LIfe in Turmoil

Hello, hello.  Life in this household is going full tilt.  So much has happened, is happening and some I don't think I can share, but must.

First of all, dear Daddy-O is yet again in the hospital.  

This is a photo of the last time he was in there.  He doesn't look this good, trust me.  

My siblings and I have been in turmoil trying to decide the best course for him.  He was at home but it was very clear that it was bad this time.  When I walked in the door on Sunday he turned to me and said, "I'm DYING!" Oh my, scared me to death because he had lost so much weight.  His eyes were hollow and he was frightened.  Bro took him to a regular visit to his doctor and it was a miracle he got him in the car, out of the car and in the door.  Then the DUMB ASS doctor said, "He needs to eat and exercise," and SENT HIM HOME!  Clearly he was not seeing or experiencing what we were.  By Thursday Bro loaded Daddy in the car and headed to the hospital.  We were done.  After Bro and Daddy sat in the ER from 3 in the afternoon till (Bro finally left at 11pm) 3 in the morning, they admitted Daddy.  What was happening to him is that his muscles were breaking down and coming out in his urine.  OH MY GOD!  What could be going on here.  I went yesterday and they did an abdominal ultrasound to see about his liver and kidneys suspecting that his cholestrol/statin drug that the DUMB ASS doctor prescribed has been KILLING HIM!  He has all the symptoms that lead to this conclusion.  ALSO, could be that Daddy did forgot to mention (or just flat is in denial) that he was diagnosed many years ago with cirrhosis of the liver.  Clearly, and I'm not a doctor, you DON'T prescribe a patient with cirrhosis statin drugs.  Poor Daddy, he doesn't realize that this may be the end of him living at home by himself.  We cannot watch him 24/7.  We are active people with hugely active lives that we can't just sit with him.  It is time to sell the house and move on to the next chapter but as he gets to feeling a bit better he is under the impression that he will get to go home.  Also, the hospital will get tired of him whining "I want to go home NOW!" and will release him too early.  Well, found out we can stop that because of his medicare, we hope.  We tried to get the D.A. doctor to prescribe home health care which Medicare pays for but he WON'T do it, they DON'T pay for nursing home or assisted living.  Daddy has no money, even after we sell the house, NO MONEY, to pay for assisted living or even a nursing home and Medicaid facilities in this state are almost non-existent, and we don't won't to go there anyway.  I don't know what we are going to do with a stubborn old man and a DUMB ASS doctor.  

Plus sweet Susie may have to find a new home, maybe here!!!! 

Not only are we dealing with Daddy and drama I'm helping with this little project 

Plein Air Tulsa!  

So if you are a Plein Air painter and have not heard about this event, it is taking place October 21, 2017.  Click on the link for more info! 

and......I'm still doing the 30 day painting challenge.  Oh my gosh, it is day 23 and we (my friend Linda and I) are almost at the end.  It has been quite fun and it forces you to paint everyday and you do get better.  So far I've even sold a couple of them and one of them, the skull is going to be in a show next month.  Speaking of art shows, we have been entering all kinds of online and actual shows.  In fact we have several large ones coming up, local and one in Arkansas (that on if we're juried in.)  

AND if that isn't enough for me to be busy with, along with work, next Saturday we having 40-50 of my sweet Mother-in-Laws family and friends to celebrate her 90th birthday here for DINNER!  I really must have rocks in my head to be planning this but I am having it catered so I really just have to get the house ready.  So clean house I have to squeeze into all the time I have in my day.  EGADS!!!!!

I ALMOST FORGOT...

B wrote the most precious accounting of Snicklefritz's friendship with the train conductors and it has gone VIRAL!  Check it out.

Jean Ann

This Saturday I attended a memorial for one of my high school friends, Michael.  He was a fraternal twin to my bestie in grade school, Jean Ann.  Now they are both gone.  My heart was so sad because while I was at Mike's memorial I was really missing my friend that never had a memorial.  

