14 posts tagged “pottery”

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Saturday

Met up with Lindsay at the studio and did some more glazing.  She gave me a book with magnificent examples of what she believes I will be able to do using the wheel.  Today, was simply glazing some pieces I'd done last week.  I did learn a few tricks e.g. dipping a piece in wax so the glaze doesn't get on the bottom of the bowl or plate etc.  Also saw how you can pour some glaze into a bowl as opposed to painting it.  At some point Lindsay will be making her own glazes and we will have them in vats where we can dip an entire piece.  I'm looking forward to that.


Had an email from brother Jim last night which was so good to read.  He is starting to get some taste back after the damage from his radiation treatments.  That's a real upper.  He was getting ready to go to his college reunion in Ohio and that was a very good sign.  He and Carolyn had decided to forego their time share this year due to his therapy and I was so pleased to read that he would be going back to Xavier for the reunion.   He viewed the DVD of Atlantic City Trolley Days which I'd sent him and he loved it.  He agreed brother Frank would like it, and Jim will take it to him when he gets back.  

I received the following yesterday from Richard Rohr's daily meditations and I thought it was worthwhile to copy to this blog.  I hope you find it meaningful to your place in life as well.

Question of the Day:
How do my emotions help me to understand more deeply?

We must go through the stages of feeling, not only in the last death of anything but all the earlier little deaths. If we abort these emotional stages by easy answers, all they do is take a deeper form of disguise and come out in another way. So many people learn that the hard way—by getting ulcers, by all kinds of psycho-somatic diseases, depression, chronic irritability, and misdirected anger—because they refuse to let their emotions run their course, honor them consciously, or find some appropriate place to share them.

Emotions are not right or wrong, good or bad. They are merely indicators of what is happening, and must be listened to, usually in the body. People who do not feel deeply finally do not know or love deeply either. It is the price we pay for loving. Like Job we must be willing to feel our emotions and come to grips with the mystery in our head, our heart, and our body. To be honest, that takes years.

Post a comment Tags: spiritual, pottery

Videolog

Movie on 2009-11-05 at 21.16
Addendum:


Post a comment Tags: niece, pottery, ww, things that irritate me

Saturday

Another night of not being able to go to sleep.  There I was at 3AM watching a DVR of 'Ugly Betty'...which was very good, BTW.  I don't know why I was so 'wired'.  I think I need to knock off playing 'Bejeweled Blitz' before 10PM.  I say I'm going to play just one more game, but I keep right on going....trying to beat my previous score.  Tonight I promise....I will not play after 10PM.  Earlier in the week I thought I would go over to Norfolk to watch Brooke's soccer game, but I told Lissa last evening I didn't feel like driving all the way over.  Next Saturday Rich an I will go over to see the kids in their Halloween costumes before they head out to get their loot.  


Lindsay said I could stop in at the Art Studio while she was doing a 'firing'.  Of course I took her up on it.  She didn't get to the firing, but worked on some other things. I glazed 3 more pieces that'll be ready for their 'firing' next week. 

Rich had said he'd like to see the studio and he stopped in while we were glazing.  Lindsay gave him a demo on the wheel and made a bowl for him.  He was fascinated watching that big chunk of clay spin around and turn into a lovely bowl.  In fact, when I got home he told me how much he enjoyed touring the studio and seeing the whole operation.  

I came across the promo of NATIONAL NOVEMBER WRITING MONTH.  I sent the link to Janice for her to give it a go.   Rosemary, if you are reading this....check it out.  If anybody can write 2000 words/day ...words that tell a story...you can.  Here's the link CLICK HERE

Talked on the phone with cousin Marn.  She sounded upbeat.  I sure wish we lived closer to each other.  Oh well.

