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This past Saturday, I made the relatively short (3 hour) drive north to Oklahoma City to participate in their first ever SQL Saturday event. I have to say that this was one of the best SQL Saturday events I've attended, which is especially notable since it was their first such event. The venue they chose was the Moore Norman Technology Center, which was well suited for the site and layout of this event. The big room used for the opening keynote by Steve Jones was subdivided (using remote-controlled motorized room dividers – very cool!) into the three rooms required for the three tracks. Although one of the rooms had some audio and video issues, the facilities were more than adequate, and building staff were on hand to help out with the few issues that came up. Lots of parking, wide hallways, and plenty of restrooms made the facility easy to navigate.
This SQL Saturday had just three tracks, the smallest number of any such event I've attended. It worked out well, though – the tracks were broken out by discipline (DBA, dev, BI) so each timeslot offered a variety of topics.
I got to present two sessions in the BI track: I did my T-SQL vs. SSIS session that I originally wrote for SQL Rally, and I also offered an introductory BI session that briefly covered SSIS, SSAS, and SSRS. Each of my sessions was well attended – 48 in the first, and 66 in the second – with lots of audience interaction. By the way, my slide decks and code samples are available on the Presentation Notes page of my website.
The OKC group hosted a speaker dinner the night before, as well as an attendee reception after the event on Saturday. Unfortunately, the notification about the attendee reception was sent out late during the week before the event, and as a result there wasn't a big turnout on Saturday. However, a good number of speakers showed up on Friday night. The OKC group was kind enough to buy a generous round of appetizers both nights.
This was a well organized event, so I don't have much to critique. Here are a few observations I made:
- Signage was lacking. Although the building was easy to find using GPS, I didn't see any signs at all pointing to the building, which entrance to use, etc. Fortunately, it was not a huge building, and even though I entered through the wrong door I was able to quickly find my way.
- Volunteer shirts – I was asked a lot of questions about logistics and such (where are the restrooms? What time is session <X>?) simply because I had a speaker shirt. I like having the event staff wearing different colored shirts so they can quickly be identified as someone in the know.
- Communication. As I mentioned, the word about the reception went out late last week. Even though it was branded as an "unofficial" event, I think there would have been a better turnout had the message gone out sooner.
Apart from those issues, I thought the event went very well. Hats off to Matthew Brimer, Kristin Ferrier, and the rest of the Oklahoma City SQL crew for hosting an excellent event.
As an aside, we had a significant representation from the Dallas area at this event. I didn't get an exact count, but there were at least 10 speakers from the Dallas area, and at least another 10 attendees. Among those in attendance:
- Ryan Adams (with whom I shared a car and room)
- Russ Loski
- Greg Galloway (my colleague at Artis Consulting)
- Sri Sridharan
- Sean & Jen McCown
- Paul Hunter
- Shawn Weisfeld
Thanks again to the OKC crew for having us! Congrats on a great event, and we look forward to it again next year.


