tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13029496416677791752023-11-16T06:42:27.994-05:00Shades Of GrayLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-65992263901938188212010-12-23T08:19:00.004-05:002010-12-23T08:33:21.480-05:00Merry Christmas.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEQq3z6T7Y89_F-cUOVBsK3jJI6XKb5jIiHxpDjV2cavtMS0Uyx_QFOWm5lHsa_KqB9dFG9hzK-8VctFCT_h11bXBURNxFtUHhy3TfdXIzfNYz-iXX5Yp4utueSjuB7e0w0IqitRzKAo/s1600/xmas+sketch.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553868578823664338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEQq3z6T7Y89_F-cUOVBsK3jJI6XKb5jIiHxpDjV2cavtMS0Uyx_QFOWm5lHsa_KqB9dFG9hzK-8VctFCT_h11bXBURNxFtUHhy3TfdXIzfNYz-iXX5Yp4utueSjuB7e0w0IqitRzKAo/s320/xmas+sketch.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Merry Christmas to all! My daughters were working on their Christmas cards for their sister, Kaylee, in AZ. It was the perfect drawing from life moment. I added these quickie portraits into Kaylee's Christmas package along with the cards the girls made. I am still amazed sometimes about how well these little drawings come out and I do so enjoy drawing from life. It is especially challenging when your subject won't sit still...hehehe er ho ho ho....</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-86232405386814962052010-07-31T14:54:00.003-05:002010-07-31T15:06:34.422-05:00September...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7BKaufBaBU2Xbz0mg9SmvUNkN0P6AMO7CXesXVCmDwhDM5ufsw6uLYuU3HOboiNSUf22H8Z2fLxqulaHIOdU-keApCWPcvhlofiK77rsS-hL_jMryXwv2VEMYkMzihOuO4lYovN42wA/s1600/73010+015.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500161857685582450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7BKaufBaBU2Xbz0mg9SmvUNkN0P6AMO7CXesXVCmDwhDM5ufsw6uLYuU3HOboiNSUf22H8Z2fLxqulaHIOdU-keApCWPcvhlofiK77rsS-hL_jMryXwv2VEMYkMzihOuO4lYovN42wA/s320/73010+015.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I've been invited to show my work with two other artists in September at the Center of Music and Art in Wintersville, OH. I am so excited to do this and working to finish up a couple more pieces to include. I can't wait to see the other artist's work that will be on display also. The artwork will be on display all month long, so stop by.</div><div> </div><div>Thanks,</div><div>Laura</div><div> </div><div> </div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-84066606540032888202010-02-02T13:48:00.004-05:002010-02-02T13:53:10.552-05:00C'est Fini..............<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPmcb5jmCD9hyCoXTcPOnEIFpUBftYdkNV8MGI5POPnXZ88o5Go-NtTMk0RuIe_zi40Enb9JiuoXq0oeTw8-0LoUJ_8BwHOP6ZkKkbMOAdv6rmou7vXy60iqkCc15dxXPBaOadwgosNw/s1600-h/resize+stone+dance.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433720738770045426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPmcb5jmCD9hyCoXTcPOnEIFpUBftYdkNV8MGI5POPnXZ88o5Go-NtTMk0RuIe_zi40Enb9JiuoXq0oeTw8-0LoUJ_8BwHOP6ZkKkbMOAdv6rmou7vXy60iqkCc15dxXPBaOadwgosNw/s320/resize+stone+dance.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Finally got to finish this up, unfortunately, this is not the best picture and I won't be able to take another until this piece is returned from the show it is entered in. Wish me Luck! </div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-19556587166288281152009-11-07T13:58:00.003-05:002009-11-07T14:04:20.629-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoprWMfvTXfZvkfbk99j4WhTEA4l3EnDheZ-yIIcrvEHYerGxxYlPq1avwcQbu0vjnZkgbQATpPpJXNBtcqzkXhqcer8qlqs2C6qXFvjrncrDrLOuO0H5VeerRAvolgormEm9K7hiGzw/s1600-h/11070902resize.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401439351892754786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoprWMfvTXfZvkfbk99j4WhTEA4l3EnDheZ-yIIcrvEHYerGxxYlPq1avwcQbu0vjnZkgbQATpPpJXNBtcqzkXhqcer8qlqs2C6qXFvjrncrDrLOuO0H5VeerRAvolgormEm9K7hiGzw/s320/11070902resize.jpg" /></a><br /><div>A Quick Update....