"Matlock"

After learning of the loss of their wonderful dog, Matlock, I wrote to my friends, Jackie and Andy, in New Mexico. And, after hearing that my response to them touched peoples' hearts, I thought I would post it here in my Blog.

Dear Jackie and Andy,

I was so sorry to hear of Matlocks' passing.  What a great dog he was.  And, although I was not around him often, and in fact he didn't really

know me at all, he really saved me from myself that time I spent the night up at your place in Glorietta. Here is the little story.  A true story.

 I think it was when Amy, Archer, Granny and I came up for a couple of days, or maybe just one.  Anyway, when it came time to decide on sleeping arrangements, I opted for one of the little places up on the hill.  Jackie.... remember you gave me the grand tour of each one and I could decide where I would stay.

As the sun went down, it finally dawned on me, that it would be very dark up that hill, not to mention actually closing my eyes.  Yikes.  I never

let on how frightened I was and everyone said things like, "oh, you will be fine, we sleep so good when we stay up there."  Or, "hey, just leave the door open so the fresh air can keep you cool."  What?   Keep the door open, are you guys serious!  Don't you know there are wild animals in the forest?

Of course, I didn't let on how scared I was and I kept trying to figure out ways that ....well....after everyone was asleep, maybe I could get to one of the cars and just sleep in there.  No...I am not kidding.

So bedtime came,  I think Jackie or Amy escorted me up the hill to my room.  Hey, I was a trooper, went right in, turned on the lights, got in bed.........wait.....Let me just pause for a moment and tell you that I have camped in Colorado, New Mexico, Minnesota, Wyoming and Montana (Glacier).  I have actually been in the company of a big bear, in camp, while I was making breakfast for everyone in Colorado. In Glacier, I ran into a very large grizzly bear, on the way back from a hike.  So, it's not that I don't know what's out there.....I do.

Then, as I was about to make my run for the safety of the car.....I heard something.  Not a loud noise, just a sort of soft walking noise.  There was some huge animal about to come in the room.  Oh my god, my worst nightmare was coming true.  And me without a phone or anything.  I decided that I would do the unthinkable and turn on the light.

It was Matlock, big ol' Matlock.  He came ambling over to my bed, put his chin on the mattress and just looked at me like, "hey, I am here, you don't have anything to worry about", then he went to the doorway and laid down.  He didn't move all night and I slept peacefully, knowing he was there.

As far as he and I were concerned, we were soul mates. 

So, I was so very sad about him passing.  I do know what it is like to lose a life-long friend as we lost our beloved Annie, last November. We had had her since Aubrey was in elementary school.

 RIP Matlock.

Much love to you both,

Cathy

Huge Party on Saturday

I have been hearing quite a bit about a large event to take place this Saturday, a fairly religious event that sounds pretty scary to me. Turns out that only the Christians that have been "saved", will suddenly have their bodies converted into a different form and they will rise vertically into the air.( uh....what?)Many believe that they will pass right through ceilings, roofs of cars, etc. to meet Jesus Christ in the sky. (I think that is where the name comes from, "The Rupture".)

There will be some serious problems on planes, trains and automobiles as their pilots, engineers and drivers suddenly disappear and the vehicles crash. Yikes. The bodies of Christian believers who have died during the previous two millennia will rise out of their graves and ascend to meet Jesus.

And, I have been thinking that if this is true, I am very lucky to have some relatives that have been "saved".  Really.  Actually, I have seen them in the past and fairly recently, practicing converting into a different form and rising vertically into the air, but that was mainly due to alcohol and drugs.  You can't even talk to them, much less reason with them when they are like that.  A real drag, this Rupture thingy.

There is also an event called, "Post Rapture Looting" , that I will definitely be attending. Awesome.

There are some "Rupture" parties planned for Saturday and I understand there will be excessive amounts of booze there. So, put your party hats on and keep a wary eye on the person next to you.... you never know who will be "Rupturing", and who won't.

Note to Mom - avoid the "Plains of Awkwardly Public Family Interactions". You've been through that territory too many times! Time to find an alternate route! :)
One of many interactions with my sons regarding my making remarks about them for the world to read. Whatever.
This was about a very clever map that a friend of Daves' did. Check it out:

http://xkcd.com/802/

Easter, 2010

Easter this year was so different than years past, in a good way. I remember shopping for unique Easter goodies for my boys for years and years, and my husband too for that matter. Yes, they each got a basket.

This year it seemed that Easter was going to sort of fade into the sunset, until we received the invitation to watch our grandchildren hunt eggs at their house, with the other grandparents.

My grandson, Archer is going to be four years old on June 24. He was beyond excited and had been hunting eggs since about 6:30 a.m. His other grandmother had sent over 5 dozen eggs which Archer had decorated. He had also helped make cupcakes for everyone. He was also practicing being very patient with his baby sister, Violet.

My granddaughter, Violet is fourteen months old and is at the most precious stage of her babyhood. She is walking and running and babbling, just full of energy. She is such a happy baby and is a joy for all of us.

