BurkiBlog

2011-02-03T21:11:00.000-08:00

This is Joanne's daughter, Paula. By now most of you know that my Mom passed away on October 20, 2009. I would like to keep this blog here if possible, at least until I can print the stories. I don't have alot to say right now except that I miss her so much.

2009-09-23T21:36:00.001-07:00

Joanne will post here when she is feeling better. Until then, her family will post periodically to keep this blog open.

Teesha Moore's Journal Workshop

2009-06-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

The beginning of one of my pages. I altered a magazine photo of a girl.

A couple weeks ago, Paula and I were so excited to be students in Teesha Moore's wonderful art journal weekend in San Jose. Not only did we have a blast and learn so much, but we met a talented and fun group of ladies from all over the country...even Canada.
For me, the highlight of the trip was spending the time with Paula and sharing our mutual love for seeing and creating art. Another reason was meeting talented and delightful Cathy McMillan, a wonderful caricature artist. She did a caricature of me when we had to draw the person across from us for a warm-up exercise.
Actually, Cathy is more than a caricature artist. She does all kinds of mixed media work as well as teaches classes herself. You can check her out in the "Very Cool Sites" category to the right, at "Caricature Girl."
Since we got home, Paula and I have been working on our pages as often as possible and we plan to teach a class in creating art journals, Teesha style...with Teesha's blessing. She told us to all go forth and spread the ideas in our classes. She is such a generous and talented lady. I was surprised to find her kind of shy and not so comfortable as a teacher, though she clearly likes doing it...just maybe not the process.

Burki Cools Her Heels

2009-04-15T13:41:00.001-07:00

I haven't posted here for awhile, so I thought maybe a cute photo of Burki at the dog park, cooling off, would be nice.

She loves the dog park and I like taking her. Besides, the doggie mommies and daddies are fun to talk to.

Just the other day I took her there and for the first time we went into the small doggie side. Usually, we go in the big dog side, as Burki is very strong and energetic and weighs more than 30 pounds (of solid muscle), which means big dog at the dog park. But, this time I wanted to try the small dog side as she gets so beat up and skinned up on the big dog side. She thinks she's just as big and rough as the 100-pounders, even though she only stands 12 inches tall.

I was afraid she might be too aggressive with the smaller dogs. Happily, she was just great. Loved running and playing with doggies her own height (even though she is heavier).

So, from now on, we'll be visiting the small doggie side, I think.

Scrappy Collage

2009-04-06T13:59:00.001-07:00

This was the example piece for a class I taught in making your own art stamps from fun foam and foam core board. The finished piece is 8x10.

The doggie is my own doggie, Burki, that I drew and made into a stamp, as well as the word "companion."
But first I added a little more ink to an 8x10 piece of paper that I had used as a "clean your rubber stamps" tool. I added some other stamped elements and finished off with a heart cut out of a dictionary.

A button was sewed on in the middle of the heart and I framed the finished piece under glass, hence a couple of glare spots in the photo.

This was a project that was very much fun and my students made absolutely wonderful stamps of all kinds.

Better Days...1968

2009-02-14T13:33:00.000-08:00

Here I am in happier days with my brothers, Johnny, 17, on the left with dark shirt, and Bucky, 24. I'm holding Bucky's new son Guy, who was just five months old. I was 28 and almost six months along with Cheryl.

Doggie, Doggie, Doggie!!!

2008-11-19T20:12:00.000-08:00

What a little couch potato!

First one is Burki and me, next is Paula and Burki, snuggling in bed. It didn't take long to spoil her. She knows she's the princess already.
Yesterday I took her to the dog park again. She was so happy and excited to see all the other dogs and people. She ran and played, chased and was chased, soaked her fat little belly in the mud, and trotted around like she was the most important dog there. One of her new friends is a great big adorable blond bulldog named Dozer, who's human is a great big guy named Gabe! Dozer's sooo sweet!
Not so lovable is Burki's unwanted boyfriend. He's a five-month-old Chihuahua who annoyed the heck out of her. Let's just say he got a little too amorous with her trying to show her how much he liked her! haha!

Sly Little Devil

2008-11-17T21:49:00.000-08:00

Don't I look innocent?

Burki loves her bed, but has discovered mine during the last couple of cold nights. She looks small (and she IS short), but tiny, she's not. This little sawed-off girl weighs 30 pounds and is strong as a bull, so sharing a bed with her can be a little strenuous when she decides to hog my side. But, how can you resist that adorable little face.
Yesterday, Paula and I took her to the dog park. The staff at the Placer County SPCA, where we got her, advised us that she would be too aggressive to take there. We tried it anyway and she absolutely loved it and was a perfect little angel, running and playing with all the other dogs. She was just ecstatic and looked like she was smiling the whole time...and, best of all, she used up some of her incredible energy. I'm going to try to make the dog park a regular part of our days.

My New Doggie

2008-11-15T23:11:00.001-08:00

Who could resist?

