What is it with time?….

I have said one too many times lately…. what the….? when it comes to the passage of time.  When I lived in England it seemed an age between the weeks — used to gauge the week by thinking about the Wordsworths coming down from London to Pett Bottom (yes, there is a place called that), Kent on Friday nights.  Thought about their lovely 15th century cottage that had been redone to the best specs at the time.  He was some sort of entrepreneur, about 80 years old (possible exaggeration) and a distant relative of the poet William Wordsworth.  This man was also a William.  She, on the other hand, was maybe in her 50s and worked for the greatly reputable firm of Marks and Spencer.  Everything of quality at the prices nearly everyone could afford.  But that was back in the late 70s, early 80s.  Who knows what it’s like there now, and whether both of the Wordsworths are even still alive.  Her maiden name was Regina Rothschild.  An elegant pair.

(Shrugs shoulders and goes on with life.)

Watching that Shakespeare miniseries from Angleterre that was made in the 70s.  Think I watched it over in the old country originally.  Of course, I didn’t have a crush on Ian McShane then.  I was quite disappointed when he, as Marlowe, bit the dust in the first of 6 episodes. Isn’t the same without him.  

Spent a bit of time today looking at houses/apartments.  Bother.  I’m staying put for the moment.  Do not need more upheaval in my life.  Time for a modicum of quiet and serenity.  I know, dream on sister.

Very cold here today.  Must be snowing at a low elevation.  My news/weather watching is nearly non-existent recently.  Face is happier dealing with mud and cloth.  

Later………….

What does sleep do for you?

Got home at 5:20pm.

Had a quick snack.

Fell into bed.

Awoke at 10:00pm.

On awakening, unsure of day, time, lifetime, universe.

Going to fall back into bed in a few minutes after watching a few minutes of Ian McShane as Kit Marlowe in the made-for-tv miniseries called “Shakespeare.”

Yummy McPoet (why can’t he join the other Mc – whomevers in this world?) is a dream in the 1970s production. At least it was before the mullet-filled 80s when he was in “Lovejoy,” my current fave.

What is it about these less than smooth guys, eh?  No clue.  Right now, rather an imaginary I.Mc. in my life than a real boy, Peter Pan!  Ah well, shows I’m still alive, at least.

Odd.  Subconsciously I’m playing the “Lovejoy” theme in my brain….. along with the lifetime’s worth of tinnitus which has been part of my life since the teenage days when I listened to music louder than even my son can stand, both in the car and in the house.

Of course I will share, but you must promise to watch an episode or two.

Never seen Lovejoy in action?

Ok, off to my yogurt and pecans, almonds and cashews with cinnamon.  Then lovely sleep again, probably much later.

Nite nite……………….

hands in mud….

That’s the class I’m taking now that the old one has disappeared forever.  It’s less expensive, no new learners, just experienced (nearly said old), and the instructor of record is the one who loads the kiln for firings.  With the $30 odd dollars a month I’m saving, I should be able to buy my own kiln in about 10 years!  Actually, maybe more like 3 years.  Not bad.  

At tomorrow’s class, I’m hoping to walk in to find several of my large pots fired — those from a couple of weekends ago.  There were five, and two small seed pots, of course, that are slightly larger than the former ones…. thus beginning my project of seed pots of increasing size.  It will be a long project, but one worth waiting for since I’m planning a show around them.

Heck…. gotta go to work — the one that brings in the $$.  Not sad or angry about it, just a bit annoyed about the high school-like antics that a couple of my close proximity colleagues get into on a daily basis.  One has a particularly piercing and odd laugh.  I have decided that when she laughs, I’ll get up and walk around for a couple of minutes.  Unfortunately, that could mean I’ll be walking most of the day.

Even ear phones with KVMR on won’t obliterate the noise.  

Later……….

nostalgia + no sugar or caffeine

Wow…. that combo can find you either in reverie or in high spirits.  Right now, it’s sleep that has my attention.  Just looked back at a sudden interest in my blog page about Audrey Auld Mezera in April 2007.  She is one of the wonderful artists introduced to me by a great friend who will soon be moving to Washington state. Gives me a little twinge when I think of what we have shared over the past four and a half years…. yes, I will miss her and her lovely family — adoring and adorable husband and two amazing children — but this was what she was meant to do.  

I already have an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner in Seattle this November. Needless to say, I shall be there!  

Other than that, I am so happy to be seeing things with fresh eyes.  Perhaps it is the no sugar, no caffeine life combined with celibacy (which right now includes no extraneous males hanging on in the background).  I know, I know.  It’s been only a month since the last visitor was here, but I’m chuffed with the idea of solo life again.  

Let’s ‘ave a look at Sweet (you know what he does for me) Baby James Taylor once again doin’ his thang……

Yes, of course, as expected, there is another more recent version…

Gotta love it!!!

later, dearies……….

Something new….

My son, Sam has something new.  Since his birthday is Tuesday, and my inventiveness after 24 years is waning in the gift category, I dredged up an old wish of his.  For as long as I can remember him wishing, and he doesn’t do that often, he has talked of a mandolin.  

Since I had a bluegrass band playing for my art show last year, I now have a mandolin player contact, Matt Dudman, mandolin player and boss of all for the Pleasant Valley Boys.  

E-mailed him on Wednesday last, he sent me some specs, I made a choice, the little blighter arrived on Friday at Matt’s place.  Sam and I ventured to the depths of Dixon, California which is now just as modern as any other little former cow town.

Not meant to be disrespectful of the fine citizens of Dixon…. just what the heck is a wallmart the size of several football fields doing out in the fields of Dixon.  I used to love driving through there guessing what crops were growing in the vast fields.  Never knew it would be a thing of the past.

