painter girl

I just want to celebrate...

2008-02-05T22:55:00.000-05:00

Ok everyone

I'm over here right now weddingproject-us.blogspot.com.

Not homeless, so take that you crazy people.

And Happy Chinese New Year!

But you can never leave...

2007-09-29T21:26:00.000-04:00

OK everyone, we are homeless.

HOMELESS. As of Thursday the 27th, no home. Nada. It's fun being homeless with 5 year old, a lab and a cat that gets car sick. I am living the dream.

UM...not yet.

We signed papers Thursday, did not get the money we expected so that's a bummer. But we sold our house and that's good. Our water department held up the closing because they wouldn't fax a final statement.

We found an RV but we have to wait until next week to get things rolling. SO......yes.

Let's see, storage is the wacky zombie place. Not many people allow pets in hotels. Our neighbors from across the street are complete angels. They said it's ok to store some of our bags for the trip in their garage. I don't know what we would have done without them.

Last night we were desperately(not seeking susan) trying to find a place to sleep and we made reservations on our cell phone(thank heavens for technology), through hotels.com. We get to the Howard Johnson's and the man behind the counter said, no pets. At first he said 30 dollar fee, then he kept saying to me over and over, no pets. I lost it. I lost it. I lost IT. Immediately the woman counting the money off to the side of the counter took over and asked me, are you crying because of us, and I said yes. well yeah. Hotels.com verified that pets were ok, but this HoJO changed their policy. Well a manger was brought out and he said we could stay,no extra cost. It's kind of funny, because I've never been the type of person to warrant a manger coming to the front. Ha ha. I bet this will happen a lot now on the journey. Hopefully I won't have a cyring freakout but I was exhausted. I must have looked like a woman on the verge.

Today I spoke with the women at the front desk and she apologised for the rude man, and I thanked her and so all is forgiven. The desk man should apologize but I can't have everything and I'm grateful for the stay.

I guess I will have to put paintergirl on hiatus for a year starting now. From here on out, I'll (we'll) be over at weddingproject-us.blogspot

And for absolute kicks, check out this meowmix video. My sweet little man is the last meow after all the famous people in the beginning. He is a cat.

peace and love
and wish us luck

If you leave...don't look back...

2007-09-26T08:09:00.000-04:00

Pony ball

70's bamboo tray

My mom's overnight bag

Cushions from IKEA couch

These are last minute items in a box. Don't you just love those sweet ever loving last boxes? I thought I was doing so well this time. We're exhausted. We're living several days in one. It's sheer madness and we close tomorrow on the house. I'm sorry I haven't been here to give a detailed account but there are just too many things to do.

I will leave you with this photo. Most of you know I have a very unrealistic fear of zombies. See here.

This is our storage. Do I need to say anything else?

Regrets, I've had a few...

2007-09-17T20:52:00.000-04:00

I haven't been publishing my Self Portraits for awhile now. I had some lame ones and then some I just forgot to download.

This is my bathroom and this is my tribute to NYC and the tri-state area. Funny, we've been in this house for 3 years and this is the first I've taken a bath in the claw foot tub. It's probably the original, 1888 mind you, and I felt I needed to try it out before we move NEXT week.

Sweet NYC area and my Hudson Valley. I'll try not to get too sentimental as I pack and get ready for the project.

More SPC here.

Are sweeter than roses in the garden...

2007-09-13T22:48:00.000-04:00

Only me, only me.

I was determined to go out into the pouring rain on Tuesday to make copies of my flyer for the art sale. And I knew I wanted to do this at the library.

So the wee man and I put our rain boots on and took off in the little Honda.

We have a library in town, but there is something about it that's just bad mojo. It's attached to the police station and courthouse. ???

There happens to be an extremely nice library in a cute village one town over from us. We drive past my "hey Lady" lake. It's ideal.

This day, did not go as planned.

As we turn the corner to drive past the lake, I noticed a swan in the road. He wasn't in the middle, but still in the road, easily a target for someone going to fast. I stopped and yelled at him and honked. He looked at me and hissed, yes hissed, then started preening himself. Instantly I was worried. He wouldn't move.

As soon as I was in the library I went to the reference desk and they looked up animal control for the town. Great. I went outside and they told me they couldn't handle anything other than dogs or cats. The woman on the phone was kind enough to give me another number. Thanks. It's in ALBANY. It's like 2 hours away, what are they going to do. But I called, and well they were not at their desk.

So we finished our library work and drove back. Swanny was still in the road. It was raining hard again. I couldn't leave him. So I drove up close behind him and put my flashers on. There is an inlet on the other side of the lake, so the wind started whipping up and spraying rain on me. Some cars slowed, some cars sped by. Let me tell you, only 3 people stopped out of 50 to ask if everything was OK. 3 people! One woman said she would go into town and they would send someone out. This was after I had been standing by the swan for 30 minutes.

Can you believe this? Finally a nice man from the city came out and tried to make some calls, everyone was out to lunch. He said he would try to move the swan, at least off the road. He took a shovel out of his pickup and slowly and gently tried to nudge the dear swan. The swan had been hit, his right leg was broken, and this in turn broke my heart. The gentleman said he would make sure the right people would come and get him. (And what put him out of his misery?)

He drove off, and I was still unsatisfied. There were some cones around the street for some sidewalk construction, so I traipsed in the mud to get some cones and place around the swan, in the road. I would have moved a barrel but they were filled with sand and far too heavy to move.

I drove away worried for this beautiful creature. And then the tears came. I handled myself well, standing in the rain, but then the floodgates opened. My son and I had other errands to run but I told him I needed to change my clothes. back home. As soon as I walked through the door, I collapsed on the living room floor from mental exhaustion.

About 2 hours later my husband asked if I wanted to go by and see if swanny was still there. Hesitant at first, I finally said yes.

He was gone and the cones moved. I can only hope the young male was taken to a vet. Please.

And that is my swan song.

You roll in reams across the street, In algebra...

2007-09-11T16:20:00.000-04:00

Here it is, and this is now going to happen. Anyone near me, please please come. I may make you a Dirty Hudson if you're very nice.

Peace and love
pg

There are roots in the ground, and kidneys in the body...

2007-09-07T17:12:00.000-04:00

I am going to lose my ever loving mind. I know I have said this before, I'm not crying wolf.

The countdown has REALLY started and everyday is one step closer to the end, and a new beginning. But it is all chaos.

I seem to be in constant driving mode in search of boxes. I'm like a squirrel looking for nuts.

Boxes, are there some behind that building? OK, I'll wait for the liqueur store to open and they'll put out boxes for sure. I know they thought I was waiting to rob them. (Oh right with a 5 year old accomplice in the back. I'm not Raising Arizona, yet.)

And and we are also in constant mode of looking for sponsors. Good grief it's hard to be a salesman when you're an artist. All we need are a few.

And did I mention the new owners are jerks. They keep changing the closing date-earlier this week they asked us which day we would like, and I picked on. Now today my attorney calls and they want it changed. I am sick and tired of them. Oh yes and the wife of the couple, is an attorney-so 3 f-ing real estate attorneys, and ours isn't helping us. It honestly makes me fed up with New York state and never buy here again. But upstate is pretty mellow, so they act differently. Here it's all about making tons of money and ripping someone off.

Today is now Sunday and we moved a ton of things into storage. I should take a pic of the storage unit. I'm saying this now, what ever does not fit into this space, we are not taking.Ebay has stopped because we can't do anymore auctions(running out of time). I'm trying to Craigslist furniture but keep getting scam emails. Why me. Please someone buy this furniture. We have a lovely Restoration Hardware Mission Bed. Not taking it.

And yes I will have an art/plant sale next weekend. I will post my flyer for it.

Peace and love
pg

I saw a deadhead sticker on a cadillac...

2007-09-04T15:21:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the last day for the pool here. And I always think of this song.

I wish or I guess I hope someone hears this song and thinks of me. I don't know why. I'm not a dead head fan, but I like this Henley song.

What song(s) do you want people to think of you when they hear it? I have about a dozen.(Of course.)

How many boxes do you think I can fit into my 4-door Honda? The answer might surprise you.

Do you remember my last sketchbook entry with the neighbors window fan?

I looked at it Friday night and there was a blue light shining inside and from where I was standing the fan looked like a giant starfish caught in a net under the sea. It was kinda cool. So I tried to take a pic. The blue room did not show up, but the window next door did. Does it not look like The Exorcist?
These are some cloud shots my son took at the pool. He said, "I wanted to take a picture of that cloud because I want to remember it forever." Thanks to Holli for getting me all excited about a Disney Pic Click. I love the grainy quality. I was mad at myself for not getting a Fisher Price camera about 20 years ago. This camera is GREAT!And last night my husband asked if I could help him with a project. He's working on a cd promo ad. I never knew I could cut felt so nicely. Thank goodness I just bought a new pair of fabric scissors. Oh this blog entry is insane and I'm sorry. Peace and love.

We all need...someone...we can lean on...

2007-08-28T19:39:00.000-04:00

You can talk to me...

2007-08-27T09:01:00.001-04:00

After way too much self (absorption,discovery,reflection,doubt) I'm back to my normal self. The doctor is in.

You know what they say though, if you don't know where you've been how will you know where you're going. I find it necessary to have gone through this period.

Sometimes when I allow the world to just "be "the way it is and not fight every little bit, I channel what is good and right. I don't know how it happens, but when I just allow life to just exist without me forcing an issue, it turns out well. I need to remember this.

Some colorful pictures from a trip last week in the city.

Peace and love youse guys!

And I'm just digging a Chinese ditch...

2007-08-23T14:34:00.000-04:00

Today's visuals are brought to you by Paintergirl, who seems to be in a funk at the moment.I have so many memories tied up in Orlando. I guess that's what hometowns are all about.

Some things never change.

This is my favorite bakery shop called Charlies. Great cupcakes!

Our local DQ. I remember many a bike ride with my mom to go have a banana split. The wording on the sign sounds disgusting.

I have never ever eaten here, but I have always loved this sign and I was afraid if I didn't take a photo of it on this trip it would disappear.

I love love love this Edmunds Sign. I took this on the way to the airport when we were leaving. All along this street used to be 50's and 60's styled signs. All gone now.
God Bless America!

My friend John who just visited me-lived here with his mom and brother for a few years a long long time ago. These are on Crystal Lake Drive. I have always loved the name Crystal Lake.

Now for some changes.This has always been a strange little place. I swear it changes hands every 6 months. I have always thought it was cute.

This used to be our movie theatre.

This was a hopping place back when, now it's a sad memory.
Oh and a Carvel used to be in here to.

Back of a gas local gas station.

I thought this was terribly morbid, but only in Florida and maybe Arizona. buh.

And now for the saddest bit for me, this used to be my dad's Burger Chef.
It used to look like this. And this concludes my journey.

Yet my hands are shaking...

2007-08-20T10:56:00.000-04:00

The trip to Orlando was not only to see my mom and help her recoup after surgery(didn't happen) but I was going to go through the whole house and get rid of things. She's going to sell the house this time. For real.

Not just my stuff had to be cleared out, my mom's, dad's and my sister's. I don't know how my mom did it over the years. What was her rationale? Why would she say to heck with some things and others she would shove into the closet? She would get rid of my paintings that weren't bothering her, and ditched them. She will be forever mad at me. Other stuff she would keep forever, like why did she keep my stuffed animals from when I was 10??

Hey but I found my dad's ukulele in her closet, just wish I had his dog tags.

Now I also knew this was going to happen. Mentally I was ready. I was strong. My brother-in law called me up and asked if I would like to look through my sister's things to see if there was anything I would like.

OK I said. I knew there were a couple of items I'd love to have. In high school I didn't have a class ring, but I wore my sister's on a chain. All of us girls went to Boone High and I was proud of that. So I really wanted the ring. It was special to me.

