Catching Up

I just got in from a Bon Jovi concert. We were sitting behind the stage, but some might say that gave us a great view of Jon Bon Jovi's best side. Photos to follow.

Prepared for Anything

I was in Wichita today delivering camp brochures to schools. This was my fourth day doing it, and I've got one more day to go. But I'll be able to finish later this week.

I've decided a great way to learn any city is to visit all the schools. I've seen parts of Wichita I didn't even know existed. In the process I've found homes I'd like to live in, neighborhoods I'll enjoy driving again, and details I probably never would have noticed.



Today I turned a corner going to a school and was struck by this assemblage of flower pots on a porch. I stopped to take a photo because it felt so much like spring. Tonight when I looked at the photos I noticed they had a snow shovel on the other side of the door. I guess they're hedging their bets. Maybe it's the porch equivelent of "knocking on wood." No need to tempt fate or Mother Nature.

I had lunch with Martha today, which was very nice. The other days I've been eating something really quickly, and one day waited until after three when I couldn't deliver anymore to have lunch, but today I took time to visit with Martha and it was great. Whenever I have a conversation with her I leave with something to think about. I'm blessed to have a few friends who gift me with new thoughts on a regular basis, and she is one of them.

Today she mentioned that as people get older they start to realize time is not limitless, and choices have to be made about what they'll do with their time. Of course, for me, time has always felt in short supply - I've felt like it was scarce since I was a child. We were talking about this and I asked, "So do most people think time is unlimited?" She said, "I think so." Out of my mouth came something that made me laugh internally. I said, "That's not very logical."

The reason that made me laugh at myself is that "logical" is not one of the top 10 or 20 or 50 words I would guess someone would use to describe me. Yet, there it was, popping out of my mouth as if it were the most natural - dare I say "logical" - thing imagineable. That caused me to think about the other things I view in logical terms. There are some. I may have to make a list and see what the common thread is.

I came home a little earlier than usual tonight. I've been heading to Wichita early, so I could start delivering there around 8 a.m. and then staying on it until 4:30 or 5 when the last school closed before coming home. They've been some long days, and some definite effort involved, but this is very targeted marketing. Today I did the last school at 4:45, so I got home tonight in time to do a new piece of art.



I bought a 1942 magazine at the flea market Sunday and used some bits from it in this.

Tomorrow I'm in the office and will try to get caught up on some things. I have no doubt that new things have popped up while I've been on the road the last couple of days, and I already had a long list of things on my agenda. I guess I'd best get some sleep so I can be fresh in the morning.

Home is Where You Get Your Start

I saw a note recently that said, "Home is Where You Get Your Start."

Those are very true words, in more ways than one. Home is where we learn to walk, speak and function. It's where we learn the ways of the world, at least the part of it we'll be working within for the first few years of our lives.

Home is where we learn the basic building blocks we'll need to eventually make a home of our own. What we learn at home, in those early years, impacts us through our entire lives. Children in lower socio-economic homes tend to have lower vocabularies, and research shows this negatively affects them throughout life. So, yes, home is where we get our start.

But it isn't where we finish. At least it doesn't have to be. We can take all the good of home, of those formative years, and add to it. Or we can become mired in whatever was negative about those years and hold it tightly so it's an anchor we never move beyond.

I've thought about this before with regard to racism. If you teach your child racism, they will never be able to move beyond your world where that's accepted. They'll remain in your world, which may be your desire anyway. It just seems cruel to handicap a child in this way. Obviously, racism is far more complex than this, but I've just thought about how limiting it is for a child to learn that behavior.

Home is where we get our start, and depending on who is in that home with us, and how they see the world, we can flourish or flounder. Even children in lower socio-economic situations, with parents who use fewer words each day than their more well-to-do counterparts, can grow beyond that.

But, it's much harder for those children, who grow up to be adults who are still working hard to achieve. I always wonder what they would be or do if they had a different start. What if they had gotten a start that didn't require them to work extra hard to function at a basic level? What if they had come from a home where the basic needs were taken care of and all they had to do was learn? What if?

Of course, that's always the difficulty -the what if. We are all a mix of nature and nurture and we can't ever separate one from the other. So that start we get at home is just that - a start - the beginning.

Chocolate Cupcakes

It may not look that good, but trust me, it tastes good.

You know I wouldn't hold out on the recipe, so here it is!

Chocolate Cupcakes

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk

Cream sugar and butter. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Bake for 15-18 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes 18 cupcakes.

I used my new favorite chocolate frosting, but you can use whatever you prefer.

Frosting
1 c. sugar
1/3 c. milk
5 tbsp. butter
1 c. chocolate chips

Mix sugar, milk and butter in saucepan and boil for one minute, stirring continuously. Add chocolate chips and stir until melted. Po

You can dip the cupcake into it upside down when it's freshly made. Or let it cool a bit and then frost as normal.

Studio

I spent about six hours in the studio today. I lose track of time when I'm in there. This is the latest thing I'm working on. It includes paint, watercolors, pastels, fabric dye, and more. I love the process and getting to mix the colors and create the patterns.

Earlier in the day I went to Home Depot to have them cut more boards for me to paint on. They were very pleasant, even though I know it's a pain to cut all those smaller pieces.

Last night a young man named, Brant, was incredibly helpful. Then I went over to the paint department and the young lady there was great.Today a man named, Bryce, happily cut a 4 by 8 sheet for me. All very pleasant to deal with and very helpful.

There are so many things I need to be doing around the house, none of which I accomplished today, but I enjoyed playing in the studio.

Paint Samples

Last night I went to Home Depot to scope out some board to have cut to paint on. I couldn't help visitng the paint sample area, which is not a place I need to go. I always have the urge to paint a room. Of the things I need to do in my house, painting rooms is not the most pressing.

But look at all those pretty colors... all the pretty colors...

I resisted.

Today I had some board cut to paint on. Hopefully I will be able to satisy those urges to play with color with small amounts of paint in the studio instead of gallons of paint on the walls.

Elton John and Billy Joel in Concert in Wichita

Wednesday night Greg, Mia, Sharon and I went to see Elton John and Billy Joel in concert at the new Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita. The concert was great.



The pianos rise from under the stage and they do a few numbers together. Then, Elton John does a set by himself, then he leaves the stage and Billy Joel does a set by himself. They finish with a few more songs together. Ending, of course, with "Piano Man."



Billy Joel is much chattier with the audience, and is very expressive.





He got the audience laughing and gave us a range of emotions.





He also did a number playing the guitar. I didn't even know he played the guitar, but I saw it with my own two eyes. He gave us some of that more typical rock and roll persona than being behind the keyboard all the time.



Naturally, watching both of them play the piano was wonderful. Billy Joel's piano rotates a couple of times so everyone gets a chance to see his fingers on the keys.



Elton John seems to be much more about playing and singing - more serious and focused.





Both of them were great.





The lights play a part in the show too, accentuating various songs.





I really recommend the show. They were fabulous individually and together.