tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85588308998893471042024-03-05T03:19:26.365-08:00Lesley's Musings My Art, my friends art, inspirations and other things that interest me.Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-15198675024138693192017-06-25T10:16:00.001-07:002017-06-25T10:16:32.646-07:00Catastrophe is generally unplanned<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In innocently mentioning to a friend, who is a Physical
Therapist, the prognosis of a foot thing I have been dealing with, she said to
me “Lesley, do you really want to know why you can’t get a diagnosis on your
foot” Well, of course I do so I said,
“Yes”. She told me it is because they
have to treat all the Medicaid and Medicare patients for about $17.00 a visit. (that
is the PT reimbursement I don’t know what the physician visit is) That in order to make enough money as a
provider, they have to treat more patients, often overlapping visits, and
doctors and therapists don’t have the time to sit with you to determine the
full diagnosis of intermittent and transient symptoms. I said, “My visits cost me a $75 copay as
well as the $200.00 the insurance company paid.” She became adamant and said, it was because
of the Medicaid patients that I had to pay so much. We were at a party, I didn’t want to go into
this any farther and quite frankly, I had to think about this and unpack both
her anger and the facts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Cost of <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><b><u>Reimbursement</u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I didn’t ask her what her solutions would be so my conjecture
shouldn’t be connected to her. Maybe she
didn’t have a solution, maybe she was just frustrated with the increasing work
load and changing regulations. From what
little research I did, I found the coding and regulations changed the end of
the year and she is right the reimbursement is incredibly low. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I did two physical therapy visits at the previously mentioned
charges ($275). The first visit I was
with the Therapist about 20 minutes and she did some strength and movement
assessments, sent me some exercises by email and gave me an elastic exercise
band. The next appointment I went to the
main exercise room which looked like a small gym. I was instructed to warm up on the exercise
bike for a few minutes while she finished her previous patient. Then we went through some calf stretches, leg
lifts, hip flexor machine, a foot rotating board which she asked me to do while
she attended to a new patient who came in. She got him started on the bike. When she came back to me, I was pretty frustrated
because due to my “issue” I couldn’t do the foot board which she said something
to the effect “oh, just do this…..”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">”well, I can’t, that is why I am here…duh”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I left frustrated and
of course, $75.00 poorer. (which they made me pay up front…smart) None of that visit was satisfactory in any
way. I didn’t go back. I joined a gym. So I have digressed here somewhat. (Plus I
will fully admit that I am sort of a nightmare patient… impatient and skeptical
and a bit of a know-it-all)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I could see that the PT’s where having to balance several
patients. Some patients with far more
serious issues were getting more attention and that was as it should have
been. I don’t know if they got
reimbursed more for higher need patients but from the looks of most of the
people in there…I was definitely paying the most and not a Medicare or Medicaid
patient. I don’t know why we have made
the reimbursements so low, this shouldn’t be acceptable. We, as the American public shouldn’t want
that for our providers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I mean seriously, if you worked 8 hours and saw 16 patients
you might bring in $272 for the day. <b>That is not enough to keep the lights on</b>. You definitely need me the insurance customer
because you made the same on me as you did the entire caseload for the
day! Actually, I don’t know what the
patient load for the PTs is, it could be even more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I remember before the ACA a doctor said to me that we were
already rationing health care by cost.
If you didn’t have the money and or insurance you were simply not
getting care until it was an emergency.
I don’t think we want to get back to that because that isn’t ultimately
cost effective. But on the other hand we
can’t expect doctors and therapists to work in areas with low reimbursement due
to poverty when they barely can cover their costs: building, staff, equipment, malpractice
insurance and other health insurance for themselves and staff, and probably for
time, college loans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So here is probably the “not” news; Our insurance premiums are related to the low
reimbursement of Medicare and Medicaid because those doctor fees the insurance
companies are paying are necessary to offset the losses they are incurring due
to the government squeeze. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We need
to cover everyone equally<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I believe that my friend is compassionate and she wants people
to have care if they need it. However,
not at great cost to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That is the $64,000 question; “What is great cost to each of
us and how do we compute that?” I will just say that I do not have the ability
to tease that magic needle out of the haystack.
I am just going to list some things I know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b>We need affordable healthcare coverage in
what form, I am not sure<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> When a person
does not have reasonably regular checkups, things get missed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Things get missed for long enough
they have a tendency to become big things which are more complicated and costly
to take care of. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Shit
happens. Yes, to the young and healthy as
well. Catastrophe generally means
unplanned. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Unlike buying tires, healthcare is a universal need. You can choose to own a car but not your
body. I mean, here is a dystopian novel
concept: People who are injured in auto
accidents and uninsured will simply be taken to a holding center (for sanitary
reasons) until they are either picked up by a family member or die. If there are any unresolved costs to their
care, we can just begin harvesting organs….you only need one kidney, one lung, or
one eye. A slight hyperbole there for
sure but what the heck!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I think there has to be some universal rate system. I believe they do that in other countries
that even have private insurers. This is
a hard problem, one that takes great care and we can’t allow our partisan
division get in the way. It is one of
humanity. Heaven help us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-58617729498689858932017-04-20T07:35:00.003-07:002017-04-20T07:35:55.446-07:00Itchy<div class="MsoNormal">
ITCHY<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes reflection takes me down a rabbit hole that I did
not foresee. I find myself in that
position now. I was approached as an
artist to help with a program at Goodwood Museum and Gardens that was obtaining,
on loan, the works of Clementine Hunter.
As I stumbled through the conversation, attempting to sound a bit
enthusiastic for them, I thought “Who the heck is that”. Sometimes people assume that because you are
an artist you know about all artists throughout history. I will admit that my knowledge in that regard
is pretty slack. I agreed to help, a
bit, still not really knowing who she was.
Of course, once home I researched her.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Clementine was a black painter born in 1886. Her parents where slaves at one time. They were still employed as field hands doing
the hard work for the plantation in Louisiana.
In the 1940’s she and her family moved to Melrose Plantation in Natchitoches
Parish,<span style="background: white; color: #525252; font-family: "Brawler",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span>where she lived and worked as a cook
and domestic. As you know, the
plantation life, with no free labor, was waning and Melrose was failing. Carmelite Garrett Henry of Melrose
brought it back to life as an artist colony where writers and authors
stayed. They encouraged Clementine to
paint by giving her paints and supplies.
