Life of Pol

Last week Steve and I had our art shown at the Austin Artist Co-Op. We didn't have any sales, but the exposure was good. Our stuff has been hanging all week and last night I received a call from a guy who wants me to do a burning of his dog. He said it's some kind of a spaniel. I told him I would have to see the dog first, so I'm meeting him there today around 11. It's weird to think that strangers are asking me to do burnings for them. I really don't like doing commissioned work because it adds a level of stress to the work that I usually find fun. It adds stress because I can't just screw a piece up and throw it away if that happens. I actually have to finish a piece because it's paid for. But, I guess I'll have to get used to it if I want to try and do this when we move to Santa Fe. Anyway, not much else has been going on with me. I'm finally feeling better. Now Steve has been sick for the past few days. It's allergies with him, to...

Steve and I are going to be showing our stuff for the first time publicly today at the Austin Artist Co-Op. We're pretty excited about it. We're hoping that there will be a lot of people there, but it is Mother's Day, so who knows. But that could also go in our favor with everyone spending the day with their mothers and taking them around town and shit. We, of course are mother free. Steve's is in Amarillo and mine is in Heaven, so that frees us up. You know, that's one thing that's always bothered me. I know it's a natural question: "What are you getting your mother for Mother's Day?" But my mother passed away when I was six, so I haven't had a Mother's Day in almost 29 years. I just have to say "Nothing, she passed away a while ago." Then there's that awkward moment of silence. Perhaps people should ask, or find another way of asking. I don't know of one, but it's just a thought. Well, to all of those m...

It's Friday and I'm feeling much better. Of course I'm feeling much better, there's only two more days before I have to go back to work. But that's fine, as long as I'm feeling better, that's what matters. Steve and I went down to what's called First Thursday , here in Austin. It's kind of a street fair of sorts held on the first Thursday of each month. We wanted to go sell our artwork there, but it just wasn't what we thought it would be. It was kinda cheesy and kinda more like a flea market than anything. But tomorrow there's another art show being held what a bunch of artists can bring their stuff and sell it. Hopefully that will be better so we can start selling our work and making some money off this shit! Anyway, other than that, we don't have much planned. Steve has to work tonight and tomorrow night, so I won't be doing much. My burner had to be sent back to Canada because it went out, so I won't have that back f...

It's hump day, my third day of vacation and the third day I've been feeling like crap. Actually it's the sixth day I have been feeling like crap, but the other days I wasn't on vacation, so they don't matter. Anyway, that's how it goes, I guess. I suppose I'll survive. Steve has to work all day today so I'll just do things I need to do, which are none too fun. My annual checkup is coming up so I have to go do lab work, and then I have to go to the post office and mail off that wood burning and then I told my brother he could come over for a while. That may not seem like something too awful to you, but you've never met my brother. He's got issues. I haven't really seen him in almost a year, even though we live in the same city, and there's a reason for that. I pretty much prefer not to see anyone in my family. It makes my life less stressful and much happier. I can't wait for the day when we move to Santa Fe and that will be...

Faisal Shahad was taken into custody yesterday as he tried make his escape! He was on board an Emirates plane (whatever that is) at JFK Airport. Officials say he was headed for Islamabad, Pakistan. FUCKER! I hope they throw the book at you! Why can't you fuckers leave us alone? Why can't you leave everyone alone. All you do is go around bombing innocent people because you think you're so righteous . Well, you're murdering people, idiots! So, now sit and rot in jail. And I hope someone makes you his bitch! That's what you deserve.

I woke up yesterday feeling like shit. I went to the gym and sat in the sauna for 45 minutes (on and off) and today I feel a bit better. I still have a little cough, but I'm better enough to say that I need to get out of the house. Steve and I are gonna take Buster to the Greenbelt to go swimming. It's either that or we have to give Buster a bath because yesterday morning, we were eating French toast (Steve and I, not Buster) and I served it to Steve in bed (I know, I'm wonderful) and when we were done, Buster went to jump down and his tail brushed across the plate and his big fluffy plum of a tail got covered in syrup. It's lovely. Just one of those things. We tried to get it out with a wash cloth, but it's just way too much. So, if it's a choice between a bath and swimming, we'll go swimming. I didn't do much yesterday on account of the way I was feeling, but I did manage to almost finish the book I am reading and that's it. Pretty boring....

