Stewart Creations

It’s not often we set the alarm clock around here, but I have an assignment to tell a story to a group for the composition class and the Ajo library has a new story time tomorrow at ten. So I will hit the road at the crack of dawn. (I feel like I said this, did I write this yesterday? Man, it’s way too busy around here if I can’t remember what I wrote yesterday.) I picked out a few good stories from cultures different than what I might find in Ajo, and stories that aren’t too well known around here.
Breakfast will be a piece of toast and a piece of fruit. I should find something like african mango, something that’s good for me and a real weight manager, too. I’m taking only three dogs, since I will be in the Miata, and we’ll just stay overnight. The rowdy dogs will get to take a walk on their favorite mountain path here in Phoenix with their ‘dad’ and I’ll take the least rowdy of them, Peanut, Annie and Fae.
I’ll let you know how it goes.

Comments Off | In: Ajo, back to school at my age, School | | #

I figured out factoring tri-nomials! I feel like the sun came out in that class room. Last session I was scrambling to understand, and none of it would come to me. On the homework I was frustrated so I just moved on to the sum and the difference of perfect squares and perfect cubes, and for some reason that work made the tri-nomial thing snap into focus. So today’s class went much better for me.
No school Monday, we are going to Ajo tomorrow morning and staying until Tuesday. At least that’s the plan, lots of times we either run out of building materials or the weather sends us back to Phoenix and the more civilized house. But maybe I can get some more ceramics work done this week in Ajo.

Comments Off | In: back to school at my age, School | | #

Math is pretty hard, and now I find that I have to take yet another term of it before I am done. I thought this one satisfied the math requirement for the Bachelor’s degree. Nope, need another one. Crap!!! or something stronger.
So I will plug along. I have to admit it’s a little like a puzzle, only harder and not as much fun and the consequences for not figuring the puzzle out are more dire.

Comments Off | In: back to school at my age, School | | #

I am finally getting into the rhythm of this term’s routine. I washed laundry like a dervish yesterday in prep for returning to Ajo.
Homework might be inconvenient without signal, but I will fix that soon. I could use my laptop, I have been wishing for an Acer Aspire or something like it. Those notebook things seem really practical. My laptop is pretty heavy to be lugging down to the cafe or library, it’s really old, so I feel like I’m due a new one. The more I shop, the more convinced I am that what I need is that notebook thing, it works for books and internet and word processing. Just what I need.

Comments Off | In: Ajo, School | | #

I’m starting my first paper for this composition class on intercultural fairy tales. Here’s some of what I have so far.
worksheet checklist for themes

http://www-ma.beth.k12.pa.us/jhoke/jhwebquest/themes.htm

The reason this kind of tale is able to be stored in memory for generations:
“Paradigmatic Functions (structure) facilitates recall (helps store, remember, reproduce plot & change it to fit experiences); easily identifiable characters associated with particular social classes, desires, professions, assignments Easy to vary characters, settings, motifs, according to specific functions”

http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~mmagouli/fairy_tales.htm

Motifs:
rule of three
magical helpers
magical gifts
trials and tests for love or riches
good vs bad
choices
justice
judgments
inner/outer beauty/ugliness matches by end of story
(that was the twist on the ogre series, you know with the princess and she chooses to be ogre, surprises us because traditionally, we expect them (the ogre and the ogress) to both have conventional beauty by the end of the story.)
deal with real-life adult feelings desires, themes
Themes:
“often socio-economic classes seeking power, but also delights of existence & intricacies of the civilizing process….
Fairy Tales reflect universal themes, metaphors, but also a very alien world ”

http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~mmagouli/fairy_tales.htm

Not bad for a couple of hours reading stories and researching. On the first assignment, I’m always wondering what the professor really wants. I think I have a handle on it.

Comments Off | In: School | | #

Ceramic bells must surely be good for one’s health. Probably would enhance any
rapid opiate detox, or vegetarian cleanse to have tinkly sounds and glinting colors in the breeze. I’ll have to add some to the bunch out on the porch. I am sending a bunch of them to my friends, they are a joyous thing.
We are looking for great outdoor weather for Christmas, I might get the table fixed up out under the lanai that my sweetie built, it’s supposed to be in the seventies. Minnesota, eat your heart out.

