Joyfully Busy

I had a terrific meeting this morning with the woman who coordinates public art installations for the city of San Rafael (where I live). Together we came up with a plan for my recycled materials garden art to be displayed for a temporary period in a public garden space downtown.

We walked through the setting and it's perfect. She just needs to make some phone calls and arrangements to get things started and then I can begin installing right away. I'll have a lot of flexibility, which is helpful with my busy schedule, and will be hopefully able to set up my work over a period of time. It's a really great opportunity for me and we are both very excited about it.

Honestly, it never ceases to amaze me how things work out the way they are supposed to. Had I not made the decision earlier this year to forgo going to Marble this summer (I would be leaving in less then two weeks if I had stuck with my original plan) then I would not be able to participate in the many cool things that have been coming my way recently.

I'm missing everyone in Marble terribly but I know in my heart that I needed to stay home. Marble isn't going anywhere - I'll be back next year (and the year after that and the year after that....) My heart is there; it's like a second home. But I am needed here for too many reasons to count.

Now, if I can just figure out how to finish my installation for Burning Man, help out with the Temple build, do this new public garden installation in San Rafael, work in the management office at American Steel, hang out with my husband and dog, see my friends and family, eat right, exercise, and sleep without running out of hours in the day then I will consider myself a Super Star!

If I fall into a deep sleep when it's all over in September, please don't wake me.

And away I go!

Art Event Recommendation of the Day:

Oakland Art Mumur

I am going for my first time this Friday. I hear it's a blast. Yay Art!

RTD

I have recently come to accept the fact that I have RTD - Repetitive Task Disorder. It's not a bad thing; it allows me to make the art that I make. But it's not very common.

Only someone with RTD would be able to sort thousands of bottle caps or punch hundreds of holes in bottle caps or generally just do the same thing over and over and over again as an attempt to achieve an interesting affect without going crazy. Or maybe I am already crazy so it doesn't matter.

The fact is, there is RTD in me and I don't mind it. I had an awesome time in my studio yesterday working with my "disorder". I have finally begun building my Burning Man art project for this year, "City Benches". And so I spent about 8 hours attaching bottle caps to OSB (oriented strand board - heavier but half the cost of plywood). I got lost in it, which was exactly what I needed.

You see, lately, because of some other things going on in my life I have not been feeling quite like myself. I've been distracted; it's been tough for me to focus. But yesterday I was focused like a laser beam. It had been a while.

I honestly wish that I wasn't working in the office at the warehouse today because I can't wait to get back in studio and do it some more. Thanks RTD, for getting me out of my slump. How odd that a "disorder" can cause so much order.

Origin of RTD Explanation of the Day:

RTD does not exist.

My friend and I made it up. Neither of us have been officially diagnosed but there is no doubt in our minds that we both are afflicted. If this was a real disorder. Which it's not.

Impressions

I went to the de Young Museum to see the Birth of Impressionism exhibition last Saturday. It was really fantastic. It clearly shows the historical context that formed the Impressionist Art movement. And the art was amazing.

It's not just about Monet's Saint-Lazare Station or Degas' Dancing Lesson or Manet's Fifer or Whistler's Mother. If you only want to see famous Impressionist art go to Chicago; the d'Orsay show tells a story.

One painting moved me so much I almost cried. It created such an intense emotional response in me that I had to look away. The painting was Emile Auguste Carolus-Duran's The Woman with the Glove.

I cannot explain why I was so affected, something about the way the eyes were painted mesmerized me. They were so full of emotion. It looked to me like there was sorrow in her eyes and I thought that the subject might be in mourning but I don't really know.

What I do know is that this has only happened to me one time before in my life (when I walked in to the Galeria dell'Academia in Florence where you can see Michaelaglo's David). It's a real phenomenon, feeling overwhelmed with emotion while viewing art, and it reminds me why I love what I do.

