changes

Grr...a bear!

2006-10-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

la vie simple trois

2006-09-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

today, tyra had nicole r. on her show. that made me think of simple life 3. hard to find on the hill -- for some reason. i went to gruv (with an umlaut, the spelling drives me crazy) and inquired about purchasing it. the woman barely mumbled "no" before ignoring me as i asked a follow-up question. next stop, blockbuster. i couldn't find it there either (despite their LARGE television section"). when i asked why they don't have it, he replied, "sir, we're not obligated to carry every tv show!" okay! just curious. then i went up to revolutions on 15th (at least that's what it used to be called). nope. went across the street to the firehouse store and while they had simple life 1 for rental, 2 and 3 must've been checked out.

for some reason, this experience has stressed me out.

The Big Easy!

2006-09-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

Just got back from my first trip (ever) to New Orleans! It's simply amazing. One of my best vacations ever.

Highlights:

the food! beignets, po boys, chicory coffee, red beans & rice, gawd, everything was great!
the people! i have yet to find a group of friendlier people! every since person i waved to in every single neighborhood waved back or smiled. i was grinning from ear:ear.
the city! it seems to be in a constant state of decay/renewal. you can smell the earth (esp. post Katrina) like you can smell the sea here. the french quarter, the arts district, the cemeteries -- it's all amazing.

I fulfilled a 15 year old dream of driving over Lake Ponchatrain (thank you, Lucinda Wms.). We visited the plantation where they filmed "Interview with a Vampire". We toured the devastated areas (shocking and hard to understand until actually seen). To crawl around in the devastation a year later is spooky. And all around, poignant reminders like a little book of "davey vs. goliath" in a debris pile. You can still see boats stacked on each other in the marinas. The live oaks are unbelievable. The art scene is vibrant, the locals are colorful (yes, I had a tarot reading and past life reading). Even the humidity become tolerable after a week.

Craig and Ryan -- thanks for an incredible trip!

I feel like this picture sums up the New Orleans spirit.

Polar Opposites

2006-09-02T22:24:00.000-07:00

I have been sleeping lots lately (12+ hrs with a nap for good measure). I don't know if it's depression or my new memory foam mattress. Regardless, as I sat here drinking my can of Pabst, this line came to mind "I'm trying to drink away the part of the day that I cannot sleep away."

ramming into the moon?

2006-09-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

at 10:41 tonight, this will happen.

i was born in the 70s and remember that anti-littering crying indian ad. i think he'd be heaving hysterically at the thought of this.

oprah bought me a color tv

2006-09-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

voluptuary

–noun 1. a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit and enjoyment of luxury and sensual pleasure.
–adjective 2. of, pertaining to, or characterized by preoccupation with luxury and sensual pleasure: voluptuary tastes.

the bear wants to live the voluptuarious life.

You should know...

2006-08-26T23:29:00.000-07:00

He also likes to talk in mirrors, Brian.

Keebler!

2006-08-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

Those little elves can do just about ANYTHING!

JBR

2006-08-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

They said the "little beauty's" death wasn't accidental.

Cupcake Royale Reception

2006-06-22T20:35:00.000-07:00

Had a blast at the opening on Monday! It was so nice of everyone to trek over. :)

Also sold 4 paintings that night. Thanks to everyone who came.

For more images of the reception, please visit...

http://www.72clouds.com/cupcake_royale_reception.htm

Cupcake Royale Show!

2006-06-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

Dandelion Botanical Company

2006-06-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Hello! The show at Dandelion Botanical Company is up for the next month.

Please stop by to see it.

http://72clouds.com/dandelion_botanicals_show_.htm

Jeff's Birthday!

2006-06-11T16:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Jeff's birthday! We had lots of fun. I embroidered him a shirt with one of his flowers on it. For dinner, we ate at the Boat Street Cafe (soft shell crab, pork belly, and lots of other delicious things).

Shows!

2006-05-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

If you have the time, I have a few shows up during the summer.

Lark, "Recent Paintings"
Lee Center for Arts, "Painted On", group show curated by Carrie Scott
The Hi-Life, "Provence", group show
Atlas Food, "Spring", group show
Dandelion Botanicals, "Flowers & Botanicals", solo show opening June 9.
Cupcake Royale -West Seattle, "Cows & Flowers", solo show opening June 19.
Retrofit Home, "10 for under $100", group show opening July.
Retrofit Home, "Exploring Pop Art", solo show opening September.

