~~ With some matte medium, fabric scraps, and a sheet or two of collage paper, I'm finally getting a new piece underway. The last collage I worked on was jus' before the holidays, and it didn't quite cut it for me. It'd been "finished" probably a year ago, and it felt completed at that time...but I recently brought it out of it's little storage box, looked it over, and decided it needed some extra zing...Maybe because it's the New Year...making old things better, getting all that weight off (ok, ok, maybe not ALL that weight off...ahem..) but it jus' feels better to be getting Cleaned Up this year. Hopefully the change in projects will be worth the time and energy.

>>> The Husband recently had his required Department of Transportation physical taken care of...but it didn't quite turn out the way he would have liked. High Blood Pressure was the culprit, so now he has to take some time off and make the harrowing trip over the river and thru the woods to the Dr. office. The office is in a complex with one of the larger Medical Universities in the region, so finding a parking place is always a thrill. Plus, the City has decided not to overlook the chance to add insult to injury, and now has a pay/parking fee station at the exit of the parking lot. It isn't enuf that a Dr. charges an arm and a leg for an appointment, and add to it the fee for parking. Once in a blue moon the appointment may go quickly: Get Seen...Pay the Office Visit...Go Out The Door, and be on your way....an' pay .50 Cents for parking an hour. HOWEVAH...how often is it that a Dr. visit takes only ONE HOUR?? We've had to sit for 2 hours most days, and by the time the sticking, jabbing, snuffling and what-all-else is done by the Dr., it's been 4 hours. Most times, once I've dragged myself out of the office, I've contemplated having a glass of Gin...OH, Don't Get Ruffled...I haven't had Gin in over 30 years...but sitting in the Dr. office has sometimes made me REALLY consider a good stiff drink...

So -- this should be interesting to see what all will be done to The Husband. He hasn't gone to the Dr. for at least 2 years, and I'm fearing that the office will commence all types of tests, experiments or who knows what all on the Little Fluff...He's not too thrilled, but this is something he absolutely HAS to take care of. The Dr. who he had to see for his required physical, was not too happy with him, and would only give him the Endorsement for his CDL for only 3 months. That way...He Sez, The Husband will have had time to get his medication (s) for the blood pressure..get that back within the required guidelines, and then he can get his CDL Endorsement for 2 years as is required by Law...The clinic that the truck company uses is pretty good about telling Drivers what they have to do for their job..but it just irritates an' rubs the wrong way when it's an ugly Something that's prohibiting a complete Endorsement...sheesh...

And with the Sun shining into the studio, it looks like it's time to Get To It -- finish some fabric cutting, find a good piece of Blue-Green-Turquiose (blah..spelled that one really bad...) paper, and be having fun. One thing that really, an' I mean REALLY gets me ruffled all to pieces, is when I've got some painting done, an' the paper is jus' THIS close to being dry..an' lookin' it over, I jus' happen to glance over the sheet...AND FIND DOG HAIR ON IT!!! AHHHH!!! I'll turn my chair around Really Fast, glare at the Dog, an' get ready to give her The What For...an see that she's not only sound asleep on Her Couch...but she's snoring as well...Oh For The Love Of.....

Lady of The Tulips ~~ who was told by her youngest that she too, was snoring the other morning...but Lady of The Tulips thinks this was jus' his way to wake her up an' get her down the street in The Very Fine Automobile to the thrift store...