Watercolor Paintings, Illustration, Inspiration and Creativity

Tuesday, May 06, 2003

I just read the most amazing book: Flying Colors. It's about an artist who figured out a way for severely disabled people to paint; about the amazing talent they had, and how hard they had to fight for their art to be taken seriously. As soon as I read the last page, I flipped the book open to read it over again immediately -- it was that great! It made me think several things:

what am I doing to help others to unleash their inner artists?
what "handicap" do I use as an excuse to not paint? How can I get past this?
do I ever treat others condescendingly because they are different than me?
how many times have I met someone and not gotten past their outside to the real person inside?
And it makes me ashamed to say "I can't."

Which is why I started painting last night... more details and maybe a picture to come. :)

Thursday, May 01, 2003

I'm writing this from the office today. This is my first day back at work and away from home. I did all my crying last night; Sophie's with her daddy and I have a picture of her next to me. I will see her at 1 when I arrive home and work the rest of the afternoon from there. So far so good.

Wednesday, April 30, 2003

Can you identify the following: 1. I'm not the kind of guy who likes to play big brother But I've just seen your date outside he's with another I saw you both come in and clearly you're not meant for him so Please, please, hold my hand... 2. I want to hold your ear, baby Want to hold it near, baby Wanna hold your ear until you hear that I love you... 3. My joy would be complete, dear If you were only here But still I keep your hand As a precious souvenir... Who sang them? (Hint, it's three different artists.) I will be truly shocked good and proper if anyone gets #2 correct.

Tuesday, April 29, 2003

Sophie gets a shot. Three of them. Sophie went for her 2-month checkup today. She is now 10 lbs 9 oz (meaning she's gained 3 pounds in the past month; she's in the 50th percentile) and measures 23 1/4 in. (in the 75th percentile). She grew a lot this past month! She got her first round of shots; she cried, and then as soon as the doctor left the room, I cried. She's been alternating between fussy and sleeping all day, and it'll probably be an interesting night. The doctor gave us the green light to try to get her to sleep through the night (she's almost there already) and to finally take her out in public. Church, stores, restaurants, the beach, wherever. Hallelujah. Hard to believe the cinnabun is 2 months old... seems like just yesterday I was whining and complaining about how huge and tired I was. Now I'm just tired. :) I have been trying like crazy to focus on today; to stop starting conversations with "I can't wait till she's old enough to..." I'm thrilled with what she's old enough to do right now, every last wiggle and chuckle she makes. And I'm trying to savor all the firsts and hold them in my heart... her first sleepover, first time she grabbed a rattle and gave it a good shake, first time she's really studied her hands. She's so incredibly, amazingly special that it takes my breath away sometimes.

Monday, April 28, 2003

Love, exciting and new.... What a weekend! Saturday Paul went to his college roomie's wedding in DC (yay, Jeff and Alicia!) while I took the cinnabun to Grandma and Grandpa's for a sleepover and some serious play time. She was a little queen -- the center of attention and loving every single minute of it. She wiggled and kicked on the floor as her royal subjects entertained her -- Mommy and Grandpa lying on the floor on either side of her, her godfather hanging over the back of the couch singing Muppet songs to her with two gym socks on his hands, using them as puppet backup singers, and her cousin Joey dancing around the room in excitement. We tried to get Joe interested since he is getting a baby sister of his very own in a few months, and he wanted to help with everything. At one point my sister phoned and he said importantly, "I can't talk to you now, Aunt Mary. I am helping to change Baby Sophia's diapers." Sunday was my very best friend Kirsten's wedding. She and Walter couldn't have picked a more gorgeous day! I was the matron (hee hee hee) of honor and sang the Stevie Wonder song "For Once In My Life" during the ceremony. It's so hard to put into words how special the day was, but if you can imagine how you'd feel if you just had a baby and your best friend of 28 years was getting married, you'd have a good idea of the level of emotion. I gave a toast as well and somehow didn't cry all over myself during it. The bride was truly beautiful, the groom was charming, the weather was perfect, and everyone just relaxed and had a wonderful time. And the best part of it all was that it was so uniquely them; from the vows to the music to the all-vegetarian luncheon. We almost went and played on the swings outside the place... it was that kind of relaxed and sweet day.

Wednesday, April 23, 2003

This morning found me and Sophie eating breakfast in front of a roaring fire. Not quite as idyllic as it seems; the fire was because we have a crazy woodpecker in our neighborhood that loves to awaken us by pecking on the metal chimney of our fireplace. Every morning for the past week or so Paul's had to throw some newspapers on and smoke him out; it's the only way to make the woodpecker leave. "Who's laughing now, woodpecker?" he has been known to comment gleefully. For some reason two newspapers weren't enough this morning so a real fire was going. I sat cross-legged in front of it with Sophie on my lap, the only way I could get her to stop fussing. I was trying valiantly to eat a bowl of cereal and bananas without getting any on her, and amazingly, we both got through breakfast without mishap. But it's an example of the extreme juggling act my life has become: woodpeckers, laundry up to here, getting up to feed a baby who decides 3 a.m. is the perfect time to play... bananas, indeed. But I am trying to enjoy every second of it; enjoying Sophie's company, happy that at least the woodpecker's not pecking on the house, listening in the deep silence of the early morning to hear Sophia trying to talk. I'll take it.

Tuesday, April 22, 2003

Note to self: You have enough. You do enough. You are enough. ~ SARK

Wednesday, April 16, 2003

Watch me draw you a picture! Check this out... then hit clear, draw a new picture and send me something from your imagination.

Sophia Italiana Sophie, Snowflake, and I sashayed downtown to the local Gelateria last night for a taste of summer. Mine was mango and we brought back some Tiramisu gelato for the hard-working hubby. I still dream of Italy and all the gelato we ate there.... the very best was in Rome; it was Tiramisu gelato that actually had hunks of ladyfingers in it and rum. Yum.... after work today I will put on a long floaty dress and pretend I'm back in Florence with my sweet little Sophia. I want to hold your nose No joke, a guy is selling Paul McCartney's flu germs on eBay. He insists that he caught the flu from Paul himself, and now, for a nominal fee, you can share Paul's cold. You can either get a container of mucus, or he'll breathe into a plastic bag for you; it's your choice. *Note to my Paul: this is not what I want for Mother's Day.

Monday, April 14, 2003

Sophie goes chalking This was simply a gorgeous weekend. Sunday found all three of us in the park, with a camera, chalk, bubbles and a sketchbook. I generally like to be sneaky and chalk at 6am, but due to pregnancy, winter, and the demands of a new bambino, it's been a while. I simply couldn't wait another instant to go chalking. Luckily there was a cluster of kids with guitars and bongos nearby, cheerily singing away, so I figured they would attract a heck of a lot more attention than we would. So I knelt down and chalked: The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty YES to your adventure. ~ Joseph Campbell A nice grandpa came by with a baby in a stroller as we were commemorating the event with a photo. He asked if we'd like our picture with Sophie, and said that his hobby was photography. He said liked to travel, and to help people taking pictures to be in their own photos. Sure! we said, so he snapped us on either side of Sophie in her stroller, who was clutching an orange piece of chalk. As we thanked him, he pushed the stroller over to the quote and read it carefully and slowly out loud. Then he straightened up. "Of course I say yes!" he said, and waved to us as he and his grandchild strolled away.

