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


I am taking it slow today... a lack of sleep and what is probably bronchitis has reared it's wheezing ugly head. But it's been a wonderful day...organizing, donating, and throwing stuff out... we even sold a couple of things.
Progress is being made on what will be the hubby's new office space... we had lunch at Flying Star... some friends came over to the house for a short visit..... all is good.

I am trying to envision what my new workspace will look like when I am done with it. This is going to be my next project, and I have been giving it some thought. I have been re-reading "Creative Time and Space" by Rice Freeman-Zachery... and it has given me lots of inspiration. While it will still (obviously) be a garage studio... hopefully, I can get it organized... and cleaned up... and full of charm and motivation in the on-coming week. I have a major photo shoot next weekend... and at the end of the month my father will be discharged to home and will need round-the-clock hospice care. I am not sure when I will be needed to potentially help out... so I am trying hard to get things sorta caught up before then...

About the photo for today's blog post: This is actually a pretty clean and crisp photo of a coffee cup (with steaming goodness) taken at the Flying Star Cafe. Today I altered it by decreasing the saturation of the colors, adding some grit and grime... adding some "noise" or texture to the main part of the picture, and adding the vignetting of an old time camera shot. Once the "feel" of the photo was properly goth... I added a tattoo design to the cup by way of making it a new layer on top of the original photo.
With coffee holding me together for most of today.... it seemed appropriate to fashion a cuppa into some kind of deadly brew...

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


Well.... I have managed to go through just about the whole house (except the garage and the attic space)... and it is a good thing. Along the way, I have found a few things to get rid of..... and a few of things to fix (sewing/ mending... ugh).
We are (hopefully) going to sell the stuff over the weekend (I have ads on Craigslist)... and whatever is left over is going to charity on Monday. It will be good.
Next week... I can begin working on the garage and attic space... which is going to be alot of work simply because it is mostly arts/crafts type stuff that I am sure I will have a hard time weeding through and narrowing down... but we'll see.
In other news... I think I have bronchitis. It is interesting to note that I am cleaning out my house... and my lungs are cleaning out themselves as well... This too... is probably a good thing... but it sure makes it impossible to breathe sometimes. I am sure a good therapist would have a field day with this.... he he.... probably along the lines of.... stuff suffocating my life.... crap suffocating my lungs... who knows. But it is interesting.


About the photo for this post: I took a photo of this cover art on a very 1950's book. The book details how wheat is grown and gathered for bread making. I loved the cover, but it wasn't mine so I took a photo of it. I especially like how the little girl is holding what appears to be a substantial knife ... something that would definitely NOT be allowed in today's advertising. I can just imagine the law-suit over allowing what appears to be a 4yr old wield such a hefty weapon.....
I plan on using this photo in a collage project.

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((( Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah )))

The blessing of being awake all night, is that I got to see the city at 3am... just driving around. I also was able to stop and take some photos... one of which became my photo for the day
(see link here ).
The city is truly beautiful at night. The lights are fantastic... the music in my car was great... and I had a wonderful time just being and enjoying the ride.
Sometimes you have to take those creative moments when you can.


*photo by Elaine A. Russell

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


Sometimes there are many different directions you can take something... and it is difficult to decide which way to go. Today was one of those days. I'm not a horribly indecisive person normally... but I do sometimes get overwhelmed. Today I had taken only one descent photo... and then I got carried away and made 5 different versions of it... each one having a slightly different feel... a different style... a different perspective.

In the end, sometimes you just have to go with your gut... and pick one
... which is what I did today with my photo for the day project.
(Most days I don't waffle so much...)

It's hard to believe I have done a full 6 months of taking a photo each and every day for this project... and I have really enjoyed it so far.

To see all the photos from my 2010: Photo a Day Project *January thru June*... look here

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


slipping... over the mossy shoreline into the depths below
traveling further and further downward like a plant falling from a window way too high for it's own good
past colorful denizens of the deep
ever watchful
ever hopeful
yet, sinking further
looking towards the skyline of the land I used to belong to
...and the eyes of Poseidon watched


About the photo for today: I was driving downtown taking photos out of the car window. When I came home tonight, this one caught my eye... and I thought it would be interesting to see what it would look like if I changed the color scheme to make it look like it was under water. Well... when I reversed the colors... these fabulous eyes came out of the clouds! I then tweaked the colors just a bit, and removed the brush the Octopus was holding ( the photo is of an Octopus car wash sign)...

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

Today there was a tragic shooting here in ABQ. I'm sure this kind of thing happens every day..... somewhere..... and that is the worst revelation of all.....

