Karen Biko is Jazzed!!

I am thrilled.  Tonight when I put on my little black dress it covered all the bruises I got when I fell this afternoon!!  W00t!

Ouch I’m sore, but I think I looked great for the event tonight!

Sometimes it’s great to get some help doing things, but sometimes it’s just better doing it yourself.  My case in point is a little project I’m helping Sidney out with.  She has to make a musical instrument for school.  The instrument has to come from another country so Sidney had chosen India.  We looked through many choices and came up with the Manjira.  These are like medium size cymbals.

I found two pot lids that I thought if we could cut they would work well.  But the cutting is the problem.  So I started out trying to use a cutting tool with the dremel.  This didn’t work so well because I couldn’t get the disks to stay on tight.

So I resorted to cutting by hand with a little saw.  I’ve had experience cutting metal with a saw (from silversmithing).  How hard could it be?  Well the aluminum lid was tough, but I got through it.  now I’m working on the stainless steel lid.  It’s much harder and slower going.

Bill offered to help.  So I excepted, because he is handy and good at many things.  After a few minutes of cutting by hand he gave up and tried a grinding bit on the dremel.  When all he did was create a big gaping hole, and broke the bit, he handed it back to me.  Even his hand cutting was crooked…I guess that’s what happens when you try to use too much muscle and go to fast.

So last night I continued slowing sawing away at that lid.  Bill offered again, but I quietly declined.  I will let him do the things he’s really good at, and smile knowing there is something I can do better…   Nah nah nah nah!

What a warm day we had today.  So I’m grateful for that.  It’s lovely to be outside when the warm wind is blowing in gently.  The sun was shining, it was just one of those days where eveything is worth smiling at.

I know, short and sweet, but some days are just like that!!

Today was a great day as I zipped downtown to pick up the paintings I had at the TransCanada building, and move them over (with a whole bunch of others) to another show in a gorgeous multi-million dollar home.

My work is showcased throughout the house as well as my own gallery room.  I was joined by other vendors at this property.  Part of the proceeds for the sale of items in the house, as well as the house itself will go to support Habitat for Humanity.

So many beautiful things, including the player grand piano… it was very cool.  If you have some time this weekend or next you can go and have a look yourself.  The show runs from 1-4 on two weekends (Nov. 6 & 7 and Nov 13 & 14).

128 Grizzly Rise (Bearspaw Country Estates)

Map to the location

November 5

Today I subbed a Jazzercise class.  I love going to teach this class because very often the students all go for coffee after the class.  This was the first class that had ever invited me to go for coffee, and I tell ya, I was hooked.

I love doing the Jazzercise, love the workout, love being up there on stage.  Going for coffee added a whole new element.  A social element.  When I was teaching my class we did this a few times with great response from students, but the coffee shop was far away and not everyone could join in.

Having the coffee shop right by the jazzercise class is great.  You can stop in for a few minutes, or sit and chat until noon (that being the case mostly with this group).  So today we went for coffee, and had a great time.

So my post for November 4th is being written on November 5th.  That’s what happens when life gets busy and you go out to an Art Opening in the evening.

Tonight I went to the Triangle Gallery.  I have shown there for a couple of years with the open invitation they have sent out.  It allows me to submit 3 paintings up to $450.00.  Then they are juried into the show…or not.  For the last two years I’ve made it into the show without any problems.

This year was different.  I actually got an invitation to the show.  This allowed me to submit paintings up to $3,500.00.  I was excited to have recieved this honor.  I submitted my three pieces, and one of them was a big one!!

Last night I got all dressed up and headed out to the opening.  With glass of wine in hand I walked through the gallery looking at the great selection of art.  There was one of mine, two…where was the third?  Where was the big one…was it too big…maybe that was it.  There was no space to show it.

Then I turned a corner, and back on it’s own wall was my painting.  It looked amazing.  I smiled.  I can’t tell you how great it feels to stand back and see a big painting of mine displayed like that.  I shone!  It was the biggest piece in the show.

I recieved so many compliments on it, I was delighted.  Some of the other attending artists even wanted to meet me, and were inpressed by the sheer volume of dots on my work.

When I left the party I was feeling happy with myself.  Although I had no red dots (sales), I was satisfied with the quality of my work in comparison with other artists there.  I spoke with Katie Ohe and Harry Kiyooka (Harry always has some good advise for me).  I may not be that well known in the Arts community…but I’m working my way in there!!

Today we went to Keith’s Deli. This place has been around forever and in my opinion has the best subs!!

You can find him across the street from Chinook Centre. If you have never been there it’s a must. Although I love the subs, the place has it’s own charm with Keith’s personality everywhere. Keith collects things from old McDonalds toys to car memorabilia. There is always lots to see.

The staff is friendly, efficient, and personable. Lots of regulars frequent this gem. At lunch time there is always a patient line. Keith’s has a few seats so you can stay in, but most grab and go.

When I was a teenager I worked for a deli in Woodbine that replicated his subs. My boss Booner insisted that Keith’s were the best. Of course he was right!

So that was a nice pleasant thing for me today. My favorite is Pastrami, and Bill’s is Keith’s Special.

November 2nd

Today I sold a painting that was done by a Riverview member. That may not seem like much, but it feels good when someone in the group sells.

But that’s not all! I got rid of my old couch tonight. No, I didn’t get grocery money for it (actually had to give it away), but now I have more room in my garage. Now what can I get out of my life next??

Okay, so after writing  my first negative post I was mad at myself.  I like to be the optimist, so I feel like I’ve failed when I look at the negative.  Maybe that’s my problem these days…lots of bad things going on, so how do I turn it around?

How about this…I will post a happy thing every day of November…can I do that (of course I can because I’m optimistic!!).

So November 1   – Take a look at what is in my garden today…  Made me smile!

Originally I intended this blog to be a place where I could talk about the happy things and incidents that come through my life.  But sometimes life just grinds you down.  So today I write about frustration and respect.  I get frustrated with people.  I know everyone does.

Money is tight.  Tight for everyone these days, so we aren’t spending money like we used to.  So case in point, we have gone through the summer with one bike to share between the girls.  That’s not so bad because they aren’t big bike riders, and Sidney is afraid without the training wheels.  This bike is not in good shape.  We got it used from a neighbor, and I backed over it a bit with the car one day…but it still worked, and it was what we had.

But some neighbor boys took the bike and decided to slam it around and trash it.  Someone else found it hanging tangled up in the swings at the park.  They took it down and put a sign on it “who’s bike is this”.  Well someone else must have felt it was theirs, because someone came and got it before we realized where it was.

So now we have no bike.  Again, not a big deal because they are less likely to ride it in the winter, and it wasn’t in great shape to begin with.  But it was ours, and those boys had no right to do that to the bike.  I don’t understand why someone would just decide to destroy something for the fun of it.  I find that this week the boys have another small bike that they are doing the same to (that’s how we found out about ours), and I think, there is some little boy in Calgary that can’t afford a bike and would probably love that one…well before it was broken to bits.  So sad.

Why can’t people have more respect for each other, or just respect for things in general?