I saw this on Lee Wind's SCBWI blog
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Crunch Time
I did get out and enjoy a bit of warm sunshine today in the garden. I'm getting the next batch of starts to put into the garden. Tomorrow- yoga!!! I'm feeling the need to stretch and sweat and get my heart thumping.
Good things.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
This Time, This Age
These past few weeks I have been seeing and hearing from friends that I have been more out of touch with than I would like. There is an uneasiness in all of us- or maybe that's my filter I'm viewing things with at the moment. Fred I were talking this morning about this vibe that's been detectable lately. He thinks it's because this group- including us- are in middle age.
We have friends how have undergone major life changes a few times over; marriages, divorces, children, serious illness, death, etc. Now we are in that group where big life events are increasingly common. The illusion of an endless life is slipping and the reality of how short of a time we actually get to express our existence actually is, begins to really sink in- not just conceptually.
So this all happens and you look at your life. If you haven't made life choices that have brought you to a good place, that begins to create discomfort. Then you either change things, or figure out a way to live with them, or live in a state of denial, or find your happiness elsewhere.
I turned 44 this year and have become more acutely aware of where I am now on the spectrum of life: closer to the end than the beginning- in all likelihood, as far as time goes. But, at the same time, my career is just starting to take off- just now, 18 years after I illustrated my first book. I'm just starting to get into my groove and just starting to find my voice and evolve my style.I finally have the skill set and experience and bravery to leap a bit more and be okay with that. My big idea, entrepreneur, hubby is creating things out in India and that neighborhood.
A few days go, our son had his last school conference of the 2nd grade. He has come a long way in the last few years. The last conference reminded me of how we have to honor who he is as an individual . He's not us. He's a first generation California kid with a whole different way of being in the world. His world is so much more socially based and connected than was ours.
I don't think I'm old, by the way. I have good friends in their 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's who are constant inspiration and who remind me that there are endless possibilities to be sure.
Anyhow- here is a sketch for today. A quick one.
We have friends how have undergone major life changes a few times over; marriages, divorces, children, serious illness, death, etc. Now we are in that group where big life events are increasingly common. The illusion of an endless life is slipping and the reality of how short of a time we actually get to express our existence actually is, begins to really sink in- not just conceptually.
So this all happens and you look at your life. If you haven't made life choices that have brought you to a good place, that begins to create discomfort. Then you either change things, or figure out a way to live with them, or live in a state of denial, or find your happiness elsewhere.
I turned 44 this year and have become more acutely aware of where I am now on the spectrum of life: closer to the end than the beginning- in all likelihood, as far as time goes. But, at the same time, my career is just starting to take off- just now, 18 years after I illustrated my first book. I'm just starting to get into my groove and just starting to find my voice and evolve my style.I finally have the skill set and experience and bravery to leap a bit more and be okay with that. My big idea, entrepreneur, hubby is creating things out in India and that neighborhood.
A few days go, our son had his last school conference of the 2nd grade. He has come a long way in the last few years. The last conference reminded me of how we have to honor who he is as an individual . He's not us. He's a first generation California kid with a whole different way of being in the world. His world is so much more socially based and connected than was ours.
I don't think I'm old, by the way. I have good friends in their 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's who are constant inspiration and who remind me that there are endless possibilities to be sure.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Fricking Fracking
Fracking is a sign that things are really desperate in the oil and gas industry. All of the easy oil is gone. Now we have the war oil- expensive to go to places all over the world waging war for oil....plus, how long are you going to be able to keep that up before the years or messing in another regions affairs and playing dirty catch up with you?
So now...fracking. A Nasty business. The HUGE uptick in severe and sudden illness in fracking areas that are appearing now has caused many people to worry. The icky soulless people who run this industry have bought local politicians to make it difficult- if not impossible- of redactors to find out what "secret formula" of chemical yuck is effecting their patients. See this article and audio for that story.
Then there is the fact that THOUSANDS of people in tracking areas are having toxic fumes come up in their homes, business and even IN hospitals. See this link for that information.
