Prepaid AT&T Phone Cards Arghhhhh!

Well, we had a shock today! We have been using AT&T prepaid phone cards for several years. They have been costing us about three and a half cents a minute in the U.S. We used them in Canada for about ten cents a minute. There are no fees and taxes like on your phone bill. Now that we are hooked on using them they up and change it ... with no notice! We bought a new card today for a gift and they have changed it so that calls within the same state cost more and in New Mexico where we intended the card to be used, it is about twenty five cents a minute. Is that not a sneaky thing to do? No warning! The cards we are using are fine until we buy more minutes ... then they up the cost on them as well. How inconvenient is that?

This is so irritating. All done with no notice at all!! So good by AT&T .. never again. We are boycotting you!

Rats.

Paintings for Show at Daddy's Grille, photos turtle and buzzards

Here are some of the paintings that will be in my show on March 17. It is great to see them all together. Usually the only time they are together is at a show. All under 11 x 14 inches, except for the dogs. I have to exhibit that for Jennie, don't I? Even though they are 16 x 20. The show is Recuerdos which is Spanish and translates to mementos, souvenirs, memories. You can see larger photos in my blog or on my web page.

Boy, have we been busy. Baseball, golf, and regular living. Gene has been building a storage shed. Baseball involves 4 trips to Austin a week .. about 45 miles each way, time for the game and time to eat! So much fun. though. Golf takes time, too, but we are outside and walking some. All golf courses are so beautiful and quiet. Good for the mind. That is, if you don't take it seriously and just enjoy the fresh air.

In the meantime, I have been painting and getting ready for the show. If you don't make public appearances or entertain groups, you may not know what is involved. Here is a little of what goes on for an artist, at least for me. Umpteen hours involved.

1. Painting the paintings. That is what it is all about, right?
   
2. Taking photos of the art works.
3. Sorting, resizing, posting to the web in my blog and on my website.
4. Putting the photos and information in my art list data base, inventory.
5. Gene does the framing. Involves getting frames, glass, mats, foam core, wire and preparation. Some are framed against the glass, some with no glass, etc.
   
6. Make painting tags for the back of the paintings.
7. Make bubble wrap packages if I don't have enough to transport them safely.
8. Make invitations, print, stamp and mail. Update list.
   
9. Make e-mail newsletter/invitation. Update list.
   
10. Make posters and deliver with hand out invitations.
11. Make laminated cards for the tables at the restaurant, show will be up a month.
    
12. Make business cards.
13. Sometime at least a month before the show write and send a news release, with photos of artwork and a photo of me for the newspaper and local art magazine.
    
14. I'm in the Chamber of Commerce, so a release for their calendar.
15. Make and print brochures, involves resizing photos and updating information.
16. I'm having a raffle in conjunction with the restaurant so I need to make raffle tickets and a gift certificate. It is for charity, the Family Crisis Center.
17. Also a door prize, more tickets.
    
18. Make tags for the wall identifying the paintings, price and a short message.
19. Receipts and red dots in case anything sells!
    
20. The restaurant is doing the food, but I had to get glasses, plates, napkins, wine, candy/mints.
21. Tablecloths and serving platters.
22. Hang the show on March 15. Great to have Gene to help and support me! Thank you, Gene!
    
23. Show up for the reception on March 17. First time ever that I don't have to make food of some kind. Wow!

I'm sure I will think of a million more things, but sitting here this is what enters my mind. If you have any questions about any of this, make a comment and I will be happy to tell you what I know. :)



This turtle was at the golf course again. It must be the same one that stayed out when all the others dove in the water. He just is not afraid of golfers looking for their lost golf balls. :) That gunk is so awful looking and hard to get rid of that he is surrounded by. It is the opposite side of the lake from where "he" was the other day.


Gene found these buzzards on his bike ride. He was pedaling along and saw them. At first he thought they were turkeys, they were so large. Not!! Just buzzards dining on a dead animal of unknown species. Not my favorite thing, too bad the photo isn't a close up for Chuck Law. He likes buzzards. :) He is also a great artist. I love his shells and more.

Juried Painting APS, pastel, baseball note

I went to the Chase Bank, Corridor of Art, at 3 p.m. to help hang the juried paintings in the Corridor. There were about 55 paintings to hang. Several of the group were there to hang and it goes much quicker than you would expect. Not as fast as you would hope. Ha. You can see all the accepted art here on the Austin Pastel Society page. My entry above is the "Lookin' for Rain on the Flats", soft pastel, 18 x 24 inches. They all look really nice. I had my camera in my pocket to take photos .. but did I? No. You will have to wait until March 18 for the reception photos. Darn. Regina has her pears, Pear a trois, in the show as well. The Austin Pastel Society is such a great group. The reception is on March 18. Info here. Scroll down after my show at Daddy's Grille. The APS show is really a great selection of work by the group's pastelists.

In the meantime, a baseball note. The Longhorns completed their first sweep of the season. Wow. They beat Oral Roberts today 5 - 1. A strange series with this team. The Horns left 16 men on base, imagine what the score could have been! I left early to hang the paintings and Gene walked from Disch-Falk Field to the Chase Bank. A good hike! Here is a snapshot of Bradley Suttle batting and Jordan Danks irritating the pitcher by taking a long lead off first base. The Oral Roberts pitchers threw to first to hold the base runner more than any team I can think of. The music people at the Disch were playing, "You are my obsession", when the pitcher kept throwing. Jenkins, the home plate umpire, told them to quit playing the song!