(Almost) Due West

The teenager.

2011-11-18T00:04:00.001-07:00

I acquired the Legal Dude's old Macbook and found a treasure trove of photos of the teenager in sundry roles...

Harry Potter & the Black Bead Armlet

The Rock Star

The Strawberry Dude

A Boy & his Dog

A Boy & his Dog (& Cat)

Universal education.

2011-11-17T23:24:00.001-07:00

He learned in school what to look for.

Right Brain.

2011-11-17T22:51:00.001-07:00

Mrs. Peacock.

First ever handmade Piñata--made in art ed.

In the dinningroom.

With the butterknife.

More of lifeshould be spent being creative.

Definitely.

Amen.

Art Ed.

2011-11-17T22:19:00.001-07:00

Everyone shouldbe allowed to take an art ed. class at some time in their life.

Heck, everyone shouldbe allowed to take art whenever they want to.

Especially thelittle ones.

Let me say it one more time; especially the little ones.

A day (or a month) in photos.

2011-11-15T23:25:00.001-07:00

Happenedto flip through my photo files this afternoon.

Founda bunch of pics I meant to post back in the day.

They still amuse me.

So figured I'd post some of them as a collection of sorts--like an anthology of photos.

They call the wind--all kinds of names.

2011-11-15T23:05:00.001-07:00

We’vehad some wind these past four to fivedays.

Hurricaneforce winds; leaving me feeling a lot like Dorothy—or Toto.

Aroundmidnight, I heard what sounded like Santa’s sleigh dragging across the roof.

Thismorning we found a 12” x 10” jagged piece of shingle on the lawn.

It looks a lot like our shingles but we didn't see any torn or missing shingles; then again we can’t see the very tippy top ofthe roof.

Then again, it could have blown all the way across town from someone else's house!

Theteenager said he couldn’t sleep last night.

Heworried the house was going to be torn asunder.

Can’tblame him…I’ve had the same feeling, everyday, since the winds picked up lastFriday.

Saturdayevening we went to hear Ira Glass (of 'This American Life' fame).

Aswe walked across campus, an icy blast turned everything into a sheet of ice.

Yesterday,as the gales were still gusting upwards of 50 + mph, I stepped into Safeway.

Thishad blown in before me…

andwas slowly tumbling down the baking aisle, checking out the sea salts.

I’ve posted on a previous occasion that before moving to Laramie, my belief was that tumbleweeds "were just movie props."

NowI know better.

And then there were none.

2011-11-15T22:35:00.001-07:00

TheLaramie Fox Theater is the only movie gig in town.

Actual Laramie Movie Theater during showtime

Actuallythat’s a lie.

Wehave one of those old, one-screen theaters that runs artsy-fartsy flicks,second runs and old favs.

Theone-and-only time the Legal Dude and I stepped out to the movies…

First there was 1...2..3 and then...4

Theonly other two people in the entire theater decided to “sit in the same row.”

How can one go wrong?

Weird.

Orelse we just have really good taste in picking seats.

Moonstruck.

2011-11-15T22:21:00.001-07:00

The moon over Laramie hangs like a huge white orb.

Ican’t get enough of her.

Even at 7 a.m.

She hangs out in the western sky...

Refusing to give in to brother sun.

Ilove when she does that.

Leaving the nest.

2011-11-15T22:12:00.001-07:00

I have to wonder.

Did mama chick have a hard timesaying goodbye?

Every chick has to leave the coop some day.

A spell on you.

2011-11-15T22:08:00.001-07:00

Boy, she looks pissed.

Obviously, she’s not fromaround here.

Snoalloween is the norm.

Even this jack-o-lanternknows the deal and yet...

He's smiling!

I Spy.

2011-11-15T21:59:00.001-07:00

3 pumpkins.

Do you?

These poor dudes turn tomush after a freeze.

I know.

I had toreplace them—twice.

Adaptation.

2011-11-15T21:32:00.001-07:00

I’ve said itbefore.

I love Halloween

I have the productto show it.

Unfortunately,“Mariah” and her sibs love to play havoc around my front yard.

So I’ve had toadapt.

This year,however, I managed to get lights on the Charlie Brown tree out front.

They lastedtwenty-four hours.

The wind and thesnow rode in by 2 p.m. on November 1^st

Found one of these little guys...

clear across the street.

Can’t complain though‘cause the lights were up and flickering on Halloween—

and all the little ghoulsloved it!

Excuse me, but do I know you?

2011-10-08T00:47:00.001-06:00

Doppelgängers.

They’re a trickof the mind.

I see them allover the place.

I find myself inmid-greeting, with hand half-raised, ready to hail someone I think I know onlyto I realize “I don’t,” that they merely resemble someone from back east—sortof.

Then there’s thatvertigo-esque feeling I get when talking to someone and for just a split secondI think: “Hang on a sec—how do I know you? From here—from back east?”

Weird.

Really weird!

Stop in mid-sentencekind of weirdness.

It’s doing anumber on my mind, leaving me feeling a bit, well... schizophrenic.

It’s hard toexplain.

Maybe my mind—mypsyche—is fighting to hang on to my former life as we’ve entered our third yearhere in Wyoming.

Maybe it’s anadjustment, that everyone experiences, after living in a new place for a while.

It would makefor some interesting research.

Research is onmy mind, a lot, these days—but that’s another post.

So if I don’tsay “hi” to you one of these days, don’t be offended.

It’s because Iwon’t have figured out if it’s really you, or merely your doppelganger!

Unrequited Love.

2011-10-02T19:55:00.002-06:00

We all know theheartache of unrequited love...

that lonely empty feeling.

Wanting tocuddle next to the person of one’s affections, only to find them unwilling, unfriendlyand even hostile.

It’s painful.

I thought I wasthrough with unrequited love.

Little boys growup, however, and become teenagers who run hot and cold.

Today is a“running cold” day.

I remind myselfthis happens to parents the world over.

As with fallingin love and bearing children, one feels like they’re the first and only person toever experience such feelings and emotions.

