A Tribute to Monty Python

Sometimes when you're looking for something interesting to blog about that something finds you. With the short week and all the packing necessary to get us to Savannah I haven't had much time to actually even think about blogging. yeah, I know that's hard to believe but it happens.

This morning as I was leaving the local grocer I saw this "thing" lying on the pavement near my van. I took a closer look and I actually laughed out loud which freaked out the lady parked next to me. You know why? Because THIS PARROT HAS CEASED TO BE!

On the Palette


Cerulean Blue: Once again we've said a farewell to one of Ben's nurses. Nurse Lisa worked her last shift here last Wednesday and most likely it will be permanent. At least we're all hoping so. That is because all of us are hoping this is a success! Go over there and give her your best prayers, hopes, and wishes. I know she will appreciate it.

Cadmium Red: I'll be scratching Saluda, North Carolina off of my show list next year. I knew I was taking a chance on a very young small town festival but I had the weekend open and it was only a 45-minute drive into the foothills. I was rewarded with my very first zero sales day. The only saving grace was that my friend Pat Cato did rather well plus I had another one of those "reunions" with some special folks from my past. I'm saving that one for another post later in the week.

Emerald Green: The family has been looking forward to this coming week. All of us head to the Savannah area for Memorial Day Weekend. I'll be working at the River Street Festival Friday through Sunday along side many of my best artist friends including Christy Buchanan, Lynn Shore, Kathleen Hunt, and Myron Whitaker. Joan and the kids will be getting some much needed R & R at Skidaway Island State Park.

If you're down our way come and say hello!

Our Tough Little Man

Obviously Ben is not an adult quite yet. He's got many years ahead before anyone would consider him as such. But today was one of those days I was reminded that he's definitely a young man.

The term manhood can mean many things. An adult male, a teen aged boy coming of age, taking on adult responsibilities, or even becoming a father. I haven't checked Webster's but I'm certain you can conger your own images to define what manhood is all about.

Thursday is therapy day for Ben. Although he gets other therapies at school during the week (mostly on Wednesday) today is the day that Nurse Stacey and I take Ben to a place down the street for pretty intense workout.

Ben was an absolute ball of energy this morning. Stacey is real good at preparing him for his visit by telling him where we are going and urging him to work hard when we arrive. For some reason this really excited him today and it truly paid off! The three therapists working with him, along with me and Stacey, agreed that this was the best session yet. It was amazing to see the progress he has made over the past few months. As a father I couldn't have been prouder had he hit a ninth inning game-winning home run. This was far more important than any little league game.

That is not to belittle those things other children accomplish. It's just that Ben really gets it. The kid wants to sit up, walk, run, and play like any other child. But Ben is different. He has had to pay a huge price just to get to the place he is now.

There are days that he is soaking wet from sweat after he finishes with therapy. That's the kind of thing you see at a gym after a physical workout which is exactly what Ben has done. A workout. Just to be able to sit up on a his own little fanny.

This afternoon we took him to the surgeon who put in his feeding tube so we could switch it out for one that will be easier to maintain. The whole family ended up in attendance. Essentially the old tube had to be yanked from his stomach via the 1/4 inch whole near his belly button that serves as a port. It was heart-breaking to see and hear him scream once it happened. Jessie in fact nearly became hysterical in trying to ease her brothers pain.

It was one of those moments that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Ben looked up at Jessie and saw her fear. Immediately he began to smile. You could still see the tension in his face but calming his sister was much more important to him at that moment than dealing with the obvious pain he was feeling.

Both of today's appointments clearly illustrate why Ben is my hero. Ben faces challenges everyday that seem somewhat trivial to those who might not understand the life of an exceptional child. Yet he still accepts those trials willingly and with incredible determination. He has also endured more than his fair share of pain. Yet in the midst of it he can reach out to those he loves to ease their fears and let them know that the experience will pay off in the long run. If those two qualities don't make him a man I don't know what will.

