Weekend Art

Card for my craft club trade and a thank you for a bloggy buddy.

go ahead, be bold wid it

I recently did another detox, so that means that I didn't have carbs, refined sugar, or dairy for three weeks. Continuing along in the same vein, I've been avoiding all those same foods for the past two weeks, but lately, I've been salivating over the thought of a chai or green tea latte. Last night, I decided to have one as a treat. I did my grocery shopping at Safeway, went to the Starbucks inside. Loaded the groceries into the car and closed the trunk on 16 ounces of non-fat milk, matcha tea powder and melon syrup. I guess it was a sign. A sign of what, you ask? A sign that I'm still not supposed to have sugar or dairy. I was torn between going back to Starbucks after dinner or blowing it off completely.

I guess the good thing was the barista didn't put in enough or maybe any melon syrup, so the drink didn't taste very good.

After this morning's run, I decided to try again and went to Starbucks to get a hot drink. I'm happy/sad to say that I'm not enjoying it. I guess I've finally succeeded in breaking my sugar addiction. The cup is cool however. I love the holidays at Starbucks : .)

Mad - On the way from Rancho to Starbucks, I turned on the radio and thought, "Continuing on with the experiment, what will be playing on 99.7?" heeeeeeeee! SEXY BACK!!!! Okay, I admit, I'm diggin' the song too, but we both know that I've always loved club traxs.

Things That Go Bump in the Night!

Happy Halloween!!!

Everyday is Halloween - Ministry

well i live with snakes and lizards
and other things that go bump in the night
'cause to me everyday is halloween
i have given up hiding and started to fight
i have started to fight

well any time, any place, anywhere that i go
all the people seem to stop and stare
they say 'why are you dressed like it's halloween?
you look so absurd, you look so obscene'

o, why can't i live a life for me?
why should i take the abuse that's served?
why can't they see they're just like me
it's the same, it's the same in the whole wide world

well i let their teeny minds think
that they're dealing with someone who is over the brink
and i dress this way just to keep them at bay
'cause halloween is everyday
it's everyday

o, why can't i live a life for me?
why should i take the abuse that's served?
why can't they see they're just like me
it's the same, it's the same in the whole wide world

o, why can't i live a life for me?
why should i take the abuse that's served?
why can't they see they're just like me
i'm not the one that's so absurd

why hide it?
why fight it?
hurt feelings
best to stop feeling hurt
from denials, reprisals
it's the same it's the same in the whole wide world

Last night's still life. Still working on shadowing techniques. Teach has a goulish sense of humor. I like it!

Viola!!!

After all this time here is *real* evidence that I have been in drawing class since the end of September.

I was quite trepidatious about going to class this evening. Last Wednesday I had a really hard time. We were to draw a still life using scale and I.could.not.do.it!!! Maybe it was being constrained to drawing within a rectangle. Maybe it was the fact that I am not a very spatial person and cannot draw in 3 dimensions. (Forget kinesthetic abilities). I was absolutely unable to measure the scale of the still life set in front of me and transfer it to paper. I was so frustrated, I couldn't even get started and almost packed up my stuff and left, never to return to class again.

With a little encouragement from my friends and co-workers, I set off for class. Tonight we were to practice shading. First we worked with grey scale and practiced drawing a sphere. Then we each choose a drawing to copy.

Meet Xavier. He still needs a bit more work, but I'm pretty pleased with the outcome so far : .)

She runs.

There are voices in my head, with names like fear and doubt,

and they hide, mocking me.

But when the pounding of my heart becomes deafening,

They all just disappear.

- From a Nike Ad

I felt like getting out for a run this morning. My retirement didn't last very long : .) I set off for Rancho San Antonio Park, the home of my favorite Bay Area trail run by far.

I had forgotten how great it is to run solo. No worries about slowing anyone down, the ability to set your own pace and think your own thoughts. No schedule to meet, no need to maintain a breathless conversation while trying hard to keep up.

My warm-up typically takes about 4 miles, so I started out slow and just took it easy. The portion of the trail closest to the parking lot is quite populated even at this early hour, and I was hoping to leave the groups of chattering hikers behind as soon as possible.

