What Mark Did You Leave Behind?

11/29/07 My day began with jet streams in the air on my morning commute. Marks on the sky that formed a T and ________. Next I saw an irregular cross. It seemed as if mass jets had zoomed through our local sky leaving their trails behind. What mark did you leave behind on the world today?

Things had been going good for me. Then I let his officer get beneath my skin today. He was in the army and I am a civilian. In fact, he married a girl I worked with at JCP (Adrie) yet I do not for the life of me see how she could marry him or remain married to him. I would have strangled him by now! LOL Everything he says to Everyone (not just me) rubs them the wrong way and makes them mad. After hanging up from talking to him, I must have had one of my Becky looks- the kind that could kill (LOL) because a counselor asked me,"What did I do?" and it wasn't the counselor!

So I go to lunch. I got tea from Wendy's. After eating, I had one of my sneezing spell. I realize it was the tea making me sneeze. This happens a lot when we go out to eat. Some of my friends already know this who have eaten with me. I made the comment to the "superviser" that it was the tea because I'd sneezed so many time and she stopped blessing me after the third sneeze. Like I really cared if she blessed me or not. She told me it could not possibly be the tea; that it was all the dust I have around my desk which made me mad yet again.

After the cracker incident, I guess she will say something to the warden about this now! I know I am holding all this inside and it almost all came out a few minutes ago...


I had to go to the bathroom really bad. I was the only one in the office because she was out in her car smoking, talking on her cell or doing whatever she does out there while the other ladies were at lunch. I put the phone on night ring (just like I used to do at JCP). Well, I forgot to take it off night ring when I came out of the restroom. Later, "supervisor" snottily told the receptionist that the phone was on night ring. The receptionist said she didn't do it. I not so nicely in one of my tones admitted I did it. I simply said I had to go to the bathroom, I put it on and forgot to take it off. If she had been in the office like she was supposed to be, it wouldn't have happened. Then she studdered, "Well, I was just asking. Where was I ?" That is the million dollar question. I said, "Out at your car" nicer than I meant it. I wanted to add, "Where else?"

She will probably tell the others or the higher ups I have an attitude. But she better not get me started with ALL the things she has done!

Ok. I think I got it out of my system now. Just had to vent. Sorry.

Later I got to thinking... after Lyn Nielson read my blog, I went back through it re-reading some of my words. Although she said it was a very good, there were my critical words such as these of my supervisor which isn't very Christianlike. Does it put me in a bad light for a first time reader/viewer/blogger? Then I wondered how other readers perceive me....? Do they think me shallow? Or a gossip? A bit vain perhaps? But this blog has become my way to vent muchlike my many diaries and poetry that provided catharsis for my soul to survive everyday life on my journey to find love then loose it. I write my problems out of my system. Yet I want people to see me in a good light.

I late told my mom about today's latest incident. Then I told Don. I cussed more today because of it so Don got onto me for doing that. I told him I knew he again would not take my side of things when he actually had and did take my side. So that was an unfair statement for me to make. This was not the mark I wanted to leave behind today.

The Red Boots

11/28/07 I had to pay Mom's as well as my Dillard's bill. I was looking for something to wear to the city Christmas party this year. Instead I found a pair of short, flat red boots for $29.99. I was so excited. This is my third pair of red boots. My first pair were red Zodiac cowboy boots which I truly loved. Perhaps too much so because the rubber heel came apart. I loved them til I wore them out! My daddy took them to a shoe repair shoe for me. The cobbler said he could fix it but it wouldn't be the same. Nor would it match the other boot. Like a complete idiot, I gave the go ahead to have it repaired. It made the boot smaller and my left foot is bigger than my right due to multiple sprains and injuries. I have not worn them since they were fixed.

Then I found an ankle red cowboy bootie. The others were much more comfy. When I saw these new ones, I knew they were calling to me. I love wearing red boots at Christmas.

I stopped in a shop called Cache. I'd never stepped foot inside it before muchless a toe. The first blouse that I laid hands on was over $100! I doubt there was anything under $49.99 on sale! I felt a bit frumpy in my fall colored turtleneckworn untucked from my brown cords. I liked it when I put it on this morning. Inside this posh store, I felt like Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman" when she walked in that swanky shop where they would not sell her a shred of clothing. Only these sales women were friendly. On black woman working there had on the most beautiful make up even if it was a bit heavy. Still I felt out of my element.

I ran into Rhett's old speech teacher from last year. I did tell her about my first experiences with his new speech teacher which I wrote about in previous posts. His old speech teacher will always remember him for his wild imagination and the stories he could tell. It was good to see her again. Like seeing an old friend which was what she became to me. She not only helped Rhett's speech, she helped me to see what I felt or was going through with my child was normal. She'd been there. Done that herself. Her daughter was much like Rhett, very smart.

Then I remembered I bought a new blouse for Halloween. I could wear that to the Christmas party so I didn't have to buy anything! YEAH!

Rhett & I rushed to church. Afterwards we visited awhile as a bunch of us ladie watched beautiful baby Emma sleeping. When she giggled in her sleep, Mrs. June B. said she heard that was considered angels were kissing Emma. It sounds a whole lot better than gas!

Rhett's teacher had left a message. I had forgotten to put a paper in his notebook two days in a row! I am such a bad mother. She also told me he has been daydreaming in class. He gets it honestly. My child is a day dreamer like me. So it must be heriditary. Where did I get it from?

Quote of the Day for 11/27/07

Blogger isn't spacing correctly again. I think I finally discovered the problem... I need to type all my words 1st then add my pictures that way the type won't run underneath each other if I add more after the photo. Once again I have learned that you cannot go back and undo what you have done.

"Lost in the act of creation, she forgot everything else."
~Tracy Warner's character in A Whisper of Eternity by Amanda Ashley which I am currently reading and was written specifically for me.

Can My Life Get Any Better?

I made a new discovery today....11/27/07

A new year start for my work time wise in the time book. Who would have thought that I would hold time in my hands? I had to make a new time book. I use Avery Index tabs but the name cards tabs you insert don't always stay inside the plastic holder. I had my desk drawer open (I am an open person. I don't always shut drawers and closets.) and there staring back at me was a box of my Creative Memories photo splits. Of course the squares were too large to fit the inserts so I just cut off the excess. Voila! inserts stayed in place instead of falling out all over the place. So now I no longer name drop. LOL Of course I took a picture of it.

Anyhoo... my point is our scrapbooking supplies can be utilized in our everyday lives - not just our scrapbooking ones. I sent this out as an email first to my quotability site.

I have now evolved into this...

Becky aka theRAV

Rhett's mom

former CM consultant

a quote a day kind of person

Creating something Everyday

As I was printing out yesterday's post for myself; for my gratitude journal, for a future bound booklet and making corrections, I noticed I had a comment which is such a rarity it is a gift given to me. It was from Lyn D. Nielson, author of Place of Sage. Enter many exclamation points here!!!! And the fact that she told me I have a great blog is unbelieveable to me. Again I feel so lucky. I immediately sent it to my best friend Penny who gave me Lyn's book. Can my life get any better? A real writer has actually written to me!

What Did You Notice Today?

11/25/07 It rained. As I was getting in the passenger side of my car to go to church, I spied a leaf with raindrops on it. We were running late as always so I did not have time to stop to take a photo of it. When we returned home, I found another leaf with far more raindrops beaded on it and took that one. I believe it is perhaps my personal best yet. Even my friend Abby liked it. She likes my colors. What can I say? I am a colorful person.

What did you notice today?

Well, I considered uploading my photos to be creative as well as uplifting my spirits with the accomplishment. I looked at Mike E's photographs he sent me. He had a sideways view of the Eiffel Tower with the lights on at the beginning of evening I adored. It made me want to see it up close and personal. Then I sent out emails with the pics I took yesterday of Rhett's toys.

I Felt Very Lucky Today

11/24/07 Don called to say he got a deer! His first this year. First in a couple of years as a matter of fact. I thought he was calling to remind me to pay our loan. We rushed to the bank only to find it closed. I did get my frames fixed for free at the optical shop. I was very, very thankful for that. I felt very lucky today.

