Talent and Madness

How 'bout a little student art to start the day!  These works are on display with dozens of others at the Pend Oreille Arts Council gallery next to the Panida Theater.

Students from area school produced art in a variety of media for the exhibit which should available for public viewing over the next few weeks.  I think individual works are also available for sale. 

I loved the detail and the expression in the top portrait.  

The horse painting had nice lighting and definitely told a story.  We who know the artist wondered why the horse didn't have spots, but that absence certainly did not detract from the talent this young lady exhibited with her painting. 

The snowboarder piece was crafted by a student from Bonners Ferry High School. I believe it was called "Snowboarder Sun."

And, finally, I loved the piece by Ida because it portrayed a realistic expression other than what we might expect with the usual portraits.  We've certainly seen such moments and maybe even created some ourselves with our daily antics. 

These happened to be my favorites when I visited the gallery during the student art opening reception Friday night.  Still, there are a lot more outstanding works on display, including jewelry. 

I'm starting this Monday morning with great expectations----the greatest being that I can finally say good bye to the lingering, obnoxious cold that seems to really like me and a whole lot of other people I know.

I received a call yesterday from a friend who said he'd had it for two weeks.  Another comments daily about her misery on Facebook and wonders if it will ever end.  My daughter-in-law is in to her third week and noted the other day that her sore throat had returned. 

In my case, I'm wondering how much of that gunky stuff can be manufactured inside one human head.  Just when I think I'm done blowing (sometimes my brains out), it starts up again.  So far this morning, just some residual, but I've sadly learned with this cold, that signs of an end game don't mean a thing.

This morning is also filled with the expectation and the sudden appearance of blue sky after two days of nonstop rain.  Maybe if the earth dries up for a while, my head will too.

And, then, of course, is the expectation of the week ahead and the work to do in getting ready for this "mad" week ahead.

This morning I started filling out my brackets for an unnamed pool where money is involved.  I think I'll enter three different outcomes for this year's NCAA tournament and then hope for the best and some $$$$.  

Last year turned out to be a major bust, but the year before I tied for first place.  So, there's always hope.

Thanks to a friend who will watch our critters, we shall be at the tournament this weekend and we do have high expectations for the ZAGS.  It will be neat to see the other schools too, especially Louisville.

Our expectation: that the ZAGS will win both games this weekend and then maybe move on to Houston, where my brother can take on the responsibility of cheering for them firsthand.  Got that, Mike! :)

We're hoping to see BYU make it to the dance in their game tonight and Boise State, tomorrow night.  Also, it was pretty neat to see some of the big-time pundits on TV predicting that Eastern could upset Georgetown in Portland on Thursday.  

March Madness has officially arrived, and I promise not to be TOO obnoxious.  The nice thing is that when it ends, it ends for several months.  So, those who suffer through my ongoing obsession with the ZAGS and all other local teams can expect a break soon but not TOO soon, we hope!

Happy Monday.