I was fine on the drive over to the house, I was even fine going into the house. Nothing had changed and I hadn't been there in awhile. During the funeral everyone came to my mom's-her house was a gathering place.

My brother in law showed me my sister's dresser. As I started to go through the drawers, I lost it. I found her college ids and post office pin collection and I just sat down and cried.

This is what it comes down to...your family going through your dresser deciding what is going to be kept. How very sad. I wish I could take the whole dresser and not change anything. I found her children's baby teeth-cards-address books. Keeping the dresser in tact wouldn't bring my sister back or change our relationship. And yet it's not right that she's gone either.

I don't want to start to cry again, so I'll stop.

Here's the tea party my son and I had for all of the little animals. My mom saved the animals for this moment.

The girls, they love to see you shoot...

2007-08-17T15:38:00.000-04:00

I can't seem to do anything right lately and everything, everything seems to be (a) not getting done or (b) failing miserably

For instance-my new glasses. Yes yes I got cat eye glasses how very-oh don't say it, I love them, but when I had my eyes checked the good doctor told me he could make them a little stronger. I said ok. NOT OK. I had to take them back and the assistant could not read his hand writing and now he's on a holiday. I have to wait,poor me.

And let's see what other bs. I am having no luck getting men to give me an estimate in our driveway hole. Maybe if I stand naked in the driveway someone will offer to do it for free.

Nothing is happening. Is Mercury in retro or something like that?

A new list of advice-a recap

#1-Don't go to Orlando in August.
#2-Don't drive and listen to the Ramones. ?
#3-Don't expect your mom to save your paintings.
#4-You cannot be nice to everyone. I have tried.
#5-If your eyes don't need it, don't get a stronger prescription.

That's all I really want to say right now.

I wanted to post a few Helmut's for the weekend. Then I'll have more O-town stories and pics. (oh goodie shouts my audience of 4.)

Peace and love

I thought the major was a lady suffragette...

2007-08-16T08:28:00.000-04:00

Have I stressed how hot it was in Orlando? Let me tell you, when it gets hot here-NYC area, it's humid around 3 pm and you think that it's HORRIBLE. In Orlando, in August, it's 90F at 9 in the morning and the humidity is 100%. I would sweat 5lbs every time we'd go for a walk. Doesn't that sound attractive? It's hard to stay cute in this sort of climate. My short hair worked out well, so that was a blessing.

And even though I complained non-stop about the heat-I would still go out, my son and I were the only people walking. Well us and some homeless guy who would mumble things to to me from behind the Winn Dixie.(Saying Winn Dixie never sounded really southern to me until living up north, now I have to say it with a southern accent because I think it's funny. Certain southern things are inexplicably adorable. Sweet tea will always be well, sweet. Sort of like I now understand the fixation northerners have with Springsteen.)

It was insane hot. Really. But we'd have to leave the house for some exercise and fresh air and do it first thing in the morning before the sun scorched the gray Florida dirt. We would go feed the ducks here.

This used to be an orange grove when I was a kid. Now it's full of pretty houses that are ill constructed. I'm sure if I walked up to one of the homes and gave it a swift kick I'd put a hole in in a wall.
This lake was always here-I never saw it because going into the orange grove was banned. How many cool things did I miss out on because I listened to my mom? I remember in the summer we knew when the groves were being mowed because the rats would make a pilgrimage to our neighborhood. We would be in the pool at dusk and watch rats run across the phone wires. ewwww.

I'm happy to say we were OK despite sweating buckets. It was so freaking hot! How many times do I need to say this. I would make sure we drank plenty of water, and I read somewhere once that a hiking guide would tell his little hiking people to eat cheezits because of the salt content. When I came back to New York a neighbor told me a nanny she knows was in O-town when I was there and she was hospitalized for heat exhaustion. Thank heavens I adapt very well.

And now for some more fotos.

This is the shuttle track from the gate to the main terminal at Orlando International. I think it's very amusing how it looks like Disney. I would chant "monorail monorail monorail". I half expect to see topiaries along the way.

The bromeliads that I love so much

The plumbago that my dad adored.

This was a huge vine climbing the old oak in a neighbors yard.

Everybody play the game...of love...

2007-08-14T09:03:00.000-04:00

(Sorry I'm listening to Queen, again)

First I have to say I love my mom. I admit we are very similar but she drives me crazy. My husband says when I get mad, I'm just like my mom. I get quiet very quickly and I won't look you in the eye. Don't try any funny business and make me laugh, because I'm mad and that's that.

So I found myself like this with my mom. Then she would get mad...so I would have to play nice or else we'd wouldn't talk all day. You can tell we're related.

My mom was scheduled for a surgery on Monday morning. My sister took her to the hospital and she was hooked up, ready to go and the anesthesiologist came in and looked over her charts and said-"We'd better not do this because your sodium is too low. You could have brain swelling or a stroke." That was it for my mom. She will not reschedule. Ever. The next day she turned this doctor's advice on us-her family and became nasty about it. She really said this-mind you she'll be 80 next year-"If you girls want me to have this surgery and something happens to me, then you'll have to deal with it then." Oh thanks mom. Well I'm not telling her to do it. Forget it. So I had to listen to my mom on the phone with all of her friends and telling them this whole ordeal over and over again. I would leave the room.

After a few days she was better. Thank heavens.

I started off the cleaning festivities by working in my bedroom. WOW was that a can of worms.
I found yearbooks and notes and lot's of funny little things.

Here is my old microscope. Check out my specimens. Who can tell me what the dragonfly is in? I was pretty resourceful even at 9. Well, and I was a girl scout.
And notice the contact lens case. I hijacked that from one of my sisters. That was my dirt sampler. I would collect dirt and write about the different kinds I found around the yard. And you know what there was still dirt in it.When I'm forced to see this kind of thing from my childhood, I seriously wonder how and why I didn't become a scientist. I was so completely into it. I would collect dead bugs from the pool and cuts wings off of bees and wasps and look at them under the microscope. I have a scalpel somewhere. Then I would draw what I saw-I loved it. I still kind of do. Biology has always fascinated me.
Me in my old bedroom late at night. I found some pearls my mom gave me and my dad's aviators. This was Monday night. I think I was delirious.

Here is the backyard now where the pool once existed.

This will forever make me sad. It was once my oasis. Now it's full of snakes, chameleons and mosquitoes.

I'll stop for now and leave you with a pic of a rarely spotted jungle boy.

Thistled and thorned...

2007-08-13T09:58:00.000-04:00

Good morning/afternoon kit kats! I'm so happy to be back even though I have tons of things to work on.

I will say it was boot camp at my mom's. No car, no music make paintergirl something something...I really was into torturing myself by bringing Of Human Bondage as well. I can think of several things wrong with the title. Still haven't finished it.

There are way too many little bits I need to catch up on this morning. I will leave with a sneak peak in my journal. There will be funny, sad, & weird stories and photos of the neighborhood.

spoke just like a baroness...

2007-08-04T21:29:00.000-04:00

OK kittens, I'm off to Orlando for a week at my mum's. Totally incommunicado.
Please send good thoughts and I will try to take some interesting photos of the old homestead.

And maybe I'll be able to finish Of Human Bondage.

Peace and love

Karma...police...arrest this girl...

2007-08-02T15:18:00.000-04:00

Seeing John on Sunday brought about quite a few unexpected memories of high school. One of the people he brought up was Keith.

John told me Keith was a head master of mathematics at a boarding school in the tri-state area.
Does not surprise me in the least. Keith is John Nash from a Beautiful Mind but without the schizophrenia. (Well he wasn't in high school)

Keith, you see was my only boyfriend in high school. He was my first boyfriend. I went through all of my years of school without going steady, then senior year happened.

Everything changed. My braces came off, I stopped perming my hair (egads can you imagine-that's not very punk of me-but it was the 80's).

One day one of my very brainac friends (she's an accountant now) tells me...
"You know Kieth?"
Me: "um...Y..E..S-our valedictorian....?
Friend: "He kind of likes you."

I had one of those moments where the background blurred and started spinning around me, and Pretty in Pink started playing in my head.

Somebody liked me. How cool is that. And bless my friend for saying, "Leave it to Patti to get the smartest guy in school to bring his head out of a book". I love her for saying that to me.

Of course it could mean I'm Melanie Griffith to his Jeff Daniel like in Something Wild. I won't think about that.

Then the set-up occurred. High school football game, and after meeting up at the BK lounge.
I'm guessing we talked and I gave him my number. It was awkward and sweet. So endearingly innocent.

Oh yes and the really awesome thing...he drove an orange gremlin. I thought it was cool at the time and I still do.

We had lots of dates and had fun. Except he kept trying to get me to take physics and me, being the stubborn artist refused. I know this drove him crazy. The other night I tried to think what classes he even took. In senior year most of us were taking trigonometry and analytic geometry, what was he taking? It must of been an AP class of calculus.??

Then I don't know what happened. We went to Disney and we were eating at a restaurant and a waiter asked of we were on our honeymoon.

That's when the music stopped-needle on the record player being pushed aside., scratching the record...

I remember being appalled, not with him just the idea of being married. There was NO WAY I was ever going to be married.

How pathetically sad of me.

This is God's mind, "Oh, you're getting along so nicely with a young man, and now we're going to make you dislike him for something a stranger said."

There was never even any mention of anything of the sort. Some of my friends were getting promise rings. I just lost my mind. And this my dear friends is how I started my rocky path of being non-confrontational and never telling anyone what is wrong. We just stopped talking. How horrible. And I will live with that forever.

So Keith-I'm sorry for being such a messed up girl, and I couldn't have had a sweeter first boyfriend.

That felt like pancake batter...

2007-07-30T17:29:00.001-04:00

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...

2007-07-27T16:20:00.000-04:00

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...

2007-07-23T09:52:00.000-04:00

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...

2007-07-18T17:05:00.001-04:00

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...

2007-07-13T09:26:00.001-04:00

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

2007-07-11T09:16:00.000-04:00

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...

2007-07-09T19:11:00.000-04:00

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...

2007-07-06T17:04:00.001-04:00

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...

2007-07-04T16:05:00.000-04:00

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

Ballantine beer
S'mores(it' summer man)
cherries
naked ginger
iced tea made with purple passion Tazo tea

five songs to which you know all the lyrics

(off the top of my head)

five things you would do if you were a millionaire

buy my mom a condo on the beach
take care of my sister
art projects
M and college funds
travel

five bad habits

procrastinate
quick temper
stubborn
self doubt
loves snacks

five things you'd never wear again

stirrup pants!!! (kiki how did we wear these?)
bandeau bikini tops
jumpsuit
sweat pants
long flowey skirts

five favorite toys

seam ripper
camera
paintbrush marker pen

we move like cagey tigers...

2007-07-02T10:16:00.000-04:00

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.

her methods are inscructable...

2007-06-27T10:51:00.000-04:00

I should have known the night was going to be bad.

I should have.

I took Emily out for her last pee of the night. In the spring and summer we have to make sure little woodland creatures haven't ventured in the yard. It was safe so I went back inside.
As I opened the door I heard a very strange noise. I had a Homer J. Simpson moment because I caught myself talking to my brain. "Did you hear that brain?"

Just for the sake of my sanity, the sound was repeated. It took a couple of seconds to register.
Oh yay, that was a machine gun.

We live about 5 minutes from a Fort where they play fight. Just think of everyone over in the Middle East and hear this all the time. I wonder if it becomes white noise. Do you have to become desensitized?

It was sort of coolish enough to sleep with the windows open but it tuned out to be a bad idea.

I wasn't sleeping very well(1000 things in my head), and something that I dread to hear, car tires screeching and then lots of metal crunching sounds. Horrible sounds. I looked out the window and I knew it happened on Route 9 near our house. I looked up in the sky and there was a blood red moon. Creeped me out. What's weird is that there were no sirens, but there was activity on the road. Rescue trucks, fire trucks. I was waiting for police cars to announce on a loudspeaker that we needed to leave our house immediately because of a chemical spill.