Burki Biscuit Burkett Jr. is the official name of my new doggie. Burki was suggested by my friend Sandy Brien and Biscuit was grandson Jack's contribution.
Burki was born October 29, 2007, so she turned one just days before we adopted her.
Paula and I found her at the Placer County SPCA on Friday, November 7, 2008. She is Welsh Corgi, Pit Bull and something else. She is the most loving, adorable sweetie ever, except for a really bad habit she has that we have to cure her of: chewing! Chewing everything. In just a couple days, she has pretty much destroyed my watering system in the back yard. I hope I can get help for her and help her lose this terrible habit. Dog books say this habit comes from boredom and/or separation anxiety. I'm not sure where it comes from, but it makes me sad and afraid. Afraid that we cannot cure her.

Introducing Burkiworks Art Products

2008-11-03T15:21:00.001-08:00

Need great-looking postage stamps?

A hand-picked package of 50 unique and beautiful cancelled postage stamps from all over the world sell for $7.95, plus tax and postage. In your package, you may find celebrities, animals, flowers, famous artworks, sports, culture...you name it, we have it!
To order stamps, I am only able to do it by snail mail right now, but will improve on that asap. E-mail me at burkiworks@hotmail.com and I'll get back to you with the details.
Have a creative crafting day!

Sandy's Sixth Anniversary

2008-11-03T11:37:00.000-08:00

Cowgirls have more fun????

My two dear friends, Teena-Marie and Cheryl, totally got into stoic cowgirl character on Friday night at The Stamp Art Shoppe's fabulous Sixth Anniversay party! Sandy outdid herself, as usual. I even won a prize! The costumes the gals all wore were adorable and some were even hilarious. The food was scrumptious and it was fun to see Tim Holtz there, too. All in all, a terrific night!

Chemo: Day Two

2008-10-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

On Friday, second round, with nurse Judy, a sweet lady...as if that weren't already a given in this room full of nurse angels. Judy wasn't as successful getting the vein the first time and dug around a little, which left a big bruise. But on her second try, she snagged it right off and everything went fine. Again, the steroid drip they give prior to the chemo gives me a little heart palpitation action as well as feeling jittery and having my hands shake a little. Didn't last all day, though.
Didn't fare so well over the evening, night and this morning as the bowel action was in high gear, so I'm pretty well drained now. Just now eating a boiled sweet potato and drinking water...and it's noon. No other awful symptom, though, thank God.
Nurse told me my hair would be falling out in the next couple days, so I bought some hats and beanies and have picked out a wig and will get it soon.
No bald head shining in the sun for me. I have an unbelievably homely head, haha! Cover that thing up!
Well, I'll post updates as they occur. My spirits are still up. Yesterday really helped. Karen and David had the grand opening of Healing Secrets: Vitamins, Supplements and More. It's Karen's passion and her three sisters were there in full force to help and encourage her. The opening was wonderful: About 700 showed up to welcome them to the community, shop, eat and try samples, and listen to the fabulous music of Mumbo Gumbo, under a huge tent in the parking lot. The crowd went wild for them! We had an MC doing his thing, running a hilarious game show with prizes and calling out numbers for the drawings of product gift baskets, provided by the vendors. Must have been 30 or more huge baskets given. People were really jazzed!
The vendors were there assisting and doing demos and talking with folks and those vendors were just beside themselves with how fabulous the opening turned out! They couldn't stop raving. Said they had never seen a new store do such an elaborate grand opening!
Sales were continuous all day, too, and they made a ton of money, even with the discounts they offered for the day. It was a wonderful day of promise.

Chemo Day One

2008-10-18T15:21:00.000-07:00

Left: Me being brave
Below: Taxol, the big gun

My wonderful new oncologist, Dr. Philip Sardar, found the hormone suppressing pills were not halting the cancer and it had grown and was causing me tons of distress. Couldn't go to the bathroom without taking something and the area around my intestines filled with fluid so I looked and felt nine months pregnant.
Last week, he drained it and it weighed 11 1/2 pounds. The procedure was done in his office and nearly painless, but no wonder I was so miserable and exhausted.
So, yesterday I had to start chemo, which in my case is Taxol. It was way easier than I anticipated and I am again hopeful. Actually, it was a wonderful experience, not the horror you might think. There were about 12 of us in the chemo room, each with our own nurse. The atmosphere was lively with much laughter going on by both nurses and patients. The nurses treated us like kings and queens and took wonderful care of us. They are just such gentle souls, a rare breed of women.
I have to take chemo each Friday for three weeks, then off a week, then three Fridays, off one and repeat the whole thing for one last three weeks, then re-evaluate. Get tests all along to see how it's going.
I was very lucky and only got a headache and insomnia last night. No nausea or anything else yet. So far, I am at my own house, but if I get sick I'll probably stay at Karen or Kathy's. I hope to be in my own house, though. Nothing like your own bed and your own routine.
Going back to the chemo, mine is Taxol and it had me scared as I'd heard both good stories and horror stories about it. I had an absolutely painless experience (just the usual little sting of the needle going in). I had no adverse reactions and so far, no side effects yet. In fact, I think I was so elated to feel so good (and I felt great when it was over), that I promptly went on a shopping spree and spent some money on the clothes and underwear I'd been needing since losing almost 60 pounds. Nothing fit but since I was fairly depressed and hopeless I thought, why bother.
I don't feel that way now. Thursday's two-hour chemo orientation class and then the treatment Friday totally changed my outlook. Treated early enough (and many times not so early), they are saving more and more lives and have come to the conclusion that cancer can be a chronic illness that you just have to treat and be constantly vigilant with for the rest of your life. They really drummed that into our heads. I can deal with that theory. I no longer feel I have gotten a death sentence and I am ready to fight like hell, as my sis-in-law Donna told me to do. Sadly, we had just lost her sis Pat on Oct. 9 from a very advanced cancer that wasn't detected in time.
Mine was found much earlier.

