Thursday Art Date

Is it a mallowdrama or melodrama or perhaps a tragedy

February 25, 2021 /

Hello! I’m so happy you decided to join me.  Rain’s art prompt is tragedies or melodramas.  I decided to sketch a well known scene from the 1990 film Ghost starring the late Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.   Ghost isn’t a melodrama but it is a drama surrounding a tragedy.  Please ignore the fact that my characters do not resemble the stars in the least in my latest Procreate illustration.

There’s so much I see that’s wrong with my drawing but then isn’t that the way it is with any of us when viewing one’s work?  I’m not bothered by my imperfections.  I happily continue practicing and stretching  my skill set.  I know what I need to do is make more time for a particular area to hon it in but I’m having too much fun dabbling.  Maybe, one day I will settle down to tackle something specific until perfected.  This won’t be complete with out the Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody, don’t  you agree?  Have you seen this movie?

This week’s Thankful Thursday, I’m very thankful that we’re in the last week of February.  It’s been such a cold month.  Colder than what we’re used to in the Tennessee Valley.  I’m thankful for the return of the sun this week.  The highs have been in the upper 50s and low 60s.  That’s spring-like weather folks!   I’m thankful DH set up an upcoming dental appointment to have an old amalgam filling removed as well as some preventive repairs on the teeth with cracks and thinning in the enamel.   These teeth will be capped.  Dental work is expensive and while this doesn’t need to be done now, we hope this will keep from worse damage being done at a later time.  He’s had horrible issues with damaging his teeth over the last 10-15 years.  I’m first thankful for DH’s employment and second, his dental insurance which helps to off-set some of the cost.  Finally, I’m thankful we have the funds in place to pay for these sorts of services.  It’s makes the ole piggy bank squill but at least we can work to rebuild the lost savings unlike when we were raising a family and had too much debt.  Through life’s tough lessons, God has helped us to become wiser for which I’m extremely thankful for Every Good Thing (The Afters), He has given us.  

You’re the reason for every good thing, every heartbeat
Every day we get to breathe
You’re the reason for anything that lasts, every second chance
Every laugh, life is so sweet
You’re the reason for every good thing, every good thing
Every good thing, every good thing…

Last week Eugi’s word prompt was “Champion“.   I don’t get to play frequently enough.  Mainly, I’m either short on time or flat out blank out.   As you might have guessed I was totally out of time this time.  Shoot, I thought this was this week’s prompt when I was pulling this post together.  Just goes to show you were my mind is or in this case isn’t.  Anyway poetry isn’t my forte but I’d like for it to be more, so when inspiration clicks then I run with it and that’s what I’m doing today.  Here’s my little ditty.

 

Champions
©2021 Cathy Kennedy

 

Coffee at dawn
Stays in hand
A daily marathon
Go. Go. Go.
Work long hours
Takes its toll
Winners? Losers?
Cross the line
Dock their time
Declaration called…
Within us all
A champion strides
Through the grind
To make ends meet or
Save for a retreat
Or something sweet

 

I’m sorry for the late entry but if you enjoyed my poetic attempt then you may want to hop over to visit Eugi’s weekly gig for creative writers, especially those who dabble in poetry.  Click the button below to visit Eugenia for the word prompt and if inspired don’t forget to share a link back on her site in comments to your place.  She’s an awesome friend!

 

Because there’s a champion in us all, I dedicate , The Winner Takes It All,  to you! 😉

I’m winding things up today with Kat’s Writing Workshop. 

