Changing Perspective

I had a day that was not one of the better of the past week. However after reading Jim's blog today and after something I picked up on my phone call with my Parents I realize - I can let this illness Define Me or I can Define Me. What if it never gets any better than this? Then I am going to have to find a way to cope. Because sitting and resting, watching TV game shows and doing crossword puzzles all day does not pay the bills. So looking at things - Positive Attitudes Change Everything - I need to find the right P.A.C.E. and get back to doing the things that are important to me. One of those things is art. Artisan's Collective has moved and reopened it's doors, I have a commission piece to do for Flavors From Afar, it is time to switch out work, we have 2nd Saturday's coming up, not to mention a slew of charitable events to donate pieces too - Artworks For Life, Artist's Against Aids, LifeWalk - Guys & Dolls, Art on The Avenue, Designing my DIFFA jacket and more to come.

So I will take time to rest but will also try to find the adrenaline needed to jump start myself in doing creative pursuits.

this is it?

Not much to write today.

seeing the light

this was a photo of the light rays coming in through the kitchen window and hitting the floor. It took me away and I had to grab my camera and capture it. In many ways this could be a metaphor for many things - taking time to see the beauty in ordinary things, finding the extraordinary in the everyday and being alert enough to know the difference, taking a breath, getting well takes time.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Early to bed

Early to rise, makes Billy all better.

Well I am heading to take a soothing bath and then fall into bed. If how this weekend was - the new meds must be working. I am hopeful that each day I will get a little more strength back and my old productive self will be back. It is hard when you are told to just rest, to just rest. I spent most of the weekend on the couch watching TV, doing puzzles or sleeping.

REST

The doctor told me to rest.

It reminded me of the painting I did based on the first time, Jim, Armando and I met to paint in Jim's living room. Jim took a nap and became the subject of my painting. It sold to someone (never found out whom) while it hung at Nodding Dog Coffee Company in Oakcliff.

Now the doctor tells me to rest. So I am going to bed now almost 9pm on a Friday night.

Dedicated to DLT

Tonight I was joined by fellow dorks and watched Big Brother, while texting with my friends about the show. I read my artist friends blogs and rejoiced in being able to share a little with their lives, and I hope they get the same back from reading mine. I am grateful for health benefits and doctors who take care of me even when I am recovering from surgery. My dad said I should write a book about my experience -- "The Diaherrea Diaries!" how's that for a title. Or how about "How to Play the Poopie Game and Win!" I'm still dealing with some digestive issues, but the pain is gone, the surgery is healing fine, and my positive spirit is coming back. I had the thought today when I was thinking about wanting to do art but not feeling well - the your health is the most important thing.

Creative Eyes

Just doing a little bit of self intraspection.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Creating Stamina

Just an abstract to show that I am still creating. Actually I am back to creating. I worked at my corporate job part of the day today and hope that will continue the rest of the week as I get my stamina back. Who knows if this goes well I may even make it back into the painting studio over the weekend.

So like Jim says " I can only do what I can do."

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

I scream, you scream!

Jim -

this entry is for you! Scream Away if that is what helps you get through it.

Doing what only you can do and screaming a little along the way!

Love from a fellow screamer.
Billy

Popsicle Toes

Taking a bath is such a nice luxury, especially when you do not feel well. The fun of having an old claw foot large bathtub to soak in.

Not much happening here. Mom has left to return to Myrtle Beach. I am trying desperately to get my digestive system back to some sort of normalcy.

Happy Birthday Shouts to Steve, PH, Tricia, Laura, and Ann!

Pop-art-sicles Sticks

Here are some photos of the many stained popsicles sticks that I have collected. Photos are the beginning of the art cycle (actually eating the popsicle is the first step). So while the rain poured down today in Houston and flooded many of the streets, I rested and finally took some pictures.
Each day I can feel getting better and stronger - little things like being able to roll on my side for a while without pain, having a hour go by without pain from indigestion, gas or diaherrea. But my spirit is coming back and it all looks brighter ahead. I would not have said that a few weeks ago when nothing was being determined.

I sent in my form to be a designer for the DIFFA jacket collection, very excited to be part of this next event to be held Feb 2007.


Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Surgery Art

Well I couldn't wait any longer and had to take some photos and create out of this experience.