Book Recommendation of the Day:

Ross King's "The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave The World Impressionism"

Eric just picked this up from the library (inspired to learn more after going to the museum last weekend) and I am going to read it when he is finished. This is the same author who wrote "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling" which gives a great account of the painting of the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.

I am more of a mindless fiction reader but from time to time I like to get informed.

YouTube Boob

So, someone recently sent me a link to a YouTube video that showed a guy at a music festival who was so wasted (in the middle of the day) that he couldn't negotiate the simple act of putting on his flip-flops. I will admit, I laughed out loud when I watched it.

But it also made me wonder: who would be so cruel as to silently take a video of this act and then post it publicly on the Internet? I mean, it's one thing to observe this and laugh about it. Maybe tell it as a story to people later, like, "oh man, there was this one guy we saw who was sooooooo out of it...." But what's the point of the public humiliation?

We all make fools of ourselves and do embarrassing things in our lives. That's just how it is. It sucks and then we move on. But no one wants to be reminded of it. And definitely no one should want millions (3,251,238 views as of this morning) of people to see what happened and have the ability to watch it over and over again. How would the person who posted the video feel if something like this happened to them?

But then I realize that we live in a society now where people compete ferociously for this kind of exposure (MTV got that ball rolling with the Real World years ago). Make on ass of yourself for all the world to see and then you are famous. For all I know, the guy in this video loves that he's on the Internet and doesn't care how stupid he looks.

But honestly, what's happened to Do No Harm? What's happened to Pride? Is there no Shame anymore? I just don't get it.

One Reason I'm Glad That I Grew Up in the Eighties of the Day:

There was no YouTube, no Facebook, no MySpace, no Blogging, no Twitter. No way for people to publicly document stupid, reckless and immature behavior. Some things just don't need to be remembered.

Go Team

The World Cup is going on and I haven't watched one single game. I love watching soccer and the World Cup is the most fun, especially when you see it someplace public. Like a pub. At 7:00am. It's great!

But I have no television and my schedule has not allowed for me to steal away to a bar or the SF Civic Center Plaza or any of the other nifty, cool places that broadcast the games.

Poo.

But it's not that big of a deal. I mean, it's just a game.

Alright, some folks would not believe I just wrote that. Just a game?! What?!

But this is stuff I don't understand. Why do we, as a species, get so into watching sports and following our "teams"? We care and react as though we are the ones playing the game. But we are just watching. What does this, in the end, have to do with us?

Yay! The players who represent me won! It's just as if I won. Right? How?

Whatever. I resolve to never be able to fully understand this. Why do I get excited when the USA does well in Soccer? Well, for one thing, it's not a sport that we really emphasis here in the United States. I mean, geez. The game is called Football everywhere else in the world. We already have a game called Football that we obsess over. That game is sooooo boring to me.

But Soccer is fun and fast and exciting and full of really good-looking, athletically built players. The truth is Soccer players are more attractive then American Football players. Yes. There. I said it.

I was at my chiropractor's office this morning and he loves sports. Part of his practice is sports medicine which actually makes him a really terrific chiropractor. He has framed copies of the front pages of the San Francisco Chronicle for every year that the Forty-Niners have won the Superbowl.

Why? Pride in the team, I suppose. But what do the games have to do with us? We aren't the players or the families of the players or the team owners. We've got nothing to do with it. But we cheer, we root, root, root for the home team. Maybe that is important, makes a difference, makes us part of it all. I dunno.

Oh well, whatever. I hope that I get to see a World Cup game eventually. But I do have a life, that's always gotta come first in the end.

Open Apology to My "Team" of the Day:

Dear US Soccer -

I am sorry I missed your fantastic win against Algeria this morning. Congratulations on advancing to Stage 2. I wish I was going to be able to watch the game this Saturday (really, I mean that) but I will be cheering for you in spirit. Please, please, please make it to the quarter finals. I promise I'll do whatever it takes to see you play.

xoxo Kitty

Just Because

Just because the Universe is handing me a lot of challenges all at once doesn't mean I have to lose my mind. Laughing helps me stay sane.

