child at heart

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Vintage Disney book detail, circa 1965

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A stack of musty smelling Childcraft books, circa the 1950s-1960s

I am still in the process of working on several paintings using old children’s books found at a recycled art scrap store.  The images in these books include classic 1950’s illustrations and photographs…a time period that I am really very much drawn to visually.  Without question, working with Don Fritz at Santa Clara instilled in me techniques and content matter that I was very much wanting to experience and play with…I feel so fortunate to have been able to learn from him.   His pieces are undoubtedly thick with layers of symbolism and very planned meaning, whereas my paintings are a bit more innocent.   

I hope to have some of the paintings up semi-soon, although I will have to work on my web design skills with Cooper first.  I find web design work a bit daunting so hopefully my patience will hold up and work to my advantage.   I never thought I would be dating someone who has just as patience as Mother Teresa.   Maybe Cooper is the male equivalent to Mother Teresa.  Hmmmmm…I think I can see a resemblance.

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Last night Cooper and I met up with our college friends, Pat and Rachel Rue.  Cooper and I had the same reaction to Pat when we said hello…we did a “we’re not worthy” greeting.  Pat is in the process of starting his own brewery (a.k.a. The Bruery) in SoCal.  Yes, Pat is our Beer Idol.  Before going to dinner Pat shared with us some of his wheat beer, his saison beer, and the last bottle of his first very highly acclaimed and award winning beer of wonder.  Oh my, his beers were SOOOOOOOOO good.  His wheat beer was very light and refreshing; his saison was perhaps one of the best spicy beers I have ever tasted…the anise flavors were delectable; but, hands down the award winning beer was something I have never tasted in a beer before.  I really don’t know how to describe it…we drank small amounts of the high alcohol “liquid of wonder” which was layered in flavor after flavor after flavor.  It had hints of a perfectly aged whiskey or brandy which developed into a creamy caramel aftertaste.  This would go so great with Jon Fowler’s raspberry butter cream chocolate (TPR Physics teacher who made the best butter cream chocolates I have ever laid my taste buds on).   Pat’s beers are quality, quality beers.  Come August/September when he hopes for distribution to begin, keep an eye out for a Bruery beer.  I can guarantee you will come away with a new appreciation for the bubbly beverage. 

Author: Ali Carras

At a very young age I lost site of my mom in a local grocery store in Boulder, Colorado. I did, however, have the smarts to go to the customer service counter. The kind woman at the counter asked "What is your name little girl?" My reply: "Assi." The woman gave me a look like, "Are you playing with me you little devil?" but she proceeded to blast on the loudspeaker the "We have a lost Assi at the front of the store." Customers throughout the store gagged and giggled, but my mom knew exactly who the woman was referring to: the mullet haired little girl with a tongue too big for her mouth, wearing a leotard, skirt, tights, and jelly shoes (with florescent green laces in them...even though they didn't need the laces). A shy little character for whom every little detail in life was a huge thing. I am pleased to report that today I am able to fully pronounce Allison (aka Ali), but the Assi pseudonym has always stuck, evolving into Aszi. As for the shy little character for whom every little detail in life was a huge thing? Some things never change. I have closed my comments due to mass amounts of spam that no filter could ever control. Feel free to contact me abeckord [at] gmail.com!

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