Really Really Really Good News

Joyce got into NYU!

We are elated, Joyce was accepted Early Decision to the school of her dreams.

It is so rare to get exactly what you want, but if anyone can do it, Joyce can. Now we can all breathe a sigh of relief and get rid of all of the college guides and SAT books which have been filling our shelves for years.

My Dad's Broken Neck

Wow - I can't believe I've been away for so long! This is hard to believe, but my Dad broke his neck! We just got home from the hospital Friday, so we've had lots of chaos, but things seem to be settling down now.

I brought him to the emergency room at Georgetown University Hospital because he was acting really bizarre. I thought he had had a stroke or something. He had actually fallen a few days before but complained of no pain, so we thought we were just lucky. Then his speech as slurred (could be the parkinsons), he was very tired (not unusual), and he was acting manic in his studio. Anyway, after trying to reach his neurologist, I finally decided to have him checked up. A CT showed a broken C1. Further imaging proved that he needed neurosurgery.

There are a million images that have gathered in my head from the 10 days we spent in the hospital, which I'm sure I will convey as they unfold.

Important parts of this story:

My dad is fine and recovering well for someone who is 80 years old.

We took him off of most of his Parkinsons drugs and he is almost symptom free. He was clearly overmedicated.

It turns out he has had a broken neck since May 1, 2007. His orthopaedist decided not to do any further imaging after a CT showed the fracture in his neck. He was prescribed physical therapy which in retrospect endangered his life. I will pursue this issue when my Dad has stabilized.

I have way too much experience with spinal cord injury, so I was filled with dread during this whole fiasco. One of my students was injured at the c4 level and I guided him back to a meaningful existence.

Nurses are the bomb, doctors are the worst.

Amazing Treats from Sweet Repeats

Look at all the Sweet Treats I got from Lucy! Opening this package is the best thing I did all week! I love how everything is color coordinated. You've got the touch, Lucy!!

Here are some more photos from Frederick. I hope I don't bore you with them, but we had a really good photo safari.

Frederick photos

A Day in Frederick with my Parents

My parents and I had such a good day at the Flea Market last week that I decided to take them out to Frederick to look at some antiques and to take some pictures for my Dad's watercolors. We also wanted to enjoy the last blush of the foliage. It is so nice to have good days with my parents! You forget that you have to have "family fun" with all generations, not just your kids.

An Owl Painting from Celia's Room

Just had to share this great painting that we got for Celia's room at Case Western.

Some thrifting magic

I took my parents to the big DC Flea Market yesterday, and bought some really great stuff. Here are a couple of things that came home with me.

Sweet Goodness Sister Swap

Here are my swap photos from my super swap sister Lucy from Sweet Repeats.

I got the package from her and had to run out of town the next day. When I got back someone had put everything away all over the place. I keep finding wonderful stuff where ever I look. My swap sister is the greatest!!

Finally got shots of my repetition exercises

When I flew out to Cleveland to help my daughter get her dorm room set up, I brought some pieces to work on while I waiting in airports and such. I showed them to Celia, and told her that she could put some up on her walls. Turns out, she wanted all of them, and I left before I could photograph them. I still consider them unfinished, but they are busy being art, so I can't fuss with them. These were exercises that Lucy from Sweet Repeats did concurrently.

Sorry it's been so long!

Hey friends! I am so sorry that I have neglected my blogging for so long. I have a million excuses, but I did put this on the back burner while big chunks of life came flying at me faster than I could process them. I'll get into those eventually, but I have a bunch of things I want to show you now.

First, I've been taking Life Drawing,. Portrait Painting and Ceramics at Montgomery College and enjoying them fully. I have a degree in art, but I felt really really stuck each time I tried to paint or draw. Since I have started I feel that my drawing and painting have stepped up to a whole new level. Somehow, at this point in my life I am really able to learn, and I'm soaking knowledge in like a sponge. Here are a few drawings:

Sweet Goodness Sister Swap

Hey all! This will be my second Sweet Goodness swap, and I got to be partnered with one of the queens, Lucy of Sweet Repeats!