So it is withunrequited love.

The heartache is yours, and yours alone.

So I’ll justkeep reminding myself that folks before me have lived through, and survived,the experience.

Who knows, perhapseven my parents…

2011-09-29T23:32:00.000-06:00

Blog-o.

My first and only friend during my initial monthsin Laramie has, alas, been neglected and forgotten as of late.

Not intentionally.

Summer travels.

A new laptop, with difficult to navigate photo applications.

The rollout of a new and unfamiliar blogger layout.

Friends.

Family.

The Snowies.

Vedauwoo.

The Laramie Farmer’s Market.

The start of a new semester.

Football.

All have conspired to keep me from my old friend,Blog-o.

There are memories to record, however, and photosto post of Beautiful Alaska and trendy Santa Fe.

There is an anniversary to celebrate (belatedly) aswe enter into our third year in Wyoming.

I promised myself (and my family) that I would havea life beyond “being a student” this semester.

Let's see if I can keep my word.

Alaskan berries

2011-07-08T02:14:00.001-06:00

While in Denali last weekend we discovered that a variety of delicious edible berries grow wild across the state.

We were admonished, however, to never ever eat the white Eskimo berries, which John Krakauer (“Into the Wild”) theorized was the culprit in the tragic death of Christopher McKandless in 1992.

The teenager wanted to check the veracity of what we were told about the infamous “white berries” so I did a quick Google check and stumbled across an article by Iris Brooks, entitled, Alaskan Berry Magic.

Much of what Ms. Brooks wrote in that article captures the essence of what I have experienced while in Alaska, specifically…

Ø Alaska resonates with stillness

Ø Named after the Aleut word “Al-yes-ka,” meaning “the great land,” [Alaska] is a wide-open expanse with subtly shifting light

Ø Traffic lights are rare but signs about moose are common

Ø The feeling of endless space is exhilarating

Ø One has to be a rugged individualist to survive in a place where snow mutes the land and schools close only when weather conditions are truly risky, with temperatures plummeting to more than 50 degrees below zero.

While I have yet to experience “winter in Alaska,” the last statement reminds me of when the teenager wanted to write a letter of complaint to the superintendent of the Laramie school district when he didn’t close schools the morning we experienced negative 50 some degree temperatures.

The teenager said it was too dangerous for kids to attend school (and no, he just wasn’t whining about having to go to school).

He said many kids walk to school (and it was too cold and dangerous), and that others couldn’t make it because their parents could not start their cars.

The teenager also told us that almost half of his classmates were absent from school that day.

I guess he's feeling lucky he doesn't live in Alaska.

Tomorrow we leave for Seward, where we will fish and take a cruise, hopefully to see whales, sea lions and a glacier.

Quirky Sight....

2011-07-01T02:31:00.000-06:00

I take a lot of photos, most of which are lousy and many end up discarded.

Sometimes when I look at what I shot I scratch my head and wonder: What was I thinking?

Mostly though, I take photos because in my whacky little mind, something about the scene makes me laugh, wonder or ponder.

Most of the photos usually only have significance to me and leave others wondering: "What?!"

Since, however, this is my online journal, I post away--regardless of the poor quality.

Hopefully, years from now, when I look back at these posts, I will have that same sense of "quirkiness" that induced me to take the photos in the first place,

That being said...

Took me a few seconds to realize why all the fire hydrants have these four to five foot red and white stripped poles attached to the top. Anchorage averages 79 inches of snow annually.

Can't get enough of the views of the mountains, although I haven't yet figured out which range is which.

I realize part of the beauty of Wyoming’s flat, open landscape—there’s nothing to get in the way of the magnificent sky and mountains in the distance.

I remember the first time I drove out to the Wal-Mart in Laramie and saw the full range of the Snowies in the distance. I still find it breathtaking, even after nearly two years. This view--although it may not appear so--most definitely has that vista beat.

Wish that I could see the Northern Lights. Alas, I happen to be visiting Alaska during the wrong season, which can only mean one thing: a return trip!

Temptation...

2011-07-01T02:06:00.000-06:00

I walked to the Safeway today to purchase some laundry detergent.

It’s a quick, thirty-minute round trip.

I need the extra exercise to work off the delicious smoked salmon, Alaska brews and other comestibles tempting me these days.

I was feeling pretty good about getting in a second trek for the day and working off more calories.

That is, until I saw the free sample sitting at the in-store Starbuck’s counter.

While it may look full-sized, it’s only 2 inches tall.

For something so small, it sure packed a punch!

Too bad I’ll be sitting for 5 to 6 hours tomorrow as we make our way to Denali.

Who came up with these drinks anyway? They're dangerous!

I hardly ever consume them, precisely for that reason (plus they're so darn expensive!).

Good thing, in Laramie, the only Starbucks are in the two competing grocery stores and I'm always too occupied with groceries to think about fancy coffee drinks.

Perhaps my future walks here in Anchorage should be in the opposite direction of the Safeway!

In the still of the night…

2011-06-30T15:25:00.000-06:00

Last night the Legal Dude and I decided to go for a walk.

It was after 10 p.m. when we left and nearly 10:30 when we took these shots.

I know. I would find it hard to believe—if I hadn’t taken these myself—but it’s true, it was nearly 11 p.m. when this was taken.

It’s the neighbor’s and it looks like an underground passageway—or perhaps room—to the house.

Although traffic and people are out-and-about, not nearly as much as during the “daylight” hours, there is stillness, and a quietude, that belies the light.

It is, after all, nighttime—even if it the brain thinks otherwise.

Lions and tigers and Bears—oh my! (Or the irrational fears of a middle-aged woman)

2011-06-30T15:08:00.000-06:00

For several decades now—blame Northern Exposure and the lure of the elusive (at least for those of us living in most of the lower 48) Northern lights—I periodically dream about living large in the wilds of Alaska.

Call it a romanticized—and totally unrealistic—fantasy of living the life of a “fearless frontier woman.”

