So, per Havi's suggestion, I'm going to try an experiment on Leap Day by test-driving a shift in my thinking.
Recently when a friend answered "well enough" to "how's it going?," I laughed in recognition because it's a phrase I've taken to saying much of the past year. Then I considered why I am so reluctant to say "good" or "well."
I'm trying to consider my life objectively. It could really be better and part of me wants to honor the truth of that. Mostly I think I don't want the people close to me to think things are better than they are. I can't say that saying "well enough" has really made any kind of difference though as far as they are concerned. It does not generally lead to follow up questions or concern or support. What it does accomplish is that it keeps me focused on what's wrong rather than what's right or is actually going well all things considered.
No matter how flawed things may seem or feel, I live in a first world country in which I have a place to live, clean water, food to eat, health insurance, internet access, and cable TV among other things. I am rich compared to most people on the planet.
Are there myriad people more affluent than I am? Absolutely. But perhaps things are not so bad as they feel when I insist on saying, "Well enough."
So for Leap Day, if someone asks how I am or how it's going, I will answer, "Good, thanks," (or "well" if I'm feeling grammatical) assuming nothing is seriously awry.
What idea or behavior would you like to shift for the Day of Leap?
A year ago on TTaT: Wonder Woman: The Circle
29 February 2012
26 February 2012
I, Tut: The Boy Who Became Pharaoh
12. I, Tut: The Boy Who Became Pharaoh by Miriam Schlein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A children's book about Tutankhamun written from Tut's point of view. It's like he's telling a friend about a series of days from his life to let him/her know what it was like. It's effective and an enjoyable read.
The illustrations are Egyptian style. I liked most of them though some were a little too simplified for my taste.
Recommended for a kid interested in ancient Egypt. The book conveys a fair amount of facts through its story.
Two years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #3
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A children's book about Tutankhamun written from Tut's point of view. It's like he's telling a friend about a series of days from his life to let him/her know what it was like. It's effective and an enjoyable read.
The illustrations are Egyptian style. I liked most of them though some were a little too simplified for my taste.
Recommended for a kid interested in ancient Egypt. The book conveys a fair amount of facts through its story.
Two years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #3
24 February 2012
Life of Art SitRep #107 Perspective
Every week, I work towards creating a life of art for myself. This is the zigzag filled journey.
Play along in the comments with your own pursuits if you'd like. (That's where I'll cheer you on.)
This week, I
Created a Yellow and Black Chevrons design and product line. I was thinking caution tape, but it seems my new design is more properly reminiscent of hazard tape.
Made 8 templates for new products available in my shop: Throw Pillows, Placemats, Napkins, Kitchen Towels. I'm not going to offer every photograph and design in my shop on these, but the ones that suit them are a fun addition.
Added 47 of the new products as appropriate from my digital designs. More to come!
Wrote a review for my Double Arch stickers.
Yes, I feel a little weird about reviewing my own product, but I mentioned it was my photograph and Zazzle keeps sending me emails to review things I've purchased. Also, they've implemented their reviews in a tremendously inconvenient way. In an idiotic move, reviews for other seller's stickers show up below my product and they will be in the forefront if my product has no reviews of its own. This means there can be bad reviews that have nothing to do with my design below my products. ARgh!
Anyway, I really do like how my stickers came out, so I feel good about recommending them.
Rocklawn Arts blogged New Red and Black Chevrons design and New design, Yellow and Black Chevrons.
Rearranged Rocklawn Arts store a bit.
Posted 60 products to promotional blogs.
Tweeted a President's Day sale, tweeted and FB'd Red and Black Chevrons and Yellow and Black Chevrons links.
Got my Puffy Clouds On Blue Sky necklace featured on the lens, Soaring High.
Renamed photo files in 4 folders.
Two years ago on TTaT: There's only so much weight a tree can hold Ooh, a video of winter! The ground has been nearly bare most of this winter. May get a bit of snow tonight though.
Play along in the comments with your own pursuits if you'd like. (That's where I'll cheer you on.)
*******
So, 4 new product types became available for designs this week, but I didn't kill myself adding them to all of my existing designs. I started but I let 47 of the new products be enough. It let me attend to some other things that don't always feel productive but are part of the bigger picture. Felt good to make progress on those. One piece of a longterm project is almost done, yay! Also, the doing felt faster with more downtime somehow. Not sure how that happened exactly but I dig it. More refreshed I suppose.This week, I
Yes, I feel a little weird about reviewing my own product, but I mentioned it was my photograph and Zazzle keeps sending me emails to review things I've purchased. Also, they've implemented their reviews in a tremendously inconvenient way. In an idiotic move, reviews for other seller's stickers show up below my product and they will be in the forefront if my product has no reviews of its own. This means there can be bad reviews that have nothing to do with my design below my products. ARgh!
