I come from a family where they say, "If I can take it why would I buy it?" This is why I seldom trust anyone and I have tried to find every sneaky angle that can be used against me any time I have to rely on someone else. I do not like being tricked or robbed.

The real irony is that one half of my family were law breakers and the other half law makers. I'm sure there have always been people who jumped the fence, on either side. In my case, I'm more of a law maker who does not entirely trust or respect authority.

This whole thing drives me crazy when it comes to selling anything, like art, online. It is all too easy to rip off. Everything I look at is very flawed. Even if I did go ahead and try it anyway my family will be telling that it isn't going to make any money. Most of them have been in sales. But they don't give me help with selling anything, just insist that everything online is free for the taking.

I think its hopeless. But I keep trying, or sort of trying. It's how I live most of my life.

"How will it make any money?" You have no idea how irritating, to the point of near insanity, that question is after all these years. Why does everything have to be about money? Money, and people are two things I would like not to have. Money, in the way of not needing it by having enough that I don't have to care about it. People, in the way of not having to have them around.

More people seem to be developing this kind of allergic reaction to people. How long will it take before the only time we communicate is through electronics, not face to face? I don't own/ have a mobile phone. Almost everyone else around me has one, or more. I'm not a phone person. Just hearing it ring (the house phone) makes me cringe. But, I laugh (out loud even) at the progress of mobile phones.

From an actual phone to texting only now. Texting, is just a more expensive way to send an email. I'm never going to be addicted to a mobile phone, or any other phone. I'm too happy to not have anyone contacting me. Twitter works. It's silent and I can look at it, or not. Undemanding.

But, I still don't know how I am going to sell my art online. I don't think I am ever going to find a way to avoid having it stolen. I don't have the social skills, or the liking for them, to be a great sales person for myself.

"How will it make any money?"  I can feel myself on a Medieval stretching wrack, pulled tighter and tighter. If not for that sound track, could I manage to actually get somewhere? I will never know, not likely.

My family are all very stubborn, in their ways. Mine is that I can not seem to just give up, no matter how many times I say that I am.

Starting with history itself, then onto urban exploration. I like things that have out lived their usefulness, or their popularity might be more of how I feel about them. An appreciation for neglect of some kind.

I also like keeping things on Blogger blogs. I don't believe they are going to have a sudden, great comeback. Though I would like to see it happen. Blogger blogs are good for keeping things you don't want to lose. I have all kinds of sub-topics and niche ideas tucked away on Blogger blogs.

I think it is an inability to let go, or give up.

Note - This was originally posted to a friend's site which has been taken down. The links have not been checked since 2015.

What is it about lighthouses that draws people? People collect lighthouses figurines. People paint and draw lighthouses. People will stop to photograph a lighthouse even when there could be something else more interesting which they did not even notice in the shadow of that mystical, lonely, stark looking building poking the sky.

I think it is the romance, mystery, history and the feeling of adventure -- surviving storms at sea and pounding waves. The idea of steadfast lighthouse keepers, daring rescues and pirates hiding their treasure exposed in the roving splash of a beam of light.

They are kind of fun to draw. Even more fun to be down at the water, hearing it, smelling it.

Photo Galleries of Lighthouses:

• Lighthouse Trek
• Lighthouse Lovers
• Scenic Lighthouses
• Lighthouse Gallery
• Lighthouses of the World
• Lighthouses of the World-- Second group with the same name.
• Lighthouses Worldwide
• Universal Lighthouses
• Rock (Really Remote) Lighthouses of the World
• Lighthouses and Beacons in Europe
• Canadian Lighthouses
• Great Lakes Lighthouses
• Irish Lighthouses
• British Lighthouses
• South African Lighthouses
• Australia Lighthouses
• Icelandic Lighthouses
• Lighthouse in Japan

Lighthouses as Art:

• Lighthouses in Artwork
• Lighthouses on Postcards
• Lighthouse Postcards
• Panoramic Lighthouses

Lighthouses Visited/ Documented:

• World Lighthouse Society
• Lighthouse Friends: Documenting lighthouses in the US and some in Canada too.
• Lighthouse Baggers: Lighthouse enthusiasts/ explorers on Flickr.
• Lighthouse News
• American Lighthouse Foundation
• United States Lighthouse Society
• Lighthouse Enthusiasts Headquarters
• Haunted Lighthouses Page
• Haunted Lighthouses, Legends and Lore
• About.com: Haunted Lighthouses
• The Lighthouse Guides
• Lighthousing.net: Forums
• Association of Lighthouse Keepers
• Lighthouses of Australia
• The Lighthouse Directory
• Sea the Lights.com
• Lighthouse Central

I was a child in the 70's. I still like 70's music more than any other. I remember my bedroom being decorated with huge flowers - the wallpaper and curtains matched. At the time it didn't seem at all retro or vintage. It takes time for anything to look kitschy after all.

There were so many little things I had back then that are prized artifacts now. I wish I had been able to keep more of them. But, we moved a lot. Then I grew up and started moving a lot myself.

One thing I miss are the big eyed girls I used to have on my walls. I didn't get them new, even back then. I had to wander into them at yard sales and thrift stores. That's still the only way I seem to find them now. But, I hardly ever find them these days.

I used to have about half a dozen of those sloe eyed girls. I liked the ones in the jester outfits, the girls who didn't look like children but could have been teenagers. I had a few in jester clothes and at least 2 others which were ballerinas. My little sister liked them too. She took a couple of mine and wouldn't give them back. Sisters...

