Saturday, April 12, 2008
Taking Off!!!
It's past 1am, and we are flying in the morning to our long anticipated vacation in some of the national parks. Zion, Bryce, Antelope and the Grand Canyon are awaiting us, and I am beyond excited to see all that glory.
The photo on the left, of Bryce Canyon (courtesy of the beautiful Landscape Wallpapers Blog) has been my laptop wallpaper for several weeks. Now it's finally time to go and see the magic in person.
I am finally packed (packing is one of my most hateful activities, even more so when needing to pack shorts with gloves, sandals with a warm scarf, as the weather website tells us it's gonna be hot during the day - up to 31 Celsius (as in 87 Fahrenheit) and damn cold at night, all the way down to minus one Celsius (30 F).
This vacation was very close to getting canceled due to work pressure, but The JohnnyB made some truly heroic efforts over the past two weeks, worked his butt off day and night (weekends included, needless to say) and managed to enable this vacation and have it cut by only one day. A major achievement on his account, and I am insanely grateful! Both The JohnnyB and I are in desperate need for some time off, and the desert seems to be the ultimate place to wind down. A birthday at Zion National Park - now, that's a cool way to celebrate!
Photos, stories and adventures to follow - when we get back. Until then, please blog safely.
Labels: Birthday, Creativity of Others, Damn Technology, It's All About Me, Ode to other blogs, Vacation
Friday, April 04, 2008
He's Done It Again!
My birthday is coming up.
Next Sunday.
The dreaded 45.
Two days ago, a big package arrived at our house, and The JohnnyB hid it in the den, saying it's for my birthday. Despite my inquisitiveness, I got over my tendency to try and peek, until yesterday he mentioned that since we'll be going on a trip on Friday, and it's too big to take it with us, it might make sense that I open it now.
Long debate - and I decided to give in to my curiosity.
And that's what was inside:
The box said "Picture Frame", which made me pause with a questioning look (like, why would a frame come in such a huge box, and what kind of gift is it anyway!?).
But then I saw the word digital - and gave a huge cry of delight. For a long time, I've been saying how wonderful it would be to have a computer in my studio, so when I need to look close at a reference photo when I paint, I won't have to rely on just a print or run to the den to look at it. Of course, I can bring the laptop in while I paint, but, well, it's likely to get splashed by paint and stuff. Not a good idea.
This little wonder (made by Smart Parts Products) can display photos and is the perfect solution. It's not as precious as a laptop, so I don't need to be afraid of ruining it, plus has exactly the functionality I need. (It actually has more than that, as it can also play music and videos). I wonder if they ever thought of its value and use to painters.
This is so very cool!!!
The JohnnyB:
thank you,
Thank You,
THANK YOU!!!
Labels: Art, Birthday, Damn Technology, It's All About Me, Wonders of The JohnnyB, Wow
Thursday, January 24, 2008
A Thousand Words - And Then Some #17
"Nooooo, this no pink! This red!" said the guy at the bakery with utter self-conviction.
Yesterday when I ordered this cake (raspberry filling), I specifically asked them to not put pink or purple on the cake.
"It's a guy's birthday", I informed the bakery dude. "Please use blue, or green. No pink. Please!".
And today, he looked me in the eye, assuring me that this is not pink. Y'know, I'm an artist. I kinda know about color. You simply cannot tell an artist that this is red. This is sooooooooo pink! And a horrifying one!! And - they also put a rose...
But - I didn't argue. I took this manly, masculine creation and presented it to the birthday boy.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, THE JOHNNYB!!!
(and this font is not pink, either...).
Next year, I'm baking the cake.
previous 1000 Words... ...next 1000 words
Labels: Birthday, Desecration, Food, People, Stating The Obvious, WTF?
Thursday, August 16, 2007
The 5th (Beethoven's And Ours)
Today is our fifth wedding anniversary.
Yes, The JohnnyB and I got married 5 years ago, on the nice sunny Friday of August 16th, 2002. It was the happy ending of the JohNava saga (of which I started to write here).
What are we doing to celebrate this glorious day? Hmm, nothing really...
The JohnnyB is returning this evening from a conference in Oregon, where he presented a paper he wrote, so he will probably be dead tired. And his laptop crashed during the conference, so he'll also be pissed off. We may be having an informal dinner with Scooter (who's also returning from the very same conference) and his wife and daughter. but I hear The JohnnyB has spread the joy of his sore ruby throat to Scooter, so that's probably out.