Dale Chihuly, Eat Your Heart Out!

2008-09-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

Maureen Honors Famous Glass Artist

Can you believe the fabulous piece of art that is Maureen's dessert! She and Dino gave a memorable dinner party with a Dale Chihuly theme, since she was still drooling over his show. So, ever the consumate artist herself, Mo scooped up a carload of sparkling clear/colored dinnerware at the humble Dollar Store, reinvented the plates and bowls, added a little glue and some clear pebbles and VOILA!!! Her dining room table became the art focal point of the day, which is saying a lot considering the artful beauty of her home. I couldn't get a good photo of the centerpiece she made, but trust me when I say it was gorgeous. This was the dessert dish that found its way to my place at the table, yummm!!!

Karen and Little Pal

2008-09-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

Flower Farm Pet Parade

Karen and little Tyler look so good together. Tyler, a Pomeranian mix, is one of the sweetest, most darling dogs I have ever seen. He loves to be held and just melts right into whoever holds him. We met Tyler and at least a dozen other great doggies, many in costumes, at The Flower Farm's Pet Parade, which took place Saturday, September 6th. There was even a Boxer mix decked out as Elvis, in sunglasses with attached sideburns, and wearing a flowing white cape, just like the real Elvis! Another cutie was a Yorkie, decked out in full Scottish regalia, down to the kilt and bagpipes.

Taylor

2008-07-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry I didn't get this up when it happened. I goofed! But, Taylor will probably forgive me. Here she is pitching during the games in Susanville.

Weighing the results

2008-06-11T20:36:00.001-07:00

My oncologist, Dr. Hu, gave us the news. It wasn't too different than what we expected. Some of it is worse, but some is better. Let's get the bad news out of the way first. I have two large masses on the outside lining of my intestines. Also, there is a lymph node near my clavicle that shows positive.
Now for the good news: The spots on the liver are not showing up. I can be treated, at least for now, with a hormone suppressing drug, which should starve the cancer cells, which are dependent on hormones to grow, in my case.
I took the news better than I had expected, but it probably was the two Xanax tablets I took before going in, haha.
At first, I became really depressed, but I am dealing with it now and since the medication has not made me sick, my spirits are actually pretty good and I try to stay hopeful. Some days it's easy to stay upbeat, but days when I'm tired and/or don't feel well, it's harder.
Dr. Hu seems upbeat, but I don't know if it's real or just her professional detachment kicking in.
Time will tell.

To tomorrow

2008-06-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

So, after CTscans, PETscans, mammograms, X-rays, blood tests, and a barrage of other tests, it all comes down to 10:30 tomorrow morning: Dr. Hu's completed diagnosis and probable prognosis. I find myself ricocheting between sweaty, shaky fear and wild, swaggering hope.
On the plus side (so far, anyway), my daily cancer pill has not caused any of the tons of side effects possible. This stuff is so potent that I am required to wash my hands after taking the pill so as not to spread its hormone reducing ingredients to women and girls of childbearing age, egads!
Best of all, I find my crazy and sometimes macabre sense of humor helps me to laugh at myself and my situation. Poking my finger in the eye of fate, sort of. After all, isn't humor a great healer? Doesn't laughter release powerful endorphins?
Well, we'll see if tomorrow destroys me or gives me renewed hope. I'm praying for myself...and my loving family and friends, who will be destroyed too, by bad news.

Scary journey

2008-04-01T17:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm here again. I was zipped to the ER by ambulance after suffering another scary bout of angina, breathlessness, and near loss of consciousness. It had happened a couple weeks earlier and it was determined that I needed an aortic valve replacement and four bypasses. Surgery was set for March 27, but I just didn't make it. On the 13th I had successful surgery, but many complications kept me in the hospital for 18 days: infection in the chest incision, anemia, irregular heartbeat, fluid on the lungs. I was a mess.
Also, I suffered the most painful hemorrhoids. Never had them before. Dr. Morris said it can happen when they have to stop your heart. Everything just goes splat! It's still making me miserable and hasn't cleared up yet.
Then, the topper: lymph nodes taken show cancer cells, so I have that to deal with once I recover from this. All my family and friends are praying for me, and as for me...I have had to put the news on the shelf for the time-being. Just can't handle both at once. I can talk about it, but must do so in an impersonal way.
My spirits aren't too bad. I'm trying very hard to be hopeful and positive.
God, give me strength and courage.

A Tiny Book to Wear

2008-02-24T11:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was so good for me. I took a Funky Book Necklace class from Debbie Maynard at The Stamp Art Shoppe.

Using heavy chipboard, we crackled, distressed, painted, embellished, pasted, sanded, and spit-shined our creations. Everybody's piece was different and some even made more than one piece (not me).

