Chicago!

I created this ink drawing for my granddaughter Vanessa. She wanted it for her BFF Chelsea, who LOVES "Chicago." I was inspired by an ad for "Chicago" in a dance magazine.

As a fan of musical theatre, I also love "Chicago." We were fortunate to see the show here in Cheyenne last year. Absolultely amazing! In the staging for this performance, the muscians were situated upstage on a shelf-type platform during the whole show. WOW!

My favorite songs from the show:

All That Jazz and Mister Cellophane

"The sky looks like cake batter"

That's what my 15-year-old granddaughter said yesterday as we were driving home from the library. The sky was churning with all colors in the gray scale and this is the image that came to her mind. She's from California (central coast) and is awestruck by the massive sky here in Wyoming.

She's on her cell phone constantly, talking to friends, texting, taking pictures of everything that catches her fancy, including a pair of pink and black mod-style flipflops at the mall; she sent the photo to her friend in CA who LOVES that style (Nessa wouldn't be caught dead in pink...she has a self-proclaimed "skater/surfer" style). Other photos include: the front of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant, a lightning storm, a stringer of rainbow trout she caught on her first day here. She's a real shutterbug, just like her grandma.

So, like, is this cute, or what...

Run, Luana! Run!

Last year I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and that put an end to my running. The result? I gained 15 pounds over the winter, despite almost daily workouts on the elliptical. Sheesh!

Add to that an addiction to reality TV. I had become a human sloth.

So I'm taking control of my life. No more ice cream, cake and cookies. No more chips and soda. No more sitting around watching "America's Next Top Model" marathons on Bravo.

I am eating healthier foods and nixing the lumber jack portions. I'm also starting my running program again and doing the elliptical on the days I don't run. I bought some new Sauconys and now that it's summer I can do early morning runs. A few short years ago my routine was to get up early while it was still dark and go for a run before work. I was so dedicated that I'd run in any weather...even blizzard conditions.

Here's where my running program started going down hill (pun intended):

October 2005: I twisted my knee in a run. It was so bad I could hardly walk, much less run. After several months, I was able to run again. But I had to be careful.

October 2007: While running, I was attacked by a dog that chewed up the flesh behind my left knee. That set me back several weeks and as winter kicked in, I totally lost my stamina.

April 2008: The heel of my right foot started hurting when I ran. It was plantar fasciitis. I couldn't run for several months. I still have to do stretches and wear shoes with arch support. No more going around the house barefoot.

Now, over a year later, my plantar fasciitis is pretty much healed (pun intended), but I've discovered I have tendonitis! Nevertheless, I'm going to run again. It won't be like it was in my glory days, but at this point I'll take what I can get.

In the words of George Costanza: "I'm back, baby!"

My Own Personal R2D2

Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, my vacuum cleaner called it quits right in the middle of a major Saturday cleaning event. We had this fire engine-red Hoover for years and it was only a matter of time before it bit the dust (pun intended).

So I unplugged the beast, got in the car and began my search for a new vacuum cleaner. I didn't want to spend a lot of money, but I needed a machine that could do the job. And Voila! I found it! A Hoover Turbo Empower 4600!

It features a hush mode (so it's not so loud), the handle flips down for easy storage, and best of all there's no need to change bags! When I flipped the on switch, I realized it had a mind of its own. I had to actually pull it back so it wouldn't take off out the door and around the block.

It cleaned my carpet beautifully. I was thrilled. I hadn't had that much fun vacumming in years. But all good things come to an end, so I put the handle down to store it in the closet. That's when it hit me. My vacuum looked like a slim version of R2D2, that cute little android in "Star Wars." Yes, I said cute. Everyone knows that R2 is cute with a capital "Q"!

I never thought I'd be one of those people who name their appliances, but I couldn't help myself. My Hoover is R2D2. And on cleaning day, the Force is most definitely with me.

The Job Interview

(Short fiction by Luana Krause)

So I went for this job interview at a bank, and like, it was so weird. I waited for, like, ten minutes in the lobby and I was so BORED I thought I was gonna DIE. I couldn’t stand it any longer and checked out their magazines. You would think they’d have cool mags like “People” or “In Style.” No such luck. All they had was, like, generic. You know, “Time” and “Newsweek.” Like, who reads THAT!

Finally, this lady called my name and I went into this, like, HUGE office. The boss was sitting at this really big desk and asked me to sit down. He was a fat dude, and bald, but super nice. He’s all, “Why do you want to work at this bank?” And I’m all, “Because I need a job.” And he’s all, “What skills do you have?” And I’m all, “I can use a computer and talk on the phone.” And he’s all, “Are you good with numbers?” And I’m all, “Duh. I’ve got five credit cards and not one is maxed out yet.” And he’s all, “Do you enjoy dealing with the public?” And I’m all, “Shut up! I deal with the public all the time. I go to the mall, like, every Saturday.”

He stood up and shook my hand. And he’s all, “I’ll get back to you. Have a nice day.” I know he’s gonna offer me the job. He’ll be like, “When can you start?” And I’ll be like, “Right away.”

Agnes by Tony Cochran