True Life Story # 285

My hubby Joe and I spent Halloween night home together, we have not done that in years. It was great fun! We watched Night of the Living Dead, and remembered how scary a movie could be without all the special effects. We sat on our front steps and handed out candy to all the little ghosts and goblins. We even had a visit from the Pope! Ok, not the real Pope. He was about 3 feet tall, with the most wonderful white and gold Pope hat and robe! Must have been the mom's idea don't you think? Or do you think a 3 year old would say, I want to be the Pope for Halloween? We voted that one the best costume that visited our steps that night! Too cute!!!

This is witchy me with my daughter Lindsey's black cat, Pancakes, casting a spell! Waaahahahaha!!!

They're coming!

Round about the cauldron go;

In the poisoned entrails throw.

Double, Double, toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the cauldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt and toe of frog,

Wool of bat and tongue of dog.

Adder's fork and blindworm's sting.

Lizard's leg and owlet's wing,

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble
-Shakespeare

3 more small paintings

Here are 3 more of the 5x5's I've been working on. A lizard, more koi and a tree of life! Time to work on another laundry painting for the November show, more small works later! Be well everyone!! Tj.

True life story #27

My beautiful daughter Lindsey before, and after stage makeup. This is her character in the second act of Bat Boy: The Musical! She is channeling my mom I swear. Same wig color, same wig hairstyle, same red lips... pretty funny!

Some new art!

I have been working on some small works. I bought a bunch of small 5x5 canvas on sale, and have been working on filling them up! Here are 7 I did over the weekend. Also over the weekend I went to see "Bat Boy: The Musical" again. It was even better the second time! I am going to post some highlights, but my hubby has yet to go and I don't want to spoil it for him! Stand by!! Ok, here are the new small pieces... be well everyone! Tj.

Bat Boy: The Musical

I am at work and I should be working but… I am so excited I'm having trouble concentraiting!!! My beautiful daughter Lindsey is in a musical at Sac State that opens tonight. Bat Boy: The Musical. Written by Keythe Farley & Brian Flemming Music & Lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe. Inspired by the story in the World Weekly News, this bittersweet twist on the contemporary musical comedy tells the extraordinary story of a half boy/half bat creature, his struggle to find a place in a world that shuns him, and the love that can create both miracles and madness. Lindsey has been in rehearsal for a couple of months now, and has been telling me little tidbits about it without telling me too much! I am going to the opening tonight and I'm so excited! I'm not sure why, I've been to dozens of her openings but this one… I'm just excited!!!!! Be well!!! Tj.

True life story #43

A new lady and her teenage children started coming to my water aerobics classes about 3 weeks ago. She looked a little familiar to me, but a lot of people do in my class. We introduced ourselves, her name is Mary. Mary, I thought to myself, looks like someone who worked for the same agency I do some time ago. Years really. But I didn't say anything, she didn't seem to know me. So, we see each other in class a few times a week. Last night she said to me, you look so much like someone from my work. Hum… where do you work I asked? HA! Yep, we both still work for CalPERS! Different divisions, and she doesn't do the delivery run that she did all those years ago. We have not seen each other in years, and NEVER wet in our swim suits! We had a good laugh that neither of us figured it out sooner!! Funny stuff happens as you get old(er)! :)

Five more, three more, two more... you can do it!!!

Old Town Monterosso Italy Laundry

I finished another laundry painting. This one was from a photo that my good friend David took while in Italy with his lovely wife (and my very best friend) Carolee! Thank you so much for the many inspirational laundry photos from your trip! Love you!!! This is acrylic on 24x24 gallery wrap canvas, sides painted black. Be well! Tj.

Tru life stories #64 and 197

True life story #64

Tree removal happening 2 houses down from us. Well actually it's a small apartment complex, 6 units, sits on the side street from us. There has been a dead tree there for a few years, they are taking it out today. But those tree guys are scaring me! So, here are a couple of photos, the first you can see his legs in about the middle of the photo.






The next I zoomed out. You can see the top of the dead tree, he is now closer to the bottom of the photo. He cut that tree right there, and it fell down right on top of the roof of the front apartment! Ouch!! The guy on the ground with the rope didn't seem to pull at all. Did they mean to do that?? I have no idea. Tj.









True life story # 197


The street where I live is often like the whole world... the culture and diversity I see from my porch amazes me sometimes. This morning there was a drum core playing down at the park for some event. The beat of the drums were competing with the chainsaw cutting the tree next door. Here is my view to the park, zoomed it to see the festivities as they are winding down.


Our home sits half a block from the Southside park where concerts and all kinds of events take place, I zoomed out as if you are sitting on my front steps looking toward the park. I am 5 blocks from my office. We are about a mile from Old Sacramento, the Capitol, the K street mall, the Sacramento Convention Center and much more. It's a great place to be! Tj.

