Friday, February 25, 2011

All the Things I Don't Want

Springtime Stroll in the Suburbs
by Cindy Morawski
.............................................................................
All the Things I Don't Want

Oscar Wilde once said, "If you don't get everything you want, think of the things you don't get that you don't want." When I look at my life like that, things start coming up roses. (Imagine Ethel Merman on stage belting out that song.) OK, I just had a mean case of the flu, and I recovered, but I haven't had any debilitating diseases, hospitalization, or the debt that might go with it. When I also examine the bleak and tragic life of poverty that affects millions all around the world, I again can consider myself pretty lucky. No, I haven't won the lottery--big-time, nor do I have a vacation home in a far- off place, but living with a fair amount of security in Middle Class America, I know I'm doing all right. Unless, of course, on the other hand, our state government collapses and takes away my teacher retirement. Or, social security goes missing-in-action for Paul when he's ready to start collecting. Hey, if you are paying attention to what they're saying in the news, it could happen! But, hey, I'm getting sidetracked. I'm trying to remain positive. Getting back to Oscar Wilde's quotation, there are other things that I don't want, and I have a fairly good idea that I'm not going to get them. I don't want drug addiction; I even hate swallowing aspirin. I go out of the way to avoid drugs of any kind unless I absolutely need anti-biotics. I don't see myself ever getting trapped in a room full of my friends and family, then looking around, and discovering that it's intervention time, followed by rehab! It's something I don't want, and I'm not going to get it. Unless, of course, you count my addiction to chocolate. Hmmmm.


........................................................................................................................................................................................



Recently, I've been reading some travelogues that have been coming through by way of email. They get forwarded to me by a friend of a friend. I'm absolutely fascinated with the young gypsy couple who are going on the cheap and visiting third world countries with exotic sounding names, food, and modes of transportation. On the otherhand, I'm glad I'm traveling by way of my armchair and laptop. Even though I've always had a passion for traveling and have done a good bit of it myself, I balk at the idea of risking life and limb while in a foreign country with an unstable and corrupt government. I'm elated at the notion of not rotting in some rat-infested prison, not getting tortured with burning filterless cigarettes or a buzzing electric current, or not starving to death on gruel and dirty water. I can hear my stomache growling already. I hesitate when I think about risking my health by getting bitten by something that could kill me in seconds flat or lead to a long, cruel illness that would end in a parasitic nightmare. Too weak to lift a finger to do anything about it. I've read about those places. You know where I'm talking about. Just thinking about what I don't want in traveling, thrills me to the core. Because, I can choose not to go to those places! And, believe me, I won't spend the time or money. Boy, I can see a pattern here. I could be a lot happier if I just paid attention to all the things I am not getting, and that I don't want. This is having a rather calming effect on me.


.................................................................................................................................................................................



Now, when I think about all the things that I don't want, and that I don't have, I feel enlightened. I feel strong. I feel reassured. What was that expression I noticed on someone's t-shirt at the Gap? Life is Good! It could happen . . .


......................................................................................................................................................................................


.............................................................................


Getting back to my artwork and painting, the scene of the above landscape takes place in one of my favorite places on the planet, Braun Station, the neighborhood and communtity where I live. I chose this as a subject worthy of painting because it's a place that's near and dear to my heart. The landscape is taken from the Braun Station Greenbelt located between Tezel and Lavenham. In fact, I found through my BSW Book Club selection for March, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, something that lit up a lightbulb in my head. This book discusses how success happens to people. Sometimes, it's not in the conventional ways that you would assume. The book started out with a case study of a town of Italian immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. The people named their town Roseto after their birthplace in Italy southeast of Rome. The American Rosetans later became well-known in the medical community for their good health. Rarely did the folks from Roseto, Pennsylvania, die on account of heart disease. After a great many exhaustive studies and research, they also found that there was no suicide, no alcoholism, no ulcers, and little crime in their community. People in Roseto were dying of old age. And, that was all. What was the cause of all these good things in Roseto? Diet and Exercise? No. Genetics? Nope. The secret to Roseto was Roseto itself. The Rosetans had created a social structure and world that was powerful and protective. Their success was built on the community that they had created. When we as humans are a part of a solid family, a friendly and helpful neighborhood, or a caring and integrated community that helps us build positive relationships and protects us in a positive and healthy way, that in itself can have a profound effect on who we are. It can build SUCCESS. Understanding some things can help foster a better life.


....................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................

.........................


I hope you'll consider purchasing my painting, or a reproduction of it by way of a print or art card. I'm a phone call or email away. Plus, I hope you'll branch out your reading with a self-improvement book. You could start with OUTLIERS.


~~Happy Pondering!