Thus her career began. Her work is
simple, untrained, and childlike but its simplicity tells the story of her and
her people of the fields and community. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So now you and I know who she was. The “why” was that Goodwood wanted to present
her work as a contrast to the art procured by the Arrowsmith’s of Goodwood,
mostly Mrs. Arrowsmith. This would be
art of the Grand Tour. You know when all the well healed traveled Europe to
play and buy things. Well a small
problem was that there is a bit of a time gap here. The Arrowsmith’s owned Goodwood from 1886 –
1911. They did furnish the house with lovely
European art and objects. However, Clementine didn’t start painting until the
1940’s. Sadly, I don’t know that much had changed from her experience as a
domestic and the 50 years prior when the Arrowsmiths owned the house. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t think too heavily about this at the time. I just filed that away thinking that the
board of Goodwood had thought this through and this was their program and it
seemed like a good idea. European art contrasting with untrained art of an ex-fieldhand;
you know, the haves and the have nots.
You might begin to see the problem here as I lay this out. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, we know that in Tallahassee, just as now, and just as
in everywhere else, there was a thriving middle class black community and there
was an extremely poor community. There were those still providing domestic and
field help to the large manor homes of the area…yes, they were still called
plantations. But here is one of the
little itches under my collar, Goodwood doesn’t call itself a Plantation now. They don’t like to use that word. Granted, when you look at its long life from
the 1840’s to today, it has not operated as a Plantation for most of that
time. It became a grand home, a hub of
political and social activity and entertainment. Unfortunately, there is little
historical data of slavery at Goodwood or conditions that the help lived
in. That isn’t really surprising because
really it wouldn’t have been of much concern to write of anything
distasteful. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But here is the thing, all through this group of events,
they did not address the lives of the domestics or field hands. They did have one program that talked about
the religious practice of hush arbors which was a way for slaves to quietly
practice their religion as a mix of Christian and African. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So you have to ask
yourself how did we get Clementine Hunter here? One of the co-directors knew the major
collector. That is all fine and good,
her work has value as the story of her time and experience. However, Goodwood has not addressed that at
all. That is my problem. She was an interesting lady, no doubt, but really
what does it have to do with Goodwood?
It was a stretch. As a newspaper
person once asked me. “What does this have to do with Tallahassee?”. Not really a darn thing if you aren’t going
to talk about the poverty, the back breaking labor, the community churches, the
ways of life of Clementine’s time that where similar to the people here in
Tallahassee working in the Plantations, farms, and homes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know, I just don’t see much celebration in the wide
chasm between the haves and the have nots.
It is sort of like when they have the big real estate open house and the
million dollar homes have the most traffic because who doesn’t like to see how
the other half lives. Goodwood is a
beautiful home and has lovely tended southern gardens. It has some interesting architectural
elements but, yes, it is how the other half lived. Maybe, they should just stick with that. Even a large majority of their supporters come
from the “have” side of things. That is
not that unusual in that that is where the money and time often is to participate. But it all feels classist and it clashes in
my mind with trying to pull some of the white privilege out in the open. I could be overthinking this, as I said, a
rabbit hole, but it is itchy.<o:p></o:p></div>
Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-51250586598226234882016-09-07T09:00:00.000-07:002016-09-07T09:00:02.692-07:00I will not lecture you, go ahead, have a tantrum, you might feel better.<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">For those 8 thousand still without power 6 days from Hermine, my heart is with you. I will not lecture you on not being grateful enough. This is frustrating, disappointing, inconvenient, scary, and maddening. I hear you roar and I roar with you. My Mother is one of you. I will not take away your right to grumble, complain, stomp your foot and generally grouse about the situation. You have a right to do that. I know that almost all of you are grateful that it was not worse, that your abode although powerless, is still intact. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You have had to throw out your food, or try and maintain enough ice to keep it going, or listen to the drone of the generator possibly not even yours. Maybe you are lucky enough to have a generator, you have had to make several trips by now to get more gas to keep it going. It is noisy! You are trying to keep your windows open to catch a breeze. Neighbors have been generous and sharing for the most part.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, we have been fortunate that the weather has not turned horribly hot and more humid. We have not had daily thunderstorms that make living without air conditioning or even a fan unbearable. However, it is still September in Tallahassee and it gets hot. Your hot water in your hot water heater is now depleted. Fortunately we do have water in Tallahassee and that was not interrupted, unless of course you had a well, then you had even more problems. A cold shower is still a cold shower. It is no fun to get ready for school or work with out feeling clean and refreshed. We won't even mention that morning cup of coffee that gets most of us going. Yes, these are mostly not life threatening, they are indeed inconvenient. Who likes to be inconvenienced? </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of us are not eternal optimists. We do not generally rise from our bed with a smile on our face and a song in our hearts. I had a roommate like that in college and it was maddening. Some of us need to shake off the night time fog and reorient. It won't help to lecture us on being happier. It doesn't help to say..."Look at me, I am happy and uncomplaining... you should be more like me." It is kind of like when you are in a big argument with your husband and he says..."Calm down". Nothing will rise my hackles more. Maybe he is right but that is not the time to say it. A friend of mine has a great saying.."You don't pick up the dog shit while it is still soft and warm" </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There has been some crazy conspiracy stories and faulting of government here and there and that is always going to happen. I am not going get into that kind of crazy. I am just talking about the people that just want their power back on so that they can get on with their lives. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When we are all back in our cozy bungalows and we are safe and cool then we can reflect on what we could have done better as individuals to be more prepared. We can do that as a city as well. But hey, let some of us have a tantrum or two in the meantime. </span></span></span>Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-40257131928303670532016-08-28T17:48:00.000-07:002016-08-28T18:26:52.092-07:00I wore a new Shirt and where it lead me thinking.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wore a new shirt. It is a t-shirt that a friend had printed at one of those companies that does that for artists and then the artist makes a pittance when you order their shirt to support them. I didn't wash it. Anyway, I wore a new shirt while I was cleaning the duplex getting it ready for new tenants. I didn't have too much to do, but it is summer here in North Florida and it is hot. The air-conditioning was set at 80. I worked up a little "glow" as they say down here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I noticed that I was a little itchy. I just thought it was from the "glow"; no, really sweat. I got home at around 5:00 pm. I was really itchy. I don't know why I didn't take that shirt off the minute I got home. Maybe, I thought that if I cooled down, it would get better. No. It didn't. It got worse. By the time I took the shirt off I was a big red, itchy mess. That was on the 11th. