Naughty children

Those naughty boys were at it again last night. I'm certain that Rumi was also involved with this, but he was feigning innocence.

(Yes, I've now given up and moved [what's left of] the jade plant. But it was there because that's the spot that has the brightest light in the house. Oh well.)

And then they go nap to recover from their exertions, and look like little angels.

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How cool is this bike rack?!

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Don't forget, my art is all 50% off right now to raise needed funds for me and my furry boyz. A good holiday gift...for yourself, perhaps?

Maslow's hierarchy

My faithful...

 ...and silly companions.

 When I left my apartment today, look who was waiting for me on my porch! Tortie Girl, we love you! Tortie Girl was very wiggly-friendly (she reminded me a lot of Miss Lemon), so it was hard to get a good pic of her.

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Long-time followers of this blog have probably noticed the paucity of new art being posted. One reason is that, without the studio wall space I used to have, most of my unposted pastels are in my loft storage area now and kind of a pain to deal with (hence are going unphotographed).

The other reason? Other than the big red circle painting I posted recently, which was completed during Open Studios, I've been making no new art. 

Why? Even I hadn't been able to figure out why I've been unable to even enter the studio. 

But I think it's because I'm dealing with Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. (NB: I cut and pasted the graphic and the two paragraphs below that, so blogger put all of that, plus my own text below that, into a big white box. Very annoying. But I don't know how to fix it.)

A key aspect of the model is the hierarchical nature of the needs. The lower the needs in the hierarchy, the more fundamental they are and the more a person will tend to abandon the higher needs in order to pay attention to sufficiently meeting the lower needs. For example, when we are ill, we care little for what others think about us: all we want is to get better.

Maslow called the first four needs 'D-need' as they are triggered when we have a deficit. Only self-actualization is a need that we seek for solely positive reasons. Maslow also called them 'instinctoid' as they are genetically programmed into us as essential for evolutionary survival. Loss of these during childhood can lead to trauma and lifelong fixation.

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The first half of my childhood, part of my twenties, and most of the years of my marriage, I was able to focus on the top parts of the pyramid. The rest of my life has been a struggle being stuck at the bottom, and never have I been more at the bottom than now.

I know the best thing for me would probably be to get in that studio and make some damn art, regardless, but I have been artistically paralyzed for quite a long time now and I am just hoping the ability to do art will return eventually, on its own time.

I really am trying to count my blessings, including my beloved animolecules, who are the best company imaginable; and including the support I receive so regularly from my kind blogger friends.

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Thank you all again for your contributions and donations (including a new one that hasn't shown up yet)!

I have been able to begin the Contempt of Court process on the person who owes me money; I will be able to take Mojito to the vet for his shots, annual exam, and a possible ear infection; I was able to pay my heat bill and to pay for the local low-cost clinic for the uninsured to begin blood and urine tests--I found out I may have Cushing's Disease, an endocrine disorder which I had never heard of before. I have many of the symptoms. I'll keep you updated about the results. 

Vianne's birthday party

Oh, that magical world that exists only under the papasan...

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Vianne is one of the redhead goldens who frequent the local dog park. She's smaller than your average golden, and very sweet. Here she is with Sue, her person:

She turned 7 today, so Sue threw a dog birthday party. The weather could not have been more beautiful (dear weather gods: please please make the whole winter like this). People and dogs came and went for hours. Here's Moji scrounging food crumbs in the grass:

And I unwittingly captured a rare triple rear-end-sniffing moment:

 Sue brought doggie cake (rice, carrots, chicken, salmon) for all the dogs. Vianne could hardly wait:

 What I hadn't known about Vianne is that she is a food monster extraordinaire. I had never seen such a sweet, quiet dog turn into a raving Incredible Hulk when food was nearby. Here's Vianne being restrained while Mojito laughs:

 In a total of one second that her leash wasn't being held firmly, Vianne made a lunge for the cake containers, flipped off the lid of one, and stuck her entire face into the doggie cake, up to her eyes. No one got a photo of it--it happened too quickly and we were all in shock.

In her giant mouthful of cake, she'd also tried to eat the knife, which had to be pried out of her locked-down jaws.

Vianne: {Heh. I got away with it. I am not ashamed.}  (Note food on side of face.)
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In completely unrelated news, I have to see an endocrinologist soon. Apparently, I may have more endocrine problems going on than just my hypothyroid. If tests are positive, it would actually explain an awful lot of symptoms. 

