Haiku

On New Year's Day
I long to meet my parents
as they were before my birth.
* * * * * * * * *
In my old home
which I forsook, the cherries
are in bloom.

http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/

Part the Second of Susan's Sleeve -- Tattoo in Progress

Drum roll......And here is the rest of my sleeve-in-progress.

Check out more of Greg's work.

www.TucsonTattoo.com

Susan's sleevework -- Tattoo in progress

Greg worked on my tattoo this week. Basically it follows a Japanese theme. Raijin and Fujin are the gods of thunder and wind and then there are the traditional cherry blossoms and chrysanthemum. The upper part of the arm - and onto my back in koi and waves. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raijin Wikipedia is an excellent tool.
Obviously, the sleeve is in progress. This type of work is about the process as much or more than about the outcome. The evolving - unfolding of the artwork is really more inspiring than the sleeve itself. Will post the rest of the series after work today.

Tucson Artist Colony Announces Grand Opening

Contact: Susan Alexander
Tel: 520-270-6351
Email: placitadelaluna@live.com

TUCSON ARTIST COLONY ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
Tucson Artist Colony Provides Opportunity to Buy Local

TUCSON – 2409 N. Castro at Placita de la Luna – December 13, 2008 – the Tucson Artist Colony celebrates its Grand Opening with a reception from 5-8 pm. Tucson Artist Colony is an unprecedented collection of some of the country’s finest plein-air and studio artists who have come together to work and teach on the grounds of Placita de la Luna in Tucson. Artists such as Phil Starke and Chauncey Homer are instructors at the colony and are offering classes to share their talent and knowledge with the Tucson community. They and the other Colony fine artists are available at the reception to discuss their work and the scope of the classes offered. Examples of their works are on display and are for sale. This is the perfect opportunity to make Holiday shopping relevant by buying local and supporting the Tucson Arts Community. Tucson Artist Colony Gift Certificates are also available for purchase. Aspiring art students benefit from these gifts.

Colony Fine Artists:
v Phil Starke www.philstarke.com
v Chauncey Homer www.chaunceyhomer.com
v Brenda Semanick www.brendasemanick.com
v Sarah J. Webber www.sarahjwebber.com
v Robert Goldman www.robertgoldmanfineart.com
v Martha Braun www.marthabraun.com

The Tucson Artist Colony is the concept of Greg and Susan Alexander who saw a need in Tucson for a place Artists could call their own. While the downtown art community is struggling to maintain studio space these owners of Placita de la Luna have stepped forward to fill the need. Brenda Semanick, who is best known for her watercolors of the Tucson Barrio and large floral canvases and one of the key fine artists involved says, “It’s a perfect location to paint and to teach. Tucson has needed a place like this for a long time.” At a recent Open House held for the students of the Colony, Connie West, a local artist and art collector says, “Tucson has needed something like this for a long time. This is the best kept art secret in Tucson… This is going to be a wonderful thing for Tucson.”
The classrooms of the Tucson Artist Colony are located at Grant and Castro in a rambling building that was originally built as a home in the 1930’s and was constructed with adobe dug on site by the Native Americans of the Pascua Yaqui tribe. This historic property is now called Placita de la Luna (Grant Rd. was once Luna Rd.). Greg and Susan are completely committed to the development and growth of this new Tucson Artist Colony and pledge to set aside the entire complex to the endeavor as space becomes available.

The public is invited to share in the Grand Opening of the Tucson Artist Colony and to
celebrate this exciting development in Tucson’s art community. This event is also a perfect opportunity for the community to Buy Local for the Holidays by purchasing gift certificates for the classes. The enriching experience gained through instruction from the fine artists of the Colony is a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Although the Tucson Artist Colony is not an "Artist Colony" in the truest sense it is a group of some of the best artists in the Southwest. The Colony is committed to creating and providing an atmosphere to foster artistic growth among the artists who choose to work there and among artists who choose to participate in the classes. For more information visit the websites.
http://www.tucsonartiststudio.com/
http://www.tucsonartistcolony.com/

And So It Begins...

The last two days have taken me by surprise a bit. I had really been looking forward to the art classes beginning at the Tucson Art Colony. We had worked so hard on the buildings and grounds and websites....
So of course I was excited. But then the first class was Tuesday. Chauncey Homer had his first class (on our grounds)...and I was just about overcome. It's really happening. These wonderful fine artists are teaching classes through the Tucson Art Colony on our grounds. Placita de la Luna has REAL artists painting there!
We had already been blessed when Brenda Semanick and Sarah J. Webber began using studio space at the Placita. That has been completely heady.
Then today Phil Starke's class met. Some of his students opted to paint in the courtyard instead of the classroom. I smiled everytime I saw them set up with their stately easels painting things they had found in MY humble abode.
December 13 is the Grand Opening. I do hope we can get the word out that this new part of the Tucson Art Community has begun - and we want to SHARE it!

