Self Portrait Challenge: "Skills" Week 4

I have to admit to playing hooky from the SPC this month. Life sometimes gets in the way. I had a lot of ideas for skills that I can easily showcase--the usual ones that I'm known for: Music, sewing, knitting, cooking etc. etc. I wasn't terribly inspired. As I sat in the library of NEHGS (New England Historical Genealogical Society) yesterday, it occurred to me that I had another skill--that of solving puzzles. Genealogical research is awash with puzzle solving. Sometimes the solution is right in front of your face and other times it requires some real digging. I've spent about 20 hours this week pouring over vital records, wills, land records and town records from the 1600's and 1700's. I think my brain is fried, but I solved a lot of puzzles!


For more pictures of skillful people, visit the Self Portrait Challenge.

Self Portrait Challenge: "Fresh" Week 4

Fresh face!

I'm one of those relics who won't leave the house without my makeup on. I just don't feel totally put together without it. There's just something about being showered, dressed, combed and made up that makes me feel ready to face the day ahead. I consider it to be part of a fresh start!

For more photos of "Fresh," visit the Self Portrait Challenge.

Self Portrait Challenge: "Fresh" Week 3

Fresh rain!

I'm not typically a big fan of rain unless, of course, I'm sitting inside with no place to go. This rainy season has had its advantages. First of all, we have had a water deficit due to the drought we had last summer. Now we have a surplus! Secondly, the pollen has been simply awful! Nothing washes away the pollen like a good soaking rain! WoW! I can breathe again! Thirdly, things are growing. I'm delighted to see that the herbs on my back deck are about ready to be used in some culinary delights!

Yea rain!

Self Portrait Challenge: "Fresh" Week 2

That's a load off my head!

Nothing feels fresher than a new haircut! I'm not sure about this one as the angled sides and extra layers make it more labor intensive, but hair grows, so I will try something new in the fall!


For more "Fresh" photos, visit the Self Portrait Challenge!

Self Portrait Challenge: Politics Week 4

Ouch!

I had hand surgery this morning.  It hurts.  Fortunately, I'm one of the lucky ones.  My pain is physical and only temporary.  Why?  My employer pays 90% percent of my very comprehensive health insurance premiums.  This was elective surgery--joint replacement in the base of my thumb.  Without insurance, I probably would have had to do without and live in pain.  Instead, I paid $10.  I went to a nationally known hand specialist, at a nationally highly ranked hospital.  $10 paid for nurses who called several days ago and pre-registered me for my procedure.  $10 paid for a general anesthesia and post operative care.  Once I'm ready for recovery $10 will buy an hour and a half session of occupational therapy.  All in all, I will pay around $200 out of pocket.

Health insurance is something many of us take for granted.  DH gets annoyed when the candidates spend so much time on it in the debates--even when the moderator tries to change the subject.  Statistics have shown that 62% of those polled place healthcare at the top of their list of concerns.  We had a slight taste of this when our daughter reached the magic age where she came off my insurance.  We were able to find a private, somewhat affordable plan which would not cover any condition she had been treated for in the past couple of years.  What the . . .?  Fortunately she was finally able to pick up her employer's sponsored plan after a few months.  My advice to my college age son--find a job with health insurance.  It's just that simple--or not.

We live in one of the wealthiest nations on earth.  Why is it okay for a large segment of our society to be without health insurance?

For more photos with a political theme, visit the SPC.

Self Portrait Challenge: Politics Week 3

The day the music died . . .


Learning takes many forms--knowledge gained from books, being in touch with nature, learning about history and culture--both our own and that of others, real life survival skills, creating things of beauty, both visual and aural. The list goes on.

We are killing learning. The narrowing of school curricula and the pressures to perform on standardized tests are ruining public education. The joy is gone for many students. All that matters these days is reading and math. Period. The sad thing is that we teachers, the ones who actually work with the kids, know this is harmful to kids. No one in charge listens. We are getting ready for MSA (Maryland School Achievement) testing at my school. Normal learning has come to a grinding halt for a month. Special teachers are pulled for testing accommodations and students are engaged in two weeks of practice tests followed by two weeks of testing.

