Martini & Movie Night Review

I think that Martini and Movie night went well. Fun seemed to be had by all and that is the most important part. I learned a valuable lesson from the movie. "It's all about the trousers." Truly! My friend Julie and I try to take away little gems from each of the movies we watch. Here is the list of our current favorites:

1. "Where's my piratin' outfit?" Movie: Yellowbeard (this one is number 1 for a very good reason. We find that it is appropriate for almost any situation).
   
2. "Where's my map? And if you tell me you don't know where it is I'll nail your tits to the table!" Movie: Yellowbeard
3. "Have fun storming the castle!" Movie: Princess Bride
4. "That's no ordinary rabbit" Movie: Monty Python's The Holy Grail

And now "It's all about the trousers." We'll try it out for size for awhile to see if it sticks. Do you see a theme here?

As you can plainly see I am not working on my presentation. Yes, it is two days and counting. And yes, Xanax is becoming a more viable option. God love pharmaceuticals. There honestly is a better life through chemistry. Back to the presentation, I really do have most of it done. It is just the notes part that I'm still working on. I tend to be a wing-it kind of gal and I have all expectations of screwing it up. Since, I've lowered my own expectations no matter what happens it will be ok. One of my many mottoes that I like to live by is lower your expectations.
I have several more and someday I will list them all.

I'll be out of touch (or more so than I normally am) for a few days.

Take Care!
M

Martini and Movie Night

Tonight is “Martini and Movie Night” at our house. Every so often we get some movies, some vodka, some nachos, and some friends together then shake things up. On the bill-of-fare tonight is The Rutles courtesy of my friend Lisa and her Netflix’s account. I haven’t seen this movie since it first came out. Ought to be fun!

For those of you, who haven’t seen this movie, here is what the DVD sleeve has to say, “Rock legends George Harrison, Mick Jagger and Paul Simon all make appearances in the satirical “mockumentary” about a rock group suspiciously similar to the Beatles from Monty Python veteran Eric Idle. The spoof chronicles the fictitious band’s rise to fame and the making of their hit songs (including Please Please, Let Me Hold Your Hand” and “I Am the Waitress”) and movies (Yellow Submarine Sandwich and A Hard Day’s Rut).”

I have plenty of other things I could be doing tonight like, putting the final touches on the presentation I’m giving next week, or packing my bag, or cooking healthy meals for my homeboys to eat while I’m gone (I have to do this so they won’t go out ever night to eat), or making sure that my suits are clean, or cleaning the house, or about a million other things. Am I going to do any of these things, NO! That would be cheating. I must do everything at the last minute in order to make it a challenge. I have faith and Xanax to ensure that everything goes well.

My friend Sara and my youngest homeboy thought this was the perfect T-shirt for me. I wonder why?

by Fred Babb

Doin's at home

I thought I would catch everyone up on what has been going on at home with the dogs, the drawings, and the dog toys.


First the dogs:
We were only gone for 4 days but I swear that Nessa must have gained 4 inches in height. Ok, so that is not quite true. See for yourself.
She has now become chair petting height. Tripper can walk under her without even ducking. The top of Tripper's back is 12 inches which makes Nessa's belly higher than that. WOW!
It took me about 6 shots in order to get this picture. She was in a real playful mood this morning.
She has developed a mind of her own. Last night she wouldn't get off our bed when it was bedtime and she insisted that she had to be on Jon's pillow. Probably didn't help that I didn't make her get off when she first got up there (I'm such an enabler).
I tried to get Jon to weight her this morning but he didn't want to put his back out. I'll have Noah do it. I'm his mommy he has to do what I ask him to. He has a younger and stronger back and if he puts his back out our income level doesn't go down since he doesn't contribute monetarily yet. He will but not just yet, college is expensive enough.

Tripper is about the same. He hasn't lost anymore weight but he hasn't gained any either. I considered this a triumph while Jon teased him about it (the whole putting his back out thing. Sure he has a point but I just wish he wouldn't say things like that in front of Tripper. It makes him feel bad about himself!). Since, Jon has never had much of a weight problem he can't understand. Tripper is just maintaining. It's a lifestyle thing. He's changing his eating habits. Let me see if I have anymore excuses.