Thoughts on the Bailout

I found this haiku on the internet this morning (hint to Greg: sure would like a book of them for Christmas). It was written in 1499 in China.

and will the land not fall in ruin
with its commoners in distress
EM - 1499

Current thoughts:
Hey! Doesn't anyone see us down here!!?? We're drowning! HELP!

Art Classes in Tucson at the Tucson Artist Colony

Gain the Competitive Edge...Be a Better Artist.

You can't miss this opportunity! Brenda Semanick is forming classes for drawing and for painting. Classes begin soon.....This is the perfect year to BUY LOCAL. Sign up for Brenda Semanick's classes. http://www.brendasemanick.com/index.html

Tucson Artist Colony Grand Opening

TUCSON ARTIST COLONY
GRAND OPENING

Tucson ArtistStudio announces the Grand Opening of the Tucson Artist Colony to be held at 2409 N. Castro on Saturday, December 13, 2008 to celebrate the inception of this exciting Fine Art Colony in Tucson.
Please join us for a come and go reception where you will meet the Fine Artists of the Colony and be able to view their works and even purchase directly from the artists.
The reception will be held in the Tucson Artist Colony classrooms where you will be able to speak with the artists about the exciting classes being offered.
Gift Certificates will be available. This year especially would be an excellent time to give that special struggling artist a gift card from the Colony. The enriching experience gained through art instruction is truly a gift that lasts a lifetime.
Support the Tucson Fine Arts Community by attending the Grand Opening of the Tucson Artist Colony. Share in this celebration of our beginning.

Participating Fine Artists:
v Phil Starke http://www.philstarke.com/
v Chauncey Homer http://www.chaunceyhomer.com/
v Brenda Semanick http://www.brendasemanick.com/
v Sarah J. Webber http://www.sarahjwebber.com/
v Robert Goldman http://www.robertgoldmanfineart.com/
v Martha Braun http://www.marthabraun.com/

http://www.tucsonartistcolony.com/ http://www.placitadelaluna.com/ http://www.tucsonartiststudio.com/


contact Susan Alexander with questions: 520-270-6351
email: placitadelaluna@live.com

Saying Good bye to Otis

It's been three weeks since we had Otis put to sleep. And I can just now talk about it. This picture was taken in May before he was sick. It was always so hard to get a good picture of him. Black dogs are like that.

William worries that Otis may already have been reborn and that his new owners are not being good to him. What a child I have there.

I explained to William that if Otis has come back then it is as a Buddha because he was such a perfect soul. He was my Golden Boy.

Thanks again to Justin at the Southern Arizona Humane Society. He made this journey so much easier for Otis and for me.

Fall Day in Tucson

It's a beautiful fall day in Tucson. This is why we live here. The little finches are busy in the backyard and William is running in and out the front door and playing with the neighborhood kids. The sound of boys laughing and shouting is as bright as this Tucson blue sky.

Tonight we will light a fire outside and drink a nice red wine.

Life is good.

Blessed are the meek.................... I'm going to Hell!!!!!: Dear President Elect Obama,

So I'm just chillin and surfin the blog stuff today. I swear I'm behind the times and don't know what all the little widgets and things mean....but the important stuff -- the thoughts people share....I'm having a good time with that.
Here's a good read.
Blessed are the meek.................... I'm going to Hell!!!!!: Dear President Elect Obama,

Fall Color

Today was one of those rare days for the Alexander family in that we decided to blow off work and just do something fun.

Destination - Around the top of Mt. Lemmon where you can see the Aspens turning.

We loaded up the paint boxes - this was the first time in awhile we had painted as a family and so that was a big chore. Greg made sure everyone's box had brushes and paint and he rounded up all the paraphanelia it takes to make a plein air painting.

I've been working long hours this week and so I hadn't been to the grocery store so our picnic supplies had to come from the the Circle K on the corner -- we were not to be detered by this.

After all, we decided, it's not about the food but the experience. And we had places to go!! Besides, the kids weren't that upset that I had to pack chips, candy and cokes for their lunches... And of course there's the quick stop at the art supply store to pick up panels.....and then the long drive across Tucson to the Catalina Hwy.

William was sure we'd have to stay in a hotel before we got there because it seemed to him that we'd been in the truck forever.

But finally we are on our way - we'd stopped and paid the day fee and met a lovely woman who admired our dog, Cookie and had a chat with her.

And then the truck died. ON the highway as we were CLIMBING up the grade. It just sputtered and quit. This can't be happening! Our luck wasn't all bad as there was a pull out we were able to crawl into.

Got the truck started again but couldn't turn around at that tight spot and so we went a bit further and stopped at a picnic grounds.

Greg decided that we should let the truck cool off and go ahead and have our junk food picnic.

The kids were wonderful and didn't complain as I explained to them that there was no way we could go on up the mountain today. Maybe the Snickers and Hersheys bars helped or maybe it was that we realized it was a beautiful picnic spot.