As a result, I had to cancel my choral rehearsals for a month so that my students could engage in testing and all that is involved with it. Some of my students really need to be in music and art. It is their reason for survival. I know if I were not given the opportunity to sing for a month, my soul would wither and die.

Tom Chapin said it best:

"The School Board is faced with no child left behind
With rules but no funding, they're caught in a bind.
So music and art and the things you love best
Are not in your school 'cause they're not on the test."

To hear the song go here.
It's good for a chuckle--except it really isn't funny.

Politicians need to stay out of our classrooms.

For more political photos, visit the Self Portrait Challenge.

Self Portrait Challenge: Politics Week 2

Here today, gone tomorrow!



I got paid last week. Then the oil bill came. We've been hearing about rising oil prices and the reasons behind them. It hits particularly hard with heating oil which is more costly than gasoline. But then, I got the electric bill. The largest electric supplier in my state had a 72% rate increase. I was stunned last month when it kicked in. My normal winter electricity costs me between $120 and $180 a month. Now it is over $300! How does this relate to politics? Our last governor appointed a public services commission which sided with the electric company and allowed this huge rate increase. This is the main reason our governor was voted out after one term. I'm simply amazed at the corporate greed! Some executives at Baltimore Gas and Electric are getting fat while some elderly person on social security has to choose between food and heat. It is simply unconscionable! I feel like I basically kiss my hard earned money goodbye.

And watch it float away!


What will I do? I will put on a heavy sweater and turn down the thermostat once again!

For more photos about politics, visit the Self Portrait Challenge.

Self Portrait Challenge: Politics Week 1

All we are saying . . .



. . .is give peace a chance.

My brother sent me this gold peace symbol when he was stationed in Turkey in 1969. He was a 19 year old soldier and I was in high school. I feared for his life back then--afraid he would end up in Viet Nam. Fortunately, he didn't. This little pendant has spent years in hibernation. It seems fitting to wear it now. There are so many parallels. As they say--history repeats itself. Aren't we supposed to learn from our mistakes? Why is it some of us, particularly those in power, never do?



Hopefully the next election will truly bring change--change that will bring our troops home.

For more Self Portrait Challenge photos about politics, go here!

Self Portrait Challenge: Blue, week 4

Companions



It's been a hard day at work, so what better way to unwind then with my little blue ipod and a kitty!



I was feeling a little blue after school and nothing helps me work through those feelings then music. Music is a major part of my life and it is how I make my living. My little blue friend stores enough music to see me through any mood I can possibly be in.



What will help me get through this case of the blues?

Self Portrait Challenge: Blue, week 3

The "L" Word. Liberal.

Hello. My name is Vicki and I am a liberal. My conservative friends tell me that there is a 12- step program for me, but I won't be participating as it seems that the rest of the country is starting to see things my way. It's been interesting around these parts over the last 8 years. I live in the Washington DC metropolitan area. DC is blue, Maryland is blue, and Northern Virginia is blue. For us, national politics are local politics. So the poor folks in DC, a jurisdiction with no congressional voting rights, are being told what to do by outsiders whose politics run contrary to their own. Go figure.

MD/VA/DC had our primary elections last Tuesday so I put on my patriotic shirt and went out in an ice storm to cast my vote. My candidate dropped out weeks ago and the one I voted for didn't win, but that's okay. For the first time that I can remember, I've liked all the candidates in my party and I would be pleased with any of them in the White House. The two remaining ones are both extremely intelligent, have a firm grasp of the issues, understand the concerns of the middle and working classes, are against the war and speak with a command of the English language--qualities that have been missing in our current administration.

Come Tuesday November 4, I will be watching the National News hoping that the big map will show that the majority of states are also thinking blue.

For more blue photos, visit the Self Portrait Challenge.

