You are currently browsing the monthly archive for February 2009.
1. Reduce, refine and streamline – things and relationships: On this front I continued to improve. I created an art studio downstairs and in the process I threw away a bunch of junk. I’m working in acrylics and water color for now.
2. When in doubt remove excess. Refer to rule #1: I bagged up a bunch of clothes and gave them away. I also eliminated a bunch of clutter in my closet. Double yeah.
3. Be budget-minded each month; plan it and work the plan: Yes, I worked the budget again. As my better half said, “it’s pretty easy to save more money when you focus on saving more money.”
4. “Make due.” Good enough is good enough: When I set up my studio I used fabric (black) to create a 12×12 area rather than paint the walls. Doing so saved money and gave me the flexibility of moving it to another area – just in case. When I needed objects for my still life paintings, I went to Goodwill Industries. So far, so good.
5. Plan ahead – enjoy the moment: The month was a blurrrrrr. I had a couple of days to chill, but mostly I worked and stayed focused. Really.
6. Take ALL vacation days … every last one: I got one.
7. When purchasing find a deal, and keep a tote board: Like I said earlier, I bought some objects from Goodwill, and when I added more paint brushes to my stash I snagged those that were on sale at Jerry’s Art-o-rama.
8. Save more, and SELL what’s not needed nor used: Ok this is one area I made virtually NO progress. The March report will be “outstanding.”
9. Travel a lot … for vacation: Our Florida plans got moved, but we’re going to Hawai’i in May for 10 days (yeah). We’ll get a Florida visit during the summer months.
10. Remember family. Go visit them: I talked with several folks, wrote some letters, emailed my dad more often and thought about them much more than any February I can remember. We are planning a trip to visit Mom and Thurman. Then when it warms up, we’ll go visit the LGE’s parents. At some point I need to visit my great aunt in Jonesboro.
Ok then. March is underway.
“I don’t want to earn
my living; I want to live.”
Oscar Wilde
The “painting a day” group of painters is interesting in that they attempt to paint every day. One painter that I’m enjoying more than most is Qiang Huang. He approach a still life with bold movements and yet there is a ton of fluidity in the final image. Review his site and look at his work – it’s very consistent and enjoyable.
The iconic sock monkeys made from Red-Heel socks emerged at the earliest in 1932, the year the Nelson Knitting Company of Rockford, Illinois added the trademarked red heel to its product. Nelson Knitting was an innovator in the mass market work sock field, creating a loom that enabled socks to be manufactured without seams in the heel. These seamless work socks were so popular that the field was soon flooded with imitators, and socks of this type were known under the generic slang term “Rockford’s,” or Sockey Rockford.
In 1958, the “scrap-craft” magazine Pack-O-Fun published “How to Make Sock Toys”, a guide to making different sock animals and dolls with red heeled socks. Frequently cited as being their most popular book ever, this pamphlet went through multiple printings and was being produced in new editions up until the mid-1980s. I’ve included a photo of the original instructions to “remind” you of how he’s assembled.
Our little friend presented here today is a close cousin to Sockey Rockford. Mr. Snow Ball is from Antartica – ergo the reason he is “white.” He’s smiling because it’s time for an adult beverage (yeah). Sip oneth.
Surprisingly, it takes little time and effort to make a difference. During the day, in someone’s life, on the job, in the car, at the store, in the waiting room, at home, in your office, or even while you sleep. We all (as in everyone) have the ability. The real difference is how we use it.
Everyday take a moment to do one thing that helps another person. Do it without the expectation of a return “thanks,” a wave, acknowledgement or even a smile. According to Nike, just do it. We all have the ability to change our world and our lives. When faced with the opportunity, use it. You’ll be glad you did.
“It is incumbent on every
generation to pay its own
debts as it goes. A principle
which if acted on would
save one-half the
wars of the world.”
Thomas Jefferson
More attempts at watercolor. I think Van Gogh was much better than I’ll ever be at drawing, illustration or painting. But I’m trying.
Here is my first attempt at a watercolor portrait. It’s much harder than it appears – especially matching skin tone. I’ll keep working. Paint oneth.
The first duty of a human being is to assume
the right functional relationship to society –
more briefly, to find your real job, and do it.
Let’s face it, every week we have good days and days that seems out-of-control. On a rare occasion, the trappings of Monday carry over to Tuesday, then Wednesday and sometimes even Thursday.