Friday, April 11, 2003

I'm crazy. I must be crazy. I have actually started to redesign my website and I started a store at CafePress as well. Nothing's done or in it yet, but I started. Why can't I leave well enough alone? Why can't I just shut off the computer and stop creating? I'm sorta thrilled that I can't seem to turn off the faucet, but a part of me is standing aside, telling me to hold on and think things through.... I really need to focus my energies and decide what I want to do. My mind is going all the time: at 3 a.m.; when I make dinner; when I see anything that inspires me. I make a mental note or bookmark it for later, but I have to figure out what the heck I want to do with it all. I'm thinking of starting The Artist's Way again or at least doing morning pages to sharpen my focus. I know that I want to market myself this year... but with what? Do I get a rep for my artwork? Do I only stick with the things I can produce myself? And how much time will I have to produce anything myself with a 6-week old baby on my lap? I know I have to start out very very very small... it's just hard because there's a creative river that's about to spill over everything, and if I could contain any of it and figure out how to use it, I'd be pretty darn grateful. What I need is a Master Plan.

Wednesday, April 09, 2003

Do you remember the song "Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?" from Sesame Street? Well, we decided that Sophie needs to learn about some other jobs (like the ones Mommy and Daddy have!) when we sing it to her. So we wrote the following verses.... and we encourage you too: can you write a verse for Sophie about your job? If you want to start a magazine Or decide between two shades of green If your webpage needs to be designed The ART DIRECTOR's who you have in mind Oh the art director's a person in your neighborhood.... - and - If you'd like to learn to play some Bach Or Rachmaninoff or jazz or rock If you want to play some Mozart* too The PIANO TEACHER's here for you Oh the piano teacher's a person in your neighborhood.... *can also substitute "some Mozart" for "the Beatles", "George Winston", "Beethoven", etc. So go ahead, write a verse for Sophie... and yes! Being a Mom definitely counts as a job! ;)

Tuesday, April 08, 2003

Spring is here, darnit I can't believe this: SNOW in April. Although Old Man Winter was trying to make a comeback, I thwarted him by running outside and clipping a hyacinth from my garden to bring inside. Now I'm working in a room that's almost the same purple as the flower and the ceramic jar it's resting in. This one little stalk is stealthily spreading its musky perfume throughout the rooms and it's just heavenly. Sophie is all in pale greens and yellows today and looks like a sweet little flower. And I have strawberries waiting for me that my hubby bought us. Ha! Take that, Old Man Winter! What happened today to make you laugh? That's a line from a book we read to Sophie. And I really do try to keep it in mind. Sunday at about dinnertime I realized that virtually nothing fun had happened to her the whole day because Paul and I were working so hard getting various things done. So we put on James Brown and danced with her, read to her, sang to her... the kind of things we normally do but didn't get to that much that day. I wonder what will happen to her today to make her laugh?

Friday, April 04, 2003

Me and Ricky, sittin' in a tree... My sister just called me from AZ. She was in line getting pizza for lunch when the guy behind the counter starts making a fuss about the guy in front of them in line. "Don't you know who he is? Can't you tell?" My sister figures out it's Ricky Schroder and exclaims to him, "My sister used to kiss the TV when you came on!" Good grief! It's only how many years since Silver Spoons was on the air (um, like 20) and I still feel mildly embarrassed about this. Apparently, he found this funny; I'm glad she didn't add in that I got a static electricity shock from the TV because that probably would have really set him off.

Thursday, April 03, 2003

My best friend's wedding Eternal snugglebunnies Kirsten and Walter have decided to finally tie the knot! Needless to say, I am thrilled, although since they have decided the blessed event will occur in three weeks, it means there's practically no chance that Sophie is going to get to be a flower girl. (I can live with that, though.) Kirsten and I have known each other our entire lives... it's amazing when you're best friends with someone, and you can't recall a time when you ever weren't best friends with them.

Wednesday, April 02, 2003

New Sophie pictures! Here I am, day 3 of working from home...working hard, and still being creative with a vengeance. My personal artistic goal for today is to send in my YES! Project postcard and keep on being creative all over my work projects (which, by the way, are very fun and involve this site). And without further ado, I'll post the link to what you really want... more Sophie pictures!

Monday, March 31, 2003

She's baaaaaaaaaaaaack.... Today was my first day back at work. I'm working from home full-time for a month, with Sophie right next to me. We're still adjusting to the new schedule, but so far, so good....I think. I will totally miss those afternoon strolls in the part with Sophie though... maybe when it gets nicer I can take her for a quick spin at lunchtime. Right now she is staring raptly at one of these patterns... they're not kidding about babies really loving black and white. She's getting frustrated that she can't eat it.

Friday, March 28, 2003

Almost famous Yesterday found me and Sophie in the park, with a book, the sketchbook, bubbles, and a frozen York Peppermint Pattie. The drive around the park was ringed with trailers and official-looking crew members, and I realized it's that time of year again -- when they film Ed in our town. (Right in the opening credits, at the very end, when the car pulls out of the park and drives down the street and you can see the Windmill -- if the car took that first left sidestreet they'd be on my block. Most of the credits were filmed here.) So there they are in the park -- my chalking park -- and I keep walking around the loop, hoping I'll be spotted. "Hey! That girl over there.. the one with the purple hat and the adorable baby... she's exactly what we need for this next scene!" Alas, it was not meant to be. We sat a bench by the gazebo and waited for a glimpse of someone famous. All I saw was that they had changed the sign from "Mindowaskin Park" to "Stuckeyville Park." The incredible shrinking woman At last! I can finally wear my wedding ring again! And every Monday I try on my jeans... the good news is I can button and zip up my largest pair now. I can't sit down or breathe, but dang! I'm lookin' good! ;)

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

Guess who's one month old today?

Tuesday, March 25, 2003

At last, she paints I am really loving and cherishing my last days off with Sophie. I can hardly believe she will be one month old tomorrow! The past couple of days have been just wonderful; my mornings were spent painting. Yes, I said painting. Painting painting painting painting painting. I missed it so much, and now I actually have the energy to do it and a hubby who'll watch the baby so I can do it. I did a postcard for the YES! project and lots of teeny little illustrations for a gift I'm working on. The bare necessities I took Sophie to the park yesterday and sketched and journaled in the sun with her. There's a reason they make humongous pockets on strollers! We will be filling some of them with the necessities: a sketchbook, bubbles, and chalk. And today's walk may even include stopping by the local photo shop to see about turning my art into posters. Woo hoo!

Saturday, March 22, 2003

Life is good I took a bath tonight and was away from Sophie for about 45 minutes. As soon as I came downstairs she woke up and started to wiggle, and I realized I missed her and was so deep-down happy to see her again I had to run over and smooch her. Sometimes I just fall in love with her all over again. Who can turn a can into a cane?* Hooray for the internet! I've finally figured out what it's for: a resource to look up the lyrics for all the Sesame Street and Electric Company songs I can't fully recall. We have a binder in Sophia's room with lots of song lyrics in it (naturally!) for inspiration, so many printouts from this page will be in there. Thank God I found it, because I couldn't for the life of me remember what the Alligator King's fourth son gave him. *It's elementary for Silent E....

Friday, March 21, 2003

Pray hard, and get out that chalk. I am deliberately not watching the news. What I'm doing is praying. Praying for peace, praying for our servicemen and women, praying for the women in Baghdad having c-sections so they don't have to worry about going into labor during a bombing, praying for Bush. I've been mostly praying that the world is going to be a safe place for Sophia to grow up in. We match! And now, to make you smile, it's me and Sophie in our matching knitting projects. Many more pictures of the cinnabun to come soon. She likes to sit on my lap as I work (like right now).