Perhaps it is the reason I have acclimated so well to Wyoming.

I can “pretend” to be ‘that frontier woman,’ braving the elements—in my cozy home and car—learning to horseback ride and to go without (the malls, Whole Foods, etc.).

!Pura fantasia!

As much as I have wanted to visit Alaska, I have this abnormal and obsessive fear of bears, grizzlies in particular.

Alaska (as is Wyoming) is full of them.

Yes, my fear is over-the-top (and all who know me know this), in part, though, because I need to talk—work through—my fear(s) to help manage it, especially if I’m heading into grizzly country.

Grizzly country?

The travel books seem to indicate—or at least “my” reading of them—that bears abound in town, or at least in sections of town.

This is, after all, Alaska.

I have been enlightened, however, that “No, there is no need for bear bells” while hiking the trails around town.

You laugh—and you’re right, I have an illness. It’s called “irrational fear” of death by Grizzly.

Again, you laugh.

I will have you know that we all have this illness, in some form or another.

Some of us, unfortunately, have it a bit worse—in “what” we actually fear—than others.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I am one of them.

“Living” here for four days now, I know bears don’t reside on the trails I walk.

It’s too populated and with too many people walking about.

I am not ashamed to admit, though, that when I enter a woodsy and more secluded area, I talk out-loud to myself.

Just in case, you know, a bear has come down from the mountain and I’m its snack list.

Walkabout

2011-06-30T14:58:00.000-06:00

While staying in Anchorage we’re being housed in a little basement apartment in a quiet residential neighborhood not far from downtown.

Street in front of our house

Front of the house

From the backyard

Our apartment is the one with the sunroom jutting out.

Downtown is close by, but I hadn’t realized how close.

From a little scenic lookout a few blocks from the house

Our first few days here, Saturday and Sunday, were spent meeting the outgoing Prof., getting acclimated to our living arrangements, stocking up on food and supplies and becoming familiar with what the city has to offer.

On Monday it rained.

The last two days, however, have been spent exploring the walk-ability of this city, from where we live.

So while the Legal Dude is working and the teenager—well, is being a teenager—I put on my walking shoes and go exploring.

The Sagaya Market we like so much, which is reminiscent of WF but may be owed by Dean and Deluca (carries their products) is a mere fifteen to twenty minute walk from the house.

Downtown is between forty to fifty minutes

A walking trail to downtown

but it’s hard to tell because I stop to take photos

Walking trail alongside a main road--Northern Lights

Inlet from one of the walking trails

and chat with this gal...

I had seen her during one of our earlier drive-bys and stopped to discern why someone would keep such a large animal domesticated, i.e., caged.

I’m told she was a rescue and had bonded with people, versus her own species.

I’m told the Reindeer farm is for raising meat (there’s a lot of reindeer on the menus here) and so Star (who has her own FB page) is ostensibly saved from gracing someone’s plate.

Delany Park downtown

Delany Park--Fitness Wednesdays

One Fish—Two Fish—Red fish—Good fish!

2011-06-30T14:05:00.000-06:00

The New Sagaya City Market is purported by Fodor’s to have the best fish counter in the city.

Look at that tuna! They make an awesome Tuna Carpaccio

King Salmon

Halibut

Stuff I can't eat

We can attest to the fact that it has some deliciously outstanding fish as it is where we have been getting our daily dose of fresh fish.

Man is it good!

Normally, I like my fish grilled¸ preferably on a cedar plank.

Last evening, however, we baked—yeah baked—a two pound red salmon.

Red Salmon

It was delish!

With fish this fresh and tasty nothing but a sprinkling of a few seasonings need be done to it.

At a mere $7.99 lb—Yowza!

(That’s almost as cheap as tilapia, the cheapest fish out there).

Why eat red meat when red fish is on the table!

We’ll save the red meet for when we get back to our favorite butcher in Laramie.

Under the Midnight Sun

2011-06-27T15:40:00.000-06:00

The teenager and I are here—in Anchorage, Alaska—visiting with the Legal Dude who was given an opportunity to teach for a bit in a summer law program here.

Several Professors from out-of-state rotate in and out over the summer and right now it’s the Legal Dude’s turn.

We landed Saturday evening around 10 p.m. (Alaska time) after a long 14 hour trip with a very uncomfortable 5 hour plane ride in the second-to-last row surrounded by kicking and grumpy children—and I’m not just talking about my two boys.

Much of the trip was above cloud cover, but I got glimpses of snow-capped mountains peeking through, probably northwest of Bozeman.

My little Nikon couldn’t do it justice, but trust me: It was spectacular!

As we began our descent, we cut through thick dense fog and then…

I gasped out loud as I then desperately tried to capture the beauty and magnificence of it all as we landed.

In my ignorance—and as a result of not paying better attention in elementary school—I believed the sun would be blazing high in the sky 24/7.

The sun does set, around 1 a.m., but then hovers—at the horizon—before rising again an hour or so later.

This shot was taken around 1 a.m. from our hotel room in downtown Anchorage, overlooking the bay and the mountains.

I looked out every 45 mins. or so and the sun seemed to stay right there

These were taken last “night” at 10:11 and 11:17 p.m., respectively.

If I hadn't taken the photo, I wouldn't believe it either!

It’s the sunroom at the back of our 2 bedroom basement condo in a residential neighborhood approximately 8 minutes or so from downtown.

While it’s never pitch-black, it does turn to “dusk” around that 1 a.m. time.

This is what we see as we drive towards downtown and the bay…

Kind of Like Laramie, except the mountains are much
larger and closer

This is the closest I hope to ever come to seeing a bear—at least while hiking!

As seen in a Sport's Authority

Interesting note: The weather here is very much like Laramie and even cooler.

Everyone keeps admonishing us “to try and stay warm now!”

If they only knew—we come from the land of “cool” climes.

As I sit and type this morning, I’m wearing a North face pull over and “booties” on my feet, wishing for a cup of hot tea.

