Okay, it's Wednesday, I know...
But I had this idea last night so there you go.

I've been feeling like the 'ole blog has been neglected lately.  This is mostly due to the fact that I've been working on the book and I can't really post pictures of that project since it's intended for publication.  But I still want to share with you what's going on, so I came up with the idea for a weekly blog feature called "Tuesday Museday".

On Tuesdays (or thereabouts), I'll give you an update in words along with some other random life photos.  Sound like a plan?  Is that something you'd be interested in?...

Okay.  So I finished the first page and it went really well once I switched to canvas.  I began page two and then we had the floors installed and following that I was sick, so that put a wrench in the works.  I rallied though and pushed forward.  After two solid weeks of working and re-working page two, I finally arrived at the conclusion that page two may well be the ugliest thing I've ever painted.  There's no saving it.  It's wrong on every level imaginable.  So it goes the way of "deleted scenes".

This week I have a much better outlook after freeing myself of the page two dead-weight.  I've moved onto backgrounds for a couple of other pages (opting to come back to page two at a later date).  Because these pages are just sky right now, they're going really well.  I have my Buddha Bar music playing, my candle of intention is lit, and I'm in "the zone".  Today is a good day.

I figure I'll continue to work on the book exclusively until sometime in April.  Then I'll mix it up by working on the book and other canvases, which I will be able to show you.

Even though I'm still at the beginning stages, this has been such an interesting endeavor.  It's really pushing me out of my comfort zone and I like that.  When you just paint one canvas you can pretty much do what you want.  But when you have text that you're married to, it sort of dictates what needs to go on the page.  And if it's not something you've ever done before... well, there's not a lot you can do except figure out a way to make it work.  Every effort may not be successful, but that's all part of the process and I'm proud of myself for taking this on.

We've been in a holding pattern for the past several months due to the floor installation, but now they're finally done and I thought you might like to see the progress...

As you can see, they were able to lay the moisture barrier, padding, and wood
directly over our old tile floor.

A bunch of moving furniture about and voila!  Finished!

I seriously LOVE this floor!  It's so warm and soft and NOT peach.

Theodore's pretty happy, too.
(We know this because he sticks his tongue out to indicate sheer joy... seriously.)

I've been side-lined as of late with some sort of bacterial/viral infection of the GI tract.  The doctors can't seem to figure out what it is and I'm doing my best to climb out of it.  Nothing like an art show to lift my spirits, though!

I'm really excited to be participating in Cactus Gallery's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"...

Sandra, the owner, requested heart-themed artwork
and you know that's right up my alley!

The show runs from February 11 - March 6
and the reception is this Saturday from 7 pm - 10 pm.

I'm planning to attend just as long as my stomach cooperates.
Please join me if you're so inclined!

Well, truth be told I actually finished these near the end of last year, but it took me a while to get them photographed and onto the computer.  So I think they count as new this year, don't you?

The Outing
28" x 22"

Saturday Night
28" x 22"

I'm so excited to share them with you.  I hope you enjoy them!

So, I seem to have this problem.  It's a recurring issue and it happens every year at this time. 

I have this fantasy that I will greet the new year feeling refreshed and energized.  Everything will be checked off my to do list, files will be purged and organized, and the previous year's photos will be categorized and archived.  I'll effortlessly calculate and pay the state the sales tax I've collected (never mind the fact that they keep changing the tax rates AND the forms).  I will have spent generous amounts of time during the holidays working in my art journal, making sculptures out of paperclay, knitting scarves, and crocheting blankets.  I will have furthered my vegan meal repertoire tenfold and will have dreamed up unique ways to surprise my husband with romantic dates.  I will have volunteered my time to local animal rights groups and become fluent in French (don't ask).  And oh yes, and I will have my new fitness regime firmly in hand.

Am I alone?...  Please tell me I'm not alone.  I don't know where this fantasy comes from.  I do recognize that it is, in fact, a fantasy.  Yet every single year I persist in believing that if I only work hard enough and organize my time better, it can't help but come to pass.

But here I sit, feeling overwhelmed and a bit like I've been run over by a convoy of tractor trailers.  Alas, I have my lists (five at last count) and I'm making headway.  Thank heaven for whomever invented the list.  At least I feel like if I can check one thing off a day, I'm making progress, however small.

Enough lamenting though.  Here's what I want to share with you...

My 2012 Carnival of Dreams calendar is here!  (Actually, it has been for quite some time... I just couldn't find it in a store.)  My girlfriend Jennifer snapped this photo at The Booksellers at Laurelwood.  I'm not sure where else they might turn up but if you see them, please leave me a comment.  I love hearing that they're out in the world and better yet, that you might be enjoying one.