Remembering...

To live in hearts we leave behind, Is not to die.~Thomas Campbell, Hallowed Ground

Happy Mother's Day, Losing 50 lbs., and School's Out!!!

Hi y'all

It has been awhile since I blogged, so a bit to get caught up with! First off Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there! Here is a link to a funny musical video about mothers and what they typically say in a day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

Here is a pic of me having lost 50 pounds. I am not sure how much thinner I look in this photo.... but trust me.... in person ... I am willow-like ... lol. I feel much better healthwise and plan on losing at least 50 more pounds...then I will be skinny!!! Well more skinny anyway.

Last Friday was the last day of finals and I submitted all my grades that day as well. Always a relief to have that over with. Yesterday was commencement at SOSU and fortunately it was partly cloudy and there was a breeze. So it was mostly bearable to sit through. Nothing like having faculty and students all cloaked in black caps and gowns sitting in the middle of SOSU's football field soaking up the hot Oklahoma summer sun! Ahhh tradition....lol. As the saying goes: "Just because it is tradition doesn't mean it is not stupid!"

I have a few weeks off before summer classes start. The 2 summer classes I am teaching, Webpage Design and Ceramics, both made enrollment. So I must start preparing to stay at least a chapter ahead of my students. I also hope to use this time to get some new artwork done. My sister-in-law Catherine has requested me to make some Raku pendants to go with her jewelry work. Always fun to do collaborative art work!

Jamie and Andrew don't finish up school until May 23, poor lil buggars...lol. But after that time, I will have them for a couple of weeks visitation. And as always, it is great to have them for extended lengths of time. I am looking forward to it.

Well that is about all I know for now. Love to one and all. Make it a great day and Peace. Jack

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone all the best for 2008!
A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. Anonymous

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to one and all. Jamie and Andrew were here last weekend until Christmas Eve. J, A, and I would like to say thanks to Nana, Uncle Gary, Aunt Carol and Aunt Cathi for their Christmas gifts. They had a good time here with new games and shopping with Chistmas money. Christmas day was quiet by comparison. J and A will be back this Sunday for 5 days to bring in the New Year. Love and Peace.

Miss ya, Bro!

It is hard to believe two years have passed.
Miss ya, Bro! Much more than many know.
This quote sounds like something he would have wanted; "Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you there." ~ Isla Paschal Richardson

"Sorrow makes us all children again - destroys all differences of intellect. The wisest know nothing." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy T-Day, New Pics of J and A

Happy T-Day. Here is Jamie and Andrew's new portrait pics for this year. Aren't they just a couple of handsome young lads! J and A are with me for the Thanksgiving break. Nice to have them here for an extended time period. We shall feast on Turkey TV dinners! Lol.

Well not much else new down here in Okie land.

Take care and peace to one and all.

Jack, Jamie and Andrew.

Raku Rumble, Cat Show, Guitar Hero 3 and the Kids

Hey there! I figured seeing that I have not blogged in like forever, I would blog. This past weekend I was part of the Inaugeral Raku Rumble in Downtown Denison, TX. This was a fun event to be a part of, it was great to Raku with a number of clayart-making friends of mine. I even sold a few small pieces. Woohoo! For more info on this event check out: http://www.smalltownbigart.com/ I also managed to do a pottery wheel demo at Artplace Gallery as well. Artplace displays my paintings, sculptures and photos: and sometimes even sell a few pieces. Here is a link to my gallery space at Artplace: http://www.artplacegallery.com/gallery10_ousey.htm

I just sent some of my artwork with a collegue to be entered an artshow at Grayson College called The Catshow. I entered a couple of Photoshop Manipulated Photos of cats...one with Smokey as the subject....sleeping as per usual. I posterized it and pumped up the blues and oranges and entitled it...'Ball of Fire'.

The other photo was of 2 cats that a student of mine took: the 2 cats were sleeping sort of like the Yin Yang symbol....I photoshopped it and also posterized it and pumped up the blues and oranges....looks kind of expressionistic. So this one was a team effort. The other piece I entered was...of course... a Cat head whistle. And I entitled it....you could have guessed it....'Catcall'...Har har har!

