Computer challenged

Oh my. I have been dickin' around with the template for this blog for the past 3 hours. First, I tried to design my own and when I was happy with it, do you think I could upload it?

As I type with my right hand, I am tossing the instructions in the paper shredder with the other.

I gave up. but then, just before packing it in, I managed to get this one installed and I LIKE IT! Or, I'm just too tired to try any more. Good night, another week begins.

Two more days before my dear girl is gone and I'm so bummed.

Everglades visit

Went to the fireworks tonight-China performed, it was AWESOME!

We didn't know the words to the Chinese anthem though, so we couldn't sing along.

I found this wonderful blog http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com/ and it looks like so much fun-my kind of women! I immediately had to do a project for their current challenge, it's a water theme.

Hence the photo: I was riding an airboat in the Everglades one day, minding my own business, I might add, when I noticed this crocodile lurking in the grasses. I swear he was watching me. I give thanks to the gods that be for not allowing him to eat me.

I've been watching Big Brother. God knows why. Went to see Lion King today, it was AMAZING!!!!! Brought tears to my eyes a couple of times. I haven't done any art this weekend, but have spent time with the girl, knowing she's gone soon. I'm really going to find this house big and empty without her. I'm not looking forward to it....

It's been a good day, spent it with Kaitlin, we finished stripping the dresser and then took the dogs for a walk along the river. Got some awesome photos of Honey doing what dogs do in the water. Had a great supper with food we got at the Farmer's Market. This is the way a summer day is meant to be.

I'm most ready for bed, looking forward to Lion King tomorrow with the Cookies. Good night.

Friday

Let's see, it's the end of the week and I have only 8 more hours to go at work. I like working the late shift, for the sleeping late part, but I start to drag at around 8 PM. My brain and body both get tired! I finished the Journal Revolution book and loved every page-I'm inspired to create a Diorama, maybe this weekend. I also want to do a couple of pages to display in my newly-painted office. Green. Looks very clean and happy. Just like I feel this morning.

Another weekend done, I'm not ready for it to end. HOWEVER, it's late and tomorrow's Monday. Who invented Monday's anyways? Someone with a grudge against the world I suspect. Now if I invented the world, every day would be Friday. I'm always excited on Fridays. No matter what. Fridays always seem so easy. I should have invented the world. It would have been better.

Rod Stewart

Hah! Just got home from the Rod Stewart concert, didn't even know I was going, until I got an email at work inviting me-Wanda had a free ticket! Holy cow, he's hot for an old guy. and cheeky! The place was just rockin, there was even a "love train" snaking it's way through the crowd. do ya think I'm sexy?
sure do, Rod!

TGIF. Worked the night shift last night, I am way too old for this! Good thing I did tho, as one of the men came back drunk and we had to have him arrested. If I hadn't been there, our student would have been alone-not good. It's Vancouver weather again today, if you stand still in one place too long, you'll rust.

Off for a massage and then one more night shift. I can do this. I can do this...

Mojo Challenge #36

Last night I saw a shooting star. How cool is that? I work the afternoon shift today and so could sleep in, can't complain about that! Unfortunately, I stayed up until 2AM working on pages. will I never learn? Oh well, nobody died.

I am tired though........

What a sunrise!

Simply want to say that this morning's sunrise was spectacular! After photographing and chasing sunrises and sunsets throughout our roadtrip, here, out my studio window is the prettiest picture of reds and pinks and purples-nice way to start the day.

Finally Back Home!

Well, after 8 states and 7300 km, we're back safe and sound. Actually, I'm back to the real world, work and all, and the girl has flown off to the east. I guess she's her mother's daughter, after all, home four days and gone again.

There is always so much catch up at work when one leaves, especially with my boss sick for the past week and a half. Oh well, I feel so rested, I almost don't even care. Almost.

counting down

Well, 4 more sleeps are we're off to the Grand Canyon. And a whole bunch of other places and I am getting SO EXCITED! I think sometimes the best part of the trip (almost) is the anticipation.
I feel happier, knowing I'm looking forward to a break from work, I'm always excited to see new things, new places. Could like really be any better than to be able to do what we do?
giggle.

Mojo Challenge 35

It's Sunday. A week from now, I should be camping in Bar Nunne, Idaho. Who names a place Bar Nunne? Is it better than everywhere else, bar none? Or worse? I guess I'll find out.

