Sorry I have been so slammed this past week. It was a very event filled week indeed. I exhibited at the Best Bead Show's Fall Tucson event & shared a booth with the amazing Margaret Zinser. The weekend's highlight was a glorious event at Sonoran Glass for Beads of Courage on Saturday night.
Beads of Courage is a group that assists kids living and dealing with catastrophic illness' and through the therapy of beads and creating necklaces as each patient goes through each stage of treatment. Terri Caspary Schmidt & I donated a Flying Heart Bead (Terri made that) with a Fine Silver bail and chain. (made that part…) A group of local artists that I am involved with all got together and each of them gave me a handful of charms or glass beads that each had made & wire wrapped them & put them on a fine silver chain as well. Each piece brought in bids that will provide funds for this AMAZING Charity.
Donate please… it is a worthy cause.
Monday was crazy busy with packing for my trip to Toronto. I am actually taking 4 days away and I am not gonna work all that much. I am tired and need a break. Terri & I are going to take in a few films at the Toronto International Film Fest and do some serious shopping and antiquing. This is a much needed break and I am looking forward to these few days immensely.
I stopped for a number of minutes & took in Sept 11th this year and looked at all that has happened in our world since that day. Our country is almost completely unrecognizable to me, it just does not seem like it is even remotely the same place. Why are we angrier and meaner as a nation? Where has our civility gone? I remember the 60 to 90 days right after that awful day and people driving were courteous, kind, away and I had never heard so many pleases, thank you's, excuse me's, pardon me's or kind responses in return. Doors were opened for others, seats were relinquished for others and if the person behind you in line at the grocery store had one item in comparison to your cartfull you let them check out before of you.
It takes nothing to be kind, smile, say a nice word to a stranger. These things are easy, these things make you and the other person feel good but more importantly, these acts are contagious. Kindness begets kindness and a smile begets a smile. It is my humble opinion, but I feel that the general uncivil nature that we have witnessed of late, (especially during our Presidents address to Congress..) is a direct and fearful reaction to a man that epitomizes civility, grace and an understanding that these are necessary requirements for our nation to maintain our stature. We have lost this understanding during the last administration and we are struggling to understand why we no longer have the respect that we once engendered. We, as a nation, cannot expect the respect of the world if we do not offer these niceties to our own citizens or our own leaders.
I have tried to live my life over these past few years by making a conscious choice to be nice to those around me, to the strangers that I encounter and to be a courteous citizen of the world. I have found that a smile, just a simple smile, can disarm and a kind act can be greeted with amazement. I love to see these reactions and I just hope that in return the kindness that was shown can be sent out into the world and spread unchecked.
I am enjoying these few days off and I have, for the first time in years, have very limited access to the internet. It is an interesting phenomenon to wake and not be able to grab my laptop to check out the happenings of the world, check out the long list of blogs that I follow or to interact with my FaceBook world.
In closing… please remember that silly little thing call the Golden Rule... The Ethic of Reciprocity... Do unto others....can we all try to remember what it means to be nice to others, to be kind and to occasionally open a door for a stranger. You will feel better for it and who knows… it just may catch on…that would not suck at all.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday September 9th.
Why is it that there are days that we know we should remember and we just can't seem to get the Rolodex of the brain to find the correct index card to recall these days. Then there are days that we would love to forget and no matter what, it plays over and over again in our minds and even comes to us in our dreams. I am tired of those sort of memories and it is one of the reasons that I have decided to keep this Blog and a private journal as well. I have discovered that there are just some very simply things that have happened to me lately that I truly desire to remember.
I went to London in December of 2001 and I kept a daily detailed journal of that trip and to this day I think that it was one of my better ideas. I can remember meals and taxi rides that were funny, special small moments that I knew that I would not want to forget. I have realized that in these past few months there are things that I have experienced that I will always desire to recall with clarity. I highly recommend the keeping of a journal to collect your thoughts and to have a collection of stories to have at hand, ready to share.
NASA has released some of the newest images that the Hubble Telescope has captured. These are amazing images and they never fail to capture my imagination or to make me catch my breath in awe and wonder. I am so pleased that NASA decided to send that last repair mission to the aging telescope to give it more years of exploration and discovery. Take a look at these images and see for yourself.
For me, the best thing that I got to view today is this YouTube movie of Al Franken actually drawing (correctly I might add) out all of the states of our country. I would love to sit all of our Senators and Congressman down in a room and see if they can actually write out all 50 states and their capitols. I think that I would not be surprised to see how many of them actually fail this test.
Tonight was the President's speech to congress about his health care initiative. I did not watch it live but caught it about an hour later. I am glad that he is taking the reins of this and I hope that he does not back down and he holds those accountable who spread the lies and misinformation that causes the public to be hesitant in accepting what it is that we must do as a nation.
Barbara Boxer had a very good point this evening on the Rachel Maddow Show. She stated quite clearly that if there are senators or congressman that do not want to vote for the pubic option, that do not want a government run system, she suggests that these individuals give up the amazing government run health care that they receive as one of the perks of their positions. I have to say that I actually agree with Barbara right now. If our representatives choose to vote against this option for us then why are they allowed to keep it for themselves?
And finally, I have one other point for the evening… a friend of mine posted this in her FaceBook wall and I also agree with this.. it is an absurd idea, but in it's absurdity there is a bit of logic behind it.
"All Members of Congress should be compelled to wear uniforms just like NASCAR drivers, so we could identify their corporate sponsors..." re-re-posted from a friend, cause damn it's true.
Just think about it...
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Sunday September 6th
This is an article I read in the Huffington Post this morning.
Crimes Against America
By Caroline Myss
There is such a thing as a crime against the soul of a nation. A person or a political party can deliberately incite actions that diminish the strength, the integrity, and the overall well-being of a nation's inner core. America's soul is in a fragile state. It has suffered severe violations over the course of this past decade and to lesser degrees, in previous decades. Through the years, the essential integrity of America has been eroded for various reasons but never was it so violated as during the Bush administration. The endless lies, the deceitful years of propaganda that flowed from the West Wing that fed the media, the bogus reasons for setting the Middle East on fire, and converting this country into a corporate state for personal gain are crimes that shattered the soul of this nation more deeply than we have even begun to realize -- if we ever will. The consequences of puncturing the soul of a nation are witnessed in countless ways. For example, there is a decline in the integrity of leadership and a growing apathy on the part of the public to care about keeping watch over its leaders. The nation ceases to produce statesmen or stateswomen. The best the public can do is to send semi-qualified individuals to Washington whose capacity to hold to their promises collapse within minutes of unpacking in their new offices. As for the old guard, they are worn out good old boys mixed in with a few new and not-so-new women on the block, who continue to fall into their same old patterns of deal making and breaking. But nothing of great significance ever happens unless motivated by a catastrophe. Any truly positive ideas for change baffle the Congress. What could this be, they wonder? But of all the crimes covertly and overtly committed by the Bush administration against the soul of America, none is as vile as the deliberate efforts they poured into turning American against American. We see that in the near hatred between the Republicans and Democrats, between liberals and conservatives, between free-thinkers and evangelicals that continues to fester. This crime was a strategic one, a well thought out plan to fragment the people of this nation in a type of contemporary replay of the Civil War. And sadly, the Republicans succeeded. Thank you, Karl Rove. The result is that the soul of America is exhausted, wounded, mistrusting, suspicious, fearful -- and compromised. This is not a soul that can rebuild a country, not if you know anything about the laws of nature and the fundamentals of healing.
So let's apply this to the Republicans present attack on Obama and his plan to address the children in the classrooms of our schools. First, a comment on how education is respected in general by our Congress -- it isn't. And this crime against the soul of America is a travesty for which both Republicans and Democrats should hang their heads in shame. Consider, for example, how the education system through the years has corroded into little more than a mindless competition for grades. And the "No Child Left Behind" program (which should be left far, far behind) is nothing more than an insult to a true educational system that holds in high regard the passing on of knowledge and wisdom and not just technical skills and information. But such a program is in keeping with the insidious goal of the "dumbing down" of America plan that was consciously set in motion under the Reagan Administration (check out The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America by Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt). Aside from all the many travesties that have resulted and continue to result from the covert dismantling of America's educational system, let us consider the equally significant if not more tragic consequence of the clever removal of courses that provide students with the essential language required in order to learn how to navigate through the deep and profound matters of the soul. And note that my use of the word "soul" refers to that part of a human being that is more than matter, more than blood and bones. I am not using the word "soul" within the context associated with the politics of right-winged religious fanatics. Rather, I am referring to the essence of what makes a human being truly human, the inherent part of us that is more than meets the eye.