Wednesday, March 19, 2003

Sophie pays a social call Today we took Sophia to work to meet the gang. In about another week, I start work again. Wow. Needless to say, everyone was enchanted with her, although she refused to wake up, only opening one eye periodically to see if all those people were still there looking at her (and they were). Her life is so tough. Faeries aplenty There's a new batch of artwork up in the French Toast Girl gallery... all about faeries. Go take a peek. I'm hoping to turn these into something... a calendar, prints... something. Ideas?

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

Not that energetic It may seem like I have all this creative energy, but I don't. I don't really have any energy. This is self-preservation. I have to do things that are not baby-related so that I remember who the heck I am. Don't get me wrong: I love Sophia madly and I am thrilled beyond all telling that she is a part of my life. But there needs to be some time for Elena, the artist, in there too. If it's five minutes here and there spent gathering resources or posting artwork, then I have to make the most of the five minutes I've got. They'll add up to something... that's why they're baby steps. Who knew? This is the latest diet: you eat everything with chopsticks. My dad has been on this diet since the Korean War. No joke; he eats everything with chopsticks, even Jello. It's something to see. When we were little he even made us sets of training chopsticks so we could learn, too. Painting for America Michelle Abeyta is doing something neat: "a series of patriotic paintings to show support to the men and women who are doing their jobs and protecting our lives." Check her out and show her some support if you can. I agree with her: it's not about the war or no war, it's about supporting the people who are putting their lives on the line.

Monday, March 17, 2003

On the quest for Harmony I've been trying to take baby steps to do something creative every day. This week I finished knitting Snowflake's hat, had a photo shoot with Sophia, looked up places to submit my website to (if you know of any, please let me know), read SwirlyGirl's manifesto on starting a line of greeting cards, and submitted a little something to both O and Be Real Magazines. It's a start.

Sophie travels! We took Sophie to the park twice this weekend to take advantage of the gorgeous, non-March-like weather. Her first outings! We took pictures and video and met our newest next-door neighbor, Jack, who was born March 6. (I call him Sophia's boyfriend. They were both asleep for the big meeting.) We pointed out the places where Mommy likes to chalk, the geese, the playground, the gazebo, the trees Daddy's studio has planted there. As we arrived home we saw that the first little shoots of daffodils and crocuses were starting to poke their way up through the earth. Spring is arriving, and my heart is full to overflowing. Life is pretty darn good. Exhausting, but good. Having a moment... Songs that make mommy cry when she sings them to Sophie:

Isn't She Lovely

Goodnight, My Angel

Poor Sweet Baby (from the musical "Snoopy")

Friday, March 14, 2003

I want:

to have my wedding ring fit my finger again

to post new artwork to my website

to paint something, anything

to go chalking

to finish my latest knitting project

to have all the time in the world and then some to spend with sweet little Sophia and her marvelous Daddy

to be patient and trust that all this will come in time

Thursday, March 13, 2003

It's Lent, and I haven't felt very Lent-like. I feel like it's Easter right now, like it's Spring, like there's Good News all over my heart and everywhere. So instead of giving something up, I'm doing something: renewing my prayer life. Oddly enough, I really like doing meditations from this book right after Sophie's 3am feeding. It's peacefuly silent in the house and it gives me something deep to think about as I drift off to sleep. The other morning the question was "When was the last time you helped someone in need?" And I'm ashamed to say I really couldn't recall. Paul's studio did a clothing and food drive in December, but I've been so wrapped up in babyland I couldn't think about much else. And then that very evening, I found this: a discussion on crafting for charity. I've been thinking of starting a knitting circle with my Cornerstone group; we could each make a square and put them together for a blanket or make newborn caps for hospitals. Was I meant to find that particular article on that particular day? Heck yeah. That's synchronicity at work.

Wednesday, March 12, 2003

In today's news: "House cafeterias change names for 'french fries' and 'french toast': Move reflects anger over France's stance on Iraq" I am one of the most peace-loving people you will ever meet, but okay, come on. Freedom Toast Girl? Give me a break. Don't these people have anything better to do?

Monday, March 10, 2003

Move over, Aretha! There's a new diva in town... go check out her pictures here. ps ~ Could somebody send me real mail? I just opened up my email from the past week and got 86 messages, of which most were spam, some were using my email address to send spam and needed to get reported, and about two were from lists I actually subscribe to. It's a little depressing.

Friday, February 28, 2003

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sophia Grace born February 26, 2003, 5:19 pm 19.5" long; 7lbs 9oz She's absolutely gorgeous! She's passed all her tests with flying colors (9 on the Apgar scale) and has long artistic fingers and dark hair. When she was first born, she had a little afro but it's straightened out now. New family is tired but doing fine. Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts.... Pictures and possibly a little video to come soon!

Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Still here.... maybe the baby is waiting until Friday when my regular doctor comes back from vacation! I sure don't know. In the meantime, check out pics from the baby shower. I'm the one with the big hair and the big belly (what you can see of it in the photos).

Thursday, February 20, 2003

We're officially playing the waiting game now. The baby is still head-down (yay!) and we still get lots and lots of wiggles every day (also yay!) Things seem to be progressing..... slowly. Soooooo...... it's totally up in the air when this baby will make an appearance. Could be tomorrow, could be in two weeks. The important thing is that the baby is healthy in there and in the right position. I guess all this "We'll see you before the weekend!" (last week's message from the doctors) stuff is out the window. I am 38 1/2 weeks, so it's really anyone's guess at this point. I was rather pleased the little one decided NOT to come during the blizzard, but it's amazing how quickly people listen to you when you say "I could go into labor at any time" and get that driveway cleared, pronto. I am getting a serious hankering for it to be SPRING, already; to be able to go for a walk and not worry about slipping on the ice, and I truly want to go chalking in the worst way. I have been reading You Grow Girl and I will be sending away for the Spring Hill catalogue very soon. A girl can dream.

Saturday, February 15, 2003

We got back from the hospital last night -- the procedure worked fine and the baby is now head-down! The baby is healthy, has a good strong heartbeat, and we were sent home. However.... I have been having mild contractions, and there was a while there where they thought I would stay at the hospital, but I'm not any further dilated and I can't really feel the contractions, so they sent us home. As soon as the contractions get painful and last for an hour, we call the doctor and go to the hospital; they do another ultrasound to make sure the baby stayed head down and then we take it from there. According to the doctors and nurse, they think real labor could start within 48 hours, so we could be getting verrrrrrrrrry close.... So -- please keep praying, and thank you for all the prayers you've sent so far, for this weekend and all throughout this pregnancy. We know they're working!

Wednesday, February 12, 2003

Baby news....Our checkup today revealed that the baby is fine and healthy, but in the breech position. The doctor thinks that there’s not too much of a chance that he is going to flip around because he’s (or she's) very well-settled where he is and getting bigger all the time. The alternative is that we can wait and see what happens, but there is a good chance right now that I’ll definitely need a c-section and I would REALLY like to avoid that if possible. So, at the doctor’s recommendation, we’re going into the hospital Friday morning (yup, Valentine's Day) to see if they can turn the baby around. The only thing is that there's a possibility that I could go into labor.... in which case we'd have a very special Valentine! So….. please pray for all of us on Friday, Valentine’s Day, that everything will work out the way it’s supposed to, whatever that may be. No matter what happens or when it happens (the baby could be born Friday or in 3 weeks – who knows!) we’ll be ready to welcome this new little baby.

Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Zapatos de ratas! My wrestler is maravilloso! With the fire of a thousand red hot suns, I challenge you to beat it! Let's lucha! Make your own! Watch out or I'll sit on you! Sent from the marvelous mind of Snowflake... or should I call her Solar Flair?

