The Angry Vagina....my theatrical debut

Well, I decided to come back to my blog......sorry for the absence!  Here is a video that I posted on YouTube last night.  I was in the Vagina Monologues back in 2005, I think.  I just found the dvd of my performance, and thought that I would post it here.  I hope that you enjoy it!!

I am posting a letter that I just wrote to a past student of mine who is also a very dear friend of mine.  I have been very busy this summer, and have neglected my blog.  My apologies to my readers.  I that this letter might be an interesting read to others.

Hi Snehal,

Nice to hear from you!  Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, we have been having some internet and/or computer problems....slower than ever.

I love the self-portrait, have you finished it yet?  Anymore watercolors?  Makes me want to get mine out.....think I might, and take them on this short trip to the Poconos with Karl next week.

Yes, I finished "Fighter".  I will send you a picture of it.  

I sold "The Soul Stirrers"!  

The show opening night in NYC went really well.  Jess Espey went up with Karl and me.  Jason couldn't go because he had a prior engagement.  Karl and Nelson got to talking, and nelson wants to paint Karl now.

The Intensive workshop is wrapping up its first week, I taught with Lea this afternoon, and will again tomorrow am.  Jason and Caroline helped out when we got into color this afternoon.

Thank-you so much for the "Wicked" study....I need to get it framed and hung up here at home.  I've been doing a lot of that this summer, hanging artwork here at home.

The pond is done!!!!  I have been dipping myself in it a lot, and so has Zeus!  He goes in several times a day.  He gets in and then slowly and deliberately lowers his torso into the water.  Sometimes he dunks his head into the water and then brings it up quickly to shake off.

Karl made a trailer film for the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, and we went to the opening night show, where we watched the film "Elliot Loves", a film about a young gay guy and his search for love, for himself, and about his relationship with his mother.  Right when they were introducing the director, Gary Trencino, a woman sat next to me and whispered excitedly, "That's my brother!"  Then she proceeded to sob throughout the entire film, which was hard to watch because of his mother's mental and verbal abouse of him.  At one point I felt that I had to do something, so I gently put my hand on her shoulder.  She immediately calmed down, and whispered, "Thank-you!"  She told me later that my gesture centered her and brought her back to the present.  We ended up talking for a good hour after the film at the party.

Someone took a picture of me and Karl with this one guy who had a fabulous outfit on.....a tuxedo coat, and a rhinestone bowtie.  He had platinum blonde hair and dark sunglasses.  I posted it on Facebook, and one of my friends wrote back that she was so happy for me.....i think that she thought that I was "coming out"!  I haven't bothered to clarify the situation, I'm waiting to hear the rumors through the Mennonite grapevine!  

I also met a young man named Rob, who was one of the photographers at the event.  He came to Incamminati Monday and Tuesday to my studio to pose for a portrait that I am excited about.  I have included the picture of it from the end of the second day.  He posed a total of 6 hours so far.

I am also including some pics of Zeus "rescuing" me in the Wissahickon Creek at Valley Green in Fairmont park.  He gets very anxious when people are in the water, making noise and splashing about.  That particular day I was entertaining my niece, Elsie, in the water by falling backwards into it.  (Her mother was holding her!)  Zeus would not stop barking so Karl finally let him off his leash and Zeus jumped into the water and swam straight to me.  When he got to me, he circled around me several times before he determined that he had completed his mission, and that I indeed was safe.

Snehal, I hope that you don't mind, but I am going to forward this letter to some other folks as well.  It's rare for me to write such a long letter.  Thank-you for emailing me, and getting me to write back.  I am also going to post this on my blog as well.

Say hello to your mother and father for me!

How are the squirrels?

Love you!

Robin

'Bye for now all, hope that everyone is having a beautiful and memorable summer!

I just talked to my dad on the phone.  I will be going up to Adams Center, New York, to visit his wife and him over the July 4th week.  I am looking forward to it.  Then have a neat old house with a creek in the back woods.  They plant an awesome garden every year, so there will be lots of fresh vegetables to eat.

The last time that we were up there I disclosed to him that when I was a little girl I stoutly believed that my father would be President some day, it was only a matter of time.  I just thought that my Dad was such an amazing and incredible person that he would be leader of the nation, at some point in the future.  When I told him this last summer he got a good chuckle out of my childhood belief...I don't remember ever proclaiming this out loud as a little girl, so it was news to him.  I called him Mr. President for the rest of the visit, which he loved.

But my dad was (and is still!) an amazing and incredible person….he never became rose to any sort of political power (how was I suppose to know that you have to actually be interested in politics and government to be a leader of a nation?), but he definitely had leadership abilities as a father. 

