Nothing Day

I woke up today, after the dog had been boofing on and off for an hour (dude does not know how to sleep in), thinking cool, I have a day with nothing on it. Nothing that has to be done. No place I have to be…what a wondrous thing. What an amazing occasion. I fed the cat and the dog, talked to the boychild who just got home from work and will probably disappear for most of the summer into wildfires. I missed a phone call while I was peeing the dog. Came back in, took a sip of my tea, and there it was…radiology scheduling calling me. WTF. So yeah, another biopsy. Not thrilled. I have a call into the doctor to see if they’re just staring at scar tissue from last year’s surgery or something new. Anxiety level increased…from mostly nothing (except for like government/war/end of planet anxiety) to not nothing…mostly the opposite of that. Not appreciated. So now I’m waiting on the doctor to call, waiting three weeks for the biopsy (guess it’s not an emergency, which is fine, good, except for the anxious part of my brain). I was trying to look back at my medical info from last year, as to what kind of biopsy it was, if it’s the same kind (I think it is)…but the damn app updated in March and the biopsy was in February, so I can’t see any of the records for the appointment. Aargh. Whatever. Distract myself with other stuff, with getting ready for my residency. Making sure I have the materials collected (or honestly, FOUND in this house) to try the things I want to try.

I did manage to finish quilting the Spargo Chirp quilt…

Finished all the birds and then found a green thread in my stash that worked for the borders.

Nice to use up stuff I already have…

So it’s ready to be trimmed and bound. Maybe today. We’ll see. Because I also started drawing the next art quilt.

I did a pen drawing the other day that absolutely sucked. I started in pencil, full size, last night. Still not ready to ink. Still processing. Still trying to decide what parts of what is going on in the world I want to focus on, or will I even be able to focus, because honestly, sometimes my brain goes into overdrive here. I might ink some tonight. Maybe. If I feel ready for it. It’s got a lot of human rights rolling around, but I’m not entirely sure what it looks like yet. Much like my summer. Does it look like art art art? Hopefully.

Here’s three out of four cats on the bed.

I disturbed the boy and he left, but the aunties stayed and napped. My old lady won’t leave the office at this point, mostly because the boy harasses her. Not ideal. She fights back…loudly.

OK. Today is apparently Friday. Tomorrow is a bit chaotic. I want to take a shower, but figure, the second I get in is when the doc calls. Frustrating that they don’t call BEFORE radiology calls. This is not the first time. My last doc had the same issue, but made the point of calling last January, because she heard me complain about a previous time, when I was walking into a staff meeting and they called to set up a redo mammogram with no warning. Meanwhile, doc wants me to reduce stress so blood sugar will behave. WEEELLLLL. OK. I’m trying, but maybe you and my left boob should have a conversation about how to help me with that.

Anyway. I need to pack two quilts to be delivered next week to this show…

Casa Familiar is proud to announce the opening of a new exhibition at The Front Arte y Cultura – “Infinite Rivers”, one that explores artisanal practices, traditions, and crafts that have been passed down through generations.

Join us for an opening reception on July 12th, 5pm-7pm at The FRONT Gallery (147 W San Ysidro Blvd, San Ysidro Ca 92154)

Infinite Rivers will run through September 13, 2025.

Featuring works from indigenous artists from the Kumeyaay community, Chemehuevi, Zapotec, Huichol, Taraumara communities, as well as artists from San Diego-Tijuana, Lebanon, and Colombia. The pieces exhibited share dialogue between the traditional and the contemporary – showing that while some are kept intact, some are constantly evolving.

“Infinite Rivers invites us to appreciate these practices from a caring and culturally conscious approach.” – Francisco Eme, Gallery Director and curator.

Featured artists:

Anabel Alarcón @anniepock
Andrea Echeverri @andrea_chevere
Cara Romero @cararomerophotography
Daria Mariscal
Diana Benavidez @pinata.jpg
Doris Bittar @doris.bittar
Eva Salazar
Francisco Eme @franciscoeme
Kathy Nida @knida
Laura Estela Huerta @stellamohr
Luvia Lazo @luvialazo
Natalia Toledo @natalia.toledo1
Raymundo de la Rosa
Taller Fango: arte de Barro Negro @fango_artedebarronegro

There’s all the info for you. It was nice to be asked to participate in this exhibit. Hell, it’s always nice to be asked. I entered another exhibition opportunity earlier this week, and have another one coming up. I really just need to make new work, so it makes sense that I’m planning a huge complicated piece instead of a series of smaller pieces. Ah well. It is how my brain works. And maybe some of the stuff that comes out of the week I’m in a residency will turn into some smaller pieces. We’ll see.

