting everything(not the painting I love to do). Painting the deck, the porch, removing wallpaper, painting the bathroom. Removing any personal affects from the walls.

five snacks you enjoy you're enjoying this summer

1. Ballantine beer
   
2. S'mores(it' summer man)
   
3. cherries
4. naked ginger
   
5. iced tea made with purple passion Tazo tea

five songs to which you know all the lyrics

(off the top of my head)

1. Love Cats
   
2. Bohemian Rhapsody
   
3. You Should Be Dancing
   
4. Girl From Ipanema
   
5. Waterloo Sunset

five things you would do if you were a millionaire

1. buy my mom a condo on the beach
   
2. take care of my sister
   
3. art projects
   
4. M and college funds
5. travel

five bad habits

1. procrastinate
2. quick temper
   
3. stubborn
4. self doubt
   
5. loves snacks
   

five things you'd never wear again

1. stirrup pants!!! (kiki how did we wear these?)
   
2. bandeau bikini tops
   
3. jumpsuit
4. sweat pants
   
5. long flowey skirts
   

five favorite toys

1. seam ripper
   
2. camera
3. paintbrush marker pen
   

we move like cagey tigers...

Here's a nice story about paintergirl asks 3 questions.

RitaPita's younger brother Ricky wrote to me and told me there was an artist he really loved and thought he should answer the 3 questions. Ricky contacted the artist, Eric Joyner and he in turn replied with his answers. Pretty cool. His answers are now posted.

And I thought I was being so funny. I wrote out my 3 questions and left them in various places at the Dia in Beacon. The docents probably threw them all away. I thought I was being clever. J wanted me to put some in the art-one especially by Joseph Beuys installation. I said "I'm not a Dadaist". Maybe I should be.

OK and AND it's the 3rd night in a row I have had dreams with Robert Downey Jr. ?????
What? We did just watch A Scanner Darkly, which was excellent but still. I find myself thinking I'm now Lisa Simpson realizing she has a crush on Nelson. And now you can also see how the Simpsons have ruined my life.