Struggled with Feeling Exhasted All Day Long
An Early Morning contributed to feeling exhausted today.
I had a 9 am meeting for the Creative District application I am helping get prepared for submission on March 4, 1014. Unfortunate, I hadn’t gotten to bed before midnight, so that meant for the 3rd night in a row, I didn’t get 8 hours of sleep. And it is beginning to challenge my energy level and ability to perform at my highest ability.
I struggled getting up and dressed. Dragged myself out into the cold to walk to the MAC for the meeting. I refuse to allow myself to drive that half mile unless I am going to need to drive other places after a meeting there. The bracing chilly wind did wake me up a bit. I am not a coffee person – not good for my nerves, so didn’t drink any at the meeting. Only one other person besides the director was there. But what we needed to look at and discuss, that actually was enough. Glad we didn’t set another meeting date as the submitter has everything she needs that we could help with done. And it was a short meeting so few people. This is one of the things my talents are valuable for, and it is near to my heart as something I had wanted to see happen a few years ago. I couldn’t step up to do it, and no one else in the City did either. Thank goodness for Natalie and her devotion to the arts in Manitou Springs this application is happening now.
I volunteered to talk to a person in City Hall, across the street from the meeting place and on my way home, to see if we could get one more piece of information needed for the Creative District Application. She couldn’t actually pull up the data we needed easily, but would see what she could do for us by early next week. At least got the process started.
Got home and started to take a short nap when I realized there was a Tony Laidig training called “Your Genius Factor” that I had signed up for just starting. Some of the information was similar to a shorter training he did on this in the Expert Media Show. But it was a good reminder, and got me to thinking about how to better tap into my Genius to create abundance in my life on all levels, especially relating to a healthier financial situation.
Do I take this class? It is on Wednesdays and only one of the 3 classes can I attend live, as I have meetings on the other two Wednesdays.
Will I actually be able to breakthrough whatever is holding me back from sharing my Genius in ways that don’t just help others find abundance, but I create financial abundance for myself?
I do imagine I will take the class in search of the missing piece for me to create abundance for myself.
And at this moment I am extremely exhausted, so not in my most positive modality.
I was able to take care of some Facebook posts that needed correcting since the Children’s Show in the Gallery at Commonwheel was canceled. The current show is being extended. So I needed to remove or update posts that said “Display It Again” was ending on February 24th. I need to get a bill for my time for that work that I have done this month to our accountant, but not today.
Keep spacing out that I have laundry going . . . ah, the last bit is in the dryer now.
My brother called today and asked if I had enough PhotoShop skills to attach a picture of one of the mower pieces Ellis Brush Mower makes to a tank for an advertising campaign. Some of the pictures he has sent me are very cluttered with other businesses signs and logos and cars and equipment that I have removed. I remove anything that draws focus away from the item that they want to sell. Hasn’t he noticed what I have done when adding these photos to the web site? Guess not. So I assured him I could do this. And he needs me to find the stock photo of a tank for this idea they have. Well thanks to Tony’s training I should easily be able to do that!
Was suppose to ship a mask today. It is packaged, but didn’t get that ready before the Post Office closed. So will get it mailed off tomorrow before I head to a health appointment.
Looking at my Etsy site, I realize I need some more colorful masks there, as those are what are selling. I will spend time in my studio on Saturday listening to the radio shows I enjoy and creating some colorful masks for Etsy before it is too late to send them off for anyone that will be at a Mardi Gras Celebration in early March. That always helps to have time creating masks that I know will go out into the world and bring joy to whoever wears it.
Strangely, and sadly, my masks at Commonwheel haven’t been selling as I had hoped they would with Carnivale coming on March 1, 2014. Not sure why not. Not a one sold during the 20% off sale. I had contemplated raising their prices earlier this year, but not I am not inclined to do that with such slow sales at their current prices.
Then I attended a second webinar by Tony Laidig. The final one for the class I bought relating to creating Children’s books. I really need to finish up some tasks that will clear up time for me to focus back on books. Felt inspired, just need to find the time to follow through on my many ideas.
Plus I need to schedule my last 4 coaching calls with Tony that have been delayed way longer than either of us had expected. Flooding and health challenges are partially to blame. I still need to finish up a few things by the end of this month so I can clear the way for getting back to writing about what I am passionate about. Going to write him a short email now to get reconnected.
I hereby declare that in March I will create at least one new book and finish one or more that I have started last year before the flooding of Manitou Springs!
As I am sinking into true exhaustion now. So it is time to head to bed early and sleep deeply to awake refreshed in the morning.
Will vision myself floating on a bed of clouds and ask my spirit guides to show me some paths to follow to find my true purpose in life and how to share it in a way that benefits myself and many other people.
Ended the Day on a High Note at The Loop
Decided that the email hijacking wasn’t worth stressing about.
Will share info with friends, changed my User Name, and let people know why.
Got my banking done relating to the Trust cash from the coin and jewelry sales on Monday for me and my brother.