A gunman opened fire today at a business right near where my hubby works. He killed 5 people, injured 4 more, and then killed himself. Police are theorizing that it was a domestic violence case that spilled over into the workplace this am.
While I am majorly impressed with the speed with which the authorities closed in on the tragedy (they responded within 3 minutes)..... it still wasn't enough time to save all the people involved.
How quickly time passes... and how much tragedy can fill such a short amount of time...

If we learn nothing else from this event... I hope that it brings home to many many people tonight how very precious life is. How wonderful life can be... and how quickly it can be cut short.

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


Today I posted about 1/3 of our furniture on Craigslist. I listed bedroom and living room furniture. It is stuff we no longer need... and hopefully it will all sell. If not, I will probably find a charitable organization to donate it to. The point is... the process has begun.

I am not taking this lightly... and I am taking my time. I am going thru everything we own, and really trying to decide what it is we truly need or want... and what we can easily do without.

My hubby is working on a big project... and needs more space... so I am going to concentrate this week on organizing him an office space. And... I am needing a more clearly defined space of my own to do my art in ... so I am taking over the garage.
Ideally... I would paint the entire interior of the house first... but I can't afford to do that right now. So... I am moving on ahead anyway. Sometimes you just have to go for it.

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


I am too young to remember when Felix the Cat was popular. He debuted in 1919... and was a hot commodity thru the 20's. He gained some revival in the 50's, and some more in the 90's. It is rumored that there will be a new series starring Felix coming out this next year..... and so it goes. Animation is hot.

My hubby and I are huge animation freaks. Cartoons, comics, lithos, trade paperbacks... you name it. When we first got married... we started collecting the occasional piece of animation art, and now own a few really cool pieces.

I mention this only because I got into a discussion today about what is considered "High Art"... and what is considered "Low Art." To me... it doesn't really matter. What matters to me is if you like the piece... does it speak to you?.... does it evoke emotion inside of you?.... does it fill a void?...

About the photo for today's post: We went to the Cottonwood Mall today to get my hubby's hair cut. Downstairs in the middle section is an antiques and novelties dealer... and they have a whole lot of cool stuff! Everything from vintage magazines, to antique dishes, to costume jewelry and toys.... it is a fantastic place to wander through.... and so we did :)


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



...the dryer is dead. I seem to have this innate ability to kill appliances. My mother has had her washer and dryer for over 25yrs... yet, I can't seem to get mine to live beyond 5yrs. I like to think it's just that modern day appliances aren't made as well as they should be... but in reality... I think it's me.
And so.... I have a repairman coming in a few days. In the meantime... I washed some clothing and the hubby and I took them over to a nearby laundromat to dry... and it became a "date."
We bought chicken wings and drinks... sat in a corner of the laundromat and had a sort of picnic while our clothes dried... talked about the day... and hung out.

My hubby says he'd rather have a date in a laundromat with me... than a full course dinner with Angelina Jolie. Personally, Angelina rocks... but I appreciate the sentiment. I think it's really all a matter of perspective. I could have been really pissed about the dryer dying... and the prospect of paying to get it fixed... or I could take this as an opportunity to spend an hour with my hubby without distractions... and worry about the money later. Granted, I still have to figure out the finances to fix the dryer... but financial complications are not exactly foreign to me... and it will work out.

Plus... I had the "bonus" opportunity of being able to take a couple of photos. This one became my photo for the day... grabbing some of the cool light that was coming in the front windows and playing off the facade of the wall of dryers.

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


I feel as if I am on the edge of something... not sure what. ... but it definately has that feeling of anticipation to it. Perhaps it is the fact that my sleep is really messed up... I don't know.

I am beginning the process of cleaning out my entire house. I am going to go thru everything. Yes, everything. I hope to get rid of ALOT. I hope to clean out my studio space as well... and really get it in order so that I can begin working on some projects.

But for tonight... I am having a latte and watching "Alice in Wonderland..."

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


Wednesday is a day I tend to indulge in some guilty pleasures. I usually do some errands and generally drive around the city... just checking things out.
I spent alot of time at La Montanita with my daughter... checking out all the yummy food, people watching... and generally loving the organic Guatemala coffee. Got a gorgeous rose for my hubby. Got burgers for dinner. And now, have settled in for a night of senseless TV watching. I know. Seems simple, somewhat stupid even, maybe.... but it is a nice break.
I've been having alot of trouble sleeping.... or rather, I can't sleep at night, and have been sleeping during the heat of the day instead. I feel mentally and physically exhausted... and I can only suppose that I am still trying to catch up with traveling back and forth to PA still.
I also have occasional issues with depression.... and seem to be in a "down" period right now. That said... at least I am aware of it... and am trying to overcome it by forcing myself to get out and about today.

