Stuff

There's too much stuff. I own it. You own it. It's all over.

Every nook and cranny jammed to the brink. Tightly packed drawers, closets and cabinets.

Where will it end up?

Yoyos

                           

When you have a child, you have opened yourself up to a world of every single possibility. I don't say that in the broad sense. I'm saying it in the literal sense. A child's ways and imagination is so vast, so endless, that you couldn't prepare yourself for the barrage of questions and/or experiences.

My son is obsessed with yoyos. Now, for better or worse, I'm obsessed with yoyos. Who knew there was so much to know about yoyos? I mean, it was wood or plastic and a sting.

No. Yoyos are so much more. There are bearings, responsive yoyos, non responsive yoyos. Plastic (delrin), metal (steel, titanium,aluminum...), it's nuts!

So, because I love my son and feign interest in whatever he is in to, I love yoyos. It's true though. I even ordered one for myself. I love the colors and textures and patterns and don't get me started on the strings! 

I could link a bunch of videos showing Japanese kids yoyoing. I could roll off the names of world champions and talk about the folks we've met. Every single person I've met who is involved with yoyoing has been a wonderful, kind person.

So, that's all, even though it's quite a bit. Yoyoing is now my thing and I'm excited about it. I'm gonna throw one name out there for you to google. He's a great kid and my son's inspiration. Tyler Severance.

Later.

Beautiful Things (?)

I like to make things. I never realized that I really enjoy making things, tinkering, using my hands in a creative way.
So I have some pretty interesting, unfinished, plain ugly and some quite beautiful things that I have made.
I see things and my first thought is, "can I make that"? It's not to take easy from the original creator's vision but only my curiosity.
Here is an example of a basket I'm still working on. It's clothesline and thread and I'm loving it except for how often I need to change the bobbin.
And the day goes on...

The long long drive

I am taking my boy on a road trip. I don't want to drive but I'm going to do it because I believe it's going to leave my son with a wonderful memory.
Long drives aren't my thing at all nor is organization but I'm awesome and that's all there is to it.
Wish us luck!

Hard days

So summer has been a bit of a challenge so far. I wish it was easy, I wish I were the easy type, but I'm not and surprise, neither is the boy.
Oh well. So we had another hard day. Tomorrow will be better and we will go forward.
I think it's because I feel a disconnect and I'm sure he feels it too. Lately, I feel like I'm my own person and that I want to be alone. I should have titled today's post "I want to be alone"!
So today's take away for me is, patience for him, patience for myself. I have to ingratiate myself to him more than I think and he more to me. We are both a bit prickly and very sensitive.
It's my bedtime now so I'll pray on being a better person, being a better mother and waiting on a new day.

I'm afraid. Inspired by Janice

I'm much heavier/fatter than I think and it's overwhelming.My son is growing older faster than I want or can handle.He needs a calmer more patient, polite mother than I am. I'm crass.I'm still afraid of money, how to earn it, ask for it, make it, spend it, save it. The whole thing just scares the bejesus out of me.I can't seem to get my paintings to have that "finished" quality to them.I need to finish a formal education in order to feel better about myself.I hate working with my husband everyday because it bores me and then I don't want to talk to him about anything later.I'm not as nice as I should be to people. I'm scared about health care and insurance.I'm scared and sad about how people are selfish and rude and don't consider other people like they used to. Everyone is out for themselves and it's just getting worse.I don't want my son to be lazy and not live up to his potential.I'm not living up to my potential.I need a nap.Naps are great.Please and thank you spirits.Love,Rachael

Things...lots of things.

So one of the craziest things about being a parent, is watching parts of you unfold in your child. Maybe these things are wonderful and maybe these things are not so great. I mentioned last time that I took an anger management class and although I learned quite a bit, I've found it hard to "maintain" the lesson. I need to practice. A lot. My son is so much like me it's scary. I prayed when he was nursing that he wouldn't absorb any of my bullshit. Well, among other things like crack or even a little wine, babies or at least, my baby, absorbed my bullshit. He's got a real gift for picking up my negativity and running with it. When I say bullshit, I mean over spending, mindless, unproductive behavior and a serious case of the gimmies. It's the "things" that I love. It's almost like an addiction for me. I need to see what's out there and I try to see it from more than one perspective. Well, my boy likes things too, lots of things and it's hard for me. I don't like what I see and so I need to change it. I need to change too and I hope that I am. But, I need to change what happens with him so that he is better. I need him to be better than the things. The things have to be last and right now they're first. Things to the wayside. That's my summer motto. Let's see if it pans out.

The Guesthouse

As a recent graduate of a an anger management class, I was lucky enough to come across a wonderful poem called the guesthouse. It's a poem by Rumi which, of course, gives it more cache than anything I can think of. Anger management was rough, quite a bit self reflection and it still continues. The Guesthouse just came at the right time and so I'm going to share it.





The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

 
~ Rumi ~
 
 

Obsessed with Pintrest

Ok, so maybe this is old news for some of y'all but I'm just getting the word. Pinterest is a place where you can "pin" stuff, images on virtual pin boards. This is a dream come true for me be because I spend most of my money on European design magazines and then take them apart and make inspiration piles.
So, cut loose and pin away. Nobody cares if you repin from their board and some peoples boards are worth following.

Love and pins,
Rachael

The 2nd place winner is just the 1st loser

Yup, I won 2nd place in a local painting event! The rules were that you had to start the painting after 9am and turn it in by 4pm

A Total Dude!

