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Come see The Amazing Penelopian Belly!
This belly will astonish you. Right before
your very eyes, you can watch the belly
grow to phenomenal dimensions! Come
one, come all! See it to believe it!
Yeah, Thanksgiving dinner was yesterday.
And it made me very happy. Yummy food,
good company, a day to relax. We should
have more Thanksgivings in a year. At least
four, I say.
I hope you're having a lovely holiday
(if there is one where you are)! If not,
make one. I don't think there's any rules
against that.
So...two people walk into a bar. Actually,
it was C and I. And we were looking for
a band to play for our wedding. We'd
heard from a friend that there was this
tiny, little Irish pub that had live music on
Tuesday nights. We went to check it out,
and it was perfect. I love the sound of
celtic music. It's calm and soothing. The
woman we spoke with was charming, and we
just seemed to click. I need to find out the
details as far as cost and all that smack,
but I think we have our wedding music.
Hooray, laddie!
In my morning routine I check a bunch
of blogs and sites that bring me a little
bit of sunshine. One of those sites belongs
to the fabulous Keri Smith. And this morning
I discovered a little treat she has for us.
I won't spoil it. Check it out for yourself:
kerismith.com
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. And I'm really
excited to get together with the family and
have some good eats. Mmmm...stuffing!
In honor of Thanksgiving (and being grateful
in general), I thought I'd list 10 things I'm
thankful for:
1. Celtic music.
2. That feeling you get when you pull a
warm, knit sweater over your head and your
hair gets all static-y.
3. My two kitties. See them here.
(You have to scroll down a bit.)
4. Finding a bright red fallen leaf.
5. The movies Amelie and Great Expectations.
(I could watch those a million more times)
6. Four consecutive days off.
7. Hand-made cards from friends.
8. The delicious peppermint mocha
from Starbucks. Yummy!
9. Waking up slowly and in a really
good mood.
10. $6 pink plastic watches.
What are your 10 things?
I am truly amazed at the response you
get when you put the word out into
the universe. Going for your dreams
is a scary thing. Things are unclear.
What is my next move? Am I missing
anything I should be doing right now?
What if I am a big failure and have to
abandon my dream? Where'd I put my
stability? But you have to trust that you
will be fine. That what you need will
appear when it's needed. And if it doesn't,
well, I guess you didn't need it in the
first place, missy.
I feel very fortunate today. I have some
really cool things on the horizon and I
am so very grateful for them. The new
magazine launching (I haven't had an
email back yet and I'm wondering if they
still want me to do that or maybe they
hate my guts). All the fun freelance
assignments I get to help other people with.
My super secret surprise I'm cooking up
for you on December 1st! Now, also,
Nervy Girl called and wants me to do a
cover to their next magazine. I just feel
so blessed. I am glad I am able to create
something that other people enjoy. I love
bringing joy to the world.
Maybe I just put a little too much sugar on
my cereal this morning. Or maybe it's that
Thanksgiving is just two days away. But I
love this feeling. Being grateful.
Snow. It's coming. It sent three messengers
to say so. Yes, three lonely snow flakes fell
this morning as I was leaving. I named them.
Lucinda, Underwood, and Roudebush. I'm
very happy to see snow. I think it's much
prettier than the flat gray that winter wears.
To combat the cold, I bought yet another
coat this weekend. I have way too many
coats than necessary. Like 15 or so. I know
it's ridiculous, but I do wear them all. I get
them all from vintage stores or Goodwill
or consignment shops, so they are not
expensive. This new one comes from Goodwill's
50% off sale this weekend. It's a puffy little
fake fur number from the 30s, I think. I love
it. I am happy to give it a new home.
This is a short week because of the holiday.
And I have a ton to get done before I can
relax. My to-do list is long and unruly. But
I can handle it. One foot in front of the other.
So, C and I settled on a photographer. My
favorite one. I called her and asked her if
she'd be willing to negotiate, and she was
happy to do so. She's a very nice woman
and is really talented. I feel good about it.
