Paint Party Friday " The Truth about Me"

Kotter done in Acrylic

 This post went in a completely different direction than expected. I'm even sharing different art than  planned!!  Sometimes when you write the soul takes over!! I thought some of these color edits matched the piece a bit better!   Check out all the talent at Paint party Friday!

An old chums daughter got married. I was lurking the photos. She didn't seem happy. Again "I Wish I didn't know what I know." I wonder if the older folks saw how scared I was getting married.

Alpine in Acrylic

I was absolutely sure I wanted to get married until I passed by my dad. As he hugged me I began to cry, it continued all the way down the isle. No one knew I was blubbering because I didn't want to give up my name!  They probably thought  it was  tears of joy, or did they??? Was that a warning sign?

Mavens Mess  in Acrylic

 I was too young! In retrospect my marriage probably manifested from a need to escape  my tumultuous home life. I enjoyed playing house, but the first time he screamed at me for leaving the cupboards open the love started dying! The pounds piled on.

A few years later I lost the weight, got a cool car, grabbed some independence, lost myself in work and friends. Had loads of fun outside of my boring marriage. Sewed, decorated, baked, bowled, golfed, anything to lose myself in life, always longing for a deep intimate, kind, love connection! 

 No  matter how I would placate my man, nothing changed. Eventually I left for a few months.  Although I shouldn't have returned, I have no regrets. My daughter was born a few years after I returned, a new house was purchased, pounds piled back, life went on the same for  another ten years. 

 Except now I had  my precious cupcake. So many  happy years with her by my side. I finally knew true love!! The joy of being a mother voided the previous twelve lonely years.

 I visualized life on my own. Wanting to deter watching that  video tape of cupcake reliving my life!! I wanted to raise her with peace and love! The twenty three year Marriage ended so ugly with a rough two years to follow. 

 There was a huge sacrifice. I no longer had the means to give my child everything she deserved!! A higher education,  a proper grad dress, a proper wedding, extra curricular activities, trips, driving lessons, and fiscal help. All things people around me gave their children! I was always happy for the others, and yet wished my child had those opportunities too!!

Instead I gave her a peaceful home, love, loads of silliness and laughter! Despite her missing out I think she may truly  be one of the happiest and most grateful, generous adults I know. She doesn't need jewelry, big diamonds, fancy cars to be happy. What makes her happiest is security, her hubby, her occupation, charity work, travel, fresh raspberries off the vine, a picnic, a board or video game, a yummy meal,  a good coupon deal, a freebee, extended family, the ocean, her aunties my friends, and her mom!! 

So when you feel upset because you can't provide everything you think your children want, or need, remember my story! What truly makes  your child's happy? Had I stayed married, she would have had all she missed out on and more!

Alpine is a work in progress!!

But would she be that same wonderful highly ethical  woman I love and admire?  Or a woman striving to live up to and surpass all the opportunities she was handed, in order  to feel, find happiness??  

Sage Women

Reading blogs can be so interesting. Picking up dribs and drabs of information from young, middle aged and older women is really eye opening! Anyone desiring the  secret to aging with style should check out   Advanced Style Blog. The other day I read advice from a 99 year old woman! Spectacular really! "Be more, appear less," great advice, along with staying organized. Which I've let fall by the wayside lately!  I agree having your own scent, and being unique is important too! 

Brand new moms tend to  spark memories, of the work and vulnerability I felt when my daughter was a newborn.  No one is ever prepared for the love they feel, or time and sleep they lose with a new baby! There are women setting goals, making vision boards,  while trying to find their true path. Ones fearful of being forty, ones searching for hobbies, others in the throws of self discovery, many in menopause. So many interesting stories!

Doesn't matter how old we are we never stop learning. Technology and life changes faster than we can learn it all! We'll never be able to read all the books published, or listen to  all the music written, however we can carve out our own little niche of things to enjoy, wisdom to carry and share if we choose. Above all if we find a few things we love to do, we have it made!! Chasing goals is lovely, for me the  journey is where the joy resides!

Nothings Perfect

I’m working on a piece of art with the words “ What do you stand for?”  It will sit above the doors   facing the toilet in my powder room. It’s been a slow process and taken many turns along the way. Of course those words stay with me as I’m painting.

