Art

Here are some pictures of the mosaic in its home. And a few switch plate covers made to match. I LOVE their choice of tiles and selections of appliances.

The mosaic is framed nicely by the tile and the hood.




This is a crappy picture of the switch plates.


This is my first attempt, well second I guess, at a flat piece all made from clay. I guess I like that earthy striation effect. This has lots of texture. Actually more than I originally envisioned, it changed a bit in the oven adding some puckers and cracks. Much like the earthy striations! I think it is fine. I'm using the Antique Roadshow motto that if it happens during firing it doesn't effect the value, right? If value = vision? I will get it matted and framed. I hope to have a small series ready for the art shows in October.



This is the first attempt. I have an inspiration piece, which has loads of blues and bright pinks, you can see it in the last image. I've since added some blue and purples and then stopped working on it. I finally put it up on a shelf and will look at it sometime over the weekend. I think I'll scrap all the blues and continue with my favorite colors. I'm not a big fan of orange, but when I set out all my various product you'd never ever believe me.




There is the inspiration piece! I thought I knew who painted it, but I'm not so sure now. Those are the blended sheets of clay making up the ropes above.

Mindsweeper

Sometimes when I need a bit of distraction I play Minesweeper. It's a game where you click on the box and it gives you a number indicating how many bombs are in ajacent squares. You (not me) can determine which square will have a bomb based upon the numbers around the square. You probably have it if you have a windows based computer.

So I have never ever won a game. Never. I maybe play 0-5 games per day. I prefer freecell, but it is big and takes more thought and time. Minesweeper is simple and quick.

Truth be told I play these games at work.

I don't care that I always lose, but every single F2 (new game) I think this will be the one, this is the time I win.

Maybe tomorrow.

Tofu

This afternoon we are heading to Little Tokyo for the annual Tofu Festival. I'm excited to find some creations that are tasty! Especially some tofu ice cream.

I worked on clay project yesterday and hung out with my friend Michelle. It was a very nice Saturday.

Today prior to the tofu fest, I'm going to do more clay and maybe laundry.

Bump

Today was the tape day for Temptation.

I got there at noon. We had various briefings going over the game and the rules. Then we were put in private rooms in groups of 3.

We sat there for hours and hours. Waiting. One contestant from the morning crew was winning, winning and winning. Each time the person won, it would displace one of the 9 people from the afternoon group. They won 5 shows in a row, the most you can win. About 6:00 the contestant coordinator came to tell me that they were very sorry, but I would have to come back in 2 weeks. Myself and one other woman hung our heads and walked to our cars.

So my new tape date for the game show is in a couple of weeks. I'm ok with that. More time to buck up on trivia. More time to debate my clothing options. More time to practice hitting a buzzer, how does one practice that?

I'm a bit bummed out and I sure wish I didn't have to take another PTO day from work. Now that I've got the situation down, I can work a half day and do the show.

The person won some AMAZING prizes. It makes me even more excited!

Wear This!

I do not know what to wear to the game show. I'm really struggling with making a choice, so please help me decide.

Rules are as follows:
A nice pair of pants, jeans (with no holes in them) or a skirt (no minis please; it can be as short as 1” inch above your knees) paired with a pretty blouse or sweater. Please keep in mind that you will be sitting on a nice, cushy chair on the set and we want you to feel as comfortable as possible.

None of the following are allowed:
1. Blouses or shirts or an entire outfit that is solid black, red, bright pink or solid white;
2. Small prints or patterns (polka dots, checks, stripes, herringbone, plaid);
3. Turtlenecks or neck jewelry (it will interfere with the microphone);
4. Tube tops, halter tops, tops showing more than an inch of cleavage:
5. Sheer material (under all the lighting it may become transparent);

I wear lots of dresses. Here is what they said about dresses... No Dresses, or one-piece outfits (unless you don’t mind having the sound engineer attach the microphone battery pack to your undergarments). Do I mind? I have lots and lots of great dresses.

Here are some top/skirt/pants choices.

Teal with a drawstring right under the boobs. Crocheted sleeves.


Short sleeve v-neck sweater.


Green wrap shirt. It is too big for me, so pretend it fits.


Turquoise button down


The turquoise button down straight on


Light green t shirt with embroidery at the shoulder and waist, gathered under the boobs


Black twin set with the flowered skirt


The catch to this whole thing is the director can choose which one they think will look best with the other contestants. So my first choice, or yours, may or may not be acceptable.

Weekend!!!

Today was the longest day ever. And there is still a ton left, ugh.

We are going camping. I'm only semi wanting to go but I will not back out. We will leave either tonight or tomorrow morning. Once I am there it will be AOK. I just need to get there and that involves, shopping, driving, unloading, setting up tent, blowing up mattress, and calming down the dog.