I washed and conditioned my hair since I have not done that in awhile. Then Rhett and I went to the mall where we ate. We saw my friend Mike E. He sat with us and talked awhile. He said he was going to send me some photos he'd taken via email. I was looking forward to seeing them...

Mike bought a Minolta like mine from JCPenney's only he had a macro lense instead of a telephoto lense as I had. He took excellent photos with his but it his camera was stolen. Once upon a time we were at a local park & we both took the same shot of ducks in the pond. It was just beginning to grow dark so I used a flash and he did not. Mine turned out better than his once we got them developed when Penney's had a photo department and we got discounts. He seemed mad that mine turned out better than his did. Male ego?

Rhett traded in one of his games. I finally got him the subscription to a game magazine. I printed out the pictures of his pre-arranged toys. Then we went to the cheap movies. We saw "Underdog". It wasn't the one I wanted to go see. It was better than I thought it would be. I burst out laughing several times and ate way too much butter popcorn as usual. Because it was after 7 when we got out of the movie, we went by mom's to get Don some more leftovers especially since Rhett and I were not hungry. Mom gave me their egg custard I made for them instead of the pecan pie my cousin Glenda made us. I think Don had his mouth set on a piece of pecan pie. I amost thought he liked her pie with tiny pecan pieces better than mine or Aunt Pearl's pies.

I let Don watch the Auburn/Alabama game while I played with my photos.

Post From the Bed, Rhett's Toys

11/23/07 There were no ghosts in the house but there was one restless spirit namely me. My guys called around 9 pm to say goodnight. Awe. Don's cell went dead as I was talking to Rhett, making a joke to him at his expense that I can't remember now but I think it was about how quiet the house was without him.

I ate my ham sandwich and chips I'd brought from mom's while the buttermilk egg custard pie cooled. I watched CSI which was good and funny. Don would have laughed hard at certain humorous parts as well IF he had been there to watch it! Hint. Hint. Luckily "ER" was not on due to the holiday so I could watch "October Road" guilt-free. It was nothing like the previews until the very end. Those teasers were very misleading. I should sue! LOL

Even the buttermilk pie did not taste right.

After that I got on the computer, went through and cleared off about 50 emails. Found a new site thanks to Susannah of Inkonmyfingers called: http://www/trunkt.org Susannah's newest photos are on there under unraveling. She has some good ones as always. The site isn't as large artwise as esty.com. Some artwork is repeated here from etsy. There was one piece in particular that I really, really liked by Ingrid Padilla. I cannot remember the name of it muchless afford to buy it. Why do I always find art so beyond my budget near the holidays? Ingrid's piece is a collage with brilliant colors. Again it looked like something I could do so easily and gave me inspiration with dominos and to let Rhett help me create something with them. Another joint project. Mother & son artists. Catchy name. TheRAV & Rhettman. Or vice versa.

I browsed in etsy for awhile but I began to see things I'd already seen before. Maybe I should start working my way backwards on it... but even that would take forever. There just are not enough hours in the day to do all we want to do.

I played SpongeBob Collapse until I got to put my initials with the date on it. Mine was the 2nd to the last highest score I'd put on there. Not my personal best but still on the board at least. Then I finally went to bed around 1:30 am. My 2nd late night in a row. I tried to read my vamp book which held my attention strongly before. It wasn't working this night. So I played Bookworm on Rhett's game boy til I fell asleep.

The alarm went off at 5 am! Thanks, Husband, DEAR! I figured I'd get at least 5 more hours sleep and did. Then the garbage truck woke me up. I wrote this post from the bed. Makes a good title.

I think this Thanksgiving made me more thankful for past Thanksgivings or appreciate being with my family more. Was I not thankful enough? Or was I just having a pity party for myself where I was the only invited guest?

I lost a gold band which means I am no longer married to myself. I hope it is in the house somewhere or at mom's. Hope it didn't go down the drain! It's not in the bed. I just looked. Otherwise after I see if my glasses can be fixed, I'll have to buy another one. Maybe my old silver antique filigree at mom's will fit... I need one now more than ever to hold my mom's solitare she gave me when she was feeling her mortality after an old beau named Bea, the first love of her life passed away this summer.

Apart of me doesn't want to get up to do the things I should do. As I was getting up, my guys came home. We went back to mom's to have Thanksgiving leftovers. I looked for my old silver band. It had tarnished and was tight on my finger. I laid it on the table as we ate. As I am eating, I am thinking I will have to buy a new band today. About that time Don asks, "Is this it?" He held up my ring! It had inside it what looked like potatoes for the potato salad or else marshmellow cream from the potato souffle I made. I took it, washed it off and put it back on my finger. So I guess I am still married to myself after all. LOL We all had a really BIG belly laugh over it. Then I wondered... if it came off while I was doing kp duty the day before. Surely it did not cook in the potatoes. Mom said she didn't see it. It must have slipped off into my casserole. If so, it was nuked and a wonder the microwave didn't explode! I am just so thankful I have my ring back again.

I searched through sales flyers while Don napped. Then we went to JCP to pay my bill and get some items for a baby shower gift for next Saturday. Rhett picked it out since it is his Sunday school teacher who is having a baby. Don slept in the truck. We saw my friend Jimmy for a few fleeting moments as well as other old JCP co-workers. I found out old Mrs. Tilly finally retired.She was in her 80's but didn't look it. Wonder if it was because she was French?

Then we went to Walmart. I went to print and pick up more pictures. Rhett needed ear plugs . Luckily we found a pair for 97 cents! I picked up another frame.

I had another idea... a really good one. I draped a tv tray with a black towel, gathered up some of Rhett's toys he plays with most excluding his game boy. Don came over to see what I was doing. I told him "Arranging a picture." He actually thought that was a good idea which made me feel good! I took several photos and continued to add more items until I was happy with it. It reminds me of one of his I Spy books we love. My friend Abby agreed with me on this. Rhett's glass chess pieces do not show up well. I probably should have added his Harry Potter wand. Oh, well...

Once again I attempted to make a patchwork quilt of sorts out of my photos I have taken. Only one really good one came out of my attempts. It may very well be Stephanie's and Amanda's abstract for Christmas.

Watched my vamp show "Moonlight" then Rhett & I watched one about Guiness Book of World Records.

Thanksgving Day, 2007

11/22/07 Rhett & I slept late when I should have gotten up to make my egg custard, "green stuff" and sweet potato casserole. I made the egg custard for my parents but I only made one this time. I prepared a buttermilk egg custard but there was no more time so I left it in the mixing bowl in the fridge so I could cook when we got home later that night.

Don and I went in separate vehicles so he could go hunting yet again. When I arrived, the dressing was just going in the oven AND I HAD BEEN RUSHING. I helped finish things like slicing the cucumbers while Rhett set the table. We used the everyday china Lori had given mom but the plates were too small to hold all the goodies we had today. (The photo doesn't want to load but it is not that great anyway. Not the prettiest plate, but Thanksgiving is not about the plate.)

After we ate, Don took Rhett to spend the night in the camper at the hunting land that night. I was not a happy camper, but I cannot be an overly protective mom all the time. I want him to do things with his daddy. I want them to bond even though I know he is a momma's boy. I don't want him to be a sissy. I just worry as I am sure all mom's do. Its going to get colder and he might get sick. I'll be the one who gets up with him at night when he has a coughing spell. I will be the bad one who has to give him nasty tasting medicine. Of course at bedtime he may cry for his momma and want Don to bring him home. Don won't though.

I could have cried as they pulled out of my mom's yard, but I was proud of myself that I did not weep. I just wanted to stare out the door.

I had a frame in my car so I framed a picture while at mom's which turned out really well. Better than I expected because I was able to crop out some of the top of it that I didn't think belonged in the photo. This will be our preacher and his wife's Christmas gift. One down who know how many more to go... I got to spend time with my mom. I wrote this long entry in my gratitutde journal while waiting for it to get almost dark so I could go home ALONE to an empty house. Poor pitiful me. I could do anything I wanted to do. Watch tv. Get on the computer afterwards, stay up late until I got exhausted and did. Still I missed having my men in the house. The security I feel of having a husband there. I missed all the noise Rhett makes. My mom asked me if I'd be scared. I try not to think of that. I turned lots of lights on, got caught up in "CSI" and forgot until I laughed and my laughter echoes hollowly through the living room.