Here’s the owl cam capturing another SpaceX launch, one that didn’t blow up or crash.

Kind of cool. Even if the guy in charge is a dick.

So trim a quilt, work on a drawing, do some yard work. Try not to think about the boobage. All good.

Hot and Sweaty

Last Monday of the 2024/2025 school year. Also supposed to be 90 degrees and we’re outside for most of it. There was some claim of low clouds for the morning, but there is no sign of that here, 2.74 miles away from school. I have sunscreen, a hat, a change of shoes (color run), water…but I lose my prep period, so when will I eat my snack and pee? No one is clear on that one. The things that count, though…

So. Cool things. I was followed by this art center I’d never heard of and kind of looked at it and went, huh. Why? And didn’t follow back (probably a mistake). Then saw that someone who had bought one of my pieces was having a show of her collection at said art center…go look at it and notice who else’s work is in the show…with mine. Wow. That’s kinda cool. Here’s the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City, Indiana, only an hour out from Chicago (I looked). And the show is Women to the Front (great title)…and here’s the artist list.

Oh yeah. OK. Impressive. Wish I could figure out how to get to that show, but it’s summer and I’ve already spent all my travel funds. Note to self: follow art centers back. Don’t question it.

Did some underglazing on Friday.

Still taking forever. Fun times. I did all the black things. Next? I think red. There also might be more gray (gun, I’m looking at you).

I marched on Saturday…

It was a lot of people.

Apparently over 60,000. All peaceful.

It was a long day…took the trolley in (read my book both directions).

The Man came too…probably a lot more people than he’s been around for a while. But it was good to see that and feel that. The total number of protesters all over the US has been all over the map, from 5-12 million. Still a lot. Maybe someone should listen to that.

We came home and I read to Bowie…

Little cross-eyed bastard. Put him to sleep…

Depositing hair everywhere.

I did a little wool stitchdown.

Nova really wanted to be on my lap, but wool AND cat when it’s hot? Ugh.

I sandwiched and pinbasted Chirp, the next finished Sue Spargo I had lying around.

Might as well finish some things while my brain is processing. I did finally manage to start a drawing…twice…and this isn’t the final for sure, but it’s processing…

I know what I’m aiming for finally. So that’ll be this week.

Yeah this…

And he did say who he was. So much incompetence in government officials right now…and I’m not talking about Padilla.

Astrology stuff always cracks me up. Both the Man and I are different water signs, and incredibly different people. Shockingly.

I think most of those are mine, not his. And barely accurate. Ah well.

OK. School is weird today. Promotion practice, which usually takes a few hours and a few tries. It’s gonna be hot and sunny. I lose my prep period. Then I probably have kids in Period 4? Admin seemed to think Period 3 too? OK. Never happened in the last two years, so not sure I believe you. But whatever. Three years? How many years have I been 8th grade now? Fuck. Can’t remember. So that. Showing videos if we’re back in class. Not doing anything else. Then lunch, then the last few hours are helping to manage kids with Tshirt signing, BBQ, and color run. Then duty (outside in the heat again) and a staff meeting (UGH). Hopefully I will have the energy for clay afterwards, but it won’t surprise me if I don’t. I sense sweat and sunburn in my future. But we’re almost out! Tomorrow is promotion and my room is almost cleared out, so I won’t have to come back on Wednesday. Woohoo! Summer break, I am ready. To sleep for a couple of weeks (it never happens…there’s too much noise and light for me to sleep).

Art Things…

Hi ho hi ho, it’s off to work I go…except I can’t whistle. I really can’t. Never been able to. There are 19 days of school left. I had myself persuaded that because I was missing part of this week and next week is short because of the holiday, that I only had one 5-day week left. But no. My school board, which is barely sentient some days, decided to add some random 3-day weekends in the fall for unknown reasons that just mess up my students beyond belief, so we are not finishing on a Thursday, but the following Tuesday. Sigh. Don’t like it. So two 5-day weeks left. Yesterday was math state testing; today is science (no pressure, no stress!). I have 3 more classes of big science packets to grade, plus one more class of the last academic thing I should have graded two weeks ago (I’m rolling behind). I have one academic thing from this last Monday that I’ll be grading on the plane if the internet holds. Knock on wood. It would be great to take a long weekend in May and NOT grade shit, but that’s actually impossible. Grades are coming up and there’s no leeway on that end-of-year deadline. For some kids, it’s whether they promote or not. A little high stakes. Fun times. Last year, when we went to Maine for my niece’s graduation, I also graded on the plane. It’s a tradition!

