Under a Leaf with Ginny

Jeez it is June already?

2011-06-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

Amazing how the time flies when you are living life. My poor neglected blog. So much life lost in memories because I didn't write it down. To anyone out there who still comes by(you poor souls...or fools...not sure which), bless your ever lovin hearts.

So life is rocking along as it always does. The job is still great and I love the company I work for. How wonderful to be able to say that. It's not the work, but the people. I just love the people there.
I'm still living in an apartment but think some changes are on the horizon. Living in the complex has it's pros and cons, but the reality is this doesn't feel like home to me. It feels like transition and I'm coming out on the other side of the transition ready to take root.

What does that mean? I'm thinking about buying a house, perhaps even a little property along with it. A few acres would be awesome...room for the art studio, and a garage apartment. I want a place I can put a killer garden in. I miss my garden. So many missed past times...

...many things to accomplish...can't think about the past. The present seems pretty important at the moment. I'll think about the future in the future...

I'm learning to play pool from my dad. We've done a lot of mending and being taught something from dad is always valuable to me. The man knows how to play pool and I'm finding I might have a little Ray Martin in me. We'll see. :)

I'm also learning how to play darts, although darts moved over a little bit for pool. But wait...what about those trails? They still call...I must find time for nature. I have camped off and on over the past several months, so I am getting out in it some. It is my life's blood and the pull is strong. But hey, think I'll hang out in dark cool places for a while and wait out this dreadful triple digit heat.

I heard from an old friend today and he inspired me to write. Thank you Jesse. It feels good to get some thoughts out in writing. I have so many photographs! They pile up fast and getting them on my blog is certainly on the list of things to do before I die.

Cheers to anyone who sees this,
Ginny

Hello Beautiful Day

2011-02-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

Finally the sun is shining and it is warm!

Gearing Up for More Camping and Other News

2011-01-20T17:15:00.000-08:00

I have a few trips planned in the upcoming months. I've been car camping quite a bit lately but haven't posted much about any of it. The exciting stories are the backpacking ones, and I haven't been backpacking in ages. I will eventually remedy that.

In other news I am in love. It blows me away to write it and still blows my mind to say it out loud. He is a wonderful guy and I've never been treated so amazingly by any man before him. I've been missing a lot in every relationship I've ever had which is increasingly more obvious as time goes by.

I've missed out on a lot, but this man, he has my heart and I'm okay with that. I trust him to take good care of it. I have his too.

Still Alive

2011-01-14T04:57:00.000-08:00

and as usual there is so much going on I have no time for my blog. Sorry folks...but here is the update:

still working for a good company

Ben is doing well

my health still sketchy but I'm not letting it stop me

I'm in love

oh and I have gone camping a few times...finally made it enchanted rock about a month ago.

Make You a Zombie

2010-10-31T10:13:00.001-07:00

I spent some time yesterday on youtube looking at vids on how to do zombie make up. I wanted to go to the Zombie Ball this year but knew I wouldn't be able to pull it off in time. Work has been demanding of my energy these past couple of weeks leaving me too tired to think about going out and having fun, let alone making a production out of it.

Face it, creating a great costume and doing makeup properly takes time. For a good zombie effect, one needs liquid latex, proper adhesive, zombie colors such as gray, charcoal, white, yellow, purple, green, red, in both powder and creamy formulations, and perhaps even some creepy contact lenses. Spider webbing and something to rat up the hair to give it a cruddy and dirty appearance would be cool and make it look like you crawled out of a grave. Then of course dirtying up clothing with special paint effects and the right kind of tearing, etc...would add that extra special zombie touch.

I want all of that stuff and am going to pull it together for the ball in 2011. Hitting the Halloween clearance sales will be productive. I'm thinking it would be cool to play around with this for a little while...I'm sure Ben would love to be my guinea pig. We could have all kinds of fun making him look like a little zombie boy.

It's good to be an artist! This is an all new medium to explore and that really revs me up. It would be fun to advertise my services next year and charge a fee to do peoples' special effects makeup. A digital video camera is looking more and more like a necessity to me these days. I totally need vids on my blogs for fun and entertainment of course, but also for business. Those little cameras are a wonderful tool...

In any case, I will be at the Zombie Ball next year with a date! Hopefully he will be tall and handsomely ghoulish with most of his body parts still in tact. It will be great!

Twenty Snakes in a Row

2010-10-18T20:30:00.000-07:00

Tonight was fun. A friend of mine owns twenty beautiful ball pythons because he breeds them. He has many different hybrids that are gorgeous and some are quite large for the breed. I had the pleasure of feeding all of them tonight.

This was a process. Several of the snakes are quite mean because of their genetics, so grabbing and putting them in feeding buckets was challenging. I got struck at many times by this one snake in particular and was thankful her aim wasn't true and my reflexes were quick. The best part of all, is almost all of the snakes grabbed the rats out of my hand. That was cool. I held the rats by their tails of course so I was out of the strike zone. Before I could even drop the rat in the bucket it would be snatched away from me immediately.

I had a great time and can't wait to do it again. I get to feed them all one more time before their owner returns home. Bonus! Next time I hope to have someone video tape it all.

Yay Friday!

2010-10-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

Get to see my boyfriend, have dinner made for me, and just relax. I'm so ready.

My New Favorite Songs

2010-10-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

"New World" by Devotchka
"Take Everything" by Greg Laswell
"Lasso" by Phoenix
"Sound of Sunshine" by Spearhead

Don't know how long they will stay favs, but for now I'm diggin em. I've been listening to a ton of music lately on Pandora and gotta say its the bomb.

Day with Dusty

2010-09-26T12:58:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Dusty kidnapped me and we went to Barton Creek for a bit of relaxation. The weather was perfect. Dusty read a bit and wrote, while I played in the waters amongst the rapids and boulders. We enjoyed talking to fellow Austinites about how cool our town is and exchanged a few phone numbers.

Yep she was a flowin

Ara's camera

Such a goofball

Nice tatts

I want to invent a new sport...under water boulder crawling

This is great!

Blanco State Park

2010-09-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

Highlights:

Lots of cool nature encounters of the more creepy crawly variety, Good place for family fun

Disappointments:
Road noise

Blanco according to the natives is pronounced "blank-0", and if you say it any other way you will label yourself immediately as not from around those parts. It is a tiny town but seems to have a pretty big welcome mat. The state park that Blanco houses is about the size of a pencil eraser compared to the other Tx state parks I've been to.

But its smallness is much of the charm the park holds. I met a couple of the resident campers and got the scoop of who is who and what is what. The rangers were very nice and so was everyone else I had encountered there. I stayed this past Friday and Saturday night and slept once again in my new tent. I am very glad I'm getting experience with it before heading out to more serious adventure.

I wrote a dumb little poem while I was in my little tent. It goes like this:

Crawdad don't pinch me
Don't sneak up on me with claws open wide
You can forget about it
Dragon Fly watches as I run and hide

Bullfrog listen
Why do you have to be so loud?
Someone else might want a word in edgewise
Might want to speak to the crowd

Bullfrog doesn't care
He wants to hear himself speak
Droning in his own purr
Another audience we will seek

We have found Perch and Snake
Both such close friends
They dance together in moonlit lake
Swapping stories of where they've been

All the while crawdad grumbles around
Looking for someone new to pinch
Dragon Fly hovers trying to make no sound
My cover is brilliant what a cinch

I had a fun time looking at a five foot long snake one night while I was there. It was awesome! I was down at the water's edge at night with my flashlight. I love walking near water at night...you can see so much wildlife that way. I was shining the light into the shallows and was shocked to see so many huge crawdads strolling along the bottom. I could have easily caught at least 70 of those suckers that night there were so many.

As I was busy counting and dreaming of crawfish etouffe, a HUGE water snake came from the shadows into my light. It swam straight for me. I gathered it was curious about my flashlight. It stopped about 12 inches away from my toe and poked its head up out of the water to have a look. Satisfied, it veered off to my right, it's long body gliding slowly by. I don't think it was a venomous snake but I wasn't entirely sure. I stood my ground and waited for it to pass.
The crawdads didn't seem to care about the snake in their way. They continued to amble along clumsily.

I saw a coyote on Friday night. It came VERY close to me as I was sitting on a picnic table about 1 am in the morning having a fun conversation with a gal I met whose parents live in the park. We talked about aliens. I was listening to a story when my peripheral vision caught a white blur of fluid movement passing by to my right merely feet away in the shadows of the tree line we were sitting in front of. It was an ALIEN!!

I stood up quickly and shined my light to find no aliens, but one lone coyote that was more white than brownish gray. I have never seen such a light colored coat on a coyote before and it surprised me. The animal stopped about 15 feet away and turned its head to look at me. I stood still wondering if there was going to be any trouble. Coyotes rarely get so close to people, but it stood there a good pause seemingly unafraid. I wondered if this one was used to hand outs or something. Anyway, it turned and walked on.

At that point we decided it was a good time to turn in for the evening. My arms had goose bumps and I had an adrenaline rush. It took a while for me to settle down enough to fall asleep after listening to scary alien stories, which are probably not typical camp fire stories, and having such a close encounter with a ghostly looking coyote. As I slipped into that drowsy state, I listened to the trees launch the occasional missile. They rained acorns and stuff the whole time we were there. It was peaceful though and luckily no one got hit on the head!

I saw plenty of other creatures on the trip as well, including a small tan scorpion which reminded me of one my mother got stung by years ago...made her sick. I was attacked by a grouchy praying mantis that didn't like the rude intrusion of my flash light and peering stare. It cocked its little head to one side, then the other, and suddenly hurled it's spread out body towards my head. I jumped and let out a surprised yelp hahahaha and laughed a good one at myself. I pet some cute kittens that belonged to the girl I was chatting with when we saw the coyote. Oh yeah, the lama. I had a face to face chat with a lama that liked to smell my hair. As you can see for a weekend of doing just about nothing, a lot was going on.

Another thing I wanted to mention before adding the pictures is the bowling club cafe that we had dinner at Saturday night. The food was fantastic! It was down home southern cooking at it's finest. In the back of the cafe was the coolest vintage bowling alley! They have generations in the town who have all stacked the pins during the games when they were kids. What an interesting history. I failed to bring my camera to dinner though and am sad I didn't get to take pictures of that place and the food we ate. But I am going to visit again, this time with Ben. He will like it there...and it is a good excuse to go back and pick up some pictures I missed.

Speaking of pictures...it's picture time! Yay!

The river was nice

Nice shady spot but I ended up moving to the other side of the branches for deep shade

You look marvelous dahling

This broad likes to pose for the camera

This is private property next to the park. The sheep are used for meat.

And what park is complete without geese? These were a noisy bunch! They got excited a few times during the night...might have been the gray fox bothering them. The park ranger said one was on the property and it liked to bother the chicks...I'm assuming there were hens on the property too, although I didn't see any.

This was how clear the water was in the shallows and why I was able to see so many crawdads at night. Part of the shallows was solid cement and rock.

Some Would Raise an Eyebrow

2010-09-09T21:24:00.000-07:00

Went to a fun cozy little place tucked away next to Spider House called "The United States Art Authority", which is a liberal arts place in Austin that I just discovered thanks to my friend Piph. She invited me out and I took the opportunity to bring a date and had a great time. The show was totally up my alley and feeds me inspiration for a blog I've been considering putting together. I was unsure if I wanted to do it, but now I'm like yeah let's do this thing! The new blog has to pretty much stay out of the family viewing arena though. I need to figure out how to make it all anonymous and stuff. Some things you just don't want your family to see. Sorry loved ones.

Anyway, the show was called "Bed Post Confessions" Salacious stories and enticing entertainment. Salacious. I like that word and I like this town. The culture is rich here and the people diverse. One thing is certain, as an artist I need many colors on my palette of life or I get bored. And if you get bored in this town you are not doing something right.

Lovin the Rain!

2010-09-07T18:22:00.000-07:00

We are getting a huge downpour in the fair city of Austin Texas and I love it. I look forward to the creeks drying up after all the rain is gone and do some fossil hunting in a very secret place. I also look forward to camping at Blanco in the very near future. Hopefully the river will be down enough and the place isn't flooded out. We shall see...

In other news, Ben was sick today and had to stay home from school. I think he has a stomach virus, but one can never be too sure about these things. He is doing much better now.

I'm getting on FB a little more, trying my damndest to keep up with everyone, but that place is crazy and I'm saddened that keeping up with people means signing onto a website...sigh...it is what it is. I must join the 21st century...but I'm afraid I will be assimilated.

Not much else to report at the moment...peace out

Can't Go Outside To Play

2010-09-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

The weather is stellar and I'm stuck in the house with a nasty cold. On the up side however is the fact that I'm getting some computer time in and paying attention to my blog. I'm sure those of you who are left will appreciate it. :)

Soon the blog is gonna have a new look. Dusty came over the other day and showed me his latest web site he did, and I want my blog to be similar. It has been in need of a make over for years. He has done an excellent job of teaching himself how to do web design. Self taught is where it's at in my book.

In other news...

Work is great and I love my co-workers. What an excellent bunch of people to work with! The mortgage industry is a very interesting animal and I have been learning a ton. I will be heading to Blanco SP soon with a couple of my coworker friends who are also crazy about camping. I'm looking forward to it.

