Day 22 and Day 23

There was no Day 21...ashame I didn't mark my three week point with some work, but it just wasn't in me. This one is Day 22. I think it is overworked, but like it more now than when I first finished it. It may be a little of the stress from my icky news earlier in the week trying to find its way out. I also think it may be related to the gray paper. That underlying tone is affecting me in some way.
This is Day 23...today. It is an interesting exercise working with different shaped paper. This is a relatively small square pad I bought today, which was a deliberate attempt to switch things up for me. Things are going very well with my shoulder recovery. I continue to be way ahead of schedule with my range of motion and the daily exercises are going well. Some of the intense fatigue I was experiencing last week seems to have lifted.

Regardless of all that is going on in my egocentric shoulder focused life, the people in the Philippines, Vietnam and Samoa have been slammed by storms this past week. The death toll in Indonesia is rising from the earthquake there. A lot of suffering in the world. So many loved ones lost. So many others having to start from nothing. My problems are small...very small.

Day 20 - Some Days Just Suck

It's been a challenging day in part because I spent the day dealing various crap instead of what I needed to be doing. The remainder was because I was informed that my understanding of how my short-term disability and my personal leave time worked was incorrect. I also learned that the words simultaneously and concurrent actually mean either/or. Had I know that underlying definition used only by our HR manager, I would have been prepared that my leave mandated by my company would be costing me as much as $2,000 in take home salary. Hopefully it will be less...depends on when my doctor releases me to a level my company will accept.

So I had my freak out/break down session this afternoon. I think that is the artist part of my brain that jumps into gear first. My friend John lets me blither on in this state because he knows it just needs to come out. This is always followed by the problem solving engineer side, which is where I am entering now. The second phase was jump started by my friend Xiaoyan who has the ability to say the right thing in a way I can openly receive it. She somehow has the talent of delivering the moment when I can exhale. Amazing!

So today's Left-Handed effort was a response to my sucky day.

Day 19 - Untitled

There was no day 18 art work. I was in a funk after driving to the gym...someone came into my lane...I made a reflexive jerk to honk my horn...with my right arm...major throbbing...sore arm all day...still sore today. Everything's okay, but the inflammation is pretty high.

So here's day 19, which I like, which I wish I had done on better paper. This is a scrap pad that I think I need to throw away...or save for Muyang's visits and her crayola doodles. That sounds better.

My thoughts go out to the Philippines where they are dealing with the aftermath of severe flooding. If you can, please send your donation. Here's a link to get you started: http://www.ondoyrelief.org/

Day 17

Making an omelet might not qualify as art, but this was done with only my left hand...a la Julia Child's method. I thought this spinach and feta omelet turned out pretty fabulous.

As for the self-portrait...

I don't really like it but it was part of my left-handed activity today.

Day 16 - A little sketch

No real comment here...other than maybe I've been watching a little to much Project Runway today.

Day 14 & 15

You know that metal piece I was "working" on? Let's just say that for the moment it is an abject failure.

I was experimenting with attaching multiple long rod pieces together by bending them about one another. Doing this one handed proved challenging at best. The attempts to control the piece seemed to take control of watching the form develop. The end result was a mess. I will decide today if I can salvage it.

Maybe I need to remind myself that this Left-Handed Series is an exercise. Right?

Day 13 - Dominant Theme

My shoulder is the dominant theme in my daily life. This series for one keeps things in focus, but much of my day revolves around doing my exercises, TENS treatment with icing, working on my scars, and trying not to do anything stupid.

I think, however, this might be my favorite thus far in the Left-Handed Series. I've been composing another metal piece (something larger than the small table top piece completed on Day 9) the last few days and expect that to get started in the next few days.

Day 12 - The Ugly Truth

So here's a view of three of the four new scars I have. The fourth if far enough behind my back that you can't see it with the others. One of my daily therapies now involves massaging the incision sites in order to minimize scars.

After nine orthopedic surgeries, I'm not overly worried about scarring. Though I did stop wearing skirts to job interviews after one prospective employer looked at my knees and blurted, "What the hell did you do to your knees?"

We'll file this under documentary as well. I was very tired yesterday and this was all I could muster.

Day 11 - True Family

I've given props to my friends that carted me about after my surgery. One person not included in that was my neighbor, Linda. I use "neighbor" but the truth is that Linda is family and she deserves a special prop dedicated to just her.

I spend most holidays with her and her clan...often enough that they ask if I'm coming. Linda gives Moseby treats in the morning...he goes nuts when he sees her. He bounds up and down and bark/cries until she comes outside. Linda is the true Big Sis I never had. I know that Linda will be there whenever I need. She'll take me in a feed me and let me cry on her shoulder. She loves me for who I am and I am beyond blessed to have her next door.

Linda filled in the gaps after my surgery and was just there for me in a dozen little ways. Thank you Linda for being a great friend and my Big Sis. Love you!

Day 10 - Knowing When to Stop

I'm a day behind on my posting and will try to catch up tonight or tomorrow. This piece ended up being a little work because I didn't stop when I should...then it was out of balance...then I worked to salvage what started out to be a nice piece. Still, I'm okay with where we landed.