It is true. I am nuts. I have five thousand and one things to do, but last week I began writing a story that has been bubbling in me for years. Now it is exploding, bursting out. So every now and then I have to stop all my other projects and write.
It is 1:00AM and I have to be up at 8:15 for a busy day. And the grant needs attention.
Certifiable.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Role Model - Again and More
A while back I posted about my new role model. Tonight as I was checking out how well the Art Center's new webmaster has optimized our new site, I came across said role model's website. Check it out. http://www.renadoud.com/Home_Page.html
I don't know when the picture was taken, but it can't be too old. She is 87,now. Even if the photo was taken a few years ago, you can get the idea. The photo makes her look like an average size person. She isn't - she's considerably under five feet. I can't be that small, ever, and I can't do push ups all day like she can, but I hope I can be almost as productive.
In my last post, I mentioned an upcoming trip to the LA area. The trip was fabulous; I spent time with a good friend and viewed some of the oldest and most famous encaustic art in the world. My friend wisely takes a small magnifying glass with her when she visits museums. With it I could see every little brushstroke in the encaustic work. Amazing.
Now I own a similar magnifying glass. I found it at the Getty Museum gift shop. I also bought a new silver ring to remind me of the trip, and I am enjoying wearing it.
Now that the little LA trip is over, it's time to plan for the big one to France and Prague. The biggest detail left to handle is transportation to our hotel from the airport in Paris. Gotta take care of that. And I need to find a raincoat to take. My raincoat is way to warm for summer.
So... I thought I was doing pretty well on our count down. Then yesterday, I received an email letting me know that a grant proposal I want to write is due Septmeber 17. And they just released the guidelines - yesterday. That means I will be out of the country for a good part of the time I have to write the grant. Sigh.
I may be working some on the trip. Retirement? What's that?
I don't know when the picture was taken, but it can't be too old. She is 87,now. Even if the photo was taken a few years ago, you can get the idea. The photo makes her look like an average size person. She isn't - she's considerably under five feet. I can't be that small, ever, and I can't do push ups all day like she can, but I hope I can be almost as productive.
In my last post, I mentioned an upcoming trip to the LA area. The trip was fabulous; I spent time with a good friend and viewed some of the oldest and most famous encaustic art in the world. My friend wisely takes a small magnifying glass with her when she visits museums. With it I could see every little brushstroke in the encaustic work. Amazing.
Now I own a similar magnifying glass. I found it at the Getty Museum gift shop. I also bought a new silver ring to remind me of the trip, and I am enjoying wearing it.
Now that the little LA trip is over, it's time to plan for the big one to France and Prague. The biggest detail left to handle is transportation to our hotel from the airport in Paris. Gotta take care of that. And I need to find a raincoat to take. My raincoat is way to warm for summer.
So... I thought I was doing pretty well on our count down. Then yesterday, I received an email letting me know that a grant proposal I want to write is due Septmeber 17. And they just released the guidelines - yesterday. That means I will be out of the country for a good part of the time I have to write the grant. Sigh.
I may be working some on the trip. Retirement? What's that?
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Catching Up
I'm horrified to see how long it's been since I've blogged. I will blame this on a busy schedule. And of course the busy schedule included reading several books and lots of playtime with my grandchildren. But I have, indeed, been busy. In addition to regular activities, we held our annual children's art class at the Art Center last week. I spent some time getting ready, then lots of time with the kids, then a couple of hours hanging their show. Though the class was rowdier than usual, I do think we provided all fourteen of the participants with an opportunity to learn and enjoy making art.
Buddy and I have been busy with Gaga School and Buddy and Roo were here for a sleepover last night. Activities were art projects, making various aircraft, a moth hunt, a pizza party, and cookie baking - and eating. Buddy helped read our bedtime story! Today was pancakes, eggs, and bacon for breakfast; reading; playing next door; and an excursion to Morro Bay to see the kids' art exhibit - with a stop for bubble gum ice cream.
Tonight I am finishing last minute tasks before leaving for LA to attend Pageant of the Masters and the Getty Villa. The Villa displays a few pieces of ancient encaustic art. I am very excited! And my friend and I will hit a couple of art supply stores. We could probably spend two days in those stores alone, but we need to be back by Thursday night.