True life story # 443

No YMCA last night. There are no water classes on Wednesdays. Joe wasn't home, Wednesdays he teaches then straight to a gig. Lindsey is in rehearsal for Bat Boy the Musical, so she wasn't home. I took a 2 hour nap with my GrandDogger! I went to bed too late on Monday and Tuesday, so I was tired last night. I fell asleep watching TV with Pixi sleeping on my lap. We both woke up around 9 and I decided to paint. I am almost done with the 2nd laundry painting so I'll have something to share soon! Ah, lazy night.

This is Pixi, my GrandDogger (Lindsey's dog!) Be well. Tj.

Love story... numero uno!

Flashback, 20 years ago tonight, right around this time, my hubby and I met. On the stairs at Hogshead Brew Pub. 20 years??!!! This photo is a few years later, but proof we were young(ish) once! I love you honey!

True life story #17

Driving home from the YMCA last night, Eric Clapton's song "Let it Rain" was playing on my radio.

The rain is falling through the mist of sorrow that surrounded me.

The sun could never thaw away the the bliss that lays around me….

I drive under a street light just as he starts to sing:

Let it rain, let it rain,Let your love rain down on me.

Let it rain, let it rain, Let it rain, rain, rain...

My windshield was spotted with rain! And it hasn't stopped since.

Eric Clapton made it rain! Love it!!!

True life stories

I thought I would begin to do some short stories about life. Just to have a simple addition to my blog and a glimpse into my reality! Randomly numbered for kicks and giggles... I hope you enjoy!!

True life story #344

My daughter Lindsey lives in our basement apartment. She had been complaining that she was running out of hot water during her showers. Bla… ok the hot water heater downstairs is about 10 years old. Expect the worse. It probably needs replacing. So start with the basics, drain some water from it and see what it looks like. So, my hubby and I go downstairs yesterday, hook up the hose and get out the bucket. We thought ok, lets drain just a bucket full before we decide to turn off the gas and drain the whole tank. Much to our surprise the water was clear! No sediment came through at all, thank you Sac water! So, hum… what then? Ok, Joe notices the temp was turned way down almost to just the low warm setting. So we crank it up and voila!!! Hot water again. Whew… that was easy! Just love it when that happens!!!!

Here is some photoshop fun. Tye Dye happy face! Be well... Tj.

Day of the Dead Altar

My altar is complete! I am very please with how it all came together. It is believed that during the Day of the Dead, it is easier for the souls of the departed to visit the living. The altar containing photos, memorabilia, favorite food is intended to encourage visits by the souls so they will hear the prayers and comments of the living directed to them. It is meant to be a celebration of the departed, a day of joyous remembrance, not of sadness. I sure did feel like I was celebrating them as I was putting it all together. I am glad to be able to honor, my mom and dad Rita and Bill Kemp, pictured in their wedding photo. My sons father and my first husband, Clark Adams pictured by himself on the right of the altar. And my birth parents Joan and James Bjorklund, pictured in the little double frame. I added many of my parents favorite things. One of my dads golf clubs, a golf ball and tee. His old eye glasses. And a glass that he used to drink from full of water, part of the altar tradition. My mom's old ashtray, much of her jewelry, a spool of thread from her sewing and some of her ceramics. She was an amazing ceramic artist. The little pig pitcher she made when I was very small, I drank from it, kind of like one of the first sippy cups. Also I added my little baby bracelet that the hospital put on me when I was born, it is on top of the photo of Joan and James. Traditionally you offer favorite foods or candy, I have hard candies because my dad loved to have hard candy around. Items like the paper flags, the paper marigolds I made, marigolds known as flor de muerto (flower of the dead) and are used to adorn the altar, and bread, fruit, scented candles are all traditional items. The smell of the candle is supposed to guide the spirits home to their loved ones. I also added a bride and groom catrina (skeletons), a sacred flaming heart and a skull plus some other things. Oh and of course my art! It was an interesting experience, brought back many happy memories. I am happy to be able to participate in it! Be well. Tj.

Another Day of the Dead painting

Ok this one is a little creepy... yet makes me happy at the same time! Huh?? I call it "He Gave Her His Heart". It's 16x14 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas, sides painted black.

I went to our annual Division picnic at work today, we have one every year. The weather was perfect, 2 days ago it was 100, today was 77! Nice. This year, I played some of the games that I sat out of in prior years, but I am feeling so much better, now that I'm doing water aerobics, I played!! Simon Says... Simon says raise your right hand. Raise your left hand. No, Simon didn't say raise your left hand! Simon says put your hand down. Simon says clap once... clap twice. Duh Simon didn't say clap twice! I failed. Ha ha. I also was part of this relay race. First leg of the race, I had to walk holding a spoon in my mouth and balance an onion on it. Next was rolling a lemon with a pencil. Then throwing spaghetti at another team mate who was wearing a garbage bag, they had to stick 10 noodles to them. And the last leg was one person holding a hostess cupcake that was dangling from a string hanging from a ruler, while the other person ate it. I think I got the easy part! But it was fun!! Good to spend time with co-workers having fun... not so stressed out.

I was going to go to the Y for a class tonight, this would have been my 6th day in a row, but the pool was closed. They are having some problems with something. Bla... So no exercise for me today! Oh well. I came home and finished this painting!

That is all for today. Be well and go create! Tj.