The changes at Commonwheel have inspired many meetings. Two groups of meetings. One for the web site and one for the Marketing Manager/Shop Coordinator position. Each one of these have met at least once a week. This is on top of my regularly scheduled meetings for the Commonwheel General and Board meetings. Then there is the Art Festival meetings and Manitou Springs Art Council meeting.

This weird little cold that keeps on hanging on is very annoying. Keeps me tired, but I am grateful it isn’t complicated with any other real symptoms. No coughing or sneezing, and although my voice sounds very sexy, my throat isn’t sore. Thank you spirit!

We also had some snow storms and very cold weather. This, added to not feeling 100% healthy, has kept me from hiking. Even on the sunny days, I just couldn’t get myself up and out there. Tooooo tired!

Though I did go out one night and take photos which I shared in another post.

And then the next morning with the snow clinging to trees so beautifully I walked up the street and took more photos.

Did that also the next morning after the second snow storm.
That was almost a hike . . .

I did go to the Millibo Art Theatre for 2 shows with my Greek hiking friend. Both shows were totally enjoyable. Bill Bowers had us laughing so hard our jaws hurt when the show was over. The one-woman show was very different. She played many characters. Her body movements, facial expressions and voice changes were exceptional. Sorry I missed the first show in this series, but the heavy snow storm kept me from venturing out at night.

I also skipped a Deja Vu Singles dance night and B-Positive Reggae at the Townhouse. Kept thinking if I stayed home and rested a lot this cold would be totally gone quickly. Nice thought, not reality though.

Manitou Springs had a Manni Award community potluck on Thursday. This conflicted with my plans to go to a Sustainable Event to promote my book. I had helped get some of the awards made by Commonwheel members, and really didn’t want to miss this night to honor the most special artist in our town Charles Rockey. Was glad I went. Easier to walk there than go to the CS event. And I did get a little walk on a lovely night.

I had leftover hummus dip and chips, so took them to the shop job meeting on Saturday afternoon. Others had brought food the last time. I was the only one with food this time, but someone did bring wine. And another walk. Afterwards one of the newest members to Commonwheel and I went to the Keg and had hot buttered rum. The waitress came and told us someone had bought our drinks. It was her studio partner who came over and chatted for a bit. Interesting artist, he does performance painting and very big paintings. Was nice to get to know Sarah a bit away from the meeting environment. She grew up in McHenry, Illinois and we both talked of how we don’t miss the Midwest with its snow that stays forever, grey days, bugs and humidity.

Sunday, Feb. 1st was interesting. The day started with a morning meeting for Transition Streets with lovely muffins and hot chocolate served. (This is the new thing I am taking on.)

Then the person I have been masterminding and helping with her web site called and asked if I would like to come up for lunch and do the meeting at her house. Lovely turkey soup, homemade bread and fermented water. Healthy and relaxing. Unfortunately she couldn’t get to where she needed help. And wit out my cheat sheet, I couldn’t remember how to get there either. When I got home I figured out that we were typing .com instead of .net, which caused the misdirection. I sent her that correction and did look to see that the problem she was worried about was not a problem at all.

A friend who I have watched the Super Bowl with for years emailed me with a last minute invite to her home to watch the game. She said they had plenty of snacks and just bring myself.  I did bring some spinach and cheese dip that was a hit. We played ping pong during part of half-time. It was a lovely way to end the day.

On the way home, police lights came on behind me. I hadn’t had much to drink, I wasn’t speeding, so had no idea why. The officer told me one of my headlights was out. I had no idea. Brought up memories of when Keith had fixed this problem a few years ago. I handed him all my papers. Luckily he decided not to ticket me, but cautioned me to get it fixed as soon as possible. So no driving at night until I get that done.

During these last few days, I had a bad run-in with the person doing the Facebook. She “has a plan” that she won’t share with anyone and wants me banned from posting. After last year of doubling the # of likes to our page, adding over 1,500 Likes, she thinks I am getting in the way of her “plan” that she won’t share.