I chose to make a book of photos. As usual for me, it's about ancestry. I love my roots and I love the look of those vintage photographs. This cover photo is of my mom (in the middle), along with her brother and cousin, taken on a family camping trip around 1922. It has

My little book measures 1 1/4 inches wide by 1 3/4 inches tall and contains six pages, with photos on each page. This was a very fun project and I know I'll be making more of them.

Click on the photo to see it larger.

I see me

2008-02-04T18:34:00.001-08:00

Last Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008, I called 911 when I suffered a scary bout of breathlessness, chest pain and near loss of consciousness. The next two days were hard for me. Suffering extreme weakness, sinusitis, prednisone side effects, excruciating muscle spasms and hip pain, as well as an ongoing headache was enough to knock me for a loop. Talk about a Drama Queen.
Then, the endless x-rays, blood tests, cat-scans, ekgs, echo-cardiograms, and hunger - ate breakfast before I went in, then no food until almost 10 p.m. The next day, no food all day until about 3:30 p.m. Then, when I did get it, the food was pretty bad. A decent turkey sandwich once and some fresh fruit was the best of it.

Now, I'm heading for the cardiologist on Friday to learn my fate. Surgery, I'm certain.

Tin-tastic!

2008-01-21T20:30:00.000-08:00

I've been teaching a Valentine tin class for the last couple years and here's one version. It's fun and filled with chocolates!

Made from an Altoid tin, acrylic paint, dictionary definition of "valentine," copy of kissing couple and music notes, and rusted tin heart from Tin-Tiques.

The mountains call

2008-01-12T16:04:00.000-08:00

I love this altered photo of Jim...and I think he'd like it, too. It expresses what he was about better than anything else and it expresses how I see him.

I did this in a technique I have taught at The Stamp Art Shoppe in Roseville that uses original photos (not inkjet or toner copies). I sanded the background and very lightly sanded the subject (to remove the shine), then fingerpainted a new background with white acrylic paint. Then I lightly sponged some color onto the white with blue and violet from Adirondack ink pads. I enhanced the trees in the background with a finepoint brush and the same ink and added the quote. Sometimes I stamp words or images on a piece, too.
Finish it off with a light spraying of acrylic coating, your choice of matte or glossy.

The Victim!!!!

2008-01-10T15:23:00.000-08:00

Whoa! This is what David and Karen found waiting for them when they got to their property in Loomis. Can anything else happen to them? That's the same SUV that they just got through repairing the back door on! Maybe they should just board it up and forgetaboutit!!!

Storm Damage

2008-01-04T22:47:00.001-08:00

The first photo is what happened today across the street from me at Ann and Don Del' Ara's home. They are away, so they don't even know yet. The tree split down the middle and when it fell, it took out the front of the roof. I feel so bad for them.
The other pics are also in my neighborhood. I was lucky. My garbage can and hose reel were blown over and that's all.
As predicted, the storm really hit hard: pouring rain, power outages, winds bending trees to the ground, as well as up to seven or eight feet of snow in the Sierras and road closures everywhere. Supposed to be another just as bad blowing in by tomorrow night. I'll bet Lake Tahoe doesn't look as bright and perky as it did Wednesday when I drove through there.
Tonight was meeting night for my art group, E-Fem-Era, but we cancelled due to the weather. I'm sure Sandy was just as happy she didn't have to be there. I guess winter is really here.

Entrepreneurs in the Family

2008-01-04T20:49:00.000-08:00

David and Karen are so excited about buying their first commercial propterty, their own little four-unit shopping center. It's in Loomis, across from the Raley's shopping center.
Oprah Winfrey said, "I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity." Isn't this D&K's philosophy? I think so!! Good luck, Karen and David!!! Love you!

Bar Hopping in Gardnerville

2008-01-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

One night, Paula and I went out and I took photos of the bars, restaurants and hotels along Hwy 395, which serves as the main street as well as an interstate highway, in Gardnerville. I had always wanted to do so. I love those old neon signs. They are vey cool. This town dates from about 1860, although I don't think any of these buildings are exactly original.
Gardnerville had its share of rough characters in its youth, but as in many of northern Nevada's towns, Basques established boarding-house hotels where the sheepherders could stay between jobs and vacationers could spend time. For the non-English-speaking sheepherders the hotels were a special convenience, as well as being inexpensive and good places to buy hearty meals.

My Christmas Trip

2008-01-03T19:34:00.000-08:00

It was very dark the day I drove to Gardnerville to be with the kids for Christmas. We had a good time, but I didn't shoot many photos as I was still not feeling that good from my cold. But, I got a cute one of Connor, a pic of lights at a nearby park, and a good one of a pretty cove on Lake Tahoe on my way home yesterday.

I'm excited!

2007-12-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

These are examples of my latest art experiments. Photos, altered with acrylic paint. Love the effect. I'm thinking feverishly about what I can do to commercialize this idea. I think I've got something here. What do you think?

My New Friend

2007-12-05T15:28:00.001-08:00

This is a cute little guy I met last week when I was having an oil change on my car. Chewbacca brought his car and owner in, too. He loved posing for photos and I took several, although I couldn't get him to just stand on the floor, smiling. So, the backgruonds are all distracting, darn it. But, he's cute, isn't he?

