Eye Doctor

I go to the cutest eye doctor

If I leaned that direction that is-- she's adorable -- and just the right size to pop in your pocket.

I actually enjoy the whole experience -- I imagine because as a kid Dr. Engeberg was always so cool. During college (when I didn't wear glasses) he would see me walking down the street and would sometimes drag me in for a free glaucoma test (runs in the family)

He made a ton of money off the rest of the family -- so he gave me a free exam here and there -- perhaps because he knew it was inevitable that I would eventually be a patient.

Anyway -- back to Dr Adorable

I love the whole thing.

I love the test where you look at the square and hit the button every time you see a flash -- SURE we're checking for macular degeneration -- but it FEELS like a video game.

I love being able to tell her if number 1 or number 2 is clearer -- she seems pleased --as if I'm giving her the right answer and should be proud.

and I love it when I find out that the blurry number 1 is my current Rx - and clear number 2 is how I will NOW see the world.

Now -- it's the waiting game -- HURRY new glasses -- HURRY!

Stage 4 = despair

It's arrived - despair -- the point at which you think you've ruined it.

Which means I'm just 3 or 4 more trips to despair before we can declare this painting complete.

it'll be ok -- but for now -- yech

Stage 3

Not quite sure where it's headed

but I haven't reached the I hate it stage yet today

but the day is young

stage 2

I've never worked on anything this large

I need to think bigger

or smaller

huh

Drip and Splatter

Ok -- it was time to wipe out that disaster that I started a few weeks ago -- so I've started over

I wanted to play with the drip technique that I saw at the National Art Museum -- and it didn't go well (I think I need to research the method more first) -- so this is my reboot

and no -- it's not what it'll look like

But sometimes you just have to get a fresh start

tidbit

So I've just noticed that a few stuffed decorative bunnies from Easter that I have yet to store away after Easter have been sitting in a rather provocative position together for a few weeks now.

Makes you wonder what happens here all day while I'm gone.

And another message from Lover Boy

The temptation to say "Leave me alone!" -- really is strong.

or to forget how long he pestered me and just respond to what seems a reasonable request to communicate

I have to be willing to just keep up the silent treatment

any kind of attention at all will bring him back

full force

seriously

what a pain in the ass.

Lover Boy is Back

Deep sigh.

I love the Cottonwood Art Festival. It's usually the first weekend in May -- and it rains every frickin time.

every time.

But I just love it.

I love to walk around on the damp trampled grass and be inspired by the work of others. If you've never been -- it's in Richardson May 1 -- bring an umbrella.

Last year I had been talking to a guy who later became known as 'lover boy' and I send him a text that I was at the Festival -- he said he was a few blocks away and we met for the first time at Cottonwood.

It was a really nice first date

Who am I fooling.

It was the best first date of all time.

We held hands and strolled through the park -- we talked about art -- we laughed -- we eventually went to sit on the swings

It started to rain harder and he started to walk me to my car -- we had to run to escape the downpour.

We were both soaked

and we shared a romantic kiss in the pouring rain -- oblivious to the rain around us and other people scurrying to their cars

a great date

Yeaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh

so -- nice guy

but his life was a complete disaster.

no thanks

I've done the disaster-thing -- there's nothing for me like a man who has his shit-together.

So -- I broke things off.

and he hung on

and on

there were endless phone calls --

followed by too many attempts to make it work.

I thought I had shaken him loose.

I mentioned the perfect date in passing to my friend Amy on Sunday

seriously -- is there a bug?

After 6 months -- another contact from him.

gaaaaahhhhh!

No offense Loverboy -- I'm not all that great of a catch -- MOVE ON!

I see things

faint motion

just

out

of

the

corner of my eye

a ghost?

a shade of some past scene

he lingers

craving oompletion of some unfinshed task

or maybe

Bob's relatives

have come for mousey revenge

or

maybe it's time for bed

All Roads lead to Nascar

I wrote this to someone today -- and it struck me as some of the sadest words in the English language.

Yeah -- in my case this weekend -- living right on top of Texas Motor Speedway -- they change the direction on the local roads so that almost every lane takes traffic TO the Nascar races -- and later when they are over -- away from Nascar.

But it makes me wonder

Is it more prophetic than that?

Seems to me that the Nascarization of America is upon us

(shudder)

Hate that I can't blog about work

It really was a mistake to make this such a public blog

There are time when I really want to vent about something at work -- and there's just no way to do it.

Hindsight.

so instead

I'm going to just type out what I wanted to say

and hit delete

over and over again

stimulating isn't it.

