Tuesday, March 7, 2006


I feel like it's been weeks since I posted and yet it was only a few days ago.
I'm getting ready to go up to Danville, CA this weekend-Stampers Warehouse for classes. Can't wait! It's one of my favorite stores and places to teach at. I always manage to get into trouble there and am hoping I don't this time -LOL, yet Phyllis always manages to find new goodies!

Lately I have found that my favorite supplies to use are my pens (like my Sharpie poster paint pens), a couple of tubes of acrylics; a glue stick (so called "permanent" ones); scissors; "found" collage stuff-paper "ephemera" in my purse, scraps from my table, etc...; and my caran d'ache neo art crayons. Some days all I need are a couple of collage scraps and a glue stick. Of all the supplies I have these are the things that I reach for again and again. I always like to use my rubber stamps-but they tend to be "backgroundy type things"-word fragments, postoids, figure sketches, repetitive images, etc... over and over and over again-how many times can I use the same stamp? Lots I am finding over the years ;)

I've been finding lots of inspiration from "street art" aka graffitti art. There are a plethora of books devoted to the art form these days. Amazing how many artists that there are in the world, huh? What would it be like if there were art centers-with plenty of paint, paper, canvas, wood, glue, -whatever-for people to experiment and explore with on a daily basis? What if we all reconnected with each other instead of going home nightly and being glued to the TV or the computer? What was life like before the TV? Before the radio? What were the days like when people gathered on their porches, in front of their homes, on their stoops, in their living rooms-people actually sat with their neighbors and TALKED. Now a days we don't even KNOW our neighbors. I live in an apartment building-the same building for the past 10 years. There are a couple of people in here that I talk to-the ones that have been living here as long (or longer) as I have...but the new ones-the new ones almost all are grumpy and want nothing to do with anyone. A smile or a "hi" gets a grumble or a frown instead of a hi? What kind of a world is that?? Any ways, we don't know our neighbors. People look at you with suspicion now a days when you smile or say hi...it's like you want something. I guess the only thing that would be nice is a smile or a "hi" in return...

My thoughts for the day...

Thursday, March 2, 2006


I wasn't sure what photo to use today...not sure of what would "fit" sooo.... I lifted this photo of Emily off of one of the websites...

I was feeling really down yesterday-long story. Won't go into it here...but one of my stupid "down" days that I only get once in a blue moon. One of those days when you don't feel like you are "enough" or "good enough".

Well, now I feel like a f***** idiot for feeling like that today. I get daily (almost) updates on a family friend, Emily Quinlan (she is my Dad's Goddaughter) who has been in the hospital on again/off again (lately it's a whole lot on again) battling leukemia. Make a Wish foundation had a couple of her friends fly from San Diego to Boston (Children's Hospital) to visit with her for a few days. Every day I sit and pray and send good thoughts her way...every day I read the updates and hope-wish-pray...for something good. They put photos of Emily up today. The last photos they had of her -she was yellow. Now she's green-even her eyes. This beautiful girl who is one of the coolest, nicest, kindest people on the face of the planet looks like a superhero character. I've never seen anyone that color. I'm sitting here feeling stupid for how I felt yesterday when there is so much real shit in the world to worry about. War. Homeless. Hungry. The Sick.

I've posted this before, but I need, want, *have* to reiterate it today-

Please please please if you know anyone who can help-anyone who might be even remotely interested in becoming a bone marrow donor, please register. Register today. You don't know who you could save-please.

"The donor marrow has to match genetically with the recipient, and Emily's heritage:
Italian (Stromboli, Lipari, Sicily, Travaglia), Azorean (Flores, and others, Lourenco, Rodgrigues, dos Santos, Ferreira), Irish and Native American."


San Diego bone marrow drive for Emily Quinlan:

April 5th from 6-9pm at the Clairemont Northminster Presbetirian Church, on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. (across from Kragen)

There are also drives in MA:
MARCH 4 , 2006 - 10AM - 4PM / VFW POST / 82 INGELL STREET / TAUNTON, MA DOWNLOAD FLYER : Questions contact Barbara O’Leary at 781-964-8299, bornesq@yahoo.com

MARCH 26 , 2006 - Danvers, MA. Masonic Temple, 30 High Street, Danvers, MA, Sunday, March 26 from 10AM-3PM.

More drive info is at

http://rossidudes.dvdthis.com/emilyquinlan.html

Please please please help Emily fight and win!