Things Women Wish Men Knew

So I just finished reading this list on Men's Health entitled 50 Things Women Wish Men Knew. Either the author, Lisa Jones, is an insecure idiot, or she is trying to make women look that way. Of course, there are a few that apply:

• I love it when you hug me from behind and whisper in my ear.
• "Fine" is never an appropriate response when I ask you how I look.
• I'm terrified of becoming my mother, even though I admire her.
• I expect you to call me.
  
• Only rock stars are allowed to wear leather pants.
  
• I'm scared of losing my independence.
• A man I love plans the occasional fancy-schmancy dress-up date and impromptu weekend getaways, and he buys my favorite candy in advance when we're just going to the movies.
• You're sexy when you're: shaving, fixing things, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, driving, eating a peach, holding a baby.
  
• I like it when you tell me what you're thinking, even if you don't know yourself.
  
• Celebrating our anniversary, even if it's only been a few months, earns major bonus points.
  
• Even nice girls like hushed dirty talk in public.
  
• It's cheating as soon as you're doing something with her that you wouldn't want me to see, hear, read . . .
  
• For the record: I'd rather you break up with me than cheat.

As for the ones like:

• I love it when you're sweaty. (I don't, unless I made you that way.)
• You should know all this and more without my telling you. (I don't expect you to read my mind, because then you will expect me to read yours. And I won't)
• I remember everything about our relationship. (I don't, and if you don't, then I'm off the hook)
• If I'm not feeling loved, I will start looking . . . (Oh, get a grip Lisa. We all have those days. Read a book. Drink a glass a wine in a bubble bath. Go out with the girls.)
• Discussion of ex-gf's and ex-bf's should be avoided at all times. (Most times, yes. But sometimes, knowing where the other one comes from or gets their crazy insecurity can actually be, oh, I don't know, healthy?)
• You should never tell me what to do. (Sometimes I want to be told. Sometimes. Also, does it make sense that this would be on the same list as: "I'm unimpressed with a man who doesn't take the lead.")
  
• I want to be Madonna. (Really? What part of Madonna's life seems so great? The rich celebrity part? There are many other celebrities I would pick before her...)
• If I slept over, you owe me breakfast. (Not when one of us has to dash out early to go to work, which is most times.)
• You did something bad. I seem cool with it. I'm not. (Sigh. Girls, please, don't say you're cool with it if you're not. If I'm mad, you'll know. Not all of us play these retarded word games.)
• Oral sex is your get-out-of-the-doghouse-free card. Manolo Blahnik shoes also do the trick.
  (They aren't. A humble apology, accompanied by small gestures like flowers or dinner made by you, means so much more. I'm not a whore and can't be bought.)
• When I compare my flabby tummy to a kangaroo pouch, say nothing. (Wrong! We are fishing for compliments, like "I think you're hot," or at least a "Baby, I love kangaroos."
• Saying "I love you" immediately before, during, or following sex doesn't count. (It totally counts, provided you say it other times too. So say it other times, too.)
• I will leave if you lie. (We won't. We should, but we probably won't. So be a decent human being and be honest for its own sake.)

So there you have it, guys. If you want to know, talk to us, and we will probably tell you. Right between chocolate and sex.

I'm not missing, I'm right here!

After a long online hiatus, especially from this here blog, I am back! It's been a busy summer so far, moving to Chicago, looking for jobs, catching up with friends both old and new (it's good to be back), having my brother visit from Seattle with his new wife and baby (and dogs!), and having Sierra's eleventh birthday party. Whew!

So there it is. The short version. Stay tuned to future posts for adventures of a girl looking for a job in a city full of competition in a bad economy, where the shotgun approach keeps it interesting. That's right, I actually apply to EVERY job I find I qualify for, even a little bit. In one day, I applied for a Miller Girl, administrative assistant, bartender, server, window washer, personal assistant, and child care provider. On one hand, I stay busy and get plenty of interviews. I even land some of the jobs, albeit part time and often not starting immediately, leading my friends to admonish me with a Jamaican accent, "your brudder has fo-ty seven jobs, quit being lazy and git to work!". Another friend asked me why I needed three jobs, "wouldn't it be easier to just find one really good job?" Geez, why didn't I think of that?

