The end of the GOP ?

Raise taxes?

Diva Zentangle Challenge #51- Fife

Climate Summit

Blue Pacific Realtors Client Appreciation Party, 2011

Every year Kurt Kinsey, our realtor (and friend) has a party for his clients. Each year he draws names to give away a trip. One year Nancy and I won a trip to Ireland. It was wonderful!

This year the prize was a cruise to Hawaii. So the party was Hawaiian themed.

The couple that won the trip, Candy and Don Hoffman, weren't able to attend the party so I didn't get their photo. But congratulations to them. I'm sure they'll have a great time.

The second prize was this beautiful Hawaiian centerpiece. It was won by Toni and Jack Risley.

Diva's weekly Zentangle challenge # 50- Biggify"

The challenge was to work bigger than usual but in the same 3 1/2" size space. No easy feat, and I must say, not quite as fun. But it was a challenge!

The mess the protesters left behind

Sepia Saturday- Celebrating 100 posts. My post-My Uncle Glen

Good old Sepia Saturday! This is their 100th week of posts.

My Uncle Glen almost made it to 100. He died at 99. He was an interesting person who became quite an accomplished artist in his second life, after he retired.

We dedicated one of our books to him.

To see more sepia saturdays click here- http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/

Diva challenge # 47- Lest We Forget

From "The Diva"-
This week's challenge is simply to remember.   Canadians have "Remembrance Day" up here (Nov 11)  - and every year starting on the last Friday of October the Cadets stand in Mall Entrances offering Lapel Poppies for donation.  The idea of the lapel poppy is pretty neat - based on the Poem "In Flanders Field" written by Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

 

Mariachi Garibaldi concert at the library

Mariachi Garibaldi is a fascinating group of Mariachis from Southwestern University. It's the first (and only) college in the country to offer a degree in Mariachi music. The director of this group is the professor (a gringo!!!) and he gives an interesting history of the music. He's been involved with this music since he was a child. I've loved the music since I was very young, also. We saw them last year in the old library. This year they had a wonderful new and much larger space for their performance.

 The leader is the trumpet player.

 

There are even two girls in the group. Something unusual in the past!
(I only got a picture of one of them.)

A little boy in the audience obviously wants to be a Mariachi when he grows up. He was copying their every move and dancing. Here he's singing into an imaginary microphone.

They had a new singer in the group...another Gringo. What is this world coming to??? He was pretty good, but not as good as the real Mariachis. The oldest man in the group was a wonderful singer. I wish I had recorded him, but instead I recorded a little bit of the Gringo.
(This is the first time I've tried recording. )
(I couldn't figure out how to turn it sideways.)

R.I.P Muammar... (Rest In Pieces)

I was looking through my stack of artwork from last year's classes, (the day after the death of Khadafi) and I found this:

 My teacher, Mary Tomaskevitch, had brought in several newspaper clippings to use as reference material for that day's lesson. I ended up with a picture of Gaddafi. It wasn't a very good painting and I just filed it away and forgot about it until the day after that fateful day.

Alabama's new law- Rewriting the Gospel

Zentangle Weekly Challenge #43- The Sunflower Fund

Pennyb from The Republic Of South Africa came up with this weeks' challenge.

The Sunflower Fund sells sunflower bandanas to raise money for the South African 

Bone Marrow Registry. So she suggested sunflowers as our challenge.

I think I got a little carried away.

See more Zentangle sunflowers at http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/

Birthday and Autumn

Autumn brought both my birthday and Fall colors.

 A beautifully wrapped present from Nancy, and inside...

every Zentangle addicts favorite gift...

My gift from nature...

And some beautiful toiletries from Bed, Bath and Beyond courtesy of my thoughtful niece, Megan.

Diva's Zentangle challenge # 41- Duo- Tangle: Jonqal & Opus

Rocky Horror Show & Dinner at The Prado

Thanks to our friend, Marge, we enjoyed a wonderfully quirky musical at The Old Globe. While some people were partaking of Shakespeare next door (The Tempest, I think) we were singing along to the joyful, shocking, campy music of the Rocky Horror Show.

The movie became a cult classic and was known for the audience participation and costumes. The audience here in San Diego was a little more staid, except for this guy.

Before the show we had dinner at The Prado, which is a beautiful restaurant right here in Balboa Park. It's also walking distance to the Old Globe.  It was Restaurant Week in San Diego so they had special dinners with special prices.

Nancy, Marge and Jane had the salmon.

I had Thai Chicken with bright orange pasta. I thought it was covered in carrots when it first appeared.

Nancy had a beautiful sculpture topping her flan.

 It was a wonderful evening!

Pinwheels for Peace- Diva's weekly challenge #40

Sept. 21 was The International Day Of Peace also Pinwheels For Peace Day (also my peaceful and pleasant birthday).

Quasimodo's replacement- just for a laugh!

I saw this on Martin's blog- http://fridgesoup.blogspot.com. It was posted by friko and it made me laugh. (Shows what kind of a sense of humor I have!)

After Quasimodo's death, the bishop of the Cathedral of Notre Dame sent word through the streets of Paris that a new bell ringer was needed.

The bishop decided that he would conduct the interviews personally and went up into the belfry to begin the screening process.

After observing several applicants demonstrate their skills, he had decided to call it a day.

Just then, an armless man approached him and announced that he was there to apply for the bell ringer's job. The bishop was incredulous.

'You have no arms !'

'No matter,' said the man. 'Observe !'

And he began striking the bells with his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon.

The bishop listened in astonishment; convinced he had finally found a replacement for Quasimodo.

But suddenly, as he rushed forward to strike the bell, the armless man tripped and plunged headlong out of the belfry window to his death in the street below.

The stunned bishop rushed down two hundred and ninety five church steps, when he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moment before.

As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them asked,

'Bishop, who was this man ?'.

'I don't know his name,' the bishop sadly replied,



( scroll down )





' ................ BUT HIS FACE RINGS A BELL'



WAIT ! WAIT ! There's more


The following day, despite the sadness that weighed heavily on his heart due to the unfortunate death of the armless campanologist, the bishop continued his interviews for the bell ringer of Notre Dame.

The first man to approach him said, 'Your Excellency, I am the brother of the poor armless wretch that fell to his death from this very belfry yesterday.

I pray that you honour his life by allowing me to replace him in this duty.'

The bishop agreed to give the man an audition, and, as the armless man's brother stooped to pick up a mallet to strike the first bell, he groaned, clutched at his chest, twirled around, and died on the spot.

Two monks, hearing the bishop's cries of grief at this second tragedy, rushed up the stairs to his side.

'What has happened ? Who is this man ?' the first monk asked breathlessly.



'I don't know his name,' sighed the distraught bishop, 'but..'





(. . . Wait for it ...)




(.. . . It's worth it.. ..)






'HE'S A DEAD RINGER FOR HIS BROTHER.'

Diva challenge- Love

The Grim Reaper takes an interest in politics

Obsessed with Paradox

Paradox is the title of a Zentangle tangle. It's one of the more difficult ones. I've been trying to do it for the longest time and now I've finally got it. And now I can't stop.
The Diva Challenge this week was to use only Paradox. She calls it "Pair of Ducks" because that's what comes to her mind whenever she says it. So here's my "Pair of Ducks". And lots more Paradox.

 

 

A few of the cats and dogs in our life.

You can lead a dog to water...

Time for the beauty salon!

Living on the edge!

Could you get me the next size up?

The new cat houses are built and ready for occupancy.

 

 This one is right outside the office.

This one is off my bedroom...

...with a beautiful view. I hope Chloe and Zoe appreciate it.