Students on a path toward becoming high functioning human beings must be guided in matters of their soul, namely, how to recognize and respond to a moral crisis; how to formulate a personal ethical code and to withstand challenges to that code within a society that thrives on predator instincts; and how to form and maintain an honor code within a society in which any sense of honor is now held together by legal contracts rather than the integrity of a person's word. Giving our students a common ground for discussions of their fears and insecurities concerning emerging into adult life and how to cope with those difficulties is as much a part of their education as is math and the liberal arts (remember those?). If this is not the role of the classroom, then what is? Should they take their forums into the streets so as not to upset the righteous Right? Should they continue to leave their souls at the doorway of their school buildings, sending in only their bodies and minds to attend their classes? Where should they warehouse their consciences? Where should they store their moral crises that strike with such force during the teen-age years? Perhaps this is the comfort they find in drugs.
It is through discussions such as these that skills of introspection are awakened and a foundation is put in place for the wisdom arts: personal reflection and accountability, discernment, personal virtue, and stamina of spirit. Is it any wonder that as a result of the horrendous decision of the American Congress to "dumb down" our educational system, we now have a public that cannot discern lies from truth? Are we really surprised that we are now living in a society in which the news media saturates us with entertainment instead of actual news and that most of America was too asleep at the wheel to even notice? Should we really have to wonder for more than three seconds as to why so many media reporters have turned into nothing more than gossip mongers and paparazzi, lacking all courage to do actual hard core news, substituting their own hysterical opinions for informed reporting? I'm not surprised at all.
A conscious effort to "dumb down" the education of this nation qualifies as a crime against the soul of America. And dare I say this? If there was something as grievous as a mortal sin committed by a group against its own people, then the Republicans -- with Reagan at the helm -- and all the Democrats who stood by, or worse, backed this catastrophe -- committed that sin when they choreographed how they would dismantle the intellectual power and potential of our own children. (You should check your age -- you could be a product of this crime.)
So is it really any wonder why the Republicans would stage this outlandish outcry over President Obama addressing the schoolchildren of America? You would think that everyone would support the President's desire to inspire our children to want an education. Who would not want to see their children enthusiastic about an education? Hum ... Well, could it be that education intimidates them? I mean, given their history with education and their experience with their recent president as well as their recent candidate for vice-president, you can appreciate that the education of President Obama would engender a bit of jealousy. Consider that when Bush showed up in a classroom, they gave him My Pet Goat to read to the students. Why was that, ya think? Perhaps his team feared a more sophisticated book would be a bit too much for him. Or maybe he was providing students with an example of how "dumbing down" works. Or maybe, just maybe, given Bush's overall success and reputation for brain-power, Republicans fear Obama would inspire students instead of generating the jokes and comedic responses Bush did every time he opened his mouth.
I can't begin to count the number of times I listened to Bush joke about his own lack of intelligence before an audience. The audience members that included some now former as well as present members of the Congress and Senate, actually laughed as he made these comments. Whether they were laughing with him or at him, I couldn't tell. I know I was laughing at him, but I was also embarrassed and ashamed that this man was leading our country. How could he possibly joke about his lack of intelligence before a State Dinner? How could he laugh about his inability to comprehend matters of great importance? Why would he think that the public would find that funny? And if the public did find that funny, shame on them.
The vice-presidential candidate that the Republicans ran in the past election against Obama was of equal educational quality. We all know who I mean, Miss Lipstick-on-a-Pig. Even her humor is low-class, in keeping with her intelligence. One has to ask, "So this was the candidate Republicans believed could handle the cosmic-sized dilemmas we now have facing this nation?" Sarah Palin? Are they nuts? Listening to those Republicans lie about their support of her in the face of the crises facing this nation was a crime against the soul of America. Why? Because they did not believe a word of what they were saying and that was obvious. Most of them could barely cough up their contrived words of support. How they could possibly live with themselves is beyond me. But that is the blessing, I suppose, of having no conscience whatsoever. You're free to say whatever is required in the moment. But if you want to talk about an educational violation, Palin is the poster child. She is a perfect example of the success of the "dumbing down of America" program. No wonder she is a Republican. Birds of a feather, as the saying goes. But you have to give credit where credit is due, yes? So no wonder they fear Obama coming near the classroom. Republicans have little experience with a refined intellect. (They probably are wondering how Obama escaped the, "dumbing down" system. They certainly didn't. Check out Eric Cantor. There's a "dumbing down" success story if I've ever met one.)
I don't blame them for being upset, really. They actually owe America an apology for their actions and for their choices of candidates and for their overall quality control when it comes to who they believe qualifies for leadership positions. Truth is, the Republicans are embarrassed by their own actions and they are poor losers, not to mention unethical and immoral opponents. We just have to get them to own that, right? We have to hold all Democrats to the same standard as well. If a Democrat is unethical or immoral -- burn them at the stake. (That will probably clear out most of the Congress, but in the end, we'll all be better off.)
There comes a time when we have to just stand up to these carnies (slang for carnival barkers) and tell them to stop polluting the soul of America with their constant and endless transmission of psychic free radicals in the form of lies, negative press, ridiculous criticism, overall lack of intelligent ideas and comments, and complete absence of creative thought. We should just blast them with emails and tell them to stop polluting the soul of our nation. Just stop it. We've had enough. I know I have. And I deeply believe the soul of our nation can't take much more of their strategy of deliberate division against the people of their own nation. That is a true crime -- and perhaps their greatest crime -- against the soul of this great nation.
Crimes Against America
By Caroline Myss
There is such a thing as a crime against the soul of a nation. A person or a political party can deliberately incite actions that diminish the strength, the integrity, and the overall well-being of a nation's inner core. America's soul is in a fragile state. It has suffered severe violations over the course of this past decade and to lesser degrees, in previous decades. Through the years, the essential integrity of America has been eroded for various reasons but never was it so violated as during the Bush administration. The endless lies, the deceitful years of propaganda that flowed from the West Wing that fed the media, the bogus reasons for setting the Middle East on fire, and converting this country into a corporate state for personal gain are crimes that shattered the soul of this nation more deeply than we have even begun to realize -- if we ever will. The consequences of puncturing the soul of a nation are witnessed in countless ways. For example, there is a decline in the integrity of leadership and a growing apathy on the part of the public to care about keeping watch over its leaders. The nation ceases to produce statesmen or stateswomen. The best the public can do is to send semi-qualified individuals to Washington whose capacity to hold to their promises collapse within minutes of unpacking in their new offices. As for the old guard, they are worn out good old boys mixed in with a few new and not-so-new women on the block, who continue to fall into their same old patterns of deal making and breaking. But nothing of great significance ever happens unless motivated by a catastrophe. Any truly positive ideas for change baffle the Congress. What could this be, they wonder? But of all the crimes covertly and overtly committed by the Bush administration against the soul of America, none is as vile as the deliberate efforts they poured into turning American against American. We see that in the near hatred between the Republicans and Democrats, between liberals and conservatives, between free-thinkers and evangelicals that continues to fester. This crime was a strategic one, a well thought out plan to fragment the people of this nation in a type of contemporary replay of the Civil War. And sadly, the Republicans succeeded. Thank you, Karl Rove. The result is that the soul of America is exhausted, wounded, mistrusting, suspicious, fearful -- and compromised. This is not a soul that can rebuild a country, not if you know anything about the laws of nature and the fundamentals of healing.
