If you've been following along, it's been a hell of a year, filled with projects galore. I just finished up the third quarter review post earlier this month. In case you missed it, you can check out the Quarterly Review here. The big news from this quarter was the creation of my Patreon page, though, and that's what this post is mostly about.
Patreon
Patreon connects creatives with the audience that loves them. It allows them to engage more with each other through exclusive content on a membership-based platform for as little as $1/month. I love it. It means I get to keep creating, and you get to keep getting the benefitof that which I create. Note the orange button up on the right-hand side? Go check out my page, see what you think, and if you like what you see, if you like what I do here, I encourage you to become a patron. Remember, patrons will not only keep getting posts here, but they will also get exclusive and advanced content that is only on Patreon!
What's Next...
This is my last post through the end of the year. I'm continuing to focus on some other projects for now. Freedom Fridays will return, but only periodically. When it comes back, there will be a mix of things: tips, motivational quotes, recommendations, and, of course, updates on all my projects. That said, you should definitely check out my Patreon page for the most up-to-date news, and exclusive content. I will mostly be posting there from now on.
The second half of this summer has been a crazy one, to say the least. I spent the majority of this year preparing for the launch of a number of projects, and my goodness, it's been an all-consuming kind of time, the kind where people wonder where you've gone, and if you took your sanity with you. (I'm sure it's around here somewhere.)
The Biz
The big news to come out of this period of intense work comes in two parts: Patreon & the new Tricky Fish Photography site. I'll talk about the TFP - which officially launches today!!! - below, but first...
Patreon
Okay, if you've been watching my social media feeds, you've undoubtedly seen the posts introducing my new Patreon page. I'm very excited about it, and already have gained some patrons. You can access it in this post, or click on the badge in the left hand column. I'll do a post on this in a week or two to explain more about it. In the meantime, check out the intro video for it:
Marketing & Social Media
I've had a definite dive in social media presence while preparing for this launch. I barely even looked at Facebook. I like to think of it like being a musician in the studio before they drop a new album and start touring. Moving forward, however, there will be a lot more social media. Check out the "Orbits" page on my main website to know which to follow. And, as always, subscribe or follow me here!
As for other marketing, I've been doing some re-design. Don't worry. No fundamental design changes. I've just been polishing up my logos, and creating some designs for things like stickers and bookmarks. I've also re-designed my business cards, and I can't wait to see how they look when they arrive. Here's a taste what's on the way:
Life Coaching
I'm brainstorming ideas for future webinars and presentations, and with the launch of Patreon, I'll be able to open up membership-based benefits to help others trying to achieve their dreams. I hope to get that moving along in 2019.
Life
There's been a great deal of reflection this year and, while it's been rough, it's a good thing. I've been confronting a lot of difficult stuff from my past, and focusing a lot on my overall health. You can read some of my revelations on my Changeling blog.
Health
Since April, I've been going to the gym, and about a month ago, I signed up for the YMCA five minutes from my house. The makes it easier to get over there, as I've shaved about 40-50 min off my drive time, and it has some really cool features. I'm going to have to do a post about this Y and other Y's in general.
As far as my other health has been concerned, I have been suffering from some chronic health problems in the last couple years or so, and it makes life a bit more of a challenge than I'd really like...which is to say, it makes me miserable more often than not. That said, I'm taking steps to heal, and trying to listen to my body more, when it tells me something is wrong, or that it's time to take a rest.
Advocacy
Action in this area has taken a bit of a backseat as I gather information. SCOTUS has been a big issue and I'm carefully reviewing Kavanaugh in regards to his reviews and actions toward people with disability. The Autism Self-Advocacy Network does a lot of research into this, and if you're interested, I highly recommend following their Twitter feed. As for the Changeling blog, I will get back to it eventually. I am still processing a lot from this year, and my other projects make it difficult to fully articulate some of my experiences and feelings on this matter.
Tiny House
This project is also on the backburner as I initiate some important endeavors. I look to be going full gear on this come 2019, especially once spring hits, when I can maybe start building. I can hardly wait.
Travels
Sometime in early summer, I discovered that I would not be able to make it to Burning Man this year. That was a hard one to wrap my head around. It isn't that I haven't missed years; it's that, ostensibly, I won't be going for the next couple years, and so this was to be my last one for a bit. That said, the Playa always seems to find a way to suck me back out to its dusty goodness, and Playa Magic is real, y'all. Anything is possible. Still, I was not completely starved of travel opportunities.
