I’ve still got the webcam on in the studio, just finished up the background on this lovely remake of PossyII.
4:30 AM
January
24
2005
Stupid dream!
I thought I was going to get some sleep. Yea, right! I was having this God-awful dream and then suddenly, on the verge of tears in it, I guess I forced myself awake so it would end. Now I’m awake, but the dang thing is just replaying in my head!
Coffee. Need…lots…of…coffee.
When I was a kid, I had a foolproof method of going back to sleep after a bad dream. Worked every single time. I’ve even shared it with our girls, and it seems to work for them, too.
M-I-C… K-E-Y… M-O-U-S-E!
The opener for the Mickey Mouse Club! I would close my eyes, and picture the beginning of the Mickey Mouse Club. I’m pretty strange huh? It always worked though. I was one of those kids that had monsters peering through the slats in the closet door, and I had a big alligator under my bed. (That made getting out of bed fun!) I had to do something, right?
Some of my worst dreams when I was a kid involved wading through this impossible texture. It was like sand in a sandstorm in a tornado, with gel or some kind of liquid compound that made everything impossible to get through. Thank God I don’t have those anymore. Blech.
Now I get to have dreams where every one of my insecureties plays out before me like a 3-d movie, and I’m in the front row without popcorn or a drink. In fact those tend to have a character or two in them from life, of course, that reaches out of the screen and pulls me right into it. People that I trust, even! So now you guys know why if I get upset with you for no apparent reason. #1, you’ve kept me up all night. #2, quit playing off of my insecurities! Meanies.
I did hear from Mark lastnight, he’s doing ok. Their schedule changed at the last minute, you’d think after 18 months that would be something I’m used to, something that is so commonplace that I don’t freak myself out. I know that “Gno-Gnus is Good Gnus”, but what can I say? I’m a ‘wanna-know-it-all’ kinda girl.
Anyone else have too-real dreams that keep you up all night? Make your heart race or wake up weeping?
For Kris:
Cat Portraits : Works in Progress
January
22
2005
Yeah! I remembered all of their names without lookin’!
I’ve enhanced the red stripes on the flag backgrounds of Ten, Tori & Emily. I’ll work on the white after the red is dry; sometimes it can take 2 days for red (aliz crimson) to dry.
Here are the backgrounds on all five of their paintings. Callie is the only one I may change, I’m not sure I like her bed color against the teal, but it didn’t photograph very well tonight for you to see what I mean.
Here’s Callie:
Nicki (beautiful gold to orange to brown gradient)
Ten:
Tori:
Emily:
Guest Artists, Kris & Clara
January
22
2005
I’ve been meaning to put these up for you guys to see for over a week now! Kris and Clara both have tremendous artful eyes, and shared some of their work with me! It is definitely good eye candy!
First, Kris, who thought she wasn’t good enough. Hah! I laugh! I set up a fruit still life with my new dimpled silver dish that came with a lotion set (Christmas gift), and challenged her by sending her the photograph of it. This is one of a few, the gal actually painted it 4 times in different medium and tones. I liked this one the best, it caught my attention first! Nice work, Kris!!
Then Clara, who in my personal opinion should be a pro-photographer, or perhaps she was one in another life (if you believe in that kind of thing!). Ever since I saw the images she’s able to capture and the moods she sets with her subjects, I’ve bugged her to go further with it. Lucky gal, now her hubby seems to be encouraging it too! He just bought her a new Canon she’s been drooling over, so I’m really looking forward to seeing many more great photos from her! Out of a bundle of pics she sent me, I picked this one because it sucked me in, made me feel like I was either flying or just up on top of a mountain looking out, right there in the moment. What beautiful scenery!!
Please help me encourage these two to push forward! So much talent, so little time…
Inaugural Speech
January
21
2005
I am just now catching up on news, reading GW’s speech. Wow.
“From all of you, I have asked patience in the hard task of securing America, which you have granted in good measure. Our country has accepted obligations that are difficult to fulfill, and would be dishonorable to abandon. Yet because we have acted in the great liberating tradition of this nation, tens of millions have achieved their freedom. And as hope kindles hope, millions more will find it. By our efforts, we have lit a fire as well – a fire in the minds of men. It warms those who feel its power, it burns those who fight its progress, and one day this untamed fire of freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world.
A few Americans have accepted the hardest duties in this cause – in the quiet work of intelligence and diplomacy … the idealistic work of helping raise up free governments … the dangerous and necessary work of fighting our enemies. Some have shown their devotion to our country in deaths that honored their whole lives – and we will always honor their names and their sacrifice.
