My cousin Val, wants to give her sister Anji one of her German Shepherd pups for her upcoming birthday. It took Anji two days to call her sister back and tell her "her plan." Her plan - 'I don't think I should take the puppy because with work and traveling a lot and I already have two pups that don't get the attention they deserve...you should give the pup to Liz. Liz is a dog person and she just lost her dog Max - Liz will take the dog.' So last night Anji asked me if I would take the pup. Of course upon this suggestion Val had to give Anj a hard time and tell her "oh great, this will be just like the baseball glove." (another story) My first response was yes I'll take the pup.
Today after a night of sleeping on it I think it might be in our best interest not to take the pup only because we have so much stuff going on. And a pup, for those of us who know - is work, much like having a child - I'll have to potty train again and be consistent in disciplining the dog all the time for a good two years. That's OK - my concern is the hair and what it's like to have one more dog. Traveling with one dog is far easier then traveling with two.
The dilemma is this...I love my cousin Val and to have something that's hers is a big deal. It's a big deal because who knows how much longer her walk on this plane will last. You see, she's one of God's creations that are unexplainable - people can't fathom her story cause she doesn't tell people and when one of her relatives talk about her people are awed because she is "awe" full.
Val has been living with a soft tissue sarcoma since she was about 25. At the time she was told she had six months to live, she has lived sixteen years. I call her the "bionic woman" or the "six million dollar woman" because that's what she is. A little flavor...she has one lung, a third of her stomach, and maybe a third of her small intestine, no large intestine, a metal plate to replace some lost ribs...and that's just getting started. These past few months she's endured brain surgery, heart surgery - always to come home just a few days later. She's a guenia pig for science and there have been numerous articles written about her - and resident doctors always asking her what has helped her to continue living when so many would of surrendered by now. Her answer, responsibility.
Val is definitely not a quitter and I know God will take her when she is good and ready to let go - so taking this puppy is a dilemma since Anji told me I would have to call Val and tell her "no" if I don't. Thanks Anj. I wonder if you can shave German Shepherds?
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
Overdrive
Here we go again. My third to last class began on Tuesday, Consumer Behavior. It appears to be a fairly interesting topic since it has to do with understanding consumers and their buying behaviors - what drives them. A mix of sociology, psychology and a few other 'ologies'. Back to buggy girl mode. When I am in school and work and try to manage our art business I get a little buggy. Buggy cause I can never manage my time well enough to make quiet time for myself. I am on the countdown. I have 17.5 weeks of school left to complete my Masters. Then...I am sure I'll find something else that I must study.
Actually, getting a flavor for what life could be like without school this past six weeks has been very enlightening. When I don't have school to attend to - I have time to attend to gardening, hiking, playing, and creating art. It's rather liberating. So we'll see what new pursuits I'll have come the new year.
I talked with this lady Lisa about apprenticing and helping her in her glass studio. She blows glass - manipulates it and such to create vessels. I figure if I indulge myself in all the different methods of working with glass - the next thing you'll know - I'll be a glass guru. My workshop in glass fusing starts on my birthday (the 17th) - so I am pretty excited to see where this glass stuff will take me.
On top of learning about glass, work, school, art biz, momma & wife, we still need to get our little house in town sold. September I'll have a little time to say "whew" for about six weeks. It will give me just enough time to build up my holiday inventory for Beaux Arts, the Holiday Market, and hopefully POAC will do another Holiday Show to give me good reason to travel hairy roads to go home. Then come Dec. 4 - I can surrender to life without school and maybe think about a new addition to our family.
Actually, getting a flavor for what life could be like without school this past six weeks has been very enlightening. When I don't have school to attend to - I have time to attend to gardening, hiking, playing, and creating art. It's rather liberating. So we'll see what new pursuits I'll have come the new year.
I talked with this lady Lisa about apprenticing and helping her in her glass studio. She blows glass - manipulates it and such to create vessels. I figure if I indulge myself in all the different methods of working with glass - the next thing you'll know - I'll be a glass guru. My workshop in glass fusing starts on my birthday (the 17th) - so I am pretty excited to see where this glass stuff will take me.
On top of learning about glass, work, school, art biz, momma & wife, we still need to get our little house in town sold. September I'll have a little time to say "whew" for about six weeks. It will give me just enough time to build up my holiday inventory for Beaux Arts, the Holiday Market, and hopefully POAC will do another Holiday Show to give me good reason to travel hairy roads to go home. Then come Dec. 4 - I can surrender to life without school and maybe think about a new addition to our family.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Estate Frustrations
Yesterday was a buggy day. 95% my fault for being a dumbass. Yesterday I was looking at my dad's checking account online and discovered that yet again another $777 was automatically being extracted from his account. This is the third unauthorized transaction to occur in the last month which has cost me almost $2000. $2000 I don't have since Jeff is a part-timer and since we decided to live in dad's house and increase our money going out by three times what we bring in. When our house sells the slate will be clean it is just until we sell our house - which is another story.