The first one reminds me a a raft floating in a large ocean. Actually it is a manipulated photo of the area where they removed my gallbladder from and the raft is actually the tape that is holding my inner guts in .


This next piece is not what many of you might believe. No it is not an alerted scab or pictures of my diaherra on the edge of the tiolet bowl, but the light drifting through the blinds and captured on the wooden floor at 3am from a street light. You may remember my many nights of being in pain and walking around aimlessly. So to pass the time I took pictures of odd things I saw during that time.

I am still saving my popsicles sticks and have quite a collection of them now. I am sure at some point they will become the subject of an art creation. It feels good to get back to creating.

I know the drugs are working and not just because the doctor said so - because of the wild dreams I am beginning to have - I try and remember them --- this time my Mom & I leap from a plane and free fall into Lake Champlain where on the way down we were trying to spot and land near my Uncle Skip and Ina in their sailboat they were sailing down the St. Lawerence Seaway (we were very high up)... I remember asking my Mom if she had a good hold of her purse as well held hands and about to hit the water... then on to being in an upscale trendy boutique where Cindy Lauper was a salesperson and their was this ugly man with tattoos that ended up being a woman in costume... and a woman named Blair was fired becuase of a chocolate stain that got on one of the white leather jackets, and Drew Barrymore drifted into the shop as a Princess from another time and we left together.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

600

Well this is the 600th posting on my blog! Wow!

Had my Drs. visit today and all of my blood work shows my body is working well. Some items the doctors think will improve now that the gallbladder is gone. But he said my liver, kidneys are all working well and my cholestral was really good! 184 (and that's without yogurt Michael!). He said that considering the surgery was only 4 days ago I was doing extremely well recouping and expected that next week I will be able to sleep on my side and have a wider range of motion in the adominal area.

I must say that it has been a wild painful ride and one that I do not wish on any of you. But the ride was made tolerable by all the friends and family that checked in on me, sent me cards, made me laugh (even though it hurt), took me for rides to and from the doctors, fixed me food, picked up items at the store, sent me text, emails and phone calls. It does take a village and I have one of the best villages.

Now it is time to try and get better each day so I can get back to my corporate job, get back in the studio and create some paintings (maybe I should do some on this experience! hmmm). Catch up with people's birthdays that I have missed along the way (August is such a party month!)

Here's to a much better September and end of August.

Another day...-

It's Monday.

It's Very Very Hot.

I am still sore, but feel as though I am getting better each day.

I see my primary Doctor tomorrow and the surgeon hopefully on Friday.

In the meanwhile, lots of rest and healing.

I was told I haven't blogged in a long time

The surgery was Friday, all went well, the Dr told my Mom that is was Red, infected, inflammed floppy and gross and it needed to come out. My gallbladder that is not something else you may be thinking.

Been getting better each day but the pain with the cuts on the abdomin is quite painful, everything you do hurts. Still enjoying my sugar free popsicles, and Mom says hi!

Random Thoughts

I had my colonoscopy today - thought of posting the pictures but decided you could live with out that pleasure. A few polups were removed.

Surgery is scheduled for Friday.

Mom comes to visit on Wednesday.

An artist friend, Jerome Ortiz, passed away yesterday.

My brother Mark, passed away a year ago.

Friends and co-workers have been very supportive during all of this. I am blessed.

Others are having health scares of their own - Armando, Karen, Jim, Burt's Mom -- thinking of positive thoughts of wellness for all of us.

Art - I think about it a lot --- popsicle sticks are piling up just waiting be become something new.

Andrew visited this past weekend, Patrick & Ellie have been with me the last two days. Comforting to have friends and pets that can give you some extra loving when you need it.

A warm bath is a nice treat.

Commission and Still Life

Another satisfied customer came by today to pick up here commissioned protraits of her "babies". This funny coming from a woman who will be induced to have her son on Monday.


Andrew is visiting this weekend and helping me as I get through another weekend. I created this stilllife or shrine in my livingroom bookcase. It contains a postcard that Laura sent me of Mona Lisa from the Louvre in Paris.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Losing a part

Today I got a diagnoses today that my gallbladder is not functioning properly. Although I continue to have the symptoms it is good to know that next week Friday, a surgeon will remove my gallbladder.