Bummer

Man, I overworked a painting today. I absolutely hate it. I kept trying to rework it, and to no avail. I completely destroyed it, I knew I should have stopped at a certain point, but kept trying to add to it. Layer after layer it just looked worse and worse.

Oh well, at least it was a very small, it was kind of like a test run on a new idea.... so no real harm done, just sometime spent. I did enjoy the time, however. I set up my drawing table on our enclosed porch, and the weather was just perfect. So I really loved being semi-outside. All the natural light that comes in is really nice.

I'm a little bummed, especially since I spend more time on preparing stuff for my students and less time on my own artwork. Times need to change, though. I've been saying this all year long, but I really have to make a promise to set aside time for artwork. I need to try to work my ideas into smaller pieces. I just don't get the results i like when I work small....

Really? That much longer?

Oh my, still 4 more Mondays to go. I hope I can make it. It seems like all my teacher friends are getting finished up already. But our last day with the students is June 24th. I think it will help to map out the final month of my classes, and I can just keep pushing through. I don't want to do anymore huge projects. Maybe if I keep it to small things, the time will just fly. It's hard, because my kids are always coming and going. It's hard to know where they're skill level is at, and most of the kids who come in at this point are done with school. So the effort will be close to nil.

Oh well, the weekend is shaping up to be wonderful. I've gotta get my little art corner set up on our enclosed porch and make sure I use it at some point over the long weekend. J and I also plan to get out and about, do some hiking at a near by park. I hope so, if the weather is anything like today (which it's predicted to be just so) it'll be wonderful. I love being outside! Maybe a picnic?

Happy Friday to everyone out there tomorrow!! Enjoy!!!

Notes on a "sleep study"

This illustration is funny.

These are just words I jotted down from last night. I went into a sleep center at about 8:30 last night and came out of the sleep center at 5:30 this morning. I've never done anything like this before, and it took me a long time to finally get one done.

For those of you who do not know, I've always struggled with getting sleep. I have the stereotypically symptoms-- can't fall asleep and can't stay asleep. But, this last year it's been very very bad. I haven't really had a good sleep in over a year, and before that it went in cycles. I never really did anything about it until this year. And I've tried everything from warm milk, yoga, natural remedies, to medication, eliminating caffeine, and wearing myself out! Nothing has brought back a normal cycle of sleep. So I figured that even though my insomnia is probably anxiety related, there might be something else going on. So with the help of my doctor, she recommended a sleep study, and that it might tell us something.

So- here you go:

-Strange electrodes
-Camera watching me

- TV on (Idol on, Adam sucked, but so did the song)
- Sleeping alone

-Closed door, strange it's not my own

- Sheets unfamiliar, not my scent

-Low buzz from the lights

-Bad landscapes on the wall

- Wish I had brought my pillow

- Is this camping?

-Two books beside my bed

-Teddy is my technician

-Wonder what other channels I get, probably just basic cable

- Not exactly a hotel room, and definitely not my home

- Can I turn out my own light?

-Can I get up to go to the bathroom?

-Thank goodness for a personal day tomorrow

- Maybe 30 electrodes? I lost count

-Did I dream? I can't remember

It was a pretty strange experience. I wasn't really comfortable at all, but I guess I did manage to sleep there for a little time (however, they did have me take my meds.). The worst part was all the electrodes. They had to put them on with some kind of gel, and it was really hard to get out of my hair. I think this is one out of 2 or 3 sleep studies depending on what goes on with the information. I kind of wanted to see what it would be like if I hadn't taken my meds. But I'm almost positive I wouldn't have had one wink of sleep.

One of the funny things about the night was that I could tell someone was in for sleep apnea, because I could hear her snoring in the room right next to me. It was very loud.

The technicians were really nice and friendly. They definitely know what they're doing. They had me do a series of eye moves in the beginning and end of the study. I had to keep my eyes open, blink really fast, move my eyes left and right, and hold my breath. I also had to sleep on my back, which I hated. I always sleep on my side or even the front.

