Working on Lettering

I've been knocked out of commission with this latest MS episode.  For a couple of days, I haven't been able to read (amazing how much you WANT to read when you CAN'T read), draw, or write.  I think I'm finally on the mend (I am typing this message).  To celebrate, I decided to take Joanne Sharpe's Letter Love class online. It looks like it will be fun.  It will also help me fill in my journal.

First Haiku! Apple

Here's my first haiku.  The prompt was APPLE.

apple, green
crisp, crunchy, juicy
dribble, smile

Hijacked by Haiku

I had no idea, but apparently, February was National Haiku Writing Month - NaHaiWriMo.  I may have missed the official month, but I'm going to try and write a haiku everyday this month.  Yes, I know that I'm already four days late.  However, I believe it's never too late to start conditioning yourself to develop a habit.  Now I'm off to write a haiku.

Finding My Voice

NANOWRIMO is always a cleansing, discovering, and re-discovering time for me.  My time is always sooo limited.  I tend to put too may things on my plate.  When you at life's crappy twists and turns and nanowrimo, then it seems like I don't have any time at all.  That's when the gold comes through.  (At least it feels like gold.)  If I really don't have time, that's when my mind decides that it's going to pop out ideas.

I find that lately I'm drawn to surrealism.  I've got both of Lynda Barry's books and they seem to help with that.

Triathlon, I Mean Duathlon, DONE!

Well I finished.  I completed the Hammerman on Sunday.  I've been just completely drained for the last few days... physically and emotionally.  I knew that I'd be tired, but I don't think I was really prepared for how tired I'd be.

I'm also surprised at how critical I was (and how critical I still am) of myself.  I did this thing in 3 1/2 hours.  I really need to celebrate just finishing the course, but somehow I can't really enjoy it.  Clearly that's something that I need to journal about, so I can get to the bottom of those feelings.

I'm debating whether or not to exercise today.  I might go for a light run, then again I might coach-potato it for a second day.  If I don't exercise today, I'm not going to beat myself up.  I have a schedule running practice with my running group tomorrow.

No Swimming

It's official, the swimming has been cancelled.  I'll be running, cycling, and running again.  Wish me luck!

Triathlon in Jeopardy!

For the last 7 weeks, I've been training like a fiend for the Hammerman Sprint Triathlon. (Yes, I know that 7 weeks isn't long enough to train for a triathlon, but I am insane.)  I've been doing P90X in the EARLY mornings (about 4 AM) for the last 5 weeks.  [Yes, I really have been waking up at 3:45AM to exercise at 4AM.)  I've worked up to swimming 550 yards (22 laps or 0.55 miles), biking 14 miles, and running/walking 4 miles.  I have a wetsuit ready.  I'm resting up my muscles this week so that I'll be ready on Sunday (Granted I developed a little cold, but...). Well..

I just read on the site that the event may be cancelled, because of the recent rains and possible bacteria in the lake (Eeeuuwww!), or that the event whole event will be changed to a duathlon.  Now I'm just waiting for the official word.

If the water really is that bad, I hope they postpone the event until the bacteria levels are better.  The swim is my strongest event.  (Not that I'm a strong swimmer by ANY stretch of the imagination.)  This is my first triathlon, so I really want to experience the whole thing.

Insanity: Day 13, part 2; 21-Day Challenge: Day 4

I know that I've been taking things at my own speed and I've missed some days.  One really good thing about a lifestyle change is that you just pick yourself right back up when you miss a day (or three).  I started out my workout doing Mariel Heminway's YOGA NOW 10 minute AM energizer.  It's a good warm up for ANY workout.  Then I went on to Day 4.  That was a lot of standing exercises.  I needed a block and strap.  I know, sounds kinky; but they help you stretch yourself farther than you can on your own.  The thing that really kicked my butt was the Insanity Cardio Abs.  OMG!  I just have to keep remembering that I'll have some bad a$$ abs when I'm done with this routine.

What's the Best Journal to Use?

I was on the tanglepattern.com website and ended up responding to an article about papers and pens.  I wrote so much that it seemed more like a blog entry, and I decided to include it here. Writing my thoughts made me realize that I need to get back to including my doodles, collages, figurework, etc. in my blog on a daily basis.  Practice is the doorway to personal magic.  Anyway, here's my response...
There are two differnt notebooks/journals that I use. The first is Miquelrius. It’s the Spanish version of Moleskine. The second is the GIANT JOURNNAL made by Michael Roger Press.


