and request your expert assistance on a topic about which I know little, but I am having to learn.
P has ear wax issues. It is often clumpy and dry. It tends to be profuse. And for a big guy, he has little ears, for what that matters.
Last Saturday as we frolicked in the pool, P pulled up and began wagging his ear. This continued all evening and we realized that it was clogged, perhaps with pool water inside.
His normal means if treatment is a Q-tip. This time, he pulled out a paperclip, too. I know, I know. Not the brightest bulb in the socket.
I declared a moratorium on both and pulled out the unopened bottle of Mack's I'd purchased months ago, however the box lacked the bulb pictured at the link. This stuff is very dilute peroxide (the O2 bubbles break up the wax) and glycerin (conditions the skin). P can hear the bubbles, but it hasn't worked well. I decided to up the ante and get the REAL peroxide, which rages bubbles and does a better job breaking up the wax.
B/c he has irritated the canal skin by messing with it so much, I suggested using some olive oil to help out the skin. Little did I know that it (or mineral or baby oil) is a prescribed treatment that helps the peroxide-broken wax get mobile to float out while it protects and conditions the skin.
P has had moments where he could hear since doing the Big Daddy Peroxide, but they were as fleeting as a premature ejaculator. The next step will be to purchase a bulb and flush the canal with warm water. I can see this one making him pee. I should try it while he's sleeping!
Too bad he doesn't have medical insurance. He'd be heading to a doctor with a microscope. Or I'll be making him so he'll shut his gob. Remember, my ear was clogged for unknown reasons from January to about May? I'm only so sympathetic.
Meanwhile, here are many links and gadgets I found that pertain to his situation. Although I tend toward the granola, I am confident that Ear Candles and Ear Cones are not lighting my fire, nor P's, any time soon.
Have you known of anyone to have problems to this extent? Have you known of someone with a compaction and how did they get it out? Anyone tried a prescription wax softener? Is it snake oil, too, or merely full strength peroxide?
Self Treatment For Earwax
Most cases of earwax blockage respond to home treatments used to soften wax if there is no hole in the eardrum. Patients can try placing a few drops of mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, or commercial ear wax removal drops, such as Debrox®, Mack's® Wax AwayTM, Murine®, or Physicians' ChoiceTM in the ear. These remedies are not as strong as the prescription wax softeners but are effective for many patients. Rarely, people have allergic reactions to commercial preparations. Detergent drops such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide may also aid in the removal of wax. Patients should know that rinsing the ear canal with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) results in oxygen bubbling off and water being left behind-wet, warm ear canals make good incubators for growth of bacteria. Flushing the ear canal with rubbing alcohol displaces the water and dries the canal skin. [This is an idea I'd missed, so it's being incorporated now.] If alcohol causes severe pain, it suggests the presence of an eardrum perforation.
~
Ear candles:http://www.ear-candles.org/
or coning: http://www.coningcompany.com/earconing.html
cons to candles/coning: http://www.doctorhoffman.com/candling.htm and http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/candling.html
EarClear Irrigation Syringe - more controlled than using a bulb, I guess
http://www.earclear.com/
Ototek Loop - stick it in the canal to fish out wax
http://www.ototekloop.com/
Murine System: fluid and bulb
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/buyinprivate/murearwaxrem.html
AuraClear: fluid and bulb
http://www.medpure.com/t-AuraClearInfo.aspx?affiliateid=10056
~
More specific details: http://www.medpure.com/t-EarWaxInfo.aspx
~
An ear can also get plugged up with earwax when fingers or objects are used to clean the ear canal. The finger or object may push earwax deeper into the ear canal and compact it. The inner portion of the ear canal lacks oil glands, so the compacted earwax is no longer coated with oil and hardens. This may cause a sudden loss of hearing or ear pain. In such situations, a healthcare provider should remove earwax. Removal of an earwax blockage will reverse the hearing loss and pain that it has caused.
Never try to remove earwax yourself with any type of instrument, such as a cotton tipped swab, car key, bobby pin, toothpick [or paper clip!], or high- pressure water spray. Such tools often cause injury to the ear canal and can perforate the eardrum. They may dislodge the small bones in the middle ear behind the eardrum. They can even damage the inner ear, causing permanent hearing loss.