So let's apply this to the Republicans present attack on Obama and his plan to address the children in the classrooms of our schools. First, a comment on how education is respected in general by our Congress -- it isn't. And this crime against the soul of America is a travesty for which both Republicans and Democrats should hang their heads in shame. Consider, for example, how the education system through the years has corroded into little more than a mindless competition for grades. And the "No Child Left Behind" program (which should be left far, far behind) is nothing more than an insult to a true educational system that holds in high regard the passing on of knowledge and wisdom and not just technical skills and information. But such a program is in keeping with the insidious goal of the "dumbing down" of America plan that was consciously set in motion under the Reagan Administration (check out The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America by Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt). Aside from all the many travesties that have resulted and continue to result from the covert dismantling of America's educational system, let us consider the equally significant if not more tragic consequence of the clever removal of courses that provide students with the essential language required in order to learn how to navigate through the deep and profound matters of the soul. And note that my use of the word "soul" refers to that part of a human being that is more than matter, more than blood and bones. I am not using the word "soul" within the context associated with the politics of right-winged religious fanatics. Rather, I am referring to the essence of what makes a human being truly human, the inherent part of us that is more than meets the eye.
Students on a path toward becoming high functioning human beings must be guided in matters of their soul, namely, how to recognize and respond to a moral crisis; how to formulate a personal ethical code and to withstand challenges to that code within a society that thrives on predator instincts; and how to form and maintain an honor code within a society in which any sense of honor is now held together by legal contracts rather than the integrity of a person's word. Giving our students a common ground for discussions of their fears and insecurities concerning emerging into adult life and how to cope with those difficulties is as much a part of their education as is math and the liberal arts (remember those?). If this is not the role of the classroom, then what is? Should they take their forums into the streets so as not to upset the righteous Right? Should they continue to leave their souls at the doorway of their school buildings, sending in only their bodies and minds to attend their classes? Where should they warehouse their consciences? Where should they store their moral crises that strike with such force during the teen-age years? Perhaps this is the comfort they find in drugs.
It is through discussions such as these that skills of introspection are awakened and a foundation is put in place for the wisdom arts: personal reflection and accountability, discernment, personal virtue, and stamina of spirit. Is it any wonder that as a result of the horrendous decision of the American Congress to "dumb down" our educational system, we now have a public that cannot discern lies from truth? Are we really surprised that we are now living in a society in which the news media saturates us with entertainment instead of actual news and that most of America was too asleep at the wheel to even notice? Should we really have to wonder for more than three seconds as to why so many media reporters have turned into nothing more than gossip mongers and paparazzi, lacking all courage to do actual hard core news, substituting their own hysterical opinions for informed reporting? I'm not surprised at all.
A conscious effort to "dumb down" the education of this nation qualifies as a crime against the soul of America. And dare I say this? If there was something as grievous as a mortal sin committed by a group against its own people, then the Republicans -- with Reagan at the helm -- and all the Democrats who stood by, or worse, backed this catastrophe -- committed that sin when they choreographed how they would dismantle the intellectual power and potential of our own children. (You should check your age -- you could be a product of this crime.)
So is it really any wonder why the Republicans would stage this outlandish outcry over President Obama addressing the schoolchildren of America? You would think that everyone would support the President's desire to inspire our children to want an education. Who would not want to see their children enthusiastic about an education? Hum ... Well, could it be that education intimidates them? I mean, given their history with education and their experience with their recent president as well as their recent candidate for vice-president, you can appreciate that the education of President Obama would engender a bit of jealousy. Consider that when Bush showed up in a classroom, they gave him My Pet Goat to read to the students. Why was that, ya think? Perhaps his team feared a more sophisticated book would be a bit too much for him. Or maybe he was providing students with an example of how "dumbing down" works. Or maybe, just maybe, given Bush's overall success and reputation for brain-power, Republicans fear Obama would inspire students instead of generating the jokes and comedic responses Bush did every time he opened his mouth.
I can't begin to count the number of times I listened to Bush joke about his own lack of intelligence before an audience. The audience members that included some now former as well as present members of the Congress and Senate, actually laughed as he made these comments. Whether they were laughing with him or at him, I couldn't tell. I know I was laughing at him, but I was also embarrassed and ashamed that this man was leading our country. How could he possibly joke about his lack of intelligence before a State Dinner? How could he laugh about his inability to comprehend matters of great importance? Why would he think that the public would find that funny? And if the public did find that funny, shame on them.
The vice-presidential candidate that the Republicans ran in the past election against Obama was of equal educational quality. We all know who I mean, Miss Lipstick-on-a-Pig. Even her humor is low-class, in keeping with her intelligence. One has to ask, "So this was the candidate Republicans believed could handle the cosmic-sized dilemmas we now have facing this nation?" Sarah Palin? Are they nuts? Listening to those Republicans lie about their support of her in the face of the crises facing this nation was a crime against the soul of America. Why? Because they did not believe a word of what they were saying and that was obvious. Most of them could barely cough up their contrived words of support. How they could possibly live with themselves is beyond me. But that is the blessing, I suppose, of having no conscience whatsoever. You're free to say whatever is required in the moment. But if you want to talk about an educational violation, Palin is the poster child. She is a perfect example of the success of the "dumbing down of America" program. No wonder she is a Republican. Birds of a feather, as the saying goes. But you have to give credit where credit is due, yes? So no wonder they fear Obama coming near the classroom. Republicans have little experience with a refined intellect. (They probably are wondering how Obama escaped the, "dumbing down" system. They certainly didn't. Check out Eric Cantor. There's a "dumbing down" success story if I've ever met one.)
I don't blame them for being upset, really. They actually owe America an apology for their actions and for their choices of candidates and for their overall quality control when it comes to who they believe qualifies for leadership positions. Truth is, the Republicans are embarrassed by their own actions and they are poor losers, not to mention unethical and immoral opponents. We just have to get them to own that, right? We have to hold all Democrats to the same standard as well. If a Democrat is unethical or immoral -- burn them at the stake. (That will probably clear out most of the Congress, but in the end, we'll all be better off.)
There comes a time when we have to just stand up to these carnies (slang for carnival barkers) and tell them to stop polluting the soul of America with their constant and endless transmission of psychic free radicals in the form of lies, negative press, ridiculous criticism, overall lack of intelligent ideas and comments, and complete absence of creative thought. We should just blast them with emails and tell them to stop polluting the soul of our nation. Just stop it. We've had enough. I know I have. And I deeply believe the soul of our nation can't take much more of their strategy of deliberate division against the people of their own nation. That is a true crime -- and perhaps their greatest crime -- against the soul of this great nation.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Thursday Sept. 3rd
No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick. If you agree, please pass this on or post it on face book as your status for the rest of the day.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Wednesday Sept. 2nd
If there was a day that states quite clearly "what ever can go wrong will go wrong." today was that day for me. I had a wonderful breakfast get together with a group of friends for a chat and catch up session. Then the afternoon went into a downward spiral quickly.Well that is not really the case, just sort of, I installed 4 gigs of memory for my MacBook Pro and that went fine and but then I started to install the new Snow Leopard operating system. Then to say that all hell broke loose is the understatement of the new millennium. The install failed and then my whole computer started to crash & it was like watching a dam slowly break apart as the water seeps through.
I spent over an hour on the phone with Apple Care and when I finally figured out that the man on the line had NO IDEA of what was actually happening I pretty much asked him to email me a case file & I hung up on him and RAN to the nearest Apple Store, storming the Genius Bar. I was put on a 45 to 60 minute waiting list and I started pacing. About 10 minutes later an appointment did not show up and I was assigned to the lead tech. Keegan is the man of the century this evening, he worked magic and saved most, if not all of my data. I do not think that I have ever been more scared, I do save me work but have not done so for over a month or two. This dude is a code magician and managed to get my data onto my external hard drive. I sat for over an hour and could actually watch each file, each image, each document be saved and transferred.
At the end of this most terrifying 90 minutes I was told that I would lose all of my applications even though we have saved the data. I have no idea of how, where, or when I installed Dreamweaver 2004 MX for my web site, I know that I have will have lost my entire Adobe Creative Suite but I do still have my Microsoft Office Suite...Tomorrow will start the task of finding the minutia that I have become so dependent upon.
I can not recall the last time I felt so absolutely helpless. I just sat there and watched as my HD was failing and I was totally helpless to do anything about it. My man Keegan explained that HD's will fail, sometime they will fail in a year sometimes they will fail in 5 years.. but they will fail. He said that my HD was already failing but that trying to install such a major systems program just opened up the flood gates and there was nothing that could be done to stop it.
So my day rather stank.. I am not saying that there were not some excellent things that happened and I am grateful for each one bit I am just a bit worn out right now and this is NOT how I needed to spend a better part of my afternoon.
