Long time no blog!

Gosh I haven't blogged in so long where to begin?? Ok, well last I blogged was just before Thanksgiving. Ours was nice. My brother Tim and nephew Thaddeus and my daughter Lindsey's girlfriend Kelsi all joined us. So there were 7 for dinner. The turkey this year came out juicy and delicious and I had a big bird, 18 pounds. So we had left over's for quite a while!


I had that week off from work, so we got a lot done. There were still boxes and bags of stuff we didn't know what to do with in our dinning room left from moving Lindsey downstairs, our office to Lindsey's old bedroom, and creating my art studio in our old office. How do we collect so much junk anyway?? Oh yea, we are collectors of stuff that is for sure! But the time off gave me the opportunity to go through those boxes and bags left and I got rid of a butt load of junk. Also, we organized and filed things that needed to be put away. My hubby Joe was amazing. He cleaned and scrubbed the kitchen and help organize. By the time Thanksgiving arrived we were very clean and organized! Wonderful!!!


I did some painting too, I had to have my 2 pieces for the Swell Sister's Gather the Women Second Saturday show done by last Saturday for hanging. So I had work to do! But I have to say they turned out really great! I painted on repurposed tile board that we had left from the downstairs bathroom redo. And I purchased old frames from a thrift store. The painting flowed into the frames, making the piece one large piece of art, not a framed painting. I think it is very folk artsy! I am going to do more of them! I took some photos, but am hoping to get better photos now that they are hanging. I used a gloss varnish on them, and when I took the photos it was not very light, so I had to use a flash. The gloss finish really picked up the flash, so I am hoping I can take some photos without a flash now that they are hanging. Once I have better photos I'll post!


Lets see what else happened, oh I went to a rehearsal with the Jahari Sai Trio. That was fun! My hubby Joe and I have 2 songs worked out to play at the Swell Sister show. So, at their rehearsal I showed up with my ukulele and plugged in! First time I ever plugged in my Uke. It sounded pretty good amplified! I am a little nervous about my debut, in public, playing music. What what??? Ok ok, deep breath, I'll be fine, Joe will be right there and that helps a lot! And, the room will be full of my swell sisters, family and friends so it all helps!


My son Nick had a birthday. He turned 27 on the 23rd. Yikes! He's getting old, what does that say about me??? We all went out for dinner, well Joe had to work, but Lindsey, Kelsi, Tim, Thaddeus, my niece Heather and of course Nick went. Then we played Phase 10 at our house and Nick was the victorious winner!!! We also played donkey, I, as usual, was the first to be a donkey! I am just too slow now days to play that game! Seems like I can't get a penny for anything!!! Nick was the winner for that too! It was a fun night and I think he enjoyed his birthday. Here is a photo of me, Nick and Lindsey what seems like just a year ago... Not! Ok, it was 18 years ago!


I created a book over the weekend. The Swell Sisters have a writing/poetry group, and we had quite a bit of haiku's and poems that had been written. We have been trying to encourage sisters to read some poetry on the breaks at the show, so I thought what better way to encourage them but to have their writings in a book. So, I took it all and put it in a book! I created it on http://www.lulu.com/ it is a self publishing site. Really cool. I order just a couple of books to be sure they print as well as they looked. Then I'll share the link and people can order it!


Well I guess that is it for now. I am getting so excited about the big Swell Sister Second Saturday show this next Saturday!!! It is almost here!!!!! Wahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be well.



Until next time... Tj.

Another new painting...

Also not for the December show. I'm working on them too but, well my cousin Patti is retiring today! Lucky her!! 35 years with the State, now she is FREE!!!! Yes I am jealous much! Anyway, I painted her a quick little painting, 8X8, I was told by her sister that she loves cats and Lantana flowers so here goes... I hope she likes it! Happy Retirement Patti!!!

Be well, and Happy Friday!!! Tj.

It's Fall in Sacramento!

You just have to love the Fall weather in Sacramento! I always complain in the summer, I hate the heat, but the fall is the best. The last 2 weeks have had highs in the mid 70's and the leaves are turning and falling. It's beautiful! I've been busy working on my pieces for the Swell Sisters Second Saturday show. They are coming right along.

I took a little break to paint a small painting for a kind of second daughter… Jamie is my friend Patti's daughter. Patti and I have been friends since high school, so for quite a while, our kids grew up together. Well Jamie just celebrated her 28th birthday and I wanted to give her something special. Her family loves to go to Disneyland, and I found a photo of the backs of her children on her MySpace page and it gave me the idea for this little painting. I thought, hum a sunset with the kids in Mickey ears! It is 6X6, sides painted black. I was quite pleased with it, and when Jamie opened it she squealed! I was happy.

