I had stopped into the mall on the 7th. We had to pick something up or pay on something. Anyway we were there and stopped into Clarks. My mom wanted a new pair of shoes. I'm like tired of the mall and want to go home. This Sales Associate was so cool. Before I knew it I was trying on shoes. Being a teacher you are on your feet all day. She told me about this shoe line called UNstructured. OMG! I tried the shoes on and did not want to take them off. SO much more comfortable than the sandles I was wearing. I bought them. I notice that they had blue which matched my purse, so I ordered them and had to go pick them up. They were in so we went on the 13th. Here is an interesting part: I had bought a pair of shoes from them back 2 years ago. I loved the color: green. When I wore them all day I had blistered at the heels of my feet. PAINFUL! I remember shoving them under my bed and forgoting all about them. They gaurantee their shoes and they gave me my money back which I promptly spent on the second new pair. I forgot to take a picture of the shoes...we walked all around the mall. Stopped to Johnny Rockets for a bite to eat. Went into Lane Bryant for Shirts for work. SALE. Then we were headed for something to drink when a man with a clipboard asked to talk with us. He was from a survey place and wanted to know if we would take a suvey based on food and beverages. Sure. Then we found out we got paid at the end of the survey. Cool. Between the two of us we made $10.00. We were no longer thirsy and continued to shop. We found a sheet sale. Then dad called and it was time to head home.

In no particular order the pictures from that day:

I like clouds.


I like to see what I can see in the shapes of clouds.


More clouds.


THis one looks like a bird to me.


Dark Clouds.


Around the bend toward the Galleria


Galleria Entrance


Flags at the Galleria


Lord & Taylor at the Galleria Mall.


I looked up to see directly over my head once we parked.


Galleria Parking Lot.


Sky above the Galleria.


Heading toward the Galleria


Little Clouds


More Little Clouds


Macy's at th Galleria


Many more clouds


More and more clouds


Clouds are cool.


Scene from the Thruway


My favoriteset of trees on the thruway.


Walden Village Sign on the way to the Galleria Mall.


Sky


Good - bye Galleria!


Heading home from the Galleria.

Friends of the family asked for some artwork on the threshold of the entrance to their home. I decided to reacquaint myself with the glass painting process. I started when I was in grammar school. I did a Mickey Mouse on a glass square with the art teacher at my mom's former school. He then told me to keep it up. So I got into some experiments, here they are:

I went with a lightning veiny design to color, using more negative space to complete the design. I was amazed at how dark the colors become once they dry. I will have to try to remember to take pictures while I am working to show you the differences.

I did a large lightning with a small. The red does come off as red, but it went on looking like bright pink. The blue is darker than I thought.

I like the pearlescent white. I like the finished product.

This design started with the bubbles of the fish and then I added the fish and the grass.

Here fishy, fishy. I had two different kinds of paint. The primaries were opaque and the others are more traditional stain for glass.

There goes the fishy. See I do not need pets.

Here's the frst view of simple swirly design.

Scond view of same bottle.

A side of tall jar. Which could be used for pencils and pens.

N side of tall jar.

D side of tall jar. I did not color in the next two I thought it gave a cool view o the other side of the jar. What do you think?

I side of tall jar. I am currently doing research to bring Glass Painting into my classroom. I think the students would enjoy learning a new kind of painting project.

Yesterday I had to go to work to take down a summer bulletin board. So my mom and I decided to have lunch at our favorite restaurante in Lackawanna: Victoria Square. It is some place I grew up at. My parents are friends with the owners. They work very hard and it is a special place for me. Cindy makes homemade pies for dessert!
We were entering and I was completely flabbergasted because they changed the decor with new colors and new decorations. Cindy was heading home and we were like WOW!
They changed the color to shades of greens. The siderail is painted reddish brown, which really bring out the wood. As red and green are complementary colors they work together to make things pop. The decorations are an earthy mediterranean flavor. I was so overwhelmed with the decor I forgot to take pictures of our lunch! Me! I forgot the food!
Well here are the pictures, see for yourself the changes:

I thought this was so cool, because it is a special blend of regulars that enjoy Victoria Square. We ran into a fellow choir member out celbrating with his family. As I spasmodically took pictures all over me fave eatery.

I am always looking at their clock to make sure I am on time, maybe I will remember to eat on time too!

CAFFIENE! Here is Victoria Squares Coffee Station. Anyone who knows me, knows that I usually only order coffee during the winter or with the yummy delicious homemade desserts.

I thought these were totally cool. I somehow see a future art project evolving from these pieces.

I like collage compilations the interst for me comes with the individal piece working in tandem with the entire visual and yet keeping its originality. Very American feeling Individual Unity.

I thought this was so cool. My mom and I are noted for our flower pitures interspersed in our rolls of film and digital has not changed our behavior.

This is right after you come into the entry way directly to your right when facing the main window. I love booths so I have sat in everyone.

This turned out better than I hoped. I believe it was a gift to Louie and Cindy when thy opened. I would have to double check with them, but it looks great with the new colors.

I just love the decorations and the way they look. The employee was there who put them up said it only took an hour and a half. Which anyone who has hung artwork or pictures in their home is really good for that time!

This was the very cool decoration next to our booth! My mom and I discussed the decor until our food arrived. She ordered a House Salad. I was amazed I was actually there for a special on the special day. Thursdays is Cold Subs for $3.99. I ordered an assorted. I love the fact that they toast the rolls automatically. I learned from other travel this is a Buffalo thing.

Here is our view from our booth. I really liked the chages, but they really caught me by surprize.

I am finally remembering to take my camera with me when I do stuff. I have been having flashbacks to high school (I was yearbok editor) which means I had the headphones and camera out all the time. It was a wonder what I wrote about did not have a soundtrack.

Anyway I took some pictures in my neighborhood while struggling with rechargeable battery issues - they are not keeping there charge! UG.




The Adult Learning Center on its own block beteen Edward, Virginia and Elmwood. This ws the first of a series of photos from a moving vehical on the passenger side, of course!


Betty's Restaurante on Virginia. It has been a long time since I have eaten there, but there food was good.


This one hurts. Hispanics United of Buffalo New Addition to the old building had a muralist begin a mural several years ago. As an artist this hurts to pass almost everyday I leave my house. I do not know the story behind why the artist did not complete this mural. I did see scaffoldng go up and then what ever must have been done was minimal. From the viewers perspective it bothers me to see this work of art incomplete. From an artists perspective I am patiently awaiting payments for a mural I completed to the clients specifications from 3 years ago.


I thought this a cute picture of the mini playground on the corner or Virginia and West.

Well, I have been reading every spare moment I have had this summer. From author Chrlaine Harris I went to Jim Butcher. I had a few or six of his books on the nightstand to read. The Dresden Files was a show on the SciFi Channel that got cancelled after it's first season. Dresden Files Season one is out on DVD for purchase. I had picked up a compilation called "Many Bloody Returns" with like 10 or 13 authors short stories having to do with vamipires as characters or the things that go bump in the night theme. When I read the Jim Butcher story that reminded me to dig up the 6 books I had yet to read. I have just discovered he was also out in comic books and has a graphic novel I plan to get. Here is a full list of his current works on the Chicago Wizard in chronological order first to most recent:

The Dresden Files Book Titles:
Storm Front
Fool Moon
Grave Peril
Summer Knight
Death Masks
Blood Rites
Dead Beat
Proven Guilty
White Night
Many Bloody Returns (compilation)
Small Favor
Welcome to the Jungle (Graphic Novel)
Mean Streets (compilation)
Turn Coat