Five years. Impressive milestone. Well, it is for me. I didn't make it to five years in my first marriage, and my relationship after that has also lasted less than 5 years (due to a devastating force majeure). So this is quite an achievement.
Now, what does one post on such a day? A day that makes one think and reminisce, recall all the ups and downs, joy and frustration, smiles and grimaces that characterize a marriage, particularly a mixed marriage (and ours is mixed in almost every sense: language, mentality, culture, nationaltiy, religion, gender, character, eye-color - you name it!)?
While cleaning my overloaded mailbox yesterday (reduced it from over 500 messages to under 50!!!), I stumbled upon this movie sent to me a while ago by Amir (Thank You!!).
I think this fits the occasion perfectly, brilliantly capturing it all.
Which reminds me:
A couple of years ago, a friend asked me, "So, when you and The JohnnyB argue, do you do it in English or Hebrew?"
"Ah", I replied graciously, "but you see, we never argue!"
And with that self-delusion, I shall now take the fifth.
Labels: Birthday, Family, Major Achievements, Meta Bloggin'
Thursday, July 12, 2007
One Year Of Blogging - A Colorful Retrospect
Indeed, exactly one year ago, I finally surrendered to The JohnnyB's constant nudging to open an account on this blogger.com thingy and start posting.
My bashful debut to the blogosphere might be considered by some as cheating, as I published something I wrote 7 month before, but - hey, I was young and foolish then. Took me more than 3 months to publish my second post - and from then on, slowly by slowly, addiction took place, to the point that I did nothing but blog anything that moved. I even had to come up with an ArtPact in order to make sure I do not neglect my art. (Hey - it worked; I have 24 ArtPact posts to prove it).
I also got into the habit of checking out other bloggers' pearls of wisdom, and even made several, Hmm, it feels weird to use this word, but it does feel right: friends, whom I have never met, but am still hoping that maybe, some day...
Looking back and reminiscing with nostalgic moisture in my eye on the past year, I can't really define what my blog is about. Someone asked me about it on the 4th of July BBQ we had at TexieD. Someone else (might have been Scooter) said "She is blogging about anything that comes to her mind", while another kind soul added, "...and since she is an artist, that means any subject in the world". Yup, I guess that's pretty much it. mine is not a vehement socio-political blog that's trying to change the world, not is it a purely-art blog. I never got the "Thinking Blog Award", so I guess it doesn't make people get all wrinkly in the forehead when they read it.
So - what am I?
How do I answer this existential pondering?
The JohnnyB suggests - with a typical smile - that I am an eclectic blogger. Sounds better than "well, I dunno", so I'll go with that.
And hey, bear in mind that English is not my first language, so this blog takes some sweat for the Hebrew-speaking-writing-reading me. I have to say that some of the people who know me here, started to look at me differently since they started reading my blog, as "we never knew you can write so well!". Yeah. That's the problem with being an immigrant - when I talk, what I am saying in masked by my accent (as charming as it may be) and constant stops to think and translate in my mind. When I write, you do not hear my accent, Eh? Except for occasional mistakes, that amuse The JohnnyB above and beyond any reasonable level. (To be fair, I am far more amused by the mistakes he makes I Hebrew. Plus, I am amused much more often ;-)
In my first months of blogging, I used to feel very strongly about friends who did not leave comments (I even had a furious post about that!). However, with time, I realized that blogging is not about that at all. Somehow, it's not less rewarding to get comments from strangers and connect to new people, make my own little readers club and join others, so I became a much friendlier person to be around. Some friends complain that they do not like this "blog-stuff", that they liked it much more when I used to send what I wrote via Emails, that now they need to open a browser and click in order to read it - - - Ah well... life is indeed hard. And unfair.
I tried different things, established different corners like my ArtPact, the trademarked Little Lunch For Thought, or Sentence of The Month, and went through some trials and errors, (like the public Happy Birthday that turned out to be a big, huge mistake, as I suddenly had to do it for everyone I've ever met. I stopped doing that back in January, with an exception for The JohnnyB and myself. So, if you are a good friend and did not get this kind of a Happy Birthday, only a personal one, via Email - it's not because I don't love you anymore. If you are not a good friend, Oooohh, look at the time...).
I find it funny that The JohnnyB is the one who got me into blogging, and then complained that I over-blog, and nowadays he rarely graces his diminishing circle of readers with a blog now and then, which is a shame.
