It’s been hard to get up early these frosty November, and now December, mornings. During the wee hours, there is a dangerous combination of flannel sheets, soft pillows, and a fat warm cat that likes to lie down right next to me. This is not a battle that I can win. What can possibly make me get out of bed and keep me from snoozing hour upon hour in 9 minute increments?
Clearly the answer is the alarm on my clock radio that produces the same noise that one might find in a Marriot, or perhaps, days inn.
Sweet Moses that thing is loud. And annoying. So annoying, in fact, that I rarely hit snooze because just getting up is better than having to endure the rupturing of my eardrums another time. I would also like to say that the snooze is only 5 or 6 minutes as opposed to the usual 9. This is a clock meant for people that really need to get out of bed. This is a clock fit for a President, or perhaps a paperboy.
I find myself setting the clock later and later on the days I have to get up, choosing to sleep in uninterrupted bliss until the very last possible moment when my world is shattered with a pulsating barrage of sonic fury.
I didn’t feel like I ate that much, at least in my head…my stomach on the other hand had a different take on the situation.
Now the gateway to the Christmas season has been passed. Soon Sarah and I will be trying to remember what all the gifts on the 12 days of Christmas are, I’ll be avoiding certain shopping centers like the plague, and Charlie Brown’s Christmas will be watched multiple times.
Today still has that holiday feel to it, which to some Black Friday probably is. But I’m finishing up some work, which means it’s been a sluggish start.
It seems that most people have a sense that we ought to be thankful for what we have.
What are the ramifications of this? Doesn’t thankfulness imply an intelligent mind to be thankful towards? What else should we express thankfulness towards if not someone? The universe? A collection of atoms and molecules? If so, why don’t we tell rocks how grateful we are for our friends and health and family?
I was in Richmond this past weekend for a show, and have suddenly found myself inking part of an issue with the deadline being tomorrow. I’m enjoying it, but it’s a lot of work.
I do have a confession. I’m already listening to Christmas music. As fast as the weeks and months are seemingly passing, I figured I’d start a week or two earlier and try to actually feel like I’ve had a Christmas season this year. Although I think I’ll be making it more of a point to observe Advent consciously than I have in previous years.
Sarah is in the kitchen behind me cooking. The premature smells of Thanksgiving are wafting through the den, and I think I might have to go eat something. Even though I feel like I spent the whole weekend doing nothing but eating.
It’s been hard getting into gear this week. After needed to take some time off from the coffeehouse I planned out my week, even making lists (which I never do.)
How much did I get done? Not much. Maybe 10 cards that needed to be done by next week, but I think more than getting more stuff done I just needed to slow down. Serving the proverbial two masters has worn me down. Physically I feel much better (especially since I haven’t had to stand up for 6-8 hours a day.)
I’ve been in a fog, feeling reclusive, and not very social the last week. Hopefully that will pass soon.
Juggling work schedules, fighting a cold, and a couple infuriating situations have knocked me down. I’ve cleared up my schedule a bit, and am trying to take it easy, but still get things accomplished. We’ll see how that unfolds.
Today I get to go to the post office. I’m really bad about letting things pile up, as my ebay feedback will tell you. My ebay feedback will also tell you I’m the “worst seller around” even though that’s the only negative I’ve gotten in 5 years. In ebay math that means my positive rating is only 96%. Another reason for me to hate math.
I have been politically silent online in terms of who I was voting for. And, I intend to remain so. But I will reflect a bit on this race now that the silly season is over:
1) I think its great that in a country where minorities have been legally discriminated against for hundreds of years, that the culture has changed to a point where someone who 50 years ago couldn’t have a political future, can now be president of the nation.
2) It bothers me that some people have put their entire hopes and dreams into one mortal man. I have never chanted anyone’s name over and over. It concerns me when masses do so.
3) It bothers me the near deification of Obama. In my own semi-profession industry for example:
Seriously?
4) I don’t like sore losers nor gloating winners. I have less respect for people who do either.
5) Republicans: This is not the end of the world.
6) Democrats: This is not the salvation of the world.
7) Christians: Whether Republican or Democrat, governments, both good and bad are transient. We are immortal, and our King, eternal. You can afford to be gracious in victory and defeat.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:1-4).
Where were the crowds? At Starbucks that’s where. All you suckers who got up early to wait in line to avoid the crowds…you guys were the crowds. Thanks for making it easy for me.
Before I went in to change the course of history with the press of a button, I stopped off at my mom’s for lunch. I was greeted with homemade soup. This day just keeps getting better and better.