I'm going to read a Michael Connelly book that my dad mailed me while sitting at the edge of the ocean. In the book they drive within a block of my residence. I have not read a good murder mystery in a long time. I also will "read" OK! and at least one other trashy rag.

A couple of weeks ago when I tried to sit and read on the beach the dolphins were far too playful to concentrate on anything but staring into the sea. That would be fine too.

The Perseid meteor shower is peaking on Sunday night. I hope that the sky is clear and we can watch shooting stars all weekend.

We'll come home early as usual on Sunday. Then I have to go out shopping and find something for the tv show. I tried shopping yesterday and go very frustrated that the one item I decided would be ok, was $149! WTF? Wrong neighborhood.

H&M and Target will fulfill my needs. And maybe just one nice top from a boutique, I'm eying a new one that just opened in Burbank. Carly something or other.

Temptation - The New Sale of the Century

I am taping my episode next week! I am just so excited, I can hardly stand it. I am required to find 5 outfits to pair with pants or a skirt.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR!!! OMG? National television. Eeeek.

I'm getting my hair trimmed tomorrow, and I plan to get my brows waxed Monday.

Nothing much

I've got the tape date for my big time network televsion gameshow debut! Soon I will have 3 television shows under my belt! That is more than some people who actually wanna be in "hollywood", I'll report details soon.

I have a request to bring in some jewelry for a co-worker. I'm not sure about the selling at work, but since she is HR, it must be alright. I still plan to ask if we can go outside just so I'm not crossing any lines selling my stuff at work.

I've started production on my Van Gogh inspired "painting" of course I'm doing it with clay, but it is flat like a painting. We'll see.

The ring

Here are some pictures of the ring, per Deborah's request.





I would probably do any new potential new design in gold. But I will see how much it would be to do white gold, I just don't have any white or silver jewelry, so I'm not sure if that is what I want to do.

Redesign

A few years ago my sister-in-law, Jeanne, gave me a ring. It is a really nice deep green emerald with two small diamonds. The ring is in a setting that is a bit heavy for my style and I've been thinking about having it reset. I think I've finally found a couple of rings I really like, I just don't know which one I like best.

weekend report

We spend Friday night eating leftovers and watched the tv.

Saturday we got up early and drove to our camping spot. We always reserve both Friday and Saturday, sometimes just go early on Saturday morning. I still wasn't feeling well, a stupid migraine. So we didn't stay overnight, just until about 7:30 last night. It was a great day. I pretty much spent 90% of my time on a beach chair reading trashy gossip rags and watching dolphins. Lots and lots of dolphins.

Then we came home and slept in and enjoyed not packing up and wishing I could wash my hands.

This afternoon we saw The Simpson's Movie. It was funny. Not highly recommended, but if you are a Simpson's fan, you won't want to miss it.

Sad News

I have to withdraw my candidacy for public office, specifically the office of President of the United States of America. Why you say? You are doing so well in the polls and we just love you on the debates....

3 words.

GAME SHOW CONTESTANT

As I posted previously, I decided to do the game show audition circuit. One question they ask, "Are you running for public office?" I said no. Since my campaign doesn't have the same recognition as say, Hillary Clinton or Paul Thompson, I didn't think it'd matter if I quietly withdrew my name from the hat. Theoretically, I could go back into the race at a later date, but for now I'm not running for President.

I'm sorry to disappoint my supporters, truly I am very sorry.

But GAME SHOW!!! Me on the TV (again) this time I will be VICTORIOUS!!!

I'll post all the details in the next few weeks. For sure sometime after next Wednesday.

Forget the lryics

I auditioned for "Don't Forget the Lyrics" today. It is a karaoke style game show, you sing missing song lyrics to popular tunes. Each song you finish correctly you win money, up to $1,00,000.

The initial part of the interview consisted of a test with 24 songs with blank lines following a string of lyrics. Songs like Summer Night from Grease and We are the Champions by Queen or I'm Just a Country Boy by John Denver.

Summer Nights
Summer lovin' had me a blast
Summer lovin' happened so fast
I met a girl crazy for me
Met a boy cute as can be
____ ____ ____ _____

If you know it you know it right off. I got about half way through and then went back to the tougher songs. I'd sing them in my head, closing my eyes trying to come up with the next line. Some were really a challenge. It did not help that that woman next to me was finished and quite chatty with the dude handing out and grading the tests. She also texed very noisily, like beep beep beep, beep beep beep beeeeeep. ANNOYING. I at one point asked if there was any way she could turn off the beeps, as it was very distracting. She got annoyed with me and huffed back, I'm almost done. Whatever, even I know how to text in silence. I kind of hated her by that point.

Anyway, I was still lamenting on missing lyrics I couldn't figure out when the other woman in the room (who came in after me) turned in her answers, and passed.

I finished up what I could and left a few blank. I sat back down and waited. I'd been through this before, I was ready for the news. Shockingly, I passed.