As other bloggers attend to do, I tried to think which was the most popular blog, or my best creation so far. Not quite sure how to judge it. If it's by the number of comments, then - by far - the leading one is "The Bare Truth 'bout The Bare Hands", that got 34 comments and opened a door for some fascinating debates. Hmm, since half the comments on that post are my responses, it might not be quite a good indicator after all.
So I wonder - do you have a favorite? *
.
..
* No pressure - I am not sure myself which is my favorite.
Labels: Birthday, It's All About Me, Major Achievements
Saturday, June 23, 2007
How Green Was My JohnnyB . . .
Nope, it's got nothin' to do with him getting all warm and fuzzy with the environment.
Nor is it related to being green with envy.
Read all about it here.
Labels: Birthday, Wonders of The JohnnyB
Monday, May 14, 2007
ArtPact #19
Yup - after many months of scraping what to post as an ArtPact, I am suddenly on a creativity spree.
Is it the spring that's sprung?
Is it the fact that after all the stress and lack of time, I decided to make time and put my art at the top of the priority list, while I can?
Or is it actually time pressure? I mean, next Tuesday I am leaving for 3 weeks in the Promised Land, and I only have so many days to be in my studio, of which I am making the most!!
On Sunday, I created another wonderful collage (which I cannot post here, as it's a surprise for someone in the holy land). But, in between collaging my self-portrait and that surprise, I kept feeling that it really is unfair that I neglected my favorite man... you see, it's been over 8 long months since The JohnnyB got the last page for his personal calendar, and this project got shamefully and shamelessly abandoned.
So, today, I made the page for May... May 2006, mind you, as he never got his May page (I know, I am lame!). Since I am hooked on collage now, and my studio is all covered with painted tissue papers, screwed-up brushes, paints, stamping tools and gloss medium (the latter is used for adhering the tissue paper to the surface on which I am collaging, and is then used to keep me busy trying to peel it off every part of my body) - I made a collage of him. Poor The JohnnyB, he got really allergic to something in the air since last weekend, consumed his Claritin pill every morning, and spent most of this weekend alternating between being miserable, cranky and napping.
"Spring Napping", Collage on matboard, 5.5"x7.5"
Now, on that calendar, each painting/sketch/collage is accompanied by a proper calendar page, with photos of the monthly theme. As this collage was drying in the sun (it was 4:30pm when I was done!!!), I sat at our nice shiny desktop, in order to create the calendar page, with the very same software I always used for that fun purpose.
It was then that I got a nice reminder that we now have Windows Vista, whose greatest hobby is to crash for no reason. That's actually not quite accurate; it's not that Windows Vista itself is crashing. Just certain applications.
Like the new and improved(?) Windows Mail (what used to be the highly stable Outlook Express), that now crashes at least 4-5 times a day, just 'cause it can, and I keep forgetting to save the Emails I compose after every 2-3 sentences, which enriches our usually-quiet neighborhood with loud juicy multilingual curses. OK, so I got used to this. But today, as I was trying to create the calendar page using the previously reliable MS "Picture It!" software, it kept crashing, as if we have Windows Vista or something - Ah, wait, we do have this delightful new product, lucky us!!!
I was way too pissed to go do it on the laptop, so - dear The JohnnyB, the full calendar page of the month of May '06 will wait, perhaps until I am back from Israel, or perhaps until Vista is stable (Ha!!! I kill me!!!).
Hasta la vista, Vista!
previous ArtPact... ...next ArtPact
Labels: Art, ArtPact, Birthday, Damn Technology
Thursday, May 10, 2007
A Thousand Words - And Then Some #8
Actually, this time it's two thousand words. (I know - who's counting? but that is intended for my engineer-readers, to save you a wise crack. Y'all happy now?).As some of you recall, I got in trouble for nudging The JohnnyB about using his very cool gift. He said I should have gone for a more subtle hint and encouragement.
Since The JohnnyB is blessed with a lovely wife who always listens to him (OK, OK - I'm still working on that!), I acted upon his input, and - less than a week after that post, this awaited him on the bed.
And in that package, was the following:
And for those of you who chuckle and say, "This? Subtle!?", let me remind you that the JohnnyB belongs to the kind of guys that subtlety is, well, kinda lost on . . .
And now, we wait.
previous 1000 Words... ...next 1000 words
Labels: Birthday, Making a Difference
Friday, May 04, 2007
I Just Don't Get It!
