Hi

Hi everyone. I just wanted to say I'm still here. So far the technical problems seem to still be with me, but at least I can sporadically stay on for a while. And when I can, I try to catch up reading everyone rather than post a blog entry.

I've been checking easy things first (trying to fix my situation) and so far, nothing has done anything, but there have been a couple of things that better than before. And I've been online for 30 minutes now and it hasn't gone down yet. Cross your fingers for me, because I believe in miracles... no matter how large or how small.

Being gone for so long, you'd think I might have something to say, but I'm getting a blank. And I want to post this while I can. If I stay up, I'll be back. If not today, then tomorrow.

It Is Done!

We have a fresh and true leader for our country. For this we can all be grateful.

Problems

I'm having technical problems. My pc seems to be going belly up. I hope I can get this posted. Reports are saying its a hardware problem PLUS I've got some malware on it and I can't get through a scan to fix it. The machine crashes like someone unplugged it. I just wanted to say I may be a little scarce for a while.

Noodle Doodling

I tried to copy the technique of someone I follow on youtube, but its not happening. But I don't care. It is what it is and I have no shame. If nothing else, I did something. You know the old saying... "Do something! Anything!!" So I did.

 

 

Below is how I would like to leave things until I'm ready to use them again. Only on a much longer table. One not made of glass, too.

 

But alas... I must put at least some of the stuff away.

A Day in the Life of....

 I don't know how people manage to go a whole day without doing anything. Yet, somehow I manage.

Sunday Morning

 A drizzily Sunday morning. The small table lamp creates an intimate, cozy feeling in the room as its warm light brightens the corner. A perfect time to have a great cup of coffee and relish the day. Except I didn't have any coffee.

Oh, sure... I had the remains of the emergency stash of cheap, industrialized coffee that I kept in the refrigerator but I had already been forced to use it the past two days. Enough punishment. I wanted decent fake coffee that comes in a bag... not a can.

This desire caused me to venture out in the drizzle to snap up whatever bagged coffee might be on sale. If there were any on sale... and luck and timing was on my side. There were fake sale tags below the shelves of fake bagged coffee. I kept searching for decaf and couldn't find any. WTH? (I may like caffine in my coffee, but my body doesn't and it lets me know!) Then I saw the Dunkin Donut coffee. And it was on sale as well. I've been wanting to give it a try, but I gotta say, their advertisement has over sold the product. (I'll make it stronger the next time to see if that helps.)

That lamp-in-the-corner paragraph kind of makes a pretty picture, doesn't it. What it fails to do is to point out that there are used dishes in the sink and a small pile of debris sits next to the broom waiting to be picked up and discarded. I have issues. I don't finish things. There... I've said it. My name is Crusty Crone and I'm an unfinisher.

I get all the way to the end with only one step left to do... and I leave it. Unfinished. What is up with that? I don't know why I do that. Do you leave things unfinished? Do you sweep the kitchen floor and have the dust and dirt neatly placed in a pile and then set the broom down in a way as though to protect the pile... and walk away? Like I said, issues.

12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women

I stumbled across this book blogging site which is just getting started tomorrow. It sounds very interesting. I'm putting this here just in case you might be interested in it... or if not interesting in joining the group, you may be interested in getting the book. (I didn't see anything about cost, so I'm thinking "kewl", ya know. Free soul coaching. I still need to nose around a bit more.)

If you scroll down to the first post, it explains what is going on.

A Leader... We Finally Have a Leader!!!

I'm speaking of Obama, of course, and his speech he made this morning. His 'state of the union', if you will. If you missed it, I hope you get a chance to see it via the web.

God blessed us with a leader. A real one!!

On another note, I couldn't sleep last night so I watched a PBS program. It was about Katrina results. What a gawd awful mess the government left. Local as well as national government. And what a joke... a cruel joke it was. The incompentency of it all. The companies hired to provide various services or distribute help did very very well... more bonuses for the execs, etc. The people, nothing. Bush promising to help and then denying it at the last minute. Its just too big to put words to it.