~
Cerumen [Earwax] Impaction
Genesis: Cerumen impaction can be a result of ineffective attempts to remove earwax. This results from a common misconception about cotton-tipped applicators. When the patient inserts one of these into the ear and withdraws it, the brownish discoloration typical of cerumen can be seen. The assumption is that the total mass of cerumen has adhered to the applicator. Unfortunately, this is false. While a bit of cerumen does discolor the applicator, the bulk of the more solid mass of cerumen is rammed further into the ear by the applicator.
Ceruminokinesis is unable to move this harder wax, and the impaction begins. Continued cerumen production occurs between the impaction and the tympanic membrane, adding to the impacted mass. Physicians may discover impactions so well organized that they appear to resemble a cast of the inside of the ear when removed.
~
A cast. That's what I'm expecting from him. An ear canal cast in wax. We can bronze it, even, in the lost wax sculpting technique. Posterity, I say!
Edited to add: This pages gets a number of hits each day. Join in the discussion. Please share what has or hasn't worked for you! There are lots of people who would benefit.
Friday, July 29, 2005
Friday, July 22, 2005
Another plug
Through the Reading A to Z website, I found an affiliated site for school skills materials. It is called LearningPage.com and has worksheets for math, science, and language arts, any level. They sort things by topic and grade, so there are, for example, worksheets, science fact pages, and writing sheets all built on a given topic, like insects.
Further, they have books to download and/or print out.
The best thing about this site is that it is FREE after registration.
Guess what J gets to do while I have him this weekend?
Further, they have books to download and/or print out.
The best thing about this site is that it is FREE after registration.
Guess what J gets to do while I have him this weekend?
Thursday, July 07, 2005
A plug
As hard as J fought to get his reading skills, I did not want him to lose them over the summer. As I mentioned before, a kid gets to level 16 for a successful 1st grade around here. J made it to level 20, so 1/4 of the way into 2nd grade. For a non-reader to progress so well in such a short time was phenomenal.
Several months ago when I asked about J's teacher about choosing books at home that conform to his reading needs (too easy wasn't worth it and too hard or long frustrated him), she told me about Reading A-Z, a website geared toward guided reading, level by level. They go by a letter system, rather than a number system like above, but the conversion chart is here.
Each level has many books you can print at home. They also have worksheets (2-4/book at J's levels) which correlate. If you want to get fancy, you can use the lesson plans that go into greater depth for each book. The questions they ask remind me a lot of the stuff I do with Jr Great Books, wonderful for giving a higher order of understanding to the books and making kids think.
Or you can download them all for later use. The subscription is $30 and lasts 6 months. I plan to download all the books and workbooks for each upcoming grade before the subscription is up. Their system goes through grade 5.
If nothing else, they are reasonable length books that J can use for his summer reading lists. He'll be set for several more summers, too. Per his teacher's instructions, we are working on levels 16-20, so seeking maintenance of where he was, not progression. Second grade runs 18-30, third 30-38, fourth 40-44, and fifth 44+. This is so cool knowing the proper progress for reading and not operating in the dark. I plan to use them during the school year, too, to supplement the classroom.
As vigilant mom with an academically uncooperative (but highly structure-oriented) kid, this system feels close enough to the routines of school and is presented at appropriate levels of difficulty. He's shown decent levels of cooperation in return. His brain won't turn to mush this summer!
Several months ago when I asked about J's teacher about choosing books at home that conform to his reading needs (too easy wasn't worth it and too hard or long frustrated him), she told me about Reading A-Z, a website geared toward guided reading, level by level. They go by a letter system, rather than a number system like above, but the conversion chart is here.
Each level has many books you can print at home. They also have worksheets (2-4/book at J's levels) which correlate. If you want to get fancy, you can use the lesson plans that go into greater depth for each book. The questions they ask remind me a lot of the stuff I do with Jr Great Books, wonderful for giving a higher order of understanding to the books and making kids think.
Or you can download them all for later use. The subscription is $30 and lasts 6 months. I plan to download all the books and workbooks for each upcoming grade before the subscription is up. Their system goes through grade 5.
If nothing else, they are reasonable length books that J can use for his summer reading lists. He'll be set for several more summers, too. Per his teacher's instructions, we are working on levels 16-20, so seeking maintenance of where he was, not progression. Second grade runs 18-30, third 30-38, fourth 40-44, and fifth 44+. This is so cool knowing the proper progress for reading and not operating in the dark. I plan to use them during the school year, too, to supplement the classroom.
