FamGuyToday by Aunty Fox

to other artists in the family, I am posting this picture done by Kari when she was taking art in college. A masterful use of color and texture. Our family is blessed with talent...

There comes a time to stop wasting good oil paint, and I've reached it on this picture. Seemed like a good subject when I picked it. A view from our hotel room in Amalfi, showig a sailing ship at rest. Just the thought of all the possibilities, through the open window. Alas, easier pictured than painted. I can't do straight lines with a paint brush, and there's nowhere to do texture, so, I just reached the point where I'M DONE, but I did learn something, which is worth something. (What I didn't learn was how to rotate pic on blog. I can rotate it in photo program, but can't figure out anyway to do it when transferred to blog. Whatever, I quit.)

challenging her to come outside and play. Not sure what Bailey would do, if they ran into each other, but they sure do watch each other through the window and get all excited. This morning, Bailey was with me as I was hot tubbing and a big flicker kept getting closer to her. Our 'scaredy cat' finally ran for the open door to the house. Not such a tuff kitty after all..

is based on a wonderful memory, when Carol and I visited our lovely daughter at her hostel in Amalfi. Several hundred steps up, (Kari could probably tell you exactly how many) it provided a stunning view of the beautiful Mediterranean. Love the memory, but no more pics of people. Too hard...

that is a REAL picture that I painted today. And, to answer a question, it took about 4 hours. And, if you click on the pics, you can enlarge them.

I didn't say it was a GOOD picture, just my FIRST picture. 'Twas kinda fun, Think I'll call it "Tuscan Villa".

Kari got me this calendar, and it is full of a good sampling of the crap this buffoon continues to do. Will occasionally share some of the best (worst?) stuff with you. How some people can support this jerk is totally beyond me...

of just doing another negative GWB rant, which is almost TOO easy, I am posting an altenative. Haven't totally researched him, BUT from everything I can read about Ron Paul, I really agree with his positions, on about everything. Wanna know what's really crazy? He is a Texas Republican. UNBELIEVABLE. But, check him out, and listen to the music. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=192671941 What you think???

that I hope I can enjoy. When I was (much) younger, used to do some oil painting, and actually showed a (little) bit of talent in that area if I must say so myself. (My mother would agree). Anyway, Carol got an oil paint set that I am eager to try. Went to library and got aninstruction book and Hobby Lobby for some more supplies and am ready to start pretty soon. Even have an idea for my first pic. I figured that by putting my plans, out here, it would help me get motivated. Am looking forward to it, but will try not to bore you with it.

What a cutie. We had a great time with her, AND the doggies. Just didn't get a picture of them...

"Twas wonderful, but went WAY too fast. The kids came over and we ate and drank too much and and had way too much fun. I think the Guitar Hero's were a hit. I was totally spoiled and can't believe it's over. Pretty sweet today, as we woke up to snow and it kept snowing 'til late afternoon. Really nice, unusual 'White' Christmas. Carol and Bailey hit the hay early and I'm not far behind. Pretty snow, but it's getting a little old, already....

Scroll down a ways, click to enlarge. Pretty cool, I think. Bet they'd be very comfy. http://www.sweetfeetshoes.co.uk/onthehorizon.php

just realized that they could finally agree with the rest of the world, in the global warming 'debate', 'cause by the time they would have to make any token efforts, W would be long gone. BRILLIANT! Like the war in Iraq, keep it going 'til you can dump it on the next president. BRILLIANT! And I thought he was/is stupid. He's BRILLIANT!!!

This pic was taken in the early 40's when she was working at The Pentagon, in Washington, DC. Quite a switch from walking 2 miles to school in a town of under 500, in rural Nebraska. She has taught piano lessons for over 60 years and still teaches, into her 80's. Got a rotten deal with TWO recalled, defective hip implants, but is 'hanging tough', and planning on a cruise this January. You go, girl...

If we would't have gotten Bush? No Iraq war! Hundreds of billions of dollars, spent for us, instead of Haliburton, oil companies, weapons and ammunition manufacturers. What a different world it would be. World opinion would be WITH us, after the Trade Center disaster, Oil wouldn't have quintupled in price. Wow. Sweet. BUT, we got BUSH!!! Enjoy! Pay for it! For a looonnnggg. time......

on The History Channel, how info is sent on fiber optic cable. Simple, to a point. Binary language, dots and dashes, sent as bright light, and dim light. Simple? Yes! BUT, at the time of the program, it is sent at the rate of 40 billion dots/dashes PER SECOND!!!.. Totally unbelievable, at least for my primitive brain....

http://www.teslamotors.com , pretty cool...

Bailey decided she needed a bath, and thought the washing machine was a good place for it. We shoulda obliged her, but couldn't decide how much detergent/softener to use, to wash a kitty. Maybe next time...

This pic was taken in Hawaii, during WWII, while he was stationed there for 3 1/2 years. Looked at his photo album this last T-giving, and saw several good pics, but also saw where several had been removed. Heard they were a little risque for 'the kids'. Must have been quite a time. Interesting, yet boring, at the same time, never knowing when you were headed to 'the front.' He was actually on board a ship when 'the bomb' was dropped. Game over. Go home. Musta been sweet....

if I'm not PC here, but this sucks. Lisa Simpson, yes, her real name, just won a two and a half million dollar judgement against CU, for a "rape" that occured several years ago. This unfortunate incident, took place AFTER Lisa, sought out the recruits, invited them to her apt, after buying large amounts of liquor, AND a dozen condoms, then proceeded to get totally drunk, and naked, and invited at least two of them into her bedroom. HMMMM, doesn't sound like rape to me... BUT, she got a good lawyer, who made about a million bucks, and won her case against CU. Please... I can remember (sort of) what it's like to be a drunk, horny, 18 year old. She got what she wanted, and CU got screwed. This really sucks....

Mountain News had a column by Paul Campos that really touched my heart, as it is something I could have written myself. He says, " was going to write about how several people have told me that my opinions have gotten increasingly shrill and vitriolic. I planned to muse thoughtfully on this issue, and to consider what larger trends in society have driven a person such as myself-a squishy ideological moderate who until recently was not all that interested in politics per se- to spend more and more time shouting from the metaphorical rooftops that, for instance, the Bush administration has become a cesspool of incompetence and corruption (oops, I did it again). ------- Couldn't have said it better myself......

a good story. I have a remote controlled golf cart that I used one day with my good buddy Scott Harper and his son Zach. I convinced Zach that it was voice controlled and while we spoke to it I was actually controlling it with the remote. Anyway, I explained he had to be 'nice ' to it, or it would become upset with him and not listen. He must have not been nice enough, because, because, pretty soon, it was chasing him around, which was pretty funny, but the best part happened when we were on the 9th tee at Eagle Trace. Zach didn't know I lived there, and after my tee shot, we were near my house. I explained to him that there was a real nasty guy living in that house with the the fountain, and convinced him to follow me into the house to steal some beer out of the refrigerator, because, 'he deserved it'. While we were in 'his' kitchen, I heard a noise upstairs, and we RAN out of the house. To this day, I don't know if he knows that it was my house. BUT,...