Time to Make a Journal

"Time isss the ansswer!"

Gollum was so right.  And I SO don't have the answer.  Time for a journal, though, so I better figure out the answers to the following survey ladydragonbane tagged me with.

Thanks for taking a bit of your valuable time to wander my eclectic little assemblage of art, bits and pieces from my 30-odd years of publishing art/writing (dating back to middle school).  And yes, "odd" is the operative word.

I'll try to put together some (hopefully) interesting and (hopefully) helpful journals for you, just as soon as I have the -- well, you and Gollum know....

Meanwhile, special thanks to all the artists on DA who've helped re-inspire me, the nice folks who've commented and been nice to me, and all the wonderful photographers who share their work -- I have several paintings in-progress now, based on pieces by stockers and other artists.  What a great bunch of people!  I wish you'd been so close 20 years earlier.

[ ] I am shorter than 5'4. (But my pretty little wife is.)
[x] I think I'm ugly sometimes.
[x] I have many scars. (a few psychological ones, anyway)
[ ] I tan easily. ( I burn )
[x] I wish my hair was a different color. (Only because I wish it was still that nice auburn it used to be...)
[ ] I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
[ ] I have a tattoo.
[x] I am self-conscious about my appearance. (Oh, only the recently added extra 35 pounds of it.)

[ ] I have/I've had braces.
[x] I wear glasses (Used to have eagle eyes, but now the world's a blur.  We hates it!)
[ ] I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free
[x] I've been told I'm attractive by a complete stranger (There ARE art groupies in the world, thank goodness.  And special thanks to the beautiful chainmail-bikini girl who made a pass at me in New Orleans that year, but sorry, gorgeous, my wife was home with a baby in a stroller, selling my art at a festival to pay for my trip...)
[ ] I have more than 2 piercings.
[ ] I have piercing in places besides my ears.
[x] I have freckles. (Go Irish!)


Family/Home Life
[ ] I've sworn at my parents. (I've yelled at my Mom.  I'm bad.)
[ ] I've run away from home.
[ ] I've been kicked out of the house.
[ ] My biological parents are together. (Dad's gone now.)
[ ] I have a sibling less than one year old)
[ ] I want to have kids someday. (I think we've reached our quota.)
[ ] I've lost a child.

School/Work
[ ] I'm in school
[x] I have a job (I paint.  I write.  Like I said, I have no time.)
[x] I've fallen asleep at work/school.
[x] I almost always do my homework.
[ ] I've missed a week or more of school.
[ ] I've been on the Honor Roll within the last 2 years
[ ] I failed more than 1 class last year
[ ] I've stolen something from my job
[ ] I've been fired. (I was down-sized out of my job years ago, but it was a good thing.)

Embarrassment
[ ] I've slipped out an "lol" in a spoken conversation.
[ ] Disney movies still make me cry. (I never cried at Disney movies, but others, like "What Dreams May Come" get me.)
[ ] I've peed from laughing.
[x] I've snorted while laughing.
[x] I've laughed so hard I've cried.
[x] I've glued my hand to something (And the things I've painted...)
[x] I've had my pants rip in public.

Health
[x] I was born with a disease/impairment. (A.D.D., a recent diagnosis that explains so, so much.)
[x] I've gotten stitches/staples.
[x] I've broken a bone.
[ ] I've had my tonsils removed.
[x] I've sat in a doctor's office/emergency room with a friend. (and got a merit badge for ice-chip administering during childbirth)
[x] I've had my wisdom teeth removed.
[x] I had a serious surgery. (Does double hernia repair count?  It hurt like it should count.)
[x] I've had chicken pox. (As a senior in high school.  How lame is that?)
[ ] I've had measles.

Traveling
[x] I've driven over 200 miles in one day. (Over 1000 in a day; e.g. had to drive from OKC to Boston (1700+ miles) in 30 hours, a few years ago.)
[x] I've been on a plane (grew up in the Air Force; started college at USAF Academy)
[x] I've been to Canada. (half Canadian (Newf); "half is better than none," as my Canadian friends say)
[x] I've been to Mexico.
[ ] I've been to Niagara Falls.
[x] I've been to Japan.
[x] I've celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans. (Okay, not actually during Fat Tuesday week, more like -- uh, I better stop here.)
[x] I've been to Europe.
[x] I've been to Africa.

