Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Spring Bunny Finished



The painting of Spring Bunny is finished.  Yay!

I might start another painting after dinner.  I'll see how I feel ....  Maybe a dog this time,  or another portrait of my boys, or flowers.  Or, perhaps a nude person in a field of flowers surrounded by dogs; cats; and, rabbits.

That last idea makes me chuckle.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Saturday, March 28, 2015

A Lot on My Mind


I came home, unloaded all of my market gear, put on my comfyn Chocolate Moose nightgown, and had spaghetti and spiked frappuccino as I watched Being Human on Netflix.

Now, all alone in my apartment (except for my cats) I'm faced with so many things I should see to. Yes, sure, I could just relax after a long day and not do anything - but let's face it, people, it's just not in my makeup to intentionally procrastinate!

I have a list in my head that goes something like this:

1) Email transfer money to Amy for her admin assistance that she did on Friday.
2) Update my finances.
3) Update my employees' schedule.
4) Make improvments to my website.
5) Upload the pictures of my bags and t-shirts that Amy modelled for to Etsy.
6) Write thank you email to Luc Sculpture Gallery for accepting my three paintings, and ask how I make a payment to them.

Ok, ok, maybe I'll do half now and half tomorrow morning ....

Or, maybe I'll do a bit of work from bed tonight with my iPad.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Energy Level is UP!


Hershey may think that sleeping this dull, gloomy day was the way to go ...


but I had so much energy that I did so many things!

I submitted three paintings to a group art show:




New merchandise and plastic sleeves for card packs were ordered.  Motion Specialties were contacted again re getting me a new/better power wheelchair.  Groceries were bought, banking seen to.  A solution to my quandry of how to improve/update my website was found.

I asked Amy to model my merch for me:







And now, I'm back to painting!


Yay!

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Sleepy-Time Girl


As colds go, this one isn't too bad.  Sure, I'm still coughing and sneezing and stuffed up, but I'm on the mend.

And yet, this cold is making me feel so tired, so exhausted!  I swear, I could honestly sleep for a week!

ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Hopefully, I'll have enough energy to paint ....

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Getting There, I Suppose ..


I guess I'm feeling a tiny bit better today, but I still feel rather awful. My nose is running, my throat is sore, and my energy is draining away.

I Only spent an hour napping this afternoon, which is a good sign. I had intended to do more administrative work on my laptop, but it was in need of a overhaul.  I guess it was feeling ill too.

Maybe that's what I need.  A good disk-fragmentaion, some programs reinstalled, and a reboot.

Or maybe just macaroni and cheese, chicken noodle soup, and a couple of episodes of Supernatural.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Sick In Bed


I'm sick in bed today. Bloody hell!!!  I can't be sick, I have too much to do. And yet, I am, and my energy level is almost nil. 

Cough, cough.  Sneeze, sneeze. 

Talk to you tomorrow....

Maybe I can get back to that weird dream, where Ron Howard wanted to both star and direct a movie is which he has sex with me.  

Monday, March 23, 2015

The Fight is On!


Early this morning, I told Marjie that I wasn't sure if I was getting a cold if it was just a bad allergy day. Half an hour later, Marjie asked me if I wanted oil of oregano and I declined, saying I was feeling much better.

I had a shower later on, and I accidentally inhaled some shampoo and water.  It was a lot!  It felt like I had snorted up a litre of suds and water.  For the rest of the day I tried to blow it all out of my nose.  Ick!

Now it's evening and I'm feeling better.  Well, sort of ....  I'm feeling like I'm maybe a cold again.

Time to bring out the BIG GUNS: vitamin C and oil of oregano!

The Fight is On!

Sunday, March 22, 2015

I'm GREEN!!!



I'm GREEN but happy!

I finished compiling my taxes, as well as a million other things, and now I can get back to painting.


Saturday, March 21, 2015

Why is This Still a Thing?



For the most part, I had a good day at the market.  Even though I had barely made $60.00 I was in a good mood.  With Lucy's assistance, I trained my newest employee, Kelly, how to do the market shift.  Kelly did very well too!

Customers were amiable and appreciative of my artwork.  I was happy and feeling secure with my place in the universe.

And then, this woman came up to the three of us, pointed at me, and asked Lucy: "M.S.?" I gritted my teeth, knowing that 1) the woman had reduced my whole being to a medical condition; 2) she got my condition wrong (I have C.P. not M.S.); and, 3) she assumed that I was void of reason and intellect.

With Lucy's help, and trying to be as glib as possible, I told the woman that she was mistaken - my name was Anne Abbott not M.S.!  Unfortunately, she either didn't notice or didn't understand my biting sarcasm.  Instead - much to my absolute horror! - the woman started patting me on the head and saying, "You poor brave woman!"

