GJ Willis' Art Notes

Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home

I’m sorry, but I have no idea who wrote the song, Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home. I believe it was written by Pearl Bailey’s brother who ironically was named Bill Bailey. I’m too tired right now to look it up. Also the above picture is a painting I’m putting up for sale on eBay tomorrow. I'm calling it Piano Lady. Yes, I know it’s been 2 years since I put anything up for sale. But hey, 9-11, my Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis, coupled with my PCOS diagnosis really bummed me out.

For the first half of the morning I tried to add a comments page to this blog. I started off with haloscan but it did nothing but delete out my page. Then next I tried this company based in the uk called ennotation. It was perfect! The code and instructions they gave were a perfect match! I got it right the first time!!

Ms. Dumas did not show up for class today. When I got there my usual 15 minutes before start time no one else was there. There’s usually a throng of students waiting for her to let them in. This time there was no one save the guy who I told yesterday that I though Ms. Dumas was insane. He’s usually late for class. I asked him if he went back inside after class was over yesterday, he said, “No.” Then he made a call on his cell phone to the school. He got no answer. So we both assumed that class must have been canceled. I know next week there is a possibility that Ms. Dumas might get on us for not going back inside like that other students did.

I can only assume that she canceled the class in advance. You see yesterday before she let us leave early she ordered that we all wait outside for 20 minutes. The other student left there books and bags inside the classroom. I, on the other and did not feel secure leaving my bag unattended so I took it with me outside. When the 20 minutes were up I just left instead of going back inside. I can only assume that when the other students went back inside to collect there belongings she might have made an announcement that she was canceling class for the next day.

The writing prompt for today says to read one of your favorite books from childhood. Write a journal entry about why you liked it so much.

This one will be difficult for me to complete. My favorite books from childhood are all out of print. My favorite book was The Teddy Bear Habit by Lincoln Collier. He got old and started writing these historical books. My other favorite book that’s out of print is called Billy Bumbry’s Yearbook. It appears that the guy who wrote it went into hiding. I have been unable to find any information about him or any other books he’s written. Who knows maybe he had to go into the witness protection program....

Today I saw him again!!! I have no idea what his name is. All I know is he has got to be the handsomeness man I ever did lay eyes on. The above picture looks nothing like him. It's not meant in anyway to represent him. It's just another random painting. Anway..........

The first time I saw him was when I went to the Creative Alliance to drop off my artwork and to pick up a Sowebo poster. There was this older black guy there who was introducing him around to the people who worked there. I remember the old man saying saying that he was a student at Maryland Institute. I remember thinking to myself upon looking up at him, “Wow!!”

I saw him again at the Ahi 1442 Gallery when I was picking up my artwork from the Creative Alliance group show. He was sitting by the window in the gallery talking casually to the gallery owner. I just recall thinking that day after I saw him up close yet again, “Wow!”

Today, I saw him walking up Baltimore Street across from the driving school. I can only assume that maybe he’s working at Maryland Art Place and was on his way home from work. He was wearing this red print shirt and khaki shorts and a backpack slung across his shoulder. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail. I couldn't take my eyes off him. I just stared and watched him walk by. Ohhhh, what great eye candy he makes!!!

I’m not sure what his nationality is. He looks like he could be Asian, Latino, Native American, Hawaiian, or Philippino. One thing is for sure, he’s fine as hell. He truly is a beautiful foreigner. I would like to paint him or maybe photograph him all day. It’s like the world was is in black and white and when he enters it, it switches to glorious Technicolor. I know I probably have a snowballs chance in hell with him. He’s probably gay. Besides, most men like women who are talkative and pushy. I’m neither.

I don’t really want to know him or what his name is.... I’d like to keep him as this mysterious good looking stranger who occasionally enters my world and brightens it with his presence.

I’m not sure if I previously wrote this but I like to listen to the Out to Lunch radio show with Bill and Thrill on 105.7 I like the theme song that this rapper called Jake the Rapper came up with so I stupidly wrote on a message board that I liked it and thought he was stand up guy. I said this because he told Bill and Thrill live on the air that he would come up with a theme song for them by such and such a date and he did. All the other listeners and musicians who said they would come up with a theme song for the show never followed through.

