Gail Moves Indoors....

At least for one night anyway! It was back to the streets first thing Saturday morning.

The weekend was pretty much a blur. Per my last post you know that I was staying very busy on Friday, and in fact, was a few minutes late to the show if you can believe it. I almost left without the camera and had to run back in to get it. I gave Bruce the Nikon and said it was set on Auto--not enough instruction. He dislikes (as we all do) using the flash, so he held it down when it tried to fire, causing motion on nearly every image. Thus you see my back. Or maybe you do--I seem to be having all sorts of trouble uploading pictures to the blog. I'm definitely on a learning curve switching back to Picasa.

Last night after two markets I learned on the job how to upload pictures to Picasa web albums straight from Picasa. I did have some good news on Sunday--Orange County Convention Bureau wants to use some of my pictures I take at the market. We're trying to figure out how to make that viable. I also had a blockbuster day at the market--you just never know.

Anyway back to the indoor thing. It was great and went by very quickly. My beloved support system came out which was so appreciated. As well, there were loads of other people, including some influential(in Orlando anyway) art folks; I suspect they were not there for me, but still...

Although I did not sell any of the framed pieces, I did sell at least five of the matted prints--or at least I think that is what sold. Maybe it was my prices, maybe my product, but I was the only one to sell anything. Actually I did not handle the sales, the gallery people did, however, for sure I know that the swimming toad sold, which proves I don't know much. While Matt was home he helped me choose the three images to submit for publicity; one was of the toad I found swimming in our pool. I protested--"no one will want to buy a toad!", but he insisted. I've known him long enough to know not to argue. How I wish he were nearer to home! Actually I would completely overwhelm him with my output; I'm sure the distance is somewhat of a godsend, if you know what I mean.

After the show we had some dinner with our Orlando sons and their wife and girlfriend. I went straight to bed, getting up early to prepare for the Saturday market which was just fine. The weather couldn't be better right now--great temperatures and gorgeous blue skies. Ditto, Sunday as far as weather goes. When I got home we went to the movies for a little afternoon date. We saw Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood's new movie. It was good, but no Slumdog Millionaire! I was SO tired from everything I was fast asleep a little after 8, getting a solid ten hours of sleep!

I spent Sunday talking, talking, talking! The market was packed and there were very few minutes when I didn't have someone in the booth, either a customer, or a friend. I'll need to remember this come summer. We went over to the wine bar after the market for a salad and a glass of wine with Dana, then homeward bound to unload. After handling my market business, I, once again, was in bed early. I just get so tired I can't stay up. In fact, as I type this I'm feeling tired all over again. It's all good though.

Now we move forward. The show will be hanging for a few more weeks then what doesn't sell will join others around here until the right time comes. From my vantage point I won't even wonder about it until then.

I swear I'm feeling a nap coming on. Do I sound like a baby or what?

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Listening to: Morrissey - Sing Your Life
via FoxyTunes

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Listening to: The Music - Bleed From Within
via FoxyTunes

This is for the Better Days

My title was different until I realized that the song I'm listening to is perfect for today. I went to see my new doctor today; his name is Dr. David Smuckler. Isn't that such an unusual last name? At any rate, I believe I told you my internist abandoned ship for the rival hospital across town, thus when I called the office they said that Dr. Smuckler was taking over for Dr. Everett. I was only planning on meeting him as I'd been feeling so good but fortuitously it was scheduled six weeks ago for today. I was in there whining about no diagnosis as you can image. Well.....he was slightly sympathetic, not overly so, but it was a start. He told me he'd had two patients in the past who had normal MRIs and US of their abdomen but when they had a nuclear medicine study called a HIDA scan it showed a non-functioning gallbladder. It makes sense as the pain is right where my GB is. I'm not getting my hopes up or anything, but wouldn't that be something if we finally knew what was dogging me?

These roses are ironmen; I took this maybe yesterday and they are eleven days old now. The new plant vendor from the market is donating them to the Leukemia Society, they have set up a booth selling them for a dollar donation--well worth every penny.

Poor Mr. Bruce has been on the move all week. Monday: Vero, Tues/Wednesday: Chicago, Thursday: Vero, and when he returns tomorrow around 1:30 we will head to Deland to set up. Thank God he is an ironman! Tomorrow night is Spamalot!!!

