WHAT I DID TODAY THAT WILL HELP ME BE A better FILMMAKER!

I like that phrase, it is a good motivator and cuts through the crap. I found it on a blog call "themudthebloodthebeer" written by John C. hailing from bean town. When I'll use that phrase (steal it I will, thank you John C), I may modify it to read "WHAT I DID TODAY THAT WILL HELP ME BE A BETTER ARTIST!" as my creative interests and endeavors reach beyond filmmaking right now. Like what? you might ask, and rightly so as I haven't seen fit to share whatever it is I'm up to with the likes of you two (or three) that stop by once a month. OK, the glove has been thrown down, so I guess it's put up or shut up time. Fine. Check this out.


What the hell is that? You might ask. Well, I'll tell you. That's a drawing (black ball point pen on paper) I recently did of an African mask from "Guere-Wobe, Liberia". It's copied from a photo in a great book called "Masks of Black Africa" by Ladislas Segy and according to the caption, "This mask was designed for the prevention of disease and for use in exorcism rituals.". It creeped me out the first time I saw it. There's something very dark about this mask, something mysterious. What compelled me to draw this piece was the fantastic textures and the bold shapes. I can noodle around losing myself in that stained fabric all day long and did.

So when I ask myself that question, "What did I do....etc", today, I have an answer.

zahdah,

OK HW

February Hiking Report

I fell six miles short of the 50 mile monthly average I need in order to hit my goal for the year. Not too big of a deal, but I need to be vigilant or that six miles will become sixty. Despite temperatures in the teens and twenties, I still managed to get out most weekends and I'm getting used to the cold weather hiking. As with most things, the biggest barrier to getting out is mental. If you think it's too cold to hike, then it will be. When I've been out there trudging through the snow covered trails and find my spirit sagging a bit, I think of Mt. Fuji, my current dream hike and how any slight discomfort I feel now, will help me be prepared for Fuji when the time comes. There's a quote (can't recall who said it) that goes, "Do a difficult thing when you can, so you are able to when you must." (my bolding). That saying never fails to motivate me, the truth of that thought is unavoidable. Onward.

Crypto-Hack

I got a soft spot for crypto-related stuff. I'd like to believe in Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster and UFOs, makes the world a more interesting place. From time to time, I'll surf up a few favorite sites just to see what new weirdness is floating around. One of those sites was "Crypto-blog", a blogger site coming out of North Carolina that gathered some of the more interesting tidbits on Bigfoot and the rest. The last time I visited ole' CB, I noticed it was taken over by someone new, someone who wasn't interested in lake monsters and such. I didn't think much of it, sites, particularly blogs come and go all the time, so I clicked on the next link and moved on. Until today when I got an e-mail from Jeff, the creator of the Crypto-blog, letting me know he'd been hacked! Ouch. He's working on getting the site rolling again soon and I'll be sure to post an update. Hang in there Jeff.

I'm not dead yet....

My how the time does fly. To the three people who regularly hit this woefully neglected blog, I apologize for the lack of words in the last month. Have no excuse. Have had the time and many things occur to me to blog about, just don't make the leap to keyboard. I'll make no promises to post more in the future, why kid each other right? I'd only do that to let myself off the hook, talk is cheap after all. Walking the walking is what counts, which is my ultra smooth segue to LAST month's hiking report.

My hiking goal for 2006 is 600 miles, down 50 miles from last year, so need to average 50 miles a month. Started the year off right with 51 miles, some a tiny lead. February has been tougher and it's looking iffy as to whether I'll hit the mark. Have started a new, full time job, so no longer have all that free time that I didn't when I was a "man of leisure". Even so, no excuses, there is always a way to accomplish the things that need to be done.

A "Zank" update. Have entered the lad into two festivals; The Brooklyn Rooftop Film Festival Series and Richmond, Virginia's James River Festival. I'll keep you posted on what happens.

OK HW