If you can't be a good example at least be a horrible warning...

I've waited a few days to say anything about some recent news highlights. For me the most recent was number three, not necessarily literally but it feels that way.

I heard right after Christmas that a woman with whom I had been friendly in California had passed away in October from prescription drug abuse. She was so beautiful inside and out. The main reason her death surprised me is that she was one of the most devoted mothers I've ever known. He left a wonderful husband, a 21 year old son, a 17 year old daughter and a 10 year old son. I have to say that for me she's a prime example of how strong drugs can control a person's life-the drugs had to be in control because I know she would never have intentionally done anything to hurt her children and anyone in control would easily know this behavior would be harmful to their children.

Second, we had our own celebrity-by-voyeurism whose life ended a couple of weeks ago. Her killer? I have to say the media and, since I didn't know her or anyone involved in the situation only what I read in the newspapers, I'm assuming some her own friends and neighbors. Literally, though, it was by her own hands. This beautiful, intelligent woman was hounded by the media and tagged with many handles like "housewife hooker", etc. As many friends of mine have pointed out so perfectly, she could have been doing what she did all day and night and much more openly and it would have been legal if it had been for free. What bothers me most is that I don't personally know these folks who decide how and when my sisters and I use our own bodies but I kind of have a feeling she did. Who is it exactly that I'm paying rent to? And, as a local man so eloquently pointed out in his letter to the Flyer editor last week, we Howard County residents feel oh so much more safer now that our streets have been all cleaned up. Another great example of use of time and money, not that we need it anywhere else.

Third, Anna Nicole. I don't know why I've always been particularly drawn to her. I think it's because my life and hers have so many parallels. We were both born in Texas, we were both flat-chested teenagers, we were both raised in Texas, she grew up in a mobile home, I once drove by a Texas mobile home park...I know, freaky, huh? Her life was a train wreck that I couldn't look away from. Me and lots of others, but that doesn't let me off the hook. I allow myself one guilty-pleasure tv viewing enjoyment at a time. I also went through Sex and The City and Curb Your Enthusiasm stages, however separately. So for a while it was her reality show. I like to think of it as a sociological study, how do these minds work? Why do people watch, why do people do the things they do, etc.? I'll defend myself right here and say I never watch violent things-hate violence in any form. But she too, like example #1, loved her children but still couldn't overcome whatever that need was that couldn't even be met by or covered up with full cranial numbing. So much pain, not enough or the right kind of support or protection...

These were three beautiful, talented, intelligent (okay, two out of three) women who touched my heart for whatever weird reasons and are now gone for whatever weird reasons. I'm just saying this so that all of y'all who are reading this might join me in taking a moment to ponder their pain, mourn their families' loss, and consider how we can keep ourselves and our sisters from going the way these women did.

Red Alert!!!! New eBay listings!!!!!

Never say die-that's my motto. Financial bust in Freddyburg but, much as I prefer human interaction over computers, I've listed just a few of my new art pieces on eBay. Just type in "collage art" and peruse 'til you find me or go onto the advanced search and select search by seller and type in "doojies" to see what's what. Tell your friends-pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeese. This is at least until I get my tutorial for my website which is under construction. Drag me into the 21st century damnit...Oh, oh, oh, when you're not on the computer you MUST watch Taladega Nights-I cannot believe that I haven't mentioned it in previous posts but I guess the fact that Mellie and I reenacted the whole movie for our poor friends over the weekend made me remember to mention it now. Shut up Grandpa before I go ape-shit on your ass...

Cute but still po...

Well us dynamic quatro just got back from trying the DC Big Flea version in Fredericksburg, VA. You can see from the party pics just how cute we were. But what a strange customer crowd! First we thought that the bus loads of folks from AARP had accidentally been dropped off at the wrong convention center (some one thought that the fliers had mentioned free denture cream-hey-no offense-I'm playing the back 9 myself) but then when the younger peeps showed up it was still weird. Janine and Karen got on board with Linda's new motto, "What goes to Fredericksburg stays in Fredericksburg", (still not as fun as my, "what happens in Chantilly stays in Chantilly") and gave new homes to some old goodies but Mellie and I finally figured out that this ain't our venue. We did, however, get some good advise from Robyn and Rene from Robyn's Nest on the art show circuit which we will be checkin' out asap.

Not to worry, we had way more fun than is legal (but I will put us up against any farm laborer as working harder than legal too, just for the three days though, mind you) thanks to best friends Paul and Julie, Linda, Cary, and my personal booth/room mates Janine, Karen, and Mellie.