This morning I awoke thinking “ Nothing is perfect!” That phrase stuck with me as I went about my day. Today my daughter bumped  into a young man from our old neighborhood. In just a few moments he informed her  that three of the power  couples had split up in the past few years. People  you never imagined would separate. Women in their fifties. Mothers who always volunteered when parents were needed. Some homemakers who never worked. Their children are raised, now they’re single. All amazing moms. I won’t say the same for their husbands. One who tried to kiss me when I was first divorced. For the record I warded him off with a stern warning.

My daughter felt embarrassed about our divorce, how it ended was pretty traumatic. The whole neighborhood knew our business, mainly because it was ugly with law enforcement involved. We had honed such a normal facade, then boom everything changed. 

As the years go by so much has been exposed about our so called perfect old neighborhood. It really did seem that way for years. Turns out others  had trouble behind closed doors too!  Do women just tolerate their unhappiness until the kids are raised? Does everyone outgrow each other? Or do people just find their true self and decide what they once built and wanted no longer matters?

I used to ask  friends who had doubts about their marriage if they could retire with their spouse. I knew the answer was “NO” for me. I was very young when I figured that out. It took me twenty three years before we pulled the plug. He’s retired now, and I can’t even fathom how horrible it would be to have him around daily! No matter how good things look, NOTHING IS PERFECT!

Yellow

I need new motivation to blog. So I looked up a few prompt sites. Came across this daily prompt blog. This guy just happens to live in my same province. Mondays prompt was "Yellow"

Yellow I am so in  love with you. Very few of your shades match with the color of my skin! However I dream of watching you paired with purple  dancing across the canvas! You were a nightmare in the seventies splashed on kitchen walls across North America, caked with brown cigarette smoke, dulled by the suns rays! Even though you did the jig with lime green in the bathroom of my first home. I soon became bored, passing you and your brother accessories to good will. It's been a long time since I've even thought of you! In fact I'd avoided you at all cost! After thirty years of peaches, dusty roses, forest greens, teals and wine I now crave your bright appeal. I love your relationship with orange, apple green, and white. I'm interested to see how you meld with my favorite blue, and red. You'll never have your own room in my house. I doubt I'll wear you again, but I may sprinkle your airy spirit in a painting or two! I will always love how you stain  tulips and other flowers. You're a happy color, but I tend to tire easily of you, so you'll just have to wait and see how much of you I let into my life! Sorry... my love is fickle!

Squeezed out

This is an acrylic I did a while back called " Squeezed Out"

It's funny how the titles and images appear out of the blue. Speaking of which the colors in this photo aren't true to the painting. The bottom has a more purple hue. In fact I was planning on making changes because it looks too dark on the wall.

Who are these characters, why is one being squeezed out? Maybe if I stare at it long enough, I will find the answers. It's most hypnotic staring at a painting, wondering what it needs and what it's trying to say!  Unfortunately staring at a picture is my only form of meditation, probably because it's the only way to quiet my very active mind.

Funny how the one being "squeezed out" looks bitchy. Ha, maybe she's going through menopause! One thing I know for sure, I can wipe  paint that bitchy look right off her face if I want!! lol  We'll see what happens.....

I have too many unhappy paintings laying around lately that need an overhaul with a good coat of Gesso and a new perspective!! I'll take photos before I cover them up!

Lovable Sweetie

Yesterday I hung out with Bryan’s precocious four year old niece. I love how children are unedited.  What a doll this child is. Together we created the above cartoon character on the computer paint program. She chose all the clothes and colors to her liking.  Everything was specific, the words on her shirt, the same striped socks she was wearing, down to her favorite tone of pink. Which she noted was slightly different than what she was wearing but exactly how she liked it. She wanted a round face like the angels on my wall, with dark hair, she's a natural blond.  Every time I did something to her agreement, she’d drag out the word P---E---RRRR—FECT in her exuberant voice.

She played delicately on our piano, it sounded lovely unlike most children who bang on it!    Like her uncle  she tends to put  intonations on different syllables than the average person. When she speaks it’s melodic and happy. She seems excited about every tiny thing she learns. Observant in every way she’s an interested remarkable little girl. Today I found my self mimicking    P---E---RRRR—FECT with the same inflection   she uses. This bright little spirit is a born leader. Can’t wait to see what kind of disease she cures, or sonata she writes, or building she constructs.One thing I know for sure,  this kid is special and will go far…did I mention she’s super lovable too!! Who says babies can’t teach you things!!! 