</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>My 13 year old is down with the flu so this is going to be a quickie...I shall return after her fever breaks. Thanks for looking!</div><div> </div><div>Laura</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-37168063755384589022009-10-27T15:32:00.002-05:002009-10-27T15:39:19.457-05:00Another update.............<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLZ9YV3ihhPyYMZL2hYgWSEyxgoIUlYgjH4EhPmGO-hrCjisvi43rOXIpQZlTkMKQTfBR-jw3PluyrOlxEBDLf7XtKwCNpaZqhLytTRohArLinxqpNLM2O1uJjWuF2iGZhOEVcXmLSVQ/s1600-h/lindajreduced.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397381931397323186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLZ9YV3ihhPyYMZL2hYgWSEyxgoIUlYgjH4EhPmGO-hrCjisvi43rOXIpQZlTkMKQTfBR-jw3PluyrOlxEBDLf7XtKwCNpaZqhLytTRohArLinxqpNLM2O1uJjWuF2iGZhOEVcXmLSVQ/s320/lindajreduced.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Have been working all over, but there is still so much more to do. The difficult part is trying to maintain the negative space in and among the rocks. It is easy to lose them in the shadows. This is requiring a wide range of values and many layers of graphite ranging from H, 2H, 2HB, 3B, 5B, and even 9B as my darkest value.</div><div> </div><div>Thanks for looking!</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-72296773331420780832009-10-23T11:27:00.002-05:002009-10-23T11:37:46.738-05:00trying to get a closer to real life image<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGF4fLiZ-IJwbeBIdWRBa2v_7PckxT1EO-TQP3SB6hztI4vTuD__NEEwbe1PfGV6cSyJeGJpnNafufFMx9Gc5buNYfE6vEmkbXNg_zO1SpPQzc97NU7ObmFslKYPwKrSkrqwUnX3OOLQ/s1600-h/stdncud102309.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395835395274098370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGF4fLiZ-IJwbeBIdWRBa2v_7PckxT1EO-TQP3SB6hztI4vTuD__NEEwbe1PfGV6cSyJeGJpnNafufFMx9Gc5buNYfE6vEmkbXNg_zO1SpPQzc97NU7ObmFslKYPwKrSkrqwUnX3OOLQ/s320/stdncud102309.JPG" /></a><br />I worked on this a wee bit more...added another figure...look for mother and child. I found a half way descent photo editor and this image looks closer to real life.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-24053319037704774572009-10-21T13:55:00.003-05:002009-10-21T14:01:07.667-05:00New update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFe4OZTZUYqBzVNipzgh10Ukhy8-5XyneXD2HdLwJp-jkiS5hvuAGYS1-dEq91UDvKd3m-C1Nxp_qqBuQ2YGpWYRu8yf18H1vXN0terquC6FmPFiJ3FH92jTx_jSMJn_hUXTzh_esUo40/s1600-h/stupdate102109.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFe4OZTZUYqBzVNipzgh10Ukhy8-5XyneXD2HdLwJp-jkiS5hvuAGYS1-dEq91UDvKd3m-C1Nxp_qqBuQ2YGpWYRu8yf18H1vXN0terquC6FmPFiJ3FH92jTx_jSMJn_hUXTzh_esUo40/s320/stupdate102109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395129839347979810" /></a><br />Have begun working on other rocks in this piece. While working on this I have been thinking about how long these particular rocks have been around and the stories they could tell if they could speak. So in my imagination that is what they are doing :)Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-46982029995696222002009-09-27T14:36:00.003-05:002009-09-27T14:52:22.744-05:00Pushin' a rock...hehehe....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3oSXbukxaHmxakcXlrfeawlrnTB3KsH2zT9ioca0Il072pwn4EqsjL8k5tW59jqv7yJlfPen3KMx2ZS1-Dy9S9c3Vbu8tS5zJ1Nd6zHNSlIxRNZLrSk8IuZkVY8bNq680kFWoqBu9Pc/s1600-h/GEDC0159.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386237121547040178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3oSXbukxaHmxakcXlrfeawlrnTB3KsH2zT9ioca0Il072pwn4EqsjL8k5tW59jqv7yJlfPen3KMx2ZS1-Dy9S9c3Vbu8tS5zJ1Nd6zHNSlIxRNZLrSk8IuZkVY8bNq680kFWoqBu9Pc/s320/GEDC0159.JPG" /></a><br /><div>This is the most rescent update of Stonedance...I have continued layering up with 2h wood pencil and 2hb mech. pencil creating the shaded area in this rock and adding more details. Doing my best to keep in mind where the main source of light is coming in and that this rock is a bit taller than the other rocks. Trying to create a sense of depth which can be kind of tough being that the view is from directly overhead...thanks for looking!