I received an e-mail this morning from a person who was looking to obtain her first painting and was asking for some advice on where and how to buy.  This is an e-mail I receive quite often and I’m always particularly interested in the first-time collector.  There is something very exciting in that first acquisition, for them and for me as well.

For the would-be collector, there is that first flush of excitement in finding something original that really strikes a chord within them, that triggers some emotional response in them unlike any time before.  A response strong enough to make them willing to make a leap of faith based on their own subjective view of a piece of art and spend more money than they normally would on something for just themselves. With this excitement there’s also a bit of fear mixed in.  They’re doing something they’ve never done before and they afraid of making a mistake, afraid of turning this initial giddiness of discovery into an event of regret.  It’s a big, scary step into a world that seems foreign to them.

I understand that all too well.  Maybe that’s why I find first-time collectors so appealing.  I really like the idea of de-mystifying the process of art buying and letting people know they have nothing to fear in most galleries.  They see the art galleries as dens of snobs and elitists, a place where their choices will be belittled or mocked for a lack of knowledge.  In fact, there is truly no right or wrong in choosing a piece of art nor is there any secret knowledge required.  If you like something, you like it.  If you don’t, you don’t.  My response to people who say, embarrassed,  that they don’t know anything about art is to say , “Well, you know what you like and what you don’t.  What more do you need to know?”

All that’s needed is the courage to take that small leap.

For me, I am drawn to this leap they’re willing to make.  I know when they take that first piece into their home, it will mean something very special to them even if they go on to obtain more art in the future, especially if it takes a sacrifice of sorts to get that first painting.   And if it is the only piece they ever buy, it will maintain a place of honor in their home.

And that’s all an artist can ask for his work- an audience that will continue to enjoy their work for years to come.

They showed the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on television last night.  It’s always an interesting show, highlighting the careers of some of the most enduring and venerable performers and entertainers.  A virtual who’s who of our culture over the last half century.

For me, this years group of honorees was as good as it gets across the board.  You had high culture with operatic hero Grace Bumbry, jazz culture with the ever hip piano of Dave Brubeck, rock and roll with Bruce Springsteen, the world of comedy from Mel Brooks and the ultimate in dramatic acting from Robert De Niro.  What an incredible group.

One of the highlights for me was the absolute look of joy on Dave Brubeck’s face as his four sons joined in to play a medley of his compositions.  The night fell on his 89th birthday and he seems to be a testament to the longevity of those who are able to follow their passion.  I don’t know squat about jazz but what I feel is that Brubeck’s work has appeal across the spectrum of listeners out there.  There’s enough stellar playing and complicated rhythms to satisfy real jazz fans yet it’s incredibly accessible to the less savvy, like me.  Great stuff.

Of course, the other was the tribute to Bruce Springsteen.  I’ve been a big fan for well over 30 years and it’s been interesting to see how he has transformed into an elder statesman of  popular music.  I think that Jon Stewart hit it right on the head for me when he spoke of Bruce’s willingness to empty the tank for his audience every night as being the thing that most struck him and influenced him as a young fan.  I know seeing Bruce when I was younger made me hungry to find something, anything, that would make me feel that same passion and commitment in my own life.  Something where, like Bruce, I could give everything I had.  The medium wasn’t important.  It was all about the spirit of the effort, the total dedication to your own vision.  That is always in the back of mind when I see him, even today.

I remember writing a letter in the 70’s (long before e-mail) to Dave Marsh, the Rolling Stone editor who had just written an early bio of Bruce, describing how the music affected me.  I was working in a factory and couldn’t see anything on the horizon but when I listened to Bruce I was no longer a loser, a factory drone.  I had hope.  It was very much how Jon Stewart described his own experience.  Marsh responded with a lovely handwritten letter, that I still prize today, telling me how he was moved by my letter.  That, too, served as inspiration to search further, to give more.

