There's something to be said about working in an office where everyone is half your age. You are exposed to what is current and hip ( is the word "hip" current? ) and if you can wade through some silliness there are occasional jewels of wisdom and a unique perspective of life that gets lost when one reaches my age. To add to that my office is entirely female so I'm well aware on a daily basis what Britney is up to ( is she really still trying to drive herself! ) and how so and so is wasting away to nothing. I believe that my exposure to all this effects my art in a positive way ( keepin' it fresh! ). Having said that, I'm not in my twenties...not at all attractive to act like it but I do like hanging out with Suzanna. She gets me on many levels and I'm energized around her. Last week I had a day that I stayed in the city after work. I had time to kill before I was to join a group of friends and Suzanna was waiting for someone to get off work so we decided to spend some time in Union Square. I had a mission and she was more than willing to accompany me. I wanted a hat. I do not have a pretty head so hats are generally not great on me but I was determined to find one that would do me justice. Off we went to Macy's where I had previously seen a few that potentially could be OK. Right away I noticed the hat I'd been thinking about was gone so we looked at everything. Suzanna noticed a cap that she thought looked good and I tried it on. I have caps. I need a hat. It looked good on me, we both agreed. "You know what" she said, "I think I'm going to get this for Chris" ( a guy she's seeing ). I had to have the cap. I could not allow anyone else to own it. That cap was validated by someone in an age category that knows what's current...what's cool! Who would have thought that I'd be in competition over an article of clothing with someone half my age and the opposite sex to boot! How dare she consider buying this! It was meant for her to find it for me. How do I do this? Well, I got lucky. She spotted the perfect hat for her! I sheepishly encouraged her to try it on and it was perfect for her. "How could you rationalize buying both" I told her. You can't put your hat back. It shows off your features. You look hot in it! Sold. I got my cap and we're very happy together.
Thanks Suzanna. I know you know what I was up to. Love you for it. Mean it. Honestly, at my age!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
This Starving Artist Thing Is Getting Old
Ok, success...I'm waiting! Hey, over here. Can't you see me? Well, I do feel invisible sometimes. I'm a damn good artist but I suck at self promotion. To be struggling after having produced good work throughout my lifetime seems so twisted. It's war now, baby. I've pulled out the guns and hired an art mentor, an art coach if you will. I don't know how I feel about paying someone to highlight my flaws when I've always gotten that for free but I'm going for it anyway.
I've got a retail job that barely helps me make it week to week and has somehow turned into my career after all these years when it was meant to supplement my artistic pursuits. I've avoided any management position or any promotion to maintain a situation where I had little responsibility so I'd have the energy to go home and be creative. Vicious circle, guys. Gotta have the job to support the habit but the job ( including nasty commute ) takes away the body of time I need to create enough to make a dent. I know, you've heard this story a million times. ART FOR SALE! ART FOR SALE! ( my stab at self promotion ).
I've got a retail job that barely helps me make it week to week and has somehow turned into my career after all these years when it was meant to supplement my artistic pursuits. I've avoided any management position or any promotion to maintain a situation where I had little responsibility so I'd have the energy to go home and be creative. Vicious circle, guys. Gotta have the job to support the habit but the job ( including nasty commute ) takes away the body of time I need to create enough to make a dent. I know, you've heard this story a million times. ART FOR SALE! ART FOR SALE! ( my stab at self promotion ).
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Mystery trip revealed
For many years now I have enjoyed a wonderful friendship with a group of guys. The majority of them live in the San Diego area. It all started with a cruise to Mexico where my partner and I met Dan. He then introduced us to a group of his friends and I enjoyed them all but in particular, David who for about 18 years now I have been in almost daily contact with. There are three couples that have been together for a minimum of 27 years ( that includes me ) and it is wonderful to have the history we've created together.