Things Found on the Internet To Help You Laugh (or At Least Just Smile) of the Day:

Super Delicious Ingredients Force

Not that Taco Bell has any redeeming qualities but if I had seen this growing up I don't think I ever would have wanted a Happy Meal from McDonald's.

Star Trek: Tik Tok

Which is worse: that I know every single Star Trek episode that they used to make this mash-up or that I like this song by Ke$ha?

ALT/1977: We Are Not Time Travelers

It is totally worth reading all of the text that goes along with this. Gives great amounts of chuckle.

Step By Step Escalator Animation

This just makes me smile.

Take that, cruddy day!

I Love Jasmine

The Bestest, Cutest, Sweetest Dog Ever of the Day:

Jasmine!

OK Go

Ok. So. I can't remember how I heard about OK Go but it was when they released their first album in 2002. I wore that CD out. Well, not literally. It still plays just fine, but you get the idea. I have a very distinct memory of listening to it over and over again when I was commuting to art school in San Francisco. I just loved that album.

Now, if you read this blog regularly you know that I am a huge music fan and kind of a music snob. Not of the Jack Black in "High Fidelity" variety. But still. I pride myself on knowing a lot about music, old and new, and having good taste.

So, of course I'm going to proudly proclaim that I knew all about (and loved) OK Go way before that treadmill video went viral. They released their third album, Of The Blue Color of the Sky, last year and I have to say, they just keep getting better. Putting out clever, catchy albums that you never get tired of listening to.

And the videos are awesome. You can watch them all, including the most recent, End Love, on their website. These videos are works of art.

Remember, if you didn't hear about this band already (where have you been?) then you heard it here first!

Surprising Music Recommendation of the Day:

Lady Gaga.

Yes, it's a guilty pleasure, to be sure. And she sounds just like any other auto-tuned female pop artist out there. But both the Fame and the Fame Monster are really good. Really.

Random Thoughts

On Cultivation:

I was outside watering and fertilizing my garden this morning. It was very satisfying to see the first fruits of my labor (green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers) starting to show. Yay! I can't wait to harvest.

On the First Day of Summer:

Forget June 21st. My first day of summer this year was Sunday, June 13th. That was the day I made my first salsa fresca of the season. The tomatoes at the farmer's market are really, really good so far this year. Can't wait to make salsa with my homegrown tomatoes. Next up: gazpacho and tomato pie. It's been tomatoes and toast for breakfast almost every day now.

On Nature:

The new bird feeder sure causes a big mess on my back porch but the influx of birds to my yard has been worth it. Last Friday, while sitting outside in the afternoon, I was treated to a visit by finches, robins and blue jays, all coming over for a bite. They were accompanied by a hummingbird, a butterfly and a lizard who all seemed to enjoy the sanctuary that my back yard provides.

On Ex-Friends:

I have a friend who broke up with me last year. I didn't delete her from my phone but her name is so similar to someone else that I know that I have accidentally dialed the ex-friend twice in the past week and a half. Should I delete this contact? It seems so cold and final. But, then, she was the one that decided to end it...

On Friends:

Your best friends will love you for the person you are, not the person that you wish you were. Always be true to yourself and you will never be alone.

On Faith:

If you believe that something is true and it gives you comfort, then it is true. It does not matter what others do or do not believe. Spirituality can be found anywhere. Art, nature, meditation - these are the places I go to find peace.

On Aging:

My birthday is on Friday. Another year gone by but I don't feel any older. Okay, maybe a little. My middle is softer then it used to be. But my spirit is the same. Yesterday, a friend commented to me, "We all end in the grave." Aging is just part of the journey. I do not fear getting older. It's going to happen whether I like it or not.

On Laughter:

Do it. A lot. That's all I have to say about that.

Final Thought of the Day:

The thing that you seek is also seeking you.

