Artist or Craftsman? An Essay of Sorts

According to Dictionary.com (not the photos):

art·ist [ahr-tist], noun
1. a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.

2. a person who practices one of the fine arts, especially a painter or sculptor.

3. a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.: a commercial artist.

4. a person who works in one of the performing arts, as an actor, musician, or singer; a public performer: a mime artist; an artist of the dance.

5. a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill.



crafts·man, [krafts-muhn, krahfts-], noun

1. a person who practices or is highly skilled in a craft; artisan.

2. an artist.

I guess I should have looked up the definitions for these words years ago. They are words I have struggled with for some time. I love the idea of being an artist. I love the idea of being a craftsman. I think "artist" somehow has gotten a romantic connotation in society and is therefore put on a pedestal for all to gaze at with admiration. Meanwhile a craftsman is respected for producing high quality wares in a dark, dusty workshop, but an artist? I think society says, "No." Sad really.

What is even sadder is that while I believe myself to be a good craftsman I frequently long to be an artist. I have wanted it to the point of silent tears several times. Many people (some of whom I consider artists & some not, but all of whom I love) have referred to me as an artist. Sometimes I "correct" them & other times smile & let them believe their "error".

Why do I usually not consider myself an artist if definition #1 clearly states "a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria". I produce work in "the arts...". I should think I am an artist. But I often do not. I guess it is because the work I create is almost never an original idea of my own. Does this make me a non-artist? I guess I would usually answer yes, & to a lot of people's horror, I would also follow that up with "I'm not even creative."

Back to the dictionary:

cre·a·tive, [kree-ey-tiv], adjective
1. having the quality or power of creating.

2. resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.; imaginative: creative writing.

3. originative; productive (usually followed by of ).

cre·ate, [kree-eyt], verb
1. to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes.

2. to evolve from one's own thought or imagination, as a work of art or an invention.

3. Theater . to perform (a role) for the first time or in the first production of a play.

Synonyms
originate, invent.

A friend of mine, who's work is similar to mine, shares in this same self-struggle told me once that she considers herself a "creativity facilitator". It is her job (and talent) to take someones original, "creative" thought & make it tangible. Another friend of mine answers back, "Doing that takes creativity and therefore an artist!" Does it? Or does it take a craftsman?

I know the line between artist & craftsman is a blurry one. My husband & I have discussed this blurry line on numerous occasions. Is an artist a craftsman? Is a craftsman an artist. We've come to the conclusion that the answer to both questions is "Not always." Do you have to be one in order to be the other? No. But I guess for the "art" to be of quality, both of those rolls must be filled, not necessarily by the same person. So then, I'm a craftsman. That's cool. I take a person's art & use my skill set & love of the "art" to make it tangible. As a craftsman. After all my workroom is dark AND dusty!

But what about my Lucky Zelda items? Surely I am an artist to create those pieces. No one is telling me what to make & when or how to make it. So I'm the artist there! Am I? Given enough time, I can copy anything. I use patterns or images of vintage items or items that strike my fancy for no particular reason & re-create them with the materials available to me. RE-create. Somehow this takes "artist" out of that equation for me.

Perhaps a way in which I am an artist is in my use of materials. I've got a cash of fabric & trims that I am constantly fighting to not takeover my little condo. So what can I make out of this or that piece of fabric so it comes to life in a new way? Is that being an artist or is it an insanely "thrifty" (let's use the polite word for cheap, shall we?) puzzle solver. Putting the round pegs in the round holes while spending as little of my hard earned money as possible. I love jigsaw puzzles, always have. Perhaps Lucky Zelda is a fabric puzzle. While that sounds fun & the whole idea makes me smile, it doesn't make me think of "art". Sigh.

I guess the real question is, why do care so darn much? Who bloody cares if I am an artist, a craftsman, both, or neither? Perhaps it comes down to envy, ego & pride. Never three friends you want to visit at the same time. Ever. And yet as far as this topic goes, they're practically keeping their tooth brushes at my place.

