Wilding Ways Continue

Leading off with the acrylic on canvas I just completed. The art collective really doesn't know what to do with me as I branch off into the abstract and they work on representational art. While I gave away an oil on canvas completed earlier, this one I will keep. 

Plans change yet again and it seems my wilding ways will continue. Tucker, the Corgi, will continue to live with my son. Having a dog would complicate my burgeoning acting career. While I have always had pets, the amount of time I am away from my apartment would be cruel to any animal. 

I was about to throw in the towel on my "bar hagging." A term my folks would use for an older woman who hung around the bars. One bartender has deemed me a regular at a certain bar. There, I was able to talk to a couple of gentlemen around my certain age. No pick up stuff, just regular conversation. So nice for a lonely gal. I have met quite a few younger men but unfortunately they are around my son's age (40). A bit too young for a gal nearing her 70s. 

Had my first evening meal at home in over 2 months. While it was only a heat-em-up Stouffers, it still was hot food in my own environment. As the weather turns cooler and days darker, I will turn toward more stay-at-home stuff. 

This time of year at thrift means major costume gathering. I picked up a couple of pieces of their $2 clearance costumes. 

On a different subject - craphting. I brought all of my fabrics and seed beads with me. I find it hard to image me staying home as I once did to sew and craft items. My coat closet is my quilt closet. I have more than enough quilts, this image doesn't even include the 2 Christmas quilts and holiday table runners (gahhhh). 

Another activity I would start prepping in September was the annual Countdown to Christmas. While I may post a shortened version, I may skip the event entirely. 

As imagined, my move produced major changes in my life. Thought I would continue as an eBay seller, but have removed product for sale, mainly books. While I still have a few items listed, I may pull the plug. 

Starting over again means adding a Christmas tree. A small tabletop one will fit the bill. Holiday decorations start going up next month! 

Final Fantasy Flash #13

When I get frustrated with my inability to kill the Final Fantasy monsters, I like to ride around the different lands listening to the clippity clop sounds the unicorn makes and the stars he throws in his wake. 

I have entered serious gamer territory. I started with my son's used xbox controller, until I dropped it one too many times. Then I bought an off-brand controller, not knowing there was a Microsoft specific one. The off-brand fritzed out but I had bought a warranty. Twice the price of the off-brand, it is the ELITE version. 

Not an ad for Microsoft either, but I would recommend buying the stock. 

Final Fantasy Flash #13. Everyone knows that is an unlucky number. There is a reason why there are no thirteenth floors in buildings. 

On the subject of thirteen and scary movies. I have watched a lot of horror movies. One that stands out is Thir13en Ghosts. Yikes!!!! 👻

Back to the gamer discussion. I am at Level 39 in Final Fantasy XIV. Seems at some point I sprouted white ears. I am up very early around 5:00 a.m. so I tend to be in the game when everyone else is not. I am still a solo player, too timid to ask other players to join me in battles. 

It is a complex game I am still learning to navigate. 

The Wednesday Dance Reel

One would think it easy to create a video for the world to see. Not. If you want to create something unique or interesting, it takes time and preparation. For the Wednesday dance, I had to change the camera's perspective because there were larger-than-life dramatic moves involved. Posted on Instagram @Tamaschen. 

Most important of all, I had to be in the right frame of mind. I had moved through the euphoric phase of freedom. Now, I am settling in to the new reality of my singleness. 

Back to the preparation phase. The blinking purple lights over the loveseat were found in the shed. In the background is a strobe light, also a squeee, happy find. I will make room for props any day of the week. There also is the little detail of an Eeyore plush dressed in costume on the loveseat. An Easter egg at Halloween. 

The black wig thrifted find was labeled as "premium" and I agree with that. Fun to wear, it will make another appearance in a dance reel. An England-designed Hell Bunny dress also thrifted. I used the tattoo arm sleeves on my legs, yes, I am that gawd damned thin. To change the lyrics of one song - All of this drinkin' and smokin' is hopeless, I hope to be putting on some weight... (sung to Jelly Roll's Save Me.) 

Saw a cute meme - Having a toddler is like having a drunk friend with you 24/7. Emotionally unstable, always wanting snacks, sings randomly, falls a lot, and has no sense of volume control. 

I am considering a dance to GUAP with moves by emetsound. On my bucket list are the dance moves to the Punjabi song Mundian To Bach Ke (Beware of the Boys). The video I want to share is a premium download, so I will have to learn the dance and create a reel of my own. 

My Brief Wilding Stint is Coming to an End

It is a good thing that a fur baby is coming into my life. For nearly a year, I have been supplemental mom to my son's Welsh Corgi Tucker. Each day, I have traveled from my apartment to the family home to act as dog walker/groomer. Tucker will now be joining me in my apartment. 

