Day 4097: Survivors and Volcanic Lightning.

   

"Too Long": junk collage, digital.

 

Want music?

    Click here: FKJ & Masago, Tadow.

2GN2S ...

They met as babies fighting for their lives. Now they're college roommates.

The two newborn babies had the same critical heart condition and were placed in intensive care rooms next to each other at a Texas children's hospital. Both sets of parents were told their infants had about a 40 percent chance of survival. "It was so scary and stressful," recalled Kimberly Rippentrop, 54. "We weren't given  much hope.

Her son, Seth Rippentrop, and the infant in an adjacent hospital room, Tate Lewis, pulled through after weeks in the hospital following surgeries for hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital condition where the heart's left side doesn't form correctly.

"We'd see each other at camp every year and we were assigned to the same cabin," said Seth, 21. "Whenever we'd start talking, it was like no time had passed. We'd immediately pick up where we left off." Tate said the pair quickly bonded because they could each relate to what the other was going through

Now 21 years later, they're together again - this time as roommates at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Tate & Seth

Seth is on the dean's list and is studying physics, while Tate is majoring in business administration and plays on the golf team.

At some point, Tate and Seth may require heart transplants, Leonard said, but for now, they're both thriving.

To read full story, here

 

 I only picked three from the "The week in 35 photos", less than usual, but the Editor's note: This gallery contains graphic images. Viewer discretion is advised. a sign of our times.

Hundreds of sheep are led through Madrid's Puerta del Sol plaza on Sunday, October 22, during an annual parade in defense of grazing and migration rights.

 

 

 

Canada's Nyl Yakura and Xingyu Dong celebrate winning their men's doubles gold medal match at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, on October 25.

Volcanic lightning flashes over Mount Sakurajima as it erupts in Kagoshima, Japan, on October 24.

 

 

 

A 3+ minute video, Donald Margulies, here.

 

Just because ...

Pin-tailed Whydah

Thursday's Smiles ...

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Day 4096: Eeyore and a Tiny Treasure.

    

"War Children": photo, junk collage, digital.

 

Want music?

    Click here: Diana Ross, Missing You.

 2GN2S ... 

It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn't heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats  and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore's stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore.

"Hello Eeyore," said Pooh.

"Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet," said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice.

"We just thought we'd check in on you," said Piglet, "because we hadn't heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay."

Eeyore was silent for a moment. "Am I okay?" he asked, eventually. "Well, I don't know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That's what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. Which is why I haven't bothered you. Because you wouldn't want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All, would you now."

Pooh looked at Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house. Eeyore looked at them in surprise. "What are you doing?""We're sitting here with you," said Pooh, "because we are your friends. And true friends don't care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are."

"Oh," said Eeyore. "Oh." And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.Because Pooh and Piglet were There. No more, no less.

(A.A. Milne, E.H. Shepard)

 

 I've been cleaning, organizing and mainly trying to get ready for the art demo tonight for Huntington Beach Art League at the beautiful Sr. Center 7-8:30 PM. One of the great parts of sorting, cleaning, taking donations is that you find surprises, or treasures that you thought were gone for good. I found this ... a tiny 2 inch glass bottle with a folded paper inside. 

I don't remember ever seeing this before and I don't know who sent it?? Isn't that sweet? I'm so glad I kept it.

 

 

Aunt Martha at 18

Happy Heavenly Birthday Aunt Martha!

Aunt Martha was a great teacher, with her bachelors and masters degree from Butler University. She was a wonderful artist, but maybe her most endearing trait was her great sense of humor. She loved to laugh and did so often. I loved that sound. 

She was kind and generous, as was her sister, my Aunt Vonda, together they changed my life. My gratitude is boundless.

 

 

 

A rare 4 minute video, Bowerbird, here.

 

Just because ...

 

Bateleur

An invitation for you.

 

 

18041 Goldenwest St, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

 

Photos by Dan Kee

I have been asked to do an art demo for the Huntington Beach Art League tonight Wednesday, November 1st.  It will be at the beautiful, new HB Senior Center on Goldenwest off of the 405 freeway. It starts at 7 PM and done by 8:30. HBAL asked me to post this on my blog and invite anyone that is interested. It's free, you don't have to be a member to attend. It's a great group, I've been a member since 1999. I will be working with about 6+ messed-up canvases and try to finish or at least improve them. To show the recycling of canvases using gesso, collage and acrylic.

Wednesday's Smiles . ..