Chester

Well it's been quite a week. We had to take Chester, our big dog (Bosco is our little dog), to the vet on Wednesday, he stopped eating and was throwing up a bit. Not like him not to eat so I knew something was up. He ate fine on Monday, Tuesday no, Wednesday morning not interested. So off we went. Well the doctor poked around him abdomen, was not sure what was up. Wanted to do some xrays. Well they didn't come up with anything conclusive. She suggested leaving him, they would put him on fluids and do a whole panel on him. So we left him there overnight. Tests came back, again nothing conclusive. Lindsey and I went to visit him after I got off work on Thursday, he wasn't in the room for 20 seconds and he threw up all over the floor. I felt so bad, he looked so sad. They took him back again, and the doctor came out, suggested an ultrasound. She was going to try to get the radiologist there Thursday night, but she wasn't sure that could happen. Absolutely would happen on Friday. I was pretty upset, Chester was just miserable and I didn't want him to suffer, what to do. I was worried. Friday morning at 10, the ultrasound was done. They discovered that he did indeed have a blocked intestine. They thought it may be that from the beginning. Emergency surgery was done. They pulled a wadded up piece of rope out of his intestines, dumb dog, she said it was just in time as it could have burst. Chester came through the surgery really well. Last night he was resting, they are going to try to feed him again today. Poor baby hasn't eaten since last Monday. I hope he eats. Bosco will be happy to see him, he has really missed him!

So while all of this was going on, in the back of my mind I'm concerned about our vacation plans. My brother Tim and his kids, Thaddeus and Heather. Lindsey, Nick and I are leaving this morning for La Selva Beach. So do I go, do I not it all depended on what happens with Chester. Well, I decided to still go, even up to last night I was thinking I would stay home till Chester was home. But Joe will be here till Monday. That was the plan all along, he has gigs this weekend he didn't want to miss. Chester will be in the hospital till tomorrow. Joe may stay home till Tuesday we will see. Nick is only staying at the beach over night so he'll be back tomorrow. And he will be home and taking care of all of our animals. Including now, being Chester's nurse. And if needed we will be only a 2 hour drive away. I can always come home... but I think it will all be ok. Nick will take good care of our poor Chester.

Anyway, we will have Lindsey's laptop with us. So, I may post while I"m gone but I may not! I'm going to sit, stare at the ocean, paint, practice my uke, and spend some time with the fam! Be well... Tj.

One of those days...

That you are taught lessons. It started this morning. I drove to work, which granted I shouldn't be doing because I could walk in about 8 minutes, or ride my bike in about 2, but it's summer and I get lazy when it's hot. So I drove. I made a discovery about a year ago, I can park at the meters across the street from my office, park all day and not pay because I have the correct parking permit. I do live in the neighborhood. So, this morning I drove the 5 blocks… then I drove for about 20 minutes looking for a spot to leave my car… oh that is good for the enviroment huh! During the I5 fix project they have about 20 or more parking spots closed, I guess so people can use that as a turning lane I'm not sure. But it certainly does make parking hard. So I think I'll drag my bicycle out for tomorrow, my lesson for today. My daughter Lindsey called me to tell me she had been in a fender bender. Her fault. She was rushing to get to a dental appointment. Her car has much more damage that the car she hit. The other car has a good size scratch on the right rear bumper, Lindsey's car has a good size crunch on the front left fender. But, no one was hurt. Accidents happen. Be more careful when driving and not rush, her lesson for today. Lindsey feels really bad, I remindered her to be thankful it wasn't worse. Keep it on the brighter side!!

Good, ... no, Great things are happening today too!! I am getting a new Ukulele!! My husband is buying me a very early birthday present! The uke I have been learning on is a basic beginners uke. We bought it while on vacation in Cannon Beach. Was very inexpensive and it sounds ok. But the store where my husband Joe works just got a new shipment of Kala Ukuleles. I tried this one out yesterday when I went for my lesson and I loved it!! It's shiny black with pearl (I think plastic pearl) accents. It has a pickup in it so it can be plugged in to a small amplifier, which we already have! (I can go rock out on my uke now!!) And it sounded so nice! I could really hear the difference in the quality of the instrument. I can't wait to get home and try it out!! The other great thing is tonight. We are having the first Swell Sister career artist meeting! I am looking forward to it. Some of the Swell Sisters already sell their art and will be great mentors. I have much to learn.
Well I thought I'd post one of my photos instead of a painting. Photography was a passion long before I had the drive to paint. This is one of my favorites, it is my hubby joe playing. The red stage light really caught him!
Ok well I think that's all for now… Be well. Terry

Windows are done!

