June 27, 2010

 "There were sketches of buildings such as had never stood on the face of the earth.  They were as the first houses built by the first man born, who had never heard of others building before him. There was nothing to be said of them, except that each structure was inevitably what it had to be."

~Ayn Rand; The Fountainhead

They say I'm a little off, not quite 'there', weird--actually, they say I have bi-polar but I never let any of that change the way I think, the way I look at things, or my view of the world around me.  It is absolutely fascinating!  And one of the things I find so endlessly fascinating are structures, buildings, houses, schools, churches (but those have a special place). 

 I love wood and nails, bricks and mortar, steel, glass, concrete!

Give me arches, domes, spires, stained glass, brass and chrome!

 I don't care if it's rusted, twisted, rotted, or abandoned.  It can old or new, ornate or simple, historic or common.  Give me Gaudi or van Alen, Gehry or Wright.  Make it Greek Revival, Federalist, Mid-Century, Ultra-Modern or an Anti-bellum plantation. 

 It could be the Jefferson Monument...

 ...or the apartment building around the corner.

There is something so wonderful and emotional about a place.  It's not just the bricks and mortar but the blood, sweat and total human energy that goes into it.  The stories behind them and the feelings derived from them.  It's having something that's 'concrete' evoked emotions of awe or fear or familiarity.  Experience and memories are born from these.  And I find it all absolutely beautiful.

 Yes, I may be a little weird and had I been any good at math I would have been an architect.  But, alas, I suck at math so I can only admire other peoples work and the beauty that time has dressed it in. 

 People are a lot like buildings.  A foundation is laid down,  over a life time we are built and eventually we become what we 'have to be'.

June 24,2010

 I am not a fashionista. Not from a lack of trying--more from a lack of money.  My style these days is more a loose comfortable skirt and a feminine t-shirt.  Even though I consider myself a girly girl (I really do love to mess around with clothes, shoes, jewelry, oh my!) I actually have to put money out on other things (lights, rent, gas, food-you know, bills).  I also don't have the time to devote to really enjoying fashion as it should be enjoyed because of other things--God, family, the future and work.  So I was kind of surprised when I got an invitation to join a fashion and style blogsite.  I went back through all my blogs and it was just as I suspected--not a single blog entry about fashion.  So, maybe they were thinking of my Avon blog--but no, that can't be.   I only have one entry because I realized right away that no one-and I mean NO ONE-has ever been there.  I actually asked people I know what they thought of it and they had no idea what I was talking about.  It's funny.  I have two fan pages.  And I have a mere handful-not even-of fans on these two fan pages.  (I think it's the same people).  Yet, they never know what I'm talking about when I ask them what they think of whatever I've posted.  Do you think maybe they 'hide' me?  Why would you be a 'fan' of something you're gonna end up hiding?  Because this way they can 'support' me without actually supporting me.   

 Anyway, if I were really fashion active I would have jumped at the opportunity--if indeed it were an actual thing.  There was a time, back in the day, when I was up on everything-knew all the designers and their histories, names and histories of the different styles, modelling and run way shows--I even helped to put one on.  I loved fashion.  I was excepted into the Boulder School of Design in Hotlanta, Georgia.  But, my life being the poop hole that it was, I was told point blank to get my head out of the clouds, no one was going to pay for me and if I thought I could get a grant that just showed how ignorant I was.  Ok then.  So much for my 'new' family.  However, I really did not have any real hope of doing anything with my life--other than to be some guys wife and have his kids.  And, realistically, that's all anybody else expected of my life.  Except that one teacher (my Fashion Merchandising teacher, Mrs. Gaines) who tried very hard to get me into the Boulder School of Design in Atlanta, Georgia.  She even found a way for me to get a government grant because I was in foster care.  And I admit, I did get a glimmer of hope right before I was laughed at.  So ended my love affair with fashion. 

 I never really got into the modelling thing though.  I had the body for it--I was just too short.  I was thin but very curvy and very 'hippy'.  I really looked good back in the day.  I just didn't know it.  Really, did not know this.  But I lacked two very important criteria for modelling: Confidence and Support.  In fact, I think you need these things to be successful in any aspect of life.  You need to know that you can do something and you need other people to remind you that you can do something.  But I believed that I was homely and skinny and just awkward so I always felt better behind the camera.  (The above photograph was taken in 1987 I think--I was twenty-two and the mother of one).

  Ah, well.  These days I don't really have the time to study fashion trends and designers--even though I run a company where I make and sell tote bags and clothing.  (Wearable art my ass).  And as for the body, well let's just say when I talk about back fat and muffin top I'm NOT talking about food.  I'm shorter now.  I still have the hips but now I also have the butt, the belly, and the boobs to match.  Ain't life grand!  But on the upside, getting dressed in the morning is a whole lot easier--I only have a few things that still fit.

Peaks of Otter-2009-Jimmy and My fat self.

Not a good picture!

June 22, 2010

More Doggie Wisedom

"Always guard your masters plate so you can get first dibs on 'pre-washing'."

"Always wag your tail more furiously than the other dogs when you see your master.  You will get more attention and 'special' treats."

"If you wake your master up with lots of 'kisses' they will let you go pee first."

"And finally, NEVER sleep directly at your masters feet unless you know how to fly."

                                                         ~Words of Wisdom from Elvis the Terrier

June 17, 2010

  I am not a highly political person.  You will not find me debating policy or spewing propaganda.  I live by my own doctrines, my own philosophy, my own gut.  I love my God, my family, my state (VA) and my country.  But I also love the diverse world we live in--from Canada to Brazil, from Ireland to India to China.  God created this fantastically beautiful and endlessly fascinating Earth and we have been given the privilege of being it's caretakers.  We have failed miserably.  No doubt our latest ongoing catastrophe will have far reaching effects on our planet and our lives.  I'm sure by now everyone has seen the latest scenes of the Gulf.  I thought I might post some photos that I took of Orange Beach, Alabama before all this--2006. This is what it use to look like:

When I was a kid I was always told:

"If you don't take care of what you have you will never have anything."