Next up: photos of the out-of-this-world fish we see in every market, including the local Safeway.

Already we’ve eaten more smoked salmon than we do in a three month period back east.

Speaking of food—everything seems much more expensive here!

This is tasty!

2011-06-21T01:16:00.000-06:00

We had guests for dinner this evening and celebrated the Summer Solstice a day early.

I’ve had my eye on this drink recipe (courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens magazine) since June of 2008, but just never got around to giving it a try.

It’s a “Sunset Sangria.”

What a perfectly named drink to imbibe on a summer night, plus we started out the evening with a new Gazpacho recipe.

I was too busy getting everything ready to take photos at the time so this is the leftovers, after all the clean up is done.

The photo doesn’t do it justice.

When you pour the wine, the green lime water is on the bottom and the deep red wine floats on the top. (Plus this photo is missing the nectarine garnish).

I love a good Sangria, and I’m pleasantly surprised to find I actually like this very simple and easy recipe.

Give it a try sometime, you might like it too!

Ingredients

2 tsp. finely shredded lime peel

1 cup lime juice

¾ cup sugar

Ice

1 750-ml. bottle Pinot Noir or Syrah, chilled

1 nectarine, pitted and sliced

Directions

1. In a 1-quart glass measuring cup combine lime peel, lime juice, and sugar; add water to equal 4 cups. Stir to dissolve sugar. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

2. To serve, place ice in six 16-ounce glasses. Add 2/3 cup of the lime juice mixture to each glass. Pouring alongside of the glass, slowly add 1/2 cup wine. Thread nectarine slices on skewers and add to glasses.

Serves 6

Prep: 25 minutes Chill: at least 2 hours

I eat eggs, so why do I care?

2011-06-21T00:44:00.000-06:00

Last week a visitor noticed a bird nest just under the gutter on our front porch.

We don’t typically use the front door, unless we have guests, so I hadn’t noticed it.

I began to observe that nest and arrived at the assumption that it was abandoned since I didn’t notice any activity or hear and peeping or chirping.

I asked the Legal Dude to remove it, since I remember reading about abandoned nests and the possibility of bird mites migrating into one’s home once the birds are gone.

He said he’d get around to it.

I’m glad he delayed.

It was raining and windy this morning.

At one point I heard a cacophony of distressing bird calls that caused me to rush to the front windows.

Apparently harsh winds and rain shredded that little nest, leaving bits and pieces strewn across the front porch and lawn.

Sadly, the nest was not abandoned and four little bitty eggs were also strewn across the front porch.

I went out with gloves to try and gently pick them up, hoping their parents could somehow... do…something.

Alas, each and every egg was smashed.

I would have felt terrible if the Legal Dude had removed the nest with the eggs inside.

When I heard the distressing calls, I was in the process of baking bread (a delicious walnut and rosemary bread and my first solo bread baking experience since moving here).

Much later, after rising--quite a wonder to be hold up here at 7,200

Later, as I cracked and smashed eggs for the recipe, I stopped and stared...

I got to wondering: why does my heart weep for those little eggs and their momma, when I willy-nilly crack and smash eggs nearly every day?

It’s given me food for thought (and no, no pun is intended).

“Just give me one good reason...”

2011-06-11T13:04:00.000-06:00

I’m forcing the teenager to take a few riding lessons.

(Mom: you only recognize him if you know him...)

"it's dumb and boring” he says.

Admittedly, walking in circles around the arena as one overcomes fear of being way up high on such a large and unpredictable animal can be a tad boring at first.

Learning to post can induce mental and physical fatigue with being so repetitive, and its actually hard work—really!

It takes strength of stomach, thigh and calf muscles as well as a sense of timing.

The teenager wants “just one good reason” for having to take riding lessons.

He doesn’t buy the “I love you and want you to have as many opportunities as possible, even if it doesn’t feel like an opportunity at the moment” bit, or that “one day you’ll back and be thankful for the experience!”

I don’t know if this is a case of “mother knows best,” but I’m sticking to it!

Some things are just too easy here—like the eight minute ride to the barn and how inexpensive the cost of the lessons—so why not take advantage and make the most of them?

“Besides,” I tell him, “It’ll be impressive to girls someday.”

I can’t believe I actually said that!

It’s a road I’m not at all ready, or willing, to travel…

Postscript

The Legal Dude is in NM with some colleagues, both of whom ride and, in fact, will be riding today.

Their advice: Forget the barn and get the teenager on some trails.

Hmmm…

Maybe, just maybe...

"My Son"

2011-06-10T18:11:00.000-06:00

Alas, all good things must come to an end.

And so it is true with my four week color foundation art class.

These past—beyond intense—weeks have been the best four straight weeks of my life in recent memory.

To say “I loved it!” doesn’t do justice.

It was fun, exhilarating and one huge confidence booster.

It was also hard, hard work and I often stayed up until the wee hours of the morning working on projects or the required sketchbook.

Again, I loved every minute of it!

My professor was great, as were my classmates. I will miss them all.

I struggled, and I soared, at varying times during the session.

Most recently I struggled with my final project—using expressive color to create art based on an emotion, past experience, etc.

A classmate dubbed my piece “My son.”

I had hoped to create a fabric and photo montage, or a collage, of the emotional journey with the teenager—from toddler-hood through teen-hood.

Alas, it looked instead like a gargantuan scrapbook page—not at all what I was aiming for nor the note I wanted to end on.

So at the 11^th hour I decided to forego the montage effect and let the background stand alone and be the final piece, with a few little embellishments.

I’m neither content nor satisfied with the final product, but have made peace with it.

Hard to tell if my prof liked it or not.

He made seemingly positive comments and intimated (I think) that it has a sense of “distilled clarity,” which is a good thing.

Still, hard to tell what he actually thought.

Creating this piece took me on a roller coaster of an emotional journey: looking at photos of the teenager as a smiling toddler who allowed me to hug and hold him in my arms and in later years increasingly distanced himself by standing just “that” little bit of distance away from me.