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here we are on the 28th and I am still itchy. Not as bad but now I am kind of scabby in places on my back. Okay that is TMI. I took Benadryl. I have used Benadryl cream. I have used Cortisone Cream. They have all helped to some extent. I am still itchy. Not so bad that it wakes me up anymore but I don't want anything rubbing on me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I used to get incredible debilitating allergy attacks before I did the whole shot thing. When my histamines get going they don't want the party to end....ever. It takes drugs to finally throw them down. I guess my arsenal of over-the-counter meds is just not enough. I am hoping to rectify that. Because those babies are back and are like "Hey, you haven't let us out in a long time and we want to Par T!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now this situation has caused me to make some modifications in my everyday undergarments. I have replaced the giant rubber-band of a brassiere for a camisole style t-shirt. You would think that it would be considerably warmer considering there is a full shirt that you are wearing under another shirt. On the contrary, it is pretty comfy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Somehow in contemplating this change of attire I began to think about how did we end up with the clothing that we have. I mean who decided that women need to defy gravity with their breasts. Why do they have to be rigged up to our chins in an unmoveable cup with just the right amount of jiggle on the top....for the guys. Not only that. I mean now they have little "daisys" in the cup to make sure that the nipple doesn't show. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am not saying this in a judgemental way, but some guys have a bit of breast and nipple action going on and no one cares or even thinks it is indecent. So where has this come from? Men? Then we have the issue in France where there was the whole Burkini up roar. First we show too much and now we show to little. I mean who is the "decider" here? Men are not required to cover up their breasts or their nipples. You know they look very similar....sometimes more than not. Okay, women use them to nurse their children but people get really hinky about that too. So it is okay to see male's useless nipples but not a woman's nipples, whether they are in use or not. A woman can wear a teeny weeny bikini and show her whole breast but not the areola or the nipple. Somehow the whole breast is okay...just not the nipple. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lets not forget, we can see them in National Geographic magazine if they are aboriginal nipples. I guess they are different. (why do you think those boys were hiding those magazines under the bed?!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I started to think way outside of the circle and I thought isn't weird that we worry about seeing the nipple through the clothes so the bra companies have devised a little shield in the bra to prevent them from "poking" out too much. Yet, women who have gone through breast augmentation due to cancer surgery pay extra to have a nipple so they still look like breasts. I mean, I get it. No judgement what so ever. Then they put on bras that make the nipples invisible. We are conditioned. We are so weird. </span>Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-70187090136477113782016-07-13T19:37:00.000-07:002016-07-13T19:40:39.988-07:00Cursive, I'm old school<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My daughter-in-law just got her first teaching job. I am thrilled for her. It has taken a couple of years to feel confident to take this step so I am really proud of her. She will be teaching 4th grade writing, grammar and spelling. She could probably teach me a couple of things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One thing she won't be teaching is cursive. She doesn't believe in it. Her school has many language problems with migrant children and other non-native English speakers, they don't have time. Cursive seems like a luxury. I hate that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong. I didn't like penmanship. I was okay at it but I hated being graded whether my h's went all the way up or my t's were just below. It all seemed pretty trivial. However, since I was born in the dark ages, before computers. We had to write all or our papers and they all had to be cursive. We all got pretty decent at it; well, most of us. Even today when I go to a meeting, jot something down, write a grocery list, or certainly write a card, it is in cursive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I always felt that when I wrote my notes in class I remembered them clearly. I could almost visualize them on the page. Do you do that if you don't look at the keys as you are typing? I don't know. Studies show that college students that hand wrote their notes vs. typing retained the information more. You could print your notes and that would still work. However, cursive is faster. Most people create a sort of personal hybrid of the two. That is also because most people that are now adults did have cursive. What if you never did? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I forget that maybe my niece and nephews can't read that. They will have to hand the card to Mom or Dad and have them read it. Should I stop or just keep doing that and then they will at least learn to read it. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4vDRbFhCfvqP2a0HH9ZltnzeYLMhcYUyXPSFTXAAZszDP_hhtNkA59A16x0-HNcgErSxBzCxpDO6yJOSKI8gotCeusd9DJGdGfjwFml-GElrb1KfGU7J5taEqYOVfBrLeT-IUZEF/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4vDRbFhCfvqP2a0HH9ZltnzeYLMhcYUyXPSFTXAAZszDP_hhtNkA59A16x0-HNcgErSxBzCxpDO6yJOSKI8gotCeusd9DJGdGfjwFml-GElrb1KfGU7J5taEqYOVfBrLeT-IUZEF/s320/IMG_0004.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have a cookbook of handwritten recipe cards by my Nana. I treasure that. I treasure that she took the time to handwrite each card out for me. I know copying them from her own favorite family recipes. That took time. I will have her handwriting there forever. I immediately know it is her writing, just as I know my Mom's or my Dad's. I know my husbands. It makes it special because it is unique to them. I suppose their printing would be as well....but maybe not. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So yes, I am old school. I think we should teach our children cursive. I don't want knuckles rapped with rulers or grades attached to formation. It just seems so sad to lose it </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-9976969850111806082016-06-30T10:37:00.001-07:002016-06-30T10:37:44.478-07:00Shopping, I like it but what size! <br />
The other day I went shopping with my Mom and we found a few T-shirts that we liked. I bought two because they were really on sale. They were very soft and a simple stripe that I can wear everyday. I don't know if I was momentarily hypnotized in the store or just stupid. Now that I have washed them several times I have found that they seem tighter and the once soft fabric is pilling significantly. They are Polyester Rayon and Spandex. They are both the same size, medium. Of course one feels slightly more snug than the other. They are a bit snug in the arms. It doesn't bother me too much but I don't have really big arms. I admit they are bigger than when I was 20. For purposes of perspective, I am 5'8 and no more than 155 lbs. I consider myself pretty average. So much for a good deal. <br />
<br />
I am sitting here typing in a shirt I bought at Target the other day. It is an extra large. I originally bought it to sleep in but then decided it was fine to wear out. I don't usually shop at Target but their t-shirts run pretty small or is tight the norm? <br />
What is the deal with spandex and t-shirts, or just about everything these days? Good lord, I don't know how we kept our clothes from stretching out to ridiculous sizes until spandex came along. My favorite old jeans that have formed to my body are pre-spandex. Now, we can't have jeans without it. Why is that? <br />
<br />