My First Tree in Seven Years

2007-12-03T20:41:00.000-08:00

Well, my first tree...of any size, that is. I've had those little one-foot table-top trees before. This one is four feet tall, and since I put it on top of the divider, it looks really nice.

I got so excited today getting out the decorations and arranging things. It was so much fun. I spent most of the day on it and redecorated my tomato-cage Christmas tree for the front yard, too, and put it out and plugged it in!!

For "My Masterpiece" class

2007-11-29T11:05:00.000-08:00

This is the 16x20 class project I taught at The Stamp Art Shoppe in Roseville. Even though my version features my ancestors and most of the students did their ancestors, some of them chose to do other subjects, such their immediate families and grandchildren. One did it as a study of a dozen different hearts she painted, colloged and/or altered.

The young woman on the upper right is my mom and she's there again as the girl on the left in the upper left photo, along with her mom.

We painted and collaged a 16x20 inch board for the background and plunking it all into a half-price frame from Michael's made it a very inexpensive piece of art and history for my wall.

A New Day

2007-11-29T11:01:00.001-08:00

Things are looking up in the health department. My latest blood test came back with a substantial increase in the blood platelet count, from 7 up to 97. Dr. Grennan directed me to take weekly blood tests, which he will discuss with me by e-mail or phone. I can decrease the Prednisone by one pill (down to two), and resume my aspirin. Now, it's just a waiting game to see if I may have a chronic blood disorder, called immune thrombocyopenic purpura. That's a mouthful, isn't it?
So, I wait.

I've got a bloody problem

2007-11-24T19:23:00.000-08:00

Well, now I've gone and done it. Appears the sulfa drug may have attacked my blood platelets. They should be 140-400M, but mine now is at a low of 7, yes, 7 and I'm covered with horrible bruises, some of them huge. I even bled from my ear this morning.
I'm now on Prednisone, to hopefully take care of it and I'm getting blood tests every couple days and see the doc again on Wednesday. I may have to have a bone marrow biopsy, yikes. Could even lose my spleen, but I don't want to even think about that.

Scrapbook Expo pretty much sucked

2007-11-10T18:40:00.000-08:00

It just wasn't my cuppa tea. Too much scrapbook stuff, duh.

OUCH!!!

2007-11-09T22:45:00.001-08:00

SPIDER!!!! Don't know how, but I got bitten by something yesterday. I think it was in my car. Now, I get to take Sulfamethoxazole, whatever that is, for ten days. Well, actually, it's some sort of sulfa drug. I also got my flu shot today, in the other arm, so both my arms hurt, wah! Anyway, I'm just praying it wasn't a Black Widow or a Hobo spider. Both really do some damage, causing the flesh to sluff away, creating a hole. Yikes! Dr. Gonzalez doesn't think it was either, but I'll just have to wait and see. Speaking of "see," did you ever see anything so yucky?

Reminiscing

2007-11-04T20:32:00.000-08:00

I have been scanning all my old photos and when I ran across these two they brought back some bittersweet memories for me. It was taken about this time of year in 1975 inside my little art gallery in Folsom, California. The gallery was on the corner of Sutter and Riley streets and cost me only $100 a month rent. It's a gift/antique shop now. Wonder what they pay in rent. Sure not $100, I'm sure. Sometimes I wish I could be there in that little shop again, knowing what I know now. I think it would be a kick to have it again and run it with Paula as my partner. FUN!

Goldie's gone

2007-10-28T22:14:00.000-07:00

The grandmother of my son-in-law, Chris Buchanan, died last week. Her name was Goldie Lasswell and she was about 82 years old. I went to her funeral Wednesday. It took place at the Chapel of the Pines in Placerville. She was buried afterward in Westwood Hills Memorial Park, also in Placerville. The chapel was filled with friends and family. She was very popular and well-loved. As you can see by her photo, she was a good-looking woman, even at her advanced age. After the funeral, it was fun to look at the wonderful photo display that Goldie's kids arranged at the Lodge Hall in Latrobe, where she lived. She was a beautiful girl and it's easy to see why Frank Lasswell fell in love with her.
My own relationship with her was very casual (I didn't see much of her), but I always liked her. She was an upbeat person, always ready to share a good laugh.
Her family and many friends will miss her.
I wish I could have known her better.

Remembering Jim

2007-10-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

Monday was Jim's birthday and he was on my mind most of the day. I spent a lot of time reminiscing about his life. Usually, I think about him as he was in the last few years of his life, but this time I began remembering him as a young man.

When he was stationed at McClellan AFB back in 1955, he loved to complain about his job. He had dreamed about being an Air Force pilot, flying jets, what the guys all called "a jet jockey." But instead, he was assigned to the 552nd Periodic Maintenance squadron, where he worked as a mechanic on the Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation aircraft, a big, lumbering mammoth.

Nicknamed the "Connie," the big aircraft was a flying radar station and was used for extending the country's warning net far beyond the range of fixed radar stations. A more descriptive, and fondly derogatory nickname was also given the plane: "the pregnant guppy," because of its bulging belly.