The sun is up, the sky is blue...

2007-06-21T08:52:00.000-04:00

Always a woman of my word here are some pics around town. A big shout out to Kiki and starting this website. I'm kind of sort of doing this, but suddenly I feel my life is falling apart and I don't know how well I can listen to the author's words. Though I do like the artist dates and the walks.

I can say this. If you are ever feeling complacent about your life or maybe it's too dull and boring, just put your house up for sale. You'll never be bored. It will turn your world upside down. I should have taken a photo of myself the other night, when I fell apart. I glanced in the mirror and I looked like Einstein. I think I even yelled many times over that I hated everyone. It was bad. But today is the first day of summer in the N H, and I'm planning to stay outside and away from the house. There is only so much I can do.

I also updated paintergirl asks. I have some fun stories surrounding the happenings of the blog.

peace and love people, peace and love and I mean it.

I see right through into your bones...

2007-06-18T19:24:00.000-04:00

I know this is going to sound so wussy-ish, but I miss Lost. Yeah I do. I'm lost without my Lost.

So what have we been doing since tv is no-wheresville this summer?

Oh just watching probably the most depressing movies ever made. Beautifully done but man-how many winners have I picked recently. We still have from the library, Decalogue. 10 movies based on the 10 commandments. They are black and white and made in Poland in the winter. Need I say anymore.

The other one that weighs heavy on my mind is Ju Dou-A Chinese film from the early 90's that takes place in the 20's.
Oh and, AND Sheltering Sky. See it's like we are punishing ourselves. Just seeing Malkovich sweating is enough to make a girl run screaming into the kitchen to get another whiskey.

Just as a break from our glum, I urged my husband to watch some of his father's day presents.
We already watched Repo Man, but he also got Dazed and Confused(the nicest packaging EVAH) and The Big Lebowski We watched the Lebowski. How can you not like The Dude? We discussed how good John Goodman is in it, (well everyone really is a class actin it) but I have a rough time with him no matter what movie he's in-I have a brother-in-law almost exactly like him. Really. But one of the best actors of all time is Peter Stormare otherwise known as Nihilist #1 from Lebowski. He was also is Fargo. Love that crazy Swede.

Next post will have interesting pics I promise.

Napolean...wore a black hat...ate lots of chicken...

2007-06-15T16:57:00.000-04:00

My phone attachment has calmed a bit.
I have a reprieve, for the moment.
I started some moon flower seeds and some nasturtiums (the flowers I drew above for my header) a few weeks ago and they are starting to grow nicely.

The moon flowers are climbers and they bloom, well at night and they give off a heavenly scent.

I'm in love with the way nasturtiums look because I read an article about an artist who lives in Morocco and she had a whole field of them. The colors in the photo were so appealing. It's my first time growing both of them.

Here is a Helmut.

come and rock me Amadeus...

2007-06-14T13:37:00.001-04:00

I don't have a really good pic of the Cardinal babies BUT I have a dear one of some gosling's. That is the "Hey Lady" lake in the background. jc has a full roundup of critters .

Over at Create a Connection "the Getting To Know" questions are ones I have been sort of thinking about myself.

When did you begin your first blog and what inspired you to do so?
I started one back in 2003 and I abandoned it. It might have been sweet art, something like that. Then in 2004, I started over with paintergirl and I was in search of a lost painting. I think it's really funny thinking about it now. The blog has been from Atlanta to Norwalk to our present unamusing city and soon to be Plattsburgh area.

Do you have more than one blog? Why? How are they different?
I have my very fun paintergirl asks that I just started this year.

There is another one that is on the shelf now. I'm not morbid, I'm not an Addams really, it's just something that has kind of freaked me out for awhile. It's called Fresh Air Death Watch. I used to listen to Terry Gross on NPR when I was working at home, and well I always thought she had some kind of Night Gallery/Twilight Zone way about her. For example if you are interviewed on her show, you'll die next week. It's not really like that, but it just seemed that way to me. She also plays past interviews she's had when the person dies, as a sort of tribute. If you miss the first part of the broadcast, you might miss her saying so and so has died. Hence why this freaks me out a little. I think Ray Davies, Terrence Stamp and Gene Simmons scared me the most. Oh and Paul Rubens. Now you know another side of paintergirl.

How would you characterize your blog?
Creative
Political
Informational
Community-oriented
Or something else? Something else something else oh and creative

To paraphrase Oprah, what is "one thing you know for sure" about blogging?
anyone can do it

Is it important to you to get feedback in terms of comments or pings? Why or why not?
Of course. Now I feel like I have blog friends so it's a way to share my life with them and connect. I show paintings and drawings and it's nice to get feedback on them. So if only a few people write that's cool because well it's all ok.

What 3 blogs would you recommend to our readers and why?
(They don't have to be blogs you read everyday and CAC is disqualified because everyone would, of course, put it on their list!)
Perceval Press
Nice art and important/sometimes controversial topics. Oh yea, and Viggo does it.

Keepers Logbook
Well maybe no one else is going to like this, but since I'm a titch obsessed with the light house, the keeper has a blog.

Rose and Radish
Because I love this store and I love their business theory. Something I could adopt.

I've been up all night...again...

2007-06-13T08:55:00.000-04:00

Environment 2.

Here is proof of my world. I go everywhere with this phone. Or I should say my world is limited because I have to stay near the phone.
I used to talk on the phone with my girlfriends. A lot. My parents used to tell me if I talked on the phone too long I would get Cauliflower ear.

My parents always twisted the truth just enough to scare me. I always thought they made this up until today. Just a realisation that this came from my father who knew this term from boxing.

Check out more SPC here.

I've tried but I could not find a way...

2007-06-11T08:37:00.000-04:00

I really don't know what to say right now. Honestly -I think there has been so much going on that I don't even know where to begin.

House selling is far beyond unamusing-especially after 8 months. It's also all consuming.

Sometimes I think I'm seriously manic depressive but considering all that is happening maybe I'm just normal. I don't know anymore but I find it hard to catch my breath.

All I have been doing is running around town, calling people on the phone and waiting and hoping. I hate walking and talking on the phone, but that's all I do as well. I'm not a multi-tasker. I have to stay extremely organized, and that's not the easiest.

I have had some really good ideas float around my head, but I don't have a chance to put them down.

Also the wee birds are gone. I have an empty nest. We saw one sitting on the edge of the nest Saturday. He turned around and gave us the saddest look. His eyes screamed, "I'm not ready".
Baby, none of us are but it all works out.

Make me a deal and make it straight...

2007-06-07T18:13:00.000-04:00

2 installments for the price of 1 this week.
For your pleasure.

at the hotel yorba...

2007-06-05T08:41:00.001-04:00

I have been trying to teach my little 4 1/2 year old how to hop scotch. Weather permitting and if we don't have some strange stagnant air warning-we're always outside. Here I am with the keds on and a dress I love.

More SPC here.

Peace and love ya'll.

I'm looking for the joke with a microscope...

2007-06-04T13:29:00.000-04:00

Yes yes and yes. We watched Repo Man this weekend because I had to give my husband an early Father's day present. (I cannot keep presents for long) RP is just about the oddest movie and it reminds me of my husband as well. I knew the soundtrack way before I ever saw the film. I was trying to pick out a favorite song today but they are all great, and they all work well together as soundtracks go. Maybe I'll pick the Circle Jerks. I dunno...

Here's my coral painting I did last week.

Another glimpse in my sketchbook

You don't need a penny just to hang around...

2007-05-31T13:47:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's entry in my sketchbook.

My dad taught me to love and take care of the world around me.
He once did minor surgery on a morning dove that hurt her wing. My dad was the world to me.

He taught me about plants and grew all sorts of things in the backyard underneath the grapefruit tree. I always loved exploring and following him around outside, checking out all of his experiments.

Yesterday the baby cardinals hatched and today I realized how perfectly fitting, on my dad's birthday. He told me every time I saw a cardinal I could make 3 wishes. He never told my two older sisters that. I'm lucky to have had so much time with him.

With The Wind In Your Hair Of A Thousand Laces...

2007-05-29T20:09:00.000-04:00

It's Getting To Know You Wednesday. I had a great time doing this and thanks Melba for providing me the opportunity!
This final week is a bit of a tribute to Marcel Proust. He really made these questionnaires
popular and I thought it would be fun. You can read about the Proust questions/history here.

The Infamous Proust Questionnaire
* Your most marked characteristic?
extraordinarily nice
* The quality you most like in a man?
sense of humor
* The quality you most like in a woman?
camaraderie
* What do you most value in your friends?
loyalty
* What is your principle defect?
procrastination
* What is your favorite occupation?
artist
* What is your dream of happiness?
I'm still searching for the perfect answer
* What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes?
Never marrying my husband and having our son
* What would you like to be?
successful
* In what country would you like to live?
France
* What is your favorite color?
My most favorite is cerulean blue.
* What is your favorite flower?
Tulips and exotics
* What is your favorite bird?
I love birds. I love cardinals and morning doves especially.
* Who are your favorite prose writers?
Jack Kerouac and Longfellow
* Who are your favorite poets?
Cummings
* Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Joe Harman, from A Town Like Alice
* Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?
Mary Yellan from Jamaica Inn
* Who are your favorite composers?
Mozart, Chopin
* Who are your favorite painters?
Motherwell
* Who are your heroes in real life?
The people who really do what they love
* Who are your favorite heroines of history?
Joan of Arc, Martha Washington
* What are your favorite names?
Simone, Gustav
* What is it you most dislike?
People deciding to do the wrong thing
* What historical figures do you most despise?
Too many to list, again poor decision makers
* What event in military history do you most admire?
Paul Revere's ride-shouting "The British are coming!"
* What reform do you most admire?
Ending child labor
* What natural gift would you most like to possess?
lot's of self confidence
* How would you like to die?
?
* What is your present state of mind?
My brain hurts from answering these questions
* To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
My craving for dark chocolate
* What is your motto?
Live and let live

I was going to try to answer these in song lyrics but realised it would have made my brain explode.

Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea...

2007-05-29T10:01:00.001-04:00

The sweet little cardinal egg painting.

I have another painting I did yesterday, but I have to re-take the photo because it's blurry.

*The Babies have hatched, the babies have hatched!!! Daddy cardinal was flying around like a spaz and I thought wtf? And then I knew...he's acting like all dads do when the babes are born. He was so happy and making sure no one was messing with his kids while mom was taking a well earned break. God bless those dear birds.

we started living in an old house

2007-05-26T16:35:00.000-04:00

So I couldn't go to Miranda July because my throat was killing me and I had 2 hours of sleep the night before. I couldn't do it. I arranged for a babysitter and everything was planned. This broke my heart and had me depressed. I cried and cried. And the same day, not joking, I got bit by a spider about 10 times. Lovely right.

But I'm better now, though still sad about missing MJ with Acumamakiki.

On a lighter note-
Here are some things I found around in our yard. My son has a very funny sense of humor. This had me laughing. The Wishbone toy was our dog's when she was a puppy. My son is amazed that our pets used to play with toys. Now the animals are both older and not into the toys. Siddhartha just turned 10.

Today to kick off the first day of summer (unofficial and all) I made blueberry shortcake and strawberry daiquiris. They are both a hit.

I have my cardinal painting finished but I have to scan it or take a pic of it. I think it turned out well. The real babies haven't hatched yet.Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Been across the ocean to the south sea isles...

2007-05-22T18:59:00.000-04:00

Hello again and if it's Wednesday, it must be "Getting to Know You Day" with me over at Create a Connection.

My question for this week:

If you could have a redo moment in your life, would you do it and what would it be? Not changing history drastically-it's all just a what if.

For example-would you have waited to get married later. Would you have had your children at an earlier age. Not have dated that strange girl/guy back in 11th grade.

