A Day Full of Fun and Friends - and BEADS!

Diana and I had planned a trip to McPherson today. One of the bead stores is going out of business and things were 80-90% off. I got some wonderful Swarovski beads - they were expensive to begin with, and not cheap even at 80% off. They came in packages with quite a few in each and I don't want nearly all of them. So, after I make the things I want to do I may pop the rest of them up on ebay or my webpage. It would take me many years to use them all at the rate I make stuff.

Greg was planning to go up there too to shop for his girlfriend, Mia, who makes wonderful things. She is a SERIOUS bead person. Anyway, we were leaving at about the same time so just all went together. I had offered to get things for Mia, but then I couldn't even figure out what I wanted - much less someone else - so it's a good thing Greg went. We were all concerned about the cost of our baubles, even at 80-90% off, by the time we got to the check out stand.

Hopefully yet this week, Jocelyn, Diana and I will have a jewelry making night together. We'll see if that works out. I've got a family reunion this weekend to prepare for so I'm not sure if we can figure out a time to do it all.

When we got back to Hutch, I couldn't resist stopping by Dillons on the way home and getting yet more plants. I'm not sure why I can't stop myself. I need to try harder. I'm about to run out of room. I need to rearrange the rocks and see what room I have. I'm trying to balance the colors. I'm beginning to discover this is not natural for me to do with plants. Hopefully I'll learn.

Tonight was our Red Hat group. Frankly, I think we should forget the red hats and just go to dinner. None of us seem to care about the hat thing. I've never been a good conformist, what can I say? It was a nice group tonight - Susan K, Debbie, Teresa, Diana, Jocelyn, Susan N and me. We had a good time together.

I think I'll douse myself with deet and put a few more plants in the ground, instead of doing it at 4 a.m., which is what I was doing last night. I was up until 5 and got up at 8, so I should try to get to bed a little earlier tomorrow. Besides, I have a board meeting tomorrow.

I need to finish some house things and I'd feel better. I need to get my handyman over here to do some tasks, the electrician is coming on Wednesday, the roofer is supposed to call tomorrow. I have been putting off a ton of things and it is really time to get them taken care of.

Well... I'm off to get spray myself head to toe with mosquito repellant, although at this point I'm not sure there's any reason - I'm one big mosquito bite already.

Sunday

Today was the garden tour to raise money for the MHA. We had a dry day, but it was HOT. But, things went well.

This was one of the houses this year - this garden is all geared toward birds and butterflies. It's a really neat place - a little north of town.

She has hummingbirds, which are somewhat unusual in Kansas. We're right on the edge of their migration pattern. She also has tons of butterflies.

Trish was the board member in charge there. I'm so fortunate that my board members are willing to pitch in for such events. When you're a one person staff, you have to have help.

I was just worn out - I guess from all the work getting ready for the tour. Anyway, I've been pretty droopy - not feeling bad - just worn out.

Greg and I went to Chilis for dinner. I'm not impressed with them. I've been four times since they opened and three of those times I've had to send part of my food back because it was cold. I don't mean a little cool, I mean cold. To top it off, the front desk staff rubs me the wrong way - a little too full of themselves. Seem to believe they're really cute or smart or powerful or something. Honey, trust me, you ain't all that.

Tonight I planted more flowers in the front. Goodness knows what this will look like - I've planted half of it in the dark. But, it's too hot during the day to be doing it. I'm close to having in everything I've bought so far. I think tomorrow I'll be able to look at it in the daylight and see what few things I'm missing and maybe get those in. Then, I guess, it's time for mulch - not something I've ever done.

I love being a home owner, but I remember a time when I didn't think about things like mulch or devote internet time to reading about attic vents.

Loners

A simple thought...

Ever heard a serial killer, rapist or someone who "went postal" described as a "social butterfly."

No.

I rest my case.

My Numbers

You enter your name and then it gives you your info...
http://www.paulsadowski.com/Numbers.asp if you wanna do it too...

I have to say much of this is true about me - on the positive and negative side. Maybe those ancients knew a thing or two after all. Who would have guessed?

You entered: Patsy Ann Terrell
There are 15 letters in your name.
Those 15 letters total to 65
There are 4 vowels and 11 consonants in your name.

Your number is: 11

The characteristics of #11 are: High spiritual plane, intuitive, illumination, idealist, a dreamer.

The expression or destiny for #11:
Your Expression number is 11. The number 11 is the first of the master numbers. It is associated with idealistic concepts and rather spiritual issues. Accordingly, it is a number with potentials that are somewhat more difficult to live up to. You have the capacity to be inspirational, and the ability to lead merely by your own example. An inborn inner strength and awareness can make you an excellent teacher, social worker, philosopher, or advisor. No matter what area of work you pursue, you are very aware and sensitive to the highest sense of your environment. Your intuition is very strong; in fact, many psychic people and those involved in occult studies have the number 11 expression. You possess a good mind with keen analytical ability. Because of this you can probably succeed in most lines of work, however, you will do better and be happier outside of the business world. Oddly enough, even here you generally succeed, owing to your often original and unusual approach. Nonetheless, you are more content working with your ideals, rather than dollars and cents.

The positive aspect of the number 11 expression is an always idealistic attitude. Your thinking is long term, and you are able to grasp the far-reaching effects of actions and plans. You are disappointed by the shortsighted views of many of your contemporaries. You are deeply concerned and supportive of art, music, or of beauty in any form.

The negative attitudes associated with the number 11 expression include a continuous sense of nervous tension; you may be too sensitive and temperamental. You tend to dream a lot and may be more of a dreamer than a doer. Fantasy and reality sometimes become intermingled and you are sometimes very impractical. You tend to want to spread the illumination of your knowledge to others irrespective of their desire or need.