Last week I bought Guitar Hero 3 for the Wii...it is a blast to play. Jamie is quite good at it. He also has the advantage....as he has the playstation version Guitar Hero 2 at his Mom's house. But it much fun to rock out on the guitar...brings back many fond memories of when I played in the band. Apparently they are going to come out with Drum Hero as well. NOW WE ARE TALKIN! That should be a blast....can't wait.

Jamie and Andrew are doing well in their respective schools and I get them for visitation this weekend. As usual, I look forward to having them. Well that is about all that is news in my part of the world.

This morning on NPR radio, at the end of one of the morning announcers shows; rather than saying the usual, "Have a good day". He said, "Make it a good day." That has stuck with me all day. I quite like the notion of being pro-active and Making it a good day. The choice is yours....Make it a Good Day!!!

Peace and love, Jack

Back to School, Busy Busy Busy

Well it has been quite some time since I posted. I read my sister-in-law's last couple of blogs and was guilt-tripped into blogging :) Another school year has once again started...and it is back to being busy busy busy. The weeks just seem to fly by when school starts back up. Jamie and Andrew also started at their new schools and according to both....they like their schools. So all is well in that area. Hard to believe that Jamie will be in th grade and Andrew will be in 3rd. As the saying goes... time flies! I have them for visitation for most of the upcoming Labor day long weekend. As always, I look forward to them being here.

I understand from Gary's blog and email that Mom has received word on being able to move into here new place.....Yeah! I am sure she will look forward to that. When I was in Victoria this past summer, Gary took me and the kids by to look at the place she will moving into. Although we only saw the exterior....it looks like a very nice place and I think she will be happy there.

Well not much other news around this neck of the woods. So I will sign off for now and try to post a little more frequently.

Peace to all.

In Remembrance

In Remembrance

Dennis Neil Ousey

Beloved Brother and Uncle

Guess now, who holds thee?
"Death," I said. But there
The silver answer rang
"Not Death, but Love."
-Elizabeth Barret Browning-

A good visit, frigging coooold, and hard to believe

Good to hear Gary and Carolyn made it safely to warmer climes. It is always great to have them here for a visit. When Andrew came on Wednesday eve for visitation he asked where the RV was...and was sad to learn that Uncle Gary and Aurt Carol had left. Andrew and Jamie both made mention of how much they enjoyed their visit. And a big thanks for Carol for making the Pulled Pork bunwiches....very tasty indeed!!! The chocolate cake for my B-day was good too....not quite like Jeanie's....but hell....chocolate is chocolate!!! The only one that doesn't care for chocolate is Jamie....so I say...he either takes after his Uncle Dennis in taste or he is just plain ol adopted...lol. Well...he looks too much like me to be adopted....so I guess I have to go with the genetic traits.

The university closed down Thursday afternoon for the impending 'Blizzard' and closed Friday because of freezing rain and snow. Well by Winnipeg's standards of 'blizzard'...this was a walk in the park. In fact most of the snow was melted by Friday Afternoon. But down here an inch of snow constitutes closing down most institutions....I find it funny...but what the heck...an extra day off is always welcome. I guess in fact we were lucky because if it was a few degrees colder or if we lived a few miles further north it would have been much worse. Oklahoma City and Tulsa both had about 10 to 15 inches of snow....so they had in fact something more akin to a blizzard. Oh well, lucky us....I think it is in the low 50's today...so back to normal weather for this time of year here.

It is hard to believe that it has been almost a year since Dennis's passing. I don't think a day goes by that I don't think about him in one way or another. He was and will always be a strong influence on my life. I feel blessed and fortunate to have had him as one of my big brothers. I am glad that Jamie and Andrew were able to experience, albeit all too briefly, his affectionate nature, his great sense of humor and his love for his fellow human beings. He is sorely missed, but his memory will always live on in us all.

"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity." -Henry Van Dyke-

I think Dennis would have agreed with those sentiments. Peace.

Halloween Pic of Jamie and Andrew

Here they are the Dynamic Duo...Captain Underpants and Ninja Jamie. They went from house to house taking candy from the rich and distributing it to the poor...well not really. They collected from the houses with lights on and chowed down on the candy themselves. This picture was brought to you by the 'better late than never guy', commonly referred to by these 2 superheroes as Daddy.