I will have a better day tomorrow and for now I have my handy dandy 13" PowerBook G4. Cute as hell and not as BadAss fast but hey there is some work that I can get done and I guess that I need to be grateful for the fact that so much of my data was retrieved.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Tuesday Sept. 1st.
Early this moring...like 5am early, I was sitting at my gate at the Dayton International Airport and sitting across the way from me, in a very SPARKLY Short cocktail dress, SPARKY strapless shoes and done up to the nines, sash and all, was Mrs. Ohio International. She had to have gotten up way way way to early to look like that at 5am. I really have to ask why was it necessary for her to actually wear the sash...I mean WOW!
Well I am posting this from the Denver airport. I have been away for just over 3 weeks and all I have to say is that I am ready to not be living out of a suitcase for a few weeks. I had a very good trip but no matter what, it is a good thing to get back to my own bed and I am very much looking forward to snuggling with my kittens.
Not only have I taught 10 classes during this trip, I have also gotten some significant work done on my moms house. It really is a matter of constant vigilance, as soon as we think that we are getting some good things taken care and making progress, another project crops up. We started looking at having her shower stall re-tiled and a new shower pan installed. Finding an individual that can handle the job and not try to take advantage of my mom is always in the back of my head.
Mom had a guy come over to give her a price for a fiberglass shower insert and was told that there was surely water damage to the green board behind the tiles and added on costs for repairs and then tried to make her chose in a matter of days. I thought that the tactics were heavy handed and were playing to fears and inexperience. I was not pleased at all when I started to see what was happening. I think we are doing a pretty good job of getting these tasks done in an easy and timely manner so that when she is ready to move the list of things that have to happen will not be overwhelming.
So... I am on my way home & needless to say, I have a very set way of travel. I will do everything I can to get really early flights whether I am flying east or west. If I am heading east I get in with a few hours before the dinner hour and I have time to acclimate to the time change. On this trip I will have flown from Dayton to Tucson and get home before 10am. Traveling this way I will have the entire day to start to recuperate for the entire day and I should not have any problems adjusting back to my own time zone.
As I have already posted I had a very fun time at the BeadFest Philly. The classes were fun and I actually do have a good time there. I also had a great time teaching at The Place to Bead in Naperville this past weekend and I also got to experience a very wonderful one day show that they put together. The Suburban Bead Encounter really is an excellent show. The venue at the Holiday Inn is intimate and the selection of vendors offers a very good selection and wide variety. Each of the 4 classes that I taught had students that were so excited to learn about fine silver and everyone did such a fantastic job and made huge strides in fine tuning their techniques.
I have a very full plate ahead of me till the end of the year, check out the updates on my website. I am hopeful that each of the shows that I am teaching at and exhibiting at will follow the encouraging trend that all of us are starting to see. It is hard to have to double the amount of time that I am away in order to keep things going but it is the way that is is and I am grateful for all of the support that my students and customers are giving.
My next show is BeadFest Portland, I have 3 different classes that I am teaching and am teaching 2 of those 3 classes twice. Check out the show and come take some classes. You can fine tune your fusing and metal working skills or dive into an brand new experience.
Well I am posting this from the Denver airport. I have been away for just over 3 weeks and all I have to say is that I am ready to not be living out of a suitcase for a few weeks. I had a very good trip but no matter what, it is a good thing to get back to my own bed and I am very much looking forward to snuggling with my kittens.
Not only have I taught 10 classes during this trip, I have also gotten some significant work done on my moms house. It really is a matter of constant vigilance, as soon as we think that we are getting some good things taken care and making progress, another project crops up. We started looking at having her shower stall re-tiled and a new shower pan installed. Finding an individual that can handle the job and not try to take advantage of my mom is always in the back of my head.
Mom had a guy come over to give her a price for a fiberglass shower insert and was told that there was surely water damage to the green board behind the tiles and added on costs for repairs and then tried to make her chose in a matter of days. I thought that the tactics were heavy handed and were playing to fears and inexperience. I was not pleased at all when I started to see what was happening. I think we are doing a pretty good job of getting these tasks done in an easy and timely manner so that when she is ready to move the list of things that have to happen will not be overwhelming.
So... I am on my way home & needless to say, I have a very set way of travel. I will do everything I can to get really early flights whether I am flying east or west. If I am heading east I get in with a few hours before the dinner hour and I have time to acclimate to the time change. On this trip I will have flown from Dayton to Tucson and get home before 10am. Traveling this way I will have the entire day to start to recuperate for the entire day and I should not have any problems adjusting back to my own time zone.
As I have already posted I had a very fun time at the BeadFest Philly. The classes were fun and I actually do have a good time there. I also had a great time teaching at The Place to Bead in Naperville this past weekend and I also got to experience a very wonderful one day show that they put together. The Suburban Bead Encounter really is an excellent show. The venue at the Holiday Inn is intimate and the selection of vendors offers a very good selection and wide variety. Each of the 4 classes that I taught had students that were so excited to learn about fine silver and everyone did such a fantastic job and made huge strides in fine tuning their techniques.
I have a very full plate ahead of me till the end of the year, check out the updates on my website. I am hopeful that each of the shows that I am teaching at and exhibiting at will follow the encouraging trend that all of us are starting to see. It is hard to have to double the amount of time that I am away in order to keep things going but it is the way that is is and I am grateful for all of the support that my students and customers are giving.
My next show is BeadFest Portland, I have 3 different classes that I am teaching and am teaching 2 of those 3 classes twice. Check out the show and come take some classes. You can fine tune your fusing and metal working skills or dive into an brand new experience.
Friday, August 28, 2009
This was sung at Ted Kennedy's memorial this evening.
There is nothing like Elvis singing this song, it is right up there with Jim Nabors version.
"The Impossible Dream"
The Man of La Mancha (1972)
music by Mitch Leigh & lyrics by Joe Darion
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
"The Impossible Dream"
The Man of La Mancha (1972)
music by Mitch Leigh & lyrics by Joe Darion
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star
Friday August 28th
What are the things in your life that just bring a smile to your face and just bring you simple joy. Is there something, an object, that no matter what, will make you just sort of giggle on the inside and maybe even a little out loud? For me there are two things that bring out that reaction in me and will never fail. I really love the texture of a glassine envelope and the softness of a big fat white cotton shoe lace. The glassine envelopes take me back to my favorite childhood books. The 23 volumes of Beatrice Potter's, The World of Peter Rabbits silky smooth pages were just one of the reasons that I loved to read those books and I just figured out that I could put the glassine in my pocket a little easier. The feel of big fat soft cotton-y shoelaces is right up there next to the glassine, the feel of them against my skin makes me smile.
While in Philly, Gail came into our hotel room and handed me a glassine envelope on purpose just to see my reaction. It made her giggle each time i would pick it up to feel it. After we had spent some time laughing about my silly obsession she asked if I carried around a piece of shoestring as well and I had to admit to her thatI actually did at times. I have said it before and I will say it again. Yes, I am a GEEK.
I am deeply saddened by the loss of Ted Kennedy. Our nation has truly come to the end of an era in American culture and politics. We have lost the last true member of a dynasty that evoked a sense of optimism, courage and the hope that the American dream is alive. Even though the children of the Joe & Rose were born into a life of privilege each one of their children had a sense of duty and family honor to do good, to assist those less fortunate and to promote charities and good works. Ted served his country and aspired to leave things better then he had found them. My thoughts and prayers are with family members and friends that will miss him profoundly. He assumed the mantel of the head of the family in the times of extreme personal pain and he bore that responsibility with a immense deal of grace. I will never forget his speech at the Democratic National Convention last year, his determination to not just stand up and say a few words and to spur on the convention to do good will stay with my forever.The weather in the Greater Chicago are has been stinky. I could not have timed my arrival any better if I had tried. The moment I had un-loaded the last box out of the car the skies opened up and unleashed a downpour that would give a Tucson monsoon a run for it's money. Class yesterday was excellent and everyone did such a good job.
