Oil Painting is an emotional release

Painting is cathartic for me.

I get out some dark emotions.

I am always surprised to step back and see beauty from emotions that aren't pretty and are sometimes painful.

There is beauty from ashes.

"...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair..." -Isaiah 61:3

BONE... Books I've Read While On-Set

Am always sniffing around for something to read while I wait on a film set for the next camera set up.

So for January's "Books I've Read While On Set" I found a great read with Bone, by Jeff Smith.

His epic 1344 page graphic novel that took him 12 years to complete, is sure to make your hand sore from holding it by it's sheer weight. It's worth it. With dragons, cartoon characters, adorable animals of the forest, pretty girls, and things called rat creatures.

Love the dry humor in parts of it, and the art is awesome. Was sad when it was all done reading.

If you are into graphic novels check it out. www.Boneville.com

Singlets, Stubbies, & Speedos, Lesson On New Zealand Slang

A friend in New Zealand (where it is currently Summer) was talking to me today about it being so hot that everyone's in their Stubbies, Singlets, and Bungee smugglers.

Which had me scratching my head as here in the States we don't have anything called "stubbies" and singlets are the skin tight uniforms that wrestlers wear, and what is a Bungee Smuggler? So the mental image was rather funny to me.

Especially if you add to the wrestling gear image the fact that I imagine everyone in New Zealand to be characters from the Lord of the Rings, like Hobbits and Elves.

So, I did have to ask for clarification.

What I learned is that in New Zealand, those short shorts that were so popular here in the States in the 1970's... well, they never went out of style. All the guys wear them in the summer there. And they are referred to as "stubbies." 

Singlets aren't spandex wrestling uniforms. They are just like what we wear, but call basketball jerseys.

Bungee Smugglers are what are wore to the beach. In Europe and here in the states we'd call them speedos. The term "bungee" would mean literally "little bird". I assume you can get the reference. It made me chuckle.

Stubbies Short Shorts

I do love that they call sun glasses "Sunnys."

4 Ways to Survive in a Horror Movie

Scream Queen Rachel Grubb and Actor Paul Cram

And 8 movies Where They Are Disregarded
By Scream Queen Actress Rachel Grubb & Easily-Frightened Actor Paul Cram 

1. Never Take Off Your Clothes
Especially if you take a shower. The person who shows the most skin first always dies.
Rachel Recommends: Deep Red, By Dario Argento. About a musician who sees the murder of a psychic, and teams up with a reporter to find the killer bent on keeping a dark secret buried.
Paul Recommends: Psycho, by Alfred Hitcock. The classic tale of a young woman who steals $40K, and encounters a young motel proprietor too long under the domination of his mother.

A Kick to the Head

 Sprawled on my back, I stare up at the unnatural glare of fluorescent lighting.


I hear my name and feel a hand shaking my shoulder. At the same moment, flashing through my mind is that tidbit from CPR class about the importance of assessing someone's injuries before moving them.

I try slowly moving my jaw up and down, it's not broken. Check.

I feel my face, not bleeding. Check.

I spread my hand in front of my eyes, five fingers, not blurred. Check.

I use my tongue to scan for missing and/or broken teeth, they are all there. Check. (At least I think they are; it's hard to tell with this odd Novocaine sensation.)

As more hands grab my shoulders and try to get me to stand up, I rudely spit out, "Let go of me!" which sends a pang of regret into my Midwestern conscience, and a sting to my jaw from opening my mouth.

I stand up and lean against the cash register of the station. A make-up artist swiftly appears by my side with ice and a handful of aspirin. "To help reduce any swelling," she says. I gulp a few down while she stares into my eyes. "I want to make sure they aren't dilated," she offers. "A sign of a concussion."

"Hmm, they look normal, but we will have to redo your make-up to cover up all the redness & swelling." 

As I hold the ice pack to my numb face, I replay in my mind the events leading up to this moment.