Vacation's vacation...

I must say, I love having family visit, but what I terribly hate is all the prep work beforehand!
Why is it that we work ourselves to a frenzy, neither eating nor sleeping, solely to impress people who don't really care what your place looks like and are just glad to be seeing you.
Yes they really don't care, well except maybe to gossip to the family... but really, it's not like everyone else doesn't know how you usually keep your domicile.
Be honest, your close relatives have already warned them about the unusual things you keep in the fridge, or that your a week behind on laundry, (Always!) They have already talked about the piles of books in the bookshelves that haven't been dusted off since you bought them (decades ago) and put them there with full intentions of reading them, as you're still waiting for the right moment or mood. ;P
So why frazzle yourself to a thin piece of thread while you can just work on the important stuff like the bathroom and kitchen, then vacuuming... As long as they have clean sheets and towels, and you have enough good quality groceries to feed them (as well as clean plates), then they will be right as rain and totally happy to just go out and chill with you, which is what they came here to do.

Yes, don't be like me, who went on a three day lets clean everything in sight and still go to work, and only eat when the stomach complains with a volcanic earth-quaking sort of pain, and sleep only the required 4 hours a day but not exactly consecutively, sort of manic and neurotic binge of getting everything done all at once, before anyone complains about anything! As I know, this way will only lead to ruin and a happy reunion followed by you fainting on your bed and them wondering what kind of short-lived whirlwind you are, as they invent something to do while you snore horribly.
After all that prep, they'll just start the gossip about how you sleep too much because your life is incredibly boring, instead of how you were so excited that you wouldn't let them get a moment of rest and talked all night because you missed them. (Unless like my family, they live in another time-zone and are so tired themselves that they appreciate the early night. I know I'm a lucky bastard, lol!)
Remember, it's very important that they get some time with you, especially that first night which will set a tone before the rest of the week starts to zoom by...
My suggestion, get started on cleaning a month before (or earlier) that way you have plenty of time just to clean the main stuff as all the little details like wiping the baseboards was done last week... but then again that is not the way of a procrastinator. ;-P

~ Your Pal A.L.

Location:Anywhere

New Beginnings...

Many things are changing for me. Today was my first day working in an office. It was good and I'm learning a lot. I have also been crocheting more complicated pieces.
Art... Well I'm improving my skills and I'm hoping that I will make a difference in the world with it.
I've been working on a project for a children's book... colorful, swirly and sweet creatures. I only hope that I can get the story collaborated with my sister, because I'm a better painter than writer. (＾ｰ^)ノ



~ Your Pal A.L.

Crabby...

I've been feeling a little crabby lately (as you all can see)...

(Both are works in progress.)
The first one has taken weeks instead of days to get to this point. It's done in acrylic on a canvas sheet, while the watercolor one only has four hours put into it (so far.)

I am tired of painting the first one and also needed a study to get down all the little details before I paint them with acrylics, so I started this little watercolor last night. Originally I was planning to give my friend a crab done in pastel, but my bad cat decided to ruin it. Sasha loves to mess with my art, especially ones done in pastels! I didn't even get a picture of it. (｡-_-｡)
Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of making another pastel crab, as that one took me months of drawing and frustration, scrapping work after work to get it were I wanted it to go... I had the idea for it, but trying to put a concept onto paper is difficult sometimes, especially with visually complicated creatures like a crab. Then I started an acrylic one, but it was too small so I stopped painting it after getting the concept down. (I'll finish that one another time.) I started this much larger acrylic painting when I got laid off from my last job,but it is also taking too long to finish, mostly because acrylic painting takes layers to make it visually work well, and let's face it I'm a bit of perfectionist when it comes to my work.
My friend's birthday is in two months but he's been waiting for a long time already so it must get done soon! I do believe I may do at least one other watercolor, this time in many vibrant colors and give him whichever one looks the best. He's among my best friends so I do not mind the extra work... the challenge has been awesome!
It's funny though... I never thought I'd paint this difficult creature, as it has a very complicated structure, which took a year's worth of research just to get its armor down pat. (Some of that research was really good, especially with butter! lol) While it's general shape wasn't hard to draw, the structure of each piece of its exoskeleton and how it all fits together was difficult to master. I believe that after I'm done, I'll owe my friend a big thank you for liking crabs so much that he wanted me to paint him one, because that crustacean has so much character.
(^_−)−☆


~ Your Pal A.L.

