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Hey just like in the day...105 for me...not too "rusty"! :)

online typing test (c) CalculatorCat.com

so....onward...

The mat arrived at Patricia's door still enclosed in its "concrete-form" cardboard tube, still with the bubble wrap, still with the giant flannel pillowcase surrounding it. It made it...I am happy that she is happy...I am happy that it has perhaps opened a window of opportunity...I am happy...IF I CHOOSE...I can make art...I can write my book...I can be stronger inside/out...I can believe in myself...I can wear cut-up tights on top of my leggings to the gym...I can wear handbands made from colored nylons...I can have hair that is many colors...I can wear purple mascara (on only one eye)...I can wear all different earrings...I can be short or tall depending on my shoes...I can sing...I can play...I can live...
And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed....Dr. Seuss

Memoir or.....?

Well there it sits...the passion I could hardly wait to create...3,000 typed pages of part of my life...its massive size overwhelms me now...I move it to different locations in the house, trying to find a "home" which seems more fitting to begin. It seemed easy to write those pages, well they were written for me, I just needed to remember/document those 6 years...but somewhere during that time the book changed into another form...ahhhh...like an avatar:) Now I look for help to reconstruct the pages...but I'm the only one who knows...I hate that. Why is it in life all the "tricky" things that you never want to encounter, happen...and they can only be solved alone/by yourself...to get through...to the other side....ugh Oh how I wish for someone to be there to share...oh how I wish...while I still feel the incredible love and hate...while I still cry...before those feelings are gone. For now, just for today/tonite I will use the stack as a small eclectic end table to sit my soda...throw my keys...just for today/tonight. Tomorrow I will look at it again, that 12" stack of pages and it will remind me to break it down to something possible...like that diet I was to start on Monday...many Monday's ago...and it will seem simple and I will delight in my progress...

Experiment almost over...

Floor mat only a day/so from mailing so this will be the "deal-breaker"...IF it arrives in Oregon looking like it did in Washington...I will soon be opening my Etsy store for my artwork. If so, I give my new friend Patricia the credit for setting up this challenge for me. I think if I were to "know/know" Patricia, that she is an artist herself...and artists tend to encourage other artists to create. So that was Patricia's role for me...and it could take my life in a much-needed new direction...so "Please Mr. Postman....." help us out here!


Also little Stella fitting right in here...it was "iffy" at first, but she tags along with Gretta absolutely everywhere she goes. To my delight I heard a ruckus outside my bedroom window to peek and see them rolling/frolicking together...pretty sweet. She sleeps in between Gretta's lets or uses her tail as a pillow. Thus the answer to my question...why did I pay $$, drive 5 hours to get a Great Pyr mix dog (which isn't a Great Pyr mix at all)...ahhhh yes..."Sozo"...to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction Amen....

Oh Stella....

This is her "puppy progression" tonight...2 days and this...so now I know why I paid/drove 5 hours for this pup...her beauty is definitely showing...sweet as sugar candy!

Mulligan? Hmmmmm......

Have you ever wondered why things happen to you in your life? Have you ever tried to analyze it...if ONLY I had LOVED more/less, tried harder/less, worked harder/less, shared more/less, spoke more/less, believed more/less, listened more/less, offered advice/less, cared more/less, more emotion/less, laughed more/less, cried ahhh less, heard more/less, felt more/less, served more/less, slept more/less (don't think possible lol), cried ahhh less, gave more/less, more cooperative/less, offered help/less, exercised more/less, ate ahhh less, thought things out more/less, friendlier/less, comforted more/less, fought for rights more/less...and so on...that things would be different...I am transparent, loving, a passionate mom above all, delight in small things, loyal to the end, I am willing to try to save anything, friendly, funny, creative, an "artist" of sorts, kind, generous of spirit/nature, loving, forgiving, forgetful, anxious to please, hard worker, funky dresser, singer, animal lover, compulsive eater, baker, writer, yard worker...and so on...I am not hateful, always right, have to have my way, a player, cheater, liar, vindictive, inhumane, heartless, inconsiderate, selfish, deceptive, scoundrel, and ahhh tall...and although that list seems adequate for a human on this earth, it is not enough in my life...I still have such shortcomings that people I loved have to "hate me" in order to claim their life "guilt free" from creating a dilemma in mine. It is all about "wearing my heart" on my sleeve, when in fact it should never be worn on the outside, in the weather...those "hurter" people don't care about a list like above, they don't care how broken you can become because of their actions...if you live...or die...because it is easy for them...destroy and move on...never to return. I am tired of people who say/believe that we tend to learn/grow from those things that are a struggle/not easy for us. Therefore, the "Mulligan" issue. If I were to "do over" one piece of the puzzle of my life, which part would it be...which part might have saved me?