I managed to update Ben's blog with a post. For those of you who have access feel free to check it out. If you don't have access and want it, and you qualify to get it, email me. I will direct you to it. You should know immediately if you will qualify or not. Basically if you are not a friend or family member you can't see it and you won't know who Ben is anyway, so are not missing out.

My hair is growing back in some of the places it fell out. Wow I'm lucky I had plenty of hair to spare! I still have no clue why I've been having these health issues in the first place, but I'm still searching for answers and will eventually get to the bottom of it all. I had another test done for Celiac and it came back negative again.

I've been talking to my dad. That is a big update I know. Despite the past, I love my dad and always will. I refuse to dwell on what was and am moving forward where he is concerned. Ever hear of a clean slate? Wish you had one sometimes? I think we all do. Everyone deserves to prove themselves.

I recently discovered chewy sweet tarts...they are da bomb

I am still missing my man in the desert. He is staying for burning man and probably won't be back until late September. Who is this mystery man anyway? I've been tight lipped about him I know. Someday I will dish the scoop and reveal all...it will be a good story!

Thomas called me a while back. Can't remember if I posted anything about that or not. Wow that is a big one too huh? He is good and just finished up a big trip in Glacier National Park. Go check out his All Things Fried site for pics. You can even see a pick of the woman he married. In all honesty I am so glad he found her. They seem well suited for each other. I am happy for him for real. We should always wish the best for those we love, even if it means their paths are far from ours. I still love you Thomas and always will...I'm truly glad you are having a wonderful time! :)

And remember folks, be careful what you ask for. The universe is very willing to bring you what you want.

At The Pool with Girlfriends

2010-09-01T19:09:00.001-07:00

The Skinny

2010-08-26T17:13:00.001-07:00

Ben started school again and is now officially a third grader! He seems to have a nice teacher so far and I haven't heard any complaints about anything. So far so good...but when they start giving homework galore it is going to be a challenge for me to keep Ben interested in doing more school work after a whole day of it. Poor kids...they are tired when they get home.

I can't believe how much like fall it feels already! Wow, 91 degrees feels pretty good! I miss the sun though. It has been behind the clouds a lot for the last day or so. I need sunlight and wonder how well I will be able to deal with the winter. I tend to get the drearies when it is miserable outside and grey skies dominate. I wonder if those artificial light things work.

Work is good, friends are good, family is good. Life is good. Will check back later!

Maybe Yes

2010-08-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

Maybe I will get a blog make over in this millennium...maybe not. I am hopeful Dusty will finish up his stuff soon and get busy on this one. He is good at this stuff...I must be patient. :)

Man in the Desert

2010-08-05T17:42:00.000-07:00

Man in the desert seems a million miles away
Out of grasp, out of touch but I feel him
He is here and there

Hearts divided on one plane
together on another
Man in the desert come home

Make things happen for others to see
All can revel in your determined sweat
You dream and create and tear down walls

My walls are gone

Where to Begin

2010-08-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

There is much catching up to do with photos stored on my hard drive. I will post random stuff for a while to get started which appears to be a good place to begin.

My new tent next to the old one. This was taken on a camping trip at Inks lake when I was with co-workers a few short months back. We had a good time. I managed to walk to some familiar spots and reflect back on treasured moments with Thomas when we were last at Inks together.

I can never go to any of these places again without having these memories of our time spent together coming back to me. But compared to a couple of years ago, I can look back with ease and not wince at the pain of it that once lurked in my being. Time can be both cruel and kind.

This goose is having a gander. Hah couldn't resist...anyway, this is at the waters edge at Inks.

Blues on The Green

2010-07-26T19:02:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at the last show and can't wait to go again. I'm a sucker for free concerts in the park. :)

For my Gluten Intolerant Readers

2010-07-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

I noticed some new folks have been stumbling onto my blog who are gluten intolerant. I am by no means the expert on the subject, but I have been finding out information bit by bit and am happy to pass along anything that might be helpful to you handful of folks when you end up finding me. With that said, here two words you need to know....Tinkyada Pasta! It is great stuff and made from brown rice flour. There is absolutely no wheat anything in it and is a safer alternative for those of us who love pasta. It seems no different from skinner as far as taste and texture go in a dried pasta. Be sure to rinse it well though after cooking...I think that makes a difference. Good luck and enjoy! :)

Tilikum I Hear You

2010-07-13T20:34:00.000-07:00

I have a subscription to "Outside" magazine compliments of my sister(yep Lynn I'm still getting them), and in the latest issue was an excellent article about the exploitation of Orcas in the wild for mega profits. It closely examined the death of a top Sea World trainer not so long ago when she was finishing up after a killer whale show. The article exposed industry practices as well as the lifestyles and deaths of Killer Whales used in theme parks, including a detailed account of one whale's life in particular. His name is Tilikum. This orca has killed two people and injured countless others.

Very important questions were posed and I can never step foot in a Sea World again. They have done an excellent job of hiding the horrors these animals have suffered touting the importance of their sacrifices for educational purposes. For that reason alone I have gone to Sea World in the past because I believed I was helping to support a good cause, but damn was I naive about it all. True they have done some very good educational things and made great strides in breeding programs, veterinarian medicine, etc...but is it acceptable how they got there?

In a nutshell no. The article outlined the history of how these whales became captive and I have to believe things could have been different were the motivations different. But throw in human greed and animals lose out every time...in turn we lose out too. Seaworld no longer use captured whales in their facilities other than the ones they already acquired. They at least breed the animals now, but again I still question the purpose other than money of course. I think the public is pretty aware by now the importance of nature conservation and the need for places like Seaworld seems outdated.

I hope readers will seek out the article I read and decide for themselves. In the meantime there are some human deaths to deal with. The bottom line is humans are not supposed to swim with killer whales as death and serious injury can occur. We have labels on everything now days warning us of dangers. I think it is a no brainer that extreme caution must be used in the presence of such natural power these animals possess. It is painfully obvious in fact, and wild animal trainers know the danger is real.

I don't think this has ever been a matter of question, but one huge question the article posed is this. Did Tilikum kill his trainer on purpose? In my mind the answer is hands down yes. After reading the article and doing a little research, I believe these poor whales have gone insane as a result of their captive lifestyles. I believe that orcas and other higher brained sea mammals are intelligent sentient beings who kill as a regular part of their existence. Changing the playing field doesn't change millions of years of instinct. And when conditions are right, disasters are easy to come by.

"You Disappeared"

2010-07-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

I believe those were the exact words in my recent communication with a blog fan who also happens to be a dear friend whom I love to pieces. It is true, I do disappear from time to time but only because the real world beckons and I no longer have the luxury of not working. Sadly blogging often takes the back burner. Suffice it to say however, when this particular person calls me up and wants to know where I've been, I snap to attention and post something. For you dear friend...

Life is trucking along at an okay pace and for now I am content. Yesterday I sat by the pool for about six hours relaxing and enjoying the company of my friends who live in the complex. It is nice to be able to walk out the door and know I will see two or three people down at the pool who will be glad to see me. We have sparked up the grill a few times and had a great forth of July. One of our friends bought fireworks and set them off for us. The kids had a blast.

I've been busy producing art work, and not so busy taking photographs. It is what it is. My apartment however had a makeover. I have a new girlfriend who does re-designs and staging for the real estate market, both commercial and residential. I should at least take a few photos of how great everything looks and post them. Although it was a collaborative effort, most of the credit goes to her. The really cool thing is I didn't have to buy a thing. We used all of my own stuff, just grouped it all together differently.

I miss hiking and backpacking but know I can always get back to it. I'm certainly geared out for the occasion. I have managed a couple of camping trips with friends here and there which is always fun. I'm waiting patiently for my favorite boyfriend to come back into town so we can go camping again. There are so many choice places to go and the decision is always a tough one.

Speaking of choices, I have many choices of what I can do with my time today. Earlier I did a little house cleaning(I love to clean my house, especially when no one is here). I might head down to the pool for a while after the strongest of the suns rays have waned a bit. Admittedly I did get on the pink side yesterday from not being diligent with the sunscreen. One thing is for sure, I do have a killer tan developing from all the sunshine I've been getting lately.

Later I might head to the grocery store after the heat has relaxed. I am craving good veggies and fruits and may get in the kitchen and whip up something yummy. Who knows I might even invite some friends over. So I guess that is it for now. I will try to stop in more often and post at least a photo or some kind of update. Maybe I will simply share some random thoughts.

I love you guys!

Such a Goofball

2010-04-21T07:46:00.001-07:00

This little boy is my life and my heart. He is fun, smart, engaging, and very silly!

Ben went to the beach weekend before last with his aunt Keryn and our friend Andy, and had a wonderful time playing with the jellyfish. Not really a kids toy, but he couldn't keep his hands off of them. He is just as inquisitive about nature as I am. Thankfully he was very careful not to get stung...is that a man of war he is holding? Errrr...yeah that can nail one good.

Since his adventure at the coast he has been begging me to take him back to the ocean. I love the coast and think we will go a few times this summer.

A Food Thing

2010-04-17T06:59:00.001-07:00

glazed carrots, Tilapia with a citrus cream sauce, and tossed salad

Gourmet chocolates from my sweetest of sweethearts. They were gluten free and damn they were amazing! notice the word "were".

Typical salad

Root veggies,Pork tenderloin, Green beans, and Kale

Chicken, Carmelized onions, and Chard

Little Amish Boy (Ben)...Ok so he isn't food, but he is cute and this was taken at a restaurant.

Introducing Lydia Mackay

2010-04-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

I have never talked about the fact that I have two beautiful half sisters because I lost contact with them years and years ago. I have recently been in touch with one of them thanks to our sister Lynn who tracked her down. Great work Lynn!

Decided Against the Ebay Gig

2010-03-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

I think I was temporarily insane to give it serious thought but I explore things. It is in my nature to do so. That might have been a much more plausible use of my time and energy when I was a stay at home mom. So yeah I need to sit this one out and focus elsewhere.

Speaking of which, I have accomplished more on one of my paintings and am digging the direction it is taking. New ideas keep coming and I'm excited to put them into practice. I should take a picture of it and post it along with all the others from the past few weeks. They are coming I promise.

Heard from my Dad

2010-03-24T08:45:00.001-07:00

I haven't heard a word from my father in about eight years then a couple of days ago he emailed me and attached a couple of pictures. I'm struggling with what to do about it. There is a lot of back story of course as to why I haven't heard from him in eight years and why I am struggling with having contact. It is all far too complicated to go into now.

It's funny how I thought I had lain to rest many of the issues where he is concerned only for them to come rushing back in with his contacting me. This time it is different however. I see things from a different perspective. I don't feel anger at all towards him anymore. I feel sadness mostly and regret. There are many things I feel I need to say and I don't know how to say them or if they would even come to rest on ears that can truly hear.

One thing my father is good at is sweeping things under the carpet. He is good at evading and not keeping things real. He is good at denial. I wish we could come to some sort of place of healing and understanding before he dies, but I truly don't know if that is possible as long as he clings to these traits. I think deep down my father is miserable and has been his whole life. I think there is a lot of hard core emotional pain that is too difficult for him to face. I think I understand him better than he could possibly know.

My dad could have done amazing things with his life had mental illness not been in the way. He has a genius all his own when it comes to being an artist and being creative. If only he didn't have so many things going against him, including himself. I will think on these things a while...

Ebay Store

2010-03-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

My friend Azzurra is going to introduce me to some people on Thursday who want me to sell a bunch of stuff on Ebay for them. One is a gal who used to own a video rental store and she has several hundred dvds to sell. Another is a guy who has a bunch of estate stuff he wants to be rid of.

I agreed to do this for the extra money(a percentage of everything that sells) and can only hope it isn't a nightmare to pull off. I've never done any serious Ebay auctioning before so this could be a challenge. I wonder where if anywhere this could lead...

I LOVE my town

2010-03-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

I say town because even though Austin has a large population and is a very happening city, it still has a home town feel to it. I don't think I will ever tire of this place or the abundance of cool people who live here.

I don't have Lupus

2010-03-19T06:38:00.000-07:00

I am very relieved. My blood work came back and showed that I have rheumatoid arthritis instead which isn't great, but I can manage it. And it is looking like I am suffering from adrenal fatigue which actually explains quite a bit.

I am determined to get this all figured out soon...

Went to the Dermatologist Today

2010-03-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

Great news! He said my hair follicles are unharmed and I will grow my hair back. We still don't know the underlying cause but he thinks it is auto immune in nature. I'm still waiting on my blood work. In the meantime I got a shot in the hip...a steroid...which should help prevent further hair loss for a few weeks. Keeping my fingers crossed!

In other news, my sister is leaving town today and life will resume back to normal. It will be a little lonely with her and the kids gone, but Ben and I will adjust quickly. Pictures are coming soon.

I will Handle what ever Comes My Way with Style and Grace

2010-03-15T15:12:00.001-07:00

I've been debating with myself as to whether or not I want to post this because I don't want to alarm anyone, but I decided to go ahead since this is ultimately my journal and having a timeline could be important later...

