Custom Dog Portrait : Joey
11 x 14 Oil Painting
Canvas Panel
© 2006 Leanne Wildermuth
All Rights Reserved
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Life, Love, and Critters – of course!
Final Scan & Detail : Joey
January
31
2006
Koo Koo Kachoo!
January
31
2006
My mom has repeatedly told me lately that “I am the internet”. She pictures me walking around the house zapping everything as the source of all of the power (or something) on the web.
I am the eggman, I am the walrus, I am the internet? Koo Koo Kachoo!
Whatever makes mom happy, I guess. Hi, my name is Leanne, I am the internet.
Well at least I didn’t claim to invent the internet, did I?!
I am also a workout nazi, and a nutrition nut. Which explains why blogging has been slow around these parts lately! But still, I manage to fit in painting, blog designing, laundry, cooking dinner, balancing the checkbook, calculating our bi-weekly budget, and raising our kids. I don’t know why I bother with those trivial things, especially if I’m the internet. Shouldn’t everything else just fall away?
Hm.
Joey is dry, so I’ll scan him and post him up here and in my gallery today. Unless you think I could just snap or zap the painting or something, and it would all take care of itself?
You guys are so good at doing me favors (I’m still floaty over such high bid amounts on my painting!), I’m going to have to ask for another one. Today is MommaK’s 1st Blogiversary – so stop over and give her a little celebration kindness for me, would you?
I’m going to have to transport myself to the gym now, to do my circuit training. Haha! Get it? Circuit training.
Excuse me while I hog up your connection for a moment (I still have 32 P2G), those wires are a tight squeeze some days.
Dog Portrait : Joey’s Finished!
January
29
2006
He’s an 11×14 oil painting, a custom dog portrait of a handsome black poodle – and he’ll be shipped later this week. I’ll scan and put up the final detail images when the painting has dried.
View my Custom Dog Portrait category to see the painting as it progressed.
Stroke My Ego
January
28
2006
Today, it’s my turn. If you don’t mind, let’s play a game of “pretend”!
First, you either know or don’t know the history of Johannes Vermeer. If you don’t, let’s pretend you do! If you do, wonderful!
Since we’re talking about Vermeer, let’s talk about his painting, The Girl With A Pearl Earring. A captivating girl, and my favorite painting of all time. Obviously, because not long ago (well, it doesn’t seem so long), I painted a tribute to Vermeer’s painting.
Now, let’s pretend you love it to pieces! Pretend you’re captivated, you’re standing in an auction house and this (my version, heh) just came up on the auction block. The auctioneer is going over my palette, only 2 colors off from the Master’s, he’s saying how famous I am and how well known. (haha! We’re pretending! It’s okay!)
Now pretend you really have to have this painting. And pretend your checkbook doesn’t mind how much you wanted this painting, because your checkbook agrees! HAVE the painting, it screams! Go for it!
The most important part of this game, pretending my comment box is you raising your hand and placing your bid!
How fun is this! You can bid, but it’s not for real, but pretend it is! Which means in real life there are no kadjillion dollar amounts.
So, bidding starts at ONE DOLLAR (and is not for real so if everyone says one dollar, cripes, NO you can’t have it!)
Ready, set…
BID!
Yeah – Ouch.
January
25
2006
Last August I had a little trouble with my back.
Yeah. Just a little.
Today I went to the “Y” to get some training on equipment so I can begin strength training – after months of swimming I haven’t had an ounce of pain in my back – until today.
Today, I had great form. I didn’t lift too much – all I want is a little resistance, just a few pounds. The trainer said I did wonderful, and we talked about my back so it was taken into consideration as I learned the equipment and she explained how NOT to use my back and how to concentrate on the muscle groups.
Except for that last piece of equipment – I think I may have used my hips instead of my obliques to do an oblique twist. Maybe. Because when I got home and went to open the curtains – I heard a snap.
Then I felt the snap.
Then I started cussing.
Then I went on a cleaning spree in my kitchen.
Then I went swimming for a while in a warm pool.
Then I went and swam in the lap pool (cooler water temp).
Then I took two Aleve.
And now I’m going to bed.
The end.
Please, Don’t.
January
24
2006
This is my list of things NOT to do that directly relate to me and maybe you, but not definitely you. Consider that my disclaimer, in case – you know, you get offended or something.
Please do not assume that since I haven’t called or written, that I am not thinking about you. I am. I think about a thousand things a minute, and if I physically did everything I thought about, I would be dead.
Please do not assume that since I think about a thousand things a minute, that thinking about you is just one tiny little bleep in my day. That’s just a lie, and it’s all in your head.
Please do not believe for one second that I’m mad at you about anything. If I were, I’d have said something. That’s just how I am.
Please do not presume that you know what is in my heart. I wear a lot of feelings on my sleeve, I tuck a lot away when I’m hurt. I am deeper than I appear to be, more often than not.
Please do not tell a kadjillion people that I pissed you off/hurt your feelings or otherwise disappointed you. Tell me. I’m the one who needs to know. I’m the one who needs to fix it.