I have numerous friends who are artists in various mediums. Some of them artists in multiple mediums (which totally blows my mind, by the way). I am envious of the way they can see something before it's there. I am envious of the "I gotta get this "art" out of me before my bones start burning!" (or do I, because I know this is often the cause for sleepless nights). I am envious of their creativity in the sense of "to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes". My ego would love the stroke that hearing "How in the world did you come up with that?" would give it. My ego is wounded when told by an "artist" I was trying to help, "Well, I'm an artist. I don't think that way." My pride is hurt when others treat what I do is as though they could take it or leave it. Not that an actor's costume or a Lucky Zelda purse is going to bring clean water to the world but that my work is handmade & handmade well is important to me. My pride yearns to be puffed up with accolades & praise. Aye, there's the rub.

It is not my job to have a well fed ego. It is my job to do my job to the best of my ability. End of story. The fact that I have a job I love so much I've started a side business in a similar "art" form is an undeniable fact that I am blessed beyond my worth.

So I will continue to facilitate other's creativity. I will continue to put together my "fabric puzzles". I will continue to admire the work of those around me while taking pride in the product I produce. I will attempt to do all of these things without needing or desiring a label that I believe society values. I have value without it and for that I am truly grateful.

Gone Retail

Lucky Zelda has gone retail. South Coast Repertory, a regional theatre in Costa Mesa, California now offers several Lucky Zelda purses in their gift shop. As I work as South Coast Repertory's costume cutter/draper, Lucky Zelda occasioanlly uses scrap fabrics from productions to create purses. Audience members & customers alike can now take a piece of a favorite production with them.

Salt Vessels

A Taste of Wisdom
A yogi grew tired of his apprentice complaining, and so one morning, sent him for some salt. When the apprentice returned, the mater instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it. “How does it taste?” the master asked. “Bitter,” spit the apprentice. The master chuckled & then asked the young man to take the same handful of salt & put it in the lake. The two walked in silence to the nearby lake, & once the apprentice swirled his handful of salt in the water, the old man said, “Now drink form the lake.” As the water dripped down the young man’s chin, the master asked, “How does it taste?” “Fresh,” remarked the apprentice. “Do you taste the salt?” asked the master. “No,” said the young man. At this, the master sat beside this serious young man, who so reminded him of himself, & took his hands, offering: “The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains exactly the same. However, the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in. So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things. Stop being a glass. Become a lake.

While listening to this parable being read aloud during my yoga class's closing Savasana I smiled (a perfect ending to a great class by the way). As a follower of Jesus, this parable spoke to my faith. Perhaps because I have ones precious to my heart that are currently in pain. That of course pains me. I realized that I, we, are the glass. But we have no need to become the lake, something we don't have the ability to be. By allowing Jesus to be the lake He desires to be in our lives our salt will be surrounded & washed away by His freshness.

"Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Luke 4:13b

If They Have No Bread To Eat...

They should come to my house! You see, I got a hankering for a bread machine. I found one cheap on Craigslist not too far from home (I love me some Craigslist). Pictured here is the maiden loaf. Pretty, huh? I opted for your basic white bread thinking that'd be the easiest. Sure 'nough! It's tasty!

I informed Kaisara that said breadmaker was not purchased to increase our bread intake. His response was, "Why not? We'll just put alot of butter on it & less meat." While I would be more than happy to acquiesce to such direction, I don't think it's healthful. My hope is for a healthier product due to the absence of preservatives & ick in my bread. My theory is that making my own bread (or having my machine do it for me) will be a healthier & delicious choice for Kaisara & I all the while being a greener choice for my environment.

Did I mention it has a timer so I can have fresh bread waiting for me when I get home from work? It's hard being me.

