Halloween Fun on Fri Oct 28

No, I did not think of the idea to decorate this pumpkin; I got it off Halloween magazine's web site courtesy of squidoo.com in an article about 15 things you can do with your pumpkin. But if you come to Final Friday at the Pendleton Art Center this month, you'll get the treat of seeing Marsh's second annual "Pimp That Pumpkin" exhibit as a bonus. Last year, there were several dozen decorated pumpkins: all really creative! I did one with the Chilean miners who were rescued by putting little chili peppers in a glass tube inside a pumpkin painted black.

You can vote for your favorites by putting money in to benefit ArtsWave and a People's Choice is named before the evening ends. If you want to learn more, or are interested in decorating a pumpkin to enter into the contest, see www.facebook.com/marshinc.

If you do come downtown on Final Friday, there is also the Haunted Cincinnati tour. For more details, check out http://www.queencityishaunted.com/.

And, of course, one of my favorite organized walks is the annual "Run Like Hell," where walkers and runners dress in Halloween costumes and are routed through an old cemetery in East Walnut Hills, where "Freddy" and other ghouls jump out behind trees and scare you. The party afterwards with live music, great food (goetta burgers) and costume prizes is in the parking lot of the old F&W publications building near Xavier's campus. See http://cincyrunlikehell.com/ for more info.

I'll be at Final Friday but may stop by the Run Like Hell party afterwards to see the costumes, dance and have a goetta burger and a beer on my way home. Will have to hit "Haunted Cincinnati" another time but you can now purchase my work at Cincy Haus, where these tours begin and end. It's right across the street from Lavomatic Cafe, a restaurant decorated with many of my Happy Cincinnati originals.

Happy Halloween!

Dr. Spock's Prescription
People my age make fun of how our parents raised us per Dr. Spock, but here's a prescription from his book that has stood me in good stead ever since training for my trip to the Grand Canyon. I suggest this might help most of us adults more than all the drugs on the market: check it out!

"Direct sunshine contains ultraviolet rays, which create vitamin D right in the skin. In the days before all babies automatically got all the vitamin D they needed from their formula or vitamin drops, and before the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays were fully understood, I recommended sunbaths for babies. Changes of air temperature are beneficial in toning up the body's system for adapting to cold or heat. A bank clerk is much more likely to become chilled staying outdoors in winter than a lumberjack, who is used to such weather. Cool or cold air improves appetite, puts color in the cheeks, and gives more pep to humans of all ages. It's good for a baby (like anyone else) to get outdoors for 2 to 3 hours a day (!), particularly during the season when the house is heated. ... in the northeastern part of the United States, most conscientious parents take it for granted that babies and children should be outdoors 2 or 3 hours a day when it isn't raining and the temperature isn't far below freezing."

I can testify to an improved life since spending only one hour outdoors a day; what a gift this has been! If it isn't raining hard, or below 15 degrees F, I try to get out there. More time spent outdoors can only help, my painting as well as life in general.

This is my painting of the Grand Canyon preferred by the friend who made the trip possible for me. All five Grand Canyon paintings are available as prints, from 12 inches square up to 18 inches square, unframed. Yesterday, I got my nighttime painting of the boat at Four Seasons Yacht Club sketched out; I hope to work on the real painting at Performance Lexus' event next Tuesday night October 11. Phone them to register if you'd like to attend.

Thanks for the birthday BOOST!
This painting of the Grand Canyon, along with my top vote-getter -- Bright Angel Creek at Phantom Ranch -- is hanging at BOOST! an innovative new meeting space right near the Regal Cinemas in Deerfield Township.

Today is my birthday and I'm excited to paint with the Mason-Deerfield Arts painting group over at the Deerfield Twp Snider House on the corner of Irwin-Simpson and Snider Rds. My brother says the best thing about Facebook is getting happy birthday wishes from so many people who've graced your life and he's right. I still like sending and receiving snail mail cards and it takes more advance planning but I've already heard from people today that would have never sent me a card, so it's all good!

For life and love, I am so grateful today. And my thanks to BOOST! for hanging my artwork on that bright red wall, where it looks so happy and colorful. And much appreciation for the commissions I have to work on today (Christmas is coming!)