Inspiration: Congested Sunrises

I am a fan of Sunday mornings; they give me time to transition from my swirly, sleepy dreams into reality. I can be slow and deliberate, appreciating every minute. However, most of my mornings are spent stuck in traffic on the Veterans Expressway. It sounds kind of miserable, but thanks to the beautiful Florida weather and clear skies, I've found a way to turn my commute into my transition time.

I roll down the windows in my car, turn on and turn up some great music, and just wait for that moment when I round the corner from a sea of taillights into the perfect Stay Golden, Ponyboy sunrise. They always surprise me because they are ever changing. Everything, like the clouds, the time, and the moon, seems to have an impact and change the colors and patterns. They make me want to paint. They make me hopeful for the day ahead.

Here are a few that I was able to capture:

A Break & A Return

I needed a break from the blog.

In August, I signed up for an online writing class. I hoped to get a few things out of the experience: to make some blogging friends, to find a better focus for my blog, and to be inspired to write more. None of this happened. Everyone was so self-focused and so desperate for attention that it was impossible to learn and get much from the experience. I felt more frustrated and isolated than when I started.

I knew that I needed to take a break. I was trying too hard, and knowing that I was only a few days from a vacation, I planned to take a month off to regroup. That month turned into four months.

Looking back, it feels like a lifetime has passed in those four months.  I discovered Gelly Rolls (and did lots of artwork), had a health scare, learned to care for sea life (sea lions kinda rock it), took some chances, reconnected with friends, got manhandled by a beloved 90’s rock star, fell in love (not the rock star, thank you!), made a crime scene for my Halloween costume, flaked out on another photography class, went to some great concerts (Fiona Apple, The Chevin, Lemonheads, Psychedelic Furs, Weezer, & Glen Hansard), discovered how much I hate ukuleles, empty fan club promises, and mean girls, played a lot of guitar, had my heart broken (still recovering), and found myself brimming with love for my family for their love and support.

But now with the new year, I realize that I miss my blog. I miss writing. Even if I’m only writing this as a record for myself, it helps me to process everything going on, so I’m back. I may need a Schmidt re-launch (If you’re not watching New Girl, go watch now!)... I think my theme will be Crazy Happy Optimistic. Hey, sometimes you just have to fake it until you make it.

Here are some photographs and art from the last four months.