Yesterday was the first official snow day of the 2009-2010 school year. It is extra special as I was supposed to teach that day. No school though, so that meant no art class. Kind of a ying to the yang thing, something good but then something bad at the same time. But that is what happens in Wisconsin during the winter months.

I can remember the snow days from the time I was a student. The worst kind of snow days were those half days off. The snow could be removed by the noon hour, so you were still expected to get to school. Or you would have a two hour delay, which means that you still had to get ready for school and your whole day was condensed in shorter time periods. You would have math class during lunch and science class right next to gym. It would have been easier to just cancel the whole day and start over the next day, but apparently that matrix equation and cosine could not wait.

So what do kids do on a snow day? Well, some find time to play in the snow and build forts and for the most part, kids sleep in a bit more. Usually the older students do this and some art teachers too. It is a great feeling to know that basically you are not expected to actually show up and been seen at school. For the most part, with weather-predicting equipment and forecasts so up-to-date, teachers know for sure if the schools would be closed the day before. Then they really can sleep in! For the poor part-time teacher (and I make an emphasis on POOR) that type of teacher has to watch the new crawl of closings on the local tv morning shows or listen to the radio. Either option is not the highlight of the morning ritual for the very poor part-time teacher. (Did I mention that I meant poor, as in not financially abundant and not weak in skills…just needed to make note of that)

Getting back to watching morning tv and listening to the radio, I really can’t stand either. Take for instance yesterday: I hate the morning radio as there is a broadcaster on the air that thinks he is the next coming of Walter Winchell. I hat this guy. He is a blowhard and a bully and leans so much to the right that I am amazed he does not fall off his chair. So I totally do not listen to the radio. The television…no better. They crawl the canceled schools on the bottom of the screen and because my school could go by two names… St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Grade School or Two Rivers Public and Private schools, two names that are waaaaaaayyyyyyy in the back of the alphabet. So you are not only seeking intensely to find those schools listed on the crawl, but you get a little upset when you see all the schools from Appleton and Beaver Dam hog all the time allotted.

To really make matters worse, if the broadcast goes into commercial, the crawl stops and starts over again FROM THE BEGINNING!!!!! Argggggghhhhhh! By this this you can’t get back to sleep. You might as well get ready for school and hope that the principal acts like the death row warden and gives you a last minute reprieve
. This is what happened yesterday, I was watching the ABC morning show. I do not want or care to give the name of the program because it stinks. That is not fair, let me iterate….it really blows. I do not watch it often or at all, but Diane Sawyer is on the screen and is talking to a doctor about the very importance of a vitamins to young women a very important issue as both of them are sitting on stuffed chairs and drinking liquid in a hot cup. I do not give a crap about that at the time. I want to know if the crawl will say “ST. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Grade School——canceled”. They are almost ready to get to the S’s of the list of schools that are canceled and the whole screen pops up to show this doctor’s name. What the heck?!!!! ARRRRGGGHGHHHHHHHH!!!!

To make matters worse they keep his name on the screen for the rest of the interview and all the names on the crawl are blocked because of it. Diane and the young doctor are having such a good time meanwhile I am pulling clumps of hair out of my head as this is the tenth time I have missed my school’s name. There is no time for me to get a few more z’s. I have to be at school and get supplies ready for the few kids that will show up. I want to curse Diane the Cougar and her boy-toy doctor.

Quickly the email rings and I am notified that school is canceled. What a relief. I put down my notepad of which I was writing a letter to the ABC affiliate, and went back to sleep…..only to be awakened by the call to get out of bed and start shoveling.

Everyone has time to accomplish things. Everyone has work to do. Today I feel like have both, but I feel like I do not want to accomplish anything today.
I do not have the get up and go, the vim and vinegar, the hot and spicy, the yin and yang of doing anything today.

I have one project that I know I should do, but I do not feel the inspiration to do so. I would describe what I have to do but it is one of many commissions and I do not want that customer to feel slighted. I will tell you this, I am not looking forward into drawing and designing it, but it has to be done.

That is a lesson I try to teach my students. There are things in this life you are expected to do. Doesn’t matter if it is your job, or your hobby or doing your taxes. The best way to avoid all this hmmphing and hawing about is just do the work and get it done with. BUT in art if you go in with that feeling, the art tends to suffer. Get your mind on something else and then focus your energy into finishing the project.

