Wood Carving

In class, we were carving into our blocks of wood. She said it’s part of the process. Figuring out how you want your image to look. What type of pattern will you make? What positive and negative shapes do you want to emphasize?

 What will you leave and cut away? What type of tool will you use? Think about the pressure on the tool, on the wood, in your hand. How much pressure will you use?  

 She said, Don’t rush through the process to get to your image, enjoy the rhythm and flow of the carving. 

Resurgence

We were talking about orchids. She was telling me how she thought she killed her orchid, but she planted it outside under her window and came back to life, twice. She said you have to find the place that the plant wants to grow. Then it will bloom in that sunlight.  

The Sacred Heart

At one of the art booths in Austin City Limits. I discovered this one.
This is what he has on his business card.

“The sacred heart  is a collection of iconic figures who have shifted the planet with their heart energy” www.williamkstidham.com
“What are you doing with your sacred heart?”

Dell Rocks Art Tent

We're at Austin City Limits and
I see this graffiti covered tent so of course I have to go inside.

There's a dj with music blarin'. People are checkin out computer games and dancin.'

All of the art is by artist Mike Ming, and it's everywhere. People are standin in line gettin their hair braided. All the art you can create there is free. Make your own

 buttons or design your own screen print on a
t shirt using his art. 


As we're diggin through pile of screen print options this girl is talkin bout New Orleans where she lives.

I ask her how is New Orleans? She said It's good. We loved it when we were there. We didn't want to leave.

Last time we were there was maybe 10 years ago. She says The last time I was there was like yesterday.

I asked her what's it like at halloween there?

She said, It's crazy!

My favorite t shirt example and cool fashion screen print girl.


















Did you make it? I asked about her skirt which I totally LOVE. No, I got it at the thrift store. (my fav place to shop, but haven't found any where I live).

Near The Vein

I asked about his tatoo. Did it hurt?

“No, not really. I… Well…, Okay right here…
(and he points near the vein)

That kind of hurt…, Yeah.”

This Bird

What are you doing?
　
I’m looking at this bird.
　
It’s out on a limb.

Texas Rose Garden

Last Saturday we went to the Rose garden in Fort Worth. He thought we could ride our bikes. We were told we had to walk them inside the path.
It sure took the fun out of it.
When I got told what to do.




No one wants a bicycle to become an added weight that they have to push along.











We want to ride.


We want to feel the wind in our face and our hair.





But I have to wear a helmet on my head, and that covers my hair.





Does anybody else wish they didn’t have to wear a stupid helmet?

Monarch Butterflies

She was afraid we wouldn't let them go.

That we'd make them stay.
I said I’d never do that. I want someone to be able to fly away.

Especially if that's what they want. Or need.
They should be able to fly away.


I’d never clip their wings,

That’s not who I am.

I’d rather help them grow.
I’d rather help them build wings.
Then we talk about all the monarch butterflies we see here.

Time

What is it?
It’s a necklace someone lost.
Do you think they’ll come to look for it?
I don’t know.
What does it mean?
I think it means time.
Time huh?
I think I’ll add that to my jewelry box.

Shinto Rock Garden

My cousin Ann, in Portland told me this was called a Shinto Rock Garden. She explained that the rocks in the sand resembled the islands of Japan, in the sea. Each rock was the people or events thrown into your path. They ripple outward only so far. They ripple into each other and become something new. Until the ripples balance out and are at peace again.

My Mom and Cousin Andy’s Visit

It was nice to share my life with them. For them to be in the same space as I. To breathe the same air. It didn’t feel long enough, and it went by too quickly.


She said he showed her on the map and she realized how far away from home we really are.



She kept saying it was so hot, humid, and flat here. She was missing the mountains. She said everything cost more. She said people are friendly and nice.

We hugged. We talked. We laughed. We disagreed. We loved. We shared. I cried.



　
She said you are learning and seeing new things.
She said it had it’s own beauty.

We went to the art museum, where JFK got shot museum, and the Holocaust Museum.
We got stuck in traffic.
I got lost.
We sang along to Otis Redding in the car.
Did they find any cowboys? No.












There will always be room here, anytime they want to come back.

Autumn in Texas

Sorry I haven't posted in two months my computer was busted. It still isn't fixed completely. I've been very busy. I will be playing catch up.

I was so worried I would miss Autumn here, but I didn’t. It just came later.

No snow here. I barely wore a jacket for the first time here once last week.



Yesterday I was wearing flip flops and shorts.

The moon roof was open and the leaves were falling inside my car from the tree I parked beneath.


