Friday April 12th ~ 2010

Well, one month of travel done. I traveled through14 states, racking up almost 8000 miles and I listened to the unabridged Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows and the first 6 books of James Patterson's "Women's Murder Club" series.

It is actually a very Zen experience for me, taking in the passing countryside and listening to books on tape. I am not sure how Zen it is listening to Murder and Mayhem along my way but I love it. I have had to promise that I will no longer nap after dark at Rest Stops for fear of the unsubs lurking about in wait.

I now have to get all geared up for a solid month of preparations and ordering and making handouts prepping kits for classes and packing and and and… I am looking forward to the time at home, not having to go out further than getting my hair cut and to the grocery.

I have loads of orders that I started packing up today and I am sorting through all of the back orders from the 3 sets of classes that I taught. All of those things will be out the door A.S.A.P.

I had 3 wonderful and diverse experiences of teaching and many of them have touched me in a most amazing profound way. From a student that did not think that she could grasp it with her OCD and living up to the expectations of a student that had been holding her breath for weeks waiting for class. Each venue was truly excellent.

Lake Erie

Lastly, Upon my arrival in Cleveland Gail and I took a long walk on Lake Erie. Walking out into the lake along the stone jetties and listening to the swells of the lake pounding on the shore. It was so wonderful to breath the fresh air and feel the cool breeze on my face.

I could not have asked for a better end of my trip than being in Cleveland with my friend Gail and totally amazing Cleveland PMC Guild. Because I had several of my previous students in class the silliness kicked in early and ran the entire weekend.

 Gail & I taking pictures of each other at the same time! LOL

Ever since I met Gail a few years ago it has been an on going joke that there really is not husband named Lou. He is just a ruse. But now I can report, that there is a Lou but he is Sean Connery. I know that it is confusing, just accept it as the truth and go with the flow!

It was sort of strange to even walk in the door yesterday afternoon. I almost felt disconnected from my own life and my own belongings. That feeling soon melted away as soon as I saw my two grey fuzzy kittens forgo their usual aloofness and greet me immediately. There is not much better than snuggling up next to my  girls and relaxing for the evening.

Well after I unloaded the car and returned it to the rental agency.

I am recovering from my journey and I am full throttle for the next 6 weeks till the end of B&B when I actually get a few weeks off till Puget Sound in July.

Tuesday April 27th ~ 2010

My months journeys are coming to conclusion. I spend this evening in Oklahoma City and as of tonight I have driven over 7000 miles. Within the first 60 minutes of driving to morrow I will pass into Texas on my way home and it seems like a lifetime ago that I was driving east on my April adventure.

There were a great many wonderful experiences and a few that left me wondering.

The Auction for Meesh was an unqualified success. I watched as the auctions came to the closing minutes and I was so moved by the people driving up the bids. We came together as a community to render aid to a fellow artist and to a friend and I have never been more proud of the people that I call friends, colleagues and conspirators. Gail and I were both moved to the core of our souls for what we saw as a unifying spirit that binds out wonderful little community together.

What has left me wondering over these last few weeks is what is ego exactly. I learned my lesson about my own the day that Gail & I announced the auction. I re-posted Gails Blog on mine and the comments were all aimed at Gail and props for her for what she was trying to do for a friend. I have to say that those comments praising Gail got my "green eyes" flaring and after about 5 minutes of feeling undervalued I kicked myself in the ass and asked myself what I was doing this for? Was I trying to help a dear friend or was I looking for a pat on the back. I guess what was important is that it only took me a few minutes to realize that I was being an ASS.

What I am trying to get at is that I am so very worn out by the games and that are played  solely for maximum effect. These are individuals that just want to make sure that they are seen by as many as possible in the best light possible. The problem is that they are not any of the things that the profess to be. The fact of the matter is, the game that they play will never win them the final acclaim that they desire. The reality and the selfish egotism cannot be sustained over time and their true colors will be seen in the end.

I have gotten to spend a great deal of time this month contemplating many things as I watch the miles and the scenery pass by. I am grateful for the solitude and for the time to delve deeper into my own ego and give myself a reality check on what is truly important in my life.

Thursday April 8th ~ 2010

I am way late but hopefully not coming up too terribly short.

The Biggest of the BIG news, I am sure that most have heard about, is that the auction for my friend Michele Goldstein started last Saturday morning on Ebay. Click here ☞ Michele Goldstein Auction ☜ for the link.

Here is the short story for those who are not aware of the situation. Michele Goldstein is an amazing Lampwork artists and dear friend. She had to stop working for several months in order to care for the father of her two boys. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer and he passed away after a very brief but debilitating illness. During those months that Michele cared for Steve things got tight on the financial end as you can imagine. So, Gail Crosman Moore and I decided to get our artist friends to all donate work for an auction to help out Michele and her two boys.

There are 3 auctions that are ending in just under 3 days so take a look at them first. Auction number 56 is one of my favorites, that painting by Kathy Dorfer is truly so very special.The remaining 53 auctions will continue on for another 5 days so please check it out and bid often and bid high.

This has been a wonderful experience seeing our community come together and give of themselves and their art to support a colleague, fellow teacher, artist and friend. There are several of the artists that have donated work that do not know Michele and that act in itself speaks volumes to me of the nature of humanity

On the traveling  front:
I have been a driving crazy woman. I left Tucson on Friday and spent Saturday with my girl before heading out across the country. I am here to tell you that the pan handle of Texas is really very flat and that Oklahoma is as well. The highway system in Missouri is a disaster and thank god Illinois and Indiana are very skinny states. All in all, an amazing 1800+ miles from Tucson, AZ to Dayton, OH.

I only drive 500 + miles tomorrow... a walk in the park be comparison no?

I start teaching this Friday morning bright and early at Bead Fest Wire at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA. If you are in the area come and check out the show..