C O N S T A N C Y

2009-07-07T09:11:00.001-04:00

"Today's tradition of pronouncing His completely hellenized name as "Jesus" has indeed obscured His true name, "Yeshua," and has shifted its perceived meaning much like most of His original teachings.

"As with all things Essene however, there is always the exoteric and the esoteric philosophies and functions. That is, those ideas and teachings suitable to be imparted to the public, and those designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone.

"Even His name, it would seem, became a part of this understanding. The name Jesus or Jesus Christ is often used in everything from idle conversation, to bumper stickers and jewelry, to enforcing false teachings, to justifying wars and political agendas, and is even used as a profanity. The name Yeshua however, has remained pure and holy, known and used only by those who would uphold His name and teachings in the highest regard and thus reserving His holy name for use only in spiritual matters and the most humbled and sincere of prayer and obeisances."

-http://www.thenazareneway.com/yeshua_jesus_real_name.htm

red white blue

2009-07-05T17:01:00.001-04:00

red white blue, originally uploaded by tuskart.

2009-07-02T11:15:00.000-04:00

I love carnival glass.

2009-07-02T10:44:00.002-04:00

I turned 39 yesterday. I got 2 grand in free lighting for my bday. And lots of love.

2009-06-26T16:36:00.003-04:00

Photoshop has crossed over from deception to art form at this point.

2009-06-24T21:53:00.001-04:00

I like Artbreak.com and I like this artist.

2009-06-19T20:54:00.001-04:00

I just listed The Top Ten Restaurants in Palm Coast. I think I need to do some more research.

2009-06-18T09:04:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite bloggers just published a very honest perspective on her experience with abortion. Reading the subsequent comments kept me up past my bedtime last night.

Abortion used to be a topic I felt very strongly about, almost to the point of extremism. Now I throw all my Planned Parenthood and NARAL mail in the recycling bin unopened. I just can't go there anymore.

I wish I had the gumption of Penelope Trunk to get personal about my feelings on this issue, but I simply don't. Also this blog was never about exposing myself. It's a place to record my life for my loved ones to read now or someday when I'm gone.

Here's what matters: Merritt made a garden of legos for me. He came up with the idea completely on his own. I took a picture of him and his brother with his lovely creation. The sculpture remained on the kitchen counter for days, until Merritt got mad at me for saying "no" about something (don't remember what, not important) and destroyed it. I sent this photo to the immediate family. Mary said Merritt looks like a combo of our dad and Christi, and that Justin is the quintessential Rice: big head and big blue eyes. I love my boys.

2009-06-09T13:42:00.002-04:00

A feminist perspective of Angie in Bazaar magazine.

2009-06-08T11:07:00.001-04:00

Isla's art rocks!

2009-06-07T21:38:00.004-04:00

Watching: True Blood Season One

Reading: House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Writing: An article about my first chartered fishing trip and the fish we caught

Listening: The Beach 92.7 for the most part

Feeling: In the summer

Sporting: Tan, "Mom bathing suit"

Mood: Optimistic

Missing: Costa Rica

2009-05-22T17:18:00.002-04:00

The household (including myself) is currently obsessed with Diesel 10 from the Thomas the Tank Engine movie, also known as "Pinchy Pinchy". Justin turns three tomorrow and he's getting the wooden train and book. I'm probably also going to make them shirts at Cafepress.

Diesel 10 Means Trouble!

2009-05-20T19:50:00.002-04:00

The Egyptian god Horus as a falcon (via wikipedia.org)

2009-05-19T19:02:00.000-04:00

A stereogenic center is also known as a chiral center. It is characterized by an atom which has different groups bound to it in such a manner that its mirror image is non-superimposable.

-Organic Chemistry Learning Center

carrots

2009-05-17T13:30:00.001-04:00

carrots, originally uploaded by tuskart.

Now my love for food, writing, and photos bathed in natural light have a common purpose.

quiche

2009-05-17T13:29:00.001-04:00

quiche, originally uploaded by tuskart.

There is actually such a thing as food porn photography.

cookies

2009-05-17T13:28:00.001-04:00

cookies, originally uploaded by tuskart.

Writing for the Examiner is unexpectedly fun because I get to utilize my macro photography hobby.

Flickr

2009-05-17T13:21:00.001-04:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

2009-05-09T18:37:00.002-04:00

I will always come back to this, my beautiful blog. I'm glad I've never given it up. It's a constant. It's my constant.

Not sure what is wrong with me right now. Family health has not been optimal: too many bugs and none going away quick enough. Lingering symptoms, low energy, a lot of whining.

I've gotten myself into being a writer for Examiner and it's not very rewarding. Pennies. But the alternative is writing my stories? My art that will never go anywhere.

Bad attitude about art in general. Soderbergh struck a chord. And it's mostly so, so bad in this area anyway. Just bad. I don't feel that need to pretend like it's not anymore. No more ass kissing. Now I marvel at the mediocrity.