Reading this week’s prompts, I nearly went with ‘”Write about one of your favorite songs as a kid.  Is it still a favorite?”  But I mentioned in 2012 and 2013 blog entries my favorite childhood song.  I never addressed why it was my favorite, though.   Instead, today I will write about a memorable date, not as in a specific calendar day but an actual date from our courting days.  The year was 1978.  It could’ve been anywhere from late spring to early fall but I kind of think it was in the summer.   Looking into my rear view mirror 43 years ago these sort of details escape my memory.   Anyway,  DH and I sat a picnic date to go to the Breaks Interstate Park.   I had never been but he had.  There isn’t a lot to do where we grew up and to do anything new required a car to get to.   There was a couple of parks closer to home but this one is more than an hour drive from my parents’ home.   I got up early on the morning of our picnic date to make my first big meal.  I learned to cook mostly by watching.  By the time Saturday rolled around, my mother was too worn out to do anything extra but she offered instructions when needed.  I made skillet-fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and angel biscuits (yeast rolls).  I think I made dessert but I can’t remember what it was now.  Something easy, I’m sure.  Soon after DH arrived at my house, we loaded the food into his cooler,  and we mentioned to my folks it’ll be a late day.    I fell asleep over to the park.  That happened to me nearly every time I went for a long car drive anywhere.  The things I remember… it was a lovely but hot day,  we had a nice picnic with more than we could possibly eat, and our explorations in finding a different, faster route home turned out to be anything but fast getting me home later than expected.   My parents’ were pretty upset and rightfully so.  They weren’t having a melt down but I’m fairly certain I saw smoke coming out of their ears at one point.  I brushed it off, told DH good night, and that was that.  The next morning all was well.  There’s something about youthful ignorance and no worries over all the fuss.  It’s not until I had kids that I got my parents’ anxieties.  I often wonder how they survived those years without all the technology we have today because when ours were home if I didn’t hear from them within a particular time frame then I got a bit frantic.   Our spirit of adventure continues to this day, we often leave before the sunrise and back way into the night, sometimes in the wee hours of the following day.  There’s no getting lost with GPS in our car and on our phones.  The fun and excitement still remains apart of us.  Hopefully, we’ll have many more  years to enjoy such simple outings.  Take me home, Country Roads!

Is it easy for you to escape city living to explore rural back roads or do you have plan such trips around a vacation?

I’m heading over to Rain’s Garden to browse through the collection of artists participating in the challenge. You’re welcome to come with. Tomorrow is DH’s off Friday but I will have an edition of Friday Sillies with nothing but giggles set to published first thing in the morning. X💋X💋, Cathy

34 Comments

  • Kat

    March 4, 2021 at 2:45 am

    I would be beside myself with anxiety if it weren’t for today’s technology that makes contacting and tracking my kids so easy. 🙂 Our parents had it tough!

  • Andrea Priebe

    February 27, 2021 at 11:32 am

    Oh Cathy, you always say you don’t have time to do things and then you do things that take so much time … You make me smile. I loved Ghost, as would anyone who saw it. It was for sure a tear jerker. Your music choices are always wonderful and I enjoy listening to them while I read through your post. So much said, so thoughtful, so rich with experiences and ideas. It can’t surprise you that we all love coming over here to see what you have done that you think you need to apologize for. Your art is your art … it doesn’t have to look perfect except to you. You do a wonderful job with all of this. And, I am with you … those teeth have more to do with your good health than most people realize, so you and your DH are wise to do what needs to be done no matter the cost (and by all means, thank heaven for insurance 🙂 And now I am longing for a toasty marshmallow and not much chance of getting one … hmmmm 🙁 Stay safe and be well, Cathy …

    Andrea @ From the Sol

    • Cathy Kennedy

      March 1, 2021 at 10:50 am

      Andrea,

      I’m growing into the acceptance that my art IS mine. It doesn’t have to look like anything other than what I bring to the canvas or in this case my iPad. I’m trying to have fun with it all. I’m glad you don’t mind the long posts. I sure do drag them out sometimes. lol Yep, you’re right healthy teeth means a healthier you. We’ll get this all behind us in no time.

    • Cathy Kennedy

      March 1, 2021 at 10:47 am

      Mimi,

      Yep, definitely inspired by the movie. It would be awesome if I were better at getting character likeness right but if I never do then I’m happy having fun at trying.

