2011 Q2

The second quarter was a mixed blessing. It gave me the opportunity to collaborate with Bella on a fundraising project for the Pacific Tsunami and Japan Earthquake relief through the American Red Cross. I was hospitalized twice! I joined the Leaner Weigh program at work and earned money, a shirt and other gifts for losing weight. I never realized how difficult it is to lose ten pounds, it took me a year!!! Hahahaha! Work gave me the opportunity to contribute to another successful fiscal year. My team received the presidential Gold Award. I have so many reasons to celebrate and rejoice. The Viking and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, our son graduated from high school, our daughter finished her high school freshman year at the top 1% of her class. Yet, my heart is heavy and I worry. My father-in-law is elderly and has been in and out of the hospital. He is such a fighter and has an independent and stubborn streak which keeps him going. Most of all, I am broken-hearted, for one of my beloved sisters has been diagnosed with lung cancer. She is a great lawyer. She champions justice for the poor and the oppressed. Please help me pray for my father-in-law and sister. The last two paintings I did this quarter are my prayer offerings. Thank you.

I want to thank everyone who visit and follow my blog. I appreciate you for taking time from your busy schedule to drop a line and offer words of support and encouragement. I hope that my paintings and drawings offer some sort of pleasure and enjoyment. For the First Quarter Collection check here: 2011 Q1

Have a Safe, Fun and Memorable Summer!!!

Tsup!

Christmas in June

Sometimes I think of growing old and my husband and I having a Darby and Joan existence but I know it will be far from uneventful. I hope I am able to temper myself when I see something I do not like. Take for example dust. This weekend I was rearranging furniture and saw dust. My poor husband became the recipient of my putrid diatribe. He is a wise man. He knows when to be quiet. He is even wiser. He does not ignore me and does not mention middle age. He stays and just looks at me with calculating eyes but does not say much. He probably wonders how these fiery episodes happen when I cannot tolerate disorder and then the following week have the demeanor of a teenager who does not clean her room. Oh I think he knows. I know how much effort he puts up with one so ambivalent. Sometimes I am perfervid and the next detached or outright nonchalant. How does one exist peacefully with one who thinks that a dusty wall is a force majeure that requires a rabid dusting accompanied by verbal ejaculation? I appreciate his patience, understanding and most of all love. What do you get someone you love for Christmas?

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I came to work today and greeted Wally a riant good morning. He did not seem to care. He did not even respond. He pretended to be dead so I lifted the bundle of ivy plant that grows in a home-made hydroponics container and swished it around to rustle Wally. The poor guy woke up and cautiously swam away. Wally was named after Wal-Mart where one day, while accompanying my friend Mary who bought snacks for a Christmas decorating event at work, I suddenly had an idea to get a fish for my office.

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Thanks to all of you my blog friends. I have met many wonderful people through my blog. I appreciate all your visits, kind words and comments. I wish you good health and good tidings.

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It’s A Marshmallow World. I hope you’ll have a Jolly Merry Christmas. Sometimes I wish we have snow down here when at night the sky will Just Let It Snow and in the morning the children wake up to a White Christmas. I am sure his mother would be glad if the sky would drop some Snow For Johnny, imagine little children having a Winter Wonderland but the truth is, we have none and no Sleigh Ride either. Instead we have blow-up Santa figures or a tableau showing how Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer. It’s been sunny and bright but yes Baby It’s Cold Outside. While my friends and children are waiting for The Man With The Bag, all I wish for Christmas is Peace On Earth. I cannot bear to add more things to the clutter that accumulates and overwhelm me so much that I am starting to have a Blue Christmas. Still I think that this is The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year I am sure to hum The Christmas Song when I prepare Christmas Dinner. This year I want to have a little Christmas Tree but it won’t stop me from Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree. Christmas Can’t Be Far Away and I hope yours is a merry one. So, What are you Doing New Year’s Eve? Whatever it is, be happy or be a Republican.They're one and the same

P.S. I originally published this article on December 2007. Republicans should not be happy these days. In fact they should be downright incensed at the current state of affairs. The economy sucks and the we have an incompetent president. I don't think this is the change America hoped for. If you voted for Obama, are you still employed and better off than two years ago?