Shirley, Shirley, Stella...

Yep...Stella it is...she is tiny with little wisps of fur that finely stick out all over like duck down. Her tail is long/thin like a mouse with 3 white hairs at the end....3 paws have white hairs on the ends of her toes...only one leg white with spots...she is not a "beauty" but sweet. I was expecting a larger framed dog, one who could be a companion for Gretta to play...and maybe that will happen. She had a 6 hour ride today bless her heart...but did pretty good. I put her in the tub asap and it took 80% of the "dog" smell. After her bath introduced her to the girls...Maple looked for a long and then her eyes focused after about 10 minutes and she barked like crazy dog. Gretta thought she might be able to play but the puppy yelped her way into the house and jumped back into the bathtub...so right now all the dogs walk in different areas of the house/outside. But she wanders the house on her own, has an awesome bed/toys and is starting to scamper a bit. Wherever I am...she is there also...

Sonic

My absolute FAV drink (other than you Starbucks) is Sonic's Diet Cherry Limeade with extra sugar-free cherry syrup. I might not have stumbled upon this icy delight, but Sonic is back-to-back with my gym Kia Ora Fitness. Therefore when I took a spin through Sonic parking lot I noticed a huge sign which said, "Kia Ora Fitness and Sonic are Partners". Well now, isn't that perfect...so by frequenting Sonic, I am just establishing a tighter bond between the two businesses!! With my infatuation of the drink, I was excited to see a Coke Rep at our Walmart jotting down secret notes on a clipboard as he stood in the soda aisle. Hello Mr. Coke Rep...I have a question for you regarding your products. Then he spoke...well I know everything about all the Coke line-up. Perfect, I said and explained to him about the Sonic drink made with diet Sprite and Coke's diet cherry syrup. So...can the general public buy your diet cherry syrup I asked (already dreaming of making this concoction at home). He said, hey we used to sell that drink as he pointed to a spot on the pop shelves. Really, a diet sprite/cherry drink I asked? No, it wasn't diet and it wasn't Sprite, but it was kinda like that. Oh, i said...well back to the diet cherry syrup is that available for purchase? It is in a box and they hook it up to the tubes to make the drink he said. Ahhhh does that mean you do sell it or don't sell it? Nope he said. I thanked him and picked up my 24-can/cube of Diet Pepsi.

Never Wear "Church Clothes"

Being artful and being ahhhh smart may not go hand-in-hand. Therefore, listed below are some items which you may wish to heed...

1. NEVER assume you can "open" a container of paint with your Good Clothes on! Even if you just want to let's say Dot-an-"I" with the tip of a paint brush. Nope it just doesn't work. You/like me would probably place your arm down on the canvas in order to steady your hand and BAM...paint on your new adorable Spring shirt. I have turned so many Good clothes into Yard clothes...like I WANT an assortment of Yard clothes?

2. NEVER leave containers of paint open even if out of reach of you/your brush. Let's say the phone rings and you would hate to miss that potential $million dollar call from Ed McMahon (even though he is no longer alive)...so you twist around, your necklace catches on the corner of the table and BAM...paint on your canvas...redo! p.s. take jewelry off also!

3. NEVER paint at night...my computer/filing/storage/paint room has maybe ONE 45 watt bulb in the overhead light fixture. Therefore, it gives the same illusion as when I put on makeup in the same night-time lighting....looks awesome in that room....looks horrible outside of that room in the "real light".

4. NEVER assume that wet paint dries instantly and you can begin to paint another coat. Nope that doesn't work either. It only makes the first coat into a textured mess and now you have to wait for double the time....so remember when Grandma used to say she was just "waiting for paint to dry"....maybe there is something to that.