Anyway, some highlights of the month:

Sierra turned 11

We all met Plato, my brother's baby, for the first time.

Congrats Andy and Erica!

My new nephew, Plato Robert Charneski.

New Work! Hardhat stickers that rock!

Even though I have spent more time at my computer than my easel lately, I have managed to make the best of it and spit out some new work that can be done right here. The latest project, a hardhat sticker for Technical Welding Inspection in Kuttawa, KY. Apparently these stickers that promote all these companies are hot commodities for the hardhat-wearing set, and the coolest guys have the most stickers. Also, the cooler stickers you have to trade, the better (or more maybe?) you get. Honestly, I don't know how that all works, but I do know what the stickers look like (since I did them):

Buy handmade!

Lately I have been feeling really guilty for not doing anything new in my art, and not adding to my shop or posting anything artistic. Worst...artist...ever...I know! Truth be told, I have been to the doctor several times for my shoulder, which has hurt excrutiatingly bad since last fall and has prevented me from doing much, and finally got a diagnosis. Turns out I have bursitis and rheumatoid arthritis, which sounds terrible, but can at least be controlled. Now that I finally know what is wrong, I can finally begin to heal and treat it, which is a good thing. The meds I am on now are amazing wonder drugs, and I am feeling better than I have in months! I also recieved so many well wishes and prayers, which I thank you all for, because it truly puts everything in perspective. One was even from an reader of this blog that was praying for my pain, while she is fighting cancer. Talk about perspective.

Despite the fact I have been absolutely terrible about posting new goodies to my shop and creating new things, I still buy handmade whenever possible, and even managed to cross off everyone in my Christmas list last year with handmade. I was very proud of that. Not only is your money going to someone who has personally put their heart and soul into it (and appreciates your business, no matter how small), but you are also getting something truly unique and top quality. My friend Libby put it in a funny, but true, way on her blog:

"I hate buying crap from China, so that's one main reason I buy handmade and why I encourage you all to buy handmade. When you buy from China you support communism...and a little puppy dies each time you walk in wal-mart....and baby birds fall out of their nest each time you THINK about going to wal mart...and volcanoes erupt and take out whole cities and towns when you BUY something from wal-mart....you get the picture. Its just bad. BUY HANDMADE!!!"

Libby makes incredibly soft, natural, and soothing soaps and sweet hippie clothes, which I am the biggest fan of. She also sent me out of the kindness of her heart, all kinds of feel better stuff for Sierra when she got in her bike accident last fall. The best thing was unrefined shea butter, which did amazing things for fading Sierra's scars and speeding healing, which I never would have even known about if it wasn't for her. Another good reason to buy handmade- where else do you get that personal of a touch?

I promise, dear readers, I am on the path to healing and will have new work to post soon. Keep your eye out, cause once I start, it's hard to stop me! First on the list is a commissioned painting of a Tuscan street scene, which I am pretty excited about. I plan on working all week on that this coming week, along with starting my Tai Chi classes and visiting the spa for a massage! Ah, life is good...

Welcome to the world, Plato!

My only sibling, Andy, and his wife Erica had their first baby last night!! I am sooo excited to be an aunt! Plato Robert Charneski was welcomed into the world around 10:15 pm Mountain/ Pacific time after 39 (yes, 39!!) hours of drug free labor! Whew! Way to go Erica...and to boot, baby was a whopping 9 pounds, 1 oz and 21 inches! Now, my brother is not always the quickest to call or email, and I know he probably doesn't read my blog, so we're gonna test this out. See, I was promised pictures today, and while I am sure the proud parents are totally exhausted, I am equally impatient. So until I get a picture of the baby, I am gonna have to post another picture here.

Like Plato, his namesake. Andy, if you read this, send me baby pictures! So much cuter than the philosopher!! And by the way, love the name! Very cool for what's gonna be one cool kid!

