Photographing the beauty of the process of … beauty.
“the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).”
First of all, a shout out to WORDPRESS for being VERY unavaiable when I tried to sign in on my computer. I not only GOOGLED customer service, but tried ‘HELP!’ and eventually tried the entire internet for a legit phone number to help me log in! I’ve been a customer for over 4 years!
C’mon now!
Anyway.
Back to the artist.
Here he is – in all his glory, and all my pride – and I hope, artistic measure.
DUDE!
Artist with pencil. But, how amazing is it that I get to capture THAT in his hand?
Then these …
Gawd – I LOVE this one …
Why? Why am I hangin’ hopes on this artist?
Because I love that he hates every picture except one. I love that he puts EVERY wrinkle into every bum – I love that he draws dots on ‘cartoon’ wonder bread. I love that he’s so freaking authentic that he makes my heart burst.
I love ‘cartoons’. I love animated shows. But, what Jim does? It’s an artistic rendering of life LIVED. And I love that. Love it.
Musings from the Laundromat: OINTB, Too Chatty & Still Craving that Burger Edition.
I feel like a mini-monster.
I haven’t seen glaucoma man in weeks – due to coming late or doing laundry on different days. He’s here, and he wanted to catch up and I just needed him to stop talking.
I started doing that ‘slowly inch away from the person shuffle’ but my hints were not received.
I adore him. But I’m tired. We still managed to cover everything from Jackpots to Blood Pressure to Talent – before I made it to my table.
I literally woke up after less than 6 hours of sleep – with a raging Orange Is the New Black binge hangover. Blurred vision, theme song repeating in my head – stumbled to the bathroom and brushed my teeth.
If you’re a fan, I won’t put any spoilers here – but I WILL say that after an amazing Season 1, then (for me) a disappointing Season 2 – this latest Season hit it out of the park.
To my honey’s credit – he watched every single second of all 13 episodes with me.
Made sushi this weekend – and yesterday morning.
It’s VERY cheap to make! And easy. I taught Jim how to do it and he became quite the pro – didn’t even use a rolling mat.
SO a plate full of sushi and fresh coffee and then our Netflix marathon ensued!
Our original breakfast was to be sausage and eggs …. I bought 4 garlic/onion pork sausages – but after my last post, didn’t think that chowing down on pork was the best route to take. ALTHOUGH … they are already in the house, and defrosted, and we can’t be wasting money or food.
Ok! Ok, I’m still craving meat.
Ug.
But I have been good.
And I’m REALLY going to try to stick to the no cow or pig diet.
I’m on the fence about chicken … and definitely still plan to eat fish.
Baby steps.
Like shuffling away from a conversation in a laundromat, I’m inching away from the meat.
How my mom Meat Shamed me (after a long time and for a really good cause)
My mom has pissed me off. She has ruined my days.
Why?
Because her advocacy of animals popped up on my news feed on Facebook.
How dare she? How dare she care so much about animals???????
I peeked at 10 seconds of this, turned it off – then got brave – and watched the whole thing.
Fuuuuuuck! No! I want to buy my eggs, my meat, my dairy – without guilt thank you very much!
Ruined.
Ruined.
Because, I also want no other animal suffering because of ‘my needs.’
This is how is went down:
then ….
Yeah, my whole life is on a Veggie/Fish hold … until animals that give their lives to sustain us are treated in a kind, appropriate and ‘final’ right way.
WHAT IS THAT??????
What is the right way to die as an animal?
We are animals.
Thing is – my mom was consistent, and disturbing, and today – changed my mind. Changed my eating habits. And if one person can do that through persistency, then, it’s possible for a whole lot more people. No?
By the way, I’ve been craving a bacon cheeseburger, but unless that pig and cow were raised on a healthy, expansive farm – I’m no longer in. 
Musings from the Laundromat: Loud Little Red & Quiet Pink Edition
First 15 minutes in here were jarring.