Local
I've learned a lot of cool stuff about how Council Bluffs is changing for the better, and it if it keeps on its current trajectory, will eclipse Omaha for an art/cultural center in the next few years. No joke. Keep up the good work, CB, and stay tuned to Ransomed Roads for a new type of post coming soon (November-ish, in fact).
Vegas, Baby
I have never thought of myself as a Las Vegas fan. It already has two strikes against it, being in a desert and being hot most of the year. When you add in that it's mostly about gambling, sporting events, and shopping, I pretty much yawn. So color me surprised to find myself enjoying the hell out of my family trip to Sin City. Stay tuned to Ransomed Roads this fall as I recount a little of that trip.
Speaking of....
Ransomed Roads
I'm working on new stuff for Ransomed Roads. I hope to start a new series of posts on cool local stuff called "Compass Culture". There's also the Vegas project this fall, and finishing up with the Summer of Color, which is, sadly, slated for next year. It's just been too busy, and I suddenly found myself in the wrong headspace to talk about that move. Also for next year, I hope to do more tips & tricks to correspond with early release info for my Patreon page.
There has been so very much writing this year. I did the math one day a couple weeks ago, and if I average out the amount of time I've spent writing over my lifetime, then I have far surpassed the oft extolled 10,000 hours required to become a master at something. Of course, that theory has been debunked, and I would hardly call myself a "master" of writing. I would say I've gotten pretty proficient, and that took a lot of time (plus that theory has pretty much been debunked). Anyhoo...
I've had to take a break from writing nonetheless, as I also do it for my work, and have also been concentrating so hard on my other projects (which also require writing, e.g. web copy), that thinking about writing just wore me out. Once the launches for the fall/winter season are complete, I should be able to get back to work on them in November, so bear with me.
The Lost Title Cards
This summer, I started a new series on my movie blog called "Behind the Scene". It's fairly short posts that focus on a little tidbit of movie trivia that you might now know. It's pretty fun, and I look forward to getting back to them.
Changeling Ashes
Percolating....
Professional Writing
Moving to the next level with freelance blog-writing. My time with Comnio, alas, ended when the owner decided to dissolve the company. I had a great time working with all those folks, and wish them all the best. In the meantime, I am working on getting some more freelance blog-writing gigs. I even have a writer's portfolio, focusing mostly on blog-writing, up online:
I couldn't be more excited about this. I have been longing for this website for well over a decade, and I've been working on it for most of this year. As I was building it myself through Adobe's portfolio site editor, there were a lot of elements that had to come together, and I needed to get pics together and edited for some initial galleries. So much easier said than done. But I prevailed, and the results are pretty stellar, if I do say so myself.
Shops
My shops on Redbubble, Zazzle, and Society6 are technically live, but I don't have projects up yet. Stay tuned for that one as the month wears on.
Projects
I've been focusing on a few different projects this quarter. I got to go to the Lauritzen Gardens, and have spent some time getting horizon shots from Council Bluffs's many vantage points.
Omaha Comic Con (OCon) & Film-making
The big project here is that I actually dressed up for OCon:
Me as Domino from Deadpool 2
...and that my brother and I put together another OCon video this year. Actually, it was two videos. My brother conceived the idea, and he and his friend built their costumes and props themselves. I wrote scripts, built scenery, and consulted on costumes for the second half of the piece, was Director of Photography, and helped direct them in their individual scenes, recorded sound and effects....all on my smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S8). Here's the finished product:
We're thinking about starting our own film production company.
There's been hardly any movement on this, as I decided to take time off to work on other projects. To be honest, my passion for this project had waned somewhat, and I was beginning to wonder if I wanted to do it anymore. Fortunately, it seemed mostly due to my need to / interest in finishing up some of the aforementioned projects above that had me feeling frustrated. I just didn't have time to give it the proper attention. Now, I'm committed for the holiday season, and feeling a lot more excited about it, so, as always, stay tuned.
New Products/Lines
I'm currently working on getting my new inventory prepared to post to the new site. In the meantime, you can still check out the Etsy shop
The Darndest Things
The Darndest Things has been on Instagram and Pinterest a lot lately. In fact, she's a Pinterest queen!!! Check her out.