Apparently, I really like snails.



~ Your Pal A.L.

I got laid off yesterday!

I am still in a bit of shock, probably because I've never been fired nor laid off before. I had a bad feeling when I went into the office, although I was hoping that I would have escaped the chopping block as I had already been interviewed for a permanent position, but alas no... So I went home sad, especially since I had plans for the rest of the week and was formulating an art museum visit with my best friends as well as a few other things. Now I'm not sure... I'm applying for work but what do I do in the mean while? I've never been a fan of unemployment and I don't want to ask for hours at my other job, as they are not reliable, hence why I got another one earlier.

I did leave on good terms and wouldn't mind being rehired by them if they are hiring again, but this just makes me think about what I really would like to finish and do with myself, retail isn't it. I'd rather learn about management and change where I work or how I work... I'd like to get a secure job. What's really sad is that I enjoy working but the people who hate it are the ones with the job... That they let go of a promising employee but saved the jobs of a few who don't meet company standards, let alone exceed them as I tried to do, and who actually complain about what they had. God they really have it good there and don't even realize it!

Anyway, I've applied for something already, so God willing... :)

And the fly has it...

Today I spent time out bored on my computer at a coffee house. I basically had nothing to do on my day off, and no ideas for a piece to work on. I have crocheted for a few weeks and was far too tired to work on that... so I turned the computer on and enjoyed my half-price, full-calorie Mocha chocolate cookie frappuccino.
I started playing a puzzle game on the computer, but was still pretty bored for a long while. Then something interesting caught my attention. A lone fly with red eyes and an orangey mouth was sucking away at the top of the chair next to me... Gross you say, well not really. He was actually really cool, for a fly.
He seemed very brave since I could actually take out my phone and snap a few pics of him. I literally got within inches of him, and although that is a bit careless for a fly, after all I could have hit him, he just seemed to trust that I wouldn't.

No I left that fly on the chair, keeping my eyes on him and getting memorized by his beauty... Yes I'm serious, he was a beautiful example of his species, with iridescent specks glittering about his violet-green body and those orangey-red eyes on his face. I never really looked at these creatures before, always finding them icky, but this time I looked and found that they are not ugly at all. Odd yes, but also rather pretty.
I let him fly on to my frappe, after all what was left was for the trash, and then took a few more close ups. He really didn't belong in this cafe, sure there's plenty of food, but there's no adventure for the soul...

Therefore I picked up the cup and walked to the door, as he took a ride. I wonder what he thought of me as I moved him about, watching him watching me? Did he know I was about to set him free on a partly sunny, slightly rainy day? I'm not sure, but when we got outside I gave the cup a slight shake and he leapt up into the air with a "wtf" attitude, hovering in front of me as if I broke some unspeakable bond, and so I left him there. I threw out the cup and walked around to the other door, shutting him out from the coffee house.
Then I was inspired to jot this chance encounter and understanding down on paper, so that he may spend an eternity on his favorite chair, buzzing about people and the flavors to be had.


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Location:Starbucks, FL

marktopus

I'm not sure where this came from...

... but here it is!

My new job is keeping me busy, therefore instead of just writing I will put up a picture.
This is what I did after work today:


Blu Forget Menotts with flowers

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Just Desserts...

Today is a special day for me and I'm glad to be here to share it with everyone. Therefore I will only be writing about desserts.
We had lunch at the Thai Spice, one of my favorite places to get dinner, and for this occasion we got a Cassava Cake there. ItThis restaurant is the only place in town to get a slice.
God that was good! It was served hot on a plate of swirled strawberry (or raspberry) gel with shaved white chocolate. The orchid adds a nice visual touch.J

[J. gives the peace sign... as he is Pro Desserts. (^_−)−☆ ]

I bought some rock sugar at Toys'R'Us. The are the FAO Schwarz kind in various colors and come on a stick. I then got a cappuccino from Brew- The Urban Cafe... the two items went splendily together. I also got one of their cookies, double chocolate, but unfortionately it was so good that only half ended up in the picture.

Next is a Malt from Jaxson's. It was all sorts of goodness with the fluffiest, marshmallow-like clouds of sweet whipped cream. We claimed this national treasure... a pure "All American" treat!


Next we have a Key Lime Pie from Chowder Heads. First bite was tangy and sweet, just as a key lime should be. It came with swirls of raspberry and key lime glaze... ooh that hit the spot!

