P is for a passion for Picnic.

My new fixie. Ha.

In July I put a down on this bike at Sundance. I picked it up on Tuesday. Ever since I've been parking so that my driveway is clear. Whenever the need strikes (10x/day) I hop on, ride around and around & breathe. Love this bike. It is not a "go there" bike, it is a "be here" bike. I added a ding DONG bell.

It is made by Felt & named Picnic.

Y is for YES!

What a brilliant poster design. (Nice re-touched label pin too.)
http://obeygiant.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/obama.jpg

found this on Bizarro Blog.
Dan Pirarro is brilliant. His blog is a funny fest.

Apologies to neighbors, friends and family if my enthusiasm for an articulate, devoted, educated, hard working, peace seeking, skinny black man with a funny name running for President of America causes you grief. Please consider the alternative.

Barack Obama, the man whose name sets off the spell check, is very cool. Just finished listening to Dreams of My Father. It is a very good book and gave me more appreciation for him and his experiences.

P is for Pink car for Mlle. M's Preschool Project.

Need to write a list... C is out of town and I need to do the school project:
BUILD a CAR ---> transportation days at the school for the deaf, an excuse to go overboard. These projects are a combination of desperation, competition and guilt. They MUST be done. M-doll is really looking forward to it! It is all that she is talking about. I have been known to miss school on days that require too much parental involvement; I don't dig dressing up like a brown bear and dancing around. But other parents do! So then I wonder what is wrong with me? What is wrong with the system these days that requires SO much parental involvement... my folks, who are quite wonderful, NEVER did anything like this for my brother and me. It was a stretch to get picked up on time or go to an assembly.

The list:
What does a young girl's car need?
Pink
Pink
steering wheel
wheels
license plate
pink
headlights
glitter
straps, in pink, to make car wearable
tail lights
windshield
seatbelt <-- yep. the instructions call for a seatbelt. "Click it or ticket."
driver's license?
key?

Pictures to follow...

P is for in a Perfect World; this is how all schools would be.

Just read on the Washington Post about the Big Draw. The slide show/interviews is/are worth watching/listening to. Check this out: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2008/03/06/GA2008030601203.html?sid=ST2008030601398

From the article:

For the 320 students toting sketch pads, charcoal pencils and erasers, North Chevy Chase Elementary School's Big Draw event meant a three-hour break from math, language arts and other classes and a chance to draw to their hearts' content.

The children got to DRAW, learn how to Observe! for 3 glorious hours. What brilliant teachers, administrators and parents. All I can say about the beautiful children is, "Lucky!"

P is for Pockets.

~interrupting my studio cleaning blitz~

Hi ! Ok.
Back to slogging through papers and detritus. Current contents of my pockets: large green glass marble, chromatic pitch instrument, short-used drawing pencil, Lego key chain, ceramic beads on a wire, piece of wood that belongs on antique book case, replacement buttons from M's new hanna dress, safety pins (2 large and one medium size), small blue & white glass marble, metal ball for magnet toy, 3 bobby pins and one hair clip with a panda on it.

Onward!
H

P is for Peppermint.

I have written a snarky letter to the features editor of the Deseret Morning News, about the food editor, but I really don't want to send it. Why? Ah shucks... how would I get my kicks on Wednesdays? This Wednesday's lead recipe? You guessed it: Peppermint cheesecake! (Dry laughter.) I am not a fan of mint, but even if I were I can't imagine enjoying toothpaste in my cheesecake.

Another favorite of mine is the recent title of an article: "Get crackin' — When it comes to baking, you can't beat eggs."

I didn't make that up! Sounds like somethin' dear ol' Bush might say to one of his buddies.

P is for Puppets...

You might know that I am devoted to Spin - indoor cycling classes at a gym- classes. The teacher at the gym I go to is a Wonder. Rona. She is not for everyone. I dig her glasses. I am firing my kiln right now which always leaves me a bit sleepless. Her glass starts at 5:15 and the bikes are filled by 4:55. I am not her only devotee.

For a while I entertained teaching, but my schedule is too chopped up. I am still taking notes. Then I made a puppet while trying to figure out how paper mache works with K. Then, it dawned on me: DO A PUPPET SHOW OF RONA's CLASS. I am devoting a shetchbook to this idea. Here are some of my sketches:


There are several more pages of drawings. She gives almost everyone nick-names. She has big hair, boobs and nails. She is made of steel but can be very nice, well, to new students. She talks a lot about gossip and can be ruthless about people in the spot light.

A while ago C said he wanted to collaborate with me on something... He does amazing shadow puppet shows, this should be fun... once all the dust settles on 2007.

P is for Pumkin.

From the Day in Pictures section of sfgate.com.

Seriously folks, if you want to eat pumpkin, this is a great recipe. Something about these cookies makes them super yummy. Everybody loves them.

(Don't look SisterSkinny... it's not pretty!)

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Preheat oven to 375º

Combine:
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil

Stir in:
2 cups pumpkin puree (16 oz can)
2 teaspoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs

Then add:
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
3 teaspoons cinnamon (to punch it up a bit I recently added a bit of cloves, ginger and allspice, VERY optional)

Mix. Then Blend in:
12 ounces chocolate chips (mix semi-sweet & milk chocolate)
1 cup chopped nuts (Very optional)

Drop from teaspoon onto cookie sheet, covered with parchment paper. Bake 8 minutes, or a little more. Cool on cooling rack.

P is for Perfect world and tables.

In a perfect world you don't get everything you want. (Please NO Roling Stones' lyrics here!) I do love this table, even a little fuzzy. So nice to admire things without wanting them. It is from Gumps in SF. It is a copper kettle/table. Grand idea.

P is for Pearls

Pearls are so lovely. Margo's name, a version of Margaret, means Pearl. Check out the pearl collection at Gump's in San Francisco. Praiseworthy.

P is for Practice

P is for Practice. As in: Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.

Karl's former cello teacher Dorothy Olsen taught us that. It sounds discouraging but it is common sence, which is very uncommon when it comes to children practicing their instruments.

Another addage: If its worth doing at all, it is worth doing right.