People are always surprised when I tell them that I'd had over 500 broken bones by the time I was ten, but that I can count the number of times I've taken a narcotic on one hand. They often assume that breaking bones must not be painful to me, which I will never understand. Trust me, it hurts...plenty. There's nothing wrong with my nervous system. When I was growing up and breaking as often as once or twice a week at times, my mother knew that putting me on some kind of heavy narcotic or painkiller was only going to cause[...]
Category
Katherine’s Day to Day Life
"Do you go to the hospital every time you break a bone?" This is a question I get ALL THE TIME. The short answer is "no," in fact, I rarely go to the hospital for a broken bone. I am extremely lucky to have grown up with parents in the medical field, even if most of their patients have four legs and fur. We actually joke that I'm basically like treating a medium-sized dog. Over the years, my mother has gotten incredibly skilled in splinting and wrapping my various injuries, and always does a better job than they do at t[...]
I've recently embarked on a partnership with the Humane Society of Louisiana where donors are awarded a piece of my art based on how much they donate. The Humane Society focuses on fighting animal cruelty, neglect and mistreatment throughout the entire state. As you would expect, my family has known the head of the Humane Society of Louisiana, Jeff Dorson, since before I can remember, and when he approached me with this partnership idea, it felt like a natural path for me. A local news station, WGNO, recently featured my[...]
As most of you know, I am a total concert fanatic. Other than art (which in most cases is at least 50% work), I don't have a whole lot of hobbies. Concerts give me a chance to get out of my house (where I live AND work) and to allow me to take a break from the real world. It's not only a change of scenery, but also a total and complete brain rest. Here in New Orleans, we have a massive music festival every April and May called the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. There are usually no less than nine stages set u[...]
My friend Christy (with whom all of my avid blog readers should know well by now) and I have been following the band Florida Georgia Line for some time. Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, along with their band, put on an absolutely amazing show. How they have not won Entertainer of the Year yet, I honestly have no idea. Although they sometimes get a bad wrap for not being traditional "country," their music is fun and upbeat, and their concerts are a place to let loose and have a good time. They may not be the ABSOLUTE BEST voc[...]
I've been fortunate to meet quite a few celebrities over the past six or eight years, and if you follow me on Facebook, you've probably already seen several of the pictures below. People always ask me how I manage to meet the stars, and the truth is, most of the time it's a matter of sheer luck. Although I've gladly paid for meet and greet opportunities, I've found that meeting celebrities is more often about being in the right place at the right time. Being 2'7" and cute is helpful as well. Ha! Since people often ask me[...]
It's a beautiful day here in New Orleans. 75 degrees, full sun and a nice breeze coming off the lake. Fall is quickly approaching, and it's a nice change from our 97 degree, 100% humidity summer weather. (Not to mention the cold front is keeping the hurricanes away!) Our dogs have an extra spring in their step and my Facebook feed is blowing up with people enjoying the gorgeous weather at outdoor festivals or at parks with their families. Much like the French Quarter, I have a love/hate relationship with autumn. Like spri[...]
My blog this week was supposed to tell you guys about the amazing art teachers I've had throughout my career, but the experiences I had with my wheelchair over the weekend flying to Maine and back inspired me to switch it up a bit. Don't worry, art teachers are soon to come. A couple of months ago, Mom and I were given a unique opportunity to plan a trip to anywhere in the United States we'd like to visit at little cost to us. We chose to head to Maine, a trip we've wanted to take for several years, to visit a some close f[...]
This may surprise you, but I paint lying on my right side, stabilizing my left hand on my body. This is actually the position in which I do most daily activities. Because it's hard on my back and my joints to sit up for a long time,even in my wheelchair, I've adapted to doing most things from a more comfortable lying down position. When you have constant pain, it's hard to get anything done, let alone something that requires a good deal of concentration. I have less pain lying down, so it's just easier for me to work like[...]
One of the first questions I get when people find out I'm from New Orleans is "Don't you just love to hang out in the French Quarter? Do you do that every weekend?" My relationship with the Quarter is very much a love/hate one. I love the atmosphere of the Quarter. I love the fact that there is always live music to listen to no matter the time of day (or night) and I love the cast of characters just walking the streets. I love having my fortune told in Jackson Square and I love seeing all of the different artwork on displ[...]