The dog toys are holding their own. I thought maybe the dogs had lost interest in them but if Nessa's trying to jump on the table while
I was taking this picture is any indication then that's not true. See the poor duck's wing? They still squeak and/or quack.

Last but not least a new lighthouse drawing.
I know, I know, I said I would stop but I just had to do the Fort Wardon lighthouse. I've just started on it. See the white grid lines? Those are to help me with perspective. This is the biggest one to date at 11 inches by 14 inches. I hope it turns out ok.

More weekend pics

As I was sitting down this morning to write out thank you cards (yes, I did say write not type) I noticed an interesting thing. 50% of the cards either had old people or porch swings on them. What are they trying to tell us? Obviously card manufacturers think that to make it to 25 years of marriage you must be old or our friends do. Granted, Jon and I are getting up there in age but I hardly think we’re old. I have been telling everyone for years that I was a child bride. I must not be saying it enough because it doesn’t look like our friends have bought into it yet. I was taking a page from Dick Cheney, if I say something enough times, no matter how wrong it is, someone will believe it. Sorry, political reference. BTW, the other half of the cards had lovely flowers on them. Looked vaguely like sympathy cards. Hmmm!

Enough about that let’s look at pictures.

Here is a great one of my long-time, we've stopped saying oldest, bestest friend Ronda. Our 37ish year friendship has been a source of strength for me. Bless you Ronda!

Here is a nice one of my brother-in-law Paul and Harriet, a family friend. Don't they look terrific? See how over exposed the sky is? It really was sunny in Seattle in March. Had I been really clever (it is 6:30 in the morning) I could have Photoshopped in some blue sky but that would have been cheating.

Last but not least, I think that this will be my next drawing. I took this photo out at Fort Wardon located on the west side of the Puget Sound. Jon just had to see vast quantities of water and I needed a lighthouse! Win, Win for us.

Party weekend

Jon and I just returned from a long weekend in Seattle visiting family and friends. They all combined forces to give us a fantastic anniversary party. I need to give a big thank you and hugs to our friends Mike and Judy who not only hosted the party but re-purposed their greenhouse into a party house. It was terrific! Believe it or not the sun was shinning. I know, March, Seattle, and sun is a contradiction but there you have it.

The night before the party, the terrific Mike and Judy (sitting on the left next to Jon) and Gary and Linda (on the right). I know this is not a very good picture but see the glass of wine sitting in front of the empty seat by Linda. It was not my first.

We were able to connect with friends we hadn’t seen in a long time. I don’t think I can begin to tell you what it meant to us. Here are a few pictures I took. I know annoying of me, huh!

Mike J., Manfred, Mike K, & Jon. Notice the gray hair or at least what's left of the gray hair. These boys have been friends since high school.

Lots of people and lots of fun!

There were even fireworks. We thanked Mike and Judy for them but in reality the neighbor that lives behind them is some kind of pyrotechnic guy who was practicing. Mike and Judy did the right thing and took the credit.

P.S. Gary (the project manager) THANK YOU!!!!!

Happy Easter!

The homeboys and I don’t make a big deal out of Easter. It has never been one of those holidays that we fly around the country for each other. If we happen to be in the same state we will make plans but we don’t spend precious vacation time or money on the thing. This year we won’t be in the same state and
I don’t mean metaphysically. No more Easter clothes, hiding eggs, or chocolate bunnies. And, that’s ok. Less work for me and we
all know how lazy
I am!

The boys will be here in Phoenix and Jon & I will be in Seattle. We are flying up there to celebrate our anniversary with friends and my mothers 70^th birthday falls on Easter day this year so we’ll celebrate that also. Is it just coincidence that her birthday is on Easter? I don’t think so! I could get all philosophical about it but it is 6:14 a.m. I’m not sure I can be philosophical at that hour or really any hour. What I will say is that she better be prepared for jokes about her being live when Christ rose from the tomb. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to tease her about her age. I mean, come on, it is too good to pass up!

