The Sketchbook Project 2012

Here's something I'm going to try to do:

Check it out!

Seems like it would be a lot of fun. Basically you sign up to do a sketchbook based one of several suggested themes. You pay them $25, they send you a 72 page sketchbook. You have to sign up by October 2011 and submit it back to them by January 31st, 2012. So, you have at least 3 months to do it. But I suppose the sooner you start the better.

Then your book gets to go on tour with a lot of other books. They even get to go to Europe and Australia! Lucky sketch book!

Having Little Brothers- no wait.... just Brothers.

I have 3. One is older, 2 are considerably younger, but I love them all. Each one of them feed my life in some kind of way. #1 feeds my heart, we grew up together. We relied on each other through thick and thin. Our Dad raised us on his own and he had to make the money so he let us fend for ourselves periodically. He is my polar opposite, however I always appreciate his opinion for whatever reason. He is a mastermind at auto body. Frickin genius. What one might think that is a menial job, he turns into a star craft. I respect he and his craft and I am so proud of him. He can be bigoted, racist, chauvinistic sometimes. (It's the circumstances.) But he is my brother.  He is really a big softy and I love that about him. He may be saying shit, but that man will always have your back. And I love him.

#2... oh he is such a complex creature. He was born when I was in high school. I helped raise him, I even potty trained him! He's handsome, intelligent, and well... as I said, complex. He hates mainstream, he loves sneakers, he appreciates beauty.He's articulate, charming and in some ways, shy. Got a degree in polysci, trying to figure out his next path. He has athletic skills, but does not like the spotlight. As soon as he could get out of it, he went runnin. I'm amazed by his tenacity, effort and perseverance. He may be slightly confused, but I have every hope, he will get it.

#3 This little bugger is our athlete. He's a young teen who was born with prowess. Honestly, he excels at every sport he's involved in. He's not conceited. He doesn't tell the world he plays 42 sports. He just tries to be his best. But he realizes, its not all about sports. The boy's got brains too. Raised by 2 educators, he knows the importance of an education. Not even in high school yet, he's about to face the biggest challenges in his little life. But this boy has a heart as big as his smile. (Oh and his voice is the same as #2 on the phone- creepy.)

I love all my brothers, for their own traits. And they love me too. I'm kinda unique myself. I would do anything for any of them. I don't think they even realize how much I have already done or sacrificed for each of them. But, that's what makes it so rewarding to be the only sister.  Just call me KK. I'm in the comfort zone.

Back to the Doodle Journals... This man is Brilliant!

Watch this:


The Art of Breakfast from DannyGregory on Vimeo.

Now, notice, he doesn't draw perfectly- it's not every little thing in its proper place. He turns what he sees into art! GDamn. I just thinks it's beautiful. Some of my sketches relate here, but others, not so much, need to do more, get a routine and that's the same for all of us and our goals, isn't it?

I just need me some india inks, nibs, watercolor book, and oh yeah, my ass in gear!

I'm a night owl, you're an early bird.

So what to do when this happens in a relationship? Your other half has decided it's time for bed, or maybe it's you. But, regardless, the other half is not ready. Hmph. Is this really such a bad thing? Now, personally, I hate going to bed alone. I can't sleep, I toss, I turn- unless under the influence... no scratch that. That doesn't always work either, but i digress.

The point is, can such a situation be ok? Um, YES! This is what makes relationships survive! For God's sake, are we meant to be together 24/7?!? No! We'd kill each other. In my own humble opinion (yes, I spelled that out instead of using "txtspeak"- It's a blog!) we NEED this time and the fact that 2 people have different launching pads is perfecto!

Now, let's say where this can go wrong. One partner stays up til 4 am and sleeps til 1 pm. The other goes down at 11-12 pm and wakes at 8. Well, that's too big of a gap. Geez, do you ever actually want to meet face to face? Nah, I'm talking like a 1 to 2 hour window. Each one gets 1 to 2 hours before or after bed to do "their" thing. Surf the web, write some emails, read a paper, write  friggin book. Just do it.