Had a meeting with the possible Beer Garden sponsors at The Fields Park. Realized I might lose my community service kids if we do a Beer Garden. Which is more valuable, those that can do the heavy lifting, or some possible profits? Something to ponder.
Had lunch with my roommate who cooked it.
Did some work on the Commnwheel Artists 40th Anniversary Gallery show.
Seems like the day just sort of dwindled away as I checked other emails and did some research about Google Adwords for my brother & nephew’s advertising needs.
Had a Manitou Art Council Meeting. I keep swearing I am going to resign, but then have a good meeting with them and stay on another month. They loved my suggestion of where to display the nude sculptures that were proposed for our “Art on the Avenue” project.
And they had some ideas of where to look if I lose my “at risk” kids that do the heavy lifting at the Commonwheel Art Festival. And reminded one member of the meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning related to Manitou Springs applying to become a designated Creative District. And I was able during parts of the meeting to engage the young child in ways that kept him fascinated and quiet. Such a cutey. Don’t know why my fingers crawling on the table interested him so much, but made him and me both smile.
Then joined Cultured Singles late at The Loop restaurant a half block from my house. Perfect empty place to draw up a chair to talk with a Deja Vu dancing member and meet new people. Really liked the one woman who was there for her first meet-up. Shared my card with a few people for different reasons. (I do have lots of business interests.) Invited them to the 40th Anniversary Gallery opening I am curating. Then there was the artist who has shown at Commonwheel’s Holiday Market who chatted on his way out.
Buzzing from the margarita, I was emboldened. I told the waiter my food was not really hot, offered a new meal, but I said just heating it up would suffice. He took and warmed it up and it tasted much better. I also told him a couple of other people had had cool meals. To the one that was still there he offered to give him a to-go meal same as what he had in apology. Made that man happy when he got the to-go box. The waiter told us that they had had only one kitchen open, and there were more people in the main restaurant area and with this group ordering food than expected. I gave an extra $2.00 tip to a young man that everyone had praised for his busing of tables and helpfulness. He smiled big when I did that.
And many of us will be dancing at Stargazers to Tiny Barge and the Big Chill on Friday night. Had me smiling and laughing quite a bit.
Great way to end a day.
When walked out the door, it was just barely snowing. Lovely walk home.
Another Internet Hacking Curveball Thrown at Me Today
I am not sure I can handle this one very well.
One of my oldest and most used emails has been hijacked.
I feel as if I had fallen into something as painful as it would be to fall or sit upon these cactus.
After thinking I had resolved my problem last night, someone got an email with a 2:30pm time on it today. And just now someone said they got one at 12:20pm today.
Called Comcast and the tech told me that anyone can use someone else’s email address as a return address and make it look like it came from them!!!!
Only if someone uses that return address, it will go nowhere. But the links in these emails are very dangerous to anyone who opens them.
There is NO WAY to stop them from doing this!
So I am wondering why every email account isn’t hacked many times over?
He didn’t have an answer for that question.
The scan of my computer says it is clean, no virus or Trojan found.
The tech then said that Norton could miss finding a Trojan on my computer! That was not reassuring at all. And that someone could be watching and recording my keystrokes. But it more likely is someone has just hijacked my email when that uninvited user was in my Comcast account. And I still don’t understand how they could have gotten into the account as a user, as I changed that password and security question in December.
None of this information makes me comfortable about doing business on the internet for myself or others.
I will call my favorite tech tomorrow and talk with him about all this.
Changing one’s password and security question doesn’t resolve this problem. Nothing can resolve this email hijacking from happening.
I am thinking this is what happened in my Hotmail account also, but that seems to not be sending out many emails with my address. Then there is one of the gmail accounts that also seemed to be doing that. All of these accounts have lots of information I refer to and many business associates I work with on many levels. Then there is the big Gallery project that I am using this email to contact people about participating in it.
So now I am really worried about how I can do any business on the internet at all!
Started out the day merrily working on collecting the information sent to me from people that want to participate in the Commonwheel Artists Old Spokes 40th Anniversary Gallery Show.
About 1pm, just as I was about to take a brunch break the phone rang. It was my brother. He was driving somewhere and decided to call an see if I would pick up the phone. I did, and I went out to sit in the sunshine and talk with him. He keep coming up with things I have never done, that he wants done. Learning new things is always good, and could help in my or Commonwheel’s business also.
We talked about his closing one of the Trust bank accounts and cleaning out the safety deposit box there that is holding nothing but a few papers now.
And he asked me if I had problems with my hips. I don’t, other body parts like my knees, yes. But not my hips.
We chatted about many internet business and marketing ideas and needs he would like me to help with: Parish Gap Band, Ellis Brush Mower, and a friend’s Sinister Frog book.
And soon after our conversation, he asked me if I would want to do web sites for other people. In our conversation, I had told him I really didn’t want to have more web site clients. Family ones were fine, but other people were hard to work with and either gave me info with a hurry up deadline, or didn’t give me enough info and pictures to do what they wanted done or didn’t explain what the wanted to have on a web site or complained they were overcharged and on and on. That caused him to talk about how band members didn’t do what they said they would do, along the same line as how I described working with clients on web sites. After we talked, he had gone to the paper he writes articles for and told me that the owner had looked at Parish Gap’s site and liked it. He needs help because he has too many businesses that want him to create a web site for them, and he is too busy to do that. Thus, my brother thought he’d ask if I wanted to take on some of his clients. I said I’d have to think about it over night.
