Sunday, May 19, 2013

Weekend Report

5-19-13 happy brain
Checking in today as spring is rushing by faster than ever. My travels back and forth between Des Moines and Kansas City continues and is now not only routine/normal- but sitting well with me these days. I am in a place where I can appreciate both locations and the opportunities each has to offer.

This weekend we varied a bit from our "split life" and did a meet up half-way. We spent Saturday with 17 other Mini Coopers for lunch in Bethany, Missouri and after a drive in southern Iowa....




Then Greg and I spent the night in a B&B in Mt Ayr, Iowa.


I can recommend this B&B (Charlie and Jane's B&B), if you ever find yourself in rural southern Iowa.

This was a fun weekend for sure, as I also got to have dinner Friday night with two of my 80's girlfriends- who I don't get to see enough of. The lighting wasn't the best, but at least we had the courage to take the photo.




Wednesday, April 24, 2013

April chill

4-24-13 cold and numb brain
This crazy cold spring weather has me immobile in many ways. Like my garden, I'm sprouted, but just barley growing, i.e. trying to find some spring mojo energy.

I haven't even thought about blogging for months now- but stopping by to say hi. Things are going pretty well and I was busy preparing for a work conference for the last several months- which was last week and it went well. Now I'm just trying to gain some energy and momentum back.

My Peace Art installation continues to be a big hit! It will be up through the month of May.



Monday, April 1, 2013

I'm a fool for PEACE!

4-1-13 foolish brain?

When I first was inspired with a new creative idea early in 2013, I was so excited. Then as the preparation for this creative idea started.... I thought-  "is this a foolish idea?".... Well today on April's Fool Day, I hung 396 of my Peace Discs on a wall..... I did have some help from friends Molly, Geri, and Steve. Thank-goodness for them- it only took 3 hours to do, instead of 6 or more hours I had originally planned on.

Here to can see the final layout at the link below.

http://onesmalldailypeaceofart.blogspot.com/2013/04/wall-of-peace.html


Molly said it was impressive, so I have to believe her- she tells me the truth.
Here is the work in progress:



My helpers








Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Oscar Movies

2-19-13 sharing brain

Greg and I have been trying to see most of the Oscar nominated movies the last few months.


This weekend we saw the movie Zero Dark Thirty. I found it fascinating to put the pieces of the puzzle together on how they found out the location of Bin Laden.   This movie was tough to watch in many respects, but so very interesting to see how our country works. I'm really surprised that the Bin Laden raid and killing even happened since it took so much risk of not knowing for sure.


Today, I'm sharing a blog post from a fellow blogger who I am happy to know via the Internet.
http://womenofcertainage.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-war-that-did-not-happen.html

I hope this information will all be but out there for us to learn about!

Friday, February 8, 2013

February Update

2-8-13 busy brain
The year is progressing along well. When I'm not working, in the evenings during the week I am usually working on some new pixel art projects. Weekends of course are spent with Greg.

Today I had enough new art completed that I could hang some at the Iowa Acupuncture Clinic office in time for the Chinese New Year.


I also have this one below done, which was inspired by our trip to New Mexico. It is ready to enter into the Women's Club Art Show later this month.



Work and Art..... not much else new.


Saturday, January 12, 2013

Happy New Year

1-12-13 resolution brain

Just stopping by to say HI! Things are well here in Iowa/Kansas, and I have been in a whole frame of mind lately.... not feeling split in two at all.

As the new year begins I am planning new activities for 2013 and a few resolutions. Unfortunately one resolutions will not be to blog on a daily basis. I'm finding that "chapter" is winding down for now. Currently I am getting fired up to work more on my art.... and to stay healthy. But I will stop by to post from time to time.

One new resolution this year, is to try to walk at lunchtime everyday- to get me away from my work desk. In Des Moines I have wonderful new neighbors, Geri and Lora. Geri is newly retired from teaching and she is interested in walking also. Together this week, we have walked 3 times.... it helped that temperatures were mild this week. All our 13 inches of snow have melted now too.

Wishing all a PEACEFUL new year!



Sunday, December 16, 2012

Imperfect World- Acceptance?

12-16-12 sad brain


Do I need to lower my expectations about life in the USA in 2012?  Am I NOT being reasonable enough?…. Like my need to lower my expectations about Madonna’s concert (see blog a few weeks back)… am I just living in the past too much?

This week on Facebook I’ve been pretty upset and vocal about the CT school shootings. Today, I had 3 hours in the car alone on my drive back home form KC to ponder without distractions. My mind went back to the sign on the VA Hospital in Des Moines which I recently visited two weeks ago.

The Price of Freedom is Visible Here.

I thought about the solders, past and present, who gave up their lives for our nation, our constitution and our freedom. Then I wondered if this same motto applies to the innocent people (children included) who give up there lives in order to protect the “out of control” 2nd amendment.

I call this law “out of control”…. Not that I am opposed to gun ownership, and I don't want guns ban, but because I do have a problem with some of the guns out there….. assault weapons, automatic and semiautomatic guns which some people claim they need to feel safe and to hunt with. ….”Really?” Have there been wild animals, Indians or gangsters circling your house recently?   I assume not, so to me you seem to be living in fear and not living free at all.

There is the argument that guns don’t kill, people kill….. and sure school children could have been killed by a crazy person with a knife, or a car….. but a knife and car have  other purposes like buttering bread, and transportation….BUT  guns, especially assault weapons have only one purpose- to kill in large numbers.

However, I will acknowledge that I do think guns are only the tip of the iceberg. It is the visual part, easy to point to and blame first…. But there is much more ice below the surface which also needs to be examined, but hardly even does get examined.

Case in point, I once heard a preacher give a sermon on “Follow the Money”…... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)… it is not surprising that our nation spends more money on the military, weapons and war than all the other countries combined.


And then you have the lack of money available to pay for mental health issues….
Then there is all the violence in movies, TV shows about crimes and killing, video games which focus on shooting people….  And the media’s need to broadcast, for hours on end, any tragic story of mass shootings. There is a lot more to point at besides guns…. Yet those 20 children weren’t killed with knifes or run over with a car.

Others suggest “taking God and Prayer out of our schools” caused this type of tragedy to happen. Well if you don’t want sex taught in schools why would you let schools handle something as precious as spiritual health, which is better suited for home and church?

Besides, God is bigger than that.-You can’t shut God out of schools or anywhere. God lives in every cell in our body and loves us even when we choose not to love back. God is always present and waiting for us to cry out for help.

So I guess my conclusion after 3 hours in the car was that maybe I just need to accept all the facts about life in the USA in 2012-  And the resulting consequences which follow, sad as they may be…. And in doing so, I guess the real question would be- why am I even surprised that this shooting happened? I should be shocked in the fact that it doesn’t happened more often.

So while all you gun owners out there go hug your guns tonight as you put them safely away…. I hope you will also do the right thing by thanking the innocent children and their families who made the ultimate sacrifice for your freedom to own those assault weapons.

But if you don’t think this was a worthwhile sacrifice for them to make on behalf of you and your guns, then it is time for the difficult soul searching and discussion on how to improve our nation…. Looking at the big picture of our laws, rights, and even budget- could we use better  gun regulations perhaps?

But sadly…..the acceptance of an imperfect world is probably easier for most of us rather than that kind of deep soul searching and reflection in the mirror.