Really, I don't!!
So, please help me out here.
Your husband has a birthday.
Being a lovely wife, you break your head for a long time over what to get for him. Something that will be original and unique, and yet not take too much work (as you still owe him 6 pages of the personally painted calendar you promised him for his 40th birthday last year, and as of today, he only got half of it...).
Then, one day, while being educated by the incredibly patient WebbieM on maintaining a website, you realize that her husband, CessnyZ, owns a flight school.
And you strike a great idea, and secretively, buy a gift certificate for a one-hour acrobatic flight!
It's not trivial, mind you, as this simple act of writing a check is preceded be many discussions about weight and height. As some of you know, The JohnnyB is a man of great presence, and we're talking small planes.And then, a couple of weeks later, WebbieM and CessnyZ come over for beer tasting and dinner, and after we are all wined and dined and beered, a pleasant conversation evolves, and w'all find ourselves listening - with widening eyes - to The JohnnyB's cheery anecdotes about all the damages he has caused to small planes during his travels to Australia and some unlucky Pacific islands, due to his curiosity and hobby to take apparatuses out of their place, ask "what is that?" and realize that 'that' was the engine, or something of the sort.
As this whole gift certificate is a well-kept secret, the three of us keep cringing in our seats, and I keep trying to divert the subject to the weather and art and strawberry jams (OK, I was desperate!), in order to keep the whole thing confidential, as well as prevent CessnyZ from deciding he's not going to sacrifice one of this beloved planes to the destructively inquisitive hands of The JohnnyB, who goes on and on, reminiscing to his pale audience - - -
- - - and yet, on his birthday, The JohnnyB got his gift certificate, with this highly tempting and exciting description:
We will fly a fully acrobatic Citabria, tailwheel, tandem seating, stick control aircraft.
Your instruction will include ground instruction on the maneuvers we will perform,
safety procedures, and a full hour of flight. We will do loops, rolls, hammerheads,
stalls and spins, plus instruction in recovery from accidental upsets and unusual
Cool, Eh?
All that took place over 3 months ago.
It was the month of January, cold and grey and rainy.
But since then, the sun has shined so many times, the skies turned Cobalt and Cerulean and Manganese blue day after day after day, the spring winds are constantly caressing the blooming flowers, short-sleeve shirts have been washed, birds are working on new arrangements to their harmonies, squirrels are starting to screw up our garden like there's no tomorrow -
- and the gift certificate is gathering cobwebs, sitting shamed and unused, filled with dust in its folds and tears in its eyes.
Like, I used the freakish birthday gift I got the very same day (and still am using it, despite the nervous breakdown it gives me each and every time!).
WebbieM and CessnyZ, mind you, are starting to raise two pairs of eyebrows in wonder:
Are you scared, The JohnnyB?
Labels: Birthday, Venting, Wonders of The JohnnyB, WTF?
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Rude Awakening
Two weeks ago was my birthday, right?.
Now, one of The JohnnyB's charming traits is his ability to find the most unique ideas. He doesn't just go to a store and gets his lovely wife a nice jewelry or perfume.
Nooooooooooooo.
The man hates, loathes and fears stores.
So, he goes online, for days and weeks (maybe even months?), gathering ideas, and manages to surprise me each and every time.
This year, he handed me a big box, and in the box, a very sweet greeting card (which he created himself on the computer), with a typed page.
"Gift certificate to CheapJoes!!!", I thought, imagining a brand new fancy sable brush dipped into purple paint.
No.
It was a bunch of ideas for a new table/storage/thingy for my studio, as he thought I need something nicer and better, which was very, truly sweet.
Right now, I am quite happy with the arrangement I have (a folding table on top of our former-coffee table, and in between them a couple tiny drawer-units we got at IKEA. Plus, the top of those storage thingies might not be deep enough to serve as a painting surface. And yet, some of the ideas he found are soooooooooooo tempting, that we might head for IKEA one of these days.
But until then, like, where is my tangible birthday gift?!?
Two days later, a package has arrived. The JohnnyB, the master of presentation, threw it at my lap as is, saying "and here's the small present that did not arrive in time for your birthday".
And there, in the box, was sitting ClockyB (*) "Oh, an alarm clock", I said, somewhat disappointed.
"Yes", joyoused The JohnnyB.
"Ahm... thank you", I said politely with utter wonder.
"Try it", said The JohnnyB.
So I did.
Gheeze... this is one alarm clock!