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Over the last five years that I have been chronicling the "alternative art scene" in Seattle, several people, artists and non-artists alike have asked me what they should call this particularly vibrant and exciting part of the Seattle art scene. From the semi-official "Sub-Popart" to SeaBrow, from SeaPop to Seattle Street Art and Seattle Urban Art, even something silly like the "Emerald Alternate Artist's League," or the Young Emerald Artists, etc. many names and titles have been suggested–but Seattle's artists just call it art. What do you call it?
Most of the artists, in fact, that I have called "alternative artists" for these past several years, do not even consider themselves to be "alternative" and who can blame them!
Just in case you haven't been paying attention, I wanted to let you in on a not-so-very well-guarded little secret: these Seattle artists have been hard at work plying their trades, pushing paint around on canvas, earning their stripes painting walls of every size and type, pasting their images on the streets, building alliances of every kind, showing in New York, Los Angeles, Florida and Europe and every day working hard to become the talented artisans that they are today. Seattle is a wonderful, odd, and interesting place–especially in terms of the way that it sees art. When I first started writing about the exploits of Seattle's newest generation of artists five years ago–"alternative art" and "alternative artists" was an excellent short-hand to show that something amazing was going on in this city that owed very little to what was selling and being promoted in any of the major and even most of the minor galleries in this city–with the possible exception of Roq La Rue, for these artists that relationship is complex . Some define themselves in opposition to it, for others it is an ally, mentor–while still others know nothing of it. At some point very soon, I hope to write about this important gallery and its place in Seattle's Art Scene in depth.
It was a short-hand that inspired excitement and visions of artists striking out on their own and creating something absolutely amazing and exciting. But times have changed, people have grown and for many of these artists the very concept of being "alternative" no longer makes any real sense. One artist even asked not to be part of this survey for that very reason–he or she felt that the idea of alternative simply did not describe them–and he or she is probably right!
In the last year, especially, Seattle's Underground Art Scene has gone above-ground and has become what many have christened an official, full-blown movement! What was once our very own little, alternative, art scene has become huge; the voice of a new generation of Seattle artists has emerged and the energy emanating from Seattle's own galleries, museums, city-parks, pop-up galleries, theatres, city walls and underground dance clubs where many of the artists show their work and "Live Paint" in front of ever increasing audiences is pulsing with explosive energy and a palpable excitement. Seattle's new generation of artists has exploded onto the scene making art that is absolutely astounding and at the same time fundamentally Seattle-ite!
While any attempt at trying to set a limit to the number of artists in this group must by its very nature prove to be a failed mission–what follows is a serious attempt at surveying some of the amazing artists in this movement–some of the very basic people that you should know, some of the artists that you should keep your eyes out for and a small portion of those doing some of the most amazing artwork that this city has seen in years–perhaps ever!
It must be noted that this is not a "top of" or "best of" anything and that that kind of thinking has nothing to do with this exercise. Certainly, this list will have to be added to and anybody who is missing from it, should see this merely as an oversight and not as a personal affront–no disrespect or slight is intended. With that said, here are some of the people that you should definitely know about if you don't want to be left out of what is going to be happening art-wise in Seattle for the next fifty years or so–and it is definitely just starting to get really interesting! In fact, I like to think of this directory as an imaginary artist-list to a particularly good Seattle group exhibition!
Carlos Aguilar:
"Carlos Aguilar is a painter currently residing in the Seattle, WA area. Having come from a background as a graffiti writer Carlos Aguilar's work combines graphic elements with classical brush technique to create images that are filled with mischievous creatures of his own design. While constantly developing his style he brings a mixed bag of mediums to his work including spray enamel, acrylics, inks, and sculpture. Though new to the "Studio Art" world, Carlos Aguilar has gained immense respect for his work on canvas and wood panel and has shown across the US in a span of only a few years." –Excerpted from Carlos Aguilar's Bio at http://carlosgaguilar.com/
Curtis Ashby:
Curtis Ashby, also know by his moniker "CASH" is a young artist based in Seattle, WA. Since early 2006, he has steadily made a name for himself in the Seattle art scene by securing spots in several prominent group shows while also studying under well know artist/ gallery owner John Osgood. CASH has recently opened an art studio of his own in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle, showcasing his current work. Curtis Ashby's Website can be found here: http://curtisashbyart.com/
Crystal Barbre:
Joseph Brooks:
"My name is Joseph Brooks. I am an Artist currently living in Seattle. I really like watercolors and pens. That is my main medium. I also like to paint in oils and lately have dabbled with acrylic. Along with doing shows around Seattle with ArtifaktArt , I have work at Twilight Artist Collective , and Best Loved Baby in Tacoma. If your on Facebook, check me out . I am also a musician. I am part of the Hip Hop group Life Cycle based in Seattle." –Joseph Brooks' website can be found here: http://facesandstuff.com/tag/joseph-brooks/
Stasia Burrington:
Stasia Burrington (born Stasia Kato) is a freelance illustrator, sequential and fine artist who is currently living in Bellevue, WA. Her passions lie in the visual arts – in all forms, experimental cooking, camping, theology and science fiction, among others. If you have an exciting project, or something you'd like to collaborate on, please let (me) know! –Excerpted from the atists bio which be found here: http://stasiaburrington.com/about/
Larkin Cypher:
Larkin summons the creatures of land, air and imagination to populate the internal landscape of the mind. Chimeras, Gorgons, deities, rabbits, and other creatures combine with human elements to inhabit a world of dreams and nightmares. Personally symbolic and infused with dark whimsy, his creations frighten and delight. Like a mad scientist he combines joy and sorrow, surreal peculiarity and a love of biology as he explores the relationships between different organic forms and the spectrum of human emotion. Larkin works in mixed media, combining drawing and painting with sculptural inclusions, found objects, and fiber. His paintings in 2-dimensions are complemented by the borders and organic mazes of crocheted fibers worked around or into the surface of each piece. Larkin Cypher's Website at Bash Contemporary can be found here: http://bashcontemporary.com/Larkin%20Cypher.html
"DESTROY is a street artist from The Seattle, WA State. DESTROY turns waking dreams and daytime nightmares into wheat paste imagery, each more cryptic than the last. Suffering from bipolar and PTSD he is rarely seen in public, let alone in the process of interjecting his work into the world at large. Unlike many street artists who have a particular style or design DESTROY's work is as unpredictable and nonsequiter as his rapidly deteriorating personality." Link to Destroy's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Destroy-Street-Art/132988626823936
Braden Duncan:
I am a portrait artist by trade, imperfect by choice, and a cog in the machine of human mythology by default. I draw my inspiration from the peculiar minutiae of the human form, symbolism and mythology, the empty spaces left by missing friends, and the intricate elegance created by the convergence of biological and mechanical elements.
Braden Duncan's homepage can be found here: http://www.bradenduncan.net/
Ego is a Seattle based artist with a flair for slightly dark, whimsical creepiness, influenced by the macabre sides of tattoo culture, street art, and underground fine art. His work has been featured in galleries across North America, and published in many various media… and worn on the skin of his tattoo clients. EGO has made a name for himself in the underground contemporary art scene through his larger scale aerosol art installations and his smaller, more detailed fine art exhibits as well as his prolific work as a tattoo artist. –Bio excerpted from Ego's webpage which can be found here: http://www.charmingcreep.com/
Yvette Endrijautski:
Always attracted to the obscure, mysterious and morbid side of life, Yvette found refuge in the creations of shrine like assemblage sculptures. !e surreal, abnormal and unexplainable has fascinated her in a cryptic way, and drew her to a darker side of self-expression. She carries out the beauty and naturalness of many topics typically viewed as taboo such as death and dying, which are continually emerging throughout her creations. — http://www.thenautilusstudio.com/151557/retrospectiove/
J.P. Farquar:
"Justin palm a.k.a. jp farquar conveys his dark and tortured forms in all mediums from his cartoon series "no naps for the damned" to his comic book to his paintings creating his own worlds of the macabre as he goes along. he is truly talented and hands down one of my favorite visual artists." JP's spotlight at City Hostile can be found here: http://hostelartcollective.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/jp-farquar-at-city-hostel-seattle/
Carl Faulkner:
X17 founder Carl Faulkner's work universally captures a provocative and playful love of color. He explores themes of neoteny, sexuality, fantasy and contemporary subculture. He is based in Seattle WA, and holds his BFA from Cornish College of the Arts. Excerpted from Carl; Faulkner's profile at the X17 website: http://experiment17.com/Carl_Faulkner.html
Baso Fibonacci:
Baso Fibonacci is a Seattle-based street artist, muralist, and painter possibly most known for his colossal and colorful portraits of animals native to the Northwest. Wildcats, bears, owls—they're all shattered into streaks of primary color, like a TV signal somehow received by an old Lite-Brite. (He explores the opposite—endless geometric patterns—in his series of mirror paintings.) He's the artist—who along with his crew, 'Purveyors of Fine Magic' –is responsible for the giant mural on E. John Street, featuring a portrait of himself exhaling a menagerie of colorful and magical creatures along the side of the light rail wall. He's also the man behind the face of an enormous raccoon that stares mournfully from a wall on 2nd Avenue and Main St. Aside from a couple years of art classes at Evergreen State in Olympia, he's a self-trained artist who wonders what a city could be like if it fell in love with art. –Excerpted from the Obey Clothing Website's description of Baso's Artwork, website can be found here: http://www.obeyclothing.com/propaganda/features/baso-fibonacci/
Jonathan "Wakuda" Fischer:
Combining studies of traditional Japanese art with modern process and content, my work seeks to address a post-globalized world as well as my own personal biracial history. Using the aesthetic of ukiyo-e woodblock prints, I combine anachronisms and layers of homage to explore cultural dualities. In doing so, I feel like I am part of a centuries-old artistic discourse that has long addressed lineage, obsolescence and appropriation. –Bio from Jonathan's website, which can be found here: http://www.wakudastudio.com/
Maxx Follis:
Who is Maxx? Maxx is an artist, illustrator, hoarder of art supplies, screen printer, crafter, science fiction lover, creator of magic robots, mother of one hyper boy and supporter of all things local to Seattle. –Bio excerpted from Maxx's website, which can be found here: http://www.friendsofmaxx.com/
Jeremy Gregory:
A local figurative painter and cartoonist, Gregory made a sudden leap into a three-dimensional world of re-purposed media and charismatic figurines. The results of all his imaginative labors? An unforgettable hobohemia of street urchins, artists, rodeo clowns, skater kids and charming scamps complete with checkered biographies. They brandish toothless grins, cans of spray paint, Rubik's cubes, extra arms and in some cases, questionable intentions. –Excerpted from Cult Tacoma website, which can be found here: http://www.culttacoma.com/2012/02/03/art-jeremy-gregory-tiny-circles/ . Gregory's website can be found here: http://jeremygregorynow.blogspot.com/
Hillary Gore:
A concept that can evolve with the artist should essentially be something that comes organically from them. If you've ever met me, whether I painted the things I do or not, you'd get it. No further explanation is necessary. As I struggled with this idea of concept being such an important factor in the art world, I eventually gave up. Everything I tried felt trite, ingenuine or boring. Or, I liked the idea itself, but trying to translate it visually was worthless and uninspired.
So, I started painting the things that inspired me. Subjects that turned me on, made me giddy to think of as a finished work… Ideas that visually struck a chord. –Excerpted from Interview on Alternative Art Blog which can be found here: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlearts/2011/08/09/pretty-restraint-an-interview-with-seattle-artist-hillary-gore/
Jeremiah Hammer, aka "dear earthling":
Jeremiah Hammer, better known as Dear Earthling in the art world. Jeremiah is a painter, toy maker, gallery owner, instigator and renegade chai brewer. Jeremiah's work as Dear Earthling is whimsical, other-worldly and evocative. Some pieces grip you with their complexity, beauty and color, and others amaze you with their simplicity and space, while still others inspire a smile and perhaps a secret desire to play with dolls again. Excerpted from Cherry Picked Design website, which can be found here: http://cherrypickeddesign.com/2012/05/09/crush-corner-art-star-dear-earthling-aka-jeremiah-hammer/ .
Dear Earthling's homepage can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/dear-earthling/104624843387
Justin Hart:
Justin Hart is a street artist known for his graffiti work, he is the founder of the Graffiti Defense Coalition and Stunning Seattle. –Justin Hart's website can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/GraffitiDefense
Justin Hillgrove:
Justin Hillgrove grew up in Snohomish, WA and has been enjoying artistic expression since he was old enough to color on the walls. Mostly self taught, he spent many years in the design industry before setting out on his own to spend his days paintings monsters, robots, and other such nonsense.
In the last 15 years Justin has worked on everything from from books and magazines to collectible card games and toys. His art can be found hanging in many locations and galleries in the USA. He currently lives in Washington with his wife, four kids, a host of chickens, and a dozen or so imaginary friends. –excerpted from Hillgrove's homepage here: http://www.impsandmonsters.com/
Jeff Jacobson, aka "Weirdo":
"Jacobson's work often reflects his vision of a changing world where there is an undertone of darkness. Yet this darkness is balanced by a creative benevolent force that sprouts from his surrealist coral and fungal additions. His work skillfully juxtaposes hyper-realistic images with otherworldly creations that inspire you question your own reality." – Excerpted from Jeff Jacobson's Bio at http://www.weirdocult.com
"KSERA is an accomplished Aerosol Artist, designer , and arts educator based in Seattle. Her work has been featured in commercials as well as at the Miami Art Basel art fair. We hope you will join us at the opening to celebrate the amazing work of KSERA. For more info please visit http://www.k-sra.blogspot.com/"