I left all the food at mom's. Don & Rhett will come in for lunch tomorrow. I'll probably go shopping for mom.

I was a bit sad because I always thought Thanksgiving was about spending time with your family NOT camping in the woods with only half a family. It sort of reminded me of the one Thanksgiving one of my wrong boyfriends took me to a club that night. It felt almost sacri-religious to me. I was quite uncomfortable the entire night.

These past two days seems to have been one trip down memory lane with a lot of detours back to yesterday. It certainly made me appreciate my past Thanksgivings. I am still thankful for ALL my many blessings.

The Day Before Thanksgiving

11/21/07 Lately I have been noticing the firey colors of the fall leaves. Yesterday I saw a blanket of red. I thought of going back to that particular tree to photograph the bed of rich reds, but I couldn't remember where I saw it. By the time I got off work at noon, the sun had gone into hiding behind the clouds. It seemed as if the wind had blown half of the leaves off the trees in over three hours. None of the leaves looked as bright without the sun. That one perfect moment in time was gone. There was no need to search for the tree with the red leafed bed then. The lighting wouldn't be the same.

I got to mom's. We ate ham sandwiches. I made Rhett and myself two mini chocolate cakes I'd just bought at the store. They were so good. I will have to buy more. Then mom's old neighbor, Lori came in from her hairdresser. Mom & I planned to begin cooking for Thanksgiving but Lori was there and I was a bit resentful of the fact. Lori brought in Chick-Fil-A sandwiches so I let them eat. I laid down on my mom's bed and watched soaps while they ate. Was I being a pouty child? Not at that moment. I continued to watch soaps I have lost interest in over the years while I finished one of my small drawings I began in my gratitude journal. Then I began another one which I call "Dragonhead" which is the one above. (When I looked at the photo days later, it did not look as good to me. I zoomed in on it and thought it looked like a dog's head instead of a dragon. LOL Not sure I will keep it or delete it. I suppose I only put it here to show what I have been creating.)

Lori told Rhett to tell me to come into the living room twice. I didn't go the 1st time, stubborn Capricorn goat that I am. Eventually I grabbed my new patchwork bag which holds all of my many photos I have taken since August. I began showing them to her. She liked some of them; some more than others. She said, "We need to find a way for you to utilize them." From her lips to God's ears. For the yellow tomatoes I took at Helen's table (my MIL) in Indy, Lori suggested I come up with a recipe and submit it to "Southern Living" magazine. That was something I had not thought of before. Lori did say some of my photos look as if they could be Hallmark card covers.

That brought back an old memory.... When I first began writing, I submitted some ideas to Hallmark, but all I got were rejection slips. Not enough to wallpaper my bedroom as some writers have been known to do with their's. When I discovered rubber stamps and card embossing, I made my own cards that were better than any Hallmark. I dreamed of opening my own card shop. My friend Danny was going to back me in business, but he got married and moved away. From making cards for friends for a fee, I learned you can't mix business with friendship. I thought I was picky, but found some of my friends were far pickier and more critical than I am. I like pleasing myself with my ideas and art, not necessarily pleasing others. If that sounds harsh, I am sorry, but that is just the way I feel about it.

This guy I sort of knew who went dancing as much as Penny and I did, Eddie, worked for Lithokrome who actually makes cards for Hallmark locally. When I told him I embossed my own cards, he told me that "was admirable but we have machines that can do that for you and save you a whole lot of time." I don't think I ever saw Eddie again after that conversation. I wonder what happened to him?

So should I give Hallmark another try?

Lori left at almost 4 pm. I had kp duty while I watched "General Hospital" as mom put on the chicken in the boiler. Then we watched Miley Cyrus on "Oprah" where I saw a neat idea.... you can take all those cd's you receive in the mail and make a curtain with them to divide a room. Cool. When I told Don, he said it would take a lot of them. Not if you ask friends for their's.

Rhett and I stopped at the store on the way home. This was my 2nd trip today. I hoped it was my last. I think Don was a bit shocked we were home early on a Wednesday night. Usually we stay at mom's until time to go to church. So the three of us all went to church on a Wednesday night together for a change.

I HAD to watch "Criminal Minds" before I began baking my pies. I should have known this main character would not have been killed off the series yet I had to watch it. A cop was the one who shot her. She survived and lived to tell her tale. When the profiler group she works with at the FBI were talking to her, they used a form of hypnotism on her that Bob once used on me. It is harmless. It is not like watching a pendulum swing back and forth to put you in a trance like in the movies. It is simply making you concentrate enough to go back and remember things.

When Bob did it to me, we were in my parent's kitchen. He had me walk out to my camero parked in the garage in the backyard in my mind, open the door of the car, sit down in the car and look for something on the console. I can still feel as if I have done that even as I type this.

Penelope Garcia, the character in the show, remembered the man who shot her wouldn't sit out in the open at the restaurant where he took her for dinner. He would only sit in a corner with his back to the wall. I knew immediately he was a cop and told Don. I said "That's so he can keep an eye on everyone and no one can shoot him." When I said that statement, Don asked me if I had been taking classes he didn't know about. I told him no. I didn't tell him it came from dating and old love who happened to be a CID in the army; a cop. I just happen to remember every word he said.

So I began making my pumpkin pies at 10 pm. While they were baking, I did another doodling that has a neat but had an obvious eye in it. The counselor at work would probably see demons in it again like he did my other doodlings I did at work on a scratch pad. That doesn't mean I have demons. Do my drawings set the demons free?

Rhett curled upo on the couch beneath a blanket and slept. I fell sleep too. While I was snoozing, my glasses fell on the floor. When the timer went off, I got up and stepped on my glasses! It bent the left ear piece outward. Well, I have been thinking I need to go to my optomotrist anyway. My eyes are bothering me more now. At first I thought it might have been goldenrod blooming and maybe it was that one day I had to finally take a benedryl. My eyes seem to be more itchy. They feel like they are producing an oil. Some mornings they are mattered. I am sure all my artwork has put a strain on them as well as my computer use daily.

I finally went to bed around 1 am. I didn't even wake up with Don went hunting that morning.

Recipe for The Green Stuff

This is what I always make for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. It is often called Watergate salad, but I just call it "the green stuff." It is pistachio jello pudding with a can of crushed pineapples, a cup of milk, chopped pecans, a tub of cool whip and marshmellows. All chilled til hardened or can be frozen til almost serving time. Mine doesn't always turn out as solid as I would like. I arranged the marshmellows to make a smiley face this year to photograph. It doesn't look too appetizing, but Happy Thanksgiving!

Rhett's New Car Creations (Updated)

This is another one Rhett created to submit to Legos magazine. I took another shot of it but it looks too much like the 1st one I took of his first creation. This one is a bit dark. It still amazes me that he can do this whereas I cannot. I know we all have our own talents. I can draw, paint or make anything crafty, but he hasn't mastered my skills yet. Although I found some drawings he did that were very good. I hope he can surpass me in everything. Isn't that what all parents want for their children? Blogger's update: This is the picture I FINALLY sent into Lego Magazine!

The Drought

The winds blew
The leaves fell
The rain came
The drains clogged
It flooded.
The rains have ceased now
Was it enough
to end the drought?
I doubt it.
Did the Georgia drought come about
the same time I became so creative?
Hee. Hee.
Just wishful thinking
on my part.
~theRAV~


Where is everyone today?
Are they all comotose
from turkey overdose?


I left my journal at home so I can't post my Thanksgiving post today, but will post it and new photos or I may upload the pics now and post later.... What to do. What to do. Well, at least blogger is spacing correctly today.

I had been thinking I was not going to ever receive any fall postcards from the Autumn swap except for the 1st one I received from Silvia who started this swap. So I was pleasantly surprised when I got home to find one ontop of my mail, just waiting for me. It was from Toni in Tasmania, Australia! Thanks, Toni! You brightened my evening.

If I put her two postcards she created with some of my patchwork photos, they would look like a real quilt. I think that is what friends do, they send us parts of themselves that we add to our lives forming a tapestry of sorts. Thanks to all my friends for adding and being apart of the tapestry of my life.

