A Change of Plans Regarding the Wedding

Well there is a change of plans regarding the wedding.  My grandson Billy contacted me right after I posted the plans and asked me if they could do their wedding at the beach.  "This is not my wedding.  You can do this however you please" .  He informs me that they have decided to do it at Pismo Beach.  The time went from seven to four in the evening.  Four is much better.  I made a reservation at a hotel because I don't think I can hang in there to drive home.  I didn't know you could make late arrangements for a wedding at the coast.  I suppose maybe it can just be a park setting, though I wonder if they can get into a restaurant.  I say a picnic instead, but it isn't my choice.  I'm really okay that it isn't at my home.  I understand the group was continuing to grow.

The plan was to meet three friends, Janet, Charmaine and Lisa at Muertos.   Lisa called Janet the day before and wanted to change it to Thursday.  I understand she wanted to get her vegetable garden in before getting together.  I understand that, but I couldn't do the change.  I can't eat out two times in a day. I felt bad, but I schedule gatherings so I don't overwhelm myself in a day.  I am learning to set limits, but it is hard.  I know some of my friends would think that couldn't be true because I'm so outspoken, but maybe it depends on the issue.   I still met with Janet that day. Always great getting together.

Had a session on drawing flowers with Norma Neil. I drew an incredibly huge and oddly shaped sunflower one of the women brought in. I kept smearing it, even when I put a barrier between my arm and the paper. I was using charcoal and pastels. Now I think I'll use a workable fixative that you can draw on for each layer. Below if the photo of the huge, misshapen sunflower.  From the back it looked like two sunflowers that joined together.  Lots of fun and relaxing.  One drawing class left.  I have gotten the notice for jury duty starting that Monday, but when I called this weekend, I got a reprieve.  I'm to call Monday night.

My beach scene in Carol Bradshaw's class is coming along.  Carol likes it, but wants me to soften the lines around the ball, and, I need to put more values (shades), particularly darker.  I have done the contour drawing of it several times. I tried sandpaper and put it under my drawing paper to give the sense of roughness for the sand. My plan was to draw the footprints and ball to not be affected by this. My fellow student Wayne and I message each other and I told him about it. He thought that was cleaver.  It didn't come through on the drawing paper like it did the tracing paper.  I let Wayne know and he suggested turning over the tracing paper to transfer the rough surface on the tracing paper to the drawing paper.  I had already finished my picture, so I didn't do it, but I will do that next time for that affect. Carol Bradshaw said she thought a lot during the week about my pine cone and she feels I should mat and frame it. Kind of stunned me. I don't think of what I do as being that good, but okay. I like that. She describes my drawing as having "attitude".  She wants me to erase around it and add just a piece at the bottom to not be so flat, so I'll do that and I will frame it.   I like that too!    At this time I don't know if I will be able to go to class this week or not because of Jury Duty.  I won't know until Monday night.  We have no class the following week.  Carol said to find a picture of a barn that we each could draw.  Deb, another member in our class but quite beyond us in expertise sent me several pictures.  I'm using the last one.  Good to work on a really weathered surface.

I saw this incredibly interesting pen that let's you copy a color exactly for hefty price of $150.  I'm not sure they are making it yet, but if not, it's coming out soon.  I'd wait to see what other people do with this.

Copy any Color in the World



Stella Young is a Disability Activist.  She feels that all too common compliment is actually an insult in disguise- the idea that just being handicapped makes you special.  She does not think so.  Well stated. It's siimilar to someone with a terminal diagnosis.  That does not make someone a hero.  I'm not a hero. At least not because I'm dying.  We are all going to die.  If anything, and really I don't think it is so spectacular, it would be talking openly about it.  I really just want to take it out of the closet.  Anyway, she really states it well in a TED talk.  I don't think people mean to be insulting.  They are just not in that position and so they can't imagine coping with what that person is coping with.  Those who have gone through it, don't see it the same way.

I'm Not Special


Jennifer offered for me to come over for dinner, but I had already gone out with Janet and I declined. Later I get a call from Kayla that the pipes backed up and they couldn't stay there and could they come over. Sure. Picked up things they needed from home and went to the store to get a couple additional food items  It ended up being two nights.  My cats were in hiding during this time.  I felt somewhat displaced.  I'm so used to being alone now.  I worry that family want to move in and take care of me.  I certainly don't want that.  The plumbing problem is still not fixed as far as I know.  My grandson Devin came over yesterday for a shower.  I hope they fix this soon.  If anyone knows, if it ends up being covered by insurance, and let's say they have to go through the floor to pipes and the floor is destroyed, wouldn't they take responsibility to fix this so the house is whole again?  Really do need to know.  I'll pass the info on if you have something to share.

I found this wonderful saying on Facebook.  It came from The Mind Unleashed, but I have no idea who was the specific person who said it, but it is wonderful.

LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT

TO ARRIVE AT THE

GRAVE SAFELY IN A 

WELL PRESERVED BODY,

BUT RATHER TO SKID IN

SIDEWAYS TOTALLY

WORN OUT, SHOUTING

"HOLY SHIT...WHAT A

RIDE!"

This is a wonderful article "How We Grieve" by Maria Popova and a review of the book "The Long Goodbye" by Meghan O'Rourke written in 2011.  I have not read the book but I did order it.  It is not available on Kindle.

How We Grieve


By the way, Brain Pickings is a wonderful site to find some excellent thoughtful writing. They would love donations for the hundreds of hours of research they do for us.  You'll see when you check it out.

Today my friends Sherry and Valerie came over for a late lunch.  I made an asparagus quiche and a toma basil salad.  We had  a great Pinot Noir with it. It was wonderful sharing and laughing the way we used to be.  I talked about getting all of us together again and doing a barbecue, perhaps salmon.  I have wonderful memories of doing this.  I also thought it would be great to share the pictures we may have taken during that time.  I would love that.  We are old time friends from over 30 years ago.  There are a couple of other women who were a part of this group.  We worked on writing a paper requesting a grant to start a half-way home for older women dealing with alcoholism that wanted and needed help to stop. Our grant was not approved, though we only submitted it to one place, so I don't think we gave it enough of a try.  But that experience, which was about a year, bonded us together and is a meaningful part of my life.   This is one of those group friendships you don't want to lose.  I hope we can get together with the other two in the near future.

My granddaughter Kayla and a girlfriend of hers are going with me next Saturday to my friend Martha's home which abuts a river.   We are going to camp there and partake in the food, people and festivities.  It was wonderful last year.  I think the girls will get a kick out of this.

Well, that's it for the week.  I hope you share this with people who might be interested.  I'm happy you read it.  Any thoughts on what to include, or not to include are appreciated.  I'll see you next Sunday.        Rachel