I'm losing my hair in abnormal quantities(already have two good sized bald spots...largest is two inches across) and the cause is unknown yet. It very well could be related to malabsorption of nutrients and vitamin deficits because of the food intolerances, but it could also be something pretty bad such as lupus or cancer and I am currently undergoing testing to rule those things out. My sister discovered the bald spots a few days ago and I don't know how long they have been there but I'm thinking not long. Fortunately my hair covers them up...for now anyway.

I got handed a diagnosis of fibromyalgia yesterday but it doesn't explain the hair loss. Unfortunately fibromyalgia (soft tissue arthritis) has no cure and is something I will have to manage the rest of my life. It isn't the greatest of news, but it isn't the worst either. I have been in pain for years now and am used to it. The best way to manage this disease is lots of exercise and stretching. Thankfully this means hiking and backpacking are here to stay. The doc says I don't have to give that up at all and he thinks it is a wonderful way for me to exercise and help manage the fibromyalgia.

Hopefully soon I will know more. In the meantime I am trying not to dwell on it too much. Stay tuned for updates and pictures I've taken over the last several days. We did some cooking and painting! :)

My Sister is Still Here

2010-03-14T17:31:00.001-07:00

I've taken quite a few pictures and will share them as soon as I can free up disk space. I bought an external drive today so should be back in the swing of things soon. Currently I am doing much needed maintenance to my box and hope to have it all ready and running better by tomorrow.

The visit with Lynn and her children has been really nice. I will hate to see them all go.

My Uncle Gordon 1920-2010 (He died on my birthday)

2010-03-10T12:33:00.000-08:00

Gordon William Smith, 89, an artist and avid collector who met an American Indian chief at age 5 and let his imagination lift him to a life as an architectural artist and as one of America's leading collectors of American Indian art, died Thursday, March 4, 2010, at home.
Memorial service: 1 p.m. Monday in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth. Dr. William Longsworth will officiate. Interment to follow in Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home.
Pallbearers: Mr. John Boswell, Mr. John Burk, Mr. Robert Dupree, Mr. Brent Hyder, Mr. Dan Reese, Mr. William Smith, Mr. Andrew Solomon, Mr. Bronson Stocker, Mr. Wesley Stripling, Mr. Samuel More. Honorary pallbearers: Dr. Irvin Clayton, Mr. Van Cliburn, Mr. Carroll Collins, Mr. John Graves, Dr. Richard Hubbard, Mr. George Keating, Mr. Bud Kennedy, Mr. Scott McDonald, Mr. Douglas More, Mr. Thomas Palmer, Mr. Diego Rodriguez, Mr. John Stevenson, Mr. Philip Vogel, Mr. Ronald Watson.
Memorials: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, 1600 Gendy St., Fort Worth, Texas 76107; the Houston Museum of Natural Science, 1 Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, Texas 77030; the Van Cliburn Foundation, 2525 Ridgmar Blvd., Suite 307, Fort Worth, Texas 76116; or First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth.
As a designer and creator of more than 800 works of art across 14 states, from stained-glass windows to a 50-foot-tall mosaic, Gordon Smith viewed his art in the same way he viewed the pieces of Indian art he collected as a lifelong avocation: as small glimpses of life's endless story, like a giant totem pole depicting life across generations and cultures.
Born in Fort Worth as the grandson of pioneers who moved to Parker County in the 1870s, he grew up hearing about Indians. In 1925, when the Smiths were vacationing in Glacier National Park, Mont., Blackfoot chief Two-Guns-White-Calf gave the boy a small, black rawhide rattle.
By age 20, he had made many friends among the Plains Indians and had been inducted into the Lakota Sioux, all while gathering a collection of more than 1,000 artifacts now in the Gordon W. Smith North American Indian Collection at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and also on display at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History through a rotating collection-sharing arrangement.
As a captain of two U.S. Navy landing ships in World War II, he participated in 13 landings on Japanese-held islands, often under enemy fire.
After graduating from Southern Methodist University, he attained a master's degree in English literature at Columbia University and also studied with noted Italian sculptor Oronzio Maldarelli.
Home in Fort Worth, he worked as an advertising artist and founded Smiths, Inc., the publishing house which introduced novelist John Howard Griffin, later the author of "Black Like Me."
In 1962, Smith created a stained-glass window for the memorial chapel named for his father, W.D. Smith, at Harris Methodist Hospital. Out of this grew the architectural arts firm Smith Studios, founded with his brother J. Hulbert, which over the next 41 years created stained-glass windows and other works of art for churches and hospitals across the South and Southwest. His 50-foot-tall mosaic on an Alabama church includes 1.4 million pieces of Italian tile, and is one of the largest mosaics ever created in the U.S.
Smith Studios also worked on the restoration of the historic Texas & Pacific Railway Terminal in Fort Worth, now T&P Station, and for this work the Texas Society of Architects awarded Smith its Artisan's Award. Smith's work, including architectural art, painting and drawing, was featured in a 2004 retrospective exhibition at Texas Christian University.
He was a board member of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and First Methodist Church of Fort Worth, as well as many other community organizations, and a member of the Jewel Charity Ball.
His wife of 48 years and the love of his life, Beverley Taylor Smith, was a Fort Worth civic leader, host of the local TV Ann Alden Show, and chairman of the Cliburn Concerts division of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She died in 1998, and after her death he funded the Beverley Taylor Smith Award for the Best Performance of a New Work, awarded at each Van Cliburn Competition.
The family thanks Diego Rodriguez and Brenda Hernandez for their many years of steadfast kindness to Gordon.
Survivors: Son, Gordon Dee Smith and wife, Susan, of Fort Worth; daughter, Beverley Blaine Smith of Fort Worth; grandson, William D. Smith II; and granddaughters, Blaine Keating Smith and Carolyn Blaine Smith Solomon.

Published in Star-Telegram on March 7, 2010

My Sister Lynn is in Town

2010-03-09T06:55:00.000-08:00

My great uncle died a few days ago prompting some of my immediate family to drive to Fort Worth for the funeral. Unfortunately I had to work and was unable to make the service. I loved my great uncle. He was a very smart and talented man and his death impacts me in several ways. I forever grapple with death and the finality of it...so many people who were important to me gone never to return.

Anyway, I got a phone call from her today and she and her children are coming to Austin this evening. I am truly excited that I get to see her and the kids. The visit is long overdue. I only wish my brother could be here too. When the three of us get together it is always hilarity. We so rarely get opportunities to all be together at the same time. It is especially fun when my brother and I gang up on my sister and play little jokes on her. Ah good times... So Lee you will be missed dear brother o mine.

Oh I forsee some some major cooking going on in my kitchen over the next couple of days. I need to remember to take lots of pictures with my spiffy Ara camera. :)

Dusty in the Hood

2010-03-07T06:15:00.000-08:00

I spent a little time with my good friend Dusty yesterday. He was fixing a lifter in a Camaro engine and I took the opportunity to snap some shots. Some of these turned out grainy but I knew they probably would. I took the shots from the driver's seat through a dirty windshield on a gray cloudy day.

Seeds Dusty gave me for my birthday. He thinks I should container garden. I don't think my balcony will get enough light but I can try it.

Dusty did this charcoal and I own it. The photograph doesn't do it justice but it is extremely well done don't you think?

Just a few Photos

2010-03-06T07:45:00.000-08:00

A romantic gesture

The completed mosaic before grouting

One of my favorite snacks. Frozen blueberries and blackberries with heavy cream

The official I'm 44 head shot

I am Making it just Fine!

2010-03-04T12:07:00.001-08:00

Ok, so today isn't so bad. I realized how silly it is to be so concerned about my age...as if there is a rule on what 44 looks like, or feels like, or how a 44 year old should act...

It's been coming more and more to mind that I am simply a late bloomer and I'm cool with that. :)

Oh God Nooooooooooooo

2010-03-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

I'm turning 44 tomorrow and kicking and screaming the whole way. I can't be turning 44! How on earth did so much time go by? I don't look 44. I don't feel 44. There has to be a mistake...quick check of the birth certificate...yep 44. Well damn I guess it's true. Sigh.

Now where on earth did I put that deep wrinkle cream...

Yay Picture Time!

2010-03-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

The squirrels

A lovely fellow artisan

Art in a bowl

When I finish this, it will be joining many others on a special wall somewhere in Austin

A good moment

Cats are cool

Pretty in Calico

It was a Special Day

2010-02-28T19:21:00.000-08:00

I was in excellent company four several hours today and couldn't have been at more peace. The weather was gorgeous and I spent a good deal of it outside today working on a special mosaic art project with new friends. I felt pampered and cared for through out the day and couldn't ask for more.

All connections made are important parts of the whole, every character having a place in the ebb and flow of this human experience. Something truly energetic is happening within and I hope as my life takes on a more positive path, those around me who I love will in turn find their own lives a little better and more satisfying.

I do have more pictures and will have them up very soon!

Getting Over it

2010-02-26T20:50:00.001-08:00

The gluten free thing is getting easier every day and I have found my groove in the kitchen again. I was a little freaked for a while about having to miss out on stuff I love, but I am seeing something positive emerge from out of the seemingly grim reality of never eating a piece of pizza again from my favorite pizza place, or a juicy burger from other favorite haunts. I am a foodie after all and what might not be a grim prospect for some, was for me. But no more!

I started to truly analyze what was bothering me the most about these food intolerances I have learned of, and it isn't the food itself that I was grieving over, it is the loss of a big part of my culture which is the freedom to eat out anywhere and at any time when the occasion arises. I'm not only talking about dining out at restaurants, it is also difficult to safely dine at others' homes as well, or to join my coworkers and eat what is catered into the office on a fairly regular basis. Food is a heavy part of one's culture. I have to strike out of my cultural norm and learn to create something new and better for myself.

I think the area I live in needs a gluten free something or other...a private chef, or cafe maybe... Should I take a giant leap into something daring? Any endeavor into the culinary world is a risky one if you miss your mark, but there is a niche here that is hard to ignore. I need to consult my good chef friend and a few others to explore the possibility of finally putting a culinary business together. My brother has experience in managing restaurants and perhaps I should talk to him as well.

Cooking with whole foods has always been easy for me, but it became very difficult over the past year when I didn't feel inspired to cook great food(it is a different way of life for me, being the single working mom). And finding out about all the different food intolerances was a hard blow at first which didn't help. I had started to rely on convenience. But I am slowly realizing what has fallen right into my lap and I need to pay attention and get focused. I am feeling inspired for the first time in a long while.

Culinary sauces are amongst my favorite foods to experiment with. Lately I have been thinking about sauces for poultry or pork. I made one up and emailed it to myself which is becoming a preferred method of organizing my ideas. It is much easier to find stuff I need this way and I am never too far from a computer. All the raw material I need for copy should I decide to write a cook book is already in black and white and waiting for me. I should consult with my sister too, she had to put a cook book together for a school assignment. I have no idea how that turned out, but she used different recipes from family members(including me).

Anyway, I had been imagining all last week having a beautifully roasted chicken stuffed with lemons, scallions, and butter. I thought meticulously about what elements in a sauce I wanted to pair with the meat. Did I want sweet or savory? Did I want au jus or something more? Did I want familiar or exotic?

The flavors and textures started formulating in my mind. This is the creative process happening. I wanted to use wine, I imagined a drier light wine like chardonnay. I imagined how it might taste coupled with the lemon chicken stock as a base for my sauce. I thought about how the wine would taste drinking it straight with dinner. I wanted the sauce to be semi exotic with a bit of sweet but not too much. Something fruity was coming into focus. Something light and distinct and complimentary with the lemon undertones...and just like that apricots came to mind.

My friends, a sauce was born. I have plans to make versions possibly using hints of vanilla or nutmeg and trying different liqueurs and different fruits. It will get very interesting doing all this experimentation and I will need guinea pigs dear readers. By the way, I made the roasted chicken exactly as I had envisioned it, and the sauce complimented it perfectly.

I am now imagining a beautiful roasted pork tenderloin paired with a fresh raspberry sauce using the same principle as the other one. I'm not sure if I would stick with a nice chardonnay or try a rose wine of some kind when using raspberries. I will need to experiment and have some tasters tell me what they think is best. Personally I think they both sound great!

So here are my ramblings for the day. I hope you found something entertaining. I have to run out now and register my son for summer day camp and take care of a few other errands. But if I could, I'd sit here and write the day away. I'm feeling creative and want to act on it. I still have paintings swirling around somewhere in the back of mind too, along with a hundred more creative projects. Taming the time beast is forever daunting.

My first pictures taken with Ara's camera

2010-02-26T20:13:00.000-08:00

Hi all, I have finally found the time and energy to go buy the adapter I needed...only about 5 bucks...not bad. Here are some pictures taken with the new camera via Ara. The photographing opportunities that came my way were many, but I was only able to get a few shots here and there for one reason or another. I am keeping my eye out for more though. Without further delay, here you go! Enjoy my friends.

I am very pleased as you can see by the look on my face. I am having lunch with a person who makes me happy.

looking down below into the water from my perch on a rock above.

A lunch spot with my special friend.

Cocktails on a gorgeous day. This is at the Spider House in Austin

The 360 bridge...I drive down this road to get to a new gluten free bakery I found called the Wild Wood Art Cafe. It is becoming one of my regular haunts.