'I used to like Batman when I was a kid. I was about five years old and my mum had a 1960s belt - remember those wide belts - and I stuck packets of cigarettes to it and painted it yellow and that was my utility belt. And I had a sheet from crepe paper and a mask and that was it.' -Gary Oldman-

Carol at 65, Ninja, Captain Underpants and Be Peace.

Hey there all....hard to believe it is almost T-day down here in Okie land. The semester has been just zipping along. I am looking forward to Gary and Carolyn's visit....and also a BIGGG HAPPY 65th Birthday goes out to Carolyn from Jamie, Andrew and myself. Looking at Gary's blog...looks like they have been celebrating for some time....must be like the 12 days of Carol's B-day...lol.

Jamie and Andrew had a fun time going out Trick or treating...as per usual. Jamie was a 'Ninja' and Andrew was 'Captain Underpants'...lol...they were both cute as ever. They both got their report cards and Jamie got straight A's and Andrew got all A's and one B+...so way to go guys!!!
Well not much other news around here....so I will say bye for now and ... if you want to know peace...be peace.

Oh ya....way to go Democrats!!!!!....wooohooo!!!

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
-Jimi Hendrix-

Annual Draining of the Pool, Bells, Snare and Fetch.

Hello all....not much happening down south here in the land of Okies. School/work is going well...although the semester seems to be zipping along rather quickly. Funny how it seems to do that every semester. First it is Monday and before you know it, it is Friday....swoosh!!!!...another week bites the dust.

I drained the kids' pool last weekend...takes awhile to drain 1500 gallons of water...lol...and let it dry for a week and folded it up and put it away today with the help of j and a....well mostly Jamie...lol. Seemed rather odd putting the pool away...considering it was in the low 90's...but the cooler weather will be here soon enough.

Catherine and I went halfers on Jamie's new instrument of choice....yes it is a fact...he is going to be following in the family tradition of drums. In 5th grade, the students start playing band instruments and he chose the snare drum. But he has to start off with 'bells' first...bells for those of you uninformed in the world of bells is a 2 and 1/2 octave set of what looks to me like a xylophone. He seems happy playing them...he gets to learn to read music via learning bells. He then later moves on to the snare. He now has a set of bells, snare, stand, practice pad, sticks, and case on wheels. He seems happy about his choice, so far. We will see if he sticks with it.

Andrew is progressing along well in 2nd grade...although he must read more at home(s)...which is a good activity for him anyway and for the parental units.

Zoe seems to be adjusting to life here rather well. She gets along well the ruler of the house, the cat 'Smokey'. They sleep side by each in my room on respective beds on the floor...so all is well there. Jamie and Andrew played with Zoe for quite awhile today...getting her to fetch her rubber bone....she is a good fetcher. Lives up to her lineage of being a Retriever.
Well bye for now and remember...
"To err is human:To forgive, canine."- Anonymous

Back to school, Solo Art Show, and All is Well

Well we all have been back in school for the past couple of weeks. Jamie in 5th grade has now entered Middle School (grades 5-8) and Andrew is now in 2nd grade. I am teaching Digital Imaging 1 and 2, Computer Graphics 1, 3D Design and Ceramics 1 and 3. All courses I have taught before....so other than learning more about the computer programs and tweaking the course material, all should be good.

The Faculty Exhibit at the Goddard Center went well. I may have sold a sculpture, but have not officially heard. So I won't hold my breath. I have a solo exhibit at Artplace Gallery in Denison, Texas for the next month (see postcard). The opening is Saturday Sept. 16. So hopefully there will be a good turn out for that. The show mainly consists of my new paintings in acrylic and watercolor/mixed media. Other than that, all is well with everyone here. Bye for now.

In memory of Lucky, Hello to Zoe

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." - Roger Caras

I took Lucky in for what I thought was an abssessed tooth...it turned out that it was a tumor in which the Vet said was the type that if operated on and he was able to remove it all, it would more than likely return. So based on his age and not wanting Lucky to suffer any more than necessary, I decided to have him put down. A decision that is never easy to make. He had a good long life. From my guesstimate he was about 14 years old...I had him for 11 years and he was a stray and was at least 3 years when he showed up in the front yard, the same day I moved to Tish. He was a sweet, loyal and loving dog and loved his leather doggie treats. I dearly miss him.

