New Year, Better Year?

I guess you can all tell it's been a while since I've posted. The last couple of years have been very busy for me and have cut into my creative time.

I got promoted at work.
I got psoriatic arthritis.
I got leukemia.

I'm now president of my company. Equals more work, more stress and more responsibilities. Not much more pay. Why did I take it you ask. I've been here a long time and this company feels like home, so of course I will step up and do what is necessary to take care of all my "family" members here.

Now I will admit the psoriatic arthritis was a bummer. It was hard and painful to move and took about a year to get it under control, but hey what's one more challenge in life.

Ok, the leukemia. Not a diagnosis you want to get, but if you have to have it them I am lucky that it is CLL. Which is Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It is a slow progressive leukemia and I will probably live another 20 years before it finally takes me, so not gonna worry about it now. 20 years is a long time off.

So they time I have been able to squeeze in creative expression time has been spent on crocheting. I have been making some fun thing and some useful things.  I hope to put some of them on as I get them done. I am doing a crochet along with women from all over the world. It is interesting and fun. 
Here is a picture of the hat I made for my son for Christmas.

I hope 2015 will be a better and more creative year for me and for all of you.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas or whatever Holiday you celebrate this time of year,

Hello all. No I did not fall off the face of the earth, although you might think so from the length of time between my posts. I got pneumonia early November and an just now getting well again. The second half of my semester at College went by in a blur, but even so I did manage to struggle through.

If your interested in my final project for my web design class you can see it for a couple more weeks at
http://mat.miracosta.edu/MAT125_Faulk_Wed/Studentwork/Vicks_Colette/Project3/   I really enjoyed the class and need to get busy redesigning Tallyrand's website.

My Gerontology class was very interesting and useful. Once I got over the shock of being considered an "Older Adult" I learned a lot that should help me if Mom ever comes to live with me. Or I ever need to find a place to live when I get to be in the "Old old" group of adult

I joined a gym. I go every weekday morning. Now you might be thinking..."wow, the next time I see her she will be skinny." I wouldn't worry about that too much. I'm loosing about 1 lb per month. Seems exercise makes me hungry. I usually put in a half hour on the treadmill or on an bicycle first. Then I go to the machine that they call the "Beauty Angel". You stand inside with light shinning on you and the plate under your feet shakes. I turn the fan all the way up and my hair is blowing all over the place, my whole body is jiggling and wiggling. It is pretty funny. Good thing it is in a private room where no one can take a video. They say it will tone, tighten, and target cellulite. We will see if it does that, but for now it is fun and the easiest 12 minutes of exercise I've ever done.

Happiness and Health to all!
CK

Technology advise

We have become so dependent on technology that when the server at work went down it brought the company to a crashing halt. This company ran for twenty years without technology. There are ways to do everything needed without a computer program. There are many things done in a company that does not take the computer. I had to remind everyone here that they could work on those things while waiting on the computer to be fixed.

It's great to learn and use technology, but we need to remember how to do things the old fashioned way too. I think this apples to many things in our lives. Think how this applies to you and take steps to learn the old ways, so that you are not useless when and if your technology crashes.

Okay that is my advise for the week.

 That being said......I LOVE my web design class. I really enjoy writing code and seeing pictures, colors, words appear right where I told them to be.  If anyone knows of someone looking to have their web site upgraded or a new one created, give them my name and email.

Love to all
CK

It's Friday, woo hoo...For some reason all morning the song lyrics "Time keeps on slippin, slippin, into the future" keeps running through my mind. Time is such a relative thing. When I was a teenager I thought it would never pass and now it seems to fly by. No mater how much I do or all the things I try to squeeze into a day there just never seems to be enough time. But no one can say I'm not making the most of the time I have. work, school, gym and volleyball. Just gotta find time for some creativity. It's been calling to me lately.
Maybe I will start a new drawing this week or finish a quilt I've got already started, but not finished or maybe I'll make a few pieces of jewelery. Decisions, decisions.....

Time.........keeps on slippin......

Make the most of the time you have....
Til later,
CK

Finally

Anyone following me knows I've joined a gym to loose weight.......well finally my scales show a 4 lb loss....Wooo whoooo......pretty soon I'll look like this:

LOL.....Well maybe not exactly like that, but at least it's a start!!