Pass it on

 It's chilly yet sunny out today, hard to believe this was taken 

March 6th, 2010, very early blossom arrival

Finally pulled my paints out late last night  to revamp a large canvas in my powder room. Needs one more session to be completed then  I just may like it. Maybe it's the  kick start I needed towards consistent creating!  I'll post it soon.

My very together  hiker friend mentioned how it seems more difficult to get a dinner together now than it did when she was young.  I am pretty darn fast in the kitchen, but my heart is rarely in it  anymore. There was a day when I had company weekly, I'd put on the Ritz too. Scallop St Jacque, special coffees, and yummy well thought out meals.  I can barely think of anything new to cook to save my soul. I am slow at organizing now.  So coordinating a clean house with a good meal can be overwhelming. Which I only take on with the kids help. If I lived alone I'd probably only have one person over at a time, maybe two. On my own I'd eat completely different too.  More seafood, sandwiches, and leftovers. I'd probably have more lean cuisine type meals too, because cooking doesn't interest me the same anymore!

Last week I had a friend over, we had wine and coffee. Pepper put out freshly made chocolate cupcakes, there were jelly beans and chocolate eggs. My friend was on lent, giving up chocolate for forty days. It didn't even occur to me to put something more out until she was gone. Then I felt stupid, because she is such a good hostess and I used to be. I think there comes a time, when we just have to pass the torch to our kids, and the younger folk. Sadly I have too many brain farts to proudly get a big meal together the way I used to. I was hoping it would eventually pass, but my friend is seven years older.....not sure that gives me much hope!

New Header

I'm in a bit of a funk lately so I thought I'd try and change things up to get me out of my stooper. Hence the  new header that I'm not that thrilled with. I  wonder if these lulls aren't just time to rejuvenate, gather information and inspiration. It's so easy to get into bad habits, Like playing daily facebook scrabble words, feeling unattached to the game.  It wasn't until firefox kept booting me off scrabble, and internet explorer was painlessly slow to load did I notice I didn't really miss it.  Winning seems to have no feeling of satisfaction either. There is just too much of a disconnection from my opponent. It became a time consuming habit....after countless tries to get on the board to no avail, I've given up. I feel slightly guilty, that I can't finish my games having left my friends waiting for my return. Seriously though, it would be much more productive for me to paint or write instead. So for now, I'm back on wordbiz to get a quick full game fix, taking  a look at some projects on my list, and maybe blog daily. My  blather may be boring until I'm able to get my groove back! Ho hum.....

Dance until your Heart's content

Last night I had a dream that my brother got robbed. It was odd because he lived right next door Which he doesn't.  During the dream  he came over to  my house, then he turned into my dad with gray hair.Only he still had his same svelte body. Unlike dad who had a pot belly in his later years. 

After pondering the dream for a time, I realize my brother really has been robbed. Our parents were both deceased by the time he was thirty. It was a difficult adjustment for him.Thankfully he was already established, unlike many thirty year olds today. 

I think he got tangled in an unfullfilling marriage on a quest for family. Ultimately wanting a wife who would have the maternal qualities our mother had. Things fell short, he's now remarried.  Although she is a dynamic woman like mom, she is far from maternal! What she lacks in mothering skills he makes up for. Is being maternal a good thing? I'm not sure anymore!

You never know

For the template to carve my traditional Garfield Pumpkin go here!!

When my daughter was about ten she said “Mom I always take my purse with me, because knowing you we could head to North Van and end up in Chilliwack!” Meaning

I could head in one direction, but end up two hours away in the opposite direction once an idea strikes.

Last weekend, thirteen years later, I went to pick up dinner and get Pepper a slushy for her sore throat. My son in law jumps in the car with his PJ painting pants on. I’m perplexed because the day before he changed out of his stylish lulu lemon jogging pants, which look fabulous on him, into jeans for a short run to the hardware store. I asked him why he was wearing pajamas today but wouldn’t wear his lulu’s the other day. Not that I cared. He paused…. “Well it’s not unlike you to start at one store, then drive all the way out to Langley to look at something else” I had to chuckle. Funny how the kids see me, but he couldn’t have been more right.