Star Wars- as retold by a girl

Ok, so I am talking to a friend the other day, and he cannot fathom that I do not clearly remember what happened in the Star Wars movies and that they didn't change my life. Perhaps part of this is hurt feelings, because the truth is, I have seen the original trilogy twice in my life (and never the new ones): once when they were out in theatres and I was a kid (I fell asleep), and the second time in college when I humored said friend and watched all three back to back with him (I fell asleep). So he asks me to name five main characters, which I thought I did pretty well, but failed because my main characters were apparently not main enough or something. I remembered R2D2 and C3PO because I had Star Wars underroos when I was a kid, and was proud of myself for remembering those two. He then asks me to tell him what actually happened in the movies, because apparently at this point, I am failing the science fiction quiz miserably (I'm a girl, hello?), to which, again, I think I did pretty good for not seeing them in over 10 years.


So here is the deal. Below is my version of what happened. Girls, read it, and leave me comments adding in what I missed and fixing what I got wrong. I figure between all of us, we can piece together the important parts. Then I am going to take those comments and put together a sort of Girl Cliff Notes to Star Wars. Sure I could ask a guy to do it, but we all know how that would go. 5 minutes into the description, he will sigh and say, "Just watch the movie...".





So it starts out with the scrolly words that go back into space giving this big back history or something. I think it tells us that the universe is in trouble and someone needs to do something, already. Then we see this dusty, deserty planet where Luke Skywalker? lives, and he is looking for something to do. Then someone comes and tells him, "hey, you've been chosen to save the universe," so he goes away on a spaceship. Oh, and the spaceship has these fun little robot dudes on them, I'm not sure what they actually do, R2D2 and C3PO. R2D2 is a little round robot that doesn't talk he beeps, and C3Po is like a gold tin man type robot that talks too much and understands R2. There is also this BigFoot kinda dude there that makes this crazy yell-growl sound, and never talks named Chewy? Yeah, I think thats his name.


Then somewhere along the lines Luke meets Princess Lea, although I don't really know what she is the Princess of, and he likes her. Then he decides, or maybe someone tells him, cause I think there is this old dude giving Luke advice over this hologram thingie, he needs to hire help. So Luke goes to this really happenin' alien bar to hire help for his mission. There he meets Hans Solo, this guy that is better looking, stronger, and more skilled than he is, except he doesn't have the force like Luke. But noone knows that yet, I think. So Hans Solo comes with him, and then because he is the good looking one now, he ends up smooth talking and kissing Lea until they are interrupted by that bumbling chatterbox of a robot, C3PO. Then, they all meet Darth Vadar, the bad guy in the black suit that breathes a lot (maybe he could breathe better without the mask?).


Anyway, Darth Vadar ends up kidnapping Lea, and then Luke and Hans have to save her. Somewhere in there, they all go to this foresty planet with all the cute little Ewok dudes too. Darth Vadars friends, the storm troopers, fly in the forest with all these smaller spaceships and the good guys and bad guys blast away at each other. I don't really know what happened to the Ewoks, but I'm guessing a lot died, because they're so little.


Anyway, so at some point, Luke finds out that Darth Vadar is his father. Maybe from this little green dude with big ears, Yoda, that lives in a cave. He is apparently, like, the smartest dude in the universe or something, like a sage. I think that's when Luke learns he has the force, although I don't really know what that means. So then that old dude that has been giving Luke advice teaches Luke how to use a LightSaber sword, because apparently that's way harder than it looks, and Luke is able to kill Darth Vadar and save Lea. Even though Darth Vadar plays the "you wouldn't kill your father, would you?" card, Luke kills him anyway, cause his dad's a dirtbag. Then I think since Darth Vadar is dead, its kinda like killing the head vampire, because all the Storm Troopers all just kinda stop fighting then. Or maybe it was just that he was a real bad boss and they're glad he's dead. Either way, the good guys won.