Here are my 20 questions answers:

1. Favorite Color: I love coral, cerulean blue, raspberry, any color with intensity.

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2. Chocolate Lover? Milk, Dark, White, or none of the above? My husband is a chocolate freak. I never actually feel the need for chocolate, but I have been known to make a bag of milk M & M's disappear pretty fast.

3. What is your favorite craft hobby? Quilting, collage, sewing, and ceramics

4. What is a craft/art hobby that you would like to start?

Silk screening and other printmaking type stuff. Digital photography has been nagging at me, but the software is so hard to learn!

5. What craft do you NOT have abut then interest in or just not great in ( so your partner doesn’t send something you wouldn’t use)?

I don't knit, crochet or make wreaths. A also don't dye my own fabrics or do silk painting or anything like that.

6. Do you have any allergies? Nope!

7.What’s your favorite part of Halloween? Decorating, candy eating, costumes, or something else?
I love making costumes, eating candy, and drinking wicked brews.

8. Do you decorate for Thanksgiving/Fall? No. We have a plastic turkey that we've been putting on our door since 1977, and we still put it up as a joke, but other than that, we are pretty boring when it comes to fall decor.

9. December Holidays--what holiday do you celebrate? What type of decorations do you like to put up in your house for that holiday?

We celebrate Hanukah, and will bring out menorahs and candles. Banners would be cute, but we try not to make it seem like "the Jewish Christmas" or anything.

10. Do you have any children, if so what are their ages, boys/girls? I have two beautiful daughters - Celia is 19 and Joyce is almost 18
11. Do you have any pets, if so what kind?

Four cats: Kittycoo, Peekaboo, ScoobyDoo and Cloud.

12. Are you a reader? If so, what type of books do you like?

I eat books. I love fiction from other cultures, like India. I also love David Sedaris and his type of humor. Now there are books I read, and books that I tear up for collage. Those are picture books from the sixties and seventies.

13. Are you celebrating a birthday or anniversary in October, November, or December? If so, what day and what is the occasion? My birthday is December 28. 47 years old!!!

14. Do you collect anything? If so what type of things do you collect? I have a small collection of cat figurines. I love old metal lunch boxes for my supplies. My new collection is owls. I'm a thrifter, so I like so many different things!

15. What type of things do you like to cook? Are you an appetizer person, cookie maker, dessert freak or a take out type of person?? I'm a big meal maker. I also make pies really well, or cobblers and such.

16. What is your favorite scent? Is there one that you can’t stand? The only thing I don't like is musk. I like herbal essential oil type smells. I wear Armani Code, when I go out, but L'Occitaine Verbena otherwise

17. What’s your favorite song? I love Regina Spektor, Ben Folds, Guster, Dispatch. Recently I love the songs from Spring Awakening.

18. What’s the last movie you went to see at the movie theater?

Drawing a complete blank here -I loved Borat, Pay it Forward, and Marie Antoinette just because it is visually gorgeous.

19.What’s your favorite Candy?If you took an X ray of my tummy, you would see hot tamales, twizzlers, and good and plenty.

20. Tea or Coffee or other? Coffee black, please. Martini dirty and up, please.

Emotional work

Here's some stuff I've been working on during a very emotionally trying time. I'm starting to see the light, so I think I'll be making these less chaotic, and more focussed. It is interesting to see how they are now, though.

Wow, it's been a while

Joyce got her hair cut! Here she is with Sofia, in a very pensive pose. I got into the whole natural light from a window thing.

More Joyce - Very photogenic

Joyce and Lida

I had my friend Lida come over to take photos of my daughter Joyce, because she needs to send a photo (headshot) with her applications to conservatories. Lida is a lifelong photographer, and she only works with real film in black and white. It was a fascinating experience watching her work. She allowed me to follow her around with my digital and take some shots. I learned so much from her about lighting and setting up a shot. Here are some of the best that I took, but they don't compare to hers, which are amazing. I've only looked at contact sheets, but they are astounding.

Little ATCs in progress

I've been really busy with things that I don't want to do (bringing parents to doctors, all day funerals, filling prescriptions, etc.) so I've just been working on these little cards made of extra mat board. Of course, they are not the right size to be ATC's, but they are nice and firm, and can travel with me all around.