Arts & Crafts
Painting
The Totems Show was in August. I love painting, and loved connecting with my spirit in the creation process. One of the funnest parts of that was getting to do a talk on what Totems and the art process does for me. If I can get my hands on it, I'll post the video here some time.
That's pretty much it for now. I'm excited to see what Q4 brings, and I hope everyone has a lovely holiday season!
______
Plots & Schemes for Q4 2018:
Writing
More more more...There will be more focus on blogs as I get deeper into autumn....I think. We'll see how this month goes.
Tricky Fish Photography
More galleries, prints of my work, and more.
Arcadian Gypsy
New products, new lines.
Performance
Working on body movement in prep to get back in front of the camera.
Advocacy
Alternative (question what is normal) and innovative thinking for disability (like how tiny houses can help people who have disability); looking at the arts & alternative lifestyles.
Language
Currently too busy, but want to get back to ASL, and become more fluent.
The second quarter of this year was intense. Lots of things in the works, lots of setbacks, and lots of healing. So, as we move into the second half of the year, you should be seeing things come to fruition that have been progressing over these last few months (and years). Here are just a few for my quarterly review:
The Biz
I'm taking a look at the direction I want System Andromeda to go in the next few years. There will be some shift in focus as I take on different projects. Changes to the website are coming as well. So keep your eyes open for various announcements.
Social Media
I love the different tools that have cropped up on the web in the last few years to help small businesses. There is very little you can't do nowadays to help boost your social media presence. I'm doing a series on the System Andromeda blog here that highlights some of these tools, so you should stay tuned for my "Freedom Fridays" posts. You can keep up with these by subscribing on the right.
In addition to these traditional subscription options, I hope to have email newsletters coming to you soon, making it more convenient to follow what is going on here at System Andromeda.
The big piece that is falling into place for social media is the acquisition of a Patreon account. If you've not heard of this, Patreon connects artists and their fans in a way that is reminiscent of historical patronage of the arts, without all the creepy prostitution vibes. Instead, artists can offer their patrons exclusive news & content, as well as rewards for contributing and encouraging them in their process. I should have mine up and running in early July (barring emergencies, of course), so stay tuned.
Life Coaching
As Life Coaching has become more of a peripheral calling, I've relegated it to a less active, more inspiration and motivation-centered sphere. I believe to achieve some of our dreams, we need someone who can be a sound board for ideas & troubleshooting, in addition to encouraging us to keep going when it gets tough. And, oh baby, I can attest to it getting tough.
Life
My mental health always takes a nosedive over the winter, and here in the Midwest, I have a particularly difficult time recovering. So if you can relate, know you are not alone.
Health
I've been learning about migraines. Did you know that there is more to migraines than the obvious headache portion? As migraines seem to be taking a more active role in my life (thank you, aging process), I've been doing as much as I can to prevent and treat them so I can be a functional human. Here are some things you may not know about migraines:
You may have advanced warning. This is called the Premonitory Stage, and it involves things like exhaustion, cravings, mood changes...if you're a woman, you might mistake this for pre-menstrual symptoms. Just a heads up.
Aura Stage: This stage affects a number of neurological aspects, such as vision and motor functions. Seeing spots, sparkles, experiencing weakness, dizziness, and speech & hearing symptoms are common. You can even have problems with memory, fainting and partial paralysis. What??
Headache Stage - the Main Attack: Ah, the main event. The headache is what migraines are most known for. There can be light and sound sensitivity. And, oh, the pain. They are so severe they crossover into debilitating...paralyzing, even. It's so bad, that people are known to vomit from the intensity of the pain. Here's the kicker, though: you can have a migraine without the headache. Go fig.
Resolution Stage: This is where the migraine starts to end. Often a slow fade, this process is sometimes sped up by sleep, a good crying jag, or even vomiting.
Postdrome: Oh, there's one more stage. This recovery period is often referred to as "migraine hangover", so you can guess the symptoms: exhausted, moody, appetite changes. They may mimic or mirror the first stage.