New Blog Discovery, What I am Thankful For...

Today I intended to post the lamb blessing photo again. Instead I made a new discovery... I came across a new blog with a new inspiration:
http://cayden-turningthepage.blogspot.com/ Cayden is from Georgia! I just rushed through her blog, mostly peeking and browsing, glancing at pictures, but I will read it all this long holiday. She had one post in particular that read because I really, really, really liked it. It was her "Circle of Light" post on March 18, 2007. It was about her family tradition of making a collage on New Year's Eve called Circle of Lights. The post is very well written. I printed that particular post out so I can make it our new family tradtion this year. This is right up my alley.

Today I am thankful for my new discovery and new inspiration from a fellow Georgian.

I am thankful my car is running.
I am thankful I am getting off work early.
I am thankful for the ham sandwich I will have at my mom's when I leave work. I can taste it now...
I am thankful for my family.
I am thankful for all my friends.
I am thankful for my many blessings.
I am thankful for my digi camera.
I am thankful for inspiration.
I am thankful for my artistic ablities.
I am thankful for all my artwork I have done the past months.
I am most thankful for the email I FINALLY received from Lyn D. Nielson author to Place of Sage!!!!! It made my day and I forwarded it on to my best friend Penny who gave me the book for my birthday last year. Wow! An acutal reply from a writer. I am so lucky & honored. WOW!


What are you thankful for?

The Geese - Art from My Soul

Sometimes I totally amaze myself... this is one of those times. I needed one of those insoles you cut to fit inside your shoe. I bought one, cut it to fit my shoe size and saw a pattern in the shape I cut. Only I would find one. So I took it immediately to a cream colored piece of my son's construction paper because I couldn't find my poster paper. I placed the shape down and repeated the pattern over and over again and again knowing it would be another abstract which seems to be my specialty these days. I could see geese. I colored all blue eyes first and almost left them with just blue eyes and nothing else. I took the 1st photo so I can still keep it simply blue eyes if so desire or if someone else would like it that simple. Then I began coloring them in with a cream colored pencil. I used almost half the pencil! I painted the beaks. I began this idea at 9 pm and finished a few minutes after 11. Not that I was timing myself but two hours of work wasn't bad. I was still shaking my head in disbelief at where all my inspiration comes from. Thank you, Muse. Thank you, God. Who knew?

I told Don since I cut the design out of what went in my shoes, does that make it art from my soul? I trully believe it does. Of course he groaned and went to bed.

Happy Thanksgiving. Hope you are not having goose! LOL

theRAV

P. S. sorry the typing format is not working like it should. I assure you it is not the typer's fault.

Quote of the Day:

Love the heart that hurts you,

But never hurt the heart that loves you.

-Vipin Sharma-

The Bulletin Board

Friday, Nov 16, 2007 We went to the Legion for a Thanksgiving dinner. I took macaroni salad and rolls. It was good although it looked like some of the smoked turkey was not completely done. We got home about 8:30, watched the end of "Ghost Whisperer" then "Moonlight" which is now my favorite show. Don left to go to the woods so he could get an early start hunting.

Sat. Nov 17th, the alarm went off at 7 but I crawled back in the nice warm bed. I still woke up in plenty of time to be at the church on time to work on the bulletin board. Our preacher had the lights & heat on as well as placed the overhead projector in the foyer. I traced out 4 LARGE chalices. I was unsure if all 4 would fit on the bulletin board or if I would have to cut some of them down. I made a discovery during the whole process MarksALot markers actually work better than Sharpies on project such as this. The blackness is darker. It also adds a shiney quality. Rhett helped me a little bit.

I had a Grace chalice, a Faith one, a Hope one and a Love one. All four would not fit so I had to elimate one of them. I let go of Grace. LOL So I used Hope, Faith and Love in that order. Love being the greatest of all. Lover was the exception. Its letters were colored with red marker whereas the others were black. I also drew a heart and filled it in underneath the letter of the word "love". As an afterthought, I added what were to me drops of blood. Some might view it as a bleeding heart. I saw it as the blood Jesus shed for us.

Then we began painting them golden. I'd completed two and a half when we broke for lunch. Rhett wanted Firehouse subs which was good because I had a free coupon for him that was soon to expire. He didn't want to come back with me so I left him at mom's. I had to go back by the house to pick up my scrapbook letters for the board. I finished the third cup and began to staple them to the wall much like Jesus was nailed to the cross. Only I had a hard time with the staple gun. I would not have made a good Roman soldier for more reasons than one. LOL

Then it was time for the lettering. I did my Bible verse first. "My cup runneth over." Psalm 23:5
I tried to make my own letters to go up at the top. It was after 5 and I was fading fast. Since I had my accident where my radiator exploded on me, when I do too much, my body lets me know it is time to stop. I become very nervous. Then the letters were not working so I went back to my scrapbook letters. They are not very big but they draw you over to it to read it. It is lower and on a child's level. I was happy with it but at that point I was just ready to be through with it.

I went to tell the preacher who lives in the house next door to the church that I was finished. They were eating and I hated I interrupted them. When I went back to the church to get my stuff, I'd locked the door! So I had to go back to their house and interrupt them once again. Leave it to me. Larry let me back in and his wife Katherine followed. They said they liked it. At that point I was exhausted.

I was still supposed to go to ToysR Us for mom. As I was going down the highway from the church, my cell phone went off in my pocket playng "Mandy". Its hard trying to get your cell out of you pocket with a seat belt on. It was mom telling me to come get Rhett. He decided he missed me and was crying so I had to go get him. At this point I really didn't feel like cooking supper but I did. It wasn't one of Don's favorite meals. Nor was I very hungry since we at at 2 pm. Rhett had three helpings of my hamburger stir fry. We watched "Chuck" which we missed Monday night for some reason. I watched a "48 Hour" special. Rhett was playing in a suitcase he can fit into. I asked him if he wanted to spend the night in it. Evidently he'd been listening to "48 Hours" because he said bad people would come in and get him! Then we went to bed.

Sun. Nov. 18, 2007 Jenny came to church with her new daughter who was only a week and a day old. Another girl's husband was home from Iraq. I let him know that it was good to have him back. Then Susan C. came to me to give me turquoise and white cross bookmark she knitted for me because I'd sent her son Eric a card while in Iraq. She said that my card was the 1st one he received and meant the most to him. It brought tears to my eyes that my one random act of kindness could do that. She was hoping it might lead him back to the church when he comes home. She said Eric always tells them to tell us "hello" when he calls them. He had called that morning saying he had to use his gun for the first time to return enemy fire. He said he was ready to come home now and I can't say that I don't' blame him one bit. I felt bad I had not sent him anything since the first card so I knew I'd fix him something that night.

We went to lunch and ate too much and should not have because we were having finger foods back at the church at 4 pm honoring a family that would be leaving. I curled my hair. Read emails. I fixed pigs in the blanket to take to church. I could have just taken a nice long nap.

I changed my Sunday night ritual. I did not get back on the computer. Instead I fixed cards to send out. I sent Eric a letter with some of my pictures hoping they would cover him like a blanket with love. Every picture told a story.

I cleaned out the drawer underneath the couch. I found old words I'd written near the beginning of our marriage that brought tears to my eyes. We watched some of the Grammy awards. Got to see new faces and put them with music I have heard on the radio.

I realized I did not create a lot this past week. I saved it all for the bulletin board I made Saturday. Some of my blogging posts were creations. They just were not artwork. Still they are pieces of art. So I guess I wasn't competing with myself so much. What I did do made me feel good and that is the main thing.

Nov. 19, 2007 I had not thought of today being your birthday until I wrote the above poem and dated it. Then it hit me. After 21 years, does this mean I am finally over you? Hardly. I am just getting old and my memory is going.

What Do I Love?

Susannah of Inkon myFingers prompted this post from her blog yesterday.... I had to think about it overnight, but this is what just came to me. I elaborated on it a bit and I am quite happy with it.

What do I love?

