Check out this very interesting new article by author, Peg Streep for Psychology Today: http://ping.fm/HGZIK

Recuperating from Dental Surgery

The last few days have been lifechanging, as I have had some serious, wonderful dental surgery. All credit for this goes to my very talented oral surgeon/dentist, Dr. Richard Slaten and his staff at Perfect a Smile dentistry. Click the title of this entry to go to their website. My teeth were breaking off, one by one, due to infection and weakness. Infection itself from the teeth was poisoning me all over, draining my energy and health. It was out of control and this is the first phase of bringing back my smile.

All six of my frontal upper teeth have now been replaced completely with crowns and posts. It looks fabulous, what a beautiful job he did. I am still swollen, predictably, of course. It was major surgery, and one of the most mind blowing aspects of it all, the procedures were relatively painless! I must have had some very poor dentists in the past because this just goes to show what they all should live up to: being truly painless. I feel like a dork being so complimentary but it's unavoidable, this was outstanding work, the likes of which I've never had. And I've been to some so-called "superior" dentists in my past. Finally, I can feel "safe" in the hands of someone not only capable but courteous. Something must be wrong with me because I actually look forward to going back there for more work. Soon I will have the ability to eat hard foods again, when he puts molars back in, can't wait for that..I miss steak. Anyways, the results are so wonderful that I keep looking in the mirror, even if I'm still swollen :)

The weather is pretty lousy out, so I'm home, in bed here with my laptop, cat wedged up against me, watching my "Phantom of the Opera" DVD and drinking hot coffee. I was told to drink hot fluids, and I'm happy to oblige. Once the swelling goes down, I will post a photo but it's still a bit soon.

google-site-verification: google7067dc8e96d74570.html The Fine Artwork of Carolyn McFann

Happy New Year From TPC Studio

What a season it has been! Christmas is over and it was truly a family event (and without huge dysfunctional issues), for the first time in years. New Years, and my dad's birthday, are both a few days away. Soon, a whole new year starts up over again. I look back on this last year and smile. It's amazing..a year of growth and more happiness than I've ever known before. Seriously. Putting my foot down on family abuse has been beneficial to the family. I can see it and it feels good. We still have our differences but I see progress and this makes me feel proud.

As for my stores, I have been adding products, organizing and making sure everything runs ok. Their growth spurs me on to do even more, expand it all and get more efficient on how I do everything for it. I'm passionate about doing it right, and see a lot of new improvements that must be made in the coming year. I handle it all bit by bit, so not to overwhelm myself with the big picture of all that needs to be done. It's all doable.

Then there's my teeth. Tests have been done and my next appointment will enlighten me on the cosmetic dentist's plan of attack. It will take some time to do the work, but that's ok because the man is an artist, making teeth look beautiful. I've seen "before/after" books of his work and it is all stunning. He even gives me big price breaks on procedures since I have no dental insurance. I am forever grateful. It means a lot to say goodbye to broken teeth hurting my gums, having trouble chewing, etc. Not to mention it will benefit my health by losing the infected teeth. They are a drain on my energy. It's such a big deal to do this work right, and retain the bone structure in my mouth. Posts will be drilled, teeth will be sculpted, it's a big job. I welcome all of it. Just load me up with Nitrous Oxide or put me out (he's a surgeon)..that's ok with me.

The cats have had a really fun holiday. This has been Matisse's first Christmas here with us and he has been having a blast! He plays with his toys under the tree, snoozes with Beau among the new toys, and loves the box the new toys came in. Beau is in kitty bliss with the new toys, and loves to act like a sprightly little spring-loaded kitten when nobody's looking. I've caught him spazzing out with a toy or two in his paws, and it's hysterical to watch this big white furrball just throwing caution to the wind and letting it all hang out.

This is our first holiday season in this lovely home, too. I thank God we found it and are here, it is wonderful and looks so beautiful all decorated up and given some love. I have big plans for this place, adding gardens and putting in more curtains to start. The upstairs bedrooms will be better outfitted later, my office needs better chairs and more shelving. I'm in no hurry and plan it out in time, to make it the way I want it to be.