Not much else going on. I have all next week off. I am going to paint, and clean house and shop for Thanksgiving. I am having Thanksgiving dinner at my house just a small group. Should be very nice, I'm looking forward to it!

Oh we had raccoons visit our backyard pond again last night. Joe and I tried to scare them away. He was very brave and went down with a big stick and tried to scare them, well it did. They ran up in the trees to hide but as soon as he came back in they were right back in the pond. Thanks for trying honey! We'll see if we have any fish or frogs left! Oh well. That is the circle of life I guess!! Be well. Tj.

Prop 8 protest at the Capitol

My daughter Lindsey and I attended a Prop 8 protest at the Capitol on Sunday afternoon. The day was beautiful, the energy superb. I think the photos speak for themselves.

We still have a long way to go...

Today I sit and I feel so proud of my country! We got it right this time I think! President Elect Barack Obama wins by a huge margin! We have come a long way in my life time. I have childhood memories of segregation, busing, riots, ugly hatred thrown at other humans because of the color of one's skin. Now I sit and am proud we elect a man to the highest position in the USA based on who he is, his ideas, intelligence, courage and NOT judge based on the color of his skin. I am proud and have a renewed sense of love for my country. But we have a long way to go.

I am at this moment not so proud of my state, or at least more than half of them. Prop 8 the last I heard is winning by a 5% margin. Prop 8 if you don't know, is to constitutionally define marriage as between a man and a woman. It is to take away the right of same sex couples to marry each other, a right that was given to them in June of this year. More than half of the voters in California have voted to take away a liberty that has been granted by our courts. To strip the ability of two loving people to stand and say this is my spouse. I am sad and disappointed. If prop 8 does pass, and it looks like it will, we are taking a step backwards for humanity.

One of the great honors I have had in my job with the State of California was leading the domestic partners project, working with same sex couples who retired before it was possible to register as domestic partners. Legislation was passed that would allow those members to sign an affidavit of domestic partnership, declaring the date their domestic partnership began, a date that they would have met all the criteria to be eligible to register as domestic partners had registration been available, a date always earlier than their actual registration date, a date in most cases long before they retired. Using that earlier date I was able to establish domestic partners as eligible survivors where none otherwise existed. Making partners eligible now for death benefits, and health insurance. Some of the couples I assisted had been together 30 or 40 plus years. The tears of joy, the absolute appreciation and love I felt from them. I was honored to help them legally establish their unions, to put in print that they were a couple committed to each other all those years. Many of the who early in their relationships were forced to hide in shadows because of discrimination against them. I can only imagine how that validation help to improved their states of mind and self being. I spoke to many of these couples in the last few months again, they were getting married and had questions on what to do. The excitement and joy they were experiencing was beautiful. Now, if prop 8 passes, well, I am disappointed in all who voted yes on 8. I am sad you have not come further in your ability to accept others, to take joy in diversity and learn from each other. In fact really I am sick about it, but I have hope.

To those of you who voted against prop 8, be well. To the rest of you, please be better. Tj.

Lesson learned...

I was in a total panic this morning. Last night I gave my painting "In a Sea of Pink" one final coat of varnish. It was not the best lighting when I did it and I was getting sleepy. But I wanted to get it done so it would be absolutely dry by tonight when I take it to Tangent Gallery. Well, I got up this morning to find a hair found it's way into the finish! Ahhhhhh!!! It looked terrible. And was so obvious to me. I worked and worked on it and finally I carefully caught a piece of it, just enough to pull it off. Whew. I very carefully gave it another coat of varnish this morning. It will be plenty dry by tonight. So, lesson learned. Varnish in a well lit, very clean area!!! I was lucky this time. No disaster! Be well and GO VOTE!!!!! Tj.

Pink Week!

I am so excited!! My piece called "In a Sea of Pink" was chosen to be part of the pink week show at Tangent gallery! What is Pink Week you ask? Well, it has it's own website you can read more at http://www.pinkweek.org/ or go to Tangent gallery website at http://www.tangent-gallery.com/ Tangent is a modest artist run gallery with three simple goals: To display dynamic and compelling modern art by local and non-local artists, to give back to the neighborhood in which they established the gallery by attracting commerce and visitors, and to serve to community of Sacramento by offering art that, in many cases, other local galleries have been unwilling to display. Yeah them! And yeah for me because this is my first official gallery hanging!!! I am excited and nervous and happy and scared all mixed up! Whew… just breathe. That's what I tell my kids all the time. Guess I should take my own advise!

