Year 2- Day #115 ...Fending off the Sunday Scaries.

[shadowkat]

Edgy today. Going into the office tomorrow - so early wake up call. Also woke earlier than expected this morning.

Decided I need to find some more hobbies. The meditation this morning told me to find something fun to do to fend off the Sunday Scaries and I was at a loss.

I could work on my novel - but considering I write and edit all week long..
Too hot to cook - plus on a diet. Don't feel like knitting the scarf that has never made its way out of the Amazon envelope under the coffee table. Or going bird-watching. And am still scared to try a Citibike. (To be fair, the last time I actually rode a bike was well over thirty years ago - I drove a car more recently than I rode a bike. Not sure taking up either in the middle of NYC is a wise choice.) Maybe I should take up painting and drawing again? Both are mindful activities that are vastly different from what I do for a living? Not sure taking pictures of flowers and things around my neighborhood on walks, with my iphone, counts as a hobby?



My niece is in bed with a head-cold. Apparently all that activity caught up with her - also all her friends have it and they are passing it around. It's not COVID - they all have the Pfizer, and came back negative. It's just a head cold. My brother is annoyed - because they'll most likely get it too.

I'm hoping they are over it by the time I come up.

Been getting myself into trouble on fanboards again.
Less said the better. Suffice it to say - same old same old.
Shipper wars. And worshiping narcissistic comic book writers.

Found this on FB and yep, it's often why I write in this blog daily:



Virgin River - according to mother - has S3 up and running. So, I'll be watching it again. Waiting on more episodes to be available for Loki.
And may start watching White Lotus on HBO. Also recording Wellington Paranormal - to check it out on CW, but I've my doubts. I don't tend to like that comedic style - fake documentary. I'm not a fan of Brechtian theater or collapsing the fourth wall.

Proof you can find anything on the sidewalks of NYC:



And, because I've nothing else to say at the moment...more flowers.

I've taken so many photos of flowers and the cemetery - that I need to delete a few - just to find other photos.

Comments

[yourlibrarian]

Not sure taking pictures of flowers and things around my neighborhood on walks, with my iphone, counts as a hobby?

I would count it as a hobby, it's an activity you do regularly and it's something you enjoy. (Such pretty colors in that bottom pic)

I don't know if you enjoy puzzles, but one thing I like about it is that it's something I can do on my own or just with Mike, whereas a lot of games require 4 people or more. I also play board games online with friends every week and that's a lot of fun. I haven't yet tried playing games with strangers but there are a few I know well enough now that I could try that out as well.

[atpo_onm]

Maybe I should take up painting and drawing again? Both are mindful activities that are vastly different from what I do for a living? Not sure taking pictures of flowers and things around my neighborhood on walks, with my iphone, counts as a hobby?

If I could paint or draw or sculpt, or whathaveyou, I'd likely be doing that, unless I'd done it so long or done it professionally and just got tired of it. Some folks who've looked at my photos over the years have asked if I've ever worked in the field professionally, and I tell them no, it's a hobby, and I greatly enjoy my hobby, and going pro could easily ruin the pleasure I get out of it, much like going pro in the audio field turned that into a job, and not a hobby, and much less emotionally satisfying.*

That first photo brings up a question-- the contrast, color and sharpness look to have been enhanced, particularly on the fence, where it looks like the blue was pushed. The image really grabs you, or at least it does me, which means it calls out to me for printing. See, for me, the image in the camera or on the computer monitor is the concept, the print is the physicality, the painting as it were.

Have you ever made a drawing or painting from one of your photos that you really liked? Perhaps that could be a way to combine your two talents.

Heh-- Opera On Tap. We don't have that here, but the city does spread several old donated (upright) pianos around the downtown for anyone who wants to play them. They weren't out last year (guess why) but the city is promising to put some out again this fall if (guess why) stays the hell away.

* I did actually like the audio biz, but still, there is something about the practical demands it places on you that makes it less special emotionally than a good hobby.

[ihavenoarms]

nice flowers

[mtbc]

I've liked trying to draw, not that I've managed to make time for a while, but I recall being happy when I do.

[shadowkat]

Well, it's more time consuming to draw, paint, and sculpt - also requires supplies (I have the paints and drawing materials), and space. The space is the problem at the moment. I'm using my art table to work remotely from home.

I don't do digital art - not techy.

I usually paint and draw from photographs - mainly because I like to draw and paint living objects and they don't tend to move in photographs, while they do in reality. I have down "live" drawings.
And drawn and painted from life - but I find it harder for some reason.

I also can draw from my imagination, just not nearly as well or life-like.

The yellow daisy photo? I think I used "vivid" but can't remember.

[shadowkat]

Not really a puzzle person - it's not quite how I think. I think in patterns, and puzzles aren't pattern oriented. Very good at dominoes though - it's a pattern game.

If the puzzle is pattern oriented such as Tetris, then yes, I'm good at it. But if it is a crossword puzzle or spelling puzzle - forget about it. I can't do word-games well at all.
Also, I hate competition - so there's that.

[yourlibrarian]

Ha, I should have specified I meant jigsaw puzzles. I've been working on a bunch of them this summer, and I find it very soothing to do this while I'm watching something that doesn't require a lot of attention.

[trepkos]

I can suddenly see your photos which I haven't been able to before! How odd! This is between now and 5 minutes ago! Lovely!

[trepkos]

And they're gone again.