Recommended



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The Random Seven

Jessi, a dear blog friend asked me to do a meme a few weeks days ago. If you've not visited Jessi's site yet then you should. She has a rare bone disease called MHE. Not only has Jessi become one of those heroes of mine who is defeating the debilitating part of her prognosis, she's also living life to its fullest as a young lady just beginning the search for her life's place. Jessi's not only gorgeous to gaze upon but she also has incredible intelligence and an inner strength to achieve whatever she desires. I want to apologize to her for waiting so long to do this. For a change I do have some good excuses!

First I've been really busy in the studio. When the creative juices start permeating every pore of an artist's skin you work. Thankfully that has been the case for almost a month now.

Secondly, I'm in the middle of an eight week tour of duty so to speak. April started with the "funnel cloud experience" in Savannah and concluded at Myrtle Beach. I now have two weekends to go before some time off. Good stuff my friends!

When I have been in town, Ben's schedule has been full of semi-annual doctor appointments. Besides the recent trip to Rock Hill to visit his ENT, we've also seen his pulmonologist, his orthopedist, and this week his gastrointerologist. That's a lot of "docs ologists" for one month.

So without further ado, here are five random things about me, one about Ben, and one about me and Ben.

1. I smoke a pipe. Tobacco kids...honestly just tobacco. Back in college I was actually known to "inhale" unlike a former president of the USA. For the record I do avoid being near Ben since he is prone to lung problems. According to my other family members this habit is much better than my former vices of dipping Skoal or smoking Marlboro Lights.

2. I love wine. Vice number two, you might say. I am a white wine person. Chardonnay is my preference. Reds make me fall asleep immediately or worse, make me mean. Just like most liquors. Which I avoid...unless I have the opportunity for the occasional Bloody Mary at the beach.

3. Ben loves being in a bathtub. My boy can reek sometimes if he's not had a "Big Boy Bath." He loves water and isn't afraid of it (much to his mother's chagrin). The two of us have a grand time in the tub usually about once a week. This is a two-person (sometimes three) activity not including Ben. It's sort of like holding a 40 pound infant while he gets a bath except I'm not about to attempt to fit in the kitchen sink.

4. Ben and I both have some freaky toenails. In fact all of Ben's toe and fingernails grow like weeds. We're clipping those daggers about twice a week lest the young man cuts Elmo's jugular. As for me I could do surgery with my pinkie toenails. Joan calls 'em my "coke nails." For those that remember some episodes of Miami Vice back in the 1980s, the occasional Columbian drug lord would grow a fingernail longer (usually a pinkie) to use as a spoon to test the cocaine. I'm still trying to figure out how I'd get my foot to my face. No I'm not. The thought just made my back hurt.

5. I like to be by myself after a day in the booth. As much as I enjoy meeting folks at art shows I turn down most opportunities to hang out with folks afterwards. That doesn't include family. I love it when they are around. I guess it's because I don't have to put on airs...or heirs...or hairs...something like that. You all can join me around the fire pit at the camper any time though. Let's just not converse a lot. Drink, yes. Talk? Not so much.

6. I hate Lima Beans and English Peas. I can eat any other vegetable. In fact I love them all. Except for Lima Beans and English Peas. I've been through Lima, Ohio several times and had no problem with the Limas...or Limians...or Lima locals but Lima Beans? I hate 'em.

I liked English classes back in school. In fact I speak English very fluently. I enjoy meeting people from England - they have a really cool accent. But English Peas? If they had their own country I'd vote to nuke it (I wouldn't include the peas on Veggie Tales because they're pretty funny).

One of my favorite veggies is okra. Yes, that slimy hairy green thing that scares the devil out of your Northern colons...I love me some of that. Fry it, pickle it, boil it, stew it, I'll eat it. Serve me some Lima Beans and English Peas? I'd rather drink my own urine, thank you very much.

7. I'm addicted to Sudoku. It used to be crossword puzzles until Redneck Mommy challenged me in an e-mail last year to try 'em. Thanks for the addiction, Tannis. I now play it at USA Today and MSNBC every day. I also have a version for my Play Station Portable and check the local papers daily when I'm traveling.

So if you want to play along just leave me some linky love and a comment below.