This is a cocktail I made myself tonight using Bombay Sapphire gin, a twist of fresh orange, tonic water, and a splash of blackberry Izz. Yummy!

Brushy Creek Lake

The lake again

The Labyrinth trail...very tiny little trail but kind of cool

South maybe?

well manicured trail

For your own reading pleasure explaining the trail

You are welcome Kia

I hope this car continues to perform well. I do like it quite a bit.

It is unique, and I like that

Yes those are the boxers of a male companion. Think back to the camping trip that wasn't.

Right after setting up my new tent out at HCSNA before we discovered the fire.

Moab is a Bust

2010-02-21T22:06:00.000-08:00

One would think I would have learned by now to NOT get excited about things I plan for because my plans generally fall apart. It is just life getting in the way of life I think and no one's fault. After further thought, Ara doesn't want me to come to Moab because he will be too busy dealing with concert stuff to have a tag along. He also he doesn't want me to spend money I don't have. He is right of course. I was going to put the plane ticket on my credit card, but it turned out that plane fare was going to cost too much to justify spending for only a couple of days.

*Sigh* I hate the voice of reason sometimes. Life goes on...

Wheat Gluten Intolerance/Celiac disease...It bascically SUCKS!

2010-02-21T20:57:00.000-08:00

I am learning a lot about wheat gluten and some of the lessons haven't been easy. I've completely cut out all dietary offenders(it is not just wheat gluten) and I was starting to feel much better, thinking I had a handle on all of this finally. Then I accidentally ate some food that turned out to have hidden gluten and holy bat crap did my body react violently!

My stomach has been in knots, my joints are swollen, stiff, and I'm in a world of pain...it's been over 24 hours and my symptoms have not subsided. Come to find out, the longer you are away from the gluten, the more severe the reaction will be to it if you accidentally ingest it. Good to know. Doesn't make me feel immediately better, but at least I know what is going on. So back to the drawing board for me. I need to learn how to better identify the hidden gluten in the ingredients list on the food packaging. I now understand that bbq sauce is a no no as are most condiments...they are loaded with gluten. Who knew?

Check it out...this is a complete list of ingredients to stay away from that I found on a Celiac website. I can't even pronounce some of this stuff and the list seems to go on forever! I am coming to the realization that eating processed anything is not a good idea for me anymore. The health problems that these intolerances and allergies have caused are debilitating to one degree or another and it simply isn't worth it.

The bad list:

abyssinian Hard (Wheat triticum durum)
alcohol specific types
Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Atta Flour
Barley Grass (can contain seeds)
Barley Hordeum vulgare
Barley Malt
Beer (most contain barley or wheat)
Bleached Flour
Bran
Bread Flour
Brewer's Yeast
Brown Flour
Bulgur (Bulgar Wheat/Nuts)
Bulgur Wheat
Cereal Binding
chilton
Club Wheat (Triticum aestivum subspecies compactum)
Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Cookie Crumbs
Cookie Dough
Cookie Dough Pieces
Couscous
Criped Rice
Dinkle (Spelt)
Disodium Wheatgermamido Peg-2 Sulfosuccinate
Durum wheat (Triticum durum)
Edible Coatings
Edible Films
Edible Starch
Einkorn (Triticum monococcum)
Emmer (Triticum dicoccon)
Enriched Bleached Flour
Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour
Enriched Flour
Farina
Farina Graham
Farro
Filler
Flour (normally this is wheat)
Fu (dried wheat gluten)
Germ
Graham Flour
Granary Flour
Groats (barley, wheat)
Hard Wheat
Heeng
Hing
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Kamut (Pasta wheat)
Kecap Manis (Soy Sauce)
Ketjap Manis (Soy Sauce)
Kluski Pasta
Maida (Indian wheat flour)
Malt
Malted Barley Flour
Malted Milk
Malt Extract
Malt Syrup
Malt Flavoring
Malt Vinegar
Macha Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Matza
Matzah
Matzo
Matzo Semolina
Meringue
Meripro 711
Mir
Nishasta
Oriental Wheat (Triticum turanicum)
Orzo Pasta
Pasta
Pearl Barley
Persian Wheat (Triticum carthlicum)
Perungayam
Poulard Wheat (Triticum turgidum)
Polish Wheat (Triticum polonicum)
Rice Malt (if barley or Koji are used)
Roux
Rusk
Rye
Seitan
Semolina
Semolina Triticum
Shot Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Small Spelt
Spirits(specific types)
Spelt (Triticum spelta)
Sprouted Wheat or Barley
Stearyldimoniumhydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Strong Flour
Suet in Packets
Tabbouleh
Tabouli
Teriyaki Sauce
Timopheevi Wheat (Triticum timopheevii)
Triticale X triticosecale
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Flour Lipids
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil
Udon (wheat noodles)
Unbleached Flour
Vavilovi Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Vital Wheat Gluten
Wheat, Abyssinian Hard triticum durum
Wheat amino acids
Wheat Bran Extract
Wheat, Bulgur
Wheat Durum Triticum
Wheat Germ Extract
Wheat Germ Glycerides
Wheat Germ Oil
Wheat Germamidopropyldimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Wheat Grass (can contain seeds)
Wheat Nuts
Wheat Protein
Wheat Triticum aestivum
Wheat Triticum Monococcum
Wheat (Triticum Vulgare) Bran Extract
Whole-Meal Flour
Wild Einkorn (Triticum boeotictim)
Wild Emmer (Triticum dicoccoides)

The following items may or may not contain gluten depending on where and how they are made, and it is sometimes necessary to check with the manufacturer to find out:

Artificial Color
Baking Powder
Caramel Color
Caramel Flavoring
Clarifying Agents
Coloring
Dextrins
Dextrimaltose
Dry Roasted Nuts
Emulsifiers

enzymes
fat Replacer
Flavoring
Food Starch
Food Starch Modified
Glucose Syrup
Gravy Cubes
Ground Spices
HPP
HVP
Hydrolyzed Plant Protein
Hydrolyzed Protein
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
Hydroxypropylated Starch
Maltose
Miso
Mixed Tocopherols
Modified Food Starch
Modified Starch
Natural Flavoring
Natural Flavors
Natural Juices
Non-dairy Creamer
Pregelatinized Starch
Protein Hydrolysates
Seafood Analogs
Seasonings
Sirimi
Smoke Flavoring
Soba Noodles
Soy Sauce
Soy Sauce Solids
Sphingolipids
Stabilizers
Starch
Stock Cubes
Suet
Tocopherols
Vegetable Broth
Vegetable Gum
Vegetable Protein
Vegetable Starch

Vitamins
Wheat Starch

Projects and General News

2010-02-15T06:46:00.000-08:00

It turns out I need to go get an adapter for the memory card in my new camera so I can get pics from it to the computer. I hope to take care of it today after work...I'm antsy to start throwing photos up on the blog again. It's been a long time coming! Bless you Ara for sending me everything you had for the camera..it is a shame my computer isn't compatible. Thank goodness for adapters though. :)

Several projects are in the works and exciting things are starting to happen for me. One of the more fun projects is my attempt to get into theater. I met a person who acts in small plays and said I should audition. I think it sounds like a blast and a good use of my creative energy so am going to give it a shot. I grew up around the theater and don't see any reason why I can't be a part of it again. It should be noted that this is probably going to be more for my entertainment than anyone elses, but if I can find the actress down inside and bring enjoyment to others as a side note, that would be cool.

In other news, my art studio(the spare room in my apt. ) is beginning to take shape. I need to buy a couple of large drop cloths to line the floor with and a couple of easels. I hope to put some serious hours in soon and get a few paintings completed. One of these days I will have an informal art show and may even see about getting some of my nature abstracts on a public wall somewhere.

I also hope to have a new website eventually where others can go to purchase my art. Dusty is doing an amazing job with web design and if I'm really nice to him maybe he will design my website. His company is Right Side Optics, so if anyone wants a cool website let me know and I will send you his way.

My friend Azzurra came over on Saturday and I helped her make a home made Valentines day card for a friend of hers. She loved the card and was shocked that I have such an eye and talent for this kind of thing and inquired why I wasn't doing this as a side business. I use to do it as a side business and might start up again only this time for myself and not through another company. She strongly feels that I could be selling handmade cards in little boutiques and gave me some good ideas on where to start. It helps to know people who know something about marketing. I am the creative talent only and need all the business help I can get which seems to be typical of artists.

Getting focused will be the most difficult part in all of this. It is often a curse to have so many great ideas and not be able to hone in on one or two to see them come to fruition. It is time I start setting some goals and be sure to follow all of the baby steps. If anyone has any good tips for getting and staying focused feel free to pass them my way.

I have Two Pictures from HCSNA

2010-02-13T07:08:00.000-08:00

I forgot they were in the camera. I managed to take a couple of snap shots right after camp was set up. I have to install software first however before I can get them on here. The installation disk I have is not compatible with my OS, so I need to download the drivers. For now I just want to go outside and click some shots. It is a very foggy day.

A Real Eye Opener

2010-02-08T19:19:00.000-08:00

Every time I go out for a long day hike or a backpacking trip I learn something new to add to my experiences. Generally the lessons learned have been in fairly controlled situations with nothing too serious involved. Some are very general lessons, some more specific, but all are important.

This weekend I did make it out to Hill Country State Natural area with a friend of mine, but we didn't stay the night. There was a controlled cedar burn going on right near the park boundary about a mile away from the Wilderness Camp area, which park staff failed to mention. Had we been told about the controlled burn in the first place, we would have stayed to enjoy ourselves vs thinking we could be in serious trouble and needing to leave.

It is unfortunate this was the very first backpacking trip my friend had ever been on, because he never got the pay off and our situation was extremely stressful. I wanted him to understand why I am so obsessed with this type of adventuring...but he is forever soured I am afraid... And I only want more...dangers and all. I realize that I am an adrenaline junky. Here is my story...

We arrived at the park fairly late in the afternoon...around 2:30 or so, but had plenty of time to walk the two miles to the wilderness camp area and set up before dark fall, and do a little exploring. After partially setting up camp it was decided we would climb Ice Cream Hill and set off on our little adventure leaving everything in camp.

About a quarter of the way up I happened to notice smoke coming from some trees to my left. At first I figured it was someone burning trash since there was a house not too far off in the distance, that was very close to the park boundary. Not to mention HCSNA had just been dumped on with tons of rain. At the time I couldn't imagine this being anything other than a fire someone was tending.

But I had no way to be sure and called out to my friend who was further up the hill to come see what I saw. By the time he was at my side...just a few seconds later...we both saw flames leap from above the tree tops and the fire started to grow in intensity. That got our attention and we both came to the conclusion that we should leave the area just in case.

I did a quick wind check to see which direction the wind was blowing...good we were upwind from the fire. I was fully aware however that the wind could easily change direction and bring the fire our way leaving us possibly trapped, or unable to out run it if in fact it was a fire out of control.

We wasted no time getting back to our camp site. About the time we got within a few yards of where my new tent was set up, ash was starting to fall on us. Terror started to creep in but I refused to panic and stayed calm even though my thoughts were coming at me fast as I was trying to think clearly. What if this was the real deal? Could it be? I struggled with the idea.

There were other backpackers in the area and while I broke camp, my friend went to go tell them what we discovered only to find they were no where in sight. I was disappointed to hear the news, but was ready to go. I think I set a record for that being the quickest I had ever broken camp...probably about 6 minutes or so.

Of course it was not a neat pack job but obviously I didn't care. I even pondered as I was doing it, if I was being stupid by taking the time to gather my stuff. But I kept thinking if we got caught out there past night fall for any crazy reason...a fall...etc....we'd have a whole new set of problems to deal with if I didn't have my gear. Right or wrong, that is where my head was and my gear is my security blanket.

Overcoming the fear of decision making in such trying circumstances was a new challenge. I wanted time to slow down for me...I didn't want to get it wrong. But in my mind there was no time to waste and we'd wasted plenty already. There was a bit of disagreement about the route to take out of there. I wanted to double back the way we came...which was away from the fire and back to the car. My friend wanted to do something that although made sense on some level, completely made no sense to me on another. We were like chickens with our heads cut off.

He wanted to take a route that would bring us to a park road that was supposedly going to be faster than doubling back. His goal was to reach the house we saw outside of the park boundary, and call for help since we had no cell phone signal. Mind you this is a lonely house in the middle of nothing but hills as far as the eye can see. I found several flaws in this plan. One, being the fact that we would come very close to the fire and two, being the fact that it was entirely possible no one was home or that we could even get to the house since it wasn't near a trail, and the fire could cut us off.

Whatever the case, I agreed to go with his plan because I was beginning to doubt my ability to make a sound decision. But as soon as my feet started to move the direction he thought we should take and I got a few yards, I came to a dead hault. I called out and told him to hold up a minute...that we needed to re-think this. My gut was telling me that it was a mistake to go the way he thought we should go. I physically could not force myself to walk in a direction with so many unknowns. He said it was my call. I was in a serious state of not knowing what to do but found myself moving back towards the direction we had come. I was making it all up as I went along.