Your Soul Urge number is: 3

A Soul Urge number of 3 means:
With the Soul Urge number 3 your desire in life is personal expression, and generally enjoying life to its fullest. You want to participate in an active social life and enjoy a large circle of friends. You want to be in the limelight, expressing your artistic or intellectual talents. Word skills may be your thing; speaking, writing, acting, singing. In a positive sense, the 3 energy is friendly, outgoing and always very social.

You have a decidedly upbeat attitude that is rarely discouraged; a good mental and emotional balance.

The 3 Soul Urge gives intuitive insight, thus, very high creative and inspirational tendencies. The truly outstanding trait shown by the 3 Soul Urge is that of self-expression, regardless of the field of endeavor.

On the negative side, you may at times become too easygoing and too optimistic, tending to scatter forces and accomplish very little. Often, the excessive 3 energy produces non-stop talkers. Everyone has faults, but the 3 soul urge doesn't appreciate having these pointed out.

Your Inner Dream number is: 8

An Inner Dream number of 8 means:
You dream of success in the business or political world, of power and control of large material endeavors. You crave authority and recognition of executive skills. Your secret self may have very strong desire to become an entrepreneur.

Unexpected Treats

Today I had a wonderful, unexpected treat. I got to meet Marge - on the right here - one of the people on my discussion list. We've "known" each other for a year or two on this list - I'm not sure how long. She was in town today for a geneology seminar. She emailed a couple of days ago, asking if I had time in the midst of garden tour planning to get together and - of course - the answer was yes.

We had a lovely conversation. Her friend, Nancy, was with her and I met them after Marge's conference for a late lunch.

Actually, I didn't have lunch because I'd eaten a late one with Trish today, after breakfast with Greg.

I was up until almost 3, and then got up a little after 6 so I could plant more flowers while it was cooler. It was a beautiful morning - cool and breezy. I made some progress.

I wish I had taken pix of the 'before' with all the weeds, but I didn't. But, I've made some improvements. By late morning I had planted some things and moved some rocks around.

These rocks are ones I got last year while visiting my now ex-boyfriend at his farm. They're great rocks. The large one became a joke. When I pointed it out saying it was a great rock he said, "Patsy, that's not a rock, it's a boulder." I said OK, no problem, but he very sweetly went and got the three wheeler and hauled the rock to my car.

He lifted it into the trunk of my car, saying he thought it was about 150 pounds. Then I couldn't get it out of the trunk. Diana's son, Austin, finally came and lifted it out for me. I can scoot it from one place to another, but I cannot pick it up. I had forgotten that I picked up a number of smaller ones at the same time. I'm going to sprinkle them throughout the flower bed when it's done.

I'm also thinking about maybe covering the wooden ties with rock on the front. I'd prefer rock but am just not industrious enough to rip everything out and start over.

I visited Lowes, Home Depot and Wal-Mart garden departments today and bought plants at each one. I'm going with a pink/purple/blue/yellow theme. Frankly, I don't know what I'm going and will just hope for the best. I am sticking with things that like full sun - that's all I know. And I'm using more perennials - I don't want to do this every year. I want this to be THE time I plant the flowers.

The mosquitoes have arrived with a vengenance in the last 48 hours so planting has been a challenge. Even this morning they were out in full force. Do they never sleep?

Well, tomorrow is the garden tour. Hopefully all will go well. I hope so!

Books and More about Gardening

This morning I got up and started producing more things for the garden tour. One of my former board members allows me to copy at his office for free, and since I produce 800, 32 page books for the garden tour, that's a ton of copying. That would be 12,000 actual copies, which at 6 cents each that is sort of the going rate - a total of $720. Because of his generosity, I'm able to do it only for the cost of the paper - less than $50. I did some yesterday afternoon and finished this morning.

Volunteers came this afternoon to help me get the books assembled, stapled and folded. I had asked for six people - had four, plus me - but we got it done. Unfortunately, I had hoped to do some other things while they were doing books so now I'll have to do that tomorrow. But, at least the books are all done.

They are nice - not exactly as I would have liked, but being sick two of the days I had set aside to produce it means it's just not the way I would have had it ideally. But, probably only I will know the difference, and it looks nice - has some good looking ads that I think are probably well-targeted to this audience.

As soon as the books were done, I ran to the bank and to the printers to get some things cut. I stopped in to Diana's to say hi while the printer was cutting my forms - they're on the same block.

Teresa was in Diana's store visiting so I got to see her. And Jocelyn was in the back giving a Reiki treatment. I stayed at the store while Diana and Teresa ran down to Smith's market - a wonderful little fruit and vegetable market we have here.

Greg and I had planned to have dinner, but he was so tired he decided to go on to bed - he had been up all day after being up most of the night. So, Jocelyn and I had dinner with Lauren, her granddaughter.

Lauren discovered for the first time tonight that I have long hair and wanted me to fix it like Cinderella. Unfortunately, I don't know Cinderella's hairdo, so that was a bit of a problem. She played with it a little bit and I'm guessing we'll be doing that again in the near future. She's three - almost four - and about as adorable as they come.

I ran right to Lowes after eating, to get some flowers.I went and looked the other night so I could buy them pretty quickly tonight.

I think the weeds in my front flower bed are finally dead - I hope so - because I just invested some serious cash in flowers to go in it. I planted four of them tonight but it was dark by the time I got home. So, I'm going to try and get up early in the morning and do it. It will be far too hot later in the day to be messing with it.