Ok not totally but they are in! Yahoo and again thanks to my brother Tim!! We have to finish them, add molding around the inside but other than that they are in. So the downstairs is so close to being done now and I am keeping my eye on the prize, well my prize anyway! My art studio!! I can not wait to have a space of my own to spread out and paint, or write, or sew, or what ever my heart wants to do at the time!!

I am posting more photos of my art today, these are called Santa's vacation, acrylics, I used it to make my Christmas cards 2 years ago. Santa is on the beach in Cannon Beach Oregon, in front of Haystack rock.

And The blue dragonfly, oils, it was a gift to a friend. Hope you are having a great Sunday! Be well.

raccoons!

I haven't been so good about keeping up my blog, hopefully that will improve! I've been so busy at night, still remodling and going to Lowes so often I think it is my home away from home. Now at work I'm on a new project and in meetings all day long. So, no time at my computer at all. Someday again, I'll get more time! So, raccoons. I live downtown Sacramento who would think we would have raccoons but... last night around 10pm I heard this weird rustling sound on my back porch. The dogs were in the house, as were the 2 inside cats I have. I went to look out the window and there were 2 raccoons!!! SURPRISE! I have one outdoor cat, he pees in the house even though he's been fixed since he was a kitten so he's banned to live outside. I usually feed him in the am on the back porch. And he usually finishes it all, but there was some left yesterday. Now understand, our back porch is on the second story and I feed him on this little table, on the second story. I know we have skunks in the neighborhood and they will come after food if left out, so I am pretty careful. I have also seen possums but rarely, and there of course are mice and rats and all the other kinds of urban critters. But raccoons? I had no idea! I know they can be pretty mean, and they are intelligent and they have thumbs so they can open things like unlocked doors!!! YIKES! I guess I'll have to be even more careful now. Lindsey and I stood at the back door, one of them stood up and looked at us through the door, no fear. Well until I pounded on the back door screen. We have a security door so it made a pretty loud noise, and the dogs came running over so they were scared off. But I'm sure now that they found a food source they'll be back looking.

Have not painted anything in what seems like months. I miss it! On vacation, (9 days and counting!) I plan to paint and paint... and then paint again! Here is a painting of one of my favorite places, Haystack Rock, in Cannon Beach Oregon. This painting I attempted to place a tree in the foreground, and the rock off in the distance. If you look closely you can see tiny people sitting on a log, (or maybe this photo is too small to see but it's supposed to be me and my nephew Thaddeus) and someone walking in the sand greeting them.


Tonight is the Swell Sisters meeting!!! I am looking forward to getting my creative juices flowing again and seeing all of my swell sisters!!

Be well. Tj.

I am grateful.

I am a fortunate person. I have a wonderful family and days filled with love. I am happy with my life, satisfied with my job, although I can’t wait to retire from it. I am happy with what I do and that I get opportunities to create. I have always had a creative outlet of some sort, usually not at my job, so I am always looking to find ways to open up, let loose, and get my artistic juices to flow! I joined a group of creative women recently, called the Swell Sister Society, hello Sisters! It is a sisterhood of women dedicated to inspire our artistic selves. We come together to support each other and explore the arts. I am so excited to see where it takes us all and extremely happy I stumbled upon it. Again, I am fortunate! To find out more about the Swell Sister Society go to http://art.meetup.com/425/

I receive an e-newsletter at work called the Navigator. It had some very interesting thoughts this week about personal growth and success. When I read it, I thought I am using SOAP, it makes much sense to me so I thought I would share! Read on...

“To find your purpose in life you have to use SOAP.

S-Success

Don't waste life chasing after things you never can obtain or possess. Know what makes you successful and pursue it with as much passion and energy as you possibly can. Success is not about job security or money--it is about fulfillment and doing what you enjoy.

O-Opportunity

Most problems in life are disguised as opportunities. For every problem you encounter there are at least four or five opportunities that come along with it. Don't be afraid to try something new--take a risk.

A-Attitude

Humans are the only creatures on earth that can choose their attitudes--be it positive or negative. Each morning as you awake, take charge of your attitude and decide to be positive. Quit being miserable and bringing others down. Change your attitude--change your life.

P-Plan

Write down what you are going to do differently, your goal, or career choice. If you don't write it down--it will probably never happen. Start now. There is a great purpose, a fantastic life waiting for you!”


So... go out and Live! The time is now, the date today, go grab it and be well!! Tj.

Moving day!