This was before I knew that my email was so terribly hijacked.
Then I had an interesting Expert Media webinar with Tony Laidig. Got a bit more technical for me than I want right now, especially with all this craziness going on. And haven’t really wanted to do webinars. But if someone does want to do webinars, he laid out all the equipment and work one would need to do in order to be successful doing them.
Got a little bit of work done on my taxes. The book part is very convoluted with payments coming in all different ways, and Amazon changing its payment timing this year.
I lost track of time and forget I needed to be at City Council at 7pm, when I looked at the clock and it was 7:15pm I did jump in my car (I would normally have walked) to go there. By the time I arrived, they had already approved the banner hanging request, and another Commonwheeler was there for a different reason. So we were represented.
I never miss appointments or meetings! Just goes to show I am more stressed than I want to admit about this problem.
Back on the computer, I called Comcast again, and tried went on hold for Norton twice more. Each time stayed on the line to stay in line for the next person to help. After about 50 minutes, it hung up on me!
No help there.
Then I tried to compare MacScan to Norton. Couldn’t find any real current reviews or comparisons. Nor did I want to just go buy another virus program without feeling that it would find Trojans better than Norton that I get with Comcast Service.
I did get the activity window back into view on my desktop, but it seems to be very quiet. No more active than what should be there for my working on the computer.
What to do next?!?
Feeling Very Frustrated and a bit depressed.
Need to get some sleep for I have a very busy day tomorrow at home and with meetings.
A Denver Adventure Selling Trust Items and Walking the Botanical Gardens
Denver has many businesses and cultural experiences that Colorado Springs is missing.
I couldn’t find a really good place in Colorado Springs to sell some the items from my parent’s trust. So did a bunch of research on the internet and found a couple of Coin and Jewelry dealers in Denver that had high ratings. And they looked like they would be easy to find.
So my hiking friend and I set off on a Denver adventure today. Luckily, she is game to go on road trips, especially if there is a bit of fun or culture or nature involved. And if all three can be found on a trip, all the better.
When we stopped at the first Coin & Jewelry Dealer shop, I found him to offer me what I had been lead to believe was the value of the coins from my internet research. And labeled most that were in rolls to be just worth face value. Which I had also thought might be their value.
Then I brought out a mix of items that could have been gold or silver or costume jewelry. Again, he matched my exceptions from my research. Except for one item that was mine alone, and he offered me more than I had expected. I took gladly sold that for his offer.
Then I brought out the items I thought were the most valuable. One ring he dismissed at “nice costume” but not real gold, and he wasn’t interested in it for the stones. I may try to have it resized an wear it myself as it does have a lovely amethyst, my favorite gem stone.
The hardest one was my Mom’s wedding ring and engagement ring with diamonds. The largest diamond was very flawed. I knew that from when a jeweler friend had inspected it. And he would only offer the gold weight value for it, though he suggested it could retail for as much as $800. But he didn’t want to purchase it for the wholesale value with the flawed stone. So when this gentleman offered me the wholesale value, way above the gold weight, I took a deep breath and said, “yes” to selling it.
There was one more ring that did fit one of my fingers. It had many small single cut diamonds and sparkles beautifully. The price he offered wasn’t bad, but I decided to hold on to it as a keepsake of my Mom’s memory. I have another ring of hers that fits the same finger, so will use this one when wanting to dress up a bit more. When I told him I didn’t want to sell that one, he upped the price a bit, which makes me wonder if I did get the best deal on all of the other jewelry, but since the one came in much higher than expected, I think I did about as good as I could anywhere. And if I decide to sell this ring in the future, I will know its value.
My friend had found a flooring store next door and went there to ask some questions about a floor she needs to do something different with in her cottage behind her home. She returned just as we were finishing up with the cash transaction part of this business deal.
We were way ahead of my timing schedule, so instead of going to a nice place for lunch, found a bagel shop on the way to the Denver Botanical Gardens. She had brought a sandwich, and I hadn’t. So I bought a bagel sandwich and a carrot juice drink. She loves good bagels, so bought a half dozen of day old bagels to take home and freeze to have for sandwiches in the future.
We drove to the Botanical Gardens and got a sunny parking spot, where we took the time to enjo our sandwiches. We later learned we could have brought our food into the gardens and picnicked there, but didn’t know that for sure before, so just picnicked in the parking lot.
It was a free admission day and a glorious weather day, so I was afraid it might be crowded. But there were only a few places that we ran into a people traffic jam inside. Mostly there lots of space between us and others enjoying this beautiful winter day here.
We started by walking around the outer garden areas. Some waterways were totally dry and empty, some had running water, some were partially or totally frozen.
The garden was very much in winter mode.