Needless to say Jake the Rapper saw what I wrote on the message board and then wrote me back saying that he liked my artwork and wanted to meet me. This of course frightened me,.....then again everything does. I have autism after all. I like to use my computer because I find it’s easier to communicate with people on it than face to face. It’s almost like I’m more in my element. I’m afraid that if I met him he wouldn't like me very much because I’m not very talkative and do not smile and giggle a lot like other females. I’m sure that 99% of the people who meet me think I’m probably a snob because I don’t say very much. The thought that I have autism never crosses there mind. I look and dress normal and I like to wear makeup. Also I feel uncomfortable because Jake is 23. I have a niece that I practically helped to raise who is 23! Besides what would David think?

Also there’s this guy I met on an e-mail list. He also wants to meet me in person. He’s into mail art and he’s got me interested in it as well. Again this frightens me. I’m more comfortable in the cyber world. I’m sure that if I met him in the real world he would find that I don’t talk very much and would read that as not being interested, hostility, or passive aggressive behavior. Also since I don’t smile very much he would probably think I’m an angry person or overly serious when the opposite is true.

The truth is I’ve never really had true conversations with people. I don’t know how to do small talk or shoot the breeze. I feel that the reason I have more male friends than females is that they don’t mind if I ask them 1,001 questions about them or there favorite subject. Women on the other hand would become very suspicious of this.

Truth be told in a sense I view people as talking books. If I want to know something about r&b music from 1960-1989 I know that Richard is the guy to ask. If I want to know about cars, just as Nick. So conversations for me are just information gathering sessions. When I get my information I’m done. This I’ve learned through studying my disorder is normal for people with the form of autism I have, Asperger’s Syndrome.

Today, Ms. Dumas was late for the driving class. She was in a bad mood. She told us she wasn't feeling well and that she would let us leave early. This was both good and bad. Good, because of course I got to leave early. Bad, because she barely taught us anything. We ended up doing the quiz together. So we all got 100’s. I noticed that half the material on the test she didn't cover in class. I’m worried because we have a final exam in two weeks and I’m afraid that I’ll fail the section that she was supposed to cover today. I guess I could ask her to go over it tomorrow or next week.

Also today, I confided in a fellow classmate that I felt that Ms. Dumas was nuts. He just laughed.

Personally, I do feel that she is certifiably insane. She’s erratic and makes frequent loud outbursts to the class and starts to laugh for no apparent reason. I don’t know maybe she’s on the very of a nervous breakdown...or maybe she’s like that all the time. I just don’t know. All I know is that her erratic behavior makes me feel very uncomfortable. Again, I feel that this is an effect of my autism. We like order and recognizable patterns in or world.

Todays writing prompt says to think about the most memorable summer you had in childhood. What makes this summer stand out from the rest?

First off my family never went anywhere for the summer. Every summer we just stayed put on 529 Robert Street while other families went to Disney Land or visited relatives in Virginia or some far off place. Nothing spectacular or exciting ever happened during summer. Except this one year....

I believe I was seven because it was the summer that Elvis died. Hues Corporation’s, Rock the Boat was very big on the radio. I believe the movie Which Way is Up?, came out that summer too. Anyway, these white holy rollers moved up the street from us. This was unusual because we lived in the ghetto. It was a whole group of young people maybe in there twenties. I remember every evening they would do these shows for the kids. They’d roll out this red carpet on the sidewalk and all the children would sit on it as they told bible stories. I remember it was fun and very dramatic. They were creative and would act out the parts and stuff, sometimes there would be singing and dancing. This was the closest I ever came to going to church on a regular basis. Something tells that me that if you go to a regular church they aren't going to dress up in costumes and act out bible stories in a Broadway-esque manner....

I couldn't go to the mall today because I have to go to my driving school class. Today Ms. Dumas, was her nasty old self again when a new student showed up for class. Why does that woman always have an attitude? Also I hate that she talks when we take our quizzes. It’s as thought she can’t stand one second of silence.