I had today off and located a close Apple store so I could go grab the additional memory that I have needed and to pick up the newest OS, Snow Leopard. They did not have the memory that I needed so I had to order it online to have it delivered at home when I get back to Tucson on Tuesday.I will have had a long but good 3 weeks away and I am ready to be with my fuzzy girls and to be in my home. It will be good to get back to my bench and it will be good to get ready for the September Tucson Best Bead Show. I will be sharing a booth with Margaret Zinser. Looking forward to hangin' with MZ for a few days.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday August 25th
It has been way to long and I have to say that I have not posted because I have been a bit upset and really did not want to rant in a negative manner too loudly. I have been tired from all of the driving and all of the repairs and errands that I have been doing here at my moms house. I am glad to be able to do it all but I have to say that I am a bit worn out from it.
Philly was as crazy as ever. I went non-stop upon I arrival. I had my booth to set up on Thursday afternoon and my class-room to set up late on Thursday night. Thank the powers that be for Gail Crosman Moore, she helped me out with finishing up my classroom or I would have been there till close to midnight. The teaching started bright and early Friday morning but not till after I had to go down to the show floor to make sure that all was good down there.
My problem with my booth was rather bad actually. 36 hours before I was to get into Philly, the gal that I had hired to work my booth got very very sick and I could not in good conscience let her near my booth-mates. Adding the flu into a stuffy convention center is just not an option. Sweet Gail and Susan Nestor said that they would watch over my stuff but without a really sales person to interact it is hard to sell things.
But the worst was Saturday evening when I got done with classes and went over to the show floor.
STOLEN - If you see it let me know..
2 of my favorite PMC pendants had been stolen during Saturday. A brand new one that I had made with a glass eyeball I got from Gail and my Chinese Writing Stone pendant. I have to say that is is very disheartening to see $300.00 worth of my work just walk away and it is not like this person can wear the thing...if I find out who did it they are going to get an earful for sure. It's also not like I can afford to have those pieces just be gone. It made me so sad to think that there is someone out there that has so little respect for those of us that make our living this way. And to add insult to injury, I had 2 pretty expensive tools walk out of my classroom as well. I provide good tools for my students to use, they get to use the same tools that I use and to re-set for an afternoon class and to have expensive bezel mandrels & pliers disappear just makes it hard for me to justify providing this high a level of tool.
I am sorry for those student readers of mine that play by the rules and are so honest. I actually had a student track me down at the Meet the Teachers Friday night to give me cash for a hammer that she mistakenly walked out with and did not realize that she had not paid for. Well, the result for Saturdays nastiness was that I had to take all of my HOT-Selling bracelets and put them away the last day of the show.
Sundays classes were excellent and we all had a blast making the pressure pendents. Class ended at 4 pm and after that class I had to pack up all of that room. Tools and all, clean it up, get the bellman to gather the boxes up to the entrance, run a the way over to the convention center to pack up my booth at by 5:30, take that box up to my car, go get the boxes from the classroom that the bellman was holding & pack up the car. WHEW! After those tasks were completed Gail and I have a very nice quiet Indian Dinner.
I do love hanging out with Gail, we laugh so hard at all of the goings on in our little world, at our own silliness and at all of the irony that surrounds us all. It really is rather amazing if you just look around and take it all in that any of us are even slightly sane. (or are we?)
Philly was as crazy as ever. I went non-stop upon I arrival. I had my booth to set up on Thursday afternoon and my class-room to set up late on Thursday night. Thank the powers that be for Gail Crosman Moore, she helped me out with finishing up my classroom or I would have been there till close to midnight. The teaching started bright and early Friday morning but not till after I had to go down to the show floor to make sure that all was good down there.
My problem with my booth was rather bad actually. 36 hours before I was to get into Philly, the gal that I had hired to work my booth got very very sick and I could not in good conscience let her near my booth-mates. Adding the flu into a stuffy convention center is just not an option. Sweet Gail and Susan Nestor said that they would watch over my stuff but without a really sales person to interact it is hard to sell things.
But the worst was Saturday evening when I got done with classes and went over to the show floor.
STOLEN - If you see it let me know..
2 of my favorite PMC pendants had been stolen during Saturday. A brand new one that I had made with a glass eyeball I got from Gail and my Chinese Writing Stone pendant. I have to say that is is very disheartening to see $300.00 worth of my work just walk away and it is not like this person can wear the thing...if I find out who did it they are going to get an earful for sure. It's also not like I can afford to have those pieces just be gone. It made me so sad to think that there is someone out there that has so little respect for those of us that make our living this way. And to add insult to injury, I had 2 pretty expensive tools walk out of my classroom as well. I provide good tools for my students to use, they get to use the same tools that I use and to re-set for an afternoon class and to have expensive bezel mandrels & pliers disappear just makes it hard for me to justify providing this high a level of tool.
I am sorry for those student readers of mine that play by the rules and are so honest. I actually had a student track me down at the Meet the Teachers Friday night to give me cash for a hammer that she mistakenly walked out with and did not realize that she had not paid for. Well, the result for Saturdays nastiness was that I had to take all of my HOT-Selling bracelets and put them away the last day of the show.
Sundays classes were excellent and we all had a blast making the pressure pendents. Class ended at 4 pm and after that class I had to pack up all of that room. Tools and all, clean it up, get the bellman to gather the boxes up to the entrance, run a the way over to the convention center to pack up my booth at by 5:30, take that box up to my car, go get the boxes from the classroom that the bellman was holding & pack up the car. WHEW! After those tasks were completed Gail and I have a very nice quiet Indian Dinner.
I do love hanging out with Gail, we laugh so hard at all of the goings on in our little world, at our own silliness and at all of the irony that surrounds us all. It really is rather amazing if you just look around and take it all in that any of us are even slightly sane. (or are we?)
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Wednesday August 19th
So... SL... Are you happy to see me or is that and Octopus on your head...
My mom's birthday was on Monday and we had a lazy morning. I had several errands to take care of first off, I had an Office Depot run and I had to pick up my repaired glasses at Lens Crafters. My godparents made a special dinner for my mom and they invited another couple that are some of her best friends. So at a table of 6 that the average age of the 5 others was 76.. I was the youngster. I had a blast, my godparents are so funny and they make me laugh like few others can.
Tuesday was a day of fixing all that needed to be fixed n my moms house. I replaced the 3 exterior lights, put an all weather runner in the length of the garage and non-slip treads on the garage step all to get ready for this winter; I installed a new smoke and carbon dioxide alarm, installed the new garden hose roller-upper thingy and the light in the hall ceiling & nailed the baseboards in the Master Bath after I smashed my toe for the 1000th time. All in all it was a very productive day and I am glad that these details are being attended to. I know that the time is coming when my mom will want to sell the house and I do not want her to be hit in the face with all of these small details all at once.. The key is BABY STEPS.
There is a fun and interesting debate raging amongst some of my friends about what is right to publish verses what should be kept out of the public realm. We are very dismayed by the insistence that what ever comes to mind can be considered fodder to be posted. There are a few of us that are Bloggers and we started talking how we choose what to post and what we decide is inappropriate. After some lengthy discussions we have decided that there is a distinct difference between the two. We all like to consider ourselves writers but when it comes down to it...blogging is about observations of our life and it is not a great masterpiece, we are not writing "War & Peace". All we are doing is just relaying our daily lives and our introspective moments for those who care to read. If we were actually writing.... that may be a bit different. What we talked at great length about is where is the line drawn. What observations are okay to disseminate and which ones are not. There is the internal "switch" that we all determined to be the key, our moral ideal as to what we would want posted about ourselves or our family... if it as not good for us then we could be sure that it would not be fair to post. There is so much more to it than that.. but it is a start of a very interesting and ongoing discussion for sure.
I have one parting thought for the night... I have been paying a great deal of attention to the Health Care Debates...& here is what I think.
We, as a nation, require each person that operates an automobile to have a specified minimum insurance policy. The insurance required is to protect those that are injured & not at fault if an accident occurs. I think that requiring each person to have a minimal health insurance policy amounts to the same thing. If an uninsured person seeks care at an emergency room and can not pay for the care then that cost it passed on to those that actually have insurance. That expenditure would decrease exponentially if all were required to have health insurance and took steps towards a preventative lifestyle.
