CRABBED AND AN ANXIOUS WAIT!

5x7" oil on canvas
SOLD

I looked through my gallery to see if anything was suitable for this weekend's visit from Irene. Couldn't find anything but since there is a pretty good chance there will be a substantial amount of water around I thought she might like these.

Busy week. My very first earthquake and now a dangerous hurricane! I shouldn't even call it a quake, we just shook for a bit, but like everyone's first time, it does give one pause. And now, Irene. It's weakening and hopefully won't do too much damage although the warnings are dire and scary. We'll see. Mother Nature is not at all pleased. And who can blame her?

Enough! I heard a quote the other day while watching a documentary on mixed marital arts of all things. George St. Pierre is the UFC Welterweight Champion. He's a real gentleman, he doesn't trash talk, he reads Nietzsche, keeps a stuffed unicorn given to him by his late Godmother at his bedside and he is very, very focused. He lost his first title defense fight because he didn't take his opponent seriously and got caught up in the partying and the hangers on. That was in 2007. The day after that fight he was back in the gym. He hasn't lost a fight since. He believes in himself and he believes in hard work. He understands that everything originates in the mind. If the mind isn't focused, whatever it's doing won't be either.

His career and ascent was juxtaposed against a close friend and fellow fighter whose winning career was on it's way down. An amazing fighter, at times he would just freeze in the octagon and suffer vicious beatings. It got so bad he eventually had to quit fighting all together. Their two very distinctly different mindsets were fascinating to watch.

During the movie, Mr. St. Pierre made a quote that lit me up like a pin ball machine. He said..."I view my career more like a marathon, instead of a sprint. I am not defined by any one fight." Hello! It stuck a chord with moi because I keep thinking that there's this one painting, waiting in the wings, perfectly done that will define me as an artist. Besides making no sense, that's not really how it works is it.

In this era of instant celebrity one sees how easy it is to become famous and make lots of money for doing absolutely nothing at all. In a recent pol, when asked what they want to be when they grow up, 60% of the teens questioned chirped..."famous!"

That said, I think I've been sprinting. I think I need to train for my marathon.

I wish every single person, pet and home a safe passage through the storm and everyone else a great weekend. And, if we have power I'll "see" you all next week!