P.S. The images on yesterday’s and today’s posts are from some postcards from the early 1900’s. We’re talking about 1909 or so. They are from a collection of things that we have from my husbands Irish grandparents. Cool Huh!

Anniversary

25 years ago today Jon and I married in our hometown church. I remember what I was thinking as I walked down the aisle. "How upset would Jon be if I just ran out the side door?" I should never have told him that a few years later because the first thing he said to me this morning was, Happy Anniversary, I'm glad you didn't run out the side door". Yes, it was a sweet and endearing thing to say but dang I didn't need to be reminded! Over the years I sometimes wondered why he hadn't run out the side door. Maybe, he's not too bright or maybe he really loves me warts and all.

This weekend we are going up to the Seattle area to celebrate this occasion with our dearest friends and family. Most of who were at our wedding. Tonight Jon is going to transfer our wedding video to DVD, so we can torture our friends and ourselves with how we all looked back then. Jon isn't even sure if the thing would run considering that we haven't watched it since a week after it was taken. We had a friend take the video so during the wedding it looks like I'm marrying candelabra. I wonder if that was a sign. Jon is not much of a candelabra but he is one of the calmest people I know. Shoot! He puts up with me!

I’m hoping that he figures I’m worth the trouble of another 25 years because the last 25 have been pretty good and I really want 25 more.

I love you JR!

Weekend time wasters and doggie news

I had such big plans this weekend. I was going to get all kinds of assignments done for the photoshop class I'm taking done, clean the house, do some work I brought home from the office, cook fantastic meals, bake bread, and give myself a manicure. OK, the last two things weren't really on my list but they sound like something I'd plan to do! What I did was a little bit of each of these. I did 2 of the assignments from class , I straighten up my office (not the whole house), didn't do any work I brought home from the office, cooked a couple of decent meals (don't tell the homeboys they thought the food was fantastic), baked some pizza crusts into bread sticks, and filed my nails. I, also, drew a picture and did our taxes. Yeah, I know it sounds like a lot but when your as hyperactive as I seem to be this weekend was a lazy one for me.

Here is what I drew. See all the little plastic bags. I organized my pastels (part of the straighten the office part of the weekend). I couldn't stand having to search through my art bag for just the right color of pastel so I organized my whole bag then one thing lead to an other and my office was clean. I really have to stop doing things like this. I have been living with a messy office for months, why now I ask you did I have to clean my office. I don't have time for this sort of thing! I do feel better about it now though. Maybe I'll be more productive or not.

Dog news, Nessa got a bath and a trim. See how beautiful and happy she is...

And how happy Tripper is...



They are so happy because the Labrador Retriever that we were doggy sitting has gone home.

Work in Progress - Fini

I'm done with this one.

So, this morning I sprayed the fixative on it. It is some sort of lacquer product that coats the pastels so they won't smear. Cool but smelly stuff. Even though I spray it outside when I bring the piece back in the house Jon always complains. I just tell him that he must suffer for my art.

The poor man! He seems to suffer for my everything and still he thinks he has it great. I'm either an exceptionally clever con artist or love really is blind.

Back to drawing. With pastels there are 2 ways to know that you are done; 1. it feels done or 2. the paper won't accept more color. Usually, I end up with the second scenario but with this drawing I finished before I completely screwed it up (someday I should take an art class then I'd know for sure what I'm doing). I could have messed with it more but it felt done. I don't think it came out too bad for a week's worth of mornings. I particularly like the sky and I will incorporate it into the next drawing or the one after. Depends on how I feel . I seem to say that a lot when it comes to my drawings. Must be the artist's temperament, LOL!

Now I have to decide what to do with it. Maybe I'll put it up in my office. Then, when they escort me out the door someday I'll have something to pack up.


I've said this before but I really think that I'm done with lighthouses, then again? For those of you keeping track this is number 4. Jon's hinting that he is tired of looking at them. Yet again he suffers!