First, it doesn't just speak the regular alarmclockish language.
It chirps and beeps and rings and rattles and squeaks and comes up with a variety of noises that annoy the hell out of you.
Not only that, the little creep also flashes its screen.
Not only that - once it starts its irritating concert, and you hit the 'snooze' button, the little idiot, after a while, shows - yet again - its vast vocal ability, then goes forward on its wheels - - - and then starts rotating and running like a two-year old on candy, and you have to start chasing it all over the room.
It moves on any surface, including carpets (even ugly carpets!), and it can jump from up to 3 feet (haven't tried that yet - my heart is too weak for such adventures!)
'How cool!!!', I see your eyes lit.
Hmm... is it!?
Well, take into account that when you just wake up from a deep, sweet sleep (and this little bugger is so damn loud!!!), it's really alarming. Even if you do manage to fall back asleep, you then get the full monty, and then, as you fall off the bed trying to catch this annoying piece of plastic, all you wanna do is choke the bastard. Once you got a hold of this retarded dreidel, you are so fully awake and agitated, that you just make your way to the kitchen, trying to relax with a first coffee.
So, yes, it is working - even for non-morning people like yours truly.
Now, The JohnnyB spent too much time, in my opinion, walking around very proud of himself for this cool gift (and yes, it is very cool, and Thank You!!!).
And so, he just had to be taught a lesson.
On Sunday afternoon, as he was tucked nicely under the covers, all happy and elated that it's time for his sacred nap, he asked me to wake him at 5:30.
"No", I said with my sweetest voice and cutest smile, "why don't I let ClockyB wake you? After all, it is such a wonderful gift".
"OK", he agreed with the sweet innocence that is reserved for those who are not yet acquainted with this freakish toy.
Now, The JohnnyB's state of being after a nap is usually dreamy, kindhearted and pink-cheeked.
Well, not this time. . .
. . . At 5:30 and 2 seconds, he shot out of the bedroom like a cannon ball on steroids.
"This thing!", he said, fully alert, but unable to show his crankiness, as it's HIS gift, "this thing, y'know, it REALLY wakes you up!!!".
R E A L L Y ? ! ?
And, mind you, just because I am such a considerate lovely wife. I only set the alarm, without all the commotion of ClockyB running around.
Next time, I'll set the snooze to '0', which will cause ClockyB to go crazy right from the beginning. I'll just need to get a video camera and keep a safe distance as The JohnnyB breaks a new record in high-jump.
Payback? Moi?? Naaaaaaaaaaaa.
Just sharing the love...
(*) Believe it or not, the official name of this little guy is actually Clocky, but we accepted him to our family with open arms, and thus he became ClockyB, the younger brother of LumiB.
Labels: Birthday, Damn Technology, Wonders of The JohnnyB
Saturday, April 14, 2007
ArtPact #14
Well, kinda.
As planned, I spent most of my birthday doing what I like.
My grand sleeping-in idea did not work well, as The JohnnyB felt obliged to wake me before leaving to work, and then some early birds from the holy land decided to call me and disrupt that plan of mine.
Still, one of them was my incredible niece, Lilush, whom you've kinda met through her portraits, who chatted for a while and then put the monosyllable Nitzku on the phone, for a fascinating conversation.
This cheeky kid (2 years old in May) is fluently composing full logical sentences. Only thing, he is limiting himself (and his audience) to one syllable of each word (on rare occasions, he's upgrading to two). Talking to him is serious left-brain challenge, as it's all about deciphering, and it's hysterically funny.
It was the first time for me to talk to him, and I did pretty well, despite my uncontrollable laughter.
He monosyllabled me (in Hebrew, of course) about the pigeon he saw that day, then abbreviated a Lilush-guided "Happy Birthday", then informed me that he did not give the Anguses any hay, and then, on a complete tangent which is so typical to our family, suddenly cheered: "Tafta!!!!" (his version to 'grandma' in Hebrew). His mom and myself transatlantically corrected him that it's not Grandma, but Nava, which he repeated with sheer disappointment, grunted "No Grandma, Nava?!", then assured me - yet again - that he did not give hay to the Anguses, and retired to his business (which - at the time - was dancing in front of the television while wearing a green bowl on his head. Yup, definitely belongs to our family!).
Anyway, once this fun discussion was over, and the non-Tafta-Nava was left to lick my wounded ego, I got up and spent several hours painting tissue paper.
