Dragon Boats

Am usually not in town for the Lowell dragon boat races. It's not as large as the one in Boston, but still fun. I don't realize how often I am the only person of color around, until I find myself surrounded by them. Delightful.











We took my nephews to their first ever dragon boat race. They kept looking for fighting dragons :-) Luke is quite the photographer - he kept stopping so he could take a photo - too cute.

Recent Reads

Been reading art/creative books lately, seeking inspiration.
I tend read and re-read creative books - and always learn something new. Ideas seems to seep in and pop out in the most amazing ways.

1. The Art of Photographing Children: Techniques for Making Better Color, Black and White, Handcolored, and Digital Pictures by Cheryl Machat Dorskind

2. Artists' journals and sketchbooks : exploring and creating personal pages by Lynne Perrella

3. Charles Evans' watercolours in a weekend by Charles Evans

4. The complete guide to altered imagery : mixed-media techniques for collage, altered books, artists journals, and more by Karen Michel

5. Creating books & boxes : fun and unique approaches to handmade structures by Benjamin D. Rinehart

6. Digital scrapbooking in easy steps by John Slater

7. Keys to drawing with imagination : strategies and exercises for gaining confidence and enhancing your creativity by Bert Dodson

8. New directions in altered books by Gabe Cyr

9. Sketch & color by Paul Taggart

Quote of the Day

“I read and walked for miles at night along the beach, writing bad blank verse and searching endlessly for someone wonderful who would step out of the darkness and change my life. It never crossed my mind that that person could be me.” -Anna Quindlen

Recent Reads

1. The Innocent Man by John Grisham
My book club book for July. I am a Grisham fan, so was looking forward to reading his first attempt at non-fiction. Most of the women in the book club had not read Grisham before and really liked the book. Unfortunately, I did not like it at all. I found the writing clunky and awkward. Where was that great story-telling style of his? On the positive side, the story is an interesting one, and gave us lots to talk about. I applaud him for trying a new genre - but must say that he is much better at fiction.

2. Helen of Troy by Margaret George
I absolutely loved this book. I was a little worried in the beginning - her father was Zeus in the form of a swan?!! - but was hooked almost immediately. It is great fun to read this story from Helen's point of view - we always hear so much about how the guys experienced it, with Helen as the footnote - "the most beautiful woman in the world". I finished the book a couple of night ago, and savored every page. After my sojourn in the land of Helen, Hector, Paris, Achilles, gods, goddesses and heroes I must admit that it has been a tough transition back to reality.

3 Bunny Day

There is something magical about early morning walks. Everything is still fresh and new and filled with possibilities.

The other amazing thing is all the wildlife out and about. Always lots of birds. Some days I see deer. Other days bunnies. Last week I stumbled upon a family of turkeys - mama and 6 babies. Not sure who was more startled initially, but as they got used to me, they allowed me to get rather close. I've stopped to move turtles and frogs off the streets, and consider myself incredibly lucky to see wildlife so regularly.

As to the title of this post? My days are named after the animals who grace me with their presence.

Latest Audio Book

Angels Fall by Nora Roberts

This audio book is a cross between a mystery and chick lit, and was interesting enough to hold my attention for the complete 10 CDs. I liked the readers voice, so that worked for me too. An interesting story that had me guessing until the end as to whodunnit.


From Publishers Weekly
Roberts's latest novel of romantic suspense is a cunningly calibrated portrait of a young chef's recovery from violent trauma. While driving in the Grand Tetons, displaced Bostonian Reece Gilmore stops in the small town of Angel's Fist, near Jackson Hole, Wyo., and considers the "Cook Wanted" sign in Joanie's, a local diner. Still rattled by a shooting spree at her Boston restaurant that left her wounded and the only survivor among 12 co-workers, Reece is easily spooked, as noted by her plainspoken new boss, Joanie, and the locals who frequent the restaurant. Among them is a wary, unattached mystery novelist, Brody. Indeed, when Reece claims to have witnessed a murder while hiking along Snake River, few except Brody are inclined to believe the skittish new resident: Sheriff Rick Mardson hasn't found any clear evidence of a woman struck down near the river; Doc Wallace is suspicious of Reece's fragile mental state; and Joanie isn't about to cut Reece any slack while running a busy kitchen. Roberts cleverly casts suspicions on the locals while developing the romance between the two feisty protagonists. A slow-burn start combusts in a satisfying denouement; Roberts's legions of fans will be enthralled.

Obesity Can Be Contagious

I heard this on the news earlier this week and fluffed it off- I mean come on!

It did however peak my interest. Here is an article from the NY times. Research shows that your friends can make you obese. Interestingly neighbors and family members do not have a similar effect.

Visual Journal Pages II

Home with the sniffles today. Here are some recently created pages.

Visual Journal Pages I

Here is a sample of pages created this summer. It is an interesting exercise for me to use images and not just words.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

I've been on the library waiting list for ages for this new book by Khaled Hosseini, and finally got my hands on it this weekend. I read the book in almost one sitting, and in certainly less than 24 hours. It's the story of 2 women in Afghanistan. We meet each woman as a child and follow their individual stories until their paths intersect. Written in a deceptively simple style, this story traces the lives of these women, their hopes and dreams, their heartaches, their loves and losses.

I don't think it was amazing as "The Kite Runner", but would recommend it.

Recent Reads

One of the great joys of a vacation for me is the oodles of reading time available. I love curling up with a good book, and the sheer joy of being able to simply loose myself for hours in a good read is delightful.

1. Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham
My book club book for June. I love other works by the author, so was really looking forward to a great read. Was very disappointed. The idea of a story in 3 parts with the same characters is fun, but I simply could not get into this book - and when one of the characters turns up as a giant lizard from another planet in the 3rd story - he totally lost me.

2. Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan
Took me a little time to get into this book - it needs a good solid couple of hours for the story to really start to gel, but once I was in, I was hooked. A fun read about the mishaps of adventure travel, with a dash of problems in Burma. Told in quintessential Amy Tan style.

3. Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy
A quick read about characters in a little town in Ireland. Not as interesting as some of her other books, so would not recommend it, but is probably an good beach read - nothing too dark or complex.

4. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
There is so much hype about this book I thought I'd give it a read. It's a New Age self-help book centered about the "Law of Attraction" - in a nutshell, you attract to you what you think about or focus on. Some interesting quotes, but the writing is atrocious - what is with all those exclamation marks?

5. A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve
A reunion story - best friends from high school gather 27 years later for a wedding in the Berkshires. Story of regrets, missed opportunities, lives contiued without each other. An interesting read, if only to imagine what it would be like to meet up with my high school buddies again.

Latest Audio Book

2nd Chance by James Patterson

The second in the series of 5 of the Women's Murder Club. Not great literature by any means, but not bad for listening to on the commute. It's funny how much I've gotten used to listening to an audio book while I drive. I've taken a break this week to listen to music for a change. Feels very different.

From Amazon.com:
2nd Chance reconvenes the Women's Murder Club, four friends (a detective, a reporter, an assistant district attorney, and a medical examiner) who used their networking skills, feminine intuition, and professional wiles to solve a baffling series of murders in 1st to Die. This time, the murders of two African Americans, a little girl and an old woman, bear all the signs of a serial killer for Lindsay Boxer, newly promoted to lieutenant of San Francisco's homicide squad. But there's an odd detail she finds even more disturbing: both victims were related to city cops. A symbol glimpsed at both murder scenes leads to a racist hate group, but the taunting killer strikes again and again, leaving deliberate clues and eluding the police ever more cleverly. In the meantime, each of the women has a personal stake at risk--and the killer knows who they are.

Hate No More

Did you know that there is a hate crime committed every hour in this country?

It would mean a lot to me if you would take a look at this brief video and write your sentors. Just click here to send your message to congress.

Thank you.

Happy Summer Solstice

We are also celebrating an anniversary. One of the cool things about our relationship is that we do not have set dates for our celebrations. The dates vary depending on when the events fall in any given year.

Happy Anniversary babes.

Bygone Days of Travel

While at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park, came across this exhibit of Air Hostess uniforms over the years. Times certainly have changed.
(Click on pics to enlarge)

Latest Audio Book

1st to Die by James Patterson

Not sure that I have read James Patterson before, though I know that he is a very popular mystery writer. This is the first in a series of books involving the Women's Murder Club. A little too cutesy in some respects - reads like mystery chick lit - but interesting enough for a commute. I did figure out who dunn it - so was not really a surprise.

The most annoying thing about the book is the reader - they really can make or break an audio book. Completed the book yesterday, and started on the second in the series this morning.


From Amazon.com:
The Women's Murder Club pits four San Francisco women professionals against a serial killer who's stalking and murdering newlyweds in bestselling author James Patterson's newest thriller. Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector who's just gotten some very bad news. She deals with it by immersing herself in her newest case and soliciting the personal as well as professional support of her closest friend, who happens to be the city's medical examiner. The two women, along with an ambitious and sympathetic reporter and an assistant DA, form an unlikely alliance, pooling their information and bypassing the chain of command in an engaging, suspenseful story whose gruesome setup is vintage Patterson. "What is the worst thing anyone has ever done?" the killer muses to himself early in the narrative. "Am I capable of doing it? Do I have what it takes?" Answering his own question, he embarks on a murderous spree that takes him from the bridal suite in a Nob Hill hotel to a honeymoon destination in the Napa Valley and thence to a wedding reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. Dispatching his victims on the happiest day of their lives, he purposefully leaves enough clues for his distaff trackers to discover his identity and put him behind bars. But just when the women think they've got the case all wrapped up, the killer turns the tables on them in a bloody denouement that even the most discerning reader won't see coming. Patterson, author of the popular Alex Cross mysteries, promises future adventures for the Women's Murder Club, which may give him an opportunity to develop his heroines' characters more completely and win new fans among those who prefer their detectives in high heels and lipstick.

San Diego Sojourn

The annual DAC (Design Automation Conf) was in San Diego this year, and I was out there for the week. As trade shows go, it was okay. Location was fantastic. The guide books list San Diego weather in May/June as gloomy days - but we had lovely weather the entire week. If this is what gloomy looks like, I'm going to have to go back for sunny days! Why is it that I do not live there again?

We spent the first half of the week at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. My room had the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. I'm not kidding. I'm going to have to call them and ask them who makes it. The room on the 14th floor of the Harbor Tower looked out over the marina and the bridge to Coronado. The hotel is right next to Seaport Village and a couple of blocks from the convention center and good restaurants.

We moved to the Balboa Park Inn for the second phase of the trip, and stayed at the Orient Express Room - red walls, a Chinese marriage bed, strange decorations, very loud location and a weird "dead body" smell. Great location though - right next to Balboa Park - which we spent a couple of days exploring. I think we got used to the strangeness of the room - it got quieter on Friday and Saturday nights, and the smell faded after we aired out the room overnight. If you ever stay there - skip the breakfast and find yourself something good to eat.