Ooops! It's Been A While

Wow. November. Really? It's been that long? I blame Facebook for my lack of blogging. Not that I spend alot of time there but apparently it's more time than here. So, if you're out there & are interested, here's an update of the life of Cate:

I'm only 4 shows away from finishing my 1st season as staff cutter/draper at the theatre. I was a little leary going in, you know, without my safety net of the staff cutter that I had as over-hire. Now I'M the safety net. Yikes! Turns out, I think I'm doing pretty well. Given, this has been a pretty easy season. No big builds. No really complicated periods. But still, parts of my job have been challenging & I think I'm succeeding at my new post. I'm fired for the summer the 1st week of June & am looking forward to summer break.

Summer break. Aaahhhhh. I love that I still get summer break as an adult. Not many of us do. Theatre folk & teachers. Anyone else? And that's only if you don't teach summer school or do summer stock (Did it once. That's enough. At least it taught me about cherry lime-aid. Thanks Cat!). My 1st day off Kaisara & I are heading up to North Hollywood for a wedding & are planning on staying up there for the night. Who needs that drive that late? The following weekend is our church's camping trip that I'm planning. It scares me that I need to be doing that now. Oy.

Kaisara & I are once again turning over a new leaf in our life-style as it concerns our chub-ness. Things have gotta change. AND THEY WILL!! We're eating better, moving more & have been enjoying it. Though we'd enjoy chips & cookies more. But alas, it's not to be. Sigh. I find it interesting that I loathe exercise when I think about doing it. But during & after the fact, I love it. I love it more than clicking away at solitaire or FB & yet, those things usually beat exercise out. Why is that? So, it's been about a week. Progress will be slow. But it will be.

We took our 1st advanced level Lindy Hop class. We decided we needed to do it. In the intermediate classes we haven't been challenged & while the intermediate/advanced class was more fun, it seemed to be review. We've got a laundry list of moves that we can do & do well. In class. It's on the dance floor as a lead & follow that we sort of loose our finesse. Our instructors told us that the advanced class would help. It's less about moves & more about dancing. Sweet. We liked it & are planning on going back.

So that's what I've got for now. I'll try to do better at the posting. Cheers!

Am I Vulcan?

I am really starting to wonder if I'm part Vulcan. You know, Spock was a half-breed. Though I don't go as heavy on the blue eye-shadow as Great Uncle Spock, maybe I've got a little Vulcan-ocity in me too.

According to the all-knowing & ever accurate Wikipedia, Vulcan's "are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion." Now mind you I'm not ATTEMPTING, it's just been happening. It's most apparent during the holidays. I'm not using "the holidays" as a P.C. term but really do mean the holidays as in: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter, Independence Day, and even vacations. As the years go by I just don't see the point of all of the hoopla. I want to celebrate each holiday and remember it's meaning but why must those be the days you MUST spend with family, you MUST decorate your house, you MUST have a generic gift at the ready to give to someone that might give one to you, you MUST have nasty macaroni salad at the bbq before the fire works even though no one eats it because it's gross? It's all illogical.

While I haven't decorated my home for any holiday including Christmas for several years now, my family has been understanding. They see it as, "if you don't wanna, don't." Have I mentioned I LOVE my family? I do however wanna buy them gifts & spend time with them. But with as awesome as my family is, I wanna do that all year 'round. It's not the holiday traditions, it's my family & friends that I want to remember the reason for the holiday with. And here's a shocker: it doesn't have to be one the actual day of the holiday.

My Vulcan bend does have to be knocked down a peg or two from time to time. For instance when I'm sitting out on a pier in beautiful Monterey having a lovely lunch with my amazaing husband while on a road trip celebrating our wedding anniversary, the Vulcan in me starts saying, "Why are you doing this? This money could be better spent? This is illogical. You should be paying bills with the money you're spending on this trip." Shut up Vulcan. What you say is true but this is good for my marriage & it's good for me. Or, when I'm asked what I would like for a birthday or Christmas gift and the Vulcan in me says, "You don't need anything. You've got more that most people in the world could ever dream of. It's not logical for them to buy you a gift". Shut up Vulcan. These people love me & want to show it. The truth is, these things are illogical but they're good for me and the people involved in them with me.

