As I prepare to execute the portrait of Mr. Brady, I\u2019m using every bit of illustrator\u2019s trickery that I have, especially the old illusion where I convince myself that I know how to paint. The facial study and color rendering are both finished, but I hesitate to commence the final piece without a reaction from Mrs. Brady. I suppose the typical fine artist would plunge ahead, but I\u2019m too accustomed to a process that involves client interaction.<\/p>\n
I haven\u2019t devoted much time to anything else over the past week, other than some Christmas decorating and our annual Clan\\Power bell-ringing contribution to the Liberty kettle campaign. We covered all ten hours, with the nastiest weather staying north for the day, thankfully. I couldn\u2019t hang around town all day, unlike past years, so Rita and Seth were the only members of the family I got to see. They both looked great. It fills me with anticipation for Christmas Eve Stew<\/a> at the Hall.<\/p>\n The overall Salvation Army<\/a> fundraising effort for our five-county area of service is running behind where we were at this time last year, and it\u2019s difficult to put a finger on the reasons. I think the Liberty kettles are doing fine, but the big difference is the Wal-Mart locations in Danville. Marty and I rang for a couple hours in front of the grocery entrance and it did seem less active that in the past. The Advocate-Messenger is sponsoring an online kettle<\/a> that anyone can use to make a contribution to our local campaign, so maybe that will kick in during the closing days. The Captains are optimistic that the community will come through to meet the goal. It always has.<\/p>\n