This was our first time exploring Balboa Park. I had visited the Zoo on an earlier trip, so this time explored the museums and grounds. Quite delightful. I was in awe of all the really cool flora in the park - never seen most of it before. Loved the park. Especially great for picnics and hanging out. The Jacaranda trees have purple flowers out there. Fig trees grow to immense sizes. The carousel has an actual brass ring.

My pal Jos came down from LA for a quick visit, and we got a chance to catch up. Saw the Padres beat the Dodger at Petco Park. Had excellent fish tacos at Tin Fish. Did a lot of walking, and no reading. All in all a fun trip. Came home to find the cat well, if a little leaner. Feels like I was gone for a long time. Glad to be home.

Recent Reads

Astrid & Veronika by Linda Olsson

Quick, delightful read. The story of a blossoming friendship between 2 women generations apart in age. A wonderful recounting of the path to intimacy.

From Publishers Weekly
In Swedish novelist Olsson's somber debut, Veronika Bergman returns to Sweden after a childhood following her diplomat father around the world (her mother abandoned the family), and after publishing her first novel titled Single, One Way, No Luggage. She rents a small house in a rural town to work on her second, but in solitude finds herself seized by feverish dreams and paralyzed by the "stillness" of the landscape and the memories of her recently dead fiancé. Reclusive septuagenarian Astrid Mattson, thought by the village to be a witch, takes an interest in Veronika, and the two strike up a friendship based on loss. Against the backdrop of the changing seasons and their small, plangent houses, the two women slowly tell each other their most closely guarded secrets (which concern their mothers and lovers), and venture, tentatively, out of the safety of their routines. Olsson has a clear feel for the emotional wellsprings of both characters, but can't convert her terse lyricism into a fully realized story.

Home Again

I spent the past several days in Croydon, UK. My cousin Reena (the youngest on my father's side) got married on Saturday, and it was lovely to catch up with relatives that I have not seen in ages. Her father (my godfather) was diagnosed with cancer late last year, so the entire weekend was rather bittersweet.

I stayed at the Travelodge - great prices with very basic services. There were no phones in the room, or anywhere in the hotel - other than the one the front desk used! It certainly made it interesting trying to sync up with others staying at the hotel - you could not just call them, you had to physically go to their rooms. Needless to say, a few wrong doors were knocked upon :-) When I asked the front desk for an iron, I had to leave a deposit - like I was going to steal the iron, and bring it back across the pond with me. It turns out however, that the 30 irons they started out with have dwindled down to about 10 - who would bother to steal them? Someone clearly.

Latest Audio Book

"PS I Love You" by Cecelia Ahern

Classic "chick lit". A cute story, though I was annoyed by all the "giggling, crying, etc". Stuck it out though - a very different fare than what I usually listen to. Completed it this morning, and am glad that I did - though cannot say that I recommend it. Though if you are in the mood for a sappy story, this might be right up your alley.

From Publishers Weekly
Ahern, the mediagenic 22-year-old daughter of Ireland's prime minister, debuts with a sweet, sentimental tale of a young widow's trials and triumphs in the year after her husband's death. Soul mates Holly and Gerry married in their early 20s; when Gerry dies of brain cancer at 30, Holly is utterly bereft. But Gerry has a final gift: a series of letters, which Holly is to open on the first of each month from March to New Year's, and which will guide her on her journey from grief. Gerry correctly predicts that Holly will not have gone through his belongings by June, found a new job by September or considered falling in love again by December, but with his posthumous epistolary encouragement she does all those things. She also enters a karaoke contest, takes a beach vacation and dances at a holiday ball she'd always attended with Gerry. The months pass as close friends help prop Holly up; around her, a marriage falls apart, a couple gets engaged and a friend announces her pregnancy. Within her tight-knit family, Holly's youngest brother makes a revealing film of her birthday party, her elder brothers change places in her allegiance and her parents take in one stray grown child after another for stays short and long. Ahern's speed (she wrote the book in three months) and her youth do show-the wisdom in evidence owes much to Nicholas Sparks and Sophie Kinsella-and her prose is pedestrian. She boasts a natural storytelling talent, however, resulting in a compelling tale sparked by an unusual premise.

Quotes of the day

"No matter what's ahead - no matter what I do or don't do, no matter what comes to me or what's taken away - I'm going to die anyway. So what is there to be afraid of? Why all this terror and clenching? Like the trees before the bulldozer, I'm going down. I might as well yield."
- from "LEAP!" by Sara Davidson

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor."
- Mark Twain

Rainy Days

We are currently in a rainy pattern, and I am delighted.
This has been a tough allergy season, and I am hoping that all the pollen gets washed away. Would be lovely to be able to take a deep breath outdoors again.

Ten wonderful things about rainy days:
1. Don't need to hunt for those sun-glasses
2. It's fun to play with umbrellas
3. The world looks so shiny and clean, and smells great too
4. Perfect excuse to make a fire and curl up with a great book
5. Also a perfect reason to stay in bed and read all day
6. Ideal day to explore museums, bookstores, libraries
7. Excellent for an indoor arts and crafts activities
8. Fun to splash in puddles
9. Instant car wash - and mine really needs it
10. Instant access to new, fleeting reflections.