Hellooooo Zoe, formally know as Sassy, then Jackie, then Zackie and then finally ZOE. Zoe is approx. 2 years old and was found at the Tishomingo Animal Shelter by my loving son Jamie. He did not want to see his dear ol' Dad living alone without a dog. He is most definitely a sweet and caring boy. Zoe is a very mild-mannered and very well-behaved retriever. She has very soft fur and a personality to match. She was a mother of 10 pups...all of which were adopted at the shelter except her. I prefer adopting adult dogs anyway...as you pretty much know what your getting much more than a puppy. She gets along well with Smokey like any cat (Garfield for example) tolerates the Dawgggg...lol. Zoe is a welcome addition. Thanks Jamie, you made a very good choice, I love you!

“In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him."

Awards, Jurying, Summer Classes

Hey all.....well with a little prodding from my sister-in-law....klog on bleeping woman...lol...here I update me ol blog.

Jamie and Andrew both passed their grade levels and will be moving on...Jamie will be in 5th grade and Andrew will be in 2nd...hard to believe that Jamie will be in middle school. Jamie raked in a whole pile of honor awards. He got straight A's and is on the 'A' honor roll. He also got a citizenship award and a 'Student of Today' award from the Tishomingo Masonic Lodge for demonstrating outstanding scholarship, leadership, citizenship, and integrity. He also got a President's (as in Bush) Award for Educational Excellence. In all, he recieved about 9 awards. He is a smart and caring little boy and deserves every award he earned. So that would be 'One Big Atta Boy for Jamie'.

Andrew had all A's except for one B so he was on the 'A and B' Honor Roll. So rah rah ziz boom bah for him too...he is doing well in school and his teacher was rather impressed with his progress. I am very proud of them both.

Well it is official....I am now or will be as of August 1st on Tenure Track at the Assistant Professor level at SOSU....woooohoooo. So until I get tenured and beyond...I get a bit of a pay raise and I don't have to worry about paying for health insurance over the summer. So if I teach in the summer...woohoo for me...it is extra money and I don't have to sweat it if my classes will make or not.

I finally broke down and bought a 2 gallon aquarium with 2 goldfish in it. I know it is small and probably just the thin edge of the wedge in aquariumville. Probably sooner than later...I will be back having 6 aquariums as I did years ago. So Joel...I will probably be needing your advice on underwater gardening and designing.

I also bought a small amp and inexpensive electric guitar for the boys...well for me too. I forgot how much I like farting around on playing the guitar....pretty cathartic or therapeutic...oh hell....it is just plain ol fun. And who knows....maybe J or A will get hooked on playing it too.

On Friday, I was the juror of the Magnolia Festival Art Show in Durant and got to select the award winners of that show. I also was the Juror for the Goddard Center annual juried show and got to select the work to be in the show and that award winners. I also juried the Collin County Community College Annual Art Show in Plano, TX this spring alos. Must be my year to be a juror (judge)...it is fun being able to select a show and pick the winners.

Well I start Summer classes tomorrow. Well at least a Clay 1 and 2 class that are scheduled concurrently at the same time. My digital photo class did not make...boohoo...well that is probably good as I am trying to get some 'new' art done for the SOSU faculty show that is going to be at the Goddard Center in Ardmore this summer. I have been painting a bit and doing some digital photo stuff....not much in the way of clay sculpting. The work has to be there June 27th...so YIKES....better get my butt in gear. Well that is about all the news from down here in the land of Okies.
TTFN.....Jack, Jamie, and Andrew

Soccer, Baseball, Tenure Track

Hey there all.....I see Cathi is in the middle of major repairs of her house...Looks like she will be qualified to become a general contractor soon. te he

Jamie and Andrew are in the midst of their soccer season. Jamie's team ended up in a tie this Saturday...Jamie scored one of the goals in his teams 3 all tie. Way to go Jamie. They both start up in baseball again soon. Andrew is still in T-ball and Jamie is in Machine Pitch. So it will be off to the baseball diamonds for the next 2 months. Fun to watch them play....as long as it is not too darn hot out. So far it has been a mild spring.