When Pepper was little, money was abundant, gas was cheap, it would be nothing for me to take her on a green apple slushy hunt. Definitely an unconventional mom, I love it when she reminds me of our fun bonding memories. I’ll tell you, my quirky antics sure paid off!!

A perfect day in the City

After making a bag for my friend I couldn't resist making one for myself, so Wednesday evening I worked on this bag to take with me to Granville island. There is so much paint mushed on this bag that it feels like leather, I really enjoyed filling it with goodies from the public market. My favorite hard to find perfume Filigree by Thyme, a purple, and yellow tube of paint, a new wood stamp, and a new paint brush recommended by the vendor.Four soaps, patchouli, and sandalwood. Okay doin my happy dance now!!We met up with our friend on her sail boat, snapped a few photos,

had a quick glass of wine and boogied on!

I was chicken to get in the boat
with my bad knee! Years ago I would have been the first one in!

Then a delicious dinner with Martinis at the Back Stage lounge,
over looking the promenade! Huge portions too!

View from our table!

A quaint little play , written, produced and acted, by a collective of working actors was our next plan of action. We sat through an emotion packed hour full of substance! I was left wanting more! Such a talented group! The extreme heat we're experiencing left us all melting by the end of the hour! Hmm....hope we're not witches,
although there are days I suspect we are! Tomahawk Restaurant

Upstairs of the little theatre we discovered a joyful collection of art by

self taught artist Laura Zerebeski
who paints abstract pictures of landmarks in the city!
Really accurate abstracts too! I'm drawn to her unique style!

This Tomahawk restaurant is one I frequented almost every weekend
when I was first married! It would be lined up down the road,
for a Yukon, the best hangover breakfast in town!
I haven't been there in years, I have to cross two bridges now to get there. Plus a hangover is out of my realm these days, so is bacon!


The photo of this 3-D art done with puzzle pieces, doesn't do it justice. It was spectacular.Not sure the artist, though I suspect countless hours and pieces went into these phenomenal sculptures!

I was home long enough to throw down my bag when
the kids arrived through the door right behind me!
Bryan's mom came into my very messy house for a quick tea.
She brought me the most beautiful birthday card and a fifty dollar gift card for Micheals.....
holy generous...... I was shocked and thrilled all at once!!
She has ten kids.....
Thank-you for abundance!!!
The end of a perfect day!!
Amen

Read the previous post for how the day started!

Bright new Promise!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend!

My last post was so doom and gloom that I wanted to compensate with a little visual humor on my blog. I started this image which turned into a new header. Although it's rather bright. That's putting mildly, I thought it was kind of humorous play on words, having a little character named "Promise" chasing you around nagging, " there's promise on the horizon!" Okay, maybe not! But I have faith that there is New bright promise on the horizon.....but you may have to wait for November or December for me to prove it!

Easter is my time of renewal. You may have noticed I usually need a few renewals during the year to get a move on! Pepper had a business meeting yesterday. So Bryan and I went to lunch, then on a search of organizing cabinets for our garage. Bryan is going to paint, put in a work bench and do a much needed purge of old crap! We can't wait until it's completed. I'll post a play by play as we go!! If I dare to air my dirty linen!

Not much hoopla over Easter around here this year. No bunny cookies, or chocolate eggs, or special gifts like usual.Less mess too!! Instead, it was a chocolate cake, box of our favorite chocolate coated caramels to share, and a couple of new cds we can all enjoy! Still it was a lovely weekend. We didn't have the traditional Easter dinner, we had our turkey last weekend when my brother was over, instead our dear friends who lost two disabled children within two years came for dinner Saturday night. My daughter, Bryan and my girlfriend fell asleep while her hubby and I talked until the wee hours of the morning. Brought back memories of our youth, when it was a regular occurrence, along with cards and video game competitions where I was Queen of Doctor Mario!

No pedestals

Two conversations this week inspired this poem and drawing. So many times people place others on a pedestal with no where left to go but down. Unfortunately we all have different lessons to learn at separate intervals. Even though we may know exactly what to do to be successful in our lives. For whatever reason we find it next to impossible to implement. We all have baggage some worse than others. We aren't all born with the same tenacity, and some people just get tired of the mundane and like to stir things up!