Latest Audio Book

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid

Listened to this book on CD on my daily commute, and really enjoyed it. It's a good story and the narrator has a great reading voice - which can make or break an audio book in my opinion.

From Publishers Weekly:
Hamid's second book (after Moth Smoke) is an intelligent and absorbing 9/11 novel, written from the perspective of Changez, a young Pakistani whose sympathies, despite his fervid immigrant embrace of America, lie with the attackers. The book unfolds as a monologue that Changez delivers to a mysterious American operative over dinner at a Lahore, Pakistan, cafe. Pre-9/11, Princeton graduate Changez is on top of the world: recruited by an elite New York financial company, the 22-year-old quickly earns accolades from his hard-charging supervisor, plunges into Manhattan's hip social whirl and becomes infatuated with Erica, a fellow Princeton graduate pining for her dead boyfriend. But after the towers fall, Changez is subject to intensified scrutiny and physical threats, and his co-workers become markedly less affable as his beard grows in ("a form of protest," he says). Erica is committed to a mental institution, and Changez, upset by his adopted country's "growing and self-righteous rage," slacks off at work and is fired. Despite his off-putting commentary, the damaged Changez comes off as honest and thoughtful, and his creator handles him with a sympathetic grace.

Happy Mother's Day

I've had this photo of my Mom on my mind the past several days. Due to my amazing :-) organizational skills, I was able to quickly find it - no small feat, since this was back in the day I still used film.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms.

Soccer Girls

Photos from my last trip to Vegas. It's amazing how creative I can be while waiting. Really love how the colors turned out.
Click on pics to enlarge.

12x24 LO:











Detail of Left and Right pages:

Jonah

Here is a page I created while waiting for the Verizon DSL guy to show up and fix my connection problem. I am lucky to have such great models at my disposal.

National Poetry Month

Did you know that April was National Poetry Month? Read any good poetry?

Now, I'm not really sure why, but I have never been much interested in reading poetry. Was it a bad experience in primary school? Was it a horrible teacher? Was I confused and befuddled? I honestly do not recall. I do know that I read poems when I was young - after all don't nursery rhymes count as poetry?

Either way - onward! I decided that I would read several poetry books during the month as my way to celebrate the event. I checked out several books, and did actually read one. Hey, one is better than none!

Why I Wake Early: New Poems" by Mary Oliver was the book of poems I did read. Not a thick book, but it still took me the entire month to get through. She has some lovely poems in it, and I especially liked her descriptions of what she observes and feels in nature.

I've come to realize that I really like poetry in the form of the spoken word. I've listened to local poets who have made me laugh, cry, and think. The fact that I do not love written poetry bothers me. Not really sure why. Maybe I just need to find the right ones for me.
The search continues.....

Recent Reads

I'm delighted to have gotten some good reading time this past week.

1. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
I listened to the audio book read by the author, and was captivated from the start. I learned much, and it was fascinating to hear how he connects much of my feelings about God to rational thoughts. Feel better armed for future discussions on the topic. There were absolutely times that I felt I would be struck by lightning as I listened to the book, but will certainly revisit the book again to really let it all soak in. There is too much to take in the first time. I would highly recommend this book.

2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
An Oprah book club selection, but that is not why I picked it. I have read rave reviews about this author, and wanted to read his latest work. It's the story of a man and his son in a post-apocalyptic world. I simply could not get into it. He has deceptively simple sentences that convey much, but the story simply did not grab me. What was the point? Not sure, and I was disappointed by the book. Would be interested to talk to anyone who enjoyed the book.

3. Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran
This is my book club read for this month. The story of 3 sisters who flee Iran, and end up in a little village in Ireland. All the recipes and writing about food made me ravenous - I ate constantly during the several hours it took me to read the book. The book has the seeds of a great story - an epic, but it does not deliver. The writing is not very good - in my opinion it is written at a middle school level - and maybe that was the intended audience. The juices of cultural mores, immigration, interracial relationships, etc, were simply not served up in any way that I found satisfying. Too bad really, because I would have loved a good read that gave me insight into this immigrant story.

Gun Control

The media coverage of the Virginia Tech shootings continues. What I think is conspicuously missing in the coverage of this tragedy is that the guy had a legal gun. A legal hand gun.

Okay so he was unstable. But let's be honest. If he was unstable and had to use a knife or a cooking pot, he would not have been able to do so much damage. The fact that he had a gun completely changed the dynamics of situation.

Yes, I've heard all the hype: "guns don't kill people. people kill people"
Why put the blame on guns? Besides we have a constitutional right to bear arms (don't most of us have 2 already).

I do not have a knee-jerk reaction to guns. I know that there are very responsible gun owners out there. And hunters use guns for sport. My real issue is with the fact that hand guns are legal. What are you hunting? Well, people I guess.

On the news today - several people killed in a shooting in a Boston neighborhood.

Why does the media shy away from talking about gun control? Yes, I understand that it's a huge industry with powerful lobbies. But when do we as citizens of this republic stand up and say enough is enough? What does it take? We have a war against drugs. A war against terror. What are these killings if not terror at home?

Glorious Weather & Bad Books

We have had incredible weather these past several days. And just in time too - all that rain was getting me down - though I do love to curl up with a good book.

