life is indeed a rollercoaster ride

Originally uploaded by blubird.

A thrilling, exciting, petrifying, sick-to-your-stomach ride. Excuse me, but can I get off yet, at the least get on a more even keel?!!

~sisters~

Originally uploaded by blubird.

This is one of my favorite photos, it is of my mom (the younger) and Aunt Nancy. I am thinking possibly of putting this on a pillow, as well I may tea-dye the whole thing. Right now am out of tea - and time!

{bracelet}

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Made my button bracelet, not bad for a first attempt.

procrastination = s t r e s s ?!?!

Main Entry: pro·cras·ti·nate
Pronunciation: pr&-'kras-t&-"nAt, prO-
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -nat·ed; -nat·ing
Etymology: Latin procrastinatus, past participle of procrastinare, from pro- forward + crastinus of tomorrow, from cras tomorrow
transitive senses: to put off intentionally and habitually intransitive senses : to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done synonym see DELAY - pro·cras·ti·na·tion /-"kras-t&-'nA-sh&n/ noun - pro·cras·ti·na·tor

I don't know why I do it - procrastinate. Although in reading the above definition I am reminded it is habitual. Yet it isn't the day to day stuff I put off, more the "I don't like doing this" or the "this is going to be uncomfortable" or "this stresses me out" type-things where this behavior erupts with me. I'd have to assume this is typical of most procrastinators? Am I typical???? But I was always taught, "Don't put off til tomorrow what you can do today". Where does this come from???

So, it is ten o'clock in the morning, I have been up for over three hours. I have (I think subconsciously, I don't feel it intentional at all) done everything in my power to put off the inevitable duty I must do today - more sorting and packing of my belongings. And really, although it isn't by any far stretch of the imagination fun, it isn't bad at all once I get the mind-set and get going on it, and I get a real sense of accomplishment from doing what I need do to get moved, in seeing all these stacks of boxes ready to roll. So what the heck?!!

One more cup of coffee........

friday!

Originally uploaded by blubird.

The day started dark and gloomy, it having rained all during the night and my internet connection was out for a few hours - not the best start to a day. But by the time I got my act together to run some errands the sun had come out and it got to a gorgeous 65 degrees. Ernie and I enjoyed a nice walk this afternoon.

I had an urge last night to make a button bracelet and thought I should have beads on it. Of course they are all in a box - and there are nearly 100 of them out on the landing and stacked in this room full of art "necessities"! There is no way I am starting to break into these so found myself today at AC Moore. I knew knew knew this would happen and I would not be able to stand having all my stuff packed away!

So tonight, after doing a little sewing, I've been sorting through and washing buttons. (I had decided to leave the sewing machine and things out until the end as I can easily do a piece in the evenings to relax myself after a day of packing so that stuff will be done last minute, along with the computer). Feeling a bit tired now so will fit this project in tomorrow after boxing up another room or two.

I'm reading a very good book, one I found on the shelf I had never read - The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Can't imagine why I never got to this, it is so good and I've had it for years. Also picked up Somerset Weddings 2 today. Not that I'm ever getting married again I can ever forsee but these are my colors, the creams and golds and pinks, along with all the hearts and romance - just beautiful. And with my house being dismantled and starting to echo I need beauty in a big way now. Think I'm going to get into jammies~

happy birthday carla!

Originally uploaded by blubird.

to a sweet friend, best wishes! Hope you have a wonderful day!

xoxo Mary

{mom}

Originally uploaded by blubird.

February 1st was my mom's birthday; she passed away in September of 2002. I miss her.

(I created this card for the Ancestor Deck Yahoo Group in 2003)

! ! ! ! ! !

As seems fitting in the ridiculously absurd turn my life has taken the last couple years, yesterday was my last day of work - and I didn't even realize until my friend Pam mentioned the possibility. I'd given feb 1st as my effective date of resignation and I've had so much on my mind it didn't occur to me that date was coming up next wednesday already, guess I had the thought there still was a week to go. Of course this is what I'd been looking forward to but I didn't even get to celebrate while there the fact I would not be coming back, nor say goodbye to a few people, be a total slacker on that last day (right). When I went in to get my check just a bit ago (because I only worked one day this week that being yesterday) and inquired, sure enough I was told I'd be spared working next tuesday (actually all hours had been cut due to the fact business is very slow so per usual this worked to their advantage, I am sure it wasn't actually done for my benefit alone by any stretch of the imagination). But, YEAH - that mundane and tedious job is now a part of my history, I am very glad to say.

happy birthday marie

Originally uploaded by blubird.