It's just astounding, really. How much would alternative sources of energy that have NO negative health effects, NO toxic remnants and that you don't have to keep sending young armies to fight for cost? 400M for EACH jet fight plane in the Airforce...then there is the whole support things to keep the troops going, people killed named etc...Oil drilling spills, fumes, environmental damage. Fukushima and all nuclear power plants and their noxious hellish forever death byproduct...and coal- black lung anyone?
I have read that each time the Earth rotates, the solar energy that hits the Earth could power it for 1 year...1 day's worth. We would have to be proactive and harness that energy. So, why not? Money. Too many politicians out pimping for money. That's it really. Oild company money, politician money, military industrial complex money...all a big waste of money. Think of what we could do if we just cut a few stupid airplanes from the military industrial complex...
It's all just dreaming. Maybe in the future, IF we don't blow ourselves up, the next generations will be smarter. Oh...whoops. We cut the school budgets for the airplanes...crap.
So now...fracking. A Nasty business. The HUGE uptick in severe and sudden illness in fracking areas that are appearing now has caused many people to worry. The icky soulless people who run this industry have bought local politicians to make it difficult- if not impossible- of redactors to find out what "secret formula" of chemical yuck is effecting their patients. See this article and audio for that story.
Then there is the fact that THOUSANDS of people in tracking areas are having toxic fumes come up in their homes, business and even IN hospitals. See this link for that information.
It's just astounding, really. How much would alternative sources of energy that have NO negative health effects, NO toxic remnants and that you don't have to keep sending young armies to fight for cost? 400M for EACH jet fight plane in the Airforce...then there is the whole support things to keep the troops going, people killed named etc...Oil drilling spills, fumes, environmental damage. Fukushima and all nuclear power plants and their noxious hellish forever death byproduct...and coal- black lung anyone?
I have read that each time the Earth rotates, the solar energy that hits the Earth could power it for 1 year...1 day's worth. We would have to be proactive and harness that energy. So, why not? Money. Too many politicians out pimping for money. That's it really. Oild company money, politician money, military industrial complex money...all a big waste of money. Think of what we could do if we just cut a few stupid airplanes from the military industrial complex...
It's all just dreaming. Maybe in the future, IF we don't blow ourselves up, the next generations will be smarter. Oh...whoops. We cut the school budgets for the airplanes...crap.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Solar Eclipse from Japan
Today we stood out back with our pin point viewer to watch the solar eclipse. A reminder that we are whirling around a humdrum star that could fit around 100 million of our tiny little planet inside of it. A moment of awe.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Princess Posey Diorama
Levels
I can't stand being around people who waste time, who shoot low (and can't even get there), and who give lip service to things they conceptually know are good things (or they have been told that they are) and never follow through with any measurable action, never aim high and drag others down...
Fred and I try to be in a place where we can continually surround ourselves with positive people who aim high with integrity and do great things with their lives...not the one who just exist, not the hangers on siphoning money from their children for themselves (and a friend told me this is happening vice versa to many of her friends- she's a little older than I am), not the," gee, I would have followed my dreams to some extent, except there was a good movie on, so well..I'm SOOO busy and stressed out I'm going to go get a massage...forever, just insert the excuse of self help group" But, sometimes you just run into turds- and you can't polish a turd.
Ach! Well. We are very fortunate to only encounter a turd or 2 every few days. Mostly we have to most amazing people surrounding us. Yesterday Tristam got to meet my wonderful friend, Sharon Lovejoy, and I think they recognized something super special in each other. Every day there are people who inspire and make you want to do better and want to help make things better and want to explore and reach....treasures all of them.
This concludes today's rant.
Fred and I try to be in a place where we can continually surround ourselves with positive people who aim high with integrity and do great things with their lives...not the one who just exist, not the hangers on siphoning money from their children for themselves (and a friend told me this is happening vice versa to many of her friends- she's a little older than I am), not the," gee, I would have followed my dreams to some extent, except there was a good movie on, so well..I'm SOOO busy and stressed out I'm going to go get a massage...forever, just insert the excuse of self help group" But, sometimes you just run into turds- and you can't polish a turd.