-Excerpted from the Plancast website at: http://plancast.com/p/avam/hill-new-works-ksera
KSERA's homepage can be found here: http://kserapaints.com/media/
Aliesha Larson:
" Aliesha Larson is a visual artist based in the south end. Her art and custom creations could be best described as splashes of vivid color between clean, scrawling line work. A real life zombie enthusiast and lover of Hispanic culture, Her works are nothing short of bold, eerie and often push the boundaries of conventional content. Aliesha has only recently been showing in Seattle and has already become a regular at Urban Light Studios and Echo Echo Gallery where she shows during the monthly Greenwood art walk, as well as venues such as The Piranha Shop and Seattle Center House Theater. This month Aliesha began production on a comic for the Seattle P. I.'s online blog, bringing light to the Seattle alternative arts scene's subculture. Young and driven, Aliesha is surely one to keep your eye on in the years to follow. For more information on Aliesha Larson, or to get your hands on one of her tattoo-esque surrealist mash-ups you wish you could fill your walls with." check out her website at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aliesha-Larson-Art-Page/199374263410573.
Jesse Link:
Jesse was born and raised just outside of Pittsburgh, in a small city, Weirton WV. He Graduated From the Art institute of Pittsburgh with an AA in Industrial Design and BA in Communications at West Liberty State University. After school Jesse lived and worked in Miami Fl. doing video production/ post-production before joining the Army. After his training Jesse was quickly whisked away to Iraq to fight in Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was in Iraq that Jesse decided to dedicate himself to the tradition of Visual art. Although formally educated in sculpting and rendering, Jesse's painting abilities are primarily self learned. After returning from the war in 2006, Jesse moved to a post Katrina New Orleans to help with the rebuilding effort. He formed a small construction company and in his free time began to paint. Soon after, he was showing in the French Quarter and various venues around town. In late 2007 Jesse picked up, once again, and moved to Seattle WA to focus on his career as a visual artist. " –Excerpted from Jesse Link's Bio at: http://www.jesselink.com/
Xavier Lopez Jr., aka XMAN, Kidx:
Within Lopez' world there are many landscapes: caves, a vast ocean, snows-capes, living trees, and always the sense that one has crossed over into the deep end. "I want viewers of my work to feel as they do just before going over the cliff at Splash Mountain, or to feel the way they did as a child when they found out that Bambi's mother was about to die. That moment of extreme consciousness, when everything is so precious and one realizes something very important—which is different for everybody, and which according to Kierkegaard you cannot realize fully and take with you, because to do so would lead to madness." It is this madness that one can see in the wild-eyed stare that is such a part of Xavier Lopez' work and permeates the insane smile that sets it apart and draws so many to it, while scaring the hell out of many others. "That smile," he adds, "that is the void, that is the power-punch that tells the viewer that there is something else going on here." It is the smile of the Muse and the multi-armed skeleton and it is the darkness behind the Kawaii. Xavier Lopez' work is not just cute, there is a darkness to it that is as vast as this thing called life and as complex as its obverse. His dream-scapes are filled with pain and wonder, innocence and perversity, but mostly a sense of fun that keeps drawing more and more viewers to play in the "Deep End" of his imagination –Xavier's artwork can be found here: http://xavierlopezjr.blogspot.com/ and on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/xavierlopezart
Andrew Miller:
Mantisart is the art of Andrew Miller. Miller was born and raised from the eighth of October 1977 in the suburbs of Seattle Washington, attended high school in the city and, several years and countless classes at various local colleges later, he committed himself as a full time working artist. He has spent the past ten years developing a unique concept in photography, hand painting and ink coloring each of his black and white images. By applying oil paints directly onto his prints, Miller adds vibrant colors and layers with the existing imagery, creating an imaginary perception in each of his works. This theme flows through each of his paintings, films, illustrations, sculptures and other abstracts.
Andrew Miller's blog can be found here: http://mantisart.wordpress.com/
I am a local artist residing in Ballard and my home studio, Full Circle is in the Greenwood Collective. I am influenced by the city and nature and this is why I love Seattle. My art is full of bold lines, lots of color, and crazy animal and bird characters that have real human emotions.
–Excerpted from the West Seattle Artwalk blog: http://westseattleartwalk.blogspot.com/2013/04/narboo-at-brent-amacher-state-farm.html
Narboo's website can be found here: http://narboo.blogspot.com/
Joe Nix:
Joe Nix grew up observing his father and grandfather work to maintain Foss tugs and Chris Craft boats. He watched them repair the engines and keep up the outer appearance of these machines. Growing older he realized the importance of such man made inventions and realized that the machines once created and used by so many people were beginning to be neglected and fall apart . In 2003 Joe decided the art realm was the perfect place for him to begin to explore his fascination with the creation and eventual dilapidation of these machines . His paintings are a direct reflection of the idea that man is fast to discard things that are beautiful. Along side his fine art , Joe has painted multiple commercial and fine art murals throughout Seattle . His murals are large scale, colorful , ,conceptual art pieces focusing on photo-realism with aerosol . Excerpted from Joe Nix' website at: http://joeynix.wordpress.com/
Christopher J. Olson:
"Artist and gallery owner, Christopher J Olson has been involved in the Seattle urban contemporary art scene for many years. He continues to create new works for group themed shows while developing his own personal imagery of colorful landscapes, enchanted forests and strange futuristic machines commenting on man's development of technology and it's effects on nature. Christopher's work can be seen at Echo Echo Gallery as well as The Hive Gallery and Studios in Los Angeles, CA. "
–Christopher J. Olson's work can be found here: http://www.chrisjolson.com/
Augie Pagan:
Hailing from the California Bay Area, Augie Pagan moved to Seattle to attend art school with the hopes of becoming an illustrator and/or comic book artist. Fate had another plan however, and Augie soon found himself working in the world of video games. After many years of creating art for various video game companies, Augie decided to test the shark filled waters of a freelance artist. Since then, Augie has been self employed as a freelancer, and has been slowly making his way into the alternative art scene by pursing gallery work. His art has been displayed in group shows locally as well as LA, SF, and NY. Augie also hates the term "alternative art" and can't stand writing about himself in the third person.
"Most of the images in my work usually pull from a variety of pop-culture references that shaped my imagination as a child. Recently I've been delving deeper past pop-culture, and exploring my own culture, by re-examining events from my past, and merging them with my influences from the present. These current pieces serve as my own personal "Mexican Pulp" covers for stories, memories, and ideas from my past, present, and future." – Augie Pagan –Excerpted from the Flatcolor Gallery Blog, which can be found here: http://flatcolorgallery.blogspot.com/2010/02/dave-macdowell-and-augie-pagan-to.html
Augie Pagan's homepage can be found here: http://www.augiepagan.com/index.html
Rob "Ripley" of Artifakt:
Known as "Ripley", this Seattle artist is a photographer and graphic designer. His photography is both haunting and thought provoking. When asked what inspires him he says, "I like the work of Man Ray & Jerry Uelsmann". "I also get inspiration from life experiences and relationships". "I focus on dark and surreal imagery because it evokes emotion from the viewer whether it is positive or negative". "My ultimate goal is to get a reaction out of the viewer…if I have done that then I have done my job as an artist".
Alexandria Sandlin:
"Alexandria Sandlin aka Cherrybones's artwork fits in the Pop Surrealist / Urban Contemporary genres. Her work is known for its use of bright color and a muted palette. Sandlin enjoys using subtlety in her work to draw the viewer into each piece with a seemingly sweet scene which upon closer inspection allows the viewer to see strange or sinister things. She paints primarily with acrylic paint on canvas, wood or clay board panels." -Excerpted from Alexandria Sandlin's Cherrybones Website at http://cherrybones.typepad.com/
Starheadboy is a super prolific artist, born and raised in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest. He flows his vibrant art through pure stream of consciousness and relies on raw instinct, unlimited imagination, and constant inspiration to create his work. –Excerpted from starheadboy's Blurb Profile, which can be found here: http://www.blurb.com/user/starheadboy
Starheadboy's website can be found here: http://starheadboy.blogspot.com/
Kevin Sullivan aka "Sensei-twenty-three":
Kevin Sensei 23 Sullivan was born and raised in Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1979. At the age of five, he fell in love with the world of art; drawing everything on anything, with inspirations from comics, cartoons and sports. Thus began his pursuit of the arts all throughout school and continuing into College at the School of The Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Sensei 23 moved from Boston to the West Coast in 2001. He started out fresh and worked his way into the Seattle scene one project at a time. His work has been featured in galleries through out the Pacific Northwest. From pen and paper to vibrant street murals, Sensei 23 is constantly pursuing his love for art. –Excerpted from Sensei's blog at: http://www.sensei23.com/#!
tnglr is a self-taught street/fine artist from Seattle Washington, who's work occupies a place between Street Art and Pop Surrealism. His influences range from comic books to the Renaissance, from Banksy to Dalito Da Vinci. Conjuring through his unique filter, a wondrous land channeled from his unconscious mind and the universal consciousness, tnglr creates Pop-Surreal snapshots and landscape images inhabited by amalgamated cartoon, comic book and other pop style characters who look as though they might be as equally at home in the land of Oz as would be in Hellraiser. Incorporating the self-similarity principals of fractal geometry, these images express his inner most feelings and interpretations of society, politics, popular culture, music, the environment and his own life. –tnglr's Facebook page can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tnglr/415384161836025
Adream De Valdivia:
I began painting for its obvious purpose- to record my dreams, thoughts, and ideas. What I like about paint is that it can be spread thin to create depth and applied thick to create a texture. Communicating is a crucial yet constant struggle for me. The more I painted, I realized that I was returning to my child hood because I was painting Religious icons, the kind of images I grew up seeing on candles and stained glass. My realization of these new paintings made up of bright paint, dots, and patterns on canvas was return to my youth. I had discovered a way of painting religious icon using found images from fashion magazines. There is an endless source of information that can be created through a limited use of materials: Paint and canvas. I became and still intrigued by this process. Adream's website can be found here: http://www.adream3000.com/
Angelina Villalobos aka "179":
Angelina combines color, folklore, imagination and a touch of religion to her canvases. Borrowing themes fromm Catholic iconography, folklore and fairy tales she weaves elaborate stories with paintbrush strokes. –179's website can be found here: http://onesevennine.tumblr.com/
Joe Vollan:
"Seattle artist Joe Vollan has a distinct and eerie style. His works describe tales of heartache and adventure. The bulk of his paintings take place in the city of Rusted Gallows, a post apocalyptic, rundown factory town populated by secret skeleton societies and strange but friendly creatures. The characters in his works demonstrate that there can be contentment and hope in an otherwise dilapidated world." -Joe Vollan's website can be found here: http://www.joevollan.com/
Redd Walitzki:
Seattle-based artist Redd Walitzki paints silkily sensual portraits of slightly-feral, fairytale women. Influenced by the old world Rococo flourishes of her native Bavaria, Redd creates intricate, swirling laser cut wood canvases whose flourishes echo the fluid use of paint and mixed-media materials within. Her darkly romantic subjects are often shown in moments of ecstasy and communion with the natural world. Her technicolor muses enact a dreamily erotic exploration of both the lure of fleeting modern day high fashion glamor (her subjects are often wearing luminous eye makeup and glossy lipstick) as well as the original meaning of the term glamor, which in ancient times referred to illusory shape-shifting used by supernatural beings to perilously enchant hapless humans. -Hi Fructose (Kirsten Anderson) Redd Walitzki's homepage can be found here – http://www.reddwalitzki.com/#/home?i=295
Sam Wallis, aka Solace Wonder:
I call myself an urban artist or street artist because my work is influenced by street culture and highly inspired by graffiti. While graffiti is normally rooted in letter-forms, I lean towards the character design element. My pacific-northwest surroundings instill a respect for nature that is personified in my work. Via organic textures, vibrant colors, and a graphic painterly approach, I attempt to meld city life with the tranquility of uninhabited lands. Through a blend of mediums, aerosol propelled and acrylic, I concoct my background landscapes and finish them with the character design. I call my characters "wanders." The wanders are unique in perspective and rely on body language over facial expression to tell their story. Solace Wonder's website can be found here: http://solacewonder.wordpress.com/
Ryan "Henry" Ward:
"Ryan's artwork can be seen all over the city of Seattle and is quickly spreading to other parts of Washington (even other states!). If you look for the "Henry" signature, you'll find his art in Wallingford, Ballard, Sodo, Capitol Hill and other neighborhoods. With his loyal dog Merlin by his side, Ward is emblazoning his whimsical art all over the city. His quirky characters and creative use of colors has gotten him recognized as one of Seattle's most prominent artists." -Blurb from Ryan Henry Ward's Homepage – http://www.ryanhenryward.com/
Hera Won:
"Hera Won is a Seattle aerosol artist, specializing in freehand aerosol character and portrait murals and canvases. She began Painting street art and displaying work in Seattle in 2007 and has since shown work in many Downtown venues. Her style has evolved over the years with a combination of both realistic elements alongside fanciful symbolism and bold colors, providing her subjects with depth and playful imagery. Hera has maintained a freehand aerosol technique of "cap and can" without stencil caps, brush or pen when painting her subjects. Although Hera has been known to paint in acrylic and oil for some canvas work, she prefers to not mix them allowing for her aerosol work to maintain its true integrity." Hera Won's webpage can be found here: http://hera-won.blogspot.com/
Eras eschews biographies, websites and depends upon the strength of his talent and the word of mouth it generates to get his message out!
There are many, many more talented artists and there will certainly be a second part to this.
And Finally, You…Get out there and make some art! You have just run out of excuses!

