My Bad - a confession

The other day my sister sent me Somerset Studio's Artful Blogging visually inspiring online journals magazine. They had some wonderfull online bloggers showcased. OK the truth is that I looked at all the pictures, read a few things here and there. But, now onto my confession. There was a section called Blogging Etiquette which had some dos and don'ts when you blog. The biggie that smacked me in the face was "Respond to people who leave comments on your blog, either in e-mail or by visiting their blog". Dang I didn't know that! When I received a comment I would hit reply, of course, it would not let me reply so I figured I was notsupposed to reply. "My bad" (I think that is the current lingo for oops I screwed up) I should have replied to the commentor anyway. That works if I have you in my address list, but does anyone know what to do if you are not in my address book? I don't want to be kicked out of the blogging community or labeled a bogger.

Just a little more LAFD

Now you can get a peek at the tie. Mayor Villarigosa is looking super in his pink tie. Captains Ronnie Steel and Brent Burton both Stentorians and members of the Los Angeles County Fire Dept. in dress uniforms. That's it for my comment on fashion.

Life Time Achievement Award

You may be wondering what in the world this picture has to do with being and artist or creativity. Let me explain. First notice that everyone is in black except me, but looking a little closer you'll notice Jeanne (step mom) is wearing not just an embroidered dress but with loads of beading, Dad has his Stentorian African Cloth scarf with this great big Tie that has a fire truck with the ladder raised to run up the length of the tie and Paula (my sister) oh so tastefully dressed up her black suit with rhinestone buttons with her hair braided with an organza ribbon, all two feet of her long braid. The event was the Los Angeles Fire Department Achievement Awards. Dinner and drinks first at the new Fire Dept. Museum in Hollywood then on to the Kodak Theater by limo where the mayor of L.A. greeted us. My Dad (Arnett Hartsfield) received the Life Time Achievement Award for his work to integrate the fire department. Also medals for achievement and valor went to some of the most dedicated firemen men you will ever meet together with the Phoenix awards for those who had lost their life's in the call of duty. It was really a thrill to be sitting in a sea of uniforms of those heroes. Just think we can create because they keep us safe.

Parallel Reality

Here it is a beautiful Sunday. After church I started to work on Rice's, she has two dots over the e in her name which I have not figured out how to do, electric lime sweatshirt. Embroidered two of the vines that swoop down the front. Then decided to take a break and do a little blog browsing. Since I'm working on her stuff I went to her blog to see what was going on and to work on a color pallet for the shirt. Come to find out she and Earl (her DH) are in New Orleans, the French Quarter, land of my heritage. Except my Great Grandfather slipped out of town under the cover of darkness to avoid the wrath of the Plantation owner. It was not a good thing to sleep with the overseer's woman. So our ties to New Orleans were broken as he headed west. But the powerful ties from a city that is so rich and diverse in it's heritage calls across the miles to me. My ancestors speak to me. Remember where you came from, allow the mystery to speak through your voice and art.