This is the coolest site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/livinginwales/nameyourhouse/

try it out - it has sound as well.

michel

ps - I love the internet!!!

I am very excited and very (insert word of choice).  The whole process of moving is difficult, yet I am thinking that this is the last time (crosses fingers).  I have moved 5 times in the last 5 years, enough is certainly enough.  I have a cah-zillions things running thru my head - decorating, fixing, purging, moving, creating, painting, (OMG that is a lot of "Ing").

I am so freaking happy I can't stand it.  The kitchen is really cute with space for my island counter.  There are 2 and 1/2 baths which is really good for girls and boys (smell).  1/2 of the 3rd floor is going to be my art studio (no puppies allowed).  There is 1/2 an acre of land which I plan to cover in tomatos, pumpkins, sunflowers, lilacs, lilacs, lilacs (I think I will plant these first).  The yard already looks great just needs a little upkeep this year (mend the fence for the puppy's and I will be happy).  There is a place on the right side of the house which will be perfect for out door cooking and perhaps a hot tub.

I am in love.

I am planning on naming the house (english tradition).  If anyone has an idea - send it over.

Michel

I spent most of today working on the photographs for my ETSY store.  I love it.  I am having so much fun.  Will anything sell  . . . most likely NO, however I don't care.  I love seeing my handmade items up on the web and the very idea that people might think its cool is enough.

I was looking for Martin's heraldry (she said I could find it on her LJ), so here I am. 

It's been a year and a half - wow time flys.

Irene, Gab and Martin are at my house helping me make paper dolls for the Queen's Tea Party at Pennsic.

Thats right - Martin helped me make the cutest paper doll, Joan of Arc - lots of armour and leather.  Nice!!!

Lots of changes in the past few weeks.

Left my old job and started a new one. I am happy with the new job as it is only 20 mins from my home, T works 5 mins from my office and is able to have lunch with me. The work is fairly easy and the increase in pay is really going to help with paying off some of those CC's from Pennsic. Unfortunately there is no time to post to LJ, or work on SCA projects at the office, however not spending 2 hours a day on a bus will give me more time to do stuff at home.

Healthwise, still no clue on what is going on. I have a couple of appointments with some specialist and with any luck they can figure things out. I am up to 4 pain killers a day. From what T has said, they really change my personality - not sure if that is a good thing.

My favoriteTV show is back on (House), so life is good.

T's 17 year old daughter sent him a text message today, seems her boyfriend asked her to merry him. I admit that 17 is way too young in my book, and that finding out via text message makes my skin crawl, but knowing the young lady - it seems to fit. T was extremely disapointed so I didn't make too big a deal out of it. Perhaps young love will cool prior to the vows.

I am working on a project to the Narragansett Indians - creating a brochure for their museum. I am having fun with it. Hopefully the council will like what I have put together.

Hope everyone is well 

I hate talking about my health, yet I feel compelled to let people know why I don’t travel, why I don’t remember anything, why my hair is falling out, why I pop pain pills like candy, and why I am not much fun to be around.

So this round is worse then the last – go figure.

8 weekly treatments of having iron pumped into me (3 hour sessions each week), coupled with 12 hours of bed rest after each session.

Add to it that I have to have tubes shoved up and down next week, and yet . . . I am not that unhappy. Not sure why – one would think I would be sad but nope I am not.

I guess I am waiting for the tube tests to figure out how to react. I think all the test will come back with a big fat “we have no idea why you have no blood in you miss”, as opposed to “colon cancer or palups or something gross like that” problem.

So between 2nd interviews, getting ready for my little party on the 23rd and iron transfusions . . I am trying to get some work done.

The silver lining of the past few days was seeing D and C on Saturday – they are amazing ladies, so full of fun and creative ideas.

Deep breath . . . back to work

Received some interesting news today, seems my company is laying off folks . . . thats right, my blond head is on the chopping block. Having never been there before, it feels kind of strange.

I guess I will find out more later this week, but it doesn't look so good.

Not real sure how I feel about it . . . change is hard LOL.

. . . and I think it went really well.