subset: commoncrawl


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Marlins may be locked into lineup early
JUPITER, Fla. -- Barring something unforeseen, the starting lineup on Sunday is what the Marlins project will be out there on Opening Day.
Aside from the designated hitter being used in Spring Training, there also is a strong likelihood the batting order was also intact.
The order was: Rafael Furcal (2B), Christian Yelich (LF), Giancarlo Stanton (RF), Garrett Jones (1B), Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C), Marcell Ozuna (CF), Casey McGehee (3B), Greg Dobbs (DH), Adeiny Hechavarria (SS).
"Going into Spring Training, I targeted right around this time to start ramping guys up, and getting them in there back-to-back days," manager Mike Redmond said. "We have quite a few new guys. I want guys to get a feel for playing together as soon as possible."
Spring Training was a week longer a year ago due to the World Baseball Classic, which gave players more opportunities for innings and at-bats.
"This year we don't really have that luxury," Redmond said. "I want guys to get in there, get comfortable, and get going as soon as we can."


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WASHINGTON � Imagine how gratifying it must feel to be Anthony Kennedy.
As the justice who most often serves as the swing vote on the Supreme Court, he is the target of endless sycophancy, solicitude and general kissing up � and his courtiers were in their usual poses Wednesday when the high court took up the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal statute that blocks certain benefits for married same-sex couples.
�To go back to Justice Kennedy�s point ...�
�With all due respect, Justice Kennedy ...�
�With respect, Justice Kennedy ...�
�As Justice Kennedy said ...�
May I take your coat, Justice Kennedy? What an elegant robe you�re wearing today, Justice Kennedy! You�re looking well today, Justice Kennedy.
The liberal justices were particularly solicitous of Kennedy on Wednesday because the Reagan appointee gave every indication that he would be voting to strike down DOMA, as it is known. Early in the oral argument, the conservatives � Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts (a silent Clarence Thomas can be assumed to be their tacit tagalong) � explored the idea that the case might be disposed of on the technical grounds that no injury had been proved, a technique that would avoid a ruling calling DOMA unconstitutional.
But Kennedy was having none of it. �It seems to me there�s injury here,� he said.
The swing vote had swung. Later, the argument turned to the constitutionality of the law, and Kennedy offered his view that it interfered with states� rights. �You are at real risk of running in conflict with what has always been thought to be the essence of the state police power, which is to regulate marriage, divorce, custody,� he informed Paul Clement, who was arguing in defense of the statute that Kennedy had, apparently, just sentenced to death.
It is an accident of politics but an accepted fact of life that, in this nation of 314 million people, the only person whose opinion counts most of the time is that of Kennedy, a quarter-century denizen of the court.
Of course, any one of the justices could have Kennedy�s clout � Roberts made himself the swing vote in the Obamacare ruling � but most of the time, their predictable reasoning leaves Kennedy as the only one who starts reporters scribbling in the press section of the chamber. This is not entirely satisfying because Kennedy is a mild contributor, piping up intermittently with questions that are invariably thoughtful, usually balanced and often dull.
Wednesday was typical. Five other justices spoke before Kennedy posed a question, but his opinion essentially settled the matter. �Are you saying there�s a lack of adversity here?� he asked Vicki Jackson, who was arguing that the case should be thrown out because of a lack of legal standing. He then argued that there was indeed injury, a position that liberal Justice Elena Kagan quickly endorsed.
Kennedy gave the other side some hope when he told Justice Department lawyer Sri Srinivasan that he found it �very troubling� that President Obama had enforced the law even though he thought it was unconstitutional. And he said one of the administration�s arguments �would give you intellectual whiplash.�
But Kennedy gave far worse to Clement, who argued the case for House of Representatives leaders defending the statute because Obama wouldn�t. The justice was skeptical of the House�s standing in the case because it didn�t have �its own unique institutional responsibilities and prerogatives at stake.�
At one point, Kennedy informed Clement that his argument �is not consistent with the historic commitment of marriage and of questions of the rights of children to the state.� And when the lawyer tried to argue that DOMA is justified because �an unelected state judiciary in Hawaii� is about to rule on same-sex marriage, Kennedy responded: �But your statute applies also to states where the voters have decided it.�
Late in the two-hour argument, Kennedy described what he called a �DOMA problem� � a violation of states� authority. �The question is whether or not the federal government, under our federalism scheme, has the authority to regulate marriage.�
Kennedy left little doubt about what he thinks the answer is. When Solicitor General Donald Verrilli argued that DOMA violated the notion of equal protection under the law, Kennedy cut him off. �You are insisting that we get to a very fundamental question about equal protection,� he said, �but we don�t do that unless we assume the law is valid otherwise to begin with.�
And if Kennedy doesn�t assume something, nobody can assume it.
Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter @Milbank.