This week started off well enough, but Monday seemed to wrangle the life out the word “smile.” It’s been one of those weeks. I used the phrase, “Monday-Monday-Monday!” A colleague said, “torro, torro, torro!”
The weekend is near, so let’s figure in a little time to celebrate. My only concern is that the weekend starts with Friday the 13th.
Ok then. Homer is gone to the big house. I’m going home for the day.
Somewhere between a breakfast that was askew with angst about the day’s activities, a formal presentation to folks we didn’t know, and a lunch from Fat Man’s, I felt the presence of James Brown reach out and say — “thanks!” The day was very interesting on a lot of fronts.
My team saddled up and shared a new branding campaign for Augusta, Georiga. After we shared our work, I felt like an Augusta native … powerful – I tell you. Was our work and creative thinking well received? Did I hear that question from the back row?
Yes, it was taken in like a friend you haven’t seen in a while and embraced with open arms. Not in a carte blanche sort of way – not at all. It was embraced as a solid idea that the whole team can leverage to gain even more traction with each respective target audience. More importantly, the discussion around the meeting/eating/scheduling table was focused on doing so in an economical and sensible manner. Everyone agreed that evolution feels better than revolution. Shorty-short (the net-net), we’ve got lots of work to do and even more to enjoy.
I feel good.
Westobou Festival, President Wilson, Artist Row, Phinizy Swamp, Augusta Canal District, Morris Museum of Art, Fort Discovery, Partridge Inn, etc. , ETC.
Much of my teaching life centers around helping students improve their presentation skills, teaming skills and their overall ability to communicate in the “real word.” Amidst a range of skill levels, the basis for many discussions about communication (verbally or more formally in a presentation) centers on a singular topic – the thesis statement. Rather than belabor the complexities of writing a thesis I break it down into two steps. First, I deal with the basic question — what are you seeking to communicate? With the answer it’s much easier to craft a strategy statement or thesis. The thesis statement explains “how” you accomplish step one. Not from the vantage point of the device (PowerPoint or whiteboard) but from a space where the “how” is easy to communicate and much easier to digest. Simplify, reduce and then amplify the message. I firmly believe I’m learning more from the class than the students!
Ok then. Thesis oneth.
1. Reduce, refine and streamline – things and relationships: On this front I’m doing better. My MO in January was to cut the waste, the clutter and processes of daily life – and specifically the weekends. I’m enjoying more time to paint, draw and take photos.
2. When in doubt remove excess. Refer to rule #1: I referred to rule #1 a lot when making decisions in January. It served me well.
3. Be budget-minded each month; plan it and work the plan: I converted my budget plan to an online book which was a huge step toward e-billpay, Quickbooks and such. I conserved at every level. Rather than purchase an easel (even at the discounted rates online), I bought one that was used and saved a lot of money.
4. “Make due.” Good enough is good enough: Each time I was about to make a purchase, I ‘future cast’ the ‘thing’ and asked myself was it going to be useful one year from now. In almost every instance the answer was “no” – and I didn’t make the purchase. The only exception, I bought a discount book at Books-a-Million for $9.97 and wished I searched online for an e-copy.
5. Plan ahead – enjoy the moment: Yes, the month had some surprises at work and several long days. But (!) I did plan ahead and enjoyed three weekends where I hung out with the BGE, painted, drew – and relaxed. Really.
6. Take ALL vacation days … every last one: None taken but I did enjoy some time for relaxing.
7. When purchasing find a deal, and keep a tote board: As noted earlier, I saved a bundle on the easel, even more on some books that I wanted as reference tools, and my savings for the month was just over $200 – not including the things I didn’t purchase.
8. Save more, and SELL what’s not needed nor used: I made a HUGE list of things that are going bye-bye. When I settle into the month of February I’m getting rid of some biggies (car, bikes, etc.) and a few things just in the way. My goal is to eliminate what I don’t absolutely use or need.
9. Travel a lot … for vacation: We made plans for a trip on Spring Break — to Florida. Yeah. And we’re tentatively going to Hawai’i in early Summer. Even more Yeah.
10. Remember family. Go visit them: I didn’t visit anyone in January, but I did talk with several family members (more than usual) and communicated by email more than usual as well. February has a travel-trip to Nashville in it somewhere.
OK then. February is under way.
