Rainy Day Wonderings

Friday, July 07, 2006

Being Thankful

Pacific Beach, California

Today I am most grateful for;

The smell of jasmine coming through open windows at night.
The sound of waves breaking at the shore.
The combined smells of coconut tanning lotion, salt and the sea.
Not forgetting my comb and hair conditioning when going to the beach.
Riding the waves in Pacific Beach, and getting some “respect” from the locals.
The refreshing taste of ice cold bottled water.
Being asked by kids if I “wanna help build the best sandcastle ever?” and joining in on the fun.
Being offered a lick of ice cream from a three year old girl named Nevaeh.
Watching a seagull dig through a woman’s belongings and flying off with her bra.
Watching the same woman, run after the seagull and eventually getting her bra back!
The moment you lock eyes with a stranger and knowing the thoughts are mutual.
Bongo players that play on or near the boardwalk, and wanting to dance to the beat.
Listening to a man recite original poetry to the beat of the bongo’s.
Watching the sunset over the ocean. Beautiful.
Coming home to a clean house.
Having the neighbors children offering to help unload my truck when I pull into the driveway.
The smell of freshly mowed lawn.
My dog Rascal, happily waiting for me to come in my front door.
Looking at the mail realizing that there is not a bill to be found in the stack.
Checking the answering machine and being told by a wrong number that my voice sounds sexy.
The refreshing taste of watermelon on a humid day.
Resisting the urge to eat my son’s frozen Milky Way bar.
Having the house to yourself and being able to read without disruption.
Reading my favorite blogs written by many talented folks. Please see here for a awesome post!
Taking a long bath with lots of bubbles, lit candles and soothing music.
The smell of fresh linen on my bed, calling to me offering a peaceful nights sleep.

Goodnight everyone!

N Posted by Rain at 7/07/2006 12:48:00 AM

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Peter Hurd American Painter

Peter Hurd(1904-1984)

Peter Hurd attended West Point Military Academy from 1921-23 and then studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art. In 1929 Hurd married Andrew WyethÃ’s sister Henrietta and moved to a ranch in New Mexico. He painted with egg tempera on gesso board from 1935 until switching to watercolors in 1960. During World War II Hurd worked as a correspondent to Life Magazine (1942-45). Hurd became an accomplished portrait painter and book illustrator and was widely recognized by the late ‘30s. He was commissioned to do several public building murals as well as the official portrait of Lyndon B. Johnson.

Peter Hurd

Eve of St. John, 1960

This is one of my favorite paintings of Peter Hurd. Sadly this photo does not due it justice. I have set many hours in front of this painting during my lunch hours. It is very beautiful and leaves me with a sense of peace.

Peter Hurd

Portrait by Moonlight

Egg Tempera on Gessoed Board

In 1967, he painted what would have been Lyndon B. Johnson's official portrait. President Johnson only allowed Hurd one sitting, during which he fell asleep. Hurd had to use photographs of Johnson to finish the painting. Johnson did not like his portrait, declaring it "the ugliest thing I ever saw." The painting is now part of the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, in the Smithsonian Institution.

Have a wonderful day!