As vigilant mom with an academically uncooperative (but highly structure-oriented) kid, this system feels close enough to the routines of school and is presented at appropriate levels of difficulty. He's shown decent levels of cooperation in return. His brain won't turn to mush this summer!
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Extra pieces and parts
Remember Gemini, the two-faced cat?
Introducing Lucky One, the 6-legged, two penised dog...
Puppy has six legs, two wangs
Malaysia Star Submitted by: SweetSpot "A puppy with two extra legs and a second penis is drawing curious stares at a temple in Pandamaran town near here. The puppy, found by a temple caretaker at the entrance on Thursday morning, is being cared for by the temple committee. Kwang Sung Temple committee member Tee Kim Huat said the caretaker saw the white puppy with dark brown patches sleeping at the temple entrance at 7am." ... “He lifted the canine to place it elsewhere and was shocked to see that the puppy had six legs! Not only that, the male puppy also had an extra penis,” said Tee. [With picture of what a six-legged double-wanged dog looks like.]
Read article...
Other dogs say he should have been called Lucky Two.
Introducing Lucky One, the 6-legged, two penised dog...
Puppy has six legs, two wangs
Malaysia Star Submitted by: SweetSpot "A puppy with two extra legs and a second penis is drawing curious stares at a temple in Pandamaran town near here. The puppy, found by a temple caretaker at the entrance on Thursday morning, is being cared for by the temple committee. Kwang Sung Temple committee member Tee Kim Huat said the caretaker saw the white puppy with dark brown patches sleeping at the temple entrance at 7am." ... “He lifted the canine to place it elsewhere and was shocked to see that the puppy had six legs! Not only that, the male puppy also had an extra penis,” said Tee. [With picture of what a six-legged double-wanged dog looks like.]
Read article...
Other dogs say he should have been called Lucky Two.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Speaking of cats
This boggles the mind. The picture plays with your head. I likeeeee.
From The Daily Rotten:
Kitty cat has two heads, four eyes
GOP News Submitted by: Jelika "A newborn kitten recently entered the world with two faces and, hopefully, at least nine lives. Gemini was born Sunday with two mouths, two tongues, two noses and four eyes."
Read article...
From The Daily Rotten:
Kitty cat has two heads, four eyes
GOP News Submitted by: Jelika "A newborn kitten recently entered the world with two faces and, hopefully, at least nine lives. Gemini was born Sunday with two mouths, two tongues, two noses and four eyes."
Read article...
Saturday, June 18, 2005
For your responding pleasure
It took me a while to believe that it wasn't spam, but I don't know how an inauthentic URL could contain mit.edu as the address. No, I didn't check Urban Legends and I really hate Urban Legends-using trumping people, so don't go there.
The survey:
http://blogsurvey.media.mit.edu/
The explanation:
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is conducting an important academic study regarding weblogs. We are investigating the role of weblogs in the lives of their authors. Does your weblog make you more connected to the rest of society? Does it increase your chances of getting a job or finding information that you are looking for? To answer these questions, which are very important to our research, we ask for your help.
This is not a commercial marketing survey, but scholarly research to be used in academic publications such as journals, conferences and books. By participating in this study you will be assisting scientific research and contributing to a better understanding of how weblogs are influencing people's lives. We would like you to please fill out our short survey (about 15 minutes or less, on average).
My input:
It seems that they sent invitations to 5000 random bloggers. They request additional involvement from other bloggers, although the results from the anointed will be tabulated separately.
Ha! I'm an MIT Annointed! (Just let me believe it, huh?)
It was a simple survey taking links from your own blog and getting you to characterize them. Pretty painless.
It wasn't rocket science.
Ha! Get it? It wasn't rocket science.
(Me alone = idiot. My son's at his dad's and P won't be back for a few days. My 'likes to do stuff alone' self is needing company!)
The survey:
http://blogsurvey.media.mit.edu/
The explanation:
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is conducting an important academic study regarding weblogs. We are investigating the role of weblogs in the lives of their authors. Does your weblog make you more connected to the rest of society? Does it increase your chances of getting a job or finding information that you are looking for? To answer these questions, which are very important to our research, we ask for your help.
This is not a commercial marketing survey, but scholarly research to be used in academic publications such as journals, conferences and books. By participating in this study you will be assisting scientific research and contributing to a better understanding of how weblogs are influencing people's lives. We would like you to please fill out our short survey (about 15 minutes or less, on average).