As it currently stands I have a few options:

1 - stay right were I am and work for Mr. JG (my current boss JB is going to a new company - TWI)

2 - i have sent a resume to Mr. BD at TWI (my boss asked me to send it over) and there might be a graphic designer/project manager position I could move into there

3 - work for Mr. CM in Communications, which would be fine as I would get to do project management and some graphic stuff (he seems like a really nice guy)

4 - work for the VP of Sales, which would be ok (I like Mr. MB), however I think he is moving his office to the 2nd floor and I am not sure if I would work well with the staff over there

5 - start looking for something closer to where I live

so many possibilities, so little time.


= = =
September 11, 2007

Got a call today, seems Mr. CM wants a 2nd interview. I guess that is a good thing . . . will find out more at 10 am on Wed.

So the choices are down to:

1 - stay right were I am and work for Mr. JG (my current boss JB is going to a new company - TWI)

2 - i have sent a resume to Mr. BD at TWI (my boss asked me to send it over) and there might be a graphic designer/project manager position I could move into there

3 - work for Mr. CM in Communications, which would be fine as I would get to do project management and some graphic stuff (he seems like a really nice guy)  - 2nd interview is on the 12th.

4 - work for the VP of Sales, which would be ok (I like Mr. MB), however I think he is moving his office to the 2nd floor and I am not sure if I would work well with the staff over there

5 - start looking for something closer to where I live  - sent out a few resume's 

6 - My current boss is going to TWI - she is checking to see if there is anything over there.

Q. WHO IS THE 4TH PERSON ON YOUR RECEIVED CALL LIST?
A: Ashley (V’s best friend)

Q: WHAT'S the MAIN RINGTONE ON YOUR PHONE?
A: quando, quando, quando

Q: WHAT WERE YOU DOING AT MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT?
A: hugging my man

Q: WHAT DID THE LAST TEXT MESSAGE ON YOUR CELL PHONE SAY?
A: OK Love u

Q: WHOSE BED DID YOU SLEEP IN LAST NIGHT?
A: mine

Q: WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
A: Black

Q: MOST RECENT MOVIE THAT YOU WATCHED?
A: Pan’s Labyrinth

Q: NAME 3 THINGS THAT YOU HAVE ON YOU AT ALL TIMES?
A: my nose ring, my tat and my fake fingernails

Q: WHAT'S THE COLOR OF YOUR BEDSHEETS?
A: light blue

Q: HOW MUCH CASH DO YOU HAVE ON YOU RIGHT NOW?
A: $10

Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF A CHICKEN?
A: white meat

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE TOWN/CITY?
A: Seattle, WA

Q: I CAN'T WAIT TO...?
A: figure out what is going on with my job

Q: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR MUM?
A: two years ago

Q: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR DAD?
A: never

Q: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TALKED TO THEM?
A: Mom, 2 weeks ago, dad, never

Q: WHO GOT YOU TO JOIN LIVEJOURNAL?
A: Gina

Q: WHAT DID YOU HAVE FOR DINNER LAST NIGHT?
A: miso soup and watermelon.

Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT YOUR CURRENT JOB?
A: over 3 years

Q: LOOK TO YOUR LEFT - WHAT DO YOU SEE?
A: a door.

Q: WHO IS THE LAST PERSON YOU SPENT $50 ON?
A: Me.

Q: WHAT'S THE LAST PIECE OF CLOTHING YOU BORROWED FROM SOMEONE?
A: Shoes from my boss (we went to the red sox game from her house and my dress shoes would not do)

Q: WHAT WEBSITE(S) DO YOU USUALLY VISIT MOST DURING THE DAY?
A: Yahoo, CNN, MSNBC, LJ

Q: DO YOU HAVE AN AIR FRESHENER IN YOUR CAR?
A: No.

