Session 2, Week 3

This is week #3 of this series of acrylic classes. The 9 a.m. class makes life a little hectic and tiring, but is ever so much fun.

The instructor talked for about 30 minutes this morning, and then gave us the rest of the 2.5 hours to paint and work on our own things. One of the things she talked about was saving a real dog of a painting. She said you have to be “fearless” and really DO something. You’ll either get something that works or you won't. But even if you don’t, it’s not any worse than it was. And then you tear it up to use for collage. Never throw away a piece of paper.

I took one piece that I had started in the previous series of classes that was just not going anywhere, and decided to work on it. Turns out I gave myself an exceptional challenge - I’d forgotten to bring the basket with all my brushes, palette knives, sponge brushes, etc. I borrowed one brush and a palette knife, and used the stamp I’d made, plus some of the other tools I have. And I think I’m actually on the way to having a piece worth keeping.

Stay tuned - I’ll post a picture when and if I actually finish it. I usually have problems naming my pieces, but maybe I’ll call this one “Saved from Oblivion”.
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Na Prom, Cambodia

 

Different day.

Going to Aldo and WalMart on Tuesday seemed to work fine. Can’t do that next week, though, or for a while. Vicki’s painting classes start up next Tuesday for a couple of months. Guess that means I’m going to have to be FLEXIBLE!!! (in my routine, definitely not the body.)

Nothing much doing the rest of the day.
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Na Prom, with tourists for scale.

 

A different Monday

I decided not to go to the grocery store today. I was just getting exhausted from doing everything on Mondays. So I’m going to do Aldi and WalMart tomorrow. We’ll see how that goes. I should’ve skipped bridge today - had the worst cards I’ve had in ages - my highest round was 530 points, and I stayed at the same table all afternoon (for the non-players, that means my partnership was low for each round).

I tried giving up the Flexeril and went without for two nights. After last night, though, I’m going back on it daily. Oh, well.
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Jean sent a link to Wordnik for today. The word certainly fits a lot of people we know - including us.
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And then there’s this bit of news that a friend posted on FB: Click here to read the Political Animal blog about Michele Bachmann’s latest - that the earthquake and Hurricane Irene are God’s way of telling the US and Congress that we’re spending too much money. Funny that the weather only applies to the US, and has no similar meaning for the damage from Irene done in Canada. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
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Na Prom, Cambodia

 

Sunday Stealing

This is my first time to go to the Sunday Stealing blog for a meme. We didn't do anything this weekend, so this is maybe a bit more interesting.

1. What's for breakfast?
Bacon, eggs, toast (only on Sunday)
2. Do you read a newspaper daily?
Absolutely - would hate to have to be without it
3. What do you do when you can't sleep?
Get up and read.
4. Say a word that sums up your mood.
Content
5. Do you remember your dreams?
Not usually, although they are like movies, and I remember that I’ve been dreaming.
6. Name something from your dream last night.
I have no idea.
7. Name a food that describes you.
This is a tough one - I’d have to get somebody else to answer this one.
8. Today you are wearing:
Cotton slacks and a Lady Vols t-shirt.
9. What's in your pockets?
No pockets in these pants.
10. Did you sing in the shower today?
Nope - never do.
11. What's the last song you heard?
I can’t remember - we had the classical music station on the TV.
12. Looking forward to the holidays?
I’m more looking forward to the upcoming weddings, a burial of ashes, celebrations of weddings - and all this before Thanksgiving.
13. Where do you want to be this instant?
Right where I am - and soon to be in bed.
14. What's for lunch?
I had a sandwich for lunch today, John finished up some leftovers.
15. What's something you would like to do soon?
Travel, always travel.
16. Reading anything now? What is it?
Re-reading The Great Santini by Pat Conroy.
17. What's for dinner?
John cooked chicken breasts on the grill, and I pan-fried sliced potatoes and onions. For veggies, I had tomato slices and John had a piece of watermelon
18. A favorite part of the day is:
Depends on the day of the week, but usually when we know we’re not going out any more, and we change into “soft clothes”.
19. Are you happy?
Definitely.
20. Guess how many people will do Sunday Stealing this weekend?
No telling - this is my first to actually steal from the Sunday Stealing source.
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We never got tired of seeing these wonderful trees growing through the ruins.

 

Silent Saturday

Na Prom, Cambodia.

