Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Drawing Surface

I think I found a good way to draw that is good for my medium and my body. I paint sitting on a thick foam mat the size of a queen bed; it is too soft to draw on when I use my hands. I tried using a drawing board, but the size is limited and my knees just end up on the board. So that defeats the purpose of the mat. Also it is a little too hard to work with the medium.
Next I just put the canvas on the floor directly. This solved most of my problem, but ultimately it is too hard on my knees. The other day I went for a walk and someone was moving and had a for give away pile. I took a gym mat, it work better but still not enough padding for my knees. Today I tried the gym mat on top of the big one and its golden. My body is happy and I have a good surface to draw on. Talk about the princess and pea…

Saturday, April 24, 2010

KSU Engagement Follow-up


Last night I received this surprise from Adam Oglesbee Hi Dan, I know it’s been a while, but I thought I would let you know some good news. This evening, Kennesaw State hosted the Registered Student Organization awards banquet to recognize the achievements some of the 200 organizations have made on campus. ABLE was up for "Outstanding Global Awareness’ Activity." We were up a...against other organizations who had very good activities. Dan, you should know that you took home the award for that honor. I thought I would tell you. Dick Stafford and I will send you a copy of the award. Take care buddy and thank you for enlighten our campus with your presence.
I believe we got this award together, because Adam’s determination to seek me out.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Visit to McDonogh School


For the past few years I have had a standing invitation to go chat with the 4th grade at the McDonogh School. It started with an idea of Doctor Whiteford and her husband who works at the school. As part of Mr. Whiteford’s lesson plan the students read a book about a boy that can’t talk. To relate more to this story the student cannot talk for a day and have to use picture books as a way to communicate.
At the end of this lesson Dena and I go talk to the class that allows me to explain how life is with a disability. The students always of questions that most adults do not even ask. I believe if we are going to change societies’ out look upon disabilities, it starts with the youth.

Mentor Group at North Harford Middle Schools



A few weeks ago I was ask by my friend Gail’s mother to come and visit a mentor group that she works with. This turned out to be not your typical engagement; Phyllis and I kept trading emails about how we should proceed. Phyllis planned to show them the film before hand, but what should we do when I arrived. We came up with the idea of doing some painting together; I did this once before with a troop of Brownies and was quite successful.
I can say the same for this time as well, everyone was so focus on their work no one was talking. After we finished the pieces I let the kids give me interpretations’ of my piece, which were very insightful.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Is there a perfect roll/wall in shower?

Giving the fact that Dena and I do a lot of traveling for work and pleasure. We see many types of “accessible” bathrooms; some are tub with a seat and grab bar. For this I’m taking the full shower.
The two things that most hotel showers have in commend:

1. Water gets all over the floor and makes it slippery for everyone. Even if it is a shower unit.
2. If the whole bathroom/shower is tiled, the same tile is use all around. This makes everything slippery and makes it most frustrating.
This weekend we stayed at a red roof and they had the best idea for the drain. It was the whole length of the shower. The drain is made by zurn I could not find a picture of it. The floor still got a little wet, I also wonder if water remains in the drain between uses?
When my grand mom was in the hospice, I saw the non-slip flooring for bathroom. I really found it useful, it was in one piece in the whole bathroom.
I do not like wall-mounted seats; I have broken a few and most places but them too high. I do like the multi grab bars and multi showerheads.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

They say the first anniversary is paper

They say the first anniversary is paper, but I am going to make it electronic paper. I decided to look over our old love notes, before face book. First I want to play the videos while reading. Not to watch them, but for the music.

play while reading
This first is from our first V-day together; I typed it while you were still a sleep.

2/13/05
Dearest Dena,

I keep thinking why it took us so long to find each other in this wonderful way. Maybe we both had to pay our dues, is that is so god is so switched. On the other it could make us appreciate one another better.
I just keep hoping that I have what takes to keep full filling your life so you will want to keep me around. It seem like you have seen a lot of the world and have a huge desire for physical pleasure. So I hope you never feel a void due to me account.
In January when I started back to school, I realize that I have all now. Not only a successful career life, but also personally. If we keep arguing over the stuff that we do, damn we have great, since I think we argue over stupid.
I like that you make yourself at home in my place, it does not scare me at all. Or that we are coming back from Ireland with commitment. I love being with you, even at dinner just sharing our day and lives to together.
Love always,
Dan happy early valentenday

Looking back at our short time together, we have experienced more then most couples do in a life time. From see over half of this country and going international together. Our love life could be a segment on HBO’s real sex. We still argue over stupid stuff and sometime you do it on purpose to get my blood heated. I still conceder my self, lucky when I wake up next to you each morning. Although you will not admit it, you could have any guy and you choose me.

2/22/05
The next letter is from our first 6 month together. At least I think it is, because we did not have official starting date.

2/25/06
Dearest Bitha,

I hope I did not use up all of my good shit last week. It is hard to think that we have been together for six months. It has seemed to go by so fast from all of the laughter and the good times we have shared. Of course it cannot always be so good, maybe times like these are just a test to see it we really have what it takes to make a real go at this thing. As long as we keep talking things out like we have, I image we have a good shot.
We probably should be making a special evening of this anniversary, but we both know that timing is not right, but as long as we keep thinking about each other it will be a special day. There are many days that I just stop to think what a lucky man I am to have you in my life, I get all emotional.
Even through we will not be spending the night together, I will be laying in my bed smell your sent. While I think about your soft, warm skin on my body while we fall to sleep. I just want to say I’m deeply in love with you and thank you for the past 6 months and here’s to a 100 more 6 months.