</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-41835439862081959562009-09-25T05:34:00.004-05:002009-09-25T06:16:38.450-05:00Stonedance update...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMS4bsMuv16YzBROnSwppl0QfNEIjpUpH3G7vm4ao4BYp3XaiJruOeFo64U11g8aiBkUhYjKFNZST8ZkpulOBXHFa-c27pzPYcUilJ4hvFFZEm2bhoCQGUb78LnCx3zMafo_S6SEDpFg/s1600-h/stonedance+update+3.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385361114479903714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMS4bsMuv16YzBROnSwppl0QfNEIjpUpH3G7vm4ao4BYp3XaiJruOeFo64U11g8aiBkUhYjKFNZST8ZkpulOBXHFa-c27pzPYcUilJ4hvFFZEm2bhoCQGUb78LnCx3zMafo_S6SEDpFg/s320/stonedance+update+3.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I have continued to work on the concrete in the negative spaces and have started working on the stone textures...layering graphite with a 2h wood pencil and a 2hb mechanical pencil for those darker details...for darker shadow areas in the concrete I have also layered with 5b wood over 2h and 2hb. </div><div>Also selective blending with tissue and a stomp and pulling graphite out with a kneaded erasure, and more layers of graphite until I achieved the look and texture of concrete beneath the rocks.</div><div>The dancers are more apparent now in the negative space.</div><div> </div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-38013159971638274622009-09-21T10:28:00.003-05:002009-09-21T10:45:44.291-05:00New wip...work in progress<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZiAzPtUViamrAgUyXMGB_83SxUkmnYVKzgnKD9F49DiClPL1QMuxxAv_5pZ4tN0StBfTISsWX06RzdmH8iQ2zWDZFC48DDxHtZgUSyOG2xoSAGdeHVdsA9vM5lxPoYFn39F-eu0fIDw/s1600-h/gchighnoonupdate+049.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383947055008261858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZiAzPtUViamrAgUyXMGB_83SxUkmnYVKzgnKD9F49DiClPL1QMuxxAv_5pZ4tN0StBfTISsWX06RzdmH8iQ2zWDZFC48DDxHtZgUSyOG2xoSAGdeHVdsA9vM5lxPoYFn39F-eu0fIDw/s320/gchighnoonupdate+049.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqXR3oO3I6OqPMSw_EiQJ5YcO0iyAxKGJNQ4VK0CB5cqNVSkprYIdKgdWyDDvlNBHJ0zcBLnkgwH_FkuDJT6gL2OOdi7FxOsGsbQEdZorb1nJJYE7Kz9x8aCX15nSl7BxsAgZvHKZ554/s1600-h/gchighnoonupdate+048.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383947049035416210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqXR3oO3I6OqPMSw_EiQJ5YcO0iyAxKGJNQ4VK0CB5cqNVSkprYIdKgdWyDDvlNBHJ0zcBLnkgwH_FkuDJT6gL2OOdi7FxOsGsbQEdZorb1nJJYE7Kz9x8aCX15nSl7BxsAgZvHKZ554/s320/gchighnoonupdate+048.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>One of my favorite artists is <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arminmersmann.com%2F&h=a8d8a7967f45e8bc2710864e561ce638">Armin Mersmann</a>. I first discovered him at Artpapa.com, but you can also find his work on Diviant Art (Nimra). He is an amazing artist and human being! Well anywho...hehehe...I have been wanting to do a piece influenced by him for some time now...so about a month ago I set up a bunch of rocks...yes I did say rocks...hehehe...on my concrete patio and just played with them snapping pictures and rearranging them and snapping more pictures...I didn't know exactly what I had in mind, but I figured I'ld know when I saw it. Finally, I previewed what I had on my camera and then went to see the"BIG" picture.</div><br /><br /><div>Amazingly enough it is not the rocks that I fell in love with in this piece, although I do love them...the textures and shapes, most of them are river rocks that I have collected, but the negative space around and among the rocks that I adore.</div><br /><br /><div>This weekend I have started working on the actual drawing...</div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-42437952303932154672009-09-07T11:34:00.002-05:002009-09-07T11:39:42.882-05:00My new studio....