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I Love The Clip Shows
Following the ultra successful "I Love the 80s," "I Love the 80s Strikes Back" and "I Still Love the 80s Despite What You Did Last Summer," and the marginally successful "I Love the 70s," "I Love the 90s," and "No One Seems To Remember the 60s," VH1 debuts a new series this week called "I Love September, 2004."
The series is a 30-episode look at the month we all grew up with. The two-hour pilot has already tested extremely well, with audiences enjoying the nostalgia brought on by comedians, actors, and musicians reminiscing about four weeks ago.
"We're really excited about this new project," said VH1 Programming Director Todd Schwartz. "Mainly because we've run out of good ideas."
Other concepts that we're discussed at the network's morning idea meeting that birthed "I Love September, 2004" included, "I Love Last Tuesday," "I Love the Morning Idea Meeting" and "I Love the Guys Who Loved the 80s." That third idea may still go to production, provided the network can land a few big names to riff about how Hal Sparks and Michael Ian Black loved the 80s. Possible panelists are already said to include Hal Sparks and Michael Ian Black.
The pilot is longer than the other 29 episodes because, in addition to panelists discussing the pop music and entertainment trends of September 1st, they also spend an hour discussing the overall mood of September, which was described best by Gilbert Gottfried. Gottfried said the month will be forever remembered for a historic presidential debate, escalated tensions among Iraqi rebels, and clip shows. Though when Gottfried said it, the description sounded more nasal and annoying.
Thankfully for the network, September 1st was an extremely exciting day, featuring the beginnings of a terribly bloody standoff with Chechen separatists, and an exciting 2-1, 11-inning Chicago Cubs win over the Montreal Expos. Now that America knows the results of both stories, it's especially interesting to look back at how the Cubs were playing before the season ended.
"It's mind-blowing," Schwartz said. "Now that it's so many days later, we're armed with the knowledge that the Cubs will lose the Wild Card race and the Expos will be moving to Washington. It's fun to see how naive we were back then. Kerry Wood really pitched a hell of a game."
Other highlights of the series include a raid on Hamas that resulted in 14-deaths, the beheading of more soldiers in Iraq, and Britney Spears' surprise wedding to boy-toy Kevin Federline.
"You know who they should have killed?," panelist Corey Feldman said on the "I Love Sptember, 2004: September 18th" episode. "Britney's wedding planner. Sweat suits? Come on! We all know you can't wear white trash after Labor Day!"
Producers admit that some episodes were lighter on content than others. Not much happened on September 29th, but the same can be said for 1983, and editors found a way to make that show fun. After all, the September 29th announcement that the Haitian death toll from Hurricane Jeanne rose to over 2,400 people was almost as boring as Paul Simon marrying Carrie Fisher.
To create the show, VH1 employed an exhaustive team of researchers who, according to the network's official website, "were saving up to dozens of newspapers at a time."
What's next for the network? No one can be sure. But it will probably involve more rehashing of old content with quick cutaways and lots of music so the public doesn't know the difference. And though Schwartz wouldn't confirm it, the Internet Movie Database is already listing another installment of the "I Love the" series in production for this spring. The working title is "I Love Steve Hofstetter's October 3rd Humor Column."
So do we, Todd. So do we.


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"I thought it was a great personal touch having a picture on a stamp. I received so many compliments on it. Will definitely buy again when the occasion permits."
"Perfect, they look fantastic."
"It's a perfect touch for our mailing family cards"
"I love the personalized stamps. They will make our 90th birthday party invitations even more special. Thank you."
"Such a nice way to personalize, friends loved the different stamps ."


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Wanted Jobs, Health / Medical in Baldwin
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Fiers chased in 3rd, Brewers lose 9-6 to Colorado
DENVER – Mike Fiers couldn't duplicate his previous outing when he was perfect through six innings against Cincinnati last week.
This time the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander didn't survive the third inning, leaving Monday night's game without retiring any of the four batters he faced in his shortest outing of the season.
"Eight innings and two innings," Fiers said of the two starts. "Not good pitching. Just terrible all the way around."
DJ LeMahieu had a career-best four hits, Jeff Francis pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Colorado Rockies beat the Brewers 9-6.
Fiers (6-5) showed none of that sharpness in losing for the first time since July 22. He came into the game 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in August but was hit hard early.
"That wasn't close to my other starts and I'm not happy about it," Fiers said. "Those are good hitters over there. I made a lot of mistakes and they capitalized on them."
Fiers allowed eight runs and nine hits and struck out one in two-plus innings. It was the first time this year he failed to go at least five innings.
"One of those nights where the command of his fastball and the off-speed stuff wasn't there," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. "He missed some location in some areas we knew those guys were good in."
Dexter Fowler, Eric Young Jr., Tyler Colvin and Chris Nelson all had two hits and Colorado finished with 15. Every position player for the Rockies had at least one hit as they ended a four-game home losing streak.
Milwaukee's bats did little to offset the damage done by the Rockies. Carlos Gomez homered among his three hits and Rickie Weeks homered for the Brewers.
"Their lefty had us baffled," Roenicke said of Francis. "He had good off-speed stuff and his cutter was nice."
Francis (4-4) allowed three runs and six hits, walked two and struck out two in 5 1-3 innings. He picked up his first win since beating Arizona on July 25.
The Rockies started the game with three consecutive hits and took a 3-0 lead. They tacked on another run in the second before blowing it open in a four-run third.
The first six Colorado batters got hits in the inning, with Fiers giving up the first four. He left after Colvin's RBI double made it 6-0.
Mike McClendon came on and allowed RBI singles to Nelson and LeMahieu that pushed the lead to 8-0.
The Brewers got one back in the fourth on Corey Hart's RBI grounder. Gomez hit a two-run homer — his 11th — in the sixth to make it 8-3 and chase Francis.
LeMahieu's RBI single in the seventh — his fourth hit of the game — made it 9-3.
Weeks hit a three-run homer off Will Harris in the ninth. It was his 13th of the season and his first multiple RBI game since Aug. 1 against Houston.
NOTES: Brewers 3B Aramis Ramirez had his NL-leading 38th double of the season in the fourth inning. ... There were no updates on the status of RHP Mark Rogers, who stayed home to await the delivery of a child. Rogers is scheduled to pitch Wednesday. ... The Brewers have dropped 12 of their last 13 road games and are 17-36 all-time at Coors Field. ... Milwaukee LHP Randy Wolf (3-8) will face Colorado RHP Tyler Chatwood (2-2) on Tuesday.


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Guilty, With an Explanation
By Michael S. Goldberger
Special to the Observer
Director Sean Anders's "That's My Boy" has sent me into hiding, peering from the widow's walk where, family apocrypha has it, Great Aunt Martha yelled "drat!" when she sighted Great Uncle Melville returning from sea. You see, I was observed to laugh near convulsively at Adam Sandler's latest foray into bad taste, and I fear reprisal.
Thus, it is only a matter of time before I spot the indignant emissaries from the Ladies League of Human Decency, followed by the accreditation committee of the Evangelical Conference of Film Critics, coming to give me what for…with a vengeance. I am guilty as charged. It was only a matter of time. I'm tired of running. It all began in childhood.
I might as well admit it now, as it's all bound to be dragged out at the hearing, anyway. I loved Jerry Lewis. Although the iconic wag, considered an artistic genius in France, and socially conservative, would rail at the conclusion, it is my thesis that Mr. Sandler is his comic heir. Just subtract the latter's filth quotient, and you'll spot the similarity in shtick.
Both take us to a stage of behavior our parents prayed we'd grow out of one day. Lewis's persona harks back to the aught years. Showing slight progress, Sandler's multimillion dollar case of arrested development nostalgically treats us to a rerun of smirky adolescence, perhaps a consolation for having that blankie ripped away from us.
In this instance he is Donny Berger, onetime hero of the supermarket rags courtesy of a nationally exposed, illicit relationship with his 8th grade math teacher, Miss McGarricle (Eva Amurri Martino). Skip forward about twenty-five years since the scandalous impropriety. Donny has spent all the money his infamy brought, and the IRS is calling.
Adding insult to injury, the son that emanated from the famed case of statutory rape, now on the eve of his wedding, has long disavowed any relation to his dad. A successful hedge fund wunderkind portrayed by Andy Samberg, he has even changed his name, to Todd Peterson. His lovely intended, Jamie (Leighton Meester), is none the wiser.
Well, you know what happens in the movies when people about to be wed under an assumed identity try to keep it hush-hush. Yep, in a boorish variation on the stunt Eris, the goddess of discord, pulled, Dad shows up just before the nuptials. But shh! He won't upend Todd's big fib about being orphaned when Mummy and Pater died in an accident.
Nope, Donny has other plans. He has hatched a scurrilous deal with a reality TV show honcho that'll net him the $43,000 Uncle Sam is demanding. So he pretends to be Todd's long lost best friend. However, can he possibly help it if, of course, he becomes an instant favorite of the well wishers who have gathered at Todd's boss' manse for the festivities?
As expected, Donny is the catalyst for the en masse lowering of inhibitions among the attendees and the resultant free-for-all that is unleashed. Attesting that the raunchy farce fest, of which this is a prime example, now provides the laughs formerly supplied by the screwball comedies of the 1930's and '40s, it also shares the same philosophical goals.
Stuffy convention, hypocrisy and deception are torn asunder, the layers of false piety peeled like a rotten onion until everyone is pretty much shown for what they are, and then some. This includes the obligatory bachelor party with its truth serum-like effect. Very little is sacred, testing both your grasp of the 1st Amendment and your tolerance for smut.
The obscenities cause one to ponder what is and is not acceptable. In all fairness, there is a subjective scale that weighs the source of the ribaldry. Sandler's stuff avoids the mean spiritedness of some shock jocks, and he's at least in good company when he revisits a niche of naughtiness that wrought much wrath for the Pulitzer Prize-winning Philip Roth.
But while there'll be no plaudits for belles-lettres here, David Caspe's script does exhibit more thought and creativity than is usually lavished on movies of this caliber. If Damon Runyon took a time machine to the present and decided to go blue, his characters could very well resemble the, uh, Runyonesque sorts who help Mr. Sandler spew his madness.
That means a famous rapper (Vanilla Ice) on the skids, a libidinal octogenarian, a 200 pound pole dancer/confidante named Champale, and a snarky brother of the bride whose sexual proclivities even libertine Donny Berger declares "disgusting." So, psst! "That's My Boy" is recommended, but only to the open minded. Just don't tell anyone I said so.
"That's My Boy," rated R, is a Columbia Pictures release directed by Sean Anders and stars Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg and Leighton Meester. Running time: 114 minutes


