Alaskan Artist - Elise Tomlinson
Home Artist Blog About Me Life in Alaska Purchase Site Index Speak
Home » Archives » October 2006 » The New Improved Joy of Earthquakes

[Previous entry: "Life and the Art of Redacting"] [Next entry: "Back to the drawing board..."]

10/15/2006: "The New Improved Joy of Earthquakes"


Tonight I bought my season pass for Eaglecrest, our city owned ski resort. Now I can’t wait for it to snow! For me the first snow is a huge deal, an event to be celebrated. Snow makes everything seem quiet, clean and unbelievably beautiful.

I’ve already pulled out my ski gear and my ski pants are way too tight. Because I’m so short I had to buy from the “young boy” sizes, which translates to “no hips”. If I don’t wear any layers I can *barely* get them zipped up but then I can *barely* breathe in them as well. I’ve hired a personal trainer and my goal is not to lose weight exactly, but just to get those damn ski pants to fit comfortably.

I’ve already started doing a little morning yoga and a fast a.m. walk on my treadmill. It’s fun to be getting fit again though I have a loooooooong way to go. Plus, I don’t want to get too obsessed with it, that’s why I find it important to still drink beer and eat cheeseburgers.

Tonight I did so with a friend I haven’t hung out with in awhile and later went to check out their new apartment downtown. I was told that I look “really good”, which translates to “better than usual”. I said "It’s because I’m happy", which is true.

The only downside to an otherwise perfect weekend (multiple dinners out, a Spanish language movie, drinks and bluegrass at the local pub, long phone calls from both Rick and David, a day without rain, and a 3 hour nap) was that I didn’t paint at all. I did get about 15 brushes cleaned though, and I washed *all* my dishes including the dirty stuff I’d tucked away into cupboards the last time I had visitors (shhhh).

BTW, did you hear about the earthquake on the Big Island of Hawaii? The epicenter was in Kailua/Kona, where I went for nearly 2 weeks this summer. Scary! We don't seem to get earthquakes here in Southeast Alaska like the ones they have in other parts of the state. I went through a lot when I lived in Anchorage; there is something exciting about feeling the entire earth move beneath you. It reminds you how small you are, and how ultimately little control we have.

I've probably told this story before but the first earthquake I was ever in, my bed was shaking and I thought it was because the people in the room next to me were having sex...stuff starting falling off the walls and I thought...Damn!


Replies: 39 Comments

on Monday, October 16th, Tabitha Ramos Napier said

My first earthquake I was in Portland Oregon, watching the cabinet doors swing. Then I got yelled at for sitting against an outside wall to watch it...lol what do southern girls know..thanks for being an art inspiration.
Zezrie

on Monday, October 16th, Elise said

Hi Tabitha (Zezrie?)
I suppose you don't get too many rumblers in the South!

oh, and I haven't felt like much of an art inspiration lately, in fact, I'm still in search of some of that myself but hopefully my dry spell will run out soon.

on Monday, October 16th, greg said

Dang girl, how long have those brushes been sitting in turps?? ..oh those poor sables ...:(

on Monday, October 16th, Elise said

hi Greg, you've made two assumptions:

A. That I use turpentine (I quit using toxic chemicals, I just use a little dawn dish soap).

B. That I use sable brushes (I wish).

I use those connoisseur brushes, a synthetic hybrid that's a cross between natural bristle and nylon. They're great.

If I had some real sable brushes I'd take better care of them.

I think.

:blush:

on Monday, October 16th, greg said

Nah, I figured that and was just going for an old school laff. Actually tho't it might even be acrylic brushes sitting in water (you were experimenting w/them for awhile weren't u?) . But really ... you have them sitting in what? ... for how long?

Ugh! I couldn't imagine being in a room with open jars of turps sitting out for days. I mean I love the smell, but not in head rush ammounts!

Please treat yerself to a nice small kolinsky for the detail work! They feel like but-tah!

Anyhoo, looking forward to seeing some new works up here sometime :)

on Tuesday, October 17th, willow said

Let me just tell ya how much I love Dawn dish soap! I use it to clean just about everything, from dishes to spots on my laundry and even washing my car w/ it. (is that bad for the car paint?) I will now try it on my paint brushes! Thanks for the tip, Heloise!

on Tuesday, October 17th, Elise said

I was experimenting for awhile...I hate acrylics, I bought a ton of them and I'm giving them away to Rob Roys as I know I'll never use them.

as for turp, aaaahhhh, I miss the smell, I *love* the smell, it is just so damn toxic!

as for a small kolinsky, yes, that would be nice...but I don't think I quite deserve one yet. Kind of like being able to prove you can keep a gold fish alive before you're given a puppy!

And Willow...dawn works great on brushes that have been used on oil paints, because it breaks up oil.

You and rub them around in it and then leave them for days or months and still be able to clean them, though it takes a lot more work!

on Friday, February 9th, Arnold63 said

Very cheap drugs :
[url=http://firstdrugstorezone.info/product_aciphex.htm]aciphex[/url]
aciphex
http://firstdrugstorezone.info/product_aciphex.htm
Thanks!

on Friday, February 9th, Arnold63 said

Very cheap drugs :
[url=http://firstdrugstorezone.info/product_aciphex.htm]aciphex[/url]
aciphex
http://firstdrugstorezone.info/product_aciphex.htm
Thanks!

