Meanwhile...

OK  ...so I am neither "in Gotham City," nor am I entirely certain how to encapsulate everything that has taken place since I last visited with you, here :-\  Sufficed to say:  I am upright and mobile.  In spite (one might argue, because) of crushing losses, joyful discoveries, and having 'gone to ground' for a bit, I emerge refreshed and re-focused on tackling my 'to-do' list(s) with greater fervor!

...how true is this?
*from Urban Poetry - link below*

There is something so very humbling about remembrance...  Whether it comes from happy times shared, wisdom gained, long-lost friends rediscovered, exciting plans for a lost future, or a sudden absence following apparent improvement.  Some of my 'time away' *nay, the majority* was invested in the realizations borne of remembrance.  The World might not have stumbled due to their departure, but my world is both tangibly smaller and more richly patina'd having had to say good bye to JM, PS, JM, GM, and DF.  You are all missed!

When I find myself in need of 'unplugging' for a while, my 'go to' comfort zone is a good book *read:  a quick, cheap, and easy escape*.  I have read a seemingly incredible number of books in the past two months -- I will get the Shelfari up to date, this week!  ...just in time for you to hit the library before the long weekend -- in case 'one last hurrah!' isn't in the cards for your Memorial Day weekend.  As much as I yearn to be 'beach-bound,' I don't see that happening this year :-\  *OH, do tell me what YOU have been reading!?!*

Very cool happenings on the creativity front!  In July, I shared my fanatical research and experimentation of Homemade Alcohol Ink Spray with my friends in the CMMAG.  As is often the case with such a group, there was a palpable sense of "A-HA!" in the room -- Great interest, great questions that spurred some experimentation of their own!  My testing and documentation continues *with no apparent end in sight!*  I truly do not mean to tease you, gentle reader, but the wait will be just a tad longer for more/better photos :-?  They are coming, tho'!

The latest batch of Homemade Alcohol Inks,
ready for decanting into sprayers.

Speaking of 'the Guild Gals', we have an amazing array of cool, arty things going on in the final months of 2011, be sure to visit Creativity Rocks! for all the latest.  I am working on a project that will travel around the WORLD!  Exciting news on the teaching front is coming, too!  *OH, MY!*  Publication news is brewing!  New work in the works!  The Quest for Floor continues, and long-lost real estate is being recovered weekly!  The Girl is back in school *Go Pirates!*, and looking to repeat her appearance on the Dean's List *w00t!*  The Man is pounding code like mad, and his genius is evident daily!  We're not running around starving and 'nekkid'; despite not having reached the status of Goddess, I have been fully functional in the Domestic Dept.!  As always, there remain more 'really cool' ideas than the time in which to execute them; I keep on plugging away, tho!

As if all of this weren't enough, last week included both an earthquake (which I totally missed, as I was in the car at the time), AND a hurricane (during which we fared better than many)!

SO!  If anything, I have been 'over-stimulated' *oh, yes... that sounds SO much nicer than "a slacker" - ha!* rather than 'under-motivated' of late.  Obviously, still working on the whole 'discipline' thing...  While I may not yet have all of the balls in the air *it does seem like juggling some days...*, one can hardly bemoan living, right? 

Because that's what's been happening since you read me last...  

I've been living.

Onward & Upward!
 - pla

Words of wisdom for today:

"Life is a thing that mutates without warning,

not always in enviable ways.

All part of the improbable adventure of being alive,

of being a brainy bi-ped with giant dreams on a crazy blue planet."

                                      - Diane Ackerman

Photo Notes:  

   1st photo:  Urban Poetry - My Modern Metropolis; 2nd photo taken with Motorola DROID Vignette Demo App, set to random, vintage frames and auto flash.