Day Two Hundred Forty Three: Storms Brewing

Summer is moving away, packing up its sand and sun and heat and bbqs and going south for the season. It rained today, the last day of the month. And it was cold. Neither of which I really mind, its just that I was so enjoying the summer this year, more than I had in some time. More biking, more friends. I even camped. 


So, summer, I know you are not fully packed to depart and will tease me a couple more days before fall, but I miss you already. Thanks for a good time.

Tuesday, August 31: Sharpie on paper, 9x12.

Day Two Hundred Forty Two: Come Sail Away

Perfect sailing days sometimes require stormy weather. You can't get your sails working without the wind. Sometimes, life is like that... You can't move forward without shaking things up and sometimes that shakes you up as well.


Head for open water and hang on.

Monday, August 30: Sharpie on Paper, 9x12

Day Two Hundred Forty One: Insanity for the Sake Of Art?

I love biographies of artists. I love to read them and I especially love movies. However, I notice that most of them are crazy. And somehow manage to kill themselves: Van Gogh shot himself in the stomach, Basquiat managed to OD on heroin, Pollock ran his drunk ass into a tree. Perhaps it is the movies makers that find tragedy more entertaining, perhaps making art drives them insane, or the insanity drives the art. At any rate, I wonder sometimes if I have enough crazy in me to push my art to spectacular. I am certain some people will assure me that I am indeed off kilter, but it still gives me cause to pause. 

Sunday, August 29: Sharpie on paper, 9x12

Day Two Hundred Forty:small pedals, small advance.

ah yes

Saturday, August, 28:sharpie on paper

Day Two Hundred Thirty Nine: Silence is Golden

Chaos is my friend. I love the rambunctious and excitable, the loud and the proud, the music makers, the booty shakers, the story tellers and the jokesters. Though I am contemplative by nature, I do not contemplate in silence. Music plays, people talk, dogs bark, I laugh and art has its way with me. 

Friday, August 27: Sharpie on Paper, 9x12

Day Two Hundred Thirty Eight: Music Played Live

You won't be loved. You can be loved. 
I cried.
Then I stopped and with the help of a bunch of friends, I made this for you:

Thursday, August 26: Sharpie and hellaballu on paper.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Seven: Passion Creates Energy

I read recently that God will give you all the energy you need to do everything you want to do, all you have to do is make a goal or plan and start executing it. Even a poor plan being executed will get you where you want to go if you are passionate and keep your goal in mind. 


I am over excited and passionate about a number of things right now. And I do have extra energy. But, in the world of never satisfied Laurentia, I want more energy. I loathe having to sleep when I want to make better the projects I am immersed in. The speaking, the writing, the making of art and the daily cycling. 


My art evolves and moves along. The speaking improves and moves forward. The cycling makes me stronger and we move forward. BUT....


I want to make bigger more intricate inspirational art pieces, I want to ride twice as many miles a day as I do now, I want to amaze, amuse and astound when I speak. 


So far, my passion out lasts my time and abilities. But I persevere, move forward, increase, smile, learn, expect, love, paint, draw, read, write, speak and bike. Soon my body will catch up to my soul.

Wednesday, August 25: Acrylic paint on canvas, 10"x10"

Day Two Hundred Thirty Six: Too Much or Not Enough

Too Much... Definitely prefer too much than not enough...


But it depends on what the measure is. What is needed, wanted. What means "too much"? One extra piece of chocolate cake? A couple more mile on the bike over the time allotted?  Sleeping in an extra 20 minutes... Is that too much? What about an entire cake? 40 miles extra on the bike before work... snoozing through breakfast and a shower... Perhaps the cake needs the extra miles which now makes me sleepy....


But not enough... not enough cake *gasp*, not enough biking *shudder*, not enough sleep... Boo! Boo I say.  


So what... balance?  Phooey, what does that mean? I have one boob bigger than the other, I am already off balance. 

Tuesday, August 24: sharpie on paper, 9x12

Day Two Hundred Thirty Five: Simple

On a cooling, waning summer day in late August, I have found a new resolve. In the midst of my looking for inspiration, I might find that I am my single best source. I get me what I need. Yeah. I can say that now, as I have gathered around me all the creative, inspiring and supportive types I can find. That was my doing though. Finding them, cultivating them, see the inspiration in them. And now they are the resource I can use when my bike, my bag of sharpies and my brain do not fill me with shapes and ideas. In my absence, they show me Me. 

