Finished November

I did get through the November pencil challenge.  I also followed prompts for the 2018 Inktober challenge.  Everyday in November I completed two sketches.  Squee!!  

There are many December challenges all named draw-cember or DecemberDoodle or variations thereof.  Most of the challenges/prompts are Christmas themed.  I've opted for lists that are not Christmas-y.  While I have selected three lists to work from for the month of December I will only strive for one sketch a day.  More than that is a tad overwhelming what with the other daily tasks / goals I've booked for myself.  

I don't know why I don't have access to phone photos from later than November 18; so here is a sample from the middle of November.  

Mish Mash

Yes, I'm still growing my hair out.  I don't know how much longer I'll be able to tolerate it as it is thick and in the present state, unmanageable.  I may blow it out after the next wash toward figuring out some other "style" without too much hassle until . . .   

The ultimate goal is to be able to braid it (crown style) without it unraveling after a few hours. 


Yes, I'm still doing a daily sketchbook practice.  These are day 7 for two different disciplines and prompts, Pencilvember 2019 "Prince" and from the 2018 Inktober prompt list, "Exhausted".

I haven't drawn with pencils--with the intent of showing the pencil lines--in quite a while.  It is taking some getting used to.  I either have very poor quality color pencils or I just don't know what I'm doing (or some combination) as I'm not happy with any of the sketches featuring color pencils.  Put, I'll keep plugging away at it. 

I am up to day 11.  Haven't figured out what I'm going to sketch for the two prompts; Galaxy for pencilvember and Cruel for the 2018 Inktober but I'm sure something will come to me.

And Just Like That

Inktober has come to an end.  So many of those who participated in the challenge were professionals who were taking the journey for a specific kind of challenge; re-invigorating creativity, following specific themes (one artist limited themselves to creating in a triangle) or doing animals, portraits, or plants.  Many, like myself were amateurs who were looking to form a habit, hone some skills, learn something new, or simply to be inspired.  Which, is not so simple. 

As the postings over the last couple of days attest, several of us participating will have a hard time saying goodbye. 

I'm overjoyed to have kept up and completed the challenge.  I'm equally overjoyed to be seeking ways to keep a daily practice going.  In addition to following the prompts from the 2018 Inktober I will also be trying a pencil challenge.  Pencilvember is on the way. 

Happy November.


  

One, Two Buckle My Shoe

To the minute, well, to today's prompt "Coat".  The results haven't been exactly as they appeared in my head but I am pleased to have gotten the core idea down on paper. The groups still are what the groups are, mostly good with some other thrown in.  I do have a list of supplies to buy and am cataloging techniques to try. 

I'm remembering when I was a kid and someone other than myself or my mother took a fancy to what I was putting on paper artistically.  Weird to feel like that these many years later.  Weirder still to not have my number one fan cheering me on.   

Cheers to memories. Cheers to inspiration.  Cheers to finishing up Inktober and moving onto the next challenge. 

Life, Art, and the Pursuit

Day 12 Dragon 

Day 13 Ash 

Day 14 Overgrown 

Day 15 Legend 

Day 16 Wild 

Day 17 Ornament 

Day 18 Misfit

Even with the hard evidence I am finding it hard to fathom that 16, 17, and now 18 days in I have sketched and shared. Some of the sketches appeal to more more than others but I count the fact of allof them as a victory.

In the sharing of the images on varied social media with the identifying hashtag I've become part of a community. Mostly the community is inspiring and encouraging. However, some of the posts are mean and demoralizing.  I am choosing to focus on the better, more positive and uplifting bits. 

All things considered I am having fun. I feel like the practice is becoming a habit in a good way. 

Yes, we're still several days away from the thirty-first. No, haven't committed in my mind about what comes after. But for the moment I am pleased not to be one of the overwrought, overwhelmed, depleted of inspiration crowd in the #inktober community. 

