salon with Sylvia

-----------------crappy cell phone photo by Elaine A. Russell

I really enjoyed the session with Sylvia Browne at Route66 Casino last night.
I have enjoyed her books for years, and it was a pleasure to be able to hear a lecture from her in person.

I have read alot of the "anti-Sylvia" stuff out there on the internet, and seen alot of supposed debunking of her abilities. It just doesn't matter to me.
Even is she was a complete fraud; which I don't believe she is...... I have still learned so much about life and myself from her books for it to matter. I think the most powerful message that anyone can realize.. is that life can and does go on.
That the best things in life.. really are free.... Loving each other, caring for each other, doing good when you can, enjoying our time here as best as we are able.
The rest of it just doesn't matter.

tonight's the night ~

----------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell

...to see Sylvia Browne at the Route66 Casino. I am really excited. Will post more tomorrow.

Here is a shot I took around 1am last night. It was a beautiful night. A bunch of the artists who have studios at the Factory on 5th just hung out and ate fresh mangos, fresh radishes, and had a great time.

feelin retro

-----------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell


just feeling a little nostalgic today.

Thought I would post an altered photo of a vintage Fisher Price TV Toy from the 1960's that I did....

Making pasta chicken alfredo from scratch.... doing laundry.... listening to the kids having fun ....

Thinking I will open a bottle of crisp white reisling......and turn on some Sinatra.



power up

------------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell

random photo of a power box at the Factory on 5th. I just love this building, and am working on a series of photos exploring the architecture of the place.

Today was kind of a nice day. Things in general have been going much better. My son is happy, and going to college. My daughter has her driver's license and is exploring career ideas for the future. My hubby is content with his job. Everyone is fairly healthy and happy... except for seasonal allergies. It's been a nice week or so of contentment.

I think it's sort of a calming time before we get busy again. Busy with fixing up the house.. thinking about moving to a new place...facing challenges.... perhaps going for more schooling... who knows what lies ahead. No matter what.. I think it will be good.

apple blossom time



-----------------photos by Elaine A. Russell

One of my most fav times of year is when the apple trees blossom. There is a lady in my neighborhood who has a fabulous apple tree, and while most of the blossoms are gone, I was able to get a photo or two of the last blooms.

And I am working on my yard (cough.. sandpit.. cough)...

not my usual




--------------photos by Elaine A. Russell


I took these photos back in November. The city was working on a project and had this equipment stored near the volcanoes on the westside. I tend to go there several times a year to take photos.... it's just a very peaceful, serene spot.
Anyway, I don't usually take photos like these.. but I kinda like them. Today I tweaked them a little at an online photo site that works sorta like photoshop.

My fav is the landscape shot. What do you think ?

am running a little behind today... and boy is she cute.

------ -------photo by Elaine A. Russell

As you know, I have been working hard at clearing out excess stuff in my life. I am a member of the Freecycle Network, and for the past 2 years, have been donating an item for each day of the year to a person who could use the item. It is very liberating. I also do bulk donations to Goodwill and such. I mention this only because sometimes it is easy to get jaded about humanity... sometimes people can be schmucks. And yet, having been concentrating on donating items, I have seen how very generous and grateful people can be.

Yesterday I met a woman at the gas station who really just wanted someone to talk to. She was lonely. She called me this am. It is kinda sad. I read an article once that said people need 4 hugs a day just to survive emotionally. She hadn't had a hug in a year. How do people end up in these situations ? She had tried several avenues to meet people, including clubs and churches, and just didn't find that people were honestly that friendly...not past the services or meeting times.

I think we need to be more open as a rule, and be more friendly to people. Not that we are to open ourselves up to dangerous situations, or allow people to take advantage of us.... but to offer that smile, that hello, that occasional hug to someone who could really use it.