Yeah well. So. Trying to keep my art self satisfied as I manage the end of the school year…so I finished ironing to fabric last night…

I’m surprised this took as long as it did; it’s super uncomplicated and relatively small for me.

OK, it only took a little over two hours…I was just doing a lot of other things at the same time; hence three nights to get it done.

I put a second coat of underglaze on this…

Definitely too much. It’s a good underlayer though. I guess. I had to fix a couple of things again. I seriously think people bump it as they’re pulling their stuff out. Next layer will be more neutral, I think, to match the base. but that’ll be next week. Then I need to do all the details, which will take a million years.

I find this amusing…Amazon misses me. I’ve significantly cut back on my Amazon shopping, either finding it locally or somewhere else that’s independently owned or just not buying it.

Same with Target, but their response was to discontinue my store card. Ah well! Also, not sure what that’s a picture of that I’m gonna like, but I’m not clicking on it. I did panic and buy some Wonder Under last week. It’s already gone up in price and it’s made in Spain. So. Yeah. I think I have a couple years’ worth now.

Sigh. Stupid world. Stupid country. Stupid government. Stupid white men. Watching The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6…dark and sometimes you wanna slap June, but there’s a lot of oh hey, we could do that.

One of the things I’m grading has these snowbaby drawings the kids made. These are both by boys…

But impressive. I told both of them they should take art in high school.

Because it’s such a lucrative job, right? Ha.

This is a little close to home. People give me tea; ironically, I mostly only drink one kind.

But I understand this. There’s always a cupboard.

The Man’s carnivorous plants are cute but deadly.

That bug is living dangerously.

OK. I started packing last night. And panicking. Oh wait, no, I’ve been doing that for days. It’s fine. I’ll get to the airport and be fine. I’ve mostly resigned myself to having some random center seat for both flights, but maybe I can wangle an aisle. I’m also resigned to being half asleep for days. Also was joking last night about what to wear to the slightly fancier artist reception and banquet…probably jeans and a t-shirt were out. The Man says, well black. With black. I said but fancy. He said Fancy Black. I said, oh hey, also cold. Fancy Warm Black. But sometimes it’s warmer inside and cold outside. Fancy Warm Black LAYERS. Yup. That’s me. Although I found one thing that’s not black. For once. PACKING. Plus that’s after school and prepping for a sub and grading all the things and pilates. So good luck to me. And then up at Fuck It in the morning and getting on a plane to art things. All good. Should do more of it, but it’s expensive and stressful. So there’s that. Balance! I suck at it.

The Aargh Part of the Year…

Aargh. Yes. Officially the Aargh part of the year. Head up! Off the desk! Wake up! Yes, you have to do the work. Sheesh. Trust me, dude, I am also done (except I’m not unfortunately). So much grading. How did I get so behind? I tried to have a life (ha! Stop that.). It’s fine. I’ll get caught up. Also I keep reading my book when I get home as a reward, and then I read for too long and I should have graded some things. And some things take longer to grade…all the late and makeup work takes forever. So I got through about 9 of those last night…9 kids who turned in work late or redid something. I mean, I didn’t do NOTHING yesterday. I had to record a video (in three pieces) and try to make all the pieces go together. Minorly successful. The app I use was being weird and I didn’t have the time or patience to figure it out. Next time. Maybe. I also went to an author talk: Matt Dinniman of Dungeon Crawler Carl fame. I’m through book 4, all on audio book, which for once, I can keep track of the story (mostly) in my ears. The reader is good. Here he is, waiting for the next question…

He seems like he’d be fun at a party. A chill party. One where we dress as we like and eat pizza. I found my book club friends when I was there!