I can already see that I'm lacking some different kinds of plants - I have purples and yellows and I need some other colors and also some with long, skinny leaves. I know that's not very sophisticated for those of you who are gardeners, but I'm not that knowledgable. I just want it to be flowers instead of weeds.

I have some volunteer morning glories coming up so I need to get strings out for them to climb. I love morning glories. I also planted a honeysuckle last year - had forgotten about that until it started looking like a honeysuckle. I know some people think they're weeds but I love them - viney things going everywhere really appeal to me.

I wish I had taken pix before I started killing the weeds and then with them dead but still in there, but I didn't. So, now I'll just have the flower pix, but so it goes.

I'm going to try and be diligent about keeping track of what is planted where. I have no excuse now that I have a digital camera.

Well, I must go bathe. The mosquitoes have come in full force in the last couple of days. I'm not sure why, but I swear they are the size of small birds. The little blood suckers just love me, so I doused myself in spray before I went outside but now I'm really wanting to get it off of me.

Nose to the Grindstone

I'd had my nose to the grindstone the last few days. The garden tour is Sunday and I've been producing the ticket brochure (32 pages) and such the last couple of days. I copied this afternoon and have to go in the morning and finish. I have volunteers coming to help tomorrow afternoon, but unfortunately, not enough to get the job done, so I guess I'll be finishing it on Saturday - not something I'm especially thrilled about.

It will be curious where they will all park since we have a major construction project going on downtown now. It is going to be nice when they get it all done - it's a beautification project and they're adding in some nice pieces. I snapped this out my office window this afternoon.

I had the camera out because I tried to take some photos of the pendant we're raffling off during the garden tour, but the pix didn't turn out well. It was designed specifically for us by Richard Westphal, a local jeweler, who has won a number of national design awards.

He's an incredibly talented man - very creative - and one of the kindest people you would ever want to meet. His store is right across the street from my office so when I look out the window I can see his store - it always gives me a warm feeling.

We discovered one day when we were just chatting, that we used to live in another town at the same time. I went to school at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky for one year. He was a jeweler there at about the same time. Just funny how those things work out. I grew up about an hour from Murray, and went there for their music program, which is exceptional. I quickly learned I did not have the necessary talent or dedication to be a music major, but I have always valued the experience. Life just turns out the way it's supposed to be.

Dick was instrumental in helping us get the office space we have now and it's wonderful. Greg Payton owns the building and is the most amazing landlord I can imagine. He is so good to me. Very kind and very generous. He owns the optical company that's next door to the building I'm in. He has done wonderful things for Hutchinson and I fear he is under appreciated.

He, and my friend, Martha, were the ones who really got the Fox Theatre restored and we are so fortunate to have it. I could go on at great length about the Fox and how beautiful it is, but it's best to just let you see for yourself. You can see their photos - where this one came from too - from various times over its history at http://www.hutchinsonfox.com/gallery/index.htm. I just pulled this one off to illustrate one small feature. The lights are incredible inside. It is gorgeous and we are so blessed to have it. Martha and Greg really made that happen. My friend, Andrea, was its first Executive Director. It's a wonderful facility.

Greg and another local business man have redone a number of downtown buildings, including the one Greg's store is in and the building I'm in. They are a big part of the reason our downtown is as nice as it is.

Well... I didn't intend to write about Downtown Hutchinson tonight, but I guess I did. And it's a fine subject, really. I will try to snap some more pix in the next few weeks and share them here from time to time. I wish now I had been taking snaps out the window all during the construction project but it didn't occur to me until today. They're making pretty fast work of it.

I'd best turn off the computer and get about other things. We are getting more storms tonight. Again. We had a major storm last night. Hutchinson had 80 mph winds - lots of trees down and some power lines too - some cars crushed by trees - the usual bit. Both my neighbors have tree parts down. Since my only tree is about four feet tall it wasn't a problem for me.

Thankfully, my lawn guy came day before yesterday. My lawn was getting really nasty and it looks like he came just at the right time - between the storms. It's supposed to be nice all weekend, so that will be good for the garden tour.

I have a lot of house stuff I need to get done. I'm sorry to say that the new kitchen ceiling tiles they put up a couple of weeks ago are sporting a new wet spot after last night's storm. So, one of the calls today was to the roofer.

It's a good thing I love my old house.

Doctor - yikes

I gave in today and went to the doctor. I rarely go to the doctor and certainly not for anything minor but the fact that I'm a mouth-breather, and not even good at that right now, prompted me to trot out to his office. Ok, I didn't trot, I ambled slowly and then wheezed from the exhaustion of the block long walk from the car to his office.

My ears and throat are sore but the real problem is that I can't breathe. It's bizarre - it's not my head stopped up and it's not my lungs - it's the bronchial tubes because it's a small little area. I sound pretty nasty. It's a good thing I'm not a radio person anymore - I'd be very bad at it right now.

But, I have some amoxicillian now and with just two pills in me I can tell it's starting to break it up a little bit. I suck at being sick. Some people love the attention. I love feeling normal.

I did call and cancel the electrician for in the morning. I'll reschedule next week but I just wasn't up to it for tomorrow.

I met Susan K for breakfast today and then came home and went back to bed until my doctor's appointment. I have been up and about since then and feeling a bit better but I'm about ready for a nap. Maybe I'll be able to sleep tonight. I hope so.

We had Chicks tonight and I didn't want to miss it. It was our third anniversary. I feel so blessed to be part of this group. Such a great part of my life.

It was part of the reason I started Creative Sisterhood. I had thought about something like that before, but something about Chicks and seeing it work gave me the incentive I needed to follow through on starting Creative Sisterhood.

