Flight of Passage

I finished reading "Flight of Passage" a memoir by Rinker Buck a couple of weeks ago. A great read if you're looking for humor and adventure. It's about two young men who fly across the United States during the summer of 1966 in a Piper Cub.

Love and hate

I am having a love/hate relationship with my new life.

Some days go like this:
1. Sleep in until 6:30-7:00 (ha, ha, to all those people who work in the real world)
2. Check email to see what job possibilities have come to me overnight
3. Head to DMACC for classes
4. Class
5. Work out
6. Class
7. Head home for a short break
8. Back to night class
9. Follow up with homework the next day

Yes, I'm back in school as well as still job hunting. Love the classes!

Work at 181 Gallery online exhibit

Check out this link: an online exhibit that includes one of my art pieces:
http://www.design.iastate.edu/30/alumnishow.php#id=alumni09&num=121

Also, check out the rest of the art there. 30 pieces were chosen for the 181 Gallery studio show which is open now in the College of Design at Iowa State University.

One of my facebook friends, Chris Martin was accepted into the "real" show. His piece is here:
http://www.design.iastate.edu/30/alumnishow.php#id=alumni09&num=114

If these links don't work properly, just go to the Index and scroll to find the artists' names.

Also note that Chris and Tammi Martin's Peace Corps link is listed on this page as one of the blogs that I'm following. They have just completed their first year in Ghana. http://chrismartinfurniture.blogspot.com/

Be sure and read their post about seeing President Obama in Africa. Very cool.

Work for sale

Some of my artwork is for sale at Vintage Home and Garden in New Virginia, Iowa. Check it out.

I love this shop. It is open the 2nd Saturday of the month.

The Middle Place

Just finished reading "The Middle Place" by Kelly Corrigan. A good read. Very funny and insightful. See her website here: www.KellyCorrigan.com. I saw her at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines a few weeks ago. Read her book to the light of my headlamp in the tent while in Wyoming.

Magical Yellowstone and the Tetons

We hiked to String Lake in the Tetons.

This was an early morning shot in Yellowstone. The hot springs and a formerly burned area of the park.

The wild, wild west.

This bison was right outside of our tent at Norris campground in Yellowstone National Park. I'm shooting this video from inside our tent and that is the tent flap you see flapping in the wind back and forth.

National Parks special

On May 1, George and I heard Dayton Duncan, speak on his upcoming public television series on the national park system. Dayton is originally from Indianola and is an award winning writer and documentary filmmaker. The lecture was held at Simpson College. A great pleasure to hear him. Got us interested in using our parks pass again this year before it expires so will be headed west in the near future.

South America

Oh, how I love South America. PBS is having a South American blow-out today. All of their shows are featuring that continent. With my job lay-off, I don't know when I'll be able to go back. So, I'm putting a few of my favorite photos here.

Assemblage Show

Some of my work is being shown at Instinct Gallery in downtown Des Moines. The opening reception is Saturday, April 18 from 7-11 p.m. Instinct Gallery is located at 1408 Locust St. Hope to see you there.

More blogging

I was invited to be part of a blogging group for WHO-TV, Channel 13 related to unemployment/job searching in Iowa. It's at: http://whojobseekers.blogspot.com/. Be sure and check it out. At the bottom of each blog, it says who it was posted by. Mine will say, "Posted by Sheri"

The keys

It's predictable that you will have mixed emotions about leaving your job. What was interesting to me though was what triggered these emotions. The first trigger I had was my keychain. It was immediately lighter in weight. I had to give back three hefty, old-fashioned keys to the building I worked in. The lightness of my keychain was a trigger--both good and bad. Not only did it signify a cleansing, a new beginning, a chance to start over with my life--it also brought great sadness to me. No more would I be able to roam the hallowed silent halls of my workplace as I worked in the early hours or into the evening when other workers had long gone home or would I be able to hear the laughter of students and colleagues filling the bustling building during work hours. Still, one month later, when I pick up my keys, I think of what had been such a part of my life. I know the sad memories will fade though and the positive will prevail. A fresh start is ahead of me. I don't have the weight of those keys to carry around any more.

Is it a bird or plane?

I had a job interview last week. One of the questions asked of me was: "If you were to describe yourself as a bird, would it be a woodpecker or hummingbird, and WHY?

I loved the question. I have no idea which was the "right" answer, but I picked "woodpecker, as I said that woodpeckers are persistent. That they keep pecking at the tree until they get the job done. Was that a good answer or bad? I have another interview tomorrow. Can't wait to hear what I'm asked there!

On the west coast

Right before I was laid off I made a trip to Los Angeles. Glad I did that before my income dropped. Here are a some photos. Had a great time visiting my son and his wife. Hiking, beachcombing, walking the Venice canals every day, watching surfers and talking to fisherman on the Venice pier. Plus an art show opening and receiving a bottle of sake as a gift.

This chicken was just strutting across someone's yard in Venice.

View from The Getty Museum

Venice Canals. I liked how the birds were all lined up.

New adventures

Yes, I'm having new adventures now. Having been laid off from my job for just over a week now, my adventures consist of searching the web for jobs, networking with real live people, searching the web for jobs, networking with real live people, searching the web for jobs, and oh, did I say, networking with real live people!! Quite a travel adventure.

Octagon Art Center show

I went to the Octagon Center for the Arts last week for the opening reception of their annual show. One of my pieces is being exhibited. Here's a photo of its placement in one of their galleries. There were around 200-300 people at the reception. Quite an impressive turnout.

Free Rice

Thanks to a recent slide show that I watched at the retirement home where I volunteer, I learned of this site:

www.FreeRice

Besides donating rice to developing countries, you will increase your knowledge, math and language skills. And have fun doing it!