Jim actually enjoyed working on the planes, but there were down times when the C.O.s ordered their men to clean the tarmac. He liked to complain that he was serving his country by picking up cigarette butts off the flightline. He wasn't out there alone, though. All the crew was right beside him, spearing cigarette butts and gum wrappers...and bitching their heads off. However, it was a step up from latrine duty.

Jim was so handsome, especially when he had to wear his dress uniform. But I thought he was just as good looking in his fatigues. He had broad shoulders, long legs, and a trim 32-inch waist. He wore his dark hair in a flat top (with long sides, which was the fashion) and on him, it looked great. Around the house, he was a jeans and white T-shirt guy, but he always dressed up on Sundays for church, often in his powder blue suit, which was considered very "cool" in those days.

You know, I wish he hadn't tossed all his uniforms and fatiques. I'd even love to have that old blue suit. All I have of him from those years are his air force records, a few photos...and, my memories. Where did the years go?

Happy 71st birthday, honey.

Busy Weekend

2007-09-25T22:08:00.000-07:00

I got Paula to let me take some photos of her last Sunday. She has lost some weight and looks so good. I had a houseful Saturday night. Paula, Cheryl and Taylor were down. Paula was going to her brother-in-law's wedding shower, and Cheryl and Taylor were here for Taylor's baseball tournament. On Saturday night, Teena-Marie stopped by, too. I made dinner for all the girls and we had a great time. Watched some "So You Think You Can Dance" reruns and then I popped "Dreamgirls" into the DVD player. It was so much fun.

And, off we go!

2007-09-12T00:32:00.000-07:00

My view from inside the Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 76-seat turboprop aircraft. Great service and generous with free soft drinks, as well as beer and wine, which are also free. The passengers seem to love it, haha. On my flight to Boise, we only had 43 passengers, so I was able to have two seats to myself. Not that lucky on the return trip. Seat mate was a very large man. Pretty crowded with our combined bulk, yech!

The Blue Banana

2007-09-12T00:06:00.001-07:00

Okay, this must be one of those places that tries to make it into Roadside America, the guide to offbeat tourist attractions. Karen, Paula and I had a laugh at The Blue Banana in Lostine, Oregon. We were on our way to Walawa Lake.

Joseph, Oregon and beyond

2007-09-11T23:35:00.000-07:00

Joseph is a small, artsy town in northeast Oregon, situated within the Wallowa Mountains. Nearby is Lake Wallowa, pronounced Wuh'-lah-wuh. There are a couple of bronze foundries here and every street corner in the downtown area has at least two lifesize (or larger) bronze sculptures. The nearby area is also known for its many unique barns.

Kuna, Idaho

2007-09-11T22:53:00.000-07:00

It was good to see Sharon and Shirley again. Sharon is doing well since she moved to her new home, near Shirley. Shirley is a good daughter and I'm so glad she talked Sharon into the move. Sharon needs to be near her daughter.
I was so impressed with all Shirley has done in the short time she's been in Idaho...from the creation of her beautiful salon/spa to the fabulous home she and Perry have almost completed. It's going to be a real showplace, all 10,000 (or so) square feet of it, on a huge acreage. I'm not sure if it's 10 or 20 acres. It's just big!

Arriving in Boise during a bank robbery

2007-09-11T21:48:00.000-07:00

As my plane was touching down at the Boise, Idaho airport, Karen and David were stuck in the middle of a horrifying drama on nearby I-84, just west of Meridian. A bank robbery suspect was trying to escape capture, but was rammed by police, causing his car to crash off the side of the freeway, trapping him. As police closed in, he shot himself in the head and died shortly after being airlifted to the hospital.
All the westbound lanes (which Karen and David were on) were closed for more than an hour. David said there were at least 30 police cars involved. By the time they passed the scene, the cops had put up a big tarp to shield the body and car until the air ambulance arrived.
Karen and David managed to get to me within about half an hour, even though they were really no more than about five minutes away. Once they picked me up, it took us a couple hours to get to the RV park, due to the diverted traffic from the incident.

Welcome to Boise!

Annie Oakley Stage

2007-08-25T19:08:00.001-07:00

Adorable, isn't it? I made this precious stage in my teaching partner Teena-Marie's class today at The Stamp Art Shoppe.

Paris and a Paris dancehall girl was the theme of her prototype. My theme was the Wild West and the subject was Annie Oakley, one of my favorite heroines.

The little stage is made from a salt box. Inside, Annie stands in front of a mirror that has a picture of the Eiffel Tower rubber stamped on it.

The bejeweled doodad on top is what happens when you paint and alter the drinking gizmo on the top of a bottle of drinking water.

It was so much fun to make.

David and Karen in Montana

2007-08-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

Karen and David were in Montana, but the fires drove them out after several days of skies like this.

Well, now they've done it. I told them they shouldn't buy stuff sight unseen! Well, they'll be traveling in style, at least, haha! Check out their "new" mode of transportation. Jealous???