As we're getting closer to The Big Day, I've been working more and more from home. Yesterday was such a day.... me, a laptop, and a hubby who made me cinnamon buns that made the whole house smell just incredible. (Incidentally, we call the baby the cinnabun... and the date on the can of buns we had yesterday was March 2, my due date! Synchronicity....) In other news, I finally finished the baby blanket I've been knitting for 4 months, late last night. It's pale yellow, with a bit of a decorative edge. I thought for sure I would have this thing in the delivery room with me, determined as all get-out to have it finished before the baby made an appearance. Phew. I keep picturing this little wiggly baby wrapped up snug in it, warm against the winter cold. I can't wait.

Thursday, February 06, 2003

Although I will hate myself for it later, I know that I will be flipping back and forth between the two trashiest shows on network TV tonight: Joe Millionaire and the interview with Michael Jackson. I know, it doesn't get any lamer than that, but it's like Homer Simpson says... "Disgusting, yet straaaaaaaaaaaaaaangely compelling."

Tuesday, February 04, 2003

I dreamt of a unicorn last night. I don't remember anything about the dream except that he was white, and standing very close to me. At one point his horn vanished, and he said that some people would only see a horse when they looked at him because they didn't know what to look for. I wondered how very many times that must happen.

Friday, January 31, 2003

Calling all pacifists... "The latest edition of Maxim magazine, in an alleged "humor" article headlined "Maxim’s Kick-Ass Workout," depicts a strapping man in a "Muscle" T-shirt beating up an image of Mahatma Gandhi. The three-page article includes 21 different scenes of the man hitting, kicking, choking and throwing Gandhi, who is named in the text, when the reader is urged to "ask Gandhi if he can see a change in your physique." (article and details at IndiaCause and more at Tolerance.org) One of my favorite Gandhi quotes is, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." I wonder what change Maxim magazine thinks they're having on the world. Go write them a letter and let them know this is unacceptable. Follow up as of 2/3: Maxim magazine gives a formal apology. 'Bout time.

Thursday, January 30, 2003

(sigh)

My goldfish, Archie, has passed away at the tender age of at least 12 (my mom thinks he was even older than that). We had an funeral outside; Paul dug a hole in the frozen backyard and we blew bubbles and said nice things about him. It's very, very strange to not have to feed him every morning when I've been doing it for at least the past 12 years... almost half my life. (sigh again)

Wednesday, January 29, 2003

Joyful things for today:

Hearing the baby's heartbeat nice and loud at the doctor's office.

Eating french toast with strawberries (frozen from the summer to be saved for a special occasion... which I realized was just that particular moment in time.)

Realizing that the billion and one freckles on my (huge) tummy look just like cinnamon sprinkles.

Clarity of thought for my art: both personal and at work. Hooray and amen for sketching.

Defining my theme for 2003: HARMONY. Much more about this later.

Monday, January 27, 2003

My baby shower was this weekend! It was a lot of fun (though exhausting!) and filled with many well-wishers who happily rubbed my belly throughout the afternoon. We ate french toast (natch!) and Mom decorated the cake and little take-home bubble jars with my baby drawings, which really meant a lot to me, as I'm feeling more and more like a mini-bake oven waiting for the timer to go off, and less and less like an artist. We all played at Carolyn's wonderful home and had us a great time. I was overwhelmed with everyone's generosity and hard work... but I reminded myself that it wasn't for me, it's for the baby! Somehow, it's easier for me to accept the attention that way. A number of friends brought squares we've been working on for a Muppet Quilt... the results are just beautiful! I can't wait until we collect them all and put them together for the little one's room.

Wednesday, January 22, 2003

Spent the evening at Snowflake's, knitting and flipping back and forth between Gilmore Girls and American Idol and finally exchanging our Christmas presents. I look forward to every visit and social occasion I can muster up the energy for, since the clock is ticking and just sitting on her purple couch and dishing plain wore me out. (In a good way!)

Tuesday, January 21, 2003

I love PBS in general (hey, where else can you watch Sesame Street if you don't have cable?), and especially the whole style and design of PBS Kids. (Big surprise!) Check out Don't Buy It — making kids question advertising, TV, and the media. Very cool.

Thursday, January 16, 2003

Why do I have a sinking feeling that the "new friend" is the baby and the "old routine" I'm breaking out of is this little thing called sleep? Check out this great new site: Divine Mother, Mortal Me. One woman's journey to balance her art and kids. I love where she says, "It is about finding a balance — giving myself the same gift I give my kids: the permission to become." Amen, sister.

Monday, January 13, 2003

This was an exciting weekend. Among visits and launch parties, we attended an all-day marathon birthing class at our hospital. We saw waywayWAY too many movies about the blessed event, but at least we know what's coming. Sorta. My favorite part was in one movie where the wife is doing her breathing, and her husband says, "Focus, honey! Look at the photo!" and he holds up a picture of their cat. It made for a welcome giggle in what was otherwise an overwhelming day. I'm torn between thinking this pregnancy is taking forever, and worrying that I'll have the baby in a couple of weeks. We're at 33 weeks (out of 40) so I'm not that off-base....I think.

Thursday, January 09, 2003

It's the teeny little things that make my day... and for me today it was finally getting a copy of Harry Belafonte and the Muppets singing "Turn the World Around." Boy, did I ever want to just sing along, out loud, right in the office. Hmmmmm..... not sure why I didn't... the fact that people are around me has never shut me up before....

Monday, January 06, 2003

If you're a fan of the comic strip Mutts, you'll be thrilled to know that the official website is finally here (which my company and I worked on!) And if you live in a part of the country that doesn't get Mutts in their newspaper, trust me: this is a Big Thing. I quote: Mutts®, the internationally renowned comic strip featuring the humorous antics of the expressive and philosophical Mooch and Earl, unveils its official website today at www.muttscomics.com. First created in 1994 and featured in more than 500 newspapers worldwide, Mutts and its award-winning creator, Patrick McDonnell, have been hailed by Charles Schulz who called Mutts "one of the best [comic strips] of all time."

Saturday, January 04, 2003

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I'm still searching for a theme for this year. Last year, my theme was to learn as much as possible. (I stopped chronicling in June, when I learned all sorts of stuff about being pregnant, but wasn't ready to share that with everyone yet. I will go back and fill in the rest of the year.) But as for this year.... I'm thinking maybe to have a theme of simplicity, which will be a real challenge with a new baby on board. Hmmmmmm...... While I saw in 2002 in a sequined evening gown, tiara, and long white gloves; 2003 arrived without me noticing, already asleep and in my pj's. The biggest thing that keeps playing over and over in my mind is that in 2003, there will soon be three of us. That's a little scary but mostly very, very exciting to me. We sang our duet in church for the 8th year in a row and spent New Year's Day getting a mattress for the crib and a little snowsuit for the baby to wear home from the hospital. (This because my mom asked what the baby was going to wear home and I completely drew a blank, since I had nothing for the baby to go outside in, and a half-finished blanket.) Of note: the new issue of Be Real Magazine is out and my artwork's on the cover! And in a couple of days, I'll be able to point to something else monumentallly creative online that I had a hand in....