AND, okay, Fredericksburg, let's just start by saying that if you know any foreigners coming to the States for a visit, right before or after Disneyland they MUST go to Freddyburg. I'm not a mall person (other than DC which has museums and is, you know, outside) but I've never seen anything anywhere near like this area where we were. Pardon me but I have to list a small part of the offerings all in one area: Krispy Kreme (believe it or not, these are not in order of desire), Pancho Villa, Baja Fresh, Qudoba, Chipotle, Cracker Barrel, Texas Steakhouse, Outback, Ledo's Pizza, Asian Cuisine, Thai Pad, Panda Express, Chic Fil A, Mickey D's, Burger King, Quizno's, Pizza Hut, Panera, okay, Super Walmart, Target, A.C. Moore, Michael's, Benjamin Moore, Lowe's, Home Depot, 14 screen movie theater, Ice Palace rink, B of A, M&T, Chevy Chase Bank, Blockbuster, Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens and Things, Old Navy, DSW, Shoe Rack, Payless, Safeway, Giant, Food Lion...this is in about a square mile area. Okay, I'll leave this subject for now but I think you're getting my point that it is indescribably overwhelming commercialism-I saw it but I still can't believe it. I was so taken aback that I'd love to see it through the eyes of someone from outside this country.

The upshot is not that I've been practically bed-ridden with a cold since I got back but that I always have so much fun with my best buds and it's always an interesting carney experience that I love. The weather was perfect for the show but pretty tough for loading in and out.

Please stay tuned as I will be working frantically on my website, this blog, and other new venues for my artwork.

Adding other blog links...

I just spent over an hour trying to add blog links to my blogs. I did get one on, my sis's, which I've very happy about but I was going for adding several. For now until I get my tutorial, I will put my friend, Mellie's, blog address here: littlemelfie.blogspot.com. Check out her blog, she's great and you can do some great creative surfing from there. This is one of her fab creations to the right here. Enjoy! P.S. I also try to watch Joyce Meyer on Fox each morning. She's a Christian minister and she's a little Dr. Phil-ish (very straight forward and pulls no punches and sometimes even a little right leaning-no one's perfect) but I get so much from her preaching (with a good filtering system). This week, in particular, she's preaching on kind of a "don't worry, be happy" viewpoint that I know I need. Just thought I'd share that before I log off here. Have a blessed life!

Important suggestions that I had overlooked...

My bad. I've been remiss in mentioning earlier in these first few days of blogging some very important suggestions. I am bossy but I'm trying to not be on this blog. But, my opinion is that everyone should watch Oprah every day. Now I can't watch it every day myself but I try to watch it as many days as possible without scheduling my life around it. They show re-runs so don't get discouraged, the best ones come around more than once. She does do some make-over and celebrity days but even then there is usually a socially-justifiable element attached. On normal days she shares, what I believe, quite valuable information, at the least, and many times amazing occurrences, experiences, and information that I probably would not get from any other source with the added element of empowerment for women. Okay, I could go on all day. Let's just say that if Oprah says to do, read, see something, I do it and I feel that I and the world is so blessed to have her. And, okay, I swear this is it about Oprah for now, her XM radio station is brilliant. I only hear it when I'm in the car but the Gayle King and Dr. Robin interviews and shows are very inspirational. I've been lucky enough to catch Gayle's interviews with Andrew Young, Chris Gardiner, and the guests from the girls' school opening ceremonies in South Africa. And Dr. Robin is down-to-earth, common sense-driven, and comforting. Next, I think everyone should read the Sunday edition of The Washington Post. Not to put too fine a point on it but I think it would be helpful for folks outside of the DC area to read about some of the more personal aspects of the compost heap that is our nation's capital. Also, there are two very funny articles, one rather artistically random-The Style Invitational-the other, politically satirical-The Zeitgeist Checklist. They are the balance for the hoards of bad news. It's leanings are liberal for this area but, I believe, reveal a little more inside the heads of those at the helm than most of the overview articles that other out-of-the-area, mainstream papers offer. We get a little more up-close and personal. And the blood that squirts out here leaks out to the rest of the nation and it's a little more than scary. We need even more help than you think! Check it out. The Metro and the Outlook sections are most important for edification. And, until the next installment, you gotta watch Gilmore Girls. Check your t.v. listings and catch the re-runs at two different times each day (tivo or record if needed, but please...) and new ones starting again this week on Tuesday nights on the New CW (your welcome, C Dub). Non-guilty, intelligent, wry humor. Have a blessed life. I mean it, right now!