We were tied at the hip when we were ages 9-11.  What fun we had.  I miss that.  She had a happy life at one time.  This Saturday while attending his memorial I heard rumblings that the reason the memorial was two weeks out was because Jean Ann's children wanted to attend!!!!! WHAT!  Oh my gosh, while sitting in the sanctuary my head was whipping around trying to see if I could recognize anyone, somehow.  You see, while in high school sweet Jean Ann got pregnant.  We had fallen out as friends after 6th grade (long story but it involved my broken leg).  Her circle of friends had rotated into a different sphere and I was not part of that sphere.  She became very popular and quite beautiful.  Football Queen, honor society, student council, etc., but probably what hurt most for her was the beautiful coming too early in her life.   In high school Jean Ann became pregnant.  Back in the 70's it just wasn't cool and she was ostracized by her so called circle of friends but she swung back to me again.  I remember her parents set her up in a little one room house at the other end of town, by herself.  I'm not sure why they did that except that she and her brother DID NOT get along and maybe they got tired of the fighting, no idea really.  I again stayed the night with my old friend several times while her tummy grew and grew.  I got to feel the baby move around and that was so wonderful.  She was so excited.  I used to remember the date the baby was born and I know I have it written down somewhere but in 1973 Bryan Christopher was born and she was elated.  

Saturday while mingling around in the after memorial crowd I spied two good looking guys and a beautiful girl and heard a name I just knew, just knew.  I interrupted the conversation and introduced myself and found myself shaking hands and looking into the eyes of that sweet baby, Bryan Christopher.  A big strapping handsome man that took me back to that sweet baby.  Oh I teared up as I told him I HAD to have a hug.  I told him I knew him before he was born, was with his mother when she was expecting him.  He teared up too.  The other man was her second born, Tony and the girl, Tabitha her youngest.  There are two other boys too and late in the evening I was sent a photo of all five of Jean Ann's beautiful children.  What a legacy she left.  He has a lot of good memories of my friend, his mother and that makes me happy.  Sadly the OTHER side of the family, her brother's side has tainted memories of her and tried to mar his image of his mother.  I'm trying to write a lot of the wonderful memories I have of her, of our time together for them.  I'm now friends with Bryan on Facebook and hopefully I am helping him to remember a wonderful mother for him.  Yes, she made mistakes and was no angel, who is.  But for those left behind, we can learn from her mistakes and make better choices in life.  Her babies were not mistakes, they were gifts and they can continue to live and contribute to the world.  

Jean Ann leaves a wonderful legacy in her children.   

My beautiful sweet friend who taught me to love longhorn cheese and pickles, to laugh, to tease her brother, to love life, I miss you.

Good Saturday morning!  I HAVE BEEN SOOOOO busy lately that I find it hard to post here.  What may you ask am I busy with, well, painting, life, work, but mostly painting.  I again signed up to do a 30 day painting challenge.  That means a painting a day this month.  Today is day 9 and it has been fun and I've even sold one but wow oh wow it is really going to be a challenge.  Mainly because I have two Facebook pages plus I post on various art pages.  Then there is Twitter and Instagram to post on and the art page that requires it and remembering to hash tag the Strada Easel company to keep my name in the drawing for a Strada Easel.  Not only am I doing that but it is the season to enter in various shows.  I've entered in another one for Artist Magazine and the Light, Space and Time online gallery.  Then there are Muskogee Artist Guild, Artists of Northwest Arkansas, Tulsa Artist Guild and Alpha Rho Tau.  Good grief that means you have to have enough art to enter in these shows.  It has to be new stuff and you can't re-enter in shows that you may have already showed those pieces in and some of these shows overlap.  That means you can't take the pieces down to put in another show.  So lots and lots of art has to be created.  After all these are done then I will put my brush to canvas and create some masterpieces (haha) for the next go around next fall.  Hopefully next spring my studio painting buddies will have a show together.  That is another thing we have got to get together and we are planning on having an open house this holiday season.  This art thing has taken on a life of it's own and is full time work.  I dream painting, art show, creating.

So far...

(this one is sold)

Blue Ribbon!

Guess What!!!!