And for that I am thankful.

Monday, August 23: Zen garden of found rocks. In them I can see perfection.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Four: 75 degrees is not cold

When fall comes, it brings lightning and scattered showers. But as its still August, I won't get worried yet.

Sunday, August 22: Sharpie on cardboard

Day Two Hundred Thirty Three:Look skyward

More of the same.

Saturday, August 21: Photo of looking up.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Two: By Process of Elimination.

here i am in the middle of the midst of a boy night that i have not seen before. I like it.

Friday. August 20: sharpie on paper

Day Two Hundred Thirty One: Old Friends and New Music

I rode more miles today than I thought I would, I loved my power. I even passed this buff dude. Even as I saw him in my sights I thought it would not end well. And I passed buff dudes ass. The ride was good. And now I am up later in the evening than I really thought I would, considering my goals, my tendency to draw with unsteady hand,  my proclivities...


So the combination of the two occurs in a week of long days. I love the bike, I love the music, I love the friends. I love to sing aloud and enjoy the laughter of the owners of the toes I see on every stool, bench, table around the crowd. Night time and warm friends bring up the pinkies and down the defenses. 


Here is what I heard...

Thursday, August 19: Anti art on paper: sharpie

Day Two Hundred Thirty: Lucky Sevens

I just had a thought and it barfed into this:

Wednesday, August 18: sharpie on paper 9x12

Day Two Hundred Twenty Nine: Yeah, Its Me

True enough.

Tuesday, August 17: me on bike high, near the state line

Day Two Hundred Twenty Eight: Day After Day

I need to sleep. Working, biking, arting... Love it, but it can be exhausting. Like now.

ZZZzzzzzzz.....

Monday, August 16: Sharpie on paper, 9x12

Day Two Hundred Twenty Seven: Biking Hills

So today I pushed more hills on my ride than normal. It was fine, but I am feeling really relaxed now. I expect to be faster tomorrow! It was a gorgeous day to ride, though it was hot. Not a complaint mind you, just an observation. 

Sunday, August 15: Photo at Higgins Point

Day Two Hundred Twenty Six: Just Shy of Tomorrow.

Some days are more interesting than other days. And don't give me any shit about what one or the other is. It just be.

Saturday, August 14: more of the same

Day Two Hundred Twenty Five: Style & Speed

I do love riding in the dark. 
I guess that is not really fair, I love to ride anytime. But, as far as the dark goes, it is a beautiful time to see the city, the stars are especially brilliant tonight. I could ride all night. I am filled with restless energy. 


And I know that all I need do is ask for the energy and it always arrives, to make art, to ride, to think, to talk, to play. I just never got the instruction about how to turn off the energy in good time. So, until it abates, I am here, there and ready to ride a hundred miles. 


Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but surely 30, 40 or so is not out of the question at all. All ready I see that 1000 miles before then is an easy goal. I am barely even challenging myself. 20 mile days are soon to be the norm. 


Ha!


Still, I am nothing if not reasonable. Fall will pass into winter. Biking will be more of a challenge. I will need better tires!




And more sharpies.

Friday, August 13: Sharpie on paper, 9x12

Day Two Hundred Twenty Four: Early to Rise

Early to rise makes for lots of daylight. 

Thursday, August 12: Sharpie on paper

Day Two Hundred Twenty Three: A Journey of 1000 miles.

A single pedal stroke is the start of something big, no matter when it happens.  
So, I throw down the gauntlet to myself. I have 76 days until my next birthday. I want to ride 1000 miles by then. That comes out to right around 100 miles a week. That seems totally do-able. I would like to see what else I can do over that goal. I have lots of other things that I would see happen before then as well. However, I am certain that what is supposed to happen will happen and when it does, all this bike riding strength and fitness is going to come in really handy. I need the stamina to accomplish what I will do.


So for now, I have my own carrot and stick combo. I push myself with the stick of the goal to ride the 1000 miles, meanwhile the carrot is that I get to ride my bike a 1000 miles through the beautiful waning days of summer into fall. 


I am in the first week and still get to ride lots more. I feel stronger everyday. 