Speaking of books - it might just be me, but I've always felt that once I start a book, I should finish it. Finish it for whom? I dunno. Just know that I must. It has taken me many years to allow myself to discard a book that does not hold my interest. I mean, it's not like I see the author for dinner on a regular basis is it? But I always feel a little guilty - like I did not see something through. You can take the girl out of the church, but..... I try to be rational with myself - there are so many, many wonderful books out there waiting for me to read, why bother to trudge through one that does not interest me at all?

I just gave up on (notice my language?) " The Double Bind" by Chris Bohjalian. Simply could not get into it. I am certainly fascinated by the concept. What happens in the lives of people who were once wealthy/professional/had a home and love ones that leave them homeless? Who would not be interested? I was intrigued by the real-life story that sparked the novel. But the writing is poor, and the story simply does not hold my interest. So off my night stand it went.

It's not just a myth that the grass is greener on the other side. Sometimes it really is.

Watercolor Journal

Created a new watercolor journal. I love creating and binding my own journals - they are exactly how I like them, and considerably less expensive than store bought ones - though I've never met a blank book I did not like.

Here are some recent pages from the new journal. I have yet to decide what I'll do with the cover - there are so many options.

Color Swatches

A rainy day is a perfect day to play with art supplies.
Here are a couple of swatch pages I created in my visual journal.

Recent Movies

Here are some worth mentioning:

1. Babel
Is it just me? I did not get this movie. Seemed deep. But maybe too deep for me? What was the point? 3 interconnected stories? What did the Japanese story line add to the movie? All stories about people who are in trouble, make poor choices, and yet are redeemed in some way?
I really wanted to get this movie, but am afraid that I missed some essential part I was supposed to understand.

2. Word Play
A delightful, and insightful documentary about crossword junkies. I really enjoyed this movie, and learned about an entire sub-culture along the way. Who knew that Monday puzzles are the easiest? Now I know, and am delighted to say that one of my presents from the bunny was an easy crosswords book, and I am hooked. I see what all the fuss is about.

3. Windsor Castle: A Royal Year
Another delightful documentary that enlightened as it entertained. The film-makers were given unprecedented access to Windsor Castle, and it really is amazing. After watching, I feel rather like an insider - maybe the Queen will invite me over for crumpets and tea.

4. The Producers
While the remake is not as good as the original, the cast of Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Will Ferrell and Uma Thurman, make for an entertaining time. I now have a new image that pops into mind every time I hear "The Chrysler Building" - see it and you'll know what I mean.

Easter Musings

“I know all about Easter", my nephew declares.
"It's all about the EGGS!"

A little pagan in the making.

Had a wonderfully relaxing and re-charging weekend. There is nothing quite like doing what ever one pleases, in the way one wants to do it. I spent a part of my time reading, painting, finding the perfect bag for my art supplies.

Now, it's not just me. There live 2 bagophiles in my home. Actually if you take into consideration the cat's fascination with paper and plastic bags, maybe everyone in our house is a bagophile. What gives? I have no idea. Maybe it's the joy of having everything in its own bag. Maybe it's having things packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Where to you ask? What does that matter? Anywhere. Even if the trek is to the dining room table so as to not disturb the sleeping feline. Strange but true. I 've got a thing for bags. Little ones. Big ones. Plain. Colored. Striped. Leather. Plastic. Cloth. Seems to make no difference. I love bags.

Susan says...

Why do they call it PMS?

Mad Cow was already taken.

Is it just me or does the whole PMS thing get harder as you get older?

I'm convinced that once your body believes that you're close to the end of your child-rearing years, all the fuzzy hormones that flood your system just stop being produced.

No wonder so many women change their lives dramatically as they reach their 40s/50s/60s - we've put up with enough crap for this lifetime thank you very much!!

Quote of the Day

“What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.”
- Colette

Crocus Sighting

What fantastic weather we had this weekend.
Here are some of the lovely flowers in the yard.

Made My Day

One of the students I taught last year won the local spelling bee and was interviewed by the local paper. She said that I was her "all-time favorite teacher"!!!

That has to be the nicest compliment any teacher can get.

Do you remember your favorite teacher?

Mine was called Mrs Jana. She was hard and tough and took no crap from anyone. And she pushed and prodded and cajoled me (and everyone) to really give it my all. During report card days, other teachers would simply handout the cards and release their students. Not Mrs Jana. She had us all wait (im)patiently while she cleaned up her desk, board, etc. And then after all the other students were out, and crowded around our classroom windows, she slowly started calling each of us by name - very loudly - and discussing our report card for all to hear!

I learned that important lesson from her, and when I taught last year, I did the same on report card day. Each student heard what I had to say about everyone - where they did well, and what I believed they could improve on. I also do not believe in surprises, and every week updated each students grades on my board - so everyone knew exactly where they stood and what they needed to do to improve their grades.

I believe that everyone wants to succeed, but success can mean different things to different people. And I believe that children rise to the bar you set for them. You have to set it. Show them how they can get there. Help, cajole, prod them along the way. Reward and acknowledge hard work and success.

My style certainly created waves, and "scared" kids not in my classes. But my kids and I learned from each other and were better for it.

Naked in Death

By J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts)

"This is the novel that started it all-the first book in J. D. Robb's number-one New York Times-bestselling In Death series, featuring New York City homicide detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Roarke.

It is the year 2058, and technology now completely rules the world. But New York City Detective Eve Dallas knows that the irresistible impulses of the human heart are still ruled by just one thing-passion.

