Sunday night, ouch!!

Where the heck did my week go?? I really can't remember it flying away, but it did. At least tomorrow is a day off and I don't have too much on my plate. I hope to be creative at least a few hours.

The pain from yesterday's fall hit me about an hour into my day at work. My neck is kind of stiff and sore, and my lower back is really uncomfortable. The worst annoyance is my left arm, the one I use my cane with. Of course it hurts on my right wrist, too since that is the one I broke this summer. AARRGGHH!! Why did I have to get hurt again? I don't do pain well. I have chronic pain every day so I should be used to it, but new pains just put me over the edge. I am already at about max without the extra. I hope I will be able to paint this week, but I am not going to bet on it. I don't know if I will be able to sit that long. I am pretty happy with the progress I have made since my broken arm. I was worried I would have a major artistic setback, but that seems to be unfounded.

Tess and Athena and I had a great time at the bead store last week, and have several unfinished projects apiece. Now we just need to order the silver and Swarovskis we need, and get cracking on them. Tess is designing some really cool purses, I think Athena has the beads to do at least one necklace and a bracelet or two. I didn't get that many things, just some beads for a challenge featuring fun colors and whatever we deem to be fun at the moment. I have started a couple of bracelets and have taken them back apart. Haven't got the clear vision yet, so may have to go pick up some seed beads to add to what I have so I can do more what I see in my head. I have a wrapped and twisted image in my mind, but haven't exactly worked it all out yet. I will post a shot of it when I get it done.

At work today I was showing my friend, Ed, this cool centrifuge and we were both wondering what the original use was. He said, why don't you try looking it up on the internet. I had one of those Homer Simpson moments where I should have slapped myself on the forehead and said, "D'oh!!!" I looked on the centrifuge and it had the words Babcock Tester on it. I discovered a picture of it in an ad from 1904. Babcock used the thing to test the amount of butterfat/cream in his cow's milk. He patented it in 1903, but he wasn't the first. He wrote about it in a paper in 1890. The test became known at the Babcock Test. Someone else held a patent on a similar device, too. Pretty cool what you can find on the internet. More information than you probably ever wanted to know.

I am excited about Antique Week. It is held here every February. Harry Rinker, "The Collector Inspector," will be in our store on Saturday. He is alway interesting, and very entertaining. He is doing art appraisals, and antique appraisals in other locations, too. It kind of kicks off the new year's buying season. I hope things pick up.

We are also getting some cool new equipment at work on the printing side of the business. The first is a plotter-style vinyl cutting machine. It will cut vinyl for signs, and a special vinyl material which is heat-pressed onto clothing, like athletic jerseys. The second prints in full color directly on garments. I think that will be a big seller for us. I can imagine there being businesses and people who will buy 10 or 20 shirts instead of one or two, just because they are so "pretty." I know I will put some of my artwork on shirts and probably on bags, too. I love being able to promote myself with things people will actually use.

I have to get started on the design for my public art project. It is huge and I know it will be a big pain in the butt, but I hope it will also be good exposure for my artwork.

I will probably check in here again tomorrow. If for no other reason than to say Hi! and to give an update on my pain level. Today it is probably a 4 if I don't move and a 6 if I do.

Something about Sunday

Another Sunday morning. Getting ready for work, thinking about my friends who have the opportunity to go to church each week. I didn't always go, but I certainly liked having the option. Haven't been since Easter. The last Sunday I had off, except when I was in too much pain after my broken arm. Maybe someday I'll have the choice again.

Well, I was put in charge of the monthly ASA meeting on Tuesday night. I guess it went okay. We got a lot accomplished. New officers, new committees yet to come, lots to think about.

I finished the painting of my friend's cat, Rocky, I had started last week. I like it, what do you think?? It was such a sweet photo she had taken, and after all I love to paint cats. It just seemed the right thing to do.

Off to work soon. Suppose I better find some clothes and prepare. I fell last night while turning off the heater at work. Fortunately I was sitting down at the time, so I didn't have far to fall. The bad part was the concrete floor, and the fact the chair flipped over and kind of threw me on the floor. Today my shoulder is sore, and so is my back (which popped in at least three places). Today my back is not so bad, but my shoulder hurts as does my neck. NICE!!! NOT!!!

Thursday Night Slump

Well, finally back to post after a couple of hectic run my butt off days and nights, I am taking a little me time. Worked Tuesday afternoon like usual, then ran home, fed dad and ran to art class for open studio time. Made it home and worked on a couple of jewelry items. A pair of earrings and a bracelet from beads matching a necklace I recently made, then a wire wrapped goddess pendant for me. All done in varying shades of purple. Think I have a run on purple lately.



It is so cold here, I hope we can afford the heat we have used this month. If anything happens to dad I will be destitute. Have started my SSA disability application again. Started it in 2005, but lost my log in info, so had to start again Monday night.
Tuesday night at open studio I worked on laying out the mural I am going to paint at the glass foundry. I have a vision in my head if I can just get it to translate to the wall I will be fine.
Yesterday I went to open studio in the afternoon and worked on it some more. I didn't get a whole lot done, but the vision is getting clearer. Maybe I will try putting the basics down on the computer, then blocking in on paper.
This morning I finally finished my Valentines for my artsy/beadsy friends. I went to my cousin's house to wait for the VA rep to come help him fill out his paperwork for getting his illness service connected. That is the first step toward helping him out financially, and getting him to feel better about his life in general. Then I dropped off his bills and mailed out the Valentines to everyone except one special one that needs a box. Will have to go to bigger PO to do that. The little PO in Otis didn't have any mailing supplies. Then on the way home I stopped and picked up sandwiches and cheesy tots at, as Cassie says, Gurger King. Dad and I devoured them while I waited for Tess. Took her to the store and back home, then headed out for art class. We painted cats tonight. I love painting cats. They are probably my favorite subject matter, well, I like painting chickens and frogs, too. I have painted at least seven different cats. Some realistic cats and some whimsical. I have had a great time painting them all. I think I will be able to finish it up next week. It is done from a photo taken by my friend Gwen in Texas.
I am so tired, I haven't sat and read a book in weeks. I think tomorrow morning I will do just that. Tonight I am going to play some brain games on the computer and will head off to bed. (Just typed bead, I think I have jewelry making on the brain.) Good night!!