F o N t I s S u E s.

So, I copied an old template in hopes of smaller, easier to read font, for you PC folks...
and truly hate that it looked like I have been SCREAMING at you for the past couple of months.
I assure you, I was not screaming.
Really.

I don't know what else to do at this point.
I don't want to subject you to gigantic font,
forcing you to scroll full pages for short paragraphs of general nonsense.
But I am out of ideas. Font fixing ideas, that is.

If you are still seeing large font you may want to try and clear your browser's cache...
You might have an old cookie in there that automatically takes you to an older version of my layout.
( I have absolutely no idea if that is even a plausible remedy,
but I it makes me feel more technically savvy when I say things like "browser", "cache", and "cookie".)
And clearing your cache occasionally seems to be healthy for a computer anyway, right?

But beyond that--- I am stumped.
Those of you that responded previously, will you please tell me if you still see HUGE font?
So far no two people are viewing my page the same way.
I wish you could see it from my monitor.
It's rather nice.

Oh well...

I am actually going to post a real story soon...
Sadly, I've gotten away from actual writing, which is why I decided to jump in the blog wagon in the first place, and have been posting silly stuff, just to be posting.

However, I have had a lot of time on the road lately to think.
Not only did rekindle my LOVE of King Crimson's album Discipline,
but I also came up with some old memories/stories I haven't shared with you yet.
Now, just to get them typed out.
Therein, generally lies the main obstacle.

Lots of love to you from small font Mac land.

95% Done, I think.

Opportunity to Buy New Art by Yours Truly

Here's a preview of the postcard that will be floating around soon.
I'd love to see you at the show--- Lexington's Gallery Hop was a blast last time I attended.
Lots of great galleries, restaurants and pubs, all within walking distance if you wear a comfy pair of shoes.
I am hoping to have all new paintings for the show, and they will be smaller than usual, created especially for this space.
Please come if you can, Isle of You is a very cool boutique, run by some very cool women---check it out @ www.isleofyou.com.

Show the love, meet new people, have a good time---
and buy something that will make you smile!

Mark Sings a Rainbow

Well, almost...

Another cool toy.

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Anessa Arehart!

1. Anessa Arehart cannot swim.
2. Bananas don't grow on trees - they grow on anessa arehart.
3. Europe is the only continent that lacks anessa arehart.
4. Anessa Arehart was invented in China in the eleventh century, but was only used for fireworks, never for weapons!
5. The colour of anessa arehart is no indication of her spiciness, but size usually is!
6. It's bad luck to whistle near anessa arehart.
7. Anessa Arehart can sleep with one eye open!
8. Anessa arehart has three eyelids.
9. About one tenth of Anessa Arehart is permanently covered in ice.
10. There are more than two hundred different kinds of anessa arehart.

I am interested in - do tell me aboutherhimitthem

This very cool toy was swiped from Brooke at Aidenn.org.
Thanks Brooke for sharing!

Oh.My. Gizzle.

CLICK HERE to read my blog in Snoop Style.
I am loving it so hard!
The site is called Gizoogle.com and it is straight up off the hook...
I ain't perpetratin'!
Fo' reals, y'all.


Thanks Donna Maria for sharing it!

Huge and Very Average

While riding down the road with Mark and our friend Christopher Saturday night, Christopher asked why I had made the font so incredibly big on my blog.

Me: What do you mean?

C: Well, your font got really huge when you posted the Wal Mart rant and it never went back. At first I thought you were just making a statement, but it never changed after that.

Me: What? I don't know what you mean. I never made it bigger...what does it look like?

C: Um, it looks really huge and very average.

Me: ( I die laughing ) Are you kidding?

Mark: What font did you use? Huge Ass Helvetica?

Mark and Christopher come up with a string of very funny names for gigantic font styles that make us all laugh for a good while.

Me: No way. I did change my font a while back, but huge and average is not the look I was going for. The font I chose looks very slick and modern on my monitor. It is called "Futura".

