TRY TO BE POSITIVE

I GET OUT OF ALLIGNMENT, I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE.   I NEED TO GET MY PRIORITIES STRAIGHT... I'VE EVEN BORED MYSELF WITH THE DETAILS OF MY LIFE.   I AM TIRED, THOUGH.  I HAVE BEEN DOING FOR SO LONG THAT I JUST WANT TO REST.   I HAVE ABLE TO DO, THOUGH.   TAX  ABATEMENT,   BARNWORKS MARKET.   ART & TIQUES BEING MOVED.   EVENTUALLY.   IT WILL TUSSLE SOME TIME. IT ALWAYS TAKES TIME.  I SPOKE WITH MY FRIEND TODAY, I SAW HER MARRIAGE AS STRONG AND STABLE.  HER LIFE IS ABOUT TO UNRAVEL, SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN...MADE A LOVELY HOME, HAD GREAT KIDS, FROM THE OUTSIDE WAS THE PERFECT WIFE.  THEIR MARRIAGE DISSOLVES.  WHAT HAPPENED?  IT WAS  SO WONDERFUL FROM THE OUTSIDE.  SO WONDERFUL FROM THE OUTSIDE.  WE THOUGHT IT WAS OK,  ALWAYS THE PROVERBIAL WIF
E IT SEEMS THAT LIFE IS  FUNNY LIKE,  THAT.  TRYING TO MAKE A LIFE, WHEN YOU ARE IN ONE IS A DIFFICULT.   ASK ANYONE WHO HAS TO REINVENT THEMSELVES.

PUSHING 'TILL I CAN'T

IT HAS BEEN SUCH A TRYING TIME.  MY PATIENCE HAS BEEN SO TAXED.  I AM TRYING TO GET MY ACT TOGETHER,  I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE SOME SERIOUS MONEY.   I NEED TO MAKE MY FOOTPRINT SMALLER AT MY SHOP.   I WANT TO MOVE TOWARD PERHAPS A THREE SEASON BARN SHOP PLUS A MARKET ONCE A MONTH TO START.   I NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE THE WHOLE SPACE TAKEN OVER,  OR JUST A HALF.   I NEED SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO GRACEFULLY MAKE N ME BOW OUT.  THEN I HAVE A GOOD DAY AT THE SHOP.   IF WE ARE ALWAYS DISAPPOINTED, WE CAN NEVER MOVE FORWARDS.   I NEED TO STEP BACK AND SEE WHAT ALL I HAVE DONE. REALIZE MY POTENTIAL.   REALIZE WHAT MY PLACE IS IN THE WORLD.  IT'S NOT FOR ME TOO SAY... REALLY.   I NEED TO FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT IN THE WORLD.  I SOUND LIKE A LOON WHEN I REALIZE WHAT I HAVE BEEN SAYING...LET GO AND LET GOD.  I KNOWS IT BUT I DON'T DO IT.  IF I EVER THINK I KNOWS BETTER THEN GOD, I AM REMINDED TIME AND AGAIN.   THE WORRY, THE STOMACH, THE THROAT, IT'S ALL RELATED.  I NEED TO LET GO.
..

I AM IN A QUANDRY

IF I GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO MAKING SENSE OF MY BUSINESS DECISIONS,  I WILL PROBABLY BE NOT BE TOO THRILLED.   I DON'T REALLY HAVE A GOOD BUSINESS SENSE BUT I KNOW WHAT PEOPLE LIKE.   I AM INTUITIVE.   I AM REALLY NICE,  TOO NICE FOR MY OWN GOOD.   PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ME.   I AM CONSTANTLY TRYING TO PROVE MY WORTH.   I AM TRYING.   I AM TRYING.   I AM TRYING.   I WISH I HAD THE OTHER HALF OF MY BRAIN.  THE LOGISTICS SIDE.

MOTHER TERESA

PEOPLE ARE OFTEN UNREASONABLE, ILLOGICAL,  AND SELF-CENTERED;  FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.  
IF YOU ARE KIND,  PEOPLE MAY ACCUSE YOU OF SELFISH, ULTERIOR MOTIVES;
BE KIND ANYWAY.

IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL, YOU WILL WIN SOME TRUE ENEMIES;
SUCCEED ANYWAY. 

IF YOU ARE HONEST AND FRANK,  PEOPLE MAY CHEAT YOU; 
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY.
WHAT YOU SPEND YEARS BUILDING, SOMEONE COULD DISTROY OVERNIGHT;
BUILD ANYWAY.

IF YOU FIND SERENITY AND HAPPINESS,  THEY MAY BE JEALOUS; 
BE HAPPY ANYWAY.
THE GOOD YOU DO TODAY, PEOPLE WILL OFTEN FORGET TOMORROW;
BE GOOD ANYWAY.

GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU HAVE,  AND IT MAY NEVER BE ENOUGH;
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU HAVE ANYWAY.

YOU SEE, IT IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD, IN THE END IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM  ANYWAY.

LOVE, ACTUALLY

IF ONE LOVES ANOTHER,  WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD.

LOVE IS PATIENT; LOVE IS KIND; IT DOESN'T ENVY; IT DOESN'T BOAST; IT IS NOT PROUD.   IT ISN'T RUDE; IT IS NOT SELF-SEEKING; IT IS NOT EASILY ANGERED; IT KEEPS NO RECORDS OF WRONGS.
LOVE DOES NOT DELIGHT IN EVIL BIT R REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH.   OUR ALWAYS PROTECTS,  ALWAYS TRUSTS,  ALWAYS HOPES,  ALWAYS PERSEVERES.

                            CORINTHIANS    13:1-7

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A YELLOW WOOD, 
AND SORRY I COULD NOT TRAVEL BOTH
AND BE ONE TRAVELER; LONG I STOOD
AND LOOKED DOWN AS FAR AS I COULD
TO WHERE IT BENT IN THE UNDERGROWTH
THEN TOOK THE OTHER, JUST AS FAIR, AND HAVING PERHAPS THE BETTER CLAIM,
BECAUSE IT WAS GRASSY AND WANTED WEAR;
THOUGH AS FOR THAT, THE PASSING THERE
HAD WORN THEM REALLY ABOUT THE SAME,
AND BOTH THAT MORNING EQUALLY LAY
IN LEAVES NO STEP HAD TRODDEN BACK.
OH, I KEPT THE FIRST FOR ANOTHER DAY!
YET KNOWING HOW WAY LEADS TO WAY,
I DOUBTED IF I SHOULD EVER COME BACK.
I SHALL BE TELLING THIS WITH A SIGH
SOMEWHERE AGES AND AGES HENCE:
TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A WOOD,  AND I-
I TOOK THE ONE LESS TRAVELED BY,
AND THAT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
                                 ROBERT FROST

NELSON MANDELA

OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS NOT THAT WE ARE INADEQUATE.   OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS THAT WE ARE POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE.  IT IS OUR LIGHT, NOT OR DARKNESS, THAT MOST FRIGHTENS US.   WE ASK OURSELVES,  "WHO AM I TO BE BRILLIANT, GORGEOUS,  TALENTED AND FABULOUS?"

ACTUALLY, WHO ARE YOU NOT TO BE? YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.

YOUR PLAYING SMALL DOESN'T SERVE THE WORLD.  THERE IS NOTHING ENLIGHTENING ABOUT SHRINKING SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE WON'T FEEL INSECURE AROUND YOU.  WE WERE BORN TO MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN US.   IT IS NOT JUST IN SOME OF US, IT IS IN EVERYONE.   AND IF WE LET OUR OWN LIGHT SHINE, WE UNCONSCIOUSLY GIVE OTHER PEOPLE PERMISSION TO DO THE SAME.

AS WE ARE LIBERATED FROM OUR OWN FEAR,  OR PRESENCE AUTOMATICALLY LIBERATES OTHERS.