Well, I'm back after two days of running
around like a mad maniac. Meetings after
meetings after more meetings. If we're in
meetings all the time, how will we ever
get done with all the things we're meeting
about? Hmmm....
I'm really excited about something, and I
think I'm okay saying something about it
here without jinxing it. I was contacted by
a start up magazine here in my city about
doing a monthly cartoon (like in the back
of every Real Simple magazine) and some
spot illustrations for it as well. (This was
my favorite meeting over the last few days.)
Anyway: I got along really well with the staff
I met with and I feel like this new magazine
will be really cool. It's a publication for women,
which I'm always eager to help. They are
negotiating costs right now and first assignments.
I am waiting on the edge of my seat for the
"We need this illustration from you by...." email.
This is so exciting. So, please keep your fingers,
toes and any other part that is available crossed
for me.
This weekend I'm going up to my mother's house.
I haven't seen her in a couple of months, so it
will be good to catch up and wind down. I find
that whenever I get around my family, I get a new
perspective on things. Things seem a little simpler
and a little more peaceful. It centers me.
The Boots of Doom. That's what I've
come to call this one pair of boots I
own. It's like Chinese foot binding.
The bone mangling and toe crushing.
But they're cute.
Are they worth it? Probably not. I will
wear them once and put up with the
pain and the torchure. Then I take them
off, vowing not wear them again and
apologize to my little feet. But then some
time goes by and I think it was just a
fluke. Just my imagination that a single
pair of boots could cause so much pain.
And I wear them again. Now, I'm serious.
Fashion is not worth killing my only pair
of footsies.
In other news: the rain is a-pourin' and
the wind is a-blowin'. And it's a lovely shade
of flat gray primer outside. It's like the city
is hiding under the covers. I think I can
battle this with multiple cups of joe.
More java please.
I hope the sky is a nice blue or at least
a more interesting gray tomorrow. I'm flying
the friendly skies. So I won't be able to
write. But I'll be back tomorrow night. (That
doesn't seem worth it either.)
Well, the new week is here. I wonder what
it has in store for us. I feel like this week
will be rushed and choppy. My planner
growled at me this morning. Yikes.
I didn't get a chance to do the mural this
weekend. I'll have to put that off for at
least another week. I had an emergency
illustration project come up (that really
sounds funny to me). So, I worked on that
a lot of the weekend. I also moved my house
around a bit. I think you have to experiment with
different rooms having different functions to
get it right. At least with an older house you do.
Lately I've felt really "on" creatively. I have
lots of ideas and visions of things. I am not
blocked at all. Sometimes I picture a bunch
of images and illustrations swimming in a clear
pool, and all I have to do is pull one out and
towel it off. And ta-da! That's it. It's a great
feeling. I wish I could capture some of it for
safe keeping for future struggles.
There goes my planner again with the growling.
I had better attend to it.
Nice planner. Good planner....
Buenas Dias, mis amigos.
Last night was a disaster. I was all set
to hang out with my volunteer sister
and do some fun stuff. But she never showed.
I sat in her mother's house for an hour with
no sign of her. I was worried so I went to her
school, looked around for her, inquired about her,
but there was no sign. (There were signs of
future teen pregnancy though...I had no idea
13 year olds were making out so openly in
the school yard.) Are they serving aphrodisiacs
in the cafeterias now? Grody.
Anyway, I ended up going home worried and
without her. She called about a half hour later
saying the bus driver decided to try a new
route that night. (Is that allowed?)
Well, I decided not to waste the evening so I
got some chinese food and did some illustration.
I felt much better after covering up some pristine
white space.
Today is Friday. One more day till we frolick
and play. One more day until we wake up to
freedom and possibility. (yay!) I've already
composed my to-do list for the weekend. I
have lots of good things to do including painting
a mural on my kitchen wall. I painted it cherry red
two weeks ago and it's ready. It's beckoning.
I hope it turns out as lovely as it is in my head...
