A slump of writing proportions.

I've been in a bit of a creative slump of late. I don't quite know why. For the last few nights I have gazed at my computer screen, and nothing, I mean nothing has come into my brain. *sigh*

So here are some things that I want to do. Take this as my brainstorm to get my mind back on track. I feel so lost right now...

1. I want to go to culinary school in Italy for one of my anniversaries. I love cooking (when I am not doing dishes) and I would kill to spend a week in Tuscany drinking wine and learning how to make some fresh wonderful pasta dishes (did I mention the wine?). I think for my 15 year anniversary this will be in order. Either that or this would be a great trip to do with my mom and sister....did I mention the wine?

2. I want to take classes in Russian History. Russia, to me, is shrouded in mystery. It is a fascinating country that has ties to the east and the west, and I believe that they don't quite know which identity they want to consume their existence. I love the history of Imperial Russia. I love the people that have made than country so troubled. I studied Russia in college and would love to expand more upon my knowledge. It's a mildly weird obsession I have. Don't ask...

3. I want to go on a driving trip across the whole USA. (I might do this with Renee is Mark deploys sometime.) We travel well together. She was perfect on our trip through OK, MO, LA, TX, AL, and GA. This time I would like to go into the American Southwest and explore Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, and so many other wonderful places. I want to stay in the National Parks and show Renee the rugged beauty of America. I want her to appreciate life without electronics, TV, and school and in all honesty I want to do the same.

4. I want another child. Mark and I are ready for #2. We wanted to be PG already, but as fate would have it our timing was NOT that good. All summer I was away from Mark during those "critical" times of the month...and needless to say we still have no Thing #2. Oh well. Now I am in a holding pattern because my sister is getting married in June of next year...and if I were to get PG this month I would be due on her wedding day. As matron of honor I don't think that would work out so well. hmmm. So we wait. When your clock starts ticking this whole waiting thing really sucks. Renee's going to be 4 or 5 when the next kiddo rolls around...and that's not thrilling me. *oh well* Needless to say there isn't much I can do about it currently.

5. I want to go to a new church. I love Wesley Methodist, but I MISS the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. I miss the structure of the church service and I miss their teachings...so we are going elsewhere. Problem is Evans, GA (and all of the south) don't host many Lutheran churches. We have one in town, but it is a drive. At this point I think it is worth it.

6. I want to paint. I want to paint my whole house. I just finished my kitchen and now I am itching to paint my living room and dining room. I think it might be time to hire a painter...my ceilings are high and I don't have the tools to get up there. Plus, that is a LOT of work. UGH.

OK I am sleepy and off to bed. Sorry for the randomness of this. I just felt the need to TYPE something.
Jenny

Self Portrait

I love my daughter! (in case you haven't picked up on that just yet...) Today little Renee graced my presence with her very first full and complete self portrait! She came into the computer room with a smile on her face. She was holding paper behind her back and she told me that she had made me a "special surprise".

She then handed me a wonderful picture! Initially, I was excited like I am with every drawing she does for me. There were scribbles all over the paper...then I flipped it over (she usually fills up all of the paper for me) and I realized what she had done....she had drawn a picture of herself! She looks a little like Mr Potato Head on green construction paper, and in my book that is perfect! She drew her eyes with blue crayon, her nose with red, her mouth, and her hair also makes an appearance. She also drew two legs and two arms...and fingers! (The arms are vertical black lines and the fingers are the dots surrounding the arms.)

While admiring her spectacular artwork, my sister called...I answered and while I was talking with Katie I noticed a dark blue scribble at the bottom Renee's illustrated head/body area. I thought it was clothes, but when I asked for Renee's clarification she told me it was her "belly button"!

EVEN better. :)

Here is her AWESOME drawing. I hope you like it!

I am a little giddy right now. It may be a little early to judge, but as far as I am concerned I have the next Michelangelo sitting here next to me. Excuse me while I go contact the Louvre.

he he he.

Jenny

The Tree The Tree!

OH the tree is done! It consumed only 3/4 of my life for the past week, but it was SO worth it! I feel like I gave birth to a giant foam board baby. Here are some photos for you to feast on:

Over at Tom's house painting the trunk and the background piece that covers the scaffolding.

Renee posing in front of the bush piece:

The full tree on the stage. Lighting might change a little still, but this is it! YEA!

Another shot...zooming out a bit.
I hope beyond all hopes that I get to do this again. There are talks now that I might get to paint the backdrop for the Nutcracker (the giant Christmas tree) and some princess related scenes for other performances. :) WOOT! I never in a million years thought I could get into the world of the theatre....but this is WAY fun. I love working with the people (most of the time) and I love seeing my work on a stage. I could do this over and over again!

YEA ART!

Jenny

BEETCH Antics

Mark, Renee, and I are back from our first FULL family vacation of the summer. Myrtle Beach was an absolute blast! I'm just glad we got there before Hannah decided to make an appearance! On a really high note the waves were awesome! Mark and I were impressed that they rivaled that of Bellows Beach in Hawaii (6 foot waves at times). Needless to say I got some great body boarding in (a past love of mine). I only busted my knee up once, so I am thrilled! Mark, the poor guy, cut his foot up and his knee, and got some shell lodged in his foot. OOO. At least I got to play Doctor Jenny for a while.

I'm not one who can sit on a beach and sun for 8 hours at a time. A relaxing day for me involves construction of many sand castles, playing in the water, getting freaked out by the nature that consequently RESIDES in the water, catching little beach animals and stuffing them in buckets, and trying (usually not succeeding) to build a fort that withstand the constant battering of waves! The nice part is now I have a little cohort and Renee loves doing many of the same things that I do (minus going into the water...that does not thrill her at all), I so don't look like a total fool when I am out "playing". Man, kids are great!

