Musing @Morgan's . An Art Networking Event.

at The Table. August 4. 2010

left to right...

Harold Whims, Yanitz Rameriz,

Michael Steel, Patricia Schnall-Gutierrez, Jennifer Basile, Rachel Blechman, Tom Weinkle, Linda Weitz, Authur Salomon, Becki Boni-Litman, David New.

Also attending, but not in the photo

were: James Weinkle, Pat Green,

Jamey Azelvandre, Jon Spencer Eiseman, Michael Enns, Harry Gottlieb, Reed Horth, Kat Barrow.

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

While I am listening to Gerald Ford being eulogized by Henry Kissinger, I am posting an update.
First of all HAPPY 2007 TO ALL.
May Gerald Ford rest in peace. He was a good man. At the time when he pardened
Nixon, many of us didn't think so. History has proven otherwise.

There are now 3 eggs in the "Pretty Birds" nest. I called the place where I purchased them
to inquire what procedures were required. Interestingly, Gouldian Australian Finch are not
known for being very domestic. The females rarely sit on their eggs long enough for them
to hatch. If you are breeding these finch it is a good idea to introduce a Society Finch as a
nanny type, who will sit on the eggs. Who knew? Incubation is approximately 28 days.
If by Feb.4th there are no baby birds, I will remove the nest and discard the eggs.
Boo Hoo.

Let's see what unfolds.
I'm off to a day filled with errands.

Love to all.

The Last Day of 2006.

This is Kelly and Riley
This is my sweet Miss Spicey, my favorite friend at Wednesday's arts and crafts class.
The group of us celebrating Sydney's 60th Birthday.
Well it's Sunday, December 31, 2006 and I can't believe it's almost a month since I last posted on my blog.
Life moves on, if one participates on not.
This past month seems to have flown by so quickly.
I've had wonderful times and am just kind of distracted, not having posted anything in so long.

Of note is the fact that as of Christmas Day, exactly 2 months post op, I am down 47lbs. This is a miracle to me and
I am so grateful.
My life post surgery is no cake walk. There are good days and some not so good days.
Most important to me though, is to remember that my worst day post op, pales compared
to my life before this surgery. I don't ever want to forget how miserable I was, both mentally
and physically.
I am so grateful to God for this opportunity at a new improved life.

I'm looking forward to my 40th High School Reunion in mid January.
So many friends I haven't seen in years will be attending. Should be
a memorable weekend.

I'm also cohosting a Baby Shower, the same weekend as the Reunion.The Shower is for Kelly, my dear
departed friend Sara's daughter-in-law. She's expecting a little girl and
we are all so thrilled about this. The Shower will be an opportunity
for so many of Sara's friends and family to be together.

Oh this is big news! Pretty Boy and Pretty Girl (my Gouldian Australian Finches) are going to be parents too!
I'm kind of freaked out about this though. I bought a little house/nest for
their cage at the suggestion of the salewomen at Pet Smart. She said she
had finches and that really they just love to hop around and in the wild live
in the hollows of trees. I said what about mating? She assured me that they
would mate with or without a little nest. PS...There are 2 tiny eggs in that
little nest. How is this possible? They are suppose to be babies themselves.
I just bought them as such in early November. Does this mean there is a
need for an Avian Chapter of Planned Parenthood? No kidding, babies having
babies and then what.
Stay tuned on this one.

Mostly I wish to take this opportunity to put out good wishes to the universe
and my friends on this the last day of 2006.
May each of us be blessed with good health, happiness, prosperity and
some peace of mind in this coming year.
May we each do our part to make World Peace a reality and to stop the
spread of disease and poverty.
Do the next right thing. Collectively, we can make a difference.

I'm One Lucky Girl...Comments on a Beautiful Week

Well for starters, is will be interesting to see in what order the photo's will post.
That said, I'd like to fill you in on the beautiful week I've just had.

My week started on Monday, November 27th, when I had a wonderful visit with my old friend Mark.(see my previous post)

On Tuesday I went to Books and Books at the lovely Bal Harbor Shops for a 2PM slide show presentation and book signing
event by an old acquaintance of mine, Jewel Stern.
I first met Jewel, I bet it was at least 20 years ago and at that time she was a recognized photographer.
Fast forward to the present and low and behold I find out she is a collector of "Modernism in American Silver, 20th Century
Silver Design". This also is the title of her book, published by Yale University Press.
What an amazing woman Jewel is.
She gave the most engaging and informative presentation.
A champagne reception followed.
Jewels' collection has been accquired by The Dallas Museum and is on loan presently to The Wolfsonian, here on South Beach
through March of 2007.
Her book as well as the exhibit at The Wolfsonian have both gotten rave reviews, as well they should.
Interesting to note that this exhibit is up during the upcoming Art Basel week in Miami and Miami Beach, which is an international, world class event.
I find this all too thrilling and exciting as I'm a native of Miami and have witnessed the growth and development
of our beautiful city. Despite the recent reference to us being a "Third World Country".
In spite of the crime, over congestion of our streets and highways, and way to much development going on,
Miami continues to be a thriving, incredible city with the most diversified mix of cultures. I feel extremely lucky to have
been born and raised here.
I look forward to attending this exhibit down the road, with a group of women from The Funding Arts Network, an organization I am involved with.

So that was Tuesday.