Two years ago one of those couples surprised us by including us in a celebration of an important birthday. He and his partner hosted 14 of us on a wonderful 2 week cruise on the QM2 to the Caribbean. It was a trip not to be forgotten. Last year we wanted to reciprocate so we planned a long weekend in Calistoga...with a twist. We never let anyone know what the destination was and sent an occasional clue to make it fun. Building the anticipation made the experience before the actual trip as much fun as the actual weekend and I think we were truly able to surprise them. We had great dinners in Calistoga, St. Helena, etc, spa treatments and an excursion to a Ca'toga, a wonderful estate that features Carlo Marchiori's trompe l'oeil work.
We experienced David and Mike's surprise trip this last weekend. For months we have been getting "tube mail" with sort of clues that went into a beautiful album he'd sent. Pages would arrive beautifully styled with a sentiment that would elude to some aspect of what we would expect. Finally the morning of our flight arrived. We were instructed to open the final clue on the plane which told us to look for a sign upon arrival. At baggage claim we were easily able to identify our driver by that signage. He sped us off to our destination - a wonderful inn and spa in La Jolla where we checked our bag with the doorman who instructed us to meet our hosts at the restaurant for lunch. The six of us accounted for, we toasted the beginning of what we knew would be a memorable time and were happy to be at such a beautiful resort. After lunch Mike went to check on the rooms - not quite ready yet. He asked us to join him outside where a van was waiting to take us on an excursion while we waited. We're driving...and driving. I happened to look behind me and noticed that all our luggage was in the back of the van! Lunch was a ruse! Now, where are we headed? With every offramp we speculated as to whether the driver would exit. Finally there was no denying that we were crossing the border into Mexico! I'd never been in Baja so seeing the Mexican coast was a treat. The speculations grew and finally when we reached Ensanada and turned we knew we were headed for the wine country!
We enjoyed a great weekend full of wine, mexican train, incredible meals, horseback riding and sunning by the pool while watching grapes being harvested. The hosts of the ranch were also owners of the vineyard, celebrities in the valley and very entertaining.
No detail was overlooked by our hosts and the bar was definitely raised!
Two years ago one of those couples surprised us by including us in a celebration of an important birthday. He and his partner hosted 14 of us on a wonderful 2 week cruise on the QM2 to the Caribbean. It was a trip not to be forgotten. Last year we wanted to reciprocate so we planned a long weekend in Calistoga...with a twist. We never let anyone know what the destination was and sent an occasional clue to make it fun. Building the anticipation made the experience before the actual trip as much fun as the actual weekend and I think we were truly able to surprise them. We had great dinners in Calistoga, St. Helena, etc, spa treatments and an excursion to a Ca'toga, a wonderful estate that features Carlo Marchiori's trompe l'oeil work.
We experienced David and Mike's surprise trip this last weekend. For months we have been getting "tube mail" with sort of clues that went into a beautiful album he'd sent. Pages would arrive beautifully styled with a sentiment that would elude to some aspect of what we would expect. Finally the morning of our flight arrived. We were instructed to open the final clue on the plane which told us to look for a sign upon arrival. At baggage claim we were easily able to identify our driver by that signage. He sped us off to our destination - a wonderful inn and spa in La Jolla where we checked our bag with the doorman who instructed us to meet our hosts at the restaurant for lunch. The six of us accounted for, we toasted the beginning of what we knew would be a memorable time and were happy to be at such a beautiful resort. After lunch Mike went to check on the rooms - not quite ready yet. He asked us to join him outside where a van was waiting to take us on an excursion while we waited. We're driving...and driving. I happened to look behind me and noticed that all our luggage was in the back of the van! Lunch was a ruse! Now, where are we headed? With every offramp we speculated as to whether the driver would exit. Finally there was no denying that we were crossing the border into Mexico! I'd never been in Baja so seeing the Mexican coast was a treat. The speculations grew and finally when we reached Ensanada and turned we knew we were headed for the wine country!
