Appreciation

Holy Crap. Thank You.

For the first time in two months I'm gonna have my own space. That was not an easy thing to do. I cannot believe it and am so grateful.

It's been a crazy month and I'm so happy for a little relief. Moving all my shizat - TODAY.

Friday

The big slowdown. Lovin' it. Having time to process things really helps get it all done, ya know?

Started today with yoga and that's a good way to start the day. Last week I decided to dump my very expensive health care and use the funds toward WELLNESS. Things I actually could use like yoga, massage and accupuncture instead of watching it go down an empty hole. I can't stand how the whole healthcare system is set up and it makes me sick to support it. A wise investment so far.

In the midst of getting a painting framed a day ago, I found a much needed web designer. Funny how that works. Saw an ad that this woman had created and liked the style, even had the owner of such ad ask me what I thought. It was exactly what I wanted for my client. Got to meet her today and am very excited to start implementing the next wave of ideas this fall. Maybe even start learning how to design for myself. That's the next season plan, at least one of them.

Space. We all need it. You tend to feel a bit wary opening it up cause we're taught to fill, fill, fill. If you have space that means time to think. Oh, the horror! But the thing I've noticed is if there isn't any space created, no new things can come in.

Had a burst of inspiration last night and drew out a piece that I have been thinking about for 6 months. It came out so easily and I really like it. Kinda starts the new phase I'm going to take with my art. Something I feel this upcoming trip is going to help kick into gear.

Went up the keys yesterday for a quick spin and the beast started howling. Oil light came on with a death warning siren which scared the crap out of me. Stopped in at the nearest gas station to check it and my car manual out. Popped the lid and kept it open while I ran in to get some oil.

Something I find incredible is guys have a honing device for this stuff. Guess it's just the way they're wired, God love 'em. Even if there's no one around for miles, some guy always pops up to ask if I need any help or if I'm ok. It happens right as I start to unscrew the cap. It's quite nice and kind. After I assure him I'm ok, I start to thinking...

What an amazing pick up technique. Not for him..for ME. I mean I could just sit outside some bar in a dress with drink in hand and the car hood open. It'd be like shooting fish in a barrel. My mind quickly flashed on that image outside the Green Parrot complete with an umbrella accessorized drink and I start laughing.

After reading in the manual that incorrectly screwing the oil cap back on could cause a fire, I start having images of the car becoming a giant fireball while driving. It's of Arnold Schwarzenegger movie proportions. I have an active imagination that can sometimes be immobilizing.

In order to combat the exploding car image and not stopping to run from the car screaming, I start to tell the car why I appreciate it so much. Have fond memories doing it while carefully driving down US 1. Wonder if this is it for the little sucker? It's still leaking oil so next stop, mechanic.

Normally we all cringe at the thought of rolling our cars into a garage for repairs. I do too, but found a way to neutralize it. Have a cute mechanic. That way, when you have to go in, at least it's enjoyable. You can get past all the money you're going to spend when you see a cute guy greet you at the garage. I start to look forward to our visits and it's not hard to get rides from your friends who want to check him out too. Besides the cuteness, he's a good mechanic, honest and nice. It's a neat little package.

I have always liked guys who work with their hands. It's the first thing I check out - hands and forearms. Mechanics have nice fat, meaty hands with amazing forearms so it's my version of heading to a strip club. I will be starting tomorrow morning out right when I take the beast in for a check-up.

Maybe follow up the hand peep show with a little paddle boarding afterwards. Like I said, space is nice.

Quitting has its Benefits

Being a quitter has its benefits. This past week I finished the job I quit and after three days of recovering from a full week of work, I see the results. What are those?

Having three days to recover. Taking in a great movie at the Tropic. Going swimming at the beach. Reading a book. Painting and hanging with friends.

Hurray for Quitters!! I finally have time to do some art. Gotta tie up a couple loose ends before I take my trip next month but that's going to be enjoyable. Thought I was destined for Australia but chose Colorado instead. Strange how it all happened cause I never expected to go back there.

Will be going to see some good old friends in Denver for a few days then heading down to the southwest corner to assist a Buddhist monk in painting a temple. The perfect culmination of a two year journey finding my artist self again.

Learned after last year's trip to Spain, you need a buffer zone to get into vacation mode. Vacation time for me is like being launched out of a rocket and then floating in a spacesuit. You need time to adjust to the weightlessness.

In the meantime, I paint bugs...

I am currently obsessed with...

Capricorn One!

THE best movie I've seen in a while. I can't stop thinking about it. How everything looked, sounded, the story. 

It's 70's nostalgia overdrive.

You gotta love it when OJ Simpson is an astronaut and Telly Savalas is a crop duster. And who knew Elliot Gould and James Brolin were so hot?

You Gotta Know When to Fold 'em

Things have been shifting. I've felt it for the last few months and I'm sure you know how that goes. It's kinda like a game, pieces start moving one by one and by the time you notice it, you're on a completely different game board. This does not happen by accident but by hard work.

It starts by surrounding yourself with people, places, activities that align with what you're about; who you are; what you enjoy. I've felt a bit scattered this past month but have had a couple interesting things pop up as they do to ask me again what I want. Do I want to do the shit I've done before or am I creating a new path? I choose the latter.

First off, I got a chance to look at a cheaper place to possibly rent. It's was a bit cheaper and a bit bigger but looked abandoned. The property had dead leaves everywhere and when I asked about screens for the windows, the guy told me I really didn't need them. Living here in summertime the bugs might as well have a blood donation van parked out front. On the second questioning and a silent response, I knew there were no screens.

I sat in it for a long time and thought to myself - anyone would snap this up, it's a good deal. I could use the extra space to work in; save a little cash. Sitting there, I went through a montage of the places I've lived in and a lot of them were like it. Rental properties where the owner is sorta there, will do the bare minimum and the reward is low rent.

Then I thought of the place I'm in now. It's well kept, there's a lot of life there (even if it is tourists) they're happy and the owner is definitely present bending over backwards to make it nice. There's a lot of love and you can feel it. It beams light as soon as you walk in. Something that I find priceless. I cannot go back to those abandoned homes - I want to be taken care of.

I went to one of my jobs where I work one day a week. The owner has been doing gangbuster business this year but she really works for it. They have an organic working style that shifts but is quite organized. They do a good job, are relaxed and welcoming. She asks me if I have everything I need cause they want to keep me happy and here - something I find amazing for a one day a week job.

"I have everything I need. I'm very happy to be here, in fact I love it." Let us know if you need anything and we'll make sure you get it she tells me. I cannot go back to abandoned businesses - I want to work hard for someone who cares.

Go to lunch with an old friend and meet a new one. The conversation is lively and interesting. After the visit, my old friend and I revel in the great group dynamic we just experienced.

It can be that easy, fun and stimulating. Those people are gems you cherish and appreciate the time you have together. When you surround yourself with peeps who aren't a drag or don't suck everything out of you; they can be like manna from heaven or maybe the scene in the Shawshank Redemption after Tim Robbins climbs out of the jail poop pipe he snaked through for hours. Glorious!

Hell, you might even get a chance to grow your business out of meeting such an individual which this week came so easily and naturally it was frightening. I will create space for myself - it pays off.

So here we are today. The pieces are moving and the sky is opening. A path is being created without force and I see it. A good bright orange DETOUR sign. As much as I loved where I've been, sometimes you realize it doesn't exactly match where you are now. In that instant, like tonight, I know it's time to say goodbye and it's not scary. It's just time.

Most people can't stand the void or staying still for that matter but it's then that your life is examined and change begins. Learning to be still creates movement in the right direction.

Time to get still and go with the motherfucking flow.