When a senator's daughter is killed, the secret life of prostitution she'd been leading is revealed. The high-profile case takes Lieutenant Eve Dallas into the rarefied circles of Washington politics and society. Further complicating matters is Eve's growing attraction to Roarke, who is one of the wealthiest and most influential men on the planet, devilishly handsome . . . and the leading suspect in the investigation."

Completed this audio book on my commute this morning. My first book by the author, and I was pleasantly surprised. There is more meat to this book than just your typical thriller. Parts of the book I found really disturbing. The main character gets nicely developed and I enjoyed the ride. I am requesting the next book in the series today.

Looks like there are 22 in the series.

World Happiness

Would you consider yourself happy?
What makes you happy?
How do you know you are happy?

Happiness is one of those intangibles. And yet we value it so much that it is a part of our constitution. We have the right to "pursue" happiness. How does one do that exactly?

I for one find that the feeling of happiness comes and goes - usually quite unexpectedly. Yesterday for example I was happy that a couple of books that I had bound turned out exactly as I had expected/hoped/envisioned. Is that how we define happiness - when something goes as we hoped/expected? Not so for me. I've found that I can wake up feeling happy for no apparent reason at all.

Here is some interesting data:

The 20 happiest nations in the World are:

1 - Denmark
2 - Switzerland
3 - Austria
4 - Iceland
5 - The Bahamas
6 - Finland
7 - Sweden
8 - Bhutan
9 - Brunei
10 - Canada
11 - Ireland
12 - Luxembourg
13 - Costa Rica
14 - Malta
15 - The Netherlands
16 - Antigua and Barbuda
17 - Malaysia
18 - New Zealand
19 - Norway
20 - The Seychelles

Other notable results include:
23 - USA
35 - Germany
41 - UK
62 - France
82 - China
90 - Japan
125 - India
167 - Russia

The three least happy countries were:
176 - Democratic Republic of the Congo
177 - Zimbabwe
178 - Burundi

Source: University of Leicester

The Power (and Peril) of Praise

Here is a fascinating article about how not to talk to kids.

I have so many stories I could share that prove the point of the article - buy me a drink and I'll tell you all about it.

Here is the article.

Exile

by Richard North Patterson

"Bestseller Patterson's new thriller with its focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been overtaken by events (there's no mention of Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005 or the recent fighting across the Lebanese border), but the underlying political issues may be enough for most readers to put the real world aside and suspend disbelief. Harvard-trained attorney David Wolfe, a San Franciscan on the verge of a congressional campaign, has his plans derailed when his law school classmate (and one-time lover), Palestinian Hana Arif, asks him to defend her from charges that she led a conspiracy that assassinated dovish Israeli leader Amos Ben-Aron. Inspired by idealism and lingering passion, Wolfe jeopardizes his political future by taking the case. His suspicion that the suicide bombers who attacked Ben-Aron were aided by a security breach leads him to Israel and Lebanon. While Patterson (Conviction) attempts to portray the issues fairly, the introduction of a soap-operaish subplot undercuts his intended high purpose, and the resolution of the mystery is too predictable to surprise." - From Publishers Weekly

Finished this book last weekend, and though I agree with the review that the subplot was a little too trite, I did like the way he tried to address both POV in a fair way. There has been so much blood shed in this land holy to 3 religions. When/how does it all end? In my opinion, everyone is right, and has valid points. But unless people and their governments get off their positions and actively work for peace, I do not see how this "conflict" will end. How many dead would it require to elevate this from a "conflict"?

I heard this morning that MIT is running a contest to solicit ideas on how to bring about peace in Jerusalem by the year 2015 (? not sure if that is the right year). I for one really like the idea of so many minds trying to create peace. Hopefully it happens in our lifetime.

Happy Equinox!

It's that time of year again - the spring equinox.
The first day of spring.
Today is one of 2 days in the year when we have equal amounts of night and day.
As a person who grew up on the equator, I still find the entire seasons thing fascinating.

Some interesting facts.

Bleeding Hearts

By Ian Rankin

“First published in the U.K. in 1994 under the pseudonym Jack Harvey, this routine thriller from Edgar-winner Rankin tells the story of Michael Weston, a fastidious British assassin whose life gets complicated when Hoffer, an American PI, starts to close in on him. The novel opens with Weston's carefully choreographed hit on London TV journalist Eleanor Ricks, but Hoffer is chasing Weston for another assassination, in which the antihero mistakenly shot a young girl. The plot takes a convoluted journey to the United States, to a weapons dealer in Texas and on to a quasireligious cult near Seattle. The nonstop action, copious violence and arcane details about weaponry and forensics will please thriller junkies, but fans of Rankin's masterful John Rebus series (Fleshmarket Alley, etc.) may not find this pre-Rebus book to their taste.” – Publishers Weekly

My first novel by Ian Rankin, and was not overly impressed. I think the only reason I stayed with the audio book till the end, was because the British English (windscreen, rubbish, etc) brought back childhood memories. I know that’s not much of a recommendation, but then I would not really recommend the book.

Loss of Stardust

The world is a little less glitzy with the loss of the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas.

While visiting Vegas in Jan, we were driving by the hotel on the strip, and I said out loud that it made me sad that the Stardust would be destroyed. This clearly perplexed by niece, who asked why it made me sad. Then, she asked if I would cry.

Well, I did not cry. But I will miss that old hotel. I loved the hotel sign - the old style - different era feel. I know the world moves on, and progress cannot be stopped, but does the world really need another new, million dollar casino? I think not.

Here is my fave video of the event.