Cindy


*************************************


MORAWSKI FINE ART

ART EVENTS CALENDAR

********************************


1. Texas Pastel Society's All Members Show at the Carver Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry, San Antonio, March 2 through 15, Open Reception to the Public next Thursday, March 3rd, 6 to 9 p.m

2. TXPS Bright Shawl Gallery Exhibit, 819 Augusta St., San Antonio, February 12 - May 6, 2011

3. Corpus Christi~~Festival of the Arts, March 26, 27, 2011, 10 to 7, Saturday and 10 to 6 on Sunday

4. Starving Artists Show, SAHA Park near the King William District in downtown San Antonio, April 2, 3, 2011, 10 to 6 each day, Booth #125

*********************************************


Cindy Morawski


210.522.0706

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Looking Homeward, Texas Landscape Paintings

Cattle Guard at the LBJ Ranch
by Cindy Morawkski

Texas Homestead
by Cindy Morawski

............................................................................................................................................

Looking Homeward
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


While recovering from the flu and trying hard to take it easy, I thought of similes for this dreaded illness. I didn't want to completely succumb to becoming a human vegetable. So, I started with this. The flu is like hot sauce. It stays with you longer than you'd planned. It works on your sinuses. Have lots of kleenex handy! It can take away your appetite when applied in large doses. The list continued. The flu is like Alaska. Its fever's chills make you feel like you're in a cold and dark winter place. After several days with the flu, you not only resemble a grizzly bear, an Alaskan beast in the wild, but you have an attitude like one too. Hear me roar! Blue from the flu. And that was only the first week. Week two made me fantasize about being granted only one wish by my magic genie. Guess what that would be? Good HEALTH!


............................................................................................................................................................


I also started thinking about what I'd like to paint when I got over the flu. I decided to start at home with Texas. The above scene is taken from Johnson City. If you visit the LBJ Ranch, there's a 19th century homestead that you can visit. Living history is available through volunteers who dress and recreate farm life from the past. Chickens, pigs, cows, and sheep are also a part of the domestic scene. A vegetable garden provides food for the farm. Volunteers make lunch using the fresh produce right out of the garden. Everything's organic and homegrown. Sounds familiar, huh? Good ideas often get recycled.


...............................................................................................................................................................

Another familiar scene at the LBJ Ranch involves the familiar wide open spaces of a working Texan ranch complete with beef cattle. The LBJ cattle happen to be Herefords or whitefaces. I recognized them right away because I grew up with white-faced Herefords on our farm. Curly white hair on their broad heads and dark rusty-red, stocky bodies help them stand out when grazing in a green pasture. The Hereford breed originated in the county of Hereford in England. I also remember how adorable the young calves were on our farm. Their pint-sized spunky bawling kicks and head butts gave them a lively air. And when they affectionately licked my fingers and looked into my eyes with that dark-blue steady gaze, I was hooked. I didn't even try to resist them. The calves on our farm had two kinds of mothers--their loving whiteface mother and their human "mom"--little 'ol me. Getting hugged was just part of getting mothered as a calf by this farm girl.
...............................................................................................................................................................


If you would like to purchase these Texas landscapes, just check out my website gallery. The sizes and prices will be listed. www.cindymorawski.com Better yet, come by and see them in person. Just call ahead for an appointment and you can visit my home gallery. 210-522-0706.
I'm back at work now and will be glad to give you a tour.

...............................................................................................................................................................

Wishing you good health!

~~Cindy

Cindy Morawski

Mockingbird Studio and Gallery

Morawski Fine Art

cski02@sbcglobal.net

8603 Waldon Hts.

San Antonio, TX 78254




















Friday, February 4, 2011

Snow Holiday in San Antonio, Texas!





Sled Dog in Training





Yes, that white stuff is snow!




Ice Formations in our Front Pond





San Antonio Neighborhood~~Snowy Street






Icicles in our Backyard Fountain






Greenbelt Snowy Path








I'm a Lab and I say YES to Snow!



*************************************
Photo Essay of Snow in San Antonio, February 4, 2011
by Cindy Morawski
******************************************
Yes, it can snow in San Antonio, Texas! We're having a holiday today because of cold weather, ice, and snow. The schools, workplaces, and roads are closed. The weather forecasters are doing a marathon weather report on our local TV and radio stations. "Don't go out on the roads. All the major interstates and highways are closed. It's dangerous!" I've been hearing that reported all morning long on KENS-TV, a local San Antonio TV station. I heard the laughter of children when I ventured out around 8:00 this morning. They were excited about their school's closure, and some were trying to make snowballs and even sled ride with garbage can lids on the icy streets. Our dogs, Phineas and Rusty, weren't quite sure what that white stuff was on the ground. They sniffed, licked, and finally bit it. And, then the next thing was to initiate the final test . . . making their mark . . . yellow snow!
I don't know about you, but I plan on having an extra cup of hot chocolate, taking in a home movie, and catching up on my third Stieg Larsson novel. Hey, isn't that what a winter holiday is for? Hope you all have fun! Stay warm!
~~Cindy