Blast From the Past

[IrishAyes]

Here at long last, the photo of my great art project for the 2012 campaign season. I didn't put the President's name on the sign because I used the rising sun icon. Unfortunately those will need to be painted over for '16 when I might use that cool graphic of a woman's lips in red and blue with white stars for Hillary. I left plenty of white space to allow for several years' worth of adjustments. Not putting that much loving work into something only to waste any effort.

My neighbor took the picture for us one day when she found me working in the yard, dressed in several heavy layers of cold weather clothing. Made me look fatter than ever. Since then I've slowly worked off 50 lbs, resting awhile at each natural plateau so it will stay off. Not having any trouble with it now. I had a little pizza for lunch but then worked hard in the yard for two hours(at my friend's mom's house because her lazy no-good brother next door can't be bothered). But that's okay because it means I get to eat more dinner tonight. Maybe dessert too.

Pictures were before Brigid joined us. I don't think the entire word "MITT" on both sides of the rubber chicken will show in the picture though. Molly Maguire, for the few readers who might not already know (and be sick of) the story, loved to run around with Chicken Mitt, biting down and making it scream. Eventually she chewed off the head and I hung it upside down from the sign.





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Sometimes we get 80-mph straightline winds through here, so a sign has to be very sturdy and well anchored. It was a miracle none of the little flags across the top blew away. I put them there in hopes of discouraging trash throwing at the sign, which also sets well back from the fence, though it was certainly easy to see from the street.

[madamesilverspurs]

1. Hey!

You've got my donkey on your sign!!!

[IrishAyes]

2. Is it copyrighted? Say it ain't so! I love that donkey!

I forget where I copied it from.

[madamesilverspurs]

4. It is, I own it.

Delighted that you like it. At one point I had a store on Cafepress; they sold a bunch of stuff with that design, but not enough for me to get any money out of the deal.

Backstory: The critter was designed back in '07 as the core of the new logo for our local county Dems organization. He surfaced, literally, in my dreams one night, and I woke up and sketched him out. I look at that drawing today and it serves to remind me to never attempt artwork without glasses on! Anyway, the idea was to present Democrats as being every bit part of the American fabric, even though the GOP was trying to claim sole possession of that idea; hence, the "legs" fashioned from the flag's stripes, and the body formed from the "field".

Again, very pleased that you like it! And I hereby grant you permission to use it in any fashion that helps to promote Democrats. Howzat?

[IrishAyes]

5. T H A N K Y O U, MADAMESILVERSPURS!

Your devoted servant for life....

I've seen quite a few donkey designs over the years, but none so wonderful as yours. You're very kind to let me use it.

[madamesilverspurs]

7. Just for that ...

Feel free to PM me if you have a special use in mind. I'd be pleased to send a clean template. All I ask is that, should anyone ask, you credit me for the design. Go Dems!

[IrishAyes]

10. Thanks; and ...

Next time the sign goes up, it will carry a donkey design copyright symbol at the bottom with your name. I'll add it to the big picture on my office wall, too, now that I know.

I like that donkey!

[madamesilverspurs]

11. Just noticed ...

the "tail" is supposed to be red, too.

[IrishAyes]

12. Oops. Sorry. I've still got plenty of red paint left, though. Sign's safely tucked away in one of

my backyard sheds. I didn't notice that. I was so disappointed in my rendering of the rising sun that I'm lucky I didn't spell Democrat wrong. Think I'll get some bright gold paint to draw your credit to make it stand out.

[sheshe2]

3. You did it IrishAyes~

Great pictures love your work of art. That sign is wonderful, Irish well done!

Molly Maguire is so sweet and one smart dog, for making Chicken Mitt scream! She's got a lot of common sense.

Thanks for sharing the pictures, and it's good to really see you in person~

[IrishAyes]

6. Well, I try not to let myself be easily recognizable. Don't want to scare people, y'know!

In every picture since 1983 my face is at least half hidden by a hoodie or dog or whatever cover presents itself. I don't photograph well at my age.

[sheshe2]

8. Oh Irish,

you are indeed beautiful.

[IrishAyes]

9. Sweet of you to say, and I appreciate it.

Probably some of my aversion to being photographed comes from the years of hell with my husband, a maniacal photographer who kept a camera in my face half the time. I hated it. It was like living with my own papparazo, and I wasn't famous or well known. He didn't even appreciate my efforts to please, always complained about his model rather than his attitude. On my own initiative I once skiddled out on a rock ledge with a sheer drop below of hundreds of feet; my toes were sticking out over the ledge, that's how narrow it was. Not good enough for him, though. That was probably the final straw in my waning loyalties.