But still offered some intriguing and beautiful images for our enjoyment.
These plants looked like ghosts walking through the mulch. And a few bits of green tried to beat the winter blues and thrive.
Next we went inside to see the Orchid Display.
Walking in this sunny hallway filled with orchids chased the winter blues away for my friend and I.
The orchids won our hearts and lifted our spirits high. We walked through the hallway twice. Seeing different arrangements each time.
How can one not smile when surrounded by these smiling flowery faces. 
There are two different exotic environments created at the Denver Botanical Gardens that take you far away from the arid high desert of Colorado landscapes.
You step into the conservatory that is filled with jungle plants and humid air. So much fun to be taken to a very colorful and hot place in the middle of winter.
I doubt I would ever tire of walking here among these lush and flowering plants.
Its hard thinking I can only share these photos on a blog or Facebook. Maybe I will create the perfect book that it will be worth paying their $100 fee to use them for commercial purposes in the future. One never knows what the future might hold . . .
We took one last stroll in the exterior garden area then headed back home.
My friend really wanted to eat somewhere wonderful and had suggested P. J. Changs, but we weren’t hungry enough to stop at the one just off the highway south of Denver. She has been very disappointed with Chinese food in Colorado having grown up in New York and some of the best.
As we approached Colorado Springs, she mentioned the one at Briargate that she had expressed being disappointed at in the past. I knew of a really nice Chinese Restaurant, the Silver Pond on Academy that I thought she might like better. So we went there. We were the only ones in the restaurant, and had the full attention of the owners. The husband was the chef, and his wife was our waitress. My friend described what she would like as a dish, and he concocted the perfect main fresh vegetable, chicken and shrimp setzuan entree. We shared the coconut glazed shrimp appetizer – I could have eaten more dishes with that sauce – superb! And the Hot and Sour Vegetarian soup was just perfect. Everything was freshly made and my friend was extremely happy to discover this Chinese restaurant.
When I dropped her off at her home I went to Costco and got staples my kitchen was missing and some treats for both myself and my roommate for future meals.
At home discovered I have a meeting on Wednesday for the Festival beer garden concept. That’s good.
Then found out my email had been hijacked!!!! Called Comcast and a really nice female tech helped me out. There was a new user account. She killed it. And helped get me up and running when my password wasn’t accepted for changing my security question.
Lots of people had responded to my emails for the Old Spokes Gallery Show at Commonwheel Artists Co-op that I and Roger are curarting. One told me a sad tale of a dear friend who was one of the founding members and her being diagnosed with dementia. Very sad to hear.
Then my friend Ann had some good news and potential really great news for getting the word our to the media about this show. Will have to wait until later this week to learn more.
It has been so fun working with Ann on this project. I miss our times together that have become few and far between in recent years. Life gets in the way sometimes, but thankfully we haven’t lost that special bond.
Now I have been blogging way longer than intended. I am falling over tired after getting up much earlier than normal without a full 8 hours of sleep. Still need to format this a bit . . .
So am headed to bed, but need to set my alarm to not miss my Aine Healing Circle in the morning.
Caught Up With Billings and Old Spokes Invites
Thanks to a couple of Clients for Asking about their Bills.
I was spurred on to catch up with all my billings. I know, that should be a high priority, but so many other things have kept me busy, that has not made it to the top of my “To Do” list until today.
I also sent out a couple more emails regarding the Commonwheel’s Old Spokes 40th Anniversary Gallery Show. My friend Ann had sent me a message to relay to all the invitees, so sent that out, plus a third round of invitations to those that had not responded yet. And found a couple more emails that I needed, so sent them the invites also.
Whoever responds to this email, plus those that have already responded will the the line-up for the Gallery Show. Though, I do want to call a couple of people who don’t have email, and were instrumental in the beginning times of Commonwheel.
Next step will be to gather information from them all and assemble a new scrapbook and get the show advertised in a way the focuses on Commonwheel Artists Co-p having survived through tough times and thrived.
A member had trouble checking out at the gallery and called me. Quite often I can resolve their problem by phone, but with the new Square system for CC’s, I hadn’t quite got that screen in my mind to visualize what he needed to do. So, since I had had no walk today, and it was a lovely evening, I put on my shoes and was there in about 10 minutes.
Yes, the gallery is close to my home. Always grateful about that. And doing this extra piece of helping members in distress when closing seems like a fine trade-off for the time others have to drive to all the meetings and working the Gallery.
It took a moment, but I figured out how to print the report. I think I now have that screen embedded in my brain so I can talk someone through it by phone next time this happens.
Then discovered he had a couple of other glitches for checking out. Was easily able to resolve them, and get his closing books to all balance and properly done for our accountant to not have to do the extra work at a much higher cost than my free time.
Started out the day by calling the Denver Botanical Gardens to make sure they were open tomorrow and get info about their photo policy. Not only will they be open, but they have a FREE! day tomorrow. What luck is that. Called my hiking friend who wanted to see the orchid show there and she called me back saying YES! she wanted to go with me tomorrow.
