Trials and Tribulations

Your spiritual path can be liberating to someone else today because you are leading by example. There's no need to tell anyone else what to do; your idea of happiness won't necessarily work for others. But your friends can see how much more you do for everyone else when you are also doing what's good for you. Being of service is important, yet you won't be able to help anyone if you don't take care of yourself, too.

So today I got a haircut and dye job- that's the 'taking care of yourself' part above.  The hell with service to any of you!  Also took Molly for her haircut (no dye because I have always felt that people and dogs with white hair need no enhancement) but seems I was a day early at the groomer.  I whined and she took her anyway, but she won't be done until about 6 tonight, poor doggie.  When I got home I checked my calendar because I don't usually screw things us so badly and sure enough, the haircut I had noted for today was me, not the dog.


Also stopped to pick up a prescription and found out my drug policy has been cancelled-  not a big deal for today's $11 pickup, but I need to get everything else replenished in a  few more weeks and that's hundreds of dollars.  They were SO helpful (not) when I called and they told me I have to re-apply in November to get coverage but there is no guarantee I can get it back.  Of course if the woman I talked to hadn't been illiterate I might know more about what I have to do...  This whole medical thing sucks.  So much for having great coverage and good supplemental policies.  Cancelled.  Poof!


A few weeks back I answered a series of posts on the SAQA list when they were talking about 'finding a voice' in their work.  I got a few 'atta girl's back to me privately, and one woman asked to re-post to her other art blog so I gave permission (of course!  Since anything one does on the web is out there anyway and comes back to bite one on one's ass at some point-  might as well get other asses chewed on!)  Anyway, here is the link to the little borrowed bit, and the responses.  Looks like the ladies actually read it too!


Other good news is that I have gotten such positive responses on Swamp Thang's debut at the Quilters Connection show this weekend that I am going to shop it around to some upcoming shows.  I hung it in my art gallery hallway when I got it home and even TY said he is 'getting used to it', and that is almost high praise.  I got a lovely note from the Director over at NEQM after she saw it, and that reminds me that it's time for me to send out my own mash notes to people whose work I admire.  This is something I have been doing since I received a postcard from a Big Name after my first show back in about 1980-  it said 'WHO ARE YOU???' and she signed it!  Loved that note and kept it forever as a reminder that people you will never know see and like your work and isn't it nice to know that!  So I pass it on.


And now, for my friend who may or may not live in Connecticut and by now may or may not have a bouncing set of twins that will pull her away from life-as-she-knows-it for the next twenty years, give or take...  I finished one wee hat yesterday and took it's picture on the only thing I could find that fit it- a spaghetti squash.  I am NOT making a statement, I promise.

Oh, I forgot an eye-  good thing I looked!  The orange thing is a goldfish, the greenish blob is seaweed. The bind off was done in mohair and glittery stuff to look like surf.  And I made it up as I went along.  The second one, like Camper shoes ('twins' they call them), is made of the same idea but I didn't copy the layout exactly and have embroidered different seaweed on it.  Today I make a turtle for it and badda-bing I am done!  Better get at that turtle...

(And if you are interested in the ironstone mug or any one of it's 25 oddish pals, give me a shake!)

A New Yawk friend sent me a link this morning about a guy selling his art on the street in his bid to become the world's best portrait painter. This is all very cool, and his blog is very interesting to read here, 'Year of Magical Painting'.  But first, what I most got out of it other than his writing and references (a man of my times!), is:   Cabbucini!  

I think I have whined daily on my inability to eat pasta any more because even a half cup shoots my blood sugar into the stratosphere.  I've made due with spaghetti squash after I use it as my curling stone or my hat mannequin, not very satisfying but at least it is a vehicle for sauce and makes me feel like I am almost human once in awhile.  But of course, add enough cheese and prime with a glass of wine, and anything tastes OK...  Well, this guy found that cabbage shredded into fettucini sized strips serves the same purpose.  Needless to say I am headed out to buy a cabbage post haste.  If it doesn't work for me, I  always make coleslaw.  Copious amounts of cabbage of course cause other issues, but it may be worth it.  Will report back on that.


Finally have a day off to ride around in the new car and try and figure it out.  I have to wrestle it from TY if I want it, and when I finally get it, he cautions me to NOT CRASH it.  Well, ummm, OK...  The back seat is like a limo so if things get tough I'll get a license to drive folks around.  I've never had a back seat large enough for anything but Molly before so this is amazing.  Of course after almost 10 years driving the old one, there have been some advances made-  now I have to actually learn them.  So far it's a challenge to even start this thing (no key) but eventually I will get it.  Today I load it up with all the crap I carry around-  the flip flops in case of emergency pedicures, the grocery bags I always forget I have until I'm in the check-out line, the old sneakers in case I have to walk or run miles for help, the heavy duty industrial strength winter gloves, and the 15 bungee cord assorted pack  that I just know I will be glad I have someday.