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Things I've learned in 2003
-That you can change things you're
dissatisfied with. You're not stuck in
a rut.
- You have to ask for things to happen.
They don't just fall into your lap or
happen on their own.
- Being engaged is a lot of fun. You
get to make all kinds of decisions for
your wedding day. (It's making me
very aware of my preferences.)
- Sometimes you have to pretend until
it's a reality.
- The unknown is very scary, and there's
always something unknown. The good news
is that you'll soon know it and it will seem
ridiculous that you were ever scared of it.
- Trust your gut.
- When in doubt, wear bright colors.
- Everyone is just a person with feelings
and concerns just like me.
- Know when to surround yourself with
inspiration and when to avoid it.
- Time off is just as important as time
spent pursuing your goals.
Hi everyone! I'm still out of town
but I'm finally at a relative's house
who has a computer. So, there
may be some typos as I'm now
out of practice...
So far, this holiday has been
relaxing and wonderful. I've
been catching up with family
and friends. Eating till I feel
I may explode. And enjoying
watching people open their gifts.
(I think the superhero necklace
was a big hit.) And for my mother
I did little portraits of all my
siblings and their significant
others. And the Day-in-the-Life
project is completed. She liked
that, too, I think. (So, my fall
was totally worth it.)
I still have a little time off to
enjoy and already my to-do
list is brimming. I plan on
painting my guestroom and
finally getting to that kitchen
mural I talked about before.
And, of course, some illustration
I've been meaning to do.
I hope you are enjoying your
holiday wherever you are.
I'll be returning home tomorrow
night sometime so I'll catch
up on email and be able
to blog before the new year.
(And sleep in my own bed!)
Until later...
For all the people who missed it before,
I'm posting the tag here so you can use
it if you still need to. (You late shoppers
know who you are.) I am usually out there
with you right about now, but it seems I am
finished ahead of schedule. (Holy monkey!)
With all the traveling planned for the
upcoming week, this will be my final post
until after Christmas. The advent calendar
will still be up, but you may get to jump
ahead to the last day...
I want to say that I feel truly blessed by
all the kind words and heartfelt support
that people have shown this year. I am
very rich to have made some new friends.
I hope that you have the merriest of holidays.
Happy Holidays!
I was going to write about something
sweet and wonderful this morning...
Until this morning happened.
Remember that assignment my mother gave
me to record a day in the life? Well, I was
recording my walk into work this morning
with my digital camera. And totally bit it.
Really hard, too. Two scraped knees, a
swollen wrist, blood blisters on my finger,
and a stubbed toe. And on top of everything
else: I broke my digital camera. The lens
is all pennywampus. Crooked and sick-
looking. It makes funny noise when I try
to turn it on. Man. Man. Man. Then I sat
down at my desk and banged my elbow on
the corner.
I need to go back to bed.
One thing that cheered me up was Dooce's
latest post. I was rolling with laughter at
her park names. Man, that's great.
One more thing: I graciously thank you
for all your wonderful comments and
compliments from yesterday's post.
(See! Isn't that fun?)
Compliments are weird little things. We all
love compliments. We even do things to
get them: doll up for special occasions,
work our butts off on projects for work,
wear flattering jewelry accessories, etc...
But when it comes down to actually receiving
the compliment people duck out, "Oh, it was
nothing" or "Really? I'm not really sure" or
"This old thing?". Well, at least that's how
it is in my experience. And I think there's a
more graceful way to go about it.
I went to a holiday party recently and told
several people they they looked beautiful in
this or that. And they just shrugged and
changed the subject. I really wanted them
to know that I meant it. This put me in an
awkward position.
We all deserve compliments and have
the capacity to receive them gracefully.
So, I am hereby pledging that the first
thing that comes out of my mouth when
I get a compliment is "thank you". Then
the weird feeling can creep in all it wants.
I'll just ignore it. Phooey, Mr. Awkward!
I can be confident.
In other news: It's snowing like mad here
again. And it makes me so happy! I am
watching the ground disappear, listening to
Christmas music, and feeling the chill of
leftover snow on my boots. Ah, beautiful.
I hope wherever you are, you are feeling the
wonder of the season.
This morning I have a date with
the eye doctor. I'm very excited
about this. She was superbly nice
last year and introduced me to
my lovely blue glasses. But a new
year of insurance is here and ready
to be used. I wonder what I'll find
this year. I really wanted some retro
specs with rhinestones on the sides.
But I can't find any that are just
perfect (and in my price range). So
I'm going with an open mind and a
glasses-less face. Wish me luck!
