Busy June

June sprung upon me and now is fleeting! Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I've been busy throwing kid birthday parties, attending fun art parties and most of all painting and selling my paintings! Woohoo!


My girls both celebrated bdays and each had their own rockin' party. I made the decorations myself because they don't sell the decorations they girls' wanted. Shrinky dink, packaging tape and an ink jet printer did the trick. Oh yeah, as well as flip chart paper and poster paint. Phew! Super Why and Cyberchase themes. Glad I'm done with this these late night activities until next year.



On the fun side of things, I sold my very first painting ever (I don't have a photo!) I donated a plein air painting to The Riverside Arts Center. I set a minimum price and the RAC got any amount over my minimum. I just received the check in the mail yesterday. It's very exciting. I must be on a roll because I sold three others last weekend at a Fundraiser at the Fernwood Botanical Gardens in Niles, MI. See photos above (one was done plein air at beach). The others were two studio paintings I had completed. All watercolor. It was LOT of fun painting in Michigan. I love being outside. I love observing. Painting seems like a natural fit for me -- although I do have to work hard at it - it doesn't come easy.

I had vein surgery on my other leg two weeks ago. I've been wearing a support stocking this whole time even with shorts (hey, it's hot already, I'm not wearing pants just to cover the support stocking). After painting in Michigan for the weekend, I got a nasty contact dermatitis that itched like crazy. My leg was crazy red, itchy and blotchy. I've been on steroids, Benadryl and Zyrtec all week. It's all a haze looking back.

Lots of summer fun with the kids at sprinkler parks, beach, etc. We have a big extended family vacation in Michigan coming up next.

More interersting posts soon, I promise - there's been a lot of hilarious stuff out there.

10 miles Purple Swingset

No, the title is NOT the name of the hottest rockband or lost memories of a bad drug trip. Although having recently found a band call "Don't Wake Aislin" I should research before I articulate. I digress.

Phew! What a busy Memorial Day weekend it was for me! I met my goal of running in the Soldier Field 10 miler. My goal was to run the race under 1:40:00 (10 minute miles) and not to stop. I ran it in 1:35:00 (9 1/2 minute miles). Woo hoo! It was a looooooong run. But the weather was gorgeous that day in Chicago and made it that much more enjoyable.

Observationally, I'll have to say that every woman in that race was pretty fit. There were no fatties. I mention this because sometimes I really feel like a fatty (I have inherited a genetically big bootay and large calves) - a pear shaped lower body. I'd make a good tight end if I were a guy. At any rate, I notice socially degerate things like what people look like in a 10 mile race. So sue me.

I came away from the deal with two huge, quarter-sized blisters on my arches and some sore leg muscles. So what did I do? Hobbled and rode my new electric razor scooter all over the neighborhood! That scooter saved the day - and did I have a BLAST! It's pretty zippy! Just don't try to carry a latte and a bag and operate the brake and throttle. Backpack required! I am installing a cup holder! :-)

As my kids napped, I hit Home Depot (why? ugh - it was a zoo) and bought some dark puple paint for Indi's room. We (Indi and I) painted one wall very dark purple. She and Aislin both LOVE it! My plan is to stencil something fun on it like graffitie or cartoon characters they like.

There's more folks! Thanks to Gramma B for buying the girls a swingset for their upcoming birhtdays. The excitement level in those kids was thru the roof! It was so sweet to witness. Here is a video of Indi riding her swing for the first time. Of course putting the thing together wasn't finished until dark - but it all got done before bedtime! The video is bad - very dark, but the audio is enough to raise the dead. Unadulteratled blissful joy. Sounds like a good Memorial Day to me!

Oddities and Incomplete Polydactyly

My college Genetics course is really paying off these days. Recently, I went to a local hand car wash. One of the car washers, a Mexican young man named Jorge, rang up the charges. As I handed him my credit card, I noticed he had not one, but TWO, thumb tips. I did a double take. I've seen typical presentations of polydactyly (more than 10 toes or fingers) as well as "corrected" ones. They too cause one to do a double-take; rub your eyes and silently ask "did I just see 6 fingers on that hand - something is awry". That wasn't the case this time, there was no doubting it - Jorge had a double thumb tip on one hand. His other thumb appeared normal.