I went shopping with a good friend in Chattanooga and she took me to my all time favorite store, JJill. Why do I like it? I like it because all the clothes look like they are fresh and clean. They don't look like they took them out of an overpacked shipping container from China with all the beautiful creases and wrinkles...and off smell that comes from traveling over the ocean salt air and all. (Which they did when we later went to Kohls where I couldn't buy a thing for that reason) I am digressing. What I wanted to say is that I found a cute shirt on the sale rack. It was a size SP. You know what that means, small petite! As I said earlier....5'8" 155. Nope not small or petite. They do cut their clothes large (vanity sizing).<br />
<br />
A couple of weeks ago I was going to a beer tasting and I wanted to wear my logo shirt from the brewery. I had purchased and XL. You heard me. These woman's cuts are so small. You know, I am of the age, 60, where our middles are not as svelte as they once were. Why the heck would I want my clothes to be so tight as to show the complete outline of my bra and the top of my pants! This is a problem with every woman's logo style shirt I have tried. I have a Bonnie Raitt shirt...won't wear it out, another micro brew shirt, same deal. I could buy the men's or unisex shirt... I hate them. The crew neck is too small, the sleeves are huge boxes that look ridiculous and the body has no shape. They are made for men so they go straight up and down... that works out for many women but they are tighter on top and on the bottom and huge in the middle. They are not made for us! <br />
<br />
For that matter...I don't know who clothing manufacturers are making clothes for anymore! I was explaining sizes to my husband. I explained that there is the Misses dept and the Woman's dept. He was like...Whatttt????? "Okay so that means sizes 0-16 (18) is in Misses and anything above that is Woman's." Then there is Juniors which sort of works the same way but they are odd numbers 0-11, or sometimes they do a double number such as 7/8 or 9/10. <br />
<br />
ARRRRAGH! Now you know why we have to try everything on, often in multiple sizes!Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-88634448800023584682016-06-26T09:57:00.002-07:002016-06-26T09:57:49.584-07:00<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have been struggling with glass for almost 8 years. What I mean by that is that I have been having trouble finding my voice with it. Glass is hard. It doesn't want to easily be sculptural when you are working with it as a kiln casting material and not blowing. There is carving the castable piece, making a duplicate model of it, and then making a plaster mold. Each of these steps is arduous and fraught with failure. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6kTlQBS2l1_A7TVhRLJraqh-0wZTM1FbT4X-quwCVEU8DnqTR0dEBQAzpYR0wv-dI0obdNGO9KVhE-xFIXdHDeMdoQWCpQqzE3IBYVruHWzdSSus48wkNxS_Gnplaorm5DI__pch/s1600/1980+01+01_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6kTlQBS2l1_A7TVhRLJraqh-0wZTM1FbT4X-quwCVEU8DnqTR0dEBQAzpYR0wv-dI0obdNGO9KVhE-xFIXdHDeMdoQWCpQqzE3IBYVruHWzdSSus48wkNxS_Gnplaorm5DI__pch/s320/1980+01+01_0126.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Along with that trip up, a family tragedy squashed my mojo. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now there is a crazy level of environmental concern for the manufacture of glass. It has effected both the manufacturer that I use, Bullseye Glass but also others such as Uroboros. Spectrum glass in Washington state, announced they were giving up the ghost. Bullseye is soldiering on and doing everything in their power to abide by the demands of all the governmental entities. This has cost them money and thus they must increase the cost of their glass by 12.5%. All the while, most customers have no idea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Living on the East coast, we are at a disadvantage as the cost of shipping the material to us is over 10%. Living in a small town with very little sales outlets we must ship our work to galleries, again another 10% hit. This for a material that is already one of the most expensive mediums out there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maybe this is a bit of sour grapes but all of this together has led me to question my desire to continue with glass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then the gallery calls and wants more...what is a person to do. ARRRRGH!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Left in a quandary. </span>Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-1529376708538987422016-01-07T12:36:00.001-08:002016-01-07T12:36:05.465-08:00Themes<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Artists League 30th anniversary Show will be about Nudes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't like themed art shows. It's not that I can't think of something to do. I think it has more to do with doing something that is out of my stream of consciousness. I know, I know, I am supposed to stretch myself. Yet, we are told to build a body of work, to have a cohesive body of work. So I work on that and believe me, I have enough trouble doing that. So now you want me to make something to fit your parameters. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nude animals, nude hands legs feet, partial nudity, abstract nudity, or nudity of spirit. (I don't know what nudity of spirit is I just threw that in there); these are all possibilities. Really however, you are talking about nudes. I know that nudity doesn't have to be lascivious or erotic. I know the human body is beautiful. Maybe I am prudish. I don't really think so. Well, maybe. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know I could adjust some of my "people" with their colors and patterns and fit them into your definition of "Nudity" but that is not the way I want them seen, it is not my intention. I think it is important that one's work be seen within it's intention. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, so there it is. I am a bit prudish, inflexible with my intention, and a little bit contrary. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTcdX1S3kFdWjNXR7wWYy2mEHq4tutEcHM2PBkH2ALVDiJ1q4eZyXSG2BqlRoM3wBnemmYnXSPu-vWPf7MQy7K12nIhPJwOzmqSEFgcUOM2AWpL2uaFDSL50b0NUMigC5cSAs1_ig/s1600/close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTcdX1S3kFdWjNXR7wWYy2mEHq4tutEcHM2PBkH2ALVDiJ1q4eZyXSG2BqlRoM3wBnemmYnXSPu-vWPf7MQy7K12nIhPJwOzmqSEFgcUOM2AWpL2uaFDSL50b0NUMigC5cSAs1_ig/s320/close+up.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-48838780823953345212016-01-05T18:16:00.003-08:002016-01-05T18:16:39.047-08:00Hippifying my Blue Jeans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzt_aw0H1llRGr9W55o0vv_BGerrmc43o5TnAHhzx2_uIe3aAovJVlu3Jk9HFVHQAIKDhJw7wBFjmS4v4cOzODouJOLo1EGWTQm_T2_ZCLkMAlyIsCGu5SdsSU9JDvFRFiVbLZ8i4/s1600/blue+jeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzt_aw0H1llRGr9W55o0vv_BGerrmc43o5TnAHhzx2_uIe3aAovJVlu3Jk9HFVHQAIKDhJw7wBFjmS4v4cOzODouJOLo1EGWTQm_T2_ZCLkMAlyIsCGu5SdsSU9JDvFRFiVbLZ8i4/s640/blue+jeans.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
I have this pair of GAP jeans. I think they are about 20 years old. They have molded to my body and weirdly they still fit. But they have been really showing their age the the thighs are going. One side more than the other. I had saved some old jeans that I didn't like for patches and today was the day. I haven't embroidered on jeans in quite a while . <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmh2pGzszYHYP6Y8UPFCv4DUyNJMFPOBhFEbvzJ6bq73oQZgdXR1rTelupOo0QGcZMNuRg00B72_o8ivzjsP7XuuKAI8cVVvHpyzob6YX6tpO_PHOf4c8Z40DBJnnkt1gyx2Qf3Plu/s1600/1974+Lesley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmh2pGzszYHYP6Y8UPFCv4DUyNJMFPOBhFEbvzJ6bq73oQZgdXR1rTelupOo0QGcZMNuRg00B72_o8ivzjsP7XuuKAI8cVVvHpyzob6YX6tpO_PHOf4c8Z40DBJnnkt1gyx2Qf3Plu/s320/1974+Lesley.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This was a little t-shirt I embroidered. I was a senior in High School.