Dressing for Parties at CYC

So for those who don't know, I work as a bartender for the Commonwealth Yacht Club, here in Grand Rivers. Not only is it a beautiful place to work and has the greatest employees ever *wink*, but it also is a super fun place to work where I actually, honestly, like my job. Of course, one of the reasons is because the members are all really cool people, but the shopaholic in me REALLY loves the fact that I get to dress up for all the parties we have. Usually, all the events I have worked have been easy to dress for, because of the theme or color involved made it a no brainer. St. Patty's Day? Wear the green shirt. Derby Day? Glue stuff to hat, find shirt that matches junk glued to hat. However, in trying to pick out a dress to wear to work the Commodore's Ball coming up on March 28th, I struggled to find something just right. This is the first Commordore's Ball I have worked, so I wasn't sure what to wear that fit the occasion, is dressy, and still practical to work in. Especially since when I asked if I could wear a dress instead of a tuxedo shirt, my manager hesitated, and seemed to say with her face, "well, as long as it isn't all sexy Corinne..." So after much deliberation, and by deliberation I mean 2 hours of online shopping, I just bought this little number:

Here are some of my ensembles from past parties, although all slighty less formal events:

Derby Day 2007

Fashion Show 2007

I can't wait till March 28th now! Thank you CYC, for always giving me an excuse to shop!

Happy St. Patty's Day! Thats how we roll...

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here we celebrate with good friends, good food, and drinkin' all things green, of course! I made my old family recipe of Irish Soda Bread, which is a coveted recipe, especially since mom always said, "we're Irish, and the Irish don't cook," and it was, of course, delish. I also had a big appetitizer spread with smoked salmon rolls with horseradish sauce (no corned beef in this house, since I don't eat beef or pork and everyone humours me), real Irish cheese and crackers, little green pinwheels (not Irish, but green and super yum!), hummus, and then, of course, my friends brought chicken salad, chicken breasts, and rolls for the perfect snacky St. Pat's meal. Nothing like enjoying the company of good friends!

Happy St. Patty's Day! May the luck of the Irish be with ye!

6x6

So my blogger friends have missed me! Good to know, cause here I put all my thoughts out there on the web for all to read, and if noone is there, well, that just makes me the crazy person walking around talking to themselves. You know, like those homeless people we all try not to stare at while we clutch our purse a little tighter to our chest.

In an effort to bring me back to the world of blogging (that people do read- all together now, in the style of Sally Fields, "They like me, they really like me!"), my friend from down under, Annette, has tagged me. Its a 6x6 tag, which means I'm supposed to show you the sixth picture in my sixth folder, which just happens to be titled "Lady and Tramp," after my dog and cat. Here is Lady, when she was just a wee pup:

Cute, right? I love my dog.

So now I have to tag six others, so I'm going to tag those bloggers I follow and see if they read me too!

Aurora's Garden

3 Magpies

Kentucky Lake Views

Miya!

Aunt Deane's Place

Bad Kitty! Art Studio

Kentucky Arts Council News Release- Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet

Kentucky Arts Council's Artist Programs Have March 16 Application Deadline
March 4, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ed Lawrence 502-564-3757 ext. 473 ed.lawrence@ky.gov