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejTJi137UyVK4uF2Oh_Q92qQKg26iCQYDYFiEn0GES-XNzSaB8xcLC9Jb7BmMgVDBRWRJ1MsJQXEAcs4eUz6CcjZphyXynbvXJt5wbztzNA7zi7DKY60XflmUDrxAu0wd1zJ5TIQebSs/s1600-h/aug09+365.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378766102104405746" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejTJi137UyVK4uF2Oh_Q92qQKg26iCQYDYFiEn0GES-XNzSaB8xcLC9Jb7BmMgVDBRWRJ1MsJQXEAcs4eUz6CcjZphyXynbvXJt5wbztzNA7zi7DKY60XflmUDrxAu0wd1zJ5TIQebSs/s320/aug09+365.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Its small and modest but a dream come true....my very own studio. My boss at my day job has agreed to rent space to me in the apartment upstairs. I have been back to work since school started a week and a half ago!!! I'm in heaven.</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-80973842058647638592009-08-18T05:46:00.003-05:002009-08-18T05:58:39.171-05:00New direction...................................<div align="left"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371255848131412674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 253px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmXOCzr8zFWyRSAsjxMZscRONDLUgHLaKYa4lMIRqLJUZQgv1TxOyGCk4AxR_u0Z0opldxuiJAZa2jM8jarhrka_DiZTA1uO9Boj_-jU1GwDmWGn2uw-DAi9yLSqbWnZBwN7uFOgrJ9k/s320/fn.jpg" border="0" /><br />Taking a new direction....well maybe not so new...at least to me. I had such great plans for blogging and leaving a record of my existence other than the next generation....not that they aren't fantastic. They are the light of my life!!!! My 4 lovely daughters...My oldest has flown the coop...she just rescently moved out on her own. The Christmas Elf is still as sassy as ever and the younger two keep me hopping, but any who...hehehe...I want to include my artwork here for your consideration.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-50500498178907131822008-06-13T16:04:00.000-05:002008-06-13T16:07:39.371-05:00That's my girl!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnhcWNnm19a8ZkQy3Q613V8LOnmiYzizMGA4vqXu1UAccLDQgqTaMpA75uMzRjfUhXLOvHC1NRZv9D1fVI8H5IXydqaaDf-RySnAIL7zu7iV13Dgl4ETBZzpT8OsnvjxZ1aNJ6fc1V9s/s1600-h/gem+city.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211475560880503554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnhcWNnm19a8ZkQy3Q613V8LOnmiYzizMGA4vqXu1UAccLDQgqTaMpA75uMzRjfUhXLOvHC1NRZv9D1fVI8H5IXydqaaDf-RySnAIL7zu7iV13Dgl4ETBZzpT8OsnvjxZ1aNJ6fc1V9s/s320/gem+city.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-17444731490730516972008-06-13T14:22:00.002-05:002008-06-13T14:40:01.350-05:00June 13th 2008...Catching up!!!!Wow!!!! I didn't realize how long it had been since I had updated!!!! I have so much to be thankful for. My oldest has graduated! I have lots of mixed feelings....happiness...sadness... Tomorrow is her graduation party. She is celebrating the finish of a 12 year career and the beginning of a new chapter in her life. Me?! I'm celebrating the rearing of an intelligent beautiful young woman to adulthood without eating my young....hehehehehe!<br /><br />Time to BRAG!!!! My lovely graduate entered the local Ladies Auxilliary V.F.W. Patriotic Art Competition and won 1st place in her school. Now her piece will go on to the district level. She has a very good chance. Her artwork recieved a perfect score and we are very hopeful. If she takes the division judging then she will receive tickets to Reno and accomidations for the national judging at the september convention. If she should win the national judging...cross your fingers...she will receive a $10,000 scholarship and her artwork will appear on the cover of Time Magazine!!!!