So the piece contains a great deal of symbolism, which can also be interpreted by the viewer.

Don't know if I'll get my usual grade, but I’ve made peace with that too.

I've come to realize that the true value in taking this class is not garnering the coveted “A,” but rather learning to grow artistically.

I believe I have.

How to read "My Son"

From right to left (the reverse of all other art):

The vibrant and highly saturated, warm, happy and sometimes simultaneous contrasting colors represent the unconditional love between the toddler and his mom—me. The final piece has a few Lego pieces attached in bright primary colors, which, together with the buttons, are falling towards the left to represent (as does the downward slant of some of the fabric pieces) how the toddler moves—away from me.

The piece gradually darkens to create an atmospheric expression of brooding, moodiness and a sense of closing down—the dark squares on the bottom left representing a barrier, along with the stripes adjacent to the horses—hurdles for him on his journey of life or perhaps for me to jump over as he continues to distance himself from me. The long vertical piece on the left is a tie, representing how my baby is becoming a young man...sigh.

As they say, all good things must come to an end.

Our children can’t stay toddlers, or need mom, forever.

Fortunately each new stage is a wondrous—if sometimes painful—experience.

Faux leather...

2011-06-02T19:48:00.000-06:00

This is my most recently finished art project.

A faux leather belt made of painted Bristol board (paper).

We had to pick colors from a natural object to create a manufactured product.

I chose this beautiful stone/pendant the Legal Dude gave me.

I so love everything western and thought…why not a belt?

It took days to complete—

v Creating my color inventory from my stone and then deciding which of those colors to use

v Mixing paints to match those colors

v Applying paint after paint—four coats to each strip of Bristol board, of which there are three

v Embossing each piece

v Deciding how to put it all together

Plus I worked hard to make it reversible...

The Legal Dude and I had a conversation about how art class—and my projects—should be fun and not stressful.

I told him I wasn’t stressed—just contemplative and intense, trying to figure out how it would all piece together so that the adhesive holds, etc.

I mentioned this during my critique. My Prof said that it’s not stress, but “compulsive” behavior.

He thinks it’s a good thing!

If you’re an artist—compulsive behavior is good.

What about those of us who aren’t?

Is it then considered compulsive bad behavior?

As long as it gets me my A’s—and I have fun in the process!

After the foxes...

2011-05-25T18:36:00.000-06:00

I walked down the hill back towards our house.

The snowies weren't really visible then, but this view never ceases to amaze me--the snow capped snowies and the always magnificent Wyoming sky and clouds.

Only wish I could I capture and share the beauty I see every time I drive--or walk--down the hill.

Can you see them?

2011-05-25T18:27:00.000-06:00

They're really there...

The newest bummer crop of black stockinged baby foxes.

They live and frolic in the field just down the street from the house.

The mama fox is keeping watch up there near the house.

The four little kiddies are frolicking down the hill--on the left--but you can't see them because their coats are the same color as the earth.

Every now and again some mama or papa fox will come up and walk across our front porch but alas, they never stop to visit...

Clown Rodeo Boots—for my dad, the color man

2011-05-20T16:35:00.000-06:00

This past week we used acrylic paint to create swatches to match all the colors on the color wheel.

Once we accomplished that feat, we were charged with designing a creative and non-standard Color Wheel with said paint swatches.

My classmates created some beautiful and intricate designs, cutting and piecing some stunning and creative wheels.

I went with something less intricate (and more boring) because the craft knife and I are not yet bosom buddies.

My design is, however, near and dear to my heart—western boots of course!—and my Prof liked the fact that it’s not a circle or a wheel, which I’m hoping means it’s creative!

Once I get it back though I’m gonna get out that little ‘ole craft knife and tool some creative designs in them there boots…

A classmate said they remind him of clown rodeo boots.

I like that…

Art Foundations 2—Color

2011-05-20T16:19:00.000-06:00

So I’m taking a condensed art class this first summer session.

Four weeks of intense—and I mean Intense—class time and projects.

Class begins at 9 a.m. and all this past week I’ve stayed in the art lab until 3 or 4 p.m. diligently working until the late afternoon class comes in and kicks me out.

Then I come home and work all night on my project and sketchbook.

I completely forgot about a lunch date with a friend—what a jerk I am—because I was so intent on my project.

My Prof said it’s hard, if not impossible, to get A’s and I’m trying my darnedest not to screw up my perfect GPA!

I have no idea how some of my classmates are managing two art classes—with double the projects.

I'm not an art student so it should take me longer.

Right?

Yeah, that’s what I say!

“Teen” Tweet of the Day…

2011-05-11T15:48:00.000-06:00

So…the teenager just came home and called out, “I can’t believe we’re having such crappie weather in May!” (It started snowing again.)

“You’re not going to live here forever, so just embrace the adventure!” I called back in return.

(He’s already claimed: “No way, no how am I going to University here!”)

“So if you like it so much, maybe I’ll just buy you a home here when you’re old and make you live in it!” he retorted.

Yowza! Out of the mouths' of babes—yet again!

At least his statement indicates that he plans to take care of us in our senior years!

Besides, I snapped back: “I might actually like that!”

So now I don’t have to feel guilty about not going for a walk, or to the gym, because whenever the teenager provokes these really good belly laughs—like today—it turns out to be excellent abdominal exercise!

Teenagers: Never a dull moment when they’re around…

Spring Storm

2011-05-11T09:08:00.002-06:00

It was snowing this morning—tiny moist flakes that stick to the grass but not to the sidewalks or the roads.

It's now turned into a chilly rain/snow mix, so different from yesterday when I took this photo at the end of a walk...

Both of my men were depressed upon waking this morning.

“Who would expect snow in May?” the teenager demanded as I admonished him for leaving his jackets in his locker and wearing only a t-shirt to walk to school.

“We live in Wyoming!!!” I retorted.

Gees!

One would “think” that they would have finally realized by now what living at 72,000 plus feet means: We get weather that is totally out of sync with the seasons!