Brave my ass.  I think she was brave for humiliating me in public like that.  Why do I call her brave?  Well, because after suffering this kind of treatment by total strangers for most of my life, I think one day I just might snap and run amok, screaming and chasing the offending people around with my power wheelchair.  

Why is this still a thing? Ableism, I mean.  Hurtful, humilating ableism.  It's 2015, for goodness sake!  People should know better by now! But what am I talking about?  There's still racism, sexism, classism, etc etc etc. 

I have to cling onto hope, though.

I went to Hot House for dinner  with Brittainy today.  While Brittainy was in the washroom, one of the waiters came over, asked how I was and if he could get me a drink.  Our conversation lasted maybe two minutes, but it made me so happy because he saw me as an actual person.

Sometimes there is a glimmer of hope.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Fire Alarm Went Off. Boys' Day Ruined.




Usually, my boys live a pretty happy and spoiled life. I absolutely adore them, and they know it!


Sometimes, however, not even my adoration can snap them out of a funk if they're suddenly faced with the dreaded, frightening, EAR-PIERCING FIRE ALARM!!!

My poor boys look both distressed and confused after the noise has finally ended.  I can imagine what they're saying to each other ...

Rascal:  Did you hear that, Hersh?

Hershey:  Yup.  The Invisible Monster is back.

Rascal:  How do we -- how do we -- uh -- get rid of it?

Hershey:  We'll sleep on it, Rascal. We'll sleep on it!

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Taxes



Taxes.

Period.

I have to get them out of my hair or go nuts ...

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Another Weird Dream


I woke up from another weird dream.  I was being tortured by angels who were trying to get information from me. I wouldn't tell them anything, so to take my mind off the pain I told jokes to Benedict Cumberbatch to make him laugh. I don't know why but on my right side Robert Palmer was singing "Simply Irresistible" to me.

I swear I'm not addicted to drugs...but maybe I'm addicted to the show "Supernatural" and to hot British men.

Monday, March 16, 2015

A Short One Today




So, all of the tax stuff I did today was on behalf of my employees. I addressed all of the envelopes and mailed the T-4's out.

Tomorrow, however, not even Johnny Depp - buck naked! - can break my concentration from getting my taxes ready!

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Playing Work Catch-Up


Even with plenty of help, I still have mountains of work ahead of me.

This afternoon, I wrote thank you emails to new Dandy Card Members; one distainful email to Broad Magazine because they distorted the picture I submitted and used a different person's quotation to go with it; and, I made sure that my five jpegs were definitely uploaded and submitted to the Riverdale Art Walk.






Right now, I'm going to keep my head down and get all of my finances ready to be sent to my accountant to do my taxes.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Too Tired for Words ...


but here are a few pictures from last night:

Peekaboo Hershey

Box loving cats

I painted this in 3 hours!

And, some from today:

I sold this painting of Rascal
After a busy day at the market, I had corned beef and cabbage and a cupcake filled with Bailey's

Friday, March 13, 2015

A Brilliant Friday the 13th


Friday the 13th was absolutely wonderful for me!

My I Love Dicks painting seems to be getting a lot of attention at the Shit Talk art show.



I got so much done today, which made me incredibly happy!  Both Amy and Dobrila helped me to mail my mom's estate tax stuff out; email my Dandy Note Card Members; get the ball rolling on getting a newer/better power wheelchair; and, put cards together.

I even had time enough for myself to do a quick painting.


Thursday, March 12, 2015

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

A Visit from Holly!



It was counselling day, which, like most times, was hard to process.

Spring weather seems to be the norm right now (knock on wood!) and that's fantastic!

My friend Holly surprised me by coming from London, Ont, to visit me.  It was great to see her and catch up.

The whole day was wonderful ... and yet, my mind remains in the counsellor's office, going round and round like a hamster on a wheel.

Oh well, things will, I'm sure, seem better tomorrow ....


Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Busy.



Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Busy.

Busy!

Monday, March 9, 2015

Good Day But Feeling Iffy

It was a gorgeous day today! So much so that I didn't put my jacket on after I left Starbucks to go to Loblaws. It's a five minute stroll so why bother? Why ideed! I'm not saying this is the cause of my yucky feeling, but maybe. It could also be the lack of sleep, I keep waking up and worring about everything I need to do.

Well, whatever it is I'm going to work on my paintng and then go to bed. Lucy says, "YES... submit to the angel of sleep!"

Sunday, March 8, 2015

I Love Dicks!



