What are you up to?

[ArizonaGal]

I was thinking about an old friend of mine named Sidney Cohen. We weren't close friends, but we lived next door to each other. I was 23 and he was almost 80. 47 years ago.

He invited me into his apartment one day for tea, served in proper cups, and he had a Manet on one wall, a Seurat on another, and the hallway was an art gallery.

We chatted about his wife, whom he missed, and one of my favorite pieces of art I told him was a chair that she had needlepointed. It really was a lovely piece of work, and he was pleased by my comment. He had a cubist piece by Florsheim I also really liked. A tiny Picasso... But a Picasso nonetheless.

He was a nice old man. And if you ever make it to the St Louis Art museum, there is a gallery that he funded, the Sadie and Sidney Cohen gallery.

There was no security whatsoever in his apartment, and it was really in a very modest neighborhood, and of course I never mentioned to anybody I knew that he had (even then) millions of dollars of art on his walls.

Maybe because I'm getting old too, or maybe because I've picked up art again, I've been thinking about him, kind, lonely, generous...living in solitude among all that museum quality art.

That's it, just the memory.

 

[Hermes2020]

What a lovely memory. It's amazing how some experiences stay so vividly in one's memory. In my case even a smell can trigger a clear recollection of an incident or interaction I had with someone 50 years ago.

 

[ArizonaGal]

Yay, my baby gambrel quails were born this morning. I get my tomato plant back. I can see them, in the brambles under the mesquites and behind the oleanders, just before the ground drops off into an arroyo. It looks super safe, but I took a picture and you can't see them in the picture, even though I know they were there when I snapped it. In a week the parents will start leading them around into the clear ground and I'll try to get a picture then.

For now, only proof they were there until 8 a.m.

 

[TK H-H]

Been very occupied lately.

Started a position at a zoo, so that's been occupying a lot of my time. So much to learn! Have plenty of reading material to work on in my spare time as well, and some writing assignments. Have some classes beginning next week related to the position, so those will be keeping me busy as well. There's one each week, provided by the zoo.
It's been great for keeping my mind busy. I like to be almost constantly learning, so it's really benefiting that side of me. It's a very physically active job as well, which is good, because I really need it. I ended up pretty out of shape... I'm also dealing with a hamstring injury, and I think the hills I'm constantly having to hike up and down are helping with that. I was worried it'd be problematic, but I think I'm actually having less pain in that leg since starting this position.

I applied for a secondary position with them last week, and got accepted for an interview within a couple days. That's scheduled for next week. It's a small voluntary position, but my hope was to gain one extra weekly shift from it, which is exactly what it'll provide. I also reached out to a different manager about an email they'd sent out previously, looking for people to assist with their seabird rescue team. Their affiliate's hospital/rehab center is a ways away from here, and they desperately need people to help transport the birds up there. Hoping to get the volunteer shift set for Tuesday mornings. If that works out, then I can assist with the rescues on Thursdays. That effectively will give me full time hours with the zoo. Lots of experience. My hope is to learn as much as possible, and bank up all those service hours to help me get a permanent position in the future.

My past education was in animal biology, and environmental conservation. Alas, for most of my life, I lived in an area that was severely lacking in opportunities to apply that. That's not usually something you think about too much when you're young and deciding on a degree...
But now that I live in a different area, I have more opportunities available. It's been nice to finally apply some of that knowledge somewhere.

My artwork ended up paused yet again, as a result. But I've been periodically planning some future works. I have a few concepts put together that I hope to make into paintings eventually (probably oils). I prepared some canvases a while back for some orchid paintings, but then those got paused as well.
However, I did start making a new blanket (crochet). It's multicolored yellow/blue/brown/grey/white, and has honeycombs and bees on it. I find counting the stitches as I work, kind of therapeutic. So it's been a nice way to wind down the day in the evenings.

 

[Terri]

Been very occupied lately.

Started a position at a zoo, so that's been occupying a lot of my time. So much to learn! Have plenty of reading material to work on in my spare time as well, and some writing assignments. Have some classes beginning next week related to the position, so those will be keeping me busy as well. There's one each week, provided by the zoo.
It's been great for keeping my mind busy. I like to be almost constantly learning, so it's really benefiting that side of me. It's a very physically active job as well, which is good, because I really need it. I ended up pretty out of shape... I'm also dealing with a hamstring injury, and I think the hills I'm constantly having to hike up and down are helping with that. I was worried it'd be problematic, but I think I'm actually having less pain in that leg since starting this position.

I applied for a secondary position with them last week, and got accepted for an interview within a couple days. That's scheduled for next week. It's a small voluntary position, but my hope was to gain one extra weekly shift from it, which is exactly what it'll provide. I also reached out to a different manager about an email they'd sent out previously, looking for people to assist with their seabird rescue team. Their affiliate's hospital/rehab center is a ways away from here, and they desperately need people to help transport the birds up there. Hoping to get the volunteer shift set for Tuesday mornings. If that works out, then I can assist with the rescues on Thursdays. That effectively will give me full time hours with the zoo. Lots of experience. My hope is to learn as much as possible, and bank up all those service hours to help me get a permanent position in the future.

My past education was in animal biology, and environmental conservation. Alas, for most of my life, I lived in an area that was severely lacking in opportunities to apply that. That's not usually something you think about too much when you're young and deciding on a degree...
But now that I live in a different area, I have more opportunities available. It's been nice to finally apply some of that knowledge somewhere.

My artwork ended up paused yet again, as a result. But I've been periodically planning some future works. I have a few concepts put together that I hope to make into paintings eventually (probably oils). I prepared some canvases a while back for some orchid paintings, but then those got paused as well.
However, I did start making a new blanket (crochet). It's multicolored yellow/blue/brown/grey/white, and has honeycombs and bees on it. I find counting the stitches as I work, kind of therapeutic. So it's been a nice way to wind down the day in the evenings.

You have been busy! In a good way, though.

Best of luck with the interview next week! It would be great to have all that time at the zoo. Sounds like they're keeping you hopping!

 

[Bongo]

2q

I was thinking about an old friend of mine named Sidney Cohen. We weren't close friends, but we lived next door to each other. I was 23 and he was almost 80. 47 years ago.
F

That makes him 127 years old now.

 

[PaintBoss]

How interesting reading what everyone’s been up to and posting. What a great group we have.
I finally was able to use a scooter which means I finally get outside and get up and down the sidewalks seeing and participating in my neighborhood. All the neighbours are pretty excited to see me. It is sure nice to see the faces with the names I hear about from my husband! I moved here in 2023 but was so sick I was in hospitals for six months and then in bed for another six months. It’s been a slow road just to get this far. So I’m pretty stoked as you can imagine! My little dog is thrilled with this situation. He sees me getting my shoes on which is his first clue. But when I say “scooter, let’s go!”, he sings and dances.
So I told my husband that this is my next goal -for the end of summer.

 

[brianvds]

Here in my neck of the woods, winter is upon us. Brrr!