One of our face masks appears on The Late Late Show.

Well here’s proof that one gets what they ask for.

There is a part of The Magic Mo which takes life and work very seriously. Then there’s the other side. We simply insist on having fun; somehow it makes everything (dare I say it ..”in these times”), a heck of a lot easier. Laughter really IS the best medicine, so no one should be surprised that some time ago my husband and I decided there is nothing better than being eternally in search of “The Great Giggle.”

Naturally, that became a link which we added to our website.

Perhaps just the thought of that search provided what happened last Thursday night. More specifically … late LATE night.

For more of this particular giggle, click to  MaskAnyone.com We’d be happy to Mask YOU!

Working on my bio.

Screwdriver and box cutter in hand, on a day somewhere in or around 1995 Karen opened a very BIG box which held her first large format printer.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It was the Encad NovaJetPro 36″… I recall tubes for each color that lead into their accompanying ink bottles which, and here was my largest gripe, had to be primed often. Although that was extremely frustrating, it did stain pretty colors on my hands.

In their day, these Encad printers were the best and most exciting wide format inkjet printers available. People were very impressed with the quality. Today many people no longer remember that Encad actually invented the wide format inkjet printer.

After a day or two of “training” I was set up to scan people’s photographs to market the concept “from small to REALLY BIG!” Equipped with an 11″ x 14″ HP high-end scanner in those days, the printer actually did a pretty good job at 300 dpi.

I was forced to buy the current version of Adobe Photoshop (that was typed with a large grin on my face), and learned the “clone” tool first because every single photograph required scratches be removed.

A few years later, Hewlett Packard was manufacturing some pretty great large format printers, higher resolution, easier to maintain … nice. I realized at some point that these printers had become my way of life and I loved it.

Today, Epson’s fine art series printers have stolen my heart. No dots. Wow! Of course, I’m spoiled now, so I rarely even think about those old days. These high resolution printers are specifically designed for fine art. New printing medias were introduced to the world too; another personal delight.

I could go on and on with regards to scanners, a high-end Creo sits to my left and my favorite Epson model resides on my scanning table. Each has their own Macintosh and specialized scanning software.

After selling PostNet in ’02, (reference to Career Path) I set up shop specifically geared to fine art reproduction. It’s a rare occasion when I scan a photograph today. Sure, I can still do it, and I can still make them BIG. But who cares. Today I am humbled and truly honored to work with the finest and most beloved artists in the State of Hawaii. This particular fact tears my heartstrings more than the printers, scanners, software and media ever could.

Dietrich Varez and I met in the early PostNet days, we have well over 100 of his full color paintings archived today, and we’ve been completing his huge collection of block prints. He calls it his “life’s work.” What a great character, what a phenomenal and prolific artist!

My husband and I were visiting a gallery in Kamuela several years ago where I noticed a Herb Kane giclee and commented, “I believe I can do better than this, wouldn’t it be wonderful to work with Mr. Kane’s images one day?” Understand please, when I moved to Hawaii in ’88, I, as most of us do, fell in love with his work; he brings the history and folklore of Hawaii to all of us in a way which we can so easily feel. Herb Kane’s work attributed to my very deep love of this island. Today, this endearment extends to the man himself.

Marian Berger paints birds. Honestly, I’m not the only one who’s said this … I always envisioned a dear lady with graying hair painting birds on an easel. The day she walked into my studio I nearly dropped to the floor. Marian is as stunning as her watercolors; a forever young, vibrant, beautiful woman. Her birds… what a joy to scan and print Marian’s work. She captures Hawaii’s sweet treasures perfectly, and, like only the very best artists, I don’t think she truly understands how great she is.

My list does not end here; I only mention these three because, well, honestly? … they are the top reasons why I continue to do my work to this day. I do what I do, live with my printers, scanners and computers, to reproduce the art which tugs my heart.

I must be the luckiest person in the world.

My (transfer station) hero.

I’ve always considered my husband to be my number one hero; no matter what, he is always there for me. Today I am adding a new hero to my list.

There I was, grumbling to myself at the Volcano transfer station, so many cars lining up, so many people wanting to get their trash dumping done and out-of-the-way so they can move along to the next thing to do in their day (me too). Rather than wait, I parked at the bottom of the lane, loaded up my plastic recyclables, garbage bags and flattened boxes in my arms and thought, “no problem.”

Except, my car keys, also in my hand, the same hand which had trash bags hanging off my fingers…went (you know it) directly into that nasty garbage pit. It took me a few seconds to realize that, this was no dream, I was not on a movie set, and I just did something REALLY stupid!