"Why would you do that on your birthday, of all days???? ".
'cause this week, WackieM has demoed how to prepare your own collage paper, and two days later, ShinyR brought an incredible collage which she created with her self-prepared papers - and that was it.
I got hooked.
Went to the art store, spent $50 on liquid acrylics and white tissue paper, and spent 3 hours dyeing 20 sheets of that.
And so, on my birthday, I continued this obsessive quest, and dyed 20 additional sheets, with some more daring colors and some texturing.
It was so much fun, someone should illegalize it.
And, the results:
- One big stain of phthalo blue (one of the most staining pigments) on our backyard cement, which shall forever remain there
- Two shamefully dirty hands and fingernails (as I discovered, those fluid acrylics don't come off easily, despite all the scrubbing).
- Three colorful purplish drips on the carpet in my studio (I hate this carpet anyway)
- Forty sheets of some stunning papers (which this image does not even begin to show in their real glory).
And also, one very, very exhausted - but extremely ecstatic - Nava.
So, that is my ArtPact for today.
Preparing my own pallette of papers, about to start texturing and stamping some of them, and then start using them to assemble paintings.
After I was done cleaning my studio and the backyard and the trail of splashes all over the neighborhood, I did my best to look civil and neat (worked pretty well, as long as I kept my hands hidden...) and went to the reception of our show.
The JohnnyB came later, straight from work.
And - yet again - you didn't come!!
See, I sent an Email invitation to about 40 people, and the only one who bothered to come was DaskieM. She even brought her son, ToughyD, an emerging art critique, who announced the painting by ShinyR to be the best of show, and informed me that he liked one of my paintings there ("April Moon"). As I was basking in the positive feedback of a cynical 8-years old macho dude, he quickly added that he really, totally and utterly didn't like my other painting.
Y'know, I appreciate honesty, but at that moment, between him and The JohnnyB (who joyously exclaimed he doesn't like that painting either), well... I was almost longing for some phony enthusiasm :-)
To our dismay, we were mostly artists at the cafe, hanging around by the fingerfood for 2 hours, waiting for more guests to show up. At least I wasn't the only one gazing at the door with disbelief.
For those of you who did receive an invitation and didn't bother to do anything about it, what can I say (actually, I can say a lot!)... It's a great show, and - come to think of it, it's your miss. Big time. And don't worry, I won't be bothering you again with invitations.
As for DaskieM, you truly made me happy by coming!!! (even if you, too, don't like my second painting in that show :-)
And so, at 7pm, we all left the place, The JohnnyB and I had dinner at Shalimar, a restaurant that always brings tears to my eyes with its excruciatingly spicy yet amazingly tasty food, and I crashed to bed, tired beyond belief.
I did say I wasn't planning on a fancy birthday, Eh?
previous ArtPact... ...next ArtPact
Labels: Art, ArtPact, Birthday
Friday, April 13, 2007
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - - -
Last year, I got an Email from an artist friend, an incredible woman who is looking life in the face, despite the struggles she has been going through since she was born,
And in that mail, she informed us all that it is her birthday, and what she plans to do on that day.
And I just loved the way she did it: so naturally straightforward.
Instead of waiting for people to remember and then get disappointed by those who didn't know or didn't remember or didn't bother, she was just announcing to the world that this is her day. Period.
And, come to think of it: why not?
And so: today is my birthday.
April 13th.
Yup - Friday the 13th.
In Jewish tradition, 13 is considered to be a good number (yeah, we are a bunch of weirdoes).
So, what's gonna be special about today?
Not quite sure, and no big plans.
As the years pass (Ah, I sound so ancient), I am realizing more and more that the best days are those in which I simply do the small things that I love.
And so, no major shopping spree in boutiques (on a second thought, perhaps I'll buy myself one of my dream sable brushes? or an outrageously redundant yet stunning paint tube?), no fancy lunches (although DaskieM has graciously offered, but I really wanna paint!), no dramatic looking-back and big resolutions.
None of that.
I am simply planning to enjoy a relaxing day.
Maybe sleep in, hopefully paint (I have this photo I took on our last vacation, that's haunting me for a couple of weeks now, and is pleading to be given birth onto paper, and I just started to prepare my own collage paper, which is beyond exciting, so I really want to give it a go!), and tonight is the reception for our group show at a real nice cafe, which is always a fun event.Two of my closest friends have already called to congratulate me on getting older, and I also got a cheery Email from Yev (whose birthday is tomorrow!), so I am already birthdaying along.