I've got to put my mind to something else. I'm getting angry all over again.

Things That Make You Go "hmmmmmm"

I caught part of the Oprah show today. Did you see it?

I was flabbergasted when she shared that she had been seen by four different doctors for her physical symptoms and not one of them performed a thyroid function test. Not one of them!

That doesn't really have me going "hmmmmm" ... It has me going "WTF?!?!"

If Oprah can't even get a THOROUGH exam, where does that leave the common person. Up shit creek, that's where. I certainly hope those so called doctors are embarrassed.

(My mother use to get very frustrated and angry because the doctors wouldn't listen to her. They would brush her off, discount what she was trying to share with them. They couldn't even let her just talk it out... because you know, time is money. However, even Oprah's money didn't get her excellent care. She had to be the sleuth.)

Doctors who think they know it all make me very concerned.

Pencil Drawing

 

I used an ad in a magazine as a reference. I'm thinking of next doing a stylized version in watercolor. But anything shiny... or dull... could distract me.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow... NOT!!

 
 Just a couple of pictures of our last snow fall a few days ago. Prior to this most of the "serious" snow had finally melted then we got a couple of hours of the white stuff and everything was covered once again. Fortunately, in the middle of the night it warmed a little and started raining. This melted everything. From there it just kept raining and raining and raining. We're on a flood watch for now.

Old Crone

 I watched a youtube video of this older woman and thought the scene would make a good painting. I liked it. I had to use my memory and imagination, however. It doesn't look like the woman except she was sitting down, she had a scarf wrapped artistically around her head, and there was a vase with flowers behind her. But I got something done, so there's always that.

I've been feeling a bit blah so I decided to try some shopping therapy. I went to the dollar store. I don't think cheap therapy works as well as the more expensive kind. I mean if I went out and bought a new car, I bet my mood would be better. Buying soap just didn't thrill me the way it sometimes can.

Come on Spring!!

Second try

The first photo was blurry (post below)... I hope this one is clearer.
 

January 4 2009

 Watercolor, pen and ink.

Loosely based on a magazine photo of someone.

Guess who's getting more snow tonight. All I can say is DON'T CALL ME A SNOW BUNNY, DAMN IT!

January 3, 2009

 The Mac. The Mac as she sat in the kitchen sink bathing. Skinny dipping with Cayden.

I did a simple outline drawing with ink pen then used watercolor pencils and a wet Q-tip. I'm not excited about the watercolor pencils but I am glad I've been able to try them out. I didn't get her 'look' either, but there's plenty of time to try it again. And again. And once more.

One of these days I need to stock up on the art work so when I'm transferring pictures from the camera to the pc its not just for one drawing or painting. That's not very efficient.

The Honeymoon's Over

I knew this day would come, even as I kept trying to push it back. But... its here. The day when my darling 5 yr old grandson turned into a boy. No longer a baby. No longer a sweetpie. Now he's a demanding, obnoxious .... boy.

Gone are the days when I heard "Yes, gramma." or "Thank you, gramma." Now all I get is "I TOLD YOU... I want it this way! And I want it NOW!"

The little nose-picker looks like he's here to stay. He likes to work with his hands and tools now. Tearing things apart. Scratching the furniture as he struggles with a pair of pliers to dismantle the coffee table. Jumping on the bed with a toenail clipper in his hands... the sharp pointy thing extended. Do you think he appreciates me keeping him safe by demanding he put the clippers down while jumping? Nooooooo. Do you think he appreciates even being able to jump on the bed? Nooooo. He wants to take the bed apart.

Sigh. I'm counting the hours until 'mom' comes to get him.

His brother is younger and thus not demented yet. Vyron's phase may not be as harsh, either... different personalities and all. I would cross my fingers for good luck, but I need them to hold Darius down while I take his finger out of his nose.

I'm just glad I'm not responsible for them. 'Mom's' karma?

(and why does Darius have to have every single light on?)