My input:
It seems that they sent invitations to 5000 random bloggers. They request additional involvement from other bloggers, although the results from the anointed will be tabulated separately.
Ha! I'm an MIT Annointed! (Just let me believe it, huh?)
It was a simple survey taking links from your own blog and getting you to characterize them. Pretty painless.
It wasn't rocket science.
Ha! Get it? It wasn't rocket science.
(Me alone = idiot. My son's at his dad's and P won't be back for a few days. My 'likes to do stuff alone' self is needing company!)
Monday, June 13, 2005
Delivering a moving spirit
Took J to see Howl's Moving Castle (86%, Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes) yesterday at my second favorite local indie theater. I chose Howl's as opposed to the Shark Boy/Lava Girl (22%, Rotten) thing that came out this weekend.
Anticipated quality - that and J has been a Hayao Miyazaki (96%, Fresh) junkie since he was three when he saw an ad on TV for Kiki's Delivery Service (100%, Fresh.) That was all she wrote. I had to order it online when I finally found it. He watched it day in, day out for weeks. He loves Japanese animation.
Of course, when Spirited Away (98%, Fresh) came out, we saw that in the theaters. It was much scarier than I had anticipated, but it was so rich in its beauty that I think it rates first in animation, all time.
Even P's daughter loves Spirited Away; I was rather impressed to see it in her DVD collection last year.
I must have caught the preview for Howl's when I was at this indie theater by myself seeing Kung Fu Shuffle. J had not heard of Howl's, so was less than interested until I said it's from the Kiki people. He also lucked into seeing a preview on tv just yesterday morning at his dad's, so that gave it an in.
The English version has some great favs as voices: Emily Mortimer (the attention/affirmation seeking naked actress in Lovely and Amazing), Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, Lauren Bacall, and Billy Crystal.
I wish we'd gotten the English version. Instead, I was floored. We got the subtitled Japanese version.
Major bummer... in this case.
Do you know how tedious it is reading a movie with quickly changing subtitles to a kid who is actually old enough to be interested in the plot, but not old enough to keep up with the fast text?
Well, it's a pain. Literally. My neck still hurts today from scootching down in the seat and leaning over to whisper the lines to J.
I don't want slaving to subtitles to taint my opinion of Howl's, but I sure appreciated Spirited Away and Kiki's much better. I am Americo-centric without a doubt.
Anticipated quality - that and J has been a Hayao Miyazaki (96%, Fresh) junkie since he was three when he saw an ad on TV for Kiki's Delivery Service (100%, Fresh.) That was all she wrote. I had to order it online when I finally found it. He watched it day in, day out for weeks. He loves Japanese animation.
Of course, when Spirited Away (98%, Fresh) came out, we saw that in the theaters. It was much scarier than I had anticipated, but it was so rich in its beauty that I think it rates first in animation, all time.
Even P's daughter loves Spirited Away; I was rather impressed to see it in her DVD collection last year.
I must have caught the preview for Howl's when I was at this indie theater by myself seeing Kung Fu Shuffle. J had not heard of Howl's, so was less than interested until I said it's from the Kiki people. He also lucked into seeing a preview on tv just yesterday morning at his dad's, so that gave it an in.
The English version has some great favs as voices: Emily Mortimer (the attention/affirmation seeking naked actress in Lovely and Amazing), Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, Lauren Bacall, and Billy Crystal.
I wish we'd gotten the English version. Instead, I was floored. We got the subtitled Japanese version.
Major bummer... in this case.
Do you know how tedious it is reading a movie with quickly changing subtitles to a kid who is actually old enough to be interested in the plot, but not old enough to keep up with the fast text?
Well, it's a pain. Literally. My neck still hurts today from scootching down in the seat and leaning over to whisper the lines to J.
I don't want slaving to subtitles to taint my opinion of Howl's, but I sure appreciated Spirited Away and Kiki's much better. I am Americo-centric without a doubt.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Closer to pseudo greatness
Have you ever heard of D.avid A.llen C.oe?
I think of him as the Ji.mmy Buf.fet of middle old fashioned country music. He's a cousin in style of Wa.ylon Jenni.ngs, M.erle Hagga.rd, etc. I'm not a big fan of what I consider modern "pop country," but I love this 1970s edgy style. They lose their women and cry in their beers.