Monday, December 30, 2002

Longing for some Italian Grandma-esque advice and nagging.... I am really missing my Grandma and Paul's Nana right now. In my family, usually a pregnant woman would get all sorts of unsolicited advice from her Italian Grandma somewhere along these lines: Grandma: You know what you need? You need to eat some fish. Look, I made you some special. Pregnant Granddaughter: Grandma, I really don't want fish. G: YOU may not want fish, but the baby wants it. PG: Grandma, nobody wants the fish. Thank you but no. G: I heard about a lady who didn't eat fish when the baby wanted it... and then the baby was born with a fish head! Do you want that to happen to you? Eat the fish! PG sighs and starts to eat the darn fish. I have witnessed this in my own family, but now that I'm the pregnant one, I don't have anyone to nag me in quite that special way. So I'm asking you to throw on the mantle of Italian/Jewish/Polish-ness (all Grandmas are the same at heart) and please send some old-fashioned nagging and superstitions my way so my child won't grow up deprived.

Thursday, December 26, 2002

Our Christmas was wonderful, but tiring due to the amount of snow falling and the continuing spell of exhaustion the little one puts on me. I got to spend it with both wonderful families and my fairy godchild, Joey. It was lovely going to Mass with the snow all around, giving thanks for the baby Jesus, and finally winding up in front of a roaring fire with my hubby and baby.

listening to (great music for me and the little one): Pied Piper by Donovan (thank you, Paul) The Muppet Show 25th Anniversary Collection (thank you, Craig)

Monday, December 23, 2002

I always used to say it wasn't Christmas until I heard "Wonderful Christmastime" on the radio. I haven't heard it this year, not once. I have it on tape, but that doesn't count... now I'm actually searching the airwaves (and netwaves) to hear it. All this so I can gleefully sing, "The word is out... about the town... the dog just died... the house burned down.... we're simply having a wonderful Christmastime." more! more! The history of the "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" special. The year in review, Google-style. Just fascinating. I'm a little surprised "french toast" didn't make the top lists. Better luck in 2003, eh?

Friday, December 20, 2002

And more presents and goodies for you are here.

Thursday, December 19, 2002

Good news! I am more than halfway done knitting my baby blanket — now I get to decrease and the rows will start getting shorter, making my mandate to knit 2 rows every day, no matter what, a whole lot easier. I have some fuzzy purple yarn that I think I want to crochet around the border when I'm all done so it's more colorful. You can make your own! Get the pattern here. The description reads: "Since it is knit on the bias, the blanket tends to stick on the baby, at night, when the mother is asleep, which is a Good Thing." Anything that involves sleep sounds like a Good Thing to me.

Tuesday, December 17, 2002

We spent a fun day with my brother and his family — it was Joey's 5th birthday. His latest obsession is Def Leppard, which he pronounces with an "a" as in, "Daddy, can we please play the Def-a-Leppard CD now?" After the 20th request, daddy gave in, and we were all treated to seeing Joey jump joyously up and down and sing to the music. Daddy also didn't have a blank videotape for the camera, which is a shame because it was absolutely hysterical. I asked Joey, "But what about the Beatles?" (his last obsession.) He assured me that he still liked them. Phew. All is not lost.

Friday, December 13, 2002

My husband's piano studios are at our house. They're soundproof.. But what I didn't realize is that people in the waiting room can hear me singing in the kitchen. The other day, I stepped out to ask him a question, only to find a mom in the waiting room grinning at me. "Was that you singing Age of Aquarius in there?" Well, actually, it was, and I was pretty loud because I happen to love that song and it was on the radio. So I fessed up but was inwardly embarassed.... who else heard me? Then last night we had a recital/party for all the adult students, and I related this story. Three of them said right away, "Oh, we hear you singing in there all the time!" Good grief! Thank God I play the oldies station while I make dinner... otherwise they might have heard me singing about how hot is was getting in here and that I needed to take off all my clothes. Yeesh. [Side note: I actually sung ON that station a couple of years ago. No fooling.] singing along with in my car: The Muppet Movie Soundtrack (sadly, out of print!) My mix tape entitled More Roger Miller Than You Can Shake A Stick At Billy Joel's Turnstiles and Streetlife Serenade Beatles for Babies: because you gotta start them on the right track early on

Wednesday, December 11, 2002

Last night we had a "passing of the torch" ceremony for Cornerstone (from our team to the new one who will run the weekend in Feb.) and I was recruited on the spot to do a reading. It turned out to be the one where the angel comes to Mary and tells her she's going to have a baby. Everyone asked me later if that was on purpose, and I have to say honestly that I think it just worked out that way. :) And then this morning, I woke up from a dream I don't remember. But I did wake up sure that I had just been holding the baby in my arms. It was a really wonderful way to wake up. reading/just read: Nothing Left Over: A Plain and Simple Life — I am so into this beautiful book. The Fiery Cross — The latest in the Outlander series. The Right Words at the Right Time — When simple words can change your life.

Monday, December 09, 2002

Had a lovely but exhausting weekend with buddies from college and then was in a Christmas concert at my church. Being exhausted and singing in front of people, combined with extra pregnancy hormones, made it very difficult to keep from bursting into tears from sheer emotion. One of the solists sang "Mary, Did You Know?" and from there on it was all I could do to not weep openly in front of everyone. There's something amazing about being pregnant at Christmas — I feel such a link with Mary. I can understand some of the feelings she must have had; being pregnant and uncomfortable, scared at what's ahead, and still loving this baby inside her and marveling at what he'll become. And then just as I got myself under control... the children's choir sang. Good grief. ;) So I put a huge smile on my face and just sang my heart out. linkage: Elf Bowling 3 is out! Woo hoo! Download the whole series for free here (and expect your productivity to go down the drain).

Wednesday, December 04, 2002

On my way into work yesterday, I passed a nursery selling Christmas trees. They have a nice shiny new sign that advertises that they also sell wreaths and "garlin". I wondered; do I enlighten them to the fact that what they're selling is, in fact, "garland"? It's a painted sign. I didn't have the guts to stop and tell them about it, but apparently someone else from the spelling police was on duty and alerted them since this morning the signs were all spelled correctly! (The last time I almost stopped was when the local Burger King advertised "halepeno poppers". It was fixed the next day.) So now the jewelry store down the street at work has a misspelled sign (they spelled it "jewelery"). Do I tell them? Or do I mind my own beeswax?

Monday, December 02, 2002

Thanksgiving was just lovely, thank you; both our families were together and somehow we wound up getting to take home a pecan and a pumpkin pie. Yum. Speaking of pumpkin pie; we've been trying to figure out how many songs mention it. So far, we've got "Sleigh Ride" (my fave), "Home for the Holidays" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (and there must be others....) And according to this book, a slice of pumpkin pie counts as a serving of vegetables! All kidding aside; we're so very thankful for all the blessings we've received this year, especially the one that arrives three months from now and keeps kicking me. :) note: My blog is now a year old. See what was going through my head when it all began.

Tuesday, November 26, 2002

Woo hoo! My Adventures in Chalking article is a Backwash Gold Choice link! There's never a bad time to go chalking.

Monday, November 25, 2002

Tonight I will be making manicotti shells for Thanksgiving. In my family, it's pronounced "mah-nih-GAW-ti". The rest of the non-Sicilian world calls it "man-ih-cat-ies". When I was growing up, our neighbor called because my Mom had made extra. I swear all three of us kids passed the phone back and forth because we couldn't understand what the heck she was talking about. What the heck is a manicattie? I've bowed to saying "motzerella" for mozzerella instead of "mootzadell" like I was brought up with. All I know is it tastes good. linkage: Let's hear it for the Sicilians! Due to an erupting volcano, there may be a new island off the coast of Sicily. Divers have already planted a flag on it with "the hope of claiming it as Italian the moment it rises above the surface."