The other woman that was waiting had driven in from the OC and made it to Hollywood in 30 minutes! We discussed alternate routes and various driving in LA.

The three of us were interviewed together. Loud Texter went first. She had been practicing what she would say, "metal plate in my head crazy cat lady" in the waiting room. She did well, saying that she had metal plate in her head and she has 4 cats. The "judges" banter back and forth with her and then ask her to sing. She asks what we all think, name a country star. Everyone names one, I said Shaina Twain (I don't listen to country) she looks at me and says OVERRATED. The judges finally tell her to just pick something she likes. She asks if she can sing Patsy Cline. They say yes sing what you like. So she sang. Very well. She said she was nervous and probably sounded bad, but she didn't get nervous signing in front of 20,000 people.

Next up Fast OC Driver. She works doing event planning disney or something. She is also a professional singer. Great. 2 profession singers and me. I'm not sure what she sang, but it was good.

Now me. I don't even know what I said, something about make up brushes and egg art. They didn't know what egg art was, so I explained, poorly. I sang the first verse of Frank Mills. WTF is Frank Mills? Hair soundtrack. I did ok. Not great, especially when paired with two professional singers.

Fast OC Driver 100% dominated the focus, she had a very big personality. I'm sure you'll see her on the tv.

They said they'd need to discuss and sent us out to the waiting room. The judges returned and said they'd review everything and get back to us in 24 hours. Then they asked Loud Texter "since you've been here so long to stay and get you on camera". They said to me, we'll call you in 24 hours and told me to leave. Fast OC Driver did not come out after me, so one can only assume she too was asked to stay for the camera.

Um, don't call me, we'll call you. Whatever I wasn't too excited about, I don't want to sing karaoke in my everyday life, so not singing on national television is just fine with me.

I'm glad I did it. It'll help to have the butterflies out before the audition on Thursday for SHOPPING! I can totally do bargain shopping and answer pop trivia questions! I'll be close to home, relaxed after work, and not straight from work! Shopping is way more my speed.

Felt Club

Today was the big XL Felt Club craft fair. They've been around for a few years, just doing small 15 or so artists at a small venue. This time around they went large, XL. Sponsorship, dozens of crafters, gift bags...

I was lured in by the gift bag (250 total to be given away) and my friend Rose and I met up at 10, the show opened at 11:00. We headed over and planned to drive by and then go find coffee and come back about 11:00. At 10:19 there were about 125 people in line. We parked and waited in line for 45 minutes. By the end the line looped up then down the street beyond where we could see.

We got the gift bags! Heavy bags with free samples, books, an Izze drink (YUM, available at Target), buttons, tons of stuff!

The venue was CRAZY, all those hundreds of people and the hundred or so vendors. We were over it by 11:25 and left. It was 100% worth it. Just the gift bag alone.

I applied for the show and wasn't accepted. I understand why, it really isn't my genre of art. And having been there today, I'm really glad I wasn't accepted. It would have been great to get that much exposure, but damn, so totally overwhelming with that many people. So it all worked out just fine.

I'll still apply for the winter show.

Game Show Summer 2.0

I was laid off from my job on Halloween Day, 2001. I was one of many who lost their jobs post 9/11/01, collecting unemployment and wondering if I'd find a job.

You can watch a lot of television with an unemployment check and rent control. I decided to seize the opportunity and become a game show contestant.

My initial success was with the assistance of a friend of a friend who was a game show talent coordinator. She hooked me up with an audition for the Comedy Central show Beat the Geeks!

I was in! It was super fun to tape the show. Beat the Geeks was a traditional buzz-in trivia show. Men are statistically proven to be quicker with the buzzer finger, they'll buzz first think later, woman think then buzz. They told the girls not to think. I was eliminated in the first round. I did walk away with a nice parting gift, a jansport backpack! Whoot.

After Beat the Geeks I decided to take it national. I auditioned for Hollywood Squares, I did not pass the test. The Weakest Link, failed again. The Chair, hosted by John McEnroe, pass! Then the show was canceled. I also tried out for a few more, nothing panned out.

So now we come to Game Show Summer 2.0, I shall be victorious.

My friend Rose and I are going to team up for a show that is a cross between The Price Is Right and Antqiue's Road show or something. We need a team name and might go with Jane's Girls. I'm not sure. We met on the internet forever ago on the Jane Magazine (rip) message boards. I sometimes forget that is how we met, cause now we're just regular friends, not internet friends. They'll love us and call us in for the audition next Friday. They will!

The other audition is for the show "Temptation" it is already a show in Australia so I read up on it and it seems to be a test of your ability to resist temptation, but also a buzz-in quiz show. The temptation being a 42 inch HDTV for $22 or something even better, the one with the most money at the end of the show has the opportunity to win one big big prize, car, trip... or come back next week to win even bigger and better stuff. The questions are all pop culture, count me in.

