BLOGAHOMA

Dedicated to my father Jack H. Norris

Jack Norris behind his desk Greyhound Bus Terminal, Cleveland 1949

I’m a night owl, and my father is to blame. He worked two jobs to support his brood so in order to get my one-on-one I stayed up late, very late. After homework, approved television was a diet of news, travel journals and variety shows but following the last newscast father and “daughter number three” shared old movies while munching on sardines in mustard sauce and saltines. Dad was fond of operettas like Rose Marie or Naughty Marietta starring Jeanette McDonald & Nelson Eddie. “Ah! Sweet mystery of life at last I’ve found thee,” we’d sing. More intriguing to me was Lena Horne in Cabin in the Sky an all African-American cast. Dad proclaimed Lena a “torch singer” and then (like always when introducing new words) he proceeded to define the term. It was at that pivotal moment I declared myself a fan of “torch singers”. During commercials dad critiqued the movie du jour. He pointed out great dialog or retched triteness, historic accuracy or slipshod inaccuracy. He expressed disdain for predictability or lackluster lyrics. I never asked questions but waited for my father’s effusive explanations.

The emergence of the penny stash in the majolica sugar bowl signaled gin rummy night with Uncles and buddies. Hours after siblings scooted off to bed I remained. I didn’t ever ask to stay up I was just never told to go to bed because I was unobtrusively quiet and most helpful. I fetched beer and refilled the pretzel bowl. Selfishly I stayed up to learn gin rummy by my father’s side watching over his shoulder as he played. He would (without utterance) point out possible run combinations. I watched intently as he drew and discarded. His movements were deliberate as if recorded in slow motion so I could catch on. After sufficient amount of “lessons” dad suggested his 8 year-old play a hand. I was paired with Ted, a bus driver, who had honed his skills on layovers. There was great amusement among the observers when demonstrated that I had not only grasped technique but after a few verbal slings of “mini snatcher” “are you fishing?” I also talked the talk. The “ah hah” moment came when I timidly announced “Gin” and scooped up the pennies.

Yes, music, vocabulary, history, critical thinking, strategy and a million things taught in stealth manner by my father who avoided triteness, sang like Nelson Eddie and delivered the most amazing dialog.

Susan, Lucy, Dad and Me 1947 Rocky River, OH

The clock I chose to render in 3D is the Nelson Wall Clock designed by
George Nelson in 1948. George Nelson was a signature mid century designer. And this clock clock which produced in wood and metal both painted and unpainted symbolizes that post WWII era (the atomic age).

A full Nelson is a wrestling hold executed from the backside and so the the metaphor. Holding back time, grappling with time, wrestling with time. Interesting to note that it is not a “finishing” action and you cannot pin you opponent “time” down.

Not that either of these came to mind when executing this 3D. I liked the clock and thought “easy” to recreate in 3D.

So what’s next in my 3D brain buffer? Perhaps something by Heywood Wakefield. Mid-centure Moderne so much easier than Victorian.

Created in Cheetah 3D on a 13″ MacBook.

Just Added a New Community Blog, MedicineParkBlog.com. This one is not attached to Medicinepark.com. I think it will be about exchange and recycling but I am not sure yet.

BTW.. Starting a New WordPress is the eastiest thing yet.

FYI: Putting WordPress on my site now is a breeze.

She didn't look up for long!

My mom is gone now, my husbands mom is a 1000 miles away and my kids, although they will call, live too far to stop by. I wanted to celebrate anyhow, celebrate by handing out Medicine Park Marauders Mother’s day cards with mini roses attached in “Random Acts of Marauding”. Some will ask to have their pictures taken with us. It will be fun.

Mother and Son have a Heart to Heart

I gathered some quotes from various sites around the Net. Many from thinkexist. Read and Enjoy.

“My mother always told me I wouldn’t amount to anything because I procrastinate. I said ‘Just wait.” ~Judy Tenuta

“The patience of a mother might be likened to a tube of toothpaste – it’s never quite all gone”

“When I was a child, my mother said to me, ‘If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general. If you become a monk you’ll end up as the pope.’ Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.” ~Pablo Picasso

“To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power.”~ Maya Angelou quotes

“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork. ~Mae West

“No matter how old a mother is she watches her middle-aged children for signs of improvement.”~Florida Scott Maxwell

“Who ran to help me when I fell, And would some pretty story tell, Or kiss the place to make it well? My mother” ~Ann Taylor

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.  ~Abraham Lincoln

“My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” ~Mark Twain

“Nobody loves me but my mother, And she could be jivin’ too.”~ B. B. King

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother's Day Cards from the Marauders