Peep night-light

Vegas geranium

A little belief goes a long way

Hard to hear

Today I was at the studio and my mentor was there, working. She is the one who rented this warehouse and got the artists together. She is a very good, very prolific artist by the name of Kalani Engles.

She told me today that I was wasn't working hard enough. It was hard to hear, but I know it is true.

Coach John Wooden said, "Never mistake activity for achievement". I am taking that to heart now. I often have a lot of activity in my life and not the achievement I want. It is time for me to focus on this.

Laughter

I was just reading about Maya Angelou and how she believes that laughter is the most healing of all the emotions. Soon afterwards, Jess sent me this video.

Open Studios coming soon!

This weekend I will be in my studio most of the time. I am preparing for my first Open Studios.

I am very excited about this. I share a studio with 12 other artists and we are all participating. My link for this event is here.

Here's to everyone having an awesome weekend!

Where am I?

Besides my watch and earrings, this is what I found on my nightstand, in my hotel room this morning:

- bottle of water (thank god)
- a used pack of playing cards from Hooters (gag gift for someone)
- a glowstick
- lipgloss tin (new) given to me by a bathroom attendant (to whom I gave a $1. tip)
- a receipt for $16 for one (ONE) red bull & vodka

How late did the red bulls and vodka allow me to stay up? 5AM. A first, for me.

p.s. Follow up from Jay's sister, who is studying to become a nurse...Red bulls and vodka are apparently very bad for your kidneys, as they have to work twice as hard to process the alcohol and caffeine. Thanks lil' Mo.

Photo shoot for Garage in our garage

Product photo shoot of tiki mugs
for Garage Magazine

Running for election circa 1985

SPEECH
Jamie Welsh running for PUBLIC RELATIONS
Jr. Class

Hi! I'm Jamie Welsh and I'm running for Public Relations. First, I'd like to explain what a public relations officer does. Her job is to promote enthusiasm, spirit, and excitement to her classmates. She advertises for different things like activities, fund raisers, and bake sales. She makes announcements, and helps her fellow officers with anything they might need.

This may not sound like a very important job but it really is. We need more spirit and enthusiasm in our school and in our class and I think I am capable of promoting this.

I am open-minded and am always making suggestions and I feel that I get along really well with my classmates, faculty, and moderators; (pause) which is extremely important to be an officer.

Although we didn't have a public relations officer last year, I really think we need one for our Junior Year especially with Intramurals, fund raisers and PROM coming up. I have been in the Spanish club and Spirit club for the past two years and I've been in many committees.

I really feel I am capable of doing a good job. So remember - vote for me - Jamie!

I vividly remember making this speech to my classmates and how my voice was trembling. I tried to get out of doing the speech because I was the only one who ran for PR officer in my class that year. The powers that be at SSA made me do it anyway. I think I held some pretty good bake sales.

Nice streaming

KCSM, 91.1 FM
This is a great little jazz station broadcasting from College of San Mateo, CA. You've got your iPod and iTunes and all that, however this is nice.

How about a little Aloha for your day? Hawaiian Rainbow

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself ~

~ To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

~ To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

~ To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

~ To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

~ To think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best.

~ To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

~ To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

~ To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

~ To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticise others.

~ To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

This is typed on a 3x4 card with fancy lettering and green and orange art deco styled trim and corners. Found tucked in an old book that a family member purchased at a thrift store.

Getting my swim on

This is where I swam in Florida for 2 days on my recent business trip. I swam 30 minutes strong each day and I felt it each day following. I felt great. I could feel all of the stress I collect in my shoulders being worked out, stretched out. It reawakened that passion for swimming I have and I made it my mission to find a pool nearby when I got home.

Well by and by I found one, and to my delight it is only 5 minutes away from my office. The pool membership I chose came with a Masters swim membership. I never thought I could join a Masters swim program, as I've never been on a swim team and I'm not fast. As it turns out, all levels can join. The slower folks just swim accordingly, in the farthest lane. As time goes by, you will swim in that next lane over, and the next one...