Ex and I were slated to see DAC many years ago and the fucking concert was cancelled.
See, the headliner, W.illie Ne.lson, fell off his bike and broke his thumb that week. I figure he was stoned.
Ex was brokenhearted about not seeing Willie, as was I, but I was especially aching to see DAC.
You may have heard his "Perfect County and Western Song" You Never Even Call Me By My Name.
Tonight I will get as close as I've ever been to seeing him. P and I are seeing one of DAC's main songwriters, who is a singer and stand up comedian in his own right. He's been P's favorite for years and we just recently realized how he cross pollinates with DAC.
It is kinda scary to have these same tastes, but it makes us a compatible couple. Ha!
Besides namedropping mainstream Outlaws (see above singers and lump them together) music, DAC is largely known for stuff that is so raunchy, nasty, vile (and sometimes, unfortunately, racist) that it isn't available for sale in the US. Ex got a copy whileoverseas. P, Mr. Download-All-The-Livelong Day, has his set of trashy songs put together of late.
Such as:
Itty Bitty Titties
Cum Stains on the Pillow
If That Ain't Country... it'll harelip the Pope [this one is mainstream, believe it or not]
I wish I could remember all the titles. They're sick. Sick haha lyrics, usually, to the effect of, Fuck me one more time before you leave me - you don't even have to move - I'll be really fast.
I think of him as the Ji.mmy Buf.fet of middle old fashioned country music. He's a cousin in style of Wa.ylon Jenni.ngs, M.erle Hagga.rd, etc. I'm not a big fan of what I consider modern "pop country," but I love this 1970s edgy style. They lose their women and cry in their beers.
Ex and I were slated to see DAC many years ago and the fucking concert was cancelled.
See, the headliner, W.illie Ne.lson, fell off his bike and broke his thumb that week. I figure he was stoned.
Ex was brokenhearted about not seeing Willie, as was I, but I was especially aching to see DAC.
You may have heard his "Perfect County and Western Song" You Never Even Call Me By My Name.
Tonight I will get as close as I've ever been to seeing him. P and I are seeing one of DAC's main songwriters, who is a singer and stand up comedian in his own right. He's been P's favorite for years and we just recently realized how he cross pollinates with DAC.
It is kinda scary to have these same tastes, but it makes us a compatible couple. Ha!
Besides namedropping mainstream Outlaws (see above singers and lump them together) music, DAC is largely known for stuff that is so raunchy, nasty, vile (and sometimes, unfortunately, racist) that it isn't available for sale in the US. Ex got a copy whileoverseas. P, Mr. Download-All-The-Livelong Day, has his set of trashy songs put together of late.
Such as:
Itty Bitty Titties
Cum Stains on the Pillow
If That Ain't Country... it'll harelip the Pope [this one is mainstream, believe it or not]
I wish I could remember all the titles. They're sick. Sick haha lyrics, usually, to the effect of, Fuck me one more time before you leave me - you don't even have to move - I'll be really fast.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Planning ahead, kinda
Long and boring entry today unless you care about an anal, indecisive artist...
I plan to paint en plein air beginning in a few weeks. I should have good 3 hour blocks for painting in this waterside, kinda touristy yet relatively quiet town. I want to paint one each day.
Preparing for one's first en plein air expedition is no small feat.
One needs an easel. I have an awkward, heavy French one like this, which I've never used.
One needs a stool. I found one much like this at a camping store.
One needs something solid to paint on. This one is tricky. I have large and small boards, the large I use for classes/larger paper and the small is new and not yet used.
One needs a surface. This is tricky again. Oils and canvases are tough, b/c you're returning to your car with wet paintings. Pastels are tough, b/c the paintings are fragile and easily smeared. They have to be transported and stored with care.
But how?
I am trying to solve this two-fold, using these Koool Bind pads/folders some days and these hard boards (but I'm not sure about protecting them after painting) on other days.
And you also need to get supplies to the site . There are many ways to transport pastel sticks, most very expensive. You can get the easel/box combo set for almost $500, or one a little less expensive at $360, or you can get the custom-ish wooden box (pochade/guerilla Box or Open Box M) that attaches to a regular tripod for say $300, or you can have a separate wooden briefcase-ish box.
I am going with the latter.
