Almost done with the house decorating. I decided not to bother with the parents' house this year because mother always complains about having to put it all away - even though I do that too. So since they are both retired, they can do it themselves. I just have to put up my tree. But I am not so jazzed on using the free tree we have had all these years. I am really regretting not keeping my grandma and grandpa's tree. That had more meaning than the one hubby and I picked up at the curb. It is a nice 50's era fake tree, but it is short and rotund and I just wish I had the Berry tree. But, I may take my parents' tree - if they still have it and if it fits in our house. It was pre-lighted and taaaallllll. We shall see. I am thinking of going with a silver and blue theme if I have to use our tree; red, green and gold if mom and dad's tree.

We were supposed to paint the tattoo parlor in town on Friday but the rain predictions, cold and wetness from the night before squashed that. So hubby and I are doing it today. All the volunteers all have plans for today! I joked that I should get a discount for the labour. But, Vasa-rooney has no tats. Even if I did, I would do a Reggie Miller and keep it a secret! I always wanted to know what Reggie had on his back - the parts that peeked out of his jersey looked like a nice work of art! The nice thing is that we are treating ourselves to dinner out for the hard work.

Baby sat the parents' cats too. Two trips a day to clean litter boxes, fill tummies and scratch chins. Gimpy is the salty old-timer. But she seems to be handling the presence of the new one well. Ernie is a black cat with a large head, crossed eyes, and peeping meow that showed up one day. I think my parent should set up a group home for cats and try to get services from the state... Father cut a hole in the garage door and installed a keyed cat-door. Ernie will soon have a collar and locked entry that only he can get through! Life practically revolves around these two fuzzy disabled cats! I do not ever recall my parents being this accommodating for my sister or me.... ever! Hmph!

Oh, and had to purchase a new printer. The hp is not working out well. It jammed and then the new cartridge leaked ink all over the interior and hp was no help. So, I cleaned the whole thing and it prints but my color cartridge is a waste and it feeds the paper in a funny way. Not doing too well at all. I may donate it... But there was a great sale on an Epson with good reviews. After the "We can't help that our ink ruined your printer, but you can buy a new one" attitude at hp, it is back to Epson for me...

I did the horrible thing... I helped someone put up Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. But it was at sister's house and was to help her but I think all I did was make Lulu cry... oof... perhaps it was the smell of fixer wafting from me...

Four former students came by to say hi today! And I got two cards and cookies and a choco-pop! Hooray! I just feel bad that I couldn't chat more with the visitors. But Lulu was calling and I had to go...

Repainting the tattoo parlor in town on Friday, then relaxing aka submitting to shows...

So excited for the tofurkey!!! Millie has her own version of Thanksgiving Day dinner - it is actually called Thanksgiving Day Dinner and she loves this food! Four days full of cats! Oooh, I can't stand the excitement!

Happy Tofurkey Day everyone!!!

So Millie does not want to leave my side lately and when I am not on the same floor as her, she calls out looking for me. If the windows were open, all the neighbours would hear is "Millie!!! I'm up/down here!!!" Poor baby. AN I have to babysit the parents' cats this weekend... oof... more work...

So my response to the last journal question: I don't get inspired by any artists. I get inspired by things in my life. But the artists I most admire would include - but not be limited to - Annette Messager, Hieronymous Bosch, Kiki Smith, Brassaii, Andres Kertesz, Albrecht Durer, Louise Bourgeois, and an awful lot of Medieval, Early Renaissance, and many other artists... much of which also happens to depend on my mood... I have stood in the freezing cold to try to get into some in demand shows, traveled far and wide, and even called out sick from work to see some exhibits.

I find that lots of people assume that a person who likes art, likes all art. Hardly the case. Richard Serra, David Smith, Picasso, Mark Rothko... can't stand them. But they are all people who have had BIG shows or press in recent years and I just have to fake it when I have to hear someone blather on about how great these artists are. And I don't mean students... I mean adults, professionals... I know to not say "oh, I don't like that person's work" because they take offense. Kind of like when I say I do not like a musician/band someone likes - you would think I just insulted their mother! Better keep that opinion to myself - unless of course a student tricks you into playing that Rihanna junk - hello Swan! Well, that's just horrible and I am scarred fro life!!!!

A letter...

Dear Photo classes,

I was wondering if you could let my mommy come home next week. I think you call her Mrs. Vasa when you talk to her. I haven't seen her a lot lately. She comes home really late, grumbling about hating driving, cleans my toilet, feeds me, then falls asleep. Could you let her come home early for just three days? Please?

Love,

Millie

Aggressive Competition...

So Mr. Meineke and I have similar commutes but his is muuuuch longer. We both agree that lately, the commute stinks. I have always agreed with all friends and family that my commute is the one from hell and that the drivers this far east are aggressive. But there was more to it. Then it dawned on me this morning as I experienced yet another typical driver... they are all acting as if this is a contest.