Comments Off | In: School | | #

I can sell my school books when the bookstore opens next week. That should give my bank account a boost. Yeah, I’m still brooding about my financial troubles. Not that it’s a surprise, but I can’t believe I didn’t actually find employment by now, knowing this time would come. It comes every year, it should’nt be a surprise.
Well I have a plan or two and something will work out, it always does. Only six more weeks until my next batch of school money get here. The Honors money will be here before that. Sweet, sweet Honors $$$!!

Comments Off | In: School | tags: back to school at my age. | #

Now that I’m done with this term, I have all the work done for my non-profit IRS status. I will be posting some of the info here, but more can be found at PlanetCornucopia.com

Starting a Nonprofit Organization

Perhaps the best way to really clarify to yourself what you intend to accomplish by starting a new nonprofit is to write a basic mission statement for your organization. You’ll soon need this mission statement anyway if you plan to incorporate your nonprofit (more about incorporation a little later on). The following guidelines may be helpful to you when writing your first, basic mission statement.
At is most basic, the mission statement describes the overall purpose of the organization. It addresses the question “Why does the organization exist?”
Try include a description of what you think will be the new nonprofit’s
a) primary benefits and services to clients
b) groups of clients who will benefit from those services
c) values that will guide how your nonprofit will operate
d) how you’d like others to view your nonprofit

The phrase “starting a nonprofit” can mean several things:
* You can be a nonprofit organization just by getting together with some friends, eg, to form a self-help group. In this case, you’re an informal nonprofit organization.

* You can incorporate your nonprofit so it exists as a separate legal organization in order to a) own its own property and its own bank account; b) ensure that the nonprofit can continue on its own (even after you’re gone); and c) protect yourself personally from liability from operations of the nonprofit. You incorporate your nonprofit by filing articles of incorporation (or other charter documents) with the appropriate local state office. (An incorporated nonprofit requires a board of directors.)

* If you want your nonprofit (and if you think your nonprofit deserves) to be exempt from federal taxes (and maybe some other taxes, too), you should file with the IRS to be a “tax-exempt” organization. (The IRS states that you must be a corporation, community chest, fund, or foundation to receive tax-exempt status. Articles of association may also be used in place of incorporation.) (Probably the most well known type of nonprofit is a the IRS classification of 501(c)(3), a “charitable nonprofit’.) Depending on the nature of your organization, you may also granted tax-deductible status from the IRS. So, for example, you could start a nonprofit that is incorporated, tax-exempt and eligible to receive tax deductible donations.

If unable to file for corporation or for federal tax-exempt status, there are other ways to act as a non-profit. Consider Fiscal Sponsorship to jump start your organization. In some cases, you might find and work with another nonprofit organization that will act as your fiscal sponsor. A fiscal sponsor might be useful to you if your nonprofit:
1) Does not have sufficient resources to handle startup costs and fees
2) Does not have sufficient skills initially to manage your finances
3) Will address a community need and then no longer need to exist.

You can do much of the work yourself to get incorporated and/or tax-exemption and/or tax-deductibility, but you should have some basic guidance and advice from a lawyer who understands nonprofit matters.

According to a very informative paper by Eve Rose Borenstein, Copyright, 1998

http://www.managementhelp.org/legal/lgl_need.htm

When an entity operates, regardless of its public benefit or social welfare purpose, it will find itself subject to two legal realities: first, that the entity itself (separate from the individuals operating same can be sued for actions taken in its name or under its sponsorship; and second, that when an entity conducts financial activities, it will be considered a “taxpayer” under federal and State statutes.

Many types of tax-exempt status are possible but by far the largest category available is the “charity” category defined by Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Groups recognized as operated for charitable purposes, via a 501(c)(3) exemption letter, are the only type of tax-exempt entity which is across the board able to receive donations which are tax-deductible to the donor.