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Baxter to Present at Cowen & Company's 35th Annual Health Care Conference
Deerfield, Ill. - February 10, 2015
Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) announced today that it will present at the Cowen & Company's 35th Annual Health Care Conference on Monday, March 2, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. (CT).
The live webcast of Baxter's presentation can be accessed from the Baxter corporate website at www.baxter.com.
Baxter International Inc. develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide.


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Irish BS Men's Baseball Jersey
Warriors Pearl Foundation: New Funny St. Patricks Day Design: Irish BS: From Denny: Ever heard of "Irish Obedience Training?" Yeah, me neither! Because we all know the Irish storytellers are irrepressible - and full of mischief like their fabled leprechauns. Sport your amusing support of all the frivolity and green beer on St. Patrick's Day with this new look from denny lyon designs at Cafe Press. Plenty of other products available in this design so you have plenty to choose from over at Denny Lyon Gifts!
The proceeds go to help support those groups who are housing and helping homeless female military veterans get off the streets. Denny Lyon (yeah, that's me) is a journalist-blogger (so bored with homogenized news I started my own blogs just to entertain myself and my readers!), photographer and Louisiana artist intensely interested in social issues.
I saw a news report on NBC News, Nightly News with Brian Williams, about the more than 5,000 homeless female military vets that the Pentagon was not helping so I decided to start this fund raising effort over at Cafe Press (Denny Lyon Gifts) to help raise funds for the women. The majority of these former female vets end up on the streets because of PTSD from being raped while serving in the military....


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You can have peace of mind knowing:
Our products adhere to the strictest safety standards of the juvenile products industry. All products meet the requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008 which means products are compliant with lead, heavy metals, and phthalates regulations. Our products also abide by all guidelines set forth by California Proposition 65.
The plastics used in the Table Topper® & Floor Topper® are 100% FDA approved polyethylene. Our Table Topper® placemats are printed on the reverse of the mat (the side which touches the table) so your child's food never comes in contact with the printing!
It matters to us because it matters to you!


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- Home
- Feeling Stuck, Page 22 (PAGE FULL)
- Sex and intimacy after betrayal
- Share Your Story: Finding Out, Part 5 (4 is full!!...
- Finding Out, Part 5 (Please post here. Part 4 is f...
- Stupid S#*t Cheaters Say
- Separating/Divorcing Page 9
- Finding Out, Part 6
- Books for the Betrayed
- Separating and Divorcing, Page 10
- Feeling Stuck, Part 23
- MORE Stupid S#*t Cheaters Say
- Share Your Story Part 6 (Part 5 is full)
- Sex & Intimacy After Betrayal Part 2 (Part 1 is full)
Friday, May 14, 2010
Re-Empower Yourself with One Simple Question
And the question is this: What can I do about this?
So often we disempower ourselves. We wonder what we did wrong. Or what's inherently wrong with us. What we could have done differently. What the OW has that we don't. And on and on, until we're a quivering mess that feels scarcely entitled to use up someone else's oxygen.
And then there are the others. Those women who recognize from the get-go that cheating says a whole lot more about the other people involved than the blissfully unaware wife. The women who, though they might have moments of doubt and fear and anxiety, quickly realize that the only way to survive a spouse's affair is to assert their power. How?
By asking that one simple question: What can I do about this?
And let me tell you, if you think there's nothing you can do...you're absolutely wrong. There's always something you can do that honors and empowers you.
Even if you're financially unable to leave. Even if you have a newborn baby attached to your breast and four others underfoot. You can still ask the question. And come up with an answer that gives you your power back.
What can you do about this?
You can leave. Or you can start a savings account to enable you to leave at a point in the future. Or you can go back to school to gain skills to allow you to enter the workforce. Or you can rediscover a hobby that helps you find your center. Or you can start walking to lose weight, gain health and feel better about yourself. You can meet with a lawyer. You can meet with a therapist. You can find a support group. You can start a support group.
What's so empowering is that none of these options rely on your husband or ex-husband to do anything. He can go on being a cheating ass or he can claim the title of Reformed Husband of the Year. Either way, you're going to be okay. Because you've asked the question.
What can I do about this?
8 comments:
- AnonymousJuly 21, 2010 at 9:01 PM
my husband and I were temporarily living in different states. Our daughter was around five months when he told me he moved in with another woman. He waited until he moved in with her to tell me! I eventually forgave him when he wanted me back. i thought that my lack of committment to moving to a new state with him caused him to cheat. So we worked it out and I followed after him. Later on I was away visiting my family for the holidays and he cheated on me again with the same woman. Not only did he cheat, he also got her pregnant, which is how i found out. Again i took him back. It has been a year since the first time he cheated on me and now i am pregnant with our second child. i'm scared to have this child because i think i may have fallen out of love with my husband. i don't trust him at all anymore. and i don't even understand why i am with him now. i think having this baby will make me feel obligated to stay with him. what do i do?ReplyDelete
Of course you don't trust him at all! He's lied to you, deceived you and treated you like a drive-thru wife – convenient and dependable.ReplyDelete
It makes perfect sense that you don't trust him and wonder if you love him. That's your common sense at work. Listen to it. And try to listen even further to that wise voice within that will help you stand on your own feet and demand to be treated with respect. Regardless of whether you stay with him (which I would NOT recommend unless he gets serious help!) or leave, I think you need to figure out what you need. Then demand it.
You may want to also consider what role you might have played in this. NOT that it excuses his infidelity, but perhaps you're not as committed as you thought – frankly he seems like a hard guy to love and maybe your gut has been telling you for years that you should cut and run. By coming to terms with our own true feelings about things, we can avoid making the same mistakes...either with the same man or another.
I don't claim to know how anyone else should live her life. But if you're truly unhappy, and it sounds as if you've been living through a lot of pain, I think it's time to take back your life and create one that makes you – and your child(ren) – proud.
I have been making my new choices since finding out as well.ReplyDelete
I call them my plans. Working it out, counselling and everything like that aside. My plans are to get though this, get better, get my children to school age- whilst preparing myself for a job. Get a job and become financially independent.At that point I plan to
reassess my husbands worth.
Hey Marti,ReplyDelete
Sounds like a good plan. And sometimes having a plan is all we need to feel somewhat back in control of our lives.
- AnonymousMay 12, 2014 at 9:26 PM
I am empowering myself by telling my husband what I want, when I want it. I started taking piano lessons. I have resumed reading (a hobby which I had basically given up once the children came). We never celebrate Valentines day and this year I insisted I want something. When I want to go to dinner, I tell him. I am not ordering him around, but I am telling him when I want something so that he doesn't have to guess. I am also letting both him and me know that I am no longer going to play the martyr role; I am not sacrificing myself for him or anyone else for that matter.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 30, 2015 at 12:14 PM
"What's so empowering is that none of these options rely on your husband or ex-husband to do anything. He can go on being a cheating ass or he can claim the title of Reformed Husband of the Year. Either way, you're going to be okay."ReplyDelete
- Very true. Took me two years to start realizing this. But still in the early stages of this realization. Often I fall back into "what is going on in his mind now? Is he thinking of her? Is he in regret mood? Is he feeling guilty? Now he says he loves me, but what happens 5, 10 years down the line? Won't I become the same boring wife again? Will he secretly think about her and get pleasured?". I am kind of training myself not to think about what he thinks or feels and focus on how to live my life better. Sometimes I think that I just want to leave this man and get someone who loves me in a way I deserve. But I also know that this is a fairly tale kind of thought, because to anyone out there in the world, my husband is that person! So I am trying to concentrate on loving myself and trying not to think what kind of husband I deserve.Replies
Be aware of those thoughts...and challenge them. So often, when we ask ourselves the question about our thoughts, "Is it true?", we discover that it's not. Far more often, it's our own inner critic babbling away at the many ways in which we're not enough, or we're going to get hurt, or things never work out, or blah blah blah. Pay attention...and then dismiss those thought. Sweep them away like dirt. You've got the right idea. Focus on you and what you need to feel strong and beautiful.Delete
- AnonymousSeptember 14, 2017 at 4:25 AM
You always do a great job of explaining things.ReplyDelete
I can definitely see where you're coming from and I appreciate the insight.
I shared this on Facebook and my friends seemed to enjoy it too.
Keep it up!


