Heron, 24" x 36" acrylic on canvas by Tammy Vitale

There’s a great Pearl Jam line:  "if you hate something, don’t you do it too."  Can we see a theme developing here in my paintings?  I’m not sure this one is quite finished yet, but here is obviously a heron.  Which I proclaim loud and long to be sick and tired of here in beautiful downtown Southern Maryland where paintings of these birds are so plentiful.  Perhaps that is why the subject matter comes to easily to mind….need a subject?  why, have a heron!  Anyways, I’m finding it too funny that here I am painting herons after going as far as banning them from art shows I’ve put on!  Humans are funny beings.

I am not sure how much business writing I’m going to be doing.  Am focused on the holidays – I even want to bake cookies, which is usually Husband’s perview (is that the correct spelling for that word?).  He also usually makes fudge and yummy yummy lollipops which my friends wait for at this time of year.  But he’s having a bah-humbug kind of year so far.  Something to do with working 18 hours a day (which he will dispute and since he will read this I will adjust it to more like the reality, which is 12 – 14 hours a day with a 3 hours commute.  So call me a liar for saying 18).  I was supposed to go on an interview today but it got changed to tomorrow  and I wrapped presents last night so maybe I’ll bake today (for a full-time job.  The job is right down my alley and right up the street from Husband’s work.  I figure since I am so into painting and collage right now, that is more portable and I could play with clay on the weekends)(yes, I am conflicted.  Especially after reading Tama Kieve’s (This Time I Dance) newsletter poem for the season (it’s centered in the original – I can’t figure that out here):

A new Hallelujah

Hallelujah for fear,

for the places in my life

that are expanding and bringing me into uncharted territory.

Hallelujah for disappointment,

for all the plates that crashed to the floor

and didn’t turn out the way I planned–

because my plans are limits

and I am on an original journey.

Hallelujah for the dark times,

when I feel small and badgered from within–

because they make me drop all the balls

and watch them roll away –

and as I do –

my emptiness attracts the inexplicable light

that soothes and baffles me.

I say Hallelujah for it all

–because I know no other way to face this life

and stay afloat

and I know no other basket that can hold

all the sudden blessings

of love, compassion, connection, and revelation

that grow like daisies on the lushest hill in the sun

that I stumble upon

just enough times

to keep me going.

And here’s a great quote for the day from Eva Gregory/Insight of the Day:

You have not lived a perfect day unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repy you.  Ruth Smeltzer.  Which brings us to a reminder about The Web Women Giving Circle….have you considered a small donation yet?

Finally, Here’s a great blog to check out.  I met her on myspace….those of you who collage will love this site! !  She is Taexalia and from Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in case this link here doesn’t work….you can find her on myspace by browsing a bit…read her "My Soul Collage" post….which has some pretty spiffy slide graphics stuff going on in addition to her soul collage cards which are GREAT!

thought for the day:    Most disappearances are of exotic things – species whose name we cannot say, whose face we have not seen, from places we have not been.  But not always.  our blue Crab, our Beautiful Swimmers are here and now…and their numbers are dropping.

This is the way of the Web:/ everything is connected,/each creature a protector of a particular cross-/roads of strands, watcher over a specific space./  From elephants to ants, whales to microbes/and we in between,/ each of us is a piece of the puzzle/that pictures the unfolding Universe./  When a protector disappears, its crossroads fray/and the puzzle becomes darker,/ the way more difficult,/remaining Watchers more easily get lost.  Tammy Vitale, writing for Water, a Chestory publication.