Flower mat....

Well, thanks to someone "having the faith" I am painting my very first mat to ship to another state...now I am lucky to say I have some mats in Germany and England...but they were carried onto/off of the plane, so that doesn't really count :) So here is what it looks like in the beginning stages...perhaps my new friend Patricia will find these pics make her anxious...I know I would. In the beginning of any of MY artwork, I think it looks like crap and try to decide if I could chop up the art into ahhhh coasters or something. But hang on Patricia...it will all come together!!

Shirley....Shirley....Shirley

My life is pretty perfect...2 wonderful/intelligent/handsome/beautiful children and 2 giant fluffy dogs. However, my heart is much bigger so bring me more...POOF...and my wish was granted. Take a look at our sweet new arrival coming next week. It's Shirley, she's black with white paw one...after much red-tape (almost like adoption for Madonna's children!!), we passed the Board's review with shining/glittery colors and she will join our family....ahhhhh....love, isn't it sweet?

GREEN

Today....I was wearing green...not a little green, everything seemed to be green, my nails (2 shades), shirts, socks and shoes, jewelry and headband. I was thinking "green" for my art today and thought if I wore the color I might get more inspired. What does "green" mean...

GREEN
If you're talking color...it is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue. It is the color of nature, fertility, life and symbolizes self-respect and well-being. It is the color of balance. It also means learning, growth and harmony. It was believed green was healing for the eyes. Egyptians wore green eyeliner (which I would absolutely love). You should eat raw green foods for good health, it is associated with the heart chakra...it is a color of healthy relationships.

GOING GREEN
Means to pursue knowledge and practice that can lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles,which can help protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations....carbon footprint, climate change, conservation, construction, energy and fuels, food and eating, gardening, global warming, health, home improvement, natural resources, pollution, recycling, technology, transportation, waste, water, and much more. I found this awesome site re going green which provides 10 simple things you can do today to help reduce your environmental impact, save money, and life a happier healthier life...take a peak
http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green

GO GREEN
- to betray, to wrong
"He went green on me yesterday"

Hmmmmm...maybe I needed to wear more green, because wow he totally went green on me 100s of times!!!!

Sleep is overrated!

4 hours at the gym...it only helps to compensate for all the candy I ate today. I don't usually eat candy, but remembered seeing it last time I opened the freezer for some ice cream, I mean vegetables. Hard to judge how much to purchase for a bunco event, and instead of throwing away, there it is in all its chewy splendor in my freezer. Hence the 4 hours to work off part of that whole eating frenzy. In bed at midnight, exhausted from running/kicking/riding/lifting classes and of course chewing the candy...the alarm clock, computer, cell phone lights all emitting those dreadfully bright green flashing rays of light. Felt like I was in the midst of laser surgery. I put a shirt over the clock, hid both the computer/phone under the bed...now it is 3 a.m. Quite obvious that the road directly behind my house/fence (which was suppose to be a bike/walking path but turned into a 4-lane 50 mph ahhh highway!!!) was way too quiet. I remember in the "good ole days" when this rural area seemed so peaceful, aka Martha Stewartish...then the big lie from the city re the "path" and quiet walkers turned into semi-truck drivers...and the peacefulness turned into wearing earplugs while I garden. Look out my window and see the huge flashing reader board that the road is closed while they do additional repairs (probably making it into a 6 lane freeway)...and the sound I longed for...of complete silence....is way too quiet. I can't sleep....it is 6 a.m., getting up to see if there is more candy in the freezer.

Got to start somewhere....

First blog...ever! This site will include not only my constant struggle to find that creative side of me for my art, but also life. I love all sorts of art, as you can read from my profile, but my main interest at present is painting commercial grade vinyl sized mats as "art for your floor". Yes it is a useful art source, originating in my kitchen to hide all the stains on my way-too-light colored vinyl. So I cut, prep, prep some more, draw my design, paint and seal, seal, seal. Then you can walk on it, sweep it, mop it....and it turns a not-so-memorable area into a memorable area! Also I design wooden blocks with words, names, phrases, songs, etc...incorporating paint, texture, digital transfer, etc. which can be hung in grouping or stood as display. Soon I will be up-running with my etsy site!!