I think it is now tomorrow in Australia - that being the case:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIE - I hope you enjoy a day in the sun!!

xoxo

insensitivity

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Something tonight really upset me, the letter I immediately fired off to MSNBC.com follows, and the collage one I had quickly pieced together with pictures in our newspaper those awful days, one I'd posted to this blog months ago now.

I'd like to think nothing shocks me anymore as there are such horrors we visit on the news each night, but I have to say that just two minutes ago while watching the NBC Nightly News and hearing Brian Williams read a few comments from viewers with the attitude of "enough already with New Orleans", I find myself thoroughly shocked. And not only shocked but saddened there are people who lack such compassion for humanity. Have they not been paying attention that next to nothing has been done for a great many of the people of New Orleans who lost their homes, their livelihoods, their ways of life on that fateful day?? This was one of the worst natural disasters the United States has ever endured, fellow Americans are still suffering its effects, and the fact is they will for years and years and years to come.

The nightly news, in my humble view, is not meant for entertainment, it is to inform us of the actualities of our world. There is a great deal which is not pretty in this age we live, and I would hope at the very least it gives us reason to keep those less fortunate in our prayers if not moved or able to help in any other way. I, for one, feel we all need that pause and reminder as we go about our daily lives. Thank you NBC for providing that to us.

a long day

Originally uploaded by blubird.

I spent most of it up here sorting and readying the art room to be packed, threw away nearly four garbage bags full - a good feeling. I am tired, to relax I just sewed up a quilted valentine (yuck, I scanned this and the colors look atrocious - trust me, they don't in "real life") while I watched a little tv - about four or five episodes of Friends in a row. Ready for a shower, a book, and bed!

tagged

Tagged by Marie, here are my "FOURS" ~

4 jobs I've had:
school secretary
MOM/domestic goddess (for much of my "career"!)
rubberstamp store clerk
grocery store cashier

4 fav movies:
When Harry Met Sally
Breakfast Club
Wizard of Oz
Amelie

4 places I've lived:
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Kentwood, Michigan
Medina, Ohio
Charlotte, North Carolina

4 tv shows I watch:
Grey's Anatomy
ER
Today Show
HGTV

4 places I've vacationed:
I'm a beach baby:
Virgin Islands
San Francisco Bay area
both coasts, including Keys of Florida
Cape Cod

4 websites I visit daily:
only 4?!, will have to categorize
yahoo groups
blogs
ebay

4 fav foods:
chicken scallopini
apple pie
caesar salad
popcorn

4 places I'd rather be right now:
in my new house
any beach
hanging out with friends/family
having a massage!

4 fav smells:
puppies (Ernie!)
baking bread
soap
ocean

4 things I need/wish for/can't/ won't live without:
health/well-being of my boys & self
art/books/music
romantic love
caffeine '~)

Ok, so I added a couple categories! And, I admit I am becoming a blog voyeur - I am tagging no one as I believe this has finally made the rounds!

xoxo Mary

{grow}

grow
Originally uploaded by blubird

"Out of darkness flowers grow."

--------one day at a time.

life hurts.

Originally uploaded by blubird.

{heart}

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Since I am going to have all my stuff packed soon I will miss being able to create much for valentine's day this year, so sewed up a little something yesterday.

{fabric}

Originally uploaded by blubird.

No getting past it, I am having a full-blown love affair with fabric these days. There is a place in a town about a half hour from me which has a big fabric warehouse/outlet type deal, where all kinds of stuff ends up at great prices. I go for the remnants, and here are the lucious ones I picked up yesterday. Being it may be the last time I visit, I got quite a bit. Hopefully, too, this will be the last time I have to leave the house being it is now sold (they did the inspection yesterday morning, "forcing" me to leave for a two-hour time period) - this is getting expensive!

Imagining all the possibilities......

is this the party to whom i am speaking?

Originally uploaded by blubird.