Feeble

Please spare the art-speak. This is just an underpainting, a base layer :)

Remember the time we went to the park, one summer, many years ago? I was young and selfish. We had an argument. I can’t remember what we argued about. I knew I was wrong, yet because of my pride, I did not acknowledge it. Deep inside I wanted to ask for forgiveness but I could not bring myself to do it. I was a coward. I had no courage to tell you I was sorry. Instead, guilt ate my soul. I was ill tempered and moody. We had photographs taken. We were all smiling and looked very happy, but on some scenes you had a straight face while mine was indifferent. Years later someone we both love said that she refused to work for you because you are not cool like me. You know what? I was incensed! That made me so angry because that was not true. You don’t care about appearing or being cool that it makes you so much cooler! You are so much better because you are smarter and you are more intelligent and much more accomplished. You are courageous, and hardworking. Do you know that I love you so much? You are the best and the brightest. It is even more incredible because in every group where you are the best and the brightest, you are also the youngest. You know why I look bright? It is because I look up to you. I just reflect your light. I am so proud of you. When I finally left, the first thing I did was to write you a letter, asking for forgiveness. And then I called you and told you I was sorry. Do you remember what you said? “Aaaw, that was nothing.” And you laughed. But I insisted that I was sorry and so you said, “Okay, I forgive you, but there is nothing to forgive.” When I came back for our father's funeral, Frey and I met in Minnesota for the flight back home. Our plane arrived after midnight. Everyone had gone home earlier. We were the last ones to go home. You could have gone home earlier too but instead, you waited for us. You met us at the international airport and together we took the first flight back to our childhood home. Do you know that Father was with us when we had that argument at the park? I love you so much, I will give you my lungs, my life. I wish I am with you right now. How do you paint love? I do not know. I can’t. Any attempt would be feeble.

(Listen to Enigma's Morphing Thru Time)

The Moon On A Midsummer Night

Update: 6/25/2011 11:58 AM. Today is Saturday!!! I am going to start a new 30"x40" oil painting, that is, if I can get up from this bed. It feels so good to sleep in!!! I have not had a cup of coffee since April 10th, 2011. Can you believe that??? This update is brought to you by the my Fiesta and Spode dishes :)

I thought of just submitting the previous post of my latest painting for this week's Illustration Friday, but an idea came to mind. Why not gather every thing I have drawn or painted with the moon on a midsummer night? But of course!

Left, The stoic full moon luring the fish to the surface before the goddess Lindol (Earthquake) strikes; 9"x12" Bristol Board. Right, the weeping moon with the beautiful Lahksmita Indira fishing with a narwhal; 9"x12" Bristol Board.

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The full moon at the end of spring, drawn in pen and ink on 9"x12" Bristol Boards, 2008 and the Quarter Moon with the First Epsilon's dream catcher, painted in midsummer, 2007, oil on canvas

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The Vaticinating Moon photographed on 2011 above and drawn in pen and ink below on 2007.

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Not much above has changed, has it? Perhaps a little softer around the edges. The vegetation looks the same. Left, 1985, 36 inches x 48 inches, oil on canvas. Right, 2011, 30 inches x 40 inches, oil on canvas.

The Vaticinating moon, again, above, 30"x40" oil on canvas and

Arabesque in the moonlight below; 9"x12" Bristol Board.

I love my family.

I love my friends.

I love Daisy and Snowflake.

Ugh, we have another stray puppy...

His name is Wheezy. He has knife cut marks on his thigh, abdomen and ears.

Someone put him on top of a fire ant mound and he was covered with ant bites when he made his way to our front gate.

I have given him a bath twice already so I can hug him.

Ugh. We don't need another puppy...