I love my life even with all its messiness
I never claimed to be a domestic godess.
I love my family
my parents, my husband and son
and my extended family that came with my hubby.
I love my friends that are like more family to me
my two best friends that are the sisters I never had.
I don't know what I would do without these people in my life.
I love this creative artistic phase I am going through
and hope it never ends.
I love my digital camera
I am never without.
I love finding old words I had written years ago
that brought tears to my eyes last night when I read them.
I love doing good deeds and random acts of kindness.
I love sharing my art
as well as my heart.
That pretty much sums me up.
~Becky Bristow Voyles~
Nov. 19, 2007

What do you love?

Don to My Rescue

Well, I told Don about yesterday, the rebuking and the who the culprit was behind the cracker incident, my knight-in-shining armor came to my rescue by saying, "It won't do when I see her..." I asked him what he meant by that comment. He said he would ask her is she'd seen any crackers lately. It didn't make much sense, but I got his drift. (And he says I don't make sense to him!) He would get his point across to her not only for this, but the comment she made about his mom not being sick last Christmas when they thought she might have had a heart attack really made him mad. He is not prone to anger easily as I am.

Although I love him even more for taking up for me, I dread them crossing paths now. If he does say something to her, it will only make it worse for me. This was what consumed my early morning thoughts.

We did not go to the prison Christmas party last year because you had to pay to go to it. The price was a bit steep especially at that time of year. If they have another one where you have to pay, we will not attend this year either. So the odds decrease that we will see her together.

Rhett and I departed for his school. As we rounded the second curve in the road, I was fiddling with the button to the outside temperture which is probably a good thing because it may have slowed me down a bit. Out of my left side, I saw a deer! I couldn't believe it. I slowed down and went, "Deer! Deer! Deer!" Rhett asked, "Where?" By then it had dashed across us into some shrubs. I believe it was a doe, but I am no expert. I wondered how many Don has seen now. Last year I saw more than he did! Can't wait to tell him!

I couldn't get over all the fire-popping colors on the trees as I drove to work. They seemed even brighter than yesterday.

I had done this before, but I took another test to see what cartoon character I am. I am Sponge Bob Square Pants. It said: "You are the classic person that everyone loves. You are the best friend that anyone could ever have or never want to lose. You never cause harm to anyone and they would never not understand your feelings. Life is a journey, it's funny and calm for the most part. Stay away from traitors and jealous people and you will be stress free."

That is really weird reading that after yesterday. It was like reading a horoscope and it came true.

I inadverdantly came across another blog today. First I was trying to find the author of the current vamp book I am reading entitled Dead Sexy by Amanda Ashley. I discovered there is another book with the same title by Tate Hallaway who writes these vampire chick-lit books. She is also a wiccan as I presumed from her photos on her blogs. She has a couple of blogs. One of them is : http://tatehallaway.blogspot.com/ There was a cover for her book Romancing the Dead which sounds like it would be good to me. I sort of liked the cover, but I think I would have had the artist draw bigger boobs on lady! LOL. Just my personal opinion. But it didn't sound like she had any input on the books cover. If I were writing a book, I would do my own cover. Would that make me a Cover Girl?

I had a really good cold cut sandwich from Subway today. I guess I haven't had one in awhile. I peeked in The Crate and saw some cool fashions so I will be stopping by there when I get off work today. I may even have found a pant suit for Don to give me for Christmas! I have to get Catlina dressing for Rhett to take to school tomorrow. Then if its not too dark, I may head to Walmart to print pics. I have trouble driving at night. If I use my memory card and use the hour processing or next day service, they will be matte finish which I prefere and they will be a bit cheaper too. So I will have to maintain my impatience and wait. It will be hard but I can do it. I left my big quilted bag at home so I felt naked. It held the original of "The Muse" so I could make copies of it. Then I remembered I have my camera with me always. DUH!

I tried on a ton of clothes but those at The Crate don't always fit me. I did buy two red tops. I could fit into a size 7 tight hip hugger pants but knew I needed at least an 8 or 9 in them so I passed on them. Had to buy knee socks because it turned colder.

I attempted to tell Don where I saw the deer this morning, but he never can follow what I say. He was all turned around, at the wrong curve in the road, on the wrong side of the road, and it was ruined because we got into a yelling match about it. We got to the point where he said, "Do you want to drive around there?" I told him "YEAH!" but we didn't go. FINALLY he understood where it was not that it really mattered.

"Stryker's picture"

This is the drawing I did when Daddy was in the ER back in February of this year. Of course I didn't have the digi camera back then. I don't know how to turn it upright without Picasas' help which I don't have acccess to at the moment so I am afraid you will have to turn you head sideways. I apologize if you get a "crik" in your neck. If I knew how to link to my post I would do that also, but I am afraid I don't. I tried, but it didn't work.

When I drew this, I tried to make the tree look feminine yet strong. Notice the breast and hips then really strong limbs as if she works out. This close up cut off her roots which makes her look like she is wearing a long evening gown. The roots I drew were not that great anyway. She is ready for a night out on the town in this gown. I like this idea and it came about by surprise. I really like the motion of it. In my mind was the image of swirling limbs ready to strike which gave me her name. Stryker.

In case you don't want to go back to Feb. to my Stryker post, I'll retype it....

"I cannot quite master copying my left hand extended out where my fingers form the limbs but I can see it clearly in my mind.... Parts of this tree I drew have some the elements I envisioned.... The tree should be feminine (which I think I accomplished here) so I gave her a breast. Not that she had a mastectomy or had the other one knocked off somehow! She is sturdy and strong yet graceful. Perhaps a bit softer on one side than the other. (Enter the Rebecca/Becky thing again. Rebecca being my softer side I think.) Some limbs are broken to represent a broken heart or the trials that have cost us apart of ourselves. Thus the missing breast. What caused her limbs to break? What caused her to break? Yet she did not wither and die. She went on. She grew strong. She regrew limb after limb. She reached out yet remained rooted in the same stationary place and was content to be there. Of course she did not have a choice. She could not be uprooted. She could not be moved. Never thinking the grass was greener elsewhere. This is where she belonged. She withstood the winds of change, weathered every storm, survived the harshest of winters only to bear her fruits each spring year after year. Her flowers were her halo she wore proudly like a crown. No longer a princess yet every bit as royal. Even in the depth of winter when she is bare, she stands out regally from the other trees. She is quite unique. Her limbs are dark black as if they have just been rained upon. They are not faded with time. There is no moss growing on her. It wouldn't dare! She worries not about the morrow or time itself. She still thinks of herself as a young sapling. She has a purpose. To be who she is ... a thing of beauty to behold. She is beholden to none. There is no other tree like her nor will there ever be again.

Although she is stationary, she looks like a tree in motion, as if she is about to walk across the meadow with limbs thrashing about like bull whips. Her name is Stryker. She doesn't run from a fight. She is not someone you want to mess with or else you will get tangled up in her whip-cracking limbs. But it is better to have her on your side than against you.

the RAV

I printed this page out and got wallet size prints of Stryker. They were rather gray and the bark was visible like a true tree. But I like the stark dark black better. It made the smaller limbs look tinier and appear farther away. I will probably make a card out of them. A Stryker Card by theRAV.

The Patch Framed, What the Sign Said...

The Patch above framed over the weekend....



Sometimes we eat here occasionally, but that isn't the reason why I took this photo of this sign. Nor is is because of the margaritas. It was because of what the sign said....

"...where every day is a fiesta"

On the way to work this morning, I noticed an orange fence to my right and an orange barricade on my left. Then I enjoyed the firey colors of the changing fall leaves on the trees. What did you notice on your way to work today?

I get to work and I know something happened before I arrived.... My friend Gil said something about a "cat fight".

I should know better.... the "supervisor" has been being really nice to me. Too nice. Things have been pretty normal around here lulling me into thinking everything is back on track. Enough to make me forget all that has transpired in the past. Letting my guard down. Although I know she still plays one of us against the other. Well, she told me she told the other ladies that I am always on time which I am believe it or not. LOL I don't like it when she does that. She should not compare one employee to another. I am not someone else. I am me.