There are so many tedious things to attend to when moving. The past two days I have spent on the phone, making lists upon lists and trying to keep straight who I needed to call back and in what order as it depended on what I learned from one party as to what I communicated to the next. Oh, and have I mentioned I fired the movers?! Well not fired per se, as the contract hadn't been signed, but I am not up for dealing with some sarcastic and condescending pr--, um, person, at this point in the process. I need someone who will take care of this as they did my last move, those guys even asked to drive the truck down here so they could set me back up, now that's quality service! That thrill of victory evaporated quickly, this leaves me with no packing to be done this weekend as I have used up what boxes I had and will have to wait until I get a company hired and some boxes - like about 300+ - delivered. (do now have someone scheduled on monday morning, bright and early)! All fine and dandy except being a pack rat means that every square inch of space in this house is at the limit of stuff capacity, and why do I have, literally, hundreds and hundreds of books?? I move in one month!!!! Well, when I wasn't on the phone (and I guess even at times when I was) I sorted, and shredded, and god help me it isn't something I am asked for tomorrow as that is how my life turns, it revolves on a very wobbly axis.

I slept tonight - probably about ten minutes. I don't know what woke me, can only attribute it to panic as I have started not sleeping again this week because I seem to have those lists superimposed on the brain. And of course have had some wild dreams - the kind which come because you are feeling less than in control of your life?? Yeah, those.

Maybe it's the full moon, I do hear howling.

marie

Originally uploaded by blubird.

just the best, period.

{ ! ! ! }

Originally uploaded by blubird.

I'm sure most of you readers are aware I am less than enchanted with my part-time job as a grocery store cashier. I'm surprised I've lasted as long with it as I have (a year and a half) yet today the day has finally arrived - I was able to put in my notice! A very good day!

I cannot imagine having my computer anywhere but in my art studio, it is as much part of my creative process as anything. I not only use it to scan and tweak photos I use in my work but to generate the text I enjoy incorporating into pieces. And sometimes it is good to scan a piece I am working on to see it in a different perspective. It also is nice to have the connection to others as I do spend hours and hours alone up here. If I sit for instance to sew on a button or take a sip from coffee or just plop my butt down in the chair to ease my stiff back I have the option to read emails from friends and send them my hellos too. Although I don't like IM-ing there are certainly times I back and forth it with my sisters (which sometimes leads to just a scream and picking up the phone as we've really connected at a moment)! And then there's the inspiration - I can spend hours and hours looking and gathering back my muse from what I peruse while in the midst of my own inspiring stuff (and there is certainly loads and loads of it to say the least). It's funny, when looking at houses I thought of putting it on a loft landing outside what I'd thought I would be able to use as my art room in one house - and immediately thought even that would be too far away, although aesthetically pleasing and a good space, it just wouldn't work for me!

I am excited about the new house, it has a walk-out basement that is mostly furnished but directly across the hall from the bedroom I will set up as the studio there is a large unfinished room for storage which is the exact same size. I envision the cinder block walls painted a funky color, ditto the floor and will use it to do all the "messy" stuff such as large-scale painting, sanding, drilling, cutting, soldering, etc - a real workshop where I'll fill the entire center of the room with a table or tables made from sawhorse bases. And I still have another huge room to use for storage that houses the furnace - space I have craved since moving to this little house here as houses in this part of the country don't have basements as a standard. And although I have never been much a basement person (other than wanting it for storage purposes) even all the houses I've lived in have been finished because they tend to be so dark and cold, this one has lots of windows and is filled with so much light.

Guess I'm getting excited to get up there!

a good day

Originally uploaded by blubird.

I saw this book when I was christmas shopping and picked it up this weekend on one of my shopping forays when the house was being shown. I started reading it late this afternoon, I'm enjoying it immensely, seems to speak to the nesting/maternal instinct in me. Lots of things in there that will never happen in my life - I am not moving to a farm, LOL - but as well much which can be applied to make mine a simpler and more healthy and rewarding life. A kind of back to basics lifestyle in this crazy world. I've just gotten to the section titled, Stitching Room, and am looking forward to picking up some tips to apply to my latest passion. There are absolutely gorgeous photos and some mouth-watering recipes which are even making me crave jello! A fun read.

Kind of a melancholy day - Marie and I got together for coffee this morning which most likely signifies our last time doing so here in Charlotte. She is heading back to Australia to get the boys back to school by week's end and will not be back until just about the exact time I should be moving mid-february. She, too, will be moving from here when she returns - we both are very very happy (to say the least) for each other to be moving on from this godforsaken place but I will miss her very much. However, as I feel I am going back to the land of the living and gaining more energy and zest for life once again (as she too related) I have a good feeling we will see each other still a few times a year. I don't know how I could have survived being here without her friendship and support - I think we have come to the conclusion we had to have this time in our lives to meet. A lifelong friend - I love ya Marie!!

welcome

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Must have houses on the brain, just whipped up this piece using some (but not all!) of the black and white fabric I have stashed. Think this one would look good mounted in a black frame.

