Hello World!

How are you doing? 

Life for me is zipping by right now. But all is good.

Watch this space for an exciting February.

Peace!

Art Date

Last weekend, my friend A. and I got together to do some encaustics. A. liked the heating gun.

Layer of wax/encaustics medium applied and sealed with a heating gun.

Next, she drew a coffee mug with steam coming out.

 

We then had to make a run to the grocery store to pick up some coffee beans. She then carefully placed the beans and applied heat to it. Oh the aroma of coffee was so very wonderful!

And here is her finished piece. Brilliant! Don't you think?

 

Here she is. Armed and dangerous.

Junxtaposition

Good times can bring out the best in people. And the worst.

Just as bad times can bring out the best in people and the worst.

It simply tells you what kind of human beings they are. It shows their true character.

On one hand we have Pat Robertson claiming that the folks in Haiti made a deal with the Devil so they got what they deserved. Really Pat? In exchange for what? Surely if I made a pact with the Devil, I would get something in return? Millions of dollars? Eternal Youth? An anti-wrinkle cream that works?

The people in Haiti had nothing. Even before the earthquake.

And then you hear stories about the Haiti people chanting and praying. When they have lost the most valuable possessions. Their loved ones. And their homes. And their dignity. Ever having to use a bucket as a toilet in public? And yet they chant and pray.

You also hear about people donating money and desperate to help the people in Haiti.

And businesses trying to do everything they possible can to help. 

Google maps refreshed their satellite photos so aid workers can determine which roads to clear up first to provide aid to people. Wireless networks charging no money to make a call Haiti. Endless stories. And surely more stories of heroism will follow.

Lily Coyle wrote a small piece addressing the Pat Robertson comment. You can read about it here. It is a letter from Satan to Pat. And I wish I had thought of it or said it. It is brilliant.

About this photo that I posted today. I took it years ago when I knew very little about photography and had a cheap camera. But it remains one of my favorite photos. Because it tells a story and is subject to interpretation. I find it compelling.

I was on a business trip to San Fransisco and went to downtown on a bright sunny day. In one of the most liberal cities in the world, I found this man using a microphone to praise Jesus and condemning all other religions. He used a microphone to blast his message. I found it odd. I live in Texas and have never seen anything like that.

So I took a photo. And just while I was doing it, a blind man passed by and I captured it.

It is a classic conflict and junxtaposition. And subject to interpretation. Although I have loved this photo for a long time, I have been reluctant to post it. Because it is controversial.

At one angle, it looks like a man is preaching religion and a blind man is walking away. At another angle, it looks like a man is standing around with his eyes closed, hands up in the air and a blind man in a business suit with partially open eyes with his hands in his pockets. They have totally opposite body language. I am sure that we can find even more interpretations if we think about it. Just notice how much light is on the blind man and how dark the man with the microphone is.

I'll stop now. Because the more I stare at this photo, the more oddities I find.

I hope that today wherever you are and whatever you are doing, you make the right choices. And regardless of how good or bad things are, you take a path that exhibits a human being's best behavior.

Update: You may also want to read the following. Linda Sharp is one of the most well articulated blogger that I know of. This post was inspired by an article she wrote. Click here to read it.

Positive Thoughts

Sending many positive thoughts towards people in Haiti and their families.

Peace!

Watch it Fly

So today's the day when another new year's resolution goes flying out of the window.

The TV show American Idol starts its season today.

5 months of my life will be utterly wasted.

Every year! Every year!!!! I wow not to watch the show and get sucked in. Before I know it, I am watching, talking, living and breathing it. And soon there are discussions, analysis, pools, etc. etc.

Complete waste of time. I could pick up another hobby. Or do stomach crunches and end up with a flat stomach. Or find world peace.

But no.

I watch American Idol instead.

I am a flawed, flawed, flawed human being. Somebody save me from myself now. But one tip, if you come between me and my AI show, prepare to be crushed.