Having a peaceful home is very important to me, far from the excruciatingly painful and stupid Queen Bee histrionic tirades I endured in childhood. I used to hide at the horse barn or in my room to stay away from her temper, and keep a low profile since anything could set off tantrums, anger or hysteria. As a middle-aged adult, I still relish the glorious feeling of peace at home. Total peace. No drama, insanity or cruelty. Just love. My pets have never known fear here with me. And they never will. Being alone feels wonderful. No complications or worry. I can work on my business, which is my true love, and not feel guilty, too.

In the new year I hope to have some time to take a course or two at the local university. It would be helpful to learn more business techniques and computer programs. In order to grow the business, I have to know exactly how to do that. A big puzzle to figure out, but a fun one, once it makes sense.

To all who read this, I wish you a very Happy New Year from my house to yours. Here's to a happy and healthy new year ahead!

google-site-verification: google7067dc8e96d74570.html The Fine Artwork of Carolyn McFann

It's the Holiday Season Here in the NE Ohio Countryside

After months of working on many, many products for my store, I'm finally taking a break from it all for the moment, anyways. When I can't think straight and my eyes don't focus as well, it's time to rest. So, I'm enjoying some holiday shopping online, just sleeping, and working on projects around the house. Things I had little to no energy for when I was focused on non-stop marathon work. It's fun to work on this ornate table that I'm refinishing. The process is slow and tedious to work on all the nooks and crannies on it with sandpaper but I like detail, so it's all enjoyable to me.

Later in the month, I'm going to the dentist in preparation for some major dental work. First come all the tests then he will make my teeth better looking than they ever were before, while getting rid of some problems in my mouth. My teeth have been the bain of my existence for many years and cost me a lot of money here and there fixing broken teeth. So, one by one, they are going to be redone. Thank goodness for a good cosmetic dental surgeon and a generous supply of novacaine/nitrous oxide! Bring it, doctor, I'm ready.

Last week I got around to putting up the new lace curtains I'd bought a few months ago, in my bedroom. They are just gorgeous, very elegant looking and they don't block too much light out. Perfect. And it transformed the room from basically plain and unremarkable to Buckingham Palace elegance in the blink of an eye. Adding LED window "candles" with sensors to each window afterwards gives the whole house a holiday flair, too. The warm, golden glow looks so beautiful at night against the reflections of the curtains. Love it.

Being as picky as I am about things like curtains, this was a total score! Now, to buy and install more in the other bedrooms and then work on the downstairs windows. By taking time and looking for the perfect drapes, it's all planned out carefully. One room at a time.

The cats have been really enjoying themselves, following eachother here and there, snoozing together underneath the Christmas tree and playing with their toys. They've been very well-behaved, for the most part, when it comes to sharing their house with holiday decorations. This is Matisse's first Christmas here, and he's been enjoying himself playing with (unbreakable) ornaments, hung specifically for him at the base of the tree. He can sit and entertain himself for hours, whacking away at a gold, sparkly "icicle". Beau likes the new toys I bought them. Since Matt came to be with us, Beau has learned to play more. The two of them have been quite the team, just like biological siblings. Sometimes they play-fight, at other times they chirp to one another in a cute little language (being deaf, how do they know that they're communicating?!).

As I sit here in my living room, coffee in hand and a fire in the fireplace, my mind is relaxed and peaceful. Stillness feels good. No husband to give me grief, no boyfriends to worry about, just friends and family, whenever I want to see them. Being a tradition-loving person, it's so wonderful to finally have roots down after previous years of ambitious travel and socializing. Moving out to the country and settling here was the best move I possibly could do. Living in the city is totally overrated. Here there is fresh air to breathe, deer to see outside my windows, and decent shopping within a half hours' drive from here. Not to mention the numerous equestrian sport barns all around. I lived in places like Mexico and Florida to find paradise, when in truth, living in Ohio turned out to be my paradise all along.

google-site-verification: google7067dc8e96d74570.html The Fine Artwork of Carolyn McFann

The Holiday Season is Now Here

It's now late November. Thanksgiving and Black Friday have now passed, and Cyber Monday is now approaching. I really don't like shopping in crowds so I have been home, working on making products for my store and digesting wonderful turkey leftovers.