Some of the citizens of this country are all riled up about having mandatory health care. FOR THOSE THAT CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE INSURANCE; to have the ability to purchase health care insurance at an affordable rate should be a moral imperative for our nation. Just so you know...we are REQUIRED to file for a marriage license, we are REQUIRED to have auto insurance, we are REQUIRED to pay Federal & State Taxes, we are REQUIRED to serve on a jury if called upon to do so. We are REQUIRED to do a great many things for our country and I believe that NOT having health insurance is just as bad as not having auto insurance... there is no difference... Think about it...come on ...this is not that hard folks...
I love Barney Frank... it is about time that the gloves were taken off and that we started talking back...
My mom's birthday was on Monday and we had a lazy morning. I had several errands to take care of first off, I had an Office Depot run and I had to pick up my repaired glasses at Lens Crafters. My godparents made a special dinner for my mom and they invited another couple that are some of her best friends. So at a table of 6 that the average age of the 5 others was 76.. I was the youngster. I had a blast, my godparents are so funny and they make me laugh like few others can.
Tuesday was a day of fixing all that needed to be fixed n my moms house. I replaced the 3 exterior lights, put an all weather runner in the length of the garage and non-slip treads on the garage step all to get ready for this winter; I installed a new smoke and carbon dioxide alarm, installed the new garden hose roller-upper thingy and the light in the hall ceiling & nailed the baseboards in the Master Bath after I smashed my toe for the 1000th time. All in all it was a very productive day and I am glad that these details are being attended to. I know that the time is coming when my mom will want to sell the house and I do not want her to be hit in the face with all of these small details all at once.. The key is BABY STEPS.
There is a fun and interesting debate raging amongst some of my friends about what is right to publish verses what should be kept out of the public realm. We are very dismayed by the insistence that what ever comes to mind can be considered fodder to be posted. There are a few of us that are Bloggers and we started talking how we choose what to post and what we decide is inappropriate. After some lengthy discussions we have decided that there is a distinct difference between the two. We all like to consider ourselves writers but when it comes down to it...blogging is about observations of our life and it is not a great masterpiece, we are not writing "War & Peace". All we are doing is just relaying our daily lives and our introspective moments for those who care to read. If we were actually writing.... that may be a bit different. What we talked at great length about is where is the line drawn. What observations are okay to disseminate and which ones are not. There is the internal "switch" that we all determined to be the key, our moral ideal as to what we would want posted about ourselves or our family... if it as not good for us then we could be sure that it would not be fair to post. There is so much more to it than that.. but it is a start of a very interesting and ongoing discussion for sure.
I have one parting thought for the night... I have been paying a great deal of attention to the Health Care Debates...& here is what I think.
We, as a nation, require each person that operates an automobile to have a specified minimum insurance policy. The insurance required is to protect those that are injured & not at fault if an accident occurs. I think that requiring each person to have a minimal health insurance policy amounts to the same thing. If an uninsured person seeks care at an emergency room and can not pay for the care then that cost it passed on to those that actually have insurance. That expenditure would decrease exponentially if all were required to have health insurance and took steps towards a preventative lifestyle.
Some of the citizens of this country are all riled up about having mandatory health care. FOR THOSE THAT CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE INSURANCE; to have the ability to purchase health care insurance at an affordable rate should be a moral imperative for our nation. Just so you know...we are REQUIRED to file for a marriage license, we are REQUIRED to have auto insurance, we are REQUIRED to pay Federal & State Taxes, we are REQUIRED to serve on a jury if called upon to do so. We are REQUIRED to do a great many things for our country and I believe that NOT having health insurance is just as bad as not having auto insurance... there is no difference... Think about it...come on ...this is not that hard folks...
I love Barney Frank... it is about time that the gloves were taken off and that we started talking back...
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Sunday August 16th
This just made me laugh!
Another big week has passed by and it passed way too quickly for my taste. I got loads accomplished getting jewelry done for the Philly show. I got 8 of the cuff bracelets finished, 12, PMC Gemstone Set Pendants, 11 viking knit bracelets, 4 loop-n-loop necklaces and I prepped the bezel wire and Ocean Jasper stones for 12 bezel captured pendants. So, all in all I used my days very well and got to enjoy me evenings in Albuquerque. It all seems a bit jumbled together and I have to say that I am a bit tired. I will get a few day to sort of relax after the Philly show before I head up to Chicago for my 4 days of teaching at The Place to Bead. As always, I am looking forward to seeing all of my friends and I do have the best roomie a gal could ask for in Gail Crosman Moore.
I am heading to Dayton for just a few days to celebrate my moms birthday and to prep the 10,000 boxes that I had delivered to her house for the show. It actually is a rather decent way to get to a show that is all the way across the country. I get all that I can get prepped at my studio, ship it off and have all of the other orders delivered there.. I can track it and get it delivered early so I know that there are NO issues and if there are I have plenty of time to make sure that I can solve anything. I am very pleased that my classes for Philly are creeping closer to full. 1 is totally sold, 2 more have just a few seats left, and the final 2 are at about 75%.
There is some distressing news that is coming to a head, the response to the class offerings in next months Portland Beadfest it not as good as expected or hoped for. Portland has been hard hit with the recession and has had a rough time of it for the last few years and the local population is having a hard time supporting the show. I hope that the show ends up being a good show for everyone, the vendors, the teachers and for the local economy. If anyone out there is considering heading out to the west coast for a little vacation come on out and take and support the Portland show.
I have to say that what I have witnessed this year has been encouraging, I see that everyone is doing what they can to help the vendors and independent artists survive what is happening economicly. It really is a symbiotic relationship that the artists and vendors have with the student/ show attendees. We all need each other. If the artist/vendor cannot make a living then the people that support us have a harder time being creative and expressing themselves. I think that everyone is doing what they can to keep our industry and our livelihoods healthy.
I have been watching with dismay our countries response to the health care debate and these town hall meetings. The only thing I can say good about some of our citizens is that they at least are showing the proper respect to our President when they address him with their questions. I find it amazing that one of the campaign issues that was talked about over and over again was our desperate need to overhaul our nations health care system, from how the underprivileged can afford health care to how the insurance companies treat is clients and are dumped. This has to be solved, the uninsured end up costing the taxpayers more then implementing the necessary coverage for those that cannot afford it. Let's be clear folks...an Emergency Room is not the solution for preventative healthcare. Especially when the bill for the Emergency Room visit is passed onto the rest.
Another big week has passed by and it passed way too quickly for my taste. I got loads accomplished getting jewelry done for the Philly show. I got 8 of the cuff bracelets finished, 12, PMC Gemstone Set Pendants, 11 viking knit bracelets, 4 loop-n-loop necklaces and I prepped the bezel wire and Ocean Jasper stones for 12 bezel captured pendants. So, all in all I used my days very well and got to enjoy me evenings in Albuquerque. It all seems a bit jumbled together and I have to say that I am a bit tired. I will get a few day to sort of relax after the Philly show before I head up to Chicago for my 4 days of teaching at The Place to Bead. As always, I am looking forward to seeing all of my friends and I do have the best roomie a gal could ask for in Gail Crosman Moore.
I am heading to Dayton for just a few days to celebrate my moms birthday and to prep the 10,000 boxes that I had delivered to her house for the show. It actually is a rather decent way to get to a show that is all the way across the country. I get all that I can get prepped at my studio, ship it off and have all of the other orders delivered there.. I can track it and get it delivered early so I know that there are NO issues and if there are I have plenty of time to make sure that I can solve anything. I am very pleased that my classes for Philly are creeping closer to full. 1 is totally sold, 2 more have just a few seats left, and the final 2 are at about 75%.
There is some distressing news that is coming to a head, the response to the class offerings in next months Portland Beadfest it not as good as expected or hoped for. Portland has been hard hit with the recession and has had a rough time of it for the last few years and the local population is having a hard time supporting the show. I hope that the show ends up being a good show for everyone, the vendors, the teachers and for the local economy. If anyone out there is considering heading out to the west coast for a little vacation come on out and take and support the Portland show.
I have to say that what I have witnessed this year has been encouraging, I see that everyone is doing what they can to help the vendors and independent artists survive what is happening economicly. It really is a symbiotic relationship that the artists and vendors have with the student/ show attendees. We all need each other. If the artist/vendor cannot make a living then the people that support us have a harder time being creative and expressing themselves. I think that everyone is doing what they can to keep our industry and our livelihoods healthy.