As far as her class goes I got a 100 on the latest quiz. I hope and pray that I pass the Maryland Driver’s Test. With the attainment of my license I would be able to travel the outdoor art festival circuit on the weekends. This would of course mean more money for me! :)

The writing prompt for today says to look up your name in a baby book or on the internet. Does your name match your personality? If you could rename yourself, what name would you choose? Why?

I tried to go to the movies at the Towson Commons to see Bruce Almighty. I decided to take the number eight bus. The bus took about an hour and half to get there which made me miss my movie which had a start time of 4:45. I thought the bus would take about 20-30 minutes to make it into Towson. I know that if I drove there instead of taking the bus I know I could have made it there sooner. Oh, well better luck next time....

So instead I stayed on the bus and went downtown. I hung out at the Gallery and ate spaghetti and Caesar salad for dinner at Sbarro’s. The counter people at Sbarro’s were acting funny like they didn't notice that I wanted to order something. I don’t know it could have been that he didn’t speak English. I only got service when the black guy came out from the back.

The writing prompt for today says to write a story about the creepiest place you’ve ever been.

The high today got up to 92’. As I have wrote in previous blogs I live in a tiny apartment that does not come with air conditioning. I also cannot put air conditioning in because there are bars on my windows. So I spent the day at Security Square Mall window shopping and staying cool. I wanted to see a movie but nothing interesting was playing. Also I noticed that they moved the bus stop closer to the movie theater, which to me is a godsend. The main reason I head out to Security is to go to the movies.

The writing prompt for today says what would paradise be like for you? What would you do there?

American Bandstand (Theme Song to American Bandstand), Words by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman, Music by Charles Albertine, @1954 (Renewed) CHERIO CORP.

As everyone knows the theme music to American Bandstand was originally written in the 50’s. Barry Manilow added words to the music sometime in the late 70’s, early 80’s. I guess if you add words to a preexisting melody the copyright date doesn't change from the melodies original inception date. This is the only explanation I can come up with as to why the above song has a copyright date of 1954.

Today was simply wonderful! The sun was out all day! I ran into Starlinda Babb, she’s an old schoolmate from my elementary and middle school days. I ran into her at the bus stop downtown on Fayette street right across from the First Union building. We fell out of touch after we graduated from middle school. She went on to Western and I went to City. Today’s unexpected meeting was almost like synchronicty or something because I was thinking about her this weekend. She was the only other black girl I knew that liked listening to rock and roll music besides me. Her favorite group back in the day was Hall & Oates. My favorites were the Go-Go’s, The Cars, and The Police. We also shared a love of The Edge of Night, especially the character of, Skylar Whitney. Skylar was this rich handsome debonair millionaire who solved mysteries along with his wife, the ever tempetous Raven.

I have to say it was odd seeing her after all these years. She was the same yet different.... She still had the habit of calling who ever she’s taking to “darling”. Physically, she’s chubbier and her hair is beginning to gray. I found this very alarming because she’s the same age as I am!! Like me she isn't married or has kids so why the graying hair? Anyway, from what she’s told me she seems to being doing fine. She works as a secretary for the City. I was afraid to ask her about her mother. Mainly, I was afraid that she would tell me that her mother was dead. This would make me feel sad reminding me of my mother who was also dead. Mrs. Ruth Babb, Starlinda’s mother, was one of those very dedicated parents. She participated in many PTA events. I think she was in school so much that they eventually gave her job there.

Today, I hope to work on a brochure of black and white drawings. I figure I could just print it up inexpensively on my printer and it wouldn't take up too much disk space. I want to do this because I noticed that some of the markets in the 2003 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrators Market book only use black and white artwork.

Today’s writing prompt says basically, In the summer months, vacationers escape to tropical beaches and relaxing locales. What would paradise be like for you? What would you do there?