on Friday, February 16th, hcsgbfx duqrlw said

vzby nlhd hiynswp lpazgxw fxar fbocjpha trluvmypf

on Friday, February 16th, hcsgbfx duqrlw said

vzby nlhd hiynswp lpazgxw fxar fbocjpha trluvmypf

on Wednesday, February 21st, Luisjjr said

http://saersegfdawaw.host.com
desk3
[url=http://saessegfdawaw.host.com]desk4[/url]
[link=http://saeasegfdawaw.host.com]desk6[/link]

on Wednesday, February 21st, Luisjjr said

http://saersegfdawaw.host.com
desk3
[url=http://saessegfdawaw.host.com]desk4[/url]
[link=http://saeasegfdawaw.host.com]desk6[/link]

on Wednesday, February 21st, Luisjjr said

http://saersegfdawaw.host.com
desk3
[url=http://saessegfdawaw.host.com]desk4[/url]
[link=http://saeasegfdawaw.host.com]desk6[/link]

on Monday, May 14th, Stacy said

watson soma
watson soma
watson soma
[URL=http://hometown.aol.com/somagoodpill/aura-soma.html]watson soma[/URL]
http://hometown.aol.com/somagoodpill/aura-soma.html

on Thursday, May 24th, Tony said

buy tramadol
buy tramadol
buy tramadol
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/buy-tramadol-online-cod.html]buy tramadol[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/buy-tramadol-online-cod.html

on Thursday, May 24th, Lisa said

online tramadol
online tramadol
online tramadol
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/cheap-tramadol.html]online tramadol[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/cheap-tramadol.html

on Thursday, May 24th, Lisa said

buy tramadol
buy tramadol
buy tramadol
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/buy-tramadol.html]buy tramadol[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/buy-tramadol.html

on Friday, May 25th, Petra said

buy tramadol
buy tramadol
buy tramadol
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/tramadol.html]buy tramadol[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/tramadol.html

on Friday, May 25th, Angela said

tramadol hydrochloride
tramadol hydrochloride
tramadol hydrochloride
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/tramadol-addiction.html]tramadol hydrochloride[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/tramadol-addiction.html

on Friday, May 25th, Stacy said

buy tramadol online cod
buy tramadol online cod
buy tramadol online cod
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/tramadol-cod.html]buy tramadol online cod[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/tramadol-cod.html

on Friday, May 25th, Molly said

order tramadol
order tramadol
order tramadol
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/tramadol-hcl.html]order tramadol[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/tramadol-hcl.html

on Saturday, May 26th, Stacy said

buy cialis
buy cialis
buy cialis
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/cialis.html]buy cialis[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/cialis.html

on Saturday, May 26th, Jenny said

tramadol
tramadol
tramadol
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/tramadol-hydrochloride.html]tramadol[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/tramadoltoyou/tramadol-hydrochloride.html

on Saturday, May 26th, Tony said

And he placed cat dosage of amoxicillin the five suits of.

on Saturday, May 26th, Angela said

buy cialis online
buy cialis online
buy cialis online
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/cialis-generic-levitra-viagra.html]buy cialis online[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/cialis-generic-levitra-viagra.html

on Saturday, May 26th, Jenny said

cialis
cialis
cialis
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/cialis-levitra.html]cialis[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/cialis-levitra.html

on Sunday, May 27th, Tracy said

online cialis
online cialis
online cialis
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/cialis-levitra-online.html]online cialis[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/cialis-levitra-online.html

on Sunday, May 27th, John said

cheap cialis
cheap cialis
cheap cialis
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/cialis-levitra-sales-viagra.html]cheap cialis[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/cialis-levitra-sales-viagra.html

on Sunday, May 27th, Bob said

cheap cialis
cheap cialis
cheap cialis
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/compare-cialis-levitra-viagra.html]cheap cialis[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/compare-cialis-levitra-viagra.html

on Sunday, May 27th, Tracy said

order cialis
order cialis
order cialis
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/cialis-levitra-viagra.html]order cialis[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/cialis-levitra-viagra.html

on Sunday, May 27th, Tony said

order cialis
order cialis
order cialis
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/difference-viagra-levitra-cialis.html]order cialis[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/difference-viagra-levitra-cialis.html

on Monday, May 28th, Lee said

generic cialis
generic cialis
generic cialis
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/viagra-cialis-levitra.html]generic cialis[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/viagra-cialis-levitra.html

on Monday, May 28th, Wendy said

order cialis
order cialis
order cialis
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/which-is-better-viagra-cialis-or-levitra.html]order cialis[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/cialisonlinetoyou/which-is-better-viagra-cialis-or-levitra.html

on Monday, May 28th, Stacy said

levitra online
levitra online
levitra online
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/levitraus/levitra.html]levitra online[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/levitraus/levitra.html

on Monday, May 28th, Tracy said

buy levitra online
buy levitra online
buy levitra online
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/levitraus/levitra-guaranteed-cheapest-online.html]buy levitra online[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/levitraus/levitra-guaranteed-cheapest-online.html

on Tuesday, May 29th, Lisa said

buy cheap levitra
buy cheap levitra
buy cheap levitra
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/levitraus/levitra-viagra.html]buy cheap levitra[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/levitraus/levitra-viagra.html

on Tuesday, May 29th, Wendy said

amoxicillin antibiotic
amoxicillin antibiotic
amoxicillin antibiotic
[URL=http://www.amoxicillin.ebatkopat.com/500mg-amoxicillin-cap.html]amoxicillin antibiotic[/URL]
http://www.amoxicillin.ebatkopat.com/500mg-amoxicillin-cap.html

on Tuesday, May 29th, Jana said

cheap levitra
cheap levitra
cheap levitra
[URL=http://www.freewebs.com/levitraus/buy-levitra-online.html]cheap levitra[/URL]
http://www.freewebs.com/levitraus/buy-levitra-online.html