Friday, May 28, 2010

Tweet

I'm on Twitter. Gosh the world of social media is vast!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Ellie Mae & Willis

Meet my baby friend, Ellie Mae, and doggie friend Willis.

Ellen's dad is an amazing photographer. 

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Groovin'

In case you didn't know about www.Grooveshark.com, this is the day you learn about this awesome website. You probably have your Pandora or your Last FM, but my personal recommendation is Grooveshark. You can find just about any song and create a playlist. It's not radio-style, so you only hear the songs you choose. Not stuff the sites think you would like based on your choices. I like that, for one, but if you're like my Last FM-junkie husband, you might like the site to pick your music.

Maybe I'm weird, but I like what I like. I like the songs I already know (c: Sometimes I get in the mood for Pandora, but most of the time I have a song in my head and it really scratches the itch to just -BOOM- put it on.

Oh yeah, and NO ADS! They have one banner over on the right and that's it. I don't know how they do it, but I'm aware it probably won't last much longer. I'm enjoying it while I can!

So now that you want to check out Grooveshark, go ahead, type it in your browser. Now search for that song that takes you back. Suggestions:

Just Can't Get Enough - Depesh Mode
How Deep Is Your Love - BeeGees (or check out the cover by Bird and the Bee)
One Week - Barenaked Ladies
Tearin' Up My Heart - Nsync
If It Makes You Happy - Sheryl Crow
Ironic - Alanis Morisette
I'll Make a Man Out of You - from Disney's Mulan
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey (check out the Glee cover)
You'll Be In My Heart - Phil Collins
Walk On - U2
Satellite - Dave Matthews Band
It's the End of the World As We Know It - R.E.M.
I Walk Alone - Oleander

Friday, May 14, 2010

2010 Portrait 1: Justin


 

After almost 5 months into this blog that was supposed to document me pushing myself to paint more, I have finished a painting.  This is my mother's day gift to my mom.  I did Ruthie a few years ago and she wanted one of each of us, so here is my brother, Justin. 

Painting him was a lesson in teeth.  I re-did his smile 3 times and I only wish I got pictures of each one, because at one point he looked quite British (c:  He is currently almost finished with his braces, so I guess I could have chosen a photo with his straight teeth and left the metal off, but I couldn't resist his slightly crooked smile, it's so characteristic of him.  And since I haven't been with him much since he's been a brace face, this is how I still see him in my mind. 

His hair is much different now than it was here.  It has probably changed since I just saw him over Easter, but at that time it was black and he had an asymmetrical haircut with his bangs longer on one side.  He pulls it off, but you know, it's going to be fun to look at pictures of his changing hair in 20 years!

Something that kept hitting me was how much he looks like my dad.  I've always thought he looks so much like my uncle Kenny on my mom's side, but he definitely has my dad's eyes.  I wonder if mom sees it that way.



Love my brother and loved painting him.  Especially loved seeing what he would look like with gigantic disproportional teeth! 

Looking forward to more.  I know exactly what I'm going to paint next (c:

Monday, May 10, 2010

Get Back To Where You Once Belonged

At long last, I have started painting again.  I woke up Sunday morning thinking about it, and started getting excited about starting something new.  I have an idea that I love, so I will go to work on that next week.  Right now, working on a very special project.  I spent a couple of hours yesterday beginning, getting reacquainted with the way it feels to paint.  I was completely relieved that, although rusty, I haven't lost what may be best described as my instinct.  I was afraid after so much time had passed I would forget how.  In my mind I hoped that since I totally attribute any talent I have to God, that it would be preserved and consistent.  Well, I certainly made a few dumb mistakes.  And yes, when I came to a stopping point yesterday I was creeped out by the way the face on the canvas looked.  The smile is too big and the eyes look like they have eyeshadow, but even though it's creepy, the resemblance is still there and I know what to do next time I work on it - and that is how I know that with practice, I can get back.

I can't post pictures of it just yet though.  Must wait until next week.  However, I'll make sure to get some pictures of the process, including the caricature-like face on it now.

Speaking of creepy, I've been watching a UK show called Survivors.  It's about an epidemic that wipes out 99% of the world's population and then what those who survive do to keep on keepin' on.  If you're into UK suspense/drama and you can handle seeing a lot of dead people, might want to check it out. 

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Tough Enough

Some times I feel more resilient than others. Lately, I feel like I'm walking a tightrope. Feeling emotionally unstable. I just need one wrong move to send me down.

Good news I've been waiting on has finally come, and yet we couldn't celebrate because of this cloud of worry and insecurity revolving around my job. My more optimistic side thinks that it's no big deal and I shouldn't let it bother me so much. But I am so weighed down with this one little thing. That doesn't seem right. That's not balanced.

I was comforted just now thinking ahead at how this will very likely fade away the farther back in time it goes. Yay. I'll have strong days again where I feel stable and confident. And I'll wonder why I didn't just realize it was a temporary weakness.

Monday, May 3, 2010

New Month

I love the beginning of the month at work. I get to run reports on last months promotions, update all of the new hire and termination information, send out the positive comment cards for the month to everyone, ... I guess that's it. I love to see the changes and the progress though. I have a lot of other things to do that are not quite as exciting for me, so I'm trying to do them first in hopes that they'll spur my productivity.

Also, it's great to spend time in a clean house. I told Ryan that this evening I don't want to do anything but lay in bed while it's still daylight out and pretend like it's Saturday. We did that Saturday morning and it was great. He brought me bagels with strawberry spread and we relaxed while eating them, managing not to drop any crumbs and gazing out the window. Everything around me was in place and it felt like the whole purpose of the weekend was right there.