April, 2008

What's happening:

1) Well, my Disabled Veteran Father is now back in New Mexico. He is adjusting as well as can be expected to life in a wheelchair, in a house that is fairly hostile to such a contraption. He is an old desert rat, and change will come painfully. Not much more I can do to help until he makes some decisions for his remaining years. Somehow I dont think the desert house will be part of that but we shall see. In the meantime, other siblings are watching after him and Seattle is home again. As soon as I regain my sea legs, more paintings will emerge... just in time as the Bush Economy matures along with the Bush Foreign Policy, the Bush Judicial Grand Design, the Bush Enhancement of America Abroad Program, etc., all maturing simultaneously with it. Not expecting it to be a very good year anyway...

2) I never get tired of hearing from friends and acquaintances from the past as a result of the website. It is truly an amazing thing. It is always welcome connection, and interesting to see what has happened to everyone. Please dont hesitate... especially if you are in Ireland. Wishing like mad lately that I could go back... just for a break.

3) The update on the Portfolios page is complete. Over time we will change some out and put in some new with the hope that it can be a good representation of work over time.

4) The Studio situation is set now, and it will be torn down in a couple years. The Saltmine will be searching for new digs in the meantime.

5) PRINTSPOTTING Here are some sightings that are fun to hear about... one of the limited edition prints is hanging on the wall of "New" Christine's abode on the show "The New Adventures of Old Christine" on CBS. It is one of the limited edition prints, "Orchard Road" and is viewable in the issue where old Christine goes to new Christine's place to convince her to get back together with old Christine's ex. If you watch the show, it makes sense... There is another print in the movie “Georgia Rule” with Jane Fonda, Lindsey Lohan, Felicity Huffman, and Dermot Mulroney. Dermot's character's Idaho living room has hanging the “Sun on Opposing Hill” print. There are many scenes with the print in full or partial view. (See pics below.) I am still waiting for a clip of the Christine episode... Tivo is set...

6) And finally, a sharp observation from two of my favorite cartoonists after listening to Our President chide his political enemies for not having a plan for a solution to HIS mess in Iraq. Thanks, D.C. Simpson...and Lloyd Dangle.

As many Americans do, I cringe to turn on the news these days mostly to NOT see what they are NOT telling us. Our little experiment with unbridled Republicanism has descended to our own little "Lord Of The Flies On The Potomac". I cannot wait till some grownups can get ahold of that mess. I am reminded of something I wrote down a couple years ago in the Irish Diary while trying to grasp the "second term" of our now infamous Boy President...

"Don't get me wrong. I dont hate George Bush. I wish for him a nice little Ford dealership down in Plano or maybe even Dallas. I think he would be great at that. I can see him showing someone a shiny new Ranger, giving them a nickname and offerin' ta throw in a bedliner fer free..."but only if you pick it up today!". I can see him warning them of the consquences of not getting four wheel drive. "Sure ya don't think ya need it here in Dallas, but say yer in Argentina or th' South Pole, and ya git stuck in th' mud, or on all that ice an' stuff. Ya need ta be perPARED!" He could crush his enemies over at the Renault dealership...he could flip people the finger in his commercials. I can see him hiring the best accountants so he can boast about how little he pays in taxes every year at his dad's country club in Maine, and he could be thier hero.

It is just that after watching him steer the Ship Of State for five years, I really don't think he can see much over the dashboard and I think his friends are looting the purser while we all gasp and try to hang on as the craft careens from iceberg to iceberg..."