The old her came out this morning but I wasn't there to witness it myself first hand. She had taped a note on my phone backwards which I thought was weird. It was because she didn't want anyone to read it. She was telling me to take time away from the receptionist for being late. She is on the receptionist's case now. At least it is not mine. We often kid about the receptionist and the superviser could be sisters because they are so much alike. When one takes off, the other thinks she should be off also. It is ridiculously funny some times unless you are the only one there left answering the busy phone. Other times I relish being there in the office by myself. It is a whole lot quieter. When it is really busy, it is not so funny or desireable. The receptionist comes in late almost all the time which is probably why the other office wanted to pawn her off on us. I am due in at 9 so I am never there to know exactly what time she comes in not that I really care or consider it my business.

I guess my elated feelings from yesterday ran over into today. I was in a good mood. Nothing was getting to me.

While I was at my meeting yesterday, the receptionist asked if she could go to some sort of prayer thing which I was unaware of. I am always the last to know anything around here. The other lady in the office had to take her lunch hour at 10 am because of this and acted mad as she left. I did ask what was wrong with her but she is almost always in a bad mood in the morning. I heard the supervisor checked up on the receptionist by calling to someone who went to the prayer thing who told her it only lasted 15 mins. Since I was not there, I didn't know how long the receptionist was gone but it must have been awhile. Still it takes us at least 25 mins depending on traffice to get anywhere from here. Then I wondered if she checked up on me but they said she did not. I guess because she likes me. HA! So this could be viewed as prejudicial since the receptionist is black.

Evidently they had a yelling match. Well, I am not taking anyone's time away until I talk to the dep. warden.

Later the supervisor went into the warden's office and closed the door so we knew she was telling on the receptionist. We have heard that the supervisor who is supposed to be here at 6:30 am isn't always here at 7:30 when one of the counselors arrives. Yet time is not deducted from her. Not to mentiona ALL the doctor's appointments she has. Different dr different day.

When she was in there behind closed doors, they told me what happened earlier. More of the same ole crap. The receptionist tried not to let it get out of hand and loose her temper. She wasn't going to argue with her, but she just pushes you beyond your limits. She made commentst about the receptionist being "holier than thous". I am sure allowing her go to the prayer thing is freedom of religion, but then to say something like that is bordering on a form of harrassment. This led the receptionist to play her gospel cd I have mentioned before. Its not loud today but it is still annoying to me yet I feel like I can't say anything because I am not going to be the one who starts WWIII.

Well, they finally told me the supervisor was behind the warden making me get rid of that box of crackers! She told him I needed to clean up my desk. He wasn't man enough to tell me that so he chose to target a box of unopened crackers which I will never be able to get over. Every time I see those crackers, I will be reminded now. When they told me, I am quite sure my look said it all. So I have no more use for this woman whatsoever. It makes me not want to ever clean my desk again!

My desk has lots of papers on it, but the majority of it is paperwork that I need or use daily if not monthly. I do not have a filing cabinet. I share two drawers with the receptionist. They won't buy me another one. There is space for at least two cabinets but the warden obviously doesn't want them up against the one blank wall where they could fit. Because of her; because of all this, some of what I use on a daily basis is in a clear plastic box that I have to pull out several times a day even to use my phone book. It makes me mad everytime I have to use it. It will make me even madder now that I found out she is the culprit behind it.

I don't bother anyone. I don't say anything about what other people do or not do. I certainly don't try to tell them how to keep their desk. In fact, I would never dream of doing such a thing.
Also I was told that she went through my papers as well as the time book. Too bad she wasn't transported to another time! LOL I did not have time to work on the book yesterday because of my meeting and the orders I had to put into the system. But they said she was checking on how I marked the receptionist's time.

Yet I am really, really proud of myself for I controlled my anger today. I did not let her get to me. My anger simply slipped away. I'd let my guard down with her but I won't let it happen again. It just kills me that she came to my desk later to show me something I could care less about and me knowing what I know now. I will keep my distance from her from here on out.

But I guess if all she has to say about me is a I have a messy desk is a good thing. LOL A messy desk is a sign that you work. Oh, well just another day at the prison. Who is the prisoner here?

I went to lunch and saw the above sign. When I saw the words on it, I just had to take it although it is by no means a photographic wonder. "...where every day is a fiesta". That is my quote of the day.

Wouldn't you know it... the two ladies leave me alone with the supervisor at lunch yet again. Of course the supervisor has to tell me her side of this morning. That the receptionist was screaming at her. Then the receptionist said, "I rebuke you, you devil!" which brought about the holier than though comment. I just kept on eating my chickend deluxe sandwich from Wendy's while she rattled on about it. I had to laugh because I could just see it happening and hear it. Hope I don't get indigestion from it. LOL I wouldnt' look her in the eye which is something I do to people I don't care for. I think my friend Penny would attest to that fact about me.

When I told my friend Anne about the rebuking statement, she almost choked as she read my email. She told me to put a warning on the ones like that which are hazzardous to her health! I am so thankful for my friends with a warped sense of humor like mine.

I Felt Really Important Today

Today I was supposed to attend a meeting "downtown" at the Police department concerning overtime for the SOA watch (School of the Americas). A yearly event here at Ft. Benning. A lady Sgt was supposed to have the info I needed prior to this morning such as a list of officers who would be policing the location. There was nothing on my desk but other daily paperwork. I reminded the Warden that I had nothing as of that moment. I called her office and reached the Lt who said she was in the back of the prison, but he said he'd have her call me. From what he said on the phone, I don't think she had filled out the form yet. Minutes are ticking by. Tick. Tock. I did other things I had to do before I left. Ten minutes til 10 am. Still nothing. I mentioned it to the warden again. He told me s-l-o-w-l-y to call main control and have them tell her to call me. The warden had said I could get the offficer's rate of pay from the deputy warden. The deputy warden said he didn't have it, but he would get a hold of the Sgt for me. I went to my supervisor who was most helpful today or I was just plain pitiful. I knew it was going to be like this - like pulling teeth.

I did ask the deputy warden if I could take a car. I did this because mine acted like it wanted to stall at a stop sign this morning plus the high price of gas these day. He told me to get the mini van. He went to the Sgt and brought me back the paperwork I needed from her. Then my supervisor helped me with what she could. There were four officers I didn't have a rate of pay. The warden told me to take that and we'd get the rest later. By then it was 10:20. I went to the bathroom, called main control and told them I needed the mini van per the deputy warden.

When I went to get the key, they handed me a radio as well. They said anytime you take a city vehicle you are supposed to have a radio. It was also in case I needed them or anything. Wow! I felt very important. I had one of the officers show me which van I would be using because I didn't have a clue. The last time I took a car downtown to a meeting it was an old bomb so I never used one again.This one was a Ford Freestyle complete with the plexiglass behind the driver and the bars for transporting inmates. This bothered me somewhat only because it blocked my vision but I was too excited to let it really irk me. I was too excited. I felt too important.

I got to the PD in plenty of time to touch up my make up. Then I had to find where I was supposed to be. It was a small gathering of six women. One was an old co-worker from JCP, Pam, but I can't remember her last name and I think she has remarried now. Really all this could have been done by phone or via emai, l but I learned some things, got out of work for awhile, actually had a lunch of 30 mins spent eating a half of a ham club sandwich with fries while looking through a realtor catalog. I ran by mom's to let her see me in the van. I would have taken a pic of it, but mom doesn't know how to work the new camera and I thought it might be incriminating. LOL Plus I would not have posted the name of the van here on my blog.

Then it was back to work. I had orders to put in the system, bills to pay but didn't get through with everything. Tomorrow is another day....

I really liked driving that van. Don can buy me one of those now.

Once again I got good feed back from my friends on my latest creations.

What made you feel important today?

Deer Tracks

I found my first set of deer tracks! Don had already seen them. I took this picture for him too. They look sort of like hearts. Awe.

the RAV

Lacey

My Eyes

I took this pic of myself as sort of my own self portrait challenge although I am not a regular participant with that site. I liked this one of myself. I like the arch of my brow but I don't like the wrinkles! LOL . It was a good make up day. This is how I look now complete with camera in hand as if it another limb attached to me. It is the world through my eyes. I do not have many pictures of myself since I am always taking them of others and nearly EVERYTHING I see I consider photo-worthy. Maybe it is good it is a bit out of focus so you can't see the wrinkles. LOL when I print this one out for the scrapbook and my mom, I will crop the camera out of it. Or maybe not.

