Vacation, Part 1

So far I have had two full days of “vacation.” They’ve been lovely. Slept in both days, guess I needed it. Even fell back to sleep after Terry called this morning at 6 AM. He’s in Connecticut and got the time difference mixed up, thinking it was noon here.
He’s having a good time with this dad. Yesterday was a long tedious day with flight problems, changes to the plane, longer layovers, etc. Called me to tell me that they had to land due to the plane needing to be fixed and were waiting for the part to arrive. Wished he had waited until he was done flying to tell me there was mechanical problems.

Today they spent the day in old cemeteries. His dad is continuing with his genealogy hobby, researching his family. He already has written a book on it and is now finishing it up to present time. They got lost one time and during a slight altercation with another driver, Terry got called a “redneck” and it delighted him to no end. Redneck is not something we hear much out here.
My brother once lived in Connecticut and I remember visiting him there. I was struck by how many cemeteries they are there. Told Terry there were more dead people than alive in that state. Of course, it’s been there a lot longer than our state. I guess they’ll be doing more graveyard hunting and library researching until the big wood working event they will be attending. His dad learned today that for a happy companion, Terry needs to be fed often, a lesson I learned early and has kept our marriage happy.

As for me, I’m happy. I have ventured out a couple times for a pedicure, birthday shopping for a friend, a market run for the animals in the house and to return an item to Bed, Bath and Beyond. It wasn’t hard to find something to exchange for the item that didn’t work. I love that store.
I even did a load of laundry today because I chose to do it, not because I had to do it. I prepared a new canvas for my next project, making a grid, which really helps when there is a lot going on with painting subject. Normally, I don’t but it does make a difference to keep things in perspective. I will probably finish the painting I’ve been working on at class tomorrow so I’ll be ready for a new one. I’m taking a break from what I usually paint. Picked out a really sappy tranquil scene from a calendar, a la Thomas Kincaide. Not really my style but felt like a change. Most artists scoff at his paintings but they are undeniably loved by the general public. And, of course, everyone who sees mine, loves it!! I mean, really really loves it. I like my other stuff more but I bet this would sell in a heartbeat. My girlfriend in class, who’s very talented watched how well my painting was received and asked if she could paint one also. Told her fine, if she did a watercolor and not oil, because hers would probably be better than mine. Technically, she’s an amazing artist but her paintings often have no heart/soul. She’s the type of person who is very anal, very restricted, probably one of those kids who colored always inside the lines. Something I envied and could never do. I told her we should sell our souls to the devil, call ourselves “Kincaidettes” and produce these paintings just so we can say we sold our work. Then in the meantime, we’ll paint what we really want to paint.

This painting is so corny that even though I eliminated a swing, a cat, a boat and some flying birds, it’s still very sappy. But apparently, sappy sells. I notice that with all the paintings I have hanging here at home, people prefer the ones they can identify with. They like the house on the cliff, the bunch of red flowers, the rose, etc. I don’t paint modern, weird paintings but they’re a little more free-er than those subjects. But it truly doesn’t matter that much to me. I’m happy just painting and I don’t feel like I’m not being true to myself if I paint more commercially accepted subjects. I just get caught up in the process and it’s wonderful.

Tomorrow I have art class in the morning, then home for lunch. It’s my girlfriend’s birthday (the mother of the twins) so I’ve been invited to her house for dinner. Will be going early so she can run and get a pedicure. We both laughed at how our toes were becoming claws, hence my pedicure today.

Spent some more time, watching trash TV and crocheting an afghan. Last year, I made an afghan, using a new pattern and everyone loved it so I have made many of them. It’s easy and goes fast and the result is so pretty. Am working on what I hope will be the last one for awhile. What has amazed me, is that men have asked for one. So far, I’ve made one for Terry, his dad, Terry’s stepson and now a friend (father of the twins). I just never thought that a man would want one. This one is not my favorite because he wants it done in his favorite football team colors…. Miami Dolphins with a turquoise field with an orange border. But it still does what I want it to do: provide me with an excuse to watch trashy TV while still being productive. Right now, I’m in the middle of the reunion shows of the Real Housewives of New York. I love these crazy, outlandish and often, despicable women. And they are just one of the shows I watch and I have no problem, whatsoever, admitting that I watch but it does help me rationalize this pastime while still getting something done.

So far this has been a delightful vacation or should I say, “Stay-cation” as it’s called.