Saturday night I went out to dinner with some of my swell sisters, we feasted at Marrakech Moroccan Restaurant. Wow! I have never eaten Moroccan before. What an experience, the food was great the atmosphere exotic, we had a great dancer who taught us a few belly dancing moves. The thing that was most "out of my zone" was no eating utensils! That's right, they bring a copper pot to the table and a teapot of warm water. You hold your hands over the copper pot as they pour the water, and then... yep you eat everything with your fingers! That was such a different eating experience! And of course spending time with my swell sisters is always wonderful! For more about Marrakech go to http://www.marrakechrestaurant.com/

PERSONAL REQUEST. My dear sweet mother in law Marge was diagnosed recently with a rare form of lung cancer. She had her first treatment this morning. She came through the treatment very well and the prognosis is fairly good. My father in law Alan has been battling Mesothelioma (also lung cancer) for about a three and a half years, he has really beaten the odds and has, until recently, had very positive reaction to the treatments. The treatments didn't reduce the cancer this last time so they are considering removing his lung. They are both very strong positive creative people who are very dear to me and our family. Please help me put positive energy for recovery for each of them out into the universe... thanks friends. Be well. Tj.

Artist trading cards

I have a new obsession. Artist trading cards or ATC's. They are small works or art 3 1/2 by 2 1/2 and you trade them with other artists. I have done 4 now. The winter scene I think will be entered into the Strawthmore ATC swap.
This last one is a 5X5 piece called Power Women it is for the little treasures charity event as part of the Swell Sister Society second saturday art show, Gather the Women, in December.

To the sweet little lady...

Ok, she will probably never see this, but I wanted to write it anyway. Yesterday at lunch I went to University Art on J Street here in downtown Sacramento, to purchase a blank set of Artist Trading Cards (ATC). I found a parking place, got out of my car, stood at the light to cross the street. Across the street I spied this sweet little lady, she was probably in her late 70's or early 80's, tiny little thing, and she was just smiling at me!! As I crossed the street she started to say something, but there was traffic noise and I’m no spring chicken, married to a bass player who has played in too many loud bands, and well, my hearing isn't what it used to be. I shook my head and pointed to my ear as I walked toward her. I said to her I'm sorry I couldn't hear you. I could see she had in her hand a small bouquet of white Azaleas. She proceeded to divide the bouquet in half and hand me a small bunch, and as she did she said with a big bright smile Happy Halloween! That just made my day. She was so sweet, and kind and her eyes were sparkling. Such a joyous moment in time! It just goes to show how one very small random act of kindness can change someone's whole day… or maybe life! The flower symbolism associated with azaleas is temperance, passion, womanhood (China), take care of yourself for me and fragile passion. Perfect! So to that sweet little lady, thank you for sharing your flowers and your gracious smile! It was wonderful to meet you.
Last night I enjoyed the company of some of my Swell Sisters. Our Quirky Art Group met at the Coffee Garden and worked on some art projects. This month we were supposed to work on wearable art, and were supposed to bring canvas shoes to paint. Well I never did get any shoes so I took the ATC canvas I bought at the art store and completed 2 ATC's, so now at the next Swell Sister meeting I can begin trading! I'll post the 2 cards I finished later, both were flowers, a close up sunflower, and a couple of daffodils! I am excited about doing ATC's and hope to trade with artists all over the world. My Swell Sisters made some wonderful colorful art covered shoes to wear in public, and also one very cute little pink bag.
I'm going to Lindsey's show again tonight at Sac State. It is an awesome show, this is the last weekend. If you haven't seen it you should go! See my previous post for info. Ok that's all for today, be well. Tj.

I entered 3 paintings for the Pink Week show at Tangent Gallery here in Sacramento that runs from November Second Saturday to December. I haven't heard back from them yet so we will see if any of them are accepted. The first is called Hummer Buzz, 5x5x1.5, the second is In a Sea of Pink, 10x10x1.5 and third is Cruise in Pink, 12x12x1.5.

I started my main piece for the Swell Sisters December show. It's coming along, I want to do 3 others too so I have back up. If a painting sells, they take it down and you can replace it and also we might get to hang 2 each, so I must be prepared!

I am pooped today. Lindsey had her opening night last night in The Good Woman of Setzuan at Sac State. After the show the case all went out, and on her way home her car died on the freeway. So I got a call at 1:30, went and waited for the tow truck with her. A CHP officer stayed with us until the truck got there. I didn't get home until almost 3. So, I am slightly tired today. But it's Friday, so tomorrow I can sleep in and make it up!