Sometimes I feel like I am just walking in the mud, going nowhere. I had a plan today and it had nothing to do with painting or drawing for myself. I was going to go to Algoma for the Shanty Days. My dad was going to play in his band and I was going to go through the art displays there to get some ideas on displays and whatnot. I was going to spend the majority of my time with my Mom, but things changed. Mom was not feeling good and decided not to go on the trip. I decided to stay home and watch after her and maybe get some work done too. Mom is up and about not feeling the greatest, and I am not feeling that inspired for this project.

So I give you a sure fire way to inspire anyone to get going. A Top Ten of Inspirational tips from yours truly….
10. Think of all the talents you have and focus your energy into the one that will accomplish your goal.
9. Have a goal.
8. Make sure to get your plans in order. An example would be a Top ten List and make sure you state facts that could previously build on the others mentioned.
7. Music and good moving “up” music helps the cause. I bet the Founding Fathers needed music to inspire them and I think BTO’s “Taking Care of Business” actually helped them write the Constitution…
6. Take a break. Eat a Red Vine.
5. Watch a movie, then get back to work. Do not repeat this step though, otherwise your day will be shot.
4. Get on your website and start writing a blog. Doesn’t matter what it is as you should be doing this too!
3. Spell check your favorite magazine.
2. Take a power nap. 10 minutes and just relax. I can wait.
and finally the way to accomplish a goal when you do not feel up to it is…....
1. Just do the dang thing! The more time you waste the less time you feel accomplished. Not eveyone like what they do but you gotta do it.

Michelangelo was a great sculptor. Known throughout the European community of upper echelons. What did the Pope ask him to do? Paint a little chapel. He’s not that great of a painter, but the Pope did not mind. So then old Mikey ran away. A few times. The official protectors of the pope, The Swiss Guards brought him back again and again. He actually knew them by name.

Finally he finished the Sistine Chapel and his mark was none throughout history. And yet he does not want any recognition to this day! Why? Well because he is dead. But still he accomplished what was considered a great task. He had back trouble, but still he accomplished his goal.

So what are you waiting for a pep talk? What the hck do you think this is? I am not Vince Lombardi! Get the heck back to work….

- See I think this actually worked. And I didn’t have to send out the Swiss Guards either.

Around this time of year, it usually seems like this is the last hurrah for Summer. It is hotter, stickier and usually uncomfortable in a closed room, like a classroom. But for most teachers, it is time to get prepared for the upcoming school year.

I myself have been visiting my classroom for the last 2 weeks. I have been bringing in supplies and cleaning out the things we do not need for the upcoming school year. I was also replacing the RENUZIT air fresheners in the storage areas as those “cloakrooms were built in the 1960’s and they smell like they were unearthed back then too. Nothing wrong with the 1960’s as it brought many great things in that era, but do you wear any of your clothes that you wore in the ‘60’s now? And why is that? BECAUSE THEY SMELL….case closed.

Seriously, all teachers have to reorganize or should reorganize their rooms every year. It keeps it fresh and clean and a new set of students makes the whole learning atmosphere unique. Here are a few of my tips for teachers that feel that they are in the same old rut.

1. Change the way the students are arranged. Move the desks in a different pattern. Move work tables if you can. Sometimes you can do this quite often during the year so if you keep the same arrangement for most of the year, maybe it is time to change it up.

2. Enjoy the weather, while you can. I enjoy Fall and most of the other seasons. I like to take the kids out of the classroom sometimes to just experience the seasons. My kindergarten class does a project with changing colors on the leaves. Why not take a quick field trip around the school to see some changing colors? That way the ideas could grow into great ideas for projects and assignments.

3. Let the students pick their spots to sit, for the first couple of weeks. I have tables in my room and the students can sit anywhere. Eventually there are problems with differing ideas and personalities. It is a good bet to let nature go its course and by the 5th week (or maybe sooner), THEN have a seating chart. That way you kind of know who gets along well or too well.