All the while, time is ticking and I'm inwardly kicking myself for allowing so much time to be wasted with the arguing in case this really was an out of control fire. Right about then, two hikers that we saw earlier were on the scene and I asked them if they had a phone that might get a signal. One of them tried and she got a weak signal. We called the park first...no answer only a voicemail. I hastily left a message explaining that we thought a fire was out of control and where we were. The next call that was made was to 911 and though the signal was sketchy, we think they got an idea of what was going on and where we were, but we couldn't have been certain before losing signal because the dispatch kept yelling at us to repeat where we were because she coudn't hear us.

The hikers, a pair of older women, said that the route my friend wanted to take was a good idea because it would take us close to their car, stating that it was on the road we were trying to reach and that we could get there fast...it even looked quicker on the map. Against my better judgment though, and because I know those park maps are VERY decieving, I went along with the group consensus that we should go ahead and head for their car...we were running out of daylight and needed to move it. I still didn't like the plan and the ash continued to fall.

We came close to the fire...and saw that there was a small river of water from the rain between us and it, which brought a small amount of relief, but only small in my mind. I also knew that fire can jump water...all it would take is a tall tree to fall from one side to the other. I kept my thoughts to myself on this...I didn't want to upset anyone further.

Since I was well committed to the route by then and getting to the road as quickly as possible became my sole focus, I hadn't even realized that my friend and I put distance between us and those other hikers. As soon as I realized how far we must have gotten ahead of them, we hit the road. Than almost as quickly we saw a truck coming into view. It was a fire truck! I was so relieved! I think we only walked about 30 minutes by this time.

Soon after the fire truck came into view, the park host came into view. He stopped and told us that the fire we saw was a controlled cedar burn. He didn't stay to chat...he had to catch up to the fire truck to stop them from going further. My friend and I looked at each other in almost disbelief that no one bothered to tell the fire dept ahead of time what was taking place and no one bothered to alert backpackers either. And in the hooplah we forgot all about the two women, which I felt terrible about later. We hitched a ride back to our car and it seemed to take forever to get there. We would have been walking for at least an hour in the dark if we didn't have the ride.

Once we got to our car, the two ladies were not far behind...being dropped off at their car and guess what? Their car was no closer than ours! They had no clue where they were when they came upon us in the trail, though it appeared they were confident of where they were. Neither one of them was prepared for a night walk...no jackets or warm clothing, only walking sticks, so I took that as a sign they actually were not far from their vehicle. Wow that was a huge mistake on my part to deduct that. And had that whole incident not happened, they very well could have ended up lost in total blackness and seriously lacking warmth. I hope they learned some lessons of their own.

I think from now on I will not doubt my own instincts and be a more firm leader. I think doubling back would have gotten us to the trail head and my car much quicker than the other route regardless if a car was there or not...after all it was only two miles and we could have made it in about thirty minutes if we walked very fast. But I gotta say, under the circumstances those two miles might as well have been 8 in my head. My friend quickly acknowledged that my plan was probably the better plan, even though things worked out fine in the end.

I will be disecting this scenario over and over for a while until I am satisfied what the best course of action would have been. I want to go back and mentally correct my mistakes. Reader feedback would be most appreciated too, especially if you have backpacking experience or outdoor experience. I want to learn everything I can from this.

It's AWESOME!!!!!!!

2010-02-04T22:44:00.000-08:00

I got the camera! it is perfect for my needs and I can't wait to delve into it more to find out all the cool little secrets/features. I need to give myself a crash course asap so I will be able to take pictures of backpacking this weekend! You rock Ara, thank you for sending it so quickly.

That's right...I'm going backpacking. Yes I know I say that all the time and then something happens yadda yadda yadda. But it is for real. I am mostly packed already and so excited I can't stand it. I'm going to HCSNA and am hoping that the trails are not too much of a mess from all the rain we've had. But in truth I won't let muddy trails stop me. Fortunately where I'm headed is a lot of rock, so it should be fine.

Oh and I set my new tent up tonight...I LOVE it so far. It is very easy to set up and wow it is lightweight compared to my old one. It will be interesting to see how it handles condensation since it is a single wall tent. I can remember a couple of times when Thomas had some big condensation issues with his single wall tents so that is certainly a concern...but not a huge one. Bringing a sponge along just in case will help.

Yay! I can't wait!

This Rain is Getting the Best of Me

2010-02-04T15:19:00.000-08:00

I can't remember hating cold wet rain so much. I'm so done I'm deep fried.

Going to Moab Utah

2010-02-02T20:30:00.000-08:00

In May there is a camping/rock festival in Moab and I'm going! I am so excited because I've been wanting to see this part of the country for a long time now. Utah has some of the most amazing scenery on earth and I can't wait to see it first hand and take pictures! Here is the link to the festival for those interested. The best part of all is I will finally get to meet my dear friend Ara in person for the first time, and Spirit too! I'll be the guest side kick for a couple of days ;)

Awesome!

I'm Getting a Camera!

2010-01-30T09:04:00.000-08:00

Ara saw my post and he still has the camera! It wasn't sold yet! He is going to send it to me and let me pay him as I can which is more than generous of him. I know it is just a camera as Ara puts it, but it has a ton of sentimental value and I am going to be so proud to carry it in my hands and take pictures with it. And to add icing to the cake, he is going to teach me a few things about getting the most out of the camera with the settings and stuff. Mind you this is coming from a total photography pro. I am a very lucky girl!

I will do you proud Ara and take lots of cool pictures to share on my blog. When I see you, I hope Spirit doesn't think I'm attacking you when I throw my arms around your neck and give you a giant bear hug. :)

I Need a Camera!

2010-01-29T14:24:00.000-08:00

I wish I had the money to buy a camera. My beautiful friend Ara(The Oasis of my Soul), has a camera for sale, and I wish I could buy it. How awesome that would be to own the camera that traveled in the hands of a true free spirit. His camera's lens captured amazing shots of mother nature in some of her finest moments in time, and it captured the images of interesting people with great stories to tell. Ara is becoming quite an icon whether he likes it or not...

I will probably break down and buy a fuji or something inexpensive and lightweight before my next excursion. I plan to get out doors again for a long day hike or overnighter next weekend. The weather was too rainy so the trails will be muddy this weekend. However there is always the all weather trail! Might have to give that a go tomorrow morning...

I can't wait to start posting photographs again...hopefully soon dear readers.

My Blog is Four Years Old!

2010-01-29T10:05:00.000-08:00

I had no idea I've been blogging that long! It's been a ride the last four years...

Dating Site Rant

2010-01-28T18:41:00.000-08:00

Men get a clue! Don't brag about your gadgets and cool material things so much. It makes you look dumb and like you are compensating for something. I can't stand it when I go to a guy's profile to see that he seems to care more about his gadgets and gizmos than anything else. That reeks of a man who is nothing more than an immature materialistic kid. Don't get me wrong, I am all for the kid inside, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

Another thing that annoys me is some of these profiles are way too filled up with accomplishments and pats on the back for oneself. There is nothing wrong with high self esteem, but inflated egos completely turn off quality women. Profiles that list off hundreds of reasons why you are so awesome have red flags all over them. A little humble pie wouldn't hurt.

Oh and of course don't get me started on photographs. Too late...I'm going there. If you feel you must show off your six pack online, I simply shake my head and laugh. Nothing screams egotistical bastard more than the shirtless eye candy photo. Get over yourselves already.

And for those of you who don't post photographs, I don't care what your reasons are...they are not honest. You are either married, have a girlfriend, or are unattractive. And using the excuse you are worried your kids will see you is lame! If your kids are cruising dating sites on the internet you have way bigger problems than not having a date.

No Back Packing...Waited Too Long

2010-01-25T07:05:00.001-08:00

I didn't go back packing but I did manage to get out and hike on Sunday. I went to Doe Skin Ranch and wandered around there for about four hours. I did Rimrock Trail loop twice and wandered around on the other trails...repeating them a couple of times...then called it a day.

I actually ended up lost towards the end and had a fun road walk back to my car. I didn't know how far away my car was, but figured it had to be less than two or three miles and thankfully I think it was no more than a mile. Once I realized I was going the right direction(had to flag someone down and ask) I settled in for the walk and was happy to see that my car was not near as far as I thought it might be. I still am not certain how I ended up so turned around looking back at the hike, but that place can get confusing because it changes. It seems every time I go out there, things look different to me.

I don't know how many miles I ended up in total(no gps)but I know it was at least 7...my feet were screaming at me towards the end. I can't wait to get out and do it again! The next time I will plan better. Note to self...go buy another GPS, don't forget compass next time. :)

Change of Plan

2010-01-23T07:57:00.000-08:00

HCSNA is not gonna happen. I called the park just now and boy scouts are there. I do not want to spend any time near a bunch of loud boys. But interestingly I just saw a comment from an old friend who will be in the place I was considering next. Is this a strange twist of events?

It would absolutely be too awkward for me to go to a place knowing my ex back packing partner will be there. He would for sure think I'm a stalker! So back to the drawing board....Canyon of the Eagles is a possibility, so is Pedernales Falls. The Roughs come to mind as well...HCSNA will happen soon though. I long to get back to that place...it is magic.

I will figure it out my friends and hopefully have a cool trip report to share when I get back.

I HAD TO DO IT!!!

2010-01-22T11:28:00.000-08:00

I just bought a new backpacking tent for two. It's a NEMO Nano Elite model and it is SUHWEET. It comes in leaf green and was regularly 389.00. I picked one up for 269.00 on closeout! This is awesome considering I have had my eye on one of these for a while now. :)
Check out these specs...

Features/Benefits:
3 seasons
freestanding
32 square ft
Mesh door faces outwards so it can be used as an internally adjustable vent when rain isn't a factor
Mesh door can be unzipped completely from the tent to save a few ounces
Curved floor edges cut out excess material and produce excellent tension to the tent shell
DAC poles sets are on average 20% lighter than standard aluminum poles and use a green method of anodization
A large internally deployable vent promotes good air ventilation
Large internally deployable overhead vent further helps combat condensation
Includes DAC Featherlite poles, stakes, and stuff sack
Footprint available separately
Packed weight: 2lbs 13oz

My only regret is that it won't be here in time for my backpacking trip this weekend.

A Hacker

2010-01-21T13:51:00.000-08:00

Just a heads up that my blog has been hacked in to. I don't know exactly yet what the hacker hopes to gain from this attack but I guess I'll find out eventually...

So if you see any strange posts that are completely out of character you will know why my dear readers. :)

No More Wheat of any kind(gluten), Dairy, Soy, fish, seafood, Beef, Spinach...

2010-01-19T12:48:00.000-08:00

I have been recently told after extensive blood work that I am suffering from some big food intolerances and food allergies. This explains a lot actually as far as my health goes but is not the greatest of news for this foodie to hear. Many of the foods I love are now off limits...

In fact it would be much easier to list what foods I don't have any issues with rather than what I need to avoid, but it's far too depressing to do because it is a VERY small list. If I could live without eating I think I would all around be happier at this point!

Almost Finished a Painting

2010-01-17T17:09:00.000-08:00

For the first time in a long while I worked on my art. I have one of five paintings close to completion and it is a good feeling. It is a small painting done in acrylic using deep blues, oranges, yellows, and black in varying shades and textures of all three.

It is turning out to be very rock like in some ways. I want to do a series of these smaller paintings and make them all nature themed and abstract. I'm going for bold eye popping colors and textures that make people want to reach out and touch them. It takes a lot of paint for stuff like this but I think the end results are interesting.

Goodbye Toyota, Hello Kia

2010-01-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

So I bit the bullet and bought a new car finally. After much back and forth internal debate, I bought new and not used. I am now the owner of a Kia Soul(base model). It is quite a relief to finally have this task behind me. Now I can look forward to car payments! Yippy!

I wish I could post a photograph for everyone, but I am no longer the owner of a camera that works. But I'm gonna set aside some money each paycheck and go buy a new camera next, so hopefully I will have one within the next six weeks or so. I can't stand the thought of not taking pictures and what a boring blog this would be without them.

Since my last post I have met a new person who I think I might hit it off with. He is every bit the adventurer I am, and he has a degree in the culinary arts which I think is pretty sexy. Not only that but he also has his degree in marine biology and is quite the animal lover. We haven't met face to face yet, so who knows. But for now I am feeling a little tingle of excitement. Only time will tell if it leads anywhere.

Yippy, the Holidays are Over!

2010-01-07T19:45:00.001-08:00

I don't want to sound too scroogie here, but I really love it when the holidays are over. Life can resume it's normal pace!

So let's see, what's been happening...

Well I have a couple of dates lined up. I'm not that excited about anyone yet, but we'll see. It doesn't help that I'm so wishy washy on this whole dating thing. One minute I think it's a great idea, and the next I'm sitting here thinking what the fuck am I doing entertaining the thought of bringing a man into my life? I'm so happy right now with just being free! But I can't lie, there are times when I am really lonely and crave male companionship. So I'm in a strange place kind of...

And for the record, dating just flat out sucks. Isn't it supposed to be fun? I'm not having fun yet...it's stressful.

Yes Me, There is a Santa

2009-12-24T09:51:00.000-08:00

Things took a complete turn for the better. First of all, it is Christmas Eve and I must say to my family...CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!...heh heh. And if you got me first oh well...I have a great excuse...(This is a family tradition that goes way back. Maybe I will tell the story soon since it is Christmas.)

