The red album

So this is the first record I remember loving, and the one that introduced me to The Beatles. When I was little I got a record player from my moms friend and then borrowed this record from my local library. I played the shit out of that record, and even copied a recording on a cassette so I could listen to it on my Walkman. 

It would be years later when taking a Beatles guitar course that I would learn that the red album had more songs in it - So unbeknownst to me, a whole vinyl was missing from the set at the library. 

Now, years later, I got a record player for Christmas. What's the 1st album I buy? A new copy of The Red Album- which the record store happened to just get in the day before.

So in the last day of 2015 I'll be listening to a fresh pressed copy of an old album, in complete order, for the first time.

Merry Christmas!

Nativity, mixed media digital illustration, 2013

Lent

It's that time of year when I focus on living life to the fullest, fasting, charity, and doing good in the world. I'd like to think I do this all the time but it helps having 40 days dedicated to it with a group of strangers and/or friends who are also sacrificing things and looking to do good in the world that they are part of.

This year I'm trying something really hard- giving up coffee. I've done this once before,a long time ago. I've come to rely on coffee for my day-to-day life. It's part of my daily routine, so ill be replacing it with water, and sometimes hot tea.

Next on my list is to do more productive things during Lent, and that includes dedicating myself to the things that I have a passion for or wanted to do. I have a tendency to get excited about an idea, start, and never finish.

During lent I'm going to amp up my routine to include 30 minutes of exercise daily.
I will animate something that I find fun and will share it.
I will work on a painting for a few weeks in a row.
I will finish unravelling my old scarf.
I will finish paintings that I got stuck on.

& I will do this all without coffee & share them as I progress through my project ideas.

Oh and since I'm trying to get ready for a marathon, I thought that today would be a great day to stop eating sweets. Gummy anything is my favorite, so I filled up today.

As for charity, I've set up my repeat donations for the year, and I'll try to spread the word about various charities and events that support my favorite charities as I hear about them.

Here's hoping that Lent will be productive!

today

1. Today I got my nails done with an old friend, it was nice catching up and really nice getting my feet and hands pampered.

She's getting married this summer too, and we both have Polish moms - it was nice comparing notes. She's much more laid back than I am about things though.

2. I think I'm getting better at words with friends.

3. Got back to reading - but now I'm reading 4 books at once? I think I have a problem... (that doesn't include the audiobook).

4. I've been really enjoying the warmer weather, and taking advantage of the workout room in my building.

4a. I'm teaching myself to run. I do this three times a week.

5. Went to the Chicago Creative Expo where I learned I have access to broadcasting my animation work. And any interviews I've done. This has sparked my imagination, may be able to contrive something to submit. If I make 10 episodes, they'll run them every week at the same time. Also acquired a poetry magazine....I miss writing bad poetry.

6. I've been trying to work into a habit of doing things. My piano teacher told me something that stuck with me - a habit is like adding a cord to a rope, the more you add, the harder to break. So the idea is to get into good habits that are harder to break.

7. I have been getting better at drawing every day for myself.

8. I'm almost ready to make my wedding invitations. The big day is getting closer and closer. I'm super excited and I'll be happily looking forward to the honeymoon - in Costa Rica.

9. I feel like I'm exercising my mind enough, daily. Though it's still pretty active at night which leads to a bit of restlessness.

10. I believe I've done a good job of posting less on Facebook.

Quote I came across today

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

via this post

goal

I have two goals in mind.

One is artistic, the other is just to see if I can do it.

1. I will get an illustration published where a lot of people will see it (and get paid for it).

2. I will run a mile.

The first is a goal that I will have to work on by drawing quite a few fully realized illustrations, in my style. I'm thinking this will take at least 10 drawings of which maybe one will be something I consider good. If I do 10 drawings a month - that would be, what three a week? But I don't want to focus on finishing them quickly, I need to find my style and really work on the art. I seem to like to start a drawing or painting and finish it quickly. Ok so maybe I"ll have to do a bunch of small drawings weekly, and focus on the big one in pieces. I may need some guidance.

The second goal - well that one is the hardest in my mind, for a number of reasons. I'm not unhealthy (in my opinion). I can do lots of cardio. I walk for miles on end, you won't hear a peep from me. But I absolutely hate running. And I somehow lose track of breathing when I do run so I make it maybe 2 1/2 city blocks before my beet-red face has to stop to gasp for air.

So why do it? Because I think I can't. I have never managed to run a full mile - and that includes during basketball conditioning with an old drill Sargent drilling me the whole mile on the subject. I would always have to stop and catch my breath. We did a "fun" run in grade school that involved racing around the school and gym, every year, at the end of the year. I never made it. I did enjoy the orange slices they gave us and made frequent stops at the water stations. But I never ran the whole time. I was also a last-place finisher in the 100 meter dash in middle school. I'm a shorter than 100 meter dash burst of running kinda gal I guess. But I don't want to be limited by what I've been in the past. I want to be able to finally have run a mile. I'll have to start by seeing if I can run around my own block...