 

 

Tied the record

We tied a record today with 101. Everything around here has dried up. And August has been the driest month ever recorded in Chattanooga, with only 0.01” of rain, and no chance of any the rest of the month. We won’t get anything from Irene, which is a good thing - although we would like some of the rain.

It’s good to see that Irene has lessened in intensity. It’s going to be bad enough along its path, and could’ve been so much worse.
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Na Prom, Cambodia

 

Wear Orange for Pat

Today was my morning to work at the Library Book Store. Finally I had a day when I didn’t screw up the daily tally and the cash register. Of course, we didn’t have any sales or customers….
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There’s a social network drive for everyone to wear orange on Friday in support of Pat Summitt’s struggle with Early Onset Alzheimer’s.
Click here for the Facebook page. Let’s see lots of orange Friday!
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John got so frustrated this afternoon. He worked and work to get our plane reservations for Alison & Joe’s wedding, the visit with Ann & Al, our trip home with a stop for a burial service for Betsy. After a couple of hours of working at it, with me doing the typing, he finally had to make three separate reservations for the three flight legs of the trip. He also had a long performance-review phone call with Customer Service at Southwest. But the reservations are made, so that’s a good thing.
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Marking blocks at Na Prom, so the wall can be reassembled after taking it down for repairs.

 

Class #2

Today was the 2nd of the six classes of this series of classes. We didn’t paint today, but learned to make teeny compositional abstract thumbnail sketches. We also learned about drawing on alternative papers (deli paper and clear contact paper) and talked about what to do with these sketches and papers.

Last week, we got 4x6 blocks of a rubbery block (sort of like a linoleum block, but softer) to use as a stamping tool. Today we learned how to draw a design on the block and to cut out around the design, using linoleum-cutting tools. It was semi-stressful, because we were all doing something new, but it was fun.

And I wouldn’t be painting if it wasn’t fun for me.
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Na Prom, Cambodia.

 

Correction, etc.

Correction: Carol died in 1996. I'm sorry about the typo. For some reason, blogspot wouldn't let me make the correction on the entry.

Etc.: Incredible news today! The big earthquake on the east coast - with the epicenter near Richmond, VA.

And the also earth-shaking news about Pat Summitt - diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. What a great lady she is! I know she'll handle this awful diagnosis with as much grace and poise as she has done in the rest of her life.

And then there's Hurricane Irene.

And the news from Libya.
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Na Prom, Cambodia

 

Carol Wheeler Bell (1930-1966)

Carol Wheeler Bell (1930-1966)

Today was Carol’s birthday. She was my big sister.
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Na Prom, Cambodia.

 

Repeats

Just sitting around doing the usual stuff this morning. Then Missy called and wanted to know if I wanted to go with her and Tina to see The Help - again for Missy and me, first time for Tina. Well, of course.

So I put down my Kindle, where I was rereading The Help, and went to the movie. It was the most people I’ve seen in a theater in a long time. Kind of fun to hear the reactions of others.

This movie is really good - even the second time. I had thought I’d just be watching the great set design and the terrific performances. But then I got cut up in the story all over again. This whole production is definitely Academy Award material.
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Na Prom, Cambodia

 

Yesterday & today

I worked at the Library book store for a 3-hour shift yesterday. Only one sale, and, of course, I managed to screw up the cash register again. The customer was okay - I certainly DO know how to figure the tax and make change, and the amount of cash in the till was correct. But I had to write a long note explaining why the register tape was crazy.

I went to the fruit/vegetable stand this morning and got some goodies. In The Help, one of the maids tells her non-cooking employer something to the effect that she shouldn’t buy anything that she couldn’t buy on the side of the road, i.e. fruits and veggies that were in season. Most foods we can get all year long, but the stuff we get along side the road is usually the best.
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Food for thought:
I may not be someone’s first choice, but I am a great choice. I may not be rich but I am valuable. I don’t pretend to be someone I’m not, because I’m good at being me. I might not be proud of some of the things I’ve done in the past, but am proud of who I am today. I may not be perfect but I don't need to be. Take me as I am or watch me as I walk away!
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Be Careful - They're really out there

Sue sent this from the Greenwood, SC, newspaper (The Index-Journal). I had another blog written, but it'll have to wait - I had to pass this along.

