Hello Everyone!

[Traveler]

Hey, thanks for the warm welcome everyone!!!

As to cheese. Yes. Gouda, parmesan, cheddar ... I've rarely met a cheese I don't like. Sounds like a bunch of you folks are European. LOVE Wallace and Grommet's piece on cheese.

As to gin. No. Give me a good glass of pinot grigio, or a bloody mary, or Captain Morgan's spiced rum with a diet coke and a slice of lime. Yum.

Bacon. Very picky. HATE the kind that's gone all maple-y. Give me a good, honest, crispy slice of Oscar Meyer and I'm one happy woman. More slices = happier woman.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some questions, but I promise to come back to the entrance exam after poking around a bit (and looking up the answers).

[FBM]

Am still curious about the sort of art you do, if you feel OK with elaborating.

[fretmeister]

European? Where? Non-British do you mean? Who let them in?

Word of warning - as was given about me to a youg lady I once dated... 'He will have european morals you know...'

[Traveler]

Am still curious about the sort of art you do, if you feel OK with elaborating.

Oh, damn, I missed the essay question!

I've tried many, many types of art. Right now I'm focused on fabric. Art quilts, mostly. For the last couple of years I've been entranced with the elegant greyhound, so I make a lot of greyhound-themed art quilts (to hang on the wall) and sell them at greyhound events up and down the east coast of the USA. I'm also into fantasy, so have done a few dragons. And most recently have made several in a series of quitls inspired by my cancer experience. They show abstract women dancing on the waves of the ocean. The implication being that so much is hidden from view. Tragedy, pain, whatever in our past has informed who we are. But if we choose to, we can tap into those experiences and learn from them. We can learn to dance again.

I've also been a photographer (mostly macro and abstracted work). I've been a painter (also mostly abstract). I draw. I've got TONS of ideas for mixed media pieces that I hope to get to this summer.

All my work is abstract to one degree or another, and I love learning new things. My style evolves over time, but the methodology might change overnight. I have no particular attachment to a specific medium. I use what feels right for the concept. It probably doesn't say too much about what I'm doing now, but the atom-like object in my avatar is a quick sketch I did one day, colored and modified in photoshop to give me the color and texture I wanted.

Honestly, I always dither about how much of my real life identity to share online as an atheist, so I hesitate to post my website in my profile. But I'll think about whether to add it, and am more than willing to point individuals to it via PM after I get to know them a bit. I'm mostly worried about the fundies getting hold of who I am in real life, although the more the US heads toward right wing nutjob idiocy, the more I want to FIGHT out loud and proud.

[Bella Fortuna]

Oooh, I'd really love to see some of your work!

[Tero]

Traveller, the cats will get you a long way here. But don't give Godzilla your Rv address, he will send you cats by UPS.

[FBM]

I wouldn't dream of compromising your anonymity, but I'd sure like to know more about your photography, as that's my pasttime at the moment. I've been playing with macro lately.

My toys:

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

But I lack creativity and am only a beginner in the technical aspects. Always eager to learn, if you are willing to share.

Edit: I gotta rotate that pic one of these days.

[Ronja]

Traveler, do check out our Creative Corner - there are all kinds of projects there, themed threads for art, photos, writing etc. http://www.rationalia.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=33

[MiM]

Captain Morgan's spiced rum with a diet coke and a slice of lime. Yum.

Spiced, and mixed with coke I guess you are saved here by the Bloody Mary. I hope you use celery with it

We have some friendly photography threads here that could only benefit from some additional expertise. So if you feel comfortable with sharing that part, I too would be a listener.

[Traveler]

Wow, you guys rock. In a moment I'm making lunch and will wade back through all your intro questions/comments and respond further, but for now let me briefly speak about photography ...

I shoot with a Nikon D70. Not a high end SLR, but it was affordable and does the job. I have two casual lenses that I take to informal gatherings when I'm just shooting family or whatever. A Nikkor 28-80mm zoom, and another zoom that goes up to 300mm. I don't have it in front of me, so don't remember the low range, but it's also a low-end Nikkor. My macro lenses are small aperture, high-end Nikkor lenses. I have an 80mm macro, but my favorite is my 60mm macro. LOVE it. I also have a 20mm wide angle that I tried underwater, but wide angle simply isn't my style.

During my time living in my RV, I spent three winters in Arizona. Some of my favorite macro work was taken in the desert during catcus blooming season.

I also have done some underwater photography, also mostly macro. That was some years ago (10+) and I was still shooting with film. I shot with a Nikon N50 (I had two bodies) and a Sea & Sea housing. I had two strobe lights and probably looked like an alien underwater. LOL I recently dug out the slides from that time, but haven't looked through them or scanned them into the computer. I hope to do that at some point, because I was very happy with some of it.

Although I have sold a few photographs I am by no means a professional or an expert. But I'd love to share with people about it as best I can, and will seek out the creative forums.

[Traveler]

Traveller, the cats will get you a long way here. But don't give Godzilla your Rv address, he will send you cats by UPS.

LOL, I think the cats would run away screaming. I have six dogs right now, several of whom are NUTSO.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Traveller, the cats will get you a long way here. But don't give Godzilla your Rv address, he will send you cats by UPS.

Nobody gets my cats! But you will be getting a used litter box about 3 pm on Thursday.

[Tero]

Six dogs! I think we are talking motor home here, right? I was imagning a pick up and RV trailer.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Six dogs! I think we are talking motor home here, right? I was imagning a pick up and RV trailer.

[Traveler]

Six dogs! I think we are talking motor home here, right? I was imagning a pick up and RV trailer.

When I was on the road I had only five dogs, and four of them are very small. I do drive a pickup. Full size crew cab, so lots of room for a greyhound and a slew of tiny dogs. I tow a 23' travel trailer that has ends that can fold out to add two extra beds. Final setup length is about 30'. I now share a home with my mom who has a dog, so its our combined pack that's six strong. The little ones are Italian greyhounds, and the tiniest one is just under 7 pounds. When they all pile up together they're no bigger than my greyhound.