I want to get all gushy over the holidays. I really do. I'd love to get bundled up to brave the chilly 68 degree evening to find the perfect Christmas tree. But I'm just not interested. The Vulcan in me says it's a silly way for me to spend the time, money & stress of putting it up, watering it, taking it down & cleaning up after it. I'm not saying all of this is not logical for all. I'm saying it's not logical for me. I'm just not that sentimental I guess.

Part of the Vulcan way of life that does not apply to me is the lack of emotion. Anyone who knows me can attest to that. But I'm not emotional about holiday traditions for traditions sake.

One Down, Over A Dozen To Go!

Last Friday was opening night of our first show of the season, "Putting It Together". It was also my first show as the theatre's staff cutter/draper. I'm really happy with the work I did for this show (tangible & otherwise). I made a killer red dress (I think there's one in almost every show in the history of the world). It's red. It's super quality silk. The actor totally rocked it. That's always nice.

Now to breath for 1 second. We load the next show out next week. I've got Sewing Circle, Sew What, 3 craft shows & 3 photo shoots to prepare for. Wait, when did I get to breath?

Life's Busy

So I started back to work this week. So far so good. I was out of work for about 2 1/2 months and it's really nice to get back to a routine (and a paycheck).

Before returning to work I starting beating myself up that I didn't get more accomplished. I did alot but I also "wasted" alot of time in which I could have been doing something enriching or productive. Why does that time spent always seems to burn into my memory. I started asking myself, "What could you have done or gotten accomplished to not feel this way?" The honest answer to myself was, "Nothing". I have come to realize about myself that I feel as though I am never productive enough. That's so sad! I need balance in that area of my life.

I got Lucky Zelda up & over 100 items this summer (and maintained the over 100 items while making 20 sales in the process). I built a dress for a friend, 2 shirts for myself & did many alterations for another friend. That's alot of stuff. But that's not 2 1/2 months worth of stuff. I could have been riding my bike for exercise. I could have been visiting more friends & family. I could have been cooking more meals & cleaning the house. I could have gotten the shop to 150 items. I could of, I could of, I could of... sigh.

While I may sound defeated I do feel rested. So that's good. While I may sound as though I feel I wasted alot of time I do feel like I used it well. Not the most productively. But well. So that's good. I need to have that be as okay in my unconscious mind as in my conscious mind.

Neglectful

It has been pointed out to me by a couple of friends that I haven't blogged in a while. Holy cow! May was my last post! That's horrible! Though there's been much goin' on I guess I have felt like I'd be being redundant in blogging since I've started using the black-hole-of-motivation known as Facebook. But one of the the things me no like-y about FB is there doesn't seem to be a place for writing posts. All the more reason I should not have neglected my blog. So with the probability of being redundant, here's what's been going on.

I've been off from SCR since the last week of May. I'll be starting up there again on August 10th. While I love being off & doing whatever I please, I do tend to miss the routine of a work week (paychecks make it nicer too).

I've been doing tons of sewing with my almost 2 1/2 months off. I've done lots of alterations for a friend from Bible study. I've built a bridesmaid's dress for another friend and I've built up Lucky Zelda to over 100 items.

June was Lucky Zelda's best month in it's 2 year history with 10 sales. That was awesome and very encouraging. Sometimes I'll go a long time without selling something that I've made & the little negative voice starts to hiss "why bother?". Because I enjoy it that's why. So shut up little pitiful voice!