We enjoyed a great weekend full of wine, mexican train, incredible meals, horseback riding and sunning by the pool while watching grapes being harvested. The hosts of the ranch were also owners of the vineyard, celebrities in the valley and very entertaining.
No detail was overlooked by our hosts and the bar was definitely raised!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Why Am I Doing This?
How daunting!
A place to express my daily thoughts, frustrations, challenges, successes and failures!
A blog would be an incredibly cathartic thing ( kind of like the nude gentlemen on the Washington Mutual commercial - I like the idea of feeling "free like a birdswallow" ) but that poses a concern. Just how much of myself do I expose and feel comfortable knowing that I have just put information available to the world that any millions of people have access to. Considering my impending fame and fortune, will this come to haunt me? Let's say I talk about my incredible lust for Tom Ford and the fact that should I ever have the opportunity...I WOULD act on it without question or remorse. Well, that's potentially harmful to say the least and the reprocussions could force me to turn to drink or worse which would then require rehab and roomsharing with Lindsey. Should I be anonymous and lay it all out or show taste and discretion with little fodder for gossip? Something to think about.
Having said that, here goes.
Foremost on my mind, a trip that has been in the works for some time takes place in a few days. I don't know where I'm going except that my partner and I are being flown to San Diego. We have been receiving clues on a weekly basis which has been very exciting yet they are extremely vague offering little direction. That's ok, I can deal...it's just that I have a wardrobe thing.
I wrote to my host asking for a little more info about wardrobe ( all he mentioned was to pack similar to what was necessary for our trip to Calistoga at this time last year but that was north and I'm presuming we're staying south ). He wrote back and told me all my assumptions were correct. My partner says "keep it light" which he always lives up to. I like to be prepared for anything and I like having "options". My partner is trying to eliminate that word from my fashion vocabulary. What if we go clubbing? Gotta have the right thing. It would behoove me to bring something that would be appropriate to...let's say the gay rodeo ( you never know ) so I've gotta bring my sleeveless denim and cowboy hat. The possibilities are endless. I must be prepared. My partner packs a pant. A pair of shoes. A shirt. Shorts. Swimsuit. THAT'S IT. Somehow he makes it work.
A place to express my daily thoughts, frustrations, challenges, successes and failures!
A blog would be an incredibly cathartic thing ( kind of like the nude gentlemen on the Washington Mutual commercial - I like the idea of feeling "free like a birdswallow" ) but that poses a concern. Just how much of myself do I expose and feel comfortable knowing that I have just put information available to the world that any millions of people have access to. Considering my impending fame and fortune, will this come to haunt me? Let's say I talk about my incredible lust for Tom Ford and the fact that should I ever have the opportunity...I WOULD act on it without question or remorse. Well, that's potentially harmful to say the least and the reprocussions could force me to turn to drink or worse which would then require rehab and roomsharing with Lindsey. Should I be anonymous and lay it all out or show taste and discretion with little fodder for gossip? Something to think about.
Having said that, here goes.
Foremost on my mind, a trip that has been in the works for some time takes place in a few days. I don't know where I'm going except that my partner and I are being flown to San Diego. We have been receiving clues on a weekly basis which has been very exciting yet they are extremely vague offering little direction. That's ok, I can deal...it's just that I have a wardrobe thing.
I wrote to my host asking for a little more info about wardrobe ( all he mentioned was to pack similar to what was necessary for our trip to Calistoga at this time last year but that was north and I'm presuming we're staying south ). He wrote back and told me all my assumptions were correct. My partner says "keep it light" which he always lives up to. I like to be prepared for anything and I like having "options". My partner is trying to eliminate that word from my fashion vocabulary. What if we go clubbing? Gotta have the right thing. It would behoove me to bring something that would be appropriate to...let's say the gay rodeo ( you never know ) so I've gotta bring my sleeveless denim and cowboy hat. The possibilities are endless. I must be prepared. My partner packs a pant. A pair of shoes. A shirt. Shorts. Swimsuit. THAT'S IT. Somehow he makes it work.
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