Hello Friday… it’s been a week where my motto has been this: “The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get”
I have felt like I have been playing catch up all week but there were a few good things.
Thing One: I have had tremulous buds on my snow drops for weeks and I feared that the bit of an arctic blast we had last week would do them in. But as you can see above, bloom they did! They opened yesterday and it was fun to see them “dancing in the wild winds” we had! A very good thing for the list!
Thing Two: I got my homework done! Wooo! The theme for this week was “Atmospheric” and while I don’t think I quite achieved an “atmospheric painting,” Rick’s first comment in my feedback: “This reads well” was enough for me. He then gave me some ideas to “fix” my foreground trees… that look a bit like lollypops! Yes, they do!
Thing Three: Kareem Abdul Jabar’s response to having his decades long NBA Scoring Record broken by Lebron James on Tuesday night. I deeply loved watching Kareem play basketball, but I confess… I love even more where he has gone with his life post-basketball.
Thing Four: I stumbled entirely accidentally upon the Emergence Magazine Podcast a couple of weeks ago and I have been meaning to tell you about it. The episode that drew me in was one with Robin Wall Kimmerer talking about Serviceberries. It’s absolutely worth a listen and I been delighted with other episodes as well!
Thing Five: Otherwise known as The Things That Kept Me Behind This Week! I had the appointment with the NP which caused me to have to go for X-rays (which were inconclusive) but I called to make the referral appointment with the Ortho who I eventually did manage to make contact with and set an appointment. Because I was in “Appointment Mode” I also made the appointment for my annual mammogram. I mean what is not to love about calling into Doctor Office Phone Queues and making sure you are pressing the correct number for what you want to do… and then waiting… listening to Hold Music… with interspersed advertisements for UPMC… Oh! And could you please complete a survey for us at the end of this call! (Because who does not want to have the opportunity to push more numbers!!)
And with that, I have some things to finish (still) from this week. See you all back here on Monday!
Sorry the x-rays were inconclusive…and hope you can get your hip straightened out…or working pain-free! Emergence Magazine looks interesting and I just signed up for the weekly email. Love your painting Kat. Your paintings to me are so calming. Wishing you a glorious weekend – enjoy!
So happy to see your watercolor here today! Especially those long trails of trees going up the mountain… (From someone who once lived in the mountains, you definitely evoked ‘atmospheric’ for me!)
Oh, those surveys. Ugh. I never do them. I can never get off those calls fast enough. Glad you got the appts made, though–and while ‘inconclusive’ can be annoying, hopefully you’re on the track to ‘conclusive’ and ‘manageable.’ (And thanks for the RWK Serviceberry link!)
Like Vera, I think your paintings often seem calming and hopeful. Those are lovely atmospheres to conjur with your artwork! I’ve got a few snowdrops and my SiL and I have been commenting that we think this is the earliest we’ve ever had blossoms. I hardly know anything about basketball and never watch it, but Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s article was absolutely wonderful. What a wonderful human being he is and a fine writer, too. Thanks for the link and introducing me to something new!
Some weeks . . . are just like that. But you’re making good progress, Kat. On all fronts and with all things. XO (But I gotta say, those surveys? Such crap.)
Kat – Your watercolor is beautiful! You have a very lovely personal painting style and in my opinion, those foreground trees are perfect and contribute to a lively and pleasing picture.
You are working your way through the medical appointments and hopefully onto some good information. Those phone calls though. I’ve taken to putting them on speaker and making sure I have something else to do while waiting. I think the watercolor is just lovely.
Your snowdrops are so lovely. I’m glad they survived all of that cold weather. And your painting — I tried and I tried, but I could not see lollipops in your trees. I saw gorgeous trees! I think it’s amazing.
Enjoy your weekend!
You have reminded me of the hours I spent on the phone sorting out my husband’s appointments. I used to set myself up with coffee, puzzles, magazines and books, and put the phone on speaker. That way the wait was n’t so bad. Good luck with it all. Love the atmospheric sky in your painting.
I did a snowdrop check yesterday but didn’t see any yet. I think your painting is wonderful and I can see how much you’ve learned. Good on you for scheduling those appointments! I scheduled my mammogram this week (March, which is good since I’m a few months late) and an eye doctor appointment (May, ugh) too. Happy Weekend!
Ugh, medical appointment phone time is the worst. I’m glad that at least some of my doctors have enabled online scheduling now, and I wish more of them did. I hope the ortho is able to figure out what’s up with your hip and get you some relief!
Speakerphone is your friend as others above have pointed out. I play solitaire on the computer while on hold. And your painting! You have nurtured your talent like a pro.
your homework is frame-worthy!! Love it so 🙂 I detest the phone systems of the big health organizations, no one ever answers the phone and it’s all automated. ugh.