It was a very memorable Thanksgiving with mom and dad here at my house. Finally free of Thanksgivings at that snobby, rude and nasty lady's house (her daughter and husband were nice but she was just terrible). It's so wonderful to have my parents to myself, spending quality time without fighting or socializing with others. Something we haven't had the chance to do on Thanksgiving in over ten years, at least. And the food this year was far superior to previous years elsewhere. As a team, the three of us chopped, assembled, made pies, and everything else to create a feast beyond description. Dad made his mother's pumpkin pie recipe, mom overseed the stuffing and turkey. I helped make stuffing, stuffed the turkey and made a ton of mashed potatoes. Nothing was burned and it all was perfect!

Now, I have a refrigerator full of amazing leftovers, as do my parents. We split it all up so they could take half when they went home. The cats didn't care to eat much of anything. Matt had a little turkey but Beau was totally uninterested as usual and had his canned food instead. Nobody went hungry, we all ate our fair share and are continuing to do so, even a few days later.

It's amazing how controlled mom was, I am so proud of her for not being angry and overly domineering. The meds she takes help for sure. She was bossy but that's not too bad. I respect her knowledge on cooking, as she's an amazing cook. She even started getting out of control with her attitude but somehow, miraculously roped herself back in! She was more respectful and able to hear other views than her own. I nearly cried it was such a step in the right direction. I am very thankful for this, along with all of us being in good health. We all have a lot to be thankful for. This first Thanksgiving in my house was a total success.

Now I'm back to making products for my store, putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house in general for Christmas. The homemade wreath I made is on the front door, the mantle of the fireplace is decorated with garland, candles and other sparkly, festive items such as candleholders, poinsettia and more. I ordered window candles that should come this week, to finish my decorating off, and give this house that extra holiday flavor. Mom and dad thought of the same thing and got window candles for thier house, too. We all decorate with our pets' safety in mind, as cats think decorations are playtoys most of the time. So far, so good!

Matt and Beau have been enjoying themselves. They hang out in front of the fireplace or under the Christmas tree, enjoying the lights. As for me, the ambience is so wonderful. I love it when the living room and kitchen have decorative touches and lovely warm lighting to make them glow. Bouquets of very realistic silk flowers I assembled earlier in the month are here and there to add touches of color to it all. It's all good.

google-site-verification: google7067dc8e96d74570.html The Fine Artwork of Carolyn McFann

Getting Ready for the Holiday Season

It's early November, we've already had our first snowfall here in Ohio and winter is coming..along with the holiday shopping season. I'm busy getting my store ready with new products, keeping me busy designing day and night. It's not work to me but fun as I sit here in my recliner or at my desk, at the computer, organizing and publishing my designs. On either side of me are the cats, both of them are never far away. It's cute seeing them happily sleep on their "thrones" (an ottoman and an old desk chair).As for me, I have my fire in the fireplace, tv on as I work and a pot of coffee to keep me going. Many years back I tortured myself by working for others, sitting in cubicles doing things I hated to do. How wonderful it is to work here at home, in peace and relative quiet. To me, atmosphere is very important for focusing and concentrating.





All is going well between myself and my parents. Yes, mom is still difficult (even on her antidepressant meds, which she's finally taking)but I take it in stride the best I can. Boundaries. I don't want or like drama orconflict (which she thrives upon),so I enforce my boundaries when needed. It works. She thinks I'm "grouchy" or angry at times, but she says that about anyone who doesn't do what she wants. I am above it and just keep going. Life is good and nobody is going to ruin it for me. Peace and happiness are what I want out of life. We all did amazingly well together when the three of us went for breakfast in Little Italy (I haven't been there in years!) and drove around areas I haven't seen in awhile before going to the Designer sale over at Legacy Village last week. It feels so great when the family all gets along :)

In driving around in our old stomping grounds (Beachwood, Lyndhurst, S.Euclid, Cleveland Hts, Mayfield, etc) it was fascinating to see how the years have changed things. Cedar Center's plaza has been mostly razed on one side, just gone, and on the other, everything has been changed. Some neighborhoods we used to drive through when I was a kid have deteriorated, some shopping areas have improved. It's hard to believe I've lived so long to see such major differences in cities, neighborhoods. The improvements to some places makes my memories of how it once was seem quite aged and almost prehistoric. It's surprising and fascinating at the same time. Time moveth on.

