Hello!
I hope everyone has had an enjoyable final weekend of the year - of the decade! Or is it? It turns out that there is some debate over when a new decade actually starts. Is it in the 0 year, or the 1 year? It boils down to an issue of semantics. I’m going to stick with team 0 for the sensibility factor, and am not willing to die on this anthill. If you’re on team 1 we can still be friends!
Let’s get back to the final week or so of the year. Having time off in the middle of the work week has resulted in a disjointed feeling of not really knowing what day it is. I only took two days off, thinking that I could take advantage of the quiet to get caught up on things. After all, I finally have my desk back! After nearly seven weeks of displacement I have a work home again. There was still a lot of construction cacophony happening, but the end is in sight. THANK GOODNESS.
Christmas Eve started out with a lovely walk where I spied these spiderwebs glowing in the sun.
I also noticed some confused cherry blossoms along the way. Hmmm…
After a relaxing day, we had our dinner out with a view of the marina. I think we may have started a new tradition!
Back at home, I treated myself to my annual eggnog and whiskey. Even if the thought of that grosses you out, you must admit that it’s very pretty before stirring!
Christmas day was equally delightful, again with lots of walks (3). Michael and I did manage a trip down to Bar Z in the afternoon for a couple of drinks. It was fun to see the wide range of folks coming in for some holiday cheer, and nice to get out of the house for a bit. The evening ended with a delicious dinner of Osso buco (spell check does not handle that well).
We don’t do a big gift exchange rigamarole here. Instead, we get what we want when we want it and call it good. For instance, Michael has been putting together his pedal-making lab all year. We subscribed to a new music magazine called Maggot Brain (edited by one of Michael’s friends). I purchased a photography book that is right up my alley…
Turns out Michael knows the author. I swear he knows everyone! At least everyone who was involved in music in New York in the late 80’s and early 90’s. There’s some great photography capturing the sameness of malls across the country in 1989. Plenty of big hair! Now I want to spend an afternoon or two in the local malls to see what sights there are to capture.
I’m most excited about the new lino carving tools I ordered. I so enjoy stamp carving and since I started have wanted to up my game. The beginner tools are decent, but I find them frustrating at times, especially when I want fine detail. I decided to plunk for a set of Pfeil lino carving tools after doing a little research and looking at what other carvers use.
Look at those beauties! The set I ordered is coming from Austria, so it will be a little while before they arrive. I found the best price on Ebay and and am happy to wait. They aren’t easily obtained in the U.S. and even Blick doesn’t carry them. I’ve got plenty to do to keep myself busy while I wait for their arrival. Take a peek at what they can do here, and in the video below.
Finally, you’ll be glad to know that we didn’t overlook Rowland on the holiday. He got a new zebra.
What a lazy lump he is.
And no update from the southern hemisphere today! The travelers have returned home and are resting up. I can’t wait to see them and hear more about their adventures.
That’s all for today - I still have a busy evening of art ahead. Better get on it!
See you next year!
Tidbits
How to Read More - common sense tips from Austin Kleon (the catch is you have to actually do these things…)
Related: Cloud Appreciation Society
the collected ahp has an excellent year-end roundup of content she’s shared in 2019. If you’re looking for some longer, in-depth reading make her your go-to for getting started. Each week’s “just trust me” can be surprising, shocking, or fascinating (go on, click that link). Bonus content - adorable dogs.
Is this the end for clowning? Good clowns fight the stereotypes of evil clowns to save their profession.
Booked: three nights in Ocean Shores for our Darwin Day getaway. I would like to leave tomorrow please.
Making: I have been a stamp carving fiend! #CarveDecember is nearly over, and I will again emerge with more than 31 stamps for my collection. Last year I put everything away for our move, and didn’t get it out again until December 1st. That won’t happen again! This week I made some mushrooms (one more made today). I’m also making something with the stamps, but can’t show you yet.
Recently eaten: We had a scrumptious Christmas Eve dinner at Anthony’s Woodfire Grill. Michael had Beef Wellington (I will order it in the future), and I had a chicken basil pasta dish that was very tasty. I also got my favorite pear martini. Yum!
Reading: I finished Liz Phair’s Horror Stories. I have mixed feelings about the book, but overall did like it. At times Phair comes across as an unlikeable, privileged whiner who makes poor life decisions (albeit one who writes well). I would say that Kim Gordon’s memoir Girl in a Band was better. They’ve both endured much as females in the music industry. Nearly finished with Eating the Sun: Small Musings on a Vast Universe. Next up: A Scanner Darkly and The Art of Flaneuring: How to Wander with Intention and Discover a Better Life.
Videos of the Week
Look Ma, no hands!
Stanford engineers have taught MARTY, their driverless DeLorean, to drift through a kilometer-long autocross course with the agility and precision of a human driver. Completing the course, called “MARTYkhana,” has led to mathematical insights that could improve how autonomous software handles hazardous conditions.
(via kottke.org)
Hands definitely required.
Watch one of my favorite artists carve a stamp with the very tools I just ordered. She makes it look effortless, and I love the fine detail she achieves in her work. For more of her work: andreajaneclement and andreaclementart
Question of the Week
If you feel like answering the question (or to just say hello), hit reply to this email. Answers will be shared next week - always anonymous.
New Year’s resolutions seem designed to fail and to make us feel badly about ourselves. Instead of a resolution, what things would you like to do more and/or less of in 2020?
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Last week I asked what your favoring indoor or outdoor winter activities are.
My holiday traditions in Florida for winter is usually camping because of the lack of bugs and humidity.
Out of Florida it’s do as the natives do.
I am not tradition or religion bound so doing other stuff that folks do is a treat any time of year.
[I feel this one manages to answer last week and the week before’s question. 😀]
There’s nothing quite like a walk in the woods or on the beach on the brisk sunny days of winter.
Current Temperature: 46.2 F (7.9 C)
Current Humidity: 81%
Wind (max gust): 5.8 mph
Precipitation: 0.00 in
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