The trail starts out pretty flat with some rolling hills, along the way, I passed a quail family that scattered like pachinko balls as I ran by, and three deer who were enjoying their breakfast. After a couple of miles, I started up the biggest hill, a one mile stretch with about a 1000 foot rise. In a few minutes, I came around a bend in the trail and could see the Silicon Valley spread out below me, NASA and the bay off to the northeast and downtown San Jose to the south. It didn't take me much longer to crest the hill and I took a quick break to catch my breath and drink some water. I was so very proud that I ran the entire way up the hill. I started back down the trail, the glorious downhill that leads to the valley. As I hit the cover of the trees, I heard a rustling in the leaves and stopped to listen...But all I could hear was silence. So amazing. Silence, loamy earth, and the scent of bay leaves.

Around another bend I saw a group of Asian ladies practicing meditation. I consider myself lucky to live in an area with such diversity. On the trail, I passed Japanese, Chinese, East Indian, Middle Eastern, European, and American hikers and runners, big and small, all ages.

I especially love trail running because you have to pay attention to your footing, the uneven surfaces force you to use your core to maintain your balance. Boy was I surprised when WHAM!!! Ow, ow, ow! I twisted my ankle. Within a few tentative steps, I decided I could finish my run, but I was worried about an injury since my runing buddies and I signed up to run the California International Marathon 4 person relay in December.

I think I'm okay : .)

Photo courtesy of MadRetz

I hate running.

This morning the city of San Jose hosted the Inaugural San Jose Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon.

After running this and the two other 1/2 marathon's and finishing the triathlon since June, I am done, D.O.N.E. I'm hanging up my running shoes.

My body is tired, I'm chaffed in places I won't discuss here, I got charlie horses in both my calves and my shins (a first!), and my kidney's hurt. It was a hard race for me. (Weird that I finished this race faster than Disneyland. I even had to walk a bit of it.)

It was exciting however, when this guy passed me at my 5 mile marker, his 12. His stride was as wide as he was tall, he was so fast and graceful!!! If you look closely at this picture, you'll notice that neither of his feet are touching the ground. He was literally FLYING!!!

Okay, I'll be realistic. I'm just going to take some time off. I'm way too addicted to the endorphins to actually quit running.

See you on the trail!

Photos courtesy of race photographer and #1 cheerleader MadRetz

Scout's Honor!

I am so gonna post some of my work from drawing class, I just need to make time to scan/photograph my pages. Teach still has the self portraits, so as soon as she gets those back to us, I'll post that too!!!

We did studies of plastic animals of our choosing on Monday. We had to draw the animal in 4 different positions and then anthropomorphize it and put it in some environment. That was fun and I was pleased with the outcome. I have to say, for all my classmates who said on the first day of class that they can't draw, "TAKE IT BACK!" They're all doing so well! So much creativity and so many clean lines!

Anyway, more on that later, I just wanted to post an update since I don't have anything else going on at the moment and I'm so digging art class!

Back to School!!!

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

- Tom Hanks as Joe Fox in You've Got Mail

Drawing class started last nite! I am very excited!!! You so gotta love a class that "requires" you to buy art supplies!!! Here's the art kit.

Tonite's homework is to draw a self-portrait, life sized, from the neck up. This should be interesting. I am already challenged : .)

Celadon

Its been almost a year since my witch doctor made me give up my morning lattes. As I so love to support the corporate giants and I was worried about putting Starbucks out of business if I stopped purchasing coffee from their stores, I switched over to their green tea lattes. Make that a grande, non-fat green tea latte, extra hot.

I've never really removed the cup lid and looked at the drink. It is quite an "interesting" color. A murky green. However, in order to make it more appetizing to myself, I decided to call the color "celadon." Doesn't that have a much nicer ring to it?

Sooo, what's your favorite Starbucks beverage???

The Happiest Race on Eee-arth!!!

I DID IT!!!

Disneyland's Inaugural 1/2 Marthon,
September 17, 2006

What a morning! Up at the crack of dawn (that would be 4 am) to dress and eat! Then off to to wait anxiously with 11,999 other runners for the start of the race. 13.1 miles through Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, commercial Anaheim, past the Duck Pond (Home of the Anaheim Ducks Hockey team! HOCKEY!), across home plate in Angels Stadium, through Downtown Disney and cheering crowds to the FINISH LINE!!!

This event had everything you could ask for ... beautiful southern California weather, a pleathora of portapotties, : .) people in costume, real-time support consisting of Disney characters Micky & Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Buzz Lightyear, Lilo & Stitch, Alice in Wonderland and her cohorts, Daisy & Donald Duck, Jessie, Sully and best of all Jack Sparrow of Pirates of the Caribbean fame! (A dead-on Johnny Depp look alike! I was in LOVE! I high fived him and yelled back to the crowd of runners, "Did anyone get a picture of that?!" Got some giggles!!! hee!!!) Along the course, hula dancers, a serenade by mini mariachis, cheerleaders, and multiple high school bands!