I am in my new apartment! I wanted to move before Christmas so badly, the universe complied and things fell into place. Thank you Universe. The move was exhausting, stressful, and seemingly never ending. Damn glad it's over. Moving over the holidays is highly unrecommended. Moving to a third floor over the holidays...yep...not so great when everything you own is heavy. But happily I didn't injure myself too severely. I hurt my shoulder a little, but it will heal in time.

I love that after it was all over it felt like I backpacked about a nine miler mostly uphill. And for those of you who know me well, yes I wish I was camping! I'm thinking next Christmas I might have to drag the family out to the camp grounds somewhere. Maybe Hill Country State Natural Area. That would be sweet and I can't think of anything more peaceful. Get away from all this holiday madness.

Speaking of which. Today I have much to do still. I have a last minute Christmas to pull together. I only have a tree to purchase, set up, decorate, presents to buy, wrap, and a turkey to make. That isn't so bad really compared to what I've just been through.

One more thing. Ara, you my dear friend are always in my thoughts. If we lived in near proximity of each other, the times we would have! Think how famously Marley and Spirit would get along. We are two parallel arcs peaking on different time waves, only to briefly pass each other. Life always teases us that way. Hug your dear doggie for me. I will email soon or try to call.

Ok, sorry everyone. Sometimes this is just the best way to communicate. My phone is dead and I have no charger thanks to the cat mutilating the chord. That is one more thing I will be taking care of today. The phone charger, not the cat. She is lucky to have escaped death this time ;)

I can't wait for the upcoming plans over the next couple of days. We are going to spend the holidays with our dear friends here in Austin. I am extremely fortunate to have such amazing friends in my life. They are all like family to me and we have the best times together. I want to send a special shout out to Veronica and Dusty. I love you both. Life is that much sweeter because of you two.

Dusty you are my muse and a solid ear to bend. I know we don't get to spend as much time together as we did over the summer, but I look forward to spending time with you over the holidays. The same goes for you Veronica! I am so thrilled that the kids and I will spend Christmas with you and your family. It is going to be fabulous that everyone is able to come together. :)

And to Mom, Lynn, Lee, and everyone one else who I know I have failed to mention, I am thinking of you always. I am sure we will talk soon.

Good day my lovely readers, friends, and family. Merry Christmas and fantastic festivities to all!

Hey Everyone :)

2009-12-06T16:23:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say hi and let everyone know that I will be thinking of them over the holidays. Things are a bit crazy around here (so what else is new?). Caitlin is back in the hospital and it looks like I have to move over Christmas.

I am moving to a bigger place in the same complex, but my only choice is to move starting xmas eve and being done by the time the weekend is over. Ugh! I can't believe we are going to have to move over Christmas, but worse can happen.

Hopefully Caitlin will be back on her feet by the time we have to move. Just taking it a day at a time around here...

Will keep everyone posted when I get the time.

Love to all!

Ginny

Marley and Me

2009-11-23T20:10:00.000-08:00

She is so awesome it's ridiculous. I've had some amazing dogs as pets in my lifetime, but I think Marley is going to show far greater potential. My childhood dog named Blueberry lived until I was in my early 20's. I was around five when she was brought home to us and she was smarter than any dog I had ever encountered. She understood most of what I said to her verbally and unspoken. She was a Border Collie mixed with Australian Sheppard.

I think Marley is going to be like Blueberry in many ways, but of course she is entirely unique in other ways that are surprising me day to day. I can easily kill an afternoon playing with her...actually we all can. Caitlin, myself, Ben, and our friends all spend a considerable amount of time playing with her.

Marley is half Rhodesian Ridgeback and half American Pit Bull Terrier. She is gorgeous and very smart, almost too smart. She certainly is all puppy still turning six months old today, but she weighs in at 60lbs already and looks full grown. It's not surprising given her father's size. He is the Rhodesian half weighing about 120lbs, so freakishly big and incredibly goofy. Marley has that goofiness about her too.

Her mother, the pit half, is a calm, sweet, and generally mellow dog. Put the two together and you get Marley, a sweet rambunctious goofball who definitely has the mellow side. She also has a bit of a stubborn streak mixed with part lazy. She requires discipline for sure but once something is off limits she respects the rule. We've left our shoes and personal affects out which would be ever so tempting for most dogs, but she hasn't touched them ever. She seems to know already that they are not to be played with.

She has been housebroken since she was three months old and knows all the standard dog stuff like sit, stay, lie down, roll over, etc... She knows the difference between her bone and her ball. She will bring which ever one you ask her to find which is something new since this weekend. I taught her that in about 10 minutes this Sunday.

But here is something that has really blown my mind about how intelligent this dog is. She has taken the initiative to answer the phone when we can't. Today she took the phone off the receiver and brought it to Caitlin while she was in the shower. It was incredible! I've been coming home some evenings to find the phone off the hook and figured Marley was knocking it off, but I didn't know she was actually trying to answer it!

When I called the house this morning Marley answered the phone. I got a lot of heavy breathing and muffled shuffling around and I kept saying hello thinking it was Caitlin sleeping after knocking the phone off the hook. But not too long after, she called my office and the first thing I asked her was where was she. She said she was in the shower and that's when I asked "Did Marley by chance bring you the phone?" Caitlin said "Yeah!" and we both died laughing.

So needless to say I am in love with my dog and can't wait to turn her into a trusty trail companion. Sweet!

And finally I would love to tell you what I learned about Rhodesian Ridgebacks. They were first introduced into Africa in an effort to create a superior hunting dog that would be courageous, steadfast, level headed, intelligent, and loyal to family(their pack). Their ability to track lions and keep them at bay until the hunters had the chance to catch up and finish them off was fine tuned into the breed.

Because they are not nervous dogs they are confident and unlikely to be the dog that picks the fight. Ridgebacks are more likely to observe and avoid rather than get in a quarrel with a dog not interested in a good romp. Marley has learned this lesson and will give another dog plenty of space if that is what it wants.

They have speed, agility, stamina, and can go the distance. This is one of the reasons I think Marley will be an awesome trail dog because she has it all. Good looks, smarts, bravery, loyalty, and a ton of fun. :) Yeah I love my dawg.

Damn I'm Pissed Off!

2009-11-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

I'm still in the market for a new car. I know what I want, but getting it has been an issue. I'm sick and tired of greedy salespeople who are trying to RIP ME OFF. Surely there is a hungry car salesperson out there who won't turn down a sale. Isn't some profit better than no profit you greedy fucks?

The attitude that someone else will buy the car for more money is getting old and I am sick to death of it. Isn't that the same greed that has gotten our country into quite a fine mess? I think it is last time I checked. Fuck you all! I will wait for the hunger to set in...car rant over...

I'm Still Alive and Kicking

2009-11-11T11:26:00.000-08:00

Greetings friends. I know I'm a lousy blogger....it's incredibly hard to make myself sit down, write, and post photographs when I have so many things to do. Life is full and fun and there is no way to get to it all. The sad thing is that I really love my blog and want to be good at it...but it's not in the cards right now and always takes a back burner.

Winter is coming and I'm preparing myself physically to handle extreme weather again. I've absolutely got to get back to hiking and backpacking regularly. It is a MUST for me and every time I think I'm gonna get to go, something happens. I want to do a solo trip so bad I can taste it! I will keep hoping and wishing, and doing what I can every day to make it a regular part of my lifestyle again.

I gained a lot of weight back by not going regularly, but that is becoming less and less of a problem as I have completely changed my dietary habits and am moving around much more. I lost 22lbs of the thirty I gained back in less than a month this past month. I'm doing it sensibly as well...I think my body is more than ready to get back to serious business and becoming fit again. My metabolism is through the roof right now because of the key important things I'm doing.

Well I'd love to sit here and post more, but I've got folks demanding my attention right now. I hope to get back soon and update everyone.

Cheers to you all!

p.s. I've decided it's time to start seriously dating. I joined match.com after much debating with myself. We'll see how that goes....

Test Drove a Fit...

2009-09-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

And I didn't have a fit over it. I was actually disappointed. The configuration of the driver's seat and steering wheel is awkward despite the "telescopic" steering wheel. If I wanted my knees to not be too bended I would have to put the seat far back, therefore making it difficult for me to reach the steering wheel. I could reach it, but then my arms were fully extended out and not in a relaxed position. Plus I had to lean forward a bit and couldn't rest my shoulders back in the seat.

So that was no good at all. Despite all the other great features of the car, that one detail ruined it for me. So on to the next vehicle. I test drove the Honda Insight. Great car if you don't mind cramped quarters and virtually no pick up. I can deal with the lack of pick up, but not so much the cramped quarters considering it is a hatch back. Yeah the seats fold down and all that jazz, but the low back window area takes away all the head space making that storage/cargo area not so great.

I eventually ended up driving a KIA Soul. I like this car. I test drove it twice and am going to test drive another one today to see how it handles the rainy weather we are having. I will give a full report once I'm back from the test drive...

What to do...what to do...

2009-08-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

I have two many offers on the table of fun stuff to do this weekend and I'm torn now. It's Saturday morning and I just don't know what offer to take. I knew this could happen the second I started formulating plans to go backpacking.

I now have two parties on the table and they both sound like a lot of fun, and I could have a date tonight as well if I want. Dammit! I want to do it all!

Gonna Try to Get out this Weekend and Hike

2009-08-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

I am seriously considering going back packing this weekend despite the horribly hot weather we've been having. Anyone want to join me?

Time for a New Car

2009-08-23T17:39:00.000-07:00

So I've put a lot of thought and research into this process and I've decided to buy a Honda Fit. I need a new car and I deserve a new car. The Fit has fantastic gas mileage and even though it is small, it's still roomy enough for camping gear.

I hope to get something next weekend. :) Will keep my readers posted...

I Love My Life

2009-08-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

So life is rockin and rollin along. Work has been awesome, my friends have been awesome, my kiddos are awesome, and life is awesome. Tomorrow I am heading out to the lake with Veronica and a good friend of hers who has a boat. He just bought a 75,000.00 dollar ski boat that holds 20 people and we are gonna party like rock stars. It's been a long while since I've been on a boat and I'm looking forward to it.

I asked our friend what he was gonna do with that boat when there is no longer a Lake Travis...he said he'll park it at Lake Austin, and then if that lake dries up he'll park the boat in his back yard and have parties on it lol. In any case I hope I can overlook the tragedy of a dying lake for a little while, as I'm living large on a fancy new boat.

Ben starts school very soon and is going into the second grade! I can't believe how fast my little boy is growing up and he is simply the smartest kid in his grade. He wants to learn spanish, german, french, and italian. He says if he has time he'll learn Japanese too lol. And on top of all that ambition, he reads through chapter books like crazy and is broadening his vocabulary by leaps and bounds every day...it's sometimes like talking to a 15 year old, not a sevin year old.
I'm always having to remind people, "dude he's only sevin".

Today I am cleaning house and doing laundry. I hope to get out by the pool in a little while and freshen my killer tan back up. My close friend Andy is probaby going to spend the night tonight and I want to have a gorgeous glow ;) I think we are all going out somewhere for live music and eats this evening and then who knows what.

Last night a couple of my neigbors and I stayed up laughing and enjoying each other's company, so I won't be surprised if tonight goes a little something like last night. I made pancakes and bacon around 3am and my place smells like IHOP today. Wonder what I'll be cooking up at 3am tonight...time will tell! :)

My cute friend Dusty from upstairs asked me if I would cook for him on an ongoing basis if he brings me the stuff. Ha, that's what I get for letting people know I'm skilled in the kitchen. I haven't made anything spectacular in a while, but I feel something special coming... something French...mmmmmmmmmmmm

P.S.

2009-08-15T14:34:00.000-07:00

I went through all of my hiking, camping, and back packing pictures last night, and for the first time in a very long while, I could look at Thomas's pictures without feeling sad as fuck. Instead I felt saddened by the fact that I'm not spending my kid free weekends in the back country. Damn I miss it! I have too many friends pulling me in other directions. I wish I could get them all to join me out in the woods...but they are city folk. ;)

Freakin Awesome Party!

2009-07-12T22:45:00.000-07:00

Veronica and I decided to meet up at the party and got there around 8ish. Things were still being set up and not many people were there yet save for the close few that I know. Veronica, a really nice girlfriend of mine who is my age and divorced with kids, had never been to a party like this, or a One Eyed Doll show. She LOVED it. I so knew she would. She fell in love with Kimberly like everyone else does.

Johnny Flash played first and it was totally over the top fantastic. Johnny has sheer talent. To be entertained in a friend's home with a quaint few people, by the most incredible talent, is too good for words. I love these people and they always light up when I show up on the scene. This isn't a surprise to me, everywhere I go it is like that. People remember my name, they cheer and call out my name. It's almost like being famous dude. I must admit I like the attention.

I inherited this from my grandfather. He taught me how to be gregarious and outgoing. I hope I let him know enough while he was alive, how much I appreciate what he taught me. Everywhere he went, people cheered his name too and treated him like he was someone very special, and he was. I miss him.

The party was just crazy fun. Kimberly and Three played a hot show with visual and physical entertainment that only Kimberly does best. She was in our laps, crawling all over the floor, and running around head banging up a storm. It just rocked!