I haven’t seen these guys in person for a while; we zoom as a book club. One I had never met in person. So that was really cool. Plus I was sitting in a random one seat in front of them (my introvertedness meant I didn’t contact them before the event) and the guy next to me kept showing me cool things in his books, which was awesome. Weird community vibes, but good. The talk was supposed to be at Mysterious Galaxy, but there were over 500 people, so they moved it to the Air/Space Museum in Balboa Park…much better parking and actual seats! Totally cool. I enjoyed it, although I was glad the books were presigned, because I was number 192 (two friends were numbers 1 and 2 WTF) and I was too tired to wait in a line for two hours.

I did finally pick something new to start, art-quilt-wise. I have this drawing that doesn’t even have a date on it. I think I drew the bottom strip and numbered it in 2020, but it was drawn before that. And I like it. It’s simple but to the point…BOOM.

So I started tracing it. You can see the bottom drawn bit there, above, with the date upside down.

It’s only got 130-some pieces, but I’m not tracing super fast at the moment. I’ll finish tonight and start trimming. I still need to clean up my friend’s mom’s quilt…just haven’t had the energy at the end of the day. Maybe tomorrow? I have an in-person SAQA meeting tomorrow that’s an hour away though. I always think these things are a good idea and then the thought of driving that far throws me. It’ll be fine.

So this is my school district’s financial report…

Love that. Especially since they now want to implement a dress code for teachers, so we’ll have to buy new clothes with our -5%. Also no ‘unnatural’ hair colors. That was a fun discussion. I wish I were protesting tomorrow, but I already had the other thing RSVP’d. Planning on one in June, though.

Nova looking for geckos.

There weren’t any that night. She’s patient. She’ll find them.

This stuff is so bad. There’s some woman in Georgia who was declared braindead and has been kept on life support for three months so the fetus that was 9 weeks when she became braindead can be born, because of the anti-abortion laws there.

So expensive. The family hasn’t commented on what they want, except that the baby might not even be able to survive when born. And they have borne the costs of the hospitalization as well. Crazy shit. Maybe some rich person should donate money to that family to help them with that.

I know. That side isn’t seeing reason most of the time. It’s frustrating.

Much like school! Ah well, today is the last day I try to review any more science before next week’s state science test. Then we do an egg drop and then sex ed and then we’re out! Woo! I’m excited. Really. Trying to make summer plans that will help me refresh.

OK, gotta go to the day job, maybe fit in some down time to grade the unit packets covering my desk, plus find a copier that works to get ready for next week. Sounds awesome. Then clay, then home and grade and cook dinner and then trace some more. Oh, probably read a chapter somewhere. I’m allowed. I don’t work all these hours to NOT be allowed to read and make art (and sometimes sleep). Right?

Physically Impossible.

I’m sitting here with two computers in front of me, deep breathing, trying to get two things done at once, which is, of course, physically impossible. But one computer is incredibly slow, so I type in between, in the wait times while it responds. I’m also waiting for the electric company to show up to remove something so I can get a solar battery installed. Unfortunately, there are bees in my composter (right next to the freakin’ meter, talk about bad timing, y’all). I think they’re chill enough right now that it won’t be an issue, and I’m hoping they leave by tomorrow, because otherwise, I’ll need to delay the battery install. Sigh. I have an eye doctor appointment this morning, so things are already wonky and I’m already stressed…plus it took FOREVER to fall asleep (probably related to all of the above and other shit), so I’m tired. I’m always tired. This may not be any different. Also there’s the issue of not posting the assignments for school too early, so kids will actually have them to do in class and not have them done and be acting out. Yes, there are scheduled posts, but they work about 50% of the time, so sometimes, you just post everything early and pray a little to the Goddess of Education, who is a little over-stretched herself at the moment.

The weekend. Sigh. I meant to do some things and then got in the wrong headspace and didn’t. Love that for myself. I did apply to an artists’ residency, hopefully something I can do this summer. Maybe not though, depending on timing and availability. I got the banned book piece to the next step. I finished stitchdown and pinbasted Friday night…

Ironically, I un-pinbasted them on Saturday and put a backing on them…I think it’ll be better that way. Then I quilted them Saturday night…

All together, they took a little over two hours…

Not long. Not hard.

Little quilts are easy.

But still not cheap. Time is money? My time is worth something.

Then last night, I started construction…this is the hard part. Not exactly sure what I’m doing. Scary to cut it and not sure it’ll be the right size, but doing it anyway.

So hopefully construction goes well over the next couple of nights. Certainly I’ve done it in my head about 3,000 times by now.

Oh, here’s the bees…

I went out yesterday evening to put the compost in, opened the lid, threw it, and ran. I went back when it was dark, when they were all chilled out.