Well, I finished the Chesapeake Bay retriever, but I haven't sent it off to the person I did it for because she went out of town, so I have no idea what she thinks of it yet. I hope she likes it. I'm pretty sure she will. Anyway, I start my vacation today, and wouldn't you fucking know it, I got sick on Thursday! It was just allergies (I'm hoping it still is just allergies), but this morning I woke up feeling worse. My head is stuffed up, my nose is stuffed up, my throat is raw. Grrrrrrr , I'm so mad. I was going to try to spend every day at the gym while I was off. But now, I'm headed to the gym just so I can go and sit in the sauna to try and seat this shit out. That's not how my vacation was supposed to start! What else is going on? Mmmm , oh, yeah, nothing! We were going to try and drive to Santa Fe for this week that I'm off, thank God we decided to hold off. Other than that, we have nothing going on. I wish the fucking movie would get ...

Holy shit I've been busy today! I woke up at 5:30, of course, and I couldn't go back to sleep because I kept thinking about all the things I had to do. So I got up and started my day. I was at work by 6:40. I had to go in on Saturday because I offered to go in and do some touch-up painting in the office. So, I did that. I got done around 8-8:15 or so. Then I went to the gym on the way home. After that I stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things because some friends are coming over to watch Avatar tonight. Then, when I got home I had to work on the burning I'm doing for someone (obviously the picture is that burning). I still have a long way to go, but I'll get there. So, I worked with it until my arm started bothering me, then I did some laundry, then I vacuumed , then I dusted a bit, then I ran to the apartment office to get a new air filter, then I practiced the guitar. Whew! I just have to try and not do anything for the rest of the day until my ...

The volcano that's erupting in Iceland is messing up a lot of people's air travel and causing headaches for everyone. But if you take away all the trouble it's causing, and just take it for what it is: an amazing natural phenomenon, it's incredible. This is something that the Earth is doing and has been doing all over the work since the beginning of time. The planet knows what it's doing. There's a reason it's doing it. And on top of it all, it's actually really pretty. Sure it may spew toxins into the atmosphere, but again, it's doing it for a reason. They say that this may lower the Earth's temperature for a while because of the ash cloud. Perhaps that's why it's doing it. I'm not saying that the Earth has a brain and consciously knows when to do things, but nature does pretty well on its own without us. So, as long as you're not one of those poor suckers trying to travel, just sit back and enjoy the show. Be nice to ea...

Yikes! I had a heavy leg workout yesterday and this morning I woke up, got out of bed and almost fell over. My legs and ass are killing me! (Did you think I meant something else? Dirty). I feel pretty good this morning, aside from my paralyzed legs. I woke up earlier than I really wanted, but that's okay. I've already had breakfast, updated Facebook and now I'm working on this blog entry and it's only 6:24. Next I'll take Buster out and then hop in the shower and head off to the gym for some chest and back. You know yesterday they announced the President Obama passed and action ordering hospitals to allow the patient to say who visits them. This was done for the same sex couples, of course. It was a really cool move by him. I never understood that rule by hospitals anyway. Who the hell are they to say who visits who? If I (God forbid) end up in the hospital for some reason, they don't know me. Who the fuck are they to say who can visit me? I hate t...

Ugh! I just can't handle Mondays! No matter how much I try to make it a good day, something happens to make it shitty. I think I'm seriously having a hard time dealing with work knowing I'm on my four-year countdown. Plus, it doesn't help that my freaking boss can't help but to think of new things for us to do and then assign someone (usually me) to do it. Then, after a bad day, I have to fight the traffic on the way home. On top of that, I had to stop at HEB to pick up four items. It was like everyone and their mother was picking up something like there was a hurricane headed our way. Damn, I can't wait to get to Santa Fe. A smaller town! Please! Man, what would be really great would be that we hit the lottery and we could buy a house somewhere in the mountains away from everyone. But tomorrow's another day, right? Tuesdays always have to be better than Mondays! Isn't that a law or something?