Self Portrait Challenge: Blue, week 2

Singin' the blues



I find that the color of my surroundings affects my mood. Blue has always been a calming color for me. I've never understood why the color has been associated with sadness as in "I'm feeling blue." That has never made sense to me. I always drive blue cars because being surrounded by blue helps balance out the stress that comes with the crazy traffic in the DC area. Several years ago, my school was completely renovated--basically being torn down and rebuilt. Imagine my delight when my avacado green and gray classroom from 1960 was transformed into a room with blue as the dominant color! White walls, blue cabinets, blue carpet and red trim are now what I see. I find it to be a much more relaxing environment. During my planning periods, you will often find me sitting on my blue carpet, in my blue jeans, tuning fork in hand, sight reading through choral music. Thus the title of my photo isn't entirely accurate, because I am usually quite joyful when singing. I rarely sing the blues!

For more BLUE photos, visit the SPC!

Self Portrait Challenge: Blue, week 1

This month's Self Portrait Challenge is the color Blue.



This is about my blue eyes which don't look so blue in this photo. As a child I was always intrigued by the fact that I had blue eyes even though neither of my parents did. It turns out that 2 of my grandparents did, so that's where mine came from! I'm wrapped in my favorite blue cuddly sweater in this photo too. Perhaps I'll have more inspiration next week, but at least I've shown something blue!

For more blue photos, visit the Self Portrait Challenge.

Self Portrait Challenge: Celebrations, Week 4

Celebrate tradition.



We had a family birthday last week. One of our traditions over the years has been to have a big birthday dinner at home with the good china and whatever the birthday person wants to eat. We had to discontinue this tradition a few years ago when our living room and dining room were being renovated. We started going to restaurants which was definitely much easier. This last November, Ems decided that she wanted a birthday dinner at home so we hurried to finish up the dining room and unpack all of our china and other family treasures. Thus we are back to our established tradition of dining room dinners. Our dining room is awash with family history: flatware and candlesticks which were wedding gifts to my parents, hurricane lamps which were wedding gifts to my in-laws, grandmas' spaghetti dish and great grandma's platter, portraits of my husband's Italian great grandparents on the wall, and memorabilia from my grandparents' years as missionaries in China. During dinner preparation I always think of my parents and in laws and remember the happy times we shared. I often contemplate how past generations may have celebrated family special days. I also wonder what the future will bring to these celebrations. With my kids moving to distant places, will these dinners become a thing of the past? Will we have grandchildren to add to the mix if they don't? Who knows? In any event, I will continue to treasure these family traditions no matter what form they take.

For more celebration photos, visit the Self Portrait Challenge.

Self Portrait Challenge: Celebrations, Week 3

Celebrate! No school today!


Today is a federal holiday so there is no school. This is how I have spent the morning--with a latte and the remote control! It is now 10:30 and typically I would be starting my 3rd class of the day! Of course this relaxation is short lived as in a few minutes I will be dragging out the vacuum cleaner. Today is DH's birthday and we will be celebrating that tonight. Now that we have finished renovating the living room and dining room, we have gone back to the big family dinners at home where the honoree gets to choose what he or she wants and Mom prepares it! There won't be many more of these celebrations. Bird is staying in Pittsburgh when school gets out and Ems is moving to Providence so these celebrations will become even more precious as time goes on! As for now, I will savor my latte and my nice, warm flannel pj's on this unusually cold winter day and I will celebrate having some leisure time to myself!

For more photos of how and what people celebrate, go here!

Self Portrait Challenge: Celebrations, Week 2

Nothing says "Celebrate" quite like a French Martini and a piece of wedding cake!


Here is the cake before it was cut:


Yes--my niece's wedding was quite a celebration!

For more celebration photos, visit the Self Portrait Challange.

Self Portrait Challenge: What I Wear, Week 5

Something old, something new . . .