Thanks, Bruce, for the inspiration.  You deserve this honor…

Here’s nice version of My City of Ruins from night’s show, performed by Eddie Vedder.  Enjoy.

Lieutenant Dan got me invested in some kind of fruit company.
So then I got a call from him,
saying we don’t have to worry about money no more.
And I said, that’s good!
One less thing.
[Forrest Gump referring to Apple Computer]

If I’d purchased stock every time I purchased software or computer upgrades in the last two decades, I could be as wealthy as Forrest. In fact, every time I upgrade I think, I ought to buy stock instead. If you are one of those who did, then I’m one of those who has been keeping Apple and Adobe in business all these years.

I just upgraded to Creative Design Suite CS4 and it blows me away. I’ve been using Illustrator for twenty years and have always wished for features like having more than one page in a document. Ta-da! It has arrived. Along with the upgrade, Adobe is treating me to a month of courses on Lynda.com. That blows me away too. Their courses are fun, well organized and polished. I’ve learned more in the past week than I have in … well, in twenty years. After all of this time, I thought I knew the software like I know my vacuum cleaner, but there is so much more to learn. What a delight.

Now that I think about it, maybe it is good I didn’t invest in Apple and Adobe. If I had amassed a fortune, I might just sit around like a slug instead of being motivated to embark on all of these learning adventures. I DO LOVE MY WORK.

and you can't stop me

Eating strawberries and drinking chardonnay that I got from Albertsons for a good deal. Who wants some of this?

Douchebags. Douchebags everywhere. I’m lookin at you Jay Leno.

The guy on Fox News 11 has an asschin.  And he’s surrounded by boobs. I guess that means he wins at life.

Changed the channel to The Mentalist. I’ve loved Simon Baker forever. For. Ever.

I attempted to make a delicious pine nut/garlic/citrus sauce for my fish, and I burnt every ingredient. I ate it anyway.

Jay Leno had an entire bit about teaching Twitter to Old People. Twitter is really relevant.

I don’t think this guy on this commercial was ever fat, as he says he was.

WHY does this lesbian character look just like Miranda on Sex and the City? Have all lesbians turned into each other?

Princess Diana? Wedding of the Century? Was I really too young to remember any of this?

John Cusack? Disaster movie? What? Questions. So many questions…

Because it’s a totally awesome reflection of my life as a personal asst. Why do you ask?

*Burp!*

Finally solved the puzzle. The redhead on Couples Retreat was the blonde sister on 27 Dresses. I can die now.

I wonder what my boss is watching. Was I supposed to record it on the Tivo?

Jack, or should I call you Mr. In the Box? You are trying to make the country fat. As fuck. Admit it.

Originally posted here.

My perfect day – if I could have a day just to do this and nothing else – would include little more than a comfortable chair and a stack of books. Oh, and lunch delivered from McAlister’s.

Seriously though. I love to read. Always have. And I’m pretty good at it. Insert moment of shameless bragging here: In the first grade, I went to reading time with fifth-graders. I loved when the Book Fair came to my elementary school, I always had at least three things circled on my Scholastic Books order form they’d send home with us, and that Book It program, where you earned free stuff from Pizza Hut for completing certain reading tasks? I was on it. Not for the pizza so much as the books. NERD ALERT.

I guess I’ve got a somewhat creative mind – I liked the reading and writing aspects of school infinitely more than the maths and the sciences. Like how I used infinitely back there? Hey, vocab! I think if I didn’t write I could definitely be a librarian, or a work for a publishing company.

I’ve tried starting a book club, but it hasn’t worked out too well as of yet. But I’m gonna do it. It’s on my list, so I have to.

