Since this is Winter, and, since I haven’t posted a painting from my collection in a while, here’s a simple silk screen on canvass print of what I’m calling a “Winterscape.” Whether or not this truly is winter is immaterial. The geese are flying south, the trees are devoid of leaves, the landscape . . . barren. In a word, Winter! Enjoy! I particularly like the orange sun on this one.
And, in honor of the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and their Holiday Bowl Football game (which they are winning as of halftime), “go Pokes!”
I was planning to post another print from my art collection tonight, but for some reason there’s a glitch and I’m unable to upload any pictures. So, instead I will recount my latest adventure in winter travel.
I should just count my blessing that I was able to make it out of Michigan (without too much trouble) as I began to travel back south yesterday. The first few hours of travel were a bit tense — snow flurries with wind gusts that made for treacherous visibility — but once I got past Grand Rapids by a few miles, the snow flurries stopped. The wind continued to blow until I got past Chicago (and Lake Michigan) and then even the wind seemed to cease. The rest of the trip was uneventful (long, but uneventful). The forecast for the remainder of the week is looking very good and I should have no further weather “challenges” during this trip.
Ah the joys of traveling in the northland during the winter season.
Here are a couple of photos of Leelanau County this holiday season. From travel/winter advisories earlier in the week to a “dense fog” advisory today (temperatures in the mid-50s and melting snow), quite the range of weather conditions for December. And, to date, Leelanau County has already received over 80 inches of snow since November (more than twice the amount they had received by this time last year). Whew! Above freezing temperatures should continue through the weekendm(long enough for my return trip south, thank goodness). Stay warm!
“Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that
life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how
painful your situation might be, you can survive it.”
Christmas, that is. My drive north this year was fraught with stress and tension . . . the majority of the 1,000 mile trek was under “Winter Weather Advisories” in four separate states. From freezing rain/sleet, to black ice, to snow-packed and unplowed roads, the trip took five hours longer than usual and I never got above 40 miles per hour throughout the entire state of Illinois. Travel conditions were extremely treacherous, but I eventually arrived, safely.
Since my arrival, we have had snow each and every day (I’ll take some pictures today to post tomorrow; this truly is a Winter Wonderland this year) and this trend looks like it may continue on through the weekend.
Luckily, I have a couple more days to enjoy “just being here,” before I hit the road again on Sunday. I am hoping for better conditions on the return trip. Time will tell.
If this YouTube video (Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Wizards of Winter”) doesn’t get you in the spirit, I don’t know what will.
Here are a couple of local Christmas light displays in town. I always try to spend at least one evening each Christmas season infusing myself with some holiday cheer (it proved to be a much more challenging endeavor this year). But I did find these displays particularly spirit raising.
On 21st Street
Downtown at the BOk Center
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year!
A few weeks ago, I attended an Arts Festival in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (this particular gallery [ArtHaus] is housed within an Interior Design firm [EA&I Interiors] — what a natural marriage). I’ve been collecting art for a while and during the course of my perusing at this gallery I met the interior designer/owner (Maurie Traylor) and we struck up a conversation.
Next thing you know, we are exchanging business cards and I’m being asked to write a piece for her blog on “What do I look for when collecting art?” Here’s a link to Maurie’s blog where she posted my “Confessions of an Art Collector” on December 20, 2008.
Eventhough I finished the SLA 23 Things many weeks ago, I’m still taking advantage of SLA learning opportunities. This week, I participated in a webinar that was an introduction to Second Life (the virtual environment). This was Part 1 of a two-part series (Part 2 will actually take place online within the Second Life environment sometime in January) and was a wonderful overview.
I had already attempted to visit and establish a presence in Second Life during my 23Things experience only to discover that my laptop computer (what I use mostly at home) was not nearly powerful enough (memory, free space, graphics and sound cards, etc.) to allow me “full” usage of all of the wonderful Second Life features. However, I was able to “get in” and play around a bit (I even created an avatar, which I really need to customize a bit . . . I’m not particularly happy with the generic one that I started with). Unfortunately, until I upgrade my antique computer from 2001 (and this is really not a priority for me just yet), I may not be able to take full advantage of this virtual world. Perhaps someday.
Today, graduation ceremonies were held at the Tulsa Police Academy for the 14 members of class 2008-99, the latest batch of Apprentice Police Officers to have completed their twenty-four week academy training and who will now be paired with a Field Training Officer for the next sixteen weeks of field training. Hearing the oath of office recited continues to tug at my heart and emotion.
Congratulations to these newest members of the TPD and best wishes for a successful career.
Tools of the Trade
Here’s an original pen and ink drawing by Pat Cox (yes, another local artist) that was given to me as a thank you gift. She had used my equipment to take photos to work from as she made a similar drawing for her son-in-law police officer.
It is even personalized with my name and badge number. Many of my friends have inquired about getting their own copy, but Pat is not interested in “mass producing” this work of art (only three exist: Pat’s son-in-law, mine, and the one she created for the widow of an officer killed in the line of duty in 1993 (Gus Spanos).
Since this is Winter, and, since I haven’t posted a painting from my collection in a while, here’s a simple silk screen on canvass print of what I’m calling a “Winterscape.” Whether or not this truly is winter is immaterial. The geese are flying south, the trees are devoid of leaves, the landscape . . . barren. In a word, Winter! Enjoy! I particularly like the orange sun on this one. 
The Gun-Carryin' Librarian 