In any case we are all human with complexities galore! So the next time you compare yourself to someone, remember they are not as perfect as you may wish them to be!

That person you put on the pedestal is very uncomfortable knowing they must be perfect to please you! I don't care how virtuous someone is, under the eyes of judgment they are doomed to fall!

Embrace differences, enjoy them, let them compliment your friendships. Look at the positives and forgive the negatives. No one can stay on a pedestal without losing balance eventually!

No pedestals

Don’t put me on your pedestal

It’s a long way to fall

it will only disappoint you

I’m not who you think at all

I’m not as virtuous

As you’d wish me to be

Sometimes I’m just human

With a wild side in me

Don’t put me high upon the throne

As your ideal friend

Ignoring differences we share

You’ll be disenchanted in the end

I have follies like all the rest

Some stay hidden well

But when you discover them

It’s me you may dispel

So make me your earthly equal

To compliment each others charm

Because falling off that pedestal

Can do body harm!

Sunday Scribblings "Experiment"

Sorry I have tried for the last twenty four hours to post some artist pictures to no avail. I will keep trying! This sunset in Vegas will have to suffice.

This weeks Sunday Scribbling Prompt is " Experiment"

Yesterday when I called Pepper, she was riding the bus to Liquidation World, I could hear the frantic tone in her voice, afraid she’d not arrive before six o’clock closing. She'd just hung up from calling the store. She told me the owner had answered so she plead her case, explaining how she’d just finished work, was attending a dinner and needed to run in to buy a slab cake for her family. Just then I felt this inexplicable feeling rush through my body. The owner kindly responded by telling her if the registers weren’t counted when she got there they’d let her in to buy the cake. When I hung up the phone from hearing that story, a tear trickled down my face. My daughter, an only child for twenty two years, with only me as her security now has a family. I felt elated hearing her say those two words “My Family” it evoked tremendous joy knowing she is now a part of a huge loving entity. This was no longer an experiment of two people living in the same house. It’s officially her family, with a mother, father and many siblings, I couldn't be happier and a bit relieved too!

She arrived at Liquidation World at six-o-five. The owner saw her familiar face and opened the door. She excitedly bought the cake he’d recommended many months previous. She carried two huge buckets of Easter candy the size of ice-cream containers for the two youngest boys, a deluxe bottle of Scotch for her new father-laws birthday and the extra large decadent macaroon Caramel chocolate slab cake for the rest of the family. She stood proudly loaded down with goodies waiting on the podium of the sky train station until Bryan met her after work.

When they arrived at the dinner she handed her father-in- law his gift, he held out his arms and hugged her. He never hugs his children, but one day Pepper took the initiative to just hug him first. An experiment that seems to have paid off!

Totally optional Prompt " Magician"

Sunday morning out of the blue Pepper decided to go out. On her excursion she announced, to my surprise, that she'd be stopping in at Home Sense to see if they had any Mary Naylor mugs. It was totally out of the blue. I am still shaking my head in amazement that she found the only four they had. Bryan bought them for me as an early Valentines day gift! Or course I adore them, and wonder what made Pepper decide at that moment to look for them. These kinds of things happen to her often when she lives in the flow!

I think it's so magical how the universe provides if you truly believe. I even think there are times when things go awry just to present another path, or open our eyes and heart to new prospects. Turning obstacles into opportunities. Teaching us value in the human spirit!

Since the first of January so much has come my way. I have been blessed with more abundance than I could have imagined. I've been brought eggs and milk, two random beautiful bouquets of flowers that piggy backed each other so I still have flowers to enjoy seventeen days later. My favorite chocolate, three large packages of my favorite bath fragrances, a new pair of black fuzzy slippers, a new purse large enough to carry some art, two ART bowls, and these Mary Naylor Mugs. I feel so grateful!

Here's the thing. My car is still out of commission. One might think I need that fixed over and above everything else. But you know what, it will be fixed in due time. For now my soul is being fed. Maybe I needed that more! Not because of the material items, but more because of the attentive love.Just the fact that friends and family know who I am, what I need and desire without my mentioning it! Everything will be used and enjoyed daily! As I sip from my new mugs I certainly feel loving energy flowing from them. With that I'm inspired and assured that the universe will provide!