I have appreciated all your donations, via ChipIn or by mail, or buying some of my art! That will also help me to hopefully pay for the unexpected costs of an endocrinologist visit and some tests, since I don't have insurance.

Visitors

They remind me of three teenage boys spying on the proverbial neighbor woman in the bikini.

It's Tortie Girl! She's returned to tease my boys some more. Gadjo was absolutely beside himself.

My silly boys don't know it, but when they're not looking, Tortie Girl marches brazenly up onto the patio, sniffs all around, and drinks from Mojito's outdoor water bowl.

(Don't worry, she's not a stray. She lives in one of the buildings near me.)
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And I had another unexpected visitor today: Mr. Migraine! Oh joy. :(

I took a migraine pill and felt better about four hours later. I always get what I call a "migraine hangover," though, and tonight I had a weird experience. I took Mojito out for a late walk, and was feeling a bit dizzy and lightheaded from the migraine hangover. I had the strangest feeling at one point--for about half a second, I believed I was completely untethered to the earth, as if there were no gravity. It was bizarre...and sort of interesting. The brain is fascinating.
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Crowded couch

Crowded couch...

 Crowded bed...

No room for moi!

Three of the members of the "Redhead Golden Club" at the local dog park. Can you tell which one is Mojito?
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I want to give a big thank you to those of you who have made a donation or bought some art to help me out right now. A couple of donations were made without using ChipIn, so the total is actually a bit higher than what shows here. Many purrs to you all.

Untitled 52

Untitled 52, Oil and cold wax on museum panel, 24" x 24".  

Sold.

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I didn't actually think Fennec's arms were so long!

The lovebugs. I love Rumi's content little smile.
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The other day, I took Mojito out for his usual fetching session in the dog park. He pooped right away, as always. As I approached to pick it up, I stepped in a giant pile of some other dog's poop. I started (cursing and) wiping it off my shoe, and while I did, Mojito came running back to see why I was lagging...and he stepped in his own poop.
Why oh why does dog poop smell so utterly horrible?
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So this is really embarrassing, but a friend suggested I do this... I have put up a "Chip in" widget here on my blog, below. If you are able and the spirit moves you, please consider a donation, however small. 

I cannot describe the emotion I feel seeing a contribution come in...because I don't think I've ever felt that emotion before. The fact that total strangers or fellow bloggers I've never even met in person have given me something valuable--it's amazing. I don't want to sound trite, but the feeling is that of hope--not just for me, but for the realization that though the Internet isolates us in some ways, it also allows for a new sort of global generosity and caring, and that actually makes me feel hope for the future, and for humanity.

Thank you. I know that so many of us are struggling to survive in this economy.

[Someone broke their legal, court-ordered agreement with me; they were supposed to pay me the money they owe me on Oct. 31.  They refused.  I need to raise funds to pay rent, food, meds, and immediate attorney's fees (beyond what I already owe my attorney) so that I can pursue Contempt of Court, which is the only chance to get what I am owed.]


More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Here I am, on a virtual street corner holding up my cardboard sign

Gadjo smile. :)
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So this is really embarrassing, but a friend suggested I do this... I am putting up a "Chip in" widget here on my blog. If you are able and the spirit moves you, please consider a donation, however small. 

(The Chip In widget is free to use, but PayPal takes about 3%.)

Someone broke their legal, court-ordered agreement with me; they were supposed to pay me the money they owe me on Oct. 31.  They refused.  This means not only can I not make rent for December, I also need immediate attorney's fees (beyond what I already owe my attorney) so that I can pursue Contempt of Court, which is the only chance to get what I am owed. 

I am also offering 50% off all my artwork right now (basically at cost of materials, plus shipping) to try to raise funds quickly.

Thank you.

In the shape of a heart

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Rumi in love with the heater vent

You can still see where his tummy was shaved for the two ultrasounds. As of right now, he's still doing better weight-wise.

Untitled 51

Untitled 51, Oil on canvas, approx. 12" x 16".  

For purchase information, please email me: jala{at}jalapfaff{.com}.

This is another of my slightly older oil paintings.

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Update on motorcycle-accident friend: He's doing well! I think at this point it's a lot of broken bones, but no more internal problems. He's out of the ICU.

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A tiny, malevolent slit of blue eye.

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More art on my website: jalapfaff.com