By the way, that quick representation of the Pleasant Valley Boys is the result of a day when they recorded a couple of songs at a local radio station — the one at the University of California Davis KDVS.

Back to the mandolin.  It is very cool, all black made of some fine woods.  Matt says the sound will continue to improve as the woods age.  Now Sam has his first birthday gift of the year, and after tonight’s celebration with his friends at Roma’s Pizza, he should be graced with a couple more, but in this day of zero money, there are no expectations.  

I was thrilled to awaken at 7 am this morning.  That is the time I usually get to work. You know that I get there early so that I can get back to work here as soon as possible.

This weekend’s creativity is going into the completion of that green piece that I started a few weeks ago, then put back on the shelf when the pottery insisted on coming out and wouldn’t take no for an answer.  I have taken several patterns for quilt blocks from quilter’s cache online, each resulting in a 12″ square.  I have finished two, using the greens from the shelf, am working on #3, and will do perhaps 6 or 7 before I’m ready to add them to the green piece.  

Also going to speak with a money lender this morning at 10 to see if I should even think about investing in another house.  She is recommended by my friend the realtor, Tecca from Coldwell Banker, a wonderful woman who sold my last home two years ago next week.  Yes, I’ve been on the prowl, but happy in the moves since April 16, 2007 when the house closed.

Feeling the pull to the fabric right now, so will close here and head off to the studio. That’s supposed to be funny, because the computer is now IN the studio.  It is placed at a great vantage point.  I can glance to my right and see most of the back garden through the window.  Love watching the grapefruit from my neighbor’s garden plopping on the ground as the wind gets more and more forceful.

Photos to follow of the green piece next time.

later…………..

let me catch up…..

I realized today that I have left a few items unfinished.  If you need completion for your life to have great meaning, perhaps I can contribute today to your life.

Caffeine:  no caffeine (unless unknowingly) since I wrote of caffeine addiction.  Once in a while, I’ll drink a few sips of one of those sugar free everything free generic clear sodas, especially after a Chinese meal.  No idea the why.  Lots of herbal caffeine free teas.  One every morning, at least.  Much better.  Headaches have ceased.

Hysterectomy + 4 months is now nearly hysterectomy + 4.5 months: 

1.  When asked for a clear stream specimen, I can now do it;

2.  Nothing between me and my panties;

3.  Yes, the breasts can go lower than they are already;

4.  The moon, especially when full, still affects me — stay away boys;

5.  I am the most important person to me;

6.  Why didn’t I do this earlier?

7.  I am passionate about my clay and my fabric, but not about a man for the first time in a very long time;

8.  There’s nothing between me and my panties (yes, I know I’ve said it before!);

9.  Grateful for surgical technology that allowed my precious Dr. Seaver to take out all the offending materials without cutting through any muscle tissue;

10. Forever filled with gratitude for all my friends and  family who meditated, prayed, sang, thought and lived through the time with me.  Ask, dear ones, ask for their help.  If not now, then when will they be of service to you in such a simple, happy way.

There.

I know.  You still want to know about the man thing.  Well, yes, most men have them thangs.  I guess I’m not ready to share right now.  Friends are good.  Like me and my friend from Boston…. we want someone to “get” us.  

This morning, finished listening to Eat, Live, Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert.  Eleven discs in the car for hours and hours and hours.  Brought the last one into the house because I couldn’t wait to hear the ending.  There was really no ending…. just a sort of trailing off into the sunset.  There were a few profound moments in it for me.  I won’t tell you now.  Still processing.  It was lovely to hear her read the unabridged version to me. Yes, to me, silly.  She recorded it for me, in spite of the fact that I got it at the library and that it is available in all the hippest stores!

I think I want to be the earth mother everyone thinks I am.

 

Good grief, I still love James Taylor.  I’m going to one of his indoor concerts before I die.  I’ve been to two outdoor.  As wonderful as it was, I still want the intimacy of indoors.

And this weekend — Saturday, Sunday, Monday — filled with love of clay.  Four large pieces and two smaller seed pots.  They will be fired this week, and be ready for the next step after that.

OK, I’m blathering a bit.  Some closure on some issues, though.

Next week is my son’s 24th birthday.  He’s such a sage.  I am grateful every day for him.

Later…..

bliss…

I awake this morning filled with bliss.  Up to this moment, I have no idea if it relates to the “ignorance is….” words or not.  So, I will blithely float through the day grounded by my desire to channel out that clay piece that has been in my brain for nearly two weeks.  It is part of a much larger project that might take a year or more to complete.  Now, if I didn’t have this part time job, it might take less time, but then who knows, eh?

So this note will be brief, as I am itching to get my hands in the clay. Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.  Today, my time is my time.

Determination, concentration, will, desire will all accompany me.

Ta ta for now…………

happy and sad….

For a good buddy at the moment very far away…

XXX my friend….. one day!

 

While watching the 1990s BBC Production of Thackeray’s  Vanity Fair , I heard the leading lady sing the following Purcell aria…… and subsequently found the performance by Dame Janet Baker who was, at that time, merely Janet Baker.  A very old-fashioned, stilted version, but one with which we all identified.  To think my ex did some recordings with her astounds me to this day.

Prepare yourself.   This is VERY classically oriented.  JB was a young 33 when she recorded this.

And a version by Emma Kirkby, whom I saw in England.  She was at one time the quintessential interpreter of arias such as this one:

And we can’t leave out the more modern version by the Swingle Singers whom I also adore.

So, my friends, good night from Sacramento.  

later………………………