Some of my chores tonight: dinner and wine with Papa; laundry, of course; buying a concert ticket for a July 24th event; buying a rail pass for my upcoming trip to France and Prague; writing my president's letter for the Art Center newsletter; and various other little business things for the Art Center. I have a few chores left to do. It's midnight, now. I hope to get to bed before it's too late!
I'll post a report of my trip this weekend.
Buddy and I have been busy with Gaga School and Buddy and Roo were here for a sleepover last night. Activities were art projects, making various aircraft, a moth hunt, a pizza party, and cookie baking - and eating. Buddy helped read our bedtime story! Today was pancakes, eggs, and bacon for breakfast; reading; playing next door; and an excursion to Morro Bay to see the kids' art exhibit - with a stop for bubble gum ice cream.
Tonight I am finishing last minute tasks before leaving for LA to attend Pageant of the Masters and the Getty Villa. The Villa displays a few pieces of ancient encaustic art. I am very excited! And my friend and I will hit a couple of art supply stores. We could probably spend two days in those stores alone, but we need to be back by Thursday night.
Some of my chores tonight: dinner and wine with Papa; laundry, of course; buying a concert ticket for a July 24th event; buying a rail pass for my upcoming trip to France and Prague; writing my president's letter for the Art Center newsletter; and various other little business things for the Art Center. I have a few chores left to do. It's midnight, now. I hope to get to bed before it's too late!
I'll post a report of my trip this weekend.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Reading
I just finished reading my first book on my iPad.
First I need to tell you again how great my iPad is to use as a reader. Being of a certain age and having had cataract surgery, I need bright light to read comfortably. The iPad solves that problem! Amazing.
And I need to comment on the book, The Help. I thought it was intriguing and moving. Friends have seemed to be less impressed than I. I wonder if that is because the story doesn't seem as real to them as it does to me. I lived in Alabama during the years the events were to have taken place - not far from Jackson,MS. I believe that by the time in which the story was set, few young women had maids that worked for them every day. The story is otherwise believable and important. It asks the reader to examine prejudices and a culture in which we lacked awareness of the oppression suffered by black men and women. The story brings a new awareness of the biases of the community in which I was raised.
A few weeks before my daughter was born, I hired a black woman to help me. In those days women were ordered not to climb stairs for several weeks after delivery. My washer and dryer were down very steep stairs, so I wanted Easter Pearl to come before the baby came to learn the ropes. Then she came a few times afterward to do laundry. On one of those days I made sandwiches for both of us and set the kitchen table for two. I never managed to get her to sit down at that table with me.
First I need to tell you again how great my iPad is to use as a reader. Being of a certain age and having had cataract surgery, I need bright light to read comfortably. The iPad solves that problem! Amazing.
And I need to comment on the book, The Help. I thought it was intriguing and moving. Friends have seemed to be less impressed than I. I wonder if that is because the story doesn't seem as real to them as it does to me. I lived in Alabama during the years the events were to have taken place - not far from Jackson,MS. I believe that by the time in which the story was set, few young women had maids that worked for them every day. The story is otherwise believable and important. It asks the reader to examine prejudices and a culture in which we lacked awareness of the oppression suffered by black men and women. The story brings a new awareness of the biases of the community in which I was raised.
A few weeks before my daughter was born, I hired a black woman to help me. In those days women were ordered not to climb stairs for several weeks after delivery. My washer and dryer were down very steep stairs, so I wanted Easter Pearl to come before the baby came to learn the ropes. Then she came a few times afterward to do laundry. On one of those days I made sandwiches for both of us and set the kitchen table for two. I never managed to get her to sit down at that table with me.
So
So, a few months ago I thought I wanted an iPad. And of course I can't say I needed one. I just wanted one. But I felt stupid and selfish and spoiled. What was I thinking?
But I asked around and researched online. I heard or read everything from "I wouldn't have one!" to "Cool" to "Why in the world do you want one?"
Well I wanted to use it as a reader, to stream movies, and email when I travel. And maybe check facebook when I travel. I just wanted to be able to stay in touch and entertain myself on long trips - the "in touch" part being the most important. And there are several great art apps I wanted to try.
