Hortense

I was fourteen and I had a HUGE crush on a high school boy. His name was Neil. He used to come to the Jr. High dances every Friday.

I think he liked me too.

One Sunday morning as my family and I sat in a booth at Reade’s drug store having breakfast Neil walked in.

Before I knew what I was doing I shot up from my seat and SQUEALED “Neil!”

EVERYONE in the ENTIRE store turned around to see why I had shrieked.

I was mortified!

Of course having my older brother make a big deal of it didn’t help either! I just wanted to melt into the plastic booth and die!

Moments later, a woman (who we didn't know) walked through the front door.

My father jumped to his feet and YELLED, “Hortense!”

The entire store started to laugh and everyone went back to what they were doing.

At the timeI thought he did it to tease me.
It wasn’t until I grew up that I finally realized what my father had done and why.

I didn’t know to say it then but,

Thanks, Dad.

She Never Shuts Up!

In third grade a new boy moved into the neighborhood. He was from Greece and didn’t speak a word of English. The teacher said, “Put him next to Robin. He’ll learn English faster that way, she never shuts up!”

I was both proud and insulted at the same time!

Having a Play Date With Myself

This little guy has a motion detector in it. When you walk by it starts to laugh hysterically and rolls back and forth until it sounds like it has exhausted itself. You can't help but laugh along with it. Sometimes the cat sets it off. She is not amused, but we laugh like hell!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND!

Bad Hair Cut

I feel like that poor pathetic poodle you see who has just come from the groomer. You know, the one with the pink bows in its fur, the pom-pom cut and painted toe nails. You can just see on their face how embarrassed they are!

(and the really pathetic part is, I cut my own hair!)

Reality Check

Boy, start feeling just a little bit sorry for yourself and life gives you a reality check.

There I was, sitting in the ‘inner’ waiting room, feeling just a tad hard done by. Tired of being poked and prodded and just generally manhandled by the medical profession and there sitting across from me is a lovely lady.

We smile at each other and in due time start to compare notes.

I take it ALL back. All the moaning and groaning and complaining. Compared to this smiling, stalwart woman I've had it easy!

Just when you think you’ve reached a point of having had enough, life shows you how easy it’s really been.

I am humbled.

I Learned a New Trick

I learned a new trick today. My hot flashes have gotten so bad I now fog up my own glasses!

Sitting still!

Ain’t menopause grand?

Leap of Faith

Well, just slid in under the deadline! 

 This is what I finally settled on for my submission to the 25^th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibition. (third time’s the charm, right? Lol)



'Family Portrait'





library

Now it’s a waiting game.

I guess this could be considered part of this month’s Sketchbook Challenge theme “branching out.’ I find the hard part is putting myself out there and entering.

I don’t really care if I get accepted or not. Well, okay, I care, but that’s not the part that matters. It’s putting myself out there and DOING that matters. Acceptance is just the icing on the cake.

Don’t get me wrong. If I get juried in you’ll be able to hear my gleeful shriek of happiness for miles. But if I don’t, it will be okay and I’ll try again next year.

One of my favorite quotes is “When we make such a leap of faith, it is the actual stepping out that creates a bridge to see us safely to the other side.” Soren Kiekegaard

(deep, ain't I? lol)



Note to Self

You need to sketch every day!

No matter what the subject is, just get out your pen and DO IT!

No excuses! 

Quick, straight to pen sketches.

Avoidance

I seem to be avoiding finishing the faces I was working on. I don’t know why.

Or maybe I do.

Fear of messing them up? Fear that they won’t turn out as well as I had hoped? Fear that they will be rejected?

Basically fear.

So instead of doing the work I SHOULD be doing, I’m doing this.