For the moment, I am pleased with the fine feelings over my efforts, results, and with continuing. 

 

Onward

Snow

Pattern

Swing

Frail

Enchanted

Husky

Inktober marches on. From top to bottom, day eleven to day six.  Day 12 is complete and uploaded to other social media but not available through my mobile device to post here. Odd. Oh well, next cycle.

What I am discovering along the way:

Some of the prompts are not as open to a literal interpretation (for me, anyway). Yet, design or metaphorical approaches have proven challenging as well. 

My technical skills are not (yet) to the level of my imagination.

I need new pens. I need different colored inks. I could do with some colored paper.

I have begun to look forward to executing the next prompt.

Inktober marches on.

  

1,2,3,4,5, and SIX

Day 5 Build 

Day 4 Freeze 

Also day 4 Freeze*

Day 3 Bait 

Day 2 Mindless 

So, the past few days have been stellar with regard to completing the Inktober prompts. I don't know why day 6 isn't available for upload, but when I figure a way to share here, I shall. 

The coming (Birthday) week may prove a tad more challenging. I shall try not to exert any extra pressure but I do also want to keep pace. 

A day at a time. 

I remain eternally grateful that I do not have to do the three hour (round trip) a day commute. 

#inktober  #inktober2019 

*I did two for Freeze because I didn't like the first one but rather than reject/trash it I did another and shared them both. 

OCTOBER

Inktober 2019  Prompt: RING 

October is a red letter month around these parts, first and foremost because it is the birth month of my only daughter. It is also LGBTQI History Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as well as, Squirrel Awareness Month. 

In fact, there are many national observances in the month of October. 

I heard about Inktober two years ago (as I recall) and have wanted to participate toward kick-starting
my sketchbook practices and giving my creative muscles a workout. 

Last year I did the first prompt too. But, I didn't share it anywhere or with anyone.  This year I'm hoping that by sharing here and on other social media platforms along with the community of artists participating in Inktober, I'll be moved to do more than the one. 

Not promising 31 images for the 31 days . . . or, am I?

Tomorrow's prompt: Mindless.   

Seven Word Sunday

Flamboyance of flamingos is not casual conversation.   

Six Word Saturday* Revisited

Ragged restart to rebuilding regular routines. 

*I didn't create but did participate, hope to kick-start a welcome habit. :-) 

have you ever

at the zoo 

Have you ever been streaming music when something unfamiliar yet striking comes on? So struck by this tune, you jot down the title with expectations of queuing it up some time later, to give it a good listen, to perhaps add it to a playlist or two. 

Then you misplace your note and promptly forget the note, the title, the song and whatever mood it evoked for many, many days. 

Until you stumble upon the note again. 

So, you queue up the song, give it a good listen and think, "What the heck! What was I thinking?" 

It isn't, mind you that the song was suddenly horrible. It just wasn't striking. Or rather, as striking. It is an okay song. It is (or was) a popular song. It has been covered by many artists, I have discovered. 

Maybe it was just the day, or time of day, or . . . I don't know. Whatever it was to me at that first listen it is no longer. 

Perhaps it will be again.  

Sunday Kind of Love

Or not.  

Q & A

Y'all remember that post of the first 10 of 30 questions I didn't think I had posted before? Well, turns out I had. And not only that, I did a post to update the ten and now responses!

Go here and here if you choose to compare / contrast.   What a difference a few years and altering perspectives can make.

Seeing as I've done the entire questionnaire twice and the first third, thrice, I'm not feeling particularly compelled to continue down that track.  Geez. 

So, instead some updates:

1. I haven't cut my hair. Remember??    It has been a month since that post and while it isn't all that much longer it is thicker. I still can't really braid it and am not wild about the daily maintenance, I am not driven to cut it off. 

2. This is our 5th month in this new "home" and not surprisingly it doesn't feel like home at all.  Partially due to not having closed off the old place and partially due to . . . well, too new and we just haven't fully embraced the current reality.