Love in Bloom (Theme Song to the Jack Benny Show), words and music by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger, @1934 (Renewed 1961) by Famous Music Corporation

Today, I mostly just looked up markets for educational children’s books. One thing I’ve noticed is that the children’s book publishing world is very small. The 2003 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrators Market book has a listing of only 800+ markets. I had 500 postcards made to be used as samples. When I look in the book I noticed that some companies only want to deal with artist who have agents, or client list’s, and brochures. I may have to cull leads from my 2002 Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market. I’m not sure if this is a good idea because the book is a year old. However, the book has 2,100 listings which is more than in the Children’s Writer’s & Illustrators Market book. From the other book I think I may send out stuff to record companies. I want to do this because I noticed that a majority of the record company listings say they want you to send them postcards of your work. And, well hell, I’ve got tons of them!

I hope I don’t end out having to send my postcards as Christmas cards next year. I need 500 client leads!

Also today I started work on a play that was inspired by a listing in the 2003 Writer’s Market book. It was on page 870 amongst the listing for playwriting. It appears that my beloved Center Stage wants no... “Plays about bourgeois adultery, life in the suburbs, Amelia Earhart, Alzheimer’s, mid-life crisis, ‘wacky southerners’, fear of intimacy, Hemingway, Bible stories, backstage life, are unacceptable, as are spoofs and mysteries.” Also it lists Charlotte Standt as the resident dramaturg, I could have sworn a thousand times over that her last name is Stroud not Standt. Oh, well.....

The writing prompt for today says to make a list of words that evoke happy feelings from the reader:

Here’s my list:

sunny days..........money
sunshine..............millions
rainbows..............power
smiles..................hero
laughs..................blue skies
orgasms...............toned abs
ecstasy.................oral
tickles...................a puppy
giggles..................music
apple pie...............dance
snow days.............freedom
vacations...............The way Bob Barker says Brand New Car
free love.................ladies night
free sex..................babies
free beer.................bubbles
childhood................playground
pets.......................cats
hamsters................the ferret from that TV commercial
pizza......................ice cream
diamonds................jewelry

Mister Ed (Theme Song to the Mister Ed TV Show), Words and Music by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, @1960 by ST. ANGELO MUSIC and JAY LIVINGSTON MUSIC, Copyright Renewed, All Rights of ST ANGELO MUSIC controlled and Administered by by MCA MUSIC PUBLISHING, a Division of MCA INC.

Today, I got one of my postcards back. It appears that I forgot to put a stamp on it. I just put a stamp on it and sticked it back in the post box. I hope that they will send it to the intended address and not send it back again to me. You see it was stamped saying postage due. Usually, when I get something like this back I would just put a new envelope and stamp on it. Since this is a postcard that I spent a lot of my own money making I would hate to waste it. So I just slapped a stamp on the postage due labeling. I hope that it makes it’s way to Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc.

Also, I went to my driving class. I got a 100 on my quiz. So far so good! Ms. Dumas again let us out early. This is good because the class is supposed to end at 9:15. Personally, I do not want to be hanging around outside at night in that neighborhood which is just a hop and skip from Baltimore’s infamous Red Light district, better known as The Block.

The writing prompt for today I found hilarious, Here it goes, It’s officially the beginning of summer! Head outside today to find writing inspiration.

Right now it’s cold wet and rainy outside. When will this bloody weather end!

June 20, 200

Roll along
Wagon Train,
rolling over prairie where there ain’t no grass,
rolling over mountain where there ain’t no pass.
Sitting on a board, eyeing in the weather
praying to the Lord, we stay together, side by side
on the Wagon Train

Wagon Train (Theme Song: (Roll Along) Wagon Train), Words by Jack brooks, Music by Sammy Fain, @1958 Northern Music Company, Copyright renewed, Northern Music Company is an MCA Company

I have the day off today for the First Day of Summer which is actually tomorrow. Despite the change in season the weather is still cloudy and crappy...

Toady, I watched my soaps (The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, As The World Turns, One Life To Live, and General Hospital) live and in person not taped and went to my driving class. This time we didn't have a quiz because we are doing part one of a two part lesson. Ms. Dumas, decided to let us out early because of that. We get a quiz tomorrow after she finishes up with part two of lesson two.

Also, today, I went through my 2003 Children’s Writer’s and Illustrators Market book and printed out markets to send my artwork to. My target for this mailing were companies that did multicultural picture books. Next time my target will be publishers who specialize in educational material. All in all I mailed out 33 postcards today! I hope I get a sale!