Thursday, November 21, 2002

For the first time ever, my original Christmas cards are for sale! It's for a limited time only, so go take a peek!

Wednesday, November 20, 2002

Try to use this in a sentence at least once today.... de·fen·es·tra·tion (d-fn-strshn) n. An act of throwing someone or something out of a window. --------------------------------------------------- [From de- + Latin fenestra, window.] I forgot all about this word until I read someone described in a book as a "defenestrator".... that would be a cool thing to add to your job title.

Monday, November 18, 2002

More POSSIBILITIES.... This weekend, I not only found the possibility that I could do fantastic things, a little bit at a time, but I also found the possibility to say "no" was at my fingertips too. That's where I start getting excited about possibility: I can take the chance. Or I can leave it. Or I can twist it so I'm seeing it from another angle to make it into something I can handle on my own terms. Things that seemed overwhelming to me now seem attainable. Coming this week is the possibility that I am actually going to sell my cards online. I thought I couldn't, until I looked at it in a different way. Now instead of being a monumental thing of towering perfection that I had to do a certain way, it can be something simple I do with great love. And if it doesn't work, I can always try it again a different way — the how of it doesn't upset me or stress me. In fact, the whole thing has me pretty darn excited. Possibilities, here I come.

Friday, November 15, 2002

I've had such an extra jolt of something lately that can only be described as POSSIBILITY. The permission to make a change, to go with the flow and see where it takes me, to set goals for myself and actually enjoy trying to attain them. I overhauled a project today almost from scratch and I am 100 times happier with it. I designed another project that is making the clients very happy. (I love when my clients love things, especially when it's something I did!) I took time away from the computer to draw in my sketchbook and got instant answers. They weren't the right ones, but they led me on the path to the right one. It's like the answers are in my fingers and were just itching to get out. I need to spend some more quality sketchbook time just doing some doodles and imagining the possibilities around me. The moon is smiling at me through the window, I'm wearing a butterfly in my hair, and the baby is giving me little wiggles. I'm managing more than my two rows of knitting per day and all of a sudden I feel like there's an aura of creative possibility around me that's so bright I can see it.

Thursday, November 14, 2002

"You see, wars are a wickedness, perhaps the greatest wickedness of a wicked species. They are so wicked that they must not be allowed. When you can be perfectly certain that the other man has started them, then is the time when you might have a sort of duty to stop him." "But both sides always say that the other side started them." "Of course they do, and it is a good thing that it should be so. At least it shows that both sides are conscious, inside themselves, that the wicked thing about a war is its beginning." ~ Merlyn instructing King Arthur T. H. White's The Once and Future King

Tuesday, November 12, 2002

I'm feeling lots better about the micromovements: I can combine the two rows of knitting with watching Sesame Street and then everybody wins. :) I also realized that (okay, with a little help from my friends) that (a) pregnancy wears you out, and hey, I am being creative, every single day! I'm creating a baby in here! A very very active one, too; and (b) I maybe can still do the things I planned to do, just not in the way I originally planned. I may not be able to set up my whole online store for my Christmas cards, but I can still send out an email and take orders that way, if I want to go ahead with it. And if I decide that it'll be too much, I don't have to do it and that doesn't make me any less creative. I'm not going to beat myself up any more. Yay for me.

Monday, November 11, 2002

Okay, at last I have an excuse for all my tiredness/forgetfulness. My brain is shrinking because of the baby. So if I owe you a phone call/email/something else, my sincerest apologies. I'm working on it. I'm trying to make lots and lots of lists, and be very kind and forgiving to myself. I can't get half the things done that I want to, or plan to — I'm just too tired. My hope is that more exercise and chipping away at my list bit by teeny bit is going to help in that regard. I want to work on my website, finish the baby's webpage (you knew that was coming), and get Christmas stuff done so I don't have to get stressed out about it. I'm trying to knit a little bit every day (like SARK's micromovements) so that I can just do little bits and not overwhelm myself, and maybe by March this baby will have a blanket.

Tuesday, November 05, 2002

Paul and I voted* this morning and then we went out to breakfast with Paul's mom at the diner across the street. We had a printout of the baby pictures (for Mom) with us and we showed them to Carolyn who was at the voting place too. It wasn't long before EVERYBODY there wanted to see them... it was fun! And I got to eat my french toast. (High in protein! And I think the little one liked it — there was non-stop wiggling going on.) *You did vote today, right? Frank Zappa wants you to...

Tuesday, October 29, 2002

Had a weekend where I saw lots of people, and every woman I saw except one said, "You look so skinny! You don't even look like you're pregnant!" Grrrrrrrrr.... You know what? I'm 5 months pregnant, darnit. There's a baby in there, and I totally have a belly on me. Paul gave me a big hug and said that they probably thought it was a compliment and that of course I had a belly, but I think people don't realize how incredibly annoying that is. A sweet thing happened two weekends ago when I was songleading at church; the priest announced to the church that we were expecting. Since our engagement had also been an impromptu announcement from the altar by the presiding priest who really wanted to share the news with everyone, this was like another seal of approval. (And plus, then nobody thinks I'm just getting chubby!) One priest actually said that me getting up and singing when I was pregnant was a "beautiful testament to life." That's a nice perspective.

Friday, October 25, 2002

I ordered Thai food today and I decided to go to the little out of the way place that I know always makes good food, instead of the big chain one that opened up on Main Street. My best friend Kirsten and I always go to the small place, it's run by this really nice woman named Tammy. (There's even a photo of us up on the wall as frequent customers.) So when I got there to pick up the food, she had these little roses in a vase and I was admiring them and smelling them. She told me they came from her garden and then she picked out two and gave them to me to take home! Wasn't that nice? The big restaurant wouldn't have done that. Oh yes, and last night I got orchids from one of Paul's students! So I have flowers everywhere now!

Wednesday, October 23, 2002

I've been in quite an Arthurian groove lately. I just finished The Book of Merlyn which was just great. It's the last part of T.H. White's Once and Future King volumes, which his publishers conveniently 'lost' since it was wartime and this book is an essay on the futility of war. Very interesting. Now I'm rereading The Mists of Avalon for the nth time. (sigh...I love that book.) I keep meaning to tackle Malory and memorize Tennyson's "Lady of Shallot"... but until then, I may have to settle for watching this instead.

Thursday, October 17, 2002

My mom just got me Quilting With the Muppets... imagine how cool the baby's room is going to look with one of these in it! My sister has already claimed the Oscar square. I've also been knitting for the little one... a teeny hat to match mine, I started a sweater that's red with white and glossy maroon strands in it, and a soft butter-yellow blanket. It's fun knitting tiny things.

Wednesday, October 16, 2002

I have exciting news to report: The baby is moving and I can feel it. Most common occurrences are right after I stop singing (I'm hoping this is a "More! More!" reaction and not a "Finally! I can get some sleep!" reaction) and when I first wake up in the morning. It's really, really amazing. For anyone who's counting, we're at 20 weeks now. ps ~ Craig has been running a commentary about Yoko Ono music all this week. Just don't say "onobox" three times or something dangerous might happen....

Thursday, October 10, 2002

Woo hoo! At last, I'm in style as big hair makes a comeback. They think this is big? I can top this without even trying. My hair did look like Gwyneth's when I left the house this morning... but then the rain and humidity set in and I wound up looking more like Foxxy Cleopatra from Austin Powers. I am determined to get my hair cut, but also scared. I only get it cut about once every year and a half, so I don't have a regular person I go to. Do I go to SuperCuts and get a $15 haircut and tell them just to thin it out and trim it? Or do I do my homework and go to a classy salon and get a $60 cut (and tell them just to thin it out and trim it)? I don't want to lose the length, just make it less Foxxy.