3. My son, the actor, is in a show. It seems to be going very well.  I am looking forward to seeing him but am not wild about the "immersive" theater experience.  I may not be fit enough for all the moving around and standing. It is a 2.5 hour show. 

4. # 3 new work-out goal.

5. Speaking of working out, no...let's not.

6. I have toyed with the idea of opening myself up to meeting / dating again.

7. Then I stopped.

8. Three months in this working from home deal. Most of what I love about it is the control over my environment in-as-much-as one may control such things. Most of what I don't love is feeling out of the loop. I don't know how long one of my colleagues had become a former colleague before I noticed.

9. Then again maybe it isn't such a bad thing to be outside certain distractions.

10. In a few days I will acknowledge another birthday. I am feeling all sorts of feelings about that and then some.  I 'm not presently poised to speak more on that topic so instead I'll leave a question to ponder: Mayo or Miracle Whip?

A Whole New Month (A While Ago)!

Good Day! 

Every day I haven't posted is a day that I haven't done a bunch of things I have had intent to do. I check in for work for that is how the fruit gets on the table (oh yes, eating more fruit and loving it, it IS summer, dontchaknow!) but beyond work and walking the dog and keeping the floors clear of dust bunnies and cat vomit not a lot is getting done.    

Except, 

I joined an accountability group toward helping me to set and achieve week to week goals.  On the plus, mostly I've able to be successful. But for the items I focus on in any given week takes all the motivation and energy for anything else.   

Not good.   

However, that being said, I feel the tide turning.   

To that end, I found this note posting by a friend some years ago which I feel like I must have done at some point but I can't find that I've posted it anywhere. Well, it could have been tumblr but I don't use that anymore. Never really did yet I keep the name active. Why?

Anyhoo... 30 questions: 

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? 

Yes. I may have mentioned that both of my brothers spent time  incarcerated. When you visit an incarcerated person you are searched. At least my mother and I were. 

2. Do you close your eyes on rollers coasters? 

No due to the fact that I don't get on roller coasters.   I used to and can't remember if I ever closed my eyes. Probably. Maybe.   

3. When was the last time you've been sledding? 

I don't know.  I took my kids (37 and soon-ish to be 34) when they were small but I don't recall going down and hills with them.  I have no memory of sledding during my own childhood. 

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else or alone? 

I'll qualify the answer by saying it depends on who the someone else is and as important, who they are to me.  

5. Do you believe in ghosts? 

No. Though I will allow that things have happened that I cannot explain. 

6. Do you consider yourself creative? 

I do. I wish I could generate the level of motivation to ACT on the creative thoughts more often. 

7. Do you think O. J. killed his wife? 

Sadly, yes.  

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? 

I'm not sure where this question was going. IF trying to ascertain my emotional or physical attraction to either then the answer is neither. I do think Ms. Jolie is the more substantial based solely on their public profiles but given that they both hooked up with BP kinda makes them invisible to me.  

9.  Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics?  (The caps were part of the original list--why? Also, why is it presumed questions wouldn't be answered honestly?)    These days I know too much about politics.  My body wants to stop, but my mind won't. WE are in trouble. 

10. Do you know how to play poker? 

LOLOLOL  well, I know the rudiments of some of the games. I remember watching some Texas Hold 'em shows. But, I wouldn't play anyone for any actual money (or honor!( 

And I think I'll stop here.  I know the beginning says 30 questions and there are 30 but I won't do all thirty here and now since I've gone long on this inaugural post for July. 

I shall be back before July is over. 

Maybe. Hopefully.  Place your bets. 

Daily Practice

So, I'm trying it again.  The IT being growing my hair out.  The growing has slowed so I'll have to live with this, what we used to call, TWA (Teeny Weenie Afro) for a bit yet. My goal is to try to live with IT for the next month (at least).  I will evaluate whether or not to keep going a few days before my birthday.