FRANKFORT, KY — The Kentucky Arts Council is currently accepting applications for the Kentucky Crafted program, the Performing Arts Directory, and the Arts Education Roster. Online applications are due March 16 and will be reviewed by independent panels to determine acceptance into the various programs. The Kentucky Crafted program is an arts marketing support program for professional visual artists and craftspeople residing in Kentucky. It provides an introduction to wholesale and retail marketing opportunities such as Kentucky Crafted: The Market, the Buyers Market of American Craft and the Capitol Derby Celebration. Once accepted into the program, artists can utilize the Kentucky Crafted ® logo and brand, have representation on the Web through the Kentucky Arts Council's Kentucky Crafted Directory and may receive referral and other promotional benefits. To access guidelines, instructions and application, go to http://artscouncil.ky.gov/guide/prog9/kcmp_gdl.htm. For more information about the Kentucky Crafted program, contact Arts Marketing Program Director Craig Kittner at 502-564-3757 ext. 484, toll free 888-833-2787 or craig.kittner@ky.gov. The Performing Arts Directory promotes, showcases and provides professional development for contemporary and traditional performing artists, companies and groups in Kentucky. Eligible artistic disciplines are dance, music, theatre, storytelling and other performing disciplines. The Performing Arts Directory provides performing arts venues with access to experienced, professional performing artists, as well as showcase and marketing opportunities and training for professional artists. To access guidelines, instructions and application, go to http://artscouncil.ky.gov/guide/prog3/pad_gdl.html. For more information about the Performing Arts Directory, contact Individual Artist Program Director Tamara Coffey at 502-564-3757 ext. 479, toll free 888-833-2787 or tamara.coffey@ky.gov. The Arts Education Roster encourages professional artists to share their talents with Kentucky's students and teachers by working in school residencies. Artists that produce high quality artistic work in all disciplines and demonstrate the competencies to work in an educational environment will have the opportunity to market themselves as teaching artists for fee-based residencies in Kentucky schools. The Kentucky Arts Council's Teacher Initiated Program requires schools to select artists from the Arts Education Roster to conduct the one-, two-, three- or four-week residencies that the grant provides. To access guidelines, instructions and application, go to http://artscouncil.ky.gov/guide/prog3/pad_gdl.html.For more information about the Arts Education Roster, contact Program Branch Manager Chris Cathers at 502-564-3757 ext. 488, toll free 888-833-2787 or christopher.cathers@ky.gov. The Kentucky Crafted Directory, Performing Arts Directory and Arts Education Roster are available online at http://artistdirectory.ky.gov. The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet that creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Dear Corinne,

Dear Corinne,
Lately I have felt very neglected by you. I see that you are off doing things, busy and happy, and wonder why you just don't seem to notice me anymore. Am I not good enough anymore? Is it because I'm getting old? I know I'm not the young, quick thing I was when we first met, but we have had some good times, haven't we? I just don't understand. Ever since the power went out, its like you don't notice me as much anymore. Did you decide you don't need me as much? I'm very confused and hurt. Sure, you still play with me a little everyday, but not with the same zest and passion as before. Its like you're just going through the motions. You just turn me on long enough to check your email and maybe your MySpace, and bam! You're off to other things!

Well, thats fine. Did you ever think maybe I've had enough of you too? Well, I have. Oh, you want to use iTunes all of the sudden? You think the time you spend on me for that, using me when it suits me is supposed to be good enough? Thats fine. Try it, babe. Haha! It isn't working is it?? Cooincidence? I can play games with you too, toots. You better get your act together, because I'm not taking you using me anymore. You better show me some love soon, cause I've had enough. Or you can forget about burning your 100's of cds to that iPod.

Love,
your computer

Day Four and Five of the ice storm

Day Four and Five:

Ice, snow, and cold. Still no power, and still don't know when there will be any either. Cell phones haven't worked in days, so most of the communication we have gotten has been whatever neighbors that have been able to get out and hear have come over and told us. Its like living in the old days, at least as near as I can figure it is. Days are spent with neighbors outside, cutting our way out of the driveway and borrowing/ lending whatever we have to share. At least everyone has been in pretty good spirits still, and we have great neighbors. Our wood burning stove insert in the fireplace has been our only source of heat, but frozen, green wood doesn't burn easily. Our neighbor across the street lent us an ax and splitters, so there's been a lot of wood chopping going on. Everything is a lot of work, but at least the days go fast. The nights are slower. Reading by candlelight and playing board games that you can actually see in semi-dark are more challenging than one might think. We played Uno last night cause that seemed simple in the dark, but blue and green cards look surprisingly alike. Connect Four is easy in the dark, but I must be tired cause the kid beat me over half the time! If there's no power this weekend, we've decided to go to Illinois for some power and warm showers. Of course that, too, involves planning, since the gas stations that are actually open are about 30 minutes away in the opposite direction, but I want a shower so bad...

Day Three of the Ice Storm

Day Three:

Everything is a total mess, but even after the house shaking all night from the falling trees and branches, which was terrifying at times, we got really lucky. Everything missed the house by a foot all the way around. There's a branch on the roof, but it didn't seem to go through. Even better, in walking around the house assessing the damage, Tramp, who has been missing for two days, came out from hiding under the AC/heating unit totally fine. I cried from relief. I had half expected to find him under a branch or something.

