<\/a><\/p>\n\nPearallel Universe<\/em> — Month of October workout totals: Swim-3; Bike-3; Run-1; Lift-1; Yoga-0; Pilates-3; Lupus Drills-1<\/p>\n To the heart of the matter<\/em><\/strong> More library deprivation<\/em><\/strong> Sweet Owen County<\/em><\/strong> Feeling a trifle exposed<\/em><\/strong> Custom built for a guy like me<\/em><\/strong> Dr. Quest\u2019s pear-a-power ray<\/em><\/strong> My annual knob stalk<\/em><\/strong> You\u2019ll never walk alone<\/em><\/strong>
\nJohn Andrew Dixon
\nMixed media collage
\n25 x 21 inches, 2007
\nCollection of Saint Joseph Health System\n<\/p>\n
\n— I believe the latest recommendation for adequate exercise is 30 minutes a day, 4-5 days a week. Although my workouts are longer than that, the totals are falling short by a long shot. Can I get the daily habit back to preserve my health?<\/p>\n
\n— It\u2019s been nearly a year since the library hauled itself off to the edge of town, and, although I knew it would be a bit of a hardship, I didn\u2019t expect this level of low-grade suffering. Man, had I ever come to rely on that nearby environment for a periodic dose of mind-restoring tranquility\u2014the kind that is unique to a truly fine reading room. I\u2019m thoroughly impressed with the design for the new wing, but Karl told me recently that construction was three-to-four months behind schedule, so now I have no choice except to hang on until spring. I must have that extraordinary place available out my front door again or I shall go mad! <\/em><\/p>\n
\n— On Halloween I made my return to Larkspur for another printmaking retreat. It was a special time with creative people whose friendship I value more each year. An exhibition at the vineyards was mounted to honor Wesley\u2019s work, and I was invited to include four of my wood engravings, since he\u2019s had such a profound influence on my development in that medium. I sold one of my remaining proofs of Waiting for Joe,<\/em> in addition to an unframed print of Penn\u2019s Store,<\/em> the latter to a collector interested in acquiring examples of my final edition numbers. Now all I have to do is print more limited editions of blocks that I\u2019ve only proofed so far. I managed to complete a small block of a tiger, but was unable to finish during the workshop my larger, more complex engraving of a paddock scene I shot the previous week at Keeneland. It\u2019s my first attempt at engraving a human figure, plus I had to include a horse and a stone wall, too, of course. What was I thinking? When I get it done, I\u2019ll spend a day in Gray\u2019s shop and print another block or two as well. Dana and Lee came up to the winery on Friday night and got to meet Wes and hear Juanita perform. Make no mistake about it\u2014one can develop significant friendships at every stage of life. <\/p>\n
\n— County employees demolished the little retail cottage next door to \u201cput up a parking lot,\u201d and it\u2019s as if somebody yanked my gym shorts down. Whatever meager backyard ambiance we possessed is now lost. Instead, we have more noise, urban light pollution, and litter. I remember the year we held an open house and backyard gathering for Brendan\u2019s graduation from Centre. If I\u2019m not mistaken, that was the summer Carol and Bob came to the Brass Band Festival and spent time with us in the backyard. There are circumstances when a setting is at its peak and one rarely knows it at the time.<\/p>\n
\n— In a perfect world, Gene Wolfe might have contacted me to ask, \u201cWhat type of a story idea would you like for me to develop that would please your singular peculiarities?\u201d He didn\u2019t have to. He wrote Pirate Freedom<\/em> for his own reasons, and I became the grateful beneficiary without ever having to request \u201can absorbing tale of spiritual contemplation, time travel, and the golden age of piracy along the Spanish Main.\u201d Unbelievable! <\/p>\n
\n— I finally sold the mixed media piece I called Pearallel Universe.<\/em> It was completed around the time of the original \u201cMarch Experiment,\u201d was part of my KOSMOS<\/a> show, and made it out to New Mexico and back for the SLMM anniversary (but not without sustaining some damage to the frame, which the Albuquerque Museum people were kind enough to repair). It was purchased last week by Saint Joseph Health System to hang at its new ambulatory care center in Jessamine County. A hearty tip o\u2019 the hat to LexArts<\/a>! <\/p>\n
\n— My pals David and Greg are the sort of knowledgeable gun aficionados that know a bargain when they see one, so I was stunned when they gave me the gift of a 50-caliber muzzleloading rifle they just couldn\u2019t pass up. When I recovered from the shock of their generosity, they taught me how to safely operate it\u2014just in time for me to test it out during our recent Clan gathering, which happened to be the lawful period for using primitive weapons to hunt white-tails. I came as close to the moment of truth as I would that weekend when I cocked the hammer early Sunday morning, as three does crossed Robin Lick and made their way across a hay field, on the garden side of the Irrylynn gully. But something spooked the lead deer about 75 yards from my spot beside a round bale\u2014my scent, the motion of my aim, or perhaps the pattern in my profile. She snorted an alert, danced a bit, and took off in the opposite direction, never presenting me an acceptable shot. As I say, that was the nearest I came to using my muzzleloader while I was in the Valley. Three weeks later I found myself back at Simpson Knob with my Marlin 1894S carbine, full of optimism for a freezer harvest, but I never observed a single deer in the woods, and neither of my two friends had the opportunity for a shot. This gives me a couple more options for success\u2014this weekend at Blue Bank with the 44-Rem. magnum, and another December time slot with the Hawken-style that I’ve decided to name \u201cGirty.\u201d As much as I want to bring home some venison this year, there is nothing like having an excuse to be in the wild knob-lands at daybreak, whatever the outcome.<\/p>\n
\n— Originally, our Hurray Day events were planned to coincide with the fifteenth anniversary of Dadbo\u2019s passing, but we still wanted to have a family commemoration, even though the quarterly gathering was moved to the previous weekend. I was preoccupied with my tedious progress on the stone flue in the Hall, but I knew Joan was thinking about what to do, which is so typical of her desire to properly plan this kind of thing. We were listening to some old music and the tribute wasn\u2019t on my mind when I suggested she experience Judy Garland\u2019s stirring rendition of the inspirational song from Carousel<\/a>. I\u2019d never heard that version before, and Joan was out of the room when the CD track played. Had it been up to me, I don\u2019t think I would\u2019ve made the connection, but she realized it would be the perfect accompaniment to our outdoor service. I enjoyed spending some \u201cpalsy time\u201d with my \u201cbig sis\u201d for those two days, and it reminded me of how distinctive a life-long bond we share.<\/p>\n