When my sons were born, Aaron (the artist we are talking about in this thread) was just a teenager. Now that he is grown even if I got pregnant, I couldn't afford to commission him. He says that he can't even afford his own work. This is when I am trying to beg him for a painting, of course. Luckily, before he started making real money doing what he loves, he gave Shaggi and I both one or two paintings. I remember I made him paint me something for the "honour" of staying in my home for a night. Man, that guy was gullible. Good thing or we wouldn't have anything he's painted. Not only is his work gorgeous it really is how he earns his living. Art only. To me that is the "dream" ...to do what you love to do. He earns his living how I would love to. Not necessarily painting...but something other than slogging 5 days a week. I was thinking about this the other day. Since the industrial revolution, how we earn our living has changed so much. When I really think about it, most jobs don't have a whole lot of meaning. Couldn't we make our own coffee? Do we really need so many investment bankers? If we could all act like grown ups would we need lawyers? I am not saying that there isn't merit in these jobs...I am just saying that there are too many people running around working all day. Are we REALLY here to work? Is that our purpose? For 8 hrs a day 5 days a week? When there are so many lovely things to experience? My dream would be to live for the now. Doing what I love. For beauty. Or for sustanance. Or both. I am one of the lucky ones. My job actually means something. However, it IS a job. It's work. There are flashes of enjoyment...but because it is so mandated there is all this other stuff in the way. PAPERWORK. Blaaahhhh!!! The ultimate for me would be to grow my own produce. Raise my own animals. Have some sort of cottage industry going. And still be able to visit the city. Yes, it would be a ton of work, I know that, but I would really like to try it. I just wish that I would have that spark of inspiration that would allow me to take that thought and run. I know it's possible. I see it all around me. My very own brother for example. Wow, off topic, but I guess I really needed to say that. Thanks for the opportunity. Now I am going to post this on my blog so I don't lose it. It might be the "spark". Very many Blessings, Sparrow

http://www3.telus.net/paquette/blogger

Wow!!
This is by my brother, Aaron.

Springsteen is quite the songwriter. "Garden of a thousand sighs." Wow, that gets me. It resonatates.

Another artist. Aaron Paquette. He resonates. Mind you, he and I have a few shared memories. He is my "next to baby" brother.
http://www3.telus.net/paquette/blogger
Support him if you can ( I certainly can't...not financially anyway). Or let him know what you think of his work. He told me he can't even afford to buy his work. Haha. Lucky before he got famous-ish I got two pieces.

"On top of Grouse Mountain, all covered in snow, I lost my poor...mind...where did it go?"

I took one of the ladies I support up the tram to the Mountain. We ate an incredibly expensive meal. $37 for lunch.
She really didn't like it when I started throwing snowballs at her. That's the Pacific Ocean off in the distance. You might be able to see the Islands. Shortly after this picture was taken the clouds moved away and we could see the city. It didn't make as pretty a picture though.

I took this picture on the way to work one day. We are driving down 8th past New West Secondary school. I thought the colours were so pretty I couldn't resist. It is taken from inside the car. This was one of the first picture I took on my new phone/camera.
I just found some really cool features for the camera a few moments ago. They are "fun frames"...I think this will be fun.

I took this picture this evening just as the sun was setting. There was a pretty glow in the house after a fairly rainy day so I stepped outside to check it out. This picture was taken from my front porch. There is another photo coming soon. As soon as it will send from my phone.

Wow! My last post sounded like I was bouncing off the walls! I guess I was. I finally got my thyroid medicine and I am full of energy. Too much.
I found out today that someone actually reads this thing. Surprise surprise!
So, for you who reads this (really, that is perfectly good English)...I am getting my house in order. Spring cleaning. Getting rid of stuff I don't need or want. I have about 3 bags of old clothes that I will never fit into again or don't like (when I get back down to the size I want I will buy all new things). I'm making the kids do it too! Jacob sorted through his and Jason's clothes and they have a big bag ready to go. I am starting to collect the things I will need to perk up my garden a little. Most of the flowers grow on their own but there is a little box out front and some pots I'd like to plant. In the back there is an herb garden that still has things growing from last year and I am going to add to it.
Oh, I didn't get that transfer I was talking about earlier. Apparently I am not qualified to work in the daycare. I don't have my Early Childhood Education (1 or 2 yr program) only my Bachelor of Education in International/Intercultural Elementary studies. Oh that and 3 kids. Hhmmm and about 3 yrs experience working in daycare. With developementally disabled children. Sabotage? Perhaps.
Being a smart ass here. I am a tad bit angry. Oh well, maybe it's a sign to do something else. Like teach.
We'll see.

Ah, everything is sweet. On Friday evening I found out that the group accepted me. Yah!!
I've applied to another department at work...we'll see how that goes.
It's still raining here but I still love it. After all, we live in a rainforest.
Today I am not feeling well, so I took the day off. I really needed some time to myself to relax. Work was getting to me.
Philip and I have been invited to a book opening or something...some sort of party we can't get to...because it's in Worcester, England.
Oh, to have enough money to just hop a plane and go wherever you want. That's the dream. I wish that we could just get on a plane and I could meet the rest of Philip's family. So far I have met his Mom, Dad, and youngest sister. There are still 6 brothers, 3 sisters, and all of their spouses and children. If you can spare some energy send some to Dublin for James (Philip's brother...second to oldest-I think) as he is going in for major surgery soon.
About being wealthy enough to just hop a plane anywhere. I don't want to be so stinking rich I don't know what to do with the money. What I want is to own a nice home with a hot tub and music room. Go on trips when I want to where I want. Go to any concert I feel like seeing (same for Philip and the kids). No stinking rich, just .......very comfortable with perks.
I am not greedy, I just know that all that is possible. Now to figure out how to get it.

Well, it's a new calendar year. I am waiting to see what happens.
This year feels like it is going to be different.
I don't make resolutions but I am going to have a different sort of a year. I just had my evaluation done at work and I have a few goals there. There are some courses that my boss has recommended and I am looking forward to taking. One is on theory and one will be related to relaxation. The relaxation one will further my goals towards my magickal life. The theory will be interesting at the least.
Also, I have interviewed with a High Priestess to become part of a Circle (Coven). I haven't had that closeness in the Craft for about two years. I really miss the group in Edmonton and am really psyched about continuing the path with another group. It is one that I have been watching for the almost two years I have been here. I should know by tomorrow night or Saturday morning. Then I will tell my very good friend. I hope he is okay with it and knows it doesn't necessarily mean I don't want to cirlce with him. Sometimes we will...but I need a "family".
I've got goals to improve my home so that the family will feel even more like it is a sanctuary. I'd like it to be more organised. I am NOT a great housekeeper so that is an astronomical goal...LOL.
Philip's parents sent us some Holiday money from Ireland and we purchased a huge aquarium with the money. Already, we have 7 fish in the tank. There were 8 but one of the guppy females already died. Jake really likes the guppy family. He thinks it's great that the one male needs at least two females or one will die. Haha, what a way to teach children about polyamoury, huh?
We are hoping to get some gourami, angelfish, and a few sharks, but this is a tester tank right now. In fact the kids have named the fish..Tester 1, Tester 2, Tester 3, Testercle (lol) and so on.
Anyhoo, yep, it is 2006 and I feel that this year is one that will change my life.
I hope that yours will be as good as I feel mine is going to be.