Everyone with children knows that when you find something with your childs name on it, it’s a major accomplishment. I had been collecting Seraphim Angels and have a few, and one day I was looking them over in a Hallmark store and saw this Cherub. She looked so much like our daughter, I had to see her up close. Wouldn’t you know, she’s named after our Caitybug! Needless to say, this perfect little replica of our little Angel hangs year-round in our home, I think more to remind me that she really is sweet – even when I wonder how she can behave like she’s possessed.

For those of you who would like to motivate me (go on and try, I dare ya!) or join me on my program, give me tips, beat me over the head if I mess up – please. Do. I just added a page that I’m not going to link anywhere, so you’ll either have to remember it or save it or come back to this entry to get there, here it is: The Program.

The plan is to stay on course, every day, and get back on my treadmill since my back has been feeling better and it’s too freakin’ cold to leave the house to go swim in cold water. I’d like to think I’m not glutten for punishment at least part of the time! I have a ways to go, but I did it last year and I can do it again if I stick with it. I finally decided that since the Faith Hill Fairy isn’t going to wave her wand on my thighs and make them magically disappear, I had better get my butt to work. So here I go.

THIS. This is what I do for a living. I paint. I finally, finally paint. I have to first give special thanks to Yellow Rose. Why? Last week I went to her blog for the first time, and she had some music playing on her sidebar. She was kind enough to let me know the artists, and this morning I downloaded an assorted variety of songs by The Corrs. That music (it’s Celtic, Mom) kept me in my groove while I painted today, and will be what I have playing in the studio while I’m working this painting.

BTW, this is an 11×14 oil painting, a custom dog portrait – he’s a black poodle. I’ll post another progress when I complete his underpainting.

Feels good to paint again. I needed this.

View my Custom Dog Portrait category to watch the painting as it progresses.

Today’s post brought to you by the letters “O” and “W”, the pharmaceuticals “Aleve Cold & Sinus”, “Vicks Vapor Rub”, “Little Noses Saline Drops”, “Equaline Extra Moisturizing Nasal Spray”, and the manufacturers of “Kleenex” brand Kleenex – it’s spelled that way for a reason.

I would also like to thank the makers of Folger’s Coffee and Bug’s Life, for soothing and amusing me during my time of need.

Today’s ornament has gone AWOL, aside from my 4 year old deciding she had better reorganize the ornaments within her reach, I fear my head will explode all over the tree and that the remnants of my cranium and sinus cavities might cause you to hurl into the nearest receptacle. Nothing like being a little graphic.

Today is actually my sixth day with this crap. I’ve been in denial, it’s true. It’s time to fess up to my illness, accept any and all offers for chicken noodle soup and babysitting services, and just blow.

:honnnnnk:

My dear friend Paige sent me this lastnight, and after reading through it all – BOY does it hit the nail on the head about me. Very interesting stuff! If you’d like to do your own, here’s the link: Astrolabe

Let me know if you post yours on your blog so I can read it. 🙂
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This report has been created especially for you. It represents your Unique picture at the time you were born and at the place you were born. (yadda yadda big huge paragraph of stuff here.)

Rising Sign is in 26 Degrees Libra
Very attractive and popular, your charm helps you to get your own way and prevents others from getting angry with you. “Peace and harmony at all costs” is your battle cry. You always try to ameliorate or to cosmetically hide any physical ugliness or any angry feelings between people. Flashy, but not gaudy, you prefer to dress elegantly. You generally have good taste in music, art and literature. Beware of the tendency to compromise yourself in your attempt to be agreeable at all times. A bit of a social butterfly, at times you can be vain and lazy. For the most part, however, you are gracious and affectionate, and your refined and aristocratic demeanor serves as a role model to others.

Keep reading »

I just returned from running a couple of errands, one of them being a drive-through at Starbucks for a nice frothy Raspberry Latte. MmmMMm. Well. I took my first sip, preparing to burn the tip of my tongue, but alas. It was just right! Except for one little thing. The lid. The lid, as you know, when you sip your latte, usually comes in direct contact with your nose. No? Well then you have a perky sweet little nose and I’m jealous. Me? Smash. Right into the lid. That’s not really my issue, I mean I’ve dealt with that for years. There was something, an odor on the lid. In the lid? On the lid. I’m not sure. Know what I smell? No, it’s not a plastic smell, or even a hot melting plastic smell.

Puppy breath.

I smell puppy breath with every sip of Raspberry Latte I take!

I find this very distracting. I’m wondering, did an employee bring their new puppy to work and let him lick all of the lids? Was a puppy nearby in the plastic plant when they made these lids? How did this puppy smell get onto my lid?! Am I just smelling things? Since I quit smoking, I have a very acute sense of smell. I have 3 other very acute senses, four out of 5 ain’t bad, I’m thinking. Can you guess which sense I’m lacking?

Also, I wonder, have you ever come across a situation like this, and did the distraction overwhelm you to the point of not eating or drinking the rest? I have been known to see something land on food outside, for example, and I will not eat it anymore. When someone says a fly regurgitates like a thousand times a second, I’ll be damned if I’m putting THAT thing in my mouth. Blech. But if I didn’t know? I would eat it, and I would live. Strange.

(I’m still sipping from my Puppy-Licked Raspberry Latte Lid. Puppy kisses aren’t germy, they’re brand new!)

(image from Education World)

This is my sketch of Joey, a black poodle portrait I’ll be painting over the next week or so. I’m painting him on an 11×14 hardboard panel (aka masonite) in oil.

I’m really not ready for today. Or this week, for that matter.

I’ll be keeping the holiday spirit at bay while I tend to my little one, who has yet another upper respiratory infection. I’ll be snuggling her, holding kleenex up to her nose, and making sure she’s comfortable. I’ll be taking her temperature every ten minutes to see if anything is helping, watching for her lathargic little face to brighten when her fever breaks.

I have a couple of things I’m working on – so I’ll try to sketch, and I’ll try to get a pic to show you later.

I hope the beginning of your week is going better than mine!

From our house to yours, I hope you have a warm and cozy Thanksgiving!

I will be skipping the Thursday Thirteen this week, and resume next Thursday. You can view other Thursday Thirteen participants here, through Technorati.

Have a wonderful holiday!!