Except for the two daffodils it appears lifeless and dull. Right? Wrong. These are the wonderful images I’ve taken in the last week, which prove Nature is alive and in bloom.

Never assume. Always look deeper.

He touched me, so I live to know
That such a day, permitted so,
I groped upon his breast.
It was a boundless place to me,
And silenced, as the awful sea
Puts minor streams to rest.

And now, I’m different from before,
As if I breathed superior air,
Or brushed a royal gown;
My feet, too, that had wandered so,
My gypsy face transfigured now
To tender renown.

Poetry like this once inspired me, it fed my dreams and hopes.  Food for the soul, couldn’t be a better descriptive cliche.

I love taking a closer look at ordinary objects, especially those in Nature. We miss so much with the naked eye. These photos were all taken with my iPhone 3Gs with a Macro lens designed for the iPhone (sure sign I’m a Geek). You can see all the photos I take with my iPhone here: http://statigr.am/almakepeace

What does this mean?

Beginning in April, or even mid-March, I will be able to devote more time to writing. I’ll be able to have a schedule. Can you believe it? Since the project began my writing time as been something like a chicken with its head cut off. I run around frantically, squeezing in a little writing whenever, and wherever I can, but without much focus. To have a dedicated time for writing will be momentous. Here’s my tentative schedule:

6:00-7:30 a.m.     – Wake up time and getting my daughter off to school.

7:30-8:15 a.m.      - Coffee, breakfast, emails and light blog reading.

8:30-9:30 a.m.      - Walking time (I need to exercise more).

9:30-12:30 a.m.    - Writing time!! Some of this will be actual writing and some will be brainstorming, editing, etc.

Lunch

1:30-3:30 p.m.       – Painting (or general art).

I’m leaving the rest of the afternoon open to anything else–social media, helping my daughter with homework, reading, etc. The new schedule will also mean the time I spend painting will be on my personal projects and goals. I’ve enjoyed creating the art cards every month, but when you work so hard on something that isn’t really yours, it can affect your other work. I often feel drained after finishing a month of art cards, drained creatively. Turning around and working on a new painting is the last thing I feel like doing. I’ll also be able to give my hands a well deserved break!

The second image is still only a sketch on the watercolor paper, but both images are taped down to the same board. If I need a break from the first painting I can turn my attention to this one.

There’s a sneak peek on my website for February’s IndieGoGo Art Cards, for the curious.

I watched the DVD of Real Steel this weekend and loved it more than I thought possible. Yes, it has robots and that should make it awesome by default but the movie is so much more than what these two poster portray. Real Steel is the story of a father (Hugh Jackman) estranged from his son (Dakota Goyo) who are thrown back into each other’s lives (not by their own choosing). I never bothered to watch a trailer for Real Steel because I assumed everything I needed to know about the movie from the marketing images. Now that I’ve watched the film, I’d go so far as to say they are a bit misleading. The US movie poster only shows a robot and while the International poster features Hugh Jackman, it completes leaves out the son (who was amazing!!). Did the marketing team think a movie about a dead-beat-dad reconnecting with his son would not touch movie goers? Possibly. It’s no secret we have become a society with a short attention span, one that wants everything now and we want it big, loud and exciting. This doesn’t apply to everyone. I need story and depth in the films and I watch. I was surprised to find it in Real Steel.

Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig

Expected publication: April 24th 2012 by Angry Robot

4 out of 5 Stars

Would you want to know when, where and how you were going to die? No? Well, neither does Miriam Black, but that’s her lot in life.

If you know who Chuck Wendig is, then you know all about his colorful use of the English language. Blackbirds is awash in the foulest of foul obscenities, but I realized immediately this was not Wendig spouting off vulgarities–this was Miriam Black. Everything about her, from the way the she spoke to how she moved, was unique, harsh and real. You feel her pain but you also can’t help laughing when she tries to make light of her situation. Blackbirds was one of those books I could not put down. Read my full review on Goodreads.

Favorite line:

“An angel. That’s funny. Me with my wings.” She rubs some sleep boogers from the corner of her eye.

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

First Published in Oct. 1983

3 out of 5 Stars

I really, really, really wanted to like this book. But… I didn’t find it scary in the least and I’m honestly blown away there are so many 4 and 5 star reviews. I found it to be a slow book and just when I thought the climax was coming the bottom fell out.

Oh well. I can’t LOVE everything I read, can I?

Ironically, I enjoyed the movie more than the book.

Graphic Novels

Y: The Last Man, Vol. 2: Cycles by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra (Illustrator), José Marzán Jr. (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 Stars

This is an excellent series, maybe not 5 stars (like my Walking Dead books), but worth every penny. Volume 2 picks up the pace with a lot more action and two surprising deaths; which means I read it way too fast. Volume 3 here I come!

Up close and personal.

I’m feeling a little out of sorts this week, so I thought I’d post something lighthearted. Thanks, CourtneyJo for the idea!

1. I love Brazil Nuts.

2. I’m an iPhone Geek. I even have a special Macro Lens for my phone’s camera.

3. I have a secret addiction. The Vampire Diaries.

4. I create new meals on the fly and I rarely measure anything. However, I don’t enjoy cooking–it’s just a necessary evil.

5. I buy a bottle of Trader Joe’s Merlot every week.

6. I usually wear the same earrings every day.

7. If given the choice to spend money on either books, clothes or chocolate, I will always choose books.

8. I wish I had the money to buy my own kiln. I dream of making pottery.

9. I say a small prayer type thing whenever I see a dead animal alongside the road–it’s not a religious type thing, more like an apology.

10. One of my favorite contemporary artists is Michael Parkes. I own several prints of his paintings.

11. I sometimes wear the same socks for more than two days straight.

Wind Flakes by Ruth Jamieson

Singularity by Ruth Jamieson

Winter Bark by Ruth Jamieson

Rest well, Ruth. I hope you are painting rainbows on the other side.

Dangerous Visions (SF Masterworks) Edited by Harlan Ellison

Some Kind of Fairy Tale by Graham Joyce

The Ritual by Adam Nevill

The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice

Three Messages and a Warning: Contemporary Mexican Short Stories of the Fantastic

Some of the Best from Tor.com: 2011 Edition  <–Free ebook. Kindle users can pre-order now!