At the fashion sale, it was the last day and everything was half off. I got three leather coats, adding some style back into my wardrobe. I'd given some of my old clothes away, including stylish old coats when I moved to
Florida years ago so it's nice to have coats that aren't just utilitarian but also are attractive. One coat is long, down-filled and leather, that should keep me very warm here in the snow belt of Ohio. Mom got a bunch of clothes. Unfortunately there weren't mens' clothes at this event, but dad will be getting his own clothes on his own soon. Good! He deserves it!

My tulip bulbs have been planted, along with an onion (originally from the supermarket but it started sprouting so I just planted it in the garden and it took hold). Planting is over now. Chickadees come to my birdfeeder here and there, all the leaves are now off the trees outside. My hibiscus trees are doing well inside, adding a little greenery and flowers to my otherwise plant-challenged decor. I keep a  fire in the fireplace most of the time, so it feels cozy in here.

I'm thinking of putting decorations up for Christmas but am too short to hang lights outside so I'd need to hire someone to do that. Maybe just a nice wreath and decorate the hearth and stairwell/landing upstairs with greenery. It takes ungluing myself from work. After finishing my work, my energy is nearly gone, so maybe taking a day off from work will be the best idea. I'll put up a Christmas tree, but will wait until after Thanksgiving to do that. Tradition. Matt loves to play so I may have to leave the bottom of the tree undecorated or there will be ornaments (or in his mind, "cool, new cat toys") all over the house! :) He's so cute, like a big, furry white kitten. Beau doesn't play much but Matisse makes up for that for sure.

I'm watching a Harry Potter marathon as I write at the moment. Great movies. Yes, I'm a Potter-nerd :) I have to get the last movie still, it just came out in the stores. Next week, it will be mine. I never tire of watching the Potter movies, with their beautiful scenery and likeable main characters. Those movies are pure creativity in many ways. Love them.

Time to go back to work now. Yawn. I'm designing plates, laptop cases, notepads and much more right now. I dream about my work. It's a passion..and I must keep going. It's a wonderful thing and so very worth it all.







google-site-verification: google7067dc8e96d74570.html The Fine Artwork of Carolyn McFann

The Joy of Autumn

It's glorious Fall here in Northeastern Ohio, and I love it! The trees are coloring up so beautifully here in the country. It looks like a pastoral country postcard here with rolling hills and various colors of foliage and purple asters everywhere. I turned the heat on here in the house recently, and bought a lovely fireplace insert so now I have a lovely and safe "fire" in the fireplace. My cat Matisse loves to sleep in one of the recliners next to the fireplace every day. Both him and Beau are fascinated and get mesmorized by the flames. It's so cute to see.

As for me, this is my busy season, non-stop drawing and designing products for my online store, Two Purring Cats Clothing & Gifts. Right now I'm designing covers for Blackberry Curve, Samsung Galaxy and Apple iPhone. It's fun but there's MANY to do so I am working on it pretty much 24/7 right now, with a cat on either side of me while the marathon goes on.

This weekend I will pry myself away from my work to plant many, many bulbs in my garden. Tulips and Anenomes, mostly. It will be so pretty in the spring, I hope they prosper and grow like crazy in the soil here. There is much to do in the garden. Whenever I work on it, the cats sit in the windows overlooking it and watch. Cat TV. It's cute to look up and see them there. Being deaf and housecats, they don't go outside but don't seem to care about that. Both of them are content watching tv, being wherever I am and meowing loudly in the stairwell just for the heck of it (especially early in the morning..like roosters crowing). I have opera cats! :D

I finally bought a new refrigerator, so for the first time since I got this house, I have a large-sized fridge to use, instead of the dorm room sized cube fridge that is now upstairs in my office there. It feels so good to shop in the stores now, and not needing to worry about squishing my groceries into a tiny space! The new fridge is a dream, so glad it's here!




google-site-verification: google7067dc8e96d74570.html The Fine Artwork of Carolyn McFann

Fall is Here, Life is Good

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon here, outside it's pouring down rain but the sky is half bright and sunny. Thunder is booming in the distance, but the sound of rain is relaxing. I like days like this, with no need to go anywhere or do anything. Just peace, quiet, the cats sleeping nearby and the computer on, as I research my next drawing. Earlier I made some Chinese food, Honey Chicken (well,heated it up anyways), for lunch. Very satisfying.