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANTS IN YOUR ROOM?
A: Yes

Q: DOES ANYTHING HURT ON YOUR BODY RIGHT NOW?
A: the clasp on my bra

Q: WHAT CITY WAS YOUR LAST TAXI RIDE IN?
A: NYC

Q: DO YOU OWN A CAMERA PHONE?
A: yes

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE STARBUCKS DRINK?
A: Vanilla Milk

Q: RECENT TIME YOU WERE REALLY UPSET?
A: a few nights ago

Q: WHO DO YOU THINK WILL REPOST THIS?
A: no clue

Had a great day.

It all started Friday night with Terry and I going to the drive in theater - what a hoot. I haven't been in years and I am almost sure V was with me then. What a difference it makes not having a child in the car. We stopped and picked up some fun food to eat along with drinks and proceeded to watch the Chuck and Larry movie followed by the Bourne movie. We didn't get home until well after 1 am but it was worth it.

Saturday I met up with GG, SK and C. We went to the Emerald Square mall and walked our feet off. Top on the shopping list was GG new shoes, SK's new shoes and C's new shoes LOL. I was the only one who didn't give in to the shoe god. I did get 4 new tops for less than $20.00, plus I found a beautiful Flur that needed a new home.

The most entertaining part of the day was watching the 300+ Torrid Want-To-Be models stand in line for hours waiting for their 5 seconds of fame and photograph. Apprently Torrid was holding their annual find a model search at 4 locations accross the USA and Emerald Square was one of the sites.

There were women of every size, color, hight and with/without fashion taste (OMG some of the outfits). I kept saying that I would have loved to see a woman age 50+ try out for the job LOL.

After shopping it was on to lunch and lots of talk about various SCA/Pennsic/VDK projects.

I got back to Westerly around 5 pm, which was perfect timing. Terry and Em wanted to grill out on the deck and watch a movie on the big screen. So dinner and movie it was (strawberry shortcake was a big hit). We ate and watched "Music and Lyrics" with Drew Barrymore - cute flik.

Here's hoping that Sunday is as much fun and drama free.

Looks like T will be in Pittsburg early next week. Why is this a cool thing (I will miss him)? Well it turns out that a copy of the painting I have researching is located in Pittsburg (woo hoo). I have sent off an email to Sister Susan asking if T could stop by and take a few photos. T said he would be happy to do it for me and if the Sisters don't mind him taking a few photos, then this would be a great way to finally find out what the "Copies" of the painting looks like. If all 4 of the copies are small (24 x 18), and the only large one is Marks - that would be very cool.

I am also interested in going to see the copy that is in Maryland. Seems it is only 1/2 hr from the Smithsonian and I have been trying to get back there for 2 years. The last time I went by my self and it was wonderful . . . Imagine if I can get a bunch of people to go with me (hint hint hint).


+++++ 8/23/07 at 2:30 ++++

I just heard from Sister Patricia from the Pittsburg office. She sent a picture of her painting - very similar to Marks painting.

Hello, I am forwarding a photo of the Pittsburgh copy of the painting "Consolation" which was taken by our communications director, Micaela Young, a few months ago. There is also a copy of this painting at the Mercy motherhouse in Cincinnati, I think -- given to a sister there by her brother who won a chrome of it at a raffle in New York around 1874. The sisters in Cincinnati had a painting done from the chrome by an artist named John Hauser in 1908.

Our copy of "Consolation" was purchased in a San Francisco antique shop around 1949 by John Quinn, the brother of one of our early community superiors. He recognized the Mercy habit. He gave the painting to us in her memory. The story that I have always heard was that this picture was commissioned by Abraham Lincloln and painted by the White House artist named Florence Meyer in 1863. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had seen the sisters nursing in the hospital tents at Vicksburg, and had been so moved that he related the image to President Lincoln who then commissioned the painting.

Thirty seven sisters from the Pittsburgh Convent of Mercy served as nurses in the Civil War. There were many other Mercy nurses from other convents as well as sisters from a number of other communities who served.

Your friend is welcome to come by next week. Tell him to ask for me.