My redo moment would be changing the college I went to. I went to University of Florida and really the only reason I went is because one of my good friends from high school happened to go and I was going to have to pay my own tuition. it was the only school I sent an application to. Oh and I waited a year. I don't think I would have done that either. I liked it at UF, but I would have tried to get into Pratt or Rhode Island school if I had really thought about it. My parents weren't exactly driving forces to help me in way. They would have been fine if I had stayed home and never went to school.

As the sun burns the ground And my eyes fill with sand...

2007-05-21T12:46:00.000-04:00

There are many things in life to be thankful for...

Happy mail from Vedrana!!
Yes I'm a big nerd and love stamps.
(Stamp collection-ha ha)
I was super excited to get this package.

Check out the polka dot box and special handmade paper.

It was like Christmas over here. A lovely letter, sweet smelling candles, a very cool tee that describes historical sites in Zagreb, Croatia where Vedrana lives. Go to her blog and you'll see photos of her city, it's really amazing. You'll get the travel bug.
A beautiful flower book that brings inspiration to me instantly.

I love the figure she drew and these punch out cupids are dear.
Thank you Vedrana!!

And let it be known I am not a typical girl-I know you all know that already but just to make sure...
I don't collect shoes, I have this terrible affliction for chairs. (I wish I liked shoes, it would take up less room.)

We were driving along, and J spotted this pile of furniture on the side of the road. He backed up and I jumped out and this is what I brought home. I just love it. It's heavy as a mother and it's currently out back airing. It needs some care but will be in the house soon.

AND
we have been blessed to have a mama and daddy cardinal make a nest in the climbing roses off our front porch.

I am working on a painting but the eggs are so pretty. All creamy with little brown freckles. I can't wait for the babies.

Finally-
Here is a collection of paintings on etsy. Kind of a good perspective on size.

Since we had reason left to smile...

2007-05-17T13:27:00.000-04:00

I am supporting Ninotchka over at Create a connection. What's something that's useful in your home that you have come to really love?

I love this table. This was my parents dining room table. It's not a real Wakefield Table, just a good imitation. It's still made better than some of today's stuff. It's really krunked up on the top, it's in dire need of some refinishing, but I still love it. The really funny thing is that we have been using it as a computer table upstairs. We have been eating at this tiny little IKEA cafe table that was going to be temporary. Temporary for 4 years.

So yesterday of all days(during this huge thuderstorm), I got sick of everything, and the adrenaline kicked in and I moved this table down the stairs. Truthfully I thought I was going to get it stuck on the stairs. I'm still very proud of myself. I tend to reaarange furniture on a whim.

The table looks nice in my favorite part of the house-the back sliding doors looking outdoors. At dusk we've been watching the bats come out. It's fun.

Always something happening and nothing going on...

2007-05-15T13:24:00.000-04:00

Here's my question over at Create a Connection this week.

"If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you be? You'd be able to do what you love and make money. Your spouse, children, significant other, pets-all would be able to come with you."

I think I would do very nicely in the south of France. I know I would get all sentimental and teary on the 4th of July, but I see myself living in another country and living the life of an expatriate. I'd be a woman who opens a bar and plays nothing but Howlin' Wolf, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters on the jukebox.

peace and love y'all

And here's another installment of Helmut paintergirl style.

I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes...

2007-05-14T13:28:00.000-04:00

The lovely Acumamakiki played along with my interview and you can find her responses here.

Irene is my new guest at Paintergirl asks. I just love her Polaroids to bits.

And my Etsy is up. Be warned I will be putting a ton of things up because of the move, so please please take a look. I have ideas for new paintings but I have to start selling. I really am the girl who has a ton of art.

Take..a.. long.. holiday...

2007-05-10T15:15:00.000-04:00

It has been glaringly bright here. Hello summer! It's getting to the point where the sun feels like it searing my skin. I have been taking some pictures around the house and town because I'm feeling a little nostalgic.

Too much writing on my part bores even myself, so it's photos for you guys.

These are brought to you by Mr. Sunshine!

And this little number I spotted down the road at a garage. Isn't it the sweetest? The owner of the garage bought it an an estate sale and it was in pieces. It's a 63 Studebaker. I heart this car. The other car I would have looked really nice driving was a cherry red 62 corvair. It was nice. But it's gone now.

you should be dancing...yeah...

2007-05-08T21:25:00.000-04:00

As host of "Getting to Know You" over at Create a Connection-this is my question for this week. (I am just Q & A girl)

If someone from your local community college approached you about teaching a class, would you do it? What subject? Would there be field trips? What books would be required reading? Any guest lecturers?

As much as I love painting and drawing, I don't think I would teach a class about it. (Well not at this very second)
I would teach a film class. The class would be Modern Film and Music. (I should think of a catchier title.)

I could have entire syllabus worked up for this, it's how much I love this topic.

The basic overall theme of the class would be about how music plays an important part in films, as much as cinematography. It can make a good film great or have some disastrous results.

We'd watch Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola, Michel Gondry.

Some topics-

Does using current popular music date films?

Is it hard to watch Midnight Cowboy or Saturday Night Fever because of the soundtrack?

Do you think Coppola's use of 80's and current music in Marie Antoinette helps or hurts the film?

How does classical music affect a futuristic modern film? A Clockwork Orange, and 2001 Space Odyssey for example.

How does Gondry and Spike Jonze work in music video translate into feature length films?

A field trip would be to people watch in Union Square. Just sit, have some lunch and watch.

The project for the end of the semester would be to make a short film and of course, create a soundtrack.
Speakers could be any of the previously mentioned directors/writers. That would be lovely.

I bet there is a class like this somewhere, but this is MINE right now.

mama pajama rolled out of bed...

2007-05-06T19:58:00.000-04:00

I was over at Sister Margarets blog and she was asked 5 questions from Leah. There are some rules to play which are very simple and at the bottom. I really wanted to be interviewed so here are Margaret's questions for me.

1-What reality TV show would you be on if you had to be on one?

Survivor-definitely a south pacific Island with a Scotsman, a southern con man with heart of gold and a good doc. I am very specific. There does not have to be any other girls.

2. Newspapers, magazines, books, or the internets: which is your favorite media?

I'm still an old fashioned girl and love the idea of reading a really well written extremely informative newspaper, but there are so few and frankly I don't have much time. I love books too but again the time. I find myself loving magazines because they have nice pretty pictures and short articles. My favorites at the moment are Dwell and Metropolis.

3. If you had to give-up one of your 5 senses: which one and why?

Very tough but I'll pick smell. But only because I won't loose my sense of taste because the question says "only 1".

4. If Ben & Jerry's were to name an ice cream flavor after you, what would it be?

Fudgie Mcfudge sounds terrible but that's all I can think of at the moment. Dark chocolate ice cream with ginger, almonds ans swirls of vanilla with bits of fudge.

5. If you could start a new holiday:, what, when, and how would you celebrate?

Celebrate your favorite music video day. It would be sometime in the winter when life is a bit blah. You would dress up as a character and you were allowed to sing your music video song all day. Fun huh? Like Halloween in the winter.

My first one I would pick would be Flock of Seagulls-"And I ran" I'm not sure if I would dress up like the lead singer or one of the girls. They are both pretty cool.

Here are the rules:

1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” And please, feel free to comment on my fabulousness, or whatever.

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

I wake up to the sound of music...

2007-05-03T13:40:00.000-04:00

It's scary when I'm understanding Paul's lyrics.

The song in my head is Let it be. And that is my anthem at the moment.

My I Ching this morning was Li-The Clinging. The last paragraph is enlightening.

"Trying times bring us the gift of showing where our devotion to proper principles ends. Deepen that devotion now, cling to the truth and acceptance and Independence, and you will meet with success."

And now for something to make you laugh-because it is always appreciated.

In our collection of books to get rid of, we had this Helmut Newton paperback of photos.

I'm keeping it now because it screams "write in me"

Here is my first entry.

whisper words of wisdom...

2007-05-01T21:13:00.000-04:00

I am very excited to be the "Getting to Know" host over at Create a Connection for this month of May. Thanks Melba!

I am a huge movie and music fan, and I'm always curious to know about other people's favorites.

My first round of questions relates to various forms of creativity.

I want to know what book, movie and song not only changed your life, but also changed the way you thought about the medium. It could have been when you were a child or a teenager or just last week. Anytime in your life.

The Song.

I lived in a very music loving household which was wonderful. There were many different age groups and therefore different types of music. Thankfully I had 2 older sisters who had good taste and I listened to all of their records and 8 tracks. (Yes 8 tracks)

The one song that changed it all for me was "Space Oddity" by David Bowie. I was 8 and I must have listened to that song 1000 times as I laid upside down on my sister's bed. Not knowing as a child the words to describe it I can only remotely try to remember those feelings I had when I listened to it. I was struck by it's expansiveness and I really could not believe how a song could set a mood and create such a scenery for me.

The Book.

Whenever I got a chance between homework in high school I read. Some were classics some not so much. When I checked this one book out, I knew it was going to be great. I was not disappointed. It was A Catcher in the Rye.

I think everyone at that age is amazed by the feelings conveyed in this book. As a teen, soon becoming an adult, you start to see some of the ugliness in the world. One starts to feel a little jaded. I loved how Salinger wrote. he expressed those feelings. This was a breakthrough book for me.

The Movie.

I remember one of the first movies my mom took me to see was The Yearling, that was the first movie that I cried over.

But the first movie I saw that really changed it all for me was The Graduate. It was in the summer and I was about 15. I had a little TV in my bedroom and I watched it by myself. I was mesmerized. Everything about this film was so different for me. The music coming together. The colors. Everything. I was in love. I loved how it was shot and the design of it. (Before I knew what any of the terms meant)

Two recent films that I am equally excited about that have reestablished my love and hope for the world and film and art are You and Me and EveryoneWe Know and The Science of Sleep. Check them out, will not disappoint.

Ecoutez l'histoire De Bonnie and Clyde...

2007-04-30T13:14:00.000-04:00

I have finally come to my senses and I have started an account with Etsy. When I get my paintings loaded I will come back and tell everyone. It seems like such a nice place and I love all the items offered on the site. So very soon my art will be out there in this beautiful wide world.

Some random thoughts for today:

In Ireland they charge you .25 cents for a plastic bag. The country has cut down its usage by 90%. Can you believe that? And the money earned goes towards environmental clean up. I think I'm going to write some letters to my congress people. I don't know about you, but I really don't like seeing plastic bags in trees or around birds necks.

Ritapita has has made me laugh so hard. She has figured out my 6 Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon. I'm still laughing because whenever I think of Keven Bacon I picture him in Footloose.

I have been listening to a lot of Serge Gainsbourg and Bridget Bardot. I think I am picking up french this way. At least I will be able to sing a french song.

These are some wild turkeys running around near the nuclear plant-aww they're radioactive.
They gobbled at us too. That made me giggle.

And here are some jellies and robins eggs just because I love how the colors make me smile.

You've got the rest of the world blues...

2007-04-28T22:06:00.000-04:00

I know I rambled on and on before but it's back to being short and sweet.

We saw another FANTASTIC movie that everyone needs to see. Really really.
It's The Science of Sleep, and it it so beautifully done, it's makes you wish you had done it. So go rent it right now and make sure you watch the rescue kitty stuff in the extras. Now put some Serge on and be very very happy.
*Peace and love

Instead of a kickity kick ball we have the bouncity bounce pony ball.

in this ever changing world-in which we live in...

2007-04-26T14:16:00.000-04:00

God bless America.

It seems like I cannot get a second to sit and tell you guys about the last leg of the trip.

Between house viewings, working on the business, playing with the man, I just haven't had a moment, finally FINALLY getting my Amelie haircut.

I'm going to bang this out.

OK-now, Friday morning and we were in Troy. Had a continental breakfast at the hotel. I heart best westerns because they allow dogs, and they have pools. This one had an outdoor one, bummer but still it's there. I swear the cook/chef/heater upper of the food was an ex-con, but that's me being all paranoid.

