St. Pat's

So creeping in on St. Pat's. Still finding it next to impossible to keep up with writing in this thing. You see, I really tried to be a writer and failed with the book I wrote and have been a real sissy about the writing process since. Distractions come too easy and frustration even easier. Weak, I know.

On my mind;

• Angus had knee surgery so we're doing bulldog rehab
• PITT hoops, the lads will go deep into the NCAA's
• website redesign
• new series of paintings

Quick Picks

Hillary v. McCain in November with Hillary Clinton getting the win. Right now I couldn't be happier with it.

I thought the handles seemed small

or Is choosing a brush the same as choosing a President?

I bought a paint brush made by Z¡bra have been using it for the past week. Usually I like Wooster brushes, Allpro's are ok and everything else is prety much garbage. This Z¡bra however has REALLY smooth bristles and loads like crazy. I can't seem to get a decent grip on the thing though and I just found out why. http://www.enjoyzibra.com/ Apparently this company was founded by women, to design products for women. Maybe I'm overthinking things but whenever I think about voting for Hillary I get the same feeling as when I pick up a Z¡bra brush. It works well and performs like I want it too but just feels funny. This is that stupid, "I want to vote for I candidate I'd like to have a beer with." idea that led the suckers to vote for W. Twice. (hurts to write that)

Presently, I've been thinking about the future as a means of improving my past.

or (a preemtive strike against the oncoming tide of new year's resolutions.)

a recap from last year . . .Friday, January 5, 2007 . . . including progress updates.

New Year's Resolutions
Topic: Resolutions

I figure if I post these online I'll be more likely to stick to them. I'm open to suggestions anyone might have. I'll post my progress monthly.

ART
• finish all the projects already started. FAILED

• focus on one new project at a time then finish it before starting another. FAILED

• heavily promote myself and the art. FAILED

• line up a gallery show for the fall. FAILED

• finish at least 2 paintings a month. FAILED


PHYSICAL
• improve diet. FAILED

• exercise 5 times a week. FAILED

• drop 30 lbs to go from a 27.9 bmi to 23.7, or 200 to 170 lbs. FAILED


FINANCIAL
• start a career already. FAILED

• pay down debt. SUCCEEDED

• Assess retirement savings and adjust accordingly. SUCCEEDED


SPIRITUAL
• More Sabbath . . . and LOUDER. SUCCEEDED

• Return to Dagobah and complete my Jedi training with Master Yoda. FAILED




As you can see I have a lot of work to do. I'll make more progress this year if I can be more honest with myself and stick to the bloody plan already. I'm already feeling better about the whole thing. Right. Let's get started.

focus?

"Way out in the water, see it swimming." (frank black, "where is my mind")

Maybe the story of this year is one of a lack of focus.

Elvis sleeps well tonight (or, if a flea jumps halfway to the wall, over and over, does he ever reach it?)

6 days in Vegas. I went out for a wedding last week and stayed at the Monte Carlo. I still have no idea what to think of Vegas. I was extremely let down in some ways and equally overwhelmed in others. Two things are for sure, 1. I'll go back, 2. I'll bring my stuffed Tigger with me (and more money).

So Elvis was a hero to most, but that's beside the point. Elvis is not impersonated by Elvis impersonators. Elvis impersonators impersonate other Elvis impersonators. It's like when you make a copy of a copy of a copy. Eventually the subtle degradation adds up and corrupts the image. Elvis was probably the greatest Elvis impersonator of all time. He kept up the facade for quite a while before the stress finally got to him.

If Elvis impersonators impersonate Elvis impersonators and Elvis really only ever impersonated himself, then did "Elvis" ever really exist? Maybe "Elvis" only really ever existed in the mind of a 10 year old Elvis. Maybe the best way to impersonate Elvis is to impersonate a 10 year old Elvis imagining he's really Elvis. Bill Clinton is the greatest living Elvis impersonator. Elvis is the all time greatest Elvis impersonator.

Chips impersonate money. Dealers impersonate your friends. The pit bosses do a great job of impersonating your 4th grade English teacher during an exam and look very silly doing it. Casino waitresses impersonate real waitresses. Casinos impersonate Disney World (badly) and Disney World does a great job of impersonating a casino. (the following are hotel/casinos in vegas) "The Venetian" impersonates a Target store in Venice. "Paris" impersonates Disney's "Lady and the Tramp" movie-on acid. "New York, New York" impersonates a big headache, and does so quite well I might add. The lobby of the "Bellagio" impersonates Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. I met a little person there and almost asked him to sing the Umpa Lumpa song. Sidewalks in Vegas impersonate real sidewalks, however they're neither on the "side" nor are they suitable for walking. The ceilings in most of the new buildings impersonate the sky quite well.

The only real thing in all of Vegas is McDonalds. The McDonalds in Vegas is impersonated by every other McDonalds in the world.

what did you say?

Here's to busting eardrums. More to come. . .