Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to all!

I realize that Halloween is traditionally an American celebration but what the hay? Join in on the fun!

The aliens have landed! The zombies are here!

It is so much fun to have Halloween on a Saturday night. I am the designated candy giver tonight since there is a very important football game tonight. I am forbidden to leave the house.

I am still waiting for my hubby to tell me one day, "this game is not important and I can miss it."

Mind you my readers, the earth will stop spinning and the sun will not rise.

You heard it first here! On my blog!

So anyways.

I think I am going to dress up tonight. I wasn't really planning to but then I thought... why not? I have a couple of bad wigs. I could use those.

What about you? Are you dressing up?

Metro Dreams

So yesterday evening, I went out for a happy hour and a dinner for a very close girl friend of mine. It was her birthday. I We wanted to P.A.R.T.Y.

I know what you are thinking. You think that we got drunk and flirted with every single guy at the bar.

Not true.

You also think that I the mighty Scriber got on the table and sang happy birthday for her.

So untrue.

I mean I offered numerous times but the offer was politely declined. Numerous times.

Le Sigh!

I'd do anything for you my dear readers. But my friends simply don't get it. The fact that I am a world famous blogger with an international following. So what if I have only 5 readers? That is just a minor technicality. My blog is uber important to me. I love my readers! Wouldn't you like to read a story about me standing up on a table and dancing?

Le Sigh!

Anyways.

My girlfriend and I knew that it was going to be a fun evening. So we both dragged our hubbies to it. I think they were a little reluctant and resistant at first. But... in the end I can honestly say that they both had a great time. And were glad to be there. And to be honest, we never even told each other that we were going to bring our spouses. We did not plan it. It just happened.

Since my singing/dancing skills were neither required nor permitted at the party, I spent a lot of time with my engineer single guy friend D, trying to convince him to flirt with the cute waitresses and describing to him in detail my paintings and encaustics. I also spent a lot of time trying to convince him that he needs to make encaustic panels for me."I don't want to learn it! You make it for me!!!"

Le sigh. Sometimes I hate myself.

My hubby found someone who loves motorcycles and bourban. A very hard combination to beat. I can tell you that he had a great time.

In the end, the hubbies had a great time. I was able to resist my urge to dance on the table and my girl friend had a great time.

So that's what I did last night. What did you do?

Man and Door

Wordless Wednesday...

Choices. So many choices. So many possibilities...

I think I would chose the red door. Which door would you pick?

Mermaid's Daughter

A while back, Janice, Dan, and I decided to do a collaborative project together. I provided photos, Dan created collages, and Janice wrote the story.

Living in different cities and countries did not stop us. The best part about the project was that it was a surprise to each one of us how the other artist would interpret things. And what a fabulous surprise! Both Janice and Dan did a fabulous job.

I encourage you all to try it. Hand over your work to someone and let them cut it up. Have someone else write a story about it. I promise you that it will be very rewarding!

Meanwhile, head over to Janice's blog to read the entire story. It is simply fabulous!



 

Somewhat Plans

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have exciting plans this weekend.

My plan was to go to a Texas Winery with a friend and have dinner there. But the plans fell through.

So instead I will be hanging out at home, painting and puttering around. I may do some exercise. Ha ha. Watch out world!

To inspire myself, I reader the latest Reader's Digest and read some fitness related quotes.

Here are my favorites:

I really don 't think I need buns of steel. I'd be happy with buns of cinnamon. Ellen DeGeneres.

I don't exercise. If God wanted me to bend over, he would have put diamonds on the floor. Joan Rivers.

No one ever went to their deathbed and said, "you know, I wish I had eaten more rice cakes." Amy Krouse.

So there you have it.

What are your plans this weekend?

Runaway

Yesterday, I wanted to run away from home, go to Mexico and open up a cantina. And live on the beach forever.

I just have too much going on and sometimes I simply don't have the time to do all of it. I feel overwhelmed. Weekdays are consumed with work and commute. What's left of the day, I eat, watch TV and blog surf. And sleep. There is lots and lots of guilt to deal with all day long. Rinse repeate, rinse repeat.

Lots of things brought this on. First, there was this fabulous post that a fellow blogger Nan wrote. It was about the importance of having a job right now. Click here to read it. She is absolutely right about what she says. I couldn't agree more.

But then I got a call from a girl friend who was job hunting. She's been looking for a job for about 8 months. And for a while, there were no leads. But all of a sudden, in September, she started getting leads and interviews. She got numerous offers. One job was high paying and offered all the benefits. She was very torn about it and in the end decided to go for a job that was just 40 hours of contracting. It was a very brave and scary decision to make.