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-88755858799844324962016-01-04T09:01:00.000-08:002016-01-04T09:01:51.901-08:00Running as Fast as I can<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I feel like I am chasing technology. What with phones, computers and even TVs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My Mom has sort of been wanting a smart phone. She has an older style phone. She gets envious that I can text, take pictures, surf the web, etc and she can't do that. HOWEVER, I asked her who she would do that with other than me. She is 81. She didn't know because many of her friends use their cell phones as she does, emergency. She never has it on. She has had the phone for 7 or 8 years and still doesn't know how to retrieve messages. We have showed her numerous times. How the heck is she going to learn an IPhone? Of course you realize I would have to teach her. I have had IPhone's for a long time and I like them but I don't use it to its full advantage. I don't know all the special things it does. I set it up to do Apple Pay but I have yet to use it. Running to keep up there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had to get a new laptop a year ago, That forced me into Windows 8 and then Windows 10. The first time I turned on Windows 8, I cried. I admit it, tears actually rolled down my cheeks. I thought, I will never figure this out. Thank goodness I bought a laptop with a touch screen or I really would have been in trouble. The "hovering" thing to get the start screen to start up was absolutely horrible. I learned it, I got it, I figured it out....then....My Mom's computer died. I had to teach her. That was a struggle and trust me, there were lots of tears. Thank goodness for Windows 10, it solved some of that crazy stuff. Mom learned it, I learned it and we are back on an even keel...pretty much. Although sometimes, "I swear I didn't push anything" she says and the screen has somehow done something really weird. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My husband wanted to get a new receiver as ours decided that it was no longer going to do surround sound. He ordered a new one and installed it over the holidays, our present to each other. I am so glad he understands all that because I would be bald from pulling my hair out. This is the back of the unit.</span><br />
<img src="http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/ephox/StaticFiles/PUSA/Images/In-Content%20Images/Icons-Logos/rear_pannel_90.jpg" /> seriously, if that isn't gobbledygook I don't know what is. After searching the internet and a couple of days, we finally have all the components talking to each other and the sound working for all of them but trust me it wasn't easy. <br />
<br />
So don't ask me how to do anything because truly I am going as fast as I can to keep up. Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-2255209618806669012016-01-03T11:18:00.000-08:002016-01-03T11:18:01.465-08:00Costco is a great store<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Costco is a great store. They have many things that you just don't see in a regular store. I have picked up some cool little gadgets. One of them was a set of LED battery operated spotlights. They are perfect for doing an indoor show. The batteries last a long time and they really give off a lot of light. I almost always have someone ask me where I got them. I couldn't find the exact ones I got at Costco but I found these on Amazon and I ordered another set.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<img height="181" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81nYe5P6O%2BL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /> Theses are by ritelite. <br />
<br />
I was cleaning out my pantry today and I found a couple of food items that we saw at Costco that seemed like a good idea, Black Bean Spaghetti. This isn't the exact brand, but same idea. <br />
<img alt="Explore Asia Organic Black Bean Spaghetti, 7.05-Ounce Pouch" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/916ANjLl%2BcL._SY679_.jpg" />We used it for a few meals and decided...no not really our thing. I hate to throw food away but it just wasn't for us. <br />
Of course one of my favorite purchases at Costco is wine. I found a delightful French Reisling that we had for Thanksgiving and the last time we were in Costco, I picked up a couple of bottles, 2012 Trimbach. <img alt="2012 Trimbach Riesling (Elsewhere $20)" src="https://www.klwines.com/images/skus/1182749l.jpg" />It received a 90 from Wine Spectator. I concur, not too sweet, lovely acidity perfect!<br />
<br />
Happy Shopping<br />
Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-28430654838535724202016-01-02T11:39:00.001-08:002016-01-02T11:39:23.068-08:00Crazy thinkingShowering for some reason always seems to open my mind up and I never know where it will go. Sometimes I have some really creative ideas and sometimes they are just weird. This morning was a weird line of thought.<br />
<br />
I started thinking about when and if my Mom moved in with us and whether or not I would have to take her to church. Would I go and sit with her or just wait in the car? Really, I thought, I would have to go in with her. I don't attend church and I haven't for 40 years or so. I am pretty much an atheist or at the very least on the hairy edge of atheism and agnosticism. I imagined the Pastor asking me if I believed that Jesus Christ was my savior and I would have to say a definitive no. Then he asked me if I believed in Heaven. Again, no, I don't. Then he asked do you believe in a soul. Now here is where I began to digress into a off the wall train of thought. I said."Well, if I did believe in a soul then wouldn't all living creatures have a soul? Wouldn't not just mammals but all creatures have a soul?" I mean what makes mammals special...just because we are one?<br />
<br />
What if humans where not mammals? What if we laid eggs? I thought well wouldn't that solve some issues today, because then if you didn't want your egg, you could just give it to someone else to sit on and keep warm. Really, you wouldn't even have to do that because you could just keep it in an egg warmer. You could really take this right on down into crazy town if you wanted. Just keep extrapolating....<br />
<br />
<br />
So all that in the shower today.....Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-67161384450381920622015-05-08T08:27:00.000-07:002015-05-08T10:05:23.097-07:00Sleepware Pjs NightgownsI am going to reveal a private thing....I don't like to sleep naked. I don't know why I just don't. I never slept naked as a child. Then when we had kids I wanted to have something on so when I ran into their rooms at night I was covered. This means that I want to have something to sleep in. Notice that I said "sleep in".<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
What I often find when I go and look for something is that the manufacturers believe there are three demographics out there: young children who want to have teddy bears, stars, and hearts on their pajamas, young woman who want to be sexy so nothing really covers you and when you turn over your boobs fall out, and old woman who are always cold or want something utilitarian with lovely tender flowers and roses all over it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I used to wear night shirts and at only 5' 8" they barely covered my ass, so I quit with them. I have looked at the separates where you can get a camisole style t-shirt and match it to some long pants. I don't want long pants. They are fine for the winter but then I wouldn't want the camisole top to go with the long pants for winters. At least let me have short sleeves for that. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My prefered pj is a camisole style t-shirt or lightweight short sleeve and shorts. For whatever reason, manufacturers have decided that if you want a camisole or abbreviated style top you must also want an abbreviated bottom. What is the deal with a one inch inseam. Why bother with that, you might as well just wear a thong. I don't want bermuda shorts but isn't there something in between? How about 4 inches. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now that I have the style settled, I want cotton knit. Why? Because it stretches and moves with you and it is cooler than silky polyester. We are sleeping in these! Here again, I want an adult print. I don't want little bears or giraffes. Even sold colors would be nice.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have found some places where I can buy these at $50.00 a piece. I don't pay $50.00 for a t-shirt I wear during the day, why in the hell would I pay that to sleep in!!!!!</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So that leaves just buying regular t-shirts and shorts. I can do that but they are usually a bit heavier weight and I really don't want to look like a refugee when I am going to bed. I know that sounds silly but in some weird way I want to still have some attraction for my husband. It would almost feel like I was saying.."hey babe, we are old...I don't really care anymore"...I am not quite that old yet.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Okay that may be my generation or something weird going on there...don't read too much into that. But hey, maybe I need to start designing pjs!</div>
Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-19095728458839913852015-03-05T17:04:00.000-08:002015-03-05T17:04:14.597-08:00Wow, I have not been very diligent in writing my blog! Nor have I worked on my website in quite a while. On my to do list. It is interesting in that websites seem to be so static but I have been using my Facebook Page to write small posts. Now I am beginning to believe that there are so many posts flying around that it is difficult to see what is going on. Everyone is screaming for attention. Maybe that will mean that the blog which can be more in depth about an idea will get more attention. <br />
<br />
I am trying to get back into the swing of things. Over the Holidays I marked down a great deal of work for our annual home show, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Under-One-Roof-Tally/1454205338176629?ref=hl. I sold very well and I can't help but wonder that when you give your work away at close to the cost of material....wow it sells really well. <br />
<br />
For those of you didn't know last year I got intrigued by clay. I made several things, which I liked and even sold a few things. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGbaswfLpG-fmiZXQ_FPZvaYyCxLygX8GMXRP_KFEtZLd0jOV12V126ESuzdHFtmSxywI4FWKvgFJ925mLKgZJahIdeTrHUdmvtrPs114AF9AiLNb5ktzzJ0oTDcd3RyXxIJ0HabB/s1600/IMG_0511_0337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGbaswfLpG-fmiZXQ_FPZvaYyCxLygX8GMXRP_KFEtZLd0jOV12V126ESuzdHFtmSxywI4FWKvgFJ925mLKgZJahIdeTrHUdmvtrPs114AF9AiLNb5ktzzJ0oTDcd3RyXxIJ0HabB/s1600/IMG_0511_0337.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a>I am going to get back to that but right now I am working on some pieces to evaluate for an Etsy shop. I will keep you posted on that. Most importantly, I am working and feeling pretty good about it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-74620655007700494722014-01-02T10:24:00.002-08:002014-01-02T10:24:53.596-08:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is the new year, 2014, wow. I don't want to make this a resolution to write more often, I will just say it is an idea. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have a couple of things rolling around that I would like to think about doing. One of them is to take a class from Keke Cribbs at Pilchuck. It is two weeks and expensive. First of all I have always loved her work. I love the color, but mostly I love the story aspect of her work. I love that she is not tied to a medium but to an idea. I love working with glass but I have a vague feeling that I have been bumping my head on a "glass" ceiling. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am not sure if my feeling is a limitation of my creative ability and imagination or more of a log jam that needs to get cleared out. I may not be able to fix that all by myself. That is what makes me wonder that taking the class from KeKe might be the kick I need. If nothing else it might make the answer to the question clearer to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The other thing is that I am constantly being asked to teach classes. I have done it in my small studio. But if I do that I am not actually able to work myself. I signed up to do our local outdoor show this year so that is on my plate. But that is not my only hesitation. I have not taken a billion classes. I have been pretty holed up in my studio. Therefore, I haven't learned all the latest and greatest. I will have to do some work, experimentation, and testing before I really feel like I can do a good job with that. I mean I obviously know the nuts and bolts but I would like to offer some information on current ideas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Well, there you have it, two ideas...rolling around, kind of like marbles. They are not really going any where exactly.</span>Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-73289157903495517722013-09-20T15:13:00.000-07:002013-09-20T15:13:08.370-07:00Building another websiteI sure hope I am not in over my head here. I finally transferred my domain name to my new host. I had to have help from the help desk, Riccardo. I did in fact feel a little like Lucy. I was clearly out of my depth. However, it is done and my son applauded me for getting that far. Now I have to build the new site. <br />
<br />
Riccardo assured me that I could do it and that their website builder is easy. I stuck my toe in the water this evening and ran back to the shore! I got one picture in but not much else. I know I can do it. I think it is just going to take some time in the chair.<br />
<br />
Wish me luck!Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-75747828417608259512013-09-11T10:54:00.001-07:002013-09-11T10:55:06.869-07:00New websiteI have been remiss. I have not followed some of the important rules of marketing, networking, or keeping up-to-date; I have not updated my website in ages. I hate my website. It only allows a tiny bit of information, so everytime I want to add something I have to redesign the whole thing and subtract something else so it won't go over its allotted space. <br />
Yesterday in my frustration, I went to Go Daddy and signed up for a new domain name. Now today I find out I could have transferred my old domaine name, Lesleynolanglass, to Go Daddy. So after spending about an hour on the phone with Riccardo, that is what I am going to do. <br />
I don't know how long it will take me but I am going to try and remake the website into something more modern; one that will go to a mobile format as well. It is hard for us "grown-olds" to keep up with technology! Bare with me! Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-3677330788274252942013-04-25T06:36:00.001-07:002013-04-25T06:36:56.522-07:00How I workWe have a big project going on in the backyard. It is taking weeks for the workers to transform our modest patio into the palatial castle we envision; well that may be an overstatement but it will be wonderful. I notice that when it was quitting time, they walked away, the section unfinished and the area left sort of untidy. <br />
<br />
You know, it doesn't bother me. The reason is that I looked at how I work in my own studio. My work takes days and days to complete. I find often that I am working on a figure and it is tedious, however satisfying, but I will reach a point where my mind says..."I'm done for the day". I do not clean up and I do not finish the section; I turn off the radio, the lights, and close the door. <br />
<br />
Sometimes before I walk out, I prepare several pieces of silkscreened glass to fire overnight in the kiln. The silkscreens are left on the counter, the powder needs to be cleaned up and the counter is usually a mess. But still, I walk out, just like that. <br />
<br />
The next day, I know right where to start. I don't have to think of the next thing to do, I just complete the pattern that I was working on. Then when it is finished, that is when I might decide, I need to clear off a counter and sweep the floor. It is as though, I must clear my mind to move on. Or, I will simply move on to the next patterned figure because I am in the groove now, my mind has woken up, with the help of coffee of course. <br />
<br />
I see that is somewhat how these men are working on the complex paver design of the patio. The walkaway in the evening and jump back in where they left off the day before. <br />
<br />
For me, leaving the studio in mid stream helps me jump right in the next day. It is like a bookmark in a book. I don't have to get to the next chapter. In fact sometimes I get to a really complicated or interesting place and realize..."I need to save this for when I am fresh" and I close the book. The studio is like that too. Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-33246633726057514952012-12-30T07:54:00.002-08:002012-12-30T07:54:59.172-08:00A Cocktail Party OnlineWe haven't had a Cocktail Party. That is something that my parents did. I like the idea of them though, they are like a Salon; a party where people come together to share ideas about current events, art, and literature. Some of my artist friends and I gather together and do just that. We have been doing it for several years now. We have even named ourselves the Salon of Seven and since one person dropped out a few years ago, we are now the Salon of Six. For those reading this locally, we will be doing an exhibit at LeMoyne in September. <br />