The biggest drawback I heard was the backlit screen. I heard it was awful.
After trying to email from Hawaii via cell phone, I was ready to toss my current phone in the ocean. To stay in touch on a trip,I needed to either buy a smarter phone or a netbook or iPad or......whatever.
Yesterday Papa and I went looking. I narrowed phones down to an iPhone - ease of use being the most important factor.
So then I looked at iPads.
Oh, wow!
Now I have one!
The best feature so far? Reading books with the back light! I love love love it.
So:)
But I asked around and researched online. I heard or read everything from "I wouldn't have one!" to "Cool" to "Why in the world do you want one?"
Well I wanted to use it as a reader, to stream movies, and email when I travel. And maybe check facebook when I travel. I just wanted to be able to stay in touch and entertain myself on long trips - the "in touch" part being the most important. And there are several great art apps I wanted to try.
The biggest drawback I heard was the backlit screen. I heard it was awful.
After trying to email from Hawaii via cell phone, I was ready to toss my current phone in the ocean. To stay in touch on a trip,I needed to either buy a smarter phone or a netbook or iPad or......whatever.
Yesterday Papa and I went looking. I narrowed phones down to an iPhone - ease of use being the most important factor.
So then I looked at iPads.
Oh, wow!
Now I have one!
The best feature so far? Reading books with the back light! I love love love it.
So:)
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Home Again
A couple of months ago, Papa experienced an attack of nostalgia. As a boy, he'd lived in Hawaii; he thinks of that year or so as the best period of his childhood and wanted to go back for old time's sake. So he planned an adventure and allowed the rest of the family - including the "other" grandma - to tag along.
Our trip began well. We drove from home to San Francisco and stumbled into an amazing restaurant for dinner - the highlight being the Taylor port tasting my daughter enjoyed. I know it doesn't seem unusual to find a good restaurant in San Francisco, but this one was in a funky location next to our airport hotel. Nice surprise and an auspicious beginning to our vacation.
I'd been just a tiny bit concerned about the house we'd rented - sight unseen, of course. I knew it was ninety years old and could see from a video that it was time worn and well loved. I could also see that the back lanai ended just a few feet from the ocean, offering incredible views. For us, the house was just right. Though it showed its age, it accommodated all seven of us. And our beds were comfortable, the linens were nice, the sunrises were incomparable, and the kitchen was adequate and well stocked. We loved eating on the front lanai and lounging by the ocean on the back one. I fantasized living there and remodeling.
We all also fantasized buying a house in the same neighborhood - until we discovered that a nice beachfront home down the street listed for seven million.
Papa fulfilled his need to see his old house and elementary school and poke around Lanikai. We visited the sea aquarium in Honolulu and took a short sight seeing drive, but mostly we just made the most of our little spot there. We even cooked all our meals but one. I didn't even shop. I read, looked at the view, played with the kids, visited with the other grown-ups, knitted a little, and cooked, And ate. Don't I always manage to eat? Oh, and Roo learned to knit! Buddy and Papa fished at six o'clock every night, and son-in-law took advantage of the full moon and the kayaks. Other grandma read, knitted, snorkeled, enjoyed the kids, and washed lots of dishes.
At the beginning of our stay, I felt chilly and a bit disappointed that I wasn't warmer; but by the end of our week, the temperature met my expectations. The temperature combined with the luau we threw on the last night made leaving difficult.
For Roo, a luau (she says Lu How and we didn't correct her - she's so cute saying it her way) requires a grass skirt, coconut boobs, and a real coconut. We all thought we should have leis. I wanted candles, pineapple, Hawaiian music, and my son-in-laws margaritas. Yes, I know that's not right. But you'd have to taste those margaritas. They seemed to work - tropical, I guess - and we already had the fixings. And they are just the best. Our shoppers (not me) managed to find everything we needed, Papa showed off his coconut busting skills, and daughter found great mood-setting music on her laptop. Flowers other grandma gleaned from a walk through the neighborhood added to the decor. Hawaii offered the warmest night of the trip and a giant, orange, full moon.