I got another blue ribbon, although a virtual it is a blue ribbon and the painting competed internationally!

It's an online gallery that has monthly exhibitions and this one was an open theme.  There were 781 international entrants, 10 took 1-10th place and the next 100 were Special Merit awards, of which I was one of those with this little gem, "Apples and Lemons." 

I've been so busy painting lately.  My studio mate, Linda and I have both taken up the challenge yet again to do a painting a day, in two challenges.  That would be scary except we are using the same painting for each, which is still 30 paintings.  So far it hasn't been too much of a challenge.  You 

 can pre-paint to an extent and that is what we have done.  I'm also posting on multiple Facebook groups, my art page, my page, and Daily Paintworks where they can be purchased.  You know it's not as if I don't have anything to do but it does help with the practice.  There are also tons of shows we are entering and trying to figure out what we need to enter and where, which way.  Oh it does get confusing because you don't want to enter one that may lap over to another show.  So we have to have a lot done in order to make it work.  Plus all the framing and getting it all ready to hang.  Also, in the works are plans to try and have a two or three person show for us and that takes time to plan also.

Be sure to check out sidebar here on my blog for a link to my Daily Paintworks page to see the 30 in 30 challenge going on.

Another Loss...

I found out last night that a guy from high school passed away.  This guy, Michael, was a fraternal twin to my best friend in grade school, Jean Ann, and she passed several years ago.  She had a rough, rough "15 year old to death" kind of life.  Her brother Michael died yesterday.  I've known Michael since we were in 3rd grade, when they moved next door and Jean Ann and I became inseparable.  Oh the fights those two had in that house that I witnessed.  It was really scary how much they really didn't like each other.  But Jean Ann had a baby at 16 and shortly after that her/their father, her hero and favorite person on this earth (besides her grandmother, Nanny), was killed in a horrible tragic 18 wheeler accident in fog.  That was the beginning of her spiral downward to never be whole again.  I remember Michael walking across Main Street by our house coming home from grade school one day and as he was crossing the street he was hit by a car.  Oh, that made the news around the town, our small town.  It was scary but he was okay.  I'm very sad for the loss of both of my friends.  Their lives had a lot of bumps along the way but Michael had a family, grand-kiddos and a lot of love from his friends.  He will surely be missed.

New Studio

It's official that I (we) have a new studio space.  I'm sharing with my painting buddy Linda Dunbar and the incomparable Gil Adams.

These are photos of my side

I've also been hard at work creating!!!!!

Home, Home, Home

Yes, he is HOME!  Finally, Daddy is sitting in his chair with his sweet Susie in his lap.  

After sitting in his ICU room ALL DAY long they finally let me take him home.  I have to say if they want to wait until the end of the day so they can fill up the bed again before 5 pm, then tell us that please.  Daddy was clearly ready and quite able to go home but we sat and waited without even a meal to be offered, although he wouldn't have eaten it because he WANTED TO GO HOME!  We cruised back to his house about 4 pm, Friday afternoon, RUSH HOUR traffic and the first thing he wanted was his cat so I quickly went and gathered her from the vet.  She is such a darling cat that they hated to see her go.  She's very sociable they said at noon they would do yoga and she was with them, Cat Yoga!!!  You know she never made a peep in the car on the way home.  I've never had a cat do that.  

Stroke World

Thought I would update on life around here.  This guy, yes this guy, my Daddy had another little TIA (stroke) last Saturday.  It wasn't bad but it pushed the surgery part of his life.  Yesterday he had a stent put in to hopefully stop these episodes so he can continue with his life.  Yesterday was another all day affair at the hospital, waiting and waiting and waiting.  All went well.  I don't know if he will go home or rehab or skilled nursing.  It's the world of "We'll let you know an hour before we need to transfer!" We boarded his little kitty and had her de-wormed and the vet loves her as does everyone else.  She is a sweet little kitty kat.  

