Patrick is "an artist, sculptor and designer interested in the intersection of movement and stillness." His blog "covers sculpture, dance, shadows, the garden... Anything I find that frames or holds our attention long enough for that moment of eternity to register. That and the mundane work of making a living as an artist." Shadows On Stone is his open sketchbook.

I appreciate Patrick's work of integrating and connecting the arts and life.

"Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say"

That's the essence of the "Getting to Know You" blogging meme which Isabella Mori of Change Therapy has just tagged me to participate in.

Poinsetta, December-child's flower

DECEMBER

12 characteristics...one for each month of the year.

1. Loyal and generous. Honest and trustworthy. These would comprise a primary character cluster. On-lookers think me daft at times to the extent I go in holding to these values which my father has modeled strongly throughout my life.

2. Sexy. Some have thought me a sailor's dream in bed...but who knows? What kind of vessels were the beds: barques? Ships? Canoes? And, what kind of waters did they sail upon?

3. Patriotic. "I'm always true to you, darling in my fashion. I'm always true to you, darling in my way."

4. Active interactions I'm interactive. Connective.

5. Impatient and hasty. When I'm overly-filled, I dart, like a hummingbird.

6. Ambitious. I'm a visionary who champions her visions and brings them forth into the world..."As I expand my own offerings in the world..." I pray for balance and dedicate whatever merit may arise.

7. Influential in organizations. Yup. In my 20s founded Tswaragano Craft Center in Gabane, Botswana. Started community projects in Decatur, Illinois. In my 30s developed curicula for All Indianan Pueblo Council in New Mexico, edited a regional alternative energy newsletter for Solar America, Inc., served as vice president of programming for Training and Development, edited an in-house newsletter for a major computer company. I learned a heap about organizational development, especially in nonprofit organizations. I made good contributions.

8. Loves to socialize and fun to be with. Yes, but usually do better one to one or in small groups and with folks who already know me a little bit. My father and I both have strong loner tendencies, and at the same time, strong connective tendencies. I call it "autonomy with connection."

9. Loves praises, attention, and loves to be loved. Well, heck yes! My mother trained us to pass on compliments and that was one of her favorite hobbies. She's say, "Janet, I've got a compliment to pass on to you." And then her face would just glow!

10. Unpretentious. Sure. It's the country breeding, natch!

11. Hates restrictions Whoo girl! Don't you know it.

DON'T FENCE ME IN!
Words and music by Cole Porter© & Robert Fletcher,
©1942, from the film Hollywood Canteen:

[C]Oh [G7]give me [C]land, lots of [Am]land
Under [C]starry skies a[Am]bove.
[C]Don't [F]Fence Me [G]In.
Let me [G]ride through the [G7]wide open
[G]Country that I [G7]love.
[G]Don't [G7]Fence Me [C]In.
Let me [C]be by myself in the evening [C7]breeze,
[F]Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood [Dm7]trees.
[C]Send me off for[C7]ever,
but I ask [F]you, [C7]please[F],
[C]Don't [G7]Fence Me [C]In.

12. Loves to joke and has a good sense of humor. You just have to be tuned to my brand of humor, but, like my father, I'm very playful and mischiveous.

______________________

LYRICS "GETTING TO KNOW YOU" from THE KING AND I

[ANNA]

[Spoken] It's a very ancient saying,
But a true and honest thought,
That if you become a teacher,
By your pupils you'll be taught.

[Singing] As a teacher I've been learning---
You'll forgive me if I boast---
And I've now become an expert,
On the subject I like most.

[Spoken] Getting to know you.

[Singing] Getting to know you,
Getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you,
Getting to hope you like me.

Getting to know you,
Putting it my way,
But nicely,
You are precisely,
My cup of tea.

[ANNA AND THE MOTHERS]

Getting to know you,
Getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you,
Getting to hope you like me.

Getting to know you,
Putting it my way,
But nicely,
You are precisely,

[ANNA]

My cup of tea.

[ALL]

Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say

Haven't you noticed
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day by day.

Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say

Haven't you noticed
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day .. by ... day.

3. You can either copy the 12-month traits or link to Phil Gerbyshak's post on his blog "Make It Great" that shows the traits for all 12 months

4. Look at the birth-month traits and copy the ones that apply to you or otherwise write about the list of traits and how they apply to you.

5. Tag 12 people and let them know by visiting their blogs and leaving a comment for them. (Im pretty busy right now so that might take some time; I hope that the people I'm mentioning will notice it by looking at their trackbacks or other wonderful techie doodahs)

6. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve done it!

_________________

I'm tagging these 12 bloggers, one for each month:

1.Billy the Blogging Poet

2. Brenda Johima at Creative Nudge

3. Damaria Senne, South African tech-goddess and heart-friend

4. Alethea Eason, author of the children's book HUNGRY.

5. Gwyn Ramsey, author, and Women Writing the West pal

6. Hal Manogue, Living an Ordinay Life in a Non-Ordinary Way, and author of "Short Sleeves: A Book for Friends."

7. Jane Kirkpatrick, best-selling author,woman of substance and merit.

8. Janet Muirhead Hill, author-publisher

9. Kathryn Petro-Harper, artist

10. Ken Traska, poet and educator

11. Susan Gallacher-Turner, artist-writer

12. Yvonne Perry of Writers in the Sky, winking brightly away to complete our internet birthday constellation.