This aspect took a front and center role in April, as I began my first Autism blog in earnest: Changeling: The Ongoing Journey of an Aspie. I decided to make a big push to educate others during this month, as it is known as Autism Acceptance Month (more commonly known as Autism Awareness Month). I find myself feeling more and more able to share this part of myself, which had formerly been overshadowed by stigma and fear of ostracization. There is so much incorrect information out there on what it is like to be on the Spectrum. I wanted to spread the word as much as I could on what new research has uncovered about this misunderstood part of our evolution as a species. I hope you will take a look. You might find some enlightening tidbits.
Also on the radar here is connecting more with my fellow Autistics, including some online groups, and connecting to local services here in the Omaha Metro area.
Tiny House
I am shifting focus here toward actual planning for my tiny house on wheels (THOW). The big news here is that I'm about 99% on the type I want - a skoolie - and have created a preliminary floor plan. I have been doing research on what is needed, pitfalls to avoid, and what this baby is going to cost. I had originally planned to go to this year's Tiny Fest Midwest, but was only able to attend one day, due to unforeseen circumstances [see above, re: migraines]. Still, I have some insights, and should be posting on it on Ransomed Roads, where I will be recording the majority of the build process.
Travels
Travels are on hold while I get some other projects done, but I did take a visit out to Maryland to visit my dad, who was not well. He's much better now, and it was great to see him nonetheless.
Writing
In addition to being a professional blogger for a digital marketing company, I now have four blogs going! I have really stepped up my writing in the last few months, so check out some of the latest ideas I've been working on.
Ransomed Roads
I love quotes, and have added those to most of my blogs, including this one. If you are yearning for travel quotes, you should definitely subscribe to the Ransomed Roads blog. I've been going deep, so I've found ones I hadn't even seen before and am sharing them with all of you! If you want to find them on social media instead (as well as more Ransomed Roads posts), check out these options:
Look for some travel stories from last year on there as well, and stay tuned for the fall, when I will have some new tales to tell.
The Lost Title Cards
The big one here is my "Behind the Screen" series, highlighting some interesting tidbits about movies that most people don't know. It's already getting some great feedback, so stop by.
Changeling Ashes
I've begun to post Monthly Finds and Insights for all the things I come across while researching Autism. I want others interested in educating themselves to have another option for finding out about what it means to be Autistic, so feel free to check them out.
Tricky Fish Photography
I am currently working hard on Tricky Fish Photography. I've been spending a particularly large amount of time in Lightroom, a more recent addition to my photo editing arsenal. I can't say I like it more than Photoshop for the simple reason that Photoshop does more. However, that is pretty much what I like about it. Lightroom is basic photo editing with a few small tricks, and it's making my shots come out better and better in the post-processing phase. Don't worry; I'll be sharing soon.
Shops
Website and shop research is a big theme right now, and will be through Q3. I am excited to start offering prints of both my photography and paintings. More on that as it develops.
Projects
In the meantime, I've been doing a few small projects here and there, mostly for my brother, who had prom, graduation, and some other things going on. He makes a great test model, and I'm enjoying working with humans more.
I'm also working on creating prints of paintings for both my own work, and that of my best friend. I'll be posting more on that soon enough.
Arcadian Gypsy is essentially on hold until the fall. This is one of the many things that I am reevaluating for the coming years on System Andromeda.
Painting
There's an upcoming art show called "Totems". I am excited to be a part of it, and am working on a couple of pieces. Wish me luck.
Costuming
I am working on a cosplay piece for the upcoming O-Con, Omaha Metro Area's Comic Con. I went for the first time last year, and am looking forward to spending more time this year. I'm going (barring sartorial disaster) as Domino from Deadpool 2. Pictures will ensue, should I pull it off.
Moving Pictures & Performing Arts
I have wanted to start my own production company for years, so I'm doing a little brainstorming right now...nothing major, we'll see how that develops.
Voice-Over Work
I am doing some training and research to to my acting in a slightly different direction than I had previously. I want to get into voice-over work. I hesitate to share more than that at present, but rest assured, you will hear more about it.
Overall, this has been a wacky Q2. Great stuff, great challenges. Let's see what Q3 brings us.
______
Plots & Schemes for XXXX:
Writing
More blogging, and more writing gigs. I am currently taking on projects for proofreading, blogging, and other kinds of content.
Tricky Fish Photography
Websites and shops. More photos to be shared. Can't say it enough.
Share your comments below!