Checking Facebook I saw this great photo of Shay and the girls.  I copied it so I could post it.  I told Shay to send it to Bill in Afghanistan right away so he can see his girls.  But then again, it might make him more lonesome than he must already be.  
Shay and girls
Shay and girls

Post a comment Tags: pottery

Thursday

Watching the Phillies win last night got me wired.  I was wide awake till 3AM....took Vicodin for my Restless legs and still couldn't sleep.  Rich massaged my leg and it worked for a while.  Got up and took 1.0 mg of Ativan to relax, and then watched some TV.  Legs starting acting up so I took another ½ of Vicodin, and then slept till 11AM. I'm careful not to take the Ativan too often....the half life is between 20 and 24 hours.  It takes about five half lives to be rid of any drug.  So, I don't take it more than once a week or longer....unless of course I'm really feeling big time anxiety.  Vicodin has a half life of about 2 hours. So five times 2 hrs, and its out of your body.  No problem taking it once a day.  A half life of a drug is the amount of time it takes for half of the drug to leave your body.  The half life is different for all drugs/meds.  Now, aren't you glad I told you this?   Something you always wanted to know, but not very much, right?  Maybe this is more clear......at the end of the half life of  Ativan which is 20 hours...there is still half of the Ativan in your body.  It takes about 5 half lives for it to be gone.  That's about 5 days. On the other hand,  Vicodin is half gone in 2 hours.  Five times 2 hours (half life) and it's gone altogether.  That's what they mean by short acting and long acting drugs.


Today in pottery class I learned how to 'trim' the bottom of a piece to give it a smoother look.  I may go again on Saturday just to practice doing things with the wheel.  It won't be a class, but Lindsay will be there all day while the kiln is firing our pieces.  Rich said he would like to come and see the studio....especially the kiln and wheel.  Hey, maybe he'll want to try a spin on the wheel and we can open our own pottery shop.

While checking Facebook I saw one of my nephew's friends who leaves his Facebook page open to the world.  I checked it out.....and saw nephew Pete in a few photos with his Villanova buddies.   Those guys graduated in '01 and have remained good buds till today.  Here's Pete in two shots I copied/stole from his friend John's page.  Now my cousin and nieces/nephew who haven't seen him for a while can check him out.  Pete's Facebook page doesn't allow 'Wall' comments and he only has pics of his son.  Here's Pete.
Pete's on the right  in the top one and second from the left in the bottom one.
Pete on the left with his Villanova buds
Nephew Pete second from left

Post a comment Tags: pottery

weekend

Wow!  I can't remember what we did yesterday....Saturday.  That's says a lot about our exciting life, doesn't it?  

OK, I remember.  The big part of the day was pottery class.  Lindsay (instructor) had emailed me that our pieces were finished, but a few were damaged in the kiln due to some of the clay that was used.  Apparently one particular type of clay was not able to keep from melting at the temperature required to bake it.  There was some confusion on the part of the studio owner as to what kind of clay must be used for the kiln we're using.  

Fortunately several of our pieces were made with Lindsay's clay.  Here's a photo of my first two pieces before 'firing' and 'glazing'.  
My First pieces before firing and glazing
My First pieces before firing and glazing
The one on the left was done using a technique called 'hand building' .  You make big circles out of clay that you've rolled out like tootsie rolls.  Then you simply put one circle on top of the the other.  I liked this piece and called it 'my primitif' (sorry spellcheck, I like that spelling).  It's the very first pottery/ceramic work I had ever done.  However, the next week I broke a big chunk from the top by picking it up before it had been 'fired'.  So here it is in it's purest state.  I love it and am keeping it.  The next piece was done using 'slab' technique.  You use a rolling pin to roll out slabs, and put them together.  The base is cut out first from rolled out clay and then you stand the sides around it.  I pushed in the sides because I liked the wavy look.  I thought it could hold huge pieces of bread.  When this went into the kiln for the second firing after it was glazed, it totally melted.  I'll try to make another.   Brooke made something similar shaped into a big heart that she wanted to give to her mother, and it too melted. 

The pieces below did not get harmed ...they were made with the proper clay for our studio kiln.  These were done using a pottery wheel.  
My finished potteryBrooke's finished pottery
On the left are my pieces and Brooke's are on the right.  Not bad eh?

Yesterday I got to meet all of Lindsay's family including some extended family visiting from Boston.  

Last evening Rich called Helen and Jack to thank them for their card and singing.  He enjoyed talking with them and they enjoyed him.  Earlier he talked with cousin Marn too.  

Yesterday was also the birthday of my bestest friend's daughter, Shay.  I would want her to be my daughter, but God gave her to SKC.  Today she reminded me that 16 yrs ago she spent the night at our house in Pensacola, and it was her 21st birthday.  Her parents were out of town and Rich was visiting his sibs in Kansas City.  Shay and I got a carvel ice cream cake and celebrated her big day.  Here's a picture of Shay with her husband.  She's back living in Fl with her three little girls while her husband is in Afghanistan for a year.  
January must be a good time for snuggling etc because there sure are lots of birthdays in October....at least among my family and friends.  