I'm happy to be on her street team. We are getting ready to get very organized and blow this thing out of the water. Kimberly is going places and we all want to help her get there. She is our friend who shares her art with us and we are fortunate for that. We simply have to be there for her because of what she brings to us.

Veronica was thrilled to experience such a unique gathering. The entertainment could not have been better. I've got posters and cd's if anyone is interested. Just email me.

One Eyed Doll Tonight...Private Party

2009-07-11T10:50:00.001-07:00

Well tonight will be the last private OED party at the Doll House. Maryann has to move to an apartment and obviously Kimberly can't rock us out in an apartment. So we are all sad that our fun little parties at the Doll House are coming to an end. :(

I need to take pictures this time. The last several times I've gone to hang out at the Doll House, I haven't taken any pictures, except in my head. But since this is the last time at Maryann's place I'll have to take a ton of pictures of everyone for sure.

Today I have errands to run. Blech. We need to get mousies for our snakey, I need to grocery shop, and go get a new phone. I've decided to get a Cricket phone for now, but hopefully I will keep the same number. We'll see...

On to other news...

I got a much needed raise...my second one. This time I got a HUGE raise, way more than I ever expected. Thank goodness too, because I've been in the poor house quite a bit since I haven't gotten any child suport in a while. Russell has had a very difficult time in the job market and has been struggling with finding and keeping a good job.

Things better improve quick on that front for everyone's sake, but in the meantime at least I can have a little breathing space and can get caught up on bills once my new and improved salary starts coming in. Big things are coming up in the future though. I wish I could spill the beans about it all, but needless to say, it's gonna be awesome and I have to keep it hush hush for a while...

Well the day is getting away from me. I need to do my errands and then get ready for the most awesomest party ever. :)

Transformers Dos

2009-06-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

Took the kiddo to see this today because he loved the first one and begged me to take him to the second. I nodded off a couple of times, and raised my eyebrows a time or two. Some of the subject matter was way more brazen than I expected. Not appropriate much for young kids. Usually I see a movie first before I let him see it...should have this time. Fortunately the adult situations were probably a bit over his head.

I took him to Walgreens first to buy him some candy since it is more in my budget...we all know what a rip off movie prices are. Ben wanted this toy phone that had candy in it. It turns out this toy phone is crazy annoying. Ben behaved in the theater of course, and he kept the phone quiet during the movie. He was following the rules of turn your cell phone off which I found amusing and endearing all at the same time. He's a great kid...

Now on to the crazy part. On the way home from the movie, he was making music with that thing by pushing certain tones and sounds. He was singing along and having a great time. This was the best 1.29 I've spent in some time, at least I thought so until the thing went haywire.
It wouldn't stop making the same loud noise over and over and I tried everything to get it to stop. I eventually sat on it to muffle the noise so we could get home in peace.

Then when we got home, we managed to get it to shut up. But just in case it decides to do that again, I have it buried under stuff so we won't hear it. :)

Oh BTW...

2009-06-27T12:25:00.001-07:00

I saw Belligerent 86 the night I was with my friends Ralf, Niki, Zak, and Said(Sa eed) of Krash Karma.

After KK's show, we went to see B86 across the street at room 710. It turns out that Houston, the singer of Belligerent 86, and I have a friend in common. I know a gal named Devvon, who is best friends with one of my best friends and she happens to be childhood friends with Houston.

Such a small world. Who knew that I would end up meeting and knowing so many amazing people on Red River. I'd seen Houston around at Head Hunters many times, but only knew him as an aquaintence...still only do really. I didn't know he was in a band that another mutual friend had mentioned a time or few. Small World indeed.

So Red River feels like home in many ways for many reasons. I've certainly had some of the best times of my life there watching amazing rock shows. And it's so great that I get to be friends with these bands and hang out on a personal level. It's no good to have musicians as friends if you don't get to hang out with them. This is why I am not ever listening to the radio anymore, and I rarely listen to mainstream music. Although I do find the lyrics to many songs compelling as you can all see.

There is this one band called "Course of Empire". I turned Ralf onto them. I only have one cd, and I don't even know if they are well known or not. I heard about them many many years ago...probably more than ten or so, and bought their cd. It is so great! I'm pleased that Ralf thinks so too. He heard them for the first time over at my place. Ralf is way cool and I adore him and everyone else in Krash Karma. Good people totally.

I told Ralf he should have a conversation with my sister Lynn. He is from the black forest and she lived there for a while. I told him that she speaks German fluently, since she still speaks German to some of her close friends there. Anyway I think she and Ralf would enjoy a conversation.

Heh, yeah it's a long post...so deal. When I write, I don't kid around. You don't hear from me for weeks or even months at a time, and sometimes complain about it. So when you finally do read my posts, you better be enjoying them dammit. ;) And I mean collective you btw.

Okay, so where was I?

music, Red River, friends...

Ah yes...brings me to my next thought process...the outdoors. Well are you surprised? Hahaha, what else do I talk about? So yes, I'm heading out for a much needed camping trip with my good pal Gilbert and the kids. I want him to check out Krause Springs with me. Such a nice little place.

I am long over due for this trip. I have let the pool and Red River pull me away from what I really want and need to be doing. But I have my reasons for not hitting the trails other than the aforementioned stuff. I don't want to go into that though. It's only temporary in the grand scheme of things anyway. My heart is always in the outdoors even when my body isn't. I'm so glad Ben is turning into the outdoorsy kid I was hoping for. It can't be said enough how important the outdoors is to a growing young boy. For girls too! Can't forget that.

But he will be a wonderful trail buddy when he is strong enough to survive if he had to ever be in that kind of situation. I won't get him too far off the beaten path these days...but absolutely I do my best to get him involved in nature in one way or another.

He loves his pet snake Jasmine. She is such a pretty girl. She shed her skin yesterday and is ready for more mousies. yummy

Your Big Day...here is the full song...goes out to you folks gettin married...Enjoy

2009-06-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

"Big Day"

It's your big day, your big day
So you want to tie the knot
Tie it tight, don't let it rot, the memory of this day
Are you deafened by the bells
Could be heaven, could be hell
In a cell for two
Big day come and big day go
Life goes on after the show
But will your love have the fire and glow
Like on the big day
Statistics they don't say a lot
But can you keep what you have got forever together
There's a lesson to be learned
Many fingers have been burned with the touch of gold
Love can come and love can go
What your chance is I don't know
But if you have love then let it show like on the big day
You're a new recruit
The big day
in your wedding suit today
Like on the big day
yes you're looking fine
The big day
sign on the dotted line
The big day
it's your wedding march today

Finally it's Official!

2009-06-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

I'm divorced!!!! I am so happy and relieved it's over. I'm going to celebrate tonight with my good friend Azzura and I'll probably have a party at some point. Marriage is over rated...and if you are thinking about getting married...well good luck to you.

Krash Karma

2009-06-20T15:33:00.001-07:00

Went to see my friends play last night at Red Eyed Fly on Red River and then late that night we came back here for hot tubbing and swimming. Much needed after a sweaty night on the town...lots of mosh pits to run around in...

My Days are Filled with

2009-06-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

Work, taking care of the best little boy in the world, keeping the homestead clean, swimming, getting tan, spraying sunscreen all over Ben and myself, visiting with pool friends, paying bills, buying snake food, watching Ben color or draw, feeding the cat and giving her enriching things to do, feeding fish and a bottomless pit of a crawfish, cleaning tanks, cooking, driving, messing around on the computer, reading, talking on the phone, doing laundry, shopping, and on and on it goes...

Life is full and I am in a reasonable place. I have many good fortunes to look forward to. But I do crave the simple life. I crave the back country and want to visit wild places outside of my dreams. It is coming, but I need to be patient and let it all unfold. Ben is a real nature lover and he can't wait to go out camping again. He will need to practice some patience too. It's good to learn delayed gratification.

I saw an owl the other night, a Great Horned owl. Beautiful sight! Of course I couldn't help but be reminded of the one I left behind in the old neighborhood. The birds are prolific here at the apartment and at work. I saw an Oriole at work the other day while on my lunch break, and several other species as well. I like to sit and watch them when I can. Our office site is quite nice and I see a lot of nature there. Deer are always in the area as well as frogs, and fish too.

I'm thinking about getting a tarantula, but that is going to have to wait. I want one that is the size of a dinner plate and wear it like an accessory, The kids will love it! But it will be costly and there are other things more pressing. Someday, someday.

Speaking of Pictures

2009-05-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

I was going to post a few photographs I took, but I think they got deleted accidentally. Bummer, they were nice. I need to get out and start taking some new ones!

Today...

2009-05-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

Today might be a repeat of yesterday, almost.

My friend Windy came over yesterday and we spent the early afternoon poolside with a cooler full of Tecate. The sun was out enough, and we had the perfect opportunity to talk and do some much needed catching up.

After a couple of hours we decided we had to have a Sonic Snicker's Blast, and packed up the pool stuff and left. While we were at Sonic the thunderstorm started with intermittent big fat rain drops splatting on my very cracked windshield. I had visions of big fat hail stones finally finishing what they started a few weeks ago, and my windshield getting shattered while I'm at the Sonic drive through. Ha.

Fortunately that vision didn't manifest. So we got our stuff and went back to the apt. It's pouring rain. The sun is gone for the day. We had only been home a couple of minutes when the phone rang. It was Gilbert. He and his boys were at the sprinkler park not far from me and he asked if they could come by. Of course the more the merrier!

So we spent the rest of the day watching the rain, talking, watching movies, etc... Then Russell dropped off Ben and the kids played games, etc...It was a great day.

Today the sun didn't come out, and we did not go out to play. But I'm content. Gilbert left the boys with me for a sleep over and he went out with friends. Now as I write this, I'm being treated to breakfast. Gilbert is cooking! We're having bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, biscuits, tortillas, and orange juice. Oh and he brought me a latte which I'm currently sipping on. :)

I doubt the sun will be out, so we'll end up just hanging out. We were supposed to camp this weekend but bailed due to the crowds. Good thing, we would have been rained out. This is the second time now we've had to cancel camping. I'm hopeful that we'll get a chance soon to take the boys out. They love to camp too! :)

Cheers to all my friends.

Tomorrow is our pool side bbq. It will be a lot of fun with many friends invited. Hopefully I will get pictures!

Good Times for Sure...

2009-05-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

This is in my friends garage/music studio/hang out. A couple of weeks ago my friend Jamie came into town and had a party at her friend Kelly's place. We had a great time. I never did get a shot of people jamming...I was too distracted.

This is Jamie. She is a very good friend of mine. Jamie has been playing guitar and writing songs her whole life. She can play the drums too.

This weekend I am going to hang out by the pool with other friends and we plan on cooking out. I will take some pictures of the festivities, the pool, etc...

Cheers for now!

Making Friends Poolside

2009-05-15T16:44:00.001-07:00

I like the apartment complex I live in. I have been taking Ben to the pool now that the weather is good for swimming and I've met about 10-15 people who are regulars at the pool. There is a good community here and these people are fun to hang out with and talk to while we hang poolside.

It's never been difficult for me to make friends and I feel more at home than ever here at "The Ranch". Some of the people who live here have been here for years and they all know each other. I have more community here than I ever did in the old neighborhood! And not only is there community here for me, it's here for Ben too. He has a TON of kids his age to play with and has been having a total blast coming home and heading to the pool after a long day of school for him, work for me, etc...it's become our routine.

I'm hopeful that now Ben lives with easy access to a pool, he will learn how to swim this summer. We'll see how it goes. :)

I was gonna go camping this weekend but I ended up getting sick today at work and had to come home. I'm still feeling crappy but hopefully will feel like doing something tomorrow. We'll see.

Pajama Party with Kimberly

2009-05-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to Maryann's place for an intimate gathering of folks to listen to Kimberly's new cd release "Sleep" with Kimberly and good friends. It was a magical evening. Candles were lit everywhere and Kimberly's new cd is incredible.

She told us all about the songs and why they were written and the stories behind them. It was very moving. This girl has had some tragedy in her life and her new album is reflective of that when you know the stories. But even amongst the melancholy there is incredibly beautiful music and then there's Kim's god like voice of course.

After the cd was over we had a lovely time lying about in the living room floor on blankets and pillows talking about stuff. We also got to hear some of Kimberly's new music that she and Jason are working on. Let me tell you, there is some fantastic stuff in store for the fans. Jason is quite the talent himself and I'm anxious to get my hands on the music he is working on as well.

Here is a picture Dave took of me and Maryann last night. I didn't take any photos...I just hung out and enjoyed the company and soaked it all in. I do have a lot of photos to post soon though...

Senior's 44th Birthday

2009-04-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

Senior is Elliott's dad. We call him Senior because he is also named Elliott. Usually we call Elliott EO, short for Elliott Oliver...I don't think anyone ever calls him Jr. The birthday party was a lot of fun! We camped outside on Senior's property both Friday and Saturday night...weekend before last.

There were tales of a panther that the locals have been seeing, and Senior was telling me I might not want to go off into the woods alone to pitch camp...I did anyway. I was hoping to see a panther, but never did. Of course I take that story with a grain of salt.

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures taken at the party at Senior's place.