I have had many classes that relate to Facebook and what is a good way and number of posts to do. For her to tell me I am “spamming” people is ridiculous. I engaged people enough for them to share and Like many posts, and as I said, more than double the number of Likes to the page in just one year.

Both people who ran the last 2 Commonwheel Gallery shows: Holiday Market and Pottery by the Pound constantly complained to me that she wasn’t doing the types of posts they requested. That was why I put posts on and did some Tweets. Many of my Tweets got reTweeted. None of hers had. I know, because that info comes to the festival email. She actually said she was giving Twitter a rest. That made no sense at all. You quickly lose your followers interest if you don’t connect with them on a regular basis.

Some of L’s reasoning was our web site isn’t worth sending people to now. Well, that is just crazy talk. We aren’t trying to send people to the web site, but to the gallery. We haven’t had a good eCommerce situation ever, so why would we send them to the web site. She had told S-m that 80% of the people on Facebook were from out-of-state. Where she got that idea, I can’t imagine, since the Likes that came in were from people who actually came to the gallery or the art festival or saw posts from local friends. And they share local events relating to not just Commonwheel but Manitou Springs that I posted about last year.

I have 4 posts with my masks and text as if they are talking. I had two posts scheduled and two more to schedule. Now with Carnivale coming on Valentine’s Day, I think these posts need to go up.

They tried to tell me I was banned from posting. I got upset, angry, emotional about this. Not the best way to handle any situation, but damn! I do know what works on Facebook and this is one of the times that my FantaFaces masks sell well. So I will do some self promotion, then step back from Facebook for 2 months. I really want to see her “plan” though.

I had avoided going to get more kitty liter and food. On the Monday of the Commonwheel meeting I kept working on the eVites for the next 2 shows so they could possibly get put up on the web site before the person who took it on until the new one was built could post them before he left and in time for the public to know about the 20% Off Sale and Display Art Again. I made a quick run to the bank to deposit the cottage check and get kitty litter, it just couldn’t wait another day. I got home later than planned, but realized I couldn’t drive to the meeting, not that I wanted to do that.

So I came in to the Commonwheel meeting a bit late and had forgotten I had promised to make copies of some information about what the grants could be used for. Got confronted by a member about the FaceBook, started to tear up. When I get angry, I often cry instead of yell, though I can still talk and make my point, just doing with tears in my eyes. Not very helpful to sounding rational. The meeting got to a late start also, for other reasons than this confrontation. Was able to sit where I wasn’t facing the group, just the person at the other end of the Board table. 

After the meeting, I didn’t want to talk more about the FaceBook situation. Did go to the Keg and had another hot buttered rum and ate some of M—ca’s offered food. There really hadn’t been a great spread of food at the meeting and I was still a bit hungry.

After this small social gathering, S– did talk to me about the FaceBook situation again out on the street. I told her I planned on posting the mask posts for Carnivale and the 20% Off Sale. I didn’t think “banning” me from posting was a very helpful way to address the problem with the person who really isn’t doing a good job. I asked her if she had seen L’s “plan” and she said no, she hadn’t and L– wasn’t sharing it with anyone. At the end, we agreed I could do the 4 or 5 posts if I get the video made, then I will not post anything but Festival related posts on the Gallery Facebook page. That doesn’t stop me from posting Gallery posts on the Festival Facebook page, as the other person refused to post there from the start of time when she took on the Social Media for here committee job.

Meantime I have been trying to keep up with creating ads and other pieces of marketing for the gallery shows that need to be done while we search for a marketing manager/shop coordinator. Just posted the job listing with a few papers, festival Facebook, Craigs List, ArtBar, etc.

And then my brother needed some Parish Gap web site changes. Plus my Sharing Inner Health friend needs some brochure updates.

Some day I will get back to my own business. The Sleep Journals are way out of schedule for getting completed. And perhaps if it is sunny enough on Thursday I will take my car and get the headlight fixed and go for a walk in the sun somewhere. I know not hiking has me a bit out of sorts.

I think I am kinda caught up to today. I plan on awaking with a clear head and lots of energy in the morning, so heading of to get a good night’s sleep now.