Today, Sunday I spent hours on the phone with Apple techs...three different 'first line' techs and then I was connected with a 'product specialist'.  We 'archived and re installed' everything and I still can't get iDVD to launch.  The product specialist will call me back tomorrow (Monday)....hopefully with a 'fix' that'll work.  I bet they'll have to send someone out here.  I am soooo glad we paid for the Apple Care support contract ...I think it was $130 for three years of coverage.  I call them for all kinds of things and they have been very helpful.  I asked  one of the techs today how much it would cost without the Apple Care contract.  $49/incident.  You get 30 days of help for the same incident for the $49, but if you have a different problem...it's another $49.  I've easily gotten my money's worth, and I still have 18 months left on the contract.  They do provide support for 90 days after purchase at no cost.  Then, you are on your own unless you pay for each incident or purchase the Apple Care program.

Post a comment Tags: imac, pottery

Pottery day

Lindsay was sick all week so she didn't get a chance to put the pieces Brooke and I glazed last week into the kiln for their second 'firing'.  Today I did some more glazing and we discussed different glazes and different 'firing' methods.  She talked about 'sawdust' firing, but it didn't stay in my head very long.  I have sawdust for brains at times.  So, I went to good ol' Google and found this video which is interesting to watch.  For those of you who don't want to watch the video, 'sawdust firing' gives the pottery a burnished/patina finish.  I am learning so much and this is totally different than my world of medicine etc.  This is (as Joan Chittister says in her latest  book*--see book list on the side) one of my several new lives.  I never thought I'd be doing this every week and loving it.  Ya just never know.  Try everything.  Here's the short video.

Sawdust firing
Rich, I think you will have found the technique interesting.  

Above where I said 'try everthing' brought back a memory for me.  When I was a flight nurse with the Air Force Reserves in '72 I was assigned to go to the Flight Nurse program in San Antonio at Brooks AFB.   I didn't want to go.  It was for 6½ weeks in the summertime.  I didn't have a choice.  I was thinking of dropping out of the program.  One of the people in charge told me to take advantage of the opportunity.  He strongly encouraged me.   I did go and it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life.  I got my wings and was a full fledged flight nurse.  The classes were fantastic with the latest equipment and top instructors.  I learned things I never dreamed of learning.  And the social life was fantastic.  When you arrive on a military base everyone is your friend.  It's like you've known each other forever.  The usual custom in civilian life of slowly fitting into a group is not present on a base.  There isn't time to play 'cat and mouse'.  At least that was my experience.  Anyhow, I will be forever grateful to that person who encouraged me to go.  I loved it.   I stayed in the reserves for about another year, by the time I met Rich I didn't want to be leaving for the required one weekend/month of training.  So, I gave up my commission.  I was a CPT ( not quite like a Navy Capt).  

*Joan Chittister's book  'The Gift of Years'.

1 comment Tags: memories, books, pottery

More about pottery

It was good to be back in the studio.  For one reason or another Lindsay (teacher) and I couldn't meet for a class over the past few weeks..  


I was pleased she had me made go over the earlier lessons and I can tell I'm getting the hang of it.   She is  such a good teacher.  She demonstrates and explains what she's doing then lets me try.  She gives just the right amount of praise, and amazes me how she can tell exactly how and where I've placed too much or too little pressure. 

I was proud of myself today.  When she went into the other room, I completed my sugar bowl.  I then took the wire and carefully placed it  under the bowl as the wheel was turning, and I was successful in lifting the bowl from the wheel.  Yes!

All the pieces are being 'fired' today in the kiln.  This is the first 'firing' aka 'bisque firing'.  Next week we'll learn to glaze and then one more firing.   

KIm the owner was there and we talked about a show.  She plans to have one and says I'm to be in it too.....LOL....me in an art show.  I'll post a photo of my pieces after the final glazing.

Brooke and Lissa were arriving as I was leaving.  Brooke had her first soccer game today and wasn't able to get to the studio til late afternoon.  