Comments Off | In: School | tags: back to school at my age. | #

Today I am officially late on an assignment in Small Business. It’s the first time, and the teacher is notably relaxed about it. When he started collecting the papers I just panicked and pawed through my folder for Something.
Foolish Grasshopper, did you not mark down your deadlines? Have you learned nothing from the past?

I am not alone in that class, among chronic late-turners-in of homework. A lot of youngsters in there who are probably more interested in the best acne treatment than getting their papers turned in on time.
But the look on Mr. Medrano’s face was worth that famous thousand words. I really have done better in the past.
Well, my talented son is going to do the forum and the tri-fold for happyhoundbiscuits.com so we can pull my a55 out of the fire on this one.
Thank you, Porge.

Comments Off | In: School, Uncategorized | tags: back to school at my age. | #

School is very interesting, and I think it will keep me busy this term. I have projects in both Running a Small Business and International Business, and have yet another project for my Honors grant, which is worth $325.00 (and that makes it even more fun.)
I will be looking for more project-type classes as I continue to shop for Online master degrees.
I like that Gonzaga Online offers a variety of Masters programs. I would consider contacting them in a couple of years to see what kind of programs they have and to look at funding. I’m thinking an organizational development masters degree would be the most fun and the closest to what I am aiming for.
Algebra is going to take most of my time this term, though, for studying and practicing. It seems to take a long time to get each new step into my brain. Oh well, it’s still the best ‘job’ I’ve ever had.

redjotter.com
.
.

Comments Off | In: School | tags: back to school at my age. | #

Next week I start the Small Business class. I am so excited. I know, I keep getting excited when I think of school, it wears a little on my friends, I’m sure.
So I really been wracking my brain here, thinking up a small business. Here’s a list of ideas:
PlanetCornucopia.com
– I would be posting non-profit news and selling logo T-shirts, 501C3 license.
That’s it, I’m afraid. Only the one idea.
Dang.

Comments Off | In: School | tags: back to school at my age. | #

This little plate is the best thing I have made so far in ceramics class. It is about 8 inches by 10 inches.
I signed up for the 3 credit Mata Ortiz ceramic class/trip. Mata Ortiz is about 100 miles south of New Mexico a little northeast of the Casa Grande ruins. I hope we get to go see them, the ruins, while we are there.
I will be back in early June and unemployed. I might take a Spanish class this summer, but that won’t take a lot of time and I have my eyes on the evening class anyway, I have heard good things about the teacher for that particular class.
I love sales, and have even thought of commission only sales for the summer, which is the easiest job to get in this economy. I looked here life insurance lead . Just not sure what I might find, but I AM half-way looking. I don’t want to work hard.
Paris came up with ‘posterior glaucoma unemployment’ which translates into ‘I can’t see my a55 getting a real job’. That’s me.
I also am looking into an internship with Shell. They are one of my most promising targets for Planet Cornucopia money, as they donate a lot and have a large non-profit unit. I would consider working in the non-profit part of Shell Oil, and an internship would be a great place to start.

Comments Off | In: art gallery, design, Mexico, School | | #

You now will have a link to visit my two new works in progress; PlanetCornucopia.com and YesterdayTodayPhoto.com.
To that end, I have been scratching up verbiage and page ideas. For Planet Cornucopia I think I want a chat room, or at least a page that encourages input from readers. I was thinking of a poetry page, with the focus on disaster relief, community development, co-op opportunities, third-world poverty relief.
On that note, I made a haiku:
With rain, the planet
makes possible changes:
Cornucopia.
On another subject, my sweetie and I have not got our TV box coupon yet. You know, the one to use on your old TV so you can get the new signal? Our home theater consists of an ancient TV, at least it’s color, and a bunch of recorded media devices so we don’t HAVE to watch the channels.
If we don’t get the coupon for the box, I can’t see us running out to buy one at full price.
I just don’t see it. We’d rather watch the seasons we bought of Arrested Development, Simpson’s, Futurama … you know, the important shows.