Sincerely, Sr. Patricia McCann, director of archives

. . .
I almost feel like I need to contact each of the directors of archives for the 4 copies and put together a history of their paintings. Each person I have talked to so far have simlar stories, yet each story seems to bring some new piece of information. I am no closer to finding out if Mark's painting is the original. All I do know for sure is that there are 4 copies of this painting and either Mark's is the 5th copy that everyone keeps talking about, or it is the original.

what to do, what to do

(If you don't know the whole story please go to June 28th to see how this all started).

August 22, 2007.

It has been almost two months and I have learned an amazing amount of information about the lovely painting. Today I received two emails, the first was from Dr. T. Schwartz, Illinois State Historian who suggest that I contact the Curator at the White House for information about the painting. It seems that there are records of payment for any work that was commissioned by the federal government regarding art during the time of Lincoln. I have his phone number and will call later today.

The 2nd email was from Sister Susan Nowalis from the Sisters of Mercy in Silver Spring MD.

Here is what she wrote . . .
Your inquiry about the famous Civil War painting commissioned by President Lincoln intrigues me. The title is "Consolation".

For the past several years I have been collecting information, mainly from other Mercy archivists, in an effort to find out where the original is. Here at the office of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, on the wall outside my office, hangs a copy. There are also
copies in Pittsburgh, Baltimore (a photo from an oil painting that hangs in a convent in Cincinnati), and Chicago.

The story is told of General Grant inspecting the tent hospital at Vicksburg, Mississippi and, lifting the flap of a tent, saw a Sister of Mercy reading to a soldier. On his return to Washington, D.C., General Grant described the scene to President Lincoln, who asked Grant whether there were any of those ladies in Washington. Grant said there were and immediately pointed out some of the Sisters of Mercy of the Baltimore and New York communities doing duty there.

Lincoln sent for the White House artist, Florence Meyer, and ordered a painting of the scene.

According to the Cincinnati archivist, chromes were taken from it. One of these was raffled at a bazaar in New York. Mr. John Rooney won it and sent it to his sister, Sister Mary Helena, a Sister of Mercy in Cincinnati (1874). On the occasion of the Sisters of Mercy coming to their new Motherhouse on Freeman Avenue 1905-1906, John Hauser of the Berlin School of Art was engaged to enlarge and copy it from the chrome in oil. It was finished in 1908.

According to the Chicago archivist the original painting was hung in the Capitol building. It was done in honor of the sisters who served as nurses in the Civil War. Each region of the Sisters of Mercy had a sister artist make a copy for their region. Sister Francis Kelly completed the oil painting for Chicago in 1901.

We do not know where the original is. There is speculation that Mrs. Lincoln may have sold the painting after the President's assassination in order to raise needed funds. It is a known fact that Mrs. Lincoln sold other paintings from the White House to assist herself in her need.
This brings me to the painting you have. Where and how did you obtain it? Was there any information attached to it? Do you think it could be the original?

Here is another piece of the puzzle. Two years ago I received a newly published book, "The Crimean Journals of the Sisters of Mercy 1854-56." On the front of the book jacket is a small reproduction of the same painting. Inside the book the frontispiece has an illumination from
Gort, Ireland listing the Sisters of Mercy who nursed the soldiers during the Crimean War. Superimposed at the top is the same reproduction of "Consolation." It seems to be all over Ireland.

If you can add anything to my growing body of information I'd be grateful.

. . .

So now I know a little more about the painting - the name, that the original is really missing and that there is someone else out there trying to find information about these paintings.

I have sent her a photo of the painting and I am hoping she can tell me if it looks like hers or if she thinks it might be the original.

I think it is time for an appraser to take a look at it, and perhaps a road trip to see one of these paintings myself. Maryland isn't that far . . . anyone want to go?

++++ 2:30 on the 22nd of Aug.

Another email from Sister Susan

Thank you for the photos of the painting. There is a bright glare in the center of the second photo obscuring some of the details of the persons


The painting is identical to the one here. I’m sorry I don’t have the capability to take a picture of it for you.

The dimensions of our painting without the frame are 24” high by 18”wide. The one in your photo appears larger, unless that’s because of the frame. Would you be able to send me the dimensions of your painting, excluding the frame?

