It was an ordinary day. Taking photos at the 2nd Annual Advent Art Show. Tonight is the opening of the show and there is a reception for all the participating artists. Last year the Parish Resource Center (PRC) of Lancaster, where my wife works, decided to have an art show. Was mildly successful, so a second go around was in order. The theme for this year's show, "A Thrill of Hope, the Weary World Rejoices," was drawn from the lyrics of "O Holy Night," a popular, deeply religious Christmas carol written in 1847 by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure. My wife, Carol, thought it would be nice if I would enter a few items in the show. I searched through my workroom in the basement and found a stained glass window panel that had
survived the recent flood except for the wooden frame. The panel had a Modrian approach to it which is a grid of vertical and horizontal lines and the use of primary colors, in this case blue and tints and hues of that color, within the lines. The lines being leaded. Within the patterned lines I inserted three scallop shells in no particular pattern. The namesake of our church in Lancaster is St. James who happened to be a fisherman so hence, the seashell. In our church we use the scallop shell when baptising someone and therefore a "Thrill of Hope" emerges. I know, I'm stretching it a bit, but you should have seen some of the artwork. The theme was certainly open to a lot of different interpretations. A whole lot! I had to replace the wooden frame on the glass panel because of water damage and used a metal channel to do that. I also cut a mat at
the gallery where I work that had the words "a thrill of hope" cut out as well as six blocks for photos. I used my altered Polaroid prints of churches for those six openings. Turned out just "OK." Tonight there were 14 artists who participated. It was not a juried show, but just an exhibit of artist's work. Prices were placed on the artwork if for sale, but many chose just display the artwork. I placed a price tag on each of my pieces, just in case someone w
anted to help me with the purchase of my Christmas gifts. As the artists entered the PRC tonight I took a photo of each next to their artwork. One artist happened to be the father of a student I had in class in the early 80s. Interesting talking to him and catching up on how his son is doing. The son happens to be employed in the graphics industry, which was what I taught. One of the artists was also in a local choir and she volunteered her group to perform at the showing tonight. Group of over 30 members, all dressed in black and of all ages. Known as "Music for Everyone's Community Chorus", and they sang selections of traditional and international music. They held a short practice session in another area of the PRC and shortly after 7:00 PM they performed. The first number was an Australian chant followed by a song from Israel. The third song was one written just for the choir and never performed before. The music had a very African type sound and beat to it. The director played a bongo during most of the arrangements. Plenty of motion, swaying, hand movements and arm motions helped to interpret the music. I enjoyed the constant bass beats of the drum,
but could understand why others may not have enjoyed it. Hey, I was told they were going to be singing Christmas carols! The cookies and punch made the evening a big success for everyone involved. And, especially me since I sold my stained glass panel. Now Carol can have that extra special Christmas gift I was thinking about. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - photos from the top are: Entrance into the PRC before the artists arrived, Mr. Rob G. who was the father of a former student of mine, "Music for Everyone's Community Chorus" performing, one of the choir members, pix of LDub's stained glass panel with the very nice young woman who purchased it.
eartbreak and other damage on so many people. The possibility of a cover-up at Penn State also sickens me. All that being said, the matter does not alter what it truly means to be a Penn Stater." I didn't even go to Penn State, but I feel bad for all those who did. How one man, and those who have covered up the disgrace he heaped on the school, can cause so much harm is such a shame. The present students and all those who have graduated in years past seem to be paying for his horrendous acts. While visiting our friends Jerry and Sue, who live in State College, one weekend a few years ago, we saw Joe walking on campus. We drove around the block to get another look at him. Would I do that today? You kidding me! For years Joe did things the right way and instilled moral values in his players and those he came in contact with. Too bad he didn't uphold those values in his own life. People can heap scorn on Sandusky and Paterno as well as everyone else involved in the cover-up, but please don't let that tarnish the name of Penn State. The students and alumni don't deserve that. Just remember their battle cry, "WE ARE PENN STATE!" And THEY truly are. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
the first time I had my grandson with me at the car wash. I could tell he was scared, but he didn't want me to see that. We talked the whole time and I described what was happening as we went through it. Relaxed him so he wasn't frightened. He has gone back many times with me since then and we still talk about the machine that washes the car. As I was sitting in the car, feeling it move through the car wash, I started singing "working at the car was
h" to myself. Got to remember that song! Not that old a song. Got home and "Googled" it. Released by Rose Royce in late 1976. Went to #1 on both the Pop and R&B Billboard charts the following year. Listen to it at the end of my story. Well, this afternoon I took the '95 Mazda to the car wash. I use this car as a truck. Load job after job in it when I am printing at school. Haul trash in it when I work on the yard and flower beds. So my car/truck was really d
irty, both inside and out. Got the same wash package and sang the same song the whole way through the car wash. And I'll tell you, it made my day a whole lot easier sitting in the car watching the machine clean the car instead of me. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - pixs from the top are: soap running down the windshield, entering the drying unit, and the old Mazda lookin' pretty good "working at the car wash".