Day Two of the Ice Storm

Day two:
Crunching and crashing is all I have heard all day and night. Falling trees and limbs shake and rock the house, and even in the distance sound close. Probably the most unreal winter storm I have ever experienced. Hopefully none of our trees fall on our house. Sleeping tonight will be hard.

The Ice Storm of 2009- day one

Day One, morning:

Everything is covered in ice. Its actually really pretty especially since we never get ice or even really snow down here. I have these berries on my tree; to be honest I have never even noticed them before, but how pretty are they? There are a few branches down and the power is out, but it isn't so bad besides that.

Day One, evening:

Its been doing this freezing rain thing/ snow all day off and on. Its pretty but cold without power. At least we have some firewood to burn from this summer's bonfires and wood left from Ike knocking down trees, and a fireplace/ wood stove to burn it in. Plus two laptops=two movies, one tonight and one tomorrow assuming the power is still out, which I am guessing it will be.

Stay tuned for my day to day replay of my mental and photo journal of our lovely ice storm that knocked out the power for two weeks. I'm sooooo glad to have my power and internet back!

Grand Rivers is in the top ten!

I have often thought that I live in the most beautiful resort town in Kentucky, part of what brought me here four years ago in the first place. Now, Southern Living Magazine's wonderful readers agree with me! January's issue put our town in the top ten of these two categories, only a few years after Cosmopolitan magazine named our Lighthouse Landing one of the most romantic places to be kissed!

Best Scenic View
1. Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Tennessee

2. Grandfather Mountain, Linville, North Carolina

3. Chimney Rock Park, North Carolina

4. Grand Rivers Jetty, Kentucky (pictured below)

Jetty Sunset, Corinne Sullivan 2007, oil on canvas, 16x20

5. Rock City Gardens, Lookout Mountain, Georgia

6. Cades Cove, Tennessee

7. (tie) Clingman’s Dome, North Carolina/Tennessee

7. (tie) Stone Mountain, Georgia

9. Brasstown Bald, Georgia

10. Mount Magazine, Arkansas



Best Small Town
1. Beaufort, South Carolina

2. Fairhope, Alabama

3. Fredericksburg, Texas

4. Blowing Rock, North Carolina

5. Franklin, Tennessee6. Eureka Springs, Arkansas

7. Oxford, Mississippi

8. Grand Rivers, Kentucky

9. Madison, Georgia

10. Hendersonville, North Carolina

That's how we do it in Kentucky...

My dad totally rocks. He has always loved to spend time with me, and loves to hang out with his granddaughter too. He also loves guns, and last Christmas bought Sierra a 22/ 410 for her first gun ever. This Christmas he came down to spend the holiday with us, and got to help Sierra shoot it. Thank goodness we live in Kentucky, where the neighbors think nothing of hearing gunshots outside when you shoot at boxes and cans in the backyard!

We got a new dog!

Anyone who knows me knows I can be very impulsive and spontaneous. So to those people, it may come as no surprise that this weekend, when we went to PetSmart to buy a few fish to replace Roger and Larry, our two fish who met their maker shortly before Christmas, we instead came out with a dog. But in all fairness, PetSmart doesn't usually have dogs, unless you count the ones people bring in. So when we were looking for fish and I happened to notice cages all along the back of the store full of dogs, I HAD to go say hi. I mean, looking at all the animals at PetSmart is the closest thing we have to a zoo here. When this little Rat Terrier looked at me through the bars of his little jail, he seemed to say, "please, don't let me stay in the shelter," and later, after learning about his past, "don't let another crazy family take me and be mean to me." Besides, he looks like Lady (except he is alot smaller), and he is the same age too. Oh, and his name is Cubby. It's like it was meant to be!

See? He is little enough to fit in the toy bin! Which he jumped in to bury his bone almost right away. Which, oddly enough, turned out to be a pretty good hiding place for it since it stayed there for two days with two dogs in the house.

I hope everyone else's new year brings them happy surprises too!