I stopped at the library to renew my card and picked up two DVDs...one is 'Angela's Ashes'  ...I didn't know it had been made into a film.  The other is 'The Kingfisher' with Rex Harrison and Wendy Hiller.  

Very nice day today.  

Brooke called this evening to tell us she "loves the wheel"  that we'd given her for her birthday.  She's already made a few pieces and can paint them in a day or two.  I was so pleased to hear that the unit works so well for her.  It was a child's pottery wheel I'd purchased at 'Michaels', and I was a bit leery.  I think it is perfect for her.  She's been to regular pottery classes and now knows the basics.  Maybe I will purchase a regular wheel and set it up upstairs.  She can then come over and continue her pottery making.  Just a thought.

Post a comment Tags: brooke, pottery

Tuesday

Rained yesterday, but at least folks had a gorgeous Saturday and Sunday to relax etc.  Today it's raining again.  This has been the wettest summer in a long while.


Late in the day we went to see 'Adam'....a well done story about a young man with Asperger's syndrome.  Asperger's is a high functioning type of Autism.  This movie was a story about a brilliant young engineer (Adam) who because of this condition was among other things unable to pick up on nuances, irony or tone changes in conversation etc.  He understood concrete facts perfectly, but lacking the ability to 'read between the lines', he missed out on developing a truly intimate relationship with a young woman who loved him, yet knew she could not marry him.  By the end of the movie it was apparent he did pick up some social skills that hopefully he found useful.  You don't learn how his life unfolds, and it leaves you with a sense of sadness.  The movie is by no means entertaining as one might have thought 'Rainman' was....but this was  enlightening and worthwhile seeing. 

Today I vacuumed the great room and did some final decorating of Brooke's gift and card.  In addition to the pottery wheel I made a collage of several photos of her.  The collage maker( CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE COLLAGE MAKER )formed the photos into each letter of her name.  One page for 'B' and so on.  I taped a new dollar bill to the back of each page til it spelled out B-R-0-0-K-E and the  final collage formed the number 7 with a dollar there also.  The cover of the booklet was a collage of her photos arranged as a heart.  She loves hearts so I think she'll like this. 

Then I wrote a note to a HSHS grad I saw on another Facebook friend's page.  This person now lives in VB not far from here.  I doubt she'll remember me as I was in the class 3 yrs behind her, but I do remember her and some of the names she mentioned on her note to Betty J.   Dee, it's Eileen Curtain.  I hope to hear back from her.

Niece Terry lovingly chided me that I did not give her top billing on her recent birthday with a 'Happy Birthday Terry' in the headline of my blog.  I must have been so absorbed with my scary medical situation, that I forgot to do it....so I have now corrected the heading for September 4th.  

That's about it.  I didn't lose any additional weight this week which was no surprise.  With all the stress, I ate some non traditional foods...like oysters sauteed in butter and wine....followed by scallops sauteed in the same sauce.  Then I ate a few more Dove chocolates one night.  BUT I DID NOT GAIN...so that's OK with me.

Got an email from Lindsay my pottery instructor, she's not going to be able to meet for a class til next week.  I know Brooke is anxious to finish her work too...i.e. glaze the pieces we've made thus far.
That's it folks...thank you for reading. 

2 comments Tags: movies, niece, pottery

Pottery...PET/CT scan...Shingles shot....kind words from former student

Back in pottery class today.  Just me with Lindsay.  Brooke is back in school, and her mom has to figure out Brooke's schedule to allow time for Brooke to finish her pottery pieces.  Things should fall into place in the next week.


Today I was much better than I was in my last class.  Nothing collapsed this time.  Of course, Lindsay was a huge help.  I gather you just have to do this over and over until you get the feel of the clay and how much pressure to use.  Today, I made two mugs and learned how to make and attach handles.  The handle technique I used today reminded me of 'milking chest tubes' for you nurses....or milking udders for you farmers.  You hold a long coil of clay and 'milk' it.  Got it.  OK now your turn.  I also got to use the wire to remove the piece from the wheel.  Lindsay makes it look so easy...it's not, but I'm getting there.
                            *********************
After class I went to see my primary to get her input for me to  have a PET/CT scan as recommended by niece Terry's Rad friend in Austin.  Dr KF did the best she could to adequately document why I need this test.  Now to see if it gets approved by Medicare.  While there I got a Shingles vaccine shot.   I've put it off...for some reason dreading it, but Dr KF strongly recommended it....so I agreed.
                                **********************
Now to post something from Facebook which 'made my day' the other day.  