Comments Off | In: advertising, School, Uncategorized, Web Design | tags: Add new tag, Web Design. | #

School work on spring break, no less. Shouldn’t I be drinking my a55 off in Rocky Point? But no, I will need to work a little bit every day to be on top when classes resume. So Paris is coming over today to help me polish up the web sites. He is also going to teach me how to ‘fish’ for myself, you know, ‘give a man a fish and he’ll eat today, but teach him to fish and he’ll eat for life’. Which is kind of what I hope to accomplish in Hondurus. I believe the internet is the biggest thing I can bring to them. I will of course need a laptop computer of my own on site, but I am looking in to the rules and regs for importing computers to them. If nothing else, I can bring chips and boards with me and build what they need.
The ecommerce part of my project is really the whole point, that and the gardens. Whatever trinket or goods the community can produce isn’t as important as the act of connecting to the world at large to market the goods. This, I believe, will set them free. And the gardens.
I don’t believe that a local government can take your freedom if you can communicate with the global population, and you know what they all have been going through down there in Central and South America from governments, theirs and mine. For several generations these people have been constantly uprooted, undermined, threatened and disrespected by the powers-that-be. No wonder family units have disappeared and they have lost the will to take care of themselves.
I would like to see a world with free internet signal in the very air around this whole globe, like Tesla intended.

Comments Off | In: advertising, back to school at my age, classifieds, crafts, Mexico, School | tags: advertising, back to school at my age, illegal immigration. | #

MacroEconomics is pretty interesting in ways that I never thought. I’ve always liked graphs and spreadsheet design. Everything we’re studying right now can be graphed to show the optimal outcome of the set of circumstances. Like ice-cream, you can show on a graph what the consumer does if you give it away, raise the price, lower the price. And you can show what happens to price related to quantity produced. There’s another graph that shows what happens if you put three variables together. I am starting to understand the one that shows optimum production based on two variables. That one will be very good for a small manufacturing business, I’m hot on the trail of actually understanding all of the above.
Today I was wishing for some of that chemical memory enhancement supplement. Is it illegal? hope not. I guess if I just bulk up on vitamins and veggies my brain will work well. But study and study and study is what I have to do to pound the info into my brain. So try the Super Cissus or just maybe go raw.
I have a friend who says going raw is the only way. She’s already veggie/vegan, but she insists she feels better on juice and veggies. She probably does feel great, too. She looks about half her age (which is a great way to look at our age!).
But I like rice, and you have to cook that, I think. I cooked ‘Forbidden Rice’ yesterday with carrots and curry spices. Yummy!! Forbidden rice takes a long time to cook, but is delicious when done.
It’s chilly today, maybe I will make a punkin pie, we got eggs on sale the other day. Doesn’t it look good?

Comments Off | In: School, Uncategorized | | #

This is our second (or third?) stretch of rain this winter.

It’s very nice, really, only I got caught out in the hail and sleet downpour. Just for a second or two, but it soaked my down vest back and collar real fast.
Art class today with my son. We are making the business cards, logo, letterhead, poster, and three-fold. I, of course, (think I said this before) am doing the non-profit business.
The focus has changed since last term due to world economic circumstances, but now I am looking for URL names that describe what I’m aiming to do. The direction of the goal is the same, and in a couple of years if I can get a national project funded, then I can use that as a portfolio to get my international thing going. Still plenty exciting for me. I can’t believe I was so upset about having to change focus to within US borders just a few days ago. I thought I was probably: wasting my time, and completely off track, and I should quit right now before I do something REALLY stupid and get into debt even further. It was a pretty low couple of days. But I think it’s okay.
I never once had something thrown at me that I couldn’t handle and if I can keep going with the flow, I can come out the better for it on the other side. So, yeah, that feels good.
I got my school money the other day. Being an Honors student has paid off pretty well and I’m proud of that. I get more monetary reward each term I maintain my GPA.

Comments Off | In: back to school at my age, School, tuition money | | #

Well, the little green quilt from the left-overs is almost done. Pnut helps me a lot.

