Thought for The Day - Quick Note about Technology

Us and tools! As much as I admit I'm in "recovery" as an artist - and I really am - I actually get some things done creatively and would be willing to share them. But I am equally frustrated with technology! Trying to get  quality images uploaded here and other social networks, the "experts" suggest using a digital camera, rather than my phone camera. Actually, the camera on my phone is pretty good, but that's beside the point! I'm trying to be a professional, here! Then there are the recommendations to put the image in certain format, that I have yet to do. And here recently, an unexpected update in my iPhoto software nearly trashed all of my images, making it nearly impossible to access the pictures of my work - and everything I've ever digitally photographed!

And that brings us to the "quick note" about technology. It's a tool, pure and simple. It's a level above hammers, chisels, screwdrivers and pliers. It's a small step above the sewing machine and crochet and knitting needles. And for those who skipped over those basic tools in favor of laptop keyboards or the digital keyboards on a tablet or iPad, the rudimentary tools mentioned above can be equally frustrating! It's rare, but I've seen people break hammers, pliers get stuck open or bend and thread completely clog a sewing machine. It is the woes of attempting to accomplish something, to make meaning in this world!

You know what? No matter the technology or the tool, the joys and pains go along with the journey to finding meaning and purpose in our world. And it is a long and arduous journey to that end!

Thought for The Day - Stuffed

Elastic 18 x 24 pastels

That means there's a lot inside; maybe too much...

I've had quite a few falls in the last year or so. Enough to have cause for concern. An old back injury has reared it's ugly head again. Typically, it's like a gentle reminder where I get a little twinge of pain in my lower back and I go to my tried and true "Superman" stretch. But not this time; this time the pain is gigantic and is stretched over a number of days. When it's this bad, pain meds don't quite do it. The pain is a constant reminder how severe this can be.

There doesn't seem to be enough time in the day, week, month or year to get the creative projects completed. My head is full of ideas, but "normal life" will not be denied it's time as well. So laundry, grocery shopping, repairs and 9-5 rule the day. I squeeze in an hour every now and then, on a weekend, between running errands and cleaning.

In a given day, miniature 'epiphanies' come to me. I've been in a habit of writing the thoughts down because I know I have a poor memory and anything beyond a few minutes and that "important" impression is gone. I have the equivalent of disconnected, scattered thoughts and ideas all over the place. Hastily written while at work, stored on a flash drive, in the cloud and the occasional typed and printed notes that find their way into my travel bag.

Then there is the demands of the 9 to 5

And the thoughts about the future I desire

And the growing debt crisis - student loans that make my mortgage look like a credit card bill

And...

And...

Yeah, pretty much full

Is there a solution? How will this be resolved? I don't know, I just try to keep up as best I can.