Thanks for all of your support.

Texas = Nanny State?

2006-03-22T21:26:00.000-08:00

Okay -- this article has got me hoppin' mad. So mad, I just chugged the contents of my Pabst Blue Ribbon and want to run into the streets of Austin in drunken frenzy!

Seriously, America -- don't we still have bigger shit to worry about than this?

Ugh.

Dancing the River Lightly

2005-11-01T16:34:00.000-08:00

Just received word that my friend, Bob (R.H.) Sheldon, has found out his novel "Dancing the River Lightly" is to published in the next couple of weeks. I've been waiting for this for over a year! He's super talented and if you want to know more...http://www.dancingtheriverlightly.com/.

Additionally, if you need a copywriter, he's your man.

Serenity doesn't disappoint...

2005-09-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

Holy cow -- Serenity was awesome! Gonna go again tomorrow.

Thanks to my friend for the heads up on how to get in early.

Driving over to Spokane this morning to get in a little family time.

The Good Life...

2005-09-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

Today is day three of my new unemployed life. Woke up at 8am, took a shower, drank some coffee, watched some Martha, did some painting, paid some bills. Gonna go out on a walk, meet with some lawyer types and then relax until Serenity later tonight. Liking it so far.

Serenity Now!

2005-09-22T07:40:00.000-07:00

Ack -- a friend just got me in to see Serenity on 9/27! Aw yeah.

Cartoons!

2005-09-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

Why is it that the only thing I look forward to lately is Xiolin Showdown?

I think I'm gonna try to find some 70s/80s Saturday morning commercials. Then, I want to create the Ultimate Saturday Morning dvd with commercial breaks for sugary cereals, some School House Rocks thrown in and healthy doses of Superfriends and Spidey and His Amazing Friends!

Hey -- if anyone knows where I can find any of the following cartoons on dvd, please let me know:

Rubik, The Amazing Cube
Dungeons & Dragons

Danger Danger

2005-07-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

I've been told that if I don't start blogging more frequently, I'm in danger of being de-listed from a friend's site. So, here is a big blog about nothing exciting. ;)

Actually, we'll focus on music. Can't stop listening to Sufjan Stevens new cd. It's soo good. Also, tonight some friends and I are going to see the Go! Team. Very excited.

Other than that, in a summer funk. :( Ready for some excitement but not willing to create any. Does anyone have some "buzz" they can lend me?

"Everybody is a star"

2005-06-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

I have my first show up! It's at Lark (across from Seattle University Chapel).

If interested, I suggest you swing by -- if for nothing else, some very, very delicious food!

http://www.72clouds.com/Lark.htm

Thanks to all who helped make this happen and thanks to all of you who have stopped by to see it.

First purchased art!

2005-04-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

I picked up my first piece of art this week!

Check it out...http://www.bradwoodfin.com/27.html

My friend, Brad, just had a show at the North Hill Bakery. Check out the rest of his site for more awesome paintings!

marketing sucker

2005-03-09T22:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, years ago, e-Toys had a commercial that featured a beautiful song, Eventually, I tracked it down -- it's still really great to hear it -- "Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World"

Well, I've been caught by the marketeers again. This time for the latest Civic Hybrid commercial. Starts out with 2 records players. One "drops a beat" and then the other one comes in with a "melody". My google-fu is set to low tonight. So I don't get to hear the whole song. But I pretty much love it already.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000JFG3/qid=1110435981/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-0032768-2138359?v=glance&s=music&n=507846

Hmm...looks like the 40 gig ain't all that...

2005-02-25T21:09:00.000-08:00

To he who shall remain unnamed...

"There is one casualty in the new iPod product lineup: 40GB models...Apple is eliminating the 40GB white iPod, which cost $399."

Hmm, why is that not surprising?

JM, oh, your really "cool" 40 gig has been disco'd. Sorry.

/end 40 gig envy

converted...

2005-02-20T08:49:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting an iPod for a while. But they are simply too ubiquitous! I see them everywhere (Seattle) and the glaring white earbuds scream "LOOK AT ME! I GOT AN IPOD!"