For her, Easter morning was magical. All these pretty eggs just appeared from nowhere and she could pick them up and put them in her very own basket.

Book Report

My friend and I were talking about books vs. movies, once I finished reading The Soloist, by Steve Lopez, and then the movie came out.....I thought 'how in the world could Jamie Foxx and "Bobby" Downey, Jr. pull that off'. I just could not force myself to see the movie. It was a really good book.

Another book, by the same title, The Soloist, by Mark Salzman is one that a friend, avid reader, and huge personality, Doug, recommended to me. At the time, as we had discussed, I was reading another book on my Kindle, but made the mistake of picking up the book late one night, "just to read a couple of pages." Wrong. Hooked, I had to force myself to put it down. It is another work of fiction, written in 1994.

Not to bore you, but the line that made me laugh out loud is in the very beginning, the author is talking with a friend about how most of the saints from the 16th century, i.e. Saint Theresa of Avila, Spanish mystic, probably suffered from some sort of neurological disorder, causing hallucinations. "They're pretty sure now that Van Gogh had a kind of brain disease that made him see everything as if it were saturated with yellow light." I cracked up.....out loud. It's not that I'm some snobby literature buff, but when a book makes me laugh out loud, it's a pretty good sign that I will love the book.

A couple of years ago I was slugging through an audio course on the great classical musicians, and the author made me laugh out loud, in my truck, barreling down I-10, in the rain. Fabulous! I had to pull over...

So, book talk is so fun, especially when you make a friend who loves it as much as you do.  Recent favorites:

The Life of Edgar Sawtelle
Anything by Geraldine Brooks

Stieg Larsson,who was such a gifted author and had a very interesting life. He died at 50, suddenly, of a heart ailment.  He is one of those guys. I had read his book, 'The Girl Who Played With Fire' and wanted to know more about him. His work in fighting racism, antisemitism, fascism and discrimination, especially against women, made him even more interesting. He was an awesome dude.

Eclipsing Chaos Brings a Friendship

This post is all about an experience I had recently, that has meant so much to me. Several weeks ago, I was involved in an art project called,'Eclipses for Austin' . Participants (volunteers) were to gather at the DKR football stadium in Austin. As I sat in the boiling heat, a woman came and sat down next to me, her name was Joan. Little did I know that Joan and I were to become friends. Here are some excerpts of a conversation via e-mail, we had after going to the opening of our project at the Blanton Art Museum. As you will see, a friendship has blossomed.

Email from me to Joan:

"Well, that was too much fun! I can't tell you the last time I just sat around with someone and never ran out of things to talk about. I think we just barely scratched the surface. Really was special to me. So, if you want to see what my artwork looks like, go to http://www.heartgallery.etsy.com/ If you go to http://www.etsy.com/, you will be hooked on the shopping experience there. It is one of the very few art sites where everything is handmade. I also have a shop at http://www.gillgallery.artfire.com/. There are some very talented folks out there putting their work online. Very creative stuff. I have purchased several items and never been disappointed. Before my granddaughter,Violet Olivia was born, I bought a hand crocheted little bonnet for her. Turned out the artist lived in London. It was very beautiful. So yes, it is a worldwide website. Again, so glad we hooked up and I really look forward to getting together again
Kind regards, Cathy

Joan:

It was a fun afternoon!! I couldn't believe we talked away for the whole afternoon. I really am glad we met in the hot stadium with the crazy percussion stuff going on. And being able to make fun of Austin's own Sarah Bernhart was something special.

I just viewed your work online. You are quite the artist! I do love the margarita on the rocks. The salt on the rim is the perfect touch (and just the way I like my margaritas!). Your painting captures the taste and feel of an icy cold margarita on a hot day.

Sister Love

I just love spending time with my little sister, Birdie . She is such a bright, shiny, light in what can be my dark little world. Just venting with her and listening to her wisdom from her own experience in life is all I really need. Not every day, but often.

Sometimes I get wrapped so tight, she is the one who I let unravel all the little knots and tangles. I had a few going for me today. Birdie called and said she was headed into town and would I like to have coffee with her. Dumb question. I jumped at the opportunity to be with her for a change of pace.

We met at a new coffee place that was close to my house and had a delightful Latte and wonderful problem solving discussions. I tried not to seem too needy, but Birdie has insights that not too many people I know, have. She can use examples of situations that I can relate to. Let me just say that I sure wish there were more people in the world that think like Birdie does. I am a very lucky woman.

Birdie was talking about separating problems out and putting them on a shelf for later examination. It seems like each day, I have been adding stuff to that shelf and it is sort of overloading.
Just for today, I will take one off the shelf and deal with it. Not so easy, but if I examine it closely, maybe I can come up with a solution.

Oh...yes...that is one of my watercolors above. Too much fun making the froth on top all swirly. I have two gratitude's today and a promise.
1. I am grateful for my sister, Birdie.
2. I am grateful for this beautiful day of not sweating.

Promise: I promise to treat myself well today, food, exercise, painting.