Anyhow - upon my discovery I paniced and raced to the bank to only be transfered and put on hold about six different times within forty minutes with the assistance of a banking associate. Through both our frustration we put our agony to a temporary halt and I went back to work to try and resolve the issue on my own. Filing a claim. My sole attempt was ixnayed within five minutes. I was told by customer service that they could not help me and that I had to physically go into the branch who had my power of attorney paperwork on file. I just came from there!
What is boils down to is the gentleman, Brian, who initially helped us on the 18th of May to close some of dad's accounts, stop the ACH, and file a claim for the first initial $777 that came out on the 17th - didn't do what he said he did. The thing that stinks when people die intestate is that it sometimes causes a HUGE headache - sometimes not. The only reason I have left dad's account open is because his mortgage payment automatically gets deducted from his account every two weeks. I should of called the mortgage lender and told them to take it out of a different account and closed dad's orginal account to eliminate my unforseen headache.
Lesson One: Try not to die intestate.
Lesson Two: Keep accurate records for kin and even though ACH is convenient, don't do it, it's a headache for kin.
Lesson Three: Kin should always think and act consciously even in times of stress and hardship to eliminate unnecessary headaches.
Anyhow - upon my discovery I paniced and raced to the bank to only be transfered and put on hold about six different times within forty minutes with the assistance of a banking associate. Through both our frustration we put our agony to a temporary halt and I went back to work to try and resolve the issue on my own. Filing a claim. My sole attempt was ixnayed within five minutes. I was told by customer service that they could not help me and that I had to physically go into the branch who had my power of attorney paperwork on file. I just came from there!
What is boils down to is the gentleman, Brian, who initially helped us on the 18th of May to close some of dad's accounts, stop the ACH, and file a claim for the first initial $777 that came out on the 17th - didn't do what he said he did. The thing that stinks when people die intestate is that it sometimes causes a HUGE headache - sometimes not. The only reason I have left dad's account open is because his mortgage payment automatically gets deducted from his account every two weeks. I should of called the mortgage lender and told them to take it out of a different account and closed dad's orginal account to eliminate my unforseen headache.
Lesson One: Try not to die intestate.
Lesson Two: Keep accurate records for kin and even though ACH is convenient, don't do it, it's a headache for kin.
Lesson Three: Kin should always think and act consciously even in times of stress and hardship to eliminate unnecessary headaches.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Graphic Day in the Valley
Something horrific happened here in the Boise Valley yesterday. Some crazy man beheaded his ex-wife and then proceeded to kill a mother and her child when he purposefully veered his truck into oncoming traffic. The head of his ex-wife laid on the roadway following the crash - he was toting it in the bed of his pick-up.
This incident had a strong impact on Jeff - it was evident when he came home from watching UFC at Steve's. Jeff is a worry wart and that is saying it mildly. I suffered through his rage as he expressed to me how I needed to call so he knew when and if we were coming home - he said he didn't like leaving the house without knowing what was up with Te...where he is, or what he is doing. It makes me sad for both Jeff and Te. Jeff because he worries too much about things that are out of his control, and Te because he has an overprotective father who I know will have trouble letting go one day. Right now I think he fails to remember what trauma he put his own parents through. I have faith Jeff will get through this - it's just unpleasant when I am the victim of his emotions. I try not to buy into his somewhat pessimitic perceptions. Life with children changes you, you can have faith or you can constantly worry yourself gray. I choose to have faith that I will raise my children to make conscious decisions and know that the things in life you cannot control are not worth worrying about - it's called faith.
Another sad incident happened yesterday as well. A black puppy dog was found burned over 75-80% of his body and he had bumps and bruises from being dragged. I think people who offend animals should be accountable for their crime much like they would be if they offended another human. It is a misdemeanor to harm an animal, it's a felony when applied to humans. Frankly I think anyone who intentionally goes out and hurts anything should be held accountable for their actions. I guess that's why there is karma...or judgement day, or whatever you want to call it.
This incident had a strong impact on Jeff - it was evident when he came home from watching UFC at Steve's. Jeff is a worry wart and that is saying it mildly. I suffered through his rage as he expressed to me how I needed to call so he knew when and if we were coming home - he said he didn't like leaving the house without knowing what was up with Te...where he is, or what he is doing. It makes me sad for both Jeff and Te. Jeff because he worries too much about things that are out of his control, and Te because he has an overprotective father who I know will have trouble letting go one day. Right now I think he fails to remember what trauma he put his own parents through. I have faith Jeff will get through this - it's just unpleasant when I am the victim of his emotions. I try not to buy into his somewhat pessimitic perceptions. Life with children changes you, you can have faith or you can constantly worry yourself gray. I choose to have faith that I will raise my children to make conscious decisions and know that the things in life you cannot control are not worth worrying about - it's called faith.