Anyway, I really do like how my stickers came out, so I feel good about recommending them.
*******
How are your pursuits going?Two years ago on TTaT: There's only so much weight a tree can hold Ooh, a video of winter! The ground has been nearly bare most of this winter. May get a bit of snow tonight though.
21 February 2012
My kind of dream
When I was getting dressed this morning, a dream fragment came vividly back to mind.
I was in some sort of open office setting. I was at my desk but there were other people around working as well.
An old woman, perfectly coiffed and impeccably dressed in a grey skirt suit, accessorized with pearls, approached. Probably an actress I plucked from my memory. Charlotte's first husband's mother from Sex and the City comes to mind as does Frances Sternhagen (Brenda's mom on The Closer) although not with her voice. In any case, I sensed she was the owner of the business where I was working.
In a smooth, deep voice (Kathleen Turner's?), she asked, "What are you trying to convey to other people with your attire?"
Wearing my usual cargo pants, t-shirt and long sleeve t-shirt over it, I knew what she was getting at, but I was unfazed. I matter-of-factly answered, "Nothing. I don't care what anyone thinks."
Sometimes it's refreshing when you just don't care. I had no concern about losing my job or anxiety towards the group of workers now standing with my boss around me. I didn't even fear that she was going to inflict a dress code on me. It was a stress-free moment of truth, and because it was, my coworkers were nonplussed and the old woman was speechless.
Two years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 4 <-Ooh, this is a good one.
I was in some sort of open office setting. I was at my desk but there were other people around working as well.
An old woman, perfectly coiffed and impeccably dressed in a grey skirt suit, accessorized with pearls, approached. Probably an actress I plucked from my memory. Charlotte's first husband's mother from Sex and the City comes to mind as does Frances Sternhagen (Brenda's mom on The Closer) although not with her voice. In any case, I sensed she was the owner of the business where I was working.
In a smooth, deep voice (Kathleen Turner's?), she asked, "What are you trying to convey to other people with your attire?"
Wearing my usual cargo pants, t-shirt and long sleeve t-shirt over it, I knew what she was getting at, but I was unfazed. I matter-of-factly answered, "Nothing. I don't care what anyone thinks."
Sometimes it's refreshing when you just don't care. I had no concern about losing my job or anxiety towards the group of workers now standing with my boss around me. I didn't even fear that she was going to inflict a dress code on me. It was a stress-free moment of truth, and because it was, my coworkers were nonplussed and the old woman was speechless.
Two years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 4 <-Ooh, this is a good one.
19 February 2012
REALLY!?! Keep your laws off my body!
REALLY!?! with Seth & Amy on SNL last night very well summed up my ire towards men who are hell-bent on abolishing women's reproductive rights.
A year ago on TTaT: Frank O. Gehry: Outside In
A year ago on TTaT: Frank O. Gehry: Outside In
17 February 2012
Life of Art SitRep #106 Windmills
Every week, I work towards creating a life of art for myself. This is the zigzag filled journey.
Play along in the comments with your own pursuits if you'd like. (That's where I'll cheer you on.)
This week, I
Created Red and Black Chevrons design and made a product line of it:
Made a couple versions of a design I'm working on, but I'm still undecided about which way to go with it.
Rearranged store a bit.
Zazzle blog post Foto Friday! on 2/10/12 includes my Red Dianthus with Raindrops stamps with a link to them.
Renamed photo files in 5 folders.
Posted 37 products to promotional blogs. Still doing posts to my Rocklawn Arts blog manually so formatting for tweets and squidoo lenses will look better.
Watched great tutorial "It's All About the Jaw" by Peter Hurley. If you want a strong jawline in photographs, watch this! Essentially move your forehead forward and down to clean up your jawline. If the shot is more profile, move your ear towards camera.
Watched "reDefine 111 : An interview with Portrait Photographer Sue Bryce"
Watched video tutorial "How To Use The Synchronize Command in Adobe Camera RAW"
Watched about 1/2 of Christa Meola's Boudoir workshop on Creative Live.
Read Christa Meola's "The Pro Photographer Manifesto: 10 Habits of Successful Pros."
A year ago on TTaT: Worth: internal or external?
