AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

www.ideagems.com is always looking for stories and artwork. It's a good way to spread your talents and build up your portfolio. Now, just pray to all the gods, goddesses, and demi-gods that we get the big-ass grant we've applied for and we'll actually be able to pay contributing authors and artists for their work! Until then we welcome any and all generous contributions made in the name of artistic and literary expression.

I haven't posted on AMP in a looooooong while. Why? Because I have hungry brainchildren to feed which means spending time and energy working any job that comes along. These days, I spend 12 hours a day in a cab. Am I to be the female Travis Bickell? Not likely. But living in Stephen King country, one never knows.

At least one of my creative progeny has become fully grown and published now. My first novel, "The Spoiler" (available on Lulu.com) is the beginning of a family of books in the series, "Stranger Than Fiction." We'll see if after years of nurturing and cultivating if these creations will finally earn their keep and support their dear ol' mother of invention.

It has been quite a spell since I last posted on AMP. Well, chalk it up to: 1) fruitless slave-driving job for ungrateful non-profit; 2) frenetic slave-driving labor of love with unprofitable publication; 3) frustrating slave-driving troubleshooting of "fekakta" computers and Web site.

The good news is: ungrateful non-profit is no more for me; labor of love managed to produce a bigger and better issue of "Adventures for the Average Woman" (Check it out at www.ideagems.com ; computers and Web sites are restored -- hooray!

The bad news is: unemployment is once again unenjoyment; with the crash came the loss of all my graphic novels, "Cube Ghouls" included. Guess it's back to the drawing board.

Not to be overly redundant, but yes, I am being redundant but only to reinforce this great gallery event!

If anyone out there is in the Portland, Maine area tomorrow, you are invited to attend the First Friday Art Walk when the city's galleries and museum are open and free to the public -- including our gallery: The Time Gallery.

Tomorrow's exhibit, "Animal, Vegetable, Mineral," will feature the paintings and drawings of Portland artist Gail Wartell with catering by Burt Wartell. Music proviced by clasical guitartis Chuck Muldoon.

Date: Dec. 1

Time: 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Place: 47 Portland Street

Okay, life has once again gotten in the way. I mean, it just arches its back so that my toe catches hold and trips me up. I stumble forward and try not to fall flat on my face, and my poor creative projects wind up scattered across the vast desolate plains of frustration! I'm sure you all have lived this metaphor at one time or another. As I crawl on hands and knees and slowly gather up the bits and pieces of my writing, publishing, and graphic art that have been trashed in the name of wage-slave survival, I tell myself that I will be able to embrace it all one day and breathe new life into my work! Just keep me awy from loaded waepons in the meantime. (I'M KIDDING, OKAY?)

Three new postings are up on this site for all you sickos sick of corporate crap out there.

Well, it has been a long dry creative spell since I last posted anything on this site but that's because so much has been happening!

First, the magazine is coming along with new writers and artists participating. Please check out the new issue of "Adventures for the Average Woman" at WWW.IDEAGEMS.COM where you can see funky art and read spooky stories. If you'd like a free "zine" in pdf, feel free to email me.

Second, I've been working on an online auction project for the MAINE TIME BANKS. So far, I've had wonderful contributions from UncleScam, Linda Kent, and Maddy Rosenberg. It's a great way to promote your artowrk and help a nonprofit with a great concept that's tight on par with AMP. You can learn more by going to WWW.TIMEBANKS.ORG

Well, you just can't escape them, those evil Cube Ghouls. I left the warped vortex of flesh-eaters and soul-suckers in Washington, D.C. eight months ago to land in the land of laid-back tolerance. No, not California. MAINE whose motto is "The Way Life Should Be." So here I was in pine country looking for work and lo and behold I espy the empowering graffiti declaring "Demand the Impossible." SUre enough, I obtain gainful employ as an online auction coordinator for a local non-profit (a Time Bank, a really cool concept). It was too good to be true: my own corner office, my own project, carte blanche creative license.

It seems my e-zine is getting to big to post on this site, so if want to see wet T-shirts and sand blasts, you'll have to check out the web site www.ideagems.com for your perusal and amusement.

Speaking of amusement, today I read three horoscopes from three different web sources and they all concurred.

Yahoo's said: "Hey, everything you hoped for is happening. Or is it -- oh my goodness, everything is happening so fast! Ratchet down your anxiety level. Remind yourself that even good changes cause some upheaval."

MSN's said: "Today is not a day to stay inside and sulk, Laurie , so put the past behind you and move on. Grab opportunities with both hands and kick your engine into high gear. Stop looking at the things behind you and focus on the wide-open horizon in front of you. Today is an excellent day to turn up the stove and start brewing some new adventures. Transform your life into an action movie with you playing the starring role."

I swear, the siren songs of the muses are leading me into the clashing rocks of reality. I'm suffering extreme PTMD (Post Traumatic Move Disorder), and for some reason my pdf file won't attach or compress. (Sigh) but I must somehow sail on through the torurous straits of the creative process. I have posted two new cells for the graphic novel, Cube Ghouls, and have the cover page of the July issue herein attached (just until I can figure out how to upload the full version). Now, all I need is a job with an income to feed those ravenous talents of mine.