The photo is my little Sabrina's cute behind. She is adorable ...very willing to give cheer to most everyone she meets :)

Stuff and more stuff

-------------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell

I started listing items on Ebay in 1998 as a way of getting rid of excess items. When I "retired" from being an RN just a few years ago, I started really going through a lot of our accumulated STUFF and selling it.
The past few weeks have sort of been a final hurrah on that quest. I am now officially "down" to just my needlework supplies and stuff, my photographs that need sorted and stored on disc, and tons and tons of fabric.
The needlework stuff won't be too bad. While I used to be very good at it (and won ribbons).. I just don't do it that much anymore.
The photos are going to be time consuming because I have so very many photos, and I would like to save them all to disc so that I can organize them better.
The fabric is going to be extremely hard. A lot of it was my grandmothers, and it was passed to my sister... and now it is mine (mine sister passed away almost 2yrs ago). There are quilts that were started, and projects left unfinished. I feel compelled to keep and finish it all.. and yet I know that I probably never will. And there is a ton. Like 30 of the really big 48 gallon tubs worth.

Some of the fabric I will no doubt save. Some I hope to cut into squares for a future quilt. Most I will unload. I am going to try to go through a tub a day until I am done. In the meantime.... does anyone know of a charity that saves fabric to use in projects ?

mornings



----------------------photos by Elaine A. Russell
Photos taken early this am from my front patio. It's a whole nuther world early in the am... and I'm not usually up to see it. I worked night shift for 17 years, and most of the time, I "don't do mornings"
But --every now and then I get a glimpse into the world that my hubby sees so early in the am.

epiphany

----------------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell

I've had an epiphany of sorts... prompted by a looooooooooooooooong conversation with my daughter... who is very insightful.

Stay tuned.
A plan is in action.


Anyone want to have an art sale ?

red rain

--------------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell

So.. We have internet capabilities again. And (not so coincidently) my hubby sent me an article on internet addictions. Not funny. Not funny at all.
I've been sitting here trying to think of something clever to say. But it's not happening. So much has been going on with me emotionally this month... that I kinda just feel tapped out.
This whole past year has been a huge learning experience for me. And .. kind of like the Taoist story ((http://www.renegadezen.com/zen-stories/maybe))... what seemed like bad things at the time, have turned out to be good... and visa versa.
I think that I have learned some very valuable lessons. Not the least of which is the importance of true friendship. So -- to all my true friends... kudos. And thanks being there.


I'm an addict

-----------------------------------self portrait.

I had always thought that if I was left on a desert island I would be fine. Happy. Secure.

Today I discovered how very wrong I was. I woke up to not having an internet connection. I spent all day trying to figure out what was wrong .... and after hours and hours of frustration.... discovered that it was most likely due to the fact that I had forgotten to pay my phone bill.

I am an addict. I blame my husband. He is like some sort of crack dealer... having taught me the ins and outs of the internet (hereby to be known as the crack in question). He provided me with the fasted speed connection... he provided the coolest software and computer equipment, and unlimited access. He is evil.

In my hazy stupor of withdrawal... I wandered aimlessly around my house. I was sweaty.. shakey. Wait... I'll have a cup of coffee, I say to myself. But --I didn't have any coffee in the house to calm my frazzled nerves.
Wait.. I say. I will go to Starbucks. But evil children have taken my car. I am stranded at home.
Wait -- I say, I will go to call my husband-- he will know what to do. But the phone is dead.( hence.. how I figured out that I had not paid my bill ).

No internet, no money, no car, no phone. Do they have 12 step programs for this ?!

I am in panic mode. The dogs are trying to figure out what is wrong with me. I am in a cold sweat. I have a headache. My knees are weak.
Finally, the hubby arrived home, and took me to Starbucks for a partial FIX.

Tomorrow, he will call and make payment on the phone.... but who knows how long I will be without internet and phone access ....will I survive ?

I am writing this from the studio.. on my daughter's laptop. Temporary fixes...tune in tomorrow. See if the sharks have arrived to feed on my carcass.