I have been watching with dismay our countries response to the health care debate and these town hall meetings. The only thing I can say good about some of our citizens is that they at least are showing the proper respect to our President when they address him with their questions. I find it amazing that one of the campaign issues that was talked about over and over again was our desperate need to overhaul our nations health care system, from how the underprivileged can afford health care to how the insurance companies treat is clients and are dumped. This has to be solved, the uninsured end up costing the taxpayers more then implementing the necessary coverage for those that cannot afford it. Let's be clear folks...an Emergency Room is not the solution for preventative healthcare. Especially when the bill for the Emergency Room visit is passed onto the rest.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Sunday August 9th
I am looking forward to an exciting and fun 3 weeks. I love the teaching and the traveling and I am truly looking forward to seeing all of my friends so very soon. It has been a very busy end of the week for me. I got all 8 boxes shipped off to Dayton and I was insane crazy getting ready to leave for Albuquerque this morning for a visit before I head out east for 2 weeks.
So, for the last 3 days, I have averaged 10 hour days at my bench. It has been a very excellent 3 days. I have gotten loads finished and ready for assembly next week. I wanted to make sure that I had all of the fine detail work finished up before I left so I would not have to travel with certain heavy and cumbersome tools. I am glad to say with much pride... Mission Accomplished.
I took time to watch the swearing in of Judge Sotomayor yesterday morning and I was very pleased of the stand that our President took by staying away from the ceremony. I like that this man seems so concerned with our Constitution and what is actually mean by the phrase "Separation of Powers".
We are experiencing some very frightening times. I am scared of the tactics being employed to frighten the citizens of our country away from the much needed overhaul of our health care system. Why are these people saying that having a "Living Will" is a bad thing? The large insurance companies and the drug companies do not want oversight and the GOP wants to discredit the Democratic party. These issues are TOO important for us to allow these games and this bickering to continue. We should be a better role model for the rest of the world and we should make sure that the citizens of our country are healthy and educated.
I grabbed saw this quote and it made me think....
"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country...corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed"
--Abraham Lincoln 1864
So, for the last 3 days, I have averaged 10 hour days at my bench. It has been a very excellent 3 days. I have gotten loads finished and ready for assembly next week. I wanted to make sure that I had all of the fine detail work finished up before I left so I would not have to travel with certain heavy and cumbersome tools. I am glad to say with much pride... Mission Accomplished.
I took time to watch the swearing in of Judge Sotomayor yesterday morning and I was very pleased of the stand that our President took by staying away from the ceremony. I like that this man seems so concerned with our Constitution and what is actually mean by the phrase "Separation of Powers".We are experiencing some very frightening times. I am scared of the tactics being employed to frighten the citizens of our country away from the much needed overhaul of our health care system. Why are these people saying that having a "Living Will" is a bad thing? The large insurance companies and the drug companies do not want oversight and the GOP wants to discredit the Democratic party. These issues are TOO important for us to allow these games and this bickering to continue. We should be a better role model for the rest of the world and we should make sure that the citizens of our country are healthy and educated.
I grabbed saw this quote and it made me think....
"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country...corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed"--Abraham Lincoln 1864
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Wednesday August 5th
Please Watch All Of This.. It Is Important
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Tuesday August 4th
Today was a day of one frustration after another. I had unforeseen paperwork that grew exponentially as the day progressed, I just feel that I will never get to the end of it all. And to add insult to injury, I misplaced my passport today and it took me several hours or tearing my house apart before I realized that it had fallen behind a box in front of a bookshelf. Then I spent some time at the UPS warehouse sending off my boxes for Philly to my moms house.
The day I craved to spend at my bench just did not happen and by the time that I could work I just had no desire to. There is work that I truly desire to get done and I am just having a hard time getting up the desire to go over and work. I am not sure why I am having such a hard time getting up the motivation.
Well tomorrow is another day and another reason to be creative.
A friend of mine posted this on her FaceBook wall. I am tired to the opposition to health care reform creating panic and spreading lies to scare the elderly. I am just sick and tired of the divisions in our lawmakers.
Also, this entire conspirecy theory about our President having been born in Kenya is a joke right? How in the sane world is anyone actually buying into this lame attempt to undermine a progressive agenda. Is this really the best argument that they can come up with? If that is the case then the GOP really is in a great deal of trouble. If you can't dazzle them with brilliance baffle them with bullshit.. right?
The day I craved to spend at my bench just did not happen and by the time that I could work I just had no desire to. There is work that I truly desire to get done and I am just having a hard time getting up the desire to go over and work. I am not sure why I am having such a hard time getting up the motivation.
Well tomorrow is another day and another reason to be creative.
A friend of mine posted this on her FaceBook wall. I am tired to the opposition to health care reform creating panic and spreading lies to scare the elderly. I am just sick and tired of the divisions in our lawmakers.
Also, this entire conspirecy theory about our President having been born in Kenya is a joke right? How in the sane world is anyone actually buying into this lame attempt to undermine a progressive agenda. Is this really the best argument that they can come up with? If that is the case then the GOP really is in a great deal of trouble. If you can't dazzle them with brilliance baffle them with bullshit.. right?
Monday, August 3, 2009
Monday August 3rd.
I can not believe that it is already August. Where has this year gone and who took it? It really has been a very good year on so many levels. I am just keeping my focus on what it is I truly desire and where I want to head. I am looking forward to the rest of this year. My schedule is filling up nicely and I am still trying to add one or two more gigs. I would love one in the beginning of October and the beginning of December.
So yet again I am dismayed by the US Mint. Not only are there going to be all of those new quarters from the US Territories that I talked about a few months ago NOW there are 4 new pennies. Why are we continuing to produce a coin that has ABSOLUTELY no value. (Although I did like placing them on train tracks when I was a kid to flatten them out) But...Do not get me wrong I am a huge fan of Mr. Lincoln and I think that he deserves to have his likeness on our currency. But I mean really he has the five dollar bill the penny really is rather useless. (unless you are on Illinois toll roads. Would it just not be easier to round up or down? And the thing is not even made out of copper anymore, it just has a copper coating over zinc.
And I have only just learned that there is some random Presidential Dollar Series. It seems it started in 2007 and I have only now just learned of it. I guess I was too wrapped up in collecting my quarters. Not only is there a display for the quarters there is a collector BOX. How fun will this be. I think I need to get on this! It would be so much better than pennies don't you think.
I have been patiently waiting for the release of the 2 new Hercule Poirot DVD's from the 2008 TV season. I have the entire collection of that as well. I love to work and watch/listen to David Suchet play the "worlds most famous detective" They are so beautifully filmed and the production values are beyond compare. These were just released and I had to sort of splurge a smidgen on myself. I am enjoying one now. So needless to say, this post is taking much longer than it should to finish up.
I am off to Albuquerque on Sunday for a visit with Terri for a few days before I take off to Dayton and then off to Philly and Chicago. My classes for Philly are filling up nicely and I only have a few slots left in each session. I am looking forward to seeing everyone again. I am missing all of my friends since Bead & Button.
So yet again I am dismayed by the US Mint. Not only are there going to be all of those new quarters from the US Territories that I talked about a few months ago NOW there are 4 new pennies. Why are we continuing to produce a coin that has ABSOLUTELY no value. (Although I did like placing them on train tracks when I was a kid to flatten them out) But...Do not get me wrong I am a huge fan of Mr. Lincoln and I think that he deserves to have his likeness on our currency. But I mean really he has the five dollar bill the penny really is rather useless. (unless you are on Illinois toll roads. Would it just not be easier to round up or down? And the thing is not even made out of copper anymore, it just has a copper coating over zinc.
And I have only just learned that there is some random Presidential Dollar Series. It seems it started in 2007 and I have only now just learned of it. I guess I was too wrapped up in collecting my quarters. Not only is there a display for the quarters there is a collector BOX. How fun will this be. I think I need to get on this! It would be so much better than pennies don't you think.
