At first I could not climb

"One day I went to the mountain alone. At first I could not climb; I lay flat on my face on the slope with the sensation that I was being completely absorbed by the earth. When I took the first steps up the slope, I had the physical sensation of walking with tremendous effort in some matter as thick as mud. Gradually, however, it all became easier, and in a few days I was able to negotiate jumps. I could climb vertical walls as easily as any goat. I very seldom got hurt, and I realized the possibility of a very subtle understanding, which I had not perceived before. Finally, I managed to take no false steps and to wander around quite easily among the rocks."
—Leonora Carrington

I stumbled upon this when looking up Mary Anna's quote -- the source said it addresses "getting stuck and pushing forward in artmaking." I agree this is an excellent metaphor for overcoming artist's block; it could just as easily describe tackling any task which at first seems insurmountable.

Art, Design, Craft

Mary Anna shared this with me:

"In all object making, that aspect which relates to it's conceptual interpretation is Art, that which relates the object to an intended purpose is Design and the quality of it's execution is Craft."
- Hella Basu

Has it been a year?

Wow. I was preoccupied by other things and before I knew what happened, a whole year zipped by. I won't attempt to recount ALL the things I've done in the past year lest you stick a pencil in your eye to avoid having to read it.

Here are some highlights:

• We just got back from a week-long vacation in Kissimmee, FL (aka Disney World). The kids had an AMAZING time. It was hot, crowded and expensive. Debi and I greatly enjoyed their sense of wonder at the whole thing. We hit most of the quintessential Disney attractions, but we let them decide what they wanted to see & do for the most part. It was nice visiting with Debi's family (brother-in-law Danny proposed to Sabrina) and great to see Zack (all the way from CA) again and meet his girlfriend, Jessica! I'll post some photos later.
• After leaving Orlando, I met my Aunt Ruby and her husband, Art, for the first time. Cool people. Enjoyed getting to meet them. Hope to see them again soon.
• Isabel performed in a York County Ballet production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She was a diamond. Very cute.
• Isabel completed her first year of school. She really loved kindergarten. She had a great teacher, who seemed to really "get it."
• Amelia was accepted for a K4 program for next year, but we haven't decided yet if we're going to send her or wait for her to start with K5.
• I've taken a couple of pottery classes w/ my friend & expert potter, Jen Mecca at Clayworks in Charlotte. First thing you need to know about pottery - it's very cool to make something useful out of mud. Now that I think about it, making pottery is a LOT like raising kids: once you try it you realize it's not as easy as you thought it was, it can be frustrating at times, you make a lot of mistakes along the way, if you work hard and care about what you're doing you can and will learn from your mistakes, you will eventually get it right and the end result will be worth all of the effort. I'm still a novice. I've made a couple of bowls that I'm not ashamed to bring out for company, but my mugs are mostly hiding on a shelf in the garage. I hope to get some time to practice this summer to improve me mugs.
• Got to babysit Finn a bit while mommy & daddy were also taking pottery classes. It was great to have a baby around again. Also very cool to be able to talk pottery w/ Matt & Michele.
• Niece Tiffany graduated from High School (WOO HOO) and is preparing to join the Marine Corps band in the fall. I'm nervous & excited for her. Nervous b/c of the war (hopefully they don't send the band into combat) and excited for the incredible adventure she is about to embark upon. Going out on one's own is an awakening. The discipline, comraderie, training, boot camp, meeting people with a wide variety of experiences and being sent to the far flung corners of the world (hopefully) are going to be AMAZING for her.
• Long-time friends, Valerie & Steve moved from FLA to York a few months ago on their way (eventually) to a nice mountain get-away near Asheville. I hope it takes them a few more years to finish their place in the mountains as I'm rather enjoying having them here.
• Whatever's left, I'll save for another time.

Later gator.

Happy Birthday Isabel!

New dresses in (almost) Springtime

Isabel & Amelia were both wearing new dresses and very happy about it (yes, they love clothes).

I thought this shot of them playing in the yard in front of the blooming Bradford Pear tree made a fine photo.

Alternative Realities & Having Kids

Anybody else ever have alternative realities? I have them all the time; more so when my mind is unencumbered by stress or worry. I have them about insignificant things and big, important things. I don’t plan for them or try to induce them – they just sort of come up on me unexpectedly.