I can remember him teaching me how to drive…we had an Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser station wagon, which was designed with a peak in the middle of the hood.  His advise on how to stay on the road and in my lane?  "Just aim the middle of the hood with the outer side of the road, and go for it!"  Sort of great advise for a life's journey as well!

One time when I was in the 10th grade at Sarasota High School, I was suppose to go to a football game with a couple of my Mennonite classmates/friends.  They never showed up, never called.  I was deeply hurt and bewildered.  It was to be the first game that I was to go to at this public school, and I was looking forward to it.  One of the guys who carried a torch for me wanted me to attend to watch him play, and I had promised that I would.  My dad saved the night……he took me to the game himself!  I have never forgotten that, it showed me that my Dad cared for and loved me.  He taught me that you don't let a bad situation, and rotten people, ruin the night!  Another life lesson…..

One of my dearest memories took place in our swimming pool at our home on Arden Drive.  I was upset because my parents would not let me attend the art school of my choice, because we were Mennonite, and that meant a Mennonite college.  Yes, I know…several therapists pointed out later in my life that this decision of my parents showed that they did not nurture my dream to be an artist.  How could they?  They only knew the Mennonite world, and had no experience with outside educational institutes, nor any trust in them.  In their eyes to let me leave the Mennonite world was an unknown experience, and would lead to all sorts of bad things.  Not that a student couldn't find those things at a religious institute, but the Menno world is/was tight, and news could travel at lightening speed along the Mennonite grapevine.

Okay. so one day I was in the pool with my dad, and declared to him that he just didn't want me to be an artist.  I remember that it was quiet for a moment or two, and then he said gently,  "All I want is for you to be happy, Robin."  I didn't really believe him at the time, but they were at least words that I held onto throughout my future life, and still have in my heart as proof that my dad loved and cared for me, and wanted the very best for me….happiness!

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads of the world, and especially mine, Mr. President!

Hey folks I hope that everyone had a memorable Memorial Day weekend to honor those who have defended our country, and our freedom.  This is a video of a painting that I made over the weekend

Life is wonderful!!!

"Some people call me a trouble-maker.....Wrong!  I'm a bitch who speaks the truth and won't put up with your shit!"

Hey everyone!  I hope that you are well and happy....I am.  i have to be, I just told someone else to get off the pity-potty, and rejoice in life:


Wish I would have made better choices in life, and wish so much trauma and things that were just out of my control didn't happen. How little mercy, compassion and understanding the world gives- only blame, shame and added guilt. I know in my heart I want to be a good mother and person, how different I wish things were!What the hell, ______! You are a mother?? Sorry, no nice words here, time and life are fa--aaaa---rrrrr to precious to lose. I guess I have to write one of those SNAP-OUT-IT!!!!!!First of all, congratulations!! I can't have any children.....but then
this isn't about me right now....and it's isn't about you either.... it's about your baby!!!! Lucky lucky you!!!! You DO still have choices, like the rest of us, every day, every second.
So....start making some choices, right now....and make sure that they are some damn good ones! Decide right now I am going to make a gratitude list....you can start with the fact that you are still alive in this beautiful world....c'mon, you're artistic.....LOOK around you...there is beauty to discover EVERYWHERE....For starters, you live here, in a free nation...we are not living in the middle of a war zone with bombs going off all around us
I know it sounds like I'm being harsh to you, and the others readers are probably thinking that I am a total bitch, but I don't care.....this type of talk worked on you once before and I'm willing to bet it will again.....I am writing this on the wall because that is where you put it. If you didn't then you'll have to message me or call me, but I'm still going to lay it down like this on the phone. We all have made bad choices in our lifetimes.....mistakes, and you know what???? It's perfectly human and to be expected....though I would not call a baby a mistake.
and I know what I'm talking about, I used to have a huge problem with depression, and not even a great therapist nor medication worked or helped until I made the DECISION to get pro-active with my life and get a handle on it, me, my depression, I had to come to terms that I was and am in fact bi-polar (dare I write this where everyone can see it? Nope, I turned 50 this month and when you turn 50 you don't care what other people think about you! I would almost say that I would trade your baby for my bp, but the bp, once I decided to let it, became something that actually opened doors for me.....yes, I agree with ________, trust in God, or greater power, what ever you want to call him, her or it, but you have to work at life as well. I guess I've said enough, again call me if you want....I love you, God loves you, knowing you, a lot of people love you and care deeply for you.

worked on this today....will tell more tomorrow...

Worked on the painting of Lauren today