N Posted by Rain at 7/06/2006 12:14:00 AM

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

1973~ My Journal

Three more days. Three more days until my dad went away leaving me alone with mom again.
One. Two. Three.
I hated the fact he was leaving, things were so much better when dad was around, she took it all out on him.
Yep, that's exactly the way I felt.
That "God Da**ed Ross" mom would always say when referring to my dad.
At one point I wondered if that in fact was his name.
Each and every time he went off to War he left me to deal with her alone.
I would imagine it was better over there, it had to be right?
Cause she was not there.
Each and every phone call we received he was at a bar.
Telling me over and over again how much he loved me.
Partying, drinking and have fun.
More like destroying a bar and sending the bill for my mom to pay.
Oh and was that fun for me, because I was the one that she directed her anger towards.
There was a part of me, deep down inside that would look forward to his leaving because I would be showered with gifts.
Maybe it was his way of easing his guilt, I'll probably never know.
He spoiled me rotten.
Every time he would leave I knew I would be getting new clothes and shoes.
And you would think that it would have made me happy.
After all, some new clothes, shoes and a fancy haircut would “fix” any sadness, right?
Because our “little girl” should never be sad, angry or deal with frustration.
Anyways, the count down was on.
Tick, tock, tick, tock.
His choice this time was JC Penney’s.
Mom said she did not want to go, she wanted to read.
It made me happy cause he was leaving soon and I wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.
Besides who doesn’t want new clothes?
He would sing dirty ditties on the way, which was always fun,
Because mom would always get mad when he sang them in front of me.
As we enter the store I see our next door neighbor, Mrs. C standing behind the cash register helping a customer.
Walking in the direction of the girls department there is Mrs. B another neighbor, she works in the lingerie department.
My dad and I stop to say our hellos, and my father tells me to go on ahead, so he could continue with his conversation with Mrs. B.
I wander off looking at all the clothes when I hear my dads voice yelling from across the store.
“Sissy! Sissy, what size panties do you wear? Do you like different colors?"
“Oh never mind, I remember now!”
I just stood there and froze. People stopped and looked around, wondering who Sissy was.
I wanted to crawl into a hole and die from embarrassment.
Just then I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned to see who it was.
It was Kendra the one girl in my sixth grade class that had the biggest mouth this side of the Rocky Mountains and her older brother Rick, the local high school quarterback, Mr. Personality in the flesh.
I could not look away from Rick’s eyes, they were so blue I felt like I could swim in them.
“I just saw your dad talking to Mrs. B, are you going to purchase that?” said Kendra.
Pointing to the shirt I had in my hand.
“What? Oh this? I am not sure.”
Just then I hear my dad’s voice again and turned my head to see my dad headed in my direction carrying fifteen different panties in one hand and some bras to match in the other.
“Sissy! Do you like blue butterflies? “Or here lookie at this one, it has a bra to match! How bout this blue lace one, ya think it is going to be scratchy? These panties have the days of the week on them, all in different colors!”
Again I just stood there feeling everyone’s eyes on me. I heard Kendra say, “Oh my gosh, is that your dad?
And the next thing I heard was Rick, saying “Lace always a good choice.”
I turned around and told them to “shut up” and as I walked towards my dad I could hear both of them laughing.
For most of the school year I was asked if my bra and panties matched or if I was wearing butterflies or frogs.
Oh and I can’t forget, does your stuffing for your bra match those panties?
Jealousy rearing its ugly head.
That is until sixth grade camp, when I proved once and for all that I did not stuff my bra.
I am saving that story for another time.
Two weeks after my dad left I told my mother what had happened that day in J.C Penny’s after getting into a fight at school.
Once she heard the whole story I was told that I was not going to get into trouble for fighting in school and as my mom walked out of my room I heard my mother say, “just wait until I get my hands on that“God Da**ed Ross!”

Please note that I took this from my journal when I was in the sixth grade. All misspellings, bad grammar were left in its original context.

Have a wonderful day!

N Posted by Rain at 7/05/2006 12:41:00 AM

Monday, July 03, 2006

Happy July 4th

President John Adams

October 30,1735-July 4, 1826

Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. It is true, indeed, that in the beginning we aimed not at independence. But there’s a divinity which shapes our ends…. Independence is now within our grasp. We have but to reach forth to it, and it is ours.- John Adams, speech favoring the Declaration of Independence, May, 1776

Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you. I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain. --John Adams (1735-1826)

President Thomas Jefferson

April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."~Thomas Jefferson

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."~Thomas Jefferson

The arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverance, employ for the preservation of our liberties being with one mind resolved to die free rather than live slaves. --Thomas Jefferson, 1775

James Monroe

April 28, 1758 - July 4, 1831

"In this great nation there is but one order, that of the people, whose power, by a peculiarly happy improvement of the representative principle, is transferred from them, without impairing in the slightest degree their sovereignty, to bodies of their own creation, and to persons elected by themselves, in the full extent necessary for the purposes of free, enlightened, and efficient government." ~James Monroe

"It is only when the people become ignorant and corrupt, when they degenerate into a populace, that they are incapable of exercising their sovereignty. Usurpation is then an easy attainment, and an usurper soon found. The people themselves become the willing instruments of their own debasement and ruin."~James Monroe

"Never did a government commence under auspices so favorable, nor ever was success so complete. "~James Monroe

"Our country may be likened to a new house. We lack many things, but we possess the most precious of all -- liberty! "~James Monroe

Have a safe and happy 4th of July everyone and please don't drink and drive!

N Posted by Rain at 7/03/2006 01:46:00 PM

Hunky Monday

Thank you Benita!

N Posted by Rain at 7/03/2006 12:32:00 AM