I did some garden tour things today. I've lost about 2 days and I really don't know how I'm going to get everything done. But I will just have to because it has to be done and there's no one else to do it. So... there you go.

I think a good night's sleep will do me some good. I hope I get one. I really want to go play in the studio a little bit but know that's not the wise thing for me to do tonight.

Corel Painter

On one of my art lists, they've been talking lately about Corel Painter versus Photoshop. I've been using Corel for many years - much longer than Photoshop, and yet I've never played with Painter. This is unusual for me - I'm usually quite the experimenter. But, I've mostly used Corel Draw, not Painter.

Well, at the urging of folks like Karen Winters, who's work I really admire, I took a few minutes tonight to play with it. (http://www.livejournal.com/users/kwintt/ and http://www.karenwinters.com/journalpages/ to see Karen's amazing work)

It just so happened that red was the default and I automatically drew a heart, playing with a variety of brushes and such that you can't see here.

Anyway, I just kept playing around with various things and ended up with this odd - but some reason appealing (at least to me) heart.

Maybe it's because my heart is still broken, maybe it's because it's trying to heal a bit. Whatever the reason I was inspired to draw a heart - it could have been that red was selected because I was working on a logo before that - I thought I'd share it here.

Now, after this little interlude, I must get back to work on garden tour things! Being sick and in bed for a day and a half did not help my schedule at all. Fortunately, I'm feeling better.

Michael Jackson deemed Not Guilty

They're reading the verdicts in the Michael Jackson trial - all NOT guilty. Can we please, please, please, please, please stop having this conversation?

Yes, the man is a freak. We all know that. How could he be anything else given how he grew up? Being a freak is not illegal in this country.

Honestly, I wouldn't have been surprised at either verdict. I'm not a huge Michael Jackson fan, but if police have all this evidence, it would seem they could find some more believable people to testify.

Anyone who sleeps with children is, of course, weird, bizarre and freaky. But, why are the parents of these children who shipped their kids off to spend the night with Michael not on trial? Wouldn't that be child endangerment?

We all have free will. If you think he's guilty then don't send your kids off to Neverland. That would seem to be a no-brainer but apparently bears stating.

I'm so ready to not hear another word about this. Yes, the man is a freak. We all know that. As of today, he's a freak who has been determined to be NOT guilty of the crime they've tried to pin on him multiple times. If he has been abusing even a small percentage of the children who have been to Neverland, it would seem police could find at least ONE credible witness - just ONE. They've been unable to for years. Please, let us all have a rest.

Better

I've been up since 5:11 this morning. I went to bed a little after 11 so that's a normal night's sleep for me. My ear and throat are still a little sore, but neither is as bad as it was so I must be on the mend. I'm still puzzled why I'm sick in the first place, but I seem to be better.

I'm one of those people who is obsessive about washing my hands. I do it multiple times a day. And, as a result, I rarely get sick. I'm pretty careful about touching my eyes or mouth when I've been out with the masses until I scrub my hands, but I must have neglected to do that at some point. I can't imagine how else I would have acquired this - whatever it is.

Fortunately, I seem to speed through the healing process whenever I'm sick too. This is a good thing as sick is not in my day runner for this week.

Sick

I woke up officially SICK today. I am rarely sick and it's a good thing because I'm not very good at it. This is an earache that started yesterday, got worse when I was in the studio last night and was full force this morning. My throat was so sore I could hardly swallow, but it all seems to be coming from the left ear.

I got up this morning and took some psuedafed and realized I'm almost out. I'm sick rarely enough that I always have to go buy more every time because the other has expired and I've tossed it. Well, of course, getting psuedafed is nearly impossible.

I called Walmart - they said I could get it from the pharmacy until 5. It was 5:07. Hello!?!?!? I called Target - yeah, it's on the shelf. Well, they have something called psuedafed on the shelf, but it's a "new formula." I don't want the freaking new formula. I want the crap that works.

Of course, it's because of meth that we can't have these simple things - like cold medicine that works. I understand all the reason. But, I'm sick and I'm grumpy and I want my damned psuedafed. The fact that law enforcement can't do their job is not a good reason for me to not be able to buy cold medicine.

I know... grumpy, grumpy, grumpy. But it pisses me off about every 18 months or so when I go to buy some and it's some huge ordeal to lay my hands on it. You'd think it's the illicit drug. It's an odd situation when I guess I need to buy the psuedafed on the street.

I just want the simple little red pills. It's fine if you only want to sell me a dozen at a time. I'll be well long before I use all those, but it annoys me that I can't buy something that works wonders because other people abuse it and the system that's supposed to stop the people who abuse it doesn't work well. OK... I'll shut up about that.

Greg and I went to Lone Star for dinner and I was hungry, which I take as a good sign. It was pretty funny - they had so many people working they were actually bumping into each other. Our server had someone following him that he was training. I really want two things from the server when I eat out - my drink full and my food the temperature it's supposed to be. At one point my glass was empty and I counted 9 employees in my field of view, none of whom seemed to be doing anything. A manager visited our table three times. I don't need you to be my friend. I need you to fill up my glass. But, you can't help but laugh. It reminded me of going to Fazolis. I love their product, and everyone seems to be working, but no one is doing anything that is related to me getting my food.

I have felt better as the day has progressed. If my ear isn't much better by in the morning I'll go to the doctor - no easy decision for me to make - but it will be necessary. I don't have time to be sick this week with the garden tour a week from today.

Of course, it's pouring rain here today so I hope that is not the case a week from now. That will be very bad for us. The extended forecast is good but it's hard to have confidence when we're under a flood warning now. I'll just hope for the best - obviously I can't control the weather.

