Amy Ropple - Make Art!
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August 13, 2020

8/13/2020

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Oh, the heat! If we didn't have the weather to complain about in New England, we'd be a lot quieter. Getting used to sweating like an abandoned traveler in the Libyan desert, taking in hot sun, and watching the roses bloom and die at an astoundingly fast rate. Thankfully, fall is coming. 

With great apprehension. The Covid numbers seem to be down, but how do we know who to believe at this point? They say for every one positive case there are really up to 10 (not tested.) We are at a point with less than 5 cases per 100,000, so that looks great on paper. But...what if? Figuring out how to operate school and get the kids back into a routine is an overwhelming task. I want to go back, for numerous reasons. Will be having a doctor appointment today to discuss this and get opinions. 

The venom directed at teachers that I have read online recently, has been terrible. I know parents are scared. That fear has been turned into nastiness towards teachers who are rightly considering their own welfare with regards to Covid. Teachers are asked to do everything to solve society's problems -- feed kids, teach morals and values for those who don't get them at home, evaluate and treat mental health, support struggling populations, address racism, etc. Never mind teaching our subjects! It is give, give, give, love, love, love. All. The. Time. And now teachers are saying "Wait a minute..." and thinking about survival, of themselves AND their students, in the face of pandemic. The push back has caused some parents to release angry anti-teacher tirades telling teachers to "get back to work," as if work has ever stopped, and saying teachers are "just lazy" and "don't want to work." It is hurtful and ignorant, and just so wrong. Teachers are worried about kids getting sick. I don't want any of them to get this thing, and I don't want it myself. It is a difficult time, for sure. I will remember those parents who said nasty things on Facebook. Forgive? Yes. Remember? Yes. 

Teddie is practicing her spiraling trill in the front room. It is a very high pitched bark, "Buoy-Buoy buoy buoy," over and over, at something she perceives that is out there. I love that she has the sensitivity to go to another room to let her barkies out instead of torturing me.  Everything she does is considerate. Tessa is wandering around my chair, periodically standing on her hind legs for a quick pick up and hug. She is growing into a very solid dog...! I looked at her today and said "You are a very big girl..." when she didn't flinch it was like she said "So are you!"  She is a funny puppy and pure joy to live with. 

On the art front, I am dragging my feet with the final module of the City and Guilds class. Just can't get my head around the challenge. Found a wonderful procrastination vehicle in reorganizing my massive bead hoard last week, though. Seriously, I should really be ashamed of what has entered my house in these tiny little, unsuspicious bags. I went through all my stash places and found bag after bag filled with strung beauties. Took about three days to unstring and repackage them, and then go through the massive card catalogs to remove any cups that had small amounts of beads to make more room. The small quantities went into a new storage tray system. All the time swearing that I would not buy another bead as long as I live. Eight bead trays later (each tray has 78 little containers) I am seeing the end of this task. Next step will be to catalog them into a database, drawer by drawer, so I can search and find what I need. And...I found these really cool ice-looking chunks at Michaels the other day...so...I am still very ill. LOL! Better than drugs or alcohol, I guess. It is an addiction.

Happy to have two pieces of art out there in the world on exhibit. The Baldishol exhibit, a physical art show,  is still happening, and I had an entry in the online Quilt Festival UK this year, too. Good to know that I'm not artistically dead yet, I guess! I still pray for better health every day to improve my productivity as it is hard to focus on creating when pain and fatigue becomes overwhelming and forces rest. The heat doesn't help too much.  New nerve pain in my calves is signalling me to get a new MRI to know what is happening in Ze Back. Can only ignore it for so long...ugh! 

The world is an uncertain, angry and isolating place right now. I am grateful to have my puppies and my art, my job, and the sunshine. Tally ho. 

  
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    Amy Ropple is an artist and art educator who believes engaging in visual art can make life happier and more meaningful.  This blog is a daily journal of creative habits and interests, as well as reflections on living with chronic autoimmune disease. Website: http://amyropple.com

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