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by Kevin Dicciani
On April 6, Germantown Friends School held the Richard L. Wade Celebration, a ceremony honoring Head of School Richard "Dick" Wade, who is retiring at the end of the semester after 20 years of service to the school.
He was joined by his family onstage in front of hundreds of students, parents, alumni and community members.
The spirited celebration was hosted by two GFS alumni, NBC reporter Kristen Welker ('94) and Dan Shotz ('95), writer and producer of the hit television show "Jericho," and author of the New York Time's bestselling graphic novel, "Continuing the Jericho Story." The two were members of the first two graduating classes during Wade's tenure.
Welker explained the significance of the event:
"Today we honor a man who has continued a legacy of great men who came before him, by leading GFS through recessions, global change, into the 21st Century with an open mind for its technology, progression and infrastructure. There are six new facilities that have been built under Dick Wade's tenure. In the last 20 years, GFS has won 76 Friend's League championships. That is incredible."
"This place," she continued, "continues to be one of the highest-grade, top-tier institutions in the country that is just simply lucky for having had Dick Wade. Dick we are sending you off knowing that this school is better, stronger, and ready to face whatever lies ahead."
Shotz joked about Wade's departure, saying that "It's the end of time."
From 1994 to this year's graduating class, Wade has handed out 1,789 diplomas to students, which, Shotz said, is a testament to Wade's "incredible reach."
Elissa Sunshine and Michael Williamson, of GFS's art department, joined the stage to present a portrait of Wade painted by Paul DuSold, artist and instructor at Woodmere.
Before unveiling the amazing portrait, Sunshine recalled the words of Albert Einstein: "Try not to be a man of success, but a man of value."
"And it's obvious," she added, "Dick has been a man of value and he is a man of value. And therefore, he has been a great success."
A slide show followed highlighting Wade's contributions to the community and the school, with photos from Wade's early days at GFS to his most recent.
One of the guest speakers, 8th District Councilwoman Cindy Bass, representing Northwest Philadelphia, said Wade "did very valuable work at GFS – very valuable work."
"And it really should not be understated,"she added. "It should be commended. And I just want to thank you for all you have done."
Bass then presented Wade with the Cliveden Heritage Award on behalf of Philadelphia City Council, recognizing Wade's contributions to the Germantown community, saying that he exemplified the award's purpose, which is to "create vibrant communities through education, preservation and engagement."
Faculty member Florence Battis Mini spoke of how Wade embodied the school's values and was responsible for its flourishing diversity. She commended Wade for his ability to make tough decisions in the face of adversity, saying that he brought two great gifts to GFS:
"One, his unflappable commitment to discourse as the solution to conflict. Two, his willingness to commit resources to support faculty and students, and learning more not only about academic issues, but also about Quakerism and diversity in our city."
"His mantra has been, 'At GFS, we talk about the tough issues.' When tempers flare, Dick keeps the space safe for discourse," Mini said.
Mary Ann Case, former chair of the Parents Association and a parent of four GFS graduates, said the culture of the school is often defined by its head.
"For twenty years, the parents of nearly 2,500 students have been fortunate to have Dick Wade at the helm of this most remarkable school," she said. "We've all benefited from his commitment to education excellence, his courage in grappling with difficult issues and his good humor when leading a community."
Case said Wade has always maintained that the school's mission was "to seek truth, challenge the intellect, honor differences, embrace the city and nourish each student's mind, body and spirit."
Christopher Nicholson, a GFS Clerk Emeritus, added that the one word that appropriately defines Wade's leadership was "creativity." He attributed the school's positive atmosphere to Wade's "love of the job, the school and the community."
Finally, an emotional Wade took to the podium in front of the standing, applauding crowd. Over the cheers and celebratory whistling, Wade said that even though 20 years is a long stretch of time, the ceremony helped bring all of the fond memories he experienced at GFS to the forefront of his mind.
Wade then went on tt explain what GFS has meant to him over the years.
"Families are built on generations," he said. "So are schools. And when I think about Germantown Friends School, and we think about our school, we should remember that we helped write a chapter in the great narrative of our school. The GFS narrative, I think, always has two pieces to it. One is certainly Quakerism and the Quaker value system that is so deep in our culture. The second is faculty, some of whom have been here longer than I have. And that's a great narrative."
Wade closed by answering his own question: "What does the future look like for GFS"?
"Bright," he said. "Why am I so confident? Because of the people in this room. Thank you."


text:
BENEFITING: American Red Cross
ORGANIZER: Dan
EVENT: 2015 Run for Blood 5K
Dan Knutson wrote -
The need for blood is constant, in fact, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. In your lifetime, there is a good chance that you or a loved one will need a blood transfusion.
On July 25, you can help the American Red Cross North Central Blood Services deliver lifesaving blood to those in need by participating in the 7th Annual 2015 Run for Blood 5K and Community Blood Drive.
You can help. Lace up your running shoes, help raise funds, or donate blood! You can do your part to make certain the Red Cross has the resources it needs to provide nearly 40% of blood and blood products used in our country. Whether you are a competitive runner, a casual walker, or just love the idea of supporting a wonderful cause, participating in the Run for Blood allows you to show your support.
It's the blood products on the shelves that help save lives in an emergency. There is no alternative to blood transfusions for accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer, and many more.
Proceeds benefit the Red Cross North Central Blood Services Region that provides lifesaving blood for 108 hospitals in Minnesota, western Wisconsin and eastern South Dakota.


