Plaid

As I was working on the previous post, I relized that I have neglegted to show this painting to you. I did this one a few months back. Acrylic on Canvas, done using painting knives.

There's no reason to delete my blog.

The other day I was thinking, "You know, I should just close and delete that Brown Street Blog & Gallery. I never really post anything anymore." Well, I decided not to. There's no reason to delete it. Even if I rarely ever post anything, and when I do, it's usually something silly, who cares? It's not like anybody out there is holding their breath for the next posting. And it's not like I'm holding anyone back from achieving their dreams by keeping the blog open.

The main two reasons I had for starting this blog was 1) To say whatever I felt like. and 2) to share my artwork with anyone who cares to see it. Well, I haven't had anything to say lately, but that doesn't mean I never will again. I also haven't painted anything in quite a while, but I still have my easel and brushes. Who knows? Maybe inspiration will strike at some time I don't expect.

As for me lately, life is good as usual. My wife and I hit 20 years of wedded bliss. My son turned 18 and is now living with a girl. My daughter is about to turn 11 and is as beautiful as ever. I also really enjoy my job. I am thinking about buying a motorcycle soon. Probably a big touring bike, like a Goldwing or something. I'll be sure to post a picture when I do.

Anyway, even though I don't blog often, I see no reason to quit altogether. Hope you keep reading.

Stuck in the Garage

Have you seen the beautiful car that Kilter bought? 2002 Mercedes Benz E320. He paid way less than I paid for my Kia.

Did you know that if you get three moving violations before you turn 18 you will have your license suspended for 90 days?

Kilter knows it now.

Whales

As you can see, I'm painting again. This one is called "Whales". Real tricky huh? It's acrylic on canvas. I think it's 24x20 inches. I included two pics because I have so much trouble getting clear pictures of my paintings. The first picture captures the colors but has lots of glare. The second one doesn't show the true colors but it's a cleaner photo.

I'm also in the middle of another painting that is totally different from this one. It's not done yet so you'll have to wait to see it.

PS3 Addiction

I have an addictive personality. I think it's because I always have to be doing something. It's the reason I started painting. I had a week off of work and didn't have anything to do.

I used to play lots of video games as a kid. I lived across the street from a bowling alley and would scrounge quarters to play Donkey Kong. Once I got older I didn't play any games for some time but then my son got old enough to get into the game thing. I bought a PS2 and got addicted to Gran Tourismo 3, then several others.

Once the "Next Gen" systems came out I decided that I wasn't going to get involved because if I did, I would get hooked. Great plan, poor execution.

Kilter has a job and buys his own things so it wasn't long before he came home with a PS3 and a game called Battlefield Bad Company 2. I thought nothing of it because it's mostly an online game and I have always avoided playing online for fear of being annoyed by all the idiots out there.
Somehow I tried the game. Next thing you know, I bought my own PS3 system. Now I'm addicted to it. I'm up to Level 37 (Major) of 50. I started out ranked higher than 250,000 and now I'm ranked in the top 20,000. The thing I love is the challenge of playing online against other live players. Anyone who has played video games knows that playing against a computer is very predictable. Playing online is anything but. It's a new challenge that you can never beat completely.

If you have an adictive personality, I highly recommend you avoid this game.

Chimp Raises Tigers

OK. This is too cute. If you know me, you know I'm not particularlly into cute things. This article caught my attention. My daughter and I were looking on Bing to find pics of tiger cubs and we stubled across this chimp that is helping to raise two white tigers in South Carolina.

Read the full story with more pictures here ----> http://tinyurl.com/2dg2cmn

Here's a preview:

Artistic Struggles

I havn't posted anything for a very long while. A big reason (or excuse) for not keeping up with the blog is that I haven't been painting much.

I completed a rather large painting (4" x 4" mdf) that hangs in my living room but it didn't photograph very well. I guess you want to see it anyway so here it is.

I really like the picture but it looks nothing like what you see in this photograph. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get rid of the glare.

By the way. The picture/scupture on the far right in this set (Wooden Tiles) is no longer there. A person who has a dance studio and does art sittings (provides a studio and subject for artists to come and practice) fell in love with it so I gave it to her. It now hangs in her studio.

My new TATTOO....better late than never....

Well, okay, so waaaayy back in March I said I was getting a new tattoo...and I did! I just never got around to posting it on the blog! Sorry. But SOMEONE finally complained to me so I thought I better get it done.

