Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Resolutions in the Age of Idiocy






I've made a firm decision. I am going to substitute music for the news each morning. I can no longer listen to a bloviating idiot's comments being parsed and studied, as though they are intelligent or reasonable. Argh, the analysis. How can you analyze idiocy? And, he has taken over almost all news outlets. What ignorant, nonsensical drivel did he spout today? Discuss. Well, I'm out. And, then there is the pathological lying. And, the contempt for the citizens that he supposedly represents. Nowhere is that contempt more strongly felt than in news briefings by Ms. Sanders. Her behavior is unprofessional and appalling. That means I'm going to skim over all newsfeed posts about him on facebook, or related to him, as well. Done. Tada.

During the past year, I noticed that I was filled with fear. When you have a boss, or a leader who is in way over his/her head, you start to pick up the slack. This has happened at various jobs that I've had. You take on the leader's responsibilities. You start to just elimate the leader from the loop. Although I've done this in several workplaces, with incompetent bosses, I am hard pressed to do this for our president. Because I cannot take over running the country, I feel this terrible and overwhelming fear. I want to dial up N. Korea and smooth things over. I want to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. I want to end the horrendous racist immigration and travel policies. But, alas, I have no ability to do these things. So, as a hand-wringing worrier, I begin to imagine the worst. And, because I have no control, I become angry and depressed. I fret endlessly about my social security and medicare benefits. I think bad thoughts about Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell. I don't want this kind of hostile mind chatter.

Well, those days are done. I will figure out ways to "resist" the idiocy. But, I will not be immersed in fear. It is affecting my personal relationships and my art work. Removing the constant political muttering in my head, and supplanting it with positive influences will help. That doesn't mean that I'm going to become complacent. But, I will focus on the things that I can change or influence locally. I will help my community. I will definitely need to pace myself for the next three years.

So, with this in mind, here are my New Year's Resolutions for 2018:

1.  Remove the president from my daily life. His childish attention seeking behaviors will be ignored.  

2.  Continue to create. Seek new outlets.

3.  Sketch more. Put the sketchbook back into my purse. And, use it.

4.  Pursue that which is "honest, true, chaste, benevolent, and virtuous".

5.  Be a better sister, aunt, daughter, and animal wrangler.

6.  Build community. Support others.


Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Getting Ready

Making some work for upcoming shows...
Took some time out for lunch...
Propping with sponges...
Drying in the kitchen...
With the walrus...
Here's a slightly larger one...
Saying goodnight to studio buddies...

Vintage Hat Models

Woke up with Percy and headed off to shop for gifts...

Ran into a small vintage hat boutique...

It was located in the antique mall that I frequent...

There were so many cool hat mannequins...

And, they were from all different time eras...

This one was my favorite...

Stopped by a more modern store and met some gravy...

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Holiday Fair First Round of Cups




Great first efforts...
Love the stripes...
Bold and functional (hopefully)...
Super job on the glazing...
My cups are done...
The second round will get clear glazed tomorrow...


Saturday, December 9, 2017

Take Aways Show

Made some wall hearts...
These will be for the upcoming show at the PVAC Gallery...
Cutting out flowers...
Making flames...
These are for next weekend's work...




Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Rounded Frame Wall Hearts

Hoping that these can dry without cracking...
This is the back bracing...
The front is wood grained...
The back structure gets firmly attached...
Once the frames are smoothed...
It's time for decoration...
Setting them out to dry...

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Holiday Craft Fair, Here We Come

All students make two cups...

And, two saucers and spoons...

This one has extra insulation...

Students will keep one set, and sell one set...

Received this beauty on my way out the door with the cups...