  • Ella

    February 25, 2021 at 3:40 pm

    Your “mallowdrama” is great … and yes, The Ghost with Patrick Swayze is in my top 5 favorite movies!
    Thank you for reminding me! Hugs from the Netherlands!

  • John Holton

    February 25, 2021 at 2:20 pm

    That’s a good sketch, even if they don’t exactly look like Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze.

    I was a long-standing member of the Magellan Society, meaning that whenever I went to a new place or tried a shortcut I would get hopelessly lost. I can sympathize with you and DH…

    • Cathy Kennedy

      March 1, 2021 at 10:46 am

      John,

      I was thinking back on that picnic after I shared it last week and I got to thinking maybe it wasn’t so much that we got lost as it was just a bad route. You know it is when you live in a rural area and it doesn’t get anymore rural than southern WV plus we have lots of twisty mountainous roads that slowed our travel time down a lot.

  • 15andmeowing

    February 25, 2021 at 11:00 am

    Nice drawing. That was a sweet memory. We are blessed to have a lot of property so I never desire to go anywhere. XO

  • Sandee

    February 25, 2021 at 10:44 am

    You know I love your sketches. I so loved this movie. It made me cry to watch your video this morning. There is that kind of love. We have it. Lucky us.

    I’m happy about your hubby getting his teeth repaired. It’s a job that never ends. I just do whatever the dentist suggests. I trust him that much. Good teeth helps keep one healthy.

    The Winner Takes It All. I’ve not heard that in a very log time.

    Thank for the tip on Kaboom. I didn’t know this.

    Have a fabulous day, Cathy. Love and hugs. ♥

    • Cathy Kennedy

      March 1, 2021 at 10:41 am

      Sandee,

      Our dentist is great and we trust his advice. Dental health only declines as we get older, so it’s really important to make sure our teeth are in good shape as we age. I hope you like the Kaboom!

  • -Eugenia

    February 25, 2021 at 10:18 am

    Happy Thankful Thursday, Cathy! I love your poem and thank you for joining in my prompt! I think your drawing is excellent and don’t underestimate your artistic skills! 🌸Btw, I added your link to the Roundup!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      March 1, 2021 at 10:40 am

      Eugenia,

      Thanks for adding me to the roundup. And, thank you for your lovely words of praise. Sometimes I wish I’d find the time to take a class on how to write poetry or at least better poetry. 🙂 I’m too lazy to do anything about it, though.

  • Alana Mautone (@RamblinGarden)

    February 25, 2021 at 10:12 am

    I like your question, and I could use a good mallowdrama in my life. A melodrama, not so much. I think any vacation we take, at least this year, will be somewhat rural. We’ve looking for some good bird watching sites with easy access trails within New York State and perhaps even renting an RV, something (using an RV) we have never, ever done. I’ve never seen Ghost but I loved Unchained Melody growing up (and I still do).

    • Cathy Kennedy

      March 1, 2021 at 10:38 am

      Alana,

      We’re undecided about vacation this year. Right now, we’re tackling our dental issues hard because if things are open next year then we would love to take a spring vacation before it gets too hot and too crowded.

  • Laurie

    February 25, 2021 at 9:17 am

    What a wonderful representation of the theme,you brought us it all, laughter tears great music and inspiration, the whole Shabang, wonderful!

  • Brian

    February 25, 2021 at 8:45 am

    We like your drawing and that movie ending is too sad to watch. Those were nice thankfuls too and I hope the DH dental things get all cleared up. Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

  • Rain Frances

    February 25, 2021 at 8:22 am

    Hi Cathy 🙂 🙂 Gosh, Ghost…that movie had me balling in the theaters…I love that song too. I like your sketch, I like the way you did Patrick Swayze (sigh…r.i.p.)…I love that song Country Roads…I live in a rural area so everyday is a vacation for me! 🙂 But once the snow melts, Alex and I have plans to do some day trips in the more boggy/swampy/woodsy areas to try to view wildlife. Nice memory of your picnic, and what a spread you made!!! 🙂

    I’m sorry I didn’t answer your question last week, I thought I did. My mind?????? 😉 I’ve never tried chalk markers. I saw them once but to me they just seemed like a wipeable Sharpie. With the chalk and charcoals, I can blend and layer, I don’t know how well that would work with the markers, though like I said, never tried them.