{wowza}

Originally uploaded by blubird.

What a day yesterday - there seemed to be alot of interest in the house and after being on the market just a week - SOLD for full price!! I am very excited, and a tad overwhelmed! Although must be relieved on some level as I slept very soundly and through the night - something that doesn't happen too often.

The smell of coffee is wafting up - time to relax before really getting busy now.

happy 21st birthday, joe!

Originally uploaded by blubird.

My baby turns 21 today, wow how time flies! Joe has always had an old soul, mature beyond his years he's been admired and respected by his peers and adults alike. He is a gifted musician, plays many instruments, composes music and writes very introspective lyrics. His band THE FLUKES he formed while in the 7th grade; they play at clubs and parties across Ohio to this day and have released a few cds.

He was a great kid, I am very very proud of the man he has become!!

I love you Joey ~ Mom

and so it begins...

Originally uploaded by blubird.

in the here and now

Originally uploaded by blubird.

My first artistic endeavor of the new year.

I usually never make new year's resolutions, I find them self-defeating as I rarely follow through for any extended period of time. Yet I'd like to take my passion and resolve in this new year to work on art every day, regardless if it is 5 minutes or I get lost in hours of creative pursuit. However, with my impending move that may prove unrealistic - for a couple months anyway. What I can do is at the least read a magazine article or a portion of one of my growing library of art books to keep me inspired and add to the list of techinques I want to try or ideas I want to incorporate into my own artistic vision.

All this was easy to do, something in fact I felt driven to do, before I started working. Even I work only part-time I've found the stress of it, the tiredness, etc leaves me sometimes with very little energy except on my days off (welcome to the REAL world, LOL)! I do believe a large part of this though has had to do with my living situation and I have taken that bull by the horns so to speak - I have bought a new house and the current one is now up for sale. Progress, after alot of indecision and depression.

Moving forward in 2006!!!

looking to 2006

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Here's to a new year filled with all the best ~
Have a safe and happy celebration.

with love, me!

{adorable}

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Being I've been on a sewing binge, this pin cushion caught my eye on ebay. Needless to say, it was waiting for me at the post office when I picked up my mail today '~)

MY NEW HOUSE UP NORTH!!

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Back home in Charlotte with some big, big news -

Yes, I did it again - bought a house! When I bought the house here in NC two years ago December I did so in a weekend. This house in Michigan also was found, an offer put on the table and accepted - all in a short couple days. As much as people are so incredulous at the apparent ease I can make these decisions, I do have to agree wholeheartedly - this is the easiest part of it all (and much fun to boot)!

And this house is wonderful, I love it! It is being built by a guy who only builds a few houses a year and who really does a quality job. It is nearly completed, in fact should be done sometime this week. The four days I was in and out of it I got to see the work of an amazing tile guy, he's done an excellent job with some great mosiac tile installations in all the bathrooms as well as in the kitchen and much of the flooring throughout. The last I went in I was able to take my boys over for a quick peek just before dark friday evening, carpet was about ready to be laid so I got to see the entire family room with it rolled out - much better than imagining what the six inch square sample will look like. Closing is set for February 15th - now need to get this house here on the market and hire the movers - yikes!

Being up there for the week was so much fun. I spent quality time with my family and saw alot of friends - I must say at this age staying out until 3am, however, takes its toll!! Giving up the 50-some degree temperatures of a NC winter for all that snow - a trade-off I am most willing to make for having the warmth and love of them all. Looking forward to getting there and settling in!

{celebrate}

Originally uploaded by blubird.

have a joyful day ~

love,

Mary

my christmas card

Originally uploaded by blubird.

(me, circa 1958)

The joy of giving. What could be worth more than the smiles and hugs received in return, the ultimate joy of knowing I have brightened someone's day however minutely - this is what the season in particular, and all of life, is all about for me.

I'm off to the winter wonderland of the north where my family and dear friends reside to celebrate. Peace and joy to all.

Ah, winter

Originally uploaded by blubird.

An icy day in the neighborhood here yesterday. A full moon emerged during the night - the world is coated in crystals. Quite, quite beautiful.

my sister

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Today would have been Karen's 47th birthday, hard to believe she has been gone nearly ten years already.

tuesday's creations

Originally uploaded by blubird.

A few of the ornaments I just whipped up for the girls at work. I find the packaging as fun as the project!

three dresses

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Taking a complete break from xmas today!