I can’t believe how fast this quilt is going. Of course it’s little, like making baby bedding because Jayden wanted a smaller one just for curling up in on the couch. It’s perfect for that, and so very cute! I threw everything at it. No sense in having a serious blankie for a kid, so it’s got rutching and lace a-plenty.
Pnut is small enough to be on the work table and so he is, fequently. He’s just great company.
He doesn’t quite ‘get’ the ball game. He like it when everybody runs around, and when he can get the ball he likes that, too. But he just runs off into a corner of the yard and chews the ball, or even more ofte, he lays down beside it and chews on something else, forgetting the ball altogether. When he has the ball in his mouth he will come to me when i call him, but I don’t think it has anything to do with the ball.
He doesn’t have to be smart because he’s so cute. There I said it.

Comments Off | In: australian cattle dogs, School | tags: photography, quilts. | #

The first part of the business plan is the Executive Summary. The exec summary is a complete and concise 2-page picture of your business.
It doesn’t matter what the business is, it could be software development, Moen faucets online, distribution of pet psychology materials, water treatment, you get the picture.
My business plan is for a non-profit manufacturing and marketing co-op, repeated with different products and different communities across America.
The start-up money will come from the grant and donation sector, perhaps foundation money, I won’t rule anything out.
The businesses will pay into the system and make new factories possible.
The community will benefit from not only jobs, but day-care and legal and social programs advice. The daycare will be a separate entity from the manufacturing co-op and paid for by the client with time and/or money instead of being a benefit of the job, because that will insure continuity of child care in the event of job change.
The marketing will be part of the manufacturing co-op and training will be provided for all the parts of running the shop. The community will benefit by having income, training, childcare, health insurance, and social services such as counseling and mentoring.
That’s just what needs be in the first couple of paragraphs. I need to write this up in business-ese. I’m working on it.

This is one of the logos, but not the one for the U.S. business. This is one of the logos for the Honduran project.

Comments Off | In: School, Uncategorized | tags: back to school at my age. | #

Ceramics class is so much fun !! I made it my Honors class and the Professor and I picked out a project already. I’m going to research a kiln made and fired with native 3rd-world materials.
So far I found a shape that draws the heat across the clay pots fast which heats it even more (!) and I’m pretty amazed about that. The best way to build this shape is to dig it into a hill. But you need clay, sand, loam, be sure to avoid using rocks which will explode in the 2,000 celsius degree heat. Sounds pretty exciting. I plan to make a diorama-type model. Maybe this summer i can try it for reals if I go on the trip to Mata Ortiz.
That’s in Mexico and has very famous potters. Who knew?
So, evidently, they have good clay right there in arroyos. Maybe I can dig a kiln and test fire it.
I had an idea to make clay stamps for hobbyists, initials and such. Like the rubber stamps the scrapbookers use. But so far I have made a Mata Ortiz-style pot. And that’s it. So far. Here’s a pic of the Mata Ortiz demonstration and some of their pots.

Comments Off | In: Mexico, School | tags: back to school at my age. | #

I’m getting the little green quilt done. This one is for Jayden and it’s made up of left-over pieces and scraps from her mom’s. Here’s a picture of the twisted nine-patch. It’s a really easy patch that looks terrific when it’s done. You make a standard nine-patch, cut it in fourths, turn two of the quarters (diagonal from each other), then just stitch it together again. Voila, easy-peasy, and Bob’s your uncle!
I found these with the scraps that I didn’t use on the big quilt. This one I am quilting as I go and joining the sections after top-stitching. Cheating, I know, but school’s going and I want to make two more little blankies this spring for my other two sweeties. I don’t have grandchildren, so my nieces and my nephew will have to fill in.
School might be a bit of a challenge this term. I am not to the point of needing diet pills to stay up all night and study, and I won’t get there if I keep up.

Macroeconomics and e-commerce will both be interesting but challenging.

Comments Off | In: back to school at my age, nine patch, quilt, School | | #

My niece and hr family got into town yesterday and we had a nice dinner over here.  I was worried that I would experience boredom between school sessions like I did over the summer.  I don’t know what I was worrying about, having that wonderful brood in town for the Holidays is just what I needed.

The girls made zipper pulls/pendants all evening with the stuff I had laid out for my own zipper pulls.  They really did a good job, and got some nice pieces out of it.  So I will google crafts for kids and see what I can set them up with for the rest of the week.  My tall young nephew played with the computer, mostly, and with my son, who is a big kid himself.  They had a good time, and the ‘puter is right here in the livingroom, so Nephew got to visit with all the adults while he had a game going to stave off boredom.