When my mom and cousin visited, they were excited by the different birds and squirrels here. The way the animals would get closer than they were used to. I guess I’m used to it. I did enjoy watching a squirrel that was packing a nut into its mouth then hiding it into the leaves.

Ranger game

First they search my bag. What’re ya searching for?
“glass bottles, alcohol, marijuana, bombs, guns, mace, Ma'am…”
How about gum and a cell phone?
“Oh, well you can’t have a cell phone.”
You can’t?
“Go on”

We get to our seats and this lady from John’s work asks me if I like baseball? I shrug my shoulders. (I like rock concerts and art). We were only at the game for one hour. We came late and left early. I tried to talk to the few people around me. The score was 7-0 Red Sox ahead. I was bored outta my freakin’ mind.

I used to like playing softball when I was 8 and 9. I used to like watching baseball games when someone I knew was playing. But mostly I liked going if I could see cute boys. Cute boys playing or cute boys watching. The only cute boy there on Friday was John and I don’t have to go to a game to see him.
I know the tickets were free, but I had more fun riding on the freeway with music blaring. If I have to go to a sporting event, I’d rather go to a Jazz game, thank you.

Guess what? The Rangers won the Red Sox the next day 15-8.
Just my luck.

On Sunday

I was scared to enter cause it looked foreign. He said if we didn't like it we didn't have to stay. If we didn't like it we didn't pay. We could leave. It's donations only. The sign was spray painted. A group of people in front of doorway were talking. A guy wearing a confederate flag t shirt asks if we have change. As if I'd give anyone who wore that money.


We walk into this messy place with people sitting on worn out chairs and couches. They are talking, eating food from dishes, drinking from plastic cups, reading information, and hanging out. There's layers of grafitti. The ceiling is covered in paintings. There's a project board. It's different, but I like it. There's a whole room of free, clean, clothes on hangers for people to take what they need. There's a sink, microwave, fridge, bathroom, tables, and chairs. Smoking is only done outside. There is free food, and a fire outside. It reminds me of a place I took someone to see local bands, before we left.

We walk upstairs a graffiti hallway to where the music is playing. People standing, sitting, head bopping, toe tapping to the beat. Young kids, teens, adults, older ones, all different ages. It's punk, the music. I see an open spot on the table and sit.

The art is everywhere. Some trash, some silly, quotes like "Queer is not a putdown," band stickers, and political stuff. Mixed media collages. Later I notice bleacher like seating, a red carpet stage.

In the back there is an art piece. A typed description of all the nails pounded into the wood to resemble rapes. It tells how often? How many? The people who pounded the nails. The number of hours it took to pound them. Some of the nails are spaced evenly. Some of them are grouped together. Does that mean one person was violated by different people? As I touched the nails I thought of all the girls I knew. How many nails would that be? I didn't know the answer.

I met a boy who shares the name of an Egyptian Pharaoh trying to spread change with words and his guitar. I met a 2 membered band, named after a chess player. The drummer beat the cymbal so hard pieces broke to the floor. The singer sang with passion as he strummed his guitar. Back turned away, from the stage so you couldn't see his hands play. I heard some people speak.

I took a photo of 3 friends. Watched the boy left pining as the girl walked away with her guy. I wonder if she knows. He's in love with her.

A girl gave me a look of recognition as she walked by. I thought you don't know me. Cause I don't know anyone here. Then later realized I had met her the week before. I still don't know her name. I only know she just moved here.

I met a girl who shares my name, but spells the end differently. Throughout my whole life that makes number 4. We might be hard to find, but we exist.

Fan Halen & Back In Black

I am so glad we did not go to New Orleans this weekend! All because my guitar teacher works at the Rock School, and the kids performed Saturday Aug. 30. We had bought tickets before I'd realized that the show was Labor Day weekend.


We missed the Rock School kids. The whole reason why I wanted to see the show (totally bummed). I hope I have another opportunity, to see them again.

Here's what happened. We're heading to Dallas when John realizes he lost his ID. We come back home. He looks all over, and can't find it! Then he had to call House of Blues to confirm Will Call. Then we had to stand in the longest will call, box office line (that took forever).

Fan Halen which is this tribute Van Halen band that mimics the 80's David Lee Roth was hilarious! Talk about feeling old. Check out their outfits.

Back In Black is the AC/DC tribute band most of the guys at the Rock School perform in. They were really good! Even though we had balcony seats we ended up on the floor by the speaker, which is my favorite place to be. That way I can watch the guitar player. Good times!