4.Have general supplies. Keep your room filled with general supplies like paper, construction paper, glue, etc. I like to keep a gallon of Elmer’s glue on hand just in case if during the year the glue runs out. I also have plenty of scissors, pencils and crayons from previous years. The problem for me is organizing it all and that is why I go into my classroom early to organize. Another thing to do, is look at your pencil sharpeners. Mine are set too high and some are too old. Maybe a fresh pencil sharpener and a convenient spot might make the school year go more smoothly?

5. Be excited about the school year. Nothing is more of a downer then a disappointed teacher who does not want to get back to school. I see students come into the library and they look down and out. A happy and reassuring face makes a jittery and scared student become a calm and inquisitive mind.

There are many more tips that I have, but because most of you are enjoying the Summer, I will cut this short. Get ready for those students and have a great School Year!

Okay, I know. This has nothing to do with art or artwork or artists. Television is the bottom feeder of culture.

But like it or loathe it, television is here to stay and I admit it, I love television. Always have, always will. Working at the library, I always hear complaints by people that there is “nothing on” or “it’s the same old thing all the time on tv”. This is when I am done checking out their 15 copies of Danielle Steele novels or Julie Evanovich paperbacks.

I never have that problem. I can find something to watch on any channel and be entertained by it. I love old shows and new shows. I watch sports and house shows, comedies, movies, news programs, pretty much anything that I find interesting.

I really like tv theme songs. I know the actual words to Bonanza, Different Strokes, Facts of Life, Golden Girls, etc. In fact I drown out my students that talking in class when I sing tv songs. That is my tip for all teachers. Learn the words to Gilligan’s Island. It will totally quiet your class. In a good way.

I originally thought that I could copy the location of all these songs and then you could click on each one to actually hear them. But I am not computer savvy and so you will have for the most part look them up on this website: televisiontunes.com, think of it as multi-tasking or do it during your lunch break.

Now I promised you terrible theme songs and here are some that are groan inducing. I hope this works.

Here is one that I have never heard of and is just beyond words…. Gadget and the Gadgetinas
http://www.televisiontunes.com/Gadge…-_Opening.html

Now I shouldn’t put this on because I have no idea what they are singing about and I have a foggier idea what language it is…any guesses?
But this is similar to the Gadget one except I have no idea what it all means and it just keeps going and going… Tabaluga
http://www.televisiontunes.com/Tabaluga.html

This one would make Eddie Money roll over in his grave, except that he aint dead yet. After hearing this he might reconsider as I am contemplating plucking my ears out after hearing this.

Why do people want to remake songs that are good enough already without adding technobeats and crap…well here is an example….Paradise Hotel
http://www.televisiontunes.com/Paradise_Hotel.html

Now I can imagine what the producers were saying when they wanted a composer for this theme…“We want a full orchestra and lots of themes and fantasy oh yeah and make it sound like Indiana Jones too and make it short…like about 17 seconds…no? okay 16 but that is how far I will let it go!” ABC Kids Matinee
http://www.televisiontunes.com/ABC_K…nee_(The).html

You know what I miss in songs? Not enough of that instrument that Snoopy played in “Race for your Life, Charlie Brown”. It is actually called a Jaw Harp or Jews Harp. But nonetheless here is another song that takes full advantage of the musical skill that is sticking a metal donut in your mouth and biting and snapping a middle wire in syncopated rhythm. Oakie Doke
http://www.televisiontunes.com/Oakie_Doke.html

I dare anyone to have this theme played while you eat cereal. You have to look menacing and dart your eyes. And make sure you protect your cereal bowl! It really is a good theme song but it kind of loses its edge if you are sitting in your pajamas eating Fiber One. Echo Four-Two
http://www.televisiontunes.com/Echo_Four-Two.html

No explanation necessary….the sad thing is I remember this show and I used to watch it, but I was 5 and wearing Donald Duck pajamas at the time. Jabber Jaw
http://www.televisiontunes.com/Jabberjaw.html

What the ....?

