A lotta social life right now

Yesterday T's celebration of life in Los Angeles at a Buddhist temple.  Very moving, very fun (in a weird sort of way) and then dinner on Sunset and a party at a movie/tv producers house in the hills of Hollywood.

Left at noon, got home around 1:30 a.m.  Suffered some kind of allergy attack where my eyes were all dry and wiggy.  Could not focus my eyes.  Luckily it happened late, late, late in the evening but by the time we neared home my nose was running and full of snot.

The party was very fun, very gay, very loud and very friendly.  Freaky to be at this house, this party - something that I never imagined I'd do in my life.  

Today a annual party at Susan's house.  The 19th annual party.  The babies have grown into adults, some of the used to be children now have children.  Luckily for me, neither of mine have kids yet (at only 20 and 18 that can wait a few years at least).  Some of their friends enjoyed the party (the entire party which lasted 8 hours) and it was great fun to see those kids who we've known since they were all about 7 years old be functioning adults.

3 big functions in 24 hours.  I'm pooped.  

My technology wish list

I had to go to Staples today.  To get tapes so I can video tape the memorial tomorrow.  T's mom asked me if I could find a camera.  I did, so now I am responsible for getting it done for her.  I wish I didn't have to do it, cuz I'm no camera man (and the camera I got is high end) so I really don't want to mess it up because I don't know what I'm doing.  

Anyway, as I was wandering around I saw some Wacom tablets.  I WANT one.  I work on graphics every day.  I'm ok, I'm not great but I totally, 100% enjoy doing it.  It relaxes me, it keeps me creative and my designs are getting better.  

So if I had a lotta money I'd buy this Cintiq. But really I'd be just as happy with this one at half the price (only $999.00 hahahaha).

Ok, so that is just a dream and we know how dreams are right?  It seems like it's real and then you wake up and it's all gone.

I'd take the Intuos4.  In a minute I'd take it.  The medium size costs about $350.00.  The medium one is just slightly smaller than my current, reallllly old tablet.  It's this one here, click this link. It was discontinued in 2001, so yeah, it's 8 years old.  Yes, it still works and I still love it but I really, really want an upgrade. 

I would so take this one too.  It's only 166.70 on Amazon.  The Bamboo Fun (the large size). Click here.  To see the price you have to add to cart and then the price shows up.  Don't be fooled by the other Bamboo's.  They might be cheaper but they don't have the functionality.  Besides the pen is extra and ya need the pen to do graphics.

More technology that I want.  The Droid phone.  But the problem with the phone is I have to have internet and that would add quite a bit to my cell phone bill and I can't afford it.  I already pay for one connection and it's killing me in terms of paying my bill.  So I want it but I don't want to pay for a monthly charge.  I'm totally addicted to my computer but am not addicted to phones.  Sadly I could be addicted but I can't let myself since my budget is so tight.

So there it is, I want technology cuz I NEVER get technology.  Well, except for the things I buy myself (which as you can see has been years...can you believe I'm still using an 8 year old tablet?) 

Market research

Which of these 2 fabric designs do you like better?  The stylized kitties or the lions, tigers and bears below?  

Playing catch up

Poor abandoned blog. 

I've been sort of busy, a lot of social things lately.  

The daughter turned 18 on Dec. 8th - so far no tattoo.  But she also just got paid.  We got her a Disney annual pass.  She was happy about that.  We also went to dinner with our friends who's sons were born on Dec 7th and 8th.  

Me and 3 friends went to one of the Christmas shows that Ellen does.  We got: this printer (it's pretty cool).  The KitchenAid stand mixer (in pistachio).  The VIZIO 23 inch Razor LED HDTV, finally a tv that I can watch. A 100.00 QVC gift certificate.  A small Olympus digital camera, the Invictus soundtrack, the Blueray and regular dvd box set of Harry Potter. A Zhu Zhu (some kind of "hot" toy that's a motorized hamster). Way fun day.  It rained like the dickens all day long too.  But we didn't care a whit.  Btw, Ellen is really pretty and very thin.

Last night I went out and met with some friends (some of whom I haven't seen in 30 years).  LOL, most of them.  I worked with all of them (but one who came after I quit) and it was pretty fun.  They are: animators, business men, directors of non-profits, and teachers, oh and a hairdresser too.  I drank a martini (wheeee, she parties like a big dog!).  One of the guys picked up the tab for all of us (who were still there).  Yowie.  A big tab.

Friday night I went to the daughters choir concert.  They were good and I was oh, so happy that it lasted just under an hour.  Makes me so appreciate her being in a college choir instead of that danged HS choir where we sat for over 2 hours at each of her concerts.  

I've also been doing some graphic work:

This one for the daughters birthday.  For her FB. 

This one for a possible fabric design.  Maybe.  Not sure about it.  

I've got others but they are all in their native format because I haven't finished them.  

Ok, this was a long post for me so now I am going to bed!  G'night!

Stress monster

I do not have my car tonight.  I realize I rarely go anywhere but when I've got things to do I want to be able to do them.

I cannot do them tomorrow I'm in LA all day and evening.  It the daughters 18th birthday on Tuesday and I don't have my car to go buy her other present.

The husband will have to do it.  He tells me not to stress it so I'm not, I'm giving it to him to stress over.  

mousies and kitties

I made these little kitties to use as a repeat pattern.  Love the kitties, don't love the placement.  

And here is what it looks like tiled.  

My lesson

Ach, it can be difficult to have a kidlet turn 18.  Mostly it's good, seeing them grow up and be the glimmer of the adult that is emerging.  But with all change there is some struggle.

The other night the daughter had a snit and got into it with her dad.  Because she wanted to do something, he said no and they argued.

Now they are not talking.  He's not happy with her, she's not happy with him.  I'm stuck in the middle.  Or off to the side.  

It's bittersweet to watch the dynamics of a young woman trying to be independent.  So many worries, so many memories of her being small and dependent and so wanting her to be safe and make good choices.

You know they are "getting it" when they learn how to deal with people's personalities and figure out how to negotiate with others.  I think the biggest issue is using brute force to try and control another. 

When you learn that you're learning how to be a grown up.  Figuratively pushing and shoving for position just ends up making someone feel badly and worse, lesser.

So teach your children to negotiate, learn how to negotiate yourself with others and leave the verbal pushing, the emotional shoving in adolescence.