Is it June yet?

I should not be asking that question the first week of January. I typically don't feel that way, but the first day back at school after a break is always tough. First off--I'm totally exhausted! I went to bed before midnight last night which is unusual on a Sunday night. I always stay up too late on Sunday and then start the week tired but I was responsible last night. I have no planning periods on Mondays and Fridays so they are harder to begin with. The kids were out of it. When I would comment on their lack of attention, they would complain of being tired. Well, duh! Teachers are people too! It will get slowly better. I will admit that I am doing the snow dance tonight and tomorrow morning--or should I say, the Wintery Mix dance! I'll take whatever I can get!

No knitting today. I did start off the day being somewhat productive at home--I got a load of laundry in the washer, the dishwasher filled and running and dinner in the crock pot before I left for work. I didn't go in early because I anticipated staying late for a staff meeting. Our meeting was cancelled so that we could take the time to "get back in the groove." Thank goodness!

Bird treated himself to some new ink for graduation and he sent me a photo:


I've always told that boy that Mom is the one girl who will never break his heart! I guess he must agree!

Bushism of the day:
"I think it was in the Rose Garden where I issued this brilliant statement: If I had a magic wand -- but the president doesn't have a magic wand. You just can't say, 'low gas.'" --George W. Bush, Washington D.C., July 15, 2008

Kitty Cam: Ems sent this photo of Mokey. When she got home, he immediately got in one of the bags before she could unpack!

And now, for something completely different!

No knitting or sewing to show off today. I've been lazy. I will share a different type of art with you today! Tattoo art! I just bought tickets for the Baltimore Ink: Patterns on Bodies show at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Ems and I are going to have some quality girl time that night! There is also a design contest. The rules are that you must attend the BMA and choose a piece of artwork which inspires you. You then create a tattoo based on that artwork. The design along with the name of the artwork and the artist are submitted for judging. Pretty neat! Now, I don't have tattoos myself. They weren't cool when I was young. In fact, back then, toothless women who lived in trailor parks had tattoos. That is so ingrained in me that I cannot entertain the thought of getting one for myself. I do appreciate the artistic ones though. My kids have created tattoos that are really personal to them. Ems' first one had drama masks imposed over a music staff. That one is on her back. Then she has a self portrait of John Lennon with the word "Imagine" done in rainbow colors on her ankle. The self portrait is a line drawing. Next, we have these:

The one on the left is Ems' wrist and the one on the right is Bird's bicep. The matching tattoos were designed by both of them and they were done as Ems' gift to Jeremy on his 18th birthday. Music is one of the things that they have always done together and Jeremy is a sound recording major so it was very fitting.

Next we have this one:

That one took a couple of sessions! It is on her upper back and it really looks striking with a backless garment!

Next we have this one:


And finally, the above art was augmented with this:

This was Ems' gift to herself for graduating from Graham Webb. The new work is more intensely colored but will match the older tat once it peels.

Bird swears that he is getting a heart with "Mom" on it. Oh boy! I can hardly wait!

You've heard the saying of wearing one's heart on their sleeve. My kids wear their "art" on theirs!

It is Mother's Day weekend and I am writing about my kids because without them, I wouldn't be a mother and I truly adore them! This is the first Mother's Day since my mom passed away. I think about her often and with the fondest of memories. I feel truly fortunate to have had the parents I had and I hope that my kids will feel the same way when they get older!

To all you Moms out there--Happy Mother's Day! Treat yourself to something special this weekend!

Bushism of the day:
"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." --George W. Bush, Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004

Kitty Cam: It's super Harley!