Decided before we hit the road to explore Troy with a walk into town and find some serious coffee. Again very cute. Found a street lined completely with brownstones. Is it just me, but I always try to see myself living in lots of different towns. It must be the gypsy in me. I could live in a brownstone.

"I got the rest of the world blues"

So coffee for mum and dad. pastry for the wee man. Lovely.

The good husband then asked, "what do you want to do?"

My immediate response (And I do not usually respond so quickly)

I said-"We have to go look for Woodstock and Big Pink"

Hus-"Really??"

Me-"Oh yea-it's on our way back home"

Now-for some very silly reason we thought the actual place where Woodstock took place was in Saugerties. Noooooooooo.

My husband said-how are we going to find this? I said, someone must have erected a memorial, there will be a marker somewhere. i was so confident.

along comes the Saugerties exit.

Suddenly we see signs for a Lighthouse. A lighthouse? Let's go see it. We have to.

Followed the signs. Completely like we were chasing a rabbit down a hole.

we wind up in a neighborhood, next to a coast guard building. And yet it still said lighthouse this way.

What one had to do was hike a mile through this forest to get to the lighthouse.

Ah ha. here is the second appearance of inappropriate shoes.

This time I should have had on rubber boots instead of 3 inch ankle boots.

There was thick black mud throughout and we were all sinking.

The inappropriate shoes always makes me laugh because it's like the girl in a miniskirt in horror movies-she ALWAYS gets killed first.

There was promise of a lighthouse and yet we could not see one. pooey. We couldn't have walked further because a rescue team would have had to pull me out of the mud.

I really enjoyed it though. And bust my bumpers, I found out that a person can spend the night in the lighthouse.

Can you BELIEVE that? How very Gothic huh?

And let me tell you something else, the lighthouse keeper used to have a bakery in St. Louis, so it's fresh baked goods in the morning. There has to be something wrong with this picture right? It his my mission now to stay at this lighthouse.

After the muddy trek in Saugerties, looking around longliy for Big Pink, no chance. What was I thinking. Big Pink was a house Ric Danko&Levon Helm- (The Band) bought and set up a recording studio in the basement. Dylan came and this is where the Basement Tapes were recorded. To me this is about the closest I'll come to finding a mecca.

Next time we'll have directions, and I'll document the other copy cat pink houses in the area. You wouldn't believe it.

Remember this was all spur of the moment too.

Now to find Woodstock. Where oh where are you? We both decided we could smell it. Plenty of farmland. Wound up in Woodstock the town. Very funny little place. There are hippies roaming the streets that have never left. EVER EVER. A good place to find a vegetarian restaurant. I had tempeh burrito with peanut sauce. This is a place worth checking out, but not the site of the 3 day music fest.

Get home, the husband finds it's in Bethel, NY. How? Why? Where? It is way off. How did those kids find it?

*Now for all you crazy kids-tomorrow will be the big surprise guest over at paintergirl asks.

Downtown the young one's are going ...

2007-04-23T19:13:00.000-04:00

So again-walking up the stairs with Emily on a leash and my son running, husband trying to catch up with son.
I was wearing 3 inch black knee high boots.

It's called The Approach and you can read more about it here.

The campus was amazing.It is the first engineering school in the states. Pretty impressive. It's weird to think they have a graphic design program.

There was going to be a screening of this movie, but they never received it. That was a bummer. I was looking forward to it. But all is well, the head professor invited my husband and I out to dinner with the other teachers/professionals who also critiqued and it was so refreshing to have adult conversations about design and life with actual people sitting across from me. That made me very happy.

This is turning into an epic. More to come. The actual crazy bits.

done dirt cheap...

2007-04-23T13:55:00.000-04:00

this may be a 2 parter if i can't write it all in one shot.

My husband was contacted by a professor at Renesslor college in Troy, to critique and review her graduating senior design students portfolio's.

I told him he should do it, then we can have a little mini holiday. I would also LOVE to be able to work with universities on a regular basis so I thought this might give us good insight.

So he said yes, and I was excited to get away for a few days.

Now this college happens to be in Troy, NY, exactly where my nemesis lives. I thought that was extremely ironic. The very person I was ranting about, lives in the town I was about to visit. How very stalkerish of me.

Anyway-so off we went, wee man, lab, husband and myself-stuffed into our Honda. Now let's not forget I have to make sure I have enough snacks and things to play with even if it's just a 2 hour trip. A 2 hour tour.

An hour went by and my husband suggested we stop soon for lunch. I said we should go to Kingston, because we had wanted to go there before and they have cool restaurants. (editorial note-we do not have cool restaurants in our town, but we do have NYC, it's just not down the street)

Kingston-lovely town. Very very cute. Some extremely old revolutionary times buildings.

Back on the road after a nice lunch at Lucy's. A mexican restuarant that was styled in cowboys/indians. maybe not politalccly correct but it was cute.

next stop TROY. Drove past our state capitol Albany. Pretty big and sort of ugly. Not glamorous.
I could spot some amazing looking church steeples but that was it.

Check in at the hotel went smoothly. My husband told me the university was directly behind the hotel. Directly means that there were 100 stairs up leading to the campus. I kid you not. I did not have the digital camera but took picks with our old fashioned cannon elf. I'll have them developed in the next decade.

So these stairs. Insane. My son COULD NOT WAIT. to run up them. Great.

I'm going to end here with this note. Some of the most fun times I have had, I am usually wearing the most inappropriate shoes. Keep this in mind because it will come up again.

We are stardust, we are golden...

2007-04-21T08:47:00.000-04:00

Have to clean the house for a viewing this morning. Doesn't viewing sound like I have a funeral home?

Here is a tease.

Patchouli in the air
fogs my mind
young dropouts
old burnouts
Searching for big pink

She worships the sun...

2007-04-20T16:41:00.000-04:00

Hey everybody!

We went on a very crazy car trip. When I'm all unpacked I'll tell you what happened.

I feel tired but refreshed after leaving town, and exploring other cities.

Be back in a flash.

pg

films by Luc Godard and paintings by Picasso...

2007-04-18T14:58:00.000-04:00

Something a little serious.

Well not that serious. But I'm usually the jokester.

There is a blog person, I will not name the person. It's none of you guys, trust me. This person is too good to read anyone else's blog.

I really thought this person was pretty cool. Thought when I saw the blog-Right on! Now, not so much.

What has me a little annoyed is that when people become successful, sometimes they turn on their industry. Biting the hand that feeds you, sort of.
If you hate what you're doing, maybe you need to rethink your vocation. Or if you don't like what you see, try to educate. Get the word out. Especially if you have a voice and are semi-successful. People will listen.

Or is it the case where you think the industry is flooded and there is C.R.A.P. out in the world.. and you are trying to dissuade and discourage artists?

I know there is art out there-music, films, books, visual that is horrible. (But that is subjective)

I'm still a cheerleader for the arts. I still carry on.

I feel sorry for this person. Really.

Thanks guys for allowing me to complain!
Peace and love! pg

If I don't get.some.shelter...

2007-04-17T12:48:00.000-04:00

* In a week there will be a surprise guest over at paintergirl asks

oh heck and I forgot (I was blinded by his smile)
It's free cone day. Go here and find a store near you.

Make me happy, make me feel fine...

2007-04-15T15:50:00.000-04:00

So here's to the ginger lei
I give to you today
And here's a kiss
That will not fade away

Hey you with the pretty face...

2007-04-13T16:40:00.000-04:00

This is a declaration of sorts for me.
Tell me if you can't read it.

It's Friday 13th, go watch a scary movie. Or not.

Go & tell it to the trees, yeah...

2007-04-11T15:05:00.000-04:00

I was in a purging mood and cleaned my files on the computer. I came across this list(from heaven knows where) and I wanted to share it.

Which tree does your birthday fall under? And then read the description below.

December 23 to January 1 ........... Apple Tree
January 2 to January 11 ............ Fir Tree
January 12 to January 24 ........... Elm Tree
January 25 to February 3 ........... Cypress Tree
February 4 to February 8 ........... Poplar Tree
February 9 to February 18 .......... Cedar Tree
February 19 to February 28 ......... Pine Tree
March 1 to March 10 ................ Weeping Willow Tree
March 11 to March 20 ............... Lime Tree
March 21 ........................... Oak Tree
March 22 to March 31 ............... Hazelnut Tree
April 1 to April 10 ................ Rowan Tree
April 11 to April 20 ............... Maple Tree
April 21 to April 30 ............... Walnut Tree
May 1 to May 14 .................... Poplar Tree
May 15 to May 24 ................... Chestnut Tree
May 25 to June 3 ................... Ash Tree
June 4 to June 13 .................. Hornbeam Tree
June 14 to June 23 ................. Fig Tree
June 24 ............................ Birch Tree
June 25 to July 4 .................. Apple Tree
July 5 to July 14 .................. Fir Tree
July 15 to July 25 ................. Elm Tree
July 26 to August 4 ................ Cypress Tree
August 5 to August 13 .............. Poplar Tree
August 14 to August 23 ............. Cedar Tree
August 24 to September 2 ........... Pine Tree
September 3 to September 12 ........ Weeping Willow Tree
September 13 to September 22 ....... Lime Tree
September 23 ....................... Olive Tree
September 24 to October 3 .......... Hazelnut Tree
October 4 to October 13 ............ Rowan Tree
October 14 to October 23 ........... Maple Tree
October 24 to November 11 .......... Walnut Tree
November 12 to November 21 ......... Chestnut Tree
November 22 to December 1 .......... Ash Tree
December 2 to December 11 .......... Hornbeam Tree
December 12 to December 21 ......... Fig Tree
December 22 ........................ Beech Tree

Apple Tree, the Love
Of slight build, lots of charm, appeal and attraction, pleasant
aura, flirtatious, adventurous, sensitive, always in love, wants
to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous,
scientific talents, lives for today, a carefree philosopher with
imagination

Fir Tree, the Mysterious
Extraordinary taste, dignity, cultivated airs, loves anything
beautiful, moody, stubborn, tends to egoism but cares for those
close to it, rather modest, very ambitious, talented, industrious
uncontent lover, many friends, many foes, very reliable.

Elm Tree, the Noble-Mindedness
Pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands, tends to not
forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest
and faithful partner, tends to a know-all-attitude and making
decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of
humor, practical.

Cypress, the Faithfulness
Strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give, happy
content, optimistic, needs enough money and acknowledgment, hates
loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful,
quick-tempered, unruly, pedantic and careless.

Poplar, the Uncertainty
Looks very decorative, no self-confident behavior, only
courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy,
often lonely, great animosity, artistic nature, good organizer, tends to
philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership serious.

Cedar, the Confidence
Of rare beauty, knows how to adapt, likes luxury, of good health,
not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident,
determined, impatient, wants to impress others, many talents,
industrious, healthy optimism, waiting for the one true love,
able to make quick decisions.

Pine Tree, the Particularity
Loves agreeable company, very robust, knows how to make life
comfortable, very active, natural, good companion, but seldom
friendly, falls easily in love but its passion burns out quickly,
gives up easily, many disappointments till it finds its ideal,
trustworthy, practical.

Weeping Willow, the Melancholy
Beautiful but full of melancholy, attractive, very empathic,
loves anything beautiful and tasteful, loves to travel, dreamer, restless,
capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with,
demanding, good intuition, suffers in love but finds sometimes an anchoring partner.

Lime Tree, the Doubt
Accepts what life dishes out in a composed way, hates fighting,
stress and labor, tends to laziness and idleness, soft and
relenting, makes sacrifices for friends, many talents but not
tenacious enough to make them blossom, often wailing and complaining, very jealous, loyal.

Hazelnut Tree, the Extraordinary
Charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make an
impression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody and
capricious lover, honest and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgment.