Our appetizers were pigs in a blanket because Papa had bought them for the kids early in the week and we had lots of those left in the freezer. I made a honey mustard sauce for dipping them. And cut up a fresh pineapple, using the top to help decorate the table - Roo said we needed that, too. For dinner we served pork, tropical sweet potatoes topped with coconut, beans and rice (because it seemed like a good idea and I had lots of rice and a can of black beans)and zucchini. Dessert was mango sorbet and Hagen Das toasted coconut ice cream. And chocolate covered macadamia nuts.
I was almost misty on luau night - watching the girls dance by the light of the moon, seeing Buddy relish romping and catching anoles in his new red net, hearing the week's snorkeling tales, enjoying the communion of family, and already thinking about returning to Los Osos' cool weather. We all wanted to stay.
But we managed to tear ourselves away, and now home seems just fine. Chilly, yes. But home, nevertheless. We may go back, though.
Pictures later:)
Our trip began well. We drove from home to San Francisco and stumbled into an amazing restaurant for dinner - the highlight being the Taylor port tasting my daughter enjoyed. I know it doesn't seem unusual to find a good restaurant in San Francisco, but this one was in a funky location next to our airport hotel. Nice surprise and an auspicious beginning to our vacation.
I'd been just a tiny bit concerned about the house we'd rented - sight unseen, of course. I knew it was ninety years old and could see from a video that it was time worn and well loved. I could also see that the back lanai ended just a few feet from the ocean, offering incredible views. For us, the house was just right. Though it showed its age, it accommodated all seven of us. And our beds were comfortable, the linens were nice, the sunrises were incomparable, and the kitchen was adequate and well stocked. We loved eating on the front lanai and lounging by the ocean on the back one. I fantasized living there and remodeling.
We all also fantasized buying a house in the same neighborhood - until we discovered that a nice beachfront home down the street listed for seven million.
Papa fulfilled his need to see his old house and elementary school and poke around Lanikai. We visited the sea aquarium in Honolulu and took a short sight seeing drive, but mostly we just made the most of our little spot there. We even cooked all our meals but one. I didn't even shop. I read, looked at the view, played with the kids, visited with the other grown-ups, knitted a little, and cooked, And ate. Don't I always manage to eat? Oh, and Roo learned to knit! Buddy and Papa fished at six o'clock every night, and son-in-law took advantage of the full moon and the kayaks. Other grandma read, knitted, snorkeled, enjoyed the kids, and washed lots of dishes.
At the beginning of our stay, I felt chilly and a bit disappointed that I wasn't warmer; but by the end of our week, the temperature met my expectations. The temperature combined with the luau we threw on the last night made leaving difficult.
For Roo, a luau (she says Lu How and we didn't correct her - she's so cute saying it her way) requires a grass skirt, coconut boobs, and a real coconut. We all thought we should have leis. I wanted candles, pineapple, Hawaiian music, and my son-in-laws margaritas. Yes, I know that's not right. But you'd have to taste those margaritas. They seemed to work - tropical, I guess - and we already had the fixings. And they are just the best. Our shoppers (not me) managed to find everything we needed, Papa showed off his coconut busting skills, and daughter found great mood-setting music on her laptop. Flowers other grandma gleaned from a walk through the neighborhood added to the decor. Hawaii offered the warmest night of the trip and a giant, orange, full moon.
Our appetizers were pigs in a blanket because Papa had bought them for the kids early in the week and we had lots of those left in the freezer. I made a honey mustard sauce for dipping them. And cut up a fresh pineapple, using the top to help decorate the table - Roo said we needed that, too. For dinner we served pork, tropical sweet potatoes topped with coconut, beans and rice (because it seemed like a good idea and I had lots of rice and a can of black beans)and zucchini. Dessert was mango sorbet and Hagen Das toasted coconut ice cream. And chocolate covered macadamia nuts.
I was almost misty on luau night - watching the girls dance by the light of the moon, seeing Buddy relish romping and catching anoles in his new red net, hearing the week's snorkeling tales, enjoying the communion of family, and already thinking about returning to Los Osos' cool weather. We all wanted to stay.
But we managed to tear ourselves away, and now home seems just fine. Chilly, yes. But home, nevertheless. We may go back, though.
Pictures later:)
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