(Then again, maybe it’s us, and not the weather, that are out of sync given that this is 72,000 plus feet after all.)

Yeees…snow in May can be “ugh” mumbling inducing I will admit.

Living here, however, at this juncture—at least for me—is still very much an adventure.

And if it weren’t, I might be right there with my men—whining.

Despite my "adventurous" outlook, I think I'll keep this going while working here at home this afternoon...

Hope your weather is not inclement...

What’s wrong with this photo?

2011-05-10T17:37:00.000-06:00

Speaking of Passover…

I did a double take as I strolled through Albertson's a few weeks ago—during Passover—and saw this...

Unlike the Safeway, which maintains a small kosher food section all year round, Albertson's has never carried any Jewish comestibles.

I was happy to grab a few extra items and then paused...

The flour and matzo juxtaposition was too much, so I flipped open the phone camera for a photo shoot.

Hey, they’re trying!

2011-05-09T23:25:00.000-06:00

I didn’t get to post photos of Passover in Atlanta at my SIL’s, who always sets a fabulous table and cooks a wonderful meal!

First though, this is what my car looked like the morning we left—I was teaching a lesson at the preschool where I was doing my practicum.

This fell in a period of three hours—on April 14^th!

I-287 had closed earlier that morning and we were worried I-80 would close too, effectively making it impossible to leave town or get to the airport.

I-80 did close, behind us about 40 minutes after we left!

What a harrowing, white knuckle drive from Laramie and up through the pass—with rollovers and Big Mac’s off the side of the road—facing the opposite direction!

In Atlanta, however, it was a different story--warm air and lots of blooming trees and green grass.

The teenager, helping his aunt to fill the Seder plates...

The grown-up table…

The young people’s table…

The soup, with lots of delicious matzo balls…

A wonderful time was had by all!

Food for the soul…

2011-05-09T22:30:00.001-06:00

I finished my last paper of the semester on Saturday evening at 6 p.m.

At 6:47 we walked into our friends’, T & J’s, home for a delightful evening of wonderfully delicious food, outstanding wine, and lots of laughter and talk with good friends that can only be classified as “food for the soul.”

Just what I, and no doubt the legal dude (who has put up with me this past semester), was very much in need of.

It was the second such delightful evening in a week. Too bad I didn’t think to capture that first evening in photos.

I didn’t have my camera with me on Saturday, but remembered my phone camera.

Too bad it didn’t take better photos, but I think it captured the tone of the evening...

The Negronis

The appetizers—Bruschetta with homemade bread,

homemade tapenade and homemade Italian pickled peppers

The Pasta—Bucatini with asparagus

The Salad

The Pork Loin

The Soffrrito

Getting coffee and Moscato ready, with strawberries and
a homemade Italian cream, the name of which I can't remember

Deliciously Delectable Italian Cookies--all homemade

il Fine —full but happy stomachs (but no photo)

What does one do...

2011-05-08T20:47:00.000-06:00

When the school year is over.

One shelves the books...

puts their feet up...

and relaxes!

At least until the next semester starts in seven days.

What’s a little wind…

2011-04-05T18:04:00.000-06:00

between a bunch of teenagers?

Despite today's high wind warning (with gusts up to 47 mph), track recruits get out and practice.

My teenager is out there.

Glad he’s giving another sport a try, besides basketball.

It keeps him busy, physically fit and engaged with other kids. Besides…

just gotta love the view!

Another mighty wind…

2011-04-05T17:47:00.000-06:00

Mother Nature has been at it again.

She left a smattering of snow late on April Fool’s and another 3-5 inches—depending on how the wind blew—late Saturday night.

Sister wind has been blowing fierce these past two weeks.

Last week…

Second time it’s happen since we moved here.

Put the teenager in a mood! (He doesn’t like the weather here.)

This afternoon…

Had blown half away across the driveway by the time I got home.

Getting mail can be a bit of challenge…

If a strong gust comes—at just the right moment—and snatches those precious pieces of junk mail right out of one’s hand.

I will say this…

The sun is strong and bright (per most days) and the temp—forgetting the wind chill—a toasty 61 degrees.

Who can complain!

A Mighty Wind…

2011-03-22T21:44:00.001-06:00

We have another high wind advisory today.

As gas pumped into my car and I stood washing the back windshield, I momentarily wondered: can a wind gust possibly yank the pump out of the gas tank?

It’s that fierce—but not the fiercest we’ve had, not by any means.

The Middle School soccer team is out practicing, and they’re not blowing over.

But the garbage cans have taken, yet, another tumble.

I get such a kick out of the scenes I see every other week or so on trash day.

Unfortunately, I can never get a shot of the hilarity I see in it all.

My camera battery has gone dead so I couldn’t get a shot of the tumble weeds blowing down the streets.

Believe it or not, we get quite a few tumble weeds blowing all over the place, but I have yet to capture it on film.

And here I thought: tumbling tumble weeds are only in the movies…

Down with the flu—and bronchitis

2011-03-22T17:04:00.000-06:00

That was me, all last week.

And it was Spring Break—bummer!

I had plans for all kind of fun and to tackle all the things I’ve let slide since the beginning of the semester.

Oh well—even the best laid plans…

It was only late Sunday evening that I finally began to feel all human again.

Good thing—cause a classmate from grade school passed on through.

That’s right—from “grade school!”

Anyway, now that Spring Break has come and gone, I’m on the mend.

Talk about the “imp of perversity!”

Road with a view...

2011-03-13T04:17:00.000-06:00

This is one of the views I see when I leave my riding lesson, an eight minute or so drive form the house.

Too bad I can't capture the true beauty of it all.

A baking Lesson

2011-03-13T03:53:00.000-06:00

A friend makes a really delicious Jewish Rye.

The Legal Dude loves Jewish Rye.

Since baking at 7,200 can be a bit of a challenge, she offered to give me a lesson.

We spent the day—after my early morning class—baking, visiting and eating (she also made a delicious carrot soup).