I joined a group on Facebook for graduates of Methodist Hospital School of Nursing.  While I was not a graduate of the school, I taught there for 4 years from '73-77. 

I hope the following doesn't come across as braggadocio, but I wanted to make sure I have this comment for those times when I wonder what effect I've had on anyone on this journey of life.  I've copied the comment below from a Facebook entry.  It made me feel so good and I just had to share it. You just never know.....and now 30+ yrs later Ellen writes:



Post #6

Ellen Biglin Hufnell (Holy Family) wrote

on August 13, 2009 at 4:23am

Dear Pat,

It is great to find you again! While @ MHSN, I thought you were the most down to earth instructor with an obvious love of life! I hope that the years have been good to you, you were a profound and real influence on us while we muddled through. I hope we made you proud!

Thanks,

Ellen


I then wrote:

Post #9

You wrote

on August 13, 2009 at 9:46pm

Cathy Diaz Hintz, glad you made it here. 


Ellen, thank you so much for your kind thoughts and memory of my time with all of you. We never know how we affect those around us. You just made my day. Life has been good to me....I met my husband when I was working at MHSN. He was a JAG officer at the Philadelphia Navy Base and then transferred to VA...I followed him and that ended my time at MH. I loved MHSN and cherish my time there. 




6 comments Tags: memories, joy, niece, pottery

Cellulitis status.....photoshopping.....pottery tools

I called the Vasc Surgeon's office to speak with the NP who'd prescribed Rich the Keflex 250 mg BID.  I was told she was with patients and I could speak with one of the other nurses.   I said "that isn't right, I should be able to speak to the one who prescribed the medicine"....as if saying that made any difference to the automaton who simply repeated to me that I could not speak with Rich's NP.  

As it turned out the NP I did speak with put my mind at ease.  I'd told her I thought the dose of 250 mg BID was sub-clinical and that Rich's cellulitis while somewhat improved was not where I thought it should be.  It is still magenta in color, hot and edematous.  Diane (the NP on the phone) reviewed Rich's situation, and affirmed what I thought might be the reason for the somewhat reduced dose.  Because of his kidney involvement and the recent renal artery stent placement they didn't want to 'wipe out' his kidneys.  I totally agree.   However, and this may be a problem for Rich.....he'll probably need more antibiotic.  Diane said he should be seen again and for him to come to the office on Friday.  The original NP will see him.   

I know that Flagyl is used as part of the treatment for C Diff and he was on it when he had C Diff.  I'll ask if there is any benefit to taking it prophalactically.  I do have him taking Activia everyday and I hope that will have some benefit in warding off the over growth of C Diff from being on antibiotics.   When he had C. Diff 3 yrs ago he'd been on Keflex, Levoquin and then the killer Clindamycin.  Six weeks later he developed the dreaded C. Diff and was in the hospital for a week.
                                      ***************
Got my haircut and it looks great.  Not sure I can keep it looking like this.  I'll probably start pulling it back behind my ears....I can't stand hair on my face.  I colored it over the weekend and used a shade darker than my usual L'Oreal.  I must have picked up the wrong #.  It'll fade after a few washings and it'll look pretty much the same as usual.  

Check these two photos.  I took them when I got home.  The angle of the camera made my nose look so long.  I know my nose is long, but this long?  I also think I'll stop wearing these contact lens...glasses hide much of the nose.  Besides, one's nose gets longer with age and I'm almost 40, well 50...OK 60, but that's all admit to being.  70 is just too damm old.  So look at the first photo and in the second you'll see where I elimated the bottom of my nose, my wrinkles and the darkened area under my eyes plus the deep crease from the outside of my nose to my mouth.  I never wanted those creases.    That's probably what all those models have done.  I bet Angelina Jolie has a huge nose too.  Rich thinks I should just accept myself as I am....and I do...I'm only playing here.  If I really cared I'd get Botox or something. 
                                  **************
After my haircut I stopped at Michael's and found pottery tools for me and a pottery wheel for Brooke for her 7th birthday on September 12th. It's a child's wheel and will probably not last forever, but I think she'll love it.   

6 comments Tags: hair, pottery, rjrhealth/meds