About my photo for the day: the YODA dude is a little "toy" figurine of my husband's. I placed him on top of the wall that surrounds my yard so that he looks as if he is high on top of a mountain.... ready and able to conquer the world! From this vantage point... he makes me feel a little more optimistic... and hopefully people who see it will as well.

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The wind whispered... blowing the curtains ever so elegantly around the window casings...the smell of rain teasing me as I lay there trying to drift off to sleep. The metal chimes in the distance gave an other-worldly feeling to the crystal clear silence of the night.

4am. Another sleepless night. At least it is cool. At least the sheets are soft and feel like a wayward feather on an otherwise heavy day. Off in the distance... a dove is cooing... and the dawn breaks.

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

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


One of the things I have insisted on over the years... is a weekly "date" with my hubby.

Over the years... it has included movies... games... reading magazines together... taking a walk... as long as we do it together. Even when I have been away from home in PA... we found a way to play Scrabble and talk on-line together for our "date."

This year has been so terribly chaotic... and this guarded/planned/ reserved weekly time gives us a moment to catch our breath and go over stuff together.

I have found that this time is not only essential to our marriage...
...but also essential to my emotional well-being as an individual.

...what are the rituals and traditions that you have incorporated into your life
that have become essential?

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

...fireworks, BBQ, potato salad, coke, picnic, red checks, watermelon, sunny days, friends, family, relaxing, music, red white and blue, patriotic, Americana, flags, parades, children, fun, swimming, games, bands, fruit, chips and dip, ice cream, laughter
... these are the inspirations of the 4th of July.
...Happy Holidays folks...

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


I saw the movie "Avatar" tonight for the first time. Eye candy aside... (and yes, it has tons of eye candy...) I heard someone say that it didn't have much of a plot. I disagree. Yes, it was predictable... but I feel that age-old man vs. nature theme... environmental awareness... greed... violence... love... healing... it's all there. These are some of the most monumental themes of life. So... too... is the theme of spirituality... whether we ascribe to the sentiments expressed in the movie or not; we surely cannot deny it's impact on those who do.
Personally, I loved the movie. I loved that the main character, Jake, was able to find what he truly believed... and it became the very thing that not only gave him purpose... but in the end, healed him. And I'm not just referring to a physical healing... but more to the healing he had of his soul... growing from an uncaring shell of a person... into someone entirely full of life and love and soul.
Growing up in the backwoods of PA... I completely fell in love with the forest and the worlds of Pandora. It was all too familiar. The photo for today's post is one I took in the Susquehannock Forest only a few weeks ago... thick with fog... and lush with life...

If you haven't seen the movie... I highly recommend it... see the website:HERE

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


My neighbors have a synthetic lawn. I never understood the appeal of fake lawns... fake flowers... fake boobs... the list goes on. I suppose living here in the desert, there is a temptation to have green grass... and some will go to any lengths to achieve that. And I must admit... it is nice to see a really green front yard on occasion.... course, I have also seen many the confused dog run up to it... and then wander off.... sad.
Sometimes it's hard to tell what is real and what is not... as all too often the lines of reality are blurred. People say one thing... mean another. What seems pretty... has no substance. What appears to have value... in the end; does not.
It's a hard thing.... trying to be real. People don't expect it. They are used to the "fluff..."

And it got me thinking... what in your life is dependable and real?
Check out this link: HERE

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photo by Elaine A. Russell


Some days I don't have any inspiration at all... or at least... very little. One of the more interesting shows on TV these days is the show "Work of Art: The Next Great Artist." While I don't think they showcase many pieces that I would actually hang in my house... I can certainly appreciate the effort put out by these artists to come up with something great on a day to day basis.
It encourages me to know that other artists struggle with inspiration as well... and, if I try hard enough... and am willing to open myself up to the process... lots of times something interesting will come out of it.

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


One of the problems with having Lupus, is that the fatigue can hit you seemingly out of nowhere... and be incapacitating. Today was one of those days. Fortunately, the family came to my rescue with help cleaning the floors... and a purchased pizza for dinner ( Papa Murphy's has the best stuffed pizza ever ).

I took this photo last December at a FlickR photo meet at the ABQ Rail yards. It is an awesome set of buildings... and just loaded with incredible atmosphere to take photos in. I loved this room full of old lockers... imagining workers congregating here before and after each shift... drinking coffee... telling stories...