I Wish We Were Friends

It seems that in this day and age we are more aware then ever of the daily goings on of celebrities and other note worthies. The Internet has had no small hand in this but the reason sites and blogs are successful ( just look at Perez Hilton! ) is this thirst that the American Public has for celebrity minutia. I'm just as guilty as anyone else and look forward to my daily updates but it's rare for me to wish I actually knew someone personally. You know that question that someone may occasionally ask..."So, if you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?". Names are tossed around and of course it depends who you ask ( it can be anywhere from Brittany to Ghandi ). Me? I'd LOVE to have dinner with David Sedaris. He truly amuses me. I am not one to laugh out loud when reading but I can count on it when I'm reading his books. I think we look at life similarly and definitely find the same things amusing. We're about the same age; both half Greek and both gay. I wish I had his articulation and his ability to convey thoughts with such a casual and understated flair. I think the funniest things in life are in the minor everyday occurrences and he's able to capture and preserve those moments that we all experience yet tend to escape us . His newest book, "When You are Engulfed In Flames" adds new material to his now long list of amusing perceptions. Go get it!

Sarah Jessica Parker or Bust

Just writing the title titillates me! ( I could make a joke about using the words "bust" and "titillates" in the first two minutes ). I knew this day would come. I have a big mouth and have always told anyone who'd listen that if they ever came out with a reality show that was art oriented I'd be so there. Well, the reality is that a reality show is being brewed as we speak. Sarah Jessica Parker has been pitching a reality show based on her love of the art world and the talents of upcoming artists. Bravo bit and the show is supposed to be filling in next year's slot that will be left vacant by Project Runway. It's to take place in New York, I believe. I do hope Sarah decides to host it as well. I believe Sarah to be the consummate lover of all that is creative...with a youthful urban edge. Now, I definitely have some concept of how many people will be interested. Therein lies my bravery. I've seen these shows. I know what they look for. I'm not a hot twenty-something without a care in the world. I'm not filled with angst...I'm actually not extreme in any way. I still have both my ears and there have been no crimes due to my unbridled passion for my art. I'm just a guy that has a true love of the creative process and will always need to express it. Having said that I have a side of me ( rarely shown ) that wants my talents to be exposed to the world. What makes me think I may have something entertaining to offer? You know what? I don't care any more. I've spent my life fearful of not measuring up. What's the worst that can happen? Oh yeah, well I do hope they don't just ignore me...that would suck. This has brought up some things for me to think about. I'm comfortable in my art genre. Is that a plus or a minus? Being in love with my primary medium ( watercolor ) I have not attempted to express myself in many other mediums. You can bet your Arches 140 lb. cold press that they will have you going from one challenging test to the next in any number of mediums. Can I withstand this? Will I be made a mockery of in front of millions? Well, I intend to pursue being considered and let the paint brushes fall where they may.

The Wendy's Girl Scares Me

Am I the only one that feels this way? I can't watch a Wendy's commercial anymore. There's something different about the Wendy's girl. Something evil. Perhaps she's really nice to everyone else in the world and she's just out to get me. She's not really animated. She's more of a cartoon but there's something in the eyes...in her gooey sweetness the eyes tell all. Oh, oh you'll love my hamburgers! ( you die ) I'm sooo wholesome and my food is healthy and nutritional! ( except for the rat poison-laced fries, artguy ) my salads are fresh and and my shakes are delicious! ( I'm consumed with the thought of your slow death ). Don't trust her! She's fooling all of you...just like Bozo the Clown.

Help With Sophie and Spencer

One of the things that I would say is a highlight of the past six weeks is how it's been with the dogs. Even though Mark and I understand that every animal is an individual with distinct personalities we chose a particular breed for certain characteristics. We were so in love with Oscar for those eight years we had him. Oscar wandered to our house one day and fit seamlessly into our household and lives with no effort on our part. We knew that was unique but we also thought that breed would have the tendencies that Oscar embodied. Spencer is getting there but Sophie...Sophie is such a handful. Oh my God , I have to know what she's doing EVERY moment. She spends her days waiting for that one opportunity to get into trouble. The inside of the house looks like a war zone as many areas are off limits to them. They have successfully proven that they can't have full run of the house. The potty training has been painful. Spencer gets it. With Sophie I think she uses it as a tool to punish us. A high maintenance girl, she is. Now she's mastering her barking skills. They notice every noise from behind the fence which is a parking lot for a church. Oh yes, Sundays are a joy. The dog next door gets fervent attention which is ironic since neither Sophie or Spencer wants anything to do with any dog when we're on our walks or at a dog park. Enter Alan Fong. Alan was suggested to us by a friend of mine. Alan has experience in training dogs. How much I don't know but he loves to do it and any help is welcome. Alan returned my call requesting his help. We were on the phone for more than an hour so Alan could assess our situation and make some immediate recommendations until we meet for our first appointment. Mark is out of town until the end of the month so we have an appointment for August 3rd. After hearing everything I had to say concerning habits, schedules and challenges Alan made his recommendations. One of his suggestions was to get a special liquid for the drinking water. "This will help calm nerves", he said. I asked him how many drops to put in their dog bowl. He then told me that it's meant FOR ME! He thinks their reacting to MY stress! Poor Sophie and Spencer. They've been exposed to me.

Forgetting to Remember

I don't know how to justify or explain it but it just is. Am I cyclical in my interests? Do interesting things happen to me cyclically? What explanation do I have for my absence? These are questions that arise when trying to understand why I haven't written in six weeks. I'd like to say that there are thousands anticipating my next pearl of wisdom, anecdote or Toddism. More likely I would say that with exception of a few that have noticed it's been a non issue. Well, I realize that I write primarily for myself. It feels good. It's fun. It's a tool to help me figure out stuff. It helps me remember. I'll try to write about a few things that might have transpired within "the lost weeks" worthy of note. For me time is like a sieve; most gets forgotten or deleted from my memory. It always amazes me the selective things ( often silly things ) I remember and who knows what I forget ( I would only know what these things are if I could remember them ). I don't think this is an age thing. I've been this way for as long as I can remember - well, that isn't saying much.