Rock and roll, baby!!

OK, it's been a while. I know...I'm a baaaaad blogger. But THIS - well, this was enough to draw me back into the blogosphere just so I could share it with all of you (that is, if there are any of YOU left after such a long absence!). When I first saw the organ, I thought "Oh, here we go. It's probably going to be some early 90's tinny midi version of the song that we used to get as ring tones for those giant cell phones we had back then (that all the cool kids called 'car phones')." But then...oh, then...I gave it a listen and WOW!! This kid can ROCK!! The only folks that could do it better is Kansas themselves. But don't take my word for it! Put on your dancin' shoes and rock on brothahs and sistahs!!

My Hero!!

I've just GOT to tell you about the amazing week (well, TWO, actually!) going on at the Hero Arts Blog and website!! They're totally revamping their web appearance, and as part of the celebration there will be challenges, giveaways with DOUBLE the prizes, plenty of extra techniques, sneak peeks of CHA goodies, and so much more. Here's what they said on their blog today:

Welcome to our BIG week here at Hero Arts! We are so excited - we have SO much to share with you each day. Go ahead and take a moment to add to your calendar to “check Hero Arts” every day this week. It will be worth it. There will be DOUBLE prizes, games, ideas, giveaways and more! And Wednesday is the BIG DAY - the launch of many fun new things here at Hero Arts.

This week we are celebrating our new website, but stick around because next week we will start showing some peeks of our new stamps coming out at CHA in a couple weeks. So much excitement!

So, make sure you check in with Hero Arts every day over the next couple of weeks. You'll be so glad you did!!

Things That Go "Bump" in the Dark

"Rolling Around In My Head" is a wonderful blog that I read almost daily. The author, Dave, is a big guy in a wheelchair, so in that sense we have a lot in common. He has been around the disability community as an educator and advocate long before he became disabled, and in that regard has much he can teach me. Today's post, however, reminded me of an incident that happened to me several months ago. I was stunned when it happened, and every time I think about it I find myself questioning whether I could have handled it differently.

Tom had dropped me and Joe off at the theatre. We got our tickets and snacks, headed in, and settled into the specifically marked off 'handicapped' area in the last row. There is a large empty spot where I can park my chair, next to several 'regular' seats so that I can sit with my companion(s). This particular theatre is fairly well designed to accommodate, and so far I've never had a problem there. I should also mention here that I have reflective tape on several parts of my wheelchair, so that I can be seen even in a dark theatre (although usually my size alone is enough to make sure that I'm rarely overlooked). Part way through the movie, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that a man from nearer the front was making his way to the back exit. His path would take him directly behind my chair. I paid little attention, since people are often coming and going during a movie. Suddenly, I was violently jolted and immediately realized that the man had bumped into the back of my chair. He had walked directly into one of the hand grips that extend off the back...the ones completely wrapped in reflective tape. In spite of the combined weight of me and the chair, and the fact that it was locked in the 'off' position, I was actually shifted several inches to the right. He kept right on going, I wasn't too badly shaken, and I assumed that he was OK as well. End of story...or so I thought. A few minutes later, I sensed a face leaning over my shoulder from behind. I turned, and found myself looking directly into the face of the man who had run into my chair. For some completely unknown reason, I thought that he was perhaps going to apologize, or at least see if I was OK after such a jolt. Instead, I heard a growling voice say, "You damn near turned me into a soprano!" As I began to realize that my mouth was hanging open, he was gone. I totally lost the next 10 minutes of the movie, trying to figure out what had just happened. I was not moving, I was well marked, HE bumped into ME, and now he was angry at me. What's up with THAT??? To make matters worse, once the movie was over and people were filing out, I overheard part of a conversation between him and his companion. Since getting my chair, it's become my practice that when I attend a movie, I wait until nearly everyone else has left the theatre. That way, I can be sure of a clear path, and stand less of a chance of hitting anyone or running over any toes. I'm a patient person, and this works for me. However, in this case it worked against me. I heard him say "Right there in the wheelchair...yeah, that's her." I wanted desperately to have a few words with him, but the sea of people between us made it impossible. And as confrontational as I was feeling at that moment, I just couldn't bring myself to shout across the crowd.

As much as I hate to admit it, the incident spoiled the evening for me. I went home with very mixed emotions. Part of me was thinking "I'm so big and useless, I just always seem to be in the way no matter what I do." But the more rational side of me was angry. Angry that the man had been so rude, angry that I didn't have the opportunity to say anything to him, and angry that I have to face these idiotic challenges when I'm just trying to do something as simple as going to a movie. What should I have done? What could I have done? If anyone from the disabled community is reading this, I'd love your input. Have you ever been faced with something similar? How did you handle it?

I still go to movies, and nothing like this has happened since. But I still cringe, just a little, whenever I see someone heading towards me in a darkened theatre.

Playing For Change: Song Around the World "Stand By Me"

Without a doubt, this video demonstrates Music, Technology, and Humanity at it's very, very best.

My Kingdom for a....pink marker?

