A Raven Good Time!

I have been getting some friendly pressure from my constant readers, reprimanding me for my absence of late. To be honest, I don't truly have time to write this post...especially since I have gotten behind on my own blog-following. I begin to write, then realize that unlike me, my blog friends have not been lazy/busy/uninspired/sleepy///(add more adjectives here, if you please). I begin to read their blogs, and forget to write my own.

So, what have I been doing? Aside from trips to Rochester NY (congrats Shani!), and Raleigh NC (for work, blah), I have been digging in sand for this year's City Sand Competition. The theme this year is "A Raven Good Time." For those unaware, Baltimore's NFL team, The Ravens, gets its name from a poem written by famous Baltimorean, Edgar Allan Poe. Poe was born 200 years ago, so in honor of his birthday (which was actually in January), we...umm..made things out of sand. OK so: It turns out, this theme was HARD. Mr. Poe did not lead a very fun life - he was disowned by his parents and adopted by his aunt and uncle (who later disowned him). He married his first cousin when she was 13 and he was 25. He was an alcoholic, penniless, and suffered from chronic pain. His wife died when she was 25 from tuberculosis, and he was found dead on a street in Baltimore wearing someone else's clothes a few years later. The last place he had been seen alive was a bar. No "good time" inspiration from the man himself...and as for his stories? Well, they generally feature macabre scenes involving death and psychotic paranoia.

We ended up creating this:
It is called "Here's to You" and depicts the three roses left by an anonymous person every year on the anniversary of Poe's birth. The "Poe Toaster" leaves the roses by Poe's original grave marker...but this one is prettier. The church erected it near the front of the graveyard since so many people visit Poe's resting place. Too bad he wasn't so popular while he was alive. I desperately wanted to write: "Though Poe in life, he enriched the world!" on this, but we ran out of time.

Despite the rather unadorned look, this thing was not easy to make. Sand is heavy, and hard to work with. Especially for three hours in 90 degree weather! But I learned a lot, and I'm looking forward to next year! I only hope the theme is easier!!

Here's what The Baltimore Sun had to say, and this one has pictures of the other sculptures - as if my loyal fans would care! Actually, they are all pretty cool...

Now, I really must be off. We are going to (yet another) open house, and then to see the new movie "Up!" in 3D! Hopefully, I will be better at keeping you posted.