And that's how I justify buying myself flowers.

29540016, originally uploaded by unobservant_bird.

"Nothing is more necessary than the unnecessary." ~Guido's uncle, Life is Beautiful

A thousand fibers.

"We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects." ~Herman Melville

It's been a Jonah day.

The kind of day when all the little mistakes you didn't realize you had made in the last week...two weeks...month, catch up to you at the same time and throw themselves, mocking, into your face.

That kind of day.

But a new day follows today, and, Lord willing, there will be a new day even after that. And after enough new days have passed, maybe then I will have learnt wisdom.

Trying not to say anything.

"I try not to say anything with my art," the Artist Statement began. To which I laughed, because that's not the kind of thing one ought to admit to in an Artist Statement, not if one wants to be taken seriously.

And yet, I approach art in the very same way, which is why I have never considered myself to be an artist. I don't care so much about "saying something." If that means that I will never be called an artist, that's quite alright. Because it doesn't matter what lofty title I go by (or not), I will keep learning and keep creating; in the end all I really care about is offering a bit more beauty to those around me.

Random Photo + Happy Weekending.

Life is slipping quickly, quietly by. I'm staying busy and learning contentment in all things, doing my part to change those things that I can and trying to accept those things that can't, or won't, be changed...but keeping on praying that they'll change anyway.

Tonight I went to Final Friday with a few friends, the first time I've been in several years. I was secretly hoping to ride the trolley, but it kept coming by at the most inconvenient times, such as when we were nearing our destination. Maybe next month. Walking around the city on the night of a major art event, and on the eve of Halloween, opened my eyes to how very small and sheltered my world has become. The things and people we saw - oh! I loved it.

My Saturday plans were canceled at the last minute, and despite how much I was looking forward to them, I am now looking forward to spending the day working like mad on a few Christmas gifts. Which may be the story of all of my Saturdays between now and Christmas, since I lost track of time and am just now getting started making gifts.

Anyone have any thoughts on good handmade gifts to give men?