“There aint no nothing we can’t love each other through?” Isn’t that like 4 negatives in one sentence? Plus what is with all this Sha-la-la-laaaaaaa crap? For those that asked for more… I give you the extended version. Family Ties
http://www.televisiontunes.com/Family_Ties.html

Another conversation from a tv composer of theme songs.
“Hey! Mr. Whiskers get off of my synthesizer! Get off! You’re sleeping on the keys and getting hair stuck in between…oh..man…Don’t growl at me..OW! You dumb cat! Stupid cat who thinks he is a werewolf! Stop howling at the streetlight! It is not a moon…hey wait a minute this could be a great tv them song.” Werewolf

Coulda woulda shoulda…I didn’t
http://www.televisiontunes.com/Werewolf.html

Granted these are just a few bad them songs and I hope there are more better theme songs then worse ones. Mike Post wrote some great theme songs and the old op shows had some great instrumentals. But for every Barney Miller http://www.televisiontunes.com/Barney_Miller.html or The Streets of San Francisco http://www.televisiontunes.com/Streets_Of_San_Francisco.html there is a Fish Police http://www.televisiontunes.com/Fish_Police.html or the Banana Splits http://www.televisiontunes.com/Banana_Splits.html. A Ying to the Yang.

So if you know of any theme songs that just make you want to hurl either physically yourself or the tv set, just send the suggestion to me.

I would also like to thank TVThemeMusic.com for compiling pretty much a HUGE collection of theme songs. For the most part they are awesome!

So take some time and listen to some great theme songs.

For some of my most devoted fans, you have probably wondered “Where is Dean and where is his mind-enriching and nutritionally educational blog?” Well I am going to explain myself. And what better place then my blog.

I was preoccupied with an endeavor I started 5 years ago. As I was searching some old Artist’s magazines I found a unique article about Art*O*Mat. I grew intrigued with the story of Clark Wittingham who took his Senior Art Show to the next level. He placed his photographs in an old used cigarette vending machine, and it was a big hit. He expanded the concept to create a business that provides original artwork by multiple artists. All the artwork to be the same size of an ordinary pack of cigarettes. The artists, myself included, are called Artists in Cellophane. We produce original artwork and then wrap them in cellophane,ready for transportation to who knows where. And you get paid! Publicity and Payment are two great things.

Well I make wooden fish. Not just ordinary fish from a sportsman’s magazine’s back page. I cut out a fish shape out of 1/8” hardboard, prime it (actually my niece does this for me as she needs the cash) and I paint whatever I want on this small flat canvas. Then I glue it on a pine block that is pre-painted (again mainly Mariah does this, but I add the details…kind of like how Thomas Kincaid works….hmmmm?) and I then put on my label with the name of the fish and I spray a coat of varnish on it and then wrap it up and off to North Carolina it and many others go.

Pretty simple stuff, but the process takes awhile and I am a perfectionist when it comes to my Something Fishy...fish. That is what I call the artwork, Something Fishy… I had done the math and I have completed 538 fish. In 5 years. Plus they are all different and unique with a few similarities. I name each one of them with “fishy” puns like a cup of coffee in the shape of a fish is called Carpuccino or as you know I teach art so I paint famous paintings on my fish and call it Art A’PERCH"iation. My last series I did 101 famous paintings, on fish no bigger then a cigarette pack. I am so used to the size and I don’t even smoke! Note to kids: Smoking is bad for you. It will give you more problems then you can imagine. Don’t start smoking.

Anyway, this time I was thinking of another theme. I had done the paintings and I had also done license plates (I called them License Plate Dinners as each of the state’s prevalent and most eaten fish was broken down to abbreviation like a vanity plate would be). My Dad cuts the boards into blocks and he asked me what would be the theme this time. My mind was racing and then I thought of President Obama. I was going to paint all 44 Presidents on a fish and create an American flag in the process! Sounds simple….but it took awhile.
The more recent Presidents are fairly easy to paint, but when you start from the beginning like I did, It is hard to differentiate John Adams from James Madison and Rutherford Hayes from James Garfield. PLUS I had to think of Fishy names for each. A tough task indeed.

But I completed them and took a picture that I hope I can add soon and completed 72 more unique fish as I needed more to add to my supply. Clark bought all the Presidents up for the Art*O*Mat archives. I don’t mind as the fish seem like they work more as a group then individually. And in honor of the 44th President’s inspiration, I included 4 more Barack Obamarlins!

So if you have a nearby Art*O*Mat machine, check it out and you might just see my month long project I had just described to you. And then get a token and BUY ONE! Or two and also the other artist’s stuff too. But make sure to get mine first…What? it’s stuck? Well wiggle it a little…no not that hard….Yikes here comes the manager….You are on your own! Buy Something Fishy….!!!