I've got quality cardstock and DP. I've got quality stamps (a shout out to Unity - Hey!). I've got my brand new Flowersoft, and I know how to use it. And I've got loads of ideas and inspiration from the 4,829 crafting blogs I read every day. What am I missing? A decent set of coloured pencils, or markers, or crayons. It never fails; I plan a card or layout in my head, gather my materials, proceed to assemble it, and I'm missing...THAT colour. The exact pink for the bunny ears. The right shade of blue for the cafe awning. The palest gray for just a 'hint' of a shadow. It doesn't matter what the image is, I will be missing at least one key shade of something or other. As you can see on this card (left) everything has that 'washed-out' look. I see the picture in my head, but I just can't recreate it with the tools at hand.

So...what's a gal to do? Run right out and purchase the entire set of Copics? A-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAA...I wish. Or maybe I don't; that's a lot of money to spend on markers. On the other hand, if I HAD said set...and as God is my witness...

I'd never go un-gray again!!

(Channelling my inner Scarlett O'Hara - I'm sorry.)

There is, though, one other option. I could WIN some Copics. Not the entire set you understand, but a really good start to my collection. And who just might be generous enough to actually be giving away a 72-piece set of Copics? The folks over at Crafty Goings On, that's who! Take a look at this set (right). Wouldn't you just love to get your hands on that? Yup - me too!! I've browsed their blog, and the shop, and it's pretty great. Why don't you hop on over and take a look for yourself? Maybe you'll even try your hand at winning this unbelievable blog candy. Hundreds of crafters have already signed up. The more, the merrier, right?


(Wait...what am I doing? If they enter and win, then I won't be able to win. Hmmm...)

Okay, let's do this. If I win, I'll send you a lovely card. But if YOU win...can I borrow the pink?

Easter Goodies!

Just take a look at this chock-full-of-goodness blog candy being offered over at Phoenix Crafts!

I've only recently discovered this blog, but Jennifer is one talented lady!

Be sure to look around, and become a follower. You'll be inspired!

Oh, Baby!

...is the name of a brand new adorable set of stamps over at Starving Artistamps. There's something for everyone in this shop, and if you hurry, you just might be eligible for some tasty BLOG CANDY!!!

Staring Contest, Anyone?

I don't know how drug addicts do it. It's not natural. Pinching a portion of your flesh, so that you can ram a needle into it and inject a substance, is just not something we were meant to do. In fact, we humans have a built in protection for just such occasions - it's called panic. And while I had thought that most of my 'fight or flight' response had died off with most of my hormones, I've discovered that a noticeable amount of the 'flight' response is still alive and well and living in my body. It's in my head, where past experience tells me that needles hurt, where new knowledge tells me that this time it won't because the needle is so incredibly fine, and where my sense of self-preservation tells me that either way, it's necessary if I want to live. It also resides in my stomach, where the butterflies congregate every time I pick up the syringe, where the muscles tense and un-tense in a desperate attempt to find the best position for the least pain (y'know, just in case), and where the ultimate target of said syringe is metaphorically painted in bright red.

I'm not afraid of needles. I'm really not. When they are in the hands of someone in a white coat, whose fingers move with the confidence gained from years of practice, I'm quite relaxed. It's quick, usually pain-free (or nearly), and I don't have to watch. Easy peasy.

But therein lies the problem: watching. In the past, I've always turned my head. From the time I was a child, any time I had to have a poke, whether they were putting something in or taking something out - I turned my head. If I didn't see the actual moment that the point touched my skin, it somehow wasn't real. And by the time I realized there was an unpleasant sensation in my arm (or wherever), they were removing the offending object. All done. I no longer have that luxury. Having begun a new medication that must be injected once a week, I have had to learn to LOOK. I can't turn my head. I can't pretend that nothing's going to happen until it's almost over. I can't entrust my safety and comfort to the hands of someone that's supposed to be doing these things. It's all in my hands - literally.

But I suppose, much of life is the same, isn't it? We get by by not looking. We don't pay attention, hoping that by doing so the thing we fear will just fade away. We grab that extra 20 minutes of sleep in the morning, knowing that the boss will be loud and red when we arrive, but for that blissful 20 minutes we turn our head. It's not real. If we don't look at it, it won't happen. And then it does. And do we learn from it? Some of us do, some of us do it again next week. We see the flashing light on the dashboard, or hear that funny noise from the left-rear, and we turn our head. It'll go away. It will probably sound fine when I take it to the mechanic anyway, so why bother? And then it breaks. Leaving us stranded somewhere, hopefully with a charged cell phone. And we are forced to LOOK. Pay attention. When something is unpleasant, our natural tendency is to look away, but sometimes we just can't. The thing must be faced.

I've been instructed. I've been given the appropriate supplies. I have everything I need, except...confidence? acceptance? compliance? All of the above. So far, I've faced it three times. I will probably face it every week for the rest of my life. And every time I do, a couple less butterflies show up to the party. Will I ever adjust? Will this ever seem 'normal'? Probably not. But at least I will learn to face it - gradually, with practice, gaining confidence. The thing will not go away, but I can learn to do a damn fine job of staring it down.

Blog Candy

I've been hopping along with the Unity mega-hop, and stumbled into a great blog called "Olde Country Creations". The blog itself is so pretty, and is this girl talented!! Please take a moment to visit, and while you're there be sure to sign up for her awesome give-away!