I applied for that Fox singing show "Don't Forget the Lyrics". One million bucks for lyrics taking up space in your brain. Chances are, I've got them up there, they are just waiting to burst out in song. And I like Wayne Brady. I hope they contact me.

Tune in later....

Buyer's Remorse?

I bought the jacket. I have a tiny bit of buyer's remorse. I will either keep it and call it a "one year at my new job" present to myself. Or return it. I'm not sure it is worth the price.

I also purchased some face cleanser at Lush. Rene provided great customer service and told me all about the Lush concept and line of products.

Below is me in the jacket, what do you think? Not that you can even tell with the quality of the image. I'll find a cute outfit to wear it with and take a better picture over the weekend.

Also more pictures of the weekend with my sister and her family, aka vacation #3.

Bits of info

Random:
Frequently while driving I think I hear the ice cream man, then I realize it is my cell phone ringing.
I love my MP3 player, especially the radio.

TV I'm watching
Age of Love aka Cougars vs. Kittens. - Horrible, horrible show. Yet I still watch.
So You Think You Can Dance aka SYTYCD - Awesome, I've not missed an episode in 3 years.
Days of Our Lives - We watch it everyday, both of us. It used to be my must get in before DH gets home, but now if I even think of watching it alone I'll have to watch it twice.
Top Chef - Still to many players. And just when I learn that Padma is married to Rushdie, they announce their separation.

Of course there are many more shows, like Beverly Hills 90210, the Daily Show and Colbert that are always on the line up.

Internet fun:
A Quiverfull web board. WTF is quiverful? You know the Duggar's, the ones on TLC with the 16 kids and growing? The super Christians who leave their fertility up to God and teach me about modesty? Those are the quiverfull. I know it is probably wrong that I read their message board and discuss at length various topics with my own message board. But it is so wrong it has to be right.

Activities:
Last night we went to World Music night at the zoo. It was awesome. The Ibex were fighting and it was like a fantastic boxing match with about 70 people gasping as their horns cracked against each other. And zebra sex, you really can't go wrong. Well, yes you can, if it is you that is having sex with the zebra. Maybe even more wrong than my mocking of the Quiverfull.

Dinner:
Tonight we are having halibut, sea salt and olive oil oven baked fries and a salad. Friday we are having veggie halibut burgers and artichokes.

Art:
I'm not making any. I need that to change so I don't stress out come September for my two big huge back to back art show weekends.

Family:
My sister came to visit. Go here to see pictures. (vacation #3)

And sadly, Matt's sister was sentenced to prison yesterday. My heart breaks for everyone involved. We hope that everything will work out ok with her children. We both wish we were closer and at the same time we are glad we are so far away. She will probably serve 2.5 years but she received a maximum of 15 years.

Shopping:
I want this. I would wear it with 1 million different things. I might go to see it in person at the store.

We bought the Honda Fit. I'd be way more excited about it if it was say, in my parking spot. Rather it is on a ship in the port of LA. Within 6 days it will be in my spot. I can't wait.

Honda Fit

We are buying a brand spanking new car on Monday. The tv told me that Monday is the best day of the week to purchase a new vehicle. It is the slowest day of the week at the dealership and you have the most bargaining power.

Soon this will be ours.

Since you asked

Or even if you didn't...

Emma: She is doing great! We give her extra love everyday and that seems to be just what the doctor ordered. Well not really considering our love is FREE and the what the doctor ordered was $3000.00.

Car Shopping: Still looking. I just want the car to be in my parking spot and not have to deal with all the shopping. And especially all the car sales men, give it up Jack. Armen, so far so good.

Presidential Bid: I'm still running. Don't forget to vote for me.

What else? How come when I'm in the car I can think of 100 million things to post but now that I'm here, nothing.

This weekend my sister and her family are coming for a visit. I really should be getting the house into visitor shape, but I don't wanna.

June brides

We went to a wedding on a yacht yesterday. It was a beautiful wedding and we spent a fantastic afternoon chatting with old friends. We cruised around the Newport Beach Harbor, the sun was bright and the sky a perfect blue.

Self portrait

Little Baby Girl

I thought that I'd let you know what has been going on with Emma.

The weekend we returned from Michigan we noticed that she just wasn't herself. Not really eating and some excessive drooling. Matt took her to the vet last Tuesday and they kept her all day and did some tests. We were not sure if the loaf of bread she ate on the prior Saturday was causing her some gastric issues. They planned to do some blood tests and x-rays.

I got a call telling me that the x-rays were normal and that we could pick her up at 6:15. The blood results would be in at 6.

We got there and the doctor told us that the x-rays seem normal, the urine and most of her blood work was also normal.