She has a wonderful 18 month old daughter and decided that working 60 hours a week just would not cut it for her. She wanted to spend time with her daughter. 40 hours of work, coming home stress free, not having sleepless nights was a bargain. Sure she would get less money, but in the end it was worth it. I am so proud of her.

To her I say bravo! I was a stay at home mom for years and I can never ever feel any regrets for that.

To all the Moms who chose to stay at home or opted for lesser hours so you could spend time with your family, I say bravo! My hats off to you.

Then I heard from another girl friend. We were planning on going out for dinner with our spouses to celeberate her birthday. She cancelled it. She said she wasn't in the mood. She was tired of work and everything else.

I proposed to her that we run away to Mexico and open up a cantina. Dress code would be bikinis, sarongs and flip flops.

She laughed and said, "I wish."

Le sigh!

So my question to you is, who wants to run away to Mexico with me and open a cantina? Jobs for everyone!

The only decisions we would have to make is, should I serve margerittas or a mexican martini?

Sounds good?

Encaustics Supplies

So I finally got around buying all the supplies for encaustics.

Let me tell you something. That it is not an inexpensive hobby. You need lots and lots of supplies. Most people have stuff like that sitting around in the house. But not me. I am not a tools kinda gal. I mean who has a heating gun sitting around in their house?

Not me.

You'll see the supply list at the end of this post and then you will understand.

I am kinda broke right now and so I dragged and dragged my feet about it. But I got a paycheck recently so I decided to buy all the supplies for encaustics. Heck with it. Life is short.

And although I was struggling with a stomach virus this weekend, I managed to get the supplies and create some pieces. They are still drying so I'll take photos and post as soon as they are done.

So here are the supplies you will need. The prices of courses will vary depending on where you live.

One time purchase..

Electric Griddle: 10-25 dollars @ Target
Heating Gun: 23 dollars @ Home Depot
One omelete pans: 6 dollars each at HEB

More supplies...

Encaustics medium: A kit at an art supply store cost me approximately 50 dollars.
Soy Wax to clean brushes: 10 dollars at an art store
Natural Brushes: 1 dollar each at an art store
Panels: Home depot. That is another post coming up soon.

So there you have it. Encaustics is expensive. But it is so much fun and rewarding.

If you try it, do tell.

Love Burgers

So what is it about burgers that they are so popular?

Beef burgers, chicken burger, tofu burgers, veggie burgers, turkey burgers, bocha burgers, hippie burgers, kabab burgers... the list goes on and on.

And then the toppings... lettuce, tomato, onions, grilled onions, sauted mushroom, cheese, mayo, mustard, ketchup, bbq sauce...

So many choices!

Here is my favorite recipe. I call it spicy burger.

Ingrediants

1 pound ground beef (low fat)
dash of olive oil
quarter onion chopped
salt
pepper
2 teaspoons tandoori masala or garam masala
Half teaspoon red chilli powder

Mix it all together.
Make hamburger patties
Grill
Eat

Yummy!

So do you like burgers? What is your favorite kind? What kind of toppings do you like?

Grapes

Wordless Wednesday.

Raising Kids

So last weekend I got a visit from my cousin sister and her two kids. A son, 5 years old and a daughter 3 years old.

And I had a great time. But as soon as they left, I crashed.

Ooo lah lah...

And I am still tired.

How in the world did I raise 2 boys? And how glad am I that they are grown up and in college?

Don't get me wrong. I was a stay at home mom when my kids were little and I always had a great time. But now? I cook when I want to and nap when I want to. And paint when I want to.

And I certainly don't have to run around chasing them. They chase me. For salsa and money mostly but hey... I trained them well. When they visit home, they cook all the time. I don't even have to feed them. I don't even have to buy groceries. They do it all. I simply have to show up and their faces light up.

Somewhere, somehow, I must have done something good.

So that's my story. I have been absent from the bloggy world but I have a good excuse.

Now I must go drink some more coffee.

Reasonably Priced Lawyer

Yesterday, I got an interesting email from someone I know.

He asked, "Do you know a reasonably priced lawyer?"

I almost died from laughing.

What an oxymoron. Is there even such a thing?

Don't get me wrong. I like lawyers. At least some of them. I have a friend who is a lawyer. My kidos want to grow up and become lawyers.

I have a fierce Divorce Lawyer. Granted, I am not planning on getting a divorce but it is always nice to keep one handy. It keeps the hubby on his toes.

See how fierce he is?

Who would mess with him?

So if my hubby ever pulls the David Letterman stunt on me, this is the guy he will have to face. And it won't be a pleasant experience for the hubby.

But I digress...