I happened to have my camera in my new Ghetto-fabuolous silver wristlet purse. When do I 1) every carry a purse WITH my camera in it?(weddings and funerals) and 2) how often do you meet someone with two thumbs? I had to get a photo of this!

I am a curious person but didn't want to make him feel odd. As I waited in the lobby for the car to get washed I rationalized how I could approach this issue with Jorge. I worked over many justifications: "hey, that's how God made him, God don't make junk", "I could lie and tell him I'm a doctor and am interested in it medically", I'm looking pretty cute today, maybe I don't need a reason". Personally after mercilessly suffering the persecution of my sisters over acne, freckles, leg fat I thought Jorge may have had it rough in his life because of that double thumb! Maybe not, but he seemed very shy and my heart went out to him. I didn't think he was a freak - just unique. Very interesting.

When Jorge returned to the office area, I simply asked him if I could look at his thumb (aren't you proud that I took the direct approach?). He was shy about it. His English was poor. But he let me look at it and even touch it! (looking back, I think I should've shaken his hand as a offer of acceptance, introduction)! It felt like a normal thumb. It's as if the bones above the top knuckle thought they were tree branches and split into two.

My brief interview with Jorge revealed that he had feeling in both tips and was born with it. I don't know about you, but I think having inherited bad facial acne is far more humiliating than a double thumb. Jorge was nice but very reserved about the whole thing. And because he wasn't a day over 18 and feeling so vulnerable, I felt bad. I thanked him with a big smile and put an extra buck in the tip box. When my car was finished Jorge told me I could take more photos outside. He asked why I was interested. I didn't know the Spanish word for curiosity, so I said "por la ninas. Es muy, muy interesante". OK<>

See for yourself. If you're squeemish or plan to be hatin' on my friend Jorge, don't look. If anyone visits Norwood Car Wash on North Foster Ave in Chicago, keep an eye out. Maybe he'll let you play thumb war.

This sign was posted at the Car Wash. I found the graphics hilarious! They should change the caption and put the signs up in Charismatic churches! "CAUTION" and people figure out the rest.

Big Thrills

I got a great deal on an electric razor scooter ($10) at a yard sale - very thrilling! The battery only holds a charge for - literally - 5 minutes but it was a fun 5 minute ride! My oldest daughter (Indi, 5) geared up with her bike helmet and I took her for a ride. She thought it was OK and wanted to get off. I think Ais (2 yrs) was roaring to go. Sorry Ais - like Maria in Sound of Music sang to Gretel: "wait a year or two."

So what does a curious person such as myself do when their awesome yard sale purchase isn't quite up to snuff? Fix it! Of course, I opened her up. There were two screws that weren't budging despite using penetrating oil (how cool am I to remember to use that!). I got lucky and was able to access the batteries under the footplate without removing the screws. For all you haters out there, yes I did get bitten -but just a small jolt. I touched the reset button from the charged side, unwittingly. Luckily removing the batteries was easy although I'm perplexed about how to separate the connectors without breaking the plastic receptor. ?? It's like something they only teach in the boys room.

Fortunately for me there is an old battery place just down the street: Illinois Battery. It's a shabby old building I've driven past a thousand times. I didn't even realize it is still in business. I didn't think I'd ever need a place like that! But the Razor Corporation was OUT OF STOCK on these rechargable batteries. Crazy. Good ol' Google to the rescue!

OK, so my $10 yard sale find is now a $60 investment. A new electric scooter retails for $350 - so I feel I'm still ahead of the game financially. And I feel like I'm fulfilling part of my destiny or at least playing to my strengths: courage and hard work.

All this open air cruising makes me hanker for a motorcycle again. I have the worst luck buying bikes tho. They always need so much expensive work!

Anyone got a decent bike they want to sell me? I've got the cash and am ready for the open road! Until then, I'm on a "thrill diet" - I'll have to survive with my low-power electric scooter until I get my own hog (or Japanese hog)! Woof!

*no duct tape was harmed in the course of this repair

What do Stay-at-Home-Moms Do Anyways

Instead of flat out bragging about my kids. I'll just display them here. I feel very blessed to live in such a charming and neat urban neighborhood.

I recently found out that there is a rock band out of Dallas, TX named "Don't Wake Aislin". I thought I made up the spelling of Aislin - albeit not that creatively. Crazy! Anyone heard of this band?

Aislin's turn with Mom while Indi was at school. Aislin loves to run and be free!