The first night we took Renee down to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. She loved it (heck, I loved it)! They had a giant "party" hurricane, a dude on stilts making balloon animals, and pretty decent food. After that we rode a few rides and then crashed back at the hotel. Our first day on the beach Renee met a little girl and they played around all morning long making sand pies and burring each other in the dirt. It was very sweet. In the afternoon we discovered our pool and the AWESOME slide that our hotel had. (Once again I'm not one to sit in a chair and soak up the sun....) I tried in vain to get Renee on the slide, but she was having NOTHIING to do with it.
Most days involved the beach in the morning, lunch out or in the room, naps, pool time, dinner, and then either crashing, shopping, or night walking on the beach. It was great. Towards the end of the trip Renee did go down the slide with me, and with some persuading (forcibly pushing her down the slide.) she went all by herself. (Mark caught her at the bottom the first 4 times...after that she was on her own!) Once we got her on the slide she didn't get off. I seriously think we climbed that thing 80 times, and every time she went down it she screamed the WHOLE way! We had people stopping us in the elevator asking if that was the "little sweetie" on the slide that they heard (that's Southern for "shut your child up next time). he he he.



The second to last day Renee almost made me die! She was in our hotel room when she picked up a long decorative pillow, carried it over to Mark and myself, and said "Hey Mom, this is kinda like a beetch." (In Renee's high and squeaky voice.) I did a double take and PRAYED I did NOT hear what I think I just heard....

"Renee, what did you just say?"

"I SAID, Mom it's kinda like a BEETCH!"

Mark coins in (trying not to laugh as I give him the GLARE from hell), "Honey, what is that?"

"It's a BEEETCH! A BEEETCH Dad!"

Praying that my daughter had not just turned down a horrible path I ask her another question, "Renee what do you do with a Beetch?"

"Mom, you sit on it. It's a beetch."

My heart stops beating 200 miles per hour. I thank GOD she doesn't have a potty mouth, and Mark and I lose it and start laughing hysterically. It's her BENCH! Oh how I love my child.


Overall our trip was very fun. The slide, the ocean, the sun, and the family time together...it was perfect. *smiles*

Blessings!

Jenny

Columbia Country Ballet JOY

I really am so excited right now. I don't quite know how to contain myself. *eek* This ballet thing that I mentioned before really is going to be awesome. I just got an e-mail back from the director and his wife. I had asked some questions regarding color schemes and lighting and they got back to me with some photos of their old production set that I am helping to replace. (They are scaling the set down a little so they can easily assemble the structure during intermission. ) Since this is a local company I really didn't know what caliber ballet production I would be working with...but after seeing what their old set looked like I am like gigging out right now! It was a gorgeous set! (Yes this is Renee's ballet company...and I can't wait for her to get older so she can be in their dance troop!) ACK! And on top of it the tree really looks like MY style of painting! EEK! I am so happy right now. I love art. I love painting! I love that I am going to get some SERIOUS exposure doing this project! WOOT! I am also going to have my first ad in their playbill. I have never really advertised before, so this is a new venue for me as well (and it's free to boot). *woah*

Sorry I keep gloating about this. I am just truly happy and excited about this development. Thanks for letting me gush!

Here are some photos from the old Columbia County Ballet set:

That's gonna be my TREE! (Except a little smaller...11 feet tall from what I understand!)

Jenny WOOOOOOOOT!

*New Photos*

Hey here are some photos of my tree that I will be painting...I just got these a little while ago. I'm off to go get my paint and check this bad boy out!

Illustrations WOOT!

I am honestly on a bit of a high today.
I got an email this morning from a local children's musician in town. She has enlisted my help and several of my private students are now illustrating lyrics from a song of hers to be published into a children's book! I can't wait. I picked four of my students and they are THRILLED to be a part of this process. I am so stoked!
On top of that, Tara, the musician, asked me if I would like to work with her on two other books that she is getting published! I am THRILLED! I tried not to show her that I was literally wetting my pants, but this is GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN! Illustration is my first love. I love love love love this kinda stuff and I am so happy right now. She's wanting to have the books out by Christmas, so the next few months I will be working late into the evening to get this stuff done! YEE HAW! When I know a little more I will let you all in on the information! WOOT!
On top of all of this I am also going to be painting some letters for a local family and one of my really good college friends! One family just had a little boy and I am doing sports letters for them and Betsey, my college buddy, is having a little girl and I will be painting letters to match a Beatrix Potter theme...how totally sweet!
I am just so totally blessed that I can be so totally ADHD with my art. I don't know what I will do with myself if I ever have to settle down and stick to something. HA!
Cheers and love!
Jenny

China SNARF SNARF SNARF

I'm sorry. I can't stand to watch another round of the gymnastic finals. The Americans are getting totally boned over by HORRIBLE judging and I seriously think Mark and I might need to be wheeled to a hospital to check our hearts after the last round of crappy judging against poor Nastia and the American girls. BOLOGNA.
Don't get me started on the fact that a MAJORITY of the Chinese "women" are even able to compete...when they don't have all of their GROWN UP TEETH. GRRRRRR.
I hate bad judging and it has litterally happened almost every night to the Americans...next time I plan on judging with my VAST knowledge of this subject....UGH. (at this point I think I might be better)
Sorry for the rant. I am in one foul mood...actually let me tell you how I really feel. Ching shouldn't even be allowed to HOST the Olympics. Where are all of the human rights advocates? Have you noticed Taiwan isn't allowed to carry their flag in that God forsaken counrty because China won't allow it? Did you hear about the Americans who had their Bibles striped away from them while in China? Not to metion the government forging documents so 11 to 12 year olds can compete after being ripped from their families at the age of 2 or 3! Screw this.
I do love the Olympics, but I am so disappointed in what they have done this time around. I hope London is better.