Charities and P.R. Personnel...

For a little while I was helping out with a local charity, to get them some sponsors/donations. I am incredibly surprised at how many people (e.i. businesses,) that do not contact you back after calling them. They say, "oh yes send me the information," but then when you call back they don't answer. You leave messages with their answering machines, and call back many days later to remind them to call you back, but they still don't.
I find that it's really bad P.R. For a business to not call back or at least answer the phone and let you know that they can't donate. Just tell me kindly no thanks, and at least I can say that I tried and they considered it. But to not give an answer, to not call back and let the day of the event approach is just a horrible thing for them to do.
Horrible for me, terrible on them, and even worse for the good cause that they let down by not supplying an answer. I'm just flabbergasted on how these people got to do the Public Relations of their respective businesses when they don't have the curtesy of responding back to an inquiry.
(｡-_-｡)


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Altered Plans.

Today I tried to help out a friend. It was a last minute thing brought on by an earlier conversation... She needed to use a computer and I just happened to have a laptop, and so went to meet up with her.

Things did not go as planned as the Internet decided not to sink up with the comp. We then just watch a movie... Cars 2, her son's choice. It was great and reminded me that sometimes it's much better just hanging out, than actually getting things done.

Now we have to get together again, and that's always good, so although our plans were altered, some good will still come out of it. After all, I did finally give her that ornament I had for her since Christmas, as well as the fact that we'll have to hang out again this week. :-)


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Spring is Here, There, (almost) Everywhere!

The smell of fresh cut grass after a spring shower, the sight of the first flowers in bloom like miniature boquets for a dollhouse, and the sounds of the migrating birds heading North after the feel of the first warm breezes, are all my favorite parts about spring.

Then there are the tastes of Spring... with the Easter holiday quickly approaching, I have been reminding my tastebuds about all the wonderful flavors I do not normally let them have... Such as the jelly beans and peeps that only come around this time. Not to mention the white chocolate bunnies... so good! I'm not sure what it is about Easter that makes us so inclined to purchasing bunnies made up of cream and a hint of chocolate with frosting eyes,but then again why do we eat cotton candy & funnel cakes at fairs, or candy canes during christmas... we just do.

I also love the fact that here in Florida, spring is not only cool but warm too. There are 70F winds with a very hot sun... cool rain showers with a sunny hot day. What's not to like about that? It's much better than having freezing-cold weather or the kind that is so hot, you choke on your own evaporating saliva! Just beautiful weather here in the spring.

My favorite thing about spring though, is the fact that the Tulips are in bloom... I just love tulips! With all their colors and varieties, they are the best thing to wait for. When that first little bulb blooms, and the first sprouts & flowers begin to appear, my heart leaps for joy! They are gorgeous and the one thing that I must wait until next year to see again. Until then, Enjoy! ;)

Aftermath of St. Patrick's Week!

Today is the day after March 17. I had such a wonderful, and yet stressful, week!

It all started last Saturday with the festival in Coral Gables.
I must say that this time wasn't as much of a mad house as in previous years, as the crowd was light on the Ponce Circle, however I did suffer a little dehydration while drinking a bottle of water... God it was so hot! My J. fiddled his way through a few tunes, as per usual. ;-)

Sunday, 11 of March, followed and it was so busy! Again, J. had drill, but this time he had to take a long lunch to go to Hollywood to play his fiddle. Avalon started earlier than in previous years, and I’m glad they actually did get to play this time. I did not go with him as he would have to go back to finish drill. Instead, I invited my mom and we had a nice day together. Kilwin’s, yummy! :-P

Thursday J. had one gig, a private party. Not too crazy yet... (´･_･`)

Friday was a private gig in the afternoon, followed by one in my favorite seafood restaurant... the Riverside Grille in Pompano. That was all kinds of goodness from the special of corn-beef & cabbage to two of my favorite players P.& J. playing a wide range of music & beautiful medleys, and then there was this melt in your mouth, warm in your tummy, and most heavenly creation of an apple crumble with custard… it was so good! The three of us shared it, however I was ready to misplace their spoons and take the dessert away when they were not looking! ;-P

Saturday, March 17th, the main event day!

This St. Patrick's Day I actually got to tag along with my beloved's band. It's the first time I actually went on the holiday, and for good reason... usually it's way too much of going here and there, in large crowds of possibly drunk or almost drunk people, while trying to keep track of fleeting time so that the band isn't late for the next gig. Talk about hectic, in previous years J. had as many as five booked gigs. I once had to set his alarm so that he could leave at the appropriate times... 30min early here, to arrive 30min late there, etc.

