Marie Elium
Marie Elium Posts
Editor’s Note
We are What We Make
The past year gave me clarity that I didn’t expect and I’m not sure I appreciate: I like art. But I’m not an artist.
Months of weekends with nothing to do, long evenings and insomnia-driven early mornings mean I have a lot of time on my hands. I don’t feel like doing anything that I should be doing: organizing closets, mastering recipes, reading books, grooming the dog. I’m restless, a condition I blame on Living Through a Major Historical Time (LTAMHT).
So I did what millions of others have done: I went on Amazon and ordered art supplies.
Creatively Average
I started with origami. I thought it would be a fun art to master and I ordered a tablet of origami paper. My YouTube instructors led me through complicated-looking videos until I found one designed for children. It was still really, really complicated.
I powered through, and after a few short hours, made an origami chicken. I progressed to Christmas trees (harder than it looks on the videos) but finally gave up after a major star-folding fail. Conclusion: I’m a Below-Average Origami Artist. Let’s say D+.
Next up: Watercolor painting. I consulted my YouTube instructors and quickly realized that mixing pigments and managing brushstrokes, combined with a lack of artistic talent, had all the makings of a setup.
Undeterred, I bought cheap watercolor pencils, paper and a pack of $5 brushes. I’m committed to art; my wallet isn’t. Fortunately, the instructors were patient with me and I made a few (shamelessly copied) paintings. Conclusion: A solid C. Good enough.
During this LTAMHT, I’ve also tackled silk scarf painting and, briefly and inexpertly, calligraphy. Again, solid C work. I’m reluctant to call it art.
My artistic friends are making better use of their LTAMHT. One is a quilter who, not content with that impressive talent, made paper caricatures.
...A Shot in the Arm
or a Long Shot?
If you’ve been scrambling to find a Covid-19 vaccination, you’re in good company. With limited supplies and clunky websites, it’s been an exercise in frustration for many of us. Whether we’re helping older family members or trying to score a vaccination for ourselves, the process has proven to be time-consuming and confusing. Ugh!
One place to start is the state website — vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov/ — which lists vaccine providers by county and zip code. Supplies should be increasing throughout the spring as production ramps up and new vaccines get emergency approval. The end, at last, is in sight.
A Generation’s Touchstone
Goodbye, Michael Stanley
Cleveland rock-n-roll singer and songwriter Michael Stanley was part of our lives throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s. His death earlier this month was bittersweet.
Stanley stayed here and played here, but the Michael Stanley Band didn’t. We packed up our MSB albums in milk crates and carted them off to dorm rooms and first apartments, where Stanley’s lyrics and rhythms time-stamped our memories. Stanley reminded us of our younger years and hometowns in all the very best ways.
That’s a great way to be remembered.
Clothes Call
Local Company Simplifies Dressing
If you’ve ever tried to help an older loved one (or yourself, for that matter) put together an outfit and struggled to keep everything together in one easy-to-assemble spot, then you’ll appreciate this creative solution from Brecksville’s Erin Naso: The Hanger Valet.
Launched last year, The Hanger Valet is a daily outfit organizer that simplifies getting dressed, a task that can be especially frustrating for people who are trying to maintain independence and the people who help them. But honestly, who couldn’t benefit from an organizer with pockets that drape over a clothes hanger? Think about it: socks, shoes, undergarments, jewelry and anything else necessary, all in one, handy spot.
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