Anyway, these days I only have one big eyed girl print left. I don't even have her up on a wall. I keep her packed away. I guess I either don't want to lose my last one or I want to make sure she isn't left out during the next move (whenever that will happen along).

Big Eyed Bradley Dolls

If you're a child of the 70's too, do you remember Bradley Dolls? They were another type of big eyed girl but not in paintings or prints. They were actual dolls.

Margaret Keane Links and Resources

• Online Gallery of Margaret Keane

• Keane Eyes Gallery

• Margaret Keane: Mother of Big-Eye Art

• Margaret Keane - Wikipedia

• Walter Keane - Wikipedia

Big Eye Girl Art

This could also be by Ward. The artist name was removed if it is.

Big Eyed Girl Artists

• Quirky Big Eyed Girl Art | Pinterest

• Big Eyes | Pinterest

• Flickr: Big Eye Art ~ Today

• Big Eyed Art Bonanza

• Flickr: Big Eye Art - Vintage and Retro

• Big Eyed Masters

• Big Eyed Art | Facebook

• Lucy Violet Vintage - Big Eyed Girls

• Myka Jelina

• Alexandria Sandlin

• Adriana Almanza

• Margaret "Maio" Toti Thomis | Facebook

• Kristen Margiotta

• Marisol Spoon

• Tati Suarez

• Krista Huot

• Kelly Haigh

• Caia Koopman

• Belinda Joynes

• Jaz Higgins: Zazzle

• Lisa Petrucci

• Blonde Blythe

• M Medeiros Big Eyed Child Portrait Art

• Pinkytoast

• Marie Larkin

• Misty Benson

• Jasmine Becket-Griffith

• Illustrations Whimsical Art and ACEO's by pinkglitterfae on Etsy

• View Big Eyed Prints by thedreamygiraffe on Etsy

For the Girls Who Wear Glasses and Get Sore Noses from Them

I'm in the process of ordering new glasses so it's a funny time for the current eyeglasses to start giving me a problem. But, since getting the eye tests done, I've been getting red marks on the bridge of my nose from the plastic bits (nose pad, nose pieces, nose guard?) on my glasses.

The first thing I did was give them an extra cleaning - and washed my face well too, of course. The problem went away for a few days. But, it started up again, just on one side this time. It is really bothering me a lot. The skin is peeling off under the nose piece. It's become very sore, raw and oozing a bit. So, I washed everything again. Used disinfectant again too. Then I put a plastic bandage on my face and went online to see if I could find the cause of the problem.

I wear my eyeglasses all the time (not in the shower or in bed, as some will be thinking). I don't just wear them for reading or driving around in the car. So, a sore spot like this is something I want to deal with and fix right away.

Right away I found an answer to what it is and how to deal with it.

For the Girls Who Wear Glasses and Get Sore Noses from Them

I'm in the process of ordering new glasses so it's a funny time for the current eyeglasses to start giving me a problem. But, since getting the eye tests done, I've been getting red marks on the bridge of my nose from the plastic bits (nose pad, nose pieces, nose guard?) on my glasses.

The first thing I did was give them an extra cleaning - and washed my face well too, of course. The problem went away for a few days. But, it started up again, just on one side this time. It is really bothering me a lot. The skin is peeling off under the nose piece. It's become very sore, raw and oozing a bit. So, I washed everything again. Used disinfectant again too. Then I put a plastic bandage on my face and went online to see if I could find the cause of the problem.

I wear my eyeglasses all the time (not in the shower or in bed, as some will be thinking). I don't just wear them for reading or driving around in the car. So, a sore spot like this is something I want to deal with and fix right away.

Right away I found an answer to what it is and how to deal with it.

The Cause of the Problem

First, the cause - hot weather and skin being irritated by the nose piece. As you sweat from the heat you also sweat under the frame of your glasses. Not a problem for the skin that gets air to it and dries once you are not sweating. That patch of skin under the nose piece is not able to dry so the skin is always a bit wet with sweat and then irritated and rubbed by the glasses.

That was good to know. I don't have some weird skin problem or infection, bacteria, whatever.

Get a Different Nose Piece

Secondly, I found out a couple of options which will help the problem, other than wearing a bandage.

You can go to the store where you bought your eyeglasses and ask them to change the plastic nose piece and give you a fabric/ cloth one instead. This will let the skin get some air under there and give it a chance to be a little drier. It's also softer, so it won't rub as much.

Try Adjusting/ Moving the Nose Piece

Another idea people wrote about was moving the nose pieces. Experiment a bit and see if you can loosen them by pushing them up or down a bit more or less. In my case, when I didn't have a problem with red marks before, this seems a likely solution. Chances are the nose pieces were moved when they were checking my current prescription at the eye doctor's office. So, that's what I have done. I will have to wait and see if that works.

When I get the new eyeglasses I'm going to see if they will give me something different for a nose piece, maybe cloth which can be added on hot summer days. It's good to know there are options!

Create your Own Solution to the Nose Piece Problem

I had a new idea for the problem of glasses which leave a mark on our nose.

Take one standard bandage, it must be the type with fabric not the plastic bandages. Cut off the ends to make two pieces of bandage, roughly the size of the nose piece on your glasses. Peel off the backing from the bandage piece then stick the piece onto the nose piece of your glasses frame. Trim the excess, leave a bit to act like overlap and wrap up and over the sides of the noise piece. This overlap bit keeps it from touching any of your skin and helps it to stay stuck on as well.

I've been using this idea all day today. It works great! It's also fairly cheap and easy to do.

Girls with Glasses

• Girls Who Wear Glasses: A Tribute

• Girls With Glasses