What fuels the process of why and what you create in a day? My thoughts as I was finishing this piece. Without too much contemplation I'd have to say a studio FULL of stuff I've lovingly collected - and whatever my eye lands on, using whatever medium I seem to be "into" at the moment! For me it's been this sewing lately - it seems quite mindless, I don't have to put alot of thought into it, no planning - just rummaging through the fabric baskets and scraps and my jars (and jars and jars) of buttons, a playful time for me.

And without going into any detail on that - as those who know me realize - I desperately NEED that at this juncture of my life!

{tis the season}

Originally uploaded by blubird.

I am going through a christmas withdrawal - already! This year I am going to Michigan to celebrate, even the boys will meet me up there so there will be no partying here. And since I am putting the house up for sale when I get back home I decided not to decorate :~0 - I'm not even putting up a christmas tree!

This is something I usually spend about a week doing, even in this little house last year it took nearly that long. I have so many decorations they have their own walk-in closet (one thing I am looking very forward to when getting back "up north" is having a basement again)!

Last year it looked pretty gorgeous in here and I took pictures of everything - I feel the undercurrent of discontent over living down here must have alerted my subconscious I would not ever do it again in this space. Of course they will go into the scrapbook/journal I have started of the whole experience - my journey down here, living on my own, etc, etc. (Which is about a year and a half behind in putting together, as usual).

I've been keeping in the christmas mood however by playing nonstop xmas music (something I was only allowed by my family to do starting the day after thanksgiving and made to stop new year's day as it drove everyone else quite nuts) - I think at times I am the only person that just loves the sounds of this music! And I've been making a few more ornaments - this one for a friend in GR, there is a group of us from high school who I have been getting reacquainted with the last couple years who are meeting for dinner one night I am home for the holidays.

{wonder}

Originally uploaded by blubird.

what a world of magic and wonder I entered into in 1957!

~so blessed~

thursday

Originally uploaded by blubird.

I just love this photo I found in a junk shop sometime over this last year, she reminds me so much of myself at that age. Believe it or not (despite all my moaning and groaning about weather in my "old" age) I used to spend a good part of my winters outside enjoying the weather - ice skating, building forts, making snow angels, lying on my back watching the snowflakes fall or the clouds moving overhead.

Spent some hours this afternoon making some xmas ornaments, these are two of them.

YIKES

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Not quite through the entire box of 64 crayolas - but will take all the GOOD colors as today I'm queen `~)

Regardless, still will need to call in the fire department this year!!

dreary

Originally uploaded by blubird.

This was a dark, dreary, rainy and foggy day. I spent it doing the errands I'd put off doing last week due to the holiday, got a good start on the xmas shopping, and got my christmas cards - postcards this year - printed up at Office Max. All the art I've been making is for gifts, so no sneak peeks, most likely no posts of any of it for awhile as I don't know I'll have time for anything else. Yet this has been very enjoyable, I've made soldered ornaments, a few quilties, and am just starting work on some picture frames. And it's not even december - whooo, hoooo, I'm ahead of my game!

after the turkey

Originally uploaded by blubird.

smile, my turkeys!!

{THANKSGIVING}

Originally uploaded by blubird.

I am so thankful for my boys - shown here in 1989 before we went to my little brother's wedding. They are now 20 and 22 years old (I'm sure will have updated pictures tomorrow). They drove down from Ohio this afternoon to spend this holiday with me, and have filled fill my house with their energy and maleness, they certainly make it a home. I cooked them an enormous dinner which they tucked right into and are now sleeping it off, "watching" football - they should be waking up for pie soon. Ernie, my puppy, is so excited he doesn't know which lap to snuggle up in, everytime I peek down from the loft he is with a different one (then every few minutes he runs up here to be sure he is, probably, in the right house)!

I feel FULL - of love and gratitude.

frazzled

frazzled
Originally uploaded by blubird.

I encountered too many women looking like this today, my job as a part-time cashier in a grocery store testing my patience in dealing with their frazzled states, just have to grin and bear it.

Tis the season??!

{Self Portrait Tuesday}

Originally uploaded by blubird.

I am trying something new the last few months - using a sewing machine to express myself through my art. A new identity - well, one more facet.

genesis paper trimmer

genesis paper trimmer
Originally uploaded by blubird.

After having gone through the gamut of paper cutters I decided on this - the mother of all trimmers!! Actually I made this decision a couple years ago, decided when I got all moved and settled I would treat myself. Until I found out you had to order it and give a credit card number - and the delivery date was projected to be at that time around 18 months out!