My friend says good flour and a good recipe are the two key ingredients for successful bread baking.

The flour

The recipe

All mixed up

The first rise

The second rising

The final product--Jewish Rye

The Cookbook

We also made Oatmeal bread, equally delicious and a no knead recipe.

Since winter will be around for another two months—it snowed again this evening—I will have plenty of opportunity to practice my bread baking skills.

And also try my hand at that delicious soup recipe...

Satire

2011-03-07T21:49:00.000-07:00

My mission these past two weeks has been to write a satire—actually, a sequel to a satire on the history of curriculum, specifically, the Paleolithic Saber Tooth Curriculum...

It was due at midnight.

It was seven pages strong when I began finalizing early Sunday morning.

The minimum requirement was 2,400 words or, roughly, ten pages give or take.

At 11:53 p.m. it was 5,000 plus words and fourteen pages long.

Hopefully I won’t be dinged for verbosity.

I may not have hit all the points—or any, for that matter—but feel it's decently written and quite humorous in parts (it made me laugh!).

Alas, this morning, I noticed a number of mechanical errors—missing words, lack of apostrophes, etc.

Why-oh-why can’t I see these glaring errors prior to submission?

Oh that's right—it was midnight when I read my final draft!

The teenager, bless his teen heart, gave me a warm fuzzy this morning.

He asked if I made the deadline.

I said, yes, but had noticed—too late—a number of errors.

He said, “That’s okay, I’m sure you’ll get “100”—you always get 100s".

Ain’t he sweet!

Speaking of the teenager…

He’s reading “The Sword in the Stone,” which I had no idea is a satire, for Honor's English.

He, too, had to write a satire.

While it has a bit of an “Ick’ factor (it’s titled “Veggie Ball” and is about football—need I say more?), it’s definitely witty and satiric!

I went looking for it this morning—for posterity sake—but with flash drives, documents have a way of disappearing from his laptop.

Something new--videos!

2011-03-05T01:06:00.000-07:00

Still tethered...my first riding lesson

Untethered and cantering...my second lesson.

The funny thing about cantering...

While cantering, I feel like we're zipping around really, really fast!

In seeing the video, however, it looks like we're moving in slow mo...

Having loads of fun though!

There’s this saying...

2011-02-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

If you don’t like the weather in Wyoming, give it ten minutes because it’s sure to change.

When I finished my blog post this morning, the flakes had stopped and the sun was shining.

It’s been shining ever since, making it an overall very nice day except for the strong Wyoming winds.

Same shot, different time of day and weather...

The Legal Dude is back in the Mountain West and will soon be home, after a quick stop into Whole Foods in Ft Collins.

As I sit at my laptop looking eastward, I see an Albany County school bus pull into the school parking lot.

Don’t know if it’s the teenagers, or the 7^th grade bus.

Being so late, nearly 4 p.m., one can only hope their team did well in the championship.

Here’s to sunshine in your neck of the woods….may it be so sunny and bright!

The last game…

2011-02-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

The buses were lined up at the junior high by 7:30 a.m.

The teenager left the house at 7:45 to hop a bus, which is now carrying his team to Cheyenne for the end-of-season basketball tournament.

It’s snowing—a light but steady snowfall, which slightly diminishes visibility.

They can't be seen but two yellow school buses are parked over there

Fortunately the winter advisory, in effect since Friday morning, expired before 6:00 a.m.

50% chance of intermittent snow showers between here and Cheyenne all day long, however.

I have no idea when they’ll be back—early if they lose, late if they win.

The Legal Dude is out-of-town otherwise we too would be on our way to Cheyenne.

He’s on his way back from White Plains, NY, where he took a team of 3^rd years to an annual competition.

He won’t be home until mid-evening.

So I’m here alone, waiting for my men.

Can’t say I’m sorry the teenager’s traveling time is over.

Although it's only a temporary hiatus, depending on this next season's sports...

Revisiting—our town

2011-02-17T17:15:00.000-07:00

Without a doubt, our little town is lacking.

There’s a lot that’s missing…like dress shirts and dress pants for the teenager (and the Legal Dude).

The local “Staples” carries just that, and not much more.

Wal-Mart is NOT Target and the K-Mart has the feel of a store that’s on the verge of closing.

Most of the restaurants are mediocre, and those we do like charge the equivalent of D.C. prices.

Laramie has only two grocery stores, at either end of town, but there are two local food shops that carry unique—and also ethnic—foods, but at a cost.

Book and video shopping is limited but there’s always Amazon, Netflix, etc., and I hear Borders filed for bankruptcy.

This post, however, is not meant to dis our town.

Despite what we don’t have, I still appreciate what we DO have.

I can still look around, and think, “Wow! We really live here!” and be happy for it.

With warm, almost balmy, weather this past week and clear skies, the Snowies have been magnificent!

(I thought about taking photos, but they never capture the beauty I see every morning as I head west to the University.)

Clouds are moving in as colder weather—and snow—heads in our direction once again.

I’m reminded that February and March (and even April) are the real winter here.

While driving home this afternoon, I thought it might be time to revisit what I love about this place…

The beauty of the snowcapped mountains

The blue, blue sky

The magnificent cloud formations (even when they are dark and foreboding)

Blazing, intense and hot sun, which is a g-d send on those frigid, frigid days

The riding barn, a 10 minute drive from home, where I now take riding lessons

Western boots

Western paraphernalia

Cowgirls’ basketball

Art Classes

University life

Who cares that frozen snow litters our landscape, that strong winds are never ceasing or that winter may linger for yet another two months.

This is, Wyoming, after all…

Still hard, sometimes, to believe we actually live here!

2011-02-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

My first riding lesson was today.

Our friend's daughter. We gave her a gift of her first riding lesson

The horse is Astro.

He’s a Morgan.

Morgans are compact, not too large, which is good for me since there’s less distance to fall.

We had to postpone twice due to frigid weather.

While we ride in a barn, it is not heated and like everyplace else here in Wyoming, is subject to the strong Wyoming winds.