y mother recently shared a letter with me that was written a few weeks ago by a good friend of hers. Woman is 89 years old and loves to write letters. I did struggle to read it because she writes so small, but at least she writes it by hand. And, she's 89!! People her age could write extremely well in cursive. Many of us would type the letter on a computer and mail it or worst than that, send it by email. Did you know that the US Postal Service says that the average household receives one personal letter every seven seeks, compared to one letter every two weeks 20 years ago. No wonder the Post Office is having financial trouble. Remember that the next time you write an email to someone. At times I go through my old scrapbooks to find photos to illustrate a story I may be typing and come upon a handwritten letter that I wrote to my mom and dad. I found letters from camp, church retreats and vacations with a friend in the scrapbook. Neat to read history. Will you keep your emails for 50 years? I doubt it. My wife has a friend who loves to write letters to both her and 
me. You know if you are ill, you will probably get a letter from Marg. You know if you are celebrating a special event or occasion you will probably get a letter from Marg. And, she has fantastic cursive handwriting. And she illustrates her letters. Yep, with beautiful artwork. We have saved almost every letter and card that she has ever sent to us. I have included one of her letters with this story so you can see how important it is to be able to write and send beautiful notes to friends. So, get busy; go out and buy yourself a box of blank cards, a good pen and start writing. Your friends will appreciate it. I know for a fact they will. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
lifting. But, I get to push the cart! Funny how when we both go to the store the cost of the food seems to almost double. Well, we make it to the check-out and I pack the paper bags while she lifts them in the cart. I always ask for paper since it is more friendly for the environment. I know ...... it takes trees to make paper bags, but they tell me these bags are made from recycled paper,so there. And then the challenge starts. As we exit the store we are directly next to the lane of traffic that you must cross to get to the parking lot. Now, there are brightly painted white lines and a big fluorescent sign that tells motorists that, by Pennsylvania law, they must stop for she and I, but sometimes they don't. So, we wait. Not long though! Sometimes I get so peed-off waiting that I just start out in front of them. No way will they hit the cart, right? Yep, it has happened. Twice. One time they actually ran the front of their car into the cart. Dumb s*#ts. Another time they saw me start across 
the lane and still kept going, so I ran the cart into their back bumper. Woman kept right on going. Didn't even stop to see if I was hurt, which of course I wasn't. It's like playing chicken with a shopping cart, but I'm up to the challenge. Don't try to cross me at the Giant, or you're in for trouble! Problem is, I don't have a shopping cart rider on my auto insurance coverage. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
medium from which to choose your gifts or personal artwork. I think most all the 2D fields such as watercolor, acrylics, and oils are on display as well as many of the 3D arts such as ceramics, paper cutting, knitting, broom-making and jewelry making. Some artists are fairly well known regionally and nationally as well as artists who belong to the church and display just for this show. Today I am selling my "Painting with Light" Polaroid prints which I also sell at towns along the Chesapeake Bay as well as in Stone Harbor, NJ and of course, Lancaster, PA. This year I am located across from my friend Dan Marschka who is a fine arts photographer and is the photography managing editor of the local newspaper. For years he would volunteer his time to speak to my photography classes about photo journalism. Great guy whose 
work is just as great. Right behind me is Cindy Grebinger whose husband, Keith, I work for part-time during the week at Grebinger's Gallery and Frame Shop. Started there after I retired from teaching. Keith was a student of mine in high school as well as my yearbook photographer. Cindy is selling her children's clothing that she knits and sews by hand. Any art that we sell helps to benefit what the church has designated. 60% of the sales goes to the artist and there is no fee to have a stand at the show. Not only that, they give free food and drink all day long to both the artists as well as the people who attend the show. For lunch we had creamy potato, pea, and ham soup as well as rolls and fruit. They know how to treat you right. May be the reason the show is growing year after year. I did very well this year, but after deducting the 40% and the artwork that I purchased from the other stands, I may have cleared $100. That's OK since I did get a few nice Christm
as gifts to give this year. One of the pieces I bought, actually my wife agreed to it, is for me for Christmas. It is a watercolor on paper titled, "Feeding Frenzy." Painting of Koi gathered together at the edge of a pond, waiting for their food. Fantastic colors! Painted by artist Joyce Durkin who lives in the area and whose website is www.joycedurkin.com. My wife's purchase for me was: Winning finalist in the Fine Art Studio Online February 2010 competition; First place winner in watercolor in the 2010 Lititz Outdoor Art Show; Winner of the Philadelphia Watercolor society's top prize - Award 
for Excellence in Works on Paper; Featured in Watercolor Artist magazine in February 2011 issue; and Won "Best of Show" award at the Hanover, PA Area Guild 1st Annual Open Juried Exhibit! Going to display it above our fireplace in our family room. I'll be there next year again, so stop by and visit with me. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - pixs from the top are: my stand selling my Polaroid altered prints, Dan with his photography, Cindy with her children's clothes, and "Feeding Frenzy."
