The Art of 566 Monmouth Blvd. - Galesburg, IL

My Grandma and Grandpa lived at 566 Monmouth Blvd. in Galesburg, IL. Later in years the neighborhood went to hell and their house turned out to be a crack house. A year or two ago it was torn down. Lots of great memories were created there before it fell on hard times.
When I was born this is where our family lived. There was an apartment on the second floor. This where we lived.
What can be better than living in the same house as your grandma? That is hard to beat.
There were two bedrooms in this apartment. The bedroom my sisters and I lived in was not very warm for whatever reason. Seems like we could see our breath in the early morning hours when we'd first get up. There was only a half bath upstairs. The only full bath in the house was in the foyer of the home. Right there when coming in the front door was a long closet that houosed the bathtub, toilet and sink. All of us took our weekly bath in that bathroom.
I loved that house.
My grandma named Alice Carlson, cooked pies, cakes, cookies, meatballs, head cheese, chicken, --- everything in that kitchen.
My grnadpa, named John Leroy Carlson, was a miner at the Little John Coal Mine in Victoria, IL.
I used to go over to my grandmas and stay all night. She had a big antique bed I slept in. When she died I got that bed and slept in it for YEARS. Probably til 2001 when Linda and I moved to Fort Lauderdale when we sold it. It was riddled with termites and ready to crumble.

My Lucy Art

Lucy art is always happy art just as Lucy is good for a happy life.

My Art - Part 4

Mmmmmmmmm. Art.

My Art - Part 3

More of my favorites.

My Art - Part 2

More of my art I like the best.

My Friends As Art

My buddy Melody who brought Milo (pictured) and Venus to Linda and myself. Melody runs the Dog Star Animal Sanctuary in Ottumwa, Iowa.

My Art in Short

Weight Loss Art

Now, I've reached my 10% milestone--28#! My exercising is stepping up too. 1600 reps in 30 minutes. I do at LEAST 30 min. on the eliptical 5 times per week. I'm feeling better everyday. Weight Watchers is the way to go. Only 65# to go.
The complicated stuff about why I feel the need to lose. It seems as though my BIGGEST motivator is how people think of me. The mean things people say to a fat person stick with that person for all time. Whether anyone realizes it or not. I remember my sister Terry saying to me while we were playing Canasta in 1994. We were sitting at a dining room table in the condo they rented at Lake Occachobee, FL. Her husband, Phil, Terry and I were playing. I said something like it isn't over thil the fat lady sings and she smirked and said she was waiting for me to sing. Long forgotten by Terry, it sticks with me. My Dad, ashamed to introduce me to his work buddies when walking downtown Galesburg about 1980. We were standing in front of Nyman's Jewelry Store on Prairie Street and he stood and talked with his friend for 10 minutes anyhow and not one second of recognition but obvious body language demonstrasting shame at his association with me. And there are hundreds of more stories. Going with my mom to visit her friends in Victoria, IL. while visiting the grave of my father. The crippled man in the wheelchair who was a friend of my moms said he could not tell that I was Verna's daughter because I must 2-3 times her size. This is how he greeted me at the his door upon entering his home.

I had a cousin named Beulah who was huge. Maybe 350#. Beulah lived on a farm with her husband and daughter. She was the BEST cook and baker ever!!! Whenever I saw her she was so beautiful. Hair coiffed, makeup, girdle, nylons, body-tight pretty dress, heels. But when she sat and walked, while graceful, I can now see that she was physically in tremendous pain. Sitting with her legs crossed at the ankles, knees tightly together. It takes strenghth and whatever else to put that image out there when big and bulky. Beulah, I love you .

So now I am on my journey. Successfully!!!! I hope to go on a cruise in December with Linda. 10 days. I will continue on my exercise regimine and eat healthfully. I will swim and be in a suit and be perfectly at ease. I love my life now.

In the winter time I want to get a new Fishermans cable knit sweater to wear twith beautiful jeans. Last week Linda and I went through our closets and took a few hundred items to the Salcation Army.

I'm soon to be done being FAT!

My Weight Loss Art for this Month - Turtle/Snail Pace

Oh, the weight loss was slowed by a birthday and by Easter. But now I'm back and uping the exercise and lowering the points. Yesterday weigh-in was 252.4. No gaining but no great losses either. Hit 25# this month. This is zapping my want to draw or paint. Art suffers for arts sake.