Today I learned to steer (reign, I guess), trot and I tried to “post.”

Posting is when you bounce up and down while trotting or galloping.

You raise yourself up in the stirrups.

It supposedly doesn’t hurt the bum so much when bouncing up and down.

You use your legs, back and ab muscles and need to stay in rhythm with the horse while hanging on.

Oh, and you’re supposed to steer (reign) too!

One more thing—you’re supposed to post up while the horse is raising his right leg.

It’s a lot to remember.

It’s hard work!

My lesson is an hour long. Fifteen or so of those minutes is learning to bridal Astro, walk him and a few other things.

I was exhausted after riding 35 minutes!

I am, though, determined to learn how to ride so I can tick off yet another notch on my way to becoming a frontier woman.

Or maybe, it will be my one and only notch…

I have survived

2011-02-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

The adrenaline is flowing.

I took part in my first group project/presentation this morning.

It wasn’t such a big deal and there were four of us.

It’s been decades since I last presented to a roomful of university co-eds.

It went well.

No assignments due tomorrow, although several due later in the week—including one terribly dry text.

For the moment though I’m too wired to sit and concentrate.

So I turn to you, dear blog-o, for a little narcissistic drivel.

Brain Freeze

2011-02-08T22:33:00.000-07:00

Had classes today.

I leave the car parked at 9 am and climb back in around 3 pm.

Despite the sun, it was Frigid.

Walking back to my car, I got a brain freeze—literally.

First time it’s happened here.

Sure it won’t be the last.

Dear Blog-O

2011-02-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

[Written but not posted last night]

Tonight I do not like living here.

It is -7 with the wind chill. The house is groaning under the wind and swirling snow.

Blowing snow creates drifts and visibility is diminished.

We’ve been under a winter weather advisory since 5 pm that will continue through 11 am tomorrow morning.

WYDOT has issued road advisories against unnecessary travel between the Colorado state line and Laramie.

Nothing unusual here, except that the Legal Dude is out there, in the weather, making his way up the interstate from DIA.

He called.

He’s staying behind a semi, both doing 15 to 20 mph on an interstate where the legal speed limit is 75 but most drivers travel 85 mph.

He has an 8 am class tomorrow morning so he’s determined to make the trip home.

He said he can’t see the exit signs.

He saw a car spin off the road.

Some people slowed while others used the opportunity to go even faster, a strange phenomenon—which is more common than not—that I just do not get.

I’m not the only one though, pacing and waiting patiently for a loved one to pull off the unpredictable Wyoming roads.

People here travel all the time and weather can frequently be an issue, even during the two seasons that are July and August.

It doesn’t mean that I have to like it.

Sweetness...

2011-02-07T00:14:00.000-07:00

These are what a friend dropped off after reading yesterday's post...

She wanted to cheer me up, especially with the Legal Dude gone.

What a sweet friend!

I’m on the mend—hopefully—from my cold, the teenager is feeling better and the Legal Dude comes home tomorrow.

Everything’s coming up Daffodils.

Thanks, Caitlin!

Flicks versus chocolate…

2011-02-05T22:24:00.000-07:00

The Legal Dude is out of town. He left two days ago for D.C.

I’ve been fighting a cold, the first severe one since moving here.

Other than going to classes, doing coursework and taking care of the teenager (which meant getting him out of the house at 5:45 am yesterday morning for basketball practice and a 9 am game this morning) I’ve stayed put—mostly on the couch, in front of the fireplace.

The teenager had a bit of a hard morning (maybe more on that later), which left both the Legal Dude and I feeling at a loss.

With the Legal Dude gone, feeling under the weather and the teenager feeling the way he was, I teetered an eensy-weensy bit emotionally.

When feeling this way I either turn to chocolate or to movies.

Certain flicks make me smile, shed some goofy tears and just leave me feeling all over Hallmark warm and fuzzy.

Admittedly, these movies are chick flicks but, hey, they do the trick.

One of the most recent additions to my repertoire is “New in Town,” starring Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick, Jr.

Renee’s first scene in Minnesota—stepping out into the frigid windy temps—makes me hoot, as does a whole lot about this movie.

I find I can relate—to the concept of moving to an environment so totally new and foreign and yet so great one is surprised to discover they actually like living there.

In some small way, I feel this movie was made for those who willingly made some significant change in their living environment.

If you somehow missed the movie, check it out.

Even the Legal Dude enjoyed it, and it’s a much better flick than “Did you Hear About the Morgan’s,” which supposedly took place in Wyoming.

So here’s to fun movies on a cold and windy night, ‘cause it’s snowing and blowing again.

Meet Astro

2011-02-02T23:01:00.000-07:00

One of my New Year adventures this year is to take riding lessons.

Today I took a step closer to beginning that adventure.

Nine year old R.N.—a friend, neighbor and the daughter of a colleague of the Legal Dude—will also be taking lessons.

So this afternoon R.N.—together with her mom and younger brother (the little tyke)—and I drove out to meet Astro and his mom.

Clip Art--But this horse is the color of Astro and just as handsome

The barn where we’ll take lessons is not heated and with the severe temps, Astro’s mom decided it was too cold to ride.

But we got to touch and pet Astro and to feed him lots of treats.

First lesson is scheduled for Monday, weather permitting.

We decided on “English.”

Wanna bet who’s going become the better rider faster?

My money is on nine-year old R.N.!

Thankful...

2011-02-02T12:53:00.011-07:00

The UDUB Heating Plant is hard at work…

and probably working overtime...

FRIGID—Redux

2011-02-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

I did NOT sign up for this.

Photo of my TV (Doesn't take wind chill into account!)

Cold, snow and (even) wind—okay.

Negative 35 degrees—okay, as long as the mercury begins to inch upwards after a few days.

But THIS!

One of the teachers over at the ECEC (where I was observing this morning) told me it was -65 when she woke up at 5 am!

Geeze….

Again, I did not sign on for this!

Did you?