Amazing People

I interrupt my vacation pictures (which were getting a little boring to me anyways... but I will provide a link soon) to congratulate my friend Andrew Gifford!!

I opened up the post today, and here there was my friend Andrew. Page 17, The Washington Post Magazine (link here). A very cool, and kind soul... even if he did like the chick who left lipstick on his coke cans in Drama class, better than me. ;-)

I haven't heard of, or from him since high school. But I am totally psyched to see he is doing well and has started his own press, in spite of some phenomenal odds, including trigeminel neuralgia. (holy shit!!)

If you write, or would like to read something a little less main stream, you need to check out the Santa Fe Writers Project (www.sfwp.com). according to the website: "Santa Fe Writers Project is an independent press dedicated to the craft of writing. We stand by our authors and we stand by our books, embracing new trends and ideas beyond those of the current publishing industry."

Wow! I'm so amazed! and very much happy for him. Way to follow your dreams.

windmill's in holland

Through out our journey we came across modern windmills, in holland and on hillsides in France. Yeah!!! I love seeing cleaner sources of energy. But there is a certain charm, involved in the not so modern windmills as well. This windmill, is an actual working mill. You can buy flower and bread in the store that is located in it's base. The top of this structure can spin, so that it can change direction and face the wind. It is not often that I am in town, and see this windmill in action. We all lucked out, in that not only was this windmill working, but one Saturday we were allowed to go in while the sails were open, and the mill was turning. There were about 4 different levels. You can walk out on the outside wooden platform as well. That felt a little scary :) . And all the way at the top of the windmill you can see the wooden gearing over head.

The gears were huge, and between watching them turn, and feeling the movement in the building, you could feel a tremendous amount of power, and force flowing through the building. I don't think the modern windmills in the distance made much sense to me, until I felt this building... and this day there was only a light breeze.

House of Dreams

House Boats in Amsterdam. Sigh. In one of my other lives I imagine myself studying art and living here (Although, I might have to sail it to Paris). I think this may be an extended fantasy of my mothers... but I don't think she'll mind to much if I borrow it for a bit as well. Waking up to the gently swaying of the boat. Cat looking out the window. Having a cup of tea in the morning, getting on my bike, canvas under one arm, and riding to school. Working, and studying art. And then returning to my boat in the evening. Some soup and salad for dinner... a nice cheap glass of wine (gotta be in france here). Watching as all the people walked by on the road, lovers, families, friends. And then when it was time to move on... sailing on to the next port. Seeing new sites and sounds.

Not particularly practical I'm sure :-) but then I don't suppose fantasies should be.

It sort of mirrors the one I have about havening a little "blue house". Only that one has visitors coming over to discuss, and make art. As well as children. Children who come after school, to paint and play... and make a mess. All the while I create Van Gogh sunflowers, a la my style instead (which I think includes a bit of dr seuss).

Home

Home again.
Greeted by my favorite flowers at the house.

Although we have been home for about a week now, posts have not been forth coming for a number or reasons. Most of which is a combination of traveling, jet lag, and a bit of shell shock. Seems much has been happening while we were gone. It's funny how when I travel, I just imaging the rest of the world stops turning, wherever I'm not. With in 48 hours of landing, news has come in about a teenager being pregnant, and the boys mom moving out of town. Many questions linger in the air, many hopes... many fears. It's amazing how life twists and turns.

In the mean time, starting tomorrow, for the next little bit I plan to regale you with tales of foreign adventure. I have missed showing off some highlights and fun times on account of energy and internet connections. There may even be a surprise or two lingering in there.