Race swag! (This is a Champion tech fabric shirt!!! Got some Arm & Hammer toothpaste too ... Huh? Bright smile at the finish line???)

A closer look at the medal!!! (Yes, it is gi-normal and heavy!!!)

Darn, its *not* gold!!!

I shared the adventure with my friend Donna and of course, MadRetz who played race photographer for the day. (You must check out the details of her race which we ran the previous day!)

Post-race activities included time in the parks, partaking of fun rides, shopping and re-fueling with a hot dog, french fries and a Dr. Pepper. Donna and I were tired, but happy, happy RnrGrrls!!!

Solano Stroll

Sistor plays taiko drums and performed with her troupe at the Solano Stroll this past weekend. My friend Als and I drove to Berkeley to watch and enjoy the events of the day. There was sunshine, politics, environmentalism (we were in Berkeley after all), belly dancers, musicians, a parade, arts & crafts, and a lot of people.

This fun guy was kind enough to pose for me! Doncha just love pink?! : .)

I got a henna tattoo. Isn't it cool? The artist had a tube of the henna paste and whipped out the design freehand. It was so amazing! The before is the paste drying. After it dries, the artist sprays the art with a sugar/lemon/H2O mixture. I guess to set the ink. You peel the paste off and viola! body art!!! The design lasts 2 weeks or so. Makes me want to get a real tattoo!

Not sure about my bloggy reticence lately. I need to blog my trip to Mexico City. It'll have to wait 'til after the weekend, MadRetz and I are off to Disneyland for our Run Disney weekend! Yahoo!!!

RnrGrrl!!!

For the women who challenge me and call me artist. My literal translation of Illustration Friday's theme RUN. Thanks bunches, Grrlfiends!!!

Big wet smooooooches!!!

Collage done with various scrapbook paper scraps. Inspiration provided by the art and poetry of the MadMonk.

Submitted to Illustration Friday - Theme: Run

Googly Ghoul!!!

It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents--except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.

--Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, Paul Clifford (1830)

Okay, I couldn't resist! Let's try that again...

Say it, Evinrude, Evinrude, Evinrude! Ahhhhh, he comes to life from the depths of a darkened basement in somewhere Kentucky. Preceeded by a dank and moldy smell, peeeyooo!!! A dry rattle announces: He has arrived!!! Give him a minute to focus his googly eyes and then ...

WATCH OUT!!!

His eerie voice echos "I vant to suck your blahd!!!"

Obviously, I've had way too much sugar tonite!

Cate, Cate, Cate ... I LOVE HIM!!!

He's sitting on a shelf where I can see him every day!!!

Thanks so much!!!

Spreading Bloggy Happiness!

Some art for my bloggy pal, Cate. We're both big Tim Burton fans, and with that, the Jack & Sally Box o' Love was born.

I wasn't finished yet ... Midsummer Night's Aubergine Dream came next. Since I couldn't decide which one I liked best to send to Cate, she got both!

I just love sharing my art!

SWIM! BIKE! RUN!

Today was the day! I completed my first triathlon!!! I was halfway through the run when I realized, "Ohmygawd, I am on the third leg of my first triathlon!" I gave myself a mental high five! : .) Yahoo!!!

Pictures courtesy of my friend Jack, who was kind enough to meet me at 6 am to support me during my race! Thanks, Jack!!!


Setting up my gear in the transition area. You need a lot of gear for a triathlon...bike, helmet, gloves, sunglasses, water bottles, fuel, various articles of clothing, swim goggles, swim cap, towels, shoes, socks, singlet, safety pins, a bucket to rinse your feet in after your swim. They mark your race number on your leg and your arm. In permanent ink. Yeah. I guess that proves I did the race! : .) And yes, it was still dark when I got to the park.

My friend Jennifer and I, pre-race. No, we didn't discuss racewear. All the hot tri-studettes wear lime green sports tops and black shorts : .)

Getting ready to start the 400 yard swim. You can see me just past the woman with the orange swim cap and white shirt, just to the right of center. The pictures of me coming out of the water weren't pretty. Think "Creature from the Black Lagoon."