Please don’t think for a second that my “apparent lack of interest” is a lack of caring.
Please don’t hold grudges against me, or anyone else. That only makes it seem like you’re perfect and you never did anything wrong yourself – and you know that’s not true. I forgive, you forgive, we forget, we move forward. Life gives us a lot of chances to make things right. This time or next time, don’t be above anyone else. Things suck sometimes.
Please don’t ever tell someone they haven’t been as good to you as you have been to them. That’d be really crappy, and would make them think you’re keeping score, and that they’ll never live up to your expectations. You would most certainly do permanent damage to that person.
Please don’t ever think or say someone has used you. No one can use you without mutual consent prior to the event taking place. If you don’t want to give a piece of yourself to someone, don’t do it. And if you do, don’t bitch about it later, because they only used what you gave away, and vice versa.
I think that’s all I have to say about that right now.
Who’s on Bass
January
24
2006
Did I mention I filed our taxes already? I did. And now I’m thinking about ripping out a few more walls in our house, but not before I finish the blog design I’m working on – and the custom dog portrait that is waiting in my studio.
So little to do, so much time.
Scratch that, reverse it.
(Thanks Mr. Wonka, that will forever be stuck in my head.)
We’ve been looking at houses, too. We’d like to move far far away from this stupid snow. I’ve found two homes that are completely out of our price range but they’re beautiful and I want them. Which one can you “see me in”?
Beautiful Gorgeous Immaculate House #1
This Wonderful Private Southern Belle of a Home
The TT Torch Pass
January
20
2006
A lot of people seem to think that the TT ended along with my post yesterday. Like I said, if you enjoy it, keep doing it! You already have the code, you see the code somewhere, go on and do it! It is fun to do. I really loved doing it, and will probably throw one up now and again when time permits.
As the creator and hostess, I felt a strong responsibility to visit every. single. participant. That, my friends, was the straw that broke this camel’s back. I ran out of time, with my new responsibilities and commitments to Pound2Go and EWebscapes, not to mention my own business, house hunting and family life – I just can’t do it all. I know my limits, and taking it all on is an impossibility in my world.
HOWEVER. I did say yesterday as well that I would pass on the torch to whoever might want it, and two people piped up immediately to take it on (and I’m glad there are two of you!).
Lindsey @ Suspension of DisbeliefNicole @ The Girl Next Door |
Both Nicole and Lindsey are bright, intelligent young ladies who understand why I created the Thursday Thirteen and will continue to nourish it in the spirit that it was created. They will be the source for the code, the place to go for blogroll additions, and the hot spots for any TT related news.
They are in the process of adding the code and information to their blogs and will be making it available shortly – and they will be visiting Thursday Thirteeners to say Hello and give you the scoop once they’re settled in!
So please, do me a favor – announce on your own blog that the TT isn’t dead at all, in fact you guys are rocking Technorati – as of yesterday the TT was listed as a HOT TAG on the VERY FRONT PAGE!
Then stop over & say hi to Nicole & Lindsey!
Thank you again, your comments made me all mushy yesterday, I’m proud to have started something that has touched so many people and brought so many people together. As Martha would say “It’s a good thing.” (Not that I like Martha or anything, but – it’s is a good thing.)
TECHNORATI TAG: Thursday Thirteen
Things I’ve Learned
January
16
2006
A cardinal in my backyard on Saturday, 1/14/06
Every year on my birthday, I like to think about what I’ve learned over the past year, to see if that old saying “Older and Wiser” is true. I try to learn lessons and allow events to better shape my character, and hopefully out of all of it I’m a little better of a person, and I like myself a little more for who I am and what I stand for. My list isn’t all-inclusive, but these are probably the most significant things that have moved me and got me thinking in a years time. Here are my deep thoughts from last year, of course all of those things still apply.
I’ve learned that being the best friend I know how to be has to be good enough. I can try to be better, but I have to try on my own terms – not someone elses. If someone doesn’t like the kind of friend I am, they can opt out. I can’t handle the pressure I put on myself for disappointing other people. I try. Damn hard. I’m not perfect – no one is.
I’ve learned not to expect anything from anyone. I will never, ever be disappointed – and I be delighted more often than not. Two thumbs up in that situation, every single time. Guaranteed.
I do enjoy doing things for other people, as much as I hate to admit it. I realized that I spend most of my days doing things for other people, in hopes that they can have the same kind of happiness I have.
I was disappointed to find out this year that I am NOT in control. Dammit. I have to let go, and trust God more.
I’ve learned that nothing was ever resolved by sitting around doing nothing and accepting things as they are. You can promote change by taking action, and being one hell of a determined person. I’m not talking about politics or world events, I’m talking about personal lives and events.
I actually have an interest in learning – and I thought I’d given that up when I graduated high school. I surprised myself with that one, teaching myself how to do things, researching so that I could learn and it would stick. No one is too old to learn something new.
In a nutshell, this past year was a lot about lessons learned through relationships with people. My family, friends, and people I’ve met through the internet.
I can’t wait to see what I learn over this next year!