Wait. I think “alternative reality” is a term that Debi and I made up to describe this phenomenon. An alternative reality is basically a daydream wherein I picture, in vivid and sometimes minute detail, an alternative outcome to an event or course of action. It’s kinda’ like that movie, Sliding Doors.

I don’t lose consciousness or anything when I do it and it usually comes to me in a flash. I might have them at work or while driving down the road. I often have them when I’m involved in a conversation with someone. Often it is humorous and it’s always terribly interesting (to me anyway).

I should mention that I am not currently nor have I ever been a heavy drug user.

I thought of the alternative reality subject for two reasons. One, because I was reading a friend’s blog wherein he had an alternative reality (unbeknownst to him) about raisins being upset about being thrown away. And two, because I talked to a friend today who is expecting a baby. My pregnant friend is fretting about what to do, how to do it, when to do it, etc. and I was reminded of when Debi and I were expecting our first child.

Boy, did I have some major alternative realities. I imagined the baby having two heads. I imagined Debi falling down the stairs (we lived in a one-story house). I imagined the baby becoming a world-renowned pianist. I imagined the baby walking on the moon. I imagined the baby doing every weird, great, sensational, and alarming thing that can be imagined I think.

The alternative reality zone of my brain kicked into high gear when I found out we were expecting. It freaked me out at first, but eventually I just learned to go with it. I suspect that every expectant parent has those thoughts in some form or another.

Our eldest child is now almost 5 and I’m still having alternative realities about her and her little sister. Sometimes my alternative realities are of a worrisome nature, but just as often they are fun and exciting.

How's your bladder?

You know you’re getting old when you ask a friend “how’s your bladder?”

Big Production Video & Learning New Things

Hey, in addition to my many other talents I am now a website designer! Well, a novice website designer at best, but it's something I hadn't done prior to a couple of days ago.

Debi has made many videos for friends and family (it seems to be a service in high demand) so she's decided to do a little video business thing on the side. Of course she needed a website. She asks, I research and Viola! She has a website.

It's still in the early stages of development; I need to add more sample videos (be sure to check out the one that's on there now) and pricing, etc. but it's a start. I'm open to any suggestions for improvement by friends & family. The website is www.bigproductionvideo.com. Check it out when you have a chance.

The right words at the right time

Jack wakes up at home with a huge hangover he can't believe. He forces himself to open his eyes, and the first thing he sees is a couple of aspirins next to a glass of water on the side table. And, next to them, a single red rose!

Jack sits down and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and pressed. Jack looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotlessly clean. So is the rest of the house. He takes the aspirins, cringes when he sees a huge black eye staring back at him in the bathroom mirror, and notices a note on the table: "Honey, breakfast is on the stove, I left early to go shopping--Love you!"

He stumbles to the kitchen and sure enough, there is hot breakfast and the morning newspaper. His son is also at the table, eating. Jack asks, Son... what happened last night?

Well, you came home after 3 A.M., drunk and out of your mind. You broke some furniture, puked in the hallway, and got that black eye when you ran into the door.

So, why is everything in such perfect order, so clean, I have a rose, and breakfast is on the table waiting for me?

His son replies, Oh THAT!... Mom dragged you to the bedroom, and when she tried to take your pants off, you screamed, "Leave me alone, lady, I'm married!"

Broken furniture - $85.26
Hot Breakfast - $4.20
Red Rose bud -$3.00
Two Aspirins -$.38
Saying the right thing, at the right time.........Priceless

10 Ways Dick Cheney can kill you

Smackapple: Just for you Baby...

VD Gift

I’m taking a survey… is it kosher for a wife to give her husband dance lessons as a Valentine’s Day gift? I’m taking a survey… is it kosher for a wife to give her husband dancing lessons as a Valentine’s Day gift?

 

2/14/06

Never thought much of blogging, but it seems to be the thing to do. I'll give it a shot.

I'm having a cranky day. Stupid work stuff. Nothing major, not enough to make me strangle someone (but I can dream, can't I?).

Just saw a lady bug crawl across my desk. That's supposed to be good luck... think I'll stop on my way home and buy a lottery ticket.

Happy Valentine's Day.