Happy New Year!  I think it must be time to make resolutions.  I've always looked upon this as an exercise in futility and one I refuse to participate in.  However, I've noticed that I do make a list without making a list. Primarily my resolutions are to exercise, get my tax stuff together early, spend less money and paint; not necessarily in that order.  I have set the Wii up, thought about the taxes and.....  

I think all people my age worry about money.  Time is running out and there's only so much to be had.  If we haven't saved by now, or inherited, we are up a creek.  I mostly worry rather than do anything about it.  Like yesterday, I went to the mall, which I rarely do for obvious reasons.  (Malls in the suburbs are worth an entry of their own.) I walked by the Jimmy Choo shoes, designer handbags, etc.  I felt pretty good that I wasn't even tempted by these items I may have coveted in the past. I bought some chocolate and a calendar for my daughter.  I didn't buy anything else, but what I really wanted was a Tesla.  Not a pair of shoes, mind you, but a fricking luxury electric vehicle.

Sometimes all the self knowledge in the world, is just that.  I see myself for what I am and I keep doing what I've always done; think I'm saving money while wanting something I do not need.   

Is is getting old or growing old?  All I know is that it's happening to me.  My dad use to say it beats the altenative, but who knows if that is true.  What I do know is that the time whizzes by and I think I know why. What use to take me 5 minutes now takes me about 30.  Now that the holidays are over, I'm trying to get the decorations down and put away.  I kind of go from project to project leaving a huge mess in my wake.  So the best example is today when I'm trying to take down the outside lights (I put them in the back yard so I could enjoy them).  While I'm taking the lights down, I step in dog shit.  So, I leave that and come inside to wash off my shoe.  I do it in the laundry room, but I can see very well because I took the light bulb out over the sink. (The people who bulit this house put one million overhead cans in and the electric bill was shocking; thus the removal of the bulb.)  Anyway, so I go to the basement to get the pole to put a light bulb in because the short ladder I already brought in is too short.  So, I get the bulb in and then I'm afraid it might not be tight and will fall on my dogs in the night.  So, I go get the taller ladder and double check the bulb.  Oops, one more ladder to put away and the goddamn pole.  Then I go to scrub my shoe and realize I can't see worth shit and have to find a pair of glasses.  

My point?  It took me at least a half hour, maybe more to do this.  But how long should it take to get dog shit off your shoe?  They say getting older really messes with your sense of time.  If this next year is going to fly by as quickly as the last one, I had better get to work making it worth it.  

I cannot believe how long it's been since I've written.  It's been a busy year.  Cooper's brother came to live with me so now I have two Cardigan's.  They are great companions, but still puppylike in much of their behavior. I've also moved again.  I have no excuse for that either.  Restless, I guess.  I went to a memorial for a high school classmate today.  I ran into someone (Hi Stan!) who said he had been reading my blog and asked if I was still painting.  I had no idea that people were actually reading this.  So, if you are, and I haven't heard from you in a while, post a comment.  

My studio is only half set up (as is the rest of the house).  I know the holidays are right around the corner.  I know I need to paint.  Otherwise the days are way too long. AS for writing here, well we shall see.  No excuses!

Wow, I haven't painted since November.  My excuses are the holidays and Cooper.  I got Cooper on January 21st and he was just 9 weeks old.  I added a picture of him on my bio.  I also have been to Italy and Croatia with my friend Megan who just go out of the Peace Corp (I also added a picture of us).  All in all, I've been busy, but I have no really good excuses for not painting.  However, at some point I prepared two canvases and today I actually put paint on one!

I've added another shore painting.  These paintings are very labor intensive, but I like the final product.  Sorry about the shine on the paintings, but dark days are here and the arificial light is kind of harsh.  Enjoy!