WHEN THINGS MAKE SENSE

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE A GRACEFUL EXIT OUT OF MY LOCATION...I THINK THERE IS A PERSON MORE PATIENT THEN ME THAT NEEDS TO SELL STUFF.  I WAS AND (AM) CONTINUALLY INSULTED BY THE CRASSNESS OF PEOPLE.  I WAS PRACTICALLY RUN 0VER TODAY BY A CUSTOMER...THEN INSULTED WITH AN OFFER ON SOME ITEMS.  HE WAS SO RUDE AND ABRASIVE.   HE MADE ME THINK THAT RETAIL THERAPY WASN'T JUST AN IDEA, HE BROUGHT HIS UGLINESS TO THR SHOP AND PERHAPS BRCAUSE OF HIM I AM READY TO MOVE ASIDE.  SHALL I SELL THE BUSINESS OR SUBLET?  I NEED A CAREFUL EAR.  I DON'T WANT TO RELINGUISH CONTROL BUT I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH ART.  MY FIRST LOVE.  SOMETIMES I THINK THAT 5HIS COLLECTING PHASE WAS ACTUALLY A WAY TO GET OBJECTS FOR THE CREATIONS I GOTTA MAKE.   AT LEAST I L8KE TO THINK SO.   THE PROBLEM IS NOW,  I HAVE A HARD ROME LETTING GO.   AS ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME EITHER PERSONALLY OR THROUGH THIS BLOG.   SO WHAT TO DO.   I HOPE A CALL YESTERDAY A FRIEND WANTS TO TALE OVER HALF OF THE SPACE.  IT WOULD NEW BETTER BUT I'M NOT SURE WHERE THIS WILL LEAD.   MAYBE I SHOULD GO FISHING FOE A BUYER READY TO TAKE OVER THE WHOLE SHEBANG.   I NEED A BIGGER MARLEY FOR THAT THOUGH.   MAYBE CRAIGS LIST IN NY OR BOSTON.   PERHAPS THERE IS A FRUSTRATED WANT-TO-BE SHOPKEEPER OUT THERE.  KNOW ANYONE?  I WAS SO INSULTED YESTERDAY THAT I THINK I SEE THE WORMY ON THE WALL.   MY HEART IS BROKEN,  THIS WAS ALWAYS MY DREAM.

MOSTLY CONTENT

I THINK IF YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR LIFE LIKE THE TIMELINE ON FACEBOOK AND YOU HAVE MORE CONTENT DAYS THEN NOT, YOU ARE DOING WELL, MY FRIEND.  WHEN I LOOK BACK I THINK THAT THE TIMES I WAS FRETTING THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DISCLAIMER ON MY DAY.  I NEVER THINK THAT WHEN I AM IN A MOMENT, I HAVE PERSPECTIVE.  I WONDER WHAT THE MOMENT THAT WE LEAVE THIS WORLD WILL BRING.  WILL IT BE OUR WEAKNESS, OR OUR GLORY?  I NOTICE LITTLE THINGS NOW, THE TILT OF A HEAD, THE ARCH OF A STEM, THE COMPLEXITY OF A SINGLE MOMENT.  I TRY SO HARD TO CREATE THIS PRECIOUSNESS IN MY WORK. I NEVER ACHIEVE IT, WHICH IS WHY I KEEP MAKING IT.  I AM A HARD WORKER IN LIFE, I REALLY TRY TO MAKE THE BEST OF WHATTHE UNIVERSE HAS BLESSED ME WITH.  I AM BUT A SMALL COG IN THIS GIANT WORKING WORLD.  TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL.

I'M JUST TRYING

WHEN I THINK OF THE WAY THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MY ART, IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO ME.  BROKEN PIECES,  CHURNED UP AND REASSEMBLED INTO (HOPEFULLY) SOMETHING BETTER.  I LOVE THE NOTION OF TAKING A SIMPLE IDEA...REWORKING IT...MODIFYING THE CONCEPT...AND CREATING  ART.  IF AN ARTIST IS HONEST WITH THEMSELF, THEY REALIZE THAT WHAT THEY MAKE IS WHO THEY ARE.  WHO ARE WE KIDDING, WE AREN'T MOUTHPIECES, WE ARE MIRRORS.  NOBODY IS THAT DEEP.  NOBODY.