B/c I really hate the French easel, I have toiled with the idea of buying a more modern easel combo thing; there is one that is less expensive than the above one. There are also lots of simple, light easels for $50 or so. With the lighter easel, however, you have a less sturdy set up in the field - wind can be a real issue, so there's a trade off on weight and ease of transport. And if the easel doesn't have an attached box thingie, then you have to figure a way to get stuff out to the site and, once there, to have some sort of table substitute, b/c it is too hard on the back to store all the supplies on the ground.
Further, b/c I really do hate the French easel, I have debated the logic of investing in accessories/time to beef up something I know I don't like. See, they have very small drawers that don't hold much. The philosophy is that you should pare down stuff well enough that you don't need a bunch more space. Hooey, says me, the owner of Stanley, now Fat Stanley, as he is mighty full. I have too much crap, anal pack rat that I am.
By French easel accessories, I mean a couple things. There's this contraption that converts the unyielding, heavy French easel into an unyielding, heavy backpack encumbered by lots of straps that take lots of time to rig and un-rig, precious time when one is fighting the clock outdoors. Or this contraption, which converts the French easel into a rolling luggage cart that wouldn't make it across a bumpy field.
I got clever on this one, crafting my own accessory in seconds. Instead of buying a backpack thing, I am faking it, me, the backpack loving chick. On the top end of the easel are two D-rings toard each corner; the other end has one in the middle. I am stringing a luggage strap from each of the D-rings on the top end and joining them in the D-ring on the bottom end. Voila! Instant backpack for no bucks. [I just found this version - it is similar to what I made, but it is on a half-sized easel.] Yes, unyielding and heavy, but, unlike the store-bought fancy version that has big straps securing it, mine will convert to an easel very quickly at set up. Yeah, for free.
Returning to the storage accessory idea above, there's the carrying art supplies (vs. carrying easel) accessory and desire for one I mentioned above. Besides for the pochade-type boxes I mentioned, there's the other boxes lovingly called the French Mistress and the French Companion. (I think wine, pastries, and good head should come along with these new friends.)
These things simply open up flat and rest on the open drawer of the French easel. They're wooden like the easel, so awkward and heavy. As such, tho, they're good for carrying soft pastels safely once foam inserts are purchased and sized. (Nothing is easy with this process. Everything brings on another DIY project and more cost.)
One additional accessory... I am declining on the umbrella for now. They make a painter float like a butterfly even more probable. Solid ground, no broken or lost pastels.
So, my big expense with all this, after much toil, reading, and research, is the French Companion for storing stuff. I figure it'll be easier to carry on location and it is versatile enough that if I invest in another easel, I'll still be able to use it. It isn't too big and heavy, but it should carry a lot.
But I'm not finished. I am sweating delivery, probably b/c I want this stuff so much.
In summary, the have done/to do lists include:
purchased the paper notebooks (paper plus storage, but soft mounting) and the pastel boards (painting surface plus mounting, but no storage).
finding and sizing foam for the inside of the French Companion and for the bottom storage of the French easel.
cutting some foam core to use to secure paintings on the easel and to separate the finished paintings.
These many things coming together will facilitate whether I'll be able to paint outside for a few days and to see if I even like painting outside enough to continue it.
I wonder if Monet went through all this?
I plan to paint en plein air beginning in a few weeks. I should have good 3 hour blocks for painting in this waterside, kinda touristy yet relatively quiet town. I want to paint one each day.
Preparing for one's first en plein air expedition is no small feat.
One needs an easel. I have an awkward, heavy French one like this, which I've never used.
One needs a stool. I found one much like this at a camping store.
One needs something solid to paint on. This one is tricky. I have large and small boards, the large I use for classes/larger paper and the small is new and not yet used.
One needs a surface. This is tricky again. Oils and canvases are tough, b/c you're returning to your car with wet paintings. Pastels are tough, b/c the paintings are fragile and easily smeared. They have to be transported and stored with care.
But how?
I am trying to solve this two-fold, using these Koool Bind pads/folders some days and these hard boards (but I'm not sure about protecting them after painting) on other days.
And you also need to get supplies to the site . There are many ways to transport pastel sticks, most very expensive. You can get the easel/box combo set for almost $500, or one a little less expensive at $360, or you can get the custom-ish wooden box (pochade/guerilla Box or Open Box M) that attaches to a regular tripod for say $300, or you can have a separate wooden briefcase-ish box.
