I just found a few pics from Mark Ryden's "Wondertoonel" opening at the Frye Art Museum...

Mark Ryden with Sympathy for The Record Industry mogul Long Gone John, with band The Buttersprites-who played the opening.

Here's the begiining of my lecture that night- with Frye director Ms Bowman introducing me as "Kristin" Anderson. I couldn't get too upset as everyone at the Frye was exceedingly gracious and supportive of me- a nice surprise!

Post lecture- drink in hand, trying to get Ryden's camera to work. Technology- too difficult for us....

With painter Eric White at the post opening soiree.

Oh dear. I've been trying to see if I can scrounge up a really cool place for K and I to stay in Hawaii, and came across "Hotel Chatter"- a site devoted to hip hotels. I've been on it for an hour. It's written in that "Gee, ain't we hip!" speak, but there is lots of info and pictures of gorgeous hotels that just make me get all cringy inside. Damn you, glamourous hotels in exotic locations! Why must you taunt me!

I have an irrational driving phobia. I actually can drive a car, but not without white knuckles, forehead sweats, and difficulty breathing. Anyone who has been in a car with me knows I jam on the imaginary passenger brake constantly- to the point that I'm actually considering hypnosis as a way to deal with it. I also wonder if I might have problems with my peripheral vision as cars always seem to me to be just about top careen sideways into me. I have this thing about dying in a fiery car wreck. The thing is, I haven't ever been in a bad car accident, nor seen one, nor known anyone who has died in one. My mother says when she was pregnant with me she was in a wreck and pulled out of the car right before a semi smashed into it- so maybe there's something there, and I was once hit by a car- but that was as a pedestrian. My interest in hearses lies in that not only are they attractive to my goth sensibilities, but they are 3 tons of steel in a shape most people want to avoid- so I have this hope I'd feel safe driving one. That's a lot of car to park though, and they are gaz gusslers, so I haven't bought one.
However- I'd put my phobias aside if I could have one of these.