catching up

This month has been packed with activity.
Work is crazy, more projects than we can handle, but we will try!
My man-cub is packing, preparing and having his "farewell tour" before leaving for college.
The Tour De France being the best drama on TV...
CRAZY BUSY!!!

To tackle one at a time:
Work: yes, still major stress, but my new designer is getting up to speed. She brings a terrific attitude, great sense of humor, and 25 years of experience. Just her efforts to learn our systems is very encouraging and I feel she will be making major impact in the very near future. And my boss, new since Feb, is really showing me her passion for our success. She is quickly becoming a MAJOR support for my team and our efforts. That makes such a huge difference. I truly believe that her support will increase, and my insane pressure on myself will wane, with her there to help.

Tour De France: Okay, you may not have realized I love this sport! No, it hasn't been a lifelong love, as I wasn't exposed to it until about 10 years ago. But I really enjoy watching and the personalities are fascinating. This year, the drug and doping has made it an incredible, yet heartbreaking drama. Until the governing bodies of this sport (as well as other professional sports) put the emphasis on being clean, instead of TV ratings and commercial gain, this will continue to be a problem. Winning at all costs has become the name of all games. If they want to allow a proliferation of freaks to gather viewers and increase commercial revenue, then they should legalize and control the substances. Also, there would be a need for a parallel group for the athletes that want to compete cleanly, and not wreak permanent damage on their bodies.
Also, the testing needs to be valid and above reproach, performed by unaffiliated , third-party labs.

Man-cub leaving: This is the hard part. I will take him to school on Wednesday. Since he is playing football, he has to report early for training camp. He will not be able to come home until Thanksgiving. Our house will be very quiet. This will be the first time ever, I will not see him on his birthday, I won't be able to kiss him good-night, or smell his hair while he sleeps. He is so big, so strong and so very beautiful. He is the joy of my life and I have been so blessed to have had him for this long. I know it is the time to let go, and it is right for him to become his own person, but, oh how I am going to miss him. He has been my friend, my shopping buddy, my fashion critic, my connection to what is happing in popular culture. Jacob, you are a great person and I am so proud of you. I will miss you pick me up and squeezing me when I get home each day, I will miss your empty orange juice containers in the fridge, I will miss you telling me something looks "OL" (old-lady). I will miss arguing with you for fun. But I know, it is YOUR time to go out and learn, see, meet, experience. I will always be hear for you.

hot enough for ya?

I completed this piece last night. It start all serious, as a reaction to the fact that many women on this earth are just regarded as possessions, their purpose to serve and amuse. Then I found an old ad with the following quote"I nearly itched to death for 71/2 years. Then I found a new wonder working cream. Now I'm happy."
Isn't that hysterical? It made me laugh, so I put it on. Sometimes, great relief makes us want to dance with joy. Perhaps that smile on Little Egypt's face is due to having a certain itch, scratched.

It is way hot out. The man and I did 10 miles earlier today. We need to walk the hounds, but we will wait until later. The big dog really struggles in this heat.
Then back to the grind tomorrow.

art Saturday

I have been doing some journal backgrounds and pages today.
A great way for me to relax!!
I am on a roll using women in other cultures in my pages.
Check out more of my stuff at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kheli/

I have read 2 books about Afghanistan, The Kabul Beauty School and A Thousand Splendid Suns, both incredible reads. This has made me very conscious of the lives women in that culture face. They are not regarded as having free will. This bothers me.
I have also just finished Stalin's Ghost by Martin Cruz Smith, which has me intrigued by Russia.
I go through a romantic Russia phase about every 18 months or so. I am currently working on a journal page featuring old Russian family photos. I like to speculate on the stories of these people.

10 things you may not know about me

I was inspired to write this after reading Lia's post of the same name on her blog, http://artjunk.typepad.com/art_junk/.

1. I work the daily crossword puzzle in the Charlotte Observer, every morning, in ink.
2. I love hamburgers with fresh tomatoes and dill pickles.
3. My mom was just 18 when I was born, my dad was 20. We have all grown up together!
4. I have always wanted to be an artist. It is pretty amazing to think I worked as a Graphic Artist for 7 years and am now in my 14th year in textile design. And when I retire, I will make something every day!
5. I don't like pictures of myself, but I love taking photos of others.
6. My husband and I read. A lot. No, I mean we have a ton of books and can't part with them because we reread them, often!
7. I bought my mom her first Margarita when I was 21 and she was 39.
8. I took her on her first visit to NYC this year for her birthday. We had a blast!!!!
9. I want to eventually finish my degree. But instead of art, I want to major in Psychology.
10. I like flowers. Calla lilies, irises, roses, Gerber Daisies, Hydrangea, Petunias. All of them.

Independance Day 2007

One week later from previous post:
Anxiety has gotten bigger. 3 Panic Attacks this week.
Still riding my bike about 10 miles a day, 4 days a week. Walking on alternate days.
Eating balanced diet,heavy on vegetables, limiting caffeine.
Working on art.
What else can I do? I am taking the meds prescribed.
There are parts of my job that I love, the problem-solving, planning, teaching computer tricks, but the incessant , unreasonable time lines from customers, which does not mesh with the time lines in manufacturing make me feel like I am experimenting in futility on a daily basis. We need to get it out fast. But manufacturing can't seem to look beyond their noses to see that. They are always playing catch-up. Well, we in Design are affected by that and now we are playing catch-up as well. We should be in the lead, setting the bar, not catching up to all that is already out there.

How can I leave these frustrations at the office? I do not want them here at home.
I am going to create, and ride. Happy 4th.