Traveling Without a Plane

Blog from 2009:

I am on an expedition to find myself this year. That means travel but it doesn’t necessarily mean I have to leave my house. I am serious about learning a painting program I love and becoming more skillful at Photoshop.

I decided on making myself practice at least 2 hours a day even if that means shortening my nap after work which is just one hour. It’s that one hour that gives me extra energy after being up at 2 am every day with only 4 or 5 hours of sleep. Add to that heavy lifting and standing. I am stronger because of the physical work I do, but it’s hard nonetheless. Even the 30-year-olds at work get as beat as I get. I get beat with more pain probably. Pain is part of aging.

But going back to the digital art practice – I’ve always loved it – always spent time on it but without a real goal – or plan beyond just enjoying one of many hobbies. What’s become different in the last few weeks is I want to pursue something with it. The plan is to improve and eventually turn a hobby into offering my skills in some way to supplement my income. If I never get good enough to sell art – maybe I can assist someone else. Who knows at this point but what is more true in my life – is that I need some clear path.

I need something to fill my head and heart. This year has been hard on me emotionally. I’m still trying to understand all the reasons but I know part of it is loneliness (plus my love of being alone-it’s not all bad-I prefer it). I vow to become more like my mom and that is to not sit around too long but to get out there and use the creative juices that I was born with to become more the person I was meant to be.

I’m a creative soul from every fiber of my being. When I sing, play piano, draw, paint, or write I am pouring out what I was born to do. Hence the name I use all over the internet. “born2create2” is everywhere. Just noticed my Myspace blogs; at one time I had over 200 blogs, and most had that name in the background.

Probably long after I’m dead and buried someone will see that name posted somewhere and wonder who was that old lady holding the little airplane. Hey! And she still gets comments on that lame YouTube! (NOTE: An old youtube exists of a creative effort I tried but you won’t see it here)

UPDATE: Nov, 2015. Here’s why it’s cool to journal. The above was written over 6 years ago. So..How’d I do? Well… I had 2 more published writings since 2009. I did become an advanced user of Photoshop and Painter, with the painting part lagging some. I have since 2009, purchased and resold 3 Sony cameras, taken dozens of webinars, seminars, photo walks, and joined Photography communities. I have met some amazing people in real life. I finally attended a digital painting workshop where we used real paint (2015). I am a better photographer, photo re-toucher & overall artist than I was. Growth. It never ends – thank goodness. I’m still struggling months after hand surgery (carpel tunnel) to get back to the things I love. I gained weight. I lost heart. I got discouraged by what aging does to the body and the mind. But I am too thankful to be here to stay down long. Things improve when I hear a comedy routine, watch a good film, see a photo on my big screen that I thought was garbage and lo-and-behold, it was good after all! I will only be famous in my mind and that’s o.k. I feel very affirmed this year despite setbacks. That youtube video (where I lipsynced a song) with over 70k views got deleted which is hilarious considering there are thousands still out there who did the same thing I did. Live. And. Learn.

UPDATE: April 2024 I eventually accomplished doing freelance event Photography for several years which ended about 2021. I was hired several times for birthdays, Retirement parties, Special event parties, Wedding showers, Family, child, & pet portraits. See a few samples on the SmugMug links on this site. Those years were very enjoyable but the work became too difficult with arthritis and lifting heavy camera equipment. I was able to offer those clients professional photo editing and enhancements via Photoshop. I completed a goal and desired to see if I could do it. Thank you, Lord, for the process of it all.

Once, back on Myspace, I created a self-art piece with myself sitting surrounded by Spanky, my muse and lifelong pretend friend. Several “Little Rascals” sat with us. I always envisioned myself as part of that little crew. Physically I fit right in. If I can find that old Photoshop composite, I’ll add it here.

Night ‘n’ Gales (an Our Gang Short) 1937)

As The gang in sleeping bags talk at their campsite:

Alfalfa: [Looking alarmed!] By the way, what is a porcupine???
Spanky: Awww, you tell him, Buckwheat.
[goes to sleep]
Buckwheat: Oh, Porky, you tell him.
[goes to sleep]
Porky: Oh, I don’t know.
[goes to sleep]
Alfalfa: [sarcastically] Thanks very much, fellas.

Nite gang!