Paintings for sale in my Etsy shop, in time for Christmas!

Nine paintings for sale in my #Etsy shop, in time for Christmas! More to come in the 

days ahead! Stop by and say hello! If you are a fellow Etsy seller, drop me a line! I'd 

love to get to know other sellers!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/8thShotofEspresso

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2012

An Early Birthday/Christmas Present...

My husband gave me a special present for Christmas:

Wacom Bamboo Tablet

I've been eyeing a tablet for quite a while, especially now that I'm exploring new art possibilities. I've been more of a traditional artist instead of a graphic artist, but I've been curious about doing some things with Photoshop, Corel Painter, Autodesk Sketchbook or other programs. I had fiddled with GIMP a little bit, but found it somewhat of a headache.

Now I'm running myself through the Corel Painter 4 essentials and the Animation app from Bamboo Dock. Gotta start somewhere, right? :-D At least I have a day to experiment before traveling to visit family in Va. Beach.

Graphic artists: any advice on what programs and how to improve my skills? Much appreciated.

Holiday Photos!

Here are some holiday pics from my sister's house, featuring my daughters Christina and Sarah and two adorable miniature schnauzers named Fenny and Lucy...

The link is here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2824626222016.2143104.1449827396&type=3

Christina spends time with Grandma and Grandpa, while Sarah adores the dogs and loves her new Pillow Pet...

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday with family, friends and special ones. Stay safe and don't drink too much eggnog!

We're going to my sister's for food (lots of food...a Filipino party ALWAYS has lots of food), social stuff and presents. Hopefully things will go well. 

Until later...

Anne

Admin Post: My Zazzle art stores have holiday gifts available!

My two #Zazzle stores are redecorated for the holidays! "Phoenix Fire Arts" here

at http://t.co/kgjYaqyl. "E-Art by Annie Dameron", paintings and drawings

featured in my e-books on #Smashwords. http://t.co/jtx5V90l 

Both stores have a sale that ends Friday. 15% all orders Free ship $50+! Code:

WISHCAMETRUE. Stop on by and say hello! Thanks, and Merry Christmas, Happy

Chanukah, and Happy Kwanzaa to all!

Post-Christmas Clean Up

There is a distinct disadvantage to having everyone home for more than a week. The house looks like a hurricane hit it.

Legos and blocks, trains and books
New Christmas ornaments in every nook
Broken crayons, uncapped markers
DVDs. And Mom is starkers,
going nuts, surveying her house!
But Banshee Girl is quiet as a mouse
And Son is watching the Wiggles
and Baby Girl, she's got the giggles.
Hubs 's paying Zelda on the Wii
A more peaceful setting, never to see
During the rest of the year.
A mess is just a mere
price to see family, precious and dear.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Books and Stuff I Got for Christmas

My bookish, linguistic, bohemian side is jumping up and down this season. A $25 Barnes and Noble gift card from Hubby and some extra spending money gave me a chance to get some things I've had my eye on for a while. Most of the time, I only do window-shopping in the bookstores, unless I can get a good deal on something and/or it's something that I know I can't get anywhere else.

New on the bookshelf (links are to its entry on Amazon.com, where all the publication info is listed):

The Indie Author Guide by April L. Hamilton I definitely wanted to get this one. This outlines how to get organized, whether or not to have a brand name, and the ins and outs of POD publishing. The companion website http://www.indieauthorguide.com has additional information and tips too.

Biting the Wax Tadpole: Confessions of a Language Fanatic by Elizabeth Little This book has little anecdotes about how different languages (from Xhosa to Esperanto to Gaelic and Quechua) have things in common, and the little things that drive linguists nuts. She references pop culture icons like Dr. Seuss and Star Wars.

Doctor Who: The TARDIS Handbook by Steve Tribe Yes, I'm an unabashed Doctor Who fan. This book (published by BBC Books) chronicles the history and background of the transdimensional blue police box.

The Brilliant Book of Doctor Who 2011 Compiled of interviews, production notes and other tantalizing tidbits from Series 5, Matt Smith's first year as the 11th Doctor.

Fashion Design Portfolio Edited by Maite Lafuente I was excited to get this one. I'm mostly a landscape/still life artist...I used to avoid drawing people (and clothes) like the plague. Although I'm hardly a fashionista, I'd like to improve on my figure drawing. It's still lacking, but I'm practicing.

Basic Tagalog (for Foreigners and Non-Tagalogs) by Paraluman S. Aspillera While I was growing up, I heard my parents speak Tagalog (Filipino) among themselves and their friends, but they only spoke English to me and my two sisters. So I can understand it pretty well, but I can't speak it really well. It's a part of my culture and heritage, and I think it'd be nice to study the language of my ancestors. (MP3 Audio CD included)

Mandarin Chinese: Learning Through Conversation by Kang Yuhua and Lai Siping  Each lesson is on the MP3 Audio CD and the conversations are written in both Chinese characters and pinyin (transliterated from how the words sound, with diacritical and tone marks). Being able to speak fluently in a language is part of the whole package. You also need to know how to read it and write it too.