T1 - In the transisiton area again getting ready for the bike portion of the race. 11 miles. Low tire pressure. Good thing I've been going to those spinning classes where I use a lot of resistance. I'm not the one in the orange vest, nor the bathing suit.


Coming into the finish! IamgoingsofastthatIamjustabbbbbllllllllllluuuuuuurrrrrrrr, wheeee!

Total race time: 1 hour 36 minutes 50 seconds. Just a minute off of my anticipated completion time! Got a cool long sleeved t-shirt and a bellybutton full of lake grass : .) Yay, me!!!

Ya gotta love this face!!!

Me & my friend CeCe! Isn't she a doll?!

We had fun interpreting art at a show this weekend! CeCe is very detail oriented and curious. She has a way of seeing things that others don't. She made me really appreciate the work we saw more than I ever have at this show in the past : .)

Weekend Art

Ragged (Thanks Ragged!!!) encouraged me to post this weekend's work. Inner critic yells NAY, but right now, I'm not listening...

I spent some time creating with MadMonk (Deus Esse Quantum in the sidebar). She was very generous with her scrap lumber, nails, beads, leather, fur, feathers and her power
tools : .) rrr-rrr-rrr!!!

Prickly Heart (Aptly named by my good friend ee, who knows me very well : .) It was serendipitous that the heart split while hammering the nails. I got to use those cool, squiggly metal thingys (that *is* the technical description!) to mend it.

Medicine Heart (Which I left with MadMonk, as it so fits her decor.)

Can you tell I have a thing for hearts???

I also worked on a couple of boîtes de trésor (treasure boxes), but they're a surprise for a bloggy pal, so I'll post photos once they're complete and on the way to their new owner.

A Misty background, but its a work in progress. I'll post the finished piece later. Until then here's what's done...

Catku

MadRetz and the husband are at their hideaway this week, so I volunteered for kitty duty and went to check up on Billy. Mostly just make sure she has fuds and water, and to entertain if necessary.

My relationship with Billy has been a bit strained since Ted (Mad's other cat) died. I think she's still grieving or maybe its just that she's the Queen of the household now and doesn't care about the lowly human servants.

Such catitude : .)

Anyway, it seemed as if she was happy to see me and get some attention. She really wanted to be on the patio, so I let her outside and watched Northern Exposure from the steps while she enjoyed the cool of the cement on her belly.

I always send MadRetz an email update, and last nite was no different. One Deep Breath has been drawing my attention lately. Its a weekly haiku challenge, there's always a theme of course, around which you write your haiku. I don't consider myself a poet, but I guess I was inspired, so I included this with the message...

oh black kit
anxiously awaits owner
approved substitute

You can see a photo of Billy here. I can't believe I don't have one of my own!

Peligroso Overheating

Its too hot to blog!!!

Sunday, prostrate from the heat.

Yahoo! Weather said it was 104 degrees outside. I have no clue what temperature it was in my little upstairs apartment, not much movement going on, air or otherwise. It looks as if the entire United States is broiling under the hot summer sun.

I had a pretty unproductive day yesterday, altho' I did get in a workout (air conditioned gym) and did a couple of loads of laundry. Managed to pack up a bunch of things for friends and my dad, all ready for the post today.

Saturday was different all together. I went to SF to meet blog-friend Willie who was in town from Texas. Willie in person is more amazing than Willie via blogging. Nope, I didn't know him before : .) Brilliant, artistic, deep, articulate. It was soooo cool getting to know him in person!

Go check out his stuff! Willie Baronet.


Spirit of Dubya-Bee, big heart connected to oh so many blog pals. 5 words about you, Willie, and I'm working on that collage : .) Thanks for hanging with me on Saturday, I really enjoyed the time with you!

Don't Mess With Texas

I went to Texas for the first time to visit my dad who just built a house outside Killeen/Fort Hood in central Texas. This trip also marked my first ride on a prop plane. I don't fly well, as a matter of fact, I need to be completely drugged, Xanax being my medication of choice, but I was fine flying in this smaller plane maybe because I could see the ground the entire 20 minute flight from Dallas : .)


I just love the dual meaning in "Don't Mess with Texas." Not only is it a slogan for the Texas Department of Transportation, and was developed to reduce littering on Texas roadways, but exactly what it says, "Don't Mess with Texas." I found it hard, however, to take such a slogan seriously when Texas pride was painted on the side of a bathtub.