All Americans have witnessed this idealism, and some for the first time. I ask our youngest citizens to believe the evidence of your eyes. You have seen duty and allegiance in the determined faces of our soldiers. You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs. Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself – and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country, but to its character.
America has need of idealism and courage, because we have essential work at home – the unfinished work of American freedom. In a world moving toward liberty, we are determined to show the meaning and promise of liberty.”
The Back Cracker
January
20
2005
I’ve been cracked.
I’m feeling much better now, thank you very much!
Do not, under any circumstances, get on a stepladder holding a crowbar in your left hand, and start yanking on 2 layers of drywall/plaster that’s waayyyy over to the right of you.
That’s not such a bright idea. heh.
It’s been a productive morning at least! Only 10AM and I’ve gotten a few things done:
– Up at 6AM, wrote a stylesheet for a newblog skin until 8AM. (It’s uber valentinsey!)
– 2 base cabinets & 2 sheets of MDF delivered at 8AM.
– Caitlin out the door for school with her rockin’ report card signed (I am so proud, straight A’s across the board!)
– Jay up, breakfast served, dressed and out the door by 8:50AM
– Back adjustment & mini-massage (oooohhhlalalaaaa)
– Play-Doh and My Little Pony set up for Jay. She’s havin’ some fun!
Now here’s the rest of The Plan for today:
– Find the remote. Cause, you know, it’s easier to tear the house apart than to walk up to the TV and change stuff manually. Done!
– Finish up the backgrounds on those 6 paintings. (Will do on cam!)
– Get the palm sander inside to thaw Done!
– Change a lightbulb in the hall Done!
– Drink a bunch more coffee Done! (12 cups ought to be enough huh?)
– Take all the shtuff out of the bathroom and prepare for big giant dusty drywall mess. Done!
ow. I just burned my tongue on the hot coffee.
– Bring in those two base cabinets and rearrange the entertainment wall in the family room.
– Possibly prime the bathroom,
– Maybe even paint it.
– Buy a new studio chair. Cheappieceapoo. (Thank you, Clara, for the new chair!) Can’t do it yet!
– Call the plumber to remove gas lines from family room wall. Done!
– Install base cabinets and trim countertop to fit. Done!
– Clean up my daggone mess in the family room! Done!
Okee dokie, there you have it! I will figure out which order I’m going to do all this in and update when I turn the cam on to paint, k? It’ll be fun. You gonna watch?
Funny pic of the day (circulating in e-mail, but worth seeing again if you haven’t seen it already!)
Painting on cam – WIP#1: Emily, Ten & Tori
January
19
2005
Yea! I just turned the webcam on, and will be painting in a couple minutes!
I recorded myself playing one of the two little ditties I know how to play on our piano, so here’s your intermission music. (Caution: volume may have gone amuck!)
Work in progress pic – this is the beginning of the backgrounds on Emily, Ten & Tori!
Here’s the plan.
January
19
2005
Every morning I wake up and immediately start thinking about The Plan .
What can I accomplish today? What needs to be done, what else am I going to do? I’ve got six weeks now before my man is stateside. And lots more to do.
The Plan changes on a daily basis, you know, ’cause I can’t sit still. That being said, here’s today’s mission:
– Apply second coat of mud to the bathroom walls as smoothly as possible. Done!
– Figure out when the he** that plumber will be back to fix his poorly plumbed shower. Done!
– Work up the backgrounds on those 6 paintings, which I will do on cam. I have something very cool in mind for the three 6×6 black cats, lovingly referred to as “The Supremes”. You’ll dig it, so tune in to see ’em! I’ll update right before I start squeezing paint out of the tubes. Doin’ it!
– I’d like to take a shower before that happens. LOL Done!
– Call Menards to get pricing on two more base cabinets and 3/4″ MDF that I need to finish the entertainment wall in the family room (no more construction, just building a lil extra hanging storage space is all!) Done!
– Get down to Lowe’s for more sandpaper for the palm sander, I am not going to sand that bathroom using elbow grease. Ow. Prepare for huge dusty joint compoundy mess. Done!
There you go, now my day is full, and I’ll have accomplished a bunch by the end of it! Tomorrow I shall visit my chiropractor, the one who sponsored my Mosaic Frogs-a-hoppin’ Frog. My lower back is still in huge pain from the demolition, I need to get that resolved!!
Jeez it’s already 9:30, I better get moving!