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This update was a bit later than I would have liked. This was both strategy and a complete brain fart. Enjoy.
The first three months of this year have been eye-opening. I believe that every move forward requires a degree of reflection, and winter is a traditionally reflection-laden time for me. It is when I am most often presented with personal challenges, with the things (inner & outer) that limit my forward progress.
The Biz
The Q1 phase was placed on hold in order to deal with health issues for both myself and my family. I look forward to resuming my work in the 2nd quarter, so stay tuned!
Life
This is the area that has seen the most movement, even when it was mostly internal. Coming home is possible, despite what Thomas Wolfe may say. The thing is, you pay for it dearly. I've spent a lot of time reviewing how I have grown in the last 20 years, how I still grow, and having shown to me daily that we can never stop working on our selves.
In addition, I've been assisting with family injuries, an experience for which I was frankly unprepared, and am not terribly comfortable speaking on. If you've been there, you get it.
It is a new year, and I'm beginning a new update system for all of my projects, beginning with the new year post I did at the beginning of this year. So here is January!
Life & The Biz
The big life event of January was a family emergency that resulted in a lot of my resources going elsewhere. My grandmother has been recuperating from a broken bone in the hip area, and I will be assisting my mother in her rehabilitation once she is home. Alongside fighting off the sinus infection that ushered me into the new year, I am experiencing migraines, etc. It will all mean taking a slower path with my projects. Basic business minutiae are currently on hiatus while I attend to family matters. There's been very little social media this month, due to the new job (see below). I'm prepping posts of all kinds for March, though, so, as always, stay tuned. I've begun my project book for my tiny house, and will be updating throughout the year, so I'm excited about that.
What is that quote about the universe laughing when you make plans? Well, let's just say that this post is coming out about ten days later than I'd like. That comes down to a number of reasons, but the big one was the worst, most raging sinus infection I've had in years. It obliterated me. I was actually rather impressed. Still, I soldier on. At the same time as my infection, I've taken on a new position (more on that below), so my other projects are moving a bit slower at present. I look forward to that changing soon. Add in a family emergency all in the last two weeks, and you get a recipe for late posting. So, without further ado...
2017: The Year in Review
Another year come and gone. Remarkable, isn't it? I remember this time last year when we were all wishing 2016 good riddance. There was a distinct unity to our discontent. Celebrity deaths took too many beloveds. The presidential election threw just about everyone. People were just...unhappy with life. When the wheel turned, more than a few lifted a middle finger to '16, myself included.
This year, it's a little different. Some people were ready to give 2017 the old boot. While I had my own concerns regarding this year (not the least of which being that sinus infection I mentioned above), I found that it was decidedly better than 2016. So I nod more fond farewells at this turn of the year than sour ones.
...And there were definite farewells. Did you know the Death card of the tarot doesn't actually mean "death"? It actually means change, that concept that when we shuffle off the mortal coil, we are actually just making a change of venue, of scenery (actually that's a very loose definition, but you get the idea). And this was such a year of change: upheavals to be sure, but what those sharp lurches created were moments of true inspiration, motivation, and focus. All things being equal, I view it like that card. Letting go of certain things so that other things could flourish.
Tuesday 12/28/10 excerpt ~ I sit at one of my favorite coffee shops, staring out the window into the darkness. I reflect on the past year and all that it has brought me, all that I have done. I. am. exhausted. I am also elated. It's hard to put into words the sense one feels from so much hard work and accomplishment. It would be easy to dwell on the fact that there was so much I had hoped to finish this year and just didn't for one reason or another...and that list is long. But I think that's a stingy attitude. Looking back at this list, I know I achieved more in a few months than others did all year. That's not me trying to one-up anybody, just noting that in the grand scheme and given all I've had to do, I'm doing pretty good.
And I decided to share that.
So I welcome you to the SA 2010 Year in Review MegaPost!
Some major (and minor) achievements include:
Website:
a new template design and more streamlined look
addition of numerous links & lists
stats counter and subscription options
addition of About SA and other informational pages
discovering the voice of this site as it reveals itself to me
re-arranging, re-arranging, and more re-arranging of the different elements
I will be adding more to the site in the new year, so look for more changes to the style and organization. The website, like my processes and self, will continue to evolve and grow.