Another sad incident happened yesterday as well. A black puppy dog was found burned over 75-80% of his body and he had bumps and bruises from being dragged. I think people who offend animals should be accountable for their crime much like they would be if they offended another human. It is a misdemeanor to harm an animal, it's a felony when applied to humans. Frankly I think anyone who intentionally goes out and hurts anything should be held accountable for their actions. I guess that's why there is karma...or judgement day, or whatever you want to call it.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Addiction
I must be on the cusp of enlightenment. Lately my mind just reels with ideas to create - crossing all medium boundaries. The glass class really ignited my creative fire. Last night I almost completed my octupus painting for Saturday's Market, and I managed to assemble five different wedding invitation samples for my friend Molly.
This wedding invitation is a problem. A problem because I have a zillion ideas and should only send Molly the five samples I have finished - except, I have like twenty more I want to make. After this...I'll just put them all into an online portfolio and start selling custom wedding invitations.
I believe EVERYTHING is about timing. Had Te not spent five days in the hospital, if my dad had not died three days after Te came home...I would still be living in the mucky muck of grump. I turn into mucky muck grump when I go to school, work full-time, run our small art business, and try to be a wife, momma, and sane. What happened was I was forced to take an incomplete on my last class, then my next professor failed to show up for my direted study. (That shit happens online...they seem less accountable.) Since my prof didn't show I have been on a six week break from school and this last week has been a HUGE shift in my consciousness. Thank God. All my creative juices that fled me like a year ago - are bombarding me now.
I am ready to incorporate.
This wedding invitation is a problem. A problem because I have a zillion ideas and should only send Molly the five samples I have finished - except, I have like twenty more I want to make. After this...I'll just put them all into an online portfolio and start selling custom wedding invitations.
I believe EVERYTHING is about timing. Had Te not spent five days in the hospital, if my dad had not died three days after Te came home...I would still be living in the mucky muck of grump. I turn into mucky muck grump when I go to school, work full-time, run our small art business, and try to be a wife, momma, and sane. What happened was I was forced to take an incomplete on my last class, then my next professor failed to show up for my direted study. (That shit happens online...they seem less accountable.) Since my prof didn't show I have been on a six week break from school and this last week has been a HUGE shift in my consciousness. Thank God. All my creative juices that fled me like a year ago - are bombarding me now.
I am ready to incorporate.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
The Beast
I found it a home...they say it runs...I am turning my $5 novice auction award into a tax deductible donation. Thank you Idaho Youth Ranch.
The Novice
Today is a grand day - my lost cat Critter came home, and I was also able to catch our ferrel cat BW so they now can both be transplanted to our new home.
I will also find out if my $5 copy machine is a great deal or a real pain in my derriere. Call me an online auction novice - silly me thought someone would outbid me on a copy machine for $5 - no one did and now I get to go through the headache of transporting it and finding a place to store it. Do not always believe what you see on the screen - the picture was deceiving - my copier is well over 8 ft long and 2900 pounds. I should of done my research.
I went to a glass fusing party with my friend Reham the other day. This was my first opportunity to work with glass as an artistic medium and I can see why it is addictive. Now I find it a necessity to partner our potters kiln with a glass kiln in our studio. With my father passing a month ago - it was really liberating to have my creative energy flow so freely. For me, creating art is therapeutic, meditative, and very soul-centering. Since Monday and the glass party I have signed up for an intro glass fusing class, a workshop on frit, thrown a pot on the wheel, and sketched out two large paintings for this weekend's market! Funny how one thing can reignite the fire.
The events of this past month - which would make a great country song - have me optimistic. Most people in the face of death often retreat, me on the other hand have dealt with death numerous times early in life and losing my daddy, my best friend, I thought would be HUGELY overwhelming. However, I find myself living his optimistic attitude - and one just needs to keep on keeping on. I feel like I am taking flight and one day when I look back I will remember how far I have come and how the month of May 2006 transformed me. I am working towards manifesting my dream...thriving visual artist...that's me.
I will also find out if my $5 copy machine is a great deal or a real pain in my derriere. Call me an online auction novice - silly me thought someone would outbid me on a copy machine for $5 - no one did and now I get to go through the headache of transporting it and finding a place to store it. Do not always believe what you see on the screen - the picture was deceiving - my copier is well over 8 ft long and 2900 pounds. I should of done my research.
I went to a glass fusing party with my friend Reham the other day. This was my first opportunity to work with glass as an artistic medium and I can see why it is addictive. Now I find it a necessity to partner our potters kiln with a glass kiln in our studio. With my father passing a month ago - it was really liberating to have my creative energy flow so freely. For me, creating art is therapeutic, meditative, and very soul-centering. Since Monday and the glass party I have signed up for an intro glass fusing class, a workshop on frit, thrown a pot on the wheel, and sketched out two large paintings for this weekend's market! Funny how one thing can reignite the fire.
The events of this past month - which would make a great country song - have me optimistic. Most people in the face of death often retreat, me on the other hand have dealt with death numerous times early in life and losing my daddy, my best friend, I thought would be HUGELY overwhelming. However, I find myself living his optimistic attitude - and one just needs to keep on keeping on. I feel like I am taking flight and one day when I look back I will remember how far I have come and how the month of May 2006 transformed me. I am working towards manifesting my dream...thriving visual artist...that's me.
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