"I will get in the lane faster than you"

"I will beat you to your exit"

"I will make you feel small and vulnerable with my huge gas-guzzler"

So here is my new name for what I experience on a daily basis:

Aggressive Competitive Driving

And I hate it. Particulary after driving to Green Brook yesterday to pick up the hubby at traffic time. Let me tell you, 287 was pleasant, considerate, smooth sailing! What?!? I know he has to drive 45 minute to an hour each way, but I would love hubby's commute! No one forced me out of my lane to race around other cars, no one gave me the Jersey-stare for ... horror of horrors... driving 65 in a 65, no one rode by butt in the right lane to show his power to get me out of his way when he could have just passed me up to the left........

Ugh... no driving for me ANYWHERE this weekend.

Then at the doctor, nothing! Oh, a mention of something called neuritis... so I have to read what I printed out. Looks like it must be peripheral, obviously not the optic version.... But the neurological tests showed no compression or damage so at least no surgery...

The only good thing yesterday? The Corcoran visit. Oh, how I dreamed of going there in high school only to have those dreams squashed by mother.... but if just one student goes there and makes if her/his dream experience, it will make me happy. Not a fan of the snob schools. I do believe there are many other great art schools and art department out there than the well-known ones in this area. Gosh, Chicago, Oregon, Savannah, and so many other far-flung places that no one looks at! And Britt was to the point and did not mince words. Just what I like. She confirmed some of my beliefs and made me aware of things I did not know. Of course, I also love the fact that all people there are working artists... hearing that yet again! Hint hint....

Sure, this is an opinionated rant but it has been that kind of a week...

News to come...

Doctor's appointment tomorrow. Find out the results of the neurological tests. Ironically, the arm and wrist have been hurting like the Dickens.... real bad. I try heat, cold, a muscle rub... all to no avail... sigh...

And can I say that I wish I could get home in less than 45 minutes at least once this week? Car fire, downed power lines... as my family says, the commute form hell...

For the first time, I am offering the Photo I a choice of assignments - motion or portrait. I may regret this, but for the most part, I think they are mature enough to handle it. They seem to have developed very definite ideas of what they like to shoot and I want to test that with this next assignment.

And have I ever mentioned how I love thinking a student is absent only to find out they are not - they just came in and got to work in the darkroom so quickly I never saw them!

Career...

So not one person thought of a career that does not involve actually taking the pictures - such as gallery director, museum curator, photo editor for a magazine... Yikes!?! Does it reflect badly that no one even thought of teaching? Oh, that's right... no way of making a living on one's own doing that in NJ...

Went to New York State with friends yesterday... took the Diana 35 and finished the roll from DC... did not completely rewind the film prior to opening (do not walk, talk, and rewind film at the same time!) but I think it was actually the last pics that exposed...

There was a really nice place we went for lunch in Warwick called Tuscan Cafe. They have open mic nights, bands playing, and local artists' stuff on the walls. And the food was super! They have vegan options! Just really nice. Some of you students would love the place. Cafe Eclectic without the attitude... We ended up being out much later than expected so I will spend the whole day at home today to make it up to Millie...

Very aggravated that my printer is still not working and I have a great deal of submissions to do... I have a craft show in a week and wanted to print new business cards... obviously not going to happen...

There are some students who could not get into Photo III because of scheduling conflicts. A couple want us to have a Photo Club. Dems and I think we will do it as long as the students buy their own paper and film... Oh dear, no free time at all! But I may be quitting my town's Main Street organization. Not very happy with the way the Executive Director is running the thing... but I saw an article in the paper on this group that restores graveyards and I have had a burning desire to do that for a couple of the ones in my town. I thought I would have to do it guerilla style, but I may be able to do it legally now... Righting fallen headstones, trimming grass, pulling weeds... oh boy!

DC, how I love thee...

Third annual Foto Week began this past weekend... went to the National Gallery of Art to see an exhibit of Pre-Raphaelite photographs and was delighted to see watercolours and paintings included! Including - oh boy - a piece by Dante Gabriel Rossetti! Oh gosh, and photos of Lizzie Siddell and Jane Morris, and oh, it was just too much! Then on over to the East building and happen upon an unadvertised, not listed Edvard Munch exhibit! Prints and prints and more prints! I felt lightheaded and giddy.... So many versions of Vampire and the Madonna and it was just too much!!!!

Then on over to the American History museum and finally bought the book on photo booth photography... cannot wait to open that baby!

We tried to go to galleries open late for First Friday, but late in their eyes is 8 pm and we barely made it... did see a good one at Hillyer Art Space featuring photographs dealing with Central and South America and immigration within those countries... and by the way, the ginger tea at Teaism is fabulous...

Saturday was my first foray to the Phillips Collection... two photography exhibits there: Pictorialism and Coburn portfolios. Just amazing... so many ideas for the students and just more proof that digital cannot compare to film and older analog methods. And there were so many other amazing works we saw there too and we only made it to half of the building because some is still being refurbished. Just sooo good!