C: It is not that way on my computer. I was wondering why you did that.

So dear friends, if you have been reading this blog
in Huge Ass Helvetic style, I am very sorry.
I had no idea. In fact, I thought I was treating you to quite the opposite.

Hopefully, I have fixed the problem tonight.
Would you mind telling me what it looks like on your monitor...
especailly if it is HUGE AND AVERAGE?

Too funny.

Roxy Music Needs a Home

If you have a big yard and a tall fence, I know just what you need...

My sister found a beautiful stray, black border collie mix
(or so we are guessing) on a recent camping trip.

Everyone has fallen in love with her.
Someone named her Roxy Music.
And we are all trying to find a home for her to call her own.

You know, if you have been thinking of getting a dog,
maybe you are reading this for a reason.
Maybe, Roxy is the dog have been waiting for.

I don't have a photo just yet, but I can probably get one
if you know of anyone that might be willing
to open their heart and home
to sweet and energetic,
housebroken, loving pooch.

Currently, Roxy is staying with Jaye's friend Tanna.
Unfortunatley, Tanna's husband said with the three kids,
two dogs and two cats they already have,
Miss Music cannot stay much longer and is headed to the pound.

The pound is rarely a good place to be if you are a dog.

So please tell your friends....
and let me know if you might know of any loving and interested dog lovers.
Let's find this girl a home!

Kentucky Gingerbread House

I wish I could give credit to someone for this awesome edible artwork,
but I haven't a clue where it originated.
I totally LOOOOOOOVE the jacked up Camaro! Dead on!

On the Easel.

This is by no means even close to being done,
but sometimes if I post a photo of a painting I am working on,
it gives me a better perspective on things.

Instead of focusing on the details I can get the overall feeling
and then I can refocus my energy before picking up the brush again.



Two of these little girls are the same ones I painted in December. In this painting, they are with their baby cousin, Piper. (Whose face, I realize, is too skinny and I haven't even really begun.)

Too Much Work Makes Yoshi a Dull Boy

And you think YOU are overworked...
Check out these poor fellas.
**sheesh!**

Dread Evolution

I had no idea how they would develop,
but it is very interesting to see the evolution.

I started them July 18th.

Here's a photo from roughly a month into the experiment:

Here's another about halfway into it:

And this was taken last week:

They are getting shorter and tighter
(and suspiciously blonder) every day.
It's wild.

I wish they would hurry up and grow....
this is a true lesson patience.

I want long dreads like these kids.
Well, maybe not exactly, but aren't they amazing!?

Through the Looking Glass

Hey, look everybody!
My girl Alice has a new photo blog....

A note of minimal interest,
I grew up in Georgetown, Kentucky
where two of the photos were taken.

Can't wait to see more..
And how about sharing the link to your radio page, too?

Update on New Year's Resolutions

Nine days into 2006 and:

I haven't run a single mile...
Not the best way to train for the mini marathon.

I have gained 2 pounds since Jan 1st...
Supposed to be losing 10,
so I am headed very much in the wrong direction.

And I ate two big fat animal shrimp
at Cafe Minou on Friday night.....
Not so terribly vegetarian of me.

And in other news, Mark bought a pack of cigarettes for himself.
He quit about a year ago.

Good news is...I have started a new portrait commission to be completed ASAP,
and I begin a mural in a baby's nursery tomorrow.

Maybe the next nine days will be better for us.

Who is Mark??

Some of you readers may only know me as the husband to that wonderful little artsy girl with dreads who makes you smile and warms your heart. From the blogs written you may not have a clear picture of who I am.
So as we say in Paducah- “Ima gonna tell ya.”