Except for the liver tests. He believes that she has liver disease. They only way to determine what kind and how bad is with an ultrasound and a guided biopsy. He said she is a very sick dog. She vomited bile at 5:30 despite having fasted all day. She had an injection of pepcid and received some fluids.

He recommended that we keep Emma overnight and she receive a bleeding time and IV fluid. The following day she would have the ultrasound and if necessary they'd put her under for the biopsy. Then she would need to stay for a few days and recover.

The results of the biopsy/ultrasound would tell the MD what type of liver disease she has, hepatitis, chronic, inflammatory... Without the tests he cannot treat her.

Then we get the estimate. One for the preferred treatment and one that is bare bones. $2500 for the full deal and $1100 + $940 for the lesser. Either way we were looking at $3000+ for the first day including $700 we had spend for the day at the vet. Plus min. of $450 per day for 3 days after the biopsy.

They left us to discuss things and we were really balking at spending another $2000+ on an old pet. I'm still recovering from Chase-er-meow-meow just 5 months ago.

We decided we needed to think about putting her to sleep. The MD said he would not disagree with that decision, especially since even after knowing what type of liver issue she has her quality and term of life might only be 6 months.

So we decided to put her to sleep last Tuesday night.

Then the MD recommended that we think about it overnight and take her home. She isn't in pain and we could at least spend the night loving her and saying goodbye. Then we could put her down on Wednesday.

We took her home. She ate her kibble, ate treats, cuddled with us on the couch and in bed. And she seems 100% normal and fine.

We decided we would not to do anything. We plan to add some chicken breast to her diet to increase her protein and maybe some other stuff to keep her healthy and happy.

Until she shows us some sort of visible decline, we're going to just love her.

We just didn't know what to think. Maybe the blood tests were abnormal or a fluke or if she really has some sort of liver issue.

On Wednesday evening we went back to the vet to pick up some medication as recommended by the Vet.

She received the first round of pills beginning Wednesday night.

Thursday I came home to find her lying on the bed soaked in urine. Not good and for sure not normal.

Friday she peed in the living room. And the same on Saturday. She peed without any sense of urgency, no asking to go out. She was just standing there peeing.

I researched online to see if any of the new meds could be causing this side effect. If it was a side effect. We called Jeanne, a nurse, and asked her. Nothing should link the two together. She had been drinking more water, which of course would cause more need to pee, but not like she was doing.

We decided to stop the pills altogether, she hasn't peed in the house since Saturday morning. She is running around at the park, eating and drinking, peeing outside and pooping. Normal dog stuff. She still barks at the television and at the little pain in the ass dog across the way. She is 100% Emma.

Today I called the vet so that I could tell them I wasn't going to do a f/u and to get copies of the lab work and x-ray.

The tech was pretty rude and said he'd check with the doctor to see if he would ok the release of the labs. I questioned this practice and asked that they be ready by this time tomorrow.

I vowed right then to never go back to them.

Then the Dr. called me back. He had lots of questions and seemed really concerned. He was pleased to find Emma doing well. He hoped that I would go for a second op. and he also really hoped that I'd go to a specialist. I said that I've split Emma's care between them and another vet and as soon as I said the other vets name he got excited. He said to please follow up with him after I go for follow up blood tests.

He did concede that there was possible lab error. I know for sure after spending 4 years working at the lab, that it is a valid possibility. I can't remember exactly the stability of the blood for liver tests, but as soon as I see the names it will come back to me.

I told him about the peeing in the house and how it seemed like she didn't even have any urgency and why I thought there was a correlation between the meds and her peeing. He semi agreed, but only because of the timing and not because of any of the meds. He also asked that I bring them in to make sure there was no medication error.

I feel better about the vet. Not good enough to bring her back. I said that the soonest I would consider going to the other vet is next Tuesday. He said that is fine given her current condition.

So until next week I hope to put any additional worry and concern out of my mind.

Margaritas vs. Street Fair

Summer is almost here! Not that it feels like summer, it hasn’t been above 75 degrees in weeks. I am excited for all the kiddies to be out of school, my commute is always about 10 minutes less during the summer.

As I posted yesterday we had decided to go to the Los Feliz street festival. We were a block from the subway and noticed that the new grocery store was open! We just had to take a detour and check out what the store has to offer. It was a shiny and new, the produce all piled up in an artistic manner, and a lovely floor free of grime and dirt.

Halibut was on sale, $14.99/pound for the filets. About $10 less than Whole Foods and Gelson’s! We are walking back to the store tonight to pick up some halibut for dinner. I asked Matt if I should prepare it differently than lightly breaded and pan fried in butter/olive oil. He thinks I have a good thing going with the current method and why mess with a good thing. Yum!