Rowan, the Sensitivity
Full of charm, cheerful, gifted, without egoism, likes to draw
attention, loves life, motion, unrest and even complications, is
both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate,
emotional, good company, does not forgive.

Maple, Independence of Mind
No ordinary person, full imagination and originality, shy and
reserved, ambitious, proud, self-respect, hungers for new
experiences, sometimes nervous, many complexes, good memory,
learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

Walnut Tree, the Passion
Unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egoistic,
aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions,
spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and
uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious
strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromises.

Chestnut Tree, the Honesty
Of unusual beauty, does not want to impress, well-developed sense
of justice, vivacious, interested, a born diplomat, but irritate
and sensitive in company, often due to a lack of self-confidence,
acts sometimes superior, feels not understood loves only once,
has difficulties in finding a partner.

Ash Tree, the Ambition
Uncommonly attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not
care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to
play with its fate, can be egoistic, very reliable and trust- worthy, faithful and
prudent lover, sometimes brains rule over heart, but takes partnership
very serious.

Hornbeam, the good taste
Of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste,
tends to egoism, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads
reasonable, disciplined life, looks for kindness, an emotional
partner and acknowledgment, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom
happy with her feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of
its decisions, very conscientious.

Fig Tree, the Sensibility
Very strong, a bit self-willed, independent, does not allow
contradiction or arguments, loves life, its family, children and
animals, a bit of a butterfly, good sense of humor, likes idleness
and laziness, of practical talent and intelligence.

Oak, robust nature
Courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not
love changes, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

Birch, the Inspiration
Vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly, unpretentious, modest,
does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life
in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination,
little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

Olive Tree, the Wisdom
Loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids
aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed
sense of justice, sensitive, empathic, free of jealousy, loves to read and
the company of sophisticated people.

Beech, the Creative
Has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialist, good
organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes
no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion,
keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.).

I hear the secrets that you keep...

2007-04-09T17:46:00.000-04:00

This is a remnant of egg coloring. All went well, considering my son hates to be near eggs.

I was in a really weird mood Easter night and thought I would take some pictures.

As I look at them now, they look like stills from a bad movie.

I met Roky Erickson....

2007-04-06T15:57:00.000-04:00

This little song is called

Cat in the Oven
and it's by Emily the lab who is slowly losing her mind

There's a cat in the oven
And I don't know how he got there

There's a cat in the oven
And I think he's out to get me

Oh I wish I knew
What this cat was up to

He wants my treats
And he drinks my water

There's a cat in the oven
And I don't know how he got there

I'm worth a million in prizes...

2007-04-04T09:11:00.000-04:00

That's me and my sis. Of course I'm the one with my bathing cap on wrong.

40 Things about me for my 40th Birthday

I always have at least 2 songs in my head

I love chocolate croissants

I love 1960's vintage dresses

I was raised Southern Baptist

I have leanings towards Buddhism

I want a greenhouse one day

I was a graphic design major then switched to painting

I take 6 different vitamins/herbs

I am a pacifist

I have no desire to jump out of an airplane

I love Truffaut movies

I want a Russian Blue cat one day

I hate taking medicine, even aspirin

I hate housework

I love yard work

I loathe Lima beans

I love Case Study houses

I no longer eat red meat

I love my family but they don't understand me

I love hiking

I hate running

I want to travel to Basel, Vienna, Prague and Odessa

I love purses

I miss sub-tropical plants of Florida

I don't paint or draw people

I cannot tell a joke

I love board games

I want to build a tree house for our son

I love swimming

I wanted to be an astronomer when I was 8

I have always had a dog or cat

I want to learn how to surf

I don't like roller coasters

I want to learn French

The first book I bought was "On the Road"

I try to never kill anything

I want to go snorkeling in Belize

I love a good joke

I love refurbishing furniture

I want to learn how to make Creme Bruelle and chocolate souffle.

She put all her money into traveling now it's so slow...

2007-04-02T14:58:00.000-04:00

I know it's all based on the fact that my big 4-0 is quickly approaching, but man I did not think I was going to get so depressed today. Good ole giant fish eye is how I feel.

Mister blue sky is living here today...

2007-03-30T17:40:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite things about Easter are chenille baby chicks. I am not really sure when I first got them, but I adore these little guys. They make me laugh. Someone I knew used to be afraid of them. They're 1/2 inch high. ?

My son loves them now too and has placed them in a tree. He was a little upset that I took them out of the tree to take the photo.

Still showing the house. I am officially tired of doing it. Everything is in a holding position and it is driving us crazy.

I read this last weekend and was great. Currently we're watching this and I'm hooked.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Don't forget about paintergirl asks.

Peace.

I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert...

2007-03-29T13:50:00.000-04:00

I love the weather we have been having the best. 65 F days and 40 F at night. I think I function best in these temps.

So to celebrate these lovely days and feeling better. I decided to take the wee man and Emily to a place I have always wanted to visit. It's called Croton Point and sticks far out into the Hudson. Every time we take the train into the city, I see it and look at it longingly. I have seen people with their dogs on the hills, and have thought "That could be me".

This is looking northeast.

This is facing south towards NYC.

Finally I was the one on the hill, not the fool on the hill (at least I don't think so).

It was crazy windy, and the Hudson was choppy but it was a beautiful day.

We hiked and hiked and hiked some more until my son said, "This is wearing me out" and finally getting to the parking lot "where is our car?"

I wish every day could be a Croton Point day.

Don't forget, if you haven't answered the 3 questions, head on over to painter girl asks and join the fun.

Throw your safety overboard and join our insect nation...

2007-03-26T12:10:00.000-04:00

I am about to embark on a crazy experiment. I want everyone who reads this silly blog to partake in this on going bit.

I have thought about this for a long time, and I have finally decided to just do it, start it now.

I also haven't worked out all the logistics of it either.

Here it is simply.

Painter girl asks the 3 most important questions. (To me, painter girl of course)

What is your favorite color?
Who is your favorite artist? Living or dead.
If you were a painting, which one would you be? Why?

Here is the thing I do know. I want you to email me your responses. I will post everyone's responses in the order that they are sent to me. I want it to be like a "Guest of the week". And I can add a little bio in the post. if you don't want me to, just tell me.
For example: Acumamakiki hails from New Jersey. She's an acupuncturist, roller derby ref, mama and wifey. Something like that.

OK who is going to be first?

paintergirlny@yahoo.com

A woman of my word-here is the new blog. painter girl asks
The answers are pouring in, and I have to start making a list.
Keep the answers coming!

Love wheel going round round round...

2007-03-24T15:01:00.000-04:00

A typical sketchbook entry.

I decided as a project for the wee man and I to do was to build a bird feeder out of an orange juice carton.

Underneath I wrote-

Things said to me today:
Follow me
I'm glad you're feeling better
Did you have to get more oil
The baron is following us
The snow is finally melting

I discovered our library has a copy of The Devil and Daniel Johnston, and I am so excited to see this. Last time I was this excited to see a movie was , Me You and Everyone We Know. I wasn't dissappointed. I know I'm going to be a little sad, but I'm looking forward to it.

They say spain is pretty though I've never been...

2007-03-20T09:09:00.000-04:00

I wanted to have a nice St.Pat's post, but it just didn't happen that way. Days later...

Still here's a St. Patrick's Day tale.

I grew up in a very VERY Irish-German house. I should point out that the German is mostly Pennsylvania Dutch and my mom does not make the pies or doughnuts that the dutch are known for baking. My grandmother did that. My mom-forget about it.

So my dad-the Irish one. God bless him. We are as some may say the Black Irish. We don't have the red or fair hair, we're the darker ones. My dad had lovely black wavy hair and hazel eyes. I cried every time he would get his military buzz style.

I laugh thinking about Alec Baldwin and Conan O'Brien fighting.
Conan: "Black Irish!"
Alec:"Right back at cha Red!"

Dad's grandma and grandpa both came from different parts of Ireland. John came from Cork and travelled by himself, and Bridget came from Donegal and was with her family. They met somewhere here on the east coast, maybe NYC or somewhere in Jersey. They had a son and called him Francis. That was my grandfather.

Despite some very bad feelings and happenings between my dad and his father, my dad was still very proud of his heritage and we always celebrated St. Pat. We weren't allowed to leave the house if we didn't have green on for St.Pat. And yes he would be caught singing "Oh Danny Boy" whilst cooking. We always had corned beef and cabbage and my dad would find things called cow turnips. Thinking about it makes me cringe.The smell permeated throughout house and he would cook all of these things together in one pot. I really can't stand to eat the meat, but I miss cooking. He was big on tradition and that still means a lot to me.

On this past St.Pat, I didn't feel much like drinking but I managed to have a small glass of Guinness and make a toast to dad.

Towards the end of his life he became more agnostic and bit existential. No heaven or hell for dad. I like to imagine that he gets to travel about to all the places he wanted to see but wasn't able to. Mostly I picture him on Easter Island.

Jeux sans frontieres...

2007-03-16T14:02:00.000-04:00

You know the song, "It's raining again" insert snowing for all the raining bits and that's what life is like here now. It was unseasonably warm on Wednesday and everyone got a bath. That makes me sound like a frontier woman. "Yep I got the big wash basin out and everyone had their turn." Basically the boy and the dog had baths. Emily hasn't had one since November.

Then I got really sick again. I think I just overdid it in the warm weather, but I had crazy fevers off and on all day Thursday. I was really worried because I was so feverish and I thought I was delusional. I was so sick I couldn't eat Indian food. That's sad.

Much better today. My back is sore and I'm moving a little slow. Maybe my brain is slow also.

I spent some time on the couch watching The Tube and here are just a couple observations.

Seeing Genesis and Phil Collins wearing acid wash jeans makes me smile. I don't know why. I really don't like Phil, but I got a kick out of seeing him wear such an ill inspired fashion statement with such feeling.

On to the original Genesis creator, Peter Gabriel. (And I just looked on Wikipedia, he started the band the year I was born -67!) Love the man. Except now I think he has lost his mind, and I don't think I can love an insane man.

Phil Collins in acid wash jeans in the 80's= endearing
Peter Gabriel driving a segway in concert in the present=icky

The song he was singing was my favorite too, Games Without Frontiers.

I almost cried but I was so ashamed. What was he thinking? Maybe he had a fever too.

She lives in the place in the side of our lives...

2007-03-14T09:34:00.000-04:00

Self-Portrait challenge

Check out more SPC here.

We just watched The Royal Tenenbaums again. Jos and I really like it. It didn't get good reviews but what do critics know. We watched the making of and Wes Anderson was interviewed by a Maysles brother. I have visions of making a movie, but I could not find myself as meticulous as Wes. I would be the renegade director who shoots on the streets. Just find locations and film. Sometimes it works, sometimes you get yelled at and have to run away fast. Who knows. One day.

Of course I wanted to keep using movie posters as my SPC but I thought I would venture out and try the Pikipimp. Very funny. My movie title would be "The House That Fear Built".

What's new pussycat...

2007-03-12T14:10:00.001-04:00

Sorry I have Tom Jones in my head.

OK everyone-I have/had the flu. Yes-again. I had it at the beginning of flu season and now at the end. It completely blows.

I told Holli I had an out of body experience washing my hands. Well here it is. Do you know when you have a dream, and you are watching yourself do things, like drive a car, walk down the street. Well that's what it was like for me. I felt I wasn't washing my hands, just watching myself do it. I was directing myself.

People this is why I would never do drugs. A bout with the flu messes with my mind completely.

I was driving through town today and heard Beethoven's 9th Symphony ringing out on the bells at a local church. Is it just me or am I the only one that thinks of A Clockwork Orange when I hear Ode to Joy? What song has been destroyed in your mind by a movie or TV show? I know I'm a recovering sick person but please amuse me today.

I could be from Mars...