Doggie Toy Update

Thought I would give everyone out there an update on how the doggie toys are doing. It is 11 days and counting for these tough toys. I'm very impressed though I impress easily. Oh, the hedgehog did bite the dust after day 6 but it was the favorite.
Nessa would not leave them alone today. See her try to sneak them off the table while I'm taking the picture. Did she think I wouldn't see her? And, OMG she can clearly put her paws all the way onto the table. The brat!
P.S. The dark spot on the table is not paint or dirt, though it could be since I'm in artist mode lately, no it is my shadow.

Work in Progress II

Now I'm in the middle of the drawing. Two things you'll want to notice. The eraser has come out of the art case (kind of like Elvis has left the building) and the cup of coffee. Remember it is 5am.
BTW, the clothy looking thing at the top left of the drawing is my chamois cloth. Great for wiping off things; pastel dust, color that gets on another color pastel and if you can find a clean spot smudging the drawing a bit. What it is not good for is wiping up the red wine spot on the paper (you just have to start over). Maybe, I can find a way to incorporate the spot into the picture. Isn't that called mixed media?

At first I wasn't sure why this little do-hicky was in my beginner (stress beginner!!) set of pastels. I found out soon enough that this is an essential part of the set. I have since bought several of these little darlin's. They are not a cheap date either and they can't be washed. Trust me I tried. I'm not anything if I'm not cheap. Getting a second life out of one of these little babies is just not possible. So, when they get nasty you just have to throw them out. Breaks my frugal little heart!



It is really hard to see in this picture but I've added the sky and the slight outline of the lighthouse. This is the point that I steer away from the photo. It really all depends on how I feel that morning/night/beverage choice/whenever I'm drawing. (Sometime I'll have to talk about drinking & drawing or computer coding) Plus, with the handy dandy eraser I can change it completely if I want or when the dogs are wrestling at my feet. The dogs have added a whole new challenge to drawing! I like to think of it as a competitive sport.

Work in Progress

When I work, I sort of lay out my supplies in a quasi organized schema (librarian term for putting all the same type colors together). I’m right handed so all the colors that I am working with go on the right along with my sharpener and the all important coffee cup. Since, I tend to draw while my husband eats his breakfast at 5am the coffee is the most important component.
Coffee is consciousness in a cup!

What you don’t see yet in my eraser. That’s because I’ve just started this new piece. I’m in the process of laying down color and then will start to take away color later or as is sometimes the case erase whole chunks of the picture. I find that with every picture I need to rework some portion. I thought this was just because I wasn’t any good but it turns out that a lot of artists do this. See, it pays to go the art museum. You learn bundles of interesting facts and can gain some affirmation. I could use all the affirmation I can get.

I think there are two hard parts of any piece of art, getting started and knowing when to stop. This is how I start. I’ll talk about stopping when I get there.

Picking something to do usually isn’t too hard, I sort of fancy doing a certain subject then try to find a photo that either I’ve taken or someone else has taken, copy it into Photoshop and mess with it a bit. None of my drawings actually look too much like the original when I’m done so I’m not too worried about copyright (another librarian thing). I’m looking for concept only. Plus, I really haven’t been all that many places that have cool lighthouses, the subject of my current obsession. Even if I had been to some place, this is a new thing (lighthouses that is) for me. So, chances are I wouldn’t have photos of any.

I just start right in drawing. I’ve made a mistake here though. I started with the bottom. Not a problem if it was watercolors or other paint media but this is pastels. I’m bound to rub the bottom of the paper by the time I get to the top. Hence, the need for an eraser!

The incredible morphing puppy

Our puppy has gone the way that all puppies do, whether doggie or human. She has morphed into a large animal. Granted she is not near as big as she is going to get.

See the morphing process at work. She went from cute and cuddly plush toy to tall shaggy rug. Let’s not forget the needle sharp teeth and knock you to the floor paws.

Here she is standing next to my tallest home boy. He stands about 6 foot 2 inches. She has determined that he is not going to give her a treat. Smart puppy!