From the Greenwood, SC, Index-Journal
8/19/2011
Women's political involvement sign of America's decline
WINSTON L. McCUEN
Ware Shoals

Conservative Christians are now supporting female political candidates. This is a sign of America's deep spiritual corruption and rapid decline. In open defiance of God's word, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Nikki Haley and the like are deriving power via support from so-called Bible-believing Christians.

Even though the legacy of feminism is divorce, illegitimacy, poverty and murder via abortion, conservative Christians have already caved in and yielded to the principal demands of the sexual equality agenda.

Millions of nominally Christian women now work outside the home. These women live tragically unfulfilled lives because they have rejected the biblical authority of their husbands and fathers and discarded the divine ideal of the quintessentially noble and beautiful Proverbs 31 woman.

Today's lost but "liberated" women, aided by emasculated and self-serving men, suffer no shortage of neat, easy and ready-to-hand rationalizations of their rebellion against God. These devilish notions are used both to usurp the God-ordained authority of men and to cover the woman's neglect of her God-ordained conjugal and familial responsibilities.

Sadly, the camel's nose of equality now extends into the tent of fundamentalist Christian colleges.

There, we find co-eds being encouraged to pursue worldly careers and women teaching men in defiance of Divine prohibition.
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Beach clouds.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUE!!

Happy Birthday, Sue!
I knew you shared birthdays with some famous folks (Bill Clinton for one). I just found out today that this is Dalton Roberts' birthday, too. Of course you're the reason why it's such a special day.
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It's obvious why Na Prom was our favorite site.

 

The Help

Some of us from the swim class went to see The Help this afternoon. I thought it was a terrific movie - very well done, and very true to the book (as I remember it from having read it a while back). Great performances, wonderful music. I loved the "old lady" parts played by Sissy Spacek and Cicely Tyson.

I came home and immediately started reading the book again. Don’t miss this one.
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Na Prom, Cambodia

 

A satisfying day.

Another dry day - with very low humidity (for here). Temps are creeping back into the 90s, though.

It was good to have the painting class starting back up again. Another of our old friends from Studio 2 signed up for the class this session. These are the kind of techniques that she loves, and I know she’ll enjoy the class, too.

The class started off about the same as last session, with watching a demo and learning how to do a “pour”. It’s always good to have a refresher. Next time, she’s going to set up a still life, and we’ll pick a section from it to draw loosely, and use that as a basis for a painting. Also, we’re going to learn how to make a “stamp” (the rubber thing that you put paint on, then stamp on the paper for designs.). That’s an exciting skill to learn.

I had lunch with Vicki at her house, then headed for home. It makes for a long day, but a very satisfying day.
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Amazing trees in Na Prom.

 

Miscellany

Today was the day for my make-up teeth-cleaning appointment. That’s what I was going to be doing the day I fell. Good news - no damage to the teeth, and no reason to return for another six months.

I was going to cut up a chicken breast to put in a Zatarain's mix when a friend on Seniors & Friends mentioned having paella at a restaurant. I decided to make my own version of a paella. I used the Yellow Rice Mix with the chicken, but added peas, shrimp, a little bit of kielbasa, and some pimientos - my own version of a paella. Of course, we have lots left over for another meal and a lunch. It was very good!

Jean and I actually managed to Skype - mostly successful. This time the only glitch was that her microphone output broke up occasionally. With any luck, we’ll get better.
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Na Prom, Cambodia

 

To play or not to play

Today was a glorious summer day - highs near 90, lows in the 60s. We really do need rain, but that doesn’t seem to be in the forecast. At least that means that the yard doesn’t have to be mowed.

We had terrible cards today - although John got better ones than I did. Just the way they fall sometime. It surely does make for a long afternoon, though.

It’s gotten to where Mondays are just really long and tiring. I know, I know - just stop doing some of it. We might consider giving up the bridge afternoon sometime, but we do love the game. Oh, well…
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Na Prom, Cambodia

 

Sunday Stealing

I got this meme (a list of questions that bloggers pass around) from "A Place of My Own". She stole them from another location, etc., etc. No great import - just something to post when I come up blank.

What has been your longest love relationship?
John and I have been married for almost 56 years.

What was the last gift that you received?
Tina brought me flowers after my fall 10 days ago.

What do you spend your extra cash on?
Travel

If you could live anywhere would you live?
Somewhere, not too cold, on the water

Who's your cell provider?
Verizon

What's your favorite mall store?
I can’t remember the last time I went in a mall.