So what kind of books do I read? Well. My tastes have changed over the years and are still changing, actually. I started out, of course, at a young age, with “The Babysitter’s Club” series – which is why this blog appealed to me when I found out about it and MAN, I wish I’d thought of that… I also read pretty much every incarnation of “Sweet Valley High,” which I think I heard recently might end up a movie? I read some Stephen King stuff in late middle/early high school, which I probably shouldn’t have (more on that later). I did the mandatory reading for high school and ended up finding a few favorites, and some I wouldn’t read again if you paid me. Well, scratch that. It depends on how much you’d pay me…

In high school I found out I really liked “To Kill A Mockingbird,” though Mr. Marshall almost made me hate it because we had to write our own Cliff’s Notes for the book, a project that took about 35x longer to do than he took to read and grade it. I also found I liked “Beloved,” even though about five years after I graduated they decided to not allow it in our high school anymore…

We read some books I didn’t like, too. “Crime and Punishment” is not a favorite, neither is “The Great Gatsby” (sorry, Rach) or “All The Pretty Horses.” We read “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” which wasn’t too bad. Cool concept for a movie though, I’m still deciding if I need to see it.

College provided little time for reading because I was doing so much of it in my classes I didn’t have time to get into a book, much less feel like it after all the other reading I had. I did read during summer and winter breaks though – and college is where I really got into the Harry Potter series. When it first came out, I was in high school. My sister was reading the books and I thought they were for kids and had no interest. A few years later, I thought I’d try ‘em out and see what all the hype was about – which I did with Twilight too but found I only kept reading to see what happened, not because I liked them. From then on, I was hooked. I’ve been to three midnight showings of the movies and the book release party for the final book in the series. In fact, I just got the third book in hardback, the only one I needed to finish my collection of all seven of them. Wow that’s a lot of numbers in not a lot of sentences.

In my post-college years, I’ve tried some different books. I’m open to pretty much any genre – except romance novels with cheesy pictures of Fabio on the cover with some headline that has to be read while breathing heavily – and any author. I like my books like I like my music, you hook me with one, I’m gonna at least give the rest of the stuff you’ve done a chance. For example, Jodi Picoult. Read one book, “Nineteen Minutes” and immediately started devouring the rest of the books she’s written. Same with David Sedaris and now, Jeff Lindsay.

I’m really into memoirs lately, more so than fiction. But I’ll give the occasional fiction a chance. It just depends on the subject. And the author. Like Stephen King, for example. Remember how I told you I probably shouldn’t have read his stuff at such a young age? Yeah, on account of how his book, “IT,” made me deathly afraid of clowns. But then again, his “Eyes of the Dragon” is one I read soon after and one of the few books I have read/will read more than once. “The Green Mile” is also pretty great. It’s a love/hate relationship. I have his new one on my list of books to buy, which, like this post, is getting progressively longer.

I’ve been told I should get a Kindle. Besides the ridiculously high price tag – I need to be saving for a new car, a laptop, a Wii…a girl’s got needs, even though all three of those actually kind of sound like a boy’s needs – I am hesitant to buy something that keeps me from being able to hold a real book in my hands. I already stare at a computer screen all day as it is, I want a book. And a bookmark. Preferably with a nice quote on it, or some puppies.

I’ve got some pretty good books on my shelf. Here are a few of them.

“When You Are Engulfed In Flames,” By David Sedaris
The first book of his I read, “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” is the first book that has made me laugh out loud while reading it – luckily this happened when I was at home, alone, not in Starbucks or something where I might look like a crazy. His books are memoirs, short stories about things that have happened in his life. The best story in this book is called “Solution to Saturday’s Puzzle,” about his cough drop falling from his mouth onto the lap of the person sitting next to him on a plane.

“The Eyes of the Dragon,” Stephen King
For as much as I like this book, it really should have made me want to read Harry Potter long before I actually did. It’s one of King’s older-ish books, to me anyway, it came out when I was 3. It’s about a kingdom. The king’s advisor poisons him, locks the heir to the throne away in a tower and has the king’s youngest son crowned king, who’s only 12, therefore needs help, which is what the advisor is there for. Pretty good stuff. And like I said before, the first book I wanted to re-read.