What I didn’t like hearing was that if I ever want to use the photos I take of the orchids, or the grounds for commercial purposes, I would have to pay a $100 fee! I don’t have that now, and don’t really know how I would use the photos, but had thought they could be useful in a Children’s book I have in mind. I wonder if someone takes a photo of the orchids there and then paints them, do they need to pay that fee? Or if they were digitally enhanced like a painting? May have to ask that tomorrow. But still want to play with my new camera’s Macro setting while there.
One can post them on FaceBook or in a Blog for free.
So here are a couple from my last visit.
And yes, if this becomes a book, they won’t be seen there.
Luckily I have a friend who owns an orchid shop, so could ask her permission to photograph hers if I get closer to getting a book done that would need photos of orchids painted into the story.
It is suppose to be a beautiful day so will also walk the many garden areas. Just hope the wind dies down a bit. Doing some wild tree damage around the area today.
Once I knew I was going to Denver, I began searching for places in Denver to sell coins and jewelry that I have at my house from our parent’s Trust. There are a couple of places not to far apart and not to far out of the way from the Botanical Gardens, so will make sure they are open and go to one of them before our fun adventure.
I did a bit of research on the value of coins, but hard to say what I will be offered. And some of the information was very sketchy about how much a person would get paid at a third party business. I gathered the items into a pouch all neatly packaged by types of items and coin denomination. Heavy, but easily carried. Hopefully it will be a little lighter by the time we go to lunch.
And there is a lovely Thai restaurant near them also. No entry fee for the Gardens means we can splurge on a lovely lunch.
Somehow I also found time to listen to a webinar and then bought a plugin for WordPress that I really hope works as well as is promised. Don’t have time to try it today, but will look at it probably on Tuesday.
A full day of getting caught up with many tasks and prepared for tomorrow.
Going to do a quick hiking post, then off to bed, as I need to be up earlier than my norm in the morning.
The More I Do the Farther Behind I Seem to Get
Everything I get done, is something I don’t have to do in the future.
Getting work done for other people and businesses is a good thing, but not really making progress in my own business. So I feel I am falling behind on my own work, but when some of these people, and the taxes, are taken care of, I will be able to focus with a clear head on my own work.
Have been debating with myself, trying to come to the conclusion that it would be fine to go to Denver and see an Orchid Show at the Botanical Gardens on Monday, as long as I do some business. My hiking partner really wanted to see the orchid show and we would take a “hike” around the exterior gardens to be my hike.
And it would give me a chance to play with the Macro setting on my new camera in a warm and comfortable place.
Would like learn how to get clearer close ups of beauties like these I took in January of 2011.
That was the only other time I was there. A couple of friends invited me to go with them to view the incredible sculpture show of Henry Moore’s huge sculptures. Not sure if there is any sculptures in the exterior gardens, but really beautiful grounds to walk on and explore.
The weather seems to be cooperating. Have to call and talk to her tomorrow.
Started the morning with an email from Manitou Springs City Clerk advising me I have an item on the agenda next Tuesday. The Hanging of the banner is usually an easy consent item, but last year the did have questions for me, so will get there in time for this item to come up. There is also another item related to Commonwheel. The person in charge of that just emailed back thanking me for the notification and assured me she would be there for that issue.
There is a couple of new council members, so interested in seeing how this council works together.
Last night I did go for a moonlight walk, and on the camera, I thought I got better pictures than what they look like when downloaded. I shook too much, but a couple are interesting.
Ghost Trees and a purple ringed moon.
Next I made quick work of the change on my nephew’s web site. And a my brother likes it. Hope Roy Ellis does too. Was an easy change, so that was good.
Then I got inspired to get a start on SharingInnerHealth.com web site. I got lost in trying to make a header with Pikes Peak and the Incline in it. The best picture of both of those mountains had grey sky, so I figured out how to put blue sky behind it. Then the lettering on the site would not behave. And I had to put a different sky with fewer white clouds. Not sure why this theme is suddenly not working as well as I am used it working relating to headers . . .
Really spent more time on that than I should have, and not happy with the end result.
So I moved on and put up many pages with just “bare bones” text that I had from her old web site. Which I had thought I had captured and put on a thumb drive, but wasted time looking for it. Thank goodness for Archive.org! That site has helped me recover data from my hacked sites and now this site, which I didn’t know had been taken down. That discovery also means I have to help my client close down her Yahoo! account before it keeps charging her for hosting a site that no longer exists.
And that is basically all I did today.
Now blogging and going to work on my taxes.
Or perhaps get the billing for clients started, which might be more satisfying.
Tangled Up In Blues on a Full Moon Valentines Day
This Valentine’s Day has not brought up some twisted feelings.
Although I had blue skies yesterday that revitalized me greatly, the grey sky today had me tangled up in “blues” a bit.
I kept breathing through the memories that were trying to haunt me all day long. So I was still able to be very productive today.
I got the Commonwheel Art Festival meeting minutes written up with extra contact information for some of the jobs that needed doing by committee members, not me. Sent out other items/photos I had promised to send the committee. Contacted the person that made a proposal to help the Art Festival have a better profit and we are looking to meet with another important person to make this work next week.
