The Junk Drawer

Old Master by fleur_de_lis

He wanted to be so famous and so successful that he would be recognized by his first name only. He achieved his fame and success early on in his career but fell into obscurity at the end of it. He amassed and spent several fortunes, eventually falling into debt and being forced to sell his house and all of his possessions. This giant of the art world, this old master, is Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), and still today, he is a name that all the world recognizes. Rembrandt is most known for the strong use of light and dark in his paintings to emphasize important elements, his willingness to flout convention and break the rules of the day, and his ability to capture an action and vitality in his figures that was lacking in paintings done by other masters of the time. By far my favorite work of Rembrandt's, and also one of my top ten favorite paintings is The Night Watch . What a tangled web of facts, myths, stories, and lies have been woven around this one! The Night Watch is actually...

My New Shoes.... by fleur_de_lis

Every woman has a fascination with...well...shoes! I have recently decided to pamper myself with some outrageous new styles. Tell me what you think! Ah, yes, who wouldn't want to leave their very own hoof prints... Extreme stiletto/ballet slippers...hmmm, I don't think the toes would enjoy the experience. Gulp... Look a little tricky to put on, but what the heck...I've got a little time on my hands. Just in time for Halloween...Hobbits are my favorite creatures. Couldn't resist this little color coded storage unit--just too cool.... And this multi-layered number...well, what can I say. The favorite of my collection, though, is a driveable Reebok, oh yeah!

By the Numbers for my TKR by fleur_de_lis

Alright, a quick post after an absence of a few days. I am home recuperating after a total knee replacement. Here it is, by the numbers: 1 orthopedic surgeon, 1 total knee replacement 12 red roses 1/2 mile covered with my walker (a new word in my vocabulary is walkering--I no longer run, skip, trudge, limp or even plod--I walker)! 5 blue latex gloves, blown up into balloons by the grandsons 40 staples to hold my knee together 40 pain killers 3 physical therapists 10 sets in each group of leg exercises 1000 frequent flyer miles so as to be surprised by a visit from my son 8 gallons of gas used by my daughter in her chauffeur duties for me 21 blood thinning shots I have to inject myself :( 100 miles away from home 4 nights of prepared meals brought into us by friends 2 TEDS anti embolism stockings 1 pampering husband, 1 fussing mother, dozens of prayer and thanks sent up to God. And good grief, Joe, I am afraid I just couldn't get into your Whack the Patella game!