• Of course, I don't make eye contact
• I'm vulnerable: exposing my tender underbelly, kind of aggressively
• Gonna joke around with you- a lot
  • picture a rambunctious puppy who might hurt you or themself with their enthusiasm
• Act confident and goofy

• Walk into any gallery
• Visit an art museum
• Go down rabbit warrens of art and craft makers: Pinterest, etsy, and craft and artist blogs
• Walk into any art supply store

• Visit someplace you haven't before, with the tools to create in tow
• Listen to music you normally wouldn't, especially when you need that jolt of creativity
• Just start making something, anything
  • To really ramp up your hard start, use your non-dominant hand to write/draw/construct/mix
  • Take the pressure off to create something great and make something simple
    • If you're really desperate to get inspired, promise yourself you're throwing away or destroying the first five things you make
    • Make your five things; make 'em as terrible or as great as you can (doesn't matter which) 
    • Follow through and throw those babies away; you'll be anxious to start the sixth
• If you've got a go-to style, read up on and try another
  • Being uncomfortable is great for motivation
  • Exercising the brain will flex the creative muscles

• Figure out what really needs to be decided
  • others may present you with a choice, but it may not be the heart of it
• Determine when the decision needs to be made
• Gather information in the time available to you
  • ask questions
  • do research
  • weigh the consequences
    • if there is very little consequence to a decision, make it and move on
• Recognize any difficulties course correcting may have
  • in many cases, it is okay to make decisions and iterate based on new information and experiences

• The format: Bullets, lists, brackets. Unless it's art...
• ... which has to be my own. I cannot bring anything else in unless I pay for it or get artists' permissions
• Be okay with internal contradiction. There's no need to make excuses

1. Stretching through an ache
2. Removing an enormous clump of eye-sand
   1. What do others call it? I've heard eye-booger and sleepy-bugs
3. Knowing you shouldn't but using a cotton swab to remove a satisfying amount of dark wax
4. Cleanly biting off a ragged nail
5. Sleeping in without anything to guilt you into action

Ten years ago, I walked away from blogging. What's changed since then?

• Had a kid
• Moved several times
• Gave up renting and bought property
• Lost Mac and Giles to old age
• Experienced other loss
• Traveled
• Jumped careers and industries a few more times
• Recently got a puppy
• Glasses!

• Post first, er, post
• Pack for road trip
• Pull out sketch pad and pencils
• Make dinner
• Take a walk

• Find a profile image