5 years ago, at a particular VC firm where I worked, I used my lunch break to swim or ride my bike. After that job, lunches (and other times for exercise) went downhill. At my next job, I was very inspired by the controller. He is a Master swimmer and swam 4 days a week during lunch, without fail. He almost went to the Olympics for swimming, which is probably why I thought I couldn't be in a program like that. He always came back refreshed and would make sandwiches with a lot of pepper on them. Hi Ken.

Today was the best lunch break I've had in 5 years. I got in a lane, saw that the other swimmers were warming up and I followed. At the other end of the wall the coach noticed I was new and we introduced ourselves. In a very coach-y voice he said, "Have you been in a masters swim program before? No? How about a swim team? No? Have you swam much? Where are your goggles?"

I told him that I just really like swimming and would get some goggles soon! He put me to the test. He said, "I want you to do 100". I said I didn't know what that meant. OK that means 4 laps. And was I relieved when he told me that one lap is just from one end to the other. (I think 1 lap can be there and back if it's a shorter pool - 25 yds vs 50 yds maybe)?

He said I did very well and that I could stay in the lane I was in, which was 2nd from the slowest lane. Great! So for an hour, I swam with another woman and I did a 200 (8 laps), a 250 (10 laps) and some drills. One of these drills I had to see how many breaths I took during one lap. He does an exercise with the folks called 3,2,1,0. The first lap you can take 3 breaths...last lap none. I took 4 breaths, then got it down to 2. I did that by remaining very calm.

During the very last 5 minutes, he had me do another 100 and timed me. By that time I was TIRED and my time was 2 minutes, 40 seconds. In other words, extremely slow. He said that was about the same time "they" swim, pointing to the swimmers in the slow lane. I am to get in that slow lane tomorrow. But he assured me, in no time would I be able to improve. I'm stoked.

Coffee talk this morning

I was writing an e-mail to a new friend and noticed her e-mail address was gymboree.com. I said to Jay, "Oh, she works at Gymboree". He said, "What kind of place is that"? I said, "I think it's something to do with kids, like clothing...or wait, maybe it's one of those places where kids play". Jay responded, "Wouldn't it be funny if it was a place for kids to play where everything was all wrong? A place where,

-All of the crayons are broken and dirty
-All of the games have missing components, like missing dice...
-All of the blocks are made of rough timber
-None of the balls have any air
-All the pillows and blankets are wet for them to take their naps".

"Good coffee, Jay".

Quick and Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Quick & Easy Chicken Enchiladas

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 cup salsa
• Taco seasoning or cumin
  
• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast meat
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, drained (or pinto if you prefer)
  
• 6 (6 inch) flour tortillas
• 2 cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese (orange and white)
• 1 can enchilada sauce
• Toppings (see #7 below for ideas)

1. Cook your chicken with a little taco seasoning or cumin, then shred it (the 2 fork method is easy).
   
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. Pour 1/2 of the can of enchilada sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
4. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream cheese (6 oz is actually enough) and salsa. Cook, stirring until melted and well blended. Stir in chicken and black beans. Fill tortillas with the mixture, roll and place into the prepared baking dish.
   
5. Pour remaining 1/2 of enchilada sauce on top of tortillas, then spread cheese all over. Cover with aluminum foil.
   
6. Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through.
   
7. Garnish with your favorite toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, black olives, jalepeno peppers, sour cream, cilantro...

Tips: There will likely be some of the filling left after rolling the tortillas. Have some tortilla chips on hand for your dude to dip with, while waiting for the enchiladas to cook. Good with beer or red wine and a big salad.

Also, I don't know if any of you were like me and thought, "Weird - cream cheese?" but, very OK.

A rainy Saturday

At the di Rosa Preserve, Napa

Ed and Kate

Scanning the playground

Linda Mar, Pacifica
Photo by Jay Watson