The last bit of June & 1st couple days saw Kaisara & I on a road trip. We stayed in Monterrey for a couple nights. Rode our bikes over 20 miles, went to the aquarium & ate some delicious BBQ. We stayed at a lovely little B & B that we won't be returning to due to after hearing a conversation the manager was having on the phone. Horrifying. That really put a dent on what had been such a nice stay until then. After Monterrey, we headed further north to Ashland, Oregon with a dual purpose: finally see a show at the famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival and to visit several friends that now work up there. Ashland is beautiful, the show was great and catching up with old friends was soooo nice. From there we headed south to the Sacramento area to stay a few days with my Uncle Jack & Aunt Debbie (Mom & Dad's BFF's from high school). It was so great to see them & my cousins. It'd been shamefully too long since we'd seen them & we don't plan on that being the case next time.

My Dad & I were planning on road tripping cross country on his motorcycle but that has since been postponed. Maybe next summer.

Kaisara & Daryl have been officially hired at our church, Arbor Christian Fellowship as co-worship leaders. They've been playing together for over 12 years and they just keep getting better and better.

July 12th Kaisara & I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary making that 20 years together. We even still like each other.

Other than some walks with Zelda (including our maiden voyage to the dog beach), that's pretty much it. Though I'm sure I've left something out.

Wearing Jesus

I've been in the best Bible study for years now. Our teacher, Marci, is amazing. I've learned so much from her and her passion to teach God's word within culture & context. I'm sad we're almost done for the season. Sigh...

We've been studying the writings of Paul. He's been very difficult. The "Pharisee of Pharisees" has been hard to understand. I'm glad I've stuck with it though.

This season, we've been in Romans. This week was, I think, I'm first real "Ah-ha" of the season. Not that I haven't learned anything because I have. But this week was neat. I thought I'd share it with you. Whomever you are.

We were at the end of chapter 13 of Romans. In verse 14 it says to "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ...". As Marci often does she asked us a "Reflect" question: "What do you think Paul was saying when he told the believer to, "Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ"? At first I was going to rush right by it. I never know what Paul means. He's Paul. He's difficult to get. Then I worried, "I don't know, I just make costumes." But I reflected a little longer. I'm glad I did. Here's what I wrote & shared with my small group:

"Clothes are a way to reflect & communicate who you are to yourself & to others. Especially in those (Biblical) times, you are what you wear."

Other people in my group had great answers too. Me being a costumer, I was the only one who went to actual clothes. That made us smile. But a group member told Marci, the gist of what I said & after class, she wanted to hear exactly what I said. She liked it too. On my drive home I kept reflecting (I guess I liked that people liked what I said).

As I drove I was reflecting on my answer. I needed to get my thoughts in a row. I decided to write Marci an email further explaining my thoughts. Again, I thought I'd share it with you too. Here it is:

I was reflecting more about my "reflection" for question #14 on my drive home from tonight's study. I was considering it even more in the world I work, the theatre. I guess I came to my answer to your question not only by worrying to myself "I can't answer that. I just make costumes." But by then reflecting on what a costume and clothes do.

A costume not only tells the audience who an actor is playing (that's, I guess, a given). But it (the costume) has told and continues to tell the actor how to portray their character. How to become that character. An actor recently told our shop, "I'm so glad when the costume does all the work." He saw his costume as a direction of how to stand, sit, walk. His costume dictated to him how he could interact & move around his fellow actors and even set pieces. A costume can prevent an actor from doing some things they thought may be good for the character and then give them insights into other ways of becoming their character that they hadn't thought of prior to their costume fitting.

I guess when I read Paul's message to "clothe yourself in Christ" I'm considering what Christ is and how do I clothe myself with him. How do I wear Jesus? And why? I was reminded of your teaching that a disciple's goal is to become their rabbi. By clothing myself in Jesus I am training myself to become my Rabbi as an actor does a character. I am making a statement to myself of how to live. How to treat myself & others. How I behave, and how I move throughout this life among my cast mates and set pieces. As with an actor, it's a continual process that continues far past fittings, rehearsals and opening night. It continues throughout the run of the show and doesn't end until the final curtain of the final show and they no longer need that costume. They then move to the next role in their life.