<br />
However, I digress from the purpose of this blog. I think Facebook is our daily Salon, at least it is from my point of view. If you read my earlier post you will know that I have had some problems with either some of my posts and or my comments on other posts. I think it is because people have not fully realized that Facebook is like a cocktail party or a Salon. The other thing that I like about the comparison to a cocktail party is that often you don't know everyone, so you tend to tread a bit lightly and with respect. Most of us would never stand in the middle of a room and shout at someone that they shouldn't discuss something, that they are ignorant, or call them names. However, in speaking with others, this happens on Facebook. Maybe we are all learning what Facebook is and how to navigate it. <br />
<br />
I know many people who say that they never publish anything on their sites that is controversial in nature. They don't want to offend anyone. They choose instead to post family things, recipes, and benign comments about the weather, etc. I do that. However, I also post things that may be controversial, political, and current. Why? Because that is who I am. I have always been willing to speak my mind. I try and be respectful most of the time but I believe if I speak my mind that I might know what is on yours! I might learn something. I mean, if you saw something on the news that you felt passionate about, wouldn't you want to talk about it at the next cocktail party?<br />
<br />
I think it is a boring cocktail party that is filled only with sports, family, recipes, and fluff. I do like to talk about that, but I think we can also express ideas with each other too. Have we forgotten how to do that? Maybe we all need a primer on the art of conversation! Me too!Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-40461420852099157582012-12-30T07:24:00.000-08:002012-12-30T07:24:04.306-08:00Facebook Resolutions<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Facebook had been full of memories, politics, reconnection
to old friends, and simple statements that make you smile, laugh, cry, and
think. This year I have had three or
four experiences on Facebook that have given me pause, and made me question
whether the damage to friendship, feelings, and respect are worth my
continuation of it. However, in looking
at the big picture, I have received so much more love and support than I ever
expected. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seeing John’s spirit kept alive by all of his friends alone
is enough to ease any thoughts I might have of shutting the pages down. I love that several of his friends have
allowed me to continue to be their Facebook friends and I can peek into their
lives and see their thoughts as they grow and become wonderful adults. It gives me a great perspective and world
view instead of just a “boomer” perspective.
Some of them are wonderfully articulate.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am so happy that through Facebook, Dan and I have
reconnected with old High School friends.
Although we are spread across the globe, we as military brats, have a
common thread that is still strong. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am also able to stay connected to family that also is far
flung. It is the little experiences that
really keep us close. I love hearing
about someone’s day. I am admittedly not
a very good phone person. I always feel
like I am interrupting and I forget what I want to say. When asked “What we have been doing?” I can’t think of a thing. But through Facebook, I see a bit of what
they have been doing and they see the same with me and it gives us both a good
jumping off point. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have enjoyed, for the most part, the political issue
driven conversations. However, there
have been altercations; words do matter, how you say things matters. 2012 has been a volatile year filled with
politics and tragedy. Through that I am
making some rules for myself. I don’t
know if I have broken all of them in the past but they are good rules none the
less.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t tell
someone what they can or can not post on their own Facebook page.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you
don’t agree with someone’s post don’t attack them personally.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you
don’t agree with someone’s statement respect their opinion as you would wish
yours to be respected.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you
can’t do any one of the above, don’t respond at all or certainly not publicly. This might be a place where mother’s old
rule….”If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”
applies. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t
hijack someone else’s post with your own agenda or change the subject
substantially. If you need to make a
statement, then make your own, on your own wall. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is not
really an issue for me, but don’t post compromising pictures of other people or
tag them…their mom may see it! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is an
open forum, you don’t know all my friends or how I know them. Don’t assume that I share all the beliefs of
all my friends. That would be boring. I
will speak to you as I would in a dinner party or public situation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Please respect my friends and I
will respect yours. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Reread the rant before you post it!
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Get a thicker skin.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, it may be that you will unfriend me due to
difficulties. It also may be that I will
block or unfriend you, sometimes that is done to protect a friendship rather
than end one. </div>
Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-40924650279602495092012-07-30T06:12:00.001-07:002012-07-30T06:12:32.875-07:00PinterestI am not sure I really get Pinterest. I mean I understand it is sort of like a bulletin board where you collect things you like. As an artist, I guess I could collect images that inspire me. As a person who loves to cook, I could collect recipes. <br />
I did sign up. However, amid the thousands of passwords I am supposed to remember, make them all unique, and change them all the time, I don't remember my password. Nor do I really know where to go to find all these inspiring things. Actually the best place is Pinterest. So that is funny to me, I could go look at all the things other people have put on their bulletin boards and then repin them to mine. I don't know, it just seems easier to look at everyone else's boards. <br />
Some people are doing a magnificent job of collecting terrific images. A couple of my images have even been collected. I think that is flattering. But here is one of the problems, I am on the computer too much anyway! In order to find cool things to pin, I would have to be trolling the internet to find them.<br />
I guess I am drawing a line in the sand here and saying , for me, enough is enough and I am just going to be a voyeur and look at what you have been wasting time collecting...sorry.Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-24887699987955028092012-07-08T08:34:00.001-07:002012-07-08T08:34:30.494-07:00Not just glass....a bucket list<b>Disclaimer:</b> this blog is no longer just about glass. Why is that you ask? Well, my art is personal, it is about me, it reflects what I think, see, and feel, therefore my blog will reflect that. When I thought I would write about just glass I realized I WASN'T WRITING ANYTHING! However, I was thinking about a lot of things that I didn't then have a place to write them...hence the disclaimer.<br />
<br />
<b>The Bucket List</b><br />
Now that that is off my chest I will write about what I was thinking about. A friend posted a comment about her bucket list. She added living in Paris to her bucket list and knowing her it would not surprise me to see her do that. So I questioned myself about my bucket list and I realized that I do not have one.