On Thursday evening I drove south to the Coral Gables branch of Books and Books for another slide show presentation,book signing, by a woman who was a friend of mine when I had my children's clothing store. Her name is Jane Katcher and her book is titled "Expressions of Innocence and Eloquence: Selections from the Jane Katcher Collection of Americana", published by Yale Universiy Press as well. This book is huge and amazing. It weighs 5 1/2 pounds.
Jane is the woman I aspire to be in my next life. She is a former Pedicatric Radiologist, a wife, a mother of 3 beautiful
daughters and just an amazing woman in my opinion.
She gave a most dynamic presentation, so add gifted public speaker to the list of her accomplishments...
I was sitting in the audience, Jewel Stern was in attendance too, thinking to myself, how amazing is this, that two accomplished women, that I happen to know,
have each published a prestigious, highly regarded book? These books will be used by art historians for years to come as a benchmark in each of their fields of collecting
I am so proud of them.
I am so honored to know them.
They give me such hope as a woman in today's world. They are testimony, that all things are possible.
Kudo's to both Jewel Stern and Jane Katcher for a job well done!
Stand up and take a bow!

Do I still have your attention??? If so thank you and please read on...

Friday night was spent on South Beach with my wonderful buddies Bill and Jose.
We saw "For Your Consideration", the Christopher Guest movie.
It was plenty funny. Not a Hollywood blockbuster, but very entertaining and full
of much needed laughs.
We had a lovely meal at Joe Allen's afterwards.
I always know I'm going to enjoy myself when I'm with Bill and Jose.

And last, but certainly not least, was the culmination of my beautiful
week. I attended a Birthday Party for Miss Ella, herself, who is now 4. Ella and her 2 yr. old
sister Chloe, are the daughters of my cherished friend, Hunter and her husband Peter. Hunter is the
daughter of Mark and Donna. I know Hunter since she was this same age and I was dating her newly divorced Dad.
The party was perfection! They had a clown doing face
painting on the kids and a colorful bounce house, where the kids were jumping and running
themselves ragged. The day was glorious, with a cool breeze going on.
The thing that impressed me the most was how all the young parents were so relaxed, patient
and hands on with their kids in such a healthy, loving way.
It was a beautiful thing to witness and I felt so lucky to be part
of this glorious gathering.

Thanks for staying tunned.
I am one lucky lady.
I am so grateful.

And here's to another beautiful week unfolding, ahead, for us all.

Jose and Bill @Joe Allen"s Friday night.
This is Ella opening presents and sister Chloe showing her face for the camera
Catching the Birthday Girls face, Miss Ella herself...
Madame Chloe having a meltdown!

A Day at The Ranch

Yesterday I had a 5PM accupuncture treatment down south and was looking for something to do down that way earlier, so
I would not have to deal with driving there in the rush hour traffic.
It occured to me that my old friend, Mark, could use a visit as he recently had hip replacement surgery.
So I decided to stop in at his Chickee, which he custom designed and built in the early 1970's when we were an item.
I have many fond memories of him and that chickee. It sits to the back of his family's compond, which they call The
Ranch. To further add to the visit, Barry appeared. He and Mark go back forever and have done many a project
together. Barry is renown for his work with the trunks of trees. He's a recognized crafts, artisan and also creates natural
environments. His card says "industrial artist-Land Shaper". Another thing to add...Congratulations go out to Mark
and Ann, his significant other for over 20 years now. They finally got married. So there you have it. And now some of the photo's from
my visit.
This is an outside corner, featuring the bathtubs.
This is Mark in the back and Barry in the front. The Silver Fox Brigade
This is the Totem Pole. Mark carved the alligator, replete with teeth, no less on the top of this single piece of wood, probably a tree trunk.

This is one of many of the artifacts on the grounds surrounding the chickee.
This is an inside shot of the ceiling of the chickee.

Continuation of Girls Get Together, Publishing Ass Backward for a Change...

This is our styling girl Nora and Kay. Nora is
a Florida native and gifted photographer. She makes her living as a "location scout" for photo shoots.
This is Sister Margaret Mary and Kay. Margaret is
a former Nun. She goes by just Margaret, but I always love for people to know that she was a nun. Margaret is a former
journalist and runs the Port Everglades Association, the private, nonprofit organization of businesses at the Broward County seaport.
Here is our lovely Susan with Kay of course. Susan
has recently retired. We go back to 1972 and the McGovern Campaign. Susan was the Chief Operating Officer of the first "Summit
of the American's" held in Coral Gables, several years ago. She then went on to be Director of the not for profit organization, Florida Partnership of the Americas. She also had her own Public Affairs Firm. She's a major player in all things
good in our community.
And with the blue and white wreath, made
especially for me, Myra, because I don't celebrate Christmas, with the creative and talented girl herself, Miss Kay!

Girls Get Together @ Kay's

My dear friend Kay hosted a "girls get together" for 5 of us yesterday @4 o'clock in the afternoon.
It's a special treat when the 5 of us get together as we all live in different parts of South Florida and
everyone is busy, so it was wonderful spending time together in Kay's festively decorated apartment.
We laughed alot and remembered our dearly departed friend Sara, who was a common denominator
in all our lives.
When we finished feasting on the beautiful spread Kay had put out, Kay said "keep the camera's out".
She then proceeded to drag out 4 huge black trash bags from the back bedroom and announced "I am
doing this in alphabetical order".
Ta Da.
Here is our beautiful Kay surrounded
by the inredible wreaths she hand made for each of us.