To the audience a costume is an immediate communicator of who that actor has become. Only of course if it's a good one. A poorly designed and/or poorly worn costume doesn't communicate very clearly. My cast mates and audience members should know by the "clothes" I wear that I am a disciple of my Jesus. They should know instantly that I am different from the other characters in the play and be drawn to that difference and want to discuss that difference after the show over coffee with one another.

This of course is not to belittle the practice of one's Christian life to the level of putting on a play. The clothing oneself in Jesus, of course, needs to be genuine of heart and a life changing deed. Not a deed that we take off when the crowds are gone & the spotlight is off. But this was the analogy (is that the right word?) that spoke to me.

Thanks for letting me indulge what may be a narcissistic post.

Selling our Wares

This Saturday, April 25th my friend Bronwen & I are participating in San Gabriel's 20th annual Grapevine Festival & Car Show which is an awesome craft show and this is the 2nd year they've added a classic car show. In the past it's been a 3-day event seeing 10,000 people walking through. This year the event is only one day but we're hoping all of those 10,000 still show up. If you're in the area or are ready for a road trip, please stop by to see us.

We're also participating in a show in May 17th. Our goal is to sell ALL of our inventory this weekend so we'll be freaking out (on a pile of cash) to get more inventory ready for May's show.

Should you choose to swing by Google this address for directions: 620 W. Santa Anita, San Gabriel, CA.

Having A Great Time

My mom today said something that made me happy. She was told that many people in their mid-thirties aren't happy since their not in their twenties any more & life is really responsible and such. Not that I'm in my mid-thirties (after all, I'm only 34) but it still made me smile. No, I'm not in my twenties. So what. Sure they were fun but so is this. I'm having a great time. Despite a bulging C7 disk & buzzing legs, I'm having a great time. I've got work doing something I absolutely love, a super cute swing dance partner who finds me amazing (& me him), a funny dog that thinks I'm the center of the universe & last-but-not-least a growing relationship with my Creator. An amazing family and group of friends (those are really one in the same aren't they) that loves me for me and that loves to laugh helps to make my life awesome even in the ever approaching mid-thirties. People in their 30's are sad? I'm sad that they're not (or don't realize) that they're as blessed as me. BRING ON 35! I'm gonna ROCK IT!

Rug Cutters

Kaisara & I have 1 more week in our Lindy Hop class. We're having a blast. It has really paid off. We've gotten sooo much better. Kaisara's a better lead & much to his relief, I'm a better follow (I was pretty awfull in the following a lead catagory). We still crack ourselves up, but won't that always be the case? We try not to be too disruptive & even our instructors giggle at us. We'll have to check out the finances but we wanna take the next series. I think we're ready to actually dance a little outside of class (I'm sure spectators will laugh almost as much as we will).

Queen DeLuxe

Earlier I wrote about my friends new Etsy Store, Queen DeLuxe. Well now you REALLY have to check it out. If your a geek, she's got boxers made from vintage Star Wars sheets. If you know a baby, she's got totally cute onsies & matching burp cloths. I've added her Etsy mini right below mine so you can get a little looksie. Check her out!

To Keep or To Sell

Probably anyone reading this blog also reads my facebook. Therefore you probably know that I've added a section to Lucky Zelda named "Clothing with Vintage Style". I can't call them vintage since all the pieces are brand new but they will all be vintage styles. After all, anyone can shop at Target but only a few will buy "A Lucky Zelda Original" (as my tags read). So far I've got 2 wool skirts and a pair of wide legged wool trousers (all 1940's style). Now I'm working on a 1950's style dress. White with navy blue polka dots. It looked larger than I expected so I put it on. Yeah, it fits me (with a minor take-it-in alteration). It's totally cute! I wanna keep it. I wanna sell it and have the cash. Sigh. It's hard being me.

Litter Bugs

I went for a bike ride today. It's been a while that I've riden around to run errands. Lately I've just been pedaling in my living room while watching "All Creatures Great & Small" or from Kaisara's work to mine (when I'm working that is).