Other gifts: a pair of Hershey's Cocoa ornaments, a Virginia Tech-themed ornament, a pair of Virginia-Tech flip flops (complete with a football-y attachment on the thong part...don't ask), jewelry and hair accessories from Del Sol (that change color in the sunlight), gift cards (from Starbucks and other places).

The kids really enjoyed Christmas this year. They received (much needed) clothes and shoes, art supplies, music, flashcards, books and LEGOS!!! Baby Girl is a big LEGO fan. I can see her being an engineer or an architect someday.

So...how were your holidays??



All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Snowy Christmas in Charlotte (Picture Post)

Sarah and Dad in the Snow

Sarah doesn't look impressed.

Snow on the Patio

Care to sit down?

 Tree in Front Yard

 Backyard 1

Backyard 2

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

Merry Christmas, Blessed Yule, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Holidays to everyone!

We visited my sister's in Virginia Beach, but had to come home early today because of bad weather coming into North Carolina from the west. Had some snow, sleet and rain on the way, but we got home in one piece.

Hope all of your holidays are joyous!

Annie

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Post Birthday Report

It's been a whirlwind of 24 hours. Yesterday, we went out early to pick up some coffee and get some lunch at McDonald's. The kids were more than ready to go out and about, even with the gray skies. By the time we reached McD's, it started snowing.

Yup, snowing. It hasn't snowed on my birthday since we moved here to Charlotte in 2001. Sarah was wondering what this stuff was, Michael was entranced, and Christina didn't like all this cold, wet, yucky stuff in her air. All the kids stared out the large windows of the Playplace as the fat flakes fell to the ground, in between climbing and exploring the play equipment.

We went by one of my favorite stores, World Market. Hubs picked up some coffee, while I distracted Michael by showing him all the colorful, pretty gifts on the shelves. He was curious about them, reaching out to touch and being fascinated by the sparkly wine bottles. He particularly liked a huge, green papasan lounge chair. It was big enough for him to curl up and snuggle in the middle of it. I think he would've been content to stay there all day if I'd let him.

Later, I went back out to the Dollar Store to buy wrapping paper, tape, and plastic zipper bags for holiday cookies. Then to Hobby Lobby for more gold ink, and the office store for some recordable DVDs. In the meantime, Hubs had bought a tiramisu-flavored panettone cake. I'd grown up with panettone (fruitcake) while living overseas in Italy, and it was a special treat around Christmas time. In fact, it's probably the ONLY fruitcake I'll ever eat. This version had tiramisu cream filling instead of fruit. I was in choco heaven.

Yes, birthdays are fun. I can either grouse about being a year older or celebrate it. I choose to be happy, not sad.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Stuck at home...what now?

They're predicting ice/sleet/cold rain tomorrow here in Charlotte. The storm that's hammered the Midwest is heading here. My friend in Miami tweeted that it's too COLD down there. I think Mother Nature's thermostat is broken and she needs someone to come in and repair it. I've never been a fan of cold weather; we moved farther south to get AWAY from it.

My house sits on top of a hill in our neighborhood. We really didn't plan it that way; it just happened. On the good side, we don't have much of a flooding problem when it rains heavily, since water runs downhill. When that water freezes into ice, though, it's impossible to get down the street, much less the housing development. I've actually watched people slip-slide down the hill or try to make it up and fail miserably. During the winter storm of 2002, my husband jokingly called our house "The Fortress of Solitude".

He had a point. The first day of ice is beautiful. The second, third and fourth days aren't. Cabin fever sets in...and the millionth Christmas movie or rendition of "Let's Clap Hands for Santa Claus" drives me nuts. That's when you stock up on hot chocolate, board games, crayons and paper. Take your camera and shoot pictures that will never come again. Spend time with family, snuggled up under blankets and next to the space heater.

And hope that the Groundhog doesn't seen his shadow and spring comes early this year.



All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Merry Christmas in Many Languages!

The Omniglot website is a treasure trove of language and linguistic-related information. Here is a list of how "Merry Christmas", "Happy New Year" and similar greetings are said around the world.


Happy Holidays in Many Languages


Here are a few of my favorites:

Maligayang pasko at manigong bagong taon! (Filipino (Tagalog), my parents' native language)


Naragsak a Paskua! Narang-ay a Baro a Tawen kadakayo amin! (Filipino (Ilocano), a dialect)


QISmaS DatIvjaj 'ej DIS chu' DatIvjaj (sg) QISmaS botIvjaj 'ej DIS chu' botIvjaj (pl) (Klingon!)