"There are 104 days of summer vacation and school comes along just to end them....."! Man, I can't count how many times I have heard that little ditty this summer! It will finally be nice to have a Phineas and Ferb day off!
Meanwhile, today, the boy who made me a mom, turns 7 and if that isn't enough of a milestone, started 2nd grade! I'm plotzing, kvelling and being generally sentimental. I mean, this is big news people! He's a straight up dude! He's not a little guy anymore, nor does he have any baby fat or anything resembling baby anything. Whahhhhh! I'm a little sad. Is it supposed to go this fast? Am I mourning MY mortality or am I sad that I no longer have a baby to take care of?
These are all big questions along with why does anyone watch Big Brother. But, I digress. Focus back to me. I don't want to rob him of his glory or of his day, but I'm thinking, I might need a hug or at the very least, a frosty, adult beverage.
So, here goes, (with phantom drink in hand) raise your glasses to the most fascinating kid on the planet, the boy who made me a mom, a total dude, Happy Birthday Hay, keep doing what you're doing, 'cause you're doing a great job!

The Cone is Simply the Vehicle

I love ice cream! I mean love love. Not like, not "kind of admire",but a pure, unadulterated, kind of X rated, kind of porno love for ice cream. No fro yo, ick! No skinny cow, even though it's not that bad. Don't even come at me with "low" this or "low" that. Jesus, let's not even mention ice milk. Whoever came up with that bullshit, needs to have a serious talking to.
I love ice cream that is pure and fresh and preferably local, organic even. That's good. I love mint chip, jamoca fudge, rocky road, if the mood strikes. But there is a place, here in Northern California that has flavors that would make your toes curl. I'm here to say, and I want you to pay attention because it's that good..... Earl grey tea ice cream! I know! It sometimes has lavender crystalized chips in it. If that doesn't get your girly bits all tingly, what about Mexican chocolate? Or mango? They have chocolate creme brûlée! I know!
Ok, I'm all worked up and need to go get my frozen treat on, seriously.
I hope everyone out there is eating good, no, great, ice cream, reading a great book, getting a little sand in your toes and soaking up some natural goodness from the sun.
Still haven't painted, but I hope that I can Thursday night. I miss it terribly and I want to roll my sleeves up and get going. But my painting mojo isn't as powerful as my ice cream mojo right now :-)


Peace and Earl Grey Tea ice cream,
Rachael




 

Pretty Good. Preettty Preeettty Preetty Good.

Summer lovin' had me a blast! Summer lovin' happened so fast! Boy I wish. BTW, I learned a new expression, ear worm. You know, when you've got a song stuck in your head like you might right now? To quote Weezy from DragonTales, "LOVE IT"!
I love anything that the "kids" are in to. Meanwhile, my kid is hocking me a tchineck like nobodies business for a new toy. No new news here people.
All day long, it's wieners, butts, penises, boogers etc... I have to admit that I will be a little sad when this stage is over.
Non-sequitor, I haven't been painting, but I hope to be sniffing turpentine later today!
Love and rockets,
Rachael

More Cowbell Please!

I'm not a complainer by nature, although my husband would beg to differ. I don't like conflict and I don't like problems. I like when things are smooth going and there is a general feeling of peace in the air.

Unfortunately, this is not how it usually goes down, I seem to be waiting for the other shoe to drop. That being said, what I am talking about, has nothing to do with nothing.

Meanwhile, here is a painting that I did a little while back in Tahoe!

Peace and more cowbell!

W2WBBC@9

Ok, it's an inside joke but I thought it appropriate for this week's mayhem. Yeah, I said it, mayhem. I don't have any idea what the derivation of mayhem is but it's a fun word.

Out of town guests who themselves had out of town guests and then onto Tahoe with the boy.

Too many dicks on the dancefloor. Just sayin'.

Meanwhile, here is one of my paintings.

Cheers!

Rachael

Mermaids - Flight Of The Conchords (Lyrics)

If it's Tuesday, it must be Paris

So I'm not in Paris, although I wish I were. Paris is my Tiffany's. When I'm there, I feel like another person, like a better version of myself. Confident, content, carefree, creative even.
Paris with all it's faults and I know about a few, just seems to have a way about it that soothes me and satisfies me. I can wander the streets, the metros, cafes, museums, shops etc... anonymously, I can day dream and contemplate things that don't occur to me here in my real life.
So, I'm not in Paris right now, but maybe, in a little while, I can go back, if only in my dreams.
Here's my latest painting of Paris just to help the imagination along.

Summer Fun

Okay, so going to work may not be fun, but having a grandmother take your kid for some summer fun IS! Today, the boy gets to go out on a ferry and see the sights with his Grandy. Ice Cream will be involved as I'm sure some begging for a new toy will as well.
I look forward to the stories, real and imagined (since the boy has taken to exaggerating, I don't know where that comes from :-/ )
In the meantime, here is a painting done recently at an art show.
Love and rockets,
Rachael

Art in the Park

Today was Art in the Park. It's an art festival in my town and my art teacher asked if I could "man" the tent with another artist.
We sat, we painted, we ate and we relaxed from 9:30-5:30. What a day. Each of us had a chance to work on our own paintings and take a "looksy" around at the competition.
Here is what I worked on.

It's called Sterre's Shoes.

Beginning of Summer

So it is officially day 1 of summer for us and I find myself struggling just a wee bit. We're looking for projects that will keep us both busy, connected and fufilled that won't cost too much money.

So far, we've made Harry Potter wands out of tree branches and carved crayons.

Here's one of my recent paintings.

Peace Y'all.