In your first e-mail you gave me some background that you had about the painting. Do you know the source of that information? Can you find out if Mr. Burbelo knows anything about the previous owner? Did he notice any markings on the back when he took it to be restored? You mentioned 5 paintings done by a Sister Mary I. Do you know where that information came from?

So . . . it seems the copies of the painting are only 24" by 18", while Mark's painting is at least 3 feet tall.  Now why would one painting be so much larger than the others?????

I think this is an original.  I think that a "Chrome" (photograph) was taken of it and sent to the SoM, where 5 copies were made. The five would have been smaller because they had no idea how big the original was.  The original was sold or given away and ended up in Westerly, RI.

Now how do I prove it?  Certainly an appraser needs to get involved.  I have to look into this, also maybe someone from the Loncoln Museum would be interested in the painting . . . given that Mary Todd may have sold it.

I have no idea what to do next LOL.

Saturday was great. T and I went to Mystic (9 am) and got on a wonderful boat. We headed out to sea with a bunch of friends only to get caught in 3 foot high waves so we turned around and came back in. Once back in port we grabed all the beer and food, put it in the cars and headed for the Niantic River. Once we got there, we were met by more friends in a boat that took the 8 of us to another boat that was parked up river. Once we got there (noon ish), the party started. Had fun hanging out with a crowd of people who have no clue about the modern-middle ages (strange conversations about babies, work, golf etc). Around 5 or so we headed back in to port, got in the cars and headed to a friends house. I spent the evening eatting, hitting little balls into the water with a golf club and playing bocci ball. Sometime around 9 pm there was a fireworks show that was amazing.

Sunday was the best with V and M arriving around 11 for brunch out on the deck. The home made quiche lorraine (made with light cream not heavy) and potatoe pancakes were a huge hit. The afternoon was spent finishing up stuff around the house (craft room is almost done - woot).

The weekend went way too fast

1. If I looked in your trunk, what would I find?
Clean

2. Do you go to the bathroom with the door open or closed?
Closed

3. Are your underwear and socks folded in your drawers, or just thrown in?
Folded

4. Dating anyone?
yes - Terry

5. Are you a cuddler?
Absolutely

6. What would I find if I looked under your bed?
Clean

7. Something that happened today that has made you mad?
Not a thing – I am extremely happy

8. What were you doing before this survey?
Working

9. What will you do after this survey?
Work

10. Marriage or living together?
Both

11. What are you wearing right now?
Black pants with a teal shirt

12. Do you talk about your feelings or hide them?
some of both

13. Is there something you regret and wish you could take back?
Sure . . . the first thing that comes to mind is the last 10 years of my last relationship. Not that it was regrettable, just wish I had moved on sooner

14. First thing you do when you wake up?
Get kissed by Terry

15. Last person you told you love them?
My daughter – 3 mins ago

16. Kiss with your eyes open or closed?
both

17. Bite or Lick?
both

18. Last argument you got into?
With Terry over his kids . . . go figure

19. Do you tend to rip the paper off water bottles?
nope

20. When you shut off your alarm clock, do you tend to fall back asleep?
nope

21. If you were given the chance to take care of a monkey for a weekend would you?
nope

22. What is the current advertisement on the side of the screen?
none

23. What are you looking forward to in the next few months?
Spending more time with my flur girls, getting more stuff done around the loft and seeing what work has in store for me