I love vintage clothes and have a collection of dresses from the 1950's and jackets from the 1940's. There's just something about the clothes from that period that I love. For one thing, they were made for women with curves. Secondly, they were usually made with a lot of little details that you no longer see--extra seams, bound buttonholes, fancy cuffs, and the list goes on. I like mixing my vintage wear with contemporary accessories. Here I am wearing my favorite winter 50's dress. It is made out of black corduroy and has 4 rows of mini ball fringe around the torso. I am wearing it with vintage gloves and new fishnets and, of course, Icon shoes. I love the fit of this dress and the versatility of it. It can be worn with flats and a cardigan for more of a schoolgirl look, or with stiletto heels and gloves for a dressier look!

Such a girly girl thing!

Self Portrait Challenge: What I Wear, Week 4

Autumn is officially here. In fact--at my house autumn officially arrived on Sunday October 28. How do I know? Because that was the first day I put on these:

In spite of all the high fashion shoes--I always gravitate toward these boots. My husband gave them to me for Christmas several years ago, and they are what I wear most of the time when I'm not at work all fall and winter. My casual uniform is pretty much these boots, jeans and my favorite handknit thrift store sweater!

Spring will officially arrive when I get out my sandals and paint my toes bright orange! Until then, I'll just keep kickin' it in my boots!

Self Portrait Challenge: What I Wear, Week 3

I can see clearly now. . .

my specs are on--to paraphrase that song from the 70's. They say that the eyes are the first thing to go. It's true. I've never "needed" glasses. I've only worn them periodically. I was horrified, after turning 50, to find that I could no longer read stuff I was used to reading on a regular basis. I bought some drug store reading glasses which were fine until I looked in the mirror. I realized that I looked like Miss Warren, my elementary school principal. I remember shuddering in fear whenever I saw her peering over the top of her glasses which sat on the end of her nose. I took corrective measures immediately and got myself some stylin' specs! These have progressive lenses which are clear on top, so I can keep them on if I need to. Now, I can read music and entertain my little darlings all day long! No longer can I blame my missed notes on poor eyesight!

For more of what people wear, visit the Self Portrait Challenge.

Self Portrait Challenge: What I Wear, Week 2

I walk in art.

I discovered Icon Shoes about 7 years ago. I remember stopping dead in my tracks when I saw a pair of oxfords with Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup painting on them in a store window display. Icon Shoes have famous artwork on them. They are beautifully made and truly unique. Over the years, I've amassed quite a collection of them which has earned me the nickname of the "Shoe Queen" at work. Some days I walk in DaVinci, other days it may be Gaugin, Monet or Klimt. Then there are the days I may walk in modern art--Warhol, Palanker or Sicre. What will it be today? Ahhh--I will be walking in Degas' Ballerinas!

Often the color of my outfit will determine which shoes I wear, but sometimes it's the art. Some days certain works of art just speak to me. And for those days that I don't walk in art, well, then I carry it! I've carried my Icon bag with Klimt's painting of Adele Blocker-Bauer daily for the last 3 years and will probably continue to do so until it is in shreds!

There needs to be more art in the world. As a music teacher, I feel the squeeze--less arts, more reading and math. It's so sad. I will still do my part. I will continue to sing all day and walk in art!

For more of what people wear, go here!

Self Portrait Challenge: What I Wear, Week 1

I have a simple rule about what I wear: Always wear one thing that is truly eye-catching. The one thing can be a garment, a piece of jewelry, a bitchin' pair of shoes--whatever! Everything else will be understated. If I choose a fabulous piece of jewelry, then the garment near the jewelry will be very simple. If I choose an eye-catching garment, then the rest of the outfit will be very subtle. Today's eye-catching piece is my pair of anodyzed aluminum earrings. I purchased these at a gallery back in the 80's when everyone was wearing big earrings. They've gone through years of hibernation, but I always end up resurrecting them. They are light as a feather, both are different and they are very colorful! What more could I ask for! Today I am wearing them with a simple black silk tunic, jeans and plain black boots. They add a touch of whimsy to my total look. Whimsy is a good thing!

Visit the Self Portrait Challenge for more of what people wear!