2007-03-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

Oh poor paintergirl. Try putting together Hot Wheels Swamp Master without directions when you feel like hell.

I am sick and I have to complain.

Why do parents that have sick kids send them to school and make everyone else sick? Why can't people do the right thing and keep those kids home for a couple of days?

A neighbor of mine sends her son to the same school as I send mine, and I think he has missed one day the entire year because she refuses to not have "her alone time". I shouldn't let this bother me, and I can't change the way people act, but it still irritates me. I would never send the wee man off.

Take your protein pills and put your helmet on...

2007-03-08T09:32:00.000-05:00

This is not the kind of car trip I want to take anytime soon.

I have been thinking about my personality. Well really I was thinking about the personality of real estate agents and how different I am from them. I think it takes a certain person to sell houses, and they may not always do what is right. I have a hard time dealing with people who choose to make the wrong decision. Here is a quick Meyers-Brigg test to take if you've never done one.

I'm an INFP. 3% of the population. My occupation should be Psychologist or artist. Funny no? I am a good listener and understand a person very quickly. Yet I have no desire to be a counselor. I would take everyone's problems home with me.

*The management would like to add as something completely different, but fears as time goes by it will be forgotten. Did anyone see the lunar eclipse on Saturday? I was closing the curtains and saw a red moon, and I blamed pollution. A few minutes later I looked, and saw a white crescent...oh..

99 Luftballoons...

2007-03-06T15:08:00.000-05:00

More SPC here

A pretty face and a dirty love...

2007-03-05T13:47:00.000-05:00

If I have Iggy and the Stooges in my head, look out.

I don't know why I feel like raising some hell, but maybe it will do some good. I look around my town and I think everyone is so complacent, they need to be rattled.

Which reminds me, yesterday we had a house viewing and it was fairly sunny out. Then there were suddenly flurries. It's sad when I think, "Oh great it's nuclear fallout". I mean where were those flurries coming from?

I'm not happy when people are so smug about everything. I think-What are they hiding?

For instance if you heard any phone conversation I have with my 79 year old mom, one would think I was smug. I just lie and pretend everything is fine. I have to. She's conditioned that way. If she hears anything remotely stressful it puts her in a tailspin. Sometimes it really depresses me I can't have a normal relationship with her, but most days I just carry on and know it's all for the best. God will forgive me because I'm sparing my mom.

Being good isnt always easy...

2007-03-03T16:41:00.000-05:00

It's a brand new look for the girl who is a month shy of turning 40.

One could say I was having a blog mid-life crisis but I'm all better now.
Thank Jos for scanning in my drawing and figuring it all out for me.

Junk boats and English boys...

2007-03-02T09:11:00.001-05:00

For awhile I have been meaning to write a little about my past working experience and my somewhat tepid relationship with the camera.

When I was in college, my last semester I had to take a studio class that was not part of my major, which was painting. I was excited yet approached the class with the nervousness of a freshman taking Drawing 1. I was the "it" girl in my painting class and around the campus. A favorite professor even said to me, what is the college going to do without our cheerleader. I was the person to get people involved. Where did I lose my way.

Back to Photo 101. The teacher was a prick. He was a grad student who had a handlebar mustache and rode a Harley. He couldn't afford an apartment so he lived in his studio, which was in the sculpting dept. (He was a sculptor.) Anyway, he gave me lots of grief and tried to take the piss out of me, but he failed. He hated that I so well liked and was a huge jerk to me in the process. I ignored him. He also failed to make me love photography. I find taking photos a quick means to getting a sketch to paint something later on. Don't get me wrong, I love beautiful photographs, but I have a hard time making them myself. (The Beat photographer Robert Frank is my favorite.)

On to my job. My big time career which lasted about 5 years was spent at Creative Loafing in Hotlanta. I was the one to scan in all the photos, color correct, and prep them for newspaper printing. I would get rid of specs and dust and sharpen all photos. I think I was the one to make a really good bw photo newsprint friendly. The ink bleeding for newsprint is terrible and mushy so you have to allow the shadows to be saturated and the whites(just in highlights to be blown out)I loved this job for the first couple of years. I became a pro with photoshop and I could clone a whole band out of a photo leaving only the singer. It was exciting until it got boring and tedious. Not to mention, I also had to hand strip the paper together. 3 papers in 2 days, with 2 other women. We worked hard and that exhausted me.

I think I just don't want to work on photos like I did for my job. It takes time, and I never feel like it's worth it to me. I was really upset before I left my job and I don't feel I can rehash those bitter feelings. Except for here on my blog.

She's got a cigarette on each arm...

2007-02-28T17:51:00.000-05:00

Things are not right with the world.

Everything is off today.

I think the cat is seriously ill.

I think my son is colorblind.

This home selling is going too slow.

This new venture is at a standstill.

We have too much crap.

Putting said crap up on eBay takes so long.

Even though it's a beautiful day out, I'm really sad.

There's more but I can't continue this list.

As many times as I have listened to Moonlight Feels Right
I have been listening to other things. I have been enjoying Gorillaz and and some old Beck.
We also re-watched Amelie and that is keeping me positive.

I'll take you on a trip beside the ocean, And drop the top at Chesapeake Bay...

2007-02-26T11:42:00.000-05:00

Beware of the long strange post.

It snowed again!

I still marvel at the snow. Not having it in Florida, it's still a novelty to me. Shoveling though is another thing entirely. I am still trying to find my technique. If my neighbors watch me, I may look like Chevy Chase doing Gerald Ford playing an alien who has never shoveled snow. I have to work on this. How would Grace Kelly shovel snow? (And don't give me a smart ass answer saying she'd hire someone) It's a new game for me, this shoveling. I can tell the difference though in shoveling different snow.

The snow we had on Valentines Day, was a gut/nut buster. The snow was laden with ice and it weighed a ton. I couldn't even do the whole driveway. Each shovel could easily weigh 10 lbs. The snow from last night, so fluffy and light, you could sweep it with a broom until someone steps on it and squashes it down. Now you know what I was doing today.

And for something completely different to cheer everyone up post Oscar day.

If I knew how to posts songs I would do it all the time. I wish I could have this song playing right now because it is so sleazy and weird. This could be the greatest cheesy song of all time, I think I have listened to it 20 times today. Maybe God could sing a few lines of this to me.

MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT
Starbuck

The wind blew some luck in my direction
I caught it in my hands today
I finally made a tricky French connection
You winked and gave me your o.k.
I'll take you on a trip beside the ocean
And drop the top at Chesapeake Bay
Ain't nothing like the sky to dose a potion
The moon'll send you on your way

Moonlight feels right
Moonlight feels right

We'll lay back and observe the constellations
And watch the moon smilin bright
I'll play the radio on southern stations
Cause southern belles are hell at night
You say you came to Baltimore from Ole Miss
Class of seven four gold ring
The eastern moon looks ready for a wet kiss
To make the tide rise again

We'll see the sun come up on Sunday morning
And watch it fade the moon away
I guess you know I'm giving you a warning
Cause me and moon are itching to play
I'll take you on a trip beside the ocean
And drop the top at Chesapeake Bay
Ain't nothin like the sky to dose a potion
The moon'll send you on your way

Now go look at this link and these are the guys that sing it.
Starbuck

Somewhere in the wide world Jason Hare posted a picture of Matthew Mcconaughey. Thanks Jason!! It was funny in relation to the above song and what the singer should look like but the photo of MM working out on the beach was all wrong. On his site he has a link to download the song and he goes into graphic detail over the lyrics.

This is the picture that should be associated with Moonlight Feels Right.

Ain't nothing like the sky to dose a potion...oww yeah!

*I love this movie Dazed and Confused.

I got 2 turntables and microphone....

2007-02-23T16:56:00.000-05:00

Started checking out Create a Connection because of Acumamakiki and Baby-Faith. I'm late getting to it but it's "Getting to know you". Does anyone else feel like singing this?

1. What is your favorite word? Alstublieft-it's Dutch for please. It sounds so lovely. I fell in love with it, walking through the Amsterdam Airport.

2. What is your least favorite word? Porking.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?A walk in the woods, maybe anything outside.

4. What turns you off? Too much TV. (I was taking this as what turns me off creatively.)

5. What is your favorite curse word? mother f-er.

6. What sound or noise do you love? Waves crashing on the beach

7. What sound or noise do you hate? The sirens for the nuclear plant down the street

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Botanist

9. What profession would you not like to do? Accountant

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? I'm not saying this in a sacrilegious way, but I would like to hear God sing to me. I mean he knows all the songs. He could surprise me.

At the bottom of a dark, Scottish Lake...

2007-02-21T17:01:00.000-05:00

Today was a beautiful day up here. Decided to take the wee man and Emily out to Blue Mountain Park. We were the only ones there. It was warmish but the snow was slowly melting. JC has posted pics of Texas, Acumamakiki has pics of NYC, I bring you the lower Hudson Valley in New York.

I love this sign. I have problems reading signs when the kerning of the letters is off. One time I read a sign as Lamana Ting. Figure it out kids.

I love this half buried tree.

This is the lake that looks pretty frozen to me, but I will trust the forest rangers.

I hope these pictures relay how blindingly bright it was out here.The only time I will post a pic of my son because I get too weirded out by doing so. He insists to always walk Emily by himself. I can't believe I had them stand still this long to take their pic.

Baby went to Amsterdam...

2007-02-19T16:59:00.000-05:00

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year-Year of the Pig!

In celebration we have had Asian food all weekend. Saturday I made red lentil/ginger soup and broiled salmon with ginger/soy sauce marinade over soba noodles. I have been wanting to try the salmon recipe for a long time and it came out perfectly. (I'm not one to brag but it came out nicely. Me and broiling don't mix very well. A couple of weeks ago I tried making Bruschetta and the bread caught on fire. That would have been a nice picture!Moments before I thought wouldn't it be funny if the bread caught on fire. It wasn't funny.)
Sunday was Crab Rangoon's and Pad Thai. I don't think I could ever get sick of eating Pad Thai.

Today my little man and I met Acumamakiki and miss A at The Children's Museum in NYC. I was so excited to meet my first blog friend. The museum was mobbed!! There were about 1 million little chilblains running round with twice as many parental units blocking the way. My wee man had fun but the crowds were not thrilling.

I knew I would like both Kiki and A. We have made plans for warmer weather in an open space. Kiki has such a sweet voice and is exactly how I imagined her to be. And Miss A is so smart and funny just like her mom. I'm happy we got to see them despite the mobs at the museum.

I know I won't be leaving here...

2007-02-15T13:37:00.000-05:00

what curse words do you use the most? I started in college to use mf-er,now with the the wee man it comes out as mother of mercy. I guess I should yell out sisters of mercy then I wouldn't sound so blasphemous.

do you own an i-pod? sadly no.

what time is your alarm clock set to? I have a 4 year old who consistently wakes up at 6am.

would you rather take the picture or be in the picture? I'm not the biggest camera fan, I'd say taking it.

what was the last movie you watched? Jesus of Montreal. Before that was Down By Law.

what cd is currently in your player? Of Montreal.(Check them out)

do you prefer regular or chocolate milk? I really like chocolate soy.

has anyone told you a secret this week? no, but jos told me something funny. He said he saw Conan O'Brien throwing snowballs at a buiding.

when was the last time you had Starcrack Starbucks? Thanksgiving weekend and I had a starcrack that acumamkiki swore by.

can you whistle? Oh yeah. I can whistle "In the Mood".I know I'm odd. I cannot whistle with my fingers though, I try but it's hard.

what are you looking forward to? moving

did you watch cartoons when you were little? I loved Bugs. Mostly Daffy. Now I like watching Wow Wow Wubzy and Pucca.

do you own any band t-shirts? I have Shonen Knife and The Flaming Lips. I wear Jos. Devo and Police. I may venture out one day and wear his ELO shirt.

what will you be doing in an hour? Talking to our accountant. Fun right?

what was the last song you heard? My son singing Candy Lion

last time you cried? yesterday

desktop or laptop? No laptop-always desktop

desiring any new ink? I don't have any. I have thought about it, but I just can't. Jos has a nice Japanese bat. So I live my tattoo dreams through him.

what's the weather like? 25 and sunny. went sledding this morning!

what were you doing an hour ago? Dropping my son off to school.

how many hours of sleep do you need to function? 8

do you eat breakfast daily? mmmm....I love breakfast. I like any meal but breakfast is so nice.

what did you do last night? watched the rest of a movie and Lost.

do you use sarcasm? I grew up in a household of sarcasm. I try not to use it too much. It's strange to hear my son say something sarcastically.

do you like mustard? oh yes-horseradish is the best

do you sleep on your side/back/stomach? I joke and say I sleep like an egyptian queen mummy. I cross my ankles and fold my arms. I fall asleep really quickly this way.

do you watch the news? no. well the 10 pm local. I was forced to watch news as a child and I hate it. Too much sensationalism nothing really informative. My mom in the morning would read to me about horrible accidents.

how did you get one of your scars? Biking

Adorable illusion and I cannot hide...