I can not believe it has been one week since I last updated my blog. Wow how time fly's! Let see, the 3rd was Tim's birthday (my brother). Tim, Thaddeus, Lindsey and I went out to dinner at Chili's and then went to a RiverCats game. It was a beautiful night. The air was fresh or at least fresher than it had been, it was only about 83 degrees. It actually got kind of cold towards the end of the game. It was a good game, even thought they lost at the end. 11 to 10. We had fun, Lindsey and I love to sing along with the songs and clap, cheer and stomp! They had a great fireworks display after the game. Then Thaddeus wanted to surprise his dad with a cake back at his house so we pretended to just want to go home. Tim and Thaddeus left and Lindsey and I went to pick up a cake at Safeway. We then went to Tim's house. Thaddeus let us in, Tim was already in bed, almost asleep. Thaddeus went in and made him get out of bed and we yelled surprise! He was. We ate cake and ice cream and it was just one minute before midnight so Tim celebrated his birthday down to the last minute!
On the 4th, my hubby Joe was playing at the Valhalla Music festival in South Lake Tahoe. We arrived in Tahoe around 4, it was so beautiful. A perfect 71 degrees and the sky was soooo blue! I haven't seen blue sky like that in a really long time. The festival was in the Tallac Historic area by Camp Richardson. In a little theater right on the lake, it was a picture perfect spot that's for sure. This gig was with the Bayou Boys, http://www.bayouband.com/ very enjoyable! We stayed overnight, in a little old motel. Very quaint, knotty pine walls. The room was clean and had a view of pine trees out the window. The only complaint I had was the bed but I am so spoiled. We have a tempurpedic bed at home, anything else is just not the same! We came home on Saturday and realized as we got closer to Sac the smoke was back. It is ugly here now again. It's supposed to be 107 today and the AQI (Air Quality Index) is in the Unhealthy range again. No sign of cooling until Friday so the bad air will just sit here. Don't go outside if possible!!! If you do, don't breath!!!!! :)
Ok so moving day? YES it is. Lindsey has friends coming to help move her furniture and the majority of her stuff downstairs today. Most of the repairs are done, the bathroom floor is nearly done we have just some tiles around the toilet and door to cut and fit. The bedroom is done except the windows which we will do as soon as they come in. The rest of the apartment needs a good cleaning, but that will get done too. Nick will be home from Vegas on Thursday, so we have to clear some of the items from the spare bedroom since he is temporally staying there. It is all moving forward… but I am very much looking forward to our vacation at the end of the month! That is going to be wonderful!!!
Here is one more of my paintings, this one is Joe's jamin'. It is oils, done in December 2006 of my husbands hands playing his 5 string bass. Be well… Tj.

Tuesday a day to relax...

Well not totally, I do have to work today, but no home repair jobs! Yippee!! Tonight my husband Joe is playing with the Bayou Boys Band at Harmony on the River. A concert series in Riverwalk park in West Sacramento, so I'm taking the night off! http://www.cityofwestsacramento.org/cityhall/departments/pcs/specialevents.cfm Last year was very fun, lots of people to watch and of course the music was excellent! Today should be nice too, the temps are not too bad and the air is so much better now! The Bayou Boys are a Cajun Zydeco band, really fun music and the band has a following of dancers! Some really cute older couples who really know Zydeco dancing. It is really fun to watch and there are several line dances too so you don't need a partner which is good for me since mine is on the stage!! I am looking forward to just having an enjoyable night and listening to my hubby do his thing! One of my favorite pastimes!
Last night I steam cleaned the carpet in Lindsey's room. That is a sweaty job, that steam cleaner really brings up the humidity! The carpet looks better, but there are a lot of paint splatters that didn't come out. Lindsey was told by her step grandma that Colgate shaving cream would take out the paint, she was on her hands and knees scrubbing spots. They did seem to come out a little… but there are a LOT of spots left to scrub. I'll let her do that if she wants. :)
I also had another Ukulele lesson last night. I am taking lessons at the Guitar Workshop where my husband teaches. http://www.guitarworkshoponline.com/index.htm I am really enjoying that time. My teacher, Doug Pauly, is really relaxed and makes it fun and doesn't yell at me when I don't practice! I really need to practice more and told myself to take 15 minutes before bed each night and just do it! We'll see if that works. But I am having so much fun playing… Last night I learned the song Sidewalks of New York! I have been learning all these old songs, Bicycle Built for Two, She'll be Coming Round the Mountain. Lots of the songs we do at song circle, which we haven't gone to in too long! More on that some other time.
I am looking forward to our vacation at the ocean at the end of the month! I thought I'd post one of my beach scenes I painted, this was done in March this year, I call it Beach Star!. Be well! Tj.