Rainy Day Wonderings

Friday, December 29, 2006

Painters and Parties

The World Most Expensive Paintings, continued.

A Classic Drip Painting

No.5,1948

Jackson Pollock

In a private deal brokered by Sotheby's,

the painting 'No.5, 1948',

has been bought by David Martinez, a Mexican financier.
$140 million 2006

The second most expensive painting was

Gustav Klimt's Adele Bloch-Bauer I,

which sold for $135 million in 2006

The third most expensive is

$104 million for

Boy with a Pipe by Pablo Picasso (2004

Fourth: Dora Maar with Cat by

Pablo Picasso,

which fetched $95.2 million in 2006

******************

I hope each and everyone of you have a safe and happy weekend. I will try and post again on or before New Years!

Until then, please don't drink and drive! I can not speak for everyone however, I do not wish to start the New Year having to go to someone's funeral and I can't think of anyone who wants their first purchase of the year to be a coffin. Is it worth the risk?

Labels: misc

N Posted by Rain at 12/29/2006 04:55:00 PM

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Being Grateful

Thank you Benita for the image!

I am grateful for;

My family. I don’t know how I could have gone this far in life and reached my goals without their love and support. My family means the world to me, and I love’m to pieces!

My friends. You understand and accept me for who I am. Each and every one of you, including those who have reached out to me online. I appreciate and love you all.

My Accountant. Because of him I will have some excellent write offs come tax time. Oh and I can’t forget my Broker for some excellent advice for investments in 2006. Whoo Hoo!

My Doctors and my local Pharmacist. They go above and beyond the call of duty to help me, help myself.

Postal workers. All of my packages, correspondences and yes, even my bills arrive on time. I say good job, everyone!

The kindness of strangers. You have let me in on the freeway, opened doors for me and allowed me to go in front of you in line when I had only one item to purchase. This evening, I had a Christmas dinner with an old friend, Tokoda. The elderly couple at the next table paid for our dinner! When Tokoda asked for our bill our waiter informed us that they had already paid for it including a sizeable tip for him. Wow! How cool is that?

My Secret Santa gift. Oh yes, this is amazing! Warning! Not safe for work! I don’t want to see anyone get fired! Yes, I know who it is from, I am just not sayin! I am such a naughty girl...I love it!

So tell me, what are you grateful for?

Labels: Being Grateful

N Posted by Rain at 12/28/2006 01:10:00 AM

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Expensive Paintings

Today and tomorrow I will be posting the most expensive paintings sold at auction or in a private deal. Enjoy! Starting at;

#10

$55 million for
Femme aux Bras Croises
by Pablo Picasso (2000)

$60.5 million for
Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier
by Paul Cézanne (1999)

$71.5 million for
Portrait de L'Artiste sans Barbe
by Vincent van Gogh (1998)

$76.7 million for
The Massacre of the Innocents
by Paul Rubens (2002)

$78.1 million for
Au Moulin de la Galette by
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1990)

$82.5 million for
Portrait du Dr. Gachet
by Vincent van Gogh (1990

To be continued...

**********

Today was an another gorgeous day and I spent most of the day at a large mall shopping with friends and having lunch at the San Diego Cheesecake Factory. I had a great time, picked up a couple of great deals on clothes and sheets sets. Afterward, I went home and took a short nap.

Today was a good day, how was yours?

Labels: The Arts

N Posted by Rain at 12/27/2006 12:28:00 AM

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

New Years Count Down

This is from my archives, published originally on;

Thursday, August 31, 2006
For Sam

Having it Out with Melancholy
by Jane Kenyon

1 FROM THE NURSERY

When I was born, you waited

behind a pile of linen in the nursery,

and when we were alone,

you lay down on top of me, pressing

the bile of desolation into every pore.

And from that day on

everything under the sun and moon

made me sad -- even the yellow

wooden beads that slid and spun

along a spindle on my crib.

You taught me to exist without gratitude.

You ruined my manners toward God:

"We're here simply to wait for death;

the pleasures of earth are overrated."

