Doing Better

Phew, I feel better tonight. Today I started off on the WRONG side of everything. I think the state of the world has gotten to me and my tolerance level for life's everyday woes is nil. But, it's been a good evening, warm weather, nice walk with the dogs, reading a great book (Wicked, the story of the Wicked Witch of the West),  and I got started on my independent study printmaking class. 

And, here is another in process painting... I have quite a few of these at the moment. I just beat them to a pulp until they either die or work. I've been experimenting with pastel ground, painting it on parts of the work so you can then draw on the roughed up surface. hmmnn. 

Have a good Wednesday and I hope you all can unplug from the world a bit and feel the good Fall energy.

Coast Life

Resting is an art form for Monty

Simon monitors the neighborhood, even while snoozing

Garage sale finds

Tins: 25 cents each!

We did manage to make it to the beach. All those dots out there are pelicans, it's really unusual to see them. We also saw whales from our front porch yesterday which was amazing. With the binoculars I could see their backs, they were really close to shore. (But we couldn't see Russia, sorry the debate was on our minds).

Anyway, the coast was great. We celebrated A's birthday at the Table of Contents Restaurant at the Sylvia Beach Hotel. Sat family style with a bunch of strangers and had a great time. 

I agree with K, it's hard not to worry. The election, money, the election... I am not sure what to do if Obama doesn't win. Somehow this time it feels so scary. Oregon is an Obama state, so I feel insulated here. It all seems really stressful somehow. 

Now, on a more frivolous note. This weekend in Yachats was the Ladies' Club Garage Sale. Oh, my gosh, what incredible stuff and dirt cheap. G and I scored some great finds. Among them were two rolls of troll doll wrapping paper from the 60's, two Rio Hondo figurines, a book about La Verne Krause (taught printmaking at the U of O), two big tins to store stuff in my studio, a few amazing items for friends, a candy thermometer (as if we are eating candy these days...), and many more gems. I think we spent a total of 14 dollars which goes to help the high school. I pined for K and L, you would have loved it although there were no crocheted items.

Back to work tomorrow. I painted tonight, and tomorrow I go to check out my independent study silkscreen class. I'm going to get a schedule going to combat the oncoming winter and it's tendency to shut me way down. 

and... I got three comments on my last post that made me burst into tears. I was so happy to hear from Karla and Linda and Babs. Thank you so much!!!

I'm a Girl Scout

Just a short post as we are getting ready to leave for the coast. It's been a really busy and hectic week and I am tired. G's leg is better, but not well. She has an MRI today, so hopefully that will chart a path toward improvement.

Why the Girl Scout card? Last night I got an amazing phone call from Babs who was my close, close friend in high school. I was blessed from eighth grade on to be a member of the world's best Girl Scout troop and Babs' mom was the leader. I don't care if anyone calls me a geek, spending time with those 20 girls (who by the way all grew up to be amazing women) saved me. I never would have camped, learned to sail a boat, make pancakes, plan events and on and on. Cindy, our leader is turning 80 and we all get to write about our troop for her. 

I have had many trials in my life, but from the 8th grade on I was always surrounded by good friends. 

I am so grateful.

Ms. LaVerne Updates Her Veggie Life

And who is Ms. LaVerne? For those of you who don't know LaVerne is my middle name and the name I sign my work with. My mom's middle name was LaVerne also so it's a bit of a tie to matriarchy? There are lots of famous LaVerne's: LaVerne and Shirley, LaVerne Baker (singer), and drag queens too numerous to mention.

Yes, with encouragement from friends G and I have embarked upon a healthful eating regime: lots of veggies, lean protein, a bit of fruit and no sugar. I have to admit after 10 days my body feels a lot better, but I still CRAVE sugar and carbs. Not healthy carbs mind you, I crave Little Debbie peanut bars, hot fudge, cookies of every shape and size, toast with cinnamon and sugar. Funny, I don't crave candy which I usually eat a lot of. So, maybe that's some improvement. It is pretty amazing how powerful these desires are. 

Home improvements: well, things slowed a bit since G has been incapacitated as she is the mover and shaker of all projects. Our downstairs bathroom sports cool new orange Marmoleum, and tomorrow the toilet goes in, and then we'll move G. downstairs where it's more entertaining. We love our new floors, and soon the crisp, white baseboards will go on to complete the project. So, Beth, slow, but moving...

Art... oh art has gotten lost these last two weeks, and this is not good for me. I do start my silkscreen class again next week and I am really excited for this structured time. I love the silkscreen process, I have lots of ideas, I want to photograph my toys and make some kind of "book" in silkscreen form of them. 

Poor G. has been a good patient. Sitting still and not doing much is really hard for her. Her knee is less painful and she can put her toe on the ground, so improvement I hope. The dogs are eternally patient, but are not getting enough walks. 

I'm so grateful for having this way to express myself and so appreciative of those who read my ramblings!  Love lots,  j laverne

Roller Derby Night- "2 Cruel 4 School"

Oh my gosh! Tonight I attended my first ever women's roller derby event. One of my co-workers told me a few months ago that she was on a women's roller derby team and my interest was sparked. I remember being a little kid and watching women's roller derby on TV. What those women were doing, crashing and bashing was sooo far from my ongoing pressure  to be a "lady". 

The shorter woman in the photo above is my work buddy. And can she skate!!! Her team is the Andromedolls. They battled two other teams, the Flat Track Furies , and (I love this name) Church of Sk8in. 

Fishnet hose are part of the uniform, along with names like: "Betty Aim Fire", "Supercake 3/4 cup", "Ambruisia 959", "Burnadeath 451 F", Darra-lict44", and on and on. It's this wild combination of sport (these women can skate), theater, and irreverent humor. Everyone, including me seemed to be having a good time. 

These beauties skate around during the time outs holding up signs with the score on them. 

Poor Ginger she didn't get to go. Her knee/leg is worse. We spent Friday eve at the Emergency Room. She got out of the van, stepped down and could no longer bear weight. So she's on crutches until she has an MRI this week. The MD says it could be many things. She's mostly laying in bed looking at movies. 

Women's roller derby... what would Gloria Steinhem say? I hope she would think it was as strong, funny, and powerful as I did. 

Thanks for going with me L. And it was great seeing A. and L. there too. 

Are you there?

This post is to Ms. K who gave me this card. It always makes me laugh and it is absolutely true. I've been missing my friend K who is on vacation, I have withdrawal from reading her posts. So K when you read this card respond immediately, please. Miss and love you, J.

As artists don't we all just need friends who "get us"? 

And isn't it the best when they do.

Eugene Celebration Parade- Go Greyhounds!

Hounds and humans line up and wait and wait for the parade to begin.

Lots of the usual greyhound clumping action along with dainty butt sniffing.

Watching the tail end of the parade... Soramundi, the lesbian chorus.

Waiting for the bus to take me home.

I had a long and pleasant day. Warm and sparkly days, one after another. That's September in Eugene. Ginger is still nursing her injured leg so I marched in the parade with the hounds without her. The greyhounds are always a big hit and all my friends watching yelled hi to me. Then back in the afternoon to sit at the greyhound booth and chat with folks about what it's like to live with the worlds sweetest dogs. Poor Monty is way too scared to be in the parade. The year we tried he kept trying to jump through the crowds and run home. 

On the last post, thanks for the feedback Michele and T. I do have a rather wacko sense of humor and I have always been fascinated by popular culture. I had a really bad dream the night I posted that painting all about people judging me. We all want to please others so much, but why paint if not for oneself and one's soul first? I'm glad I put that painting up, comments are so helpful. Thanks!!!