ESL Madness

Why is it that the English language calls groups of things different names? What a nightmare for an English learner. Anyone else remember having to memorize the madness when you were in school?

What do you call a group of

cattle - herd
fish - school
geese - gaggle
whales - pod
dogs - pack
birds - flock
sheep - flock

and so on.

Anyone know what you call a group of cats?
Check out this link.

Temperamental Weather

Talk about moody weather patterns! It’s been in the high 60s the past couple of days, and today we’ll have a high of 40. Oh, and about 13” of snow expected by tomorrow night!

I feel bad for all the little critters. The robins have been back for weeks (I do not think some ever left), and there is not much food around. We’ve had swarms of blackbirds pick every berry off the holly bushes, and we go through bird feed in amazing quantities.

I’m glad I was able to leave work early yesterday and get out and enjoy the gift of a beautiful day. Delightful.

ER – Season 2

Decided to buy a treadmill recently. Yes, I have a gym membership, but find that it’s much easier to get in a couple of miles when I can watch interesting TV shows – especially when it’s as bitterly cold as it has been here lately. It is delightful not to have to bundle up and brace myself for the cold.

My current favorite is ER. I never got to watch it while it was on, and now am working my way through the library DVD collection of Season 2. Very enjoyable. And I get the added bonus of doing something healthy while watching TV.

Now don’t get me wrong – I am really looking forward to warmer weather and long, rambling walks outside. But if I’m going to watch some TV, why not log some miles along the way?

Not A Mega Millions Winner

It’s a funny thing about the lotto. I do not buy tickets, or even notice them regularly – but how can one miss the media blitz and the hoopla about a 350 Million Dollar jackpot?

So we bought our tickets. And I must say that for sheer entertainment value, it’s a bargain. I mean, on what else can you spend $1, and get really excited about future possibilities? What a rush! I got all worked up, and tried to decide whether I would go in to work and quit, or simply call in to quit. These are the paths my mind goes down ….

I am sorry to report that I did not win, and the work dilemma resolved itself.

I would however not trade a minute of the rush of planning how one could spend all that money. Think about it – what would you do if you won $350M – see what I mean?

Ammachi

My Ammachi (grandmother) passed away this past week.

She was my last living grandparent, and it is strange to have lost that physical link to the past so completely. My parents were able to arrange a flight back to India to get there in time for the funeral, and I'm glad that my Mom got to have that closure. On a call to her yesterday (the funeral was just over), she said that it was strange to be in the house without my Ammachi. I cannot even begin to imagine. Her Mom has been there in that house for as long as my Mom has been alive.

The hard part of death is not that someone dies. It's how bereft the ones who loved them feel.

Creative Cat

Been having a fun time playing with oil pastels in my visual journal.
Here is a sampling.
(click on image to enlarge)

Waiting for Spring













Lazy Morning









Outside My Window

Niece Art

I always have various journals going, and while visiting with my nieces in Jan, I had with me one of my travel journals. I think kids are fascinated by whatever it is that the adults around them are doing, and my nieces found my journal intriguing. Here is some art that the twins created.
(click on image to enlarge)

Prison Break

The wonderful thing about not watching shows on regular TV, is that I don't have to watch all the commercials. Started watching the first season of Prison Break this week - and really like it. It is different and interesting - story about a man who was framed for murder and on death row. His brother commits a crime so he can get incarcerated in the same prison, and he has a plan to bust them both out. The blue prints of the prison layout and his plan are tattooed on his body – in code (very cool concept). An interesting ride, and worth a look.

My only complaint – the women characters are really nothing more than cardboard cutouts and annoying. Oh, and did I mention that the guys have great bodies?

Jellies

Jellies @ the New England Aquarium

I Feel Bad About My Neck:

And Other Thoughts On Being A Woman, by Nora Ephron

This was my book club’s book this month, and though it was a light-hearted, slim volume, it sparked an interesting discussion.

The Book: A quick and light read – not deep or preachy. I like her movies and this is the first work by her I’ve read. I like her style of writing – the book almost felt like a conversation with an older sister over decadent chocolate. In my view her overall message was: Enjoy and appreciate what you have while you have it.

The Book Club: It was interesting to hear how the women in my group think about aging. Sample of topics discussed: how aging is different for us than our mother’s generation, how the amount of time and money spent on maintenance increases as we get older, how body parts start to hurt as you get older (and apparently a miracle pill available), etc.

Something to chew on – what is the root drive behind anti-aging products (other than the $ made by those industries). Is it to really to look younger? Or is the goal to somehow prevent aging, and in that way not get closer to death?

I love the new Dove campaign. Check it out here.

Look Forward Into Your Life

Been playing in my visual journal.
Here's a page I created this morning.
(click on image to enlarge)

The Language of Line

Here is something to try:

"Make single continuous-line marks that express each of these words: angry, joyful, confused, sad, bored, excited, silly and serious. Are your marks similar to mine?"