I did take time out for a little fun with my book club on Wednesday night.  We went to Amelia's in downtown Tulsa.  Ohhhhh, so yummy and a really pretty restaurant.  This salad was delicious.  We read the book The Dry by Jane Harper, a really good murder mystery.  We don't really discuss the books to indepth but have a great time visiting and supporting each other.  It's a group of women I put together from my pool of friends and they have bonded very nicely.   

(I may have to paint this)

On another note my sweet Snicklefritz will begin school on Monday morning.  Yup, Pre-K will be her world Monday thru Friday so our time spent together will be limited I think for awhile.  She is growing up so very fast.

Frankenstein Dog

Hey Kids!  Yup, I'm still around, but it is nothing but painting lately...well, I lied, there is more.  I've signed a few and am gearing up for some fall shows and hopefully, my painting buddy and I can get a 2 women show.  I'm in a black and white phase and that probably will be my "theme" for my part of the show, if we can get it together soon.  I have to tell you the new studio, Studio 3 is AWESOME!  My painting buddy Linda and I work very well together and it is a joy to be there and focus on my art.  

We've had some weather here lately too with tornado's.  About 6 days ago in the middle of the night some business areas of Tulsa were hit with an F2 tornado that did some mighty damage. Luckily no one was killed but lots of people are going to be hurt work wise.  It's funny that we were awakened by this incredible wind and stuff flying around and loud bangs (The Hubby said were transformers blowing).  We didn't get damage but it started forming around our area and the winds were incredible.  We were lucky.

Our poor little buddy, our Frankenstein doggy, has had some surgery.  He had a tumor on his hip about the size of a baseball and one on his leg about the size of a ping-pong ball that needed to be removed.  I actually set him up for the surgery a few months ago but chickened out and what happened is they grew lots bigger so I had to purposely let little Clayton be hurt.  Poor guy was in such pain when we brought him home but he's doing quite well.  The tumors are called connective tissue tumors and we are waiting on the pathology right now.  Good news PLEASE!  There is possibly a chance they will grow back but it's a wait and see game.  I'm just glad he came through surgery because of his older age.  He's about 12 and older dogs it can be a bit risky.  

Again life rolls on around here.  I've been trying to juggle work and painting and life in general.  Work has been a struggle because a few things have popped up that require my full attention.  One of our guys got a pretty nasty owey that may require surgery but he's still working.  That all means WORKMAN'S COMP forms that have to be filled out and go EVERY which way.  Plus summer it the season to do licensing for various counties, cities around and that has been challenging for one of our guys as his renewal's got caught in the middle of our office move and neglected to be renewed.  All is well with it though as a few weeks of back and forth in the mail and phone calls it has been resolved.  

Then The Hubby's aunt passed away.  Aunt Bette was the last of his direct line to his father, she was his father's sister.  So trips to Texas for the funeral.  

Oh and I forgot to inform that my heart and vascular testing went very well.  I got all high marks and can rest easy with it all.  Plus the blood pressure is good, probably because I'm PAINTING!  

Daddy's various testing has revealed that he has microscoptic colitis.  The medicine unfortunately is $300 for a month and he can't afford that.  It's somehow caught in a black hole between medicare and his supplemental health insurance.  CRAP.  He refused to get it so it's back in the doctor's court to figure out how to fix it without costing him an arm and a leg.  He will also be having surgery on his neck, a stint, angio-something, which he doesn't want but HAS TO HAVE to avoid another stroke.  The next one could be devastating and we just can't have that DADDY!  Stubborn, STUBBORN man.  His cat has fleas and worms so when he has the surgery we will board the cat and BOMB THE HELL out of his house, AGAIN!  

Snicklefritz and the Sneeze Monster (and more)

  What a fantastic sunset last night.  I was driving home from another high school class monthly get together, the long drive (explain in a sec), and as I was waiting for the light, THIS was my view!  I just couldn't capture it correctly because of the driving and the lights and all.

The long drive home.  Well last night, and tonight The Hubby and I are watching Snicklefritz.  I said yes we would love to have her spend a couple of nights, but, there was a stipulation.  I had the class thing I had to go to so I said The Hubby would be responsible!  Snicklefritz was thrilled to spend time with her Granddad .  I took the long way home last night because when I left the house I gave The Hubby his marching orders for the evening and he assured me he would carry them out.  