HOW TO PROTECT

IF THERE IS A WAY TO PROTECT A HEART, I HAVEN'T FIGUED IT OUT.  I AM CONSTANTLY SURPRISED BY THE CALLOUSNESS OF SOME.   MY PARTNER OF 25 YEARS, THE FATHER OF OUR CHILDREN CANCELLED OUR DAUGHTERS HEALTH INSURANCE WITHOUT TELLING US.  HE HAS MARRIED CHARRO, A 5-TIME MARRIED LOSER WOMAN WITH A HOME-WRECKING PAST. SOMEHOW I THINK HIS ANGER HAS BEEN FEEDING HIM... CAUSING HIM TO LASH OUT.   A CHILD, HIS OFFSPRING NO MONEY FOR COLLEGE FOR HER WHILE HE LIVES A LAVISH LIFESTYLE TAKING HIS MISTRESS ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUYING HER A NEW MERCEDES,  AND NOT CARING ABOUT ANYTHINGIN HIS PAST.   DO MANY MIDLIFE MEN WALK AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES?  OR SEEMS THAT HE WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO HURT US.  FILLING FOR BANKRUPTCY TO PUT US ON THE STREET.  CHANGING SCHOOLS, LIFESTYLES,  ALL THAT COMES WITH DIVORCE. ..I GET,  BUT HOW COULD HE NOT SEE HIS KIDS FOR 6 YEARS?  OR TALK TO THEM?  IT SEEMS  UNBELIEVABLE TO ME.  HOW DOES HE SLEEP AT NIGHT?  HOW DID I NOT KNOW WHAT HE WAS CAPABLE OF?

WHO AM I?

A CONCEPTUAL BODY OF WORK DESIGNED TO PROVOKE A RESPONSE BASED ON THE PAST.  OBJECTS FAMILIAR, YET OUT OF CONTEXT, BECOME FODDER FOR A SURREAL ASSEMBLAGE.   THE LANGUAGE BECOMES SYMBOLS, JUXTAPOSING THROUGH IMAGES THAT ARE BOTH OTHERWORLDLY AND MUNDANE.  I LOVE THE IDEA THAT WE WANT TO INTERACT WITH THE WORK, BUT IT SO PRECARIOUS THAT TOUCHING COULD CREATE A NEW SET OF PROBLEMS.  I WANT MEMORIES TO BE EVOKED, PLACES REVISITED, EMOTIONS RESURFACED.  THE INTENT OF THESE FAMILIAR,  MOSTLY BROKEN OBJECTS, ARE THE WAY THEY INTERFACE THEY BECOME...IDEAS AND OBJECTS LIVE TOGETHER...

MY WORK

MY WORK ENCOMPASSES REGULAR OBJECTS THAT, WHEN PUT TOGETHER BECOMES SOMETHING OTHER.  I LOOK TO REFERENTIAL WORK OF THE PAST,  TAKING TRADITIONS AND MAKING YHEM MY OWN.  I LOVE THINGS THAT WOULD NEVER EXIST TOGETHER EXCEPT FOR ME.   I AM THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR IN ALL THAT I DO.   I USED TO FEEL IT IN PAINTING BUT NOW I LOVE USING A NARRATIVE EXPRESSION TO MAKE A POINT.   I LOVE THE FREEDOM IN EXPRESSION.   IT IS QUIRKY.   BUT SO AM I.

IT'S TIME TO GET UP AND OVER

I HAVE OFTENED WONDERED HOW PEOPLE OVERCOME TRAGEDIES...I MEAN REALLY HORRIFIC THINGS.   IT SEEMS THAT AS HUMANS WE ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE OURSELVES BECOME...WE ARE ALWAYS IN THE ACT OF BECOMING.  WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO ERASE THE IMAGES.   I THINK WE ARE ALWAYS IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGE AND IF YOU GET STUCK IN ONE MOMENT YOU STALL IN YOUR LIFE.

ART HAS IT'S SPACE

THINK OF ART AS A WINDOW TO YOUR SOUL.  IT BRINGS TO LIGHT ALL EMOTIONS, GOOD AND BAD.  THERE IS SOMETHING OF YOU IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.  IN EACH WORK THINGS ARE EXPLORED, REVEALED, AND EXPOSED.  FEAR IS COMBATED,  SEARCH FOR MEANING, EXPLORE YOUR REAL SELF AND SENSES.  WHEN I AM GONE, YOU WILL HAVE KNOWN ME, AND ALL I AM.  AND AM NOT.

