Sometimes, I let the inner cacophony block me from getting things done. Often that little weevil masquerades as confusion. My mind wanders and eventually I give in to procrastination. I imagine confusion is just another way to procrastinate. At the end of the day nothing has been done and I am left feeling sad I could'nt accomplish what I wanted. I'm afraid I do have a bit of a problem concentrating. I'm like a dog chasing a squirrel who sees something shiny and wants to chase that too. Wanting both the car and the shiny thing, the dog sits in the middle of the road until the danger of an oncoming bus stirs it from it's inertia. I've read about how to cure or at least deal with procrastination. Making lists, setting a specific time aside to accomplish a task, don't get distracted by the internet. All of those suggestions are rubbish is you can't keep a promise to yourself. It all comes down to keeping a promise to yourself. If you write something on the list you have to commit to doing it. I suppose it comes down to how much value you put on your time and what you want to accomplish. In the past I've found that if I: 1. write it down it things more likely to get done.. 2. review my list I know what needs to happen. 3. I know where I'm heading the tasks take on more purpose. I try to keep these things in mind but it is a constant struggle. But, really, in the end - if you can't keep a promise to yourself you won't accomplish a thing. Luckily, I know people who are very helpful and keep me on track. We're on the move again. Just set to jet off to England. I am looking forward to a festive Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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I was able to spend the day with my Dad on Thanksgiving Day. As I have said before, he's getting up there in years. This makes two years in a row I was able to spend Thanksgiving with Dad and Peggy. These like times get more precious as age has not only taken a foothold but has begun to effect noticeable changes. I suppose you can only hold the whole thing together so long. This Thanksgiving I feel grateful I've been able to spend more time around Dad. I've actually spent more time around him in the last 6 months or so than I have since I was 19 years old. As we get on with our own lives and get absorbed with work and play and other necessities. I keep thinking about Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle". With my own very wonderful children I try to be available but not meddling. If they need me I will be there but I don't want to interfere. They both have fun and interesting lives. I am grateful for the relationships in my life. I have been fortunate to have some very good friends and a wonderful family. I am also very grateful for the people in my life who teach me self-control, patience and compassion. I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving. I did. This last February we were in England for a family funeral. It was a difficult time as you might expect. There was also lots of down time. To stave off boredom and not dwell on the situation too much, I picked up my iPad and a stylus and started drawing. It was so much fun — the drawing not the funeral. No great expectations were floating around in my head because I hadn’t done much drawing on the iPad up until then. It was only to pass the time. Turns out I really enjoyed drawing on the iPad. My hands didn't get dirty, there was no washing up afterwards and I didn't get chastised for getting paint on the floors / walls / ceiling / anywhere it wasn't supposed to be. I have to tell you, if you have a the slightest bit of Alizarin Crimson oil paint anywhere on your body it will show up in the most unlikely and unwanted places. Then you end up having to scrub the sheets, the floors, and your body with paint thinner. I wasn't a very popular person that day. It was exciting to get used to how the stylus did it’s thing against the iPad. Learning mode is fun. Have you ever heard of an artist called David Hockney? He’s pretty well known. Hockney was part a gaggle that slummed with Andy Warhol at his famous “Factory” in the 1960s. He says he draws something on his iPad every morning and sends it to his friends. The inspiration to draw on my iPad came from his practice. What a great idea! I started out doing a drawing a day. It lasted about three months and then became a bit much. Plus, I got side-tracked a bit. My dad’s getting on in years - he’s got 89 of ‘em stacked one behind the other right now. Inevitably, at that age, things start to go a bit haywire. We're in the process of moving to Sun City Grand in Arizona to be close to dad and help out if needed. I’m lucky I can pick up and move here to be closer to him. Over the last couple of months I’ve started settle down a bit and have got back on track with the writing, drawing and postings. It feels pretty good to be back in the saddle. My goal is to post a drawing and some thoughts once a week. That seems sustainable. I guess sometimes they’ll be more complex than others but I hope they’ll all be enjoyable. Sustainable, to me, is better than something that I might burn out on. This little drawing is inspired by Sun City Grand. Jeremiah may have been a bullfrog and he might have been able to drink some really fine wine but he couldn't chase and catch a ball. Scout is a very good friend of mine though and I don't often understand what he says and he does some really confusing things all the time. Sometimes he zigs when he should zag. Sometimes he's the ornery cuss who steals my shoes and won't give them back. However, he is always excited to see me and loves to fetch a ball. Scout is getting on in years now. I think he's about 10 and that's pretty old for a Cocker Spaniel. He's not my dog but he owns two other humans. They take really good care of him. I'm sure he appreciates them. They treat him like a king and I'm sure he deserves it. I did a little drawing of him cause I was thinking of him at the time. I am grateful for our friends and I am grateful they let us watch their dogs at times when they've gone away. Dogs add a real presence to a house and they are missed when they're gone. Why is that? It really doesn't matter. I just like it. Do you really have to have a reason for liking something. You either like it or you don't. So I give this drawing to you for your amusement and pleasure. This is Scout, my friend. I can't wait to see him again. Scout has a really good friend named Jasper. A story for another occasion. Today is Scout's day. BTW - I happen to get called Scout - a lot. He sometimes gets called Scott, I hope he's not offended. |
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