"How You Gonna Spend Your One, Free Life?"

OK people, bear with me. Yesterday I spent the day with my 94 y/o grandma, running a couple of errands and going out to lunch and taking her to get her hair done. It was a pretty nice day. Ordinarily I would have thrown my bike in the car and taken off to ride some long trail somewhere, just me and the iPod, but duty called.

She's having this weird foot issue where some valve is leaking somewhere and making blood pool in her foot & ankle and it's swelling and her no longer elastic skin is cracking etc. It looks pretty gross, hurts/itches, and she has to have an operation to fix it in about three weeks and she's super freaked out. She goes, "If it turns out they have to cut off my foot they'll just let me die right? They wouldn't do that to me would they?" That's how I would be thinking, and I'd be scared too.

For some reason she thinks I know a lot about stuff and listens to me. I tried to reassure her and go over some logic (?) of why she really needed to keep her foot elevated like the doctor told her until the procedure, showing her some different pillow configurations that don't make her knee hyper-extend etc., and how people who loose limbs usually have lack of circulation (?) and clearly she had blood flow to that area (?) so she probably didn't need to worry about that (?) and if she kept her foot above her heart like they told her, maybe some of the blood would drain back into her body and make the pressure/pain less (?). Seeing her face relax and feeling her giving me her stress made me happy I could help her in this way, illusory as it was.

Recently we rented this movie:



And this song keeps rolling around in my head, especially the Chorus, "I came to this world with nothing, and I'll leave with nothing but love. Everything else is just borrowed." It is a cool song. Give it a play if you have time.



When I saw the movie, it was interesting, cool. I think people's first reaction to stuff like this is a little defensive. Something in us goes, "A world without unique, irreplaceable me in it? What's the effing point?" But who hasn't thought about the "what if" scenario? Weirdly I found it comforting that the film concluded ultimately there will be no sign mankind has ever existed. Our entire human history will be erased eventually.

I happen to believe it isn't all over when we die. Energy can't be destroyed, just rearranged, so to me this news, combined with watching my grandma's parts wearing out, and the song mean one thing.

If you aren't having fun you are doing it wrong people.

If you are doing things that energize you, that you love, you carry the fire. People who are revved-up spread their vibes of awesomeness into the world. In the end, our experiences and connectivity are the only point of being here. The quest for stuff and legacy are blind alleys. Anyone know anything about their great great great grandparents? Their names even?

Plug into your life and the world and those you love. Make friends with people. Try new stuff. You get one ride, make it a good one. It's kind of the whole point.

Weird Thurs Too!

I figure I owe you a double shot of weirdness freakos. Enjoy this entry from buddy Linda who says, "Happy Easter!" It won't be a happy Easter for poor Electro Shock Gladys though, who has been taken into custody by the Easter Bunny Squadron of Doom.



Who knows what fate awaits her-- dipped in chocolate, filled with gross Cadbury fake raw egg concoction, peeped? What ever it is it won't be pretty.

It's a beautiful day, and almost Easter, which to some of you is a big deal, so here, this has an egg in it, and is all peppy. Enjoy. (Spreading joy and happiness people-- it's my thing.)

Weird Wed-- It's Back

Ok freaks, you've waited patiently during my double shifts phase and now, as promised, here are your weird and creepy dolls and assorted disturbia from the vault.

I don't know why weird dolls are so compelling, but clearly it's not "just me."

"What the... This better be some eff'd-up dream...."

Nurse Ratchet is watching you.

Oh, how quaint, except what's that up in the left corner-- Ahhk!

Mattel's Electro-Shock Edith doll was discontinued after only three months.

Hey, someone wrote another unauthorized biography of me...

Finally found that prom dress.

When woodland fairies party too much. Blurhg.

The McDoucherton family portrait. Says Matilda the plain sister on the right,
"I hate you m-effers. Especially you Tad, you arrogant shithead."

Pal Jamie getting ready to become one of Brother Abraham's four wives
and churn butter for God.

In other SueNews-- Still looking for Danger Girls & fantasizing about the dream bike ride over on other blog. No cleaning happened yesterday-- q'el suprise. Taking the bikes out on our favorite local loop tonight-- Wee!

Day Off

So yesterday was my first day off in ages. It was weird because I (as usual) pictured it being this mind blowing fun fest that involved some leaping around and maybe throwing papers into the air, but no. None of that actually happened. (Ok- on my run in the woods when no one was around there was a tiny amount of leaping, and one brief "woot-ing" incident with my arms shot above my head. Don't tell anyone.)