Love always,
Cutie pie
Our joke is that we had to break up every 6 months to keep my streak alive. Since me other two relationships did not make it that far. Yes it could keep life saucy, but I was eager to end this curse.

Also this was a few weeks after V-day, so was thinking and used all my good stuff in that letter.

8/28/05
My dear Dena,

Here I sit ready to start the last leg of my education, like I am really thrilled about it. My thrill in life is you and brook. They say summers are full of fun, they past of sucked for us, but that was out of our control. I just keep the little treasures. Like the other day when you and I went to shorty’s, too bad we did not have a blanket to lie down. The other night when you cooking and brook and I were messing with her computer. I was like wow I can do this. There were times when I wanted to go crash at my studio, but you would want to do the something.

I really miss going out to have fun; my friend mike has been wanting to meet you from the start. I know this is only temporary, it still sucks sometimes. But the most important thing is that will are here to take care of each other, how many couple can say that!!!!

You will always be my and I will always be your!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love forever,
Dan

I am still holding you to the picnic and making babies.

Everyone thinks the start of a love affair is all good, but not when you put two hard heads together that are used to doing things their own way. We both brought out luggage and we had to sort it out. Even though people see it hard of us being a family, we have made it work. I always see that you and Brooke still your time.
You doubted your being with me, because of my lime light. Where I doubted myself as a parent roll, I still like to refer to myself as the other parent and not as stepfather. It just seems more like us, because we work as a team and non-conformists. It works for us.

9/30/06 just thinking of you
Dear honey bunny,

Went to school about 6, later then I planned. I should be an hour or 2, maybe you will me home. Was hoping for some quite time, Jacquie is having surgery tomorrow and would like us to hung out to night? Maybe we could do that bit, and then have dinner together. I took my phone.

I love you so much,
Dan

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

2/22/06
My dearest Bichta,

What a crazy year we have with all of the turmoil we have had from the people the say they loved us. It would seem that the odds we against us and we would not last. Instead it has made our bound stronger and shows us that we are met to be together.

We have shared our good and bad times and we have fought though them together. Which only showed that we shared the same way life. That is what most couples have, they only see what they can do for each other, where as we see what one another can contribute to make life better for the other and as a couple.

You are my partner, friend, and sole mate to share everything for eternally.


Love forever,
Dan

You are my partner, friend, and sole mate to share everything for eternally.
You are my partner, friend, and sole mate to share everything for eternally.
You are my partner, friend, and sole mate to share everything for eternally.
You are my partner, friend, and sole mate to share everything for eternally.
You are my partner, friend, and sole mate to share everything for eternally.
You are my partner, friend, and sole mate to share everything for eternally.

5/14/06
My Dearest Bichta,
I miss you so much; here are 2 copies of the charley and the chocolate factory. It took me all this time to figure out how to do it.

Paul and shavon had the baby on Monday, if you couldn’t figure out the message. He was 8 lb.; see what you have look forward to. His shoulder was dislocated during birth, nut everything else it fine.

I fix your know iPod so we will have it for our trip. I call Jody, he came over last night to go out, and I was like lets eat here since you fix all this food. By the time we finished dinner it was 8 and he still wanted to go to damn Annapolis. I was like why. We stayed Jody had 2 bears and was wiped out so he went home. He said this time I had a good idea.
Since you have been gone I’m back to my old crazy “sleeping” patterns. I told Jody I don’t miss my single life, it really sucked. I love and miss you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!|
OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Your Cutie pie

This must have when you went home. When we dating people did not realize that I was ready. I had my time to play and do what people had before they settle. I still do not miss go out. I am very happy staying home and enjoying each other emotionally and physically.

9/3/06
Chile a trip of a lifetime and you almost pasted it up. Or is that just your way of making the prize more remember able?






2/14/08
My Dearest Bichta,
These are the words that I think of when I dream of you.
Beautiful, fun, laughter, adventure, sexy, cupcake soft, huge boobs, caring, companionate, mothering, nice ass, thoughtful, giving, stressful, loving, nurturing, daring, strong, my strength/my weakness.
But most of all the love of my love.
Love
Your cutie pie

Just a matter of weeks before our big, I was just counting the days when we got in the car for our journey to begin the rest of our life together, we are at our best when the two of us work together as a team. We forget that time, and when it seems like. I really hope you enjoy your gift. I know it should be on, but do we really follow all of the rules? One last thing, what was in that conspiracy book?


The book of love is ancient much like this question.

Does art portray life or life portrays art?

You just listened to a song which delivers a beautiful melody yet when carefully observe the words they seem unfitting for the enchanting music. Welcome to our life.

We are honored to have you here tonight. Your company is a reward. We have family, friends, piers, community leaders, advocates and chance encounters that gives us a collection of wonderful karma. Many believe our union is complex but this network of loyal people makes our lives so simple.

8946 miles 19 kilometers was the distance between our origins. The beautifully crafted film "King Gimp" became the compass, which connected all the dots. I became a fan. A friend. A companion. A couple. A Fiancé'. Lastly, all the above until we turn weathered and grey.

None of this would have been possible, without intervention. Two film producers that never believed to sticking with the script but instead letting life tell it's own story. Bill and Susan have won the Oscar but I assure you their victory is much more personal. It is a nurturing relationship that they will be known best for. Thank you for being so devoted to the both of us.

Does art portray life or life portrays art?

Our answer....Who cares, just appreciate life and art.

Now let's close this silly ole book and get to the good stuff.

The good stuff is yet to come; we have 99 more years together. I LOVE YOU!!!!!!