He would do all the work and play until late, then come home to crash on the bed... oblivious until the afternoon of the 18^th… oh, to be an Irish musician on Paddy's day!

Nevertheless, this St. Patrick's, I tagged along. First stop was the Art Festival of Coral Springs...

Then off to a grocery store cafe. Thank God there were only three gigs, as I was tuckered out by this point, and all I really did was buy some lunch for my guy. The last gig was epic... it was staged in a nice sized theater for a small audience. The house was almost full, and J. realized that their trio could keep people in their seats for two hours in a theater. J

I did get to play ‘producer’, and fix some small problems such as make-up and make some coffee/tea, took video and photos, and also made sure that no one left anything in the dressing rooms at the end of the night. It was so much fun!!!

I so hope that next year we get to do this one again. Maybe I can help the band members’ co-ordinate costumes. (^_−)−☆

As for today, you may ask… I spent it relaxing and recovering from yesterday’s long day and the two cups of Irish coffee I had last night for my mom and sister. I would have had one for me too but I quit drinking. ;-P

ヾ(＠⌒ー⌒＠)ノ

The very public lives of cars-

I was having such a nice fay after work today. I left work and had lunch at one of my favorite places. At about 3pm I got to paint at a nice little coffee place that I frequent with my beloved. We had dinner at a Seafood Bar, although usually good they had a very bad cook today. Way too much salt!

Anyway, on the usually quiet drive home, I was behind a car, a silver Hyundai fx, and what I witnessed... well it's just really Awful!
Contents of the car ahead...
The driver was a male. Possibly dark skinned as his profile features appeared of African decent. The passenger was a female (or very feminine female impersonator.) Her hair was permed and fluffy. Much like a very young woman (a teen or even prostitute might wear.) I could not see her face for that hair but she seemed meek, as her head tilted forward.
The situation...
Of all things that can and is done in an auto, the best thing to remember is that it's not a very private place. Cars are very public and even when you believe you can do as you please, you can always be seen. Because of this simple fact I witnessed, unnoticed, a bit of horrible domestic violence.
You would believe that it should be hard to tell, as it is after sundown and I'm in a different car, but no... I could still make out their silhouettes with my headlights shining in, as well as the simple fact of their car's lack of tinting on the back window.
What I saw...
It is a difficult thing to see something like this, especially since there was nothing I could do to stop it. At first I wasn't close enough to see more than the guy weaving earlier on the road. Automatically you think that he might either be high, drunk or possibly clouded by sleep as those are the usual suspects.
However, as we approached the red light, I saw him lean towards the passenger and she backed up towards her window. He seemed to be yelling as his lips moved quickly and opened wider than normal. Then she went towards him rather quickly her head ducked down between him and the middle of the front seat.
I nearly couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing, as she came back up she seemed held down a bit. He had her by her hair!
Then he pushed her head away and I could see his hand come up as she was released... she then cowered in her chair. He leaned towards her yet again with the yelling.
I could feel her fear... how she moved her head and tried to keep her distance and that's when I looked at the license plate (and made a mental note of the number), just in case because his anger was in a fit of rage.
I could feel it all in my safe distance from the car behind them. It was almost like a scene from a horror movie, I almost expected her to run out of the car, then chased and killed...
But she didn't get out, and like so many women, waited the anger (and possible beating) out. For what reason, I know not, but I pray that she is able to leave one day soon, before it's too late.

So who ever he is, how can you be such a "f****** p***k!", and to her, "If you value your life... Get the Heck Away!!!

Now I must go to bed as I'm up in 4hrs.

*Wishes for Horses but None to be had.*

Flowery beauty

I saw these two pots of flowers, they are both different but still beautiful. A yellow rose and pink tulips. (Tulips are by far my favorites, simple and elegant but with artistic flairs, and occasionally dramatic.)
They were at the grocers, of all places, and very reasonably priced too. However I couldn't get them, and so I snuck a photograph of both.
That way there's no chance of forgetting such elegance, that made me smile. ;-)

The Yellow Rose...


She is not innocent enough to blush, nor is she warm, filled with deep rosy romance. Nor is this dear as pure as her blank cousin But she does have the ever affectionate feel of love, although more platonic and friendly.