Ach! Well. We are very fortunate to only encounter a turd or 2 every few days. Mostly we have to most amazing people surrounding us. Yesterday Tristam got to meet my wonderful friend, Sharon Lovejoy, and I think they recognized something super special in each other. Every day there are people who inspire and make you want to do better and want to help make things better and want to explore and reach....treasures all of them.
This concludes today's rant.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Busy, Happy Day
Busy day, happy day. For real. I had an early start, fed child, pack a lunch for child, fed hubby, cleaned up kitchen, ran errands, worked, hosted the lovely ladies in my critique group (these women are powerhouses of creativity), cleaned up, got dinner ready, cleaned up, hung out with kid and hubby, tucked kid in, went back to work and here I sit.
This photo show a hole on my bookshelf. This is where my Melissa Sweet books usually live. I moved them into a stack with books I'm collection for the SCBWI summer conference. The photo of the books on the floor would be the books I'm taking with so far.
The other photo is of my dear friend Sharon Lovejoy and Fred chatting about the worms in the worm bin. Sharon donated the original worms for the worm bin and Fred and I have been trying very much to take good care of the "girls".
The worm bin is the best thing ever. If you have even the smallest scrap of a yard, you can build one. We feed them most of the food scraps from our kitchen and they produce the most beautiful, nutrient rich soil goodness, that it's just too great NOT to do. I used to get bent out of shape when we had "wasted" food, but now, it's not wasted- it's garden gold and it is future fruits, veg and herbs.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Fog and the Studio and some Light
A drawing from my sketch book.
My studio- all clean and organized with 3 major projects rolling.
The science last supper..fabulous. It's my new favorite and I have it up on my studio wall. I am reading Carl Sagan's wonderful The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. I'm lighting those candles, Carl.
More on Landmark "Education"
The response from emotionally stable, healthy people seems to be universal : YIKES!!!!
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Vidal Sassoon
Another creative great has died. I saw this documentary awhile back, and I'm pretty sure I blogged about it. I admire this man for his vision, focus and hard work. It was an inspiring film for sure- worth looking up.
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Grim Colberty Tales Pt. 2
The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
Bye Maurice Sendak
Sad news today...Maurice Sendak died today. Here is a lovely article in the New York Times about him and here is the last interview he gave on Fresh Air with Terry Gross. In the Terry Gross interview it sounds like he was ready. And here also is a collection of interviews and reflections from NPR. He was a game changer and a total original and someone who made his mark by being brave and curious and brilliant.
Here is a little excerpt from Leonard Marcus's book Dear Genius, which is about the legendary editor, Ursula Nordstrom. It is a from a letter she wrote after Where the Wild Things Are came out. She writes to a journalist named Nat Hentoff:
You asked me how "revolutionary" Where the Wild Things Are is. There have been a good many fine picture books in the past. (Some by Margaret Wise Brown, and illustrated by one of two or three or four talented artists. [Sendak]) But I think Where the Wild Things Are is the first complete work of art in the picture book field, conceived, written, illustrated, executed entirely by one person of authentic genius. Most books are written from the outside in. But Wild Things comes from the inside out, if you know what I mean. And I think Maurice's book is the first picture book to recognize the fact that children have powerful emotions, anger and love and hate and only after all that passion, the wanting the be "where someone loved him best of all."
Bye Mr. Sendak and thank you.
A signed copy I'm lucky to own.
Here is a little excerpt from Leonard Marcus's book Dear Genius, which is about the legendary editor, Ursula Nordstrom. It is a from a letter she wrote after Where the Wild Things Are came out. She writes to a journalist named Nat Hentoff:
You asked me how "revolutionary" Where the Wild Things Are is. There have been a good many fine picture books in the past. (Some by Margaret Wise Brown, and illustrated by one of two or three or four talented artists. [Sendak]) But I think Where the Wild Things Are is the first complete work of art in the picture book field, conceived, written, illustrated, executed entirely by one person of authentic genius. Most books are written from the outside in. But Wild Things comes from the inside out, if you know what I mean. And I think Maurice's book is the first picture book to recognize the fact that children have powerful emotions, anger and love and hate and only after all that passion, the wanting the be "where someone loved him best of all."
Bye Mr. Sendak and thank you.