Well, I think it's back upstairs for me to rest for a bit. I took my temperature - although I didn't feel like I had any - and I don't. It's 96.5, which is low, as mine normally is. Norm Shealy would have something to say about that.

Guilty Pleasures

I believe television runs people's lives far too much. Now, that's not to say that I don't watch TV. I do. But I don't "just" watch TV. I have it on while I'm doing other things - working on the computer, painting, cooking, etc.

I make it a point to not know when specific shows come on. I catch them or I don't. I don't ever rush home for a show, or schedule around it. That's way too much control for television to have over my life.

OK, all of that said... I have a new guilty pleasure - "Meet the Barkers." I generally eschew reality shows, but this odd couple draws my attention. In case you haven't caught this little gem, it stars heavily inked Travis Barker and his playmate/Miss USA wife. Travis is the drummer for Blink 182 and considered one of the great musical talents of our time - so drum people say - I wouldn't know the difference, myself.

I don't know when it comes on, but whenever I've caught it I've enjoyed it. OK, I've only seen it a couple of times, and I wouldn't want to be best friends with these two, but it's interesting to peek into this world.

Working in Every Direction

I got a lot of Garden Tour things done today and Greg delivered some flyers for me. I also worked on other parts of my life but didn't find time to paint in the room upstairs.


I also worked on my webpage a little bit and put up my Kansas Cookies Cookbook for sale. I've been meaning to do it forever, but just hadn't gotten around to it. Finally, it's done.

I wrote this book years ago as a souvenir booklet. It was sold in various places around the state. It tucks into an envelope for mailing.

I'm a big proponent of cookbooks having more than just lists of ingredients - really, what is the point in that. If the recipes are not put into context then there's no point in bothering.

So, I've tried to follow my own advice. I have a dozen recipes in there and each has a story with it.

I went down to Diana's store today to meet her and Jocelyn. We had a chance to visit a little. An unexpected treat was that little Miss Lily was there. Taylor (her mom) had stopped in so I got to hold the baby for awhile. She is a cuddly baby - you just can't get enough of her. Hard to believe she's already four months old.

Greg and I went to Roy's and Mike (the owner) gave me a bone to take to Petie so I stopped back by the store. He was happy to see me bearing such gifts.

I also picked up my laptop, which has been pronounced officially dead. Two things to say about that - 1. Don't waste your money on the Circuit City warranty plans. You can send the machine back, and they will continue to replace parts, but they won't actually FIX it. 2. Don't expect that Compaq (now HP) gives a flying flip about whether or not their products function. There are a few thousand similar complaints about this machine - even a name for it - GLOB - Green Light On Brigade. The green light comes on but that's it. Anyway, they refuse to accept that it's a "known problem," even though thousands of people have the same problem independently. They refuse to accept it or do anything about it.

I had to make a run to Office Max for more ink for garden tour stuff I was printing and ran into one of my board members there. She's someone I really enjoy so it was fun to chat with her. I had to go get some more ink cartridges, but while I was there I happened to see they had some Pitt Pens on clearance, so I picked those up for myself. I can't wait to try them out in a little bit.

I had my second negative experience with an Office Max cashier tonight. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't pleasant, and this is the second time in a month I've had a similar thing happen. Next time I'm in and see one of the managers, I'm going to mention it to them. They generally have great service and this is an oddity. I want this store to survive and if I'm having bad experiences, other people probably are too - that can't be good long term. I shop there all the time so next time one of the managers is around and not busy I'll mention it to them.

Well, I think I'm headed upstairs to the studio for a bit. I'm working on some new things I'm really enjoying. I paint very thickly sometimes - I love texture - so drying time is always an issue for me.

Me? Travel? Yup... This one seems right on

Your Birthdate: December 23

With a birthday on the 23rd of the month (5 energy) you are inclined to work well with people and enjoy them. You are talented and versatile, very good at presenting ideas. You may have a tendency to get itchy feet at times and need change and travel. You tend to be very progressive, imaginative and adaptable. Your mind is quick, clever and analytical. A restlessness in your nature may make you a bit impatient and easily bored with routine. You may have a tendency to shirk responsibility. Very sociable, you make friends easily and you are an excellent traveling companion.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

End of the Work Week

Well, it's the end of the work week - at least for most people - for me this will be a working weekend as well. With the garden tour only a week away, I have *much* to do.

Just today, thanks to my board president Peggy, we got our final garden. I had one garden drop - well, as best I can tell - the home owner won't return my phone calls or take them - so I assume she has changed her mind. I really wish she had confirmed that for me, but I can only guess. Anyway, it turned out great, so that's all that matters. It's going to be a fabulous tour!

Needless to say, working on the tour is all I've done work wise, but I did have a social life as far as meals today.

I started out with Susan K at Skaets. We had a nice breakfast and then I met Andrea for lunch. We had a really interesting chat. I'm going to plan an art retreat weekend and I was brainstorming with her. Tonight I met Greg at Skaets for dinner. He got home last night from his westward trip and I'm so glad he's back.

I've got a lot of other things going on, aside from the garden tour, so I'm a bit overwhelmed.

We're getting more storms, after last night and the night before. Fortunately, my immediate area has escaped.

I did make arrangements today for the electrician to come next week. I have a number of things that need to be done so I'm trying to make a list.

Terry has popped over for me to make a CD for him of some Tai Chi things. After that I think I'm headed to bed. I got very little sleep last night. I went to bed about 12:30 but at 4:23 I was still awake. At 6:23 I was awake again and couldn't get back to sleep so I got up at 7.

