Right, I get it – clichés are, you know, so cliché, but I can’t seem to stop myself from using them from time to time, and events in my life over the past few months have solidified the old one about change starting with you.

Think about it. It really well and truly does, and when you firmly – and I do mean grab it and hold tight with both hands – realize that if you want your life to change for the better that it all starts with YOUR actions, YOUR words, understanding that you are in the driver’s seat (with God as your co-pilot, of course!) navigating your course – well, it’s a powerful feeling. You – controlling your own destiny. All it takes is you, putting one foot in front of the order, trying and sometimes succeeding (and sometimes failing) – and disabling the reverse gear permanently.

I live a simple life. Always have. But simple doesn’t have to be routine – and there comes a point when you come to the conclusion that your routine simply isn’t enough for you anymore. I’ve reached that point. YOLO and all that. My perspective on the present and the future has changed dramatically in recent weeks. Really looking forward to grabbing the bull by the horns in the coming weeks and months and exploring avenues I put off traveling on for years for one reason or the other. It starts now.

Question is: Will he, in turn, fall for her? Many, many, many pitfalls along the way …

Only thing missing is the cabana dude. ; )

Am I right or what?

And this post would not be complete without an obligatory beach sound effects video. Play the video, look at the above picture, and dream.

Come to think of it, as a writer that would be the ideal scene TO work, vacation or not…

Go, girl!

And, no, this doesn’t mean dressing like an old-fashioned schoolmarm. You can look incredible, sexy, classy … all at the same time. As the saying goes: “Respect yoself!”

Gone, but not forgotten:

Slideshow: Andy Griffith through the years

It’s only been in the last few years of my creative writing ventures that I’ve felt like I identified with “being an artist” – specifically, the infamous “tortured artist.” Now, let me make it clear that I do not consider myself to be especially gifted or “deep” when it comes to creative writing. I have never taken any formal classes nor had any other type of formal training, did not major in English in college, any of that stuff. I just know that I love writing – especially “old school” writing with a good old pen and notebook, and a few cushy, colored pillows piled around you while you work. Oh, and don’t forget the lemonade or iced tea nearby. Window open. Breeze blowing in.

Yes.

Anyway, how do I, as a writer “artist” who is not particularly gifted in that arena, identify with the “tortured artist”? I wrote (“micro-blogged”!)about it earlier today and tonight on Twitter:

Read a mind blowing quote from one of my book inspirations. Wish I could share it but then I’d have to reveal who it is. #CrypticTweets

I really hate to sound like such a sap, but that quote floored me – I literally gasped. Heart rate accelerated. Knees weakened. #moved

This sounds crazy, but I sort of know what they mean by “tortured artists’ whenever my creative writing spurts hit. : ) #craft

Some creative writing ideas just grab you in the gut and consume you. #craft

Any of you out there reading this who write, or paint, or sing, or act, sculpt, entertain, dance etc … is this not the absolute truth? In the last month or so I’ve picked up a notebook and pen and started writing my a** off. I’m too painfully shy to tell you what it’s about, and who/what my inspirations have been, but it’s just like an inferno that envelops you and you can’t shake it. In a good way.

I’m up at 3 in the morning sometimes putting pen to paper. It’s crazy.

But I love it. I’m not one of those depressed artist types who is unhappy about everything. To the contrary, I can’t wait to get all my ideas on paper and am excited as heck most of the time to just be in the frame of mind to write, and to have ideas with which to play off of.

So maybe I’m not so much “tortured” as I am an “antsy artist” – hmm?

Relax ….

In the meantime, a little R & R time is in order. Just in time for the weekend.

Lovely! Soothing and inspiring.

I like the color of my office (a soft buttery yellow color) and have been angling for a few months now to get some new office furniture (the set I currently have is over a decade old and severely worn) to change things up a bit and to get the creative juices flowing again. I can write about politics all day long but sometimes get into a bit of a “writer’s block” funk when it comes to creative writing, even with ideas swirling in my head.

The colors in the bright spare room pictured above are not colors I would be bold enough to pick for my own home! LOL. But it’s still a very nice look and conducive to letting your creative, softer side stand out.

Don’t have a good pic of my home office to show you (and am not taking one right now – it looks like a disaster area!) but I do have one of my outdoor office to share.

The outdoor home office of yours truly. ; )

Problematic for use on cooler days but on warmer days, it definitely works!

Raw heat, energy, passion. Unashamed of being big time alpha males who loved “hot women.” What’s not to like about this band?

From CeCe Peniston’s 1992 “Finally” album.