Wednesday, October 09, 2002

Happy Birthday to John Lennon, who would have been 62 today, and Nana, who would have been 96 today.

Monday, October 07, 2002

Since lately I've been feeling a wee but overwhelmed, it's been amazing how much feedback I've been getting from the universe. Not because I asked, just because I've been noticing. Alex, Kevin, and Melissa are all saying NO for a little while and taking time to replenish the sources by doing things that recharge them. They're all taking a break. So from them, I'm learning that I might not need to do every single solitary thing I think up. I think the fact that I got this message from three separate sources in the same week says something. I'm also learning Step 2 of planning: it ain't enough to simply make a nicely detailed list in my Handspring. Every item needs to make it from the list to a day of the week, a blocked out period of time with a little alarm on it to remind me that it's art time. I had a full — but productive — weekend, because I planned when to work on my project, and then when I could happily stop and go play with Paul or the cat next door.

Thursday, October 03, 2002

I have my magic wand with me today and I'm granting wishes. Go ahead, make a wish!

Wednesday, October 02, 2002

Well, you can't get any cheerier than this: 1. I now have Photoshop 7 loaded on my computer. It is all that and about 15 bags of chips. 2. Claire of Loobylu fame is having her baby tomorrow. Wow. Send some sweet happy thoughts her way. 3. Tonight I meet with my Cornerstone sisters. The theme of the meeting? Creativity. Guess who thought of that one. I am still working on the not-doing enough feeling. First off, I have never in a gazillion years ever meant to make anyone feel small-fishy. In fact, my whole goal has been to get everyone into my pool, however big or small it's perceived to be, for one big nurturing creativity party where we're all equal. So if I have ever made anyone feel that way, I apologize. It's the not having enough time, the having a day job, the being pregnant and not having the energy I was used to, the sheer immensity of everything I perceive I have to do that overwhelms me sometimes. That's all. Promise. :)

Monday, September 30, 2002

Oh, how I want to write something witty and creative! But instead, I just went and looked at a whole bunch of other artist's websites. Artists who are being shown. Artist who are selling their work. Artists who are out there selling themselves. I feel like the teeniest guppy in a puddle-sized pond. Make that a sea-monkey.

Meet Elena, the adopted Sea-Monkey! (sigh) Notice how it keeps smacking its head against the wall.

Wednesday, September 25, 2002

It's Banned Books Week! It's amazing when you read WHY some of these books have been banned. For example, take The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis. Banned for use of magical imagery. The same people who want to ban Harry Potter for being satanic are after this one too, and probably can't be bothered to learn that the entire series is a Christian allegory. Just amazing. linkage: Forbidden Library Banned Books Project Official Banned Books Week page of the ALA What are your favorite banned books?

Tuesday, September 24, 2002

Spent a little time at Wild Snowflake's abode {which useta also be mine} to swap food and chat. I gave her tomatoes, which is the only thing that grew in my garden this year; she picked up Halo Farms Peach ice cream for me. {For those of you who went to TSC and remember making Halo runs, drool with envy.} She has a long-awaited brand new blog. I think tonight I am, once and for all, tackling one of the many items on my list so I can scratch it off once and for all. My problem is that I don't just want to create something for the sake of creating it, I want to do it right, and preferrably the first time so I don't have to do it over again. What I've been trying to work on is a store for the website: for starters it will just have cards and then it will expand to shirts, mugs, and bags. I know next to nothing about how to do this, so I think I have to go with a "phase one" approach and see what happens. I think I really need to jump in and see what the water feels like instead of asking everyone else how cold it is. It might be just perfect.

Friday, September 20, 2002

Listening to Beatles, Beatles, and more Beatles today. In the car, I'm listening to the Rutles, which I know is not officially the Beatles but is like finding a hidden vault of very clever and silly Beatles songs. Now at work, I've got the illegal somebody-bought-it-for-$10-on-the-train-CD that has every Beatles album on it, pretty much. I'm not overly concerned about the illegalness of it all since I already own all these albums anyway. If the folks at work are lucky I won't start singing along until, say, 10 o'clock. In other news: tomorrow is the International Day of Peace. Spend it chalking. Spend it in bed. Spend it singing. Just do something.

Tuesday, September 17, 2002

I am now caught up in the dilemma of having some really creative and exciting things to do, and when I come home from work, all I want to do is sleep. I have one wonderful project I'm working on, and the second I think I have everything figured out about how to do it, some detail comes up that I hadn't thought of yet. I make my lists, and then there are 15 zillion other little mini spin-off lists that I still have to deal with before I can scratch the first thing off the list. It's frustrating. Once I finally get it done, everyone will look at it and think, that's what all the agonizing was about? I have to remind myself: baby steps. Micromovements. On an interesting note: I have now eaten pickles and ice cream together. Not in the same bowl, but within a few hours of each other. This is such a stereotypical thing to do that it scares me on a certain level, and yet it fascinates me. As Homer Simpson said, "Disgusting..... yet straaaaaaaaaaaaangely compelling."

Thursday, September 12, 2002

We're having a baby! This is something we've hoped for, wished for, and prayed for for a long time. Now the little one is finally here, and we can hardly believe it. I'm about 3½ months along. I am in disgustingly good health, I have had NO morning sickness, and the baby is doing great! At the last doctor's visit we saw the ultrasound and the baby opened and closed his little fist — he waved at us! I've lost my heart completely to this tiny little being. I say "he" only because I think it's going to be a boy and because I can't say "it"; I know nothing for sure. We may find out, we haven't decided yet, but we have a lot of time to decide. Please keep us in your prayers... and I'll be keeping everyone posted. (This isn't going to turn into a "babyblog" but there will be days when I just have to share.) You can read more here. I'm so happy — and happy to be able to share this with everyone.

Monday, September 09, 2002

Just a heads up to let you know that the web page will look a little different this Wednesday. Last September touched me more than you would think for a girl whose whole family turned out to be safe and sound. I wound up keeping a journal of sorts: I painted every night and wrote my feelings of the day around and even on top of the pictures. I thought that maybe I would share them all some day. I still can't. So instead of a gallery, there will be one page, one painting, one thought. My memory. And please don't take this the wrong way, but please, please, please, DON'T forward me any mass emails about September 11th. I can't watch a single thing about it, and I can only handle it in tiny doses. I really don't ever need to see a single picture of people jumping out of buildings again. I remember it all too well. On an inspirational note: my friends Jen Starr and Erica Cohn (of Harmonytryx fame) had the honor & pleasure of singing background vocals for Phoebe Snow, Beth Neilson Chapman, Delores Holmes, & Bar Scott (I've sung with her; she is a beautiful soul and a gorgeous songstress). The concert is called "Voices of Inspiration" and was given by the widows & families of 9/11 victims to honor the firefighters & workers of ground zero. The television station UPN purchased this & it will be aired on 9/11/02 @ 8PM. That's channel 9 in NJ and NYC & it should be aired on a national level on UPN. It may also be on @ 2PM as well. So if you want to hear beautiful music sung by talented ladies I know, check them out and let your heart soar with their music. There are lots of good, happy, and cheerful things that are going to be coming to the site in the next few weeks. Trust me, they're going to be VERY exciting. :) One of them should be making its way to the site in the next few days. So keep a look out.