My Grandson's in the First Grade

2007-08-16T22:18:00.000-07:00

Kathy wrote: Well, Jack started first grade today. We have two first grade classes and a combination first/second grade class this year. He's in the combo class with about half first graders and half second graders.
Jack seemed to like school today, except that he thought it was a little long. He was very excited as he got a new back pack and lunch box. His classroom has lift lid desks and there were notepads, glue sticks, erasers, etc inside the desk today.
Jack is very excited that he has his own desk instead of a table as they had in kindergarten.

Background Check

2007-08-14T20:39:00.001-07:00

I spent the afternoon painting and stamping background papers. I used 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper and painted with acrylics. I used some leaf and text stamps. After I finished, I scanned them and now I have some nice papers to use.

We're baddddd!!!

2007-08-07T23:01:00.000-07:00

After much nagging, begging, and pleading, I got my youngest daughter Cheryl, Dave and the kids to pose for me so I could try this technique out. I had them all pose individually, wearing the pointy hat, then I Photoshopped out the backgrounds and put them all together. Here's how we turned out...tah dah!!! Click on the picture and it will enlarge a little. Oh, I haven't figured out why we are blue. Gotta work on it, but hey, the Blue Man Group has nothing on us! Oh, we are, from left: Dave, Cheryl, Taylor, Connor and me.

Portland & the Oregon Coast

2007-07-28T22:16:00.000-07:00

1. My daughter Karen freezing along the Oregon coast a couple days ago. Meanwhile, we were sweltering at around 100 degrees.
2. David, also freezing.
3. Now these last two pics show one of our little family jokes. We look for odd businesses that use our names. Here's Paula's store. Paula's nickname is Peel.
4. Then there's Karen's Coffee Cup.

Stylin'

2007-07-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

This was a Photoshop experiment. Simple, I know, but I'm just teaching myself the program. This is part of the Woodland Hotel, in nearby Woodland, California. I love the colors. Is it too cliche? I don't know enough yet to say.

Calistoga Summer

2007-07-28T21:14:00.001-07:00

A couple weeks ago, Teena-Marie and I went to Calistoga, which is in the California wine country. Very picturesque. This little store is not only cute on the outside, but inside is a treasure trove of wonderfully unique and delicious food. All kinds of breads, mustards and other gourmet offerings. On down the road is the St. Helena Olive Oil Company. Oh, wowsa! We got to sample a ton of different oils and sauces. I bought this absolutely delicious chipotle sauce. You use it like BBQ sauce. It is so yummy on my chicken and burgers. Geez, I guess I'll have to make a run back there when I run out...
In the two photos here of Teena and me...er, our reflections, you may be wondering what in the heck's going on. Well, I'll tell you. Ahem, we have been working on an art project, called "Reflections of a Friendship." Get it? Reflections...yes, we've been taking photos of ourselves in mirrors, ponds and windows. When we get enough photos, then we'll each make a book to decorate with the photos and art. Cool idea, huh? Bet you wish you'd thought of it, heh heh.

Dreamweaver

2007-07-28T21:03:00.001-07:00

A couple weeks ago, Paula (one of my daughters), and her hubby Chris, went to one of the really cool free concerts in the park they have every summer in their little town of Gardnerville, Nevada. They saw Gary Wright, who did the '70s hit, "Dreamweaver." She said he was a real sweetie and she really enjoyed the concert. I've been with her at several of the summer concerts and they are really fun. Very laid-back and family oriented. Kids and dogs everywhere and everybody just peacefully enjoying the heck out of themselves.

How sweet it is

2007-07-28T20:18:00.000-07:00

There's a great antique mall that Teena-Marie and I help support...er, visit occasionally. I've been drooling over this adorable candy machine for awhile...however, I guess I'll just have to keep on drooling. The adorable little thing has a price tag of more than $3,000 on it. So, we did the next best thing and took pics of ourselves reflected in it's mirror. I'm the old girl in the middle pic.
Look up! That's me, needing a haircut...and a new hairstyle, too, I'd say.
This is my art buddy, Teena-Marie. I've been trying to talk her into creating a blog. She's an awesome artist...come on, T.

Aug. 12 update on the candy machine...it's gone!!! They sold it!!! Wahhh!

Domin-Oh!!

2007-07-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

I'm going to show the gals in my beading and stitchery group how to make a domino necklace or pendant. I can't believe none of them had seen the technique before. It was fun hearing all the "oohs and ahhhs" when I showed them a sample at our last meeting. I'll be teaching them during the October meeting. Click on the photo to see it larger.

Victorian Sisters

2007-07-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

I found this wonderful portrait of two young girls at the Roseville Auction and was able to buy it for a mere $6. I hot-glued the flowers to the upper right side because it was very damaged there...and not in a good way. It sat on my dining room table for at least a month or more, until I finally figured out what to do with it. I really love it now and it's on the wall in my guest room.

Nonsense about "Nunsense"

2007-07-28T18:16:00.000-07:00

My friend Teena-Marie and I saw the musical comedy "Nunsense" on Thursday at the Sacramento Music Circus. The five actresses were truly talented and gave it their best efforts, but, as a former theater reviewer, I found it a disappointment. As I said, the actresses were very good: excellent singers and spirited entertainers most of the time, but the production moved along so slowly I thought I'd fall asleep during the first act. A few "nun" jokes, having to do with wooden rulers, etc., were not enough. Things improved, thankfully, in the second act, mainly because of the Mother Superior "accidently" imbibing some intoxicating elixir. But here, as in the rest of the production, pauses for effect were drug out to ridiculous lengths. A little script tightening and a faster pace could have made a big difference. So, when all's said and done...I guess I would give it two stars out of four.

