Just posted under the Art Center tab is an entertaining essay on one of my Art Center friends titled North Beach Leather. I wonder what she’s doing these days…

Although I don’t always add new images to Sky, I do always take pictures of this natural beauty. Just posted is an image taken in October. I was drawn to this one a few minutes ago for the specific reason in writing this entry. Change is not something that occurs sometimes or frequently. Change is constant. Therefore what do we see in change? That all depends on individual perspective.

For me, though it may be large or small, there is always a pathway to embark, a Way. Find it.

While attending Art Center, a Transportation Design instructor once said, “Designing the looks of a car is all about controlling it’s reflection.” At Art Center, our observation skills were sharpened in every sense. This included, but certainly not limited to: Line, Form, Placement, Positive/Negative Space, Scale, Proportion, object Light Source (type and direction), Surface/Finish, and so much more. The refinement of these skills definitely brought observation to a new level of visual scrutiny within each one of us.

There is something about reflection that absolutely captivates me.

The other day when I was readying my Steinway for morning play, a certain reflection caught my eye. After I removed its cover, opened the front lid, raised and positioned the sheet music stand, and opened its keyboard cover, this is what I saw.

For those who want to begin their day with some thoughts that got me pondering, check out the entry Expect the Unexpected found under the Musings tab. Note, it may send you into the same cognitive spiral it did for me. I’m ok though, just had to write it out, or did I ride it out?

They come and they go, months that is, as with everything else in our presence within linear time. Here we are, gratefully again in December. Not for any reason other than we’re here, you are reading this. My students were so excited yesterday because they knew that ‘tomorrow is December!’

There is something magical about this month, however this magic is sometimes overshadowed by memories of what/who once was. I am not at all discounting those individual memories because it is those memories that make us, us. That in itself is super cool!

Today is the first day of the last month of our year Two thousand, twenty-one. Yikes! I remember, what seems like yesterday, when I thought ‘the year Two Thousand was coming up!’ Now the year 2000 is ‘history’ to my students.

That’s fine.

I’m good with December 1, 2021 and look forward to what this day will deliver, to everyone. Be gettin’ ready!

I have expressed on this website before that worded statements should be stated or written with get instead of have. Here is the difference…

Today, I have to clean house. Boring! –

Today, I get to clean house. Awesome! +

There is a vast contrast in both sentences simply by changing one word. The first sentence conveys a negative connotation, a dreaded task. The second sentence indicates a first-world ‘problem’. Many people in this world don’t even have a place to live, so therefore I should be happy the opportunity is there! Framing thoughts and actions in a positive mode sets the tone for the speaker/writer, and the listener/reader.

For me, I’m just forever grateful that I opened my eyes this morning so that I get to clean house! Gratitude begins from the get-go, or so it should.

Just posted under the Art Center tab is an essay about one of my close friends, Lex. The story is a perfect testimony for the necessity of ensuring that what we hear is actually what was said.

Yes, on this day of Thanksgiving there is much more than we realize to be thankful for! Just posted under the Musings tab is a piece titled Friends Giving. It made me feel good to write, hopefully the same sentiment will be awarded to those who read it.

Yesterday morning I worked on an essay in which I was really satisfied with. Five hours later when it was finished, it posted. The story was from one of my humorous college memories while at Art Center. Six hours later I received a text from one of the essays’ referenced friends, and she let me know that my essay was not about the person I wrote about, it was her. Oh boy, talk about deflation! I immediately removed the essay from its posted location. For the most part the story’s details were correct but since the ‘main character’ was someone other than whom it centered around, then it changes to the story’s perspective need to be made.

Writing is a process, a craft, an art in itself. It is one I have consistently grown a greater appreciation for since I was a child. So it’s time for a re-write, oh well, that’s how it goes. Like any art form, even writing is a constant work in progress.

It has been an interesting 3 weeks for me. Sometimes super-charged up, and sometimes rather melancholy. I go through periods of feeling invincible. Invincible not in the literal sense, but in the figurative sense. Nothing I have done, but also everything I have done. In the afternoon hours of today, I am feeling quite finite. Because I am. Nothing that I have done, but also everything I have done. This feeling has provided somewhat of an uneasy internal mojo. I know what has made me feel like this though, and I have new tools to use in this very situation. It certainly goes beyond me however, for I am but a spec in the fabric of all that is. I have more than just words to help me, for these words reach deep within and call upon Him to shield me.