J dropped me off and picked me up, and we both immediately tried to go back to sleep when we got home. I ended up getting a few more winks when I got home, but I'm still tired from the whole ordeal.

I'm not sure if this will really help with anything, but maybe they can give me some kind of sleep schedule or something, to get my system back in check.

Tomorrow it's back to school. It's so nice to have a day off midweek. I feel very naughty, but I definitely couldn't have made it to school today.

All I can say..........

........is that "Lost" better have an actual ending. If it doesn't I'm going to be really mad at the writers next year.

That's right loyal fans, one more season to go. As if they couldn't drag it out any longer. I will not give anything way... this season was crazy though... WOW.... Tons of different things going on, and working up to this season, they surely led us to believe certain things... But that's what I love about the show. If you watch, you will be rewarded. If you don't, well, then you're not getting the whole picture. You have to remember stuff from seasons' past, and you have to try and guess where they could possibly go with the story line.

I really just like how it's playing out. Certainly you can enjoy it on just an action/survival level, but there's also lots of underlying stories, beliefs and philosophies going on...

One of my favorite shows ever. One more season to go.

NO, say it isn't so..

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090511/ap_on_bi_ge/us_farm_scene_preserving_native_chile

A sad story that seems to get written every year. This is probably one of the things I miss most about New Mexico.... It's the flavor. It really truly is. Nothing else like it, and so addicting.

Photo catch up.

Ok, I'm really bad about posting photos. These are a few from Easter weekend. J and I went down to Charlottesville to his mom's house and a really nice time. A sunny day, and tons of kids running around everywhere collecting plastic eggs filled with chocolate and treats (I should post a few of those hunting ones).


Jarle and I. His mom lives in a really beautiful area overlooking a valley. I love it!!!

The valley.

Who can resist the Cadbury mini eggs?? -not even the cute little chick.

Allergies

I'm so done with these allergies. I don't think I've ever experienced such a bad year with these. It's non stop stuffiness or the other. Yuck. Sneezing, coughing, gross stuff... you know what I'm talking about. I'm just ready to be able to breathe normally again.

My kids think I have Swine Flu--- nice. NO students, I do not have the swine flu-- maybe SARS, no just kidding.

This week has been going relatively well, despite lack of sleep and the perpetual drip from the nose. I came back on Monday, from having a sub on Friday, and the sub didn't follow a single plan. My room looked a mess, and there was paint everywhere. WHAT?? How can that possibly be? Anyway, after a freak out, I let the students see what was left over from the Friday before, and told them what I found....it hasn't happened since... I don't know why the substitute would let them get away with not cleaning up, and being so wasteful.... disappointed.

Anyway, almost nearing the end of this week, and it'll be a busy one again. Down to Richmond to visit J's family and then my parents will come down from PA on Sunday for Mom's day. I'm trying to figure out what to cook for my parents... I want to do something nice... I was thinking baked polenta with a red pepper sauce and some cheese somewhere in there. And a nice salad, and some kind of chocolate dessert.... hummmmm..... Yes, I think that sound like a winner!

Anyway- have been slacking on the painting this week do to how I'm feeling, and the fact that my students are working on altering books. So I''m just a step ahead of them... So I've been trying to do a page a day. I'm thinking that some of them get the concept. Others couldn't care less, and then some of them are just plain stuck. One of the things I thought they would like would be doing transfers. A few kids are really getting into it. But some of them don't want to bother with all the steps-- so they collage.

I myself, really enjoy doing transferring. It's fun, you can do so much them. I've done so many.

Oh man-- for you "Lost" fans out there... only one more episode left this season-- HOLY COW! I won't give anything away, but this was a very interesting season....... VERY. Too bad there's only one more episode, and then we have to wait again until February.... boooo....

Ok, I better go, next time I have to do some picture posting, I've taken a few pictures of my little art sketches, and some from Easter, and some from my students... I'll get around to it someday.