The Tom Petty Theory

In the last couple of years I have become a lot more confident. In general, I am pretty secure with who I am and what I am about. I know that I can bring a lot to the table, so to speak. As such, I've really been loving life.

One thing I've definitely noticed is that when I act like I know what I am doing people believe it (whether it's true or not but usually it's true). It's like when someone asks you, "What does the word brupes mean?" And no matter what you say, if you say it with enough conviction and the answer seems fairly reasonable because maybe you know a little Latin and understand root words or something, then people will believe it's true.

The weekend before last I took Eric to the Tom Petty concert for his birthday. Neither of us had seen him play live before. Let me just say this: The man can ROCK. Tom Petty has incredible stage presence. He should. He's been doing this for thirty years.

Tom Petty has his own style of performing. He moves his body a certain way that, I swear, if anyone else were to do it they'd look like a complete and utter douche. But when you see him hitting the tambourine on his hips while sashaying side to side it looks amazing.

Partly it works because he's, you know, TOM PETTY! But I think a big reason why Tom Petty looks so cool doing his thing is that he's completely at ease on stage. He's confident. And he's clearly having a great time. Why would I not believe that he is the coolest person in the room?

This is the key: Be confident, have fun and you can't help but look good. Plus, people will love you. And even if they don't, who cares? You're having a great time and feeling good. What more do you need?

Brupes Word Origin of the Day:

I got it from today's Jumble puzzle.

Unscramble the letters. What word do you get?

Cracks In The Veneer

I was holding it together as best I could, trying to stay strong. And then, on Friday, I lost it. I had hit my limit and that was it. Frustrations at my job had risen to the point where I could no longer tolerate the situation.

No, I did not do anything drastic. But I did do what I felt was best for me and that was good. I spoke my truth and that resulted in a positive outcome. Boy, this whole Speaking My Truth thing (thoughtfully, of course) is really pretty great. At least, it's working for me so far.

All of the problems, all of the worries, all of the stresses that I had been working so diligently to keep at bay and not let affect me have finally gotten the better of me. I'm waking up around 4:30am these days with my thoughts. Fortunately, I seem to be able to get back to sleep. But the worries are still there. I've just got a lot to deal with right now. It's flooding my brain.

But some of that worry is useful. Keeps me on my toes. Helps me remember not to let important details fall by the wayside. There are things I need to coordinate in regards to my art. I can't let that go.

I'm not feeling one hundred percent great right now but I'm not feeling all that bad, either. Still taking things as they come, dealing with situations one at a time. It's really the only thing I can do. Here's hoping for some smooth sailing ahead.

Bonus Jasmine Photo of the Day:

A fun day was had by all at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden grand opening of the 2010 Sculpture Gallery last Saturday.

Jasmine got comfy while an artist talked about their sculpture during the art tour.

The Best

I don't generally use this is a forum for discussing my marriage. But today I would like to take a moment to say that I am married to the Best Husband Ever.

Not only is he super kind, super smart, super funny and super cute. He is also my best friend and my number one fan. Put simply: Eric Rocks!

For example....

I got home late last night after an extremely difficult and exhausting day at work which was followed by an intense (but satisfying) TIG welding class to find the entire house cleaned top to bottom. So not what I expected. And so appreciated.

Because lately I've been pretty lax on the household chores. I've just been too busy, too tired and too lazy to keep up. I was earmarking this Sunday as Chore Day. But now maybe we'll just head to the beach. I hear it's gonna be a scorcher this weekend. Summer Heat? Bring It!

Eric Photo of the Day:

Gettin' dirty Cyclocross-style.

That's my guy!

A Short Rant

I watched the Hurt Locker last night. Wow. That is one of the best movies I have seen in a very long time. Absolutely, it was the right movie to win the Best Picture Oscar.

I can't believe that Avatar was a contender. Just goes to show that incredible special effects can really blind people. Yes, I admit it. I thought Avatar sucked. But even if I did like it, there is no way I would have thought it was more deserving of the top picture award then the Hurt Locker.