I don't need much sleep - far less than other people - but I do need some... and I've had very little the last couple of weeks. So, I think I need to try and get some rest.

I'm supposed to have Roy's with Jocelyn and Diana tomorrow as a celebration for Jocelyn making a big sale. I'm going to get up early enough to make garden tour flyers so I can get them cut before noon when the printing place closes. Ah... so much to do... I best get these CDs done and get some rest.

Spoke Too Soon

Apparently I spoke too soon that we wouldn't get anything weather wise. I should probably be turning the computer off...

I'm a Great Girlfriend? Hmmmm...

Well, we all know of my little addition for these quiz thingies. This one is about what kind of girlfriend you are. It says I'm great. But I've recently been "excused" from my girlfriend duties. Hmmmm... I guess not everyone would agree.....

You are a Great Girlfriend When it comes to your guy, you're very thoughtful But you also haven't stopped thinking of yourself You're the perfect blend of independent and caring You're a total catch - make sure your guy knows it too! Are You a Good Girlfriend? Take This Quiz :-) Find the Love of Your Life (and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

Mother Nature's Shows

Tis tornado season in Kansas and tonight looks like it's going to be a long night for some in the area. Hutchinson is not going to be hit tonight unless something strange happens - it's to the south and east of us - but it looks like it will be a doozie.

It's curious the things one becomes accustomed to. Until I moved to Kansas I had never even paid much attention to things like tornadoes. Now, I've been in town when it was hit, although I missed the whole thing. I was on the top floor of one of the taller buildings in town (not very tall!) and missed the whole thing. But, that one decimated Willowbrook, a very upscale "burb" of Hutchinson. I helped cover the aftermath of the Hesston tornado, even though I was no longer doing news. I remember the Andover one - it's the one that the famous footage of Greg Jarret (then working in Wichita, now with MSNBC) under the overpass with the frightened family that we've all seen a few hundred times.

But, it's funny how things just become common place. A little after 9 I drove up to Skaets for a Moonburger, and on the way was listening to the radio where the mobile guy was saying he could see wall clouds and he thought there was rotation. As I was going around the roundabout he said, "There's definitely rotation. We have a funnel coming out of the wall cloud. If you're in the area of blah blah blah, take immediate cover." We accept these things as common place here - even though of us who are transplants - it's just part of the landscape. Of course, we do take cover when necessary, but we toss around words like "wall cloud" as if they're commonplace. (They're the clouds from which tornadoes come - they're straight - just like a wall - very distinctive.)

When I was growing up in Kentucky, we lived near the New Madrid fault line - it's a huge fault line running through five states. (The last really huge earthquake in the early 1800s made the Mississippi river run backwards for three days and rang church bells on the Eastern Seaboard.)

I was in dozens of minor earthquakes. Because they were commonplace, I paid no real attention to them. Of course, we never had a big one - that would have made a difference, obviously. But, it was not unusual to be awakened by the bed shaking, hearing the dishes rattle in the other room. Sometimes a picture would fall off the wall, but there was never anything major where we were - across the river, although the fault line goes under the river.

If you were walking, you wouldn't feel them the same way. But if you were still, you'd feel it. I remember once as a kid being outside playing and I noticed the ground moving. I stopped and stood still and I could feel it then. It was significant enough you could see the sine wave going through the ground - just minor, but noticeable. Because I was on a farm, I watched it go across the field, unencumbered by buildings and such. It was just part of life. We thought no more about it than the fact that the backwater came up every year when the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers flooded.

Of course, it's always the things you don't know about unless you've been in them, that are the worst. Everyone knows about the destruction tornadoes do, flattening houses. What you may not think about if you've not been in one is the hail. Oh my, the hail. The hail comes down in droves - huge pieces of hail - in areas that are far away from wherever the actual tornado may be.

As I was thinking about this entry on my way home tonight I was trying to think about how to describe it. The best I can come up with is a dozen two year olds armed with wooden spoons and pots, doing what's natural, would approximate the sound of being in a car. The first huge hail storm we had after I moved here - my first one, my learning experience - I thought the woman in the upstairs apartment had fallen down the stairs. Nope. Just hail. On the roof a floor above me.

What such things do to vehicles and roofs is not something we like to discuss.

In addition to the hail is the wind and the rain. Tornadoes usually bring flood warnings with them. This is a great time to remind you that flooding is very, very dangerous. More people die from floods each year than any other weather phenomenon. Do NOT drive through that water up ahead. Really. Just don't.

There are the storm chasers, who want to see tornadoes. I have no great desire to do such a thing. If it were in front of me, of course I would look. But I'm not going to seek it.

The lightning is quite amazing - even here - miles away. The golf ball sized hail is falling all over the area, although thankfully not on my relatively new roof.

The real shame of it all is that farmers have just started the wheat harvest. The rain, much less the hail, will destroy some of these farmers for the year.

Creative Sisterhood

Tonight was Creative Sisterhood and it was a wonderful evening. I was thinking this afternoon that it hasn't even been two years since we started gathering every month and it feels an essential part of my life.

I am honored these five women come together with me in my home each month so we can share our lives in a safe, loving environment. The things that happen in our circle are amazing. Truly, we experience miracles sometimes.

This afternoon I snapped a photo of the table with the cake and all on it - even though this was a very casual night and nothing fancy in sight.

I made a new recipe of chocolate cake. I'll post it below. I'm sorry but I don't recall where I got it from. But, it was tasty. Martha says it's definitely a top 5 cake, maybe a top 3 - maybe even number 1. Obviously, I love to cook for Martha - she's so appreciative.