I knocked off the honeycomb. This morning, there were three batches of bees…one still on the corner, one down on the ground under that (the biggest chunk), and a smaller chunk on the lid, which still smells like home, but is 20 feet away now.

They’re fascinating, but I need them to live somewhere else right now. Well, always. They love the composters unfortunately. I have an anti-bee spray I’ll use this time. I wash with hot water and soap, but it’s not enough I think. This composter has had bees at least three times.

The SDGE guy is out there…he wants me to check on him in 10 minutes in case he gets stung and has an allergic reaction. Chill guy.

I did not make it to ceramics Friday. Had a meeting after school and then had to set up for the sub this morning, and I was exhausted by the time I was done. No energy. Came home and graded instead.

Here’s my dinner drawings from the last four weeks.

I can’t explain them. I just draw. No purpose.

I find it relaxing. Yes, I can talk to the people I’m with while drawing.

It’s the only time I really get to draw these days. Which is frustrating.

Sometimes they bring the food really fast and I don’t get to finish. Or I’m drawing super slowly and I don’t finish.

I thought the Man’s plants looked like they were talking to each other.

Laughing plants.

This is way too real.

Except I do finish things. I finished one last week. This current book is really good so far. Hoping it stays good.

I’ve been working on this in bits and pieces at meetings and things.

OK. Sigh. Today is chaotic, but I’m hoping it will even out once I get through them dilating my eyes, my going to Costco with dilated eyes, then getting to school and hopefully having my eyes undilate (last time, it took over 4 hours, so I’m a little nervous). Plus I didn’t tell the kids I would be out…some of them are just jerks when you do, so I just decided to make it a surprise. The SDGE guy did not get stung by bees (they are so chill still)…good thing. I want to read my book, I need to grade things, I want to go to clay (it’s quiet on most Mondays), and I’m hoping the eye thing goes well. The doctor wasn’t particularly personable the last time. Didn’t tell me all the things, but wrote them up and I read them later. I guess that’s a thing…if you read. Hoping to come home to no bees hanging around and plenty of time to try to make that quilt thing go together. And the headspace to do so. Mondays. They just are.

My Oomph

Morning morning. Definitely Friday. No sleeping in this weekend. Ugh. I just never get to sleep enough. My fault most of the time. Last night, I stitched early, so I graded until 10:45 PM. Bad plan. Then the brain is ON. It’s fine…it gave up the ghost quickly, but man. Don’t do that again.

I got the fourth page ironed down on Wednesday night…

So there’s all four…

Now they need stitchdown and then quilting and then assembly. Not sure what that last step looks like. I stitched down one last night. I’m hoping to do the rest tonight. We’ll see. Then sandwich and start quilting tomorrow. I’ve got meetings I need to go to and I’d like to hike. But there’s yardwork too. Need to fix that solenoid! And weed whack. Fun times.

Plus there’s a shit ton of grading again. Although state testing starts next week and I can do some of it then. Meanwhile, it’s May now and all of my calendars are still on April. Fix that.

By the way, here’s the uncropped photo…

I needed a flat light-colored place that was low enough for me to get the camera semi-straight. I have at least 5 photos that I tried to do on the ironing board. Mistake. Bowie is happily watching.

Yesterday was principal’s day. We had shirts made with our principal dressed as Elvis (it’s a thing he does) and we all had Elvis glasses.

Some had sideburns. He was pleased. This time of year is a shitshow for everyone, so I’m glad he got some oomph to get him through the rest of the year.

My oomph is coming from exercise and books and art. There’s a few kids who just need to figure out their stuff, maybe realize they’re going to high school in August. There’s a lot of stress bumping around about promotion and those who might not promote, plus all the end-of-year stuff. I’m missing a half day on Monday for an eye-doctor appointment and I’m not even gonna tell the kids…they’re worse when they know. I totally changed what I’m teaching next week…couldn’t get enough understanding into them to get to the next point. Next year. We’ll fix it for next year. It took us 7 years to get 7th grade curriculum set up. This is only year 3 and I didn’t have help for 2 of those. It’ll be fine. Today, we’re doing a natural selection simulation that’s pretty good (until the bunnies take over the world). Next week, we’ll finish the unit and start state test review for science. That’s a big ugh for me and them, but it needs to be done. Meanwhile, I’m hoping all the adults involved figure out how to help and stop hindering. I have a meeting after school for a kid who will probably not promote because parents waited until MAY to figure out what was going on. Fun times. Then ceramics and fabric and I probably have to make dinner…I think. Although the Man is now eating fairly normal food…but his official dental appointment to release him from soft food is next Wednesday. From what I’ve seen, he’s already released himself? Who knows. And then, into the weekend…which seems to be getting shorter and shorter the closer we get to summer break.