When I was walking up to the door to my mom’s, I was struck with a flashback. The fall leaves in full color, the grey skies and drizzle of rain. And suddenly I’m in 8th grade, hiding in the woods until the school bus passes by my house.
I dream of a day, let’s call it Wednesday, when politics will not be the foremost thing on everyone’s minds. This is assuming that the losing party does not erupt into violence and villainy. In that case, I’ll have to envision another day, perhaps a Friday, when we can all chance upon a news site and see extensive coverage on the lives of famous reality-detached actors and musicians whose ramblings and rantings are portrayed as the pinnacle of human existence.
Then maybe I can go back to my typical disgruntled self, shunning mainstream news for my usual reasons and not because it’s Monday before my long awaited Wednesday.
Halloween came and went leaving me visited by a couple Darth Vaders, a jaguar (which I incorrectly guessed was a leopard and was corrected), a Frankenstein monster who I’m sure was in high school, and one girl that looked kind of like a prostitute but I’m sure was supposed to be a pop star.
Looking out my window this frosty morning I realized that the beginning of November has brought on the leaves in full fiery fury. Pretty soon it’ll be 2009, I still wont have my flying car, nor my hover board, but all in all I can’t complain. Here’s to slowing down and drinking more hot drinks and watching the sun melt the frosty nights away.
At least until we have another heat wave…which I’m pretty sure will leave us sweltering in early December.
I’ve got a couple more pages to finish up this week. In fact, here I am, sitting at the studio…at my computer…getting ready to work on them. But, after 8 hours standing on my feet handing off coffee to people, I need to unwind a bit.
So, how are you, internet?
We don’t talk much. What’s that?
Yes, Tony Rice is fantastic. Too bad he can’t sing anymore. No, I haven’t seen him live, but hopefully I’ll make it to Mearlefest one day or somewhere where he’s playing.
No, I haven’t seen Bobby Mcferrin either, but maybe one day. He’s fascinating. Are we just going to talk about people I’ve never seen in concert? Tell me something interesting.
That is pretty fascinating…
…and so is that. Too bad we never talked about astronomy in school. I just remember being horrible in chemistry and biology.
Well I’ve wasted enough time here. I really should get to work.
I started teaching my 6 week class for adult ed at church yesterday. I thought I’d post the summary of each class as we finish. But…not tonight, I just walked in the door after working all day. Instead, here’s a video of John Cleese making a point about reductionism.
Perhaps you might need a little more info on the brain to really understand his point.
I spent all day working on a commission piece that the manager of the local comic shop here in town had me do for a DC writer that’s doing an in-store signing. I spent all afternoon working on it, and almost trashed it halfway through.
I learned a few things while doing this today:
1) I got really frustrated trying to be meticulous with the colors. Trying to put down each mark perfectly. It just didn’t work. So I went to my usual method of just feeling like I was throwing color down on the fly and then it starting coming together better. I know artists who excercise complete control over every mark, getting it just the way they want. When I try to do that I choke the piece to death.
2) I have developed a recent rut of drawing the torso/hip connection in a very weird way. The last couple of commissions have come out looking wonky.
3) I made her boobs way too big. This was unintentional. Honest. Also, her head is too small.
4) I should have tried to do a more exciting action pose. Here she’s just standing there…like a crossing guard, eyeballing early morning commuters, willing them to obey the 25 MPH speed limit.
Today I chained myself to the desk and cranked out two pages of sample to send to an editor. I have been in the habit of checking email frequently, and it’s kept me from getting in to a groove. So I forcing myself to refrain from surfing the internet until I take a break.
Unfortunately, I forgot my glasses today, and after spending 9+ hours staring down an art board, my eyes are a little fuzzy. I really should go back to the eye doctor too, since I’m certain my prescription has changed.
Tomorrow there will be very little drawing since I will be held captive, serving coffee to the public. The public, I might add, that is skipping work to come and drink coffee.
This weekend I had the privilege of exploring the upstairs of an abandoned Belk’s attached to a mall in decline. Here a little what I learned:
- There was a staff of mostly males, or at least males in charge, as gauged by the lingerie/bra posters still clinging to the walls.
- The upstairs, given the wooden floors, chicken wire dividers and low hanging, unfinished ceilings, looks as if it was hastily put together and would be an excellent hide out.
- I should carry my camera around with me more often.
- When signs say “no entry beyond this point” what they mean is “coolness and adventure lie beyond this door, don’t come in unless you hate fun.”