Prompted someone to send out press releases about the opening for new members. She was a bit grumpy, but did it. When she posted what she wrote in our DropBox, I was able to easily and quickly post it on the Festival FaceBook page. Where I saw we are up from 600 Likes to 960 over the last few months!
Revamped the sponsorship letter and sponsor level information sheet. Sent that off to the two people who said they would contact potential sponsors and work on writing grants using some of the info in that letter.
My brother needed another new date for where his band, Parish Gap, will be playing added to his web site. Done!
He is working with my nephew-in-law’s company, Ellis Fab and Design, and they needed a big piece of equipment put on their web site. That involved many photos and a bit of thinking of how to make it look the way they wanted it to look. Got that done. He liked it, but now wants a headline added. Tomorrow I will do that and get them and a few other people some billing information about what they owe me for work done the last few months.
I have been joining Aine’s Healing Circle for many years that happens every other Tuesday. During tonight’s Full Moon Transmission lead by Aine, tears welled up. She spoke of the moon being in the 29th Gateway, which is the Gateway of YES.
Yet, instead of feeling a joyful readiness to embrace life, I was reminded of the many times I had said “Yes” to situations that were not in my best interest.
Donna Woodwell wrote, “The full Moon is associated with all energized states — heightened passions and emotions, sleep disturbances and strange dreams. These feeling often last for a few days before and after the precise full moon.”
Well, I have been having strange dreams, and unpleasant memories rising up to haunt me quite often the last few days leading up to this Valentine’s Day. Hopefully that will end tonight!
Put a pink stained glass butterfly on my roommate’s pillow for her to find the next time she comes home. It was a gift to me from the person who made it and was picking up items form the Commonwheel’s Pots by the Pound sale. I had looked at it, put it down to think about it. The artist saw me do that, and reached down and told me to take it home. Really nice memory.
When I went to fix my dinner after doing that, saw an interesting package on the counter in the kitchen. It holds a very large Salt Crystal. Her boyfriend bought her roses that she took into her bedroom. And she gave him this crystal, that somehow got left here when the went out to dinner.
I really love it when music comes on that reflects what I am writing.
“Bad Day” by Daniel Powter just began playing. OK, now I need to take the advice of getting past it and have a great day tomorrow.And a bit earlier, when writing my Spirit Renewing Hikes blog, “What Doesn’t Kill You, Makes You Stronger” was playing. That has been my theme song for many a year. It has gotten me past letting a negative situation influence how I go forward in life.
So it was very appropriate that both of these songs showed up on the play list I was listening to tonight.
It is getting late, but think I will wind this up, shut off the computer and take a short walk up my street under moonlight of a Full Moon in Leo.
Being Flexible and Open to Changes is Important to Enjoy Life
I had planned on a hike in Red Rocks Canyon today.
But my hiking partner called and suggested a change of plans.
At least she wasn’t calling to call off going on a hike. Just thought we should hike somewhere else. Some place new to her, and that we hadn’t hiked together.
I had mentioned that there was a trail head at the Manitou Springs Crystal Valley Cemetery, and she suggested we try that. I hadn’t been on that trail in a few years, but had hiked it in the wintery months, so said sure.
As we were deciding whether to put on our YakTrax or not, three women came down the trail and we asked them their opinion. They all said they wished they had had them on for their hike. Though one said it was actually getting slushier than icy in many areas. We chose to put on the YakTrax and were glad we did. The trail went from snowy to muddy to icy to perfectly dry to very slippery, so were glad to have good traction in many of the more slippery areas. And we both were happy that we had brought our hiking sticks.
This is sort of an urban trail as it gets close to houses and goes past the Manitou Springs High School. Sometimes my hiking partner gets annoyed at the sound of highway traffic, but today, she just was amazed many times at the different views of the mountains and Manitou Springs. It had me looking at my town with different eyes also.
My hiking partner was fascinated at the size and the beauty of the track we hiked above.
Yes, it seems training on such a track surrounded by beauty would make training so much more satisfying.
Earlier in the morning, I had had a bad attack of upsetting memories that related to a Valentine’s Day two years ago. It was really good to be out in the sunshine and walking off the bad mood that had put me in. And my friend reminded me that when we love, we often can get tricked.
Ah, when I can sit and right that whole story, it is one that people may find hard to believe all that happened. Giving some time between it and writing, as I really don’t want to hurt some people involved, but that may be unavoidable, as it will be a recognizable tale to many that were not privy to what was happening in their midst.
Some day soon, I will get back to my book writing, and not just blogging with hints of what is to come.
We got to the street area, and walked a bit up there. Then had a snack in the Tot Lot park. A woman that we had passed going the other way, came up the trail and chatted with us awhile. She sounded just like Dolly Parton.
I had taken a picture of a gate with an interesting sign on it when we were on the street.
And it turned out that that was her home. Welcome to Paradise.