After shopping at the grocery store we decided that rather than going to the street fair we’d rather have a margarita. For whatever reason, full bars are hard to find in our immediate neighborhood. By immediate, I mean within a 5 minute walk. Beer and wine are plentiful, just not liquor, save for a hard core gay bar or two. We decided to walk to the lone Mexican restaurant, which we thought was about 4 or 5 blocks away. About a mile or so later we were still walking and vowing to enjoy our margarita’s and take a taxi home. As we continued to walk block upon block, finally we could see the sign for Karaoke and Margaritas. Fortunately, the karaoke wasn’t happening and we drank our salty rimmed margaritas and ate chips with guac and salsa.

We did walk home. I promised that the walk home would do us well and the sun was shining and we had a buzzy spring to our step.

I’m not sure if the margarita was a better decision than the street fair. But we for sure got more exercise walking the 4 miles round trip for the drinks than the few blocks we would have walked at the fest.

Back to normal

We spent a week in Michigan. The weather was mostly great, it only rained a few of the days. We were able to see lots of family and old friends.

Today we are taking the subway to a street fair.

I'm out of the blogging habit, I hope to make a triumph return ASAP.

Commission

I'm always honored to accept commission work. It usually amazes me that someone actually wants to pay me to make something special for them.

Usually.

I have a co-worker who has a necklace that I made. She gets compliments on it every time she wears it, awesome! One woman asked that she bring a necklace to me to make some earrings that she lost. I made the earrings and the woman loved them, again awesome. Then she lost one and I had to make a replacement. Which would be great, if I ever received the money from the co-worker to cover my costs. It is my own fault for not pressing her for the payment, but that is a whole other post.

So then the woman gave the co-worker one earring and said she wanted a necklace and bracelet to match. No other details, the earring is a stone and diamond earring. Not exactly my medium. Excuses, excuses I didn't call the woman and the earring has been sitting in my purse for a couple weeks. So upon some pressing from my co-worker I call the woman today.

This was the conversation:

Ring, ring.
All I hear is loud music, at first I thought that it might be an annoying answering machine with just random music.

Young Man: hello (add a tinge of annoyance)
Me: Is Linda there?
YM: She'll call you back
Me: can I please leave a message
YM: NO She'll call you back
Me: can I at least leave my name so she knows who called? I start to say this is co-workers friend...
YM: SHE'LL CALL YOU BACK SHE HAS YOUR NUMBER
Me: yes, but she won't know who is calling her
YM: grumble grumble SHE WILL CALL YOU BACK

So I hung up on him. Fuck that. I don't need additional work in a medium I don't deal with and one that will be a hassle to get paid.

However, if the woman calls me back I would be happy to ask her to meet me or attend one of my shows where she could purchase some of my ready made products. Or talk in person to figure out what it is she is looking for.

It is my own fault for doing such a kickass job on the earrings, serves me right!

May 2, 2007

It is with great pleasure that today I announce to you the next President of the United States of America.....


Joanna!

I'm 35 today. And rather than be depressed that I'm 35 today I've decided to seize the moment and use my new age bracket to RUN FOR PRESIDENT! You know why? Because I am eligible.

I am. All you need to do is be born in the US of A. And be at least 35 years old.

I will not be accepting donations, that is just too much trouble. I'll campaign at lunch and on the interwebs, all for free. Who needs $100 million dollars? (ok I do, but I doubt I'd use it for freaking tv advertisements, maybe health care and homes and reformation of the criminal justice system)

So vote Joanna for President. I promise you won't be throwing away your vote. Really, you won't. You put that sucker in the vote box and let Florida throw it away.

I'm sorry if people excited for a more personal type of announcement, like babies or Oscar gift bags. I've got other things on my plate right now, like running for President.

Huge Announcement

I will be making a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT on Wednesday, May 2, 2007!

Artwalk Recap

It was a great weekend. I cannot express my gratitude for the Theory labs for allowing me to participate and welcoming us into their homes for the weekend +.



I made lots of great contacts, I hope that they follow through! I sold lots of jewelry, switch plate covers and make up brushes. I actually have to make more brushes! I remember when there use to be 3 full boxes of completed brushes, there are now less than 15! So gratifying! I have another small show on May 12 in Echo Park, Eagle Rock? I can't remember which. I have next weekend to get stuff done. I hope to assemble and sand while camping the following weekend.



And now for pictures. I don't know if you can tell but each item has a little hang tag with my logo on it! Branding baby. A couple different people commented that they recognized my logo. Since Deborah designed it, I'm positive that someone else isn't using it. They must know it from ME!

Close Encouters of Britney kind

OMG!!!!

Ok, so I was heading up Mulholland wondering if I'd see the paps or if the new NO PARKING AT ANY TIME along each dirt patch would scare them away. Or has Britney Spears already left for the day. There were no cars, not even one.

UNTIL.... I came to my turn, the turn to go just 2 more blocks and I'm home. That is when I saw car that looked familar, just the Element on the right, but it had a parking ticket on the windshield.