You can also see the jar. Each month we have the opportunity to write something down and it's kept on a shelf in my dining room all year. Then, we open them and share if we wish and keep them private if we wish. We've only done it one year so far - obviously, since we've only been going that long. We opened them in February and it was really interesting. We had planned to do something different but the jar was such a great experience we did it again.

You might also notice candy canes. We always have candy canes - specifically Bob's Candy Canes. I had some the first Christmas and Martha told us a story about Bob's and how they're better than the others. So, I've made sure I have some Bob's candy canes every month since then. So, even when it's over 90 degrees, we have Bob's Candy Canes available.

In other news today I've worked on garden tour things. I'm worn out. I will be glad when this event is done and I can bask in the success (positive thinking!).

Chocolate Cake

1 stick of butter
1 Cup of water
1 cup of shortening
2 tablespoons of Cocoa

Bring to a boil then add
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar

Mix well Add 4 eggs

In a separate bowl mix
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

Combine with other ingredients then bake @ 375 in a 9 by 13 pan. Cook until done - about 30 minutes.

Icing:
6 TBS of milk
1 stick of butter
2 TBS cocoa

bring to a boil then add:
1 box of powdered sugar
1 tsp of vanilla

Mondays Always Get Me Down

Frankly, I've got so much on my plate at the moment that I can't afford the effort to be down, even if it is Monday.

I've been chained to the computer, working on garden tour stuff today. And I have another day of that ahead tomorrow. I'm growing very weary of these projects that take every ounce of my energy for a few weeks.

I did take time to go have lunch with Terry this afternoon but that was it for fun today. Otherwise, just work.

Tonight I was looking for something in my desk and ran across a postcard I bought in Paris that summed up my world at the moment. This is just part of the card, but it's so very true.

My home is just out of control - as it always gets when I'm working on a big project. All my attention is devoted to that and my life falls apart. I'm in the middle of that now, and I just don't care for it at all. But, so it goes.

Well... I must get back to one of the many tasks at hand. Last night I was working furiously, trying to beat the 3 a.m. pickup at the post office. That's such an insane thing to be doing. Tonight I'm printing 1200 postcards that will go out tomorrow. I still have to do publicity faxes and emails so they're there when people get to their offices tomorrow. I want to do that before I go to bed, although I'll need to be back up and working before most people will get to their offices.

But... it's 1:05 a.m. now... so I should try to finish up a few more things and get at least a little bit of sleep.

New Cards

I've been doing some new business cards. Pretty much they're used when people want to know the address for my blog. I did some watercolor ones a few weeks ago and they're almost all gone so it was time to do something new.

At the moment I'm really into bold acrylics so I decided to work with those this time. I also just did something similar for an address book exchange on an art list. Anyway, I'm infatuated with this concept at the moment.

Next month, who knows...

Leslie's Drawing

I mentioned earlier today that my great neice, Leslie, sent me a drawing she had done. It's of David Bowie as "Jareth" the goblin king from the movie Labyrinth. I've not seen the movie, but I know this looks like David Bowie.

Leslie's mom was always very artistic. Leslie has never had any art training and I'm not sure if Kathy had any either. I do think artistic talent is partially genetic.

However, I do believe anyone can learn to draw, too. It takes lots of practice. But, I know my own "skills" (I say that generously) have greatly improved since I started making an effort to draw regularly. Part of it is that you just have to get past the worrying about it being bad.

I am not nearly as talented as Leslie. I rarely attempt to reproduce an actual likeness of a human being. I prefer to stick with inanimate objects that remain stationery for long periods of time and who's feelings are not hurt when my drawing does not look like them.

Old Acquaintances

This week has been interesting as far as hearing from people I haven't talked to in ages.

One afternoon after lunch I stopped in at Diana's to see her and Lily. While I was in Andrea stopped by and so she and Diana and I were talking about yarn and knitting.

Someone came in and Diana got up. I had my back to the door but Andrea said, "Oh my God!" It was someone we both worked with at the radio station years ago. He had stopped in to ask directions. How odd that we would all be there at the same time. It was great to get to see him, even though it was brief.

Then today I got an email from my great niece, Leslie. She lives in Mississippi and we just don't seem to connect very often. Not sure why - life, I guess. We all get along fine - and think about each other - but just don't make actual connection. So, it was good to hear from her.

She shared one of her drawings with me. It's very good. I've asked her permission to post it here. If she says OK, I'll show it off, even though it makes my own drawing look bad.

These are both just interesting experiences - of hearing from someone I really enjoy - that I didn't expect to see/hear from at all. Quite a lovely week in that way.

At this point, when I'm missing my now-former bf so much, it's nice to make connections with others.

Also this week, Susan N. called for lunch and that was a bonus. And, having a long dinner with Jocelyn and Diana last night was also great. None of them knew about us breaking up so it was just nice that it all worked out.

Brancusi Quote

"Create like a god, command like a king, work like a slave."
Constantin Brancusi

Altruism in Humans

This has been a quiet Saturday for me. I didn't even leave the house until about 5:30. I worked on garden tour things and painted in the upstairs room some more.

Then I went and met Jocelyn and Diana for dinner. I was ready for a real meal as I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. I just wanted to keep working.

Jocelyn and I had planned to go to Roys at lunch but she had some other things come up so we decided on dinner instead so we could be relaxed.

While I was soaking in the tub, trying to get the paint off, I was reading about some new brain research on altruism.

Many animals demonstrate a form of altruism toward their kin, but only humans extend it far beyond that. Previously, we've known that people will offer kindnesses when they can expect future benefits, but this study tested if people would reward cooperators and punish those who do not to along, even when it costs them to do it.