Wow, was last night windy. I was nearly
swept away into oblivion. All night it
stood outside the windows taunting me,
keeping me awake. So today my eyes
feel like tulip bulbs in my head. Puffy and
sleepy, waiting for warm spring.
I wish I didn't have to sleep. Think of how much
stuff you could get done if you could just skip
the 7 or 8 hours you just lie there. There's only
two problems with that: 1) I really enjoy sleeping
and 2) dreaming is a plus, never a minus. But
there's never enough time in a day. I wonder who
I could talk to about that...
C and I met with another wedding
photographer last night. All the prices and
packages and creative fees and time limits
make my head swim. We have a favorite now....
but she's overpriced. So I guess I'll be
making one of those awkward phone calls
where I squirm and try to bargain with her
while feeling sheepish the whole time. I can't
wait. Maybe I'll procrastinate for that a while.
One more thing: I added a comments feature
so now you can comment easily without
emailing me. I still love email, don't get me
wrong...But comments are fun, too.
I'm in a funk. Poo.
Okay. I was just going to post that...
and I did. Then I rethought. If I am
in a funk, I need to do something about
it. And that's exactly what I'll do.
Watch this:
10 Things to Celebrate today.
(Thanks Katrina)
1. I have started on my super secret surprise
for you. (to be launched December 1st)
2. I got two mailers ready to send out today.
I just need to address them, smack them some
postage and kiss them goodbye.
3. I didn't kill myself with the knife that
flew out of the knifeblock this morning when
I was reaching for a mug.
4. New music from Outkast.
5. I meet with yet another wedding photographer
tonight. But this one is special because he's got
a German accent. I hope I understand him.
6. Getting my hiney to the gym last night
even if I left early. (Something is better than
nothing...)
7. A new friend I met via email is thinking of
going out on her own at the end of the year.
And she's wonderful at encouraging me.
8. I went to the art store (LOVE the art
store) and bought 3 new paper pads, a
new paint brush and sniffed some clay displays.
9. That "in love" feeling. I could sink to the
bottom of the ocean and still be okay.
10. My children's book idea has fully formed
and I started to write it. I'm liking it so far.
Okay, then. I feel better already.
No more Funky McFunkFunk today, missy!
In the interest of progress, I went
to Walmart last night. Yes, Walmart.
I really dislike Walmart. It's always too
busy. Even at 2 in the morning, you
see people walking around with their
small children that should be in their
beds dreaming of outer space and fairy
princesses. Walmart. Where everyone
seems grumpy and zombie-like under
the flourescent lights.
But I needed a dry erase board. And I
made the sacrifice and got one. I put
it up in my studio and wrote my goals
on it. I then wrote the detailed steps
on how to achieve those goals. I
positioned it to face the window so the
world could see it. I have no excuses.
No: "I don't know what to do right now".
I know what I have to do. It's right there
in front of my face. Shrewd, I know...
Hey, come to think of it, I could have gone
to Target. Sheesh.
Anyhow, today is rainy and dreary. It looks
as though the world is in mourning. Blah.
Let's think happy thoughts of the color orange,
peppermint sticks, hot chocolate and those
winter hats with the balls on top.
There. That's better.
Four and a half out of seven isn't bad.
It's the majority, afterall. I got a lot
accomplished during my little excursion.
A lot of starts that now require endings.
But that's good. The ball is now officially
rolling.
And there was swimming. So, I feel refreshed
and my hair is a lovely shade of green.
One of the things I was pleased to discover
over the past few days is how many people
are everywhere doing things. That each one
of them has their own life. Their own people
they know, place they work, home to return
to. There are so many different lives out there
happening right this minute. It kind of relieves
my trapped feeling. There are other options.
Millions of them, in fact. So, in that vein....is
failing even possible?
I visited a friend of mine over the last two days.
It was really good to reconnect with her. While
we didn't really do much to speak of, we laughed
like idiots practically the entire time. In one little
shop we stopped to admire a dress. And this was
one little, itsy dress. A size negative 2, maybe.
We held it up, and the shop owner swaggered over,
said, "Oh, honey, that would look just amazing
on you....You just have to want it."