I basically took my sweet old time getting out of the house and went to a matinee and ate a small bag of m & m's for lunch. I saw "Adventureland" which I think is another Jud Aptow flick. It was interesting. Just me and three pairs of guys in the whole place, and it was dude-head-space central. It's always revealing to see how they write the girls-- they're so powerful and the guys are totally at their mercy, in constant pursuit. Even sixteen year old girls are like 40 y/o's in young hot bods-- completely in command and aware of their sexual powers. Like I said, interesting.

After that I went to Target and got a bunch of swimsuits for my annual masochistic swim suit try-on session. Thanks to all the running it was slightly less suicidal this year. I actually liked a couple of them. The rest-- back to the rack! When you spend as much time on rivers as I do (kayak) you need more than one suit.

Yeah, then I still was feeling a little restless and wound up and began fantasizing about all the potential fun I could have this summer, and thinking about me and Trusty Pam's convo about wishing we had more playmates, like a secret club or something, like when you were little and would make little clubs with codes and hand signals etc and get into all kinds of trouble together and I came up with THIS. If you know of any potential Danger Girls swing 'em our way.

Here are some of the pendants left over from the show. They're $6, chains are $5. I'll send them to you for $2 shipping. (Click pics for zoomed view)

Thank God there is finally someone giving a voice to these important causes.

Feelin’ a little sweary? These little effers let you get it all out, subtly. If you select any of these options, congrats—you are officially edgy now. Enjoy the disapproving looks of those who actually notice.
If you are having at least 30% more fun than normally permissible, the least you can do is warn others.
Are your exits often accompanied by a dismissive wave of the hand? This one could be for you my friend. There wasn't enough room for "Get lost do-gooders. Save your effin' breath!"

I also have a bunch of "pwn" ones.

FYI: PWN= 1. An act of dominating an opponent. 2. Great, ingenious; applied to methods and objects.
Originally dates back to the days of WarCraft, when a map designer misspelled "Own" as "Pwn". Pwn eventually grew from there and is now used throughout the online world, especially in online games.

I also have a bunch of "not scrd" which would be perfect for any Danger Girls out there.

They are coolest when combined. I'll happily hook you up with a pwntastic mix of shapes if you want.

That's it for now peeps. Today is domestic bliss day around here. grocery shopping, maybe some actual cooking, cleaning (ugh), getting sidetracked by anything shiny or weird because of how much I hate cleaing, etc etc. Perhaps it will yeild another archeoligical excavation. Stay tuned.

Here's how it all went down...

This is how my booth looked at the show yesterday (Sat.).
(Thanks Lynn-- for taking pics.)

If you are here because you mistakenly took a card from this box...

Instead of this box... (click to zoom)

We'll just take a brief break from our regular programing while you safely exit to my art website (link in upper right corner under "Looking for my artwork?") Hmm hmm hmm (random humming and whistling..., maybe some muzak)

OK. If you're still here welcome. What you get on this here blog is the completely unvarnished version of me, often with extra sauce, so if you're down with that-- cool!

Yesterday after I got home I was still really exhausted. Shows are grueling because loading up is always super physical and I have to do it all by myself and is usually a fiasco because my stuff doesn't fit neatly into anything so there's all this foam padding involved and things get damaged etc. Then there is the unloading and set up, more strenuous hoopla involving Dan (thank God), and then the next day I have to get all gussied-up and be really up all day and also not eat or take a break because it's just me there all day long, after which I get to tear it all down and reload and tote everything home. So it's always a long weekend.

Last night I was feeling a little crabby about the pile of money I wanted to roll around on not being as cushy as usual. There will be no private jet shopping-- or, you know, shopping of any kind, in my immediate future. The money I made was all the hard way, 5 & 6 & 20 bucks at a time instead of the 5 to 8 hundred dollar chunks I've grown accustomed to. I've been a little spoiled by shows that sell out almost before they open, and always doing really well. Times is tough now though. It's all different.

Here's some cool stuff that happened at the show:

Some friends showed up who have absolutely no money, just to be supportive and come see the goods and say hi. (showin' the love-- yay)

Some client/friends came by and bought a few things, probably mostly to just be supportive and say hi. (more sue-love-- all good! Thanks!!)

One new friend, and one old friend bought more significant pieces, because the art resonated with them, and they wanted to support me as an artist. (How lucky am I to have such cool friends?)

One couple who I've seen around at shows told me they've been wanting a piece of mine for 10 years. Now that I had some recession priced stuff they were able to afford something they both really loved. (Awesomeness!) (They got the piece on the ground next to the lit shelves in the shot of my whole booth-- a wall piece I just finished fri before loading.)

