I think I may have finally learned my lesson. No goal list for 2010. I have found that there's a wide gulf between what I plan to do and what I actually do. Mostly this is because of left-field surprises like thyroid cancer because otherwise I am pretty methodical. I have a vague notion of things I'd like to work on for the year: more drawing, more guitar, etc. It's true that creative types need scheduling. And I have that. I plan to start Illustration Saturdays. Basically, I'll take an unillustrated article or listen to a 'This American Life' story and try to capture it visually. I expect no small amount of frustration, but it will be a great learning experience. I also want to re-establish Watercolour Sundays. Obviously, things will have to be flexible because there's another cancer surgery and treatment on the horizon. There's also an idea for a graphic novel kicking around that used to be an idea for a novel. We'll see where that goes. I want to go at it playfully. If it isn't fun, what's the point? In needlework news, I am going to embark on the adventure that is embroidery (this will likely become part of illustrations).
It's really weird how my dreams of illustrating just flew out of my head in October after I heard that there was still a tumour. After my surgery last March, it felt like my right brain went into hyperdrive. Not sure how or why, but drawing and other visual activities took over my brain. I reconnected with a part of myself that I had totally forgotten about. My verbal skills have slowly been catching up. That is weird to say. I mean, I do French to English abstracts and translations full-time. Highly verbal. I've written a novel. Somehow, after the surgery, I lost the concentration for that. Or, rather, needed every ounce for my job and didn't have anything to spare after the work day. Sitting almost entirely still and drawing, however, I have total concentration. Perhaps not surprisingly, the drawing stopped with the ultrasound and biopsy and doctor's visits in October. Being mostly ignored by my cancer team did not do much to boost my confidence or morale. What brought me the most peace left my mind entirely and I was sucked up into doubt and fear and confusion. One day this last week, I went onto my Amazon.co.uk Wish List. I saw illustration and comics books on it and something washed over me. Trust? Faith? Not sure. I had been going in a million directions, but something clicked and I had direction. I am trusting this direction. Where am I going? Not sure. It's like going to a new city, walking around with a bad map and trying to find a landmark. At some point, you see a street and something in you says, 'This will get you to the place you've been looking for.' You turn onto the street with the knowledge that even if it doesn't take you where you need to go, you can always retrace your steps.
In all the planning, I lose the doing. I hope that 2010 will be year of focus, of input, of output, of connection, of discovery, of confidence. Gonna make my own luck this year.
I have NO idea what is in any of these tin foil packages. Amazing. Merry Christmas!
To my adorable friends: always sing without fear.
Happy Holidays and may you have a New Year that embraces you with all the good things you desire.
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ...
12 ships to plunder,
11 cannons firing,
10 crewmen leaping,
9 sharks a' swimming,
8 rum-filled bottles,
7 lusty wenches,
6 jolly rogers,
5 gold doubloons,
4 eye patches,
3 earrings,
2 wooden legs
and a parrot for my shoulder - Arrr!
Towards something more seasonal.
It took:
30000 plus lights
130 extension cords
Over 8000 feet of control cable
Programming time: don't ask.
Most of the neighborhood used LED lights this year, so they are using 1/10th of the power as last year.
What do you get when you mix a Christmas Light show with Guitar Hero? Christmas Light Hero!
Song is "Cliffs of Dover" by the incredible Eric Johnson.
Have a Merry Christmas.
Patricia Brennan from Yale University is trying to encourage male Muscovy ducks to launch their ballistic penises into test tubes.
Full article here - and it really is worth the read. Fascinating stuff to learn whilst eating toast and marmite!
