It's been a long time...

Just noticed that the last time I posted here was more than three weeks ago. Quick update:

* Started teaching Contemporary Business to non-majors on Monday; and Organizational Behavior on Thursdays. Each class has about 23 students, most of whom seem to be in the 18 - 22 year range. Monday's class is a little more rambunctious than Thursday's, but reminding them of ground rules last night seemed to help. It's an interesting class, too, in that one of the students - a freshman - graduated this spring from Walter Panas High School (my alma mater); not many of the old teachers are still there, but I guess a lot of them should be retired by now. Thursday's class might just be a bit more serious in that the class is a prequisite for their business degree. One of the students is also a bartender at Justin's, which i guess had to happen. She and I established some ground rules of our own, regarding our bartender/barfly rapport: no one in the class is to know about the "relationship." Again, a good class.

* Speaking of Justin's and other bars, I have resolved to cut down my time spent there, for financial and other reasons. And I have seriously cut down on my boozing. It's no fun being a writer with the dark Irish soul without the Guinness and Jameson's, but I am making do. In fact, having cut down considerably, I am finding that one or two, or even three over three hours on Saturday tires me out. I rarely ever woke up with a hangover, but I had woken up tired. Not a good way to start the day. So, all good on the booze front. But it was not even the booze that was the issue (I rarely drink a full beer or even a full glass of wine at home), it was the socializing. Ford + Beer + People = a Party!

* Another area of detoxification includes getting rid of the caffeine. It's a tad more expensive to drink decaf than hi-test, but it is a major contributor to my feeling better over time, less cranky, less nervous when dealing with stressful things. I find without the caffeine, I am able to "roll with it" a little better. Melita is my preferred decaf of choice. Only caveat...headaches still persist...is it the decaf or is it the bifocals?

* Relationships:

getting along fine with Lisa, which is very important for Lilybet;

have a made a few new, er, "friends," and those have been very enjoyable to me; I am learning that any new relationship built on the foundation of friendship, even if it transcends that, is a good way to start. One has been going on since late March, I think...one is very new, but intriguing. No details, so I don't jinx myself. No getting ahead of myself. Let's just say I am content and like it that way.

* Lilybet is getting to be a big girl...started first grade, is very very bright. She is also playing soccer on Saturdays. I am very proud of her; SHE is the real love of my life.

* Turning the screenplay into a novel. Quite a process...you have to turn the lines into quotes, get rid of camera directions and fill in with narrative, and then flesh it out. And then go back and edit. It's a slow process.

Think that's about it. Not much else to share at this point in time.

Oils, Cont'd

Since the last posting, I have started a couple of new pieces.

One is of a couple with another guy at a tiki bar and a bartender; the couple is holding hands and are looking over at the guy and the bartender. I am going to call it "The Swingers."




Another is of a dinner preparation I made for a loved one. It is hanging in said loved one's kitchen. I used the original shopping list and included it in the piece.



Another is of hot dogs cooking in wine (yet to be delivered).

Currently I am working on an oil of a partially-clad redhead. Full-frontal...sort of, with guest appearance by cat. I don't know where I am going with it, but books are involved, as are wine and bourbon. No cigar yet.

Oils

The first is called, "Painter at 100 Years."



I don't know what this will be called; it's a work in progress.

New Work in Progress

Last night, while sitting at the local gin mill, I had an idea, using a title that was to be the 4th part of the American Primitive screenplay: I am going to try (emphasize on the word, "try,") to write a stage play. It is going to be called "Pints," and will focus on my existential state since the end of my marriage. Hopefully, I will be honest and scathing about myself and where I've come and where I am going.

In addition to the writing, I have already roughly designed the set (or at least did a schematic on a napkin and described it in the first page) and will flesh it out.

We shall see how it goes...or if I follow through on it. I've already written a screenplay, but somehow this feels like more of a challenge, mostly because I am more limited in how it can be visually presented.

New Paintings

"Adventurers by Fate," based on a quote by Vincent van Gogh, impressionist painter and maker of good vodka




"Recharging," a futuristic nightmare world, where artists' models are artificial life forms.

AI: ARTificial Inspiration

Philosophical question: What if, in the future, artists were able to own their own live models, which were artificial life forms?

The shots are for a piece I am doing for submission in the "Future" show at UAG (starts 11/7/08).

Latest Works

It has been a productive weekend. See paintings, with respective titles above them.

"End of the Shift"




"View from the Kitchen"




The following two are inspired by a book by a famous Vietnamese Buddhist monk and friend of Thomas Merton. The book is called, "Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers," based on a series of talks around Christmas.

The first is Jesus (in progress).



The next is Gautama (in progress).