Bling

2007-07-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

These are my latest projects. I've fallen in love with bracelets!! Geez! How many of them can you make before you need to start trying to sell them? Wonder if I could...

Ah, Les Miz

2007-07-12T22:42:00.000-07:00

Today Kathy and I went to the opening production of the 2007 season of the Sacramento Music Circus. Les Miz, my all-time favorite. This was my first time in the newly remodeled Music Circle theater. Way cool...and comfortable...and not a bad seat in the house since it's a relatively small theater and the seating is stadium-style. The old theater was a hothouse, guaranteed to give you heat stroke, since the Music Circus doesn't even start its season until July, and the old theater was actually a huge, ugly canvas tent, tightly packed with small, ugly canvas chairs. Claustrophobic and suffocating! Stir in the ever-present traffic noise, i.e. honking and screeching brakes and the occasional passerby loudly farting and drunkenly slurring "Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall," Add too few ladies toilet stalls and too many ladies with full bladders and you've got an intermission nightmare at the half-way point...Will I make it or will I have to return to my seat and keep my legs tightly crossed?
All that's a thing of the past (and, let it stay there). Now there are several separate ladies restrooms with much shorter lines. The large courtyard boasts several food and beverage vendors, including the requisite coffee bar and there's seating everywhere, including in the blessed shade. The old site had no seating outside. There's also still the VIP lounge for subscribers (a title that I now wear proudly), where you can escape the summer heat for a few minutes before the show or during intermission.
Anyhow, the production was magnificent, the actors were wonderful, with not a bad singing voice among them. A couple of hot-looking male leads just made it that much better! I might be getting old, but I ain't dead yet!
I was so happy that Kathy had not seen Les Miz before. It's so fun to be with someone when they are seeing something you love, for the first time. Besides, it makes you feel like you're really worldly. Kath seemed thrilled and said she loved it, too.
Since I bought season tickets for two this year, I can take someone with me every time, neener, neener, neener! I love it!
Can't wait now for Nunsense to open. I'm taking Teena-Marie with me on July 26th. Should be a blast!

Fire in the Sierras

2007-07-09T22:57:00.001-07:00

I got this e-mail from Paula a couple nights ago.
"OMGosh, Chris just called me and told me they are evacuating his grandparents neighborhood in Big Pine due to that fire! When I went through there this morning, I could see fire pretty near their neighborhhood, but up on the mountain. It was dark of course, so it was hard to tell how close it was. Poor things! That must feel terrible! I know just sitting there last night in Independence, I kept thinking, 'Geez, how can these people (who live here) even sleep tonight?' You would feel so agitated and nervous with the adrenaline rushing through your body. Hopefully it is just a precaution and their home isn't really too threatened. I hope they are able to get to their house, they have a couple cats. Their neighbors probably got the cats out though, they usually take care of them when they are gone. Gosh, now I'm gonna be so worried."
Update: The Wrights were okay and the fire didn't come near their home. They were luckier than all those poor people caught up in the Angora fire at Lake Tahoe. According to a news site: In just over a week, the fire burned 3,100 acres, forced the evacuation of 3,500 people, and cost $11.3 million to fight. Property losses from more than 325 homes and structures could tack another $150 million onto the tab.
I heard that the firefighters have been able to pinpoint where the fire started and know that it was started by campers or hikers.
All those poor people.

A Favorite Project

2007-07-08T20:01:00.001-07:00

This is a page I did for one of my art friends. I took the original photo at the Old Sacramento City Cemetery, which is very beautiful. I think the book that I did this in belonged to an artist friend, Dezra Despain. She had been taking a Photoshop class and was doing lots of very eerie, layered pieces with herself in various costumes and poses, as the subject. It was a fabulous book, all very gothic. Wish I'd done a similar one. Others who worked in her book were Stephanie Lee, Steffanie Roulet, Paula Scinto, Rebecca Zuniga, Carrie Edelmann Avery, and of course, Dezra Despain.
Hmmm, maybe I could come up with some sort of project using all those cemetery photos. There are so many stories. I have researched some of the names I took down when I was there in the spring of 2006 and can now imagine a little about their lives. Spooky? Not to me.

Dangereaux Liaisons

2007-07-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

This is the name of an art project I am teaching at The Stamp Art Shoppe this quarter. Tuesday will be the final class.
The little handmade book fits inside the tin. The book is a corny, melodramatic story taking place in the 1920s. I wrote about a woman who is being driven crazy at her job by an amourous, obsessed co-worker. She doesn't return his affection. In desperation, she takes vacation leave and sails for Paris. Once there, she meets a handsome, mysterious man and falls hopelessly in lust, er...love...with him, although something about him troubles her. He asks her to meet him the next night and when she does, he suddenly pulls off the fake mustache and toupe he had apparently been disguised with. Voila!! Her stalker from work! Haha!