How do you see yourself? Have you taken a picture of yourself lately? If not, have some one take one of you.

theRAV

Dream #

I dreamed Rhett & I were out of town somewhere with a church group (?) I suppose because we spent so much time with church members in reality. We were walking around when I saw smoke in the sky like from 9/11! It seemed to be coming from the building we were passing by or it was behind it. "Let's go this way..." An invisible girl walking with us says. It sounded like Steph's friend Amanda. Am I the invisible girl?Why would she want us to go through a fire? I didn't like this one bit. There is smoke coming up through the vents in this passgeway. I see it is an open breezeway. I say, "Let's go through here..." which leads us into the open; to safety; to fresh air.



As with all my dreams, it turns into something else. It seems I have been in either a beauty contest or one of those 5 minute speed dating things. There were some guys I knew from high school like Bill B. I am wondering why he was there because he is married. He looks more like "Ugly Betty's boyfriend. I called him David instead of Bill only because he morhped into someone else as people often do in my dreams. He turned into David, a little boy who used to live next door only he wasn't little anymore. Then we had to exit due to the fire getting closer.



We had to pass back by the building we went through before. We saw a young girl running out of a Hallmark shop with a wedding veil on her head and her wedding bouquet in her hand as well as regular clothes such as red shorts with white satin shoes. The invisible girl is beside me again. This time she said, "At least she got her bouquet out." It was the voice of Jennifer M at church.

We are crossing away from the burning building. I see Daniel from church. His blue eyes are looking expectantly towards the still smoking structure as if he saw someone he knew and cared about or as if he saw God. I asked him, "Are you looking for Hope?" That is and isn't literal. Hope is his girlfriend. I am really noticing his blue eyes as I did when I spoke with him last night about the bulletin board at church. He shook his head no that he wasn't looking for Hope. I told him we would let her through so she could be with him. As if I gave them permission to be together.

Then the phone rang. Really. It was Discover with a "courtesy call" for Don this morning. I said he was at work. They'd call back later, but we may not be home. We'll be at Golden Coral for Veteren's Day where Don gets a free meal. I started to tell her "Thanks for waking me up at 9:24 am on my day off!" but I refrained.

Rhett & I ate lunch at the Royal with Momma & Daddy. Then we went to the library where I picked up my disc, blogged & posted pics.

A Busy Saturday, "The Muse", Dear Blogger

Sat. Nov. 10,2007, a very busy day for us. A breakfast at church at 8:30 followed by a good devotional. We came home. I checked emails and my Cups of Faith mug had been accepted by zazzle.com. Yeah! I was excited and told Don about it. I sent the email out to all my close friends. Got ready for the Bass's house warming at 1 pm where I had some of The best meatballs and cream puffs although not at the same time! LOL. I loved their sun room with lots of sunlight. I could see myself drawing and doing my crafts there...

We came home. I framed 2 pictures. Some worked. Others didn't. I made one fit and it turned out well if I say so myself. I have had this frame for several seasons now. I used one of the leaves I took photo of out on the deck for it from my earlie post "What Fall Looks Like". I like the way the frame is turning in one direction and the leaf is going in another showing opposition. I really had to work for it. Sometimes you really have to work hard for things to turn out the way you want them to.

Then I made more stuff. One were I took the red blood lines and put it on black scrapbook paper and entitled it "The Red Runner on Black Pavement" which I will post later because it needs to be turned in the right direction & does not look as good as these two do. I am my own worst critic.

Then "The Muse". I really, really like "The Muse" which is now above the leaf. I even wrote a poem of sorts about how I made it.

"Another Design from the Mind of theRAV"

breakfast at church

open house at 1

framed two pictures

"The Patch"

and "Fall Leaf"

created two more...

"Red Runner in Motion on Black Pavement"

"The Muse" collage

made out of the under sheeting

that caught the overflow

that held the scribblings

of a pen that wouldn't work

leaving a lasting impression

tracings with a pencil

making another design

from my mind.

The creative mind of theRAV

I amaze myself at times.

This is one of those times.

The fact that it was made on the paper which was the overflow to catch the stray marks from the edge of another drawing. I tried to use a silver pen with silver ink but the ink would no longer flow. It left indention marks on the paper so I took a pencil and shaded over the indentions. I believe it is called tracing. Or is it etching? I liked the effect so I tried it again. And a third time. I like the number 3. So this was done in thirds. I repeated almost everything three times. I learned from my art teacher to have repeating patterns. This reminds me of something from ancient Greece for some reason. I like the colors. In fact I am in love with it. I even showed this one to Don. His response is just "Um." But I know its good. I am proud of it.

By then it was about 10:30. I got my camera to take a photo of "The Muse" only to discover I did not have my memory stick that I have come to rely on and cannot live without now!!! My disc now holds my entire life since August. Four months of our lives was missing. Would it still be there at the library tomorrow? Would some honest person turn it in or would a dishonest soul keep it for themselves? Would they laugh at the pictures on it? Or would they simply delete them covering them with their own? I wanted to cry but I could not. I wanted to call my mom but figured she might be asleep. I started to email my closest friends, but it wouldn't do any good anyway. I felt helpless.

I felt very much like I did when we were robbed and the cam corder was stolen which had Rhett's birth on it. Even then I had hopes of getting it back as I did my memory stick...

I tried to watch Matthew McConaghey in "Sahara" but even he couldn't hold my attention. Do I like him because he reminds me of an old love or is it just him, his voice and sex appeal? I couldn't read either. I could play Bookworm until I could fall asleep.

Some time in the wee hours of the morning, I woke up with that sinking feeling of rememberance of my lost item of importance. The words were rushing at me of a blog post. I didn't want to get up for fear of waking anyone up. Would they understand my need to write in the middle of the night? It was much easier when I was single. They words were coming at me non-stop like a flood. I was trying to memorize them to wrtite later... The idea of a "Dear Blogger" post came to mind....

Dear Blogger,

Dear Blogger entry # ____?

I'm not sure what this entry # would be since I've never counted my blog entries on either of my blogs. I am not about to stop to count them now!

This is probably THE most honest post I've ever posted/written. I have not really ever put all of myself on/in here for the entire world to see or read for fear my readers/fellow bloggers will think me less than perfect. But there is only one who was perfect and I am not Him.

I've mentioned that I often go to the library to work on or polish up my blog. I usually go immediately after work. I try to spend only an hour there because I still have to pick my son up, go home and cook supper for my family. I am not one of those smart women who cooks meals ahead. Mainly because I don't always know what I want to eat each day. I guess in a sense my blogger lust is like having an affair. But I know my child is well taken care of by my mother. He is not left starving and alone. Although now he will tell you he's hungry in an hour or so after he's eaten. So this is one hour taken away from my family. I justify it by saying it is "me time", but I only tell myself that. This one hour could mean we eat supper before 8 pm. If we do eat before 8 pm., I am doing really, really good.

On Friday, I went to the library when I really didn't need to go. I had bills to pay. I'd already sumitted my Cup of Faith mug on zazzle which I was really, really proud of. So I was just browsing thru zazzle killing time that could have been better spent. I justified it by saying I was looking for Christmas ideas for the Christmas card swap due at the end of this month but I already have my idea for that. It will only take me a matter of moments to make. No excuse.

Then there is that let down after I have have created something. Like when I wrote a poem also. There is that obssession to do another and another and another. Its like being maniac depressive. Up high one moment, depressed the next. Then wondering what I can do now? Its not like I am trying to top myself. I am not in competition with myself. Or am I?

So I go to pay my bills, pick up pictures. Then I met up with my family at mom's so the three of us could go get pizza @ CiCi's. Or was this depression because we didn't do what we'd orginally planned? I admit I was disppointed when Don called to say we wouldn't be going because he was still in the woods. Once again I resent his hunting. After we ate, we stopped at Fred's so he could get some stuff. I am rushing him because I want to be home to see my vampire show. We come home. I watched my vamp show "Moonlight" which I really, really like and getting into. I like Nick, the vamp. I didn't like him at first. He didn't seem like the vampire type to me. Just as I didn't and still don't think Tom Cruise should have played the part of the vampire Lestat in the movie "Interview with a Vampire" based on the Anne Rice novel! It should have been Julian Sands who played in "Warlock".