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Since the Alberta government is committed to hosing away an extra $3 million of our tax dollars on Monday on the ridiculous exercise of a "Senate nominee election," progressive voters deserve the opportunity to express their protest more effectively than by spoiling than their ballots or formally declining them.
It's a pity the more progressive parties didn't take advantage of this spectacular opportunity for free advertising despite the preference of most of their supporters for a Triple-A Senate -- that is, Abolish, Abolish and Abolish.
The Senate vote, after all, was going ahead anyway, whether or not we approved -- and, as Ralph Waldo Emerson wisely observed, "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
But they didn't, so we are left with the choice between a meaningless protest or supporting the only candidates in the race who can be considered even close to progressive, University of Alberta Political Science professor Ian Urquhart and St. Albert City Councillor Len Bracko.
Urquhart, who admits to once supporting the Progressive Conservatives in Ottawa and who has been active in the Alberta Wilderness Association, told the Edmonton Journal in March he has become concerned about the Harper Government's "search and destroy" approach to dealing with Canadians who want to protect the environment.
Bracko, who served for a spell in the Alberta Legislature as a Liberal MLA, has a long record of service to the Edmonton-area bedroom community of St. Albert. On a less positive note, he campaigned on a disappointingly conservative platform in the last municipal election and his recent council performance has been less than stellar.
All the rest are associated with either the Progressive Conservative or the Wildrose branches of the Conservative Party, which has been noted here before, are essentially the same in all important regards.
Senate "reform" -- as opposed to Senate abolition, which is what is needed -- has long been a hobbyhorse of the perpetually dissatisfied far right in this part of the country. These people imagine that a U.S.-style upper house in place of the undemocratic and largely symbolic 19th Century relic we now have would be a panacea to their feelings of alienation in a larger federation where the majority of citizens don't share their antediluvian views. Thus they have demanded for years a "Triple-E Senate," meaning elected, equal and effective.
Accordingly, to score a propaganda point and scoop up a few of the farthest-right votes, Alberta Progressive Conservative governments held faux Senator elections in 1989 and 2004.
The federal Liberals were in power in 2004, and ignored the results of that vote. However, upon coming to power Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed one of the four "Senators in Waiting," a well-off Calgary area farmer named Bert Brown, to the misnamed Red Chamber.
Brown is the fellow who cut the letters EEE into a barley field north of Calgary International Airport, proving that, in Alberta, there's freedom of the press for anyone who owns a field and a threshing machine. He later went on to renown as the Senate's biggest spenders of taxpayer dollars, which shouldn't surprise anyone who follows Conservative behaviour, as opposed to Conservative rhetoric.
Others, like Link Byfield of the nutty right-wing publishing empire founded by his father, proved too much even for our neo-Con prime minister to stomach. Byfield has given up on his senatorial dreams and is now carrying the standard of the Wildrose Party in the Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock riding northwest of Edmonton.
Whatever, the pressure for a reformed Senate has largely disappeared for two reasons: first, the people who imagined they could never win power without a Triple-E Senate have won power, and, second, the population and influence of the more-conservative West has increased and is likely to continue to grow.
The PM, however, persisted with the idea of a Senate Reform Act -- which was introduced to Parliament last spring -- probably because he sees the Senate as a useful wedge issue and because a Conservative-packed Senate empowered to activism would be a useful brake on progressive policies introduced by some future non-Conservative government.
That act, according to the government's news release at the time, "provides a voluntary framework for provinces to implement a democratic process that enables voters to select nominees for the Senate. The Prime Minister will be required to consider the names of Senate nominees when making recommendations on appointments to the Senate." (Emphasis added.)
Now, never mind the qualification about recommendations -- it's the PM and his inner circle who decide who will become a Senator. In our system, a recommendation to the Crown is really a command. But note that the act will leave an escape hatch open for the prime minister in the event voters should decide to cast their ballots for the candidate not approved by our neo-Con masters.
Still, it's said here this would not be the worst outcome -- if a progressive candidate were chosen to be rejected by the Ottawa neo-Cons -- because it would prove the prime minister's Senate reform is a fraud and provide the democratic justification to abolish this chamber once and for all.
So why not vote for Urquhart and "pump the ballot" a little in his favour by voting for no one else, as is your right. If you are simply compelled to vote for more than one simply because you can, you could mark your ballot for both Urquhart and Bracko.
If either an environmentalist or a Liberal wins, it's a safe bet that Harper won't appoint him to the Senate, which will serve the useful purpose of proving once again that our PM is a shifty manipulator.
If by some miracle he is telling the truth and appoints the candidate we choose, at least we'll have one rare progressive voice in the Senate.
It's not much to get for our $3 million, but it's something.
This post also appears on david Climenhaga's blog, Alberta Diary.
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T-Pain (Feat. Ludacris) - Chopped N Skrewed
T-Pain featuring Ludacris Chopped N Skrewed from the album Chopped N Skrewed (C) 2008 Zomba Recording, LLC
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Tough and Practical
Do-It-Yourself Bed Lining
First of all, it's great to be back between the covers of CLASSIC TRUCKS, (even if it's only for an occasional visit). This time around I wanted to show you folks what I think is a great product that though may not be something you'll choose to use in your classic show truck, you'd be smart to consider for any truck that carries even a occasional load.
Sure, there's lots of options available when it comes to what I lightheartedly refer to as "cargo condoms" nowadays. You've got your typical dealer or parts retailer-type plastic slide-in units, commercially applied spray-in coatings, and the much more economical and customizable self-applied coatings -- and to be fair, all of 'em have their good and bad points.
Prefabricated injection molded units are the easiest and cleanest to install (just drop the gate and slide 'em in), but "slide" is the operative word here. These liners seem to be distant relatives of ice skating rinks, items carried in them inevitably seem to traverse every square inch of bed floor as you maneuver through town - unless you spend sufficient time securing them into place before you hit the road (something I rarely ever remember to do).
On the upside, commercially applied spray -in coatings are usually much less "slick" and seem to protect your bed from fidgety cargo to a certain extent, at least better than hard plastic - making them, in my eyes anyway, superior to hard plastic liners. Their drawback is the fact that they've got to be professionally applied, which involves making appointments, driving cross town to a dealer, and leaving your baby in the hands of a "qualified installer." Another thing to consider is cost. Commercially-applied coatings ain't cheap. Depending on where you're located, these products can run you anywhere from $300.00 to $500.00 bucks!
This leaves us with self-applied coatings. This category's my choice, as this option fits both my budget and my needs. But, there are considerations to be made as there are a few different brands and formulas on the market so check 'em out and choose the one you believe is the best. I did my homework and decided on Herculiner (manufactured by Old World Industries). I chose it because of a few reasons. First, it's a polyurethane based product that contains granulated rubber which provides a coarser-than-average finish. This makes it virtually slip-free and the rubber "grit" I think will stand up better than a sand or silica-based mixture. Next, it can be roller applied, brush applied, or sprayed. And, it's both affordable (under a $100.00 for a standard 6-foot bed) and available in a selection of colors - black, red, gray and perhaps by the time you read this, white. But, one of the things I liked about Herculiner is the fact that in case I screw it up, by gouging somehow down the road, it can be spot repaired unlike some other brands that won't allow a fresh coat to adhere to a cured one. For goons like me this is a real plus.
Anyway, as I said earlier, bed protection is a good idea for any truck that carries a load, so follow along as we coat the bed of an early Chevy - with Herculiner.


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Basketball Final: Breaking The NCAA's Tyrannical Monopoly
[Publisher's Commentary]
YES! Let's Enjoy the
Final Four. But let's also take care of business and devise how to help
break up the NCAA basketball monopoly and shift the billions of dollars
to the young players and their families and their communities.
The NCAA's exploitation of these young players is an issue that I've
found tormenting for years. I'm happy to see that a New York Times
columnist, Joe Nocera, has been writing many excellent articles.
Let's encourage retired pro-basketball players --problem is there
aren't enough conscious ones apart from a guy like Kareem Abdul Jabbar--
to get involved in liberating these players, not only in basketball but
football as well.
The schools rake in tens of millions of
dollars and collectively the NCAA annual revenue is nearly a billion
dollars through entire season. The colleges and tournaments have
merchandising, tix sales, and TV revenue shares. So how it it that
schools sell ticks to games; have concession stands and memorabilia
stores; and share millions in TV monies while these so-called "student
athletes" --one of the most phony terms ever concocted-- aren't paid?
Then the colleges divert attention from this modern day slavery by
penalizing these kids --many of who come from "struggling" families to
put it mildly-- whenever they accept a few hundred dollars or loans or a
car from boosters or get someone to help their moms with the rent. The
victims are criminalized.
Corporate media actually write these imbecilic stories demonizing these
kids even though the reporters writing the stories in major newspapers
like The New York Times, The Daily News and The New York Post, and their
editors as well, all know it's a scam and coverup on behalf of terrible
inequity. Meanwhile, they write all these stories praising coaches who
make millions of dollars --Jim Boeheim, who
tolerated a sexual molester on his coaching staff for years; the Rick Petinos; and, the
Bobby Knights; etc.
You mean to tell me that all those great
former NCAA hoop stars can't be great coaches and make some of these
millions as well? And as we know, not all the players are signed or make
it to the pros. So what's wrong with having them paid while they make
millions of dollars for Syracuse, Kentucky, Ohio State, Kansas, Notre
Dame, etc. Americans like saying "this isn't Cuba or Soviet Russia." So,
why do we allow the NCAA and the colleges to rip off these kids?
At the very least these players should have money direct deposited into
accounts that they can access the minute their college eligibility
ends; or create in kind payments, such as millions in scholarships for
students in low-income neighborhoods or financing for businesses in
areas where these players come from: In other words, there should be
more than an NCAA trophy and billions for the colleges at the end of the
The current regime that prevails can't even be legal and there are some court cases that may help change the status quo.
The players need smart ex-college and NBA players like Abdul Jabbar to
start a movement to end this injustice. Many of these players don't even
need college hoops to be identified by NBA scouts as future stars. They
should be allowed to be drafted from High School or attend special
schools where they are actually paid.
They can even challenge
the NCAA by using these special schools to launch their own league The
American International Basketball League and televise the games on TV
One and Magic Johnson's proposed new channel. These emerging stations
can then strike deals with the ABCs and NBcs.
This move would: empower the players and their families financially; create jobs
for more African American coaches and agents and managers; and, either end the NCAA's monopoly or bring the NCAA to its senses, forcing it
to merge with the new league on the new league's own terms.
Where are the enlightened ex-players and fearless bright lawyers to lead the charge?
Any ideas?
"Speaking Truth To Empower."
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Ann GarrisonFebruary 22,2018 @ 08:03 PM
I think you have "Filtered HTML" turned on here. If you switch to "Full HTML," it will probably...


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