2007-02-14T16:41:00.000-05:00

You live you life like a canary in a coalmine...

2007-02-12T14:30:00.000-05:00

Who proudly watched The Police last night? You'd think I was a teenager the way I was yelling. I had tickets to go see them on their Synchronicity Tour back in the 80's, and my mom wouldn't let me go because one of HER friends said people would be throwing bricks. To this day I still hate that friend. What a troublemaker.

That was the only thing I wanted to see on the Grammy's, and I thought they all looked great. "Oh Stew, you're all gray now."

Ok everybody-I'm a little scared to return to the scene of the crime. I feel like there is some warrant out for me in this small village south of stinksville. I may venture over there later this week but really I think I'll just lay low.

My mood has been less than perfect the past couple of days. So many things on the line, and everything moves at a snails pace. Today is one year since my sis died, and there has been some crying. I should say my mood is all over today but I'm always polite and say the nicest thing.

Ain't too proud to please...

2007-02-08T13:39:00.000-05:00

Let's talk about art ba-by. (I'm in a singing mood today)

I just read an article in New York Magazine about Dash Snow. The mag caught my attention because it has 3 guys in bed and the headline says Warhol's Children. I had to read it because I'm a huge fan of Warhol and I had to see what all the fuss was about on this Snow character. (As a side note, I don't love everything Warhol has done, but he was an innovator and some fun stuff came out from his Factory.)

Read the article, and we'll talk. I will say this, I'm not seriously offended by the art these guys do, I'm mad that this kind of thing gets pawned off as art. These guys come off as spoiled, uninspired boy men. Being a drug freak doesn't make you an artist. These "Hamsters Nests" is simply annoying and sounds like trust fund kids doing drugs because that's all they have to do in life. Oh poor rich kids. Can you tell I'm upset? This is not NYC art scene at it's best.

Here is something I really love now. This is Marcel Dzarma. LOVE his work. This is art that is real to me. He comes from Winnipeg but now lives in the Big Apple. Well he probably really lives in Brooklyn but who would want to live near Snow anyway.

gini, gini speak to me gini...

2007-02-07T09:17:00.000-05:00

SPC Black and White. More here.

i did before and had my share...

2007-02-06T13:54:00.000-05:00

In my pre-celebration for Valentines Day AND how we could all use some cheering up, here are 2 Youtube videos to check out. It's ear and eye candy. I guess that's why it's pop because you just want to eat it up. Hat's off to Lilly for posting Peter Bjorn ages ago.

Young Folks-Peter Bjorn & John
Candylion-Gruff Rhys

This town ain't big enough for the both of us...

2007-02-05T13:31:00.000-05:00

All work and no play makes Homer something something...

I have been so busy the past few days. Not fun busy but cleaning the house, people looking at it busy. I will admit, this is making me neurotic. Completely insane. I hate showing the house so much, and it's only been a week. Please let this end soon.

One day, the only fun I had was taking the train into the city to see Jos work up at Grand Central. The little man was excited to run with his dad along the platform and down the city streets and then to have lunch at a diner. Not a moment to waste, because we had to catch a train back to clean and move the animals out before a house viewing. I'm out of breath thinking about that day. Some day soon Jos will update his blog and talk about the project and show more pics of the space. I'm really proud of him.On the way back we saw a tug boat pushing a barge. I never saw this sort of thing until we lived by the Hudson.I never get tired of seeing boats on the river.

Then I realised I needed to get a better shot of the Palisades on the other side. I love this part of the Hudson the best. These are absolutely spectacular. I tried the camera 101 technique of moving the camera along with the speed of the train. Cameras are not my best friends.

Then I needed a laugh the next day so I went back down to the frozen lake.

The lake started to thaw and I saw these lovely swans.

Now the great part is,this is what was placed around the lake.An ugly fence and this sign every 3 feet. "Danger-Do not enter lake". It makes me laugh because I think the wording is weird. Now it makes me sound like I'm going to be the Lady of the Lake, and I'm going to be the keeper of Excalibur any day now. I have a strong urge to deface this and add lady to it. Somebody dare me and I'll do it.

Before your eyes...

2007-01-30T21:52:00.000-05:00

I started my day off feeling alone and sad.

Then I started thinking about all I have to be thankful for. The coffee really helped me.

Later in the morning I knew I had to take the wee man and the lab to the track for a run. It has been crazy cold here and we all need to burn off some energy even it was in the teens. Ask me if I like running.
You: "Do you like running pg?"
Me: "Not really. I used to run, but I'd rather walk fast."

The outdoors also helped my spirit.

Then later in the day I went to the frozen lake.

This is Lake Meehagh. In the olden days there used to be an Ice Co. here and they would cut blocks of ice and take them into the city. There are posted signs that when it's ok, you can ice skate on it. Right.

What you can't see in this photo are city guys putting up a fence around the lake so no one goes walking across it. What's really funny is that these guys started yelling, and I knew they were yelling at me. I refused to look at them. Did they think I was going to step out on this half frozen lake? I would never do that. There would have to be others out on this lake safely skating or whatever for me to be comfortable stepping on this ice. Yet I still thought it was funny these guys were yelling at me.

I like this rock the best.

Loving the alien...

2007-01-29T19:31:00.000-05:00

A Tale of Two Pets

Story 1-The bag of dog hair.
I realize I may alienate all 4 of my blog friends after I post this photo. I like it because it is a little disturbing and it's not quite right. I'm usually not like this. Never, ever do I stop or slow down to see the victims of a car accident. Obviously I would help or call 911 if no one was there, but I am not a gawker. Nothing to see here, just move along please.

Story 2-The cat.
Nothing kills a romantic spirit than to walk into a bathroom and see poo flung all over. It's funny because I got to say-"Who flung poo" but not so hot to clean up. It was even on the door for heavens sake. I swear that cat is so mad at me for keeping him locked up for 2 hours, but the alternative was a ride in the car and that's more disastrous.

And visualized a heaven...

2007-01-27T11:11:00.000-05:00

I have been listening to way too much of Squeeze in the car again. It's bad when my son starts singing, "she always goes to discos but she's never on her own" Momma, what's a disco? At least it's not New Order and I start crying.Feb 2006 post

Great.

Here we go again. The house is back up on the market as of yesterday. This morning we had a viewing at 9am-10am. I'm still in my jammy's until 11 on Saturday. Saturday?! Who goes out that early? Jos had to go tend to some work at Grand Central today. Check out his blog later. So it was me, little man and big ole Emily driving around at 9 in the morning. Oh-and I haven't mentioned it has been like -3F here AND I have no heat in my car. It's really fun. The poor cat who gets car sick, stays at home, trapped in a car carrier. Ironic is it not. Car carrier but he cannot travel. The little man and I went and had a very special Valentines doughnut at D and D and read a very silly cat book. Some old man sat in the corner watching us and I got creeped out. We left quickly.

she wants... drinks for everyone....

2007-01-25T09:38:00.000-05:00

After this huge massive frenzy to get so many things done lately, I had to treat myself to a guilty pleasure the other night. Then I started thinking about some other guilty pleasures and I wanted to make a little list.

Favorite movie-The Graduate
I watched this on a little black and white tv alone in my bedroom when I was 16. It changed my life. I could watch it 100 times and it would never get old.

Favorite guilty pleasure movie-Sweet Home Alabama
I know, I know. This is what I watched the other night. I just love this movie and it's so sweet. It has something to do with being from Florida and having lived in Atlanta. Piggly Wiggly was once a part of my vocabulary.

Favorite book-A Town Like Alice
There are few books that I would read over and over, and this is one of them. Stories about WW2 are fascinating to me. I enjoy this one because the heroine is British. Based on true happenings too.

Favorite guilty pleasure book-Cosmos Bedside Astrologer
Now I'm really showing the world how deep and meaningful I am. I have read this every year since I was 18. (The link isn't showing the magazine pullout.)There is something very girly about getting this, and I hope I never stop liking it.

Favorite song-Terrapin
This one is hard but I find myself humming this when my mind is blank. I could think of many Beach Boys, or Beatles or Bowie tunes (and that's just the B's). I love this song by Syd Barret and it always makes me smile.

Favorite guilty pleasure song-Our Lips are Sealed
Yep I heart the Go Gos. I'm jealous because I always wanted to have a band and damn if this song doesn't always make me get up and dance.

I most definitely tag jc, kiki, and rose.

Self portraits challenge 4

2007-01-23T21:17:00.000-05:00

I'm an Aries girl and I don't do very well with keeping to lists. Unfortunately life has forced me to keep lists and a resolution is to stick to my lists. I am one of those people that flies from one thing to another, almost haphazardly. Time and energy is wasted. I need to slow down and concentrate on completing the task at hand. Follow the list and eventually everything will get done. Right?
More resolutions here.

Trisha wears No. 5...

2007-01-21T19:35:00.000-05:00

Another crazy as heck weekend. I bought a paper shredder on Friday, and the whole family has been treating it like a toy. You cannot however shred ties or hair. Darn. It took 2 days to shred 10 years worth of important documents. I felt like Fawn Hall. I almost asked Jos. to put an army shirt so he could pretend to be Ollie North, but I remembered I don't get very excited over anything related to the military.

Today I was building a cat house-yes yes. Everyone knows I have a 4 year old. No one realizes though that my son is the keeper of all the cats in the world. Our house is getting really cramped. Today he told me we have all the animals on the whole earth in our house. His words exactly. Even buffalo.

So I was building a Lego cat house, and listening to the new Sparks, called Hello Young Lovers. One song struck me as really funny and I wanted to share. It's called Perfume.
Here is how it starts off
Genevieve wears Dior
Margaret wears Tresor
Mary Jo wears Lauren
But you don't wear no perfume.

Next verse is more women's names then the chorus is
That's why I want to spend my life with you.

It made me think about all the perfumes I have worn over the years.
I wore Heaven Scent as a girl. Then when I was a preteen I wore this great perfume called Blue Denim. I thought Bonne Bell made it, but I'm not sure.
The next few years are vague. When I was a senior in high school, someone gave my mom a bottle of Channel 5. I loved the stuff. I started getting into vintage clothes and loving Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, so the perfume fit. Until my trig teacher asked me why I was wearing a perfume for old ladies, then I never wore it again.
My college days, I wore Beautiful by Estee Lauder.

Then I started to ease off on the scents. Working and being forced to smell horrible colognes in very small spaces makes a person rethink scents.
Maybe it was when we started taking yoga and our teacher told the class not to wear any.

Today, I use scented body lotion which gives a hint of smell. My husband has blessed with by keeping me in Marc Jocobs. I love the smell and the bottle is nice a sleek. if I don't have that, well it's no smell.

My question to my blog friends, what scents have you worn in the past and what do you wear now?