Some people stopped by to tell me about things they've bought from me in the past, and how much they're enjoying them, or to show me to their husband/wife/sister--whoever was the recipient of a gift made by me at some point, and they told me how much they love it. (Super cool.)

No less than 3 retired welders got dragged to this thing by their wives who said stuff like, "I was a welder for thirty years, and I have to tell you, I could never do that." They went on to tell me how cool they thought my stuff was, one or two things anyway (everyone liked the horses) and talk welding and admire my over-all welding pwnation. (I eat this stuff up with a spoon. Welder-love is for some reason especially sweet, probably because it feels like reaching between two worlds.)

Now I'm looking ahead. If you do what I do, you have to roll with it. What next? What will I do different next time? What's coming up I can capitalize on? What other venues might I try? I already know of a few things that cost me sales probably. Hindsight is 20/20. Most people say that regretfully, but if it's 20/20 you're kind of a dumbass if you don't learn from it. Learning is good- valuable.

Tons to think about, process, and plan. One thing that is going to change immediately is my pace. My life has been non-stop overtime for two months and I'm fried. I've blown off family and friends and myself (eating crap, not sleeping, wearing out my parts). That isn't conducive to making this life livable. When it becomes joyless, your art is eff'd.

Today running, relaxing, vegging with Dan. Tomorrow-- ????

Show Time!

If you live in the Twin Cities area what are you doing tomorrow? It's going to be kind of crappy weather anyway, so all the cool people will of course be at my art show down at Burroughs School (50th & Minnehaha Pkwy- S. Mpls.) Come down and say hi.

Here's some garden fish I whipped up. Love the color.

And here's how the rockin' ball chain necklaces came out. I'm pretty psyched about them. the chains are just $5, and all the components are $6 ea. There are colorful metal shapes...

Tags with little words and messages stamped into them...

& Bike gear pendants (these = super cool people)...

But the real fun happens when you mix them together to create your own personal mojo-tastic mix! See all the goods at the link to my art blog up on the right.

Baw, wayw, wayw (rock chord at you people-- coolio.)

Today is going to be nice out-- yay-- nothing says suck like loading in a show in 40 degree sleety weather like last time. I'm going to be finishing off this one wall piece I'm liking pretty well so far, then loading up and heading out. I'm for sure getting a run in first though. Today will be a major back challenge day and I have to be in fightin' form.

I've been starting to fantasize about a couple days off next week. I haven't had a day off in over two months now. I picture myself throwing a bunch of papers in the air and running from the house a-la last day of school or something. Stay tuned.

Let's Get The Flock Out Of Here!

Fat bodied birds you make my rockin' world go 'round. Garden birds are now pwn'd. Cute huh?

I like 'em. I'm thinking $20. Try finding anything decent at an art show for $20. Recession pricing people. I always try to have one or two really inexpensive items at this show. Power to the people baby.

Some of you are into the weldy details, so I'll tell you-- to weld this paper thin stuff you have to break every rule. The glob of molten steel you usually DON'T want on the end of your gun replaces the material that burns away the second you contact it, and you have to back off as you weld. You have to hold the gun way off, like an inch away, and pull back as you finish.

No matter what you won't get the prettiest welds on this super thin rusty steel, but-- that's wut I'm talkin' 'bout. That is pretty darn pwn'd. (You can click to zoom)

This might be the last snow of the year. Everyone is sick to death of winter by now, but it was pretty this morning. No denying it.

In other SueNews: Today is me and Dan's other anniversary-- You probably remember this post from last Oct, but we did live together for about 10 years before taking the plunge. So today is our original anniversary that marks the giant make-out session that began our "You are not the boss of me" (eye roll) (sigh) "I know." (secretly thinks they are the total boss) relationship.

For a quick review, with over half of relationships failing, what is the secret to staying a power pair for 25 years? Here's what we think (yes, I actually asked Dan, so some of these are his answers.)

1) Pick right in the first place. It's not going to work unless both people's idea of what they want their life to look like matches up.

2) Mostly it's a firm decision you make in your mind. When the escape clause is off the table, stuff HAS to be worked out. You have to be in it to win it.

3) Be the other person's safe place. No betrayals-- ever. No belittling their dreams. No looking for every little thing "wrong".

4) Laugh and goof around as much as possible. Life is supposed to be fun.

5) Get a life. The other person isn't there to complete you-- that's your job. You share the lives you have. Stay plugged in.

6) Look around every once in a while and appreciate how sweet you have it. No matter what's going on there is always some stuff to feel lucky about-- notice that stuff. Don't dwell on all the stuff that's not ideal.

It was fun talking about this with Dan because he's not a huge introspection guy. We continue to be mostly on the same page. I picked good.