No more happy hours to kill time. When I do have to be gone for extended periods of time, he will be at doggy daycare. Upcoming are performances, hopefully, with the Sutter Street Theatre cadre, and classes at Folsom Lake College. My focus will swivel to him and discovering the numerous walking trails in the area. 

Another bonus, I will include him in the background of Instagram reels. An incredibly intelligent dog, I am sure he will understand the assignment. 

On the subject of pets, while I was at Walmart, a dehydrated pidgeon approached me in the parking lot. The bird was clearly in distress, panting from the unusual October heat. Luckily, I had water in my truck and I poured some on the ground. A Walmart worker joined me with more water from another customer and we got the bird out of distress. It was clearly someone's pet as it was nearly tame but still uncatchable. 

Looking forward to having Tucker join me soon. 

Looking To Be Adopted

After eliminating most of the negative people in my life, I am looking to being adopted by a loving family. I say that tongue in cheek, of course. I have delightful children but they have their own lives and interests. None of those include me. 

I stay very busy during the week with dance fitness, and acting classes. Had to share this image, a sweet stranger took the photo for me. When I was waiting for my Uber ride home, a male passerby said I looked "gangster."😂 Side note, now TWO younger gentlemen in historic Folsom have said I look "gangster." Not sure if it is because of my guerl outfit, because I look homeless-girl thin, OR if it is a new name for cougars ... (hope not). Perhaps the Cuban gangster I lived with for many years has rubbed off on me. 

I know the odds of being a single older woman and meeting a partner are slim to none. At least the type of man I hope to meet. One with all working parts, like hearing, and the ability to walk. Just the little items. A full set of teeth is a bonus. Seriously, I am not kidding. Mr. Wonderful kept losing his teeth and did not replace the missing ones. 

Here is a little tidbit that gets me every time. Women post that they have been dating Mr. X. Mr. X turns out to be married. There is this little search engine called Google. Lo and behold, you can search public records. What a concept!!!???? Maybe check there before things happen. 

I've got my adoption papers ready. Good health, good teeth, a little bit vision challenged. A proven sense of humor. One Tami Ready to Go.💝

Fashion Focus and Reel Creation

Love fashion and all of its iterations. While athleisure clothing continues its popularity, the baseball cap guerls have taken over. The out-and-about uniform for most women seems to be the cap, t-shirt, pajama/yoga pant, backpack/fanny pack, and tennis shoes. No old lady purses being toted around, they have cutesy backpacks with plush backpack clips. I have added an Emotional Support Stuffie to my gear. 

I can appreciate how much time it takes to create an Instagram reel. First, I lay out the costuming and other items I might use. Throwing a stuffie during the reel might become one of my signature moves. 

I apply semi-permanent leg makeup (the skirts are so short), and get the wig brushed and set right on my head. The hard part is next, getting the right dance moves to go with the music. Editing the reel is still a challenge. I keep dancing out of frame, so I will have to change the perspective for the first October reel. 

Other news - the 2027 spring college term. While I do have a talent for drawing and painting, it is a solitary pursuit. I am just not in to being alone. Rather than continue taking classes for studio art, I am swiveling to courses in theater arts. Yes, that means taking an acting class. There are no prerequisites for that. Now, whether the scheduling lands on days I am not baby watching, will be the determining factor on which class I can take. 

Got in on the dress rehearsal for the Evil Dead production at the sold out show held at the Sutter Street Theater in Folsom, California. What a hoot! Part of the show meant being doused with red Kool-Aid if you sat in the front 4 rows of the theater. 

Just a Girl at Play

The view of my patio from the outside looking in. Decorated for fall, I will be putting up Christmas at the beginning of November. 

With the onset of shorter daylight, I booked my first Uber to and from an event. I thought it safer being a woman alone, to just book that ride rather than walk back to my parked car in the dark. That was my main concern, taking the evening improv class at night. Now I can relax, have a drink, knowing I won't have to navigate in the dark. Maybe even engage in drunken shopping.😛You will have to check out my Instagram account @Tamaschen for stories on that. 

Did my first karaoke, my first song was Choosing Texas by Ella Langley. It went south quick because the soundtrack didn't match the words. My second choice, Close to You by the Carpenters, went a little better. I am considered a contralto, with the lowest singing voice for a female, so the upper register tunes I can't master. 

Setting up my next IG dance video. I found a disco ball and a strobe light in my storage. I will incorporate both. I also want to have some humorus aspect rather than straight up dance. I am finding such fun costuming. I have at least 10 different wigs from my thrift shop forays. Some I have had for years, others found recently. 

Ending with Karen Carpenter's version of Close to You. She was such an amazing talent, lost way too early to this world.