From "The New Creative Artist" by Nita Leland
(click on image to enlarge)

Levels of Abstraction

Page from current visual journal.
Done is 3 steps on 3 separate days:
1. Lay down an acrylic wash
2. Draw with waterproof pen
3. Color added using colored pencils


(click on image to enlarge)

"Kamleika"

Page from my current visual journal.
Had never heard of people using intestines as clothing - really a beautiful work of art.
@ PEM
(Click on pic to enlarge)



Alutig or Unangan artist
Overcoat, ca. 1825
Alutian archipelago, Alaska.
Sea lion intestine, dyed esophagus

Scrapbooking Reads

Recently read:

1. What About the Words: Creative Journaling for Scrapbookers, by Memory Makers Books
2. The Altered Book Scrapbook, by Susan Ure
3. Imperfect Lives: Scarpbooking the Reality of Your Everday, by Tara Governo

The great thing about libraries is the constant access I have to new books. Every trip to the library is like Christmas morning - yup I do get rather giddy about the whole thing. Recently found these books on scrapbooking. Since I got Adobe Photoshop for Xmas one year, have gone almost totally digital with my scrapping, and I am always in search of new ideas and inspiration.

I find that most scrapbooking books and magazines feature layouts with loads of stuff - usually too frilly or fussy for my taste. Bad photos are bad photos, and my focus is more on my photos than on all the stuff. An interesting idea while reading one of the books was the idea of scrapping the not joyous or happy moments. As a journal keeper, I certainly write about the good, the bad and the ugly, but I certainly do not capture photos of the not fun stuff. Who does? So an interesting idea: layouts that capture the breakup, the fight, the loss, etc. Certainly gives me food for thought.

Sudoku

My latest discovery - Sudoku.

I know people discovered this several years ago, but while on a trip to Vegas in Jan, my brother and his wife got me hooked. And I mean hooked. There is something strangely addictive and rewarding about this game. The game requires no math skills - if you can count from 1 to 9, you have all the math skills you'll need. It's a game of logic.

Went out and bought a beginner book the other day. There is something strangely compelling about seeing results so quickly. I mean, where else in life is the feedback and instant gratification so great? :-) Yup, I'm hooked.

Recharging Batteries

Recently felt like there was not enough color in my life. All the dry technical stuff I deal with at work was not charging my batts. I really needed some COLOR. Know what I mean?

Took myself on back to back dates to the PEM and MFA.

Aaaaah. How soothing to the soul. Felt like the jet stream changed course and brought light and color back into my life. Exactly what I needed. Got recharged, inspired, rejuvenated and creative. Been happily playing with all my supplies since.

If you’ve not taken yourself out on a play/artist date lately, what are you waiting for?
Like the Nike ad says, “Just Do It”.

Cartoon Terrorists?

Could not agree more with this article:

Boston went looney tunes

February 4, 2007

BY NEIL STEINBERG Sun-Times Columnist

So the Boston authorities panic and go crazy reacting to some dumb blinking signs scattered around the city, promoting a new cartoon. Blinking signs that didn't cause a ripple of concern in Chicago or eight other cities.

And it's supposed to be the fault of the network placing the sign?

I don't think so. If I walk through security in an airport, and a guard decides that my Moleskine notebook looks like a bomb because it is small and black and has an elastic band trailing off it, and they arrest me, evacuate O'Hare, divert all incoming flights for two hours, and shut down the whole U.S. transportation system, is that my fault?

Overreaction by the government is routine, but should not be accepted. Yes, these are scary times. But that doesn't mean we've outlawed whimsy. Terror bombs have not, to date, displayed flashing cartoon characters, and it was not irresponsible to set such signs out in public. We're still a free country, sort of, and might just continue to be, if we stand our ground.

See full article

Flossing

I know I should do it.
I know that it is good for me.
It's easy to do.
I have loads of floss lying about.
Yet, I simply cannot do it.
What gives?!

My dentist has informed me that I have lovely teeth, and cavities is not my problem. However, if I want to keep these lovely teeth in my mouth I should floss! Guess my ancestors had no problems with cavities, but hard a hard time convincing their gums to hold on to those teeth!
Reminds me of seeing my grandparents dentures in a glass on the bedside table. Was I the only one freaked out by that? What alien life form is this - that takes out their teeth when they go to bed?

Each week I start anew with my resolve to floss. I did today. One day down.
How many to my next dental cleaning? A place I go to get scolded about not flossing. Like I'm five. Sigh.

Lazy Days

Rafiki loves this spot in my study. As he gets older, lying on a heating pad feels good on his old bones. He has certainly taken over my desk. In my next life I want to come back as my cat.
(click on pics to enlarge)































Professional cat on closed course. Do not attempt!

“Next”

by Michael Crichton

“Is a loved one missing some body parts? Are blondes becoming extinct? Is everyone at your dinner table of the same species? Humans and chimpanzees differ in only 400 genes; is that why a chimp fetus resembles a human being? And should that worry us? There's a new genetic cure for drug addiction--is it worse than the disease?

We live in a time of momentous scientific leaps, a time when it's possible to sell our eggs and sperm online for thousands of dollars and to test our spouses for genetic maladies.

We live in a time when one fifth of all our genes are owned by someone else, and an unsuspecting person and his family can be pursued cross-country because they happen to have certain valuable genes within their chromosomes...

Devilishly clever, Next blends fact and fiction into a breathless tale of a new world where nothing is what it seems and a set of new possibilities can open at every turn.

Next challenges our sense of reality and notions of morality. Balancing the comic and the bizarre with the genuinely frightening and disturbing, Next shatters our assumptions and reveals shocking new choices where we least expect.

The future is closer than you think.” Quoted from book description.

I found this a fascinating read – more for the content than the writing itself. Opened up interesting questions of ethics, science, morality and faith. Though Crichton writes about interesting topics, lately his writing has deteriorated. Caused by a deadline maybe? If he would only write as he is capable of, his books would be wonderful.