Love, Your Artsy Girl

Okay, now here's my son, Joseph. He's going to be turning 18 this April. When he was little, I kept trying to encourage him into taking music or art lessons but he didn't want to, even while his sister took up viola classes and photography and was much more open about her artistic sensibilities. We never knew he had a natural ear for music until he came down to visit me in Florida one summer and he won a super cool electronic keyboard at Busch Gardens. It was then he started playing like he took lessons for years! Mixing his melodies in with electronic beats-- were for sure something so professionally put together that I could envision his music actually being played at dance clubs. Since then, his musical interests have been evolving. Now he's teaching himself electric guitar and fashioning himself with the great metal guitarists of all time. Here is my Joey playing a piece for us!

In the 80's, I was reign supreme on my block as the pop-lockin' queen and wanted to express my youth and my tribulations with fortitude, angst and fervor, emulating and resounding with the youth of my culture. Whitney Houston was only four years my senior, looking so great, I thought, but in the inside, where the seams of her garments held her utmost fears, revealed the truth. She died at just 48 years-old. I chose one of her recent videos in lieu of her old school iconic classics to remember her by. I believe we should all go out singing and dancing into the oblivion. Artists live too close to the fire sometimes...

Yes, I was thinking about this song that came out (I guess) way back in the 90's, "I Got My Education" by Uncanny Alliance.  Well, believe it or not, it inspired me to do just that! I started my community college education when I was in my mid to late 20's and have been going on and off until I received my associates, my bachelors and then to my MFA in Creative Writing.  Although a good liberal arts degree doesn't guarantee me a six-figure income, it did give me the satisfaction of reading the best and finest literary works and the tools and knowledge to create my own.  I am hardly without passion and interest in regards to the field of fine arts. Without further adieu, get up and dance to "I Got My Education" and celebrate if you are pursuing, or got the degree(s) to show for.  And if you're thinking about it, take that first step and enroll in a community college or university and do the "I Got My Education" dance!

Thanks, Jill, for sharing this video! It goes to show that what you say and how you say it matters...

Can I tell you what a small world it is? Today I decided to take my youngest daughter to eat after I picked her up after school and decided to go to The Ohana Cafe on Orange Street in Ozona . Since I have been inducted to the health food, whole food arena, I wanted to check this new place out. I went on their website to check out the menu and it sounded really gourmet and scrumptious. Well, today, out of all days was the first day they extended their hours to evening hours. Before I went, however, I wanted to confirm over the phone that yes, indeed, they were open. A cheerful woman named Teresa answered the phone and when we finally arrived at her restaurant she welcomed me and my daughter with a hug and an "Aloha". We automatically felt at home. While we were waiting for our food, the waiter (who I found later is Teresa's husband) was talking to one of the older female customers about her son who went to school with him in Alaska. Now they never met before...