Monday, May 07, 2012
Petaluma Piano Man
Good Friend Matthew
Since I was up in Sonoma County this last weekend, I of course wanted to look up one of favorite people and biggest influences on my life, Matthew. We met up in Sebastopol where he works making sculptures and being a Photoshop whiz. I hadn't seen him in about, gosh, 12 years or so. The last time I saw him, Fred and I were on the Russian River for one of Fred's triathlons and Matt met us at the finish line with some chilled champagne and some glasses. Matt and I go way back to high school. He's the reason why I wound up in California and how I got to live up at Ocean SOng and where my interest in landscape architecture and gardening came from. Without him my life would have been very different. It was so good to see him.
Bugs
The Sick Cultish, Ponzy Pyramid Scheme that is Landmark
A topic that came up this weekend was the nasty "therapy" program called Landmark, which preys on people who are in weak places in their lives. The scheme goes like this: pay a large tuition to sit and have themselves "broken down" in order to be empowered. On the first day of this program, participants are asked to start recruiting to bring others in to pay a tuition- those who do not do this are called "turds" (yes, really) and are told that they do not want to be happy because they are scared. Over the next session they are belittled and people int he group are singled out. Little sleep is given and an uneducated staff (they don't have formal certified training that would be accepted as legit in the field of psychology, psychiatry , etc. and they are dealing with fragile people in many cases)of leaders verbally beats people until they make a "break through" Here are some links to find out more: link 1 , link 2, link 3. I post this as a caring warning for anyone who may happen on this blog and be thinking of becoming "empowered" by these criminals. My husband attended one of these seminars years ago when he was dating someone associated with these crooks and said from day one it was a sales pitch, and found the whole thing and every "leader" associated with it totally disgusting as human beings (mean who would do this to other human beings??) and thought it was definitely a scam. Beware. Do your research, use your brain and steer clear. If you need help, find a real professional, not these whack jobs.
A Garden Baby Shower for an Amazing Lady
Friday, May 04, 2012
Yip Yip
Ahhh...it's been a long week. We had a little yippy Chihuahua Napoleon yipping and yapping. When people get pets, they really need to take better care of them...at least this one is neutered. There is a dog neighbor dog (not Kenny, the next door dog- Kenny has great parents and Kenny's a great dog- plus he's a pug) this is not neutered and roams the neighborhood almost getting hit by cars and crapping in everyone's yard and when not doing that is locked up in the neighbor's backyard howling....
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Origami Fish
Garden Update
The garden is going nuts! There is almost no room for more plants right now. It is amazing how it all went crazy in what seems like overnight. 
Monday, April 30, 2012
Another Fox
I've been working on lots of projects- including one that my brilliant Foxy agent and soon to be Foxy Mama, Abi, has been helping me out with (a ton!!). This is my first experience working with an agent and let me tell you, I got so super lucky in finding Abi. She's a dynamo. Anyhow- it's all going fabulously. Now I just need to find some more energy somewhere and get better at streamlining things around here like the upkeep of this place and that sort of thing...
Fred got back on Saturday after being out of country for almost a month- this time to Mauritius and India. While he was away, I got in a really groovy creative space. People ask me how it is when he is away, and I miss him loads, but we talk on Skype (which Microsoft has almost totally ruined- like everything they touch). We typically Skyped for an hour or 2 a day.
I'm wrapping it up early tonight...My Freddy Wumpkins is home!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
SPAM
Grrrr! Every morning, I check my e-mail and find LOADS of spam. I don't know if you have looked into trying to get rid of the vile stuff- sent by vile, inconsiderate junk peddlers (vermin), but it is a bit of a nightmare. I have responded to the "remove me list from Lending Tree, some stupid company that thinks that I would actually EVER buy another American car- ever, SMC Corp- run by some dubious crooks using a dead celebrity to hock their junk, and then an assortment of other crap. So..what to do...the unsubribe doesn't work. The government has a website called On guard Online.gov with some suggestions...I looked up the numbers of some of these places and placed phone calls attempting to get me name pulled off of their list- no dice...anyone have any suggestions??
I'd love to do something about these vermin.
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