Senior

Senior sitting in my lap

Senior's new bird house...a present

EO
My new hammock. My sister sent this to me for my birthday. I tried it out at Senior's place during his birthday weekend. There are plenty of things to like about this hammock, but there are some things not so preferable as well.

The good news is that it's lightweight and will be perfect for hot summer camping. The bad news is it doesn't give a level sleeping surface...so a bit hard to stretch out. The good news, it makes a great chair to relax in and a great place to put stuff out of sight since it's camo. If I want to leave my camp sight for instance and go exploring, I can throw my gear in the hammock and tie it up in the trees somewhere out of sight. The bad news, it won't do for winter.

So, all in all I think it's a practical gadget for summer. 12 oz is way better than lugging a heavy 5lb tent around in the hot summer. However, I intend to save my money and buy a really well thought out and more expensive hammock sleep system that I can use year round. I will keep this one though for a partner or just to put stuff in or use as a chair.

Great Family Time

2009-04-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

Here are the first of several pictures. These are the little girls Ben met on our camping trip. They are all sitting on a downed cypress tree...the thing is huge! Ben had a blast crawling all over it during our stay at Krause Springs.

Three not so small bumps on a log

I will be back a little later this evening to post more...

A Couple of Weekend Events

2009-04-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

Weekend before last I went to my friend's birthday bash and camped out. I have a hammock review to post, and pictures of course from that event. Then last weekend I took my son Ben camping with me to Krause Springs. We met up with some of my friends and both Ben and I had a great time. He made some new friends at the camp out and enjoyed the camp fire. It was great watching him discover things out in nature too.

There are stories to tell with pictures. Yet I'm pressed for time right now, and regretably so. I would love to post the photos now...but you know the drill. :)

My Car from Hell

2009-04-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

Ugh I'm so pissed at my car. It's just a disaster...I constantly have to have it fixed. Something always happens to it...either some ass hole runs into me, or I get hailed on! Windshield broken, light fixture broken out, dents all over the new hood I just bought, ARGGGGGGGHHHHH what the hell universe? I need this car to run somewhat peacefully for the next year at least while I try to save money for a good used car.

I'm not sure what the problem is this time, but it over heated and is being looked at now by a friend of mine who is a mechanic. Shade tree mechanic...if you've got a good one, they are worth their weight in gold because they have very flexible hours. Ah, speaking of...my car is back!
Now THAT is service! I didn't have to lift a finger. I called my mechanic and said "I have a car 911 I need you", and he came right away to get the car, took it away to fix it, and then brought it back. Done in three hours. WOW! If anyone wants his name and number please do let me know...

...Ok, so it turns out that the wreck cracked the radiator and the thermostat was messed up too. Lucky thing though, he said the engine does not appear to have suffered. Woo hoo good news! Total dollars spent...350 smackaroos. I hope this is it with bad car luck for a while.

Other than that bit of misfortune, I am doing well and looking forward to the weekend camping. I plan on trying out my new back packing hammock! I'm spending two...count 'em...TWO glorious nights outside starting Friday. I can't wait! I should have camping pictures up in the future to show off my hammock. SWEET!

A few of My Favorite Things

2009-04-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

My Skull Candy Bandanna I got at SWSW...the were chunking these out a window to the crowd

My colorful rainbow of dannas

My cat Lola...she loves to play with straws

An art book and my Rembrandt oil pastels

Oil Pastels...my sister brought these to me from Germany a long time ago

Pure Pigment Pencils

Paint Brushes and Acrylic Paint

My Drum Sticks

A New Painting I'm working on...this is a close up, it's going to be lichen on a rock

Another close view...this is a large painting...acrylic on canvas

Another Painting in the Works...just a small one

Dude a Whole Month!

2009-03-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends!

Wow, I'm behind. A lot has been going on for the last month...primarily work and taking care of my great kiddo. But I've managed to find time to party with friends and enjoy the things in life that make me happy.

I have a lot of pictures to post! I went to SXSW and Texas Rockfest, listened to great live music, hung out with band friends of mine, and met some way cool people. Krash Karma stayed at the house and it was cool having the chance to get to know Ralf and Niki even better. I met their newest band members Zach and Said, both talented musicians. This band kicks ass my friends...their live show always blows me away, but this last one I saw was the best show of theirs I've seen to date.

Of course I saw One Eyed Doll play several times over the past couple of weeks, once at a house party and twice downtown. Their show is always a crowd pleaser and the fan base is growing by leaps and bounds. Kimberly and PJ(Three) are a big talent that begs attention. I adore them.
They will be on tour and missed in their hometown. I'm on their street team and the only "Doll" in North Austin. I need to organize and recruit some new members to help me promote the band in this part of town...(I'm working on it Kimberly).

In other news, my good friends came over to my place to help me celebrate another birthday. I'm getting younger and younger every year! It's so awesome! Then a few days later my good pal Gilbert came over and cooked me a dinner to die for. On the menu was chili and cornbread. It was the best damn chili and cornbread I've ever put in my mouth! Gilbert is a rockin cook. I love it when a man is competent in the kitchen and can rock my tastebuds.

What else has been going on...

Well I got caught in that big ass hailstorm that swept across Texas Hill Country. I was on my way home from work, on the freeway, in traffic, when it hit. It was terrifying because the hail was HUGE! I had round chunks of solid ice as big as baseballs slamming into my car. It was extremely loud and I was scared to death my windshield would be shattered. It almost was, there are terrible cracks all over. And the body of the car took a solid beating too, looks like a baseball bat in the hands of an angry person went off on my car. I'm more determined than ever to see this car to it's death. Hope it's not too soon! I don't want a car payment. I have no coverage for hail damage *sigh*

Ok, enough chatter...it's picture time. :)

a beat up old car...from my wreck

My place...view from my bed

My sitting room

View from my kitchen

From my front door

The bathroom

Lemon Poppy Seed cake...Jerry made this...it was delicious!

Good eats...pears,blueberries, and gargonzola

Some of my friends...I love my friends. :)

Some guy in a band at Texas Rockfest. He gave me a cd, I haven't listened to it yet...

Dave, he is a talented photographer and really nice guy. He produces "Dave's TV"...lots of way cool vids of bands and stuff

Dave's wife and my friend, Maryann. She and Dave are good people.

Kimberly performs at Maryann's place. This was taken a couple of weeks back

This is Roni, she is Kimberly and Three's Street Team President. Roni is a way cool gal and quite talented herself. It was good to meet her. Maybe she can help me organize the North Austin Dolls Street Team.

PJ(Three) Kimberly's drummer. He is a freakin awesome drummer!

Kimberly's rad new boots. I love 'em!

Here she comes...

In my lap going crazy!

And there she goes...off my lap and into a back bend

Perched on the back of the couch for a moment

and down she goes, rocking her little rock and roll heart out...we all love Kimberly's show antics. Dawg she is hard to photograph...always on the move...

Maryann took this of me in her back yard during the Austin Music Award celebration she hosted for OED. Several bands played that evening...it was so much fun!

Crummy Luck!

2009-02-28T14:58:00.000-08:00

So on the 23rd I got in a car accident and the insurance companies ruled that me and the other person were 50/50 at fault, which doesn't please me since I KNOW I wasn't at fault. Damn it! But I suppose it could be worse, they could have said it's my fault completely and then I'd really be in a pickle. But as it is now, at least half of my damages will be paid for so that is something. I'm too bogged down with stuff to fight it, so will just let it go. One of these days I'm going to buy a bright red car so people will see me! lol

Today my purse was stolen. I had almost 50.00 in cash in my purse, and of course my credit cards, driver's license, social security card, check books to two bank accounts, and my bank cards were all in it...so I've been busy trying to cover those bases. What a big friggin hassle and I'm so pissed. My purse was stolen right out from under my nose at our garage sale. I set it down for just a minute or two to assist a teen age girl, and I think her friend took the purse while I was helping her. As soon as they left, I noticed my purse was gone. GRRRRRRR

So I called the police, yadda yadda yadda... but I doubt the dirty little theives will be caught. In any case I suppose things could have been worse...I could have had a whole pay check's worth of cash in it or something. Hopefully these brats are too stupid to try identity theft, but I'll cover that base too...gonna call the soc sec. office first thing on Monday.

As for my car, it's fixable and I have a trustworthy mechanic who will do the work. I've already gotten the parts from a salvage yard. I just hope there is no engine damage but am taking it to the dealership as soon as possible to get their opinion and their estimate on the damages. Then I have to take it to the insurance company to get their appraisal. Hopefully they won't try to screw me over...well of course they will try...but I'll have the dealership estimate to come back on them with should the insurance company try to pull a stunt. Ah life is so wonderful! lol

Other than this string of bad luck over the past few days, things are going okay. I'm still loving my job and love my new apartment. :)

I think I'm going to start offering art classes soon to individuals as a way to make extra money and am looking forward to getting my art studio set up. Lot's of work to be done there, but fun work! I haven't been able to paint yet, but am getting close to being in full swing on that. My 43rd birthday is in a few days and I'm hoping to have a party this weekend. We'll see how things go.

I went backpacking with Gilbert last weekend, but we didn't get to hike the next day. One of his kids got sick and we had to cut the trip short, but none the less, it was WONDERFUL getting out in nature. We went to Colorado Bend State Park and had a really good time. There wasn't a soul around and it was incredibley peaceful. I can't wait to get back out on the trails soon.

I guess that is about all the update I have for now. To all my loyal readers, I love you and I'm sorry I haven't blogged much lately. Things are starting to settle down though and I should have more leisure time to blog. I hope all is well with all of you!

Hugs,
Ginny

About Damn Time Right?

2009-02-16T16:57:00.001-08:00

Yum!

Pears with gargonzola cheese

Fun with Blurring

fun with spinning the camera while taking the shot

typical moving pictures...

semi moved in...

I sleep on the floor and I like it that way

more typical moving shots

taken at the old place...moving is so much fun!

This is very special glass...it comes from a place in my childhood.

Stained glass from Grandaddy's old studio. This piece used to be part of a wall in his studio.

People Want PHOTOS!

2009-02-08T08:24:00.000-08:00

I am working on it. :)

I know I've been quite absent. I miss my blog and my blog friends. I miss a lot of things and many people actually. There is so little time to keep up with everyone. I've had little time to myself as well...it's ridiculous.

I work 10 hour days now and it takes a lot of my energy, but I LOVE the job. I did manage to get out some this weekend for a little fun with my friend Elliott and some of his friends. This was Friday night. We had a great time and I didn't want to leave such fun company, but I spent a good 24 hours at Elliott's, so needed to get back to the home pad and pay attention to my cat. Ben is with his father this weekend, the first weekend in three weeks solid. I needed the break!

Today I will be getting my car inspected, hopefully my hair cut(it needs it so bad!), and then I will hang with Gilbert some. I will try my best to have the energy left over to post photos...they seem to be in huge demand. That's okay, it's good to have fans! ;)

Hugs to you all, love to you too.

Acccckkkk, it's moving day!

2009-01-24T06:08:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm freaking out just a tad bit here...

I have TONS of stuff left to pack, and I have to make decisions on what to leave behind. It's tough deciding what I can do without because I'm sentimentally attached to a LOT of my things and I have too much. I don't get the truck until this afternoon...which I wasn't happy about, but oh well. Since I have to pack a lot, I might as well get on it.

But I wanted to pop in and write a quick note to everyone first. This may be the last time I post a blog post from my loft in the home I've lived in for 7 years. It's a bit strange leaving here, even though I am thrilled to be doing it. I guess it's a bit on the bittersweet side. I'm not the only one feeling the emotion, so is Ben. He grew up in this house and is having moments of sadness having to leave it. But I'm there for him and he is coping well everything considered.

Night before last I went out on my back porch about 3am for one last listen to my Great Horned Owl friend. True to it's nature, it was there loaning intrigue and mystery to the warm night air. It was gorgeous and I cried a little. I will miss this owl a great deal. It has been a source of comfort for me on many nights.

Well, signing out for now my dear friends. The next time I write I will be writing from my new place. I will take pictures of the whole moving process so you can be glad you are not the one doing it...that is if you aren't glad already! ;)

Ciao

Acccckkkk it's Thursday already!

2009-01-22T17:28:00.000-08:00

This is ridiculous...time needs to slow down just a bit for me!

It's Wednesday Already!!

2009-01-21T17:56:00.000-08:00

Yep, the week is flying by. I have my utility accounts set up and a U-haul lined up. Now I need to secure renter's insurance before Saturday. I also need to get an internet provider. I am hoping to find a company other than Road Runner, but may have no choice...haven't crossed that bridge yet.

I still have a lot to pack but don't know when that is going to happen lol. I am going to move as much as I can with the u-haul though...the big stuff anyway. I can make a few trips with my car to get the rest if necessary. I'm trying to keep a perspective of this being totally easy. They say moving is one of the most stressful times ever...I say screw that! ;)

Can't wait to get it all done though and have a party!

I Move Nnext Weekend! Acccckkkk

2009-01-18T13:12:00.000-08:00

Ok, this is a bit of a stressful time, yet exciting one too. I can't believe I'm moving into my own apartment at the end of this week. The time has gone by so fast that I'm stressing over deadlines, getting accounts set up etc...

I'll fill in more details later when I have time. :)