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-90728486445807208562007-09-13T08:04:00.000-05:002007-09-13T09:10:32.978-05:00To Rock Or Not To Rock...That Is The Question!One of my favorite pastimes is singing! I love it! Give me a good tune be it via the radio, karaoke, or a live band and I'll be singing along!!! It just makes me feel good. <br /><br />My husband is musically inclined. He can pick up most instruments and figure out how to use them and not to badly at that. He's been a drummer for 30+ years. Ayup...he's one of those people! (Laura turns green with envy) Though I can sing I can't play a single instrument. I've tried and failed miserably. <br /><br />Well, anyway, the point of this is that I have a decision to make. My hubby and I have tried a few times to put a band together with me singing...we are even trying yet again at this very moment and due to one problem or another it just hasn't worked out. I was handed an opportunity to try out with a different band. I'm just not sure what to do about it.<br /><br />You see I'm not what you would expect of your average lead singer of a band. Lead singers aren't average people. They (or they seem to me anyway) are outgoing, confident and gifted people. In my case I can sing fairly well and on the outside I appear confident enough, but on the inside I'm a quaking bowl of jello. I FEAR performing in public. Once I get past the first song I'm usually alright, but before during and after that first my knees and hands shake, my heart races and I feel like I could fall on my face. It's terrifying!!!<br /><br />I wonder also, if I try this on my own without my hubby there as a fall back if I could over come my fear...if part of my fear has to do with disappointing him and at the same time I wonder if doing this on my own would be disloyal to him. <br /><br />Well, there's alot to think about...more later...<br />LauraLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-28084041156616313822007-08-28T08:47:00.000-05:002007-08-28T08:57:16.032-05:00An ending and a beginning....This is the start of a new school year and will probably be a rough one for me as a parent. As you know I have 4 lovely daughters. My oldest is 17 and finishing her highschool career this year. I'm already feeling the strain of letting go. My youngest is 4 soon to be 5 years old and starting preschool which is a new experience for both of us. None of her siblings started school before kindergarden. It is so hard to let go no matter the age. <br /><br />This has been a summer to remember. Alot of fun with all my girls and some sorrow as well. We lost my grandmother, Maybelle Hester, just this past month. She was 81years old. A wonderful down to earth mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and so much more! She was all things to all that knew her and I will miss her so much! I love you grandma!<br /><br />I will be around a bit more to share my thoughts after this school year gets underway.<br />More later,<br />LauraLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-13849811955337928902007-06-23T12:03:00.000-05:002007-06-23T18:22:41.503-05:00Nobody's Business..........................................As I have previously mentioned I am something of a "Jill of All Trades"...I've worked since I was 18. I've explored so many career options...I've forgotten more than I remember....hehehe<br /><br />Currently I tend bar at a local place 2 0r 3 nights a week. It is amazing to me the number of people who live to butt their noses into everybody elses business and or shove their business under everybodies' noses...are you following me here? OOOOOooooooo, the DRAMA!!!<br /><br />Not going into details that would break the bartender /um...? customer confidentiallity clause...<br />but, people should just mind their own back yards!!! <br />If we all would just try harder to make our own happiness rather than climbing mountains of others suffering in an effort to feel superior...The world would be a much happier place.