Yesterday I took the neighbor kids out to the movies, to see The Lion King in 3D. Mom wanted to go, so she went too. Aside from mom harshly criticizing my driving (I drove fine, she just always needs to control/stir some sort of drama up about whatever), she behaved herself the rest of the time, and all went pretty well. The kids had fun, I bought them a refillable bucket of popcorn so they chowed down like crazy on that. What a cute movie, the artistry of the animation and background scenery was just gorgeous.

After the movie was done, we walked to the car and little Eden (she's I think, 8 years old) was giving her younger sister Joy a hard time in the back of the car. Little tempers were beginning to flare because they both wanted to sit in the window, not in the middle. Poor little Joy, I told Eden to scoot over so her little sister could sit in the window. She folded her arms and wouldn't budge, defiantly. I told her "No problem, we aren't going anywhere until you move over, and I have all day, so you can choose what you're going to do about it." Next thing I know, I saw her discreetly moving herself over, millimeter by millimeter. He he, it worked. I waited until Joy had enough space to be comfortable (a few minutes) and then we left. All was fine after that. It's interesting to see how their little squabbles quickly dissipate and are forgotten. We all enjoyed the drive home, and after dropping everyone off, I went home and took a nap.

I would love to have the energy of three kids under 13, their youthful ways are fun to be around but it feels good to go home and recuperate afterwards. They are three of ten (soon to be eleven)kids! Their parents are saints, how they handle them all so well without losing their tempers. They treat them all equally, with respect and a gentle firmness. Being an "only", it's interesting to see them all relate with one another so well.

So today is a day of total rest. This coming week I get my new refrigerator delivered as well as the fireplace insert I ordered, making the fireplace complete for the upcoming cold weather season. After much research, I got both of these items at good prices. When the quality and price is right, I buy. It will be wonderful to have a working fireplace, making the living room even more of a comfortable place than it already is. As for the refrigerator, the new one is big, so I can finally retire my small cube-sized fridge to my upstairs office, to hold pop and milk only. It has served me well but it's hard using such a small refrigerator on a full-time basis. I had it down to an art form, shades of college dorm rooms!

Next month I plan on taking Meraiah, the oldest girl, horseback riding. Her first lesson! She's all excited about it and I know she's going to love it. We've been to the farm where the lesson will be, a lovely farm with nice people, quality horses and inexpensive lesson prices. My kind of place. My back is sufficiently healed up enough to ride by now, and I look forward to jumping again. I'm still as incorrigibly horse crazy as I was when younger, just a little more creaky, that's all. Stiffness won't stop me from doing it, though, not at all. In time I plan on getting another horse when the time is right, so I'm going to enjoy getting back into the swing of my old passion of riding again.

The sky looks like a Michaelangelo painting out there, very dramatic clouds of different hues, rays of sun coming from them. The rain is over now, and all is quiet again. Time to watch some tv and be useless. Love it.





google-site-verification: google7067dc8e96d74570.html The Fine Artwork of Carolyn McFann

The 9/11 Tragedy, Ten Years Later

Rest in peace, all who died as a result of the tragedy on 9/11/2001. You are not forgotten.

All day I've been working on the computer while watching the recap of the tragedy on 9/11, ten years ago but it feels just like yesterday. I remember it just like it was yesterday, though. All those people, just gone. It's just beyond comprehension. And quite a few of those who worked so hard on the wreckage have cancer and other physical ailments as a result of their bravery. Then there's the families and those who survived the carnage, only to end up with Post Traumatic Stress and grief over losing friends and/or loved ones. It's just so terribly unfair.

When 9/11 hit ten years ago, I was at a hotel in Las Vegas, having flown there the night before by my ex-boyfriend, who was attending a huge professional bakers' convention there. Here we were in a lovely high-rise on the 15th floor, in a pretty suite overlooking the city. I had the flu (caught the day before, what bad luck), and didn't do much since my head was spinning, but I turned on the Today show the morning of the 11th and witnessed the collapse of the Twin Towers and the rest of the horrible chain of events. It was surreal, terrifying (especially since they targeted American Airlines, the airline I'd flown in on the night before).

Nearby McCarran airport the night before had a steady flow of planes flying in and out, which could be seen from our suite window the night I got there. On 9/11 all planes stopped, of course, and instead there was a jet fighter plane circling the city, guarding it. Las Vegas would've been an easy target, so loaded with large crowds of people and high-rises (such as the one we were staying in). The city still operated after the tragedy but in a subdued, guarded way. The Forum shops were off-limits, closed, as was some of the attractions. When we went to the nearby Hoover Dam, state troopers inspected cars and asked questions before all of us were allowed to cross it, and we weren't allowed to stop on it at all.