I have not done anything all day. Well, that's not entirely true. I have fucked around on the computer all day trying to get Yahoo messenger to work. And besides that I did manage to go to the gym. Albeit I went to the gym at the apartments because I didn't feel like driving anywhere. And I did manage a load of laundry that has finally made it's way into the dryer after 8 hours. But other than that, nada . I didn't even practice the guitar like I was supposed to. I didn't practice yesterday either because I was finishing that lion. But, I told my myself I would take it easy today and that's what I did. But I feel so guilty. I'm the type of guy that has to do something or I feel lazy. I feel like I've done something wrong. As I do now. But whatever. Anyway, it was sad this morning to hear that Dixie Carter died. I loved her on Designing Women . I'm sure that's where most people will remember her from. She was 70. It didn't s...

I finished! This one took me forever, but I finally finished! Hope you like it. Later-

It's Saturday morning. It's pretty early, of course. I'm sitting here waiting for Steve to wake up and head to an early meeting. Which sucks because he worked last night and has to get up early and then work again tonight. WHERE IS OUR LOTTERY??? It's already April 10th. I am hoping that the year flies by as with the following three. I'm trying hard no to constantly think about retiring and moving to Santa Fe, but it's almost impossible. It seems like every day there's something at work that irritates me. I don't know if I'm just getting grouchy as I get older or if I'm just psychologically done with it all and ready to move on. I'm still working on the lion burning. It's been a killer so far, but I think it will be worth it in the end. I believe this one will be the most photo realistic one I've done. And that's what I've been striving for. I hope it works out. Anyway, other than that, there hasn't been a who...

How's that for a title? I couldn't think of anything quirky right now. I'm up early on a Saturday morning (as usual). I've had breakfast, taken Buster out, had some coffee, updated my Facebook page, and now I'm just waiting to leave for the gym. But before I do, I'm trying to be good about posting so I thought I would take this time to do that. Later Steve and I are going to see Clash of the Titans . We're pretty excited about it. The original was/is a classic. But now to look at it seems so cheesy. But for its time, was pretty cool. I don't have much going on with my writing these days, just trying to sell books. I haven't written anything new. My wood burning has been taking up most of my time. I'm still working on the lion and probably will be for the next week or two. I will surely post it here when it's done. Anyway, I have to go pump iron and make my body beautiful (chuckle). Be nice to each other. Later-

I've been working on a new burning over the past few days. It's one of my more difficult ones. I thought it would be a cool idea. It's a lion head, lying on its side. The surround is black and part of the head vanishes into the blackness. It's turning out to be harder than I thought. But I'll keep on working at it and see what happens. Not much else has been going on. I went to work today and was bored out of my gored. Now I'm just killing time until my dinner is done. Steve's working tonight. He's usually off on Wednesday but he picked up. Even though it was a couple of days ago, I didn't get a chance to post about it (I know everyone was just broken over it), but it was cool that Ricky Martin came out of the closet. It took him a while, but it's understandable. Now, he's rich enough to where it doesn't matter if people turn on him (and there are enough assholes in the world, that they will). But if he had done it too soon,...

Well, it's Sunday. I've been to the gym, cleaned the apartment, done some burning, walked Buster, and practiced the guitar. Steve's working, of course, so I'm just waiting for him to come home. I'm at that point again where I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels. I have two followers here (and I doubt either of them ever still check in), and I've created an artwork page on Facebook but have started to feel as if nobody gives two shits about that either. But if I were to just sit around and do nothing I think I would go crazy. It's just not in me. So I do what I do in hopes that one day it will all pay off. I know in four years or so I will retire from the City and after that Steve and I will move to Santa Fe. That is a definite thing. I can't wait until we can start a new life. I'm so sick of Austin. I'm so sick of the traffic and the people (who get ruder and ruder as more and more people move here). I'm really sick of my ...

If you'd like to see more of my artwork, and possibly join in discussions and stuff, stop by Face book and search for Pol McShane artwork. Thanks!