“Handle With Care,” by Jodi Picoult
I bought a Picoult book on a whim once, when I was at Walmart in college without a book to read. The cover looked interesting and the info in the jacket even more so. I finished it pretty quickly and proceeded to read everything else she’d ever published. Her books are so well-written they’re hard to put down. Each chapter is told from a different character’s point of view, and the stories are ripped from the headlines or at least sound like they should be. This book is about a girl with brittle bone disease and her family, who sues the mom’s OB/GYN for “wrongful birth.” She’s got a new one coming out in March, according to her Web site.

“Columbine,” by Dave Cullen
Before you think I’m morbid – especially because this is the second book about high school shootings mentioned in this post – hear me out. This book is written by a journalist. And seeks to disprove pretty much everything we thought we knew about the shooting that happened 10 years ago at the high school in Colorado. Like, that the shooters weren’t in the Trench Coat Mafia, they weren’t targeting jocks, the girl who actually professed her belief in God to one of the shooters wasn’t killed. The book jumps back and forth from events leading up to the shooting to what happened after. And Cullen appears to have done his research. A good chunk of the back half of the book is his bibliography. Hard to read at several points, but very interesting. **Update: Also, what I failed to add when I wrote this is that the book is just as much about media criticism and how easy it is to misunderstand what happened – as a member of the media, I find that the most interesting.

“Water For Elephants,” by Sara Gruen
Never thought I would like a book about a circus. Remember, I fear clowns. This book, however, is clown-less. Thank God. It’s instead about a guy who loses his parents in an accident and joins a circus as the show’s veterinarian. It’s a surprisingly good read and I’ve recommended it to several of my friends who were looking for their next book.

Then we’ve got my wish list on Amazon.com, currently about 10 books longer than it was a few days ago. On it? The next three books in the Dexter series – which has become my second favorite TV show ever, after LOST. Also, Dan Brown’s newest, “The Lost Symbol,” and Stephen King’s “Under The Dome,” which my mom got for Christmas and the book looks to weigh about half as much as the couch in my living room. It should keep me busy for a while.

I’ve also got “The Nanny Diaries” on the list, mostly because I saw a second one just came out and figured the first one must have been good, if they’re writing something else. Plus it got made into a movie. Then of course, a book for my coffee table – the Postsecret book I’ve got there now is kind of lonely. I’m ordering “Cake Wrecks,” by the writers of the blog of the same name. Hilarious stuff.

So, yeah, I like books.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Happy Eleventy-eighth Birthday!

From the Tolkien Society:

“On the 3^rd January 1892 JRR Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. To celebrate this event, on this day each year Tolkien fans around the world are invited to raise a glass and toast the birthday of this much loved author.

The toast is “The Professor”.

For those unfamiliar with British toast-drinking ceremonies:

To make the Birthday Toast, you stand, raise a glass of your choice of drink (not necessarily alcoholic), and say the words ‘The Professor’ before taking a sip (or swig, if that’s more appropriate for your drink). Sit and enjoy the rest of your drink.”

(There’s a disclaimer about responsible consuming of alcoholic beverages…blah blah blah. ) The toasts are to be made at 9 p.m. whatever your local time…or beverage.

I have a stack of books I received for Christmas (and a few I bought for myself) that I’m antsy to get into….but it’s been a year or so since I opened the trilogy…I think I will indulge myself with another reading of the Professor.

“I wish the ring had never come to me…I wish none of this had happened.”

“So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide.  All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

TO THE PROFESSOR!

Love,
Mom

“Gratitude is the memory of the heart”

I had the best of intentions…to write a Thanksgiving post…Christmas post…Christmas cards…New Year’s post.  Somehow none of it got done.  Too many other things to do…not enough time…wonky feet.  (Plantar fasciitis…who’da thunk sitting could make your feet hurt as bad as standing on them all day!)