I finished my Bliss album today, after spending 6 hours straight on it yesterday. I'm really happy with it. Judy called me yesterday and raved about my retro album that's at Bliss for this month. When I turned it in, Rose did the same. I think it's a winner. Holy cow, what a lot of work it was, though! Makes this one look like a walk in the park. Who ever started that saying, walk in the park? Was it someone walking in the park? Was the walk easy? Was the day easy? Money doesn't grow on trees, that's another one I've always wondered about. Is there a secret money tree somewhere that the person whose yard it is in doesn't want the rest of us to know about, so they made up the saying? It all makes my head hurt.

The page is about my girl, who is in Tofino now. I guess she caught a 35 pound fish the other day. Cool, I haven't taken her fishing since she was 4. I miss her, maybe that's why I did a LO about her. I just booked our rooms at the TI in Vegas, she's going to love it. I hear the beds are to die for. Mmmmmmmmmmmm...

Pluggin' Along

Oh man, what a long time it's been since I've been here. Busy getting ready for our trip, busy wrapping up the Cuba albums, busy with work, busy with whatever. I'm spending so much time getting inspired by other's work on line, that I haven't done so much of my own. Well, that's not actually true, I have done my wall gallery in my bedroom, it's looking pretty fine.

And I ripped up the carpet in my studio, laid tiles (the baseboards aren't on yet) and re-organized the entire room. Now I have so much natural light, I LOVE IT! So I have accomplished some things.

And what I HAVE done, I've taken great care with an great time. I may be less productive, but there's a better quality of work that I'm bringing to the table. I feel good about that.

Now that I've said how regretful I am that I haven't been here more, I shall sign off so I can go to bed. What can I say? I do the best I can with what I have. There simply are not enough hours in the day for the things I WANT to do.

Me and the boys

Good day today, went to Bowden and met with two high-risk guys. I also met the head of security and an IPO who suggested we come and do a presentation to the PO's. We'll do that, it's a great idea.

I had an epiphany for my Bliss album. I'll do it without photos, instead, it will be memories from my childhood that I don't have photos support for. I've put the album together, and will scan some photos of me as a child to put throughout. I'll use a number of techniques I've gotten from the book I'm reading on Art Journals. After wondering in the back on my mind what I shall do about this month's challenge, NOW, I'm excited.

Cuba is done!!!

After months of working avery week on my photos from our trip to Cuba back in February. the scrapbook pages are finally all done. I never though that would happen. What a great feeling!

It seems I post at the end of the day as an afterthought. It's not that I don't want to post, it's just that there are so many other things I want to do as well. I got some scrapping done tonight, trying to get some work ready to take to Scrapyard on Thursday-I can do some work of my own before my class. I fall asleep almost on the way home and then have a ten minute power-nap when I get home. If I begin to work in my studio, I don't cook eat, or do much else, so the past couple of days I haven't allowed myself to start anything until I've cooked and eaten. I made some amazing Greek soup tonight, I really can cook when I do it. It's all about discipline or my lack of it. It is nice to have such a full life though, that I hardly want to take time to eat or sleep. Maybe that's dysfunctional.............

I'm reading a book about creating an art journal. In it are some "vision cards". I closed my eyes and picked one, it says

"embroider".

That means I shall embroider something this week. Something. Or may I embroider the truth?

I was also prompted to pick out 4 amazing things from my stash and use them. Ask myself why I'm not using them? The answer is, because they are hidden away, in my file cabinet. I can't see anything that's in there. That in itself is another good (very good) reason to NOT buy any more. Maybe the best yet.

I laid awake for awhile last night and browsed through the travel books on Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. I looked at Phoenix, nothing there interests me. then Albequerque, not too much there either. But SALT LAKE CITY. Well, that's another story. Lots of interesting stuff there. We shall have to spend an overnight there. Getting excited already.................

So I wonder where this ton of Ansel is? It sounds interesting. It's been a productive weekend, I have a rearranged studio and my work table is not right in the window where I can work in natural light until the sun goes down. I'm pretty sure I did a crummy job on the floor, but it looks good. (for now)

I was incapacitated for last evening and had some trouble getting down the stairs this morning. The ol' bod' is NOT used to working on my hands and knees/bent over, ripping carpet, pulling staples, laying tiles, moving furniture. Not even one bit. I'm still pretty sore and have had to lay on the couch/bed doing nothing for most of the day. Made a wonderful meal though, rock cornish game hens, dilled potatoes, bbq-ed asparagus. Man, it was good! We ate outside and there was one little cloud over top of our yard that rained on us while we ate. Not before, Not after, just while. You gotta love Mother nature.

Going through all my stuff and organizing it has been a labour of love and shows me all the goodies I have to play with. Now I just want to play.