The Miquelrius that I use as a grid. It’s looks like it’s glued, but it opens fairly flat. When opened to a full spread, the journal is a little smaller than a full sheet of paper. The pages are thin, however the journal has 400 pages. I love this. I’m a writer, composer, and visual artist. I tend to be a magpie and use my journals as catch-alls. The small size lets me carry it everywhere.

The GIANT JOURNAL is spiral bound. It’s pages are 5.5″ x 8.5″. It comes lined or blank. The paper is typical sketchbook paper. It’s selling point–500 pages! The drawback is because the paper is thicker, the journal dimension a little bigger, and the addition of 100 more pages; it’s harder to carry in my purse. (Notice that I didn’t say impossible.)

If I could only have one I’d get the Miquelrius. I originally got it as a replacement for my GIANT JOURNAL. Barnes and Noble were out of the big one and didn’t know when another shipment was coming in. Apparently, I was one of a select few who appreciated its size. The Miquelrius came closer with the page count, so I decided to try it. Having that many pages and being able to fit it in my purse make it my number one choice. I get around the thin paper by glueing in a blank behind my tangle page. Then I use that sturdier blank page as a collage/gluebook page. When I’m in a waiting room or watching TV, I sometimes go back and tangle in the nooks and crannies of those pages. I like the layered effect.

Living Outside the Imagination

I LOVE Daisy Yellow Blog.  Tammy is AMAZING!  I have yet to go to her blog and not be inspired in some way.  Yesterday she had a post called Creating Outside the Imagination that was very interesting.  She referenced an article by Phil Shepherd of the British Origami Society.  (I am so impressed that she found this.  Really, this woman  could do research and development for a major company.)  All of this prompted me to ask the question, "How do we step outside our imagination, outside ourselves, and get to those things that we just couldn't possibly imagaine?  Moreover, how do we do this on a daily basis?  How can we change this into a lifestyle and live this way?"

I think that I've experienced something similar to what Shepherd is talking about when I knit or zentangle.  The patterned motions somehow allow my subconscious mind to make contact with my waking world.  I'll suddenly get an idea for an art project, or a possible solution to a problem that's plaguing me. I think many people share that experience.  What I haven't experienced is the creation of something completely new.  Does this crossover require engaging the hands in activity so that the ego-mind is busy or can this be achieved through the stillness of mediation?

My curiousity has been piqued, and my desire to find a better way to create and live have ignited my quest.  I'm going to search for answers to these questions.

Day 1 of the Yoga Journal 21 Day Challenge

Okay, I know I was supposed to start that challenge on Monday, but I started it today.  In the past, I would have told myself to wait until next Monday then start.  The only problem is... I don't always start on that next Monday.  Then the next thing you know, I've lost doing a daily practice before I've begun.  There's no reason Day 1 can't be Friday.

I just finished the vinyasa for Day 1.  OMG, if that's supposed to be the beginner... WOW!  Take a look at it...



I surprised myself.  I feel pretty good now.  Energized, but relaxed.

Restarting Insanity

I just finished doing the Insanity Fit Test.  I figure I've got a two-week jump on the New Year's Resolutions.  I'd really like to take this through.  Insanity is 60 Days.  If I can be responsible for 60 days, I think I'm in like Flynn.  Another incentive for sticking to the plan...  I'm trying to come up with a show that I can star in and produce for MCM (Montgomery Community Media).  I'm thinking about something to document my journey towards a healthier lifestyle.

Would You Cast This Man As Shazam?

I love comics books probably more than the average person; so comic book movies hold a special place in my heart.  This also makes me EXTREMELY opinionated.  So when I see this "Good If I Was Making It In The Basement With All My Friends, Bad If This Truly Screentest" Montage; I asked myself if this guy could be Shazam.  Take a look...




So what did you think?  My first instinct is to say, "No."  I see Captain Marvel being bigger.  Dwayne Johnson.  Maybe Scott Mueller could play Billy Batson...  Then again, maybe not.  Billy is supposed to be a kid.  I guess everyone's has a right to dream. 

"Chocolate Rain" Original Song by Tay Zonday

Clearly, I have not been on the internet enough in the last few months. "Chocolate Rain" seems qurky and silly at first. No, I'm serious. It really does seem like a big joke. I first discovered it on Jace Hall's show. However when you listen to the lyrics... Try it. Listen to these lyrics and tell me what you think?