    The link widget. I’ve had that happen to me too. After you add your link and press “enter” and it disappears, just refresh the page and it should show up. I don’t know why it does that! I’ve noticed that if I add my link to that widget then comment and post a comment, it also disappears, but when I hit refresh it comes back.

    • Cathy Kennedy

      March 1, 2021 at 10:36 am

      Rain,

      Thanks for sharing your experience with the chalk markers. If I decide to try them, I’ll let you know. I did notice dust free chalk but I wonder if it still might cause me trouble. Have you used dust free chalk? If so, is it truly dust free? I did refresh my browser to see if doing that allowed my link up to show but it didn’t work. Next time, I’ll try being patient, maybe even commenting after linking up and then see if my entry finally shows up.

  • Thomas Anderson

    February 25, 2021 at 7:15 am

    Hi, Cathy!

    Happy Thankful Thursday and Art Date with Rain, dear friend! I hope you are having a good week.

    Right off the bat, I got a kick out of the cartoon showing a boy emoting because campfire flames burned his marshmallow to a crisp. Unlike you, dear friend, I don’t see a thing wrong with your drawing inspired by the movie Ghost. It’s outstanding! The young woman is prettier than Demi Moore, and the figure embracing her from behind is easily recognized as a ghost. I imagine rendering the ghost was the most challenging part of the composition. As I stated on my blog a few times over the years, my original memory of The Righteous Brothers hit “Unchained Melody” was that of floating on a raft in my backyard swimming pool in the summer of 1965 when the very popular song played often on my transistor radio. In 1990 that memory was erased and permanently replaced by the image of that iconic clay working scene you posted featuring Demi being hugged by ghost husband Patrick.

    I enjoyed reading your musings for Thankful Thursday. Here in Florida we are thankful for every COOL day that comes along, especially at this time of year when winter’s on the run and it’s already getting too warm outside. I wish DH success with his upcoming dental procedures. I also enjoyed you poem. As I have stated many times, you are a person of many talents, Cathy. I never grow tired of watching ABBA videos, and I own a DVD which contains their greatest hits in the form of the official mewsic videos.

    I was moved by your flashback story from the late 70s about going on a picnic at a park with DH, taking an alternate route home, arriving much later than expected and having to face your parents and their upset. I often wonder how my mother put up with my late nights getting home from the Shady Dell, usually with beer and cigarette smoke on my breath. My adolescent behavior must have been a constant worry for her.

    I think I like that cover of “Country Roads” better than the original.

    Thank you for the smiles, the artwork, the musings and the mewsic, dear friend Cathy. Happy Thankful Thursday to you!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      March 1, 2021 at 10:33 am

      Tom,

      I think most people today think of the film Ghost when they hear The Righteous Brothers’ hit. It’s a beautiful song making the tear jerking film even more poignant. I always get so misty eyed when I watch that movie. You’re so kind to always lift me up with what I share in Blogosphere. Thank you, my friend! We’re anxious to get DH’s teeth worked on. I as well have plans to get one of my bridges replaced next month. We’re trying to get the dental repairs out of the way as quickly as possible. Hopefully next year the both of us will have it all behind us. I did somethings when I was younger that troubled my parents, too. Thankfully, that dark place in my life was short lived and I settled down to be a good kid. At least that’s the way I remember it. lol I often wondered how parents from yesteryear survived without their kids not have today’s technology cell phones but they did and with a few extra gray hairs to prove it. We want to know that our kids are safe I think sometimes having this technology only causes more stress if you can’t reach your child. lol You just have to turn those fears over and say, if the police don’t come knocking at my door bearing bad news then they are ok. It’s like my doctor always told me waiting for lab results, “No news is good news.” That advice can serve us well in every day living, don’t you think?

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