The Hurt Locker made me think. It made me reel. That's great art.

Sometimes it hard for me to understand why so-and-so makes so much money to give the world meaningless fluff. Do we really need the existence of Are We There Yet? Sometimes I am amazed at the things people do with their lives, like make bad movies. Did they really think that it was good at the time or was it just for the paycheck?

Is this what we go through life for? Seeing how much money we can make doing whatever it takes? Seems like that, sometimes. A really long time ago life was all about surviving. What you did, your "job", was about finding food and shelter and continuing the species. How did we become what we are now? Are We There Yet? is not a necessary part of human existence. It just can't be.

Maybe I'm being too harsh. I do love the Family Guy, after all. Well, as long as quality entertainment gets the awards and recognition it's due and movies like Sorority Row go straight to video, I'll feel like at least something is right in this world.

What Do To With More Stuff We Don't Need of the Day:

Project Green Apple: How To Melt An iPad.

Life Is Art

I haven't been making much art lately. And yet I don't feel like I am not being creative. Far from it. I've just been applying my creativity in other ways.

And I'm totally okay with that. I'm working hard and feeling good. And I am not worried about the fact that I am not being terribly prolific right now.

In the past I would use that as some kind of measure, the amount of art that I produced. But I've come to realize that being an artist is so much more then just making art. It's about thoughts and ideas and relationships and self-promotion and, well, living life to the fullest. Art is Everything. And Everything is Art.

I cannot believe that I haven't even begun to build my art installation for Burning Man (only two months or so to go!). But I'm not sweating it. I have plenty of time. It will get built. The idea is all there; the hard part is done.

There once was a time when I would be stressed and worried, nervous and anxious, totally convinced that I wouldn't be able to get my work done. But now, I'm like, whatever. It's not that I don't care, it's just that I'm not concerned.

Anywho, that's all. Just more self-realizations. I'll try to have a freak-out soon so that these blog posts are less boring.

More Upcoming Events of the Day:

Summer of Arts Preview

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Join us for the opening of an artful summer at the Gardens!

Enjoy an afternoon of art in action - garden art, winemaking, brewing, and music. Join us for the grand opening of the 2010 Sculpture Gallery.

Click HERE for more on the 2010 Sculpture Gallery.

Event Location:
In the Gardens

1:00pm to 4:00pm

Garden Tour with Artists at 2:00pm

Self Spiral Emerging

What Doesn't Kill You....

Wow. I am stronger then I think. The challenges that I am facing today are enormous. And yet, I'm still here.

I've dealt with worse. Much worse. But still, this is pretty bad. And annoying. And it's a little bit difficult understanding my motivation to try and make this work. But I'm not going anywhere. I'm in this for the long haul. There is really no other option.

What am I talking about? Can't tell ya. I can't go into any detail at all. It would violate the rules about what I feel comfortable revealing here.

What I do feel okay saying is that, despite the frustrations that I am feeling about the situation I currently find myself in, I am soaring. I can see and feel growth within myself. And it feels so incredible.

This Is Not My Drama. It never was and it never will be. I am just moving through it, experiencing it, and letting it move on. It's drifting along like clouds in the sky.

Hmmm. Guess all that time I spent practicing meditation last year is paying off. Good to know.

And Now For Something Completely Different of the Day:

If you happen to be in the Oakland area Friday, June 11th, please come to the TOUCH Art Reception Mingle.

June 11th
7-9pm
TOUCH salon & gallery
2068 Antioch Court
Montclair Village
Oakland, CA

Some of my bottle cap art will be featured in the gallery this month. Check out the bottle cap Bike Rack in action!

Strange Days Here I Come

I feel like I am in a very odd time in my life. But, maybe it's not odd. Maybe it's just that I am changing, have been changing, and I am just now coming around to noticing.