Today (is it just that I am moving again??!) I enquired as to wait time. Although a vague response was given I am led to believe it will be about a year, sigh. However, no longer is your credit card number given until it is ready for delivery. So I am on the list, woo hoo!!

To see more about them: www.genesistrimmer.com

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Spent most of the day cleaning my art space/office. I have to profess, I am a packrat. The place looks fabulous now, everything is in its' place, like stuff with like, etc. I do believe, however, my realtor will most likely faint when she sees it! This is more or less a "retirement" neighborhood of the golf course community I live at - I am sure it's going to take a few people by surprise - not your typical nest!

After that just had to do a little project so took a picture I had of two dear friends, transferred it onto fabric, and made two "mirror image" quilties as christmas gifts. Hope they will like them as much as I enjoy making them.

Originally uploaded by blubird.

The best remedy
for those who are afraid,
lonely or unhappy is to go outside,
somewhere where they can be quiet,
alone with the heavens,
nature and God.
Because only then
does one feel
that all is as it should be
and that God
wishes to see people happy,
amidst the simple beauty of nature...
I firmly believe
that nature
brings solace in all troubles.
~Anne Frank

{ sweetness }

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Giving STUDIO FRIDAY a try today. These are photos I collect and use in my collage work.

Originally uploaded by blubird.

I had to put on a sweater today and put away my flip flops (yesterday actually, I guess it is 2 o'clock in the morning) as our temperatures cooled way down - from 75 degrees the day before to 52 today/yesterday - according to the meteorologists here we are now officially entering winter weather in North Carolina! These are cooler days with the most amazing blue blue sunny skies. And it snowed six inches in Grand Rapids, Michigan - why am I moving back there????

Originally uploaded by blubird.

A birthday card for my co-worker, Susan, a true southern gal.

Originally uploaded by blubird.

What's your pleasure?!

There is no doubt I am addicted to books and magazines. This represents the purchases of yesterday/today. I absolutely cannot go into a store and skip the book or at least magazine aisle if it has one. Yesterday it was a stop at B&N and a run into Walmart. And I had good intentions going into Michael's with my veteran's day 50% off coupon, but the shadow box I wanted was already on sale so bought the Vintage Christmas book. Today I had to go into Target (Billy Crystal, Joan Didion and Nate Berkus - that a no brainer, he's cute and a great decorator as well '~). One of the magazines arrived in the mail (subscriptions, subscriptions) and Amazon came through with another. And no, I have not gotten through the pile I started in on friday!

My "routine" is to glance through them and then save them for a more thorough perusal after getting into pj's and into bed. I still need a queen size bed even I sleep alone, LOL!!

I used to (prior to the days of Amazon) keep a little notebook in my purse specifically filled with titles of books to check out. Should have stuck with that system because now they are written on all kinds of slips of paper with the intent to get them upstairs near the computer. I can keep some of them in my mind, but these days, as I approach another birthday, I find the ole memory ain't what it used to be!

Originally uploaded by blubird.

"after imbibing too much of the holiday cider Gert wore the thanksgiving turkey on her head" ~ a quilty.

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Today I am going to catch up on reading - bought SON OF A WITCH a few weeks ago and haven't yet cracked the spine - I thought I'd quickly re-read WICKED first but find it is missing from the bookshelf so that idea is out. Also have piles of magazines, art books and zines I've acquired over the last month. One month's worth here equates to ALOT of "can't miss" reading material and this could actually keep me busy for my entire four-day weekend. That's not going to happen but for today I have to wait on repairmen to come and fix a ceiling problem in my studio/office so it gives me permission to fritz the day away in this fashion. I have alot of art brewing in my mind but until they are out of here I have to hold those thoughts.

I've been so stressed the last five years or more I rarely slept more than four or five hours a night. I was never tired and could just wake up and do something as if I'd never been sleeping. Things dramatically changed this summer - I find myself very tired towards evening and fall asleep almost immediately if I even think of a prone position! At first I blamed it on the 5am wake-up I do on my work days but this is happening every single day now. I finally realized it could be the blood pressure medication I was put on - and sure enough in reading of the side effects it states as one of them "excessive tiredness". I don't like this at all and since I also have what seems to be boiling blood at times I think I am going to check if there is something else I can try. This has definitely lowered the BP, and quickly, but it is also altering my life-style, such that it is, and I really am not into sleeping every spare minute to say the least.

Nov 2005 006
Originally uploaded by blubird.

A beautiful day at Sunset Beach, NC, sunday!