Writing:
Getting my novel started. I participated in National Novel Writing Month and managed to make it to 31,000 words. I will continue work on the manuscript in the new year, and will post more on NaNoWriMo soon.
A somewhat regular writing practice. I used to write every day, but over time that had dwindled. While I am not back up to my original output, I am writing more and more regularly and it feels wonderful.
Acting/Modeling:
The first real return to my acting career. I started with the modeling scene, where I have been getting myself back in the groove of preparing for gigs, getting in front of the camera, being aware of what my body does to find the best lines and, of course, bringing that all-important energy & emotion out for the camera. I find I really enjoy it. Creating images is a collaborative process involving not just the photographer, or model, or environment, but all three, and I love being a part of that process. I hope to continue modeling at least part-time throughout my life.
Head shots, resume & decent portfolio. You can see much of my work & experience here and here.
Researching one's craft is vital if you want to keep progressing. This year, I've spent some more time checking out different movies and TV shows, studying and enjoying the nuances of the actors and the stories they help tell. In particular, I've been checking out a lot of old movies, and recently watched the TCM documentary series "Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood". I love this business, and the history of it fascinates me. Movie-making has truly come to be the American art form, one through which you can easily see the pioneering, innovative, dreamer quality for which this country is so famous.
Photography:
This year, with the help of my very Photoshop-capable brother, I designed & created the Tricky Fish Photography logo and began the process of sorting through my immense archive of photos for quality shots to post. Look for many more Tricky Fish photos (and logos) in the year ahead.
I made my first foray into model/fashion photography. Up until now, I have gone only for landscape/nature photography and travel & wedding photojournalism, using mostly natural light and generally choosing not to shoot people. I will be delving farther into the fashion/portrait genre in the future.
Design:
I sold my very first piece of jewelry this year!:
This really got me revved up, and I'm eager to get my shop up and running for the new year.
Better & more unique designs. Inspiration really hit this year, and I have been coming up with some really excellent pieces.
Dipping my toes into more complicated accessory and clothing design. Though I have a costuming and sewing background, I've had neither the tools nor the time to really dive into clothing design. I hope to change this in the new year.
Image Consultation:
I put Phoenix Image Consulting on hold most of this year, though I did work on various projects, generally helping friends and putting together wardrobes for shoots.
I'm currently working on a new (I think) organization model for dreams & goals. More on that in the new year.
Administrative:
I honed my skills as an Administrative & Personal Assistant this year. I am now ready to go virtual Admin Ninja for anyone who needs some work done.
On the home front, I got a lot of things done and a lot more organized for "next action" status.
Eliminated half my debt. I'm hoping to kill the rest in the new year.
Linguistics:
I spent some time getting into Russian this year, and while I had to take a break over the last couple of months in order to get other things done, I look forward to returning to it.
Study of dialects from various eras and locations, especially the differing styles of classic movies.
Body:
I've been working out slowly over the past couple of years, doing my best to repair the damage done by ignorance of various afflictions and unhealthy eating habits. I'm happy to say that I'm in better shape than I've probably ever been.
I've gotten back into Martial Arts! Woot! I have always loved Kung Fu, and I am back on the path to achieving one of my most important life goals: Master. The process is slow, but I will achieve this goal.
This year I have cultivated a real enjoyment of mushrooms. It started over a decade ago with the discovery of the wondrous culinary uses for portobello and shiitake mushrooms while working at the French Cafe in Omaha, NE.
Personal/Spiritual:
This year, I said good-bye to someone with whom I could no longer maintain a healthy relationship. It's hard for me to let someone I love pass out of my life, but sometimes it is kinder (to both parties) than holding on. I wish this person well in their pursuits for the future.
I felt a greater sense of my own strength, calm & resolution grow within me this year. It's been a rough couple of years for many, and I think that those of us who can find that inner self-possession will better be able to weather the ups and downs that are sure to visit us in the years to come. I intend to keep cultivating that awareness in myself in the new year.
So what's on the agenda for the new year? Well, the list is massive, so I won't go into the maddening details, but I will endeavor, just like this year, to get as much done as I can without putting myself in the ground. Make no mistake, this project/life path of mine is no easy task, but it makes me happy, so I'll keep working at it. I love this quote from Paulo Coelho: Never give up. When your heart becomes tired, just walk with your legs - but move on.
