Requisite New Year Prattle

Well here we are at the beginning of a new year, the second day of the fourth year of the third millennium. A lot of good things happened in the last year, not the least of which was moving into this apartment with Elaine. My job remains abnormally satisfying. We made it to New York in June. I'm finally seeing light as I dig myself out of the hole. Elaine and I are both painting again. It's a good life here.

There are always flies in the ointment, but 2003 was a pretty good year over all.

So what's coming up? I'm not really the type for New Year's resolutions, but I have a few things I've already resolved to do. They all revolve around one larger goal, getting published (which I'm not necessarily planning on this year). To that end:

• No more running in the special olympics: It's too easy to spend so much time arguing over things where no amount of arguing is going to change anything and consequently not attending to those things that I do have power over.
• More drawing: I intend to have no less than 12 finished drawings by the end of the year
• More painting: 6 finished paintings
• More attention to my portfolio: this means paying more attention to my website than Gothic BC, going back to taking pictures with an eye to painting and drawing, developing a new artist statement, and generally getting my stuff in a submittable state.
• Spending less time with people who suck time and energy: the people I like best are those that inspire me in one way or another. Those that don't inspire me just take up my time.
• Smoking and drinking more: yeah, that's right, more. Cigars are rolled in inspiration, and if in vino veritas then in spirits there is art.

There is more: I'll go back to New York again this year and draw the classical sculptures in the Met. And don't be surprised if you see me at the club in a tie — I'm getting too old to dress like a teenager.

There is an underlying, longer-term plan that getting published is just a part of, and behind it all are some guiding principles that have been with me in one way or another for a long time

1. "Always be the better person,"
2. "Always cover your ass,"
3. "You can't please everyone. You're lucky if you please yourself," and,
4. "There are no contradictions. If you perceive a contradiction then one of your premises must be wrong."