The Pink Tulips


They group together in cool weather, but it's not for the warmth. As sweet as they may seem, gossips and tales are told in such close quarters, that their petals blush with each exotic story from their two lips. ;-P


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Family Histories...

What can I say about my family... How much time do you have?

Let me try to make this 'short', as there is enough to fill the pages of books, and not short stories… no more like a Harry Potter series, a whole encyclopedia of histories of my family and friends. The shortest thing to say is that:

My family consists of angels, demons and ghosts… just like everyone’s.

It's sad to say that most of my past demons are members of my own family, but that is true. They say that, “blood is thicker than water”, but sometimes it’s not so much thicker. Sometimes blood can run so thin that you’re not sure if that statement can ever be true. To discuss more on this subject would take far too much time and room than I currently have here, therefore let us talk about the lighter side of my extremely large, but truly small, family.

The Angels...

My little sister... my closest angel...

Although I make her sound really, very much younger, my sister is only just a little more than a year apart from me. Growing up we were much like twins but hated when others called us so. Stating often that, “I am not like her!” in cohesion. However, I have often heard that we had a personal language, and rarely separated each other’s company.

I have one wonderful little sister, from the same parents, who has always made me want to be… more of everything. She was the reason why I strived so hard in my youth. I wanted to make sure she had someone great to look up to, although that may have gotten lost in the translation between sisterhood, as I have always felt a need to protect her, she has always felt the need to show me that I’m not needed. Truth she was more fragile back then than she let on, but also, she is a great deal stronger than she even knew… I have always known both. I just didn’t know the right way to say, “I love you and am there for you whenever you need me, even if you don’t,” without being overbearing and sometimes too overwhelming. To not tell her what to do, or not try to get her to work harder like me, would seem like I didn’t care, when that’s all I did. Therefore, she had to put up with the mothering and smothering me… (Maybe that is where that word came from, lol.)

I also strove for perfection, so that she would strive even harder to be better than me, as I knew siblings are supposed to be competitive. Nevertheless, through it all, I have and will always be proud to have her as my sister.

My first angel...

I have a great mom, although sometimes she feels that she let us down. Mom was always loving and kind, but usually not around. Being single, after a divorce, and us so small meant that we would never see her, but her love was always there. She was implied. From her and with the help of our grandmothers, I believe we learned how to behave and be women. Even if the lessons were given mostly to our sub-consciousness, as I don’t remember any of them clearly. My mom let me know how to be open, despite the fact that she was not. She also encouraged us to be us, while trying to instill constraint. After all, she wanted us to behave like Ladies and not wild beasts! Although I do believe that, some of that “wildness” she left inside us purposely. My mother also raised us to believe that we could do and become whatever we wanted.

Despite the fact that she raised me with the beliefs that not even the Presidency of the United States was beyond my reach, I felt uneasy about where I wanted to reach. There were always ghosts and demons in my past that told me that I wasn't worth enough to do so, and so even with that constant encouragement came a nearly as consistent discouragement.

The product: I grew up confused…

I became a very late bloomer in everything.

First steps...

Hello...

...

 I have never really kept up a blog before... I tried, but although I have written many things, I just did not put it out there for everyone to see.

 I have always been a sort of caterpillar that slowly transformed into a butterfly, but is still hiding in its cocoon because it is the safest place to be. I expected to grow wings and fly, but had decided to put it off. Why you may ask? Well fear is a good answer, but it was always more than just that. It’s not so much about being afraid... well yes it was, but not the traditional versions of that word. I am afraid, not of whether or not I am liked, but of being able to show whom I am (and will become) accurately.

 I also worry that my wings will show brighter and more fluid than anyone could ever imagine, that I may show people up, and that that may cause others to feel uneasy around me. I do not care if people like me or not, as there will always be someone who doesn’t, however I hope that I can make others see that I’m just being me, and not trying to be better than them. No one is ever better than another… we can only be better than our previous selves.

 Here comes the hard part... how do you break away from everyone else's opinion of yourself, and find your own? That's a question I'm still trying to come to terms with... the answer isn't as clear as most people would believe. I still hear, somewhere around, that I should be this or do that. Although it may be good advice, sometimes I just don't understand how to get there. How do I become what I should be, even when I know who that is, when I'm not sure of the first steps to take.

 ...

Here goes...  let's see what I can do...

out of that cocoon.