I am going to see Lindsey's show tomorrow and an really looking forward to it! Lindsey said it includes some Cross-gendered casting, crazy bold makeup/costumes, 8ft. by 6ft. painted drops (beautifully painted!), stylized acting, 6ft - 8ft tall puppets! four of them!, song lyrics set to grunge/metal/rock music composed by the musical director, a live band, artistically bold set, and the show makes bold political statements on life and things currently happening in the world, plus its going to be edgy yet comical. It's really going to be a good time. Everyone should go see it, have fun and support college theatre! :) Here is Sac States website:

http://sacstatenews.csus.edu/news/?p=651
Happy Friday!!! Be well… Tj.

What a wonderful spot it is I live...

I can sit on my porch, and now in my art studio and see the whole world pass by. At least that is what it feels like at times. Our neighborhood, SouthSide Park, in Downtown Sacramento's South West corner is one of the most colorful, eclectic and diverse places I have ever been. Really. We live within just a few blocks from a Catholic church, the oldest Mosque in Sacramento, a Konko church, the High Sacrament Church, a Baptist church, The AME (African Methodist Episcopalian) and there are many others. Many different people, multiple views of life. We live just a half of a block from South Side park, where many different festivals take place during the year. This weekend has been no exception. Yesterday the Sikh religion's Five Loved Ones of the 10th Prophet and others gathered in our park to march in a celebration of peace. Wow. Right here where I live! I understand that Sikh temples were celebrating the 300th anniversary of their Holy Scripture. The Scripture calls for interfaith understanding and harmony and is 1,430 pages of poetry in 31 different meters. We could learn much from them I think. Our neighborhood was so colorful! Pink, Orange, Yellow, clothing and robes, bright and sparkling with jewels. Flowing in the breeze as they walked by my home. I sat in my studio and painted as the world went by! There is another festival today, totally different, the music sounds Hispanic, but I am not sure what festival it is. Maybe I'll walk down and find out. Ok, back to painting. Be well... Tj.

Captain Mitch

I had to do a post about Mitch Agruss, or Captain Mitch. What a dear man he is, kind and gentle, soft spoken. His all familiar voice and bright smile takes me back to my childhood. I so enjoyed his company for Rosh Hashanah dinner last week. Dinner at my mother in laws is always delicious. There were 8 of us total, including my adorable little grand nephew Emil. I had the privlidge of sitting next to Mitch as we feasted on some of the usual traditional holiday food. Challa bread, chicken, potato latkas and apple sauce, and apples dipped in honey to bring in a sweet new year. We discussed many topics, I really wanted to know everything about him, and hear tales of his days on the show. I had so many questions, but I didn't want to appear to be the over excited little girl I was feeling like I was, so I kept my cool. It was hard to though, I mean, it was Captain Mitch! A childhood dream finally came true at age 52! I did find out that the Captain Delta/Mitch show spanned nearly 30 years. I couldn't believe it! He said he started to do the show in 1961, and it continued in one form or another until 1990. I had no idea! He began doing theater in the 1940's when he was 18 and is still doing theater today. In fact he just won an Elly award (see: http://www.sarta.com/elly.htm ) for supporting actor in a drama for his role in Endgame at the Actor's Theatre of Sacramento. Although he was very humble about it. Congratulations to you!


Anyway, I am posting this to put it out in the universe, Captian Mitch is alive and well in Sacramento. Here is a photo of Captain Mitch as many of us knew him.



He is a present to the world and touched so many lives. I just hope he knows. Be well... Tj.

I'm so EXCITED!!!

Ok for those of you who grew up in Sacramento, do you remember Captain Mitch?? Or maybe Captain Delta will ring a bell? He was the captain of The Valley Queen, an imaginary boat that floated down the lazy river, kids that were chosen to be on the show would use the spyglass and introduce cartoons with the "cartoon ahoy!" cheer, and off we go to watch our favorite cartoons. Mr. Magoo and Bugs were my favorites. Oh how I wanted to be on that show!!! My brother and I applied but were never chosen, :( But I loved Captain Mitch!! He has such a great smile!!

Well, 2 years ago at my in-laws wedding I got to meet him! Yes Captain Mitch is alive and well!! They have been friends for many years which I didn't know until their wedding. I was like a kid when I met him the first time! My daughter thought I was nuts she just kept shaking her head at me and laughing. A kid in a candy store I was!!! I got to spend time with him again since then, he attended a dinner party at my in-laws which was also fun, and exciting but there were many people there so I didn't get much of a chance to talk to him.

But… tonight… we are going to dinner over their house and it will be just the 5 of us!!! I get Captain Mitch all to myself!! I'm so very excited!! Is that weird? :o

Here is a photo of me and Captain Mitch 2 years ago when I first met him. (Wow my hair has really grown!)

I don't look happy do I?? :) Yahoo!!!!!!!! Yipee!!!!!!

