An increased work load at work has prevented me from even attempting to try and create much, lately. It doesn't help that I am currently approaching my seventh year of Writer's/Artist block (and yes, I've tried all the recommendations friends have suggested, but nothing has helped my apathy to dissipate). While my new doctor has been working with and actually listening to me, and the new medication he has acquiesced to try me on (Armour Thyroid) seems to be helping my energy levels, there is still a distinct lack of creativity numbing my thoughts. Some days I feel like I am just going through the motions until I can finally peruse the comfort of my nightly dreams.

Dr. Sheff is a great doctor, don't get me wrong (after all, he did discover I've had a broken knee for about 20 years), but I feel I am having difficulty conveying exactly how I have changed from someone who could sit down and write a two page poem in fifteen minutes or shovel out twenty sketches in a week, to someone who takes several years or longer to finish a single piece. How does one deal with such a sudden and great loss?

I'm still struggling, though, to find that lost part of me.

Yup. New city. New state. I'm now in Atlanta, GA. Never been here, no car, so I'm hoofing it. Staying at a hotel downtown near 5th Street Ribs and Blues in downtown Atlanta. I'm across the street from a Barnes and Nobles. If there are any suggestions for interesting nearby places to take pictures or eat, I'm open for them. I've never been here and it's a new experience, although coming from Texas, I could have asked for a cooler climate (I'm always in search for cooler weather).

I'm going to try and take some pictures and do some drawing/sketching. I have some things I need to finish that I've been working on for a couple of years now. I think I owe a few new things, right?

I have to get up at 2:30 am to get to the airport on time, but I'll be home tomorrow.

I did manage to get some drawing done, but will have to talk to my doctor. After 15 minutes my hand started to go numb. I'm going to try sketching again and see what happens, but if the numbness starts again then something is definitely wrong.

I'll be home for a week, then it's off to Atlanta for week. I'm hoping that's all the travel I'm doing for the year, but no promises.

Bah.

Yeah, I know, I've been lax in updating my journal here, but I've been busy with other things. Currently I'm sitting in a motel room in Cincinnati, but my luggage is still at the airport. Hopefully it will be delivered today.

Work is keeping me pretty busy, so I haven't been able to do much of anything. Between work and the kids, I barely have time to turn around.

While I'm here, since my laptop doesn't seem to enjoy playing CoH, I may get some sketching done. I did bring my little digital, but I'm not expecting to move far beyond my hotel room. Unlike New Orleans, I'm not anywhere near downtown (closer to the airport) and there isn't much of anything of interest I can see to walk to around here.

If anyone has suggestions on what to do while here, in the afternoons when I get out of work, I'll take all suggestions and promise to at least think about doing them.

Arthur Koestler said, "Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual."

I have a friend where this quote just fits:

Spielorjh [link] has an uncanny ability to take random, completely mundane items and turn them into art. Kitty litter becomes polyhedral dice. A styrofoam cup is a castle. Parts from an old cassette player become a mad scientist's laboratory. Bubbles from vending machines become vehicles from outer space!

All done in approximately 10mm - 28mm scale.


Butane lighters, jacket pulls, nails, sewing pins, vcrs, spare parts left over from home repair/improvement projects, a turkey baster... he can take anything and turn it into something fantastically cool.