When temptation is too strong, sometimes it is best to simply resist the urge of resisting and succumb to it as soon as you can. Makes life more easy and fun. And at least I am not having an affair with Da Tiger. Or doing something illegal.

So there. Now that I have justified to myself why I must watch American Idol (AI), I can toss that resolution out of the window and breathe a sigh of relief.

And this year, I have decided to do stomach crunches while I watch the show. Why not? At least I will complain a little less when the show ends in May. And hopefully have a flat stomach.

What about you? Do you have any new year's resolutions and are you sticking to them? And are you going to watch American Idol? Will you miss the drunk Paula?

Cold

I know what you are thinking. Where the heck is Scriber?

Well here is the scoop.

Tiger and his peeps keep chasing me at all times trying to persuade me to continue my fling with Tiger. Since I do not want to be the 15th or 16th mistress, I am in hiding. How rude! I should at least be a top 10 mistress. I have standards you know?

To make matters worse, Charlie Sheen suddenly discovered me and now wants to have a "relationship" with me. He keeps chasing me. With a knife.

Le Sigh.

It sucks to be gorgeous. But at least the aliens are leaving me alone.

So anyways...

It has been cold, cold, cold here and everywhere else.

So in this mysterious town that I am hiding in, temperatures are dropping faster than an old woman's boobs. Right now, it is 18 degrees. Holy cow!

The thing about Texans is we don't know how to handle rain or cold. We have jackets. But we usually keep them in our car in winter months. And every year, we buy gloves and hats and safely store them away God knows where because we can never find them when we need them.

So we tend to run a lot. From our home to the car, from our car to the office.... which brings up an important point.

What the heck is wrong with the office building owners? In summer, I have to wear a sweater in the office because it is so so cold. I shiver constantly. In winter, I have to wear layers and shed peel after peel as sweat drips from my body.

What the heck?

But I digress.

How cold is it where you are at? And what are you doing tocope with it? Also, anyone persuing you with a knife? Do tell.

2010 Resolutions

1. No matter how much he begs, I will not have an affair with Tiger Woods.

2. I will not play Super Mario Wii for more than 3 hours a day. In a row. Must take 15 minutes break in between.

3. Exercise, lose weight. Blah blah. Why even bother? Embrace the fact that I will abandon this goal on day two. Life is short. Eat a taco!

4. I will no longer read Christmas newsletters where parents brag and brag UNTIL my sons find a cure for cancer AND obtain world peace.

5. I will not, not, not, not watch American Idol this year. There.

6. Birdie shall be tamed by me. Must figure out a way to do this.

7. I will love more. Love, love, love. Until I annoy the heck out of peeps and they leave me alone. Sigh.

8. I will commit random acts of kindness. Like show up on my son's date, hang out with the girl friend and offer to pay for it all. See what a nice Mom I am?

9. I will read Atlas Shrugged this year. Even if it takes me one year to read it. At least it will help me fall sleep.

10. I will be and let them be. Enough said.

So what are your resolutions? I want to know!

Welcome 2010!

Happy New year to all of you! I hope you have a glorious year!

I am sorry for not posting and being away from the bloggy world. I've been on vacation from work for the last 2 weeks and been a complete bum. I had so many plans and so many things to accomplish. But when time came, I just bummed around.

There is something wonderful about having no schedule. And no plan. The entire year, I've been on a schedule. I have 4 diaries for my to do lists. Work, blog, home, and art. I make lists. And feel a huge sense of accomplishment when I cross something off the list.

Must get into a gallery art show. Done!

So anyways. I have done nothing this vacation and it feels wonderful. Almost liberating.

It has been a complete change from my day to day life this year.

I hope you are all doing well. I plan on catching up with you guys this weekend. Wish you lots luck and happiness this year. Now I have to go and give my son two a ride. He forgot his jacket at a friend's place and has to travel tomorrow. You know son 2 right? The one who leaves strange comments on my blog as anonomous? Yep. That's him.

Some things never change:)