Wish me luck, this is going to be good for me, I hope it is good for you.

Wednesday, August 11: Sharpie on Paper, 9x12

Day Two Hundred Twenty Two: Ho Hum...

Ho Hum

Tuesday, August 10: sharpie on paper, yawn

Day Two Hundred Twenty One: Freshies

I declared today to be a good  day to find new ideas, fresh inspiration, a new view. Small actions everyday will get me there.

Monday, August 9: Sharpie on Paper, 9x12

Day Two Hundred Twenty: Whew...

Another weekend was successfully navigated. There is much to take in and contemplate. But for now I need better sleep.


I had a great time, but there is also time for reflection and taking away images and inspiration...

Sunday, August 8: The views are fun in the summer.

Day Two Hundred Nineteen: Reading, riding, rhythm stick.

Once again I await inspiration with baited breath. And I believe it just occurred in the form of my friend asking me if I want to come to a bon fire. Yes, yes, I would like to watch some fire. So, until I can tell you all about the rest of today, let me tell you about the refreshing minutes ago:

Saturday, August 7: water, friends, diving

Day Two Hundred Eighteen: First Friday

Changing course is always a challenge. Saying good-bye to the old path sometimes makes it seem impossible. But, little steps, a degree turn at a time adds up. And suddenly you find yourself there, on a different path altogether.  As course refinement continues take time to admire the new view.

Friday, August 6: Sharpie on paper.

Day Two Hundred Seventeen: My Hair

I like to think that I am not too vain. When it comes to hair, I just let it hang and strive for little effort. And it seems to be working. It looked awesome today. I did shampoo and towel dry, then went for a bike ride. Ten miles. Then a swim. Full dunk, of course, it's only wading if you don't actually submerge. A little sunning on a rock was next whilst I plotted my weekend. 


I rode back from the swim to the car as fast as I could manage for that last four miles. Pack the bike, and dash to work with the windows open so I could blow dry. Once there, I did finally run my fingers through my hair to get it out of my eyes. Then hit it with spray and willed it into place. 


And damn if it wasn't the best it has looked in perhaps years. I did feel just a bit vain. I looked healthy, perhaps glowing. And stupid happy. (I attributed happy to the fact that it was Thursday and that means Friday is looming... and the weekend. And there were left over brownies in the kitchen. ummm chocolate.) 


I would love to try and repeat that process daily, but I am afraid summer will pass into fall, the suntan under the hair will progressively fade, and the mane will continue on it's usual path of doing something Einsteinian. I should have taken a photo. And another brownie.


That was good for me, how was it for you?

Thursday, August 5: pen and sharpie on paper, 9x12

Day Two Hundred Sixteen: Swirl and Bubble

Today was fairly uneventful as days go. I went to work and came home.


But right now I am having a huckleberry and peanut butter sandwich. Oh man! No, I do not mean huckleberry jam, the berries are too fresh to have been made into jam yet. They were picked today somewhere by my niece. So, I stuck the whole berries on the bread and spread. To no avail. They are round and firm. Yum. So I smashed them into the peanut butter side. Double yum. That and my jar of milk and I am downright happy.  The berries pop like caviar on my tongue. Oh, so easy to please you wanton, gluttonous artist. 

Wednesday, August 4: Sharpie on paper, 9x12

Day Two Hundred Fifteen: Basics Beckon

I love sharpies and paper. When all else fails, they can guide me to the star.

Tuesday, August 3: Sharpie on paper, 9"x12"

Day Two Hundred Fourteen: I am done for

Just get so tired during my period. I just want to crawl into bed and sleep. Or crawl on my bike and cruise around. For now, I am in bed, and will soon be dreaming of biking.

Monday, August 2: pastel and pen on paper, 18x24

Day Two Hundred Thirteen: Well Hello August

Biking ruled the day. Even though I did not awake too early, I got up and rode my bike immediately. While cruising along I heard from a friend who wanted to ride. So, upon finishing the first ride, I went to her house and started on the next. The second ride with two girl friends was fun, longer and hillier. But the girls did well and we completed the ride in time for some ribs off the BBQ. 


There we were able to commune with the next generation of bike riders:

Sunday, August 1: Sunday Funday. Bikes, Boys, BBQ...