When my ex and I had lunch at Caesar's Palace, we watched people across the way all watching the tragedy on many monitors on walls, normally used for horse race gambling, I think. You could've heard a pin drop, it was so very quiet. I remember feeling overwhelmed with sadness, and how I wanted to go help those working at the site in NYC. Being sick with the flu, that wasn't going to happen. My ex and I had a rental van, so we drove to southern California after his convention wrapped up. Wherever we went, I was glued to the tv, trying to get updates on what was going on. It was too devastating an event to not be aware of what was happening. As we drove around, we saw crowds of people waving American flags and holding signs in support of the USA. It was wonderful to see such solidarity of people all over, we all needed comfort during this time, and seeing the people together like this was heartwarming.

My ex and I went to see Jay Leno at the Tonight show, it was the first show after a respectful break away from comedy at that time. We ended up in the front row there at the studio, the place was freezing cold. Jay wheeled out a motorcycle and stars such as Tom Cruise and Arnold Schwartzennegger came to sign it. The motorcycle was eventually auctioned off on Ebay, with the proceeds going to the families of 9/11. A very noble cause indeed.

After nearly three weeks away, we drove the rental van across the US, back east to home. We'd been in constant contact with my parents in Ohio, since the tragedy was a confusing, scary time for us all. Our trip wasn't joyous or fun (who could have fun after experiencing such a major loss of innocent, good people?) This trip was more a study of humanity as we'd seen so many people out and about as we drove, showing flags, displaying them on cars and shirts, and everyone seemed to be more open with one another. We talked to others in restaurants about the tragedy more than we ever would've previously, as everyone was grieving together. An interesting lesson in human psychology, more or less.

It's Beginning to Feel Like Fall Around Here

Fall is coming, with its cool temperatures and colorful leaves..I can't wait. At night it is actually kind of cold now, which is wonderful. After living ten years down in hot Florida, I really enjoy the cooler temperatures now, along with fuzzy blankets and clothes. It's almost that time, love it.

My parents showed up at my door a few days ago. I was surprised but sort of happy to see them, after all they're my parents, no matter how frustrating our family dynamics are. They stayed for a half hour or so, and we talked as if nothing had gone wrong. There was no talk of anything negative, just everyday, normal topics. It felt good to talk with them, as I have missed them. I still know that mom is on her good behavior right now, and will revert to her mean side the longer we spend time with one another, but the short visit brought no problems and for that I am very grateful.

I showed them around the house, so they could see how I've decorated and painted it so far. The cats enjoyed being petted by them, and all was good. I feel relieved that we are getting along, no matter how inconsistent things can be, but I'll take any good times I can get with them, since it's not easy being away from people I do love. Things are not back to normal yet between us, but it's a start. I still don't feel like falling into her spider web again, where she tries to dictate what I should or shouldn't do (at their house) so I will be friendly but still fairly detached, for my own safety. Boundaries.

Otherwise, I've been busy working on my website and starting new drawings, since I now have a new computer tablet, bought on Ebay for a fraction of it's original price (yet still brand new). It feels great to be back in the swing of work again, after a very long break to move and settle in the house. My office is more efficient now than it was previously in the old apartment, and in a much better environment. I can watch birds at the birdfeeders as I work.

Soon I plan to put a downpayment on a really beautiful canopy bed at a local store this week. I've been looking long and hard for the right one for awhile now, and finally found this beautiful bed, not cheap but worth getting. I had a canopy bed as a kid, so this one is a major improvement - much bigger and is more intricately carved. It will look beautiful in this house, too. I have to measure the top platform, to make sure it will fit up the stairs, and if it does, then I'm going to get it. My reward to myself for working hard on moving and handling family drama without losing my mind.

The cats are enjoying this cooler weather, both of them have heavy fur coats so it is better for them to not deal with heat or humidity. Beau curls up on my bed with me at night, he loves the fuzzy blanket. Matt likes his kitty house nearby. All is right with the world.

google-site-verification: google7067dc8e96d74570.html The Fine Artwork of Carolyn McFann