However, I picked up WP from the aeroport yesterday. Midpoint, she pulled something out her back of tricks. It was an iPod (meh) but she said that I would love it. I said, "Nope." She showed me what makes it so awesome; an FM transmitter! She basically connected wirelessly to my car stereo and (eventually) we were busting out to Ace Frehley's "Back in the New York groove".

We made our way to the U-Village Apple store later in the day and I now can take my entire music collection with me everywhere I go (provided I get the energy to load it all onto my laptop).

I'm officially sold. This is the future I was promised as a child.

PERFECT

2005-02-18T18:52:00.000-08:00

It's a perfect Friday evening. It was a perfect, sunny day in Seattle.

I'm drinking perfect beer (Anchor Steam) and getting ready to go and get a perfect drink (Maker's Mark on the rawks) at a perfect price ($5.50 for a huge tub).

The other side of my shared mind (Larka) is arriving tomorrow. We'll go to the most perfect restaurant in Seattle tomorrow (Lark) and see some of the most perfect people (JK and JM).

A few months ago, I was concerned that I must've been Genghis Khan in a previous life. Now, I'm convinced that I must've been a saint and am now starting to reap the cumulative rewards.

It simply cannot get any more perfect.

not a rant...

2005-01-30T21:37:00.000-08:00

As I attempt to make a career (?) out of this painting thing (see www.geocities.com/veltkamp_gallery) for examples, yesterday will be a day to remember for a while.

A good friend purchased three of my paintings yesterday! WOW. And then later that evening, I had an offer for 2 additional purchases (I can't sell them to the purchaser for a while, but have placed them on hold). CRIMINELLY and GOOD HONK -- that's five paintings in one day! I have been holding on to this feeling since I doubt I'll have a day like that again.

Thanks to those who have shown an interest.

Intolerance

2005-01-26T21:20:00.000-08:00

ARGH, I'm so sick and tired of this country's continuous march of intolerance.

Today's latest hot-stepper is recently appointed Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings. If you haven't heard...

"Postcards From Buster" is a PBS show, and a planned episode called Sugartime! took Buster to Vermont to see farms and maple sugar. Along the way he met two lesbian couples.
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings denounced the episode, requested that PBS refund a federal grant that was used to pay for part of the show, and demanded that PBS remove any links from DOE to the show.
~ Seth Kilbourn, National Field Director HRC

This show has also featured other unusual* families as well: Mormons, Evangelical Christians and Muslims. The point of the show is to show how different children live in different parts of the country. An idea I applaud. When children are exposed to families different than their own, they become less scary. They learn tolerance. I understand that "Arthur" and its spin-off, "Postcards from Buster" weren't around when Ms. Spellings and I were growing up. Luckily for one of us, I had parents who preached tolerance.
I understand that tax dollars partially fund PBS programs. She explains, that "...many parents would not want children exposed to such lifestyles." That's fine. But there's an easier solution that not allowing anyone to see the episode. If you don't want to watch (or have your children watch it), turn the f'ing channel. Problem solved and everyone's happy. Every citizen would probably object to some part of how our tax dollars are spent (I'm against faith-based initiatives and a certain war). So I figure we're all equal on that.

And I also want to explain something to these intolerant individuals. Children rarely get to choose who they want their parents to be. So if little Joey is adopted by a lesbian couple in Vermont, he didn't have a part in that decision. And imagine that one day he's watching tv and sees a lesbian couple making syrup. It makes him feel like his family is "normal". Why would you want to take that away? Why would you want to turn a little child against his parents? Is that a family value? It isn't in my book, but I'm no "Christian" either. I seem to remember another time in history (get ready for Godwin's Law) when children were turned against their families. In other words, the furher like obedient children.

It seems to me a more pressing first issue for a new Secretary of Education might be actually work on fixing some of America's school problems. For example, I just learned the other day that PE is OPTIONAL is many junior/high schools. WTF?? Our children are fatter than ever and they eliminate the only form of exercise some of them get? A lot of individuals develop health habits during these formative years that stay with them for life. Cartoon lesbian bunnies don't seem like much of an issue compared to an adolescent obesity epidemic!

/Argh

* facetious

P.S. PBS, I remember when you had a backbone!