ArT: I am passionate about art. Though my own artwork is for my own enjoyment, and nothing of great merit, I do enjoy creating and expressing myself through various mediums. I am certified to teach art in the elementary grades (1st - 8th) and have enjoyed that experience very much! But my greatest passion in art, is appreciation! I love to look at art, talk about art and teach others to "see" art and appreciate it. Art is Life! And there is no life without ArT!
WEAVING: I'm crazy about textiles, and especially the textiles of foreign or historical cultures. I have an intense interest in hand weaving and it's history. I am especially interested in the anthropological and historical aspects of weaving. And yes, I am a weaver myself, though not to the degree that I would like to be. American Indian, African, Asian, . . . every nationality now or in the past (Did you know they have found evidence of prehistoric weaving?) Cotton, silk, wool, synthetics, . . all fibers . . . serapes, ponchos, blankets, rugs, purses, pouches, belts, wall hangings, cloth fabric itself . . . the list is long, but if it is handwoven, I want to see it, touch it, feel it, wear it, study it, learn to do it! I'm absolutely mad about textiles and fibre arts!
Also, I collect children's stories and books about weaving. The Emperor's New Clothes, is one that most people would know and recognize. If you know of or happen to find any yourself, please do tell me of it! I want to be able to at least add it to my list, if not own it!
Rocks: I'm a rock hound. I don't have a lot of geological knowledge, but rocks fascinate me. When I travel, I'm always noticing the rocks when everyone is searching for the perfect restaurant or lodge. Rocks are a terrible thing to collect, and no matter how many times I tell myself I won't pick them up anymore, rocks still seem to end up in my pockets, my truck, and my suitcase! I know! Environmentalists tell us to leave the rocks where we find them, but it's a compulsion; I can't help myself!
Trees: I am in love with trees! When I got to see the Redwood Forests for the first time, I was so captivated, so in awe, so enamored by these beautiful living pieces of history, that I could have been left there in the forest alone and I would not have minded one bit. I would still be there, wandering about saying, "wowwwwwww~" over and over again. I carry tree identification books with me in my truck so that I'll have them everywhere I go. I collect pictures of myself with interesting trees, ( trees with burls, for example), so if you have or know of a rare, interesting, or historical tree, tell me about it. I may need to go visit it!
Interesting people, adventurous souls, artistic minds, free spirits, intellectual seekers, the enlightened, the curious, the informed, the unusual, the quixotic, the fearless, fellow graduates from the School of Hard Knocks, those self-ruling independent individuals who live their own self-governing democracy, the huddled masses yearning to be free, and beautiful people like these . . .
It's all good, unless it's irritating, and that just depends on one's mood, doesn't it?
I know it doesn't make a bit of sense, but my favorite movie of all time is Tombstone! It's too much to explain here, but if you ask me about it, I will tell you. Better yet, watch it with me and I will show you!
Why waste one's time?
In the words of a good friend of mine, "I am a biblioholic!" I have a great love for books and I collect far more of them than I will ever have the time to read! I have not had time for much reading at all this year, (other than what was required for my night classes)but the last novel I read was "The Crimson Petal and the White" by Michel Faber. It is deliciously passionate, delectably involved, and perfectly vindictive. I loved it! I generally do not read a lot of fiction. I have a great thirst for knowledge and I pour through books, devouring the printed information as if it were nourishment. I can never get enough! My reading is generally focused on those things I am most interested in - travel, other cultures, art, nature, horticulture, history, religions, biographies, . . . but the truth is, I am interested in everything and will read almost anything! I love books!
If you don't look up to anyone, they can't let you down. The only hero I need is the person I could be/should be, but am too screwed up to achieve.