I'm A Zombie, He's A Zombie, She's A Zombie

I've just watched the first episode of The Walking Dead.  It is most excellent.  It's not your typical hack-n-slash.  In fact, it was a kinda sci-fi alien invaders kinda feel to it.  What I'm liking the best so far is all the character work.  I just figured out who the not-so-jaded Black guy who helps the hero out is.  He's the not-so-jaded Black guy who helps out the hero in Jericho, another holy #$%&! our world as we know it is coming to an end how do we survive show. (Good fact to know for a trivia game!  Actually, I should probably look him up and get his name.  Then I could stop refering to hin as the Black guy, and I would have REAL knowledge for a trivia game.

I think that the best thing about this show is that I COULD WIN A WALK-ON ROLE AS A ZOMBIE.  How cool is that

Out in the Ether!

Sorry, I have been MIA.  I thought that when I finished classes, I would automatically just drift back into the blog.  Of course, I being the person that I am, have filled my time up with sooooo many things.  I'm trying to get organized again.  I'm taking my PRAXIS II-Special Education test on November 13th.  I'm surprised that the test isn't on computer.  I'm definitely doing NANOWRIMO this year.  That's a given.  (On a side note, my boyfriend just told me that I look sexy in my hat!!)  I've got to start using my camera more.  I need pictures for my mixed media creations and for my digital short film work.  I'm working on some comic book stuff and some short story stuff.  Then there's Concept Art, Computer Graphic, and Figurative Art Challenges, Romance Divas, Forward Motion Writers, my sketchbook, my zines, knitting crocheting and designing clothes, blah-blah-blah-blah, etc.  And I'm planning to move out of my parents house within the next twelve months.  I always have a lot of stuff.  I'm just glad I have a place to organize and be accountable, show off what I'm doing, and ramble if I want to.  Today, I'm hanging out with the Bo; and I'm doing my background/research/outline work for my novel from NANOWRIMO.  I've conned E2 into doing this with me.  This year I think I'll join some of the groups working on this.  I think I may even put a message on my school's email board and see if anyone wants to join me in my venture. I love starting over.

Drawing and Cooking

I just found out about a really cool site call They Draw and Cook.  What a cool way to combine two things I love!

MARCH Creative Experiment Challenge!

I just discovered the COOLEST website--Daisy Yellow Blog! I've been trying to get my **art/creative/craft/yoga/music** mojo jumpstarted for a long time. I think I'm finally finding some sources to inspire and aid in my quest.

It also helps that my masters program is finally coming to a successful end. Yeah, I've got a LOT to do in just a little time. Conventional wisdom says that I should just stick to my school work. (I hardly have enough time to do it as it is!) But I discovered that there's a quality of life that's lost when I don't take some time out for myself.

I've also decided that it's okay if fall off a few band wagons. It's important to experiment and try things out. I think I'm going to start out with three things on her list. There are about three weeks left in March, so I should average out about 1 thing a week. So I think I'm going to...

• Create art focused on a square (the concept of a square, something square, the shape)


• Write a page of thoughts on 2 days


• Draw a rough map of a place in your life - a favorite vacation spot, your house, school, the grocery store (ideas @ Hand Drawn Map Association and links + maps the kids drew at Making Maps and More Maps)

I think these are doable, and I'm excited about ALL of them. Who knew that there was a Hand Drawn Map Association? How cool is that?!

Black Science Fiction Society

Thanks to an anonymous commentor, if just found out about this cool website!

Fall-In-Love-With-A-Poet Mini Challenge, Poem #1

I've joined the community READ WRITE POEM. It's still fairly early in the new year, and I'm making every attempt to put my money where my mouth is. I'm actively attempting to write and draw daily. The assignment was to create a cento, using poems from your favorite poet. It was hard choosing a favorite poet. I love Shel Silverstein.

I've also recently discovered Margaret Atwood as a poet.

Although she says that she is not a speculative fiction writer, I think that a lot of her works appeal to this sensibility in me.

Here is my first poem-

I am not the favorite child,
A horse or even a tent
Now I would know too much.
I am the space you desecrate.
The memory is no friend.

This poem uses

Habitation
Bored
Backdrop Addresses Cowboy
A Visit
A Sad Child