Altruism would seem to lower the chances of survival since it doesn't provide immediate benefit or gain. In fact, it's costly in resources of many sorts. But, altruism seems to be a firmly ingrained part of human behavior.

Why? Well, it seems to point to the group selection theory, which researchers have always discounted because the conditions for it could not exist. However, in this case, if the altruists populated early communities, and then punished those who didn't follow their ways --- something that seems to be ingrained in us even today --- they would effectively make altruism the norm.

Regardless of how we got here, we seem to be the only animals with a propensity toward selflessness.

I'm continually fascinated by the human.

Prompts - 3

1. ...ridden on a rollercoaster?
no... always hated them... When I was a teenager my friends talked me into riding the one at Opryland. We were in line when it jumped the tracks and three people died. If I had needed any additional proof I was not supposed to ride rollercoasters, that sealed it.

2. ...performed (in any area of the arts) onstage?
yes... plays, piano, singing, chorus, etc.

3. ...planted a garden?
Yes... and as soon as I get all my weeds killed in my front flowerbed I'll be doing it again.

4. ...ever had to reformat your hard drive due to a virus/spyware?
yes... at work... not sure the cause... but watched it being rewritten with 0s and 1s... supposedly had backups on the server but it had "malfuctioned" - it's an ugly, ugly, ugly thing to watch those 0s and 1s

5. ...written a book? A poem? A song?
yes... yes... yes on all three

6. ...sang karaoke?
no... I've sang with a band but never with prerecorded music

7. ...been interviewed by a local tv station/newspaper?
yes and yes... I've also done the interviews for both...

8. ...witnessed a tornado/earthquake/hurricane first-hand?
I've been in many earthquakes, although not major ones. I grew up near the New Madrid fault line which is the HUGE one in the US. If it ever really goes, it will take out about half the country. Last time it really went, the Mississippi river ran backwards for three days.

A tornado hit my town a few years ago and I was in the tallest building in town during it (not tall at all!) and didn't even know until I got home and found my then-bf in the basement with the cat.

I've covered many of them after the fact. I live in Kansas now. Unfortunately they're pretty common.

9. ...participated in a photo scavenger hunt?
no... done scavenger hunts but not photo ones

10. ...traveled to another country?
yes... multiple other countries - my faves are France, Egypt and Guatemala... so far

Prompts-2

More prompts from a list...

Sun - What is the one thing you need to get finished this week?
garden tour prep

Mon - What is one item that you own that you really should throw away ... but probably never will?
my shirt Kyle Macy signed in the early 1980s - when he was hot stuff and I was wild about him (Basketball player for those of you not in-the-know about KY Wildcats B ball)

Tues - What are the 3 main influences in your life?
my family, my ex bf (we remain good friends), my faith

Wed - What makes you laugh?
tons of things - love wit and sarcasm - all of my friends are funny - it's almost a "requirement" to be my friend :)

Thurs - What is the most inexpensive, non-valuable thing you tend to collect and hoard?
rocks... love 'em... been picking them up since I could walk.. so... 41 years now... can't resist them... When I was moving it got to be a joke that every purse, decorative box or dish was likely to have a rock inside it.

Fri What do you daydream about?
being able to devote every day to BEING ME and not having to work for a living... and yet having enough money that I NEVER have to think about it... don't want to live extravagantly - just don't want to ever have to devote another thought to money - cannot think of many subjects more dull� I guess it's fine for some people, but I am certain I'm not meant to be devoting much thought to money in this lifetime

Sat What is your favorite Saturday pastime?
varies... do the same things on Saturday I do all week - see friends, go to lunch.... maybe take a little weekend trip.... paint in the studio

Prompts

Many journaling lists I'm on offer prompts all the time - questions you can answer to the list or on your own. I rarely journal with these sorts of things but I do enjoy just answering them on occasion. It occurred to me I should post them here - just for fun. So... here's one of them...

In your lifetime, have you.....

1. been physically present at a (human) birth?
no

2. been physically present at a (human) death?
no

3. eaten raw meat?
no

4. been forced to eat something that you found
absolutely repulsive, in order to "be polite" or for compelling cultural or
social reasons?

no - I'm NOT an adventurous eater... at all... I covered my head when I was Egypt but I wouldn't drink the tea after everyone else had... sorry... no can do... I have a "germ thing"

5. eaten an entire pan of brownies, an entire cake, or at least half a gallon of ice cream, at one sitting?
no... I've overeaten all of the above but never a whole container

6. ridden in the back of a police car (not under
arrest)?
no

7. fired a gun?
yes - many times

8. been on a TV or movie set?
yes - many times

9. written a children's book?
no

10. been somewhere you were DEFINITELY not supposed to be, and escaped without being caught?
yes - many times :)

11. been photographed with a Famous Person?
yes

12. hugged or smooched a Famous Person
yes

Time Keeps On Slipping... Into the Future

We all know that times keeps on slipping into the future. We all know we're supposed to be living every day to the fullest. We all know all that stuff, except how to do it.

I'm pretty good about living in the moment. Trust me, it has positives and negatives. If you're living only in the moment you're likely to have far less saved for the future than you should. Your 401K plan seems like something that's going to make your eyes glaze over.

But, if you're living in the moment, you're probably happy. Because whatever is happening is OK with you.

So, it's a catch 22 in the most traditional sense. If you need anything that will make you feel the urge to get off your butt and stop reading blogs, check this out... A visual reminder that time is slipping... into the future... continuously.
http://home.tiscali.nl/annejan/swf/timeline.swf