Have a great day,

The literally starving artist...CK

Alex

This is Alex. His hair is shorter now, but basically this is my son. He is 14 almost 15 and going through his teen years with all the trials and tribulations associated with adolescence. As his mother I would so like to make life easier for him, but know I have to let him spread his wings and deal with most things on him own.

Those of you who have raised kids know what I am talking about. Those of you who are young, just remember, it gets better.

My goodness, two posts in one day, I must be sick...
CK

New Gym

Ok, I have officially completed one week of exercising in the gym. I go every morning for a half hour and then another half hour in the afternoon. I went with Alex (my 14 year old son) on Saturday and we worked out for an hour. I usually walk on treadmill in morning and bicycle in afternoon. On Saturday Alex and I tried out several of the machines. I am more sore from the machines than from anything else. I got on one machine that Alex had to help me get off of. I told him we need to learn the sign for help, in case it happens again. It was embarrassing to have to holler for help, so I just kept using the machine til I finally caught his eye and got him to come over. He of course thought it was terribly funny. Guess which muscles are the sorest...hehehe

No weight loss yet, but I'm gonna stick with it.....

I'm sure Alex is sore too. I can leg press over 400 lbs. He got on it with the intention of showing me up. I was impressed. He made it to 295 lbs and he has chicken legs.


Til later
CK

Exercise time

Soooo...I saw this pic of myself at my nieces wedding and as soon as the new gym opened by my work I signed up. I'm almost done with my first week of working out 30 minutes morning and night. Add that to the 3 hour volleyball workouts on the weekend and you would think I would be dropping the weight.....Guess I have to have patience. So far I have gained 4 pounds....what's up with that???

I'm gonna stick to it and maybe some day you will get to see a skinny picture of me....Don't hold your breath though. As you can see from the pic it will be a while.

BTW a costume wedding was awesome! Had I know what I was gonna look like in a Dark Fairy Godmother costume I might have rethought my choice. :)

Have a wonderful week!
CK

Brighter Week

Hello Anyone who actually reads this. ;)

I'm having a better week. Got my car back, hopefully for good. Still unemployed though. Sure hope my company gets some orders in so that I can go back to work. Family is good. I'm taking a web design
class in college this semester, also a gerontology course. Enjoying both. My latest web pages are up
Latest web design . Feel free to look if you like. It is about my pet turtle.

Because of my Gerontology class I learned about Senior Olympics. Researching that I found out about a local women's volleyball team. I had my first practice with them this weekend. Learned a couple of new things:

1.  I am so rusty that here are holes in the rust. I stunk.....I can only get better.
2. It is still a blast to play. I really enjoyed myself even if I was huffing and puffing and was sore for three days after.

I can't wait to play. Just hope the other team members don't ask me to stay home. If they chose teams I would definitely be the last one picked. I know this, but am determined to get better.

Oh, Nick if you read this I talked to my Dr yesterday and he said it is perfectly fine for me to play. Thanks for caring.

Love to all!!
C

Me again

OK, this starving artist thing officially sucks!! Laid off at work, car repossessed. I'd say my week couldn't get any worse, but then it probably would. You'd think okay, now she has time to draw and paint, but between trying to figure out how to get my kids where they need to be and looking for a job, there seems to be no free time.

On a positive note, I have been asked to join a senior volley ball team..Woo-who . I love volleyball. I just have to figure out how to get to the practices and games....Any seniors (50+) out there reading this, check into senior games in your area and get involved. According to what I am learning in my Gerontology class staying active and continually learning helps to keep mind and body young and dementia free.

Stay young and I hope you are having a better week than I am.

CK

Check in time

Time to check in again.
The summer was great. I did a lot of traveling. Back home now and back in school.
I am taking web design and gerontology. I really enjoying both classes. Web design is fun. Gerontology is the study of seniors. It was depressing to find out that I am considered a senior. I certainly do not feel like a senior. Last week we took a survey on aging and it told me that my life expectancy, based on the answers to the survey, was 92. I can live with that. I have a long ways to go yet.

