POISON

Another one of my photos made it in the Globe and Mail. It's in there today #6, I believe. It's a pic I took in the Taman Negara Jungle--we were visiting a Batek Tribe settlement far down the Trembling River. The pic is of the inside of a poisonous blow-dart storage case. It is made from bamboo. The darts and case are 100% formed from various trees in the jungle, including the poison which is a boiled sap from yet another tree. I watched a man in the tribe make these darts from start to finish... I miss the jungle! The poison is enough to stop a human heart. They actually aim for as close to the heart as possible so as to not have the poison spread through the victim's body and make it toxic to eat. Although the Batek tribe is one a few tribes still allowed to hunt tigers in Malaysia, they choose not to because of their rarity. They mainly hunt monkeys and smaller creatures.

So, April cannot get any crazier. My thesis defense is April 11. My paper is only now being read by my supervisor and internal committee. I am leaving for Seattle tomorrow, to train for 2 Zumba instructor courses (adults and kids). I get home late, Sunday evening and have my committee meeting the very next morning. Then, I have until the 11th to perfect my thesis and prepare my defense (1/2 h Power Point on my thesis). I leave on the 13th for a ten day silent meditation retreat in the mountains off the Coquihalla--between Merrit and Hope. I have one day to make any changes needed for my thesis before it must be sent in to UBC in order for me to graduate this spring (April 15 cut off for this year).

Yes, I am a little freaked by it all. But I will do it. Up, day and night to get it perfected.
And I am going to complete 3 painting by June 1 so I can show this fall at Lake Country Art walk. It is a juried show, so let us hope I make it in. Then, I will complete 3-7 more for September 1. I am still planning to get to France this summer for the Renaissance course. I figure it won't be long until I can make a decent income from my paintings alone. Add that to income from teaching and it will be nice. And of course, when my writing starts to generate an income....It will be even nicer.

We Did It!

Tabs and her best buddy Mickey

Skating with Tabs class on Wednesday

Had so much fun skating with Tabs' class. Especially when all the children were called to board the bus home and I had the ice to myself for five glorious minutes. Now that was a skate...I loved it.

Yes, we did it! Thank-you Theresa and Peter for your help. We butchered my paper and got it under 5000 words :'(

The good news is all of the brilliant cuts can still be used in my thesis :)

It is ready for submission--after my 50 word author's statement and photo. What photo shall I submit? None of mine are very business like.

Very happy--excited about much. This afternoon we leave for night skiing at BigWhite. I am packing sandwiches for supper. Peter's knee is still damaged from his fall snowboarding at Christmas so he will stay with Pip on the baby hill. I will take the big girls and hit the slopes.

What else? Peter's Egyptian Visa came on the same day the Egyptian president stepped down. So...perhaps the trip will come to pass. He is going to Cairo and Alexandria to check out their universities and review some of their programs--helping them modernize their programs.

Zumba was so much fun last night--met an old friend of mine there and chatted a bit. But I had an allergic reaction to something I ate--horrible stomach pain and giant hives on my arms??? Don't have a clue what it was perhaps a chemical in something.
The zumba teacher went to Tabs' school this week and taught her class some basic Zumba steps. Tabs  loved it! She is a chip off the old block.

Mistaya got a call back from an audition for a local theatre. They want her to be in a musical this summer--I am excited for her.

I purchased the most amazing boots yesterday. Hand made in Portugal. Teal lace ups. Perfect with jeans and skirts. I will wear them to T's party I believe. I seldom buy shoes--I only buy the best and the coolest--that way them are so unique they never go out of style. 

And I found the best Renaissance painting workshop in the South of France. I would study under Gregory P.--an Italian artist trained in USA. I will have 35 studio instructional hours--he will teach me the Renaissance technique of painting oil and egg tempera for more luminescent paintings. It is a very good price for room and board and lessons. The ateliar is open to me day and night. I have always wanted to learn this. It is a dream come true. The workshop is ten days in late April. That means I have 2 months to completely finish my thesis/masters degree and two months to practice my French. Gregory is already a great teacher as he wants to communicate online to discuss and plan my work. Because it is ten days only, I must arrive with my canvas ready and sketched--so I can begin painting as soon as I arrive. I hope to use this skill to teach workshops here in BC on my return and perhaps (because I have a BEd and MA) I can help teach the workshops with Gregory in the future--yes, I have big plans--just don't tell Gregory...