It was an ordinary day. And, the recent elections are history. Had some unusual happenings surrounding the elections this year. Seems there was a fellow who was running for a supervisor's position in Manor Township. A few days before the election there was a story in the local newspaper about him and how he emptied his grandmother's funds from her savings account and caused her to lose her home. Since you may not hold office if you have been convicted of a felony, he had to withdraw from the race. Betcha one of his relatives waited until he spent all his money on signs and radio and newspaper ads before happening to mention the felony to the local police. He was history! As Larry Alexander, a local newspaper columnist said, "Are you kidding me? A political wannabe stole from his grandmother, and now he's getting out of politics? The guy's a natural! In fact, he has a career waiting for him in Congress!" Then there was the guy who was so upset that they moved his polling place from the Conestoga Volunteer Fire Company to a local school. Seems he wouldn't be allowed to carry his gun to vote and this was a threat to his rights as an American. During a public meeting he actually said, "I'm going to lose my constitutional rights to keep and bear firearms at that election. I don't feel I want to be down there with people knowing that I'm disarmed." HE ACTUALLY SAID THAT! Must have a lot of enemies that will be stalking him at when he votes. Well, the election is over and naturally the felon didn't win. And the guy who couldn't carry his gun and therefore must have been a Democrat in the eyes of the mostly Republican Conestoga Township didn't get shot! You know that in conservative Lancaster County, Pennsylvania we commonly have lots of gun battles at our polling places on election day! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
It was an ordinary day. Carol had just finished digging out the elephant-ear plants. She loves gardening and our back deck is the proof of that. Every year she adds color and imagination to the deck with flowers and plants. Two of her favorites that she plants yearly are elephant-ears and moon flowers. Heard of both? They both require that at the end
of the summer you secure a planting for the next year. A few years ago she obtained a few elephant-ear "bulbs" or roots from a friend from where she works. We stopped by her house as she was digging them out of the ground at the end of the summer. Planted them the following spring and .... Wow! The elephant-ear plant gets its name from the leaves, which are shaped like a large ear or shield. Medium shade of green, but really add color to the garden. We were away on vacation this year and had planned to dig them out upon our return, but when we returned we had snow the next day. The leaves all wilted, but did get the "bulbs" out shortly after the snow disappeared. Not sure what will hap
pen next spring when we plant them again. These are not your usual bulbs, but huge root type bulbs. took quite the effort for her to dig all of them out of the ground. Another favorite is the moon flower, so called because they bloom in moonlight. They are beautiful white flowers that quickly open at night and last the entire night. They close when the sunlight hits them in the morning, so you must place them in an area that will have shade early in the morning, or you will miss the blooms entirely. Plant grows as tall as I am. You are supposed to plant the seed, which comes from a
pod that is produced by the plant, when the moon is new or increasing. Not sure that she does that, but it grows every year. The blooms are trumpet shaped and extremely large in size. These two plants are among the many that she plants, but two of my favorites. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - photos from the top shows the elephant-ear plant with the "bulb" or root that has been dug from the ground and the moon flower with the seed pods that grow on the flower.
l help my back heal faster. Lay there for 10 minutes with the "juice" going through my back, then it's time for Bob, my physical therapist, to go to work on my back. The guy is huge; a little over six feet tall and about 240 pounds. His shoulders are almost twice as wide as mine and his upper arms are bigger than thighs. Plays semi-pro football in the area. Has to be one of the most physically fit players on his team. He climbs up on a small step-stool and begins massaging my backbone. Two months ago I had back surgery to try to relieve the awful pain I had in my right leg. Worked, kinda! I still have the pain, but it is not as intense as it was the last week before the surgery. I am able to do most of the chores around the house, but can only work about 2 to 3 hours a day at my part-time job. When I stand still for an extended time the pain starts to increase. Bob tells me it is related to the inflammation around my incision. I recently took a regimen of steroid tablets to help with the inflammation, but it didn't seem to work. Maybe the physical therapy will eventually help. Since I am on Medicare I am allowed a certain dollar amount of physical therapy before I have to pay for it myself, but It is sizable and will allow me quite a few weeks of physical therapy. After Bob works up and done both sides of my spine and manipulates the muscles in my back, John, Bob's assistant, begins with the strengthening exercises. Places a large rubber ball between my legs and I try to press my legs together as hard as I can for multiple repetitions. Then a large rubber band goes around my knees and I try to push my legs apart for more repetitions. With weights on my ankles I must raise one leg several times and then repeat with the other leg. Repeat the same while laying on my side. Starting to work up a swe
at by now. There are some exercises that I cannot do, since the pain in my right calf gets too intense. More exercises are done to help me gain strength and mobility then it's a good-bye till next time. Bob and John both work at the Physical Therapy at Neuroscience & Spine Associates offices in Lancaster. They are both great guys, but I await the time when I no longer need them and I am pain-free again. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Pixs show Bob working on my spine while Bob and John hold me up after an intense workout on the bottom photo.