The writing prompt for today says to visit a thrift store pick out an unusual object and write a story about where the object has been.

June 19, 2003

Today I starting driving school at the Pro Drive Driving School on Baltimore Street. I was a half an hour late. I thought that the class started at 6:30. Ooops! I will now try to make in there before the 6:00 start time.

The instructor is a woman named, Ms. Dumas. She talks very loudly and seems very stern. I have a feeling that most of the students in her class are terrified of her. I on the other hand find her mildly amusing. I guess this is because it’s been years since I’ve been in a classroom situation. I can almost predict what she will be yelling ‘er complaining about next before she even says it. Besides, it’s for only three weeks.

The driving class is small. There are seven students in her class including me. Also sadly it appears that I am the oldest student in her class. The class is primarily composed of males who appear to be in there teens or early twenties. The other female in her class is a tiny teenage girl. I think that the only other person in her class who is closest to me in age is a man who appears from his accent to be African.

So far things are going well. After each lesson she will be giving us a quiz. I got a 95 on my first quiz.

The writing prompt for today says to make a list of your birthdays, starting with the first on you can remember. How was it celebrated, what gifts did you receive, who was there?

I come from a working class black family. They never gave me presents for my birthday. I rarely had birthday parties. I would just have an occasional card or cake that, is if someone remembered.

This wasn’t because of money or anything like that we weren't exactly poor, struggling, and on welfare. My parents owned there own house and the mortgage was paid up already. It was just a case of being born 11 days after Christmas.

Here’s My List:
Age 6... birthday party with cake, Tony the next door neighbor was invited.

Age 9.... saw the movie, The Wiz, at the New Theater. It starred Diana Ross , Michael Jackson(when he was still black), Richard Pryor, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, and Lena Horne. It was snowing outside. My brother and cousin Kip went there with me. When we got back they had a surprise birthday party for me. Again, Tony, the next door neighbor was there. The cake tasted just like bubble gum. :) I swear to God it really did! I have no idea how my mother did this. Unfortunately, she’s dead now and I can’t ask her how you to make bubble gum cake. I think my grandniece would really like it.

For that birthday my brother gave me these white rabbit skin gloves with a matching hat and scarf. This was good because the snow that was coming down that evening would soon result in a major snowstorm that would shut down school for a couple of days. I think we got 11 inches of snow.

After this memorable party it was pretty much hit and miss. I would just get birthday cards if someone remembered. It’s sad I know that my family and friends haven't thrown me a party since 1980, that’s how life is if you’re born close to Christmas. The people at my various jobs have thrown me parties, but it’s not the same as when family and friends are there.

June 18, 2003

We had overtime today at work. I decided to do it. It’s been a long, long, time since I’ve seen the sun... Right now I feel like my life has turned into a New Order song where there’s this line that goes.....”I never thought my life would depend on the morning sun.” I believe the name of that song is True Faith.

The writing prompt for today says to practice your writing dialogue. Take one of your short stories and rewrite it into only dialogue between characters.

June 17, 2003

I’m very depressed today. I just got finished listening to a book on tape called, Never Change by Elizabeth Berg. It really bummed me out. It was about this nurse who cares for this terminally ill patient whom she’s adored from afar since high school. He asks her to help end his life. She agrees and decides that she will also end her own life too. He told her during the story that he loved her and wanted to marry her. She felt that life wouldn't be worth living without the man who loved her. The ending was meant to be uplifting but I was still saddened by the suicide in the book. By the way the nurse decided at the last minute that she didn’t want to die. The book overall was depressing and oh, so sad....

Reading this book plus the rainy dreary weather outside helped to push me into the depths of depression. I will now make a solemn vow to NEVER pick up a sad book to read on a cloudy, sunless, rainy, dreary, day.

Oh, by the way I have a new blog devoted to book reviews of things I’ve read. I call my other blog GJ Willis' Book Notes.

The Writer’s Digest writing prompt for today says to write a story in a genre that you’ve never tried before. For example if you write horror, then try your hand at writing romance.