I am 35, soon to be 36. I am a husband of 12 years to a beautiful, funny and smart woman. I was born in Melber, KY in a house with a detached bathroom (an outhouse). We moved to the big city of Paducah, KY at age 4. I made my first sales call at 7 when I sold flower pots door to door for Cub Scouts and have been a salesman of some sorts ever since (and I’ve been wearing suits since the age of 3). My first dog was Ginger, an Irish Setter, and I loved her dearly. My parents divorced when I was 10, both remarried when I was 11 and moved to Louisville when I was 14. I have lived in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and Maryland.

I was an only child, but have 3 step-brothers. I was a rebellious youngster and skateboard punk. I am 6’3” tall and I am bald. My mom passed away when I was 29. I want to start sailing, but never seem to have the time. I am goal oriented, but my goals change frequently. I am, and have always been, theatrical. I played baseball and was a catcher from kindergarten to the 12th grade.

I love to shop. I love music of all kinds and will sing karaoke unprovoked. I have been known to play the trombone shirtless. I was an art major in college and I have a Masters Degree in Expressive Therapy, though I am not an artist or a therapist. I love station wagons. I like to wear bow ties. My wife does not allow me to drink bourbon anymore. I am sentimental and will easily shed a tear. I am a gadget freak. I start home projects, but never finish them. I am not afraid to wear women’s clothing. I cannot tell a joke very well, but can tell funny stories about myself and find humor in my own self-deprecation. I love the beach. I wear Birkenstocks for the arch support. I always have good intentions.

I idolized Steve Martin as a youngster, dressed in a white suit, wore an arrow through my head, memorized his albums, performed them live and made a tape of myself doing his stand up entitled “Mark Martin”. I carried a brief case when I was 8 with my “Mark Martin” tape, Steve’s book Cruel Shoes , baseball cards, my arrow through the head, and a tape recorder. And convinced my mother to take me to see the movie “The Jerk” when I was 9 (it was rated R).

I drink Diet Dr. Pepper just for the taste of it. I am a lover and a fighter. Although I no longer smoke cigarettes, I am a nicotine addict and have been vigorously chewing nicotine gum now for 3 years. I love small parties of close friends, and love to meet new people.

So that being said, I hope you can now see a small glimpse of who I am.
Let’s get this party started.

Self Portrait Tuesday

January's challenge is personal history...
I couldn't resist.

Cory Hart Drives a Fiero

Oh my God...I can't quit laughing..
I LOVE this guy: Click here.

Going to keep on Truckin'

Recently, while making a list of things I want to accomplish in 2006,
Which include, but are not limited to:
Training for a mini marathon,
Writing a children's book,
and going vegetarian.

I decided I should quit my blog.

Simply to make room in my life
for my new projects.
Most specifically the running.

So, you might imagine my surprise,
when of all people,

the one that gives me most grief about my silly little blog
the one that makes frequent smart ass comments
regarding my overly-romanticized, adjective-chocked, sentimental posts,
was the most disappointed with my announcement.

Yes. Would you believe it?
Mark was totally bummed out.

So, we have made an agreement.
I am going to keep on truckin'...
and using too many adjectives,
and typos,
and misspelled words,
with one small adjustment.
Mark is now a contributing member..

So, dear readers...I give to you...
My husband and source of constant entertainment,

Johnny Mark Farmer, blogger.

Anessa QUITS BLOGGING

You didn't want to wake one morning to find a heading that said that did you?? Well a week ago A says, "I did the blog thing for exactly a year and now I am stopping". Like you would be, I was very upset. I read her blog every day to see new posts. I go back and read old posts to relive things we've done. I love her blog and I do not want it to die. The only way to keep the sparkle was to agree to post occasionally so that the pressure to post often was not so great. I agreed and here we are a blogging couple. We will see how this works and I have promised not to take over, only to contribute occasionally. To Anessa's Fans- I promise not to harm the good taste of ASITJ, but will probably not be as sweet, sentimental and sensitive as my beautiful wife. I on the other hand come from a more sarcastic place. Not dark or bitter, I just look at life as a bit of a joke and I am often the punch line. Cheers to the New Year !!

Cheers!