We were no where near the Aspens but hey - we'd been in the low desert all summer and here there were pine trees and oaks.

William, who had been looking forward to seeing real fall leaves decided to go look for some. So we hiked a bit and sure enough there were bushes and small trees - I didn't have a field guide so I won't try to name them - that were turning red and yellow and orange. He had found what he'd come for.

And so we set up and all painted. Nothing as pretty as those leaves. We didn't even keep our paintings but went ahead and wiped them off while they were still wet. But I think the kids will remember our fall leaf adventure for a very long time.

My brother in Afghanistan

I thought I'd share an email from the frontlines in Afghanistan.

Sorry for the interruption.
I actually have fetched a couple of patients from the gate since I left off. Their stories are not that unusual. The first guy was shot 6 days ago in the upper leg and the xray shows a nice size caliber bullet still in there. It is probably an AK 47 round. He is a security gaurd at a hospital over the mountains in the next valley. He has had some initial treatment and the wound looks surprisingly clean. So he is a lucky guy. We just gave him some antibiotics, tetanus, and packed the wound. You leave the round in unless it is compressing vital structures. The body will wall it off. So he will follow up with us for simple wound care on our clinic days. You dont sew up gun shot tracts. Just keep shoving dressings in the wound until it starts to heal down.
The second guy is elderly and he was hit by helicopter fire 3 days ago. He has a nice open fracture of the left lower leg. Ofcourse we have already had our SF guys over here and they have "interviewed" him and his buddies. Their stories check out so they are probably not bad guys. In this case just at the wrong place at the wrong time. The guy is pretty old anyway. I doubt very much he is a fighter. It is hard sometimes to guess ages. They have no idea how old they are. They don't keep up with it. The life expectancy is 45 for males and even less for women. So what would pass for a 70 to 80 y/o man in the States may be only 50 or so over here.
So we get lots of fresh wounds and lots of older wounds. Most have not been treated. We had one elderly gentlemen this summer who rode his donkey for 6 days to see us. He was hit by an RPG in the right arm. It basically blew the whole back part of his elbow away. He was open from about the top of the arm to almost the hand. Pretty impressive even by our standards. Especially considering being on a donkey for a week. These folks are tough.
So our old man is going to surgery and my partner who will be with me for a couple of more days is going to do his anesthesia. So I am just relaxing and waiting for the next phone call.
The interpreter and I did go browse through the bazaar while we were waiting for this last casualty and his cohorts to be searched. We don't touch any of these folks until they have been searched thouroughly. We have a bazaar every other Sunday here. It is safe to go to cause it is on the Dutch side of the base. You don't go to bazaars off base. That is where people get blown up. Mostly junk over there. I guess I could buy a burka or one of their hats, but naw, I have better things to spend my money on. The Dutch make pretty good milk shakes on their side of the base. Nothing like Brahms or Dairy Queen though.
Our interpreters are invaluable. We could not do our job without them. We have several and one is assigned to us but sometimes we have used all of them. They go out on SF missions and our "terp" under our tutelage works traumas with us. He will start IV's and do whatever is needed. He is trying to get to the States. He would do well over there. Especially with his language skills.
Well it is about 3:30 on Sunday afternoon and that has been my day. I am on until 8 in the morning and we will see what happens. I like not knowing. I guess that makes me kinda weird. LOL
Hopefully I will watch some NFL tonight. Doesn't start until 9 or 10 and is on all night. I am hoping to get a couple hours sleep. Since my partner is here for a few more days I can sleep tomorrow unless something really big happens. But you do what you do. I am home in a couple of months and then I will sleep well.
Love to all
Gregg

Otis at the park

The new morning must....walking Otis at the park. Today I had to think very seriously if this would be his last one. He's stumbling badly and just isn't all into the park and its smells and sounds.

I'm not sure anymore that he's not hurting.

The DECISION must be made soon.

Tucson Artist Colony

We have been busy putting together the concept of the Tucson Artist Colony and are pleased to see it actually happening! Brenda Semanick is the first to move in to the Placita and now Phil Starke and Chauncey Homer are following.
Greg and I will be busy getting the space ready at 2409 Castro which will serve as instruction and open studio space. We will also be making available 2 more private studio spaces and of course the courtyards at the Placita will host painting classes.
This is a dream come true for me and Greg.

Whew!

Well, I'm sitting here and that is good. We've made it through the sealing of the floor at the tattoo shop.
Whew! Those were some strong fumes.
And for some reason I've chosen tonight to figure out this blog thing. I think Greg is asleep at his desk and the kids are droning in front of computer games.

Ten years at the shop and boy was it looking ten years worn in. The place needed a new dress and it will be done by the end of this week and we will be proud.

The past ten years of being shop owners has shaped (maybe even warped) our lives. Sweet Maggie forgets that her last name isn't Maye. She has always been Maggie Maye - the namesake. Her teachers constantly remind her to add Alexander to her papers.

What does the next 10 hold????