My friend asked her about seeing wildlife in the area. “Dolly” told us that in the summer when the apricots were ripe, and there were many apricot trees up here, that the bears would come around and eat as many as they could, then lay on the ground as if sunning, very satisfied.
Her dog liked to steal the mountain lions food, and bring her odd nasty items. Mostly he would bring her deer legs that she would have to wrestle away from him.
Then, she told us an interesting story of a very up close and personal bear encounter. Not very bright of her she admitted. She was standing at her door, knowing a bear was coming up the street. As she peered through the bushes, they were face to face, he on the road, she below. He smelled her, and they both had quite a fright. He ran off up the street and she thanked her stars that nothing more had happened. Though she kept saying her door was open right behind her.
All in all, we spent about 3 hours on this hike on a lovely sunny day. Not to cold, and not too hot for the close we had on. One never knows how to dress on a wintery hike. And this one did get windy a few times. We could see weather coming in, but the sun stayed shining on us. I was just what I needed to get back into my business world after being frozen and kept inside by they long stretch of very cold weather we have just experienced.
And our feet were very wet by the end. Neither of us actually felt miserable, and it was good the hike was just about finished when we realized exactly how wet our feet were getting. My waterproofing on these hiking boots seems to have worn off. And I have never been good at redoing that task.
When my trees were trimmed a few weeks ago, the trimmer asked me if I knew someone with a fireplace. I said yes, so he left me some perfect fireplace length small logs. My hiking partner was the person I had in mind to give them too. I snowed twice since then. But the last few days was warm and dry, and the logs were dry when I took off in the morning to meet her. I suggested she come get them after the hike. She did and they exactly filled her trunk. They are enough for three or four fires to keep her warm during the next cold spell.
Had a Tony Laidig webinar tonight for his Easy Book Illustrations Foundations trainings. Watching it really made me want to play with book illustrations again. He shows so many ideas for creating illustrations and makes it look so easy. And it really is, if one has the time to focus on a project. Soon!
Plus, I know I must get back to focusing on writing and illustrating a project that I can publish again. And update my “Flood” book. Not something I want to focus on, but have so much new data and photos, I know that needs attention in the near future.
I did get a bit of work done on my taxes, and that is my chore tomorrow. That, and Festival tasks. Need to write up the minutes and get some calls made to stay on track with all that needs doing after our meeting last night.
Am very grateful that my spirits got lifted up with sunshine and fun stories and good company.
Great Art Festival Meeting Tonight
Did more Commonwheel Art Festival Tasks in Preparation of the meeting tonight.
Where does the time go? Spent hours preparing for the Commonwheel Art Festival meeting tonight.
I did do something for one book client to start the morning off right.
And got some work on my taxes done, but not much. I guess every bit completed helps to get me closer to having them ready to hand to my tax lady.
Got everything printed once and went to make copies. There at the shop was a committee member, working the afternoon shift! That meant she would be later than her normal few minutes. Over an hour late. Nothing to do now, but hand her a copy of the agenda to read and prepare for what she could contribute when she arrived.
Dashed off to get a rotisserie chicken – gluten free – and then home to fix the rest of the meal. I cook for my committee as a thank-you for their help. I get paid as the coordinator, so want them to know how much I appreciate them.
Besides the chicken, I fixed sweet potatoes as my roommate had a few days before. So simple and so good. Peeled them, cut them in about 1.5 inch pieces and halved them. Set them in long baking dish with Olive Oil, Agave Nectar and water about a quarter inch deep. Cooked them at 375 degrees, flipping them once for an hour of total cook time. Great new recipe.
Then I made up some really simple guacamole and had two types of chips. Pulled out the bucket of cashew brittle from the Holiday Market for desert. Put on a kettle of hot water for tea drinkers and was set to go for the night.
Everyone that came to the meeting had ideas an no one complained as the meeting went longer than normal. With 26 items on the agenda, and some were not addressed, was glad it didn’t go longer. Plus new members, and all members took on a task as we went through the agenda.
Presented a totally new concept to try to have a better profit. A community member had suggested it to me at a meeting about fundraising. Will see if it can get fleshed out more in the near future, but the committee wants to pursue it.
Other new ideas I had for advertising were well received. Even one that would cost some money. So moving forward to getting the new location well known in many ways.
Then the big ending! Looking at the poster idea, we decided to change the name a bit. What better way to celebrate the 40th Anniversary. Instead of Commonwheel Artists 40th Annual Labor Day Arts & Crafts Festival, we will drop the “s & Crafts” and become the Commonwheel 40th Annual Labor Day Art Festival. Easier to say that for advertising. Some committee members thought the “Crafts” kept real art patrons away thinking there might be “crafty” items there. Though there never has been. This is a very tightly juried art festival, and the crafts were always very high quality. Some even wanted to drop the “Labor Day”, but most thought we needed that for a bit longer to make sure people arrive on the right dates.
It will be interesting to see if anyone notices the change without being told . . .
A couple of members stayed to learn about one of the tasks that needed doing. One agreed to take it on, and the other offered to help if needed as the jury time approaches and it gets too time consuming for her alone. They both do art festivals in the summer, and this task will be finished before they get really busy. So that felt good, as it was one of the largest jobs left unclaimed after another member had quit the Gallery membership for various reasons.
