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Deciding to update every day during December seemed like a good idea at the time, but when it comes time to actually do it, I always end up with writers block. I guess that’s to be expected when you don’t bother to update for over nine months. So I guess I’ll just do the default thing, and fill up some space today talking about what went on in the past nine months. Think of this entry as being kind of like a holiday letter.

The biggest thing that happened was last June. I was invited to attend and teach a workshop at the Paper and Book Intensive, a two week workshop for professionals in the book and paper arts. Prior to June, I was obsessively compulsively preparing to teach and figuring out how to ship a scaled down version of an entire small metals shop out to Portland, Oregon where the workshop was being set up at a camp nearby.

During the the first week I took two classes, one in making miniature books and the other on creatively using paper and light. Yes, sort of lamp making, but slightly more interesting than that. Hey, before you make fun of lamp making, think Isamu Noguchi.

I learned that making tiny books is actually harder than making large books. While I love the little tiny books, I’m afraid that it requires younger, nimbler fingers than the arthritic ones I now possess, as well as a degree of anal retentiveness that I think I lack. Lamp making was a far looser, less structured, more laid back experience. It was a bit schizophrenic switching between the two each day. But mostly fun and... uh... shall I say, at times, enlightening.

During the second week, I taught a four day workshop in making book clasps and book hardware. Because the attendees were mostly very accomplished in their field, and I am a relative newbie at all this, I was a little bit intimidated, more like terrified, about actually teaching the class. But, time came to set up and I couldn’t avoid it anymore, so I had to perform. There were a couple of tense moments when things went a little awry, but they got resolved and in the end everything went very well over all. They accomplished a lot and made some great stuff. People told me it was one of the best workshops they had ever had, and I very much enjoyed the whole experience. I’m always surprised at how much I actually enjoy teaching, especially teaching people who really want to learn.

It was a little like summer camp for OCD artists, and if I ever have the money and time I’d love to spend my vacation that way every year.

Afterwards, Chuck flew out for our first vacation in over ten years. (Oddly enough that one was in Portland, too.) We visited old friends for a couple of days and then headed up to Seattle to visit my youngest son and his wife. I had never been to Seattle, and while it was great to see the kids, I was not all that impressed with the city. Pike Street Market was ...eh... just a tourist trap. But, I did like the new library. As a city, though, I definitely prefer Portland.

After that, back to Chicago and reality. Back to repairing the books and making the jewelry orders, and selling books on eBay, seeking our fortune in unnoticed collectibles in thrift stores, and trying to figure out how to balance everything and make a little money.

But, it turned out there was no way to make enough money to pay for our health insurance, which skyrocketed to almost $1,600 a month. That’s what happens when you are self employed, and have to get your insurance wherever you can. So, we had to drop it, and, in a way, I guess that’s been the other big thing this year. Figuring out how to get some health care. Now with Bush re-elected, I don’t think we’ll be getting any help from the government anytime soon. Fortunately, we have had no serious health crises this year so far. If we do, we’ll be going to Cook County. I’ll be sure to report on what the ER is really like there, if that happens.

The last and hardest thing this year was that our well loved 18 year old cat, Freckles, died on October 15. Actually, she had serious kidney disease, and we did everything we could for her, but she just wasn’t going to make it, so we had to make the hard decision to put her down. She was the best cat and gave us many years of pleasure. We both loved her so much and we miss her presence here every day. We are now moving beyond it a little and we are starting to think about getting some new kittens or a cat soon. Tonight our vet’s wife called to tell us about a Maine Coon cat who needs a better home. But, it’s long haired and Chuck has allergies so I’m not sure that one is going to work for us. Hopefully, though, by Christmas we will find one or two.

I hope the rest of the year holds no horrible surprises, and I’m just going to try to slide on through the holidays and move quietly into the new year. Stay tuned.

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