"mom and me"

I was on Facebook when I saw this small grainy B&W photo pop up on my friend's profile. He titled it: "mom and me" and I'm suspecting it is an image close to 40 years old. I don't know what it is about the simple act of a mom holding on to a son's hand but I feel it symbolizes the eternal bond a mother and son have for one another. Though he will most likely love and live with another, his first love will always be his mom. Thank you David for allowing me permission to use this precious image.

12x12 oil on gallery wrapped canvas

Simply Simon

One thing positive about Facebook is that you know are informed much more quickly about events involving your friends. I learned from a post that my friend has lost his companion of 17 years. I know 17 years is a long life span for a feline and I wonder if Simon and his "grumpy ol' man" attitude had anything to do with his longevity. I decided to surprise my friend with a little memorial piece. He informed me today that he received it in the mail and the painting "brought my Simon back to life! He's immortalized in your art and now more than ever in my heart! " Words like those are better than any blue ribbon at a show I believe.

"Simon" 6x6 oil on panel

Facebook Find

This is the third painting I've used a find on Facebook as inspiration. The first couple of images were of friends. This lovely daughter of a "friend" is someone I've never met and are friends because of Mafia Wars, Cafe World or one of the other games I play on Facebook. I could not resist her three year old carefully bringing up that cup to drink her pink lemonade at her "Tea Party". Lindsay generously allowed me to paint her beautiful daughter Leah.

8x10 oil on board

Back in the saddle again....

So the folks who've been following my blog know the financial challenges I face after my divorce and dealing with the fact the ex gets a chunk of my monthly pension.  

I never really wanted to but I'm putting on the basketweave again.  The economy has struck even our middle class neighborhood and part time jobs have been hard to find.

I was offered a gig that I cannot refuse.  A guy who worked with me at my old PD called out of the blue and asked if I wanted to work at a new prisoner transport company.  I was hemming and hawing because I thought I was through dealing with that part of society.  A few days ago, he said he had a job if I wanted to start right away.  It may be a one time job or I may decide the money is good enough to work once a month until my bills get paid to a more manageable pile.   

I'm leaving today and I'll be driving with my partner to Dayton , Nevada; picking up someone in Las Vegas and transporting him to Colorado.  We then have to go to Kansas, Oklahoma and back to Nevada with a couple more pick-ups and transports.  I should be back by the 7th or 8th at the latest.

I hope I'm back by the 8th because I promised my daughter I would take her to the SPCA volunteer training class that evening.  She's been bugging me to sign her up.  

The only other negative (besides not seeing my kids for that time) is not being in contact with my blog pals.  :o(

My Facebook and Twitter pals can see what I'm doing because I'm going to try and load photos of where I am while on the trip with my mobile phone.  

So please don't forget about me while I'm gone.  I'll be back and hopefully have some more interesting stories to tell.   Oh, I wonder if they'll say anything about the new equipment I want to bring with me.... HUGS!