Ok, be well, Tj.

My soon to be art studio and more!!

I am getting soooo close to having my own art studio!! I am so excited, I just can't wait! The office is totally moved… so… my art studio is being prepped for paint! I chose a golden yellow color. I hope it isn't too bright, it's called sunrise beach. The color of the walls was such a difficult decision! I wanted something that would look good behind my art. Something not too bright but not dull either. I guess if it is too much I can always paint again! Our house is such a mess right now. Stuff piled up everywhere, but I guess that is natural when you are moving things around. It will be great to have our living room be just our living room and get all my art supplies out of the corner!
I really feel like I'm moving in the right direction now, I ordered business cards which should be here any day now! And I ordered post cards, not sure what I'll do with them, but I got them for practically nothing. Just shipping! If you need cards or stickers or magnets I absolutely suggest vista print. http://www.vistaprint.com/ Their prices can't be beat, they have a great selection of templates, the website is easy to understand. Anyway, check these out…
My business card:
My post card:

Don't be surprised if you get one in the mail!!!

Anyway, the foundation for my art career is being laid. Once my studio is done I can start painting again… I haven't been doing much because we have been working on the house. And well I work full time, and there has been much going on with the swell sisters! The Swell Sister Society is such a great group of women. I am learning so much and just drawing inspiration from them ALL. Last week, Cheryl, one of the Swell Sisters, graciously opened her home and taught a group of us how to do gourd art! I'll have to post a photo of my bird house gourd I made. It was fun, and came out much better than I would have imagined! I really enjoyed it! The wood burning, carving, diviting and staining! Oh what sights and smells!! I hope we do gourds again, it was a blast!

We had our monthly Swell Sister meeting last week also, we had a guest speaker, Gioia Fonda who is one of the owners of Tangent gallery here in Sacramento. http://www.tangent-gallery.com/ She spoke to us about pink week. The Pink Week holiday's main purpose is to celebrate, observe and commemorate the color pink for pink's sake. Pink Week is a non-profit art piece with absolutely no political, religious or social agenda other than pink. Not to be confused with pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness or pink triangles representing homosexual identity, though both have great value in the world. During Pink Week, pink just means pink. For more info on pink week or how you can participate go to http://www.pinkweek.org/

Ok, that's it for today, be well. Tj.

52 wait what????

Ok, I turned 52 two days ago. This is the second time I typed that and it still looks and sounds really strange! 52, how does that happen? But I guess really it's a great thing right! I have all those years of expierencing life and I am just that much closer to retirement! It could be worse. So yes it was my birthday, and I had a great weekend. Spent time with lots of family and friends.

Friday, Joe and I went to the Sacramento song circle. I took my ukulele and played with other people in the room for the first time. It was scary and exciting all at the same time! And we sang our butts off as usual. Always fun.

Saturday, Lindsey and I joined some of my Swell Sisters and went to the opening of the Verge Gallery. They had their Circus show. It was full of great art, preformers, games. I won a ping pong ball in a bag o water! The show was all about animal abuse in the circus. The game I played was tossing a gold fish (plastic of course) into a bowl with a ping pong ball. And I won! Funny twist on the ping pong ball toss into a bowl with goldfish! The art was disturbing and grand, artists from all over came together for this show. The Verge is a huge space! Lindsey wasn't feeling good, so I took her home and Joe returned from a gig as I was about to go back so he went with me! I was glad, he got to meet some of my swell sisters, and spend the rest of the evening with me! One of my swell sisters Laurelin Gilmore was having her first Second Saturday art show. So we all went to go share the expierence with her! She did great, sold many of her works, had lots of people come through, got lots of great compliments!! Way to go Laurelin!

Sunday, my actually BD, I went to brunch with my family including my brother Tim and nephew Thaddeus. We went to Pancake Circus. They have the best pancakes in town!!! Yum! After, Lindsey and I went to the 24th street Theater to see Anything Goes. It was a fun show! Brought back some memories for us, Lindsey was in that show in high school, she played one of the angels. Sunday night I went to the Torch Club. Joe was playing with Stacie Eakes and the Superfreaks. My birthday was announced over and over! I really felt loved!!!!

I took off yesterday to rest, whew. Today I went to a birthday lunch with my co-workers. Wow! How many days does a birthday last anyway!!!

On another front... we are almost done moving our office! Just some of the left over don't know what to do with stuff left to figure out. Then, I have to come up with a paint color for my new studio!!! I am having a hard time because I love color. But since I'll be working in there I don't want the wall color to affect my work. Anyone have any suggestions???

Ok, that's it for today. Be well!! Tj.