I am going with the latter.
B/c I really hate the French easel, I have toiled with the idea of buying a more modern easel combo thing; there is one that is less expensive than the above one. There are also lots of simple, light easels for $50 or so. With the lighter easel, however, you have a less sturdy set up in the field - wind can be a real issue, so there's a trade off on weight and ease of transport. And if the easel doesn't have an attached box thingie, then you have to figure a way to get stuff out to the site and, once there, to have some sort of table substitute, b/c it is too hard on the back to store all the supplies on the ground.
Further, b/c I really do hate the French easel, I have debated the logic of investing in accessories/time to beef up something I know I don't like. See, they have very small drawers that don't hold much. The philosophy is that you should pare down stuff well enough that you don't need a bunch more space. Hooey, says me, the owner of Stanley, now Fat Stanley, as he is mighty full. I have too much crap, anal pack rat that I am.
By French easel accessories, I mean a couple things. There's this contraption that converts the unyielding, heavy French easel into an unyielding, heavy backpack encumbered by lots of straps that take lots of time to rig and un-rig, precious time when one is fighting the clock outdoors. Or this contraption, which converts the French easel into a rolling luggage cart that wouldn't make it across a bumpy field.
I got clever on this one, crafting my own accessory in seconds. Instead of buying a backpack thing, I am faking it, me, the backpack loving chick. On the top end of the easel are two D-rings toard each corner; the other end has one in the middle. I am stringing a luggage strap from each of the D-rings on the top end and joining them in the D-ring on the bottom end. Voila! Instant backpack for no bucks. [I just found this version - it is similar to what I made, but it is on a half-sized easel.] Yes, unyielding and heavy, but, unlike the store-bought fancy version that has big straps securing it, mine will convert to an easel very quickly at set up. Yeah, for free.
Returning to the storage accessory idea above, there's the carrying art supplies (vs. carrying easel) accessory and desire for one I mentioned above. Besides for the pochade-type boxes I mentioned, there's the other boxes lovingly called the French Mistress and the French Companion. (I think wine, pastries, and good head should come along with these new friends.)
These things simply open up flat and rest on the open drawer of the French easel. They're wooden like the easel, so awkward and heavy. As such, tho, they're good for carrying soft pastels safely once foam inserts are purchased and sized. (Nothing is easy with this process. Everything brings on another DIY project and more cost.)
One additional accessory... I am declining on the umbrella for now. They make a painter float like a butterfly even more probable. Solid ground, no broken or lost pastels.
So, my big expense with all this, after much toil, reading, and research, is the French Companion for storing stuff. I figure it'll be easier to carry on location and it is versatile enough that if I invest in another easel, I'll still be able to use it. It isn't too big and heavy, but it should carry a lot.
But I'm not finished. I am sweating delivery, probably b/c I want this stuff so much.
In summary, the have done/to do lists include:
purchased the paper notebooks (paper plus storage, but soft mounting) and the pastel boards (painting surface plus mounting, but no storage).
finding and sizing foam for the inside of the French Companion and for the bottom storage of the French easel.
cutting some foam core to use to secure paintings on the easel and to separate the finished paintings.
These many things coming together will facilitate whether I'll be able to paint outside for a few days and to see if I even like painting outside enough to continue it.
I wonder if Monet went through all this?
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Let them voyeur and then let them compete
From Dave Berry, of all places....
New evidence regarding sperm competition: Rivals spur men to produce better sperm
15:56 08 June 2005
NewScientist.com news service
Rachel Nowak, Melbourne
[excerpts]
Men who view pornographic images of two men and a woman produce better-quality sperm than men viewing pornographic images of just women, an Australian study reveals.
The finding suggests that humans may be capable of subconsciously increasing semen quality when faced with the possibility that their sperm will have to outrun those of other men in a woman’s reproductive tract.
In samples from men who viewed the images containing the two men and a woman - the “sperm-competition” images - 52% of the sperm were motile. This compared with 49% sperm motility in the men who viewed the images of women only ...
But there was also a seemingly contradictory finding. Men who viewed the sperm-competition images had fewer sperm in their ejaculate: 61 million per millilitre compared to 77 million per millilitre for the men who viewed the female-only images. More studies are needed to explain this finding.
“It’s a fascinating study. The effect is obviously immediate. This suggests that something [in the body] can be adjusted very, very quickly,” says Jon Evans of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, who studies sperm competition in guppy fish.