I guess all that has to happen now for me to be hired at the Asst Prof/ Tenure Track level is for the VP of the university to sign off on the transaction form. Hopefully he will do that soon.

Well I better get paying some bills here and get to bed. Happy blogging to all.

Easter Eggs, Easter Dinner, Ice Age 2

I am blogging again...wow....amazing!!! I had a nice Easter weekend....went over to Catherine's house on Sunday and watched J and A hunt for eggs in her front yard. They had fun and it was fun to watch them.
Catherine made a delicious Easter dinner which was enjoyed by all. It was nice of her to invite me over and include me in the festivities. It is good for Jamie and Andrew to see that their Mom and Dad get along well as friends. There was quite a crowd there...Rebecca and Stephen, Catherine's roommate Rhonda and her 2 sons and assorted cats and dogs.
We all then went to the movies...about half went to Ice Age 2...which was my choice and I agree with Cathi.....it was really funny.....I thought it was a hoot. The rest went to Scary Movie 4 which did not get rave reviews.....apparently all the funny parts could be seen on the commercials. Oh well...
It was a busy day today at school. Back to advising students for the next semester. Hard to believe this semester is coming to a crashing halt. But in short order, summer session will be upon us. And as I am teaching 2 courses, hopefully, I guess there is no rest for the wicked. Well TTFN and I will try to blog again soon.

Chuckee Cheese and Tenure Track

Well Jamie and Andrew had their annual chuckee cheese b-day blast. They each had a friend come along and had lots of fun playing games and eating pizza. Catherine and myself co-operatively took them there to celebrate. Stephen, Rebecca and a few others came along to celebrate as well. Fun was had by all.
Well I am another step closer to being hired on the good ol Tenure Track Asst. Professor routine. The paperwork has left the Dean's office and all that is left is for the VP of the university to sign off on it. Perhaps I should send him some lovely handmade pottery just to make sure he signs it...lol...j/k. I will be awaiting anxiously waiting at the mailbox for his letter.
I also sent off my taxes today....not tooooo much damage...only owed a couple of hundred dollars.....so I can survive that. When I teach my extra Continuing Education classes they do not take off any deductions....so that is where I am getting dinged. Oh well, better talk to payroll and get them to take off more deductions...hmmm...seems like I am going in the wrong direction there...oh well.
Good to read the blogs.....I realized I had not read them for awhile and had to catch up. Guess I should check more often...lol.
Well let me see if I can end this on a quote.....

Understanding
"But don’t you see that the whole trouble lies here. In words, words. Each one of us has within them a whole world of things, each man of us his own special world. And how can we ever come to an understanding if I put in the words I utter the sense and value of things as I see them; while you who listen to me must inevitably translate them according to the conception of things each one of you has within himself. We think we understand each other, but we never really do."

Luigi Pirandello, Six Characters in Search of an Author

Soccer, Birthdays, School, Art Stuff, Tenure Track

Hey all....well Jamie and Andrew are back playing soccer. Andrew seems to be getting the hang of the game this year...even running and kicking the ball in the right direction!!! Andrew just turned 7 on March 29th...Happy B-day...big boy!!! Hard to believe he is already 7....Jamie turns 10 on April 8th..sheesh...as they say time flies....

We just finished SOSU's Annual High School Curriculum Meet on Thursday and High School Art Workshops today. So we have had our fair share of interaction with HS students. I looked after the junior and senior drawing students on thursday and today I did Two Digital Photo Workshops for students and I think the students had fun and learned a bit about Photoshop's potential. All in all, I think it was a fun time for everyone involved, in the name of recruiting.

As far as my getting hired on a tenure track as an Assistant Professor. It seems like it is a done deal. I have been told that the hiring commitee has deemed me the most qualified applicant for the position. So it seems like it is just a matter of paperwork and of course the President of the university has to sign off on it as well....so it is not finished yet...but on the right track.

Well that is about all that is news around here...take care and I will blog again soon...

"If you think you are bound,
you remain bound;
you make your own bondage.

If you know that you are free,
you are free this moment.
Freedom is the goal of all nature."

-Swami Vivekananda-