Then off to Georgetown for a visit to Foto Week's Satellite Central. I found my two thumbnails on the wall there... looked at some amazing self-published photo books from the Independent Photo Book Library and the display of other published photo books from the past year. Also saw a nice exhibit in a gallery in Adams-Morgan. The woman makes her own medium format cameras from parts and lenses and such. The images were so dreamy...

Oh and we went to the Punk Rock Flea Market and I bought a couple of books and had an amazing vegan cranberry and pistachio cookie and stood next to the singer of a good band from the 80's! Woo hoo!!! And discovered the beauty of Meridien Hill Park... Hidden DC is just so great!

After realizing I probably wouldn't get into the Bruce Davidson talk at the Corcoran because I did not register, I decided to go to a student photo exhibit at Georgetown University. Underwhelmed is a nice way to put it. Let's just say they do not compare to the PV students! Ha ha...

Then spent the rest of the night night shooting with the T1i in Georgetown... this time I did not try to shoot through peoples' windows....

Sunday in Baltimore.... blissful...

Shot two rolls with the Holga, one and a half with the Diana 35. I sense a trip back in the spring... I can't stay away...

Poke...

The tests did not even take an hour. The needles were like acupuncture. The other test involved sending an electric shock through my hand. That one hurt like heck. The claim from the doctor was that it did not look so bad. Ok, so then why is the pain constant and getting worse. I have a hunch it will be another round of occupational therapy. Woo hoo... it will work for a while then the pain will come back...

Decided to bring the Holga, Diana 35 and the T1i to DC. Oh, and maybe a mint green medium format camera... All packed and Millie knows. She saw the suitcase... There are photo exhibits at the Philips Collection and the NGA. There is also a good one on gender identity at the American Art museum and then all the galleries open for First Friday and the Foto Week festival.

Hooray for the HPC!!!

We had such a great meeting tonight. Sure, we were there for two whole hours! But, I brought Dunkin' Donuts and we stood by our town codes and we stuck together. We all agreed that we need to protect the integrity of our historic district and I just walked out of there with a great feeling tonight. And no one cried! Sure, someone was a little miffed at times because we weren't just accepting what he presented to us, but we all agreed to work together in the end. If we can do this, why can't politicians?

I know I sound like a real cornball, but I just love volunteering so much. I get aggravated when the two or three difficult people get in the way, but other than that, I really love doing something for my town. Until I became involved in these two groups, I had not volunteered since high school when I worked at the elderly care center in my town. I did not feel very appreciated by the volunteer coordinator there, but I did it for three years because of the patients. Here in freak town, I feel appreciated most of the time and it is just so much fun!!! Anyway, if I did not volunteer officially, I would be driven to go back to guerrilla gardening!

Trying not to think about the needles.... obviously not being successful....

Needles and pins...

Tomorrow at 9.45 I will have a bunch of needles in my arm and fingers for about an hour and a half. I think that will wall for a Dunkin' Donuts treat afterward! I need to sew some buttons back on some pants and cannot do it because I can't thread the needle... Hand hurts too much.... I did buy a gel wrist rest thing for when I ma on the computer. It feels neat but I hope Millie doesn't chew it.

I have an HPC meeting tonight. I have to remember to stand by my beliefs regarding what is historically accurate and what is not. I think tonight will be tough meeting. I also want to get the point across that we should be more than just the "sign police" and use our advisory abilities, but we shall see. There are some in town who like to disparagingly call us the "sign police" but will do what they can to block us from exercising any other type of authourity... grrr......

Also have to plan what cameras to bring to DC. Last year it was the Imperial, the Yashica 35 and the Nikon Coolpix. This year, the T1i and I do not know what else. I do have a bunch of 120 film on 620 spools ready to go, so no respooling in the museum this year!

Voting..

So apparently some 18 year-olds in PV expect the school to take care of their voter registration! Well, relying on people to do everything for you is incredibly lazy and you should have all taken care of that on your own. Having the right/ability to vote and not taking advantage of it is just foolish. Particularly my fellow women. We have not always been allowed to vote, you know. From the time I was 18, I only missed 2 minor local elections ant that was because of the limited polling hours and I was stuck in a studio class... What's your excuse?

Now that I am done with my rant, I do wish the Photo III mope group would get on the stick and work. I think the class should be an escape from whatever bad thing is happening. When I have a rotten day/night/whatever, getting into 026, I drop whatever is going wrong and make the most of my time with the students. I have a million and one things to do, but I do my best to get them done. I have two volunteer groups that need things from me at home, I help my sister out with Lucy, my parents need me for things sometimes and I have to do my own art and work. All of that and have a social life. Yes, it is a lot. But I work to find a balance and not let anything slip by. To do that would be neglecting someone or something and I don't want to do that. Sure, I wish I could get by on only 4 hours of sleep. But that's not the reality. So, I make sure I give everything attention. Maybe not always equal attention, but at least I give it some. And here is a tip: in college, most professors think their class is the only class you have. Get used to budgeting your time.... no one person owns you...