I’m literally in the shirt I slept in, hair thrown into a braid. This after my intended replied to my “I’m tired …” with “Yeah, you look tired.”
Don’t you love that?
Even worse, is when someone gives you an unsolicited “You look tired.” Which, basically translates to “You look like crap today.” In Amandapedia.
Anyway, I KNEW if I didn’t just run inside the house (ok, it was more of a shuffle) – throw shorts on and tame my mane and grab the laundry, it was NOT going to get done.
So I’m still half asleep as I enter and am greeted by what sounded like a Chuckie Cheese.
Radio blaring, children playing a land version of “Marco!” “Polo!” The assault on my tired little ears was … as I said, jarring.
Here’s one of the little ones – (I blurred her cute little face because I don’t think pictures of kids should be randomly thrown up on a stranger’s site.)
Little Red Riding tu-tu.
And another tyke in the background.
And a rare sighting of my laundry lady in the back.
Then it suddenly and blessedly got very, very quiet.
Ahhhhh.
So, why am I so tired?
Well, certainly wasn’t because I scrubbed the entire house as planned yesterday.
I did something I haven’t done in YEARS. Friday my honey and I stayed up until 5 flipping a.m. By choice. We had a lot of fun, but I have got to tell you, my body does not recuperate the way it used to.
I’m old now!
Well, too old for that shite anyway.
And I knew it would happen, I knew I’d only sleep for a few hours and then answer the maternal call of my tired body. There were animals to be fed, walked – there was food to be made. And yeah, ok, then I binge watched the Real Housewives of New York. (Shame is washing over me just typing that.)
Then … CRASH! I ended up sleeping away the rest of the day.
(Not before burning the roof of my mouth on a pizza that my refreshed, newly awoken honey prepared for us.)
__________________________
So here I am, clothes in dryer now. Polystyrene coffee to my right and … new children in front of me.
But, to their credit,they’re being very well-behaved.
Hozier is belting out ‘Take me to Church’ in the background. And in 10 minutes, I’ll be folding and then returning to my nest.
I’ll do something constructive around the house when I get back to assuage any guilt of planning another nap later.
It IS the weekend after all.
Don’t make me Jazz Hand – I can’t Jazz Hand today …
Today I feel … inadequate.
I tend to pull away from people when I am upset with myself about something.
I need time to contemplate before seeking out a shoulder – time to contemplate if I even need to burden a shoulder.
I get very reserved, focused and quiet.
It’s definitely one of those days I don’t want anyone to ask “How are you?”
C’mon, we know most people don’t really want an honest answer to that.
I realize it’s a conventional nicety, but I ALWAYS feel obligated to work up a cheery “GREAT! How are YOU?” Whilst shaking pom-pons and somehow pulling off jazz hands at the same time.
Wish people would just say “Hello.”
I can say “Hello” back.
That I can do.
Just acknowledge me – I’ll acknowledge you back, we’re golden!
So yeah, clearly I’m still in stress ball mode.
_____________________
I read the beginning of an amazing novel yesterday and had this stunned, authentic moment of “Holy Crap! This is REALLY good!”
In that same moment, I also became painfully aware of how NOT good I am in the arts. And no, there was no jealousy – there was a lot of pride and awe.
My fiancé wrote it.
We made a deal before he moved in with me that he would focus on his artistic side. Pursue his dreams. And I read this freaking epic flow of words and got so lost in and I KNOW, it must be published.
So, I began my retreat further back into my shell, because I’ve been feeling like I’m not holding up my end of the bargain, which is providing for my little family.
I have pets and people looking to me for emotional, physical and material support and I’m falling short.
I feel like I am anyway.
And that’s a horrible feeling.
What I do have an abundance of though, is love. And I’ll just keep plugging away at the other stuff … quietly.
(Here’s what my fiancé has been plugging away at if you care to peek. http://neopompeii.com/)
Debauchery Soup 