Thing-a-day.com

So,  I’ve couldn’t post yesterday and today my camera died [shoulda stocked up on batteries.]

But I’ve been creative in the meantime. I wrote a poem yesterday [see below] and today I redecorated a single serving yogurt container [It annoys me that they aren’t recyclable] to sit on my table. I needed a little container to store used matches after lighting candles. So now I have a colorful container to do so.

The sun is hiding again

Throwing its fit by making the world dim

My heart is feeling lonely and happy in this strange land

and as usual as things go it’s not about changing yourself, but adjusting your rhythm to the flow

So, I’m letting my eyes adjust to the lower light,

my mind accept the naked trees and snow

and my heart tune in to what I might need.

Because it is wonderful to love someone, to adjust to a whole new world

but essential to retain dreams and the essence of what holds your spirit in truth.

I think I’ll have to suck it up and start taking risks

‘casue there are no easy outs when you are beginning.

So no mistaking this for baby spice [hahaha]

I found some loose spice that i wanted to buy and was too cheap to buy a jar - that’s what craftiness is for, no? so i took an empty vitamin bottle and made a new label. It’s Mustard seed - next time i’ll take a pic before it goes on the bottle.

I had a long day…but it was nice to sit down and just sketch.

Well, this is my final month - dec - of re-decorating the calendar.

{I love this poem by Hafiz}

Well, back to the Calendar today - up to September. It’s been really fun to  have something somewhat simple to “create on” after work. I’ll have to come up with some more ideas soon as I only have a couple of months left. Reading everyone’s posts has been great, I’m sure I’ll find all the inspiration I need.

So - as to the collage. September is host to the long time Labor day MDA telethon, something that routinely pisses most of us crips off. Lewis, the host of the MDA Telethon has been quoted describing people with MD as “half a person” and has said, “My kids cannot go into the workplace. There’s nothing they can do. I’m begging for their survival.”

Survival is not about a “cure” for our disability, but instead survival is about jobs, dignity, independence, access to technology and civil rights.

For more on this check out-

http://thinkfreestyle.blogspot.com/2007/08/op-ed-printed-in-az-daily-star-906.html http://thinkfreestyle.blogspot.com/2007/08/whos-responsible-for-burden-of-pity.html

http://crip-power.com/2007/08/

http://crip-power.com/2007/09/02/72/

The post cards are from MOUTH magazine.

I ended up sketching last night and ended up with this. Done with markers and sharpies.

description - Sacred Heart in Palm

Awhile ago my mom had a dream that I was hanging out with Andy Warhol. We apparently picked her up and then proceeded to drive her through San Francisco. That said, it got me thinking of my famous “friend” and his art. I found a postcard of a flower paint by number he did, which inspired me to create my own flower. I also love this Maya Angelou quote - “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”.

July 26th is the day in 1990 when the American’s with Disabilities Act [ADA] was passed. Now 18 years later blatant discrimination exists for people with disabilities in employment, housing, even if they [we] can live in the community. A lot of this discrimination is upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. I thought for my July collage on my calendar I would do a disability/civil rights/ADA theme.

The words are - “ACCESS”, “FREE OUR PEOPLE”, “OUR HOMES NOT NURSING HOMES”, “DISABLED AND PROUD” AND “DISABILITY POWER”

Then above the court it says, “Not the people’s court! [supreme court]”. [The older white guy is Justin Dart. A long-time disability activist/leader who helped get the ADA passed. The other picture was a protest/sit-in a few years ago in D.C. at a federal building to push Medicare/Medicaid to let people get assistance in their own homes instead of nursing homes.]

Maybe a bit early [and too cold] in the year for protests but when July comes around I know I’ll be inspired.

So I am a bit impressed and excited that I’m still going strong. [Still re-decorating the calendar.] 

It’s a cold, cloudy Sunday in this new [and very different] place which i am now living. I am missing the mountains, the culture, mi familia, the sun, the desert….but home is also with him.

It was awesome to wake up this morning and have some pressure to produce art!!!!

I’m starting off easy and re-decorating a calendar i got that i didn’t really like. [I am posting 2 projects today cause I won’t have internet access tomorrow.

So I am freaking out a bit. Will I be actually able to come up with 29 things to do, have time everyday to do it AND figure out how to post it???

But I am feeling brave, or at least there is a brave bit deep down inside pushing me to do this. Or it could be that I called my friend, told her my worries, and she bribed me with a prize if I can do it. [Something she’s making] And I can’t pass that up!

I am a singer, painter, writer, crafty inventor who is passionate about helping activists stay open and renewed and developing a beautiful, powerful Disability community.

So, I am off to make a list of ideas…and I wish us all good luck!!!