Toughing Things Out on Tybee

All I can say is that I am completely exhausted. This should have been an easy show but the city of Tybee Island made things difficult for us who arrived early on Friday to set up. To protect the "lawn" you see pictured in the photo, which looks exactly like it did back in November, the city would not allow our vehicles on the park grounds just to drop off our gear.

So yours truly, who is probably more physically fit than many of the participating vendors, suffered greatly late Friday afternoon. After hauling my gear for about 50 yards and then setting up in 93 degree temperatures, I had to meet the guy representing the publishing company. Thank God Christy was around to keep our conversation on track.

The meeting was wonderful to say the least. I haven't even told my mom about the details but expect Dragon Pencil to be our new publisher! I'll share more details as they arrive but I have a good feeling about the joint venture and its potential. Again it was great that my friend was around to verify all the information I needed to digest given that I was about to pass out during the first 30 minutes of our conversation.

Evidently one of the artists participating in the show went into city hall and raised Hell with the city manager in regards to the "load-in" procedure. By Saturday morning we were able to unload at our booth area and park somewhere nearby. My friends, that is the normal thing that happens. Unfortunately I'm still getting cramps in my calves from Friday's unexpectant ordeal.

Overall the weekend was successful. Those of you following the news know that many of us on the Georgia coast dodged a bullet since the severe storms predicted for Tybee Island went south of us on Saturday night. About half the artists packed up and left Saturday night. After torrential rains throughout yesterday morning the skies cleared and most of us who remained had decent sales.

I truly love the area. In fact this was the first time I got to venture into the downtown area. I will say though that the parking situation is absolutely HORRIBLE. There is a parking meter at every available spot and the police monitor those things like a moth on a light bulb. I was lucky. I got pulled over doing 43 mph in a 35 mph zone Saturday night but I only got a warning ticket because the cop had to head to a bar fight.

Funny thing about that. You can carry an alcoholic beverage out of a bar in any kind of container around those parts so fights are gonna happen. I'd get into a fight too if someone took my parking space even if I hadn't been drinking.

Where the Turtles Cross the Highway

In a few moments I'm headed to Tybee Island, Georgia just outside of Savannah. This is a show I've been looking forward to. This will be the first event of the year that both me and my friend Christy Buchanan participate in. We have a lot to catch up on since we haven't seen each other since November.

Tomorrow afternoon I'll be meeting with a potential publisher for our next Telly Turtle book. I'm also hoping he'll throw some illustration jobs my way. Having some extra work during the lean months would definitely help us out so wish me luck with that.

As always I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Be safe and come back soon!

Ear, Nose, & Throat

Sometime in the coming few weeks we'll be carrying Ben back to see Dr. Parsons. Ever since the initial tracheotomy the goal has been to eventually remove it. Over the past two or three years Ben has increasingly shown an ability to breath through his mouth and nose.

One of our main concerns is a fairly new one. The photo to to your left doesn't quite do it justice but the bone growth of Ben's nose is moving toward his right side. Oddly that is also the direction that his severe case of scoliosis has taken. Evidently we can chalk up another of his anomalies to the lack of white matter in his brain.

The slant is now so evident that Ben looks like a boxer whose had his nose broken and never had it reset. Ironically breaking his nose could very well be one of the options we have to choose from to remedy the situation. Our hope is that we don't have to go that far. Regardless Ben will be going under anesthesia in the near future which is not something we look forward to but we have the greatest trust in Dr. Parson's care for our child.

Essentially the good doctor will be looking down his airway to his lungs via his mouth. He'll also take a good long look into his ears and of course his nasal passage. If everything goes well then we might finally achieve that ultimate goal.

The really humorous part of all of this is the memory of Parsons breaking the news to us in the NICU that Ben would have to be trached. At the time Joan and I were devastated. We couldn't even imagine having to care for a child with a hole in his neck. Nowadays we can't imagine Ben living without that hole in his neck! As Dr. Parsons told his nurse yesterday, we're preparing to take away Mom and Dad's security blanket. I'm thinking I might just have to revert back to thumb-sucking.

