Does That Run on Biodiesel?

I think I've found my next vehicle. I mean, really, who wouldn't want to own their very own submarine? The old version of the submarine ride at Disneyland was one of my favorite rides (with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Haunted Mansion, later joined by Space Mountain. But I digress).



And, really, at only $699,000, it's not that expensive. Certainly less than a tall ship. Although, the main fuel for a tall sailing ship is a lot cheaper, at least until the powers that be find a way to start charging for wind (here in Chesapeake, we get a bill for the rain that falls each month).

Maybe I'll just have to get both.

The Crazy Chicken

This is an official report of an El Pollo Loco sighting in Virginia Beach. It's not open yet, but Al told me he could smell the chicken cooking, and there was a sign that said "Employee training" on the door.

Dreams do come true.



(If you're not familiar with El Pollo Loco, it's a California fast food chain, and one of my favorite restaurants ever. I'm really not the biggest fan of chain restaurants, but California fast food ROCKS, and I'd rather eat at El Pollo Loco than a lot of the fancy schmancy restaurants I've encountered in my life. The food is so, so good. Right up there with In-N-Out Burger.)

Goings-On, in Tens

1. We walked out of our house this afternoon to find the air thick with haze and smoke from the wildfires in North Carolina.

2. The smell of smoke reminds me of the West Coast.

3. It's been outrageously hot here this week, almost 100 (which is 10x10) degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), and huuuuuuuuuumid, which is really what makes me feel like melting. Yep, it might be hot on the West Coast, but it's a drrrrryyyy heat, and yep, that makes a difference (it really does, Walter).

4. My artwork has been going very well, so well, in fact, that in four weeks I'll become a full-time artist once again.

5. So you should see a lot more of me very soon.

6. And I actually have more than 10 tiny paintings to list in the next few days, so there will be lots to look at in the Interimaginational Institute.

7. My aunt and uncle were here last month and took me to see the map exhibit at the Walters Art Museum again. We hit traffic in D.C., though, so we only got to Baltimore an hour before the museum closed. Still, it was a terrific hour. The exhibit's last day was June 8, and I got to see it twice. And it all started thanks to that anonymous Dean.

8. Then we spent many more hours and many more dollars at Daedalus Books, one of the most fabulous places on earth -- imagine a lovely bookstore packed with magical books that are all at least half off -- and a place I wouldn't even know existed if it weren't for Anne. Thank you, forever, Anne.

9. Al and I saw "Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" this weekend. I loved it. Very well done. Truly like stepping into another world for two hours. Movie reviewing isn't my spec-ial-ity, because I'm not the most critical of movie watchers, but I thought the sets and photography were quite good, and I, always willing to suspend disbelief, a necessary skill in my line of work, also thought the not-so-human Narnians were charming and occasionally quite real-ish, as well. Especially cute... uh, I mean handsome... Reepicheep.

10. Both cats have finally learned to sit on command. I know. Sorry. I'm a bit tired and can't really think of anything more interesting than that. Although I do think it's pretty interesting that we taught our cats to sit, albeit only under the influence of bribery. But life should get a lot more interesting when I actually have time to pay attention. And isn't that the joy of blogging? Paying attention?

Insert Cheesy Title Here, Like...

"Ch...ch...ch...changes!"

or

"The Tides of Change"

or

"The Winds of Change"

or (my favorite)

"A Rolling Blog Gathers No Moss"

etc., etc.

My original intent in having two blogs was to keep business and personal life separate, but the truth is that I don't necessarily want to do that, as an artist. I'm actually doing my best to live an integrated, whole life. So I am combining my blogs, slowly moving posts from this one to The Radiogirl Reports, which will be my main place until I get a web site up and running. I know that it still isn't the good old Paint&Ink blog, but it seems to be the best solution for now - so many blogging friends visit me there, and I hesitate to move out of two blogs at once.

(I feel like I should send out change-of-address cards.)

I will leave the posts with comments here in duplicate, because I can't copy comments nor can I import them, and I will also leave the post about the starry table, since so many people seem to find their way to that one (makes me proud!) but from this point forth, please look to my other blog for new posts, as well as all of the posts from both blogs. It won't be an overnight change, but it is already about 30 percent done.

I look forward to seeing you over there!

Bees = Honey. Honey = Sweet. Sweet = Mom.

It's been busy, busy beehive around here, between day job and artwork and family visits and vet visits and art sales and so forth. I'm feeling a bit like a juggler with one arm tied behind her back.

But I just wanted to pop in to wish my mom, 2761 miles away, a very happy Mother's Day. I love you, Mom.