Lucky for me, it was Thursday, our station was staffed with one of those fellows in blue who seem to smile all the time even though they’re working with smelly rubbish. My hero, that smiling man in blue climbed his ladder, went into the pit, found my keys and happily informed me that I was not the only one who’s ever done such a thing.

Transfer Station man in blue, you didn’t have to smile, you didn’t have to be so quick to help, yet you did. You were there for me,  my hero. Mahalo.

I “Chalk” for Peace.

I had (another) idea recently…

… when my husband forwarded an image file to me with typewritten words of inspiration. It showed up in my email “inbox” at the most opportune time; I really needed a lift. Due to my love of Photoshop, I wanted to create a better image file. At some point a Chalkboard came to mind; they seem to call out to be written on. Do you remember what it feels like to pick up a piece of chalk; to feel that light dust on your fingers and scribble a message on the large green board?

“Generate.” Imagine if you will, that we’re all generators of our own energy. We attach ourselves to certain feelings and beliefs, right? I believe that the “energy” which resides within everything, very much including ourselves, is hugely important. When we are filled with LOVE, oh, that “energy” feels grand. When we are frustrated, sad, desperate or angry … have you ever noticed that when you feel a certain way it has an affect on your loved ones? I tend to think that this “energy” we produce expands to anyone within our reach (and beyond?)… therefore, we might as well generate (our energy towards) peace.

GeneratePeace.NET

Here’s the thing. Take (again) our own lives. When someone in the family is distressed or mad, is it as possible to move “forward,” to accomplish any objective? Wouldn’t that be quite similar to our global world? I don’t think so. I believe the family unit can only successfully accomplish something when it is as peace.

How can we expect to tackle global warming? Global prosperity? …. until we are all truly at peace?

Peace first. Because there is a whole lot we could be accomplishing in our worlds.

Where are we the most “real?” On-line or face to face?

Is it the choice of words we use or the expression on our face … which tells the true nature of who we are?

It may be easier to type something which isn’t true.

The other thing I’ve “heard” is that people tend to express themselves more with written words; which … may or may not be more real than a few mixers at a cocktail party.

Perhaps it’s about the actions we take. What it is that we do (or don’t do).

He gave up in order to give.

By FRANCES D’EMILIO (AP):

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI canonized five new saints Sunday, including a 19th-century priest whose work with leprosy patients on a Hawaiian island has been hailed by U.S. President Barack Obama as inspiring those helping AIDS sufferers in today’s world…….

…….Obama, who was born and spent part of his childhood in Hawaii, has said he remembers stories about Damien caring for people suffering from leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, and its stigma.

In a message for the canonization, Obama noted that millions worldwide suffer from disease, especially HIV/AIDS, and urged people to follow the Damien’s example by “answering the urgent call to heal and care for the sick.”

Taking the mule ride to visit Kalaupapa, Molokai will forever be ingrained as a precious recollection. To get a truer understanding of what Father Damien gave up in order to give is a huge blessing to my soul.

I’m not Catholic. I’m a Presbyterian minister’s daughter who decided never to be involved in organized religion. Hey, my choice! I don’t try to sway people.  I am thrilled that these incredible people who still reside in Kalaupapa found their wish coming true today.

Blessed Damien De Veuster is a Saint today; I’ve got tears in my eyes and “chicken skin” (goose bumps) and I just don’t think it matters that I’m not Catholic.

The little part that I do play in collaboration with another precious soul:  http://www.dvarez.com/Fr-Damien/

New words.

We’ve all done this, haven’t we?  Change a word, put two together.  Sometimes one word as it is just doesn’t get the message across.

Here are a “few…”

Admerprise:  Said to my husband, “it was not either, but a combined feeling of both surprise and admiration. It had to do with something you said (my love).”

Oportunitize: When that particular moment comes in life, oportunatize it!

Headangliosis: Usually brought on by confusion either while dealing with new technologies (there’s SO much to figure out), or by something which someone has said (or done.)

Got any?

What’s in a name?

Why is my “Blog” spelled backwards?

Because writing a “Blog” frightens me!  I figure if I look at it in a different way, perhaps the fear will leave since it’s no longer a scary “Blog.”  Makes me recall school and “homework.”  Why, oh why was it/is it called homeWORK???  Maybe if (some of us) learned back then to look at it as something to look forward to vs. drudgery we might have treated that differently also.  Huh.

Spelled backwards is “huh.”

It’s doubtful my Golb posts will be long (winded) as so many (blogs) are.  People who write most blogs are actual writers, journalists or authors vs. someone trying to write goobly-goo to try and explain her website.  Which is why I question why blogs are so important (so I read).  Are there THAT many people who can write and make sense while doing so?  Oh you precious lucky people!