What's the longest job that you've had? (No, parenting does not count!)
I worked for the group of doctors that became Memorial Orthopaedic Group for 10 years.

If you won the lottery, who’d you call first?
First John, then our lawyer and our accountant. (but it would have to happen without my buying a ticket)

If you won, how would you spend your money after investments?
Set up a trust so we can live in a top level retirement complex with all levels of care. See that the grandkids have no college debts to pay back. Set up a trust at UTC for students to borrow small interest-free loans, to keep them going so they don’t have to drop out of school for want of a small amount. Fly first class on our travels. Fund some of our favorite charities.

When was the last time you went to church (or a religious house)?
I don’t remember

What's the biggest lie that you've heard?
Anything said by GWBush and Cheney.

When you go out with your friends, where do you go?
Usually to a local restaurant for dinner.
When was the last time that you cried?
Last June when Betsy died

What food do you hate?
Coconut, peanut butter, liver

What do you like best about yourself?
I think I’m a good wife and mother, a good friend, loyal, honest.
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Na Prom, Cambodia

 

Slow Saturday

I had another of my slow-to-get-to-sleep nights last night. Didn’t get to sleep until nearly 3 a.m. But I did sleep until 8. I got a short nap this afternoon, but will be heading to bed early tonight.

I did get out today to run a few errands. Sue’s birthday (55) is next week and I needed to get some cards for her. I had given away all my art portfolios and needed something to carry my paper back and forth to the painting classes. So that necessitated a trip to Hobby Lobby for one of those folders - I didn’t want to spend a lot of money, really just a big sturdy envelope with handles. Then to Walgreens for some Vitamin E capsules. And to the fruit/veggie stand for a cantaloupe, tomatoes, and peaches. That about did it for the day. We even had leftovers for dinner.
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Two views from Na Prom

 

 

Nothing special today

Pretty much a do-nothing day today. Swimming and coffee - that was about it.

Sarah's starting to get excited about starting law school. Orientation started today. Sue is there to see the campus and town and help her get settled in. Having Mom take you and the new roommate out to dinner always makes things look brighter. It'll be an interesting several years for her.
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Na Prom ruins, Cambodia

 

A Happy Camper

The microwave was delivered this afternoon. It's all set up (not much involved there) and works fine.

I did a favor for a friend and listened to a young man give his spiel about Cutco knives. I've done that once before and bought a paring knife then. They're fabulous knives, but very expensive. I agreed to the sales appointment, but was very good and didn't buy anything. I also declined to give him the name of somebody else he could call. I just won't do that.

I got an okay from the optometrist yesterday afternoon. Turns out he was checking for a retinal tear (something I hadn't thought of), but everything looked good.

And then about 3:30, the guy called from Staples and my laptop was ready! It works well - a few things are changed - probably some upgrades, but I'll eventually get used to it.

The steri-strips on my forehead finally came off tonight - looks like I might have some small scars right over the eyebrow. Time will tell about that, though.

All in all, I'm a happy camper today!
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Back to Na Prom in Cambodia. Mother Nature will always win.

 

In a holding pattern....

I took my laptop to Staples this morning with the intention of buying a small plug-in microphone. The guy who was helping me said that I already had a built-in mike, and got it turned on for me. Also, Staples was offering a laptop "tune-up" for $10.00 (check for viruses, clean out unneeded stuff, etc.), so I left it with them. The bad part is that it'll be Friday or Saturday before I get it back. I'll have to make do with John's desktop, and find all my favorites manually (horrors!!!). I'm also sending John's photos from his computer, so here's one his from last fall, of Niagara Falls.

 

To Skype or not to Skype

Nothing much happening today. Jean and I tried to Skype today. What a comedy of incompetence THAT was. Neither one of us had done it before, and it was mostly unsuccessful. Jean could see my picture, but I couldn't see hers. I could hear her, but she couldn't hear me. She finally got in touch with Kate and it turns out that her iPad doesn't have a built-in camera. She's going to try to get one. I tried to see if the microphone in my laptop was working properly, and couldn't find one. I suspect the laptop doesn't have a built-in mike, and I'm going to have to get one. We're quite a pair - and neither one of could find a 10-year-old to help us do all this stuff. Oh, well... Maybe we'll get it figured out.
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The trees in Na Prom are amazing.