Of course I got my camera out and turned on. I rolled down my window, yelled hello to John, my mechanic, and took this!

In my rear view you can see the building that houses my mechanic, and then this black fence with the PAPARAZZI!!! ON STOOLS! John's parking lot shares the lot with the dance studio.

I should have stopped right then and there and took more pictures but, I had a full memory card and needed to off load the other pics.

After clearing the memory card I grabbed Emma and headed out for a walk. I was buzzing with excitement. I was really worried that you would be able to tell my hands were shaking when I took pictures.

Sadly, in the time I off loaded and walked back she had left. But really, since SHE isn't my pet project I was content to continue to take pics of the paps as they packed up.

Not only did I take pictures but I also chatted with them. I asked them about the parking issue now that the dirt patches are NO PARKING. They have lookouts who radio left or right and they either go down the hill to the valley or down the hill to the 90210.

The one guy I chatted with was really nice, he wondered why I don't want pictures of Britney. He looked at me funny when I told him I'd been taking his pictures for 5 months, well minus that 30 day rehab thing. I asked if I could take his picture he said yes, but I look like crap today, and he turned his hat around and pulled it down over his eyes.

I gave John my cell number. He said I could go through his office and take pictures of Britney up close. He'll totally call me! So exciting!

Art filled weekend

I'm super busy getting ready for ArtWalk! I'm so excited for my new display techniques and my new products. I promise to take tons of pictures. I really hope that I can venture out and see other art for some much needed inspiration.

I also came up with the great idea of having Matt drop me off and pick me up on Saturday. That means Sangria for a mid afternoon pick me up, er buzz.

Super duper exciting news on the Britney paparazzi front. There were 5 LAPD cars with lights flashing stopped at dirt patch 2 and 3. Dirt patch 4, had about 5 paps looking bored as always. I haven't been as diligent about taking pictures, they don't really do anything, so pictures of cars just sitting there aren't all that thrilling. One thing of note is that they haven't been in dirt patch number 2 (except today) they've gone all the way down to dirt patch 4 which was never is use prior to last week.

LAPD please put the beatdown on these Paparazzi. Thanks.

3 day weekend

Beach. Tent. 2 recommended books. Fires. Food. Matt and Emma.

Summer Vacation

We purchased tickets to visit Michigan in May. The price was too good to pass up and we are super excited to visit with lots of friends and family!

So if you live in Michigan and you want to see us, we'll be there May 23-30. Hope to see you then.

Weekend!

Friday: Going away party. Originally, this was a goodbye to a co-worker, sadly one of Matt's favorite guys. He got a job that paid more and was closer to home. Then he got a call from his Superior in the Marine Corp and he has been called up for active duty. So now it is good luck in Iraq going away party. Quite a drag. It's his third tour.

Months ago, when I was enjoying the deliciousness of the patty melt, Matt's friend met us for dinner. He liked the down home Burbank bar so much he's having the party there. I can't even tell you how difficult it will be to not get a patty melt. YUM. I won't get it because I'm sure it would give me a stomach ache. I will for sure get the beer batter onion rings.

Saturday: I hope to make some stuff for the upcoming Brewery ArtWalk. And Matt and I may go to WeHo to purchase an "outfit" for his gig on Sunday.

Sunday: Street Fest LA aka gay leather daddy street festival. Matt is once again going to rock out with well, with something at least one inch across his butt crack and covering his entire front, package? I'm totally cool with the whole Nudist Priest gig, really I am. But dude there is a HUGE difference between midnight in a darkened bar in Hollywood vs. 1:30 in the afternoon OUTSIDE at a BD/SM festival. This event probably should have happened 13 years ago, I would have had something to wear.

No pictures today

My friend Julie called me on my way home to let me know that there were dozens of paparazzi and E! News on the side walk outside Century City Hospital. I said that I'll bet it is Britney back for some tooth work. And not 5 minutes after I said that I turned onto Britney's street and not one single freaking paparazzi parked in the dirt.

I'm conflicted about the rights of the paps. I know that there should be a law against it, but really what law are they breaking? Maybe loitering? They technically are not trespassing, unless they step onto private property. Can they legislate standing on the sidewalk taking pictures? Does that mean that they stop the tour vans from driving by the homes of the stars? Where do you draw the line?

Of course we all know the line starts with us, with me. If I stopped reading TMZ, paging though US Weekly, and all the other rags, then there is no reason to take their picture. Too bad I won't stop. I also won't stop taking pictures of the paparazzi.... unless they do.

Recommitment

I've been lax on exercising these last few weeks. My mind and the couch have done their battles, and damn that couch is good. But tomorrow, I swear I won't even look at the couch between walking in the door and walking to the gym. I swear, do not tempt me.

Music Mistro

I've been thinking about purchasing an ipod. First of all, everyone has one and I like to keep up with the Jones. Ok, not really, but it does seem that everyone has a portable music player. I asked my internet friends what they suggest and of course they all said the ipod. Which make total sense because really I suppose they are fantastic.