Dinner - spaghetti and blueberries (they ate them ALL)

No bath

brush teeth

read book 

bed between 7:30 - 8:00 pm

I arrived home about 9 pm, walked into the door to hear The Wizard of Oz playing on the television.  OH GOOD GRIEF!  That is one of The Hubby's favorite movies, especially to share with the kiddos.  He decided to share it with the 4 year old.  I just KNEW that we were going to have a night of nightmares as she has had a couple of nights in a row of them.  Then she was STILL UP!  I came in and questioned his reasoning for this behavior, knowing full well that he would probably do something like this. LOL!  He quickly said her bath water was run and I reminded him she didn't need a bath, especially at 9pm.  Just teeth, book, sleep.  We finished the movie and she said it was a bit scary.  OH NO!  But, she knew it was about over because of the good music and she was okay with that.  We got teeth brushed, ready for bed and I told The Hubby he was to read her at least one book because it was so late.  They did and he tucked her into bed but she wasn't staying down.  First was a light cry that she was missing her momma.  I told her she had stayed with me many times and that it would be okay.  She was good.  Back to bed.  Then I hear her rummaging around in her room making all kinds of racket.  I went in to find that she was trying to build a fort.   I try and rationalize with her the importance that she go straight to sleep and that fort building would happen tomorrow.  She finally accepted that and I knew she was dead tired.  I was going to tuck her in but she insisted that she could do it herself but she wanted the big light on.  She sometimes wants it along with her night light and I was fine with that.  I usually turn it off later when she is fast asleep.  

This morning it is 7:14 and she is still asleep, no nightmares, not up to potty in the middle of the night, just sweet dreams.  

This week has been tons and tons of doctor appointments for me and Daddy.  He went to the gastro doctor and next week will have a colonoscopy to try and figure out his horrible diarrhea that has plagued him for months.  I hope it is nothing.  

Me, I had a bone density test Monday, results not in yet.  Then Tuesday I had all kinds of vascular and cardio tests done and all were great.  There were a couple of things to watch but no worry.

Also, Wednesday was the 11th anniversary of the passing of Momma.  After the gastro doctor, Bro took Daddy to see Momma's grave.  I hate do that kind of thing as does Bro, but Daddy loves to go and he insisted Bro take him. 

I spent Sunday moving into my new studio.  My car has been loaded down a couple of times and by Monday morning I could hardly get out of bed because of my back.  Monday I sorted and sorted stuff and tried to organize.  I have two easels but didn't have my table to even paint.  My partner in the space, Linda has it so, SO set up.  It is awesome and she even had paintings hung but I was still in boxes.  Sunday I sent The Hubby to buy me a shelf and he assembled it for me.  I think I only need one, at least for now.  In my room at home I wanted to also use that white bookshelf, but that meant emptying it out, which caused a HUGE mess in my room.  Yes a lot of the canvas, art supplies and easels are gone but I now have to put that room in some kind of order.  So while I'm watching Snicklefritz for the next couple of days, she and I will organize and clean that room.  I'm also going to take the big table that is in there to the studio space to use for drawing and watercolor stuff.  The trick is to get it out of the room.  I actually can put it in my car but it is heavy and I have to move a ton out of the way to maneuver it out of the doorway.  The Hubby did have my taboret table moved down from the work studio and delivered to my NEW STUDIO! on Wednesday!  

I did get to go and actually paint on Thursday morning.  It was quiet, no phones, no sound.  I usually like a bit of music or a book playing but it was awesome to have the quiet.  

I set this up in the art workshop in Arkansas at the Jeff Legg workshop but barely got it sketched and he never even saw it or came by.  I just took a photo of the set up I did and left thinking I would do it later.  Well, this is what I did yesterday morning.  The photo is really bad and smoky looking.  The background is darker and looks richer.  I really like what I've done and hopefully Monday I will finish it.