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-40762103403827980782007-06-20T00:48:00.000-05:002007-06-20T00:59:52.516-05:00Why does age matter..........Tonight I saw a wonderful couple...he was in his late 30's and she was considerably older. A Summer / Autumn relationship most definitely. They were so cute together. You could tell that they had only been dating for a short time and that they really enjoyed one another. You would think that the pleasure that they obviously found in one another would be all that mattered, but unfortunately like many other women in the world she was conditioned into thinking that he was to young for her. Why is it ok for a 45 year old man to date a woman 20 years his junior, but it's not ok for a woman to do the same. Don't get me wrong....if you are a minor....age does matter! If you are two consenting adults what's the big deal?!!!! I just don't get it! It shouldn't be their age, but who they are inside that matters. You only live once!!! So live!!!!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-5640180347107213462007-06-19T10:42:00.001-05:002007-06-19T12:04:20.055-05:00Necrophobia....The fear of dead things.........Why do I have such an aversion to "DEAD THINGS"?!!!!! Eeeeuuuuw........<br /><br />While mowing my "postage stamp" as Lorrie would call my tiny patch of heaven....I almost ran over a.....(gulp) dead bird!!!! Eeeeuuuuuw! I can barely look at something dead and it makes my stomache turn into a lump. I do not feel sick like I'm going to pay homage to the porcelain gods...it just makes me freeze up and want to look away and ignore it's lifeless presence.<br /><br />SOooooo before the kids notice what I'm up to...they are playing about 5 feet away from the deceased pile of feathers.....I grab a shovel and scoop it up. Trying to ignore the fact that I am carrying a shovel foul of dead bird....I walk to the dumpster. I look at the shovel about half way across the street...(shudder)....ayup....it's still there and still dead. I make it to the dumpster...the last resting place of unwanted belongings, trash and dead birds. I swing the shovel over the lip and with a twist of my hands release the bird to it's last flight. With a small thump I hear it land at it's last layover before heading to the local landfill tomorrow morning.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1302949641667779175.post-35496429254554985972007-06-18T23:05:00.000-05:002007-06-18T23:43:20.661-05:00In the beginning....This is my first post at my very first blog. Ayup...that's right I'm a newb to this whole blogging business...hehehehe...<br /><br />Where to begin, ah yes the beginning is always the best place to start!!! I was born in a small town in Eastern Ohio. And I wasn't alone...in most instances they do break the mold...In my case...there had to be someone to balance me out...hehehehe...so there is Lorrie. The yin to my yang ...the black to the white and somewhere in between are shades of gray.<br /><br />Present day....(40 years later)<br /><br />I'm a mother, wife, bartender, artist, band groupie/roadie, singer, karoake addict, and sometimes just plain exhausted...and much much more. Sound like an infommertial yet? Hahahaha...this is just a small bit of my crazy life!!!! When I slide into my grave I will be worn out and wasted!!! <br /><br />My oldest daughter says that I'm a "Hippie Freak". Don't listen to her...she doesn't fall far from the tree! My 2nd child, a Christmas Elf, with long red hair and freckles doesn't understand me when I tell her,"Life is not fair...get used to it!" My younger daughters, to small to have been ruined by the world, look at me with so much trust and love. They are my girls, my 4 beautiful daughters, the joy of my life...the most important people in my world!!!<br /><br />Keep in mind we all start out with illusions of grandure....we all want to be "The Brady Bunch", but we end up as "The Simpsons"<br /><br />Well enough of my aimless wandering tonight...I'll return soon with another peek into my world!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09341361315045731154noreply@blogger.com1