24. When will you turn 50?
1/10/2012 – not so far away

25. If you were being chased by an alligator, what would you do?
look for something to stab it with

26. How many pillows are on your bed?
4

27. What song are you currently listening to?
none

28. Have you ever passed out from drinking?
nope

29. If you caught a significant other cheating on you what would you do?
be devistated

30. What time did you wake up this morning?
6:31 am

31. Do you have any cousins?
nope

32. Can you imagine yourself living in a cardboard box?
nope

33. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Terry

34. What is the WORST subject they teach in school?
too long ago LOL

35. Where do you plan on living when you grow up?
In the mountains

36. What was your dream this morning?
something with cooking

37. How many times have you seen your favorite movie?
5 times – What Dreams may come

38. Where was the last place you traveled?
Pennsic

39. How was your past weekend?
Great

40. What is your favorite song?
Paul Revere And The Raiders - Indian Reservation

41. If puppies stayed small forever, would you buy one?
hell yah

42. What is the best ice cream flavor?
rocky road

43. Do you think you are attractive?
getting there

44. Is someone on your mind right now?
yes

45. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
I never tried

46. Do you worry about how you look?
sure

47. Would you ever change for a boy/girl?
I think I am past that

48. Pro-life or Pro-choice?
pro-life

49. Have you ever been on stage?
yes – in school

50. Can you whistle?
nope

51. Do you know who Stewie Griffin is?
he is a cute little boy and I admire very much

52. Do you have any plans for today?
work, shopping, and hopefully seeing my daughter for dinner

53. Are you friends with more guys or girls?
girls

54. Why?
no clue

55. Have you ever thought a friend could be more than a friend?
of course

56. Do you like the beach?
it is near that place where whales piss

57. What color is your toothbrush?
green and white

58. What makes you laugh?
funny stuff

59. Are you ticklish?
nope

. . . what ever that is.

Work - Seems that while I was gone my boss was promoted - happy for her, not sure about me. Her promotion takes her out of Marketing and in to Strategic Planning. She has asked me to go with her as her Project Coordinator - not sure what to do. The BOD has to approve the changes in early September, so for now it is a waiting game. To add to the mix, she has been offered a position with another company and again, she has asked me to follow if that pans out (change is hard).

Home - The loft is beautiful. T and I have been working on the deck and the craft room. Last Monday we got a new refrigerator installed and put the old one down stairs. It will make a great drink cooler for the deck.

Family - V seems to be doing better after seeing her best friend (up from FL), T seems to also be doing better (I think he missed me tons).

Projects - Some scribe stuff and helping "D" with a little project she is interested in doing (very excited about helping).

Vacation – Had a blast. Missed V and T lots, but would not have traded the time with VDK and “J” - I love hanging out with her. Loved visiting with my flur girls (D, L and C)- they are the kindest people I know and so much fun to be around. I wish the tummy bug hadn’t happened but I don’t miss the 10 pounds. I am going to get a new tent – canvas is on the wish list. I am thinking about making new garb for next year – something really cool and exotic.

Short post to let people know that I am alive and well. Pennsic was a blast and I am very glad to be home. Seems the reason I wasn't eatting at the war (nothing stayed down) was due to a tummy virus. I lost 9 pounds and am feeling much better. Tuesday will be my first day back at work - kinda looking forward to it.

The car is packed and I am so ready to go.

I will leave here (office) at at 4 and go pick up the lovely jana. One stop half way (a realy hotel woo hoo), and Pennsic by noon on saturday.

Everyone have a great boring trip and don't forget - the sangria is on me LOL.

I will be camping at B-5 (new spot for VDK). I will be having a Sangria night - find me so I can invite you.

I spent last night finishing the scroll (turned out very nice), packing and creating my t-shirt for "rude night". I am so pleased with the way the t-shirt came out and can't wait to see Jana's face when she reads it.

If you have a favorite t-shirt, let me know, I would love to hear about it.

Questions:
* Did you always camp with the same group from Day One of your very first Pennsic? Which group/s did you camp with?
- First group was Barony Beyond the Mountain group, then Aleholding and now VDK.


* If you've been with one particular group for a long time, what's changed, and what hasn't, about your camp?
- I love VDK. This will be the first year that we will not be on the Royal Island. On one hand I am so going to love all the space of B5, on the other change is hard.


* Have you beautified it to make it somehow aethetically pleasing, and if so, how?
-VDK is very into the whole look of the camp. We are a Roman camp and it feels like it.


* What is the one dynamic about your camp that makes you want to come back to it each year?
- The people. I love them.


* Is there something about your camp that you would like to see improved? What is it?
- The whole smoking thing. I wish there was a way that those who like to smoke could do it without effecting those who can't be near it.


* What is your favorite camp memory?
- The pantie tree is one of many