One of the drawbacks to having this hair is the near daily attention. My scalp is naturally dry. Having this much hair exacerbates that condition so I must oil / moisturize it daily.  It is still short and manageable enough that I don't need to comb it through every day but I tend to run a comb through it none-the-less. My mother wouldn't have it any other way.

As it lengthens the near daily ministrations will become more insistent and most certainly, more daily.

But I didn't really want to talk about my hair.  I really wanted to talk about routines or rather, rituals.

That will have to wait though for now I'm crying over something on television. I shall have to gather myself.  See you later, alligators.






See

Hello? Hello! Hello.

Me: Pete 

I'm Pete. The cat. The lone male remaining in this household. The pressure is huge, let me tell ya.

I miss the other guy, the actor. He was tall. He smelled good. He stood by my perch talking. A lot.

A big event some days (How many? Who knows? They all kind of roll together) ago. I caught a mouse!!

I could have caught another but that dang gum dog got nosy and made me drop the little bugger. It didn't get away though, I kept watch. The next day the mommies saw him and were able to capture him. They tried to force me to help but nope, didn't want that goofy pooch to mess it up, again.

We haven't seen any more since then, but never fear, I'm keeping up patrols.

Beyond that nothing much to report except to say, I know it is annoying the moms that I don't use the bed they bought and the three-story condo they brought from the old place but I can't help it. I love all the different box bottoms. I've worked my way through four of them. I appreciate the seemingly never ending supply.

I have to sign off now as it is time for another snack and after, a bit of a bath, and then, a nap.

Take care kitties.





 

Comfort Food

Gooey.

Most food that comfort my body and soul have a couple of things in common. Primary among them, gooey-ness.

Think 3 cheese grilled cheese (with or without a side of tomato soup).
Think triple chocolate chip cookies.
Think molten chocolate cake.
Think macaroni and cheese (3 cheese, of course)
Think brownies, hot from the oven with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream oozing over the top.

The point being is that is is May. May is a challenging month for me; Mother's Day and my mom's birthday bring memories good and otherwise floating to the surface challenging me not to overindulge in the comforts of good, gooey foods.

So It Shall Be Written

I have been having issues with the photos taken with my mobile device being available to post here on this blog. I think I know what is wrong but haven't put in the effort to correct. I'm not quite sure why I'm sharing that except as a way to explain why I'm posting this old photo taken with an actual camera during a sculpture walk a few years ago.

This piece continues to speak to me on so many levels. Forgive me for not crediting the artist. I'm sure somewhere in my files and/or archives the credit exists.

But this post isn't about that. This post is about . . . well, that is just it, I'm not sure except that I've recently come to a conclusion that it is important to my health to revive this space.

From Merriam Webster:
REVIVE: to return to consciousness or life; become active or flourishing again. 


.

Apropros of Nothing

1. I've been away but I have been here

2. The first couple of weeks after the move to the new place, my daughter was obsessed with getting/having a sofa. While that obsession has quelled we don't have a sofa yet.

3. I may be the only person who detests, "no problem" (or worse, np) as a response to, "thank you."

4. Also, I do not like cabinet doors left in an open position.

5. One of the things I love about the apartment is that it is awash with light. I haven't decided on plants yet but there must be some.

6. This space celebrated another anniversary about a week or so ago. The party was small, quiet.

7. March 29, 2006, my, my, my what a world of changes we have seen since then.

8. Speaking of changes, some weeks ago I was given the green light to work from home. And last Thursday was my first day at home, at work!

9. Two major UPs time saved traveling and no 'bus people' interaction.

10. One drawback is without the 4 to an fro bus stop/destination walks per day maintaining my steps and MOTION goals have been a challenge.  Well, more of a challenge.

11. All things considered, I will take that challenger over daily interactions with bus people.

12. Though, I suspect I will miss the bus people.

13. Albeit, not for some time.

14. What's gone on in your corner of the world?