Hopefully on Time…

OK. I lost a week in my head. I seriously thought I needed to be done with these banned book pieces by next week, but I have a whole ‘nother week. Whew. Although it’s still a rush, it’s not an insane, probably can’t do anything else rush. The Man’s show isn’t until next week. I have a weekend coming up with two back-to-back meetings (difficult, but OK), but the rest is pretty clear. I got two more pages ironed (basically I’m getting through one a night). Here’s page 2…

The embroidery did really well with the dark background…it hides the tails even better than I’d hoped. Here’s page 3…

There’s one more…it’s got some complicated hair in it, but I’m hoping to start a little earlier tonight.

Last night, I worked on the sculpture…I had to fix some things again…the damn fingers on the left hand keep breaking off…

But I’ve started to build a head…not sure if it’s too big though. Hard to do it this way, for sure. I also added a bomb and an atomic explosion…

I think that arm might be officially done. The other arm needs some stuff though.

I think I’ll be cutting into this for the mouth. It is a removable head, so I can work on it separately from the torso. The torso really needs to get fired, but I need to underglaze it first…and I obviously haven’t even started. And the base needs to do something. Besides take up most of my shelf at the moment. Hard to get my head around the 3D stuff, but that’s good for me. My brain needs the artistic workout.

Oh hey, I got into another show, Sebastopol Center for the Arts’ International Fiber Arts XII exhibition. War Zone will be traveling there in June. The show opens June 21 and runs through August 3. I’m debating going up for the opening. We’ll see. It is summer break by then.

It’s not a huge piece, for once.

This is too true.

OK, school today is still chaos. We had a lockdown that fucked up classes last week for a shooting in the neighborhood, then a sex trafficking assembly that fucked up classes Monday and a little bit yesterday, and I’m still trying to get everyone on the same page for instruction. Hopefully by Friday, at the rate I’m going. I’m about 15 minutes off at the moment. Interestingly, the classes that have had the most time are the furthest behind and those with the least are the furthest ahead. The best-laid plans…are not laid at all. Then the human sexual health curriculum parent meeting is after school…no one showed up last year, but you never know. I have fewer kids opting out this year than ever, so either parents aren’t paying attention or they’re more accepting? That seems unlikely. But whatever. After that, I’m coming home and cooking dinner and making art…and maybe replacing the solenoid so the sprinklers can run. I’m so tired when I get home that I don’t want to start in case I fuck something up. Sigh. It’s fine. I’ll do it. And then iron things so I can do stitchdown tomorrow. Getting there. Hopefully on time.

Will They Want Mine…

It’s kind of amazing how much I think and dream and talk about sleep when you consider how bad I am at it. 1 AM, 2 AM, and 4:44 AM. All good. 4:44 was something scrabbling on the roof though…so that was a dog response and that woke me up. Not sure what the others were but I don’t appreciate them; don’t appreciate starting the work week on low energy. Not that I slept much this weekend either. It was a busy weekend; I need another day to just relax. And finish my book club book. Ha! That’s gonna be a miracle if it happens. Miracles do happen though.

So Friday, I went and spent over an hour putting shit back together that slipped/broke/fell on Tuesday when I was putting it back on the shelf. I felt some things go but I needed to get out of there.

I added another burnt out building and part of the head. Not sure what’s gonna happen with that. Just know that the head can’t bump into stuff on the shoulders, so I’m trying to figure out what that looks like. The base came out of the kiln. There’s a crack in the bottom that will be hidden. I’m trying to decide what to do next. The gray is stronger than I thought it would be…so I might do another layer? And oxide it? That’s not a verb.

Need to think about it.

I managed to cut out all the page pieces…with a little doggie help.

It didn’t take long to finish the last two pages.

