January 2009

I spent most of my workday on Friday on the phone selling tickets to last night’s DinnerWorks Gala Dinner.  I did better than I expected; so well in fact, my boss told me to pick which of the 15 tables I wanted to sit at with my guests.  Of course I picked the table that came packaged with a creative activity.  My choice was a creation designed by a group of art students at St X high school.  The ceramic dishes by Neil Patterson inspired the students to make our table into an art studio: flatware doubled as paintbrushes, the place mats were painting palates, our chairs were drawing benches, and every place setting had a small easel in front of it.  The students left instructions for us to draw our table companions.  There was some resistance at first, but by the time the serving staff brought dinner, the newly budding artists were scrambling to find room on the table that didn’t interfer with their artmaking.

I had an absolute blast and was incredibly impressed that my friends came together at the last minute to support the exhibit and LVAA.  It was one of those times where I said to myself, “I can’t believe I’m getting paid for this.”

To begin with, today’s word of the day email put a huge smile on my face when I got up:

“audacious: 1 : daring, bold; 2 : insolent; 3 : marked by originality and verve”

The next highlight was the birthday love that found its way to my desk at the office, which was followed by the surprise of actually being able to leave the office early as planned.

Then mom and I were off to Z Spa for massages. It’s amazing how relaxing pushing and moving muscles around can be.

My evening consisted of girlfriends, carry out Vietnamese dinner, three Homemade Pie Kitchen cakes (with no plates), and watching “the Office” via Hulu.com and a projector. It.was.awesome!

One last highlight: Although I’m not a fan of horoscopes, I was super glad to get this one from a friend via Facebook:

“Happy birthday, Capricorn! You’re often seen as the Rock of Gibraltar by loved ones and close associates. Your words of wisdom have helped many a friend through rough times. Benevolent and selfless, you’ll form many strong friendships in your lifetime. The coming year is the payback …  Read Moreyear. A heavenly reward will transform an area of your life for the better. Get ready for good things to start happening.”

Hell yeah! ’twas a good day!

I work with a very kind-hearted, quite man who makes me think of the quote, “Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.”

Last week Keith observed, without comment, myself and another co-worker get buried under an unusual mound of work. I got comments from other co-workers like, “you look a little tired,” but Keith’s acknowledgment of our stress was far more thoughtful. We got to our desks Friday morning to find gifts awaiting us. Mine included a mouse-pad that me makes me laugh every time I see it, a miniature version of my favorite animal, and a key-chain size etch-and-sketch.  It’s amazing what a difference such little acts of kindness can make in your day. Keith is very much appreciated.

It was also nice to see my paycheck right next to the gifts

27 years ago today this world was gifted with the birth of a very special person (both in the serious and humorous sense).  I wish everyone had a Colleen Rosshirt in their life.  It’s great to have her as a constant among all of the fluctuating chaos.  Regardless of what unknown variables are going on, she’s always there for:

• sending cards that I consider laminating
• voice mails that make me laugh so hard people look at me funny
• brainstorming great ideas we never finish (ie starting a summer youth camp Colleen and Ashley style), but will someday
• co-creating the most unbelievable, laugh-’til-it-hurts stories
• spontaneous craft time
• screening potential boyfriends
• board games (and if none are available, making one)
• being a trustworthy guardian of my deepest secrets (at least until I’m 50 she says)
• telling me the truth no matter what
• helping me dream and stay on track

Yeah, she’s great.  Happy Birthday girl!

I got an email the other day from someone who stumbled across my other blog about art and activism.  He mentioned that although he’s in Cincinnati, he had recently visited Louisville (which inspired the said online search), and was on his way to Chile to visit friends (who he is telling about my work!)

I had to share what he said at the close of his email:

“PS: In exchange for reading some of the thoughts you share in your blogging, here are some notes I scribbled today - not claiming these lines are anything more than a draft with more-than-normal typos from using a foreign keyboard, but the words have some connection to me thinking about your artist-activist lifestyle.

THERE IS AN ITCHING IN MY LEGS
I WANT TO LEAP
I WANT TO RUN
SPINNING WITH ACTIVITY
I FEEL THE THREAD-THIN IMPORTANCE OF MY LIFE
THREAD THAT GAINS STRENGTH WHEN INTERTWINED
OR INTERWOVEN WITH OTHER SLIGHT FIBERS

I WANT TO LIE IN CALM REPOSE
WATCHING RIVERS FLOW
YET TODAY I MIND MY DUTY TO CARRY WATER
TO THOSE WHO CANNOT REACH THE STREAM

THERE IS AN ITCHING IN MY LIMBS
NOT A BURNING
– PERHAPS JUST A TICKLE,
A SPINNING OF ENERGY –
I COULD SOAK IT UP
ABSORB ITS DIZZY-BUZZING-HIGH.
NOT TODAY THOUGH.

RATHER THAN REMAIN MERE FIBER, LOOSE, KNOTTED, UNMATTED,
I SUMMON (IMAGES OF) WORKING, HARD-CALLOUSED HANDS:
GANDHI SPIN-DROPPING HIS SPOOL OF NATIVE COTTON BY THE SEA,
THE THREE THREAD-SPINNING FATES,
THE WISE OLD WOMEN WHO KEEP TALENTS ALIVE,
THE YOUNG APPRENTICES WHO WILL CONTINUE SPINNING AFTER ELDERS DIE…
MAY MY VEGETABLE/VEGETATIVE MATTER SPIDER-SPIN A LINE
WITH STRENGTH ENOUGH TO MEND, NOT TO BIND”

Wow!  Am I blushing?

My very best friend came down from Cincinnati to spend New Year’s Eve with me.  Before we went out for the evening, we were hanging out at my apartment and she asked me if I still had the plastic toy horses she sent in a care package years ago.

See, Colleen and I long ago decided we were going to make a Kentucky Derby board game.  We spent a considerable amount of time designing the game board and coming up with rules.  We never got around to making game pieces.  She later mailed a hodge-podge of quirky stuff to me, included a tube full of plastic miniature horses and a card explaining she had found the missing component to our game at a Cracker Barrel.  She named the gray one “Gallop,” which the card stated only eats double-stuffed Oreos (the card will forever remain on my fridge).

While she was staying in my guest room (aka the pull-out bed in the living room), she hid eight of the plastic horses around my apartment.  I’ve only found five so far, including Gallop.  That’s right, we’re twenty-something going on thirteen (and proud!)

Last year (wow, it feels good to say that), I developed a rather nasty tendency to be anxious and wound up.  To make matters worse, I had lost a familiar outlet for relieving it, so the tension really grew like a weed.  Luckily, a few weeks back I discovered an unexpected way of letting some of it go in the form of listening to jazz music.  Well, not just any jazz; I went to hear my dear friend Harry Pickens play at U of L.  My breath and thoughts slowed down, I felt calm, and later noticed I was smiling.  I actually felt I had gained some energy when I left.  Aaaaaah!  THANK YOU HARRY!!!

Harry Pickens on youtube