Alassëa Hristomerendë! Alassëa Vinyarië! (Quenya---Lord of the Rings!)


Nadolig llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda (Welsh) 


All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

An Autism Christmas...

I saw this link this morning and read this poem. This really describes Christmas for my older two kids, who are autistic. If there is one thing you read today, please read this. Thanks.

An Autism Christmas, on the Autisable website.

Thanks to @LornadEnt on twitter for the link. :-)

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Christmas Memories, Part II

The children of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church (Naples, Italy) took part in a re-enactment of the manger scene. There were Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus (represented by a doll), the Three Wise Men, angels, shepherds, donkeys, sheep, and townspeople. Yes, it was a major production, and all the Sunday School teachers made sure everyone had a part.

By this time, I was considered too old to dress up (I was in my early teens, so I didn't mind being excluded). My two younger sisters were angels, with white robes and halos made with bendy wire and gold tinsel. Another friend dressed up in the blue robe of one of the Wise Men, and his brother was one of the townspeople. He chose to be a cook, complete with apron, spoon, chef hat, and bowl. We asked him, "Why a cook?" His answer? He admired my dad (who was a cook, or formally a "mess management specialist") and wanted to dress up just like him. Aw!

The production was a great success, even if there were a few stage miscues. After Mass, all the fledging actors and actresses all went home for presents. I was proud of them all for their thespian skills, and even though I wasn't directly involved with the production, it remains one of my fondest Christmas memories.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Christmas Memories, Part I

One of my fondest Christmas memories is going to Rome to see the Pope say Midnight Mass. Of course, when you're thirteen at the time, you aren't exactly thrilled about sitting in a crowded cathedral (or freezing outside sitting in St.Peter's Square), but the atmosphere is like nothing else. Solemn, yet festive at the same time.

We went as an organized church group, with a chartered bus from Naples. It was a 2 hour drive north to Rome and St. Peter's Basilica. The purples of Advent were changed to the red of Christmas, and the Pope was in his red, white and gold robes. Our group ended up close to the back, so the Pope looked like a tiny spot among the cardinals and bishops. The choir sang the Hallelujahs and prayers were said in multiple languages: French, Italian, English, Latin, Spanish...it was a polyglot of chants and intercessions.

The Mass went on for an hour or more. By the time it was finished, all the children of the group were more than eager to go back home and open presents, even thought we didn't arrive until 3 in the morning. We were all too keyed up to sleep on the trip home.

It was difficult to appreciate the event when you were so young, but now I look back on it with fondness and I would turn back time to go there again.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

This Wonderful(?) Wintry Season

Brrr, it's COLD! I know it's December, I know it's supposed to be cold. There's frost on the grass right outside my window. I've got the heat turned up. The commercials on the kids' channel Sprout are advertising "The Snowy Side Up Show" and "Elmo's Christmas Movies." Some of my on-line friends are digging out of several feet of snow and school's been canceled in some places. We've been rained on, drizzled on, sleeted on, with cold, wet stuff. College football teams battle it out for Bowl games, and the Super Bowl is next month! The malls ring with Christmas music and I still have to figure out where to put up the tree.

But I still enjoy this season. So many different cultural holidays (Hanukkah, Yule, Christmas, Festivus, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day (December 26), birthdays (mine is the 18th, an aunt's is the 25th, Banshee Girl on the 5th of January, Hubs on the 6th of January) and traditions (cookie goodie boxes!).Christmas Eve Midnight Mass, opening presents at 2 AM Christmas morning, and seeing the kids enjoy their new toys and clothes.

Christmas carols, traditional and all the variations thereof, both reverent and irreverent. Before my hands went kaput, I used to play the piano for hours to fill the house with music. My playlist has the Wiggles' "Go Santa Go" with Mannheim Steamroller's "Carol of the Bells" and Bob Rivers' "Wreck the Malls".

I love this season, even with the weird weather this year.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Dear Santa (Wish List 2010)

Dear Santa,

Here is my list for this year:

a gift card to any bookstore (Barnes and Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million, etc.)
a gift card to any art store  (Michaels, A.C. Moore)
some clothes to jumpstart my wardrobe
a ticket to Barbados
a week-long stay at the Spa at Hershey's.
a month in my home country (England) and a car to drive all over
Jewelry from Fire Mountain Arts
An iPAD/electronic tablet for art
The Wii fit (so I can get in shape and lose 10 pounds)
The Doctor Who Series 5 DVD Collection

and most importantly...
a world that my kids can grow up without hate and fear.

Thanks, Santa
Annie

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010