Pet Paintings

I've been painting a lot of pets recently. Mostly dogs, some cats and some lizards. People in LA are crazy about their animals. My German friends think its crazy people would want a portrait of their pets and not of themselves but hey this is Los Angeles. People here want a painting they can hang on their wall that makes them happy. Paintings of animals make people happy. It is a reminder of enduring love and loyalty. Below is a painting I just finished of Mandy. its a 12in x12in oil painting. I usually work from photos people give me but I took a photo of Mandy with my iphone and worked from that. Her owner is an artist whose work I really admire so it was a real honor to paint her!

pizza

I just had lunch with Sara and she had a pizza. Here in Germany, for the most part, when you order a pizza you get your own individual pie. Its unsliced and you eat it with a fork and knife, the pizza slowly becoming a waning moon on your plate. Its eaten in a sit down restaurant and its all very civilized. Yes I can get a greasy square in 2 minutes at Moritzplatz and there are places in NYC where you can eat pizza with silverware but for the most part I'm used to sharing a giant pie between 4 people which has been sliced into triangles that I eat folded with my hands now dripping with grease and onto my lap. I miss the "miss, ya wan extra cheese on dat?" song, the throw away paper plates, cheesy table tops...

grandmas overtaking

The other day I was riding my bike up a hill rather slowly lost in thought when I became aware of a rider behind me who then passed me. It was a grandma on a bike. Her hair was white, her face wrinkled, her clothes were sporty. She was definately 70 plus, but she was fiesty. She was putting in her all to pass me and I appreciated that because when she slowed down midway up the hill I didn't pass her. This was not the first time and elderly lady got competitive with me and I think its great she's still riding her bike. In fact Ive seen some ladies so wrinkled and frail looking on bikes that I couldn't imagine them standing without a walker. And perhaps they can't! But at least they are still riding. Go ladies! This would never happen in the USA. My grandma was driving a car until she was 90 but a bike? Never.

Birthday

So today is my birthday. Its cold and raining but I'm inside my cozy studio painting and listening to my favorite program, New Sounds.Check out this episode, its with Guy Buttery. He's amazing! (http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/episodes/2009/01/24)

But today I have some pangs of guilt. In Germany it is customary on your birthday to bring in sweets to your workplace. You host your birthday party. But alas I did not bring in a cake or cookies to work like I planned. I had over ambitious plans which naturally fell through.

In America your boss throws you a little party.However Im the American (or British) tradition I did receive presents from my boss and students and that was very nice. Thank you!

birthdays

So tomorrow is my birthday but don't wish me a happy birthday just yet. In Germany its a no noto wish someone a happy birthday before the actual day. And you definately don't have a party before the actual day even if it's convenient. You just might not make it till then! In America, I'd say you can birthday it up from up to a week before the actual event. I mean if I die on my birthday, in America at least I could have enjoyed a big party the weekend before!

doctor visit

Today I went to the doctors for a check up. I walk into the waiting room and I am greeted by all the waiting patients. I am startled by all the gruß gotts I am getting. I look down at the floor and say gruß gott softly, I don't think anyone heard me but who was I supposed to direct my greeting to anyway? A woman leaves and the chorus sings, "Aufwiedersehen!" I say Aufwiedersehen uncomfortably to myself, no one can hear me. These are the only words said in the waiting room. An introduction and a conclusion but no body. Whats the point? In NYC you just don't acknowledge anyone and if you do say hello usually a conversation follows.

answering the phone

So when I answer the phone I say hello. This really irks Germans...even when they call me on my cell phone. Like, who else is going to answer my cell phone? In America when the phone rings and you pick it up, you just say,"hello". I'm not going to identify myself unless I'm at work because what if a telemarketer calls? A stalker or one of my ex boyfriends? I want them to identify themselves first so then I can decide if I want to say, "yes this is she" or "no she's not home right now" or "sorry you have the wrong number!" In Germany picking up the phone and saying,"Lisa Goldfarb" just doesnt give me this option.