When I was a small child, I saw my father coming out of the shower. He was naked, of course, with all of his bits hanging out.  In my innocence, I asked my mother, "What are those things between Dad's legs?"She explained that they were a penis and testicles. Satified with that answer, I asked her, "Why does dad have nipples?" She said, "They're for decoration."

I think because my mom had such a nonchalant attitude about the human form, it me to 1) not feel ashamed of my body and 2) feel free to enjoy painting nudes. Although my mom would pretend to be shocked at the drawings of breasts and cocks that I did as a child a young adult, she very supportive of my work and she even gave me suggestions on how to improve. I can even hear Mom laughing and saying, "Bottoms up!"

As I mentioned in a past post, I'm going to be in a group art show. The show is show to be called "Shit Talk", and all the artists are going to do paintings to illustrate graffiti on bathroom walls. One person wrote "I love dicks!", so I doing a painting where I'm hugging a huge dick.

Aren't you proud of me, Mom?

Saturday, March 7, 2015

An Introspective Day Part II


Yesterday, because I couldn't find any of my regular tv shows, I watched a couple of episodes of QI, which is a British game show.  QI stands for Quite Interesting, and it is.

At one point during an episode, they were talking about this new innovative technique that doctors were using to assist women who were giving birth to breech babies. It worked like a corkscrew.

I turned to Sarah K and explained that I had been a breech baby, I started to come out bottom first and  the doctor had to turn me around so that I came feet first. There was a theory that because it took longer for me to be born that this caused me to have a lack of oxygen that caused my CP (Cerebral Palsy).

I elaborated on my story and told Sarah that I had been diagnosed with CP when I was one year old. This had been a shock to my mom, but she looked at me and thought, "Well, nothing has really changed. She is, after all, still my Annie!" With this kind of positive attitude my mother searched out other parents of kids with CP. Interestingly enough, my grandmother had a next door neighbour, and that family's daughter had CP.

It's funny how things work out. The support group my Mom joined was called, The Parent Counsel, and years later this group founded Participation House Markham, which was a group home for people with disabilities. Residents could either live their permanently or stay for short periods on "parental relief". (I detest that term!)  In earlier posts I am sure people have heard me refer to Particaption House as a "hell hole", which it was.  I'll probably harbour feelings of anger and hatred towards it forever.

The Parent Counsel later set up apartment buildings in Thornhill and Markham that had onsite attendant care. People with disabilities could have a life of independence. I was one of these people.  Sure, it was a big improvement from Particiption House, but I soon learned that there were still many flaws.

My point is to say that I life is kind of like s game of dominos, knock one down and a series of events happen. What would have happened if Mom hadent joined The Parent Counsel? Would we have just muddled through on our own? And, sure, I hated Particiption House and found their onsite attendants to be lacking in many ways. However, both experiences gave me the insight to deal with whatever came my way.

I guess what I'm trying to say is you can do your best to steer you life in the direction you want it to go, but sometimes life just spins you around and you have go go through some rough shit. The trick is to learn from that shit and come out the other side in one piece.

Friday, March 6, 2015

An Introspective Day


Despite feeling more than a little introspective, today has been very productive for me.  I got a paiinting ready to be mailed and shipped it off to a customer.  My merch was in a mess, so I sorted it all out and got it much tidier.  I also bought groceries as well.  I was going to paint today, but I worked on the employees' payroll instead.

Good for me.

All day long I kept thinking about the dream I had last night.  My mom was alive in the dream, and I was visiting her at her condo.  Her mind seemed to be getting more and more vague and scattered, and I did my best to stop her from doing anything silly or dangerous.

I awoke with a jolt, and the first thing that popped into my mind was: See, you couldn't have done anything to prevented Mom from dying.  Somethings are out of your hands ....

I know this is true, without a doubt. So, why did my mind think it was necessary to tell me this fact at 3am?

Talk about a rude awakening!

Thursday, March 5, 2015

With a Little Help From My Friends


Today has been fantastic!

First, Amy came over and helped me with so many things: emails, phone calls, texting, and making lists of things that I want/need to do.  It makes me feel happy, as if a load has been lifted from my shoulders. Amy is going to come over weekly to help me do these kinds of things.

And Jeff came over for awhile too.  He took pictures of my two newest paintings and my new Zappa t-shirt.  I'll post the pics here after Jeff emails them to me.

I'm going to sleep well tonight, I think ....

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Art Project


Tonight I'm going to start working on four paintings for a group art project I'm involved in with my friend Lucy and other artists. 

I'll periodically post pictures of my progress as I go ....

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Bloody Hell! I Want SUMMER!




Oh well, at least I have fun penguin underwear ...


and sweet, adorable cats to cheer me up.



I must keep thinking positively.  I got a lot of work done - yay me!

And, Spring is just around the corner - I hope!