WHAT?!
You just have to want it?
He proceeded to demonstrate what he meant:
First he slouched, made a frown face and
traipsed around looking frumpy. Then he stood
up really straight, raised his chin and made a
sort of pouty face.
It was really comical. I laughed and laughed as
I walked out the door. I didn't want it that bad...
I survived the dentist. But just barely.
Half my face was numb and immobile
for half the day. But, looking on the
bright side...I could do really fun nostril
tricks because only one moved.
Well, tonight I leave to go out of town.
A little adventure. A little get-away-
from-real-life fun. I have an agenda
though. But, it's a good one. I plan to
accomplish some of the things that I
don't get around to during the work
week. And I plan to swim a lot in the
hotel pool. Just float and float. And
maybe do that whale thing.
I think I should write down what my
plans are to make the universe wake
up and help me....This is scary. Here
we go:
-Determine 10 contacts in editorial
publishing to send my folio to.
-Determine 10 contacts in children's
book illustration to send my folio to.
-Finish some icons for a client's web site.
-Work on my web site addition that I'm
really excited to release (no, I can't tell
you right now...)
-Start jotting down my kid's book idea.
-Do some illustrations for local stores who
want to sell my work.
-And work on my business plan.
I think that's all do-able in a two day time
span. At least, I hope so. I really need to
get caught up and feel like I've accomplished
some things. Wish me luck!
So, you won't be hearing from me for a
few days...Take care.
Oh yeah, one more thing: I've posted
some new work on the folio page. It's
all from a book I was commissioned to
illustrate and bind. I think it turned out
really good. Kind of wish I'd a taken some
pictures of the completed book when I was
done...Check it out if you have a moment.
Oh no!
I'm just typing a quick note here. I'm off
to the dentist where I'll have two cavities
filled. (dirty Halloween candy...Grrr...)
I'll return later a drooling, sniveling mess.
Welcome to the new week. I am not
ready yet. I'd like one more day please.
Please! No? Fine.
This weekend I painted my kitchen red.
And when I say red, I mean RED. It's
bright. It's bold. It slaps you in the face
as you walk into the room. And I love it.
Bring on the smackin'.
I am not done though. Red requires at
least three coats. I only did two. So I need
to get all messy again later this week or
next. And I decided I am going to paint
a little wall mural on it as well. Some
decorative white branches, perhaps.
I can't wait! Sounds like fun.
Other than that, my weekend was anti-
productive. I did a lot of errand running,
but not a lot of list-crossing-offing. Huh?
Monday's got my noggin in the blender.
As a warning: I won't be blogging Thursday
through Sunday this week. I am going out
of town, holing myself up, and letting the
creativity flow through me like ink through a
calligrapher's pen.
Time to face Monday.
Holy Monkey! (see...I told you...)
Today I woke up slowly. One of those
open your eyes once, blink for about 5
minutes and then open again. It was
so nice. It's Saturday! A day of play.
A day of possibility. A day for myself.
I love today.
Plus when I woke up I found out two
good things: 1) C had already brewed
coffee for us, and 2) I discovered that
Penelope Illustration was named
Dreamhost Site of the Month.
Wow! Fresh brewed coffee?!
(kidding)
I'm just thrilled to the gills to have
gotten this DHSOTM announcement.
I feel great. Thank you so much to
everyone who voted for me. I am
very grateful!
Today I feel renewed and refreshed.
I had a long conversation with my
brother on the phone yesterday and
told him every worry that was whispering
into my ear. I told him about the juggling
and the insecurity and the fear. And
he listened. And he sympathized. And
he offered advice.
And what have I concluded? I plan
to purchase a giant inflatable football
helmet and push through all the
scariness and live happily ever after.
Well...I need to do a little more than
that, but you get the idea. That's
Optimism speaking. (I love her.)
Leaving you on a cliff-hanger-type-note:
I have some fun stuff planned for this
site in the near future...Stay tuned!
Have a wonderful weekend.
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© Penelope Illustration. Stealing
is not nice. |
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