Sorry the picture is not better, but I think you can see it okay.

It did hurt A LOT!! Enough that I will have to really think twice before getting a tattoo on the other foot. Luckily it did not take toooo long....I sat really still so he could do it quickly and get it over with.

The artist that did the tattoo was "Wookie" at Club Tattoo and he free handed the drawing then filled in the tattoo. It was a little scary being the first free handed drawing...usual they draw up design, make a stencil for me to approve and THEN stick it on me. I am extremely pleased with the design!

Let me know what you think.

Is "GIVING" important to you? It is to us...

Hello Everyone,

Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas! This year we O'Donnell's sponsored a 16 year old boy through the Phoenix Children's Project. I asked the director of PCP if there was a demographic of kids that usually are not sponsored and do you believe she said teenagers (well being the mother of one I understand that one) but also over weight kids. Now, the only way you know they are over weight is by comparing their age and sizes...you dont see a picture of the kid. How terrible is that!!! Many over weight kids have no control over it, maybe it is a genetic or physiological problem. Anyhow, I was assigned a teen age boy and I enjoyed getting him a complete outfit....underpants, sock, shoes....everything! Hopefully I selected well, as I know teens can be very picky. I included the gift receipts just in case. I also gave him some "fun" stuff in the form of video games he asked Santa for....I think he will be happy.

In addition to this we sponsored a family. Last year we got my husbands office involved in PCP also. This year someone in the office brought to our attention a family where both parents of 5 kids got laid off and where in need. We decided to sponsor them too. With the help of the office and my mother-in-law, we are able to provide presents for the entire family....including the parents!

I have done a lot of shopping this year and it feels good that it was to help people in need to have a great Christmas! This family does not have any "gaming" systems...and they all wanted a PS2 (which is only sold used now). Well, as it turns out my family has 2 of them, I thought one was broken and bought a 2nd from a carport sale. Well, as it turned out we just did not have the 1st one connected correctly and it was fine. So, my son got to put the extra one in his bedroom. He was nice enough to donate HIS system with a few of his own games to this family! My daughter donated some of her games too! Now that is family participation...makes a mom all warm and cuddly inside! We also provided presents from each kids wish list, so this will be one VERY happy family!!

If you do not participate in something like this, I encourage you to begin. Just donating money is always appreciated but I have to say it is much more satifying to actually do the leg work, then wrap and deliver the presents! My daugher especially enjoys helping me wrap! We try to make it a family affair so even the kids get the joy of giving during the season. A life lesson that I personally feel many "adults" still need to learn or maybe just need to reconnect to.

Well, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Share a comment of what you do to share joy through the holidays, I would love to hear new ideas too!

WOW! My son got a new car...the hard way!

Well, the boy was driving with a friend to come join me at my office and do some work over Fall Break! When out of the blue another driver turns left ....right into him! As you can see by the pictures it was a serious accident. Kilter ended up with loss of short term memory for awhile and still to this day does not remember his accident. His passenger had a ruptured spleen and had emergency surgery. She is doing well now. Thank the Lord they are both okay now!

At first Farmers Insurance wanted to make Kilter 20% liable for the accident....I guess because he could not avoid it or maybe just because he was there....but we talked them down to only 10% at first....then we got the POLICE report!! Well, it states he was driving BELOW the speed limit and the picture and diagram of the accident clearly show that Kilter tried to avoid and swerve away from the other driver but the other car was just on top of him too fast! With the evidence showing the other driver was clearly at fault we disputed it with Farmers and they agreed to accept 100% liability and voided the original 10 %....which is excellent!

With Kilters car having so much damage the insurance company said it was a "total" loss and cut us a check for the vehicle. It will take a few months to settle the injury claim. But at least we can replace the car at this point.

Kilter REALLY wanted an older BMW....so we shopped around for awhile and finally found a purchased a 1988 BMW 735i....it is in excellent condition. We only paid $1400 for the car which left Kilter a couple hundred dollars of insurance money to use to fix up little issues on the new car. What a deal! We brought Uncle Jo over to get his seal of approval and now are very happy with the purchase. Of course being old it needs some TLC but mechanically it is excellent and just needs minor fixes. It looks very nice parked in front of the house....makes us look wealthy...lol....

These are pictures for you to see the car....let me know what you think...

It is a very sexy "luxor beige metallic" color.

oooohhhh.....aaawwwsome....

Now thats a car to keep awhile!

What a beauty! He named her Briana....