I only appeared to belong to my mother,

to live among blocks and cotton undershirts

with snaps; among red tin lunch boxes

and report cards in ugly brown slipcases.

I was already yours -- the anti-urge,

the mutilator of souls.

2 BOTTLES

Elavil, Ludiomil, Doxepin,

Norpramin, Prozac, Lithium, Xanax,

Wellbutrin, Parnate, Nardil, Zoloft.

The coated ones smell sweet or have

no smell; the powdery ones smell

like the chemistry lab at school

that made me hold my breath.

3 SUGGESTION FROM A FRIEND

You wouldn't be so depressed

if you really believed in God.

4 OFTEN

Often I go to bed as soon after dinner

as seems adult

(I mean I try to wait for dark)

in order to push away

from the massive pain in sleep's

frail wicker coracle.

5 ONCE THERE WAS LIGHT

Once, in my early thirties, I saw

that I was a speck of light in the great

river of light that undulates through time.

I was floating with the whole

human family. We were all colors -- those

who are living now, those who have died,

those who are not yet born. For a few

moments I floated, completely calm,

and I no longer hated having to exist.

Like a crow who smells hot blood

you came flying to pull me out

of the glowing stream.

"I'll hold you up. I never let my dear

ones drown!" After that, I wept for days.

6 IN AND OUT

The dog searches until he finds me

upstairs, lies down with a clatter

of elbows, puts his head on my foot.

Sometimes the sound of his breathing

saves my life -- in and out, in

and out; a pause, a long sigh. . . .

7 PARDON

A piece of burned meat

wears my clothes, speaks

in my voice, dispatches obligations

haltingly, or not at all.

It is tired of trying

to be stouthearted, tired

beyond measure.

We move on to the monoamine

oxidase inhibitors. Day and night

I feel as if I had drunk six cups

of coffee, but the pain stops

abruptly. With the wonder

and bitterness of someone pardoned

for a crime she did not commit

I come back to marriage and friends,

to pink fringed hollyhocks; come back

to my desk, books, and chair.

8 CREDO

Pharmaceutical wonders are at work

but I believe only in this moment

of well-being. Unholy ghost,

you are certain to come again.

Coarse, mean, you'll put your feet

on the coffee table, lean back,

and turn me into someone who can't

take the trouble to speak; someone

who can't sleep, or who does nothing

but sleep; can't read, or call

for an appointment for help.

There is nothing I can do

against your coming.

When I awake, I am still with thee.

9 WOOD THRUSH

High on Nardil and June light

I wake at four,

waiting greedily for the first

note of the wood thrush. Easeful air

presses through the screen

with the wild, complex song

of the bird, and I am overcome

by ordinary contentment.

What hurt me so terribly

all my life until this moment?

How I love the small, swiftly

beating heart of the bird

singing in the great maples;

its bright, unequivocal eye.

*******

This year I will only be returning one item and that will be taken care of by way of the post office. Whoo hoo! One year I had to return seven different gifts and each of them went to different stores, pffft.

Today it was 82 degrees and absolutely gorgeous outside! I truly can not remember a more peaceful Christmas, spent with family and friends, surrounded by love, laughter and yummy food.

How was your Christmas? Please drive safely and don't drink and drive =0)

Labels: Christmas

N Posted by Rain at 12/26/2006 12:52:00 AM

Sunday, December 24, 2006

A Wish and a Prayer

A Wish

Here’s a wish for everyone

‘Tis the way of humankind

As we wait the coming of the dawn

In the darkness of the longest night.
May you always have a place to stay

May there be a fire to keep you warm

May your friends ever be with youIn the darkness of the longest night.
May you always have a song to sing

May you always have a tale to tell

May the light ever comfort you

In the darkness of the longest night.

- “A Wish” Patrick Sinozich , 1998

God, grant me the Serenity

To accept the things I cannot change...

Courage to change the things I can,

And Wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time

Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things rightif I surrender to His will.

That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.

Amen.

Attributed to Reinhold Neibuhr

From our house to yours,

We wish you Love, Laughter and Peace

Merry Christmas One And All!

Labels: Christmas

N Posted by Rain at 12/24/2006 10:17:00 AM