Saturday came with its business. More highs then a really big low. I feel like I am on a roller coaster of emotions. I haven't felt that low in awhile. I consoled myself by telling me I could always load up the photos on a disc at Walmart. All was not lost. I had photos I could recopy if

necessary. The pics are saved in two separate places. I just had not uploaded Wesley birthday pics at home yet. Is that why this happened? I didn't acknowledge my granddaughter's birthday immediately after it occured? I think not. I was being my ridiculous self grasping at straws trying to find rhyme or reason to "Why Me?" If I answered this truly honestly, it would be my own fault for being careless. No one to blame but me.

Nov. 11, 2007, I knew I could call the library as soon as it opened on Sunday. Still I worried and prayed all thru church about my lost disc. Probably not what I should have been praying about. Still I prayed for other things and people so I am not a total heathen.

Don told us in no uncertain terms we were going to the woods with him afer dinner at church whether we wanted to go or not! I knew I HAD to call the library before we could leave. I did call. A man asked me to describe the memory stick. Great! They all look alike now. How would I describe mine differently? All I knew was it was gray with blue writing on it. I didn't know who made the memory stick. I just use it everyday. I thought my memory card was a Fuji. Why had I not written something on it before now? He told me he had it! I was praising and thanking God for that as well as my guardian angels who watch over careless me. Now I could go to the woods in a good mood otherwise I would have been one miserable soul.

Of course as I'm on the phone, Don overhears my conversation. I've told no one about the missing disc. Instead I have held it all inside. He was like "Uhuh. Got to be more careful" which I didn't need to hear. I did tell him that disc held four months of my life on it. I will get my life back now. I am so very thankful.

I took my Cups of Faith drawing with us to the woods in case we didn't get back in time. I took them to church to give to Daniel so he can make transparencies of larger cups for me to trace on the poster paper I used for the BIG collage I made. (see previous post). I'll just paint them with gold paint and maybe use my scrapbooking letters for the words.

We came home. We had ham sandwiches which we haven't had in awhile. I just had ham since I've gained back too much weight. I did my Sunday night ritual of the computer till good tv came one. I discovered a new blog. Its about creating art every day which I have done since my 1st postcard swap. This very creative lady, Leah P. has a blog http://www.creativeeveryday.com/. She had two pieces I really liked. I made comments on her blog about them, leaving my blog address on one of them. She emailed me back much to my disbelief and asked if I'd like her to link me to her blog. This way I may get more viewers/readers/fellow bloggers/new artist friends. I told her yes!

I still haven't decided if I want to get paid for people to view my blog. It would require ads being added to my blog. They are supposed to coincide with what my blog is about.

Perhaps I will post my Autumn postcards this upcoming weekend. Everyone should have gotten their's by then.

Wesley's 3rd Birthday

Nov 8, 2007. Our granddaughter Wesley Rose's 3rd birthday. If Nate's friend Ron had not called Don at work to ask him if he could borrow a disc to use at the hunting land, asked Don to bring it to Wesley's party TONIGHT instead of tomorrow night as I got my dates confused, we would have missed it! I had my gift so I was good. Don had to stop to get her something on the way home from work. Rhett & I went home for me to change clothes since I did not like what I was wearing and to get her gift.

Wesley wore her Dora costume she wore on Halloween which I didn't take any pictures of. I just sort of take for granted that I can get better photos from Lisa. I just can't upload them. They served tacos since Dora is of Spanish descent. It was held at their church. There were so many people there. It is nice to be loved but I am still used to small gatherings. Rough boys were playing football INSIDE. Mine was not one of them. I took three pics of Wesley & Rhett but posted the best of the three here.

Not to sound ugly but as soon as Wesley opened our gift, we left. Now she had opened several others. It was a school night. I had problems getting a good shot of the her with the picture I made for her. It took for tries. I think I made Elisa a tad bit perturbed trying to get it. When Wesley took off her Dora wig because she was hot, she said, "I won't be Dora anymore."

My best friend Genie's daughter Jena had a female procedure done today. I had everyone on my email buddy list praying for her.

Today was also my cousin Mike's birthday but I did not remind my mom as I ususally do especially after what he did to me.

Another Pattern in My Life

I am so lucky. The day before yesterday I found a frame to match Wesley Rose's picture perfectly at the dollar store. So her gift cost me a whole $1.89 plus tax. Can't beat that with a stick! I also got myself a new Christmas cd for $1. It is an instrumental which has a hammered dulcimer (which I love the sound of almost as much as harpsichord music!). It is not on the first three tracks, but what I have listened to is good. That is an early Christmas present to myself. What have you given yourself lately? Maybe that is something you need to do for yourself....

This quote was on the electronic bulletin board at work. I sent it specifically to my friend Anne who has been such an encouragement for me and my art work lately for which I am grateful.

You're whatever you think you are.
Dare to be whomever you want
and the future will bring you that.
It is now when you decide the future.
-Bogdan Bucur-

Daddy got sick so I had to pick up Rhett from school. I came on back to work because I need to re-do the vacation time so some of the officers wouldn't loose their days.

I typed up a poem for Rhett for a school project he seemed uncaring about; saying it was not mandatory. Being a poet, a poem is most definetly mandatory in my book! LOL

Then I printed some pics at Walmart to be picked up later. I took the one above while there. It was the top of a sewing basket that was just sitting there screaming out to me, "Take my picture PLEASE!" I like it. It reminds me of the patch I put on my jeans and wrote about in a previous post entitled "I'm Wearing the Patch". Another pattern in my life. Another design. I am thinking of collaging all my photos of designs in a large frame to hang in the house vertically over the couch perhaps.... My friend Mike E really liked this one best out of all the things I have done thus far.

I paid my Kohl's bill and found a pair of pants on sale that I had seen before, but didn't buy. They hid from me the last time I looked, but luckily I rediscovered them. They were a size 6 which really, really made me feel good. I also got a black tank top for $2.80!

After church, I showed our preacher, Larry, my ideas I'd drawn on the index cards. I told him I would like to do them as a poster to put on a blank wall down the hallway. He told me to use one of the front bulletin boards instead. He really liked my ideas and gave me some suggestions about incorporating "my cup runneth over" onto it with the scripture. It made me feel good. I know I said this yesterday in a previous post but... What made you feel good today?

Rhett left his homework notebook at mom's so we had to go back over there to get it. When we got home, I addressed my autumn postcards for the swap when I could have just gone on to bed.
Don asked me what I was doing and I told him. He just said "um." My friend Anne said, I was "focusing on something that has meaning you" which I really liked. It reminded me of comments from bloggers to other bloggers. We all need meaning in our life.

More quotes of the day:

Buy what you love. Forget the trends - what's in & what's out. Even if the item is a crazy little bra or hotpants, it's important to love it for what it is.
~Betsey Johnson, designer~

Life's metaphors are God's instructions.
~Lin Malan~

Sometimes all it takes is saying "I am grateful" and then the list of things just spills out, reminding us we are so rich in this world.
~colorsonmymind~

An arrow can be shot by dragging the bow back:
similarly, if life is dragging you back with difficulties, be patient.
It is getting ready to launch you to great heights.
-unknown-

Don called me a while ago. Tonight is Wesley's birthday party not tomorrow night like I had in mind. My gift is ready. All I have to do is put it in a bag. Hope I have enough battery life left in the camera. I'll take the Minolta too and finish up my black and white film.

Now we can still go eat at the Legion tomorrow night. We have a breakfast at church early Saturday morning. An open house at 1 pm that afternoon. Now all we need is someone to volunteer for supper that night. LOL Sunday is dinner at church. Rhett and I are off Monday for Veteran's day. Looks like a good weekend ahead.... Hope your's is good too. Maybe not as hectic as our's. Perhaps this photo is perfect for this post... representing the circles I feel like I am going in.

I just printed this post out to see how this particular pattern would look printed. My work printer isn't color so it is more of gray scale but I still like it. I printed them out at Walmart on matte finish and they look better.