Whew. Long time no post. Finally bought a new laptop, new scanner/printer…yowza. My poor plastic hurts, if you know what I mean! And that wasn’t the hardest part. The REAL P.I.T.A. is that my Photoshop software, which is a gazillion years old in computer time, isn’t recognized by Windows 7 so when I put it in the update it… wonk. Reads the CD as blank. Utter frustration.
As a quick catch-up to the last few weeks, I offer this:
Clifford
The ol’ boy’s breathing has just been getting rougher and rougher. He’s been on aggressive antibiotics to try to squelch that awful cough … AND they seemed to work… mostly. X-rays have ruled out congestive heart failure and lung cancer (did I mention that before?). We now know it’s upper-airway related which means probably larangeal paralysis or some type of cancer. Ugh, can’t think about it.
Hiking
LOVE the cooler weather. The leaves are changing, the grass is frosty in the morning… ah. Goodbye summer heat and humidity… don’t let the door hit you on the way out! 
The above pics were taken at Green Lakes State Park. The lakes there are meromictic, making them turquoise blue. I’m not sure you can tell in the photo but they were spectacular. Because the trails around the lake are flat, Cliff was able to come and had relatively few troubles, although his breathing was so rough by the end I thought maybe we shouldn’t have gone? He was charging full-steam ahead though, pulling the whole hike… so he enjoyed himself. And that’s what’s important.
Jack and I did another great hike recently- Jones Hill (aka Hang Glider’s Peak) in Morgan Hill State Forest, near Tully. Leaves were spectacular down there. The hike was pretty steep, but we made it to the top with relatively little groaning/complaining (on my part). At one point we were passed by a guy hiking with a maltese (!) which put Jack and I to shame. Oh well.
Keeping Busy…
I’m really trying to be a more fit person. I know I stay active walking and hiking with the boys, but I wanted to step up my game. Plus, I can’t seem to fit into any of my fall clothes without sucking in a lot (arrrrg). I’m lucky enough to work at a university that offers a variety of recreational classes to its faculty and staff, and this semester I’m trying out kickboxing. LOVE it. I’ve also started jogging with Jack (he’s a great runner) and in the mornings I do a 20-minute Jillian Michaels (of Biggest Loser fame) workout DVD. So between doing one or the other every day, plus eating a huge salad every day for lunch… I feel REALLY good. Have I lost weight? No. But I still feel awesome.:)
I’ve also started as a Transport volunteer with some New England rescue groups. Basically, when they get dogs from puppy mills or high-kill shelters and need to move them to safe havens, I help with the driving. It has been so rewarding! Here are some of the beautiful pups I’ve met on their journey. They were all wonderful and I get teary-eyed knowing they are on their way to new, safe, well-loved lives…
Mac
Omar
Singing Ottie!
Miss Wendy
Timmy!
Last but not least, ART…
Art. Sigh. I have been having such an identity crisis lately. I ADORE printmaking but it’s so ever-loving hard, and nothing comes out the way it “should” (aka, the way it is in my head). After a few deep conversations about it with a friend, I decided to put down the blocks and ink and try something new. I decided on Colored Pencils. It was my medium of choice 15-20 years ago, back in high school.
Am I having fun with the cp’s? Sure. But…. hell. They are SO EASY. It’s almost boring working with them, in a way? There are no surprises like there is in printmaking. No “WOW!” (or “SHIT!”) factor when you pull the paper away from the inked block and see what’s in front of you. Soooo… well, I’m plugging along but have been experimenting with Polyester Plate Lithography…
I bought a bunch of plates last year and barely cracked them out of the package. I’ve been experimenting with them- drawing on the plates with china markers, litho crayons, Sharpies, and tusche- washing the plate with a gum arabic/water mix, inking it up and printing… and I’m really liking it. More spontaneous then Linocutting, but not as out-of-control as Monotypes. Stay tuned… I’ve gotten the itch for this process!
Hmmm, I know there’s more but I must sign off… Biggest Loser is about to start and I need to get my pizza in the oven (does anyone else stuff their faces with junk food during that show, or is it just me??)….
Later Gators!
Jen