Play along in the comments with your own pursuits if you'd like. (That's where I'll cheer you on.)
*******
This week was a roller coaster of anger, frustration, anxiety, and finally calm resignation towards something I was not able to change. Maybe not so calm as I can feel the frustration nipping at the edge of my thoughts. It's done though, my protestations at any rate. Of note is that working to create something new distracted me and made me feel best. When all else fails, focus on the work.This week, I
*******
How are your pursuits going?A year ago on TTaT: Worth: internal or external?
16 February 2012
If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't)
9. If You Ask Me: And of Course You Won't by Betty WhiteMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A quick enjoyable read. I read it in 2 sittings. After the first half, I was thinking I'd give it a 3 for the Hollywood anecdotes typical of many celebrity memoirs, but while reading the second half which has a few contemplative bits, I felt it merited a 4.
Her positive outlook was a restorative reminder for me on a couple of days when I was feeling down.
The book contains lots of great photos spanning much of her life and career. I was pleased to discover I have a couple of things in common with Betty White. I'd like to have a few more.
Two years ago on TTaT: Ancient Muscle Memory
12 February 2012
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs
8. Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs : A Souvenir Book by Zahi A. HawassMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A slim volume but full of well captioned photographs of ancient Egyptian artifacts from an exhibit which I got to see. A very cool reminder of that day in Philadelphia.
The text covers Tutankhamun's life as well as the results of a CT scan of his mummy. Those images are both really interesting and kind of creepy. Either way, yay for science.
Two years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #1 woo!
09 February 2012
Life of Art SitRep #105 Enough
Every week, I work towards creating a life of art for myself. This is the zigzag filled journey.
Play along in the comments with your own pursuits if you'd like. (That's where I'll cheer you on.)
This week, I
Created Red and White Chevrons design and product line.
Blogged New Red and White Chevrons design:
Check out the complete collection of Red and White Chevrons products.
Revised one of my designs when I figured out a more efficient way to make it and started a couple others.
Posted 44 products to promotional blogs. Started doing posts to my Rocklawn Arts blog manually so formatting for tweets and squidoo lenses will look better.
Tweeted, FB'd new product line Red and White Chevrons.
Rearranged store a bit.
Renamed photo files in 9 folders.
Finished reading Photographer's Survival Manual: A Legal Guide for Artists in the Digital Age.
First time I've posted on this day since I started blogging in 2005, woo! Not sure why but I'm always excited to come across these rare dates I haven't posted on before.
Play along in the comments with your own pursuits if you'd like. (That's where I'll cheer you on.)
*******
Enough was the word of the week. I let one new design for my shop be enough which let me attend to other matters. Finding some balance this year it seems, or at least learning to stop when I should stop on occasion.This week, I
Check out the complete collection of Red and White Chevrons products.
*******
How are your pursuits going?First time I've posted on this day since I started blogging in 2005, woo! Not sure why but I'm always excited to come across these rare dates I haven't posted on before.
08 February 2012
Photographer's Survival Manual: A Legal Guide for Artists in the Digital Age
6. Photographer's Survival Manual: A Legal Guide for Artists in the Digital Age by Edward C. GreenbergMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you want to learn how to register your images with the Copyright office, this book has a very good step-by-step walk through. It also explains the legal reasons you should register your images and what your rights are. Also included are chapters on releases, and contracts and invoices with examples.
The authors (including a trial lawyer who's argued many copyright infringement cases) are good at making legalese understandable and pointing out which phrases are key to include or avoid.
I do wish they had included more details about registering published images. If everything you've put on the web is published (arguable but the stance they take), then it'd be helpful to walk through that registration process in more depth. (Their walk through focuses more on the much simpler process for unpublished images.)
The book includes sample release forms which you can use, but it would have been great if they'd put them on the web somewhere along with some of their other contract examples. It's all well and good to tell the reader to leave a half page of legal text just the way it is, but it's not so simple to type it out exactly.
Still, it's a very good and informative read on legal issues that affect the businesses and livelihoods of photographers (and other visual artists). Just wish it were longer.
A year ago on TTaT: Bleck
07 February 2012
Last day for Worldbuilders fundraiser for Heifer International!
Worldbuilders is a fundraiser run by scifi/fantasy author Pat Rothfuss to raise money for the fantastic charity Heifer International. Heifer provides goats, heifers, bees, chicks, and other animals as well as training to take care of them to people in need. Recipients pass on offspring to other members in their community, a gift that keeps on giving if you will.