This may be really dorky, but I'm
pretty psyched about getting a brand
new planner this year. I wait until after
Christmas so the prices are reasonable.
A crisp, new book to write down my
life. Ooo, yeah. I sometimes look
through my old ones and see what I
did on different days. I think that's
why I like old-fashioned planners where
you write it all down by hand. You see
your own handwriting and it makes it
feel special and personal. I also have
one of those PDAs, but don't use it
because it is so impersonal.
Last night I dreamt that I had twin boys.
Two years old. Their names were Ryan
and Brian (real original, I know). We were
grocery shopping in one of those super-
stores, and I was frustrated because I
was in the clotheing section and couldn't
find the milk. I eventually found the milk,
bought it, and then forgot it when I was
leaving the store.Then the grocery bagger
man brought it out to me and I thanked
him profusely.
It was a weird dream. I looked up what it
meant on Swoon.
Children mean: happiness in domestic affairs
and/or business interests.
Milk means: vigorous good health.
So, by my calculations I will have double
the happiness in domestic and business
endeavors and forget that I am healthy
until someone reminds me.
(huh?)
It finally snowed! There is a thin
blanket of white all over the ground.
It came down yesterday in swirls
of snowflakes. And it was beautiful.
It's not a lot, but it'll do for now. A
white Christmas is wonderful.
I think my fatty cats think it's chilly
in the house. I've caught them lying
on their backs in front of the registers
while the hot air is blowing. They get
smug little grins on their faces when
their wispy fur is being warmed. It's
pretty funny.
C and I wrapped presents this weekend
and put them under the tree. (Actually,
C did most of the wrapping....he's better
at it.) But they look so pretty under there.
I can't wait to give them to people.
In other news, my new friend Katrina
has written a wonderful little children's
book and I am competing against some
other artists to illustrate it. (I feel a little
sheepish admitting that here...what if
I jinx it??) But I did some sample pages
and a character study for it and am ready
to send it off to the publisher. I'm actually
a little nervous. I'd love to do a kids book,
and I have a wonderful opportunity here.
I guess I can do nothing now but hope and
try to think about other things.
One of which is that my brother proposed
to his girlfriend this weekend. I am so happy
for them. She is a sweet girl, and I'm so
happy to have her as a sister-in-law. I hear
she's bling-bling-in' it around town. (I haven't
seen the ring yet.) Congratulations to them!
I am so entirely, completely, truly,
uncontrollably excited. I received
my Superhero Designs necklace
in the mail yesterday and it's just
so beautiful. I got the Cotton Candy
one. Ooh, it's just lovely. But it's a
gift for someone on my list. Not for
me. I am really considering keeping
it for myself and getting that someone
another gift. But that would be selfish.
I'll stick to my plan. I hope she likes it!
I'm feeling really good today. I have
had some peppermint coffee (maybe
a little too much), and took a break to
browse through some little shops. Being
surrouned by bright colors and upbeat
images and fun jewelry makes me feel
so much better! Bring on the gray. I can
take it. (Chest beating sounds)
I got myself a new watch from Ya'll-mart.
(Walmart) It was $6. It's pink plastic and
it lights up when I push a button. It's
really obnoxious. And I love it. I wear it
with suit jacket to meetings and stuff.
I haven't caught anyone scowling at it yet,
but I hope too. Hee hee. I'm terrible.
I have one more question. Why do people
reserve face painting for parades, sporting
events, and fairs? I think face painting is
cool. As a matter of fact, I'd really like to
have a porcupine or a caterpillar painted on
my face right now. Maybe I'll look into that.
It's so quiet in my house right now.
It's late. I should go to bed, but I just
feel compelled to jot down a few
thoughts. It's cold outside. Not a good,
wintery cold, but a drizzly, just-can't-
get-warm cold. I want to drink peppermint
tea and cuddle up with a feathery down
comforter.
Good things going on now: I have officially
completed the cover of Nervy Girl and they
were thrilled with it. (ooo, that's such a good
feeling). I believe it's just being printed in the
Portland area. So if you're there, pick up
a copy and think of me.
I have been running around with my digital
camera for a while snapping shots of my
everyday life. For her Christmas gift, my
mom asked all the kids to put together a
little Day-In-The-Life booklet. A life report,
if you want to call it that. I think it's a good
idea. I'm pretty sure my mom thinks I color
for a living. (That's almost true!) So I've been
photographing the ordinary and asking passerbys
to take my picture. It makes me take a second
look at everything that I normally just do on
auto-pilot. Maybe the ordinary isn't so ordinary....