The findings might suggest ways to improve the quality of sperm during fertility treatment.
Ya know, I'm just glad to hear about a pro-infertility study these days (obviously not American) that doesn't involve whackos and snowflake babies... well, until porno is outlawed, that is.
New evidence regarding sperm competition: Rivals spur men to produce better sperm
15:56 08 June 2005
NewScientist.com news service
Rachel Nowak, Melbourne
[excerpts]
Men who view pornographic images of two men and a woman produce better-quality sperm than men viewing pornographic images of just women, an Australian study reveals.
The finding suggests that humans may be capable of subconsciously increasing semen quality when faced with the possibility that their sperm will have to outrun those of other men in a woman’s reproductive tract.
In samples from men who viewed the images containing the two men and a woman - the “sperm-competition” images - 52% of the sperm were motile. This compared with 49% sperm motility in the men who viewed the images of women only ...
But there was also a seemingly contradictory finding. Men who viewed the sperm-competition images had fewer sperm in their ejaculate: 61 million per millilitre compared to 77 million per millilitre for the men who viewed the female-only images. More studies are needed to explain this finding.
“It’s a fascinating study. The effect is obviously immediate. This suggests that something [in the body] can be adjusted very, very quickly,” says Jon Evans of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, who studies sperm competition in guppy fish.
The findings might suggest ways to improve the quality of sperm during fertility treatment.
Ya know, I'm just glad to hear about a pro-infertility study these days (obviously not American) that doesn't involve whackos and snowflake babies... well, until porno is outlawed, that is.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Clay? Grass? Clover? It's all the same.
Explaining his upcoming transition to grass courts and Wimbolden after his 24 straight victories on clay the past few weeks,'"I like a lot play in grass,'' Na.dal said in his fractured English.'
Sweet Cheeks, lots of us do. Lots of us would with you, too.
Probably my g'ma would, too. She used to sing...
Roll me over in the clover
Do it again...
which I just learned is actually this (and this and this), mentioning thighs, sticks, inches, and shoving... in that charming old fashioned way.
Remember G'ma was the proprietor of a tourist town bar for 40 years.
Too bad Sweet Thang Na.dal would be underaged.
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Dreaming of tennis all day....
The phone woke me up this morning. Yeah, it was supposed to be a sleep in day w/J at his father's and me not going to P's until this afternoon. Why does that never work?
Alas.
The fucking taped spam call interrupted a dream I was having about Rafael Na.dal, the Mallorcan (did I ever mention my summer on Mallorca? perky brown titties - I'll leave it at that) in Tomorrow's French Open final. My dream was cozy and cuddly, b/c I am not a cradle robber even in my subconscious, I guess. Shoot.
Rafael beat Roger Fede.rer handily yesterday, quite a feat. (Fe.derer is #1 and as smooth as pudding.) Rafael has been on a roll, winning his last 4 tournaments. Incredible. Yesterday's semi-final fell on his 19th birthday. Nice present to self!
Look at the beat Fed.erer link if only to see this kid's bicep. It's all good, except perhaps his booty clam diggers. Who dresses these people? Is Serena in his house, too?
Tomorrow's final will be a youthful Latin babe-fest. Argentina's Mar.iano Pue.rta, who actually dresses like a tennis player, doesn't stand a chance, but it'll be FUN to watch.
Alas.
The fucking taped spam call interrupted a dream I was having about Rafael Na.dal, the Mallorcan (did I ever mention my summer on Mallorca? perky brown titties - I'll leave it at that) in Tomorrow's French Open final. My dream was cozy and cuddly, b/c I am not a cradle robber even in my subconscious, I guess. Shoot.
Rafael beat Roger Fede.rer handily yesterday, quite a feat. (Fe.derer is #1 and as smooth as pudding.) Rafael has been on a roll, winning his last 4 tournaments. Incredible. Yesterday's semi-final fell on his 19th birthday. Nice present to self!
Look at the beat Fed.erer link if only to see this kid's bicep. It's all good, except perhaps his booty clam diggers. Who dresses these people? Is Serena in his house, too?
Tomorrow's final will be a youthful Latin babe-fest. Argentina's Mar.iano Pue.rta, who actually dresses like a tennis player, doesn't stand a chance, but it'll be FUN to watch.
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