2025 Wrap Up

HOLIDAYS IN REVIEW

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Shit show!  So classic how the "holiday season" shakes out.  I brace myself in October and think I'm in control, only to see November come and go, having gotten a lot done, but behind and with commissions and time going by, and then other things get in the way, and it just becomes a big mess.  

Anyway, this year I had jury Duty first, and knew I would be called, had a week trial, and got behind as a result, only to go to MI the following week, and more behind, only to get sick a week after returning, and having to recover in bed for 3–4 days.  

What a mess it all became. I didn't even get my standard sales email out, so orders coming in were S P A R E.  But even those I had trouble getting finished.  

Positives:  all worked out, I finished things that had to be finished, and I didn't stress out too much through it all.  I just rolled with the punches.  

Negatives; Sales were WAY DOWN.  So bad I don't even want to think about it.  

As years go by, and I experience year after year of what happens, I'm just resigned to think what happens was meant to be, and I don't have much control over any of it.

  

YEAR IN REVIEW

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Glad to be blogging again, and recording my thoughts and day to day.  It's mind-boggling how time goes by, and I totally forget where it's gone.  I will try my hardest to do try think NEW this upcoming year.  I read that is the way to slow time down, and it makes a lot of sense.

The past few years I have been so rigid with myself and routine, thinking this will keep my sane and in-line, protected.  I have been so sensitive to feeling UN-SAFE, and routine has been my medicine.  Grief and anxiety and depression have reared their ugly head, and had me in their grip. 

Things changed sometime in the summer.  I felt better, more in control, less worried about EVERYTHING, and less anxious about what could happen.  It's been a solid 6 months now of feeling much healthier mentally (and physically) and now I know I am ready to make positive changes.  

Different paths, routes, activities, thoughts, dreams, fantasies, tools, experiences, foods, and ways of seeing things and doing things.  I WANT CHANGE !!!!

Oops, back to year in review, Dave!

Let's see, it was a year of stagnation.  I drew so much less, and just stuck to "feeding" SM stores.  I came up with some new cards, and some new designs.  Postcard club moved along.  But really if I'm honest, I just have been stuck, not moving, not trying, and just seeing the negative in EVERYTHING. 

When I was in MI (what a great trip, a turning point), sitting with Bill & Anne watching tv, I could see how negative I was about everything.  It's poison, and so easy to just not see the poison in yourself.  

My negative thinking has led to stagnation, not wanting to draw, and not seeing possibilities.  To succeed with my work I have to ENJOY it, the process, and most important, I have to try, to do.  Not get on my computer and phone, listen to podcasts, find distractions, and give up.  Poison!

So at the end of the year I am in a position I am usually in - looking forward and being hopeful.  That new things will happen, and good things will come from them.  That I will find my way, meet new people, do new things, and have fun.  

That is and will always be most important:  That I find happiness in what I'm doing. 

 

2023 wrap up

 2021 wrap up

 2020 wrap up

 2019 wrap up

2018 Wrap up

2017 Wrap up 

2016 Wrap up

2015 Wrap up

2014 Wrap up

2013 Wrap up

2012 Wrap up

2011 Wrap up

2010 Wrap up

2009 Wrap up

 

 

Merry Christmas!

Messy xmas eve: I backed myself into a marketplace clusterfuck by posting the 2 dog crates that have been sitting at my studio for weeks.  I realized I could just renew old posts, saving me time on taking new pics and writing all the crap out again.  

Got instant DM's right away and it then became a competition of who would get here first.  Then all the FB watching started - - turning into this big stupid distraction, me trying not to miss messages and waiting waiting waiting for people to get here.

I opened one crate (that I hadn't before) and figured out that it's pretty broken, or needs zip ties to stay sturdy.  Big mess trying to figure out a fix, and of course MORE distraction trying to get it to work.  Quickly became obvious that I shouldn't be selling it.

Anyway, 4pm (my deadline that I gave) came and went, and no response.  Meanwhile, I made screens, and one just washed out terrible.  I think my emulsion is old, and not working properly.  Made another, and that one worked.  Mystery that I can't figure out.

Re loaded FB, and all these messages came in from 2 people that came and left.  Some glitch prevented the messages from coming through in real time, so I missed them.

The Free crate lady was still in the area, so she said she was on her way back, which led to another long, frustrating wait.  I finally just gave up and left it outside.  Took the other crate off marketplace.

What a total fiasco.

Made hex a last minute print, and shopped at safeway for stocking stuff.  7pm, and I’m going home.

Photo dump

Sherlock

Echo's shed of shame

Thanksgiving feast

 

December 23rd - that freaky creepy scary time when everybody flees real life and goes into this 2 week bubble where time has warped and slowed and sped up all at the same time.  We will reconstitute on the other side in the new year!

Creepy walk with the dogs - dark and quiet, empty streets and sidewalks.  I looked into decorated houses and apartments windows, with blinking xmas lights and I felt like such an outsider.  Longed for warm parties with hot food and loud conversations.  But unfortunately right now, that is a thing of the past, just like everything else seems to be.  I've shed so many things (unhappily).

Nutty holiday season : Jury Duty > MI > lost Thanksgiving Day spent sick and throwing up > Home fretting about sales / artwork > sick with Hex cold > recovery and design stress > now.

What's going to get done is done (except present for Hex) and all ahead.  Glad to have gotten through this period.

 

MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR challenge going forward:: that I always fail - - 

stay motivated, 

active, 

moving, 

creating.  

DO NOT SLUG !!  

 

We'll see. 

BLOG NEGLECT!

A whirlwind couple of weeks prevented me from taking the time to blog.  Jury Duty > trip to MI > then Xmas rush on orders. 

 

Jury duty so much fun.  I just knew I would be picked, and then relished the whole experience.  So frustrating while in it, but MI was a good palette cleanser.  I got so immersed in the details of the case, and so frustrated with the outcome - 2 v 10 ... hung jury.  Sleepless nights spent going over arguments or tactics I could use to try to convince the 2 dopey holdouts they were wrong!!  But in the end we just couldn't, and had to admit defeat.  So mad the victim had to be put through all this, without any conclusion.

 

oops, hex ready to be picked up.

 

to be continued ...