Holding a Cat by the Tail

It's time to clean out my studio. This is not a chore I look forward to. It inevitably leads to more project ideas, more need for supplies, and more mess. It seems that the cleaner the studio gets, the more I want to work in it...go figure! But, it had to be done, and I discovered I gained more than just a longer list of to-dos and a cleaner workspace. I found a bit of affirmation, as well.

Deep in the back of a cabinet, I found my very first glass piece. Starting this journey about 1 1/2 years ago, I remember how proud I was of this first endeavor. I had researched the Internet, read books, and talked to other fusers before beginning, so I knew the learning curve was steep. To me, this red bowl was a true work of art. I showed it to my family and friends who oohed and ahhhed over it...Bless their hearts! I posted it on fused glass bulletin boards and the members there did little to burst my bubble, thank goodness. Little did I know how much more I would learn over the next year and a half.

"If you hold a cat by the tail, you learn things you cannot learn any other way."

--Mark Twain

HOW TRUE! There have been times during this journey that I have felt like I was holding the tail of a very unhappy cat....the hazy finishes, the gigantic bubbles, the cracked masterpiece... The list is long and I'm sure it will get much longer. The cat still gets upset, but I am beginning to learn how to protect myself when I grab its tail thanks to the many loved ones who have encouraged me, and my new friends in the Creative Glass Guild of Etsy and on the Fused Glass Source bulletin board. Look how far I've come! Three Peas in a Pod
Thank you all and ...Bless your hearts!

My Dog Has Fleas...

Not really, bless his heart! But I do have a new ukelele thanks to a good friend who just returned from an extended visit to Hawaii to take care of her mother. I have been wanting a ukelele to hang on the wall at our beach house, and she found the cutest one! It is a beautiful honey colored wood with natural colored wood palm tree cutouts on it. As I said, I really planned to display it on the wall, but I couldn't resist taking it out and trying to play it. The first hurdle was to tune it. I dug deep back into my memory banks and remembered that the strings of a ukelele are tuned to the familiar "my dog has fleas" melody. Let's just say, it's been a while since I had to match pitch! I could hum the tune, but for the life of me, I could not tighten or loosen the strings to match what I was humming. There were times I couldn't even tell whether the instrument was sharp or flat...but I could tell it was W-A-Y off! Once I got it reasonably tuned, I did a quick search of the Internet to find a chord chart. I felt like I was well on my way to playing Home on the Range, I've Been Working on the Railroad, or In the Good Ole Summertime...WRONG! Not only had I lost all ability I once had to make my fingers go where I wanted them, I discovered that I would have to cut my nails. That's a deal breaker. So, I guess it's back to plan A. The uke goes on the wall, awaiting a wandering minstrel who may come by for a visit.

Today's a GOOD Day!

Several years ago, I was diagnosed with a condition called Barrett's Esophagus quite by accident. I had had no symptoms, but while checking the cause of some chest pains I was having, it showed up during an upper endoscopy. Apparently only about 1 in 10 develop the condition and about 10% of those develop esophageal cancer. While those sound like positive odds, just knowing that the threat is there causes a bit of concern every 2 years when I have to have the test run again. Yesterday was the day of my biannual test...Good news! No pre-cancerous changes so I am in the clear for another 2 years.

Now I'm off to a dance tonight to celebrate!

So...THIS is Ridiculous!

WHY can't I find time to keep this blog up-to-date?! Well, let's see...There's work, glass, traveling, dancing....so much to do, so little time! But, I'm back, at least for today. Maybe, over the next couple of weeks, I can do some catching up. Oh, wait...there's work glass, traveling, dancing...

I finally have something new in the kiln, and I can't wait to see how it came out. I recently started experimenting with 96 coe glass instead of 90. The local glass supplier doesn't carry the 90, and I am tired of having to order small pieces that are affordably shipped. So, here we go. I hope to have a picture to boast about soon.

In the meantime, let's talk about DANCE! A little over a year ago, my husband and I started ballroom dancing. It has become another passion. Like, I needed more addictions in my life! We have started dancing almost once a week, and have discovered quite an underground of people who love big bands and traditional ballroom dancing. It has increased my social circle by leaps and bounds. We have met some wonderful new friends, and introduced lifelong friends to it, as well. Joining a local Lords and Ladies dance club has also increased my formal wardrobe. It is so much fun to dress up and enjoy a sophisticated evening out with friends...so Sinatra-ish! We've become so comfortable with dancing that our teacher is using us to demonstrate at some of the tea dances in our area! Our first one was a combination rumba/tango. VERY PASSIONATE!
And the best part is, my husband is as addicted as I am!