Replay Malfunction . . .

Facebook, for me, has been an incredible tool that has brought me back together with people from my past that I never thought I would be in touch with ever again in this lifetime.  I hear that same thing from so many people.  It’s amazing.  The Internet is a strange but interesting “thingy”.  Who knew?

Through Facebook I’ve also discovered that there is a tremendous amount of loneliness in this world –- a  lot of deeply painful loneliness.  Sometimes that loneliness is hard to notice in others because we’re all so busy just surviving.  It’s not easily detected in the chaos of life, but when we strip down the façade we can see that so many walk in the shadows of empty feelings and hardly ever express it in healthy ways.

On the flip side, we get to be virtual witnesses to stories about miracles, and inspirational events.  I'm not even doing justice in describing it.

All I really know is that this “Facebook Phenomena" has also allowed me this absolutely unique way of staying in touch with my kids who live with their father up in Oregon, while I live way down in Arizona.  Each and every day my kids have given me permission to take a peek into their lives through the magic of the simple phrase, “What’s on your mind?” …and they choose to respond.  And… the icing on the cake is how digital cameras and cell phone cameras give us the ability to record and upload images in just a few minutes time.  The downside is that I realize just how much of my kids lives I'm missing, and it hurts in the worst of ways.

This has made me a bit emotional thinking about how much we long to just be close to those we love and to find someone to love us. When I get like this I have to listen to music that helps me pull up the tears for a good cry.  I’ve been listening to the same song over and over again the past few days.  That’s just crazy “Teenage” behavior, but that’s what it has taken to finally turn on the waterworks.  “Someone Like You” by Van Morrison is the song of choice. 

Am I all alone in this “replay” malfunction?

Hmmmm?

Replay Malfunction . . .

Friday Art Walk - Oct. '08

I'm still feeling wiped out.

The Friday art walk is tonight. I'll get it together by then.
Hope to see some of you out on the town, perusing the galleries. I'll be at the Grayleaf Galleria.

Maybe I just need a little more of this . . .

Friday Art Walk - Oct. '08

Finding the Right Words

"Sometimes finding the right words can be like finding the key that opens the prison door."

Words are Powerful - Very Powerful!

Some people are never short of words. Some people seem to have a plethora of interesting and intellectual words that spill from their mouth as easily as stating their name. I’m amazed and dumbfounded by the natural gift that some people posses. Some have a gift with words in profound and poetic ways, while others have a gift of slighting and damaging souls with just a few choice phrases.

I am not so gifted. Yet, I am determined. I have been searching and searching for years (YEARS!) for the right words to describe certain experiences and events that happened to me in my past, yet time and time again my pages have been left with gargantuan blank spaces. I simply could not conjure the elusive words.

While doing some research for a book that I’m writing I came across an abundance of helpful information. Words! I found magical, wonderful, fruitful words that have brought about answers to my half drowned soul.

Isn’t it incredible when you put the energy out to do something and you receive a response? I’m on cloud nine! The prison door has been opened. It’s true that the right words can set your soul free.

Finding the Right Words

The On/Off switch

Does anybody know where the ON/OFF Switch is?

The On/Off switch

Nasty Gas Prices

My Bike vs My Truck

Lately these outrageous gas prices have me trying to conjure up some clever way to use alternative means of transportation for my art business, and my life in general.

I went camping with my kids last week (LOVED IT!). We dusted off our mountain bikes and brought them along . It was so fun. I took the kids onto a trail through the woods, and we all had a blast. It had been many years since I’ve done that. Back in my 20’s I use to mountain bike ride a lot (back when I was a lot thinner and in much better shape, of course.) I forgot how much I loved bike riding.

Yes, that's me, half hidden behind my daughter's big feet.
I'm with no make up, day three with no shower, looking pretty scummy,
kickin' back by the campfire . . . I loved it!

Then later that evening as I sat around the campfire mesmerized by the flames I began having silly delusional ideas about hauling my artwork, my pro-panel portable walls, and my 10'x10' canopy via two wheels and a bicycle trailer in tow to my art festivals saving tons of money, and getting in really good shape to boot! Yeah right! Then it began to rain and my fantasy was washed away with reality.

Click on image


Practicality

After giving it more thought I realized that "my world" during a common weekday outside of work simply does not lend to a pedal pushing lifestyle. First of all I live 5 miles outside of town, on a two lane country road with 55 mph traffic, and no designated bike lane, which is a pretty inconvenient obstacle.