And The JohnnyB seemed suspiciously calm today and is now serenely snoring, even though no package has arrived at the house.
So I am very, very curious...
Labels: Birthday, It's All About Me
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Let's see...
To the man who caused me to leave everything behind and start a new life here.
To the one for whom my family fell for, instantly (OK, most of them...),
and - together with all my friends - they keep chanting the mantra "איזה חמווווווד ג'ון",
(as in "Eize Hamuuuuuuuuuuuuuuud John", as in "John is soooooo sweet")
To the guy who brought light, warmth and smiles into my life,
To the one who puts up with living with an aspiring artist,
Or, simply:
To the one who makes me laugh and love:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN!
Labels: Birthday, Wonders of The JohnnyB
Sunday, January 07, 2007
got a bad first impression (through someone else's eyes), and pretty much forgot about him as I switched jobs.
Who knew he was the very best friend of The JohnnyB?
And who imagined I would care that he is?
And, once I got to know him on my own, and got over the perception I had about him,
I discovered one of the most generous people,
More than that: he, together with his better 95% and two adorable kids, have become like family to us.
The kind of guy who will open his house and heart to you,
rush to your rescue (be it sending a notarized affidavit from his vacation in India, visiting you at hard times, or lending you a monitor!),
and try to help you in any way he can.
One thing he will never do for you, though, is tame down the spiciness of his food...
The ultimate food connoisseur, the undeniable god of Indian food, and the uncompromising food highbrow:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TexieD!!!
Labels: Birthday
Friday, December 29, 2006
Just a short note (Ha! Funny!) to a wonderful friend,
with whom there was electricity the first time we met (literaly and practically).
When she arrived here on relocation, WolfieB asked me, "So, how is she getting used to the USA?", and my immediate reply was, "You should actually ask 'How is the USA getting used to her?'".
Although not blessed, alas, in the domain of altitude and stature,
she really is גבוהה מבפנים:
An incredible friend, who is the owner of a huge heart,
has been there for me throughout a variety of times, the good, the bad and the very worst -
and managed to do it without making me feel looked down-upon.
(well, that would be hard to do,. technically... ;-)
Yet another person who is both shockingly cynical and extremely sensitive, very open and real,
while juggling everything at the same time and taking the world into her hands (and to her heart).
Definitely of the "גזור ושמור" kind!
The friend with whose family The JohnnyB and I fell in love:
kids, husband, parents, the traveling nightingale brother and the infamous spitting sister.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GALIT!
The Christmas tree is awaiting y'all!
Labels: Birthday
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
And yet...
To one very special friend, the ultimate people-connoisseur (sounds a bit cannibalistic, Eh?),
who is extremely creative and energetic, sarcastic beyond belief,
One of those rare people with whom you have all the cards on the table,
she can also handle hearing it herself (an even rarer trait).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MICHAL!
Coffee?
Labels: Birthday
Sunday, December 03, 2006
To a very special friend, who will bash me for posting a birthday blessing here.
(on the other hand, she will Polishly complain if I don't...).
A rare and genuine person, with tons of integrity,
who can be easily perceived as cynical, tough and outspoken
(Hmm... are we seeing a pattern in my friends yet?),
but once you get to know her, she is incredibly warm and caring,
somone you can really trust, without a shred of doubt:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHIRLEY!!!
Labels: Birthday
Thursday, November 30, 2006
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHLOMI!!!
Labels: Birthday
Thursday, November 23, 2006
I should have seen it coming...
So, perhaps the idea of Happy Birthdaying people through the blog wasn't so bright...
What do you do with those dearly beloved friends, whose birthday happened before I started this tradition?
How do you congratulate someone in a post-factum manner?
What do you do when you get a reprimanding comment from Anonymous (for the sake of confidentiality, we shall name her AnonyMiki), that says (in eloquent Polish):
"And I never knew I was married to such a mythology!!!
Besides, let me remind you, that being married to one - also makes me a living mythological figure(??)
(and I too had a birthday......) "
Here's what you do:
who carries with valor the burden of being the wife of a mythological person,
who can trademark the phrase "Yes, Dear",
and needs a new set of eyes every couple of weeks,
HAPPY - belated - BIRTHDAY, MIKI!!!
Now, can I get back to blogging?
Labels: Birthday
and puts my English to shame in every opportunity he gets.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ETAI!!!
Labels: Birthday