I've been known to go twice in one day (trust me on this). Anyway, I had to post again because, one: I have been lax in posting, (not that anyone gives a fuck), but two: I just read that Jennifer Lopez has been signed on to do the remake of Overboard ! What in God's name? Why the hell does Hollywood have to do so many fucking remakes? Guys like me who have eight damn screenplays that he's trying to get out, and all Hollywood can do is remake shit that's not even that old. I'm annoyed. And beside the fact that Overboard doesn't need to be remade . . . Jennifer Lopez? That's a terrible choice! Okay, that's it. I'm out. (By the way, for those of you who do happen to read this blog, you like the new look? I'm trying to get into it again, so I thought I would spruce things up a bit.)

I just finished with my latest burning. It's another done by using the stippling effect, which is a bunch of tiny dots placed over and over each other. $150.00. If interested in purchasing, please contact me @ johnnyjoey@rr.com

It's Sunday, and that means it's the last day of my vacation. It's been a good week, though. I did well at the gym, and I finished a burning, which would have taken forever if I had not been off. I've been practicing the guitar. Going to the gym and I've been reading The Face , but can't really get into it. And that bothers me because it's a Koontz book and I have never read any thing of his that I wasn't crazy over. But it was bound to happen. I currently have 24 Dean Koontz books, and will be adding again shortly. Anyway, I've been doing a lot of productive stuff while I was off. And I also found time to lay around and do nothing. I can't wait for that day to come! It will come one day. It the not-too-distant future. Other than that, everything's been pretty much the same. Waiting for Luthor back from the editor so I couldn't do anything with that. No word on the movie lately. I think the economy kind of slowed that train ...

It's the Sunday morning before my vacation starts. Well, a lot of people are off on Monday, so technically my vacation starts on Tuesday. But whatever, I'm off until next week! Steve's off today so that will be nice. It seems we never get days of together anymore. But that will all change when we we win the HGTV Dream Home! It's in Santa Fe! It's a sign. We were meant to win this one. We enter three times a day (once a day per email address) and Steve mailed off some postcards for us, too. I know there are a lot of people entering, but there is no room for doubt. We've put it out in the universe that we're gonna win (plus pray to God each night). Got all the bases covered. As for the now, I'm just chillin'. It's only seven in the morning. I've been up since 6:30. Steve won't be up for another few hours. Until then I'll work on my new burning (wait til you see it, it's gonna be cool), then I may read a little. Then,...

Now Portugal has passed gay marriage! Thank you! But I'm confused; Aren't we living in the great United States of America? The land of opportinity. The land of the free. Supposedly the most advance (one of them) country in the world. Then please won't someone tell me why places like Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden are seeming to surpass us in the citizens equal rights thing?

It was the first full work day of the new year. It all seemed to be going okay until about two o' clock when all my energy flew out the fucking window. I guess three days off causes your body to realize how much it rally enjoys being off. Speaking of being off, the picture is of Santa Fe (of course), and that's going to be mine and Steve's focus for quite a while. Actually until we get there, I guess. The new year feels good already, and I'm determined to make things happen. Of course I can't help the things that are out of my control, but the things that I can control, I will control. Like our move to Santa Fe. Of course, if we don't win the lottery, or the HGTV dream Home, we'll have to wait until I retire in 4 1/2 years (out of my control), but if that turns out to be the case, we'll get there in 4 1/2 years. Until then, I will do whatever I can to get my writing career going (in my control, sort of). I will pursue agents and publishers to...

Finally, 2009 is gone!!!! I have to say that I have never hated a year more than I have the last one. There were just so many trying times and difficult things to have to handle: Steve changed jobs, we sold the house, Michael Jackson died, etc. And I've heard the same sentiment from so many people it's surprising . But now it's 2010. A new year and a brand new start. We had a great Christmas, which was nice since last year we didn't have one because we had the house on the market. Obviously I got a guitar. It's something I've always wanted to learn and now that I got one, I have to start learning. But I'm bound and determined to do it, so I will. I would like to be really good with it by the time we move to New Mexico. It would be great so sit outside as the sun sets and just play. I can't wait. We're gonna make it happen, dammit! I'm about to start a new wood burning. This time I'm doing an elk. I just have to start negotiating...