Dad started collecting tractors as soon as he moved. Such a country guy!

Dad and I drove two hours to San Antonio, where I dragged him thru El Mercado - shopping and then on a ghost tour of downtown. Nope, we didn't see any ghosts, but we did get a good dose of local history. This is a shot of us outside the Alamo.

You know how you have certain expectations? Well, the Alamo is much smaller than I expected. (Versus the Mona Lisa, which was larger than I expected, go figure.) Did you know that there's no basement in the Alamo? : .)

Aunt Ginny and Uncle John live next door to dad and had us over for dinner. My cousin and his new wife joined us. Uncle John and I played dualing cameras. He doesn't like to have his picture taken.

I love that my dad lives in the middle of nowhere. The birds wake you in the morning and the deer visit in the afternoon. I think I'll go back, not only to practice my Texas drawl, but to get some more Lamme's Pecan Pralines, yum!!!

Thots for Today

Universe speaking again...

Symptoms of Inner Peace

A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experience

An unmistakable ability to enjoy the moment

A loss of interest in judging other people

A loss of interest in judging self

A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others

An inability to worry (this is a very serious symptom!)

Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation

Frequent acts of smiling

An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than to make them happen

An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

Forever strive for enlightenment. Try it, you might like it!

Mini Mini Tri

This morning I was going to sleep in, but after the alarm went off at 6 am, I was unable to bag any more zzz's, so I got up and went to the gym.

Did spin class for 42 minutes, ran on the treadmill for 10 minutes (a mile) and then I picked up Bill, and met Mike and LeAnne in Santa Cruz for my first ocean swim since the mid-eighties. Yes, I've lived in California most of my life, but after moving from So. Cal, I haven't been to the beach very often.

To acclimate ourselves to the water, we slowly swam out about 120 yards to that tiny white dot to the left of the pier (the one on the left side of the photo, straight out from the left edge of the multi-floored building on the shore), splashed around a bit, swam back to shore to take a break. We repeated the jaunt a second time, and I got out of the water feeling much more comfortable about the half mile swim that is part of the tri in August.

Things to remember about swimming in the ocean:

1) 59 degrees isn't *that* cold. burrrr...
2) You are *very* bouyant wearing a wetsuit and swimming in salt water.
3) There is nothing to fear from Seaweed. Even if it is slimy, it tastes good!
4) Your equlibrium is challenged upon exiting the water, so expect to crabwalk up the beach.
5) Salt water does not hydrate you.
6) There are probably a bazillion ocean creatures swimming beneath you (don't panic!), but make sure you swim with a buddy to feed to the Great White Shark looking for a little brunch so you can get back to shore ; .)

Photo courtesy of the Stagnaro Brothers

Its about 91 Degrees Outside Today

And I decided to try on a triathlon wetsuit.

I am amazed that people will actually attempt a tri once they manage to don the wetsuit. I almost needed to lie down afterwards.

Can you say sauna? Say it with me ... "sauna."

I finally got the sucker on, I felt strangled, claustrophopic. Apparently this is the way they are supposed to fit.

No, I don't look like the picture above, especially in the bust (one can dream, however). I look like a pregnant seal, a Great White smackeral! And now I smell like neoprene, too.

Photo Courtesy of ZootSports - WetZoot

One Word Meme Revisited

The MadMonk added a few items of her own, so I had to put my thinking cap on again...

Your Job: nonprofit
Favorite Physical Feature: hands
Your Vice: bacon
What Animal are You: armadillo
What Did You Learn Today: rote
What Are You Most Thankful For: friends
Why Are You Art: love
Your Last Date: fun
Your Next Life: coming
What is Precious: understanding
What is Zen: solitude

Swampy!

1st open H2O swim today. Lake Almaden. Wetsuits necessary. Murky depths. Low visibility. Lake grass and other floaty thingys in the water. (Gross!)

500 yards around the hot pink buoys...twice. A 1000 yards! Whoowheee!!!

A little bit intimidated, panic between buoys. Thank goodness for support from tri-stud Bill.

Perserverence is rewarded. Successful swim!

Got Nail Gun?

I spent the 4th helping Bill & Julie with their fence project. Give the woman some power tools and watch out! 4 panels successfully completed without any major injuries!

Ready for Independence Day

Happy 4th!

Heart Milagro

Today's art. 3-D Paper mâche heart painted with acrylic. Sponged canvas. Paper roses.