I went out shopping yesterday for the supplies I need for this year's painting series. First I went to Palace Art Supply. The parking lot at that place is always a clown show. Yesterday was no exception. Frequently when I go out it's a clown show. For a number of years I have been dealing with a stalker situation. Someone has been monitoring my whereabouts and comings and goings. I know when certain things are related to the stalking because they follow a pattern. The most recent pattern is of crazed women pounding on my vehicle window with rude and/or unnecessary demands or accusations. It's a very strange street theater. This is what happened in the parking lot in front of Palace Art. Some crazed woman pounded on my window demanding I move my truck. She had plenty of room and there was no reason for me to move. I know there are ways people can track others through cell phones and GPS and I have tried to hire a PI a number of times. The police have been no help at all so I don't even bother calling them anymore. I know at least one of my neighbors is involved because in my last interaction with her she admitted it to me when I called her out on it. The woman has been trying to manipulate my husband and I since we moved in. I think she is unstable and dangerous. She is certainly a creepy creeper. Anyone who spends that much energy following someone around and tracking when they come and go has deeply seated issues. I try to stay away from her. I have initiated no contact with her. I have blocked her phone number and I NEVER go up the street to her house but still she has persisted. I had a few odd interactions with her previously but things really started to get weird one afternoon this past summer when I refused to back up when we met on our one lane street. I was coming up the mountain and she was coming down the mountain. California State Law is the vehicle coming down the mountain is supposed to yeild to the vehicle coming up the mountian. Since there had been some previous bullying behavior I was not willing to yeild for her as it was not my obligation. Here is a clip of a portion of the incident:
Um...yeah...I'm clearly the one with "issues" here. This woman is dangerous. Each time she approaches me she escalates her behavior.
About a week ago I had yet another similar incident with this woman at the same spot in the road and this time I saw she was waiting for me, not just coming down the street in a natural way. I wish I had gotten it on video because when she asked me why I wouldn't back up I told her it was because I had the right of way AND I didn't think it was a coindidence that she was coming down the street when I was coming home. I have suspected for some time that one or more of my neighbors has been involved in some sort of creepy stalking behavior, watching when I come and go and even being followed from time to time. It's been very unsettling. When I said this to her, her response was, "Why does it matter if it's not a coincedence?!" And then she proceeded to call me crazy. The only thing that is crazy is a grown woman stalking her neighbor to harass her and try to force her to back up when she doesn't have the right of way just to be annoying or combative. She called me crazy. I called her stupid...because she is. AND if she is in fact involved in some organized neighborhood effort to follow me around and monitor my coming and going she is a criminal. Since the most recent altercation with her I have experienced a number of "street theater" events where crazed women approach my vehicle window while I am parked or driving and pounded and made accusations, threats, and/or strange demands. I suspect this neighbor is somehow related to the event in the Palace Art parking lot because it is next to a restaurant that the neighbor in question had reccommended to my husband and I when we on more friendly terms when we first moved in.
But I digress...Palace Art usually doesn't have what I'm looking for anyway. Yesterday was no exception. It's a hobby shop at best. So I headed over to Lenz. It's a cramped space but a better Art supply store in general. I got some really nice paper for this year's work plus some pigments and medium I needed. New supplies are always exciting. The thrill of potential is almost intoxicating. So later today I will embark upon more materials tests. It's kinda like artist calisthenics.
Brody does NOT like when I paint and that little stinker knows I'm getting ready to do some serious work because of the orientation of my easel and the arrangement of supplies. Ah...the difference between cats and dogs. Kitties always enjoy when I'm working. They love to sit around and watch and even offer critique. I know when kitties like what I'm working on because they will come over and try to snuggle with the Art. If they don't like what I'm working on they will look at it then walk away flicking their tail at me. Brody...well Brody doesn't like me to do ANYTHING other than give him attention. So, painting is in particular a horrible offense to him. He knows that while I am painting he MUST be outside because he is so disruptive to the process. I'm not sure what all he has planned, but I know he's got something under his collar because this morning he left a steaming pile by the easel. I guess you can't please everyone. Omar wasn't amused. He almost stepped in it.
After I get a few materials tests done today I plan on rewarding myself with a trip to the roller rink. Since picking the hobby back up on MLK Day I have found myself always with the hankering for the next time I get to roll around. That first time back on the floor was rough. The rink was dirty and I took a hefty fall. But the floor has been clean on subsequent visits and the giant bruise on my right butt cheek is nearly gone, though my right elbow is still giving me some issue. I'm sure I'll be back to doing spins and such fun things soon...AND I'm looking forward to checking out a bigger rink in San Jose sometime in the near future. I had forgotten just how much fun this simple pleasure is...and what a good cardio workout too. Omar was never a skater but he enjoys watching and who knows...maybe he'll decide to take some lessons. I heard they offer them in San Jose. But even if he doesn't I still enjoy the feel of the wind in my hair, bouncing around on my light-up wheels in time with the music. Even if I never get back to doing fancy tricks whipping around the rink is light hearted fun and who doesn't need a bit of that in their lives? I swear, it makes the paintings and everything else come out better, and who knows...maybe there will be some roller skates in this year's novella.
I could stand to do some garden work too...but so long as my elbow is still bothering me I'm going to hold off on doing anymore "heavy lifting" out there by myself. I think I will leave that work for the weekend when Omar is around to help...or for when I finally find someone to come assist during the week. I have posted the job opportunity on the Opportunities page. It would be wonderful to find an amicable individual who is interested in a hearty lunch and $45 bucks to hang out in the woods and give me a hand with things from time to time. It's kind of strange that it has been so difficult. It's EXACTLY the kind of job I was looking for when I was a college student. I'm not sure what the deal is with college students these days. They complain about school being expensive but then don't really seem interested in working. Originally I had hoped to partner with my alma matter to offer a summer enrichment program for students where they would have the chance to work on their skills, make some Art, and help out on the ranch...but they wanted me to PAY THEM. Sheesh. I was offering the program as exchange. Penland CHARGES almost $2K for two weeks. But I was expected to PAY students to learn? It was the craziest thing I'd ever heard and a huge disappointment to hear from a school I worked tirelessly and paid dearly to attend. Oh well...their loss I suppose. ANYWAY...many thanks to Cypress Coast Fence for the timely installation of our deer fence. I hope to hear back from the framer I've been using soon. It would be great to pick some work up that I can photograph for the gallery page. Until then, on with my day...
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