Not only do I not have a bucket list of things to do or places to see before I die, I have no real desire to have one. I think I am the feather of "Forest Gump", floating to what will be will be. I just don't want the stress of making a huge goal and not accomplishing it. I am not a stress lover, nor a perfectionist. I do not want to create any obstacle for myself. I am just happy to get up in the morning and like the floating feather decide what, where, and how to amuse myself for that day. I know that sounds indulgent and it is. It doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to go to Italy or do something exotic or that I won't do those things, it just means that I don't want to deal with the disappointment if I don't. <br />
I know that some would look at this as cowardly, or that I am not taking charge of my life but I don't think so. I have known great happiness and great and painful sorrow and disappointment. I realized that it is the small moments in life that mean the most to me, the everyday, the little touches, smiles, laughs, and moments that sometimes pass unnoticed. I am trying to notice them. That is what my work is about as well. <br />
<br />
So there, I brought it all back to the glass after all!Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-81529680821940892282011-03-17T15:07:00.000-07:002011-03-17T15:07:18.770-07:00It was the Right Decision!Oh, to go, to go, or not to go that was the question. “Go where?” you ask. In 2009 like a lightning bolt from the sky, I received an email from Steve Klein, to ask whether or not I was interested in joining several other glass artists at Pilchuck for a week residency. In that case, there was no question. After gathering myself off the floor, I jumped up and down and said “Yes, Yes, I will go! <br />
<br />
Six and a half hours through the air, I arrived in Seattle and began my trek to Pilchuck Glass School. It was a wonderful experience. Now, in 2011, I haven’t seen any of these people in almost 2 years! <br />
<br />
But, what happened there and what happened at the next session of 2010, (I wasn’t able to go to because it was the exact same weekend as Michael and Dianne’s wedding,) became the subject for a show at the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner, WA. Actually, it didn’t just happen; Steve Klein and Richard Parrish worked hard to make it happen. I don’t know all the details, hand wringing, sleepless nights, or arm twisting that went into the whole thing. All I know is that Steve and Richard strongly encouraged me to submit some work for the show and miraculously a show came together. Actually, I do know that Steve, Richard, Kathleen Moles of MoNA, and Lani McGregor of Bullseye, were all working very hard on making all of our dreams come true. I also know that there were many other little elves involved. <br />
<br />
So the question was, “Do I go? Do I take the time and expense to travel to the other side of the continent for an opening? I haven’t seen these people in almost 2 years, some I have never met. Even then I had only been with them for a week.” I decided to go. For some reason, I had a feeling that it was important. I had a feeling that I would be so glad that I did go. I don’t know, I thought that these were my people. They spoke a similar language. So off I flew, and then drove an hour and forty-five minutes to the cutest little town of LaConner, Washington.<br />
<br />
I couldn’t have imagined the affection that I felt as I hugged each of my past residency partners and even a few who I only knew through Facebook from the 2010 group. As each day and event passed it only reinforced that my decision was right. I had made the right decision. The group was nurturing, encouraging, and most of all great fun to be around. It was just wonderful to see everyone and everyone felt the same way! All I can really say at this point is “THANK YOU”.<br />
<br />
I AM READY FOR THE NEXT TIME!Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-17746537387316172772011-02-21T06:52:00.000-08:002011-02-21T06:52:09.251-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkF1gljD1PFj4cLaHjtILmgMUC_Ie0oFj5pm22YrdlMXGtI838UpTGLXoJ4tgVaQvAg5Qa3ihJx5GlqZbtPHkGeWgSEtr5hYyhUK7g26ESKLDYUxUQ878fkMb42grpOtxWZUHDt7l/s1600/From+here+to+there.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkF1gljD1PFj4cLaHjtILmgMUC_Ie0oFj5pm22YrdlMXGtI838UpTGLXoJ4tgVaQvAg5Qa3ihJx5GlqZbtPHkGeWgSEtr5hYyhUK7g26ESKLDYUxUQ878fkMb42grpOtxWZUHDt7l/s320/From+here+to+there.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It’s funny how long it takes ideas and directions to coalesce into action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like I am still working on the bits and pieces of information, inspiration, technique, and enthusiasm that surrounded me in 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time I was like hard packed earth unable to absorb all the life giving rain but as it sat there on the surface it began to percolate down to nourish that tiny flame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just needed to wait until I was ready to receive it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only have I gained from the actual time at Pilchuck but I have also gained in the community of artists that it created. This group continues to be a source of information and encouragement and I look forward to future collaborations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">This is an experimental piece "Maps". I am working with the concept of the wafers. I love how thin and fragile they are and misty and foggy, like memories.</span></div>Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558830899889347104.post-62921114256995605882011-02-20T14:37:00.000-08:002011-02-20T14:37:57.512-08:00<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009 I was invited to participate in Pilchuck's first Professional Artists in Residency (PAIR) week led by Steve Klein and Richard Parrish both excellent artists working with fused glass. The experience was so enjoyable and successful that they decided to do it again in 2010. Sadly I couldn't go but the reason was wonderful, our son got married. Anyway, there had been talk of a show coming together illustrating the work that came out of these two workshops. I really felt that since I wasn't able to participate in the 2nd week, I wouldn't be able to join them. I was so wrong. Both Richard and Steve encouraged me to get my act together and submit work for the show. I did and they accepted 3 pieces. I couldn't be happier!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wasn't sure I was going to go to the opening. One complication was that I am also participating in a 3 person show at the Kittrell/Riffkind gallery opening the very same day, March 12, 2011! Also, I could drive to Kittrell/Riffkind, they are in Dallas, but La Conner, Washington, is a bit far. But I ultimately decided to go. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Act 2: The next Track, will be at the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner Washington. Bullseye Glass has been main sponsor of the entire thing, their generosity has been amazing. This is a video that shows many slides of the work coming out of the show.</span><a href="http://www.bullseyeglass.com/weblog/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> http://www.bullseyeglass.com/weblog/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> . Also you can learn more about the work in the show at the website of MONA, </span><a href="http://www.museumofnwart.org/index.php?page=upcoming-exhibitions&exhibID=40"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.museumofnwart.org/index.php?page=upcoming-exhibitions&exhibID=40 </span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is one of the pieces that was accepted into the show. It is called "On the right track" It includes a small wafter of glass that has been one of the inspirations of the workshops. Even now I am continuing to work in the direction of the wafers.</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHSSrvrH5JbgbIp8H1vPdoGTq9ciyItROXEhuVQZll1feOFl-2nycjISVyVTrLk4rBDRjweU5lDeyltflprhKb-KWNq9wAkab2YjMWFMIJARXRg_iAAicp3wFn2fvv9GugnXi4FCC/s1600/On+the+right+track2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHSSrvrH5JbgbIp8H1vPdoGTq9ciyItROXEhuVQZll1feOFl-2nycjISVyVTrLk4rBDRjweU5lDeyltflprhKb-KWNq9wAkab2YjMWFMIJARXRg_iAAicp3wFn2fvv9GugnXi4FCC/s320/On+the+right+track2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Lesleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09636719694935876816noreply@blogger.com1