The next big problem is family life. Even if I had a tandem built for six it would be pretty tough to chauffer the ‘family’ around to their endless schedule of school, activities, sports, friends, shopping, and make it back home in time to make dinner, do homework, check emails, etc… I'm not Superwoman - and I wouldn't want to be.

However, it’s certainly not difficult to see the value of bicycling. "There's health costs, there's social costs, there's planetary costs and there's quality of life issues."

The ugly fact is I drive everywhere, and the more I think about it, the more disgusted and frustrated I am about it. The maintenance, insurance, gasoline, oil, emissions, registration, licensing, taxes, repairs, parts, tires, parking fees, government fees, societal costs, safety and injury factors.

Call me whatever...
Comparing the pros and cons of a car versus a bike, to me the bike just sounds like the right thing to do. Whenever I think about how bikes and cars fit into the bigger picture, that really gets to me. I’ve set my life up in such a way that I’m cornered. The answer isn’t lower gas prices – the answer lies in my daily choices, and my long-term choices. Who I (we) elect at the voting booth, where I choose to live, what type of work I do, etc. I know, I know, that’s a pretty broad answer with many aspects to consider, but in reality – that’s the bottom line.

Don't get me wrong, I'm just as peeved about the high gas prices, the Government BS, and the greedy people who control it all just as much as everyone else.

What to do?
Do you have the answer? Best that I can tell is that it’s going to be a long, uncomfortable, and winding road.

. . . And I don't know about you, but I’m pretty tired of hearing myself complain!

________________________________________________________________

Nasty Gas Prices

I bought an "S"

Wheel ..........Of......... Fortune!

Ever watch the Wheel of Fortune? Sure you have. We all have, unless you’ve been living in a cave like a hermit for the past 30 years or so . . . Well, I suppose if you were born after 1995, then maybe you haven’t. It was my mother's favorite show for years. Probably still is. Unfortunately, after a day like today, my mother probably would have told me that I should have been on some other game show like, "The Price is Right."

Today I bought an 'S' for $300!

I felt like I was on the wheel of fortune, where it was my turn. I spun the giant wheel, it landed on $300, I looked up at the board and blurted out with enthusiasm (cause that’s what they do) I said, “Pat (Sajak), I’d like an “S” for $300 Please!” And I got the big “OOOOOOH”. Pat put on his frown face and sadly replied, “Oh Melanie, the letter “S” was already chosen earlier – - you idot!”

Don't ask.......I Don't Want to Talk About It!

I bought an "S"

Round Two

I had a second round with my migraine over the weekend and it’s still clinging on to me – I can feel it. It wants to pry its ugly spikes into my brain – again.

Round Two

The Cure – a Pacific Island!

Just another migraine . . . While I was buzzing from OTC meds all day (and now all night) I decided to search for images of migraine headaches. Here are a few I liked.














“I can't tell you how many shows I've done with full-blown migraine headaches.”
- Ellen Key (Swedish Writer, 1849-1926)













As I’ve researched remedies to my migraines over the years I’ve come to realize that each migraine sufferer is unique in their suffering and their search for a cure. Whether they be Hormone induced, food induced, exacerbated by the migraine medications that are suppose to be helping, it’s all so frustrating, and disappointing when I've tried this and that, been tested, gone to a chiropractor, and pay attention to the latest new remedy hoping this will be the cure – only it’s not the cure for ME!

I've been developing my own idea of how I would like to do a painting of a migraine (of course without the vomiting!). I'm still working on it, but one of these days it will come to me in full color. Maybe that will be MY cure! Wouldn't that be sweet. At least that would be MUCH better than having a stroke, or heart surgery to fix the problem.













so many more choices now. So much more information. Actual solutions remain as elusive as unicorns. - Posted by zar f









But the best cure is to move to a Pacific Island. I spent several years at or near sea level…and guess what? No migraines! — Posted by Bill













The brain with a migraine

I'm ready to pack my bags . . .
and move to a Pacific Island!!!!!!

The Cure – a Pacific Island!

Blah... breathe

I've been so stinkin' tired lately. Exhausted. Too many things going on at once. I don't really thrive on that sort of thing. And I don't care to wear the 'hectic life' like a badge of honor. I prefer a simpler, slower paced lifestyle. I know that some people don't really get that in this day and age. I think we, as a society (world?), have forgotten how to slow down, and not be rushing through every day like crazed maniacs. I get to feeling that some people feel guilty if they aren't doing something to "earn their keep, or make a difference" every second of every day. I think I'm caught up in it.

OK then. I'm done griping.
So........(deep breath, sigh).......On with my day . . .

Blah... breathe