We had a real good time and I’m looking forward to having kids around for the holidays.  WOO HOO !!

Today is final in Spanish and speech rehearsal for Humanities.  I need to finish the Photoshop project before tomorrow evening, too.  Maybe I’ll just do the front page in Photoshop and the rest in Dreamweaver. Maybe tomorrow or Wed. I will got out to the Westgate Mall, or one of the others.  I like Paradise Mall and it is close, but they’re all good when you’re a great shopper like me.

I saw gingerbread house kits at Food City for $10.00  I bet the kids would like to assemble that.

Comments Off | In: craft paper, crafts, kids, School | | #

I finally made a small enough copy of the latest project to upload here.  I ended up making the ‘Moon Silk’ letters silver before I turned it in.  I used a light part of the bottle in the eyedropper for color, added a nice drop shadow on the letters and it looks great.  Oh, and at the last minute I put small script ‘eau de parfum’ curved to fit the lable  on the right bottom.

I had great fun.  I have a lot of fun with all the art classes.

We have decided to go to Mom’s in Rocky Point for Thanksgiving, we won’t be here to do our shopping on that “black friday”  I prefer Cyber Monday anyhow.  The deals I have found on previous Thanksgiving “black friday” haven’t really been that great.  I mostly stick to the internet, and count on chance encounters with great deasl while I’m just out shopping in general.  You know, you find something that just screams “Aunt Nete for Christmas!”  and it’s really only Halloween?  I’m like that.

Comments Off | In: advertising, Mexico, School | tags: advertising, School, shopping. | #

I get to do some advertisements for my photoshop mid-term project. I was vacillating between watches and perfume. I like the look of the ads for some e-commerce sites , and thought to emulate one of those, but found some great pictures of silk material and decided to use it as background for fictional perfume. poster looks great. I will make several more, so I can turn in a batch of three ads.
School isn’t really getting easier, but it’s getting incredibly fun. I find that I am throwing myself into the assignments so thoroughly that it’s just totally entertaining. What a bonus.
Spanish is the only one I’m not really having fun with, but I started a conversation group, and that looks to be fun, twice a week. Maybe I will learn the stuff. Not getting the best grade in that one. I’m a little worried that I might lose my HONORS status there, but if I can get a ‘B’ I can maintain the 3.75 that I need for the money. 3.5 will keep me in Honors, but not in the extra money. 3.5 will still get me other added scholarships, though.

Comments Off | In: advertising, School | tags: School. | #

I’ve been riding my bike to school because the parking SUCKS!!! There isn’t enough parking, and I end up circling the campus several times before parking. I live close enough to where I could walk, been looking at those MBT shoes shoes. Soon as the weather cools down a little I’ll be walking.
I like riding the bike, but bikes are not allowed IN the campus, you need to tie them up out on the edge of campus, so when I have a class deep in the heart of the campus, I may as well have walked there in the first place. The yoga class is in a building complex out away from the main campus, so I can park right in front of that one, it’s sweet.

Comments Off | In: School | tags: Norm Pedersen. | #

school keeps me pretty busy, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have time to play.  My latest mania is miniclip.com

OMG they have so many fun games!  and for free.  They don’t seem to bog down my computer speed, either, like some of the other game sites.  I guess those free game sites have to pay for it somehow, so they put extra ads on which cause drag.  At least that’s how I think it goes.  For someone majoring in web-related arts, you’d think I’d have more tech savvy, but I figure that’s what my son is for.  And the above explanation about speed and website ads is what I got from his explanation, him not being too technical.  Doing me a favor and using human language instead of tech-nese.

I’m enamored of Governor of Texas, a hold ‘em game.  I lost my shirt twice, but now I’m way up.  You have to buy the game to get out of town, but you can play the same guys over and over ad infinitum and they always bring more money to the table.

But I have so much homework, that I’d have to take diet pills to get it all done and still find time for Governor of Texas, so I use it as a treat when all my work is done.

Gotta go get my homework done.

Comments Off | In: School | | #