There were a lot of things I should have done over the weekend. I did pick up a quilt from the photographer. Haven’t dealt with that yet. Plus went to one of two meetings I was supposed to go to (too late for the second one), but it was also SD Book Crawl, so Saturday afternoon, I went to four bookstores and Sunday, I went to one. Here’s the baby haul…

I say baby haul because my coteacher did this as well, but made it to all 14 stores and has a real haul. I tried to pick books I hadn’t heard of, although the bottom one is the second in the 3-body problem series and I have read the first. It was fun, but it does take a chunk of time to drive around and park and wait in lines. I thought it was well-managed though. I’d do it again…that said, it’s always this 4th weekend in April, when I have two other meetings. Ah well.

Last night, I ironed the cover page together…

And then ironed it onto a background.

Seems relevant. They did say politics was OK, but IDK if they’ll want mine. We’ll see. I’ll turn it into a comic strip if it doesn’t get into the show. Like four panels in a row. In my spare time. Yeah. Right now, I’m kind of at a push to get this done. Wish me luck. Maybe I’ll blow off grading for a week and a half.

I’m hoping to get a page done a night, maybe more. This one took an hour. The others are more complicated. Although the next one has fewer pieces, so maybe it’s not more complicated. Hard to say. Then stitchdown Thursday, all of it, sandwich and quilt Friday…oh wait, the Man has a show Friday night. Fuck. Um. So Saturday/Sunday? Yikes. Deadline looms. I got this. Here’s the ex’s dog, complicating the couch…

Today though…today, I teach three classes…they’re finishing one thing and starting another. Hopefully. Then the other two classes are a mini-assembly about sex trafficking. Fun times. Then two staff meetings. More fun. Come home, finish reading book club book. Yup. Then iron. Maybe sleep. Big maybe on that one. The last 7 weeks of school are always a challenge. Nothing new this year.

Ready or Not

Well there’s nothing like the shitty Sunday sleep that comes after two weeks off of work. I’ve got a few thousand things to do rattling around in my head for today, and sleep was not my friend last night. I mean, sleep is never really my friend, but sometimes it comes along for the ride. There are 41 days of school left. It feels doable until you consider the details. Grades are due next Tuesday. I was really good and didn’t grade until last Friday. I didn’t finish, but that’s OK. This is a progress report so I don’t have to be done. The texts are rolling in about how we have new projectors, but they’re not set up and our rooms are messed up. Fun times. School starts in less than 90 minutes and now we have to set up beforehand. Ah well. I’m not rushing to get there. I’m boggled the district doesn’t send an email out about having to set shit back up and how. I know they assume we all come in over break, but I stayed away and it was a good thing. I needed a serious reset.

I forgot to post on Friday…it was a busy day. I had to pick up art in the morning, long drive, then doctor appointment, then I graded all afternoon and did some yardwork, then we went to see Regency Girls at the Old Globe.

It was fun, a good women’s-rights-friendly musical. So no art happened on Friday though. Saturday, I made it to ceramics. I was supposed to load the base of this piece into the kiln, but it was too warm. I’m going back tomorrow. I did add some bullets and money to the upper torso…

I had to fix the flag and some fingers first.

Sculpting is definitely a skill that needs developing.

This thing is a little crazy at the moment.

I also worked on the new quilt, after delivering the last one to the photographer and picking up the one before it. This is Portrait of One Self.

She’s big. She took four months to finish. Crazy really. Thought I’d hit a deadline; didn’t even come close. Ah well.

Started ironing with the Statue of Liberty…

Second Statue of Liberty in one of my pieces.

Yesterday, I washed all the embroideries, then realized I’d missed a bit. I’ll fix that tonight hopefully. Then I started ironing page 2…or is it page 1? Because the statue is the cover page.

Easier for me to think of it as four pages. I didn’t finish. This one is more complicated. So hopefully by the end of the week, all the page pieces will be ironed to fabric and I can start trimming. There’s a super tight deadline on these guys.

This is a thing.

Real people helping real people. Seriously, if you think she’s a caricature, you should listen to Dolly Parton’s America, the podcast. She’s not who you think she is. And she’s better than those dingbats who went to space.

Simba agrees.

Wishful viewing of the bunnies in the front yard.

OK. School. Apparently need to put my room back together before kids get there. Nothing is set up, I think. Or did I do it before I left? I don’t think I did, because they were gonna do our floors. Deep breath. It’s fine. Today’s teaching is easy. Then a 2-hour staff meeting (ugh). Then errands, dinner, art. The Man is having dental surgery today and is on liquids and soft food for about a week…so my dinners are my own problem. Pros and cons to that. I’m expecting some exhaustion this week. Going back to school always does that, more so as I get older. But also, I’m reading two books, making some art, dealing with yard stuff. Nothing new. Grades. Damn. Grades already. OK. Well, that’s happening whether I’m ready for it or not.