This morning I had some errands to run, all very local, so I decided to run them on the good ol' bike. It was great. The breeze I created for myself was cool but not cold & by the end of my ride it was sunny and gorgeous. Great ride. I got over 13 miles in so that's good too. Here's the thing that irks me. The amount of rubbish in the streets, bushes, gutters, etc. is ghastly! I don't understand this. Why do people throw their trash out of there car? Or if they're walking or bicycling why do they just drop it where they are at the time? I don't think I've ever understood this, even as a small child. Where ever you are (esp. in Southern CA) there's a trash can right there! When you get out of your car next, there'll be a trash can there. The next bus stop you pass on your walk/ride, there'll be a trash can there. It cheeses me off! THROW YOUR TRASH AWAY PROPERLY PEOPLE!!!

I did make a frustrating situation work for my benefit though. Being my grandmother's granddaughter I did stop for every plastic bottle & soda can I saw & put them in my pannier. I figure I made at least 50 cents.

Here's Koadie

Some of you have been asking to see a photo of the horse that I've been working. Well, there he is. Handsome guy isn't he? My sis works with a girl, Tracy, that owns a horse, Nick & Tracy's sister owns Koadie but is out-of-state for school. Tracy needed help working Koadie since she's got Nick, school, work & not enough time for Koadie. The stables is just over 1/2 mile from my house & of course my arm had to be twisted to have horses re-enter my life after an 18 year absence. I'm not really sure how I survived that long.

The wound on my leg from my first ride a month & a half ago has finally healed up enough that it's not painful to ride. The ol' tail bone's still a bit sore but that'll take months to be completely gone. Koadie has now had some stubborn wounds that I've been caring for. Between those & the rain, there hasn't been much riding. It's been awesome to learn that I don't NEED to ride as much as I just NEED to be around horses & working with them even if it's just on the ground. They're large, gorgeous, stupid animals but it's rewarding when I can tell I've connected with them in some way. Even if it's just that he sees me as the treat lady (yeah, I got bit for that).

Today was my first ride in a couple weeks. It was great to be back up there. Hopefully tomorrow morning has another ride in store for me.

Long Time Coming

So I finally got all of my photos of our Thanksgiving trip to Creede, CO organized & uploaded onto Shutterfly. There are those out there who have been pestering me to get this done. You know who you are :-). If you're interested, click here to take a look.

Our Favorite Show Didn't Dissapoint

Kaisara & I went to opening night of "Noises Off" last night at SCR. It was awesome. It's our favorite show so we were excited when I found out last year that SCR was doing it this season. I worked on the costumes & the cast is all super sweet. Having only seen 2 different college productions of "Noises Off" (both were great by the way) Kaisara & I couldn't wait to see what a professional company could do with this incredibly difficult, complex play. I say it again, it was awesome.

For those of you who don't know the show, it's silly on top of funny. Slamming doors, pants falling down, tripping, falling down stairs, running into doors. Did I mention one of the characters spends 98% of here time in her chonnies?

All who are in the local vicinity and love good acting, a funny show and a great production should go see this show. Here's a link to a slide show. Enjoy!

Burning Rubber Now

I've been looking into getting an indoor trainer for a while now. Last week, Sione sealed the deal for me. He said he never had time to work out after working 10 hours a day but now realized he had time for 3 hours of television every night. I thought to myself, " Man! I've been sitting here for 2 hours watching this show."

After work on Monday, we picked up this new trainer (wish we didn't get the magnetic one. it's pretty noisy). Kaisara fixed my flat & set up the trainer for me. Ta-da! I peddled my little heart out for 1 1/2 hours of my 2 hour show (I had to take a 30 minute break after the first hour. my butt was killing me!). Now I need to get a cyclometer that connects to the rear tire so I know for sure how many miles I peddled (because really that's how I'm motivated). For now I'll just have to estimate.

See you on the road! (or in my living room) :-)