So lawyers. Why is it one the most hated professions? We all need them in worst of times. They protect you, defend you and fiercely protect  your interests. For a price. Of course. But so what? They have to pay their college loans too. They have families to support too.

Oh well.

It is Friday.Yeah!

And I know what you are thinking. Scriber has finally lost what remains of her mind. What the heck does that table top photo have to do with lawyers?

Fear not my faithful readers. As a writer, I can tie this up together. Or at least try to.

Question: If you have a huge deal on the table, would you ever go without a lawyer?

See how clever I am?

Mental Vacation

Cause everyone needs a mental vacation now and then...

No Math Please!

Lately I find myself involved in too many mathematical decisions.

What size, what cost, how much tax, blah, blah blah.

I find them so boring. And taxing.

Don't get me wrong. I don't hate math. I've aced accounting classes and used to do all the accounting stuff for our home life and my hubby's business. In fact, I was responsible for all the finances of his entire business. And I did great.

But now things have changed. I have a full time job and am a faux artist.

I do not want to do any math. I don't enjoy it at all. I'd rather write, or take photos, or do some art work.

Yet my work right now entails not only understanding mathematical stuff but also explaining it. Blah. Good thing is that I set everyone's expectations when it comes to explaining it. And I can quickly point everyone in another direction. Someone who obviously knows what they are talking about.

I don't and don't care.

So what about you? Do you find yourself involved in situations where you are way out of your depth and have to be involved in those discussions?

How do you handle it?

Crazy Lunch

So the other day, my friend Carol and I had to pick up our artwork from a gallery during lunch. On our way back, we decided to grab a quick lunch. We wanted something fast.

We went to this Chinese restaurant that shall remain nameless. We've been there before and the food and service was good and fast. Plus they also display local artwork in the restaurant and anyone who supports the local artists gets my support.

It took us a while to get a table and a little longer to get our food ordered.

Carol ordered General Tao's Chicken. I ordered Pan fried noodles.

Simple. Right?

When our order came, nary a noodle was found on my plate. It was just a heap of veggies and meat. And something that looked like Tofu.

Well I hate tofu and sent it back. I told them that this is not what I had ordered. They came back and told me that this is exactly what I ordered.

I asked them, "where are the pan fried noodles?"

The guy told me that the tofu looking thing was actually fried noodles.

I believe they take leftover cooked noodles, put them in the pile, cut it out into rectangles and pan fry them. Then they toss stuff over it.

It was really gross. Why can't you leave a perfect dish like pan fried noodles alone? And why would you make it look like tofu?

So I am sure that out of 5 of my readers at least 3 like tofu. Well good for you. I just don't like it. OK? Bite me!

I tried to complain to Carol but she had her own woes. Instead of General Tsao's chicken, she got orange chicken. I have to admit that she was nicer about the whole thing.

She said that she was pointing at the dish so he must have got it wrong.

I told her that he was looking dreamily into my eyes so he must have been smitten with me and got all confused.

Carol said nothing.

And I decided to forgive the waiter.

After all, if he was smitten with me, he must have excellent taste. Right?

A Story

A while back, and I do mean a while back, Mythos, Janice and I decided to do a project together. I would send photographs to Mythos, he would create a collage, and Janice would write a story about it.

So I sent Mythos some photos and he created these fabulous collages and sent them back to me.





Janice is going to write a story about this. Or just provide words. Whatever she wants.




Once the project is complete, I'll post about it.

What is great about it is that none of us provided direction to others. I had no idea what Mythos would do with the photos and no idea what Janice will write about the collages.

I simply do not know.

And I simply cannot wait.

Time Flies

I don't know about you but lately I feel that time is just zipping by. Way too fast! Where does it go? No idea.

For the last few months, I have been occupied with my job. My regulars know that I am one of the lucky people who loves my job. I really enjoy it. But for the last few months, we've had a few changes and uncertainties and I've been dealing with that.

Mostly it has been like this:

worry
hurry up
wait
wait
wait
worry
hurry, hurry, hurry.
worry, worry, worry.

So when I come back home, I am drained and have a hard time just decompressing.

I've tried yoga, painting, glass of wine and so on. But it's been hard to shut down the brain.

Well. Now I see the lights at the end of the tunnel. And it is not an oncoming train. So happiness! And excitement!

And more wait.


But today is Friday! Yeah! Happy Friday to all of you!

Today, I am planning on having lunch with a friend to celebrate her birthday. And this evening, I go for a happy hour to celebrate another friend's birthday. Yeah!

I hope that whatever your plans are this weekend, you take the time to grab some fun with your friends and family.

Time just flies. Unless you are waiting.