Friday, September 06, 2002

My little brother gave me the coolest (and nostalgic!) birthday present: the first DVD in the Battle of the Planets series. We used to get up at 5:30 every weekday morning and watch it with my dad before he left for work. He always missed the last 5 minutes, so we would give him a recap at dinner. I wanted to be Princess, and I wrote the storylines in my little diary; I thought they were romantic and adventurous. Is the classiest animation you've ever seen? No way. Is it great to watch in your p.j.'s and pretend you're 10 again? Heck yeah.

Monday, September 02, 2002

This weekend I witnessed a truly odd thing. Paul and I were walking in the park, and just as we got to the near side of the pond, I saw what I thought was a huge leaf on the grass. Until it got up on its hind legs and waved at me! It was about 5 inches long and looked like a minature lobster. I yelped and ran around behind Paul (no WAY was I going near that thing) and tried to figure out whattheheck it was. It was then that we noticed 4 or 5 others, clambering out of the water and crawling across the grass to the street. The closest thing we can figure is that they were crayfish, and for some unknown reason they were migrating. Unfortunately, it's a very busy road and we saw at least one that didn't make it across. {The rest were en route to my house, maybe?} This is NOT something you expect to see in New Jersey, miles and miles from the shore. We told our neighbors, who planned to take their little ones over to the park for a little crayfish rescue. I love animals, cute or crustacean, but there was absolutely no way I was going to pick one of those things up. Blecch. I would love to find out what they thought was going to be on the other side of that road, and if they ever found it.

Thursday, August 29, 2002

"Follow your heart wherever it takes you, and be happy. Life is brief and very fragile, and only loaned to us for a while. Wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is about to happen." ~Flavia I read this quote online today, and I realized, this is exactly the way I try to live my life every day. I believe what Anne Shirley says, "Each day is brand new, without any mistakes in it." So no matter what happened yesterday, I can start off today with a fresh, brand new day that is just ripe and waiting with all sorts of wonderful possibilities. Not that yesterday was bad, far from it. And this morning I awoke in darkness, with rain and wind lashing against our windows. I loved picking out warmer clothes, PowerPuff Girl socks to wear around the office, and making myself a huge mug of tea. I never know what wonderful thing is going to happen next, and I always make sure I leave myself wide open for plenty of magic to enter in. ps ~ not sure what happened to the comments, looks like the hoster is out of commission. I'll hafta do some investigative work.

Monday, August 26, 2002

Found a delightful site that's a joyful look at creativity. Check it out and recharge your batteries: Being an Artist.

Thursday, August 22, 2002

I'm sleepy and still have to make trays of baked ziti, so I'm short on energy right now. However, this is true:

I WAS A SWEET CHILD
you're parents were lucky with you. you're sweet.
innocent. helpful. and cute.
what kind of child were you?
(brought you by april)

Wednesday, August 21, 2002

I don't get this whole "American Idol" craze. First off, where is the fun in seeing talented people pour their hearts out on stage only to get trashed by Simon, the Nazi judge? I know he's controversial, and probably the only reason this show gets ratings, but I don't get any pleasure in seeing people's dreams get ripped apart. It's just plain evil. {I'm sure that's also reality, but there's a reason I'm not in showbiz.} I heard him on the car radio this morning when a station was having a contest that he was judging. I sang 30 seconds of "New York State of Mind" to myself in the car, knew I would have beat both the contestants on the radio, didn't want the prize anyway, and turned off the radio in disgust. That show reminds me of the Harry Chapin song, "Mr. Tanner." I'll keep singing for joy, thank you.

Tuesday, August 20, 2002

I just found out that Matt Robinson passed away. He was the original Gordon on Sesame Street and also Roosevelt Franklin, one of my all-time favorite muppets. We had the "My Name is Roosevelt Franklin" album growing up and we used to sing and dance around to it. What I never understood until I got older was that almost all the songs were about racial equality. I just liked the songs and thought they all applied to me too, a little white girl in the suburbs. I think that was their point exactly. So last night I took out the record and listened {and boogied down} to my two favorites from the album: here are the liner notes from the back of the record. The Skin I'm In: That's Baby Ray singing about how happy he is about the color of his skin and what he looks like and what his family looks like. And you should be happy about your skin, too. Days of the Week: They are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. When my friends and I get through with this song we make those days get up and sit down and turn around upside down. {I love this song — any time we eat eggs I have to sing "Woke up Tuesday, ate my grits and eggs. I put shoes on my feet, but first, I put socks on my legs." I also love that the kids want to know the days of the week and Roosevelt Franklin agrees only if they'll get him a plate of string beans.}

Monday, August 19, 2002

(Sigh) Lots of hiking, lots of time spent with the hubby, and a teeny little bit of journaling. So much for the all-knitting, all-painting extravaganza. I get really frustrated when I have all these good ideas buzzing around in my head, and no time to put it all down. If I didn't need to sleep or eat, what a lot of great stuff I could do! The only thing is, I happen to like eating and sleeping an awful lot. Somewhere there's got to be a balance and I will be looking for it diligently. I had a birthday this past week, and the chance to get all introspective, and the one truth I came up with is this: if I have another year that was as filled with living as last year -- and some parts of it were very hard to get through and some parts were just glorious -- I will be pretty darn happy. I have a good feeling this year will be quite event-filled and exciting.

Saturday, August 10, 2002

I'm taking a week away from the computer to spend more time with the good things in life: painting, books, journalling, and my husband {although not necessarily in that order}. In the meantime, you can get your fill of french toast here.

Friday, August 09, 2002

5 years ago today, right about now, I was walking down the aisle with my parents to "Our Love Is Here to Stay", arranged by us and sung by my acappella group. I wore my Grandma's dress with a train that was about as long as I am tall. I wasn't a bit nervous, I was thrilled and full of joy to finally be marrying the love of my life. I knew he was absolutely the right one for me. And it's only gotten better.

Thursday, August 08, 2002

Song that... Reminds you of an ex-love: Right Here Waiting — Richard Marx Reminds you of an ex-friend: don’t have any ex-friends! (at least, not that I can think of….) Reminds you of your childhood: The Muppet Show theme song Makes you cry: Shower the People – James Taylor Makes you laugh: Amish Paradise/the whole Weird Al catalogue Makes you wanna dance: I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine— James Brown Reminds you of the one you want: Annie’s Song — John Denver Makes you very, very sleepy: Pachebel’s Canon in D You wish you wrote: Hold My Hand — the Rutles You wish had been written for you: She’s Got A Way — Billy Joel Fills you with complete joy: Sir Duke — Stevie Wonder You never want to hear again: anything from Britney Spears You want to get married to: Our Love is Here to Stay (we did get married to it!) You want played at your funeral: What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong Makes you want to mosh/slam dance: Hello, Dad, I'm in Jail! — Was Not Was Sums up your teenage years: Every single Beatles song You used to hate but now love: Touch Me — the Doors You like to wake up to: Great Day — Paul McCartney You like out of your parents record collection: Old Man River — Jim Croce Your parents like out of your collection: River of Dreams — Billy Joel You love that you wouldn't know about if it wasn't for a friend: My Shoes — The Bobs Makes you think of someone who died: Someone Who Cares — Paul McCartney You love the video more than the tune: Keep Fishin’ — Weezer Reminds you of your first crush: who the heck remembers? You love which is from one of your favorite movies: Storybook Love — from the Princess Bride Makes you think of the moon: Voyage of the Moon — Donovan Makes you think of sex: Let’s Get it On — Marvin Gaye (esp. from Austin Powers….) Makes you think of being alone: American Tune — Paul Simon You love to hear at clubs: don’t go to clubs, but if I did: Mo Money Mo Problems thanks to grammardog

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