Filming

Saw a little filming on the streets in Burbank, CA

Little League Parade

A parade of little league ball players & their families

walked up Broadway today.

The elevated subway was being worked on in our neighborhood

and the workers stopped working

to cheer the young players on,

honking the train's horns and waving their helmets

as the little sluggers marched by.

Drawing for Drawing's Sake

Today was my last day teaching my portfolio development classes at Otis (until the summer session starts in June). As I was dancing around the class, getting everyone settled into their drawing projects, I wondered allowed why I was so happy. And I answered aloud.

Because I'm drawing. I've been drawing more these last few months than I have in years. I've been making art all along, I just haven't had the luxury of drawing for drawing's sake. And I forgot how happy it makes me.

Drawing for drawing's sake. Hurrah!

Gift

Necklace brought back by my son from Okinawa, Japan; he says it says "Mom"; was touched by the thoughtfulness.

A day to celebrate 4.13.12

Fortune

"You will be rewarded for your patience and understanding" - this was a keeper!

Aliens in the Neighborhood

Trees like this have always sort of freaked me out. What are they doing there like that?! I have decided they are aliens. Aliens who came to Earth to observe, trying to fit in. But they didn't get the blending in part quite right.

Military housing

My son's home away from home at Camp Horno-Camp Pendleton.

Shadows

There's always something to notice, even when standing around waiting for a bacon cheese burger and a coke.

Preparing lau lāʻī for the wedding lei

Preparing lau lāʻī for the wedding lei

(Have I ever mentioned that I'm not very skilled at lei making?)

A labor of love.

Sweet welcome

Sparkly cake to welcome home my Marine.

Skeleton Heads Everywhere

I've been spending a lot of time lately studying, examining, drawing, staring at skeletons. I can't stop seeing them, noticing the curve of people's clavicle, or estimating the location of a stranger's greater trochanter. After spending several hours with our friend there in the picture, I came home late last night, and to help wind down, I flipped on the TV. But I couldn't see Sean Hayes yuckin' it up on Letterman, all I saw was a laughing skull.

Evita

Tonight we went to see the B'way revival of EVITA.

sunburst

Part of a public art piece that I found interesting; reminds me of a sunburst.

Break time

My eldest giving her feet a rest.

Red Doors

There's just something about red doors . . .

The mosaic eye is watching you...

Today I made a wonderful discovery:

at the Chambers Street subway station,

the walls are decorated with mosaic eyes.

Creepy. Awesome.

Giving the Internet its Due

My mom

Today I spent Easter with my aunt. My aunt, two cousins and their families. These are people I didn't know existed until just a few months ago. I was hesitant to attend their Easter dinner, didn't expect to really connect with these people, but wanted a chance to meet them all, at least once.

Oh boy. I had fun. As people were laughing, and talking over each other, and pulling out games to play, I found myself saying (more than once) "I think we really are related."

All of this came about through the magic of the internet and Ancestry.com. Mostly, I think the internet is a huge waste, and social media a freakish thing best steered clear of.  But this is one instance when I wish the internet had been available a long time ago.

I think my mom would have really liked her sister. The one she never knew she had.

light fixture

Over the years, we've enjoyed many family meals at Story Teller's Cafe, however, today was the first time I ever looked up and noticed this beautifully crafted light fixture.

Easter flowers

I'm completely blown away by the beauty of the flowers this spring.

It seems like there are new wonders to behold every day.