Totally optional prompt " Magician"

The Magician

Out of the abyss

Kisses of abundance

Perplex me

Notion beckons

Comrade summons

A progeny heeds

Desires met

Catapulting

Effervescent faith

Aggravation

Now speaks

Wisdom

Pearls discovered

In crevices of

Astute attention

More Treasures

Gifted

By the Magician

I wanted to share with you these two licensed Mary Naylor art bowls that were bought three years apart! Interesting how they changed over the few years. The one on your left was the original, which I notice to be slightly more free hand. The newer one seems more precise, with more vivid colors, yet it's from the same line.....my favorite I might add! I found it inspiring to see that even professional artists produce work with imperfections. Or I wonder, is it doctored during production? I love them both!

Comical Music Monday!

Fairy and Dream goddess came over last night for a (eat the dregs of the Christmas goodies) visit! We had some wonderful giggles! Dream Goddess,not a blogger, ( yet), shared a funny story I'd like to relay. Pardon me if I get some of the details wrong, I’m sure you’ll get the gist of it anyway!

Dream Goddess knows a woman who spent the entire summer listening to one song repetitiously on her brand new, fully loaded mp3 player because she didn’t have the heart to tell her partner that it wasn’t working properly. This Christmas after requesting a new MP3 player she finally confessed that last years Mp3 player was a dud.Before replacing the dud, Hubby took the MP3 player to be repaired. In actuality there was nothing wrong with said player. Technologically impaired woman had subjected herself to musical torture by listening to the same song repeatedly not realizing she could change the songs!

Even though I laugh at this adorable story, if the truth be known, I possibly have a few similar blunders in my archives that I’d rather not divulge! I really have turned into my mom.....gosh darn! I remembered the big production that occurred every time Mom used my microwave. Damn it, now I get it! She's probably looking down on me now saying " I TOLD YOU SO!"

For a bigger laugh you really must check out Rick’s humorous blog and listen to “The three -Legged dog “a song he was fiscally rewarded for co-writing with Tim Bays! It’s inspirational and hilarious, well worth the listen! ( It plays on Tims website upon opening it, there is a small verbal introduction, but keep listening!) It's hilarious!

If you haven’t discovered Ricks tongue in cheek humor then check out the archives of his Myrtlebeachramblings, a very enjoyable fun read!

Today I'm grateful for hearing the song Three legged dog.

Labels and assumptions

Click to enlarge

This Strange Girl I drew last week, she’s Cruella De Vil MEAN!

When people say mean things, accusing you of having ill intentions when you don’t, it damages your soul. Assumptions are really dangerous and people do it with their children all the time! Sometimes what you label a person, is who they become! Is that true for you? Do you have a label that someone gave you, or that you give yourself?

Illustration Friday "Twisted"

click picture to enlarge Illustration Friday
"Twisted"

My life has been riddled with statements totally misconstrued. Controversial conversations seem to suffer the most scrutiny, often to my detriment. Even the most articulate types are misinterpreted. It’s a shame that words can be so twisted.

I carried a lot of anger in my twenties, where my thirties were more pensive as I savored the search. My forties were a spiritual overhaul, reflective and peaceful. Now in my fifties I feel more perceptive. I’ve surrounded myself with kind, loving well meaning people. I choose to believe they all express themselves from a place of good intention. When there is a question of their intention, I immediately dissuade the thought, giving them the benefit of the doubt. Knowing they would never purposely hurt me. It’s inevitable that I feel wounded at times, but mostly because I am misunderstood, or dealing with my own issues that need assessment. That’s when I implement change and growth.