She has almost caught up with Tripper in weight. Though, let’s not talk about Tripper’s weight. He was very disappointed at his Thursday night weight in. He has hit a weight-loss plateau but we are trying to be encouraging and supportive. He’s back to half treats and no nibbles while mommy is cooking. Not that I'm cooking much these days but don't get me started! Don't all the weight loss commercials say dieting alone won't work? He is going to have to up his exercise level. Since, this will take some investment on my part I’m a more than little worried.

My motto has always been “Only run when chased!”

Dog Toys

Very few stuffed dog toy can hold their own with Tripper the Teeth for long and I suspected that these would be no different. I’m happy to say I’m wrong. Oh, I got the usual dissing from the home boys, Jon and Noah, about tossing money down the drain but I persevere; looking for the ultimate plush toy that will stand up to doggie love. I bought these at Costco on Saturday and look how they have held up! Sure you say, Saturday was only 3 days ago. Well let me tell you anything that can hold up against Tripper for more than an hour gets my vote for tough stuff! The hedgehog is the only one that has lost some of its stuffing and of course the cute chirping noise has stopped courtesy of Tripper.

Something interesting about three toys is that they don’t just squeak. The hedgehog used to chirp, the skunk makes a wee barking noise and the duck quacks. According to the box they make realistic sounds. Beyond the duck I don’t even want to know what the other two would sound like in real life and never wanted too.

Nessa has chosen the hedgehog as her favorite (her all-time favorite plush toy is the long-suffering cat) and Tripper just wants whatever Nessa wants hence the reason that the hedgehog no longer speaks. The duck freaks both of them out. The home boys have taken up taunting the dogs with the quacking.

I have always said that after the kids grew up and stopped falling for us messing with their heads we would just get more dogs. They fall for it every time; cats not so much.

Some of my favorite mess with the kid’s head tricks (for all you younger mothers out there):

1. When the 3 year old asks how the electricity goes through the power line (yes, I know that not all 3 year olds ask this question) the answer is MAGIC. In fact, this is the stock line to use for all those baffling questions. Think the difference between boys and girls!
2. When the 10-12 year old boy needs to go to the bathroom on the long country road without a gas station in site. You pull over, let them out to go along the road then slowly drive away. Nothing is funnier than watching them hold on to themselves while trying to catch up with the car hopping sideways.
3. When the teenager is grounded for breaking curfew or whatever offence you take the car keys away. Oh, you say that’s not very original! I’m not done then you go away for the weekend and take every car key with you. The car sits there and taunts them all weekend.

Is it any wonder I never wanted my boys to grow up? Thinking this stuff up has kept me on my game.

Day Trippin'

Jon and I took a quick day trip to the Tucson area today. We love to take these kinds of trips. It gives Jon and I some time alone since the kids are never interested in coming (we are too boring for them). I guess it pays to be boring. Maybe being less then exciting is one of the reasons why we are going to celebrate our 25^th wedding anniversary this month. One could almost say that a lackluster life leads to a long marriage or at least in our case. I may have to re-evaluate my original reason for our long relationship. We're too lazy to break up!
We haven’t taken a short trip like this in months, mostly, because gas prices have been outrageous. This time we chose to go to Catalina State Park and then a scenic drive up to Mt. Lemon. At Catalina State Park we went on a short 2 mile walk. This was also our first hike of the season and it was a lot of fun. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect. The temperature was in the low 60’s, sunny skies and a slight breeze. Because it was spring run off we had to ford the wash two or three times. As you can see, Jon wasn’t excited about getting his shoes wet. No big deal for me. The shoes I was wearing are made of canvas; so I just hiked up my jeans and strode across. They dried very nicely in the back window of the car on the way home. That whole "not wearing leather" thing is working out for me in unexpected ways.

I did get some nice pictures that will be fun to paint later. We really went so I could have wildflower pictures to paint. Didn’t get many of those but the others turned out well. All in all it was a lovely day spent with my honey.