I have been patiently waiting for the release of the 2 new Hercule Poirot DVD's from the 2008 TV season. I have the entire collection of that as well. I love to work and watch/listen to David Suchet play the "worlds most famous detective" They are so beautifully filmed and the production values are beyond compare. These were just released and I had to sort of splurge a smidgen on myself. I am enjoying one now. So needless to say, this post is taking much longer than it should to finish up.I am off to Albuquerque on Sunday for a visit with Terri for a few days before I take off to Dayton and then off to Philly and Chicago. My classes for Philly are filling up nicely and I only have a few slots left in each session. I am looking forward to seeing everyone again. I am missing all of my friends since Bead & Button.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Friday July 31st
I have been thinking of achievements and perfection these last days. I was researching what it actually meant to pitch a perfect game. In the history of Baseball, in over 130 years, only 18 men in have pitched a perfect game. The first perfect game was pitched on June 12th 1880 and believe it or not the second was pitched 5 days later on June 17th 1880. Randy “The Big Unit” Johnson, of the Arizona Diamondbacks, pitched the last perfect game in 2004. I remember watching Tom Browning pitch his perfect game in 1988 for my Cincinnati Reds. Mark Buehrle’s accomplishment on July 23rd of this year is to be counted as amazing in today’s MLB. Today, pitchers are specialized; most rarely pitch over 100 pitches and rarely work for more than 6, maybe 7 innings. Well done Mark and thank you for reminding us that perfection is still achievable in many forms, you glimpsed and held in your hand for a moment, what the rest of us strive for and dream of one day experiencing ourselves.
What is perfection to you? Ask yourself that question and remember your answers. I know that I see some things as absolutely perfect. I see perfection in nature. The Chambered Nautilus is natures example of the The Golden Ratio: Nature's Formula for Perfection and I see such beautiful perfection in the wonders of our universe, courtesy of NASA’s Hubble Telescope. I know that, as humans, we will never truly achieve perfection but I love the fact that we strive for it in so many ways.
A quote from Buckminster Fuller has also come to mind.
"When I am working an a problem I never think about beauty. I only think about how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong."
A very old high school friend of mine that I recently found again on FaceBook posted this picture today and it got me to thinking.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
These words, spoken aloud today, more than ever, their meaning resounds to the very core or who we are as a nation, and as a people. These words are the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which is our Bill of Rights. These words are plastered at the entrance of the Newseum in Washington DC and these words can never be spoken loudly enough nor can they ever be made big enough. For 8 years, we as a country, were forced relinquish our freedoms one after another. We can never let our fears make us less than our founding fathers knew we could dare to be. We are not bullies, we are the country that the world turns to for help and we always answered the call. We need to remember that we are a nation that is founded on the freedoms for all people. We are not perfect, we make mistakes and we can move past them and learn from them if we choose to.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Wednesday July 29th
Think about it:
Even the person that believes that our destinies are pre-ordained and that the path of our future is mapped out looks both ways before crossing the street.
Had an interesting day. I do not feel that I got enough accomplished but I know that I spent some time that I needed to just figuring out how I wanted some projects to go forward. I feel that I have a better handle on what I want and how I want it my work to go forward.
So tomorrow will be a very busy day and I will get all of my work done. Life is good, complicated in logistics but it is good and I am getting it all done.
I was forwarded the latest Simon’s Cat. Totally Funny!
I just cannot ever get enough of Tom Waits, his lyrics continue to touch my soul in so many ways.
Life is a..."Little Trip To Heaven"
Tuesday July 28th
I am still working away, still getting all things ready for Philly, for my mom’s birthday & for teaching in Chicago. All of these things are happening in just a matter of weeks and I am getting all of that ready as well as getting Bead & Button proposals in, I will be teaching for the Best Bead Show in Feb and I will now be teaching for the Bellevue Festival in November…So my plate is full, getting fuller and I need to keep it that way.
The beauty of the Tao is that these chapters have had different meanings for me at different moments in my life. This particular chapter evoked a very different response from me just over a year ago. Reading these chapters over and over again emphasises to me that life truly is an ebb and flow, life shifts and suddenly there are new realities that have quickly become embedded into you and into your daily life.
Tao Te Ching
Chapter 14
Look, and it can’t be seen.
Listen, and it can’t be heard.
Reach, and it can’t be grasped.
Above, it isn’t bright.
Below, it isn’t dark.
Seamless, unnamable,
it returns to the realm of nothing.
Form that includes all forms,
image without an image,
subtle, beyond all conception.
Approach it and there is no beginning
follow it and there is no end.
You can’t know it, but you can be it,
at ease in your own life.
Just realize where you come from:
this is the essence of wisdom.
Along our journey, when that something or that someone is discovered that makes you smile from the inside out, that makes you laugh, giggle and be joyous, treasure it; make certain to care for it and make sure that it is protected. These somethings, these individuals, they are the treasures that we are on this earth to experience. Just always remember that it can be something as simple as a humming bird that makes you smile, as stunning as a sunset or moonrise that makes you pause to watch as it passes or it can be that smile that makes you melt from the inside out when it shines on you.
Just always remember to look at the world around you, take time to see all of the beauty and all of the promise that is here. Be open to the possible because you never know what may be just around the corner.
The beauty of the Tao is that these chapters have had different meanings for me at different moments in my life. This particular chapter evoked a very different response from me just over a year ago. Reading these chapters over and over again emphasises to me that life truly is an ebb and flow, life shifts and suddenly there are new realities that have quickly become embedded into you and into your daily life.
Tao Te Ching
Chapter 14
Look, and it can’t be seen.
Listen, and it can’t be heard.
Reach, and it can’t be grasped.
Above, it isn’t bright.
Below, it isn’t dark.
Seamless, unnamable,
it returns to the realm of nothing.
Form that includes all forms,
image without an image,
subtle, beyond all conception.
Approach it and there is no beginning
follow it and there is no end.
You can’t know it, but you can be it,
at ease in your own life.
Just realize where you come from:
this is the essence of wisdom.
Along our journey, when that something or that someone is discovered that makes you smile from the inside out, that makes you laugh, giggle and be joyous, treasure it; make certain to care for it and make sure that it is protected. These somethings, these individuals, they are the treasures that we are on this earth to experience. Just always remember that it can be something as simple as a humming bird that makes you smile, as stunning as a sunset or moonrise that makes you pause to watch as it passes or it can be that smile that makes you melt from the inside out when it shines on you.Just always remember to look at the world around you, take time to see all of the beauty and all of the promise that is here. Be open to the possible because you never know what may be just around the corner.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sunday July 26th
It has been a crazy week once again. I have been crazed trying to figure out how I want to spend my teaching days at Bead and Button next June. For the last several years I have loaded up my schedule with all 3-hour classes, I have been seriously considered and I think convinced myself that I am going to teach a few all day classes so I can feel that I am accomplishing more. I have made this change with Bead Fest Classes next year, each of my classes are full day sessions and I just feel that the students and I will have a better experience in the long run.
This week has also been an exciting week for me in the world of sports. I have been following the Tour De France with my yearly addiction. I am up each morning at 5am to watch it live. I am such a geek. The tour is SO exciting. I love it all, the climbers and the sprinters and all of the amazing strategy that is required to win and be competitive. Lance Armstrong has done an amazing job, after a 3 ½ year absence he has done what many thought was impossible…the 37 year "old man" of the tour came in 3rd place. Just 5 minutes behind his crappy and grandstanding teammate Alberto Contador. I was not impressed by Alberto’s tactics, which in the end eliminated the chance for a total Team Astana sweep of the podium positions. He was too greedy ignored the team plan.
July is almost over and I now actually have to get up and work in the mornings. My Wimbledon is done as well as my Tour de France. I love July; these events are 2 of the quintessential sporting events of the year. Each is steeped in amazing traditions and incredible sportsmanship. There are rules of the road for this race…that are honorable. It is a sport that demands the racers to respect each other and that each participant remembers where he came from who your friends are. These men do not break these codes because they may need these codes someday. It has taken me a few years to understand some of these but I admire these men and the codes that they race by. 
My Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle pitched a perfect game the other evening. I did not get to see the game live but thanks to MLB.COM I got to watch the game in it’s entirety. It was an amazing display for the man that just 2 seasons ago fought to get a 4-year contract with the Sox. Yea, Mark…way to go…you are the man. The Sox are shaping up nicely as my Reds once again falter mid-season.
I have spent this day getting travel plans all set and plane tickets and car reservations and working at my bench after I took a very long swim this morning. I am looking forward to the next few months…I have had a wonderful year so far and I feel that the rest of it is shaping up nicely.
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