I hope I sell a lot in Deland because Roger could use my business. As you know his 24 year old son has a weird cancer with exorbitant medical bills; this is not just about me.

Several days ago I went to the library and got three films I'd been wanting to see--Kite Runner, Atonement, and Hotel Rwanda. I've yet to watch Kite Runner(one of my all time favorite books), but I can say the other two are incredibly moving for different reasons. No one ever accused me of liking cheery films, or books, with good reason.

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Listening to: The Bees - (This Is For The) Better Days
via FoxyTunes

Mixed Bag

Here's a photograph of Bruce at an architectural antique store we visited in Deland yesterday. He has taken a break from working and has been playing with me. Deland is about 35 miles north of Orlando, home of Stetson University. There is a cute downtown with many restaurants and galleries. Prior to getting there we stopped at Blue Springs State Park, winter home of manatees. When it gets cold they hang out in the constant 72 degree spring water. We saw a fair number of them in the water as well as an alligator sunning itself on a tree. The manatees are very challenging to photograph because they only surface for air occasionally. Nonetheless,even if my photos were not so great, the experience was great. We moseyed through galleries, antique stores, and a barber shop that has had only five owners in over 100 years. We found a pub for Bruce to have a Bass ale with his lunch.

On our drive home we came across a little known park called Gemini Springs. Mostly it encompasses marsh lands of the St. John's River which is one of the few rivers to flow north. The sun was dropping shedding a beautiful golden light. Did I mention that it is very warm again? The temp today was to be 86 degrees.

On Thursday evening we saw No Country for Old Men. Several years ago Bruce listened to the novel on cd while driving to some job. Arriving a few minutes late to a movie like this one is not a good idea. I sat down in my customary back row seat in time to watch Javier Bardem strangle a deputy to death with handcuffs, all the while looking bored with the whole process. I had no idea what was in store; I won't spoil it for anyone but suffice it to say that it was the most brutal movie I've seen in a while. Based very closely on Cormac McCarthy's novel, it was both unsettling and thought provoking.

Time to get ready to go to friends for dinner--I'm bringing an old favorite--Mexican chocolate cake. I'll fill you in on the recipe later.







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Now playing: Bloc Party - Blue Light
via FoxyTunes

Christmas Present

Pictured here is the man of the house (alongside the dog of the house) with his new Christmas present. He is so totally thrilled with it--probably the most excited he's been since he bought me my camera. He did receive some awesome gifts from his sons--tickets to see Spamalot from Matt, ticket to see Wrestlemania with Bill, Dave, and Michelle, and a new Brain Age game for his DS Light from Jonathan. Needless to say he's a happy man.

We distracted ourselves yesterday afternoon with a trip to a local museum to see paintings and drawings by George Bellows--fantastic work. I was hoping to inspire Bruce to use his new drawing set I gave him for Christmas. You didn't know that the real artist in the family is Bruce did you?

After the museum trip we stopped by the library to turn in some unwatched DVDs. We got three new ones for a movie fest, watching all in a row! Three different genres, three good movies. Children of Men, Two Weeks Notice, and an all time favorite of my mom's Best in Show. If you've not seen it you must--it never fails to make us laugh. As well, we are big Hugh Grant fans. Bruce likes Sandra Bullock, I can take her or leave her, but any movie with Hugh Grant is a must see for us. Although he plays similar parts he's just so darn charming you don't care.

I've spent today making some web albums for various people and catching up a bit with Flickr friends as I have largely ignored them during the holidays.

Matthew made it home and dry (a reference to a Pet Shop Boys song)

My birthday is coming up pretty quick. I am one of those odd folks who is the same age during the entire calendar year. This year I was the same age as the year I was born--1953, however, that is almost a thing of the past. When your birthday is six days after Christmas it can be an afterthought (mostly for me). I always feel sorry for those who want to remember it after the Christmas spending spree. I'll be changing my flickr profile to reflect the changes--no longer a student, and 54 years old. It is really hard for me to imagine, but I'll just stick with the cliche you are as young as you feel which at the moment is pretty darn good.



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Now playing: Sugababes - Push the Button
via FoxyTunes!