Vax, boox, and other confusing things

This morning I got my covid vax -- now it's twice a year if you're over 65 -- and had a wonderful chat with the pharmacist who wanted to talk about the UK. He said he was underwhelmed by Stonehenge, a bunch of stones in a field, not even as big as he expected! Too funny in light of recent chats in Shadows and Light, Steve's blog.  

And I had a ride in to the pharmacy with a friend, on her way elsewhere, but did an experiment coming home. I wasn't in a WiFi environment, and the library wasn't open yet, so I turned on mobile data to summon a Lyft and it worked fine. I had contracted for more mobile data for this reason, so I'm glad it worked.  My previous contract wouldn't have, very little data.

I think my next weaving maybe a clasped weft item. That's what I know in Spanish, so I feel it's a leading. Meanwhile to finish the gloves and socks, and the braid.

About Mona's Eyes. Hm. It's the kind of concept only a historian could think was a good fiction vehicle. And this writer really does not grasp that fiction is not about telling you what happened, and teaching you facts. Any more than a painting is a picture of what happened.  

There's so much more skill and insight needed, to understand the world you're creating, then to grasp and hold the reader's attention, and to invite them into your fictional world.  And so much more about a painting than just the narrative in it. It's an experience, not a documentary. 

The grandfather character talks down to Mona as if she's about five, gives patronizing information about the paintings they visit, one a week for a year, a perfect treadmill of art.  I did keep going for several chapters, one artwork per chapter, a reading treadmill, before wanting to scream at the grandfather DIE ALREADY! Like Seinfeld's Elaine on The English Patient. 

So overall the book was not for me. If it were a Young Person's Guide to Great Dead White European Male Painters, maybe it could work. But, hm, I dunno. I gather it's a best seller, so a lot of people like it. Anyway, see for yourself and make your case! Don't take my word for it.

Happy day everyone! Read what you like, stitch advice into a didactic artwork never mind the grumpy old lady blog writer, what does she know.

The late great nurse Marigold approves this message

Activism anyone can do, part 23,879, and more

There's a GoFundMe underway for the thug who murdered Ms. Good, his name spelled differently from other reports. They cite his mounting legal fees and other expenses. 

It's against TOS to raise funds for expenses created by violent crime, and they claim this heavily armed enormous man was in fear of his life against an unarmed woman attempting to drive away. 

So I reported it. Anyone can. 

And I got an acknowledgement. This is part of the email in the box this morning. It's possible this attempt is being made by some unauthorized person wanting to scam people, too. His name is spelled differently from news reports.

Either way, it needs to go away.  

And, this being a cleaning family day, I got a Lyft to the library.  Hasan arrived in three minutes, in a very new looking car, I like Lyft. Especially since I discovered Uber had donated $1m to the person in the Partial White House. 

Later edit:  the homeward-bound Lyft driver, not Hasan, another,  ran a red arrow and shouted at me when I protested. Several other issues. I've blocked him. But I don't think he's typical.

I finished the public puzzle which had a couple of pieces in wrong places, once they were moved, it was done.

I did this little corner of this

 joyful picture!

Outside not so joyful. The renovation they're doing on the square seems to be all about removing grass and paving everything in sight. 

This afternoon I'm going to get in touch with friend contractor Michael and see if he's interested in doing the bathtub using a kit we can get locally. I'd rather contract with him than unknown installers, wonderful as they may be. 

And here's the current state of the church gong bergamot boxes.  

Pro tip: oranges past their best are way easier to work with. They even turned themselves inside out while I was scooping out the pulp. They're willing to be molded on the glasses, too. This may explain Sally Pointer's success with windfalls.

Watch this space! Bergamot boxes and bathtubs, sounds like one of those carefree novels, beach reading, it's all go. 

Lyft maiden voyage, art in the gallery

Monday the house cleaners were scheduled so I booked a Lyft ride to the library, just to get the hang of it. Nice driver Mamadou showed up bang on time, and we had a quiet ride. He was listening to a radio program on public radio, all good!

This will work. I managed to navigate the app, update my payment and from now on I won't book ahead, just when I need the ride. Like going home today. I can try Uber too, and compare prices. So I Lyfted home again, prompt pickup.  Next rides I'll try Uber to compare prices.

The exhibit in the gallery is Liz Aubrey,  an artist I probably ought to have heard of but oh well. Evidently well known around Trenton. I included the qr code for more info. Please let me know if it works for you. I tested it using my phone to scan tablet image and it worked for me.

I was a little underwhelmed but did make a few pictures for you.  You may love her and follow whatever she has online.

The two upper are small acrylic works, and the last two are tiny, mixed media on coffee filters.  I don't know anyone who uses coffee filters for their purpose. I've dyed and woven and spun and knitted them.   And here's a painter using them as a canvas.

Her acrylics are very American in feeling, and the coffee filter paintings are oddly European in affect. 

Meanwhile winter painting is on the library windows, and I've found that the artist is Madison Mark.

This is the first exhibit of the new concept, of using the library building as a canvas. Here's a shot from inside at night

Happy day everyone, I hope there's a lift in your day, too.

I got another lift when I got home and found my cleaning family had hung gingerbread stars here and there, in spaces where I'd had art but never removed the hangers.

 So they've started my decorating 

And freecycle continues to supply comic relief

Real mail, soup and rides

 Today's mail brought a lovely postcard artwork.

which I'll treasure. Thank you M. I studied the stitching for a long time before setting it on the mantelpiece, where I can see it.

And there was a visit of a neighbor with  soup to share, very good too. We had a good chat about all kinds of things from soup to transgender children to selling cars to wills to Gary's sister.  And she offered rides whenever, just ask.

Meanwhile I have housecleaners coming next Monday, so I'd booked a Lyft to the library, to get into practice for ride booking. Maybe I can get a ride home another way. Anyway I'm getting the hang of it.  This will work. 

Happy day everyone, it's good to be a passenger sometimes.