The curveballs keep coming

So what an unusual post this will be but none the less I feel like it's what I want to do. So, some of you know me and some know of me. I suppose I have made a small name for myself in certain circles. Of course I do plaster myself and my work in the arts online enough. But, I don't think any of you know that I have had had a "missing" brother named Scott for over 20 years.

When he was 19, he just vanished. Now, you should understand we share the same Dad only. I was 15 and we were best buddies. Although we grew up separate with no contact until we were teens, it was like two long lost besties found each other. He would drive me to Ithaca, NY to his college on the weekends, all the way from Seaside Heights, NJ. He would visit me when he could and call me. And when I was a lil older he would take me to parties and do fun stuff all the while being the protective brother whom I knew, loved & cared for me very much, or so I thought.

My relationship that my brother and I had with our father was iffy at best on most occasions. But my brother Scott had the distinction of dealing with Dad for much longer than I did.

The short is, to the best I have been told: some prize winning fight ensued between Dad and Scott. Scott took his stuff and left everything. These were days before Facebook and Cell phones so short of driving to Ithaca (wasn't old enough), he could not be found.
I tried everything a teenager could to locate him. I tried calling all of the usual suspects with never an answer or a returned message. For a long time I imagined the worst and would just keep checking what little was on the internet at that time.

Eventually, my Dad got word from cousins in Florida that he was OK and living in the Sunshine state! Such a gift to know!! But then I realized he never called me. Not once in all those years to say hello, I'm OK, I'm sorry, - NOTHING!

I can tell you that I put so many work hours into finding him and shed so many tears that I could just scream bloody murder.
Long story into short, he finally answered the phone one day 7 years ago. I said like a lil school girl..
"SCOTT!
it's Danielle, omg!!! Can you Talk!!!???
Scotts response:
NO...................................................................
me:
uh..........um.......Why Not?
Scott:
because I have a dinner party, I have to go.
Me:
Can I call you back or ......ah...should I not?
Scott:
Don't call back............
Me:
OK...............click

I still cannot fathom what I could have done as a young girl that would cause him to act this way towards me. Especially, after how close we had become. Confused is an understatement.

Why, do I bring this up now..20 + years later? Well, while searching my family tree online, I bumped into Scott (whom I have since tried desperately to pull from my memory bank) it seems my brother who has been hiding electronically speaking since the day he left, finally put something in his name...A FACEBOOK PAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A picture of him, his wife and two beautiful boys.

I would've been such a great Auntie.

Hate to tell ya Scott, but you look just like Dad.

Jetsetting Continues South!

By this time tomorrow (in theory-barring yet a 3rd blizzard) I shall be in Charlotte, North Carolina staying with Miss Brandi McKenna of She's of her Rocker!! Look there she is in her Halloween finery !

Brandi and I met last year in person when she drove all the way from NC to Phila for The National Halloween Convention to help with the SpookyTimeJingles booth! Which btw..I am the NHC's- Halloween Art Director this year! Yippee Skippee! What an honor! Extra work but still pleased to be asked.

~Ok..back to Brandi~

She brought some of these wicked large azz moons-they were a BIG hit!

How flippin awesome is she? She and her hubster Jim were there to see just how fantastic the con was and how STJ rawked it! So, she is thee perfect chick-a-dee to help me plan for this years upcoming show in which we will have FOUR booths (instead of one). HELP me! Lord hear my prayer!

Now..this once again requires me to fly with my menagerie of calming BullChit- (xanax, slipper socks, eye mask, ipod, vitamin water & Luna Bars) but this trip is only 2 hours - easy breezy right? Well yeah kinda? With the EXCEPTION it is on a "puddle jumper" plane...hear my deep sigh?!


Puddle Jumpers are the ones that hold 40 passengers or less (Tight Quarters), yes it is a jet and it is Continental...BUT Continental (as most all airlines do for small jets) contract out their "smaller" flights to private companies and Continental (again as other airlines) who practice this have NO liability should something go sideways! Yep..ZERO!

But what could go sideways...? Certainly not the plane-that would be crazy!

Ok, So I pinky swear this is my last rant about my "flight issues"

My Ever so slight ;) flight phobia aside I am UBER jazzed to get down to some nitty gritty Halloween art and spend time with Miss Brandi and her family. Brandi is one of those true blue people you meet in life and thank your lucky stars for your good fortune. Seriously, it amazes me that I have made such good friends through the wonders of the internet + art= genuine friendships.

I will be leaving some Facebook updates along the way for those that seem to enjoy my Jetsetting escapades and random pictures & posts. If we are not yet friends, just ask ;)

In Flight Music Choice:
This flights relaxing new album of choice will between the new Corinne Bailey Rae "The Sea"
or Sade's first album in a decade "Soldier of Love". No Nickelback, 3 Doors Down or Seether for me in flight or I will be rockin out in my seat and singing..lmao...not pretty, not at 'tall ;) !

Last trip's relaxing music was John Mayer's new album "Battle Studies" (awesome btw) but with his recent crude & stupid azz Twitter remarks (DUMB AZZ) I cannot bring myself to listen to him again yet (why do I care?). But I do have to wonder why men can be so stone azz stupid when it comes to women?


Well, Ok that about does it for this ramble... Thank you for joining me and for giving a damn about my jetsetter blatherings and other lil ditties~