Still Upright…

Hey hey, I’m trying to do all the things here. Already got a splinter that won’t come out…fun times. I finished quilting yesterday and couldn’t find anything in my stash for binding, so I’m going to have to go to Satan’s fabric store and just feel good that I’m using her fabric to make some woke-ass liberal quilts (probably not gonna tell her that, but I’m telling you).

I trimmed her yesterday too…

So she’s ready for binding today. I’ve got a solar guy coming to talk about a battery today (he says they’re cheaper than last time…they better be). Then I’m going to ceramics (haven’t been in a week and a half) and running about 700 errands. Yuck to that, but it needs to be done. And some of it is OK, except for trying to be woke in a fabric store run by a MAGA nut. Her employees are fine…sigh.

I trimmed all the Wonder Under for the banned book piece last night too, because I didn’t have anything else to work on and that’s anathema.

So it’s ready to be ironed to fabric like…now.

Monday we had a big earthquake. It wasn’t huge but it was very bumpy. I was at the vet and after the first little roll that turned into a larger roll, I picked up the dog and stood in the doorway.

Los Angeles trained, y’all. Grew up on an earthquake fault. My high school evacuated us ACROSS the fault to the upper fields. Made no sense.

It wasn’t that bad though…just makes you a little jumpy.

I did a few drawings (or finished this one) while sitting in cocktail bars and restaurants.

All good. Didn’t finish this one…

Food came too fast. Also the food was kinda eh. Ah well. Can’t have lovely scenery AND good food, can we? I did a couple of big drawings too.

Nova helping me cut things out. Actually, she was sitting in my seat and it was kind of annoying to not have my cushion at my back.

But I rarely move cats. She wanted belly rubs and air biscuits later…

I obliged. Why are all the blue-eyed cats in the house cross-eyed? Cute but makes them look somewhat psychotic.

This shit. I can’t even.

Dystopian bullshit going on. Crazy shit. I’m boggled by some of the things that are passing…or being ordered…or happening. ICE is out of control. HHS is about to implode. I’m hoping no one I love needs groundbreaking cancer treatment in the next 10 years…or longer. These trials take years to conduct. I never changed my name when I was married, but if I had, I don’t know where my marriage license is. No clue. WTF. I take heart in the institutions and people that are fighting back and putting out statements saying uh uh. Not doing that. Oregon’s governor stating, hey, we pay INTO federal funding…you don’t get to withhold it. Damn straight. Where are my taxes going? To SpaceX? Fuck that. He keeps blowing the damn things up. Not when celebrities are in them. Sigh. I don’t want people to die, but people are going to die with the decisions that are being made. And it’s the people who need help the most.

Anyway. The rest of the day will be all art (mostly) and a little gardening. Well, and those stupid errands. I needed lightbulbs for two of the bathrooms, but first, I searched my cupboards for those stupid vanity bulbs and found one set from 1993. The previous owners had written on the box that they had a yellow cast and that they had replaced 4 bulbs. I can’t believe I still had these bulbs (I probably had them shoved in the back of a drawer somewhere and just found them). Clay first, then binding. That’s what I’m doing. Probably also going to try to fix the sprinkler system…the ex replaced the broken sprinkler, which is good (it was beyond my ability), but now I think there’s a solenoid problem. Yes, I will have to do schoolwork at some point. Ugh. Maybe tomorrow I will start. I don’t really want to. I got a call yesterday that I’m going to be 8th grade again next year: pros and cons. Pro: still with my same team, my same co-teacher, same grade trying to figure shit out. Better. MASTERY. FFS. Con: um, some of those 7th graders out there look/sound really annoying and I don’t want them. But that’s always the case. Nothing new. I might have to do a Newcomers class for science? We’ll see. It’s a bit of a relief to know what grade level at least. We need to cut about 2-3 weeks of stuff in the beginning to find time in the end. Actually, probably more. So much we’re not teaching this year. Oh well. We never get through all of it anyway. OK. Drink tea. Make more tea. Go see how the clay is doing. Pretty sure I left a flagpole of clay to harden. Hopefully it’s still standing upright.