Bottom line, We all need our space. But just like we in relationships don't sleep or live in 2 separate places, we need to keep the distance small. Too much... well, that's a whole nother blog post.

Be Happy.

The Lizard Brain

It's that part of your brain that has 4 things in mind when it comes across something: Eat it. Attack it. Run from it. Or make love to it. (I'm being PG-rated here.) Well, my lizard brain is actually quite loud and annoying and I have decided to shut the little bastard up. I shall not fear the unknown anymore. I need to ride this bad boy and see what happens. If I don't start taking some chances soon, that little lizard is gonna take over. And what's even better? I'm using him as part of my diabolical plan. Yep. That little guy is gonna HELP me start my own business. So, SMACK! Shut up you reptile runt! We're doing this!

Doodle-Journaling is good for you!

So, I've recently gotten into this. Well, I have found an interest in it. I have not done it, so to speak. I'm looking for sites with more information. Not just by "googling" but true info. I've found Sunni and her Doodle Revolution. But, I really want to see more. I'm a visual person, thus, the interest in a visual journal. I don't want to know who Google thinks I should check out, but who Doodlers think is interesting. Now I doubt anyone is actually reading this, but stay posted if you are.

Why do people post things in public places and not wanna talk about it?

"Oh, I'm so angry." "Please send prayers." "Oops, I messed up big this time!" So, you as a friend, ask kindly, "What's going on? Can I help?" Then you get a "No, don't worry." "I can't say." "I don't wanna talk about it." Well, then, don't fucking post it! Don't publicly post personal feelings unless you can handle the social backlash. This is all not very new or very interesting. So, I'm not going to bother to go on.

But, it does remind me a bit of the early works of Melissa Etheridge, so obscure anyone could relate. But, have someone ask, "Wait, are you talking about a woman?" It was, "Huh? Nah, nothing to see here folks! Don't read into it. Sorry, too personal." Check it:

Friends should have a trial period.

So, I'm just pondering. Do friends have an expiration date? Maybe we should all acknowledge a certain waiting period before deciding if we will truly be friends or not. You meet someone, you think- "hey you're swell, let's be pals!" Then maybe you exchange numbers, emails, facebooks, etc. It's cool. You meet up a few times, you have drinks, you have food, you have conversation. But, soon things change. You hang out less, post less, text less. Your budding friendship apparently did not bloom. Is this a bad thing? I think not. You gave it a shot. One or both of you found your reasons for not taking it further. It's like dating. Eventually you decide you are incompatible.

When you think of it as related to dating it makes more sense doesn't it? But then it gets just as sticky. If you've had dinner at the friend's pad or God forbid-stayed over at this new friend's house, it's much like sleeping with that person you were dating. There's a closer bond, one you can't shake. No turning back now. Plus, now there are friends of the friend that are your friend. Oh, shit. Trouble.

So, now you are still hanging with the new friend AND with the friends you met though them. But, you start to see how high maintenance your common friend is and you start to like the friends of your friend better. Perhaps, they too are new friends and have started to realize how fucked up the friend in question is too. Perhaps, they are just freshman and have yet to experience their downfalls. At any rate, the original friend you made starts to become stray and you think not much of the whole brief interlude.

Yeah right! Now you have common connections. There's no getting away. When your new found, then lost friend is out where you are- you wonder "Wow. They are having so much fun... why couldn't we still have that?" Or "Wow. What a Bitch, so glad I'm not in that circle anymore."  Either way, you're still involved. And in the social media cyber-world, you are doomed. Your status page will constantly remind you of all you are missing- the good, the the bad, the ugly– and don't forget the pretty! You won't delete that new found and lost friend. it piques your curiosity, like an accident on the road. You bitch and moan at the rubber neckers, but your foot eases off the gas as you pass too.

To be continued... leading up to "Friends have an expiration date"

Why Does Subway's Website Suck?

To be discussed.