 I also found out about Senior Olympics and have managed to find a local volleyball team that competes in competitions. I will be joining them for the competitions that start in January....Yeah!!! I can't wait. I have always loved sports and when I gave them up to raise my children I thought I would never get a chance to compete again. Now I will. A new gym is opening up in October right next to my work. I joined so that I can start getting in shape.

If anyone would like to check out a web site I designed for my class here is the link.
http://mat.miracosta.edu/MAT125_Faulk_Wed/Studentwork/Vicks_Colette/Exercise4/

Take care all.

CK

Dear Diary

It's official. I am only writing to myself. Even my kids have given up checking my blog. Guess I'm not that interesting. It's my own fault I know. Should write every day, but the truth is I just can't get motivated lately. I want to draw, but can't think of a subject. Would write, but what to say. Maybe it is just because it is summer and I would rather be outside. Go to get my grandkids next week. They will keep me busy, but can't use them as an excuse for not drawing since I haven't been drawing while they were gone.

If anyone reads this, please give me a suggestion of what would be an interesting summer drawing. Something they would like to see on paper.

I guess with all the photos out there it sometimes seems pointless to draw for any reason other than my own enjoyment. Maybe that is the secret. Find something I enjoy to draw, then maybe others will like it too.  I just have to get past that blank page. I find it so intimidating. Once I get started I love what I'm doing.

Dear diary, since no one reads this it would seem pointless to ask them to pray for me, so  I guess I will just have to pray for inspiration myself.

Having a down day,
CK

Its Friday and my goal this weekend is to drawing something new. Don't yet know what it will be, but looking forward to creating something pleasing to look at.

Don't give up on me there will be something new to see soon.
CK

You can leave comments now

For anyone who tried to leave a comment but couldn't, I think I have fixed that problem. So, feel free to try to leave a comment again.

I look at all the artist online and wonder how I could even compete with what is already out there. There are so many artists, most of whom are much better than I am. Guess I better keep my day job.

This doesn't mean I'm planning on stopping, just haveing a slump right now. Those of you who like my work, don't give up. There will be more added.

CK

Obnoxious Teens

Hello,
OK for those of you waiting for my next drawing, it got stalled. For anyone new to my site, Please check out the tabs above to see my drawings.

About the new drawing I promised....I lost my inspiration. I was going to draw my 15 year old daughter, but then she skipped class, we got into huge argument over it and I have not felt like staring at her face for long hours in order to draw it. Have been doing a lot of spring cleaning instead.

My mom told me that God makes teenagers obnoxious so that you won't miss them so much when they are gone. I just pray he has given me enough the patience to last that long.

I'll get back to drawing soon....so please check back..
CK

Coming soon

Don't give up on me, I'm still working on it.

New Drawing coming soon

Ok, back to work. I have started my first drawing post classes. I am doing a negative portrait of my daughter Shaquanda. I'll put it here as soon as I finish, so expect it sometime next week.

Wish me good luck, this may be an experiment in failure.

CK

Pic of holiday

Hello Everyone,

Back from a wonderful vacation visiting with most of my children. I got some wonderful ideas for some drawings. Hope I can make them look as good on paper as they do in my mind.

Won't bore you with my vacation pictures, well maybe with just one. Hope you all had a great Memorial Day Weekend and a big Thank You to all the military out there who help to keep us safe.

Look Mom, no hands. :)

CK

Memorial Day

No new pictures, just wanted to say I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day. I am off to visit my son up in the Fresno area of California. I am very excited, have not seen him in a while. We plan of movie watching, swimming, boating and just generally enjoying ourselves.

I hope you all have a fun filled weekend planned.


If anyone is interested in me doing a portrait of them or their kids, please let me know.
CK

Summer bread begins

Good Morning,

Nothing new to put on this site today. My class if finished and I already miss it. Will start a new drawing tonight. If anyone has a special request of what they would like to see drawn, just respond to this post with a comment and I will see what I can come up with. If anyone would like a picture similar to the one of Alex as small child and then as he is now, I would like the challenge of drawing more portraits, so just let me know and we can work it out.Also if anyone would like a portrait of themselves as a gift for a family member, or just cause they would like one, I would love to accept the challenge.

I am traveling to the Fresno CA area for the memorial day weekend, so doubt there will be any posts, but it is possible there will be. Be sure to check back and check out the fun we plan on having.

Take Care!!
CK