2010 Favorites
This year had me so busy, that I scarcely had time & resources for some of my favorite pastimes. I often see nearly every movie that comes out, and read a great deal, but not this year. Still, I did see a few movies this year, and here are a few of my favorites, along with some other things that gave me pleasure in 2010.
Movies: The Winter's Bone; The A-Team; Toy Story 3; Inception; Eat, Pray, Love; Machete; The Black Swan; True Grit
TV Shows: The Walking Dead, Glee, Castle, Community
Reading: Invincible (comic book series)
Social Networking: Paulo Coelho's twitter feed & blog: Daily inspirations and encouragement for dreamers and sensitive souls like myself.
Politics & Commentary: Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell; Zadroga Bill; Jon Stewart
Quotes: "Release the bees!!" ~ Stephen Colbert at Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert's Rally to Restore Sanity/Keep Fear Alive
This year was good, but I think the new year will be better. I'd love to hear everyone's stories of triumph, and their plans for the new year. I'd also like to send a major shout of thanks out to my friends & family for their support as they made the process of this last year so much easier.
Best wishes to everyone in the new year. See you on the other side of the clock.
On Sunday evening, I entered my first writing contest. It's short...literally. "Three-Minute Fiction", put on by National Public Radio (NPR), has a simple premise: tell a story in 600 words or less.
The very notion of being forced to squish my writing style down like that makes me want to start chewing my nails. It is not unlike - as my mother tells it - when I was punished as a child. My mother knew better than to send me to stand in a corner...there I would simply daydream, perfectly content. Having come up with a much better world in my head, I would become completely disinterested in this one, especially whatever it was I got in trouble for in the first place. No, she knew better than that. The best way, it turned out, was to make me sit still. Just sit there, not moving from my seat. According to her, I would crawl right out of my skin in frustration.
Which is exactly why I chose this contest.
I wanted a challenge. I wanted to stretch my abilities and see what I could come up with when made to step away from the habits which sometimes work for me, but just as often steal my wallet and fly to Vegas...metaphorically speaking, of course. I wanted to crawl out of my skin.
The contest, however, was not going to be that easy. There are other strictures each round. For this one, the story had to begin with the line "Some people swore that the house was haunted", and end with the line "Nothing was ever the same again after that."
Here's the explanation for the choice from NPR:
Those lines were written by the judge for this round, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Cunningham. He tells NPR's Guy Raz that he wrote the opening line because he's a huge fan of ghost stories.
"Though I don't expect everyone to write a literal ghost story," he cautions. "There are all sorts of hauntings, many of which do not necessarily involve the spirits of the dead."
The last line was inspired by the great Russian writer Nikolai Gogol. Cunningham says Gogol "didn't actually use that line, but said that every good story should come to such a definitive conclusion that its true, unwritten last line is 'Nothing was ever the same again after that.' I want my writers to use it literally."
Fair enough.
The winner will be declared on November 30. I won't post the piece until after it's over and they announce the winner. I'll let you know how it turns out, or you can go to the site and follow along.
I took this photo my first year at Burning Man. I had gotten my camera the year before, and was getting kind of good at this whole picture-taking thing. As I was headed out to one of the more extreme places you can take a camera, I had learned how to keep her safe from the playa, and my photographer's eye was eager for the eye candy rumored to abound. I was not disappointed.
It should be noted that there were two absolutely gorgeous temples that year, and I loved each of them for different reasons. [By the way, if you're not familiar with Burning Man, you should definitely go here now.] For the last couple of weeks, I've been featuring a picture of the larger temple (don't worry, it will be back). The large temple was zen style, so peaceful you felt you could melt into the ether or some such thing. For aesthetic purposes, however, my favorite was, by far, the TTT Temple. It had this whole eclectic gypsy vibe and I'm a total sucker for that. It also provided some really nice perspectives to work with and gave a nice contrast to the large temple.
I will definitely be tweaking some aspects of this logo, as well as creating other versions to go with different types of photos, situations, etc. But for now? I'm one happy fish.
Rockets prepped & ready, boosters fueled, phasers on kill. ....no, wait, that's not right.
Welcome to the launch of my new and improved site. Please explore at your leisure. Over the coming days, I will be adding some more of the basics to this blog, so if something seems amiss, fear not. I'm on it.
