Christmas Gifting

We're 5 hours from the final family Christmas of 2007, and I don't believe any of the recipients will be online before unwrapping, so I'll reveal my secret now: art for christmas. Charcoal has stained my fingers and probably entered my bloodstream. Here are a few of the 10 drawings I've completed...mostly nieces and homes.

Secrets

I haven't written in a while because I have some secrets. Those secrets seem to be front and center in the "things I want to write about," so I simply haven't. I've been so busy too. The orders are in for Indianapolis, so I am doing some preparation-work to the house. I've also set up a bit of house-hunting while we're home for christmas. And this morning I have to go IRON out some insurance agency issues in order to get Alison to see the new doctor while we're home as well.

Anyone else driving long distances this holiday? I've been working on a presentation on driving safety over the holidays. It's really been enlightening for me. In my more inexperienced days I would leave New Orleans at 5 PM and arrive in Indiana at 7 AM, having exited the car twice for gas. That's really dangerous. National Highway Traffic Safety Association released that from 2002 to 2005, 67 % of fatal accidents are at night, 60% of are on the weekend, 48% of fatal accidents had atleast one driver impaired, over-speed was a factor in 42%, someone wasn't wearing a seatbelt in 41%, and fatigue was a factor in 21%...

It'll be daytime driving, but on the weekend, I won't have been drinking, and we'll be wearing a seatbelt. Anyways, I've got some vehicle preparation to do prior to the big drive. Winter wiper blades, oil change, emergency kit, anti-freeze type washer fluid...

With all the hustle and bustle looming overhead, I hope everyone can see through it and have Happy Holidays.

Quicktime

Wasn't it just October?

Pictures with Santy

We used my camera and tripod today at our Christmas Party. When I got home I couldn't help but giggle at these little beans that didn't quite enjoy the experience.

Thanksgiving

Re-Table

Last week Alison and I decided to buy some nice chairs and finally re-do the dining table. The table is awesome. It's been in my family for somewhere around 35 years, heavy wood construction with awesome details, and leafs to expand it depending on the anticipated party-size. It was just old, knicked, and had chairs that didn't match (though they are comfortable and stylish).

So I tried my hand at stripping the varnish off with this tub of goop that Alison bought off some TV-mercial. I've always heard that you are absolutely not supposed to sand antiques. And to my amazement, the water-soluable goop worked like magic.

Here's the final result. Ready for turkey!

A Time Of Thanks

As Thanksgiving rapidly approaches (amazing it's that time of year already), I was preparing my "grace." I have a lot to be thankful for this year. Alison's so much better than she was last year, when she was bed-ridden with pain and wheelchaired to our family's dinner. She's pain-free, she remembers things now that she's not so medicated, she's healthier because of our eating-habit changes, etc. I'm healthier too.
I'm also thankful for the lessons that her illness have taught me. It took me awhile to formulate that last sentence in my mind. I kept wanting to say that I am thankful she was diagnosed with cancer, then knowing that was the opposite of the truth. Well, glad she was diagnosed and the treatment is keeping her health at such a better level. But not glad she has it. The right sentence is that I'm glad I learned the lessons that her cancer has taught me and the effects her cancer has had on our family and friends.
Our friends have banded together on our behalf - what an amazing feeling.
Our families have become closer - not only within mine or hers, but together.
The lessons I've learned are several. I've learned a new brilliance to each day, each time we're given, even if it's spent sleeping next to each other. I've learned that others have been here before, and that others are going through this now, and need support too. I've learned that each person's life is unpredictable, and that at some point or at several - what seems like devastating turns ensue. I've learned compassion. I've learned about loving someone better. Letting yourself forget about most of the other things, which is a process approximating cleaning your windshield. All other things but Alison are squashed bugs.
I've learned the value of laughing.
I've realized my own mortality - and made long strides towards accepting my own fate.
Most of all I've learned that no matter what, we'll get through and be better in the end for it, and that we should be thankful for everything. No, we end up thankful for everything. Because everything that happens shows us who we are, develops us, and in my experience - makes me feel lucky.
Happy Thanksgiving.

My Love On An Envelope

As I approached the coffee-maker this morning, I noticed a white card on its lid. (Sometimes when Alison stays up later than me, she leaves me little notes) But this note was special, because I was reminded of just why I love her - all by reading the envelope. So here are some reasons:

1) She knows my routines and doesn't inhibit them - even when it involves seminudity on a night-long nightly basis.

2) She appreciates (though she'll claim otherwise) my panther-growl, which I apparently perform if she tries to wake me up from sleep.

3) She doesn't care that I'm headed for diabetes at the rapid fire. She just suggests we change out diet, and then doesn't throw away our halloween candy.

4) She likes that I like music, and she likes music too, just not the Pumpkins...

5) More candy-reasons: She's been patiently trying to break me of my instantly-swallowing-my-gum habit for years, and still perseveres without success.

6) She finds me attractive.

and 7) (most prominently too) she can write "sexy and hot" right next to a huge smily face and I don't even realize the peculiarity of such a face. Most would put a winky face or a sly face. Her? A Kermit the frog-like ear to ear grin.

Birthday Ball

Happy 232nd Birthday to all Marines!

C-O-M-P-L-E-T-E

This turned into the largest art project I have ever done. 89 Stinger Center-pieces, 3 Eagle, Globe and Anchor Center-pieces, and a whole lot of time expended. I felt elated seeing them all standing so proudly...

Can I Get Them Done?

Okay, so I still have a long way to go on the centerpieces. And only two more days (evenings) of work left.... It's going to be tight.

And here's the other painting I've been working on. It's really cool stuff live, and it loses something by photographing it. This was supposed to be my submission for The Tonic Gallery's Charity Auction, but the it needs to be there on Thursday, and it won't be dry until Sunday. ::tap tap tap roll the fingers:: oil paint.

Hunting Island Progress

Bob Ross is supposed to be dead, right?

"Oh yeah, nice little trees... dab, dab, dab, dab, dab..."

Halloween / Relay for Life / Centerpieces

Halloween was strangely devoid of Trick-r-Treaters this year. Atleast we were made to dress up at work...

And last night Ali and I participated in Relay for Life. She did the survivor lap and even introduced herself on the microphone. "Still fighting the fight!" She sounded strong and confident, and I was very proud.

And Penny's here to help me with the prints...

Buried in Projects

I haven't posted more than once a week for a long time. Am I losing interest? Maybe I'm coasting because Ali's feeling good, and creatively, I'm getting out there with all my projects. The print below became 90 centerpieces of wood today (thanks to three hard-working wardog volunteers today), and I became very very familiar with my bandsaw (Thanks for the Bday present Baby!)

I've also been working on two paintings, which I will show the lesser-cool of the two. (Definitely still a work-in-progress)Oh, and half the garage is redone - popcorn ceiling and falling drywall out - studrunners to hold drywall tight and fresh paint everywhere in. (Note the ceiling in the group photo above) AND Alison and I have commited to detoxifying ourselves from our old diets and their pesticides, preservatives, and acidic nature.

I'm tired.