How often do we hear the phrase “keep Christmas in your heart all year long”?  Personally, I want to keep Thanksgiving in my heart all year long. I’ve got  be truthful, sometimes it’s not easy.  Especially working retail…there are some very crabby people in the world in case you haven’t noticed.  And that is part of the reason for the gratitude lists and the memory garden…I don’t want to add to the general crabiness.  ( That is not to say I can’t be bitchy.  But I try to have logic and good reasons behind that bitchiness.)

2009 wasn’t an easy year…are any of them really?  And yet, if I put my mind to it, the list would be quite long…there is so  much that was wonderful and that I am so very grateful for.

The photo above  is my Memory Garden. The candle burns every night in thanksgiving and for the safety of our troops.  (As well as any other “special intentions”.)

See the moon roll across the stars
See the seasons turn like a heart
Your father’s  days are lost to you
This is your time to do what you will do
Chorus
Your life is now
Your life is now
Your life is now
In this undiscovered moment
Lift your head up above the crowd
You could shake this world
If you would only show us how
Your life is now

Would you teach your children to tell the truth
Would you take the high road if you could choose
Do you believe you’re a victim of a great compromise
Because I believe you change your mind, you change our lives
(George Green, John Mellencamp)

I know somewhere beyond the snowy clouds tonight the moon rolls across the stars…and my life is now.

Love and Happy New Year,
Mom

What if you could just start over completely fresh – with a blank slate? What if you ripped all the decorations off your walls and redecorated the whole thing?

Personally, I get tired of one idea, one style, one thought after about six months so I like to change things up. Maybe that’s why I travel so much. Who knows?

I took five years on the first volume,
five years on the second volume,
and ten years on the third volume.
[Shelby Foote]

I’m within spittin’ distance of the end of Volume I, Civil War by Shelby Foote. Whew! I’ve studied many Civil War sources over the years (among the many other history subjects I enjoy reading), BUT this series offers more information about obscure skirmishes and other interesting situations than I ever encountered before. It is also readable. For a professional historian, readable may not matter. For someone like me, hearing Shelby Foote’s genteel voice in his writing propels me through his 500,000-word volumes.

I feel as if I should be more contemplative since we are closing out not only another year, but a decade.  The aughts are over after all.  But ten years is a bit much to take in at once; I’m just pleased to have made it another 365 days healthy, happy and with most of my mind in tact. Not too much of significance seemed to happen this year.  It was a lovely stay-close-to-home kind of year.  Out of the other side of my mouth will be that everything changed.  It was the first time I’ve not had a full-time job; we moved; B turned 30; we added another kitty to the mix; my pop went to Afghanistan.  Big and little things.  All and all… I wouldn’t have traded it.  A year with My Love is a year worth living!

Here were some of my most favorite 2009 moments.  Happy New Year!

]]> http://sterlingsmiths.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/did-i-really-spend-all-of-2009-talking-about-my-marriage/ Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:18:09 +0000 {JeLisa} http://sterlingsmiths.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/did-i-really-spend-all-of-2009-talking-about-my-marriage/ http://sharpinsandiego.com/2009/12/31/end-of-2009-favorite-things/ Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:13:08 +0000 tsharp http://sharpinsandiego.com/2009/12/31/end-of-2009-favorite-things/

My favorite thing of all: spending the holidays with friends and family

Well, 2009 is almost over – hellooooo 2010! It’s been a good year, with plenty of traveling, from Vancouver to Portland to Palm Springs; beautiful weddings full of family and friends, old and new; discovering delicious eateries, near and far; just a modicum of shopping :) ; and quite a bit of blogging. To everyone out there who actually reads this silly little thing, thank you! Here’s to a new year that’s even better than the last. Cin cin!

In lieu of a list of favorites from the past year, I’m just posting my current obsessions, many of which are birthday/Christmas presents I had to share! Check them out, after the jump.