I have just been flooded with ideas lately
for fun things. An array of projects and
things to do. When will I find the time? I
wish sleep wasn't required. I guess I'll try
to get to them one by one.
Speaking of sleep. It's time. Sweet dreams.
Sleepy-lope.
That's me. I've been up late three
days in a row, catching up on things
that need catching up on. Last night
I finished the cover for Nervy Girl (!)
and worked on some holiday cards
for a friend. Busy busy busy. Now I'm
just tired. And it's a tired that coffee
cannot solve. But why do I feel so guilty
when I slow down? Why do I feel like
I'm not doing enough to accomplish my
goals if I don't work on it every free
moment I have. That can't be healthy.
I know that. But that's how I feel.
I know what I want for Christmas: time.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up
Christmas morning and see your stocking
all lumpy with time? Wow, I'd be thrilled.
Let's focus on some fun things I'm enjoying:
Riding the Bus with my Sister
Maganda's new look
Anthropologie's pretties
Gauchita
Mini Book Kits
The weekend pass worked just fine.
A little too well, to tell the truth. I
wasn't as productive as I'd hoped.
Oh well. But I guess I needed a break.
I am over half-way done with holiday
shopping. I am excited about being
ahead of schedule this year. Usually,
I am the one on the news two days
before Christmas scurrying around
buying odd sizes and ill-fitting things
for people. Not this year. On-line, baby.
That's the way to go.
For gifts, though, you need tags. I
thought it'd be fun to make some this
year. And I decided to give them to
you to use, if you're so inclinded.
Click here to get them!
I don't know about you, but I
have a ton of stuff to do this
weekend. It's quite weighing,
actually. I wish I had an extra
day to complete everything
that's going on now. But alas,
I do not.
I was thinking to myself about
how I sometimes don't allow
myself to slow down and enjoy
time off. Weekends come and
go with me working through
them. One thing after another.
So I thought of a way to break
that habit. I decided to give myself
a weekend pass. A pass that allowed
me to do something for fun this
weekend, guilt-free. And I mean
this so much I wanted a physical
reminder (sort of) that I could do
this. So, I drew it.
But then I thought that there could
be other people out there that need
a pass to do something enjoyable.
(Or maybe I really am just the only
psycho out there). So I decided to
put it here for you to take if you
need it, too.
Enjoy.
I delivered two jobs to the printer
this morning. That is a frightening,
exciting feeling. All the work that I
did in its final stages. I can no longer
change it or stress about it. It's out
of my hands. But I saw the proof
and it was great. I'm so excited to
get it back and deliver it to my clients.
I hope they love it and tell all their
friends.
Oh, I got a phone call from that new
start up magazine in town. (They don't
hate my guts!) They asked me for three,
small illustrations for the calendar of
events. Ooo, that's exciting. I'll post
them so you can see them later.
I hope you like the Advent Calendar
illustration for today. Makes me hungry,
personally. (22 days!)
Today is going to be a great day, I can
feel it. I woke up with that suspicion.
I think that's self-fulfilling prophecy in
action. I wonder what will happen.
Shopping for the holidays is crazy. I have
some friends that are done holiday
shopping by Halloween (that is even
crazier). I know some that don't shop
until December 23rd. But if you shop
on-line now, you just might be able to
get it all done and delivered before
Christmas (and avoid the mall crowds).
There have been a lot of people spreading
the word about supporting independent
artists through your holiday gift giving.
I think that is a fine idea. Here are some
good ones:
Superhero
Blissen
Pamela Barsky
Maggie
Shiznits
Cori M. Designs
Smoking Lily
I like to buy from all the locally-owned shops
around my city, too. There are gifts you
can't find anywhere else and it's nice to get
to know the owners. Plus, lots of them are
close to coffee shops and you know how I
love coffee. Shop a little, sip a little.
That's my philosophy.
I'm a little late to write today. I had
a stressful, rushed morning that left
me with a headache. Glad that's over
with....(Breathe out.)
I'm so glad you all like the Advent Calendar
I made for you. I was hoping you would.
All your kind comments left me feeling that
all was right with the world. Thank you
very much!
C and I got our Christmas tree for the
year. Actually, a couple of our friends got
it for us. (Aren't they nice?) Now we just
have to decorate and put up all the fancy
lights and decorations. Man, I love this time
of year. I just wish there was a foot of snow
on the ground because I'd really like to wear
some snow boots.
Super Secret Surprise!
Today's the day. December 1st.
I promised you a super secret
surprise. So, if you look to the
right you'll see your present just
sitting there waiting for you to
open it. I hope you like it!
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© Penelope Illustration. Stealing
is not nice. |
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