.....and other random stuff......

Monday, February 29, 2016

Punny Monday

Energizer Bunny arrested: Charged with Battery! 

Friday, February 26, 2016

Almost to the Finish Line

Only a few more to go before the end of the month. 
(Salvador Dali is the subject of this week's lesson in the 'Yellow' class. Nice when you can combine things isn't it?)

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

The Shackle of Shame

I admit it..........I’m basically lazy.
A couch potato.

My job and family used to keep me much more active than I am now.
Retirement may be great but it definitely put a dent in my forced exercise, a.k.a. chores/errands/work/kids/your basic mother routine.

I’ve become a slug.

I’ve tried the gym routine but I don’t like ‘group grunting’.
And those MIRRORS! Don’t get me started!

So when the FitBit came out I thought….hmmmm….this has possibilities.
Not a group effort, check.
A timer that reminds me to get up and move away from the computer (read: Facebook) check.
A step counter that clocks my activity, check.

I did copious amounts of online shopping. I checked reviews, compared options and prices.
I finally settled on the Vivofit2.
For a most essential reason….it was the only one that was simple and basic, had a ‘thin’-ish band that shows your stats and it came in PINK!

This was the most important feature.
It HAD to be pink if I was going to wear a shackle on my wrist.
And that’s what I’ve come to call it, my SHACKLE OF SHAME.
It basically shames me into getting off my ass and DO something. Even if it’s only walking around the house.


So far (day 2, snort) it’s working…..I’ll keep you posted…….

Monday, February 22, 2016

Punny Monday

I put my Grandma on speed dial.....I call it instagram! 

Friday, February 19, 2016

Could be Personal Growth, Could be an Aneurysm

Drawing in a ‘real’ sketchbook used to scare the bejeezus out of me. Why I bought this one I’ll never know. But suddenly and without explanation I find myself running to grab it because I just HAVE to draw that! (whatever ‘that’ is…)

And I don’t even care how it turns out!!


What alternate universe have I fallen into? 

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Throwback Thursday

According to my mother this was the face I made right before I spewed out whatever was in my mouth....how she didn't see those strained beets coming I'll never know! lol

Monday, February 15, 2016

Punny Monday

Pasteurize: Too far to see

Friday, February 12, 2016

It's the Little Things in Life......

.....that make me the happiest. 
Isn't funny how sometimes life  just up and smacks you in the face at the oddest of times?
This just made my heart swell. 
I had to take a picture to capture the moment. All of us together. 
It says so much more than a 'real' photo of us ever could. 
At least to me. 

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Throwback Thursday

I wonder what the photographer said to make my mother laugh....???

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

29 Faces 2016

I’m doing the 29 Faces challenge again this month. 
Trying to keep up but not putting too much pressure on myself since I’m also doing the ‘Y is for Yellow’ class with Carla Sonheim. Some of Carla’s lessons work well for faces, which is nice.  
Especially the blind contour lesson. I am in LOVE with blind contour faces! 
They are HYSTERICAL! And probably the best looking faces I’ll ever draw! LOL 
Here are some of what I’ve done so far…….(and some not blind contours.......just because.)
If you want to see some of the other artists participating follow the link at the top of the sidebar. 

Monday, February 8, 2016

Punny Monday

What's the difference between a hippo and a Zippo? - One is heavy and the other is a little lighter.

Friday, February 5, 2016

I Was a Serial Fiancée

I’m apparently not very good at engagements.
I’ve been engaged to be married twice.
Neither time to Husband.

The first time I was nineteen. He was a sweet, naĂŻve young man of traditional upbringing, which meant he held a somewhat unrealistic idea of marriage.
I knew I was in trouble when we went house hunting.
We found a lovely little condo in a serene setting. As we toured the model he described, in minute detail, what our life would be like.
It went something like this:
I would be the dutiful little apron wearing wife standing at the kitchen window as he returned home in the evening from work carrying his briefcase. I’ve NEVER worn an apron! Well, once in ninth grade home-ec because it was a requirement….. AND I worked (so who’s to say he wouldn’t get home first???) AND his job was not one where he toted a briefcase…….first red flag.
I would meet him at the door, still in apron, hand him a martini (he didn’t even DRINK martini’s!) usher him to the bedroom where we would engage in stellar, mind blowing sex! ….second red flag.  (cough cough)
As we cuddled in post booty afterglow he would light up a cigarette (again, he didn’t smoke!) then I would go back to the kitchen to finish preparing the gourmet dinner that I would serve to him by candlelight wearing ONLY the apron.
At this point, as I stared at him in disbelief, I knew I was in serious trouble.
Thus, ended the first engagement………………

The second time, I’m ashamed to admit, I was dazzled by the bright and shiny diamond he put on my finger. Never mind that it was MY money that paid for it. I knew it was a mistake the minute we stepped out of the jewelry store. And as I turned to tell him so, two of our friends rushed up to us and started shrieking and hugging and kissing us in engagement exhilaration. It’s not easy to tell your freshly minted fiancĂ©e you don’t want to marry him in front of two enthusiastically squealing friends.
For the next several weeks I tried to convince myself that it would have happened eventually anyway…..great way to go into a marriage, right?
Over the next several months I tried to extricate myself from the situation to no avail. He finally found someone better (the wedding planner, funnily enough) and I escaped.

So when I met Husband I told him I was ADAMENT about NEVER getting married or having children. And I truly thought I felt that way. Playing house was fine but NO engagements or weddings or kids…..ever…….
Until I grew up enough to realize it wasn’t marriage that was the problem it was who I had been planning to do it with.
I still didn’t risk getting engaged, though.

We did it all backwards: bought a house, eloped, then kids and THEN I got the engagement ring….. you know, just in case I really did carry a curse! 

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Insights and Ponderings on Art

“It’s hard to know what direction to take when you don’t know where you want to go.”

I’m sure I’m not the first person to say this.

I find myself in this predicament fairly often.
I think it’s because I want to try ALL the mediums, styles and techniques. But I also want to start amassing a body of cohesive work that is identifiable as mine.

At the beginning of the year I felt I needed ‘something’ to help me get beyond this floundering. I Googled all sorts of things but to paraphrase myself, ‘It’s hard to Google what you don’t know you want’.

I finally decided on Carla Sonheim’s “Y” is for Yellow year long class.
Part of the class is to keep a journal. I am NOT by any stretch of the imagination an art journaler. I never have been and I doubt this is going to convert me. But I’m dutifully doing it.
We are supposed to devote two pages of the journal to each letter of the alphabet and fill the pages throughout the year.
Not being a journaler I struggled to come up with an idea for the pages.
Carla suggested for each letter we research artists whose names begin with that letter.
Easy enough.
I’m only up to letter ‘B’ and I’m quite surprised. Not with the artists but with myself!
I’m learning more about myself than the artists I’m researching.
And all this self discovery is pointing me in the direction I want to go!
Who knew?

Isn’t Carla smart? 

Monday, February 1, 2016

Punny Monday

 Why do cows have hooves?  Because they lactose!