Let's just say that if everyone at work would just do everything exactly my way 100 % of the time -- we would all be happier

Back to Painting

The garage has been transformed -- and I'm knee deep in a project -- it's looking terrible -- but that's part of the fun of abstact

art only it's mother could love

I'm taking photos as I go

but for now

I'm going to keep them to myself

Just terribly

terribly

pleased

Is any one out there?

Do you hear that?

me neither

it was the icemaker

and it stopped making the tocking noise all on its own

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

now

if any one is out there reading this -- please please please leave me a comment.

It's pretty much just this one guy who keeps posting in Chinese.

and he's started to insult me

in Chinese

(it's a little hurtful)

say hello and cheer me up.

tock tock tock tock tock

My refrigerator is making the strangest sound

it's a tocking sound

not a TICKING -- very definitely a tocking

I open the door

I shut the door

I shift things around in the freezer

I push my ear against it's surface -- like a safe-cracker -- searching for the answer

I found myself standing in front of it today - screwdriver in hand and a murderous gleam in my eye

tock

tock tock

tock tock tock tock

tock tock tock

tock

tock-- you mock me

I fear that no on can hear it but me

The Wet Lady

In the mid-90's, I was living north of NYC and was looking for a job in the city.

The spouse (before he became the ex) worked in the city and we could commute in together -- 13 minutes to the station and an hour and 45 min on the train -- cake right?

I got a call from a high tech company looking for an office manager -- perfect for me!

Now it's important to know that I'm not from New York -- and I'm not from a city of any kind. I grew up in the mountains in Colorado -- and back in my day you could walk anywhere in town and never locked your door.

I got married and we moved to New York and this was one of my first opportunities to interview in the City. I drove to the station -- found a parking spot and caught the train into the city -- I was perfectly ready for my interview. Clean copies of my resume, plenty of time to find my way, umbrella (30% chance of rain) , new shoes and a great suit -- I settled in with my book until the train arrived.

I had a plan.

Car to the station,
train to Grand Central,
Walk 3 blocks to the subway,
Subway to Columbus Circle
and East about 7 blocks to the interview
(OK -- don't correct me if you're from the city -- it's been 17 years and you'll see my plan was flawed)

It was pouring rain in the city -- Now a smart girl would have sprung for a cab -- but we weren't in the cab-taking class back in the day.

I stepped out of Grand Central, sidestepped the cab stand and opened my umbrella to make the 3 block trek to the subway.

So Colorado girls don't know too much about wind currents and sky-scrapers, but I got a quick lesson that day. Half a block to the station, a stiff rainy wind blew my umbrella inside out (Yeah -- that really can happen!) --- I begin to run, resume folder over my head to the station. Two blocks to go..... one.....half a block -- and I'm in! -- WhewI survey the damage....not to bad.....I'll make it.

I take the train and even find the right train to switch to get to Columbus Circle -- the lady on the phone said it was just a few blocks away when I called to confirm the appointment yesterday. I found a newspaper that I can hold over my head until I can find a deli or a store that's selling an umbrella.

Maybe they'll even have a bathroom where I can clean up

No delis
No stores
No umbrellas
.......just me and a cheap newspaper over my head.

Slowly getting soaked and dripping newsprint in spiral stream down my right arm.

As I hurry across the street, I catch my heel in a teeny little pothole and pow -- I hit the street. I hobble to the curb and huddle under an awning.

The damage?

One broken heel,
shredded hose,
and a little bit of blood dripping from my scraped knee.

I decide to keep on -- fight the good fight.

The building is just ahead.
I can go and explain and maybe they'll reschedule.

I really need this job.

So I arrive at the building -- which is under construction. The first floor is gutted and I'm shocked to hear from the crew that the building is completely empty.

EMPTY?!?!

I spot a pay-phone on the other side of the street and hobble over.

I find the damp card in my bag and call to find out where I've gone wrong.

"sfjlku Software may I help you?"

"Oh - Hi, I'm Gina, I had an interview at 2, but when I arrived at the address they told me that...."

"Uh -- are you the really wet lady on the pay-phone?"

crap

"Come on up -- we're on the 4th floor"

So I hobble up.
Wet hair hanging in strings,
shredded hose,
newsprint streaked arm,
broken heel,
damp resume.

Not only do they interview me.

They take me a on a tour of their office and introduce me to the entire staff

One week later I got a call back for a second interview

(whaaaa?????)

When I came in, I asked him why they called me back in after the disastrous first time. He smiled and said -- "Yeah -- worst interview ever. But you were such a good sport we thought you deserved a second chance."

Best job I ever had.

OK -- No -- didn't get the job, didn't get a thanks-but-no-thanks letter -- but did get an awesome job for another company....but THAT's another story.