GJ Willis' Art Notes

I got my copy of Macromedia Flash 5 yesterday! In addition to that I finally got and installed Mac OS X. The version I have isn’t the latest. I have Jaguar or 10.2 And wouldn’t you know Macintosh is coming up with even newer version of OS X. OS X 10.3 or Tiger. No wonder I got this copy so cheap!

After installing it, it took me a while to figure out how to get back on the internet. Just to let you know how long it took me. I started installing everything around 9pm and didn’t finish up until 3am in the morning.

FRIDAY COMMUTE:
I got on the #1 bus. I didn’t take much note of what the driver looked like. This was because as I was getting on the bus a man was rushing towards the driver. Apparently, he saw a man running for the bus and wanted to make sure that the driver stopped for him. The man did eventually get on the bus. When he got on, he was extremely happy and out of breathe.

CONCERN OF THE DAY: Taxes
Today, as every American knows is Tax Day. This is the day that you have to turn in your tax form or file for an extension. This year I did things a little different. I filed my State and Federal taxes online. For the first time ever in my adult life I owed only $1 on my federal taxes. This happened because I finally decided to take deductions on my school loans and charitable contributions.

However, as always I owed on my Maryland taxes. I had to pay about $163. Maryland has the reputation for being amongst the most over taxed states in the union.

All I can say now is that I hope that I don’t get audited for taking deductions on my school loans and charitable contributions. Last year I gave $10 a month to WYPR. I did this because I knew that at the end of year they would mail me a statement. I feel it’s better this way because there’s a written record on both ends of how much money I donated to them. I think I may add WTMD> on to my $10 a month donation club.

I tend to donate money every year to certain organizations but am unsure if they are tax deductible.

In case any one is taking score here are the organizations I give donations to every year; Amnesty International, NOW (National Organization For Women), Planned Parenthood, American Friends Service Committee, American Humanist Association, American Diabetes Association, Center Stage, the BSO, the Sierra Club, Chase Brexton Health Services, GMHC, Broadway Cares, Habitat for Humanity, and the Democratic National Committee.

As you can see from the above list, I’m basically a garden variety bleeding heart liberal...and damned proud of it!

WHAT I’M WEARING:
Today, I have on a lavender top and blue jeans along with brown leather lace up shoes.

MORNING COMMUTE:
This morning I got on the #1 bus. It was being driven by a man who wore glasses. The light rail was on time as was the corresponding shuttle bus.

CONCERN OF THE DAY: The Blue Bracelet
My yearly review went better than expected. I got very high marks and a raise. The one thing ratings wise that stood out was that I got a 5 for job performance. Brian said it was the highest he had ever given to anyone in the group. He told me that he and Mellissa couldn’t recall when I last had work sent back to me. This all sounded pretty good to me. However, I still felt uncomfortable and more than a little freaked out during the review. In fact I felt so freaked out that I did not sit at the long table where he sat, but instead sat on one of the chairs that lined the wall as I clutched on to another chair.

The reason for my discomfort was because of something I noticed he was wearing. He was wearing a blue Cure Autism Now bracelet.

I’m sure he was wearing it in solidarity for his brother in law’s daughter who’s autistic. I recall him telling us about it a couple of years ago when her parents were doing fundraising for a bicycle race or something or other.

Seeing the bracelet prominently on display during the review made me wonder if he knew that I’m autistic. This was a silly thought because I’ve never told anyone at work about my disorder. I don’t feel it’s necessary. They are probably well aware of the fact that I’m a very odd duck. Why compound the issue by giving them a name for the condition I have? Besides the majority of people out there think that autism is a psychiatric disorder and are not aware of the fact that it is a genetic neurological disorder. From what I’ve read on various message boards adults with mild autism who have come out at work about their disorder are often times ostracized and quickly downsized out of a job.

In retrospect I’m sure he was wearing the bracelet because it might have been Autism Awareness Month or Week. I’m not quiet sure which or when those events take place. I don’t keep up on that type of thing.

In all likelihood I’m sure he wasn’t purposely wearing it because he was giving a yearly review to an autistic worker.

However, despite my reasoning, I have to say, that was the most uncomfortable review I ever sat through. Throughout the review I kept wondering does he or does he not know...

WHAT I’M WEARING:
This morning I have on a green plaid shirt along with green slacks and brown leather lace up shoes.

ART UPDATE:
I’ve been working very hard on my art work for potential display in the upcoming months. I’m also working on a design for the SOWEBO poster. It has be to be turned in on the 26th or 27th.

I think I may do a retread of the picture that’s up on the main page of my website. I like the colour scheme idea of black, powder blue, and pink. Then again I may just change my mind all together and do something entirely different...

MORNING COMMUTE:
I got on the #1 bus. It was being driven by a man who wore dread locks. I can not think of a celebrity be resembled. The light rail was also on time.

CONCERN OF THE DAY: My Yearly Job Review and Star Wars
Yesterday, my supervisor Brian informed me that he had completed my yearly work evaluation. This news of course frightened me. Would it be a bad review? Would I have to pack up my stuffed bunnies and Elvis posters? Brian did tell me before hand that it was a good review. This news worries me even more. What exactly qualifies as a good review vs a mediocre review? I suppose I’ll find out tomorrow for sure.

Also just after my supervisor told me he had completed my yearly review, I was taken aback when he noticed the Star Wars Episode III poster I have up. No where on it does it say Star Wars. To give you a better description it; it has Anakin and Obi Wan with crossed swords and there all these flames around them. I assume that this is the battle where Anakin falls into a fiery pit and later becomes Darth Vader.

I felt it was a very stealth poster. No normal personal looking at would say or think I was a Star Wars geek.

All in all it’s a pretty neat poster, it’s holographic and shiny. I got it in the mail from Target.

After he mentioned the poster he told me he was going to the big Star Wars convention in Indianapolis next week. I’m not too surprised by this. He has a couple of Star Wars things around his cubicle. He camps out at Walmart when new Star Wars dvd’s come out. I’m sure he’ll be at the movies on opening day. He’s the most diligent Star Wars fan I’ve ever run across.

WHAT I’M WEARING:
Today, I have on a long sleeve white flannel like shirt. It has a pattern of green plaid. I also have on blue slacks.

TUESDAY COMMUTE:
This morning I got on the #2 bus. It was being driven by a man who looked like Darryl Bell, who played Ron, on >A Different World. The light rail and shuttle bus were also both on time.

It’s colder than usual this morning. It’s in the 40’s. The high today is supposed to get into the 60’s. This is a major switch from the summer like weather we had last week and over the weekend. It appears that Spring has finally sprung.

WHAT I’M WEARING:
Today, I have on a yellow turtleneck and a stripped black button down sweater. I had intended to give the sweater to David as a Christmas present many moons ago but changed my mind at the last minute. I felt that it would look better on me than him. It’s the only piece of clothing I ever bought that came directly from the men’s store.

MORNING COMMUTE:
I woke up late. Amazingly, I made it to work on time. I caught a light rail train that was three trains after the two I usually take. I did end up not having enough time to eat my breakfast at work. I had to really wolf it down.

CONCERN OF THE DAY: Ms USA Beauty Pageant:
This evening the pageant is being held in downtown Baltimore. Baltimore, is the least glamorous place on earth. What the heck are they thinking?

The only thing I can say is that I hope that the Donald shows up. I would really like to get a picture of him on my digital camera. Also I want to know if his hair looks real and natural in person.

WHAT I’M WEARING:
Today, I have on a black sweater and a blue flannel shirt with jeans and brown leather lace up shoes.