I joined Twitter. I despise Twitter. It's supposed to encourage clicks on Examiner. I hate the pompous celebrities and their wasteful narcissistic drivel.

I'm pissed they changed the Friends page on Facebook. Now I have to check the Home page for everyone's status updates. But I don't want to know what anyone's ninja name is or what imaginary gift they gave to someone.

The truth is my life is quite wonderful right now, the best it has been in years. But I've always been one for angst. It's part of my makeup.

2009-04-28T11:21:00.002-04:00

Esquire: Don't you think art makes the world a better place?

Steven Soderbergh: What tragedy has it kept from happening? Tell that to the 13-year-old girl from Somalia who got stoned to death...after being raped by three men and then convicted of adultery, buried up to her head, and stoned in front of a crowd of 1,000 people. If the collected works of Shakespeare can't keep that from happening, then what is it worth? Honestly?

2009-04-24T14:38:00.004-04:00

Is it a photograph of an icon or is the icon the photograph itself?

2009-04-23T20:24:00.003-04:00

OK my bathroom is so in need of cleaning I can't even stand it. I am overwhelmed with things to do. I am never, never bored. But apparently back when I was bored that just meant I was lazy. I am never, never lazy. I am trying my hand at writing for money, literally just pennies, but the potential for residual money is there. Say hello to the Daytona Food Examiner, also known as the crazy person who really did not have time for this but is enjoying it anyway.

Meanwhile, I am obsessed with Patti Smith right now and can't leave her poetry/lyrics alone:

I haven't fucked much with the past, but I've fucked plenty with the future.
Over the skin of silk are scars from the splinters of stations and walls I've caressed.
A stage is like each bolt of wood, like a log of Helen, is my pleasure.
I would measure the success of a night by the way by the way by the amount of piss and seed I could exude over the columns that
nestled the P.A.
Some nights I'd surprise everybody by skipping off with a skirt of green net sewed over with flat metallic circles which dazzled and
flashed.
The lights were violet and white. I had an ornamental veil, but I couldn't bear to use it.
When my hair was cropped, I craved covering, but now my hair itself is a veil, and the scalp inside is a scalp of a crazy and sleepy
Comanche lies beneath this netting of the skin.
I wake up. I am lying peacefully I am lying peacefully and my knees are open to the sun.
I desire him, and he is absolutely ready to seize me. In heart I am a Moslem; in heart I am an American;
In heart I am Moslem, in heart I'm an American artist, and I have no guilt.
I seek pleasure. I seek the nerves under your skin.
The narrow archway; the layers; the scroll of ancient lettuce.
We worship the flaw, the belly, the belly, the mole on the belly of an exquisite whore.
He spared the child and spoiled the rod. I have not sold myself to God.

2009-04-19T10:02:00.005-04:00

It has become pretty clear as of late that someday I will start my own business. With my skill set and experience it will most likely be an internet start-up. But say I were to do it not to make money, but to do something I would enjoy instead, with no promise of profit, in fact with assurance that everything I spent would most likely fall into a beautiful black hole.

There is an open storefront in Flagler Beach, next to the comics store, across from the pier. It would be my art gallery. Not for my art, but for others that I admire. I would be a total control freak about the content of the monthly shows: just a few pieces on the minimalist walls, none of the overload I see way too often. The floor would be a sweet soft cork and the only furniture in the room would be my utilitarian-designed desk, in the center of the space. Each week I would have an ornate bouquet of flowers delivered to adorn this desk; the flowers most likely only sharing the desktop with my laptop at any given time. There would be a high quality sound system hidden in the gallery, tuned to my satellite radio station of the moment. At the entrance a sign would read: This is the beach - Shoes and shirts NOT required. My once-a-month opening nights might become legendary for the quantity and quality of the free food and champagne. I would most likely name the space Constancy.

It's a nice dream - anyone want to fund it?

And how long would it take for me to turn into an asshole like my artist friend who got the opportunity to run her own gallery after years in the business?

2009-04-18T23:29:00.001-04:00

Mama told me, when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely, to what I say.
And if you do this
It will help you some sunny day.

Ohh take your time... Don't live too fast,
Troubles will come, and they will pass.
Go find a woman and you'll find love,
And don't forget son,
There is someone up above.

(Chorus)
And be a simple kind of man.
And maybe some day you'll love and understand.
Baby be a simple kind of man.
Won't you do this for me son,
If you can?

Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need is in your soul,
And you can do this if you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

(Chorus)

Boy, don't you worry... you'll find yourself.
Follow you heart and nothing else.
And you can do this if you try.
All I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

(Chorus)

-Lynyrd Skynyrd

2009-04-09T09:46:00.002-04:00

Thanks again for sending these to me, Amy...

More Watchmen embroidery patterns here.