Of course we all have dealings with Mr. and Mrs. Grumpy pants. Hopefully they aren’t our friends. Some people are intentionally mean spirited. I effortlessly recognize those with an angry demeanor hiding behind their contemptible humor. Regrettably that was my only mode of protection in the past! For the most part I like to think those select people in my life, all have incredibly good intentions!
Poetry Thursday

Twisted Words
Sometimes words get twisted
Contorted and confused
Misconstrued in translation
Edited and abused

Sometimes words conveyed
Are too obscure to surmise
So the callous recipient
Crafts a futile scrutinize

Sometimes intention of honor
Gets twisted in a maze
Leaving the receiver to choose
How to navigate the haze

Rejecting good intention
With gauche frivolity
Lessons vanish with little care
Suspending union quality

It’s a choice to examine words
Controversially conveyed
As words of mighty purpose
Or as words that shed dismay

Surrounded with devotion
Accepting only good intention
When misgiving knocks
Deny the intervention

Words twisted and disabled
Need a positive position
Maintain your good intention gauge
With a joyful disposition

Click Picture to enlarge

Quacker, chatter and a story!

Click picture to enlarge
Bryan and I spent a short time putting the words to music for Jayna’s song. I was singing along and had a very difficult time getting through it. Breaking down I realized it’s much better if he just does it alone. He’s now recording it as I type through the tears. Hopefully we can present it to our friends in the next day or two. It’s really amazing how fast things come together when they’re meant to be. I’m going to find a way to eventually put it on my blog! I may have to video tape Bryan and then put it on youtube to make it happen.

Sometimes I have a bazzar process. I start out with a few lines, and end up with some crazy art. Funny thing is I made the Quacker a few days ago, today Pepper and Bryan discovered the ducks in the pond behind my place had babies. They squealed with glee when they saw how adorable they are. Those are the perks of taking the bus. Bryan ran back to grab the camera, but the photos are too blurry to post. We’ll get more soon.

I was thinking what a quacker I can be, a while back my brother complimented me. Apparently he tells all his cronies, that his sister is not a “yes person”, explaining that when searching for a solution to certain issues he comes to me knowing I won't just tell him what he wants to hear, but more less my honest perspective. I guess he likes that, who knew. Truthfully being forthright has caused me a lot of heartache in my life. The positive side ,”don’t ask if you don’t want to know”, I can be crassly blunt. Although I like to think I’m becoming more diplomatic in my old age.

Today I took a garage full of bottles to be recycled. I couldn’t even see the back window of my jeep. We usually keep our bottles in the cases pretty neat, but Pepper insisted on her staff recycling at work, continually bringing garbage bags full of them home. I sorted them at the depot, alone I might add, twenty seven dollars worth of stickiness. A middle aged depot worker glommed on to me, she was chattering away while I piled bottles in crates.Between my bad ear, the clanking bottles and rustling of the plastic she was barely audiable. For the most part she wanted to tell me how she got even with her cheating husband. There is probably a poem somewhere in this story, maybe even a country song!

One day she lured her man to a motel room, set up piles of candles around the room, and then poured him a hot bubble bath and told him to relax. While he was settled she told him she needed to get something out of the van assuring him she'd return quickly. Instead she placed a pair of old fancy underwear tucked between the mattresses, so it was hanging out. Then scooped up all his clothes, his wallet, phone, coat, underwear the whole gamut. Left him alone in the tub, drove to where the other woman worked and dropped his clothes off with her. Somehow he managed to call his buddies at work and asked them to bring him a pair of overalls. When the guys arrived they saw the underwear hanging out of the bed, assumed he got lucky with some random chick who duped him by stealing his wallet and clothes. Who would believe his wife did it? Imagine, the stories you hear at the bottle depot.

Illustration Friday "Neighbor"

Illustration Friday prompt "Neighbor"

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Obliging Neighbor

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Neighbors, Too Close for Comfort

I am not exactly the neighborly type, mostly like to keep to myself. I was taught at a young age to be very careful with neighbors, never gossip because it could turn into sour grapes. That did occur in a few places I lived, feuding ensued among neighbors. Thankfully I was very cautious. Some neighbors along the way turned out to be great friends, but we were careful not to invade each others space. Other neighbors I had to set boundaries with. One woman in particular, constantly demanded to know what I was doing every day off. That relationship soon waned. In the seventies I confronted a neighbor who left his dog tied up while on holidays. I called authorities, feeling no remorse, he knew it was me! Neighbors and relatives you can’t choose, so it’s imperative to foster peace with them. I prefer to ship my friends in and avoid petty neighborhood grievances. Maybe I’m a little colder in my old age, but I really prefer a phone call, to an unannounced knock at the door! Probably because I value my time so much! Whoa this is a side of me you don't see very often!