One of the things that feels different is that I find myself way less structured then I used to be. It's not that I don't have my shit together, that I can't get things done. It's just that I am not so anal-retentive about it all. I'm not thinking about things a million times a day, stressing and worrying about my To-Do list. I'm just going about my days doing what needs to be done, not getting upset if some things that I wanted to get done don't, and generally just taking it all as it comes.

This is not like me. Not at all. Or, at least, it used to be that way. I feel like I'm living more in the moment then I ever have before. This is a good thing, I think. But odd-feeling all the same.

There is so much in life that I don't have control over. Time is passing, people are changing, I'm getting older and it's all going on around me whether I like it or not. So, I guess I might as well just come along and see what happens.

At the very least, I'm not bored. But I do have a schedule and obligations. So, I have to sign off because I've got to get some work done before I meet a friend for lunch.

Oh, What A Beautiful Day!

Words of Wisdom of the Day:

Wherever you are, it's just a phase.

Zen And The Art Of TIG Welding

After getting my new used TIG welder all set up and then trying it out, I realized very quickly that I need to relearn TIG welding. It's been a long time since I first learned how to in art school and I haven't really used it since. So, I decided to sign up for a Beginning TIG class at the Crucible in Oakland to get myself back up to speed.

My first class was last night. The Crucible is conveniently located less then five minutes away from the American Steel warehouse. So, I headed over after work and was very happy to find out that there are only three of us in the class (maximum class size is eight!). Very cool. Plus, we all seem to be at around the same experience and skill level so it should be a very productive five weeks.

TIG welding is very quiet and calm. It is extremely precise and the preferred method for welding stainless steel and aluminum. Last night we practiced making beads just to get the hang of the torch. We weren't even adding filler rod. Just using the arc to make a puddle on some stainless steel squares and moving the bead along in a line. It was a very peaceful experience; no noise, no spatter, no intense heat.

To be honest, last night was the most relaxed I have felt in months. As much as I love the chaos and disorder that comes with working at American Steel, it does get to me after a while. It's part of the reason I don't work there full-time. Also, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. But still, even if I had no other life I would not be able to be there all of the time. It's just too crazy.

I'm really glad I have decided to get some formal re-training on the art of using this piece of equipment. I could have just messed around with my welder, figured it out on my own. I do understand the basics. But this will help me to be more confident and comfortable and give me proper technique. That is very important to me. Why spend a bunch of money on a piece of equipment and then not use it correctly?

Laugh-Out-Loud Video of the Day:

The Coke Zero & Mentos Rocket Car.

Retail Therapy Strikes Gold

Okay, I admit it, I was feeling down in the dumps yesterday so I decided to give myself a "personal day". I did very little besides go to my Boot Camp class (where I beat all of my Personal Bests in the mile run, push-ups and sit-ups - I rock!) and read the paper.

Late in the afternoon I decided to engage in some musical retail therapy. Music is my passion and to keep the cost of buying it reasonable Eric and I have a rule that we cannot spend more then 9.99 on a CD, new or used. Well, I bought seven new CDs yesterday and broke the rule Three Times!

But I couldn't help myself. And I did feel better afterward. Really.

Also, I found my latest CD obsession: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings' "I Learned the Hard Way". Holy Moly is this album good. No, Great! It got a very positive review on Sound Opinions so I was already primed to like it. But it's even better then I expected.

I just saw that they are playing in San Francisco later this month but unfortunately I have other plans that weekend and can't go. Too bad. I've heard Sharon Jones is pretty awesome live.

Oh well, I'll just spend the summer wearing this record out. Oh man, it is So Good. A "Buy It" all the way.

You'd Think of the Day:

Dang! It was nice and sunny and warm yesterday. You'd think that would have been enough to lift my spirits. But, what are ya gonna do? Thank god for Best Buy!

My Wish For You (And Me)

May this day bring you peace, tranquility and harmony.

Follow Up Wish of the Day:

May every day bring you peace, tranquility and harmony.