The cool thing about donating through Worldbuilders is that Pat will match 50% of your donation. Well, that's not all that's cool. For each $10 you donate, you get an entry into a massive raffle including over 1000 "books, comics, DVD’s and other cool miscellany." Most of it leans to scifi and fantasy genres. Even if you don't read it, I'm sure you know someone who does.
To check out the swag, visit the Worldbuilders main page for links to all the goodies.
The fundraiser ends tonight, February 7th at 11:59PM, CST, so head on over to Pat's team page for Heifer International and get your donation in!
(I know times are tough for a lot of people. I couldn't afford to give as much as I'd like this year, but I got my parents to match my donation, so you know, think outside the box. :)
Two years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 2
The cool thing about donating through Worldbuilders is that Pat will match 50% of your donation. Well, that's not all that's cool. For each $10 you donate, you get an entry into a massive raffle including over 1000 "books, comics, DVD’s and other cool miscellany." Most of it leans to scifi and fantasy genres. Even if you don't read it, I'm sure you know someone who does.
To check out the swag, visit the Worldbuilders main page for links to all the goodies.
The fundraiser ends tonight, February 7th at 11:59PM, CST, so head on over to Pat's team page for Heifer International and get your donation in!
(I know times are tough for a lot of people. I couldn't afford to give as much as I'd like this year, but I got my parents to match my donation, so you know, think outside the box. :)
Two years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 2
03 February 2012
Life of Art SitRep #104 That's two
Every week, I work towards creating a life of art for myself. This is the zigzag filled journey.
Play along in the comments with your own pursuits if you'd like. (That's where I'll cheer you on.)
This week, I
Created a Black and White Chevrons pattern and product line:
Check out the complete collection of Black and White Chevrons products.
RA blogged, Tweeted, FB'd Black and White Chevrons.
Finished making 27 new Rickshaw messenger bags, planners, iPad sleeves, macbook air sleeves, macbook pro sleeves, and water bottles for remaining photographs as appropriate.
Rearranged store a bit.
RA blogged Folios now available from Rocklawn Arts! and New iPad Sleeves at Rocklawn Arts.
Posted 32 products to promotional blogs.
Tweeted some sales, new products and design.
Updated coupons on squidoo lenses Rocklawn Arts and American Southwest scenes as needed.
Watched Photoshop tutorials: "How To Set Your Camera’s White Balance In Post" and "How Create A Simple Page Curve."
A year ago on TTaT: Petersen's Guide to Architectural Photography
Play along in the comments with your own pursuits if you'd like. (That's where I'll cheer you on.)
*******
Actually encountered the feeling of having done enough this week. Sort of odd that. Freed me up to ponder some next steps and have a bit of fun. Curious to see where next week leads.This week, I
Check out the complete collection of Black and White Chevrons products.
*******
How are your pursuits going?A year ago on TTaT: Petersen's Guide to Architectural Photography
01 February 2012
Remarkable Places: Explore the beauty of nature's hidden places
5. Remarkable Places: Explore the beauty of nature's hidden places by Parragon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An excellent collection of photographs of fascinating places with informative captions. The book is an overview of natural wonders, ancient civilizations, and monuments/buildings carved from rock. If you want more than basic stats and background, you'll need to investigate further, but this book is a fun introduction to a lot of amazing places on Earth.
I was familiar with many of the locations, but there were several that were new to me which was cool. There's a handy index of the sites at the back.
Sorry there's no picture, I had to add this book to GoodReads as it was. My parents picked this book up from The Christmas Tree Shop for me (for xmas) when they couldn't find a good photo book about Petra for me. I'm a fan of most ruins and natural wonders, so this was a great alternative. A very enjoyable slim volume.
A year ago on TTaT: The Blue Shirt, Icicle Branches
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An excellent collection of photographs of fascinating places with informative captions. The book is an overview of natural wonders, ancient civilizations, and monuments/buildings carved from rock. If you want more than basic stats and background, you'll need to investigate further, but this book is a fun introduction to a lot of amazing places on Earth.
I was familiar with many of the locations, but there were several that were new to me which was cool. There's a handy index of the sites at the back.
Sorry there's no picture, I had to add this book to GoodReads as it was. My parents picked this book up from The Christmas Tree Shop for me (for xmas) when they couldn't find a good photo book about Petra for me. I'm a fan of most ruins and natural wonders, so this was a great alternative. A very enjoyable slim volume.
A year ago on TTaT: The Blue Shirt, Icicle Branches
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