OK, I HAVE PROVEN I CAN

I'VE BEEN NOODLING THE BUGS OUT OF MY ARTKET IDEA.  SEVERAL ANTIQUE DEALERS IN THE BARN, POP TENTS OUTSIDE WITH A WIDE ARRAY OF COOL ITEMS FOR SALE.  I PICTURE FOODSTUFF, KNITWEAR, VINTAGE CLOTHING, JEWELRY, CRAFTS, ART WORK,  MAYBE EVEN AGRICULTURAL ITEMS...I ASK MY FRIENDS AND ALL SEEM WILLING TO TAKE T HE PLUNG WITH ME.  I NEED SOMEONE TO MANAGE THE LOGISTICS OF SUCH AN UNDERTAKING.   I HOPE THAT ONE OF MY FRIENDS IS UP FOE THE CHALLENGE.   I HOPE THERE IS ENOUGH NICE WEATHER IN THE BEGINNING TO KEEP EVERYONE INTERESTED.  WELCOME TO THE SHOW.   ANYONE WITH SOME IDEAS FOR ME,  EMAIL ME.

WINTER WONDERLAND

THIS WAS ACTUALLY A GOOD SEASON TO MOVE IN TO MY NEW HOUSE.   THE ONLY PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE COLD...I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO PUT IN MY PELLET STOVE.   YOU'D THINK THAT IT WOULD BE EASY TO FIND SOMEONE INTERESTED IN MAKING A BIT OF MONEY...I HAVE BEEN SO COLD.  THIS DRAFTY FARMHOUSE IS A BEAUTIFUL ONE.   BUT IT'S COLD.   THERE IS NO HEAT ON THE SECOND FLOOR BECAUSE THE HEAT EXCHANGER IS STILL BROKEN.   THE CLOSING COMPANY SCREWED ME.   THEY NEVER FINISHED THE JOB AND PUSHED ME TO CLOSE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.   ON MY WAY TO THE CLOSING.   I WONDER HOW SOME PEOPLE SLEEP AT NIGHT.   PROBABLY THEY SLEEP NICE AND WARM.   I WISH THEY WOULD AT LEAST FINISH THE JOB.   I KNOW THAT I WON'T HAVE THE BATHROOM UP AND RUNNING BUT THE HEAT SEEMS LIKE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STANDARD.   I GUESS WHEN YOU BUY A HOME YOU HAVE TO EXPECT PEOPLE TO LEY TOY DOWN.   I WISH THAT I COULD FIGHT CITY HALL ABOUT THIS ONE BUT I DON'T HAVE THE FIGHT ANYMORE.   TO COLD.

THE ARTKET

SO..I AM STARTING AN ART MARKET...ACTUALLY LOCAL CRAFTERS, PICKLE MAKERS, WINE VENDORS, KNITTERS, YOU NAME IT.  I HAV3 HAD ALL OF THE TALENTED PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WANT TO PARTICIPATE.  ITS GOINGTO BE A BLAST.  I HAVE A VISION, MY BACKYARD LITTERED WITH WHITE TENTS ARTSY LOCAL INTERESTING PEOPLE WITH UNIQUE THINGS TO OFFER.  I HOPE IT BECOMES A DESTINATION EVENTUALLY.  LET ME KNOW IT YOU'RE INTERESTED.

THE TROUBLE WITH LOFTY GOALS

WHEN YOY BITE OFF MORE THEN YOU CAN CHEW YOU ARE ALWAYS DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH HOURS IN A DAY.  I AM GUILTY OF TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH.  I NEVER GET ENOUGH TIME IN A DAY.  IT IS MY BIGGEST ISSUE IN A DAY.  TAKE CD ORGANIZATION...IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK THE PERSON (ME) WHO MOVED THEM INTO THEIR NEW LOCATIONTO KEEP THEM TOGETHER BY GENRE.   THAT'S ALL I ASK.  REALLY NOT ALOT TO ASK.