I remember when I was in 8th grade and everyone had the Guess jeans with the zipper at the ankle. I really wanted a pair of Guess jeans. The perfect little triangle on the pocket showed everyone that you were indeed wearing Guess jeans. And that meant you were popular. Or not, depending upon the day.

Guess jeans never fit me. So in hindsight I don't think that my mother actually denied me a pair of expensive jeans ($40! Goodness what I wouldn't do to pay $40 for the expensive jeans today! More like $140.), I just think the waist to hip ratio in those jeans were not made for my body type. But I still wanted them, and what they represented.

But anyway I digress. I searched the internet high and low looking at ipods and reading reviews. I kept coming back to the fact I really didn't want to spend what the ipod cost. Around $200 just for the player. And that is the bottom end player, not the fancy 5.5 with video! Maybe I'm just not meant to be popular, not in junior high and not at the gym. Darn.

So I purchase this


It has video, just like the expensive ipod. It also has voice recording, an fm tuner and instant fm recording. The ipod does not. You upload the content via windows media, therefore you can upload anything, not just itunes stuff. For the same price as the one video ipod I got this and portable speakers. The speakers sound great! It was a great purchase!

So far we've uploaded 560 songs. I still have a stack of cds to do, my afternoon project.

I will test out that voice recorder when I work up the nerve to stop and chat with the paparazzi. And speaking of dear Brittney Spears. She made her first outing since rehab. She took at dance class at the studio one freaking block from my house. We could have walked right past her if we had walked the other way home from dinner. Ice cream from 7/11 was more important.

Britney Spears' personal paparazzi

As I head around the first turn towards the Britney's gated estate turn on the camera. I'm always a little giddy with excitement in anticipation of how many stalkers there might be on any given day. Let me tell you fashion week followed by a stint in rehab made for a long month, not one damn car parked anywhere along the beautiful drive. So as promised pictures of the paparazzi.

Dirt patch number 2


A closer picture of dirt patch number two. TMZ.com has a much better version of the same autos. This picture was taken on Thursday around 4:00.


Dirt patch number 3.


Dirt patch number 2 at 6:45 am on Friday. I guess they don't think Brit is awake that early? Next photo essay will be a series of sunrises.


Same dirt patch number 2, now filled with the phothogs.


Dirt patch number 3.


Everyone waves at me. They still seem to have an air of friendship and certain boredom . Next week I will stop and ask some questions. For sure towards the end of the week after they've watched me take pictures and wave at them off and on for 3 months!



We went to the Point Mugu whale watching festive a couple weekends ago. Here are some dolphins. The whales were merely spouts off in the far, far distance. Not something I could capture with my camera.

Paparazzi + Britney

Stalking Britney is back in full force.

Yesterday I actually saw Britney and Kfed with my own two eyes. I didn't get a picture. Boo.

Today I took pictures of the many, many vehicals awaiting her exit. Maybe about 25 cars! Can you imagine 25 cars waiting outside your driveway to take your picture and follow you everywhere you go?

I took some pics, and some of the dudes even waved to me. Maybe we'll become bff. I'll post pictures when I have a few days worth of stalking.

Weekend!

It is here! On one of the 2 sunny days ahead we will wash the dirty dog. And on both of the sun filled mornings I will not wake to an alarm clock at 5:23AM.

3.14

The day of Pi. I hope to eat pie while watching LOST. My issue with pies are, well I love them. LOVE. But I have a plan. We'll go to KooKooRoo for dinner and then run across the street to Marie Calendar's. There we will get 2 pieces of pie to go. Ensuring that I will not eat pie every single day until it is gone!

Today is also National Potato Chip day. Hooray for thinly sliced potatoes fried in hot oil.

March 14th is also a brand new holiday. Steak and blowjob day. It is one month past Valentine's day, and it seems from the dozens of websites, no chocolate whatsoever is required. It is really all about the meat.

So Happy March 14th.

Bumper Stickers

I saw my new favorite bumper sticker today.

I am for the separation of Church and Hate

My old favorite bumper sticker is

1/20/2009

It took me a little bit to figure out why my sister's birthday was on a bumper sticker. Then I saw the small print (Bush's last day). Of course Inauguration Day. I fondly remember eating Deborah's birthday cake with Grandma Mable and keeping an eye on the hostages being released just in time for Regan's Inauguration.

Vacation

We are going to take a vacation in October to celebrate our 10 and 5 year anniversaries. We had our first date the night before Thanksgiving way back in 1997. We got married in October 2002.

We are considering the Mexican Caribbean, Costa Rica, or somewhere else.

I just want the Matt, the beach, the ocean, a good book and gossip filled magazines, and maybe a cocktail. Perfect.