I was laughing at myself this morning in my navy blue tennisshoes, like the ones I wore as a child to Laguna Beach. My sisterand I had twin turquoise swim suits. I still love that salt smelland the sound of those waves, the sound and smell of somethingthat has been here for thousands, maybe millions of years. Andthe feeling of wet sand between my toes.

Anyway, I was taking my morning alley walk, looking down at myhands. I am holding an old square piece of metal with a hole init, some sprigs of purple lavender, wild plums and two smallwhite roses. I can feel a hint of fall in the morning air and amfeeling the excitement about teaching again. I have been playingwith new materials this summer for the writing and paintingclasses: copper metal and nails and galkyd varnish for the coversand binding of our books. Also been working on a promotionalpiece for the Ghost Ranch workshops in February and May: "WriteUpon Tablets."

It doesn't hurt to surround yourself with *brilliant* people:Jill Berry helps me in countless ways, including all my classesat Naropa University and Ghost Ranch. Erin Sturga is helping mewith the design of my promotional piece. Diana Phillips at TwoHands Paperie is an invaluable fountain of knowledge. My father,Lloyd Hubbard, is an engineer and inventor, and flew me up toMinneapolis before I had my first computer with the expresspurpose of helping me write the original copy for "Finding YourOwn Story." After minor adjustments to my not pursuing a careerin math or science or engineering, or becoming the president ofIBM, he is a constant source of encouragement and wisdom. Andthen there is my beloved Chris Locke, who is my writing criticand website wizard. Well, as none of these people get paid forthis work I can only thank the stars in heaven for theirwillingness and enthusiasm.

Also getting ready to submit paintings to the annual exhibit atRegis College, put on by the Colorado Calligrapher's Guild. Evenbeen messing around with luscious oils. For those of you who areinterested in shorter local classes, I will be teaching "BrushLettering, Pattern & Books" at the guild (Nov 9, 10, & 11) and atTwo Hands Paperie (December 8).http://www.lauriedoctor.com/workshops.html

Have put up recent work on my website in design and art:http://www.lauriedoctor.com/artwork.html andhttp://www.lauriedoctor.com/design.html

I'd love to hear from you,