Someone always asks to help with the dishes, but I tell them that by the time they drive home, I will have them done. I am grateful for not having to drive to this meeting, so seems like a fair trade off to me.
Though I am tasked with more things to follow up on, some that others can take after I get them a bit more information or a print out of the letters they need to move forward. That is just my job, and am happy others took on so many tasks tonight.
My Brother had said he would call tonight . . . but so far the phone hasn’t rung . . . maybe tomorrow I will call him.
I had not slept well last night. Not sure why. But was very annoying. None of my normal tricks worked. Was it really because I didn’t take a Percogesic? Just trying to use that less when not in real pain. But that wasn’t a good result last night. Hoping for a better sleep tonight. Added a shot of Agave just to relax a bit after this very long and fruitful meeting.
Fruit on the Floor
Arts & Crafts Festival focused day with a few interesting side tracks.
Looking out my kitchen window I saw a squirrel ever so beautifully posed. He just didn’t move in the tree. So got my camera and took a few pictures through the window. Noticed that there were actually two of them. In my bathrobe, I went onto the porch, climbed over a few obstacles and took a couple of pictures from there, but not as good an angle as from the window. So very cute. Made me smile and got me more awake. Always glad to have a bit of nature distract me and make me happy to be living where I live.
The sun was shining when I got up, and considered hiking. Called my hiking buddy, but she didn’t answer. And as the morning wore on, it got cloudy, colder and uninviting for hiking. So I talked myself into waiting a day or two when the weather was predicted to be warmer.
I also decided it wasn’t worth driving to the grocery store for blackberries 2/$4 when that was all I needed. Surely there will be berries on sale in the next few weeks. Then my roommate told me where she had meetings, and one was near the grocery with that special. I asked her if she had time and the inclination if she would stop and pick some up. And when she returned home, she had a couple of packages and decided that the asparagus looked good and would go well with the Cod she had planned on fixing for our dinner.
The email I sent last night about asking for help with Celebrating our 40th Anniversary had just 2 responses. I will take any help I can get with this project. Though one actually added a bit of work/research for me to do, that I may try to pass off to a Festival committee member if possible.
Settled in to create the agenda for the Commonwheel Festival meeting on Wednesday night. That always means I have things to take care of as I read assignments from the last meeting that weren’t finished. Phone calls to make and emails to send. This has become an all day task, so glad I started it the day before, not the day of the meeting.
And I have been trying to find time to rework the “sponsor invite” letter using the concept of the 1-sheet book promotion that I learned from an Author webinar taught by Tony Laidig and Elle. Wanted to capture the feelings of what we want to tell a potential sponsor to make them want to be a part of this Arts & Crafts Festival. What is in it for them, not just how it would help the Commonwheel Festival. Sent it off to the committee to see what they think. The other one someone wrote was just too uninviting in my mind. And I have always told some story about the Arts Festival when talking to sponsors before, and have landed quite a few myself with that method. Some are still with the Festival 10 years later.
When I took a brunch break, I reached into the refrigerator for a banana and the blueberries underneath it jumped out and spilled all over the floor. Wish I had taken a picture, it was an interesting look. Really glad I had vacuumed yesterday. Gathered them back up and washed them off. Reached for that banana again and another one stayed hooked to it and the peel came off on one side and it landed on the floor. Cleaned it off and put it in my cereal and ate it without further incident.
My friend who helped me yesterday and took one of the muddiest and oldest scrapbooks home, emailed me with a picture of great wording on a flyer from the 20th anniversary show. I can use that! She said that each page had so much mud on it that she had to empty her bucket after cleaning it. Really glad I had copied many of the items in there for the 25th anniversary show and that notebook was no where near the basement when it flooded and muddied!
Had an interesting webinar on Expert Media Show with Tony Laidig. If you are interested in having an online business, his free Tuesday night webinars are a great place to begin learning. He has a membership site where you can watch all of the trainings he has done. He has many, many topics that are as good a trainings as some webinars I have taken for a lot more cost from other trainers.
My hiking buddy called during this webinar, so I called her back after it was over. We set a date for Thursday, looking at the weather warming up more by then, to hike in Red Rocks. So glad to get a hike in this week. Still hoping to get to the Botanical Gardens and the Orchid show before the month is over. Just so many meetings and a couple of Holidays to work around . . .
Now a spider is crawling across the wall in front of me. I think I will ignore this one tonight.
My book client needed a final copy of the manuscript in Dropbox, so did that for her.
My brother called just as I was about to sit down and enjoy a lovely dinner my roommate had prepared. As rare as his calls are, had to ask him if I could call him back. So we set a time for tomorrow night after the Festival meeting.
Have one more piece to do for the Festival meeting. Need to rework the Job List a bit. So many people who did some big jobs are no longer members of Commonwheel. That will need to be addressed soon.
One more blog post, then either to bed, or work a bit more on the Festival tasks. Getting late though . . .