The Miracle Man

Long time readers will obviously think the title refers to Ben. And even though Ben's remarkable life has been one miracle after another, there have many many others along the way that have used their talents to keep our son healthy and alive. One of those individuals is Dr. David Parsons.

As a pediatric ear, nose, & throat specialist Dr. Parsons has been one of our son's primary physicians since Ben's lengthy stay in the NICU. By performing a tracheotomy on Ben at two months of age, David is a huge if not the sole reason Ben survived those early months.

The good doctor has been able to insert tubes in Ben's ears when others said it couldn't be done. He reconstructed Ben's airway so that in all likelihood Ben will eventually be able to breath without the trache. And through the years he's kept a sharp eye on Ben's lung and nasal issues via numerous bronchoscopies using medical equipment he invented.

If you haven't clicked on the provided link above to Dr. Parson's biography this would be a good time to do so. Colonel Parson's is also a Vietnam veteran and ace fighter pilot. The accolades earned by this gentleman are extraordinary and yet he is as humble and friendly as a lamb. He and I made a wonderful connection early on when we discovered our love of playing guitar.

With all of that said the Greenville community sadly said goodbye to him about 2 & a half years ago when he "retired" and moved to Charlotte to be closer to his children. Although Ben has had adequate EN&T care since it just hasn't been the same without one of Ben's "original team members." It has actually felt like a part of our family moved away.

To make a long story short, Ben had a regularly scheduled visit to his pulmonologist recently. We were thrilled to discover that Dr. Parsons was practicing once again and had an office in South Carolina! Dr. Jane Gwynn is referring many of her most vulnerable patients to him.

Me, Joan, and Ben made the trek up to Rock Hill, South Carolina today for a terrific reunion. Tomorrow I will share some of the concerns we've been having about Ben and our plan of action Dr. Parson is taking within the next few weeks. In the meantime I'd like for you to visit Dr. Parson's ministry website. That will tell you even more amazing information about him and how he is making our world a better place! Ben is my hero but David Parsons is right up there with him.

Saturday in the Park

It wasn't the 4th of July but it sure had all of the images the old Chicago song mentioned. In fact I would say that the First Annual Larkin's on the River Carolina Festival was a rousing success if you asked me or my booth partner, Pat Cato. Not only did we have a blast but we made some decent money to boot! You can't ask for anything better from a first time event.

The threat of rain probably held the crowd to a lower expectation even though we felt only a few drops in the morning hours. By the time we tore down yesterday the clouds had parted leaving sunny bright blue skies. It ended up being a perfect spring afternoon.

Evidently Pat and I were the only artists having success. I think that speaks volumes about our passion for our respective art styles and our senses of humor. We knew we'd make a good team, we just didn't know how well. I guess when you are having fun doing what you do others begin to feed off of it.

Despite a few "birth pangs" I plan on being at the festival again next year. As artists we were treated very well and we expect this festival to become even better in the coming years. Plus it was really nice to do a show and then sleep in my own bed last night!

This photo is looking south on the Reedy River. The concrete structure behind the walking bridge is Main Street. Our booth is partially visible on the left.

The best part of the day was the surprise visit by artist friend and peer Pat Kilburg (on the right). Back in the fall when I was a member of a local gallery I referred to the two Pats as my "homies." I sure do miss working Wednesday mornings with PatK! PatC is on the left. Both are true inspirations to me, not only as artists but as people you want to be like.

Local breweries and wineries brought wonderful beverages to share with the patrons. This is the interior of the Hartness Pavilion which is essentially the exterior shell of an old textile mill. The old textile mills are an architectural influence on Greenville's landscape. A century ago , the mill villages were so competitive that they produced many superb athletes including Greenville native "Shoeless" Joe Jackson who made the big leagues playing baseball.

This is a view of the amphitheater on the Peace Center grounds. The Roger C. Peace Center for the Performing Arts is the centerpiece of Greenville's revitalization efforts. Our city has gained so much notoriety for our renaissance that city leaders from across the nation and even international communities regularly visit us.