Experiences
[x] I've gotten lost in my city.
[x] I've seen a shooting star.
[x] I've wished on a shooting star.
[x] I've seen a meteor shower (Take the new wife -- or later, the kids -- outside, line 'em up in the grass, and wait...)
[x] I've gone out in public in my pajamas. (Almost every weekday morning, driving the kids to school.)
[x] I've pushed all the buttons on an elevator. (Sears, early '70's.  Sorry Mom.)
[x] I've kicked a guy where it hurts. (But my kids have paid me back -- head-butts to the nose are worse)
[ ] I've been to a casino.
[ ] I've been skydiving.
[x] I've gone skinny dipping.
[ ] I've played spin the bottle.
[ ] I've drunk a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
[x] I've crashed a car.
[x] I've been Skiing.
[x] I've been in a play.
[ ] I've met someone in person from myspace.
[x] I've caught a snowflake on my tongue.
[ ] I've seen the Northern lights.
[x] I've sat on a roof top at night. (It's more exciting on spring afternoons, when the funnel clouds are passing over.  And who said Oklahoma wasn't fun?)
[x] I've played chicken. (My wife and I were balk-balking at each other just yesterday. I called her "chicken," and we were off...)
[x] I've played a prank on someone.
[x] I've ridden in a taxi.
[x] I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show. (Used to go at midnight its first years, in Houston, with a great acting crowd.  However, the wonderful Trans-Iowa Canal Company version was my favorite, even if "Little Billy" did jump out of the way so that the real artist took the bucket o' confetti in the kisser.  I've still got some of that in my luggage, I think, and people still dump confetti on my at shows, sometimes.  Crazy world.)
[x] I've eaten sushi
[x] I've been snowboarding.

Relationships
[ ] I'm single
[ ] I'm in a relationship
[ ] I'm engaged.
[x] I'm married
[ ] I've gone on a blind date.
[ ] I've been the dumped more than the dumper.
[x] I miss someone right now. (She's at a lady veterinarians' luncheon.)
[ ] I have a fear of abandonment.
[ ] I've gotten divorced.
[x] I've had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.
[ ] I've told someone I loved them when I didn't.
[ ] I've told someone I didn't love them when I did.
[x] I've kept something from a past relationship.

Sexuality
[ ] I've had a crush on someone of the same sex.
[ ] I've had a crush on a teacher. (a ballet teacher)  (I married her.)
[x] I am a cuddler
[x] I've been kissed in the rain.
[x] I've hugged a stranger
[ ] I have kissed a stranger

Honesty/Crime
[ ] I've done something I promised someone else I wouldn't.
[x] I've done something I promised myself I wouldn't.
[x] I've snuck out of my house. (I used to sneak out at 4 am to run.  Apparently, I was crazy then, too.)
[x] I have lied to my parents about where I am.
[x] I am keeping a secret from the world. (Can't think what, but there must be something.  So, I'm keeping it from myself, too, I suppose.  Good thinking.)
[x] I've cheated while playing a game. ( who hasn't ?)
[x] I've cheated on a test. (does religious education count?)
[x] I've run a red light. (Rural.  No one at all around.  Late.  What can I say?)
[ ] I've been suspended from school.
[x] I've witnessed a crime. (Does perpetrated against me count?)
[x] I've been in a fist fight. (Knife fight.  Tea-kettle fight (sorry, sister).
[x] I've been arrested. (for stealing my own car -- yes, I'm not kidding)

Drugs/Alcohol
[x] I've consumed alcohol. (I hereby apologize to everyone (except my girlfriend) for all the things I did when I was drunk that time in grade school.  There.  I feel better.)
[x] I regularly drink. (The hard stuff: Mountain Dew)
[ ] I've passed out from drinking. (I don't think it was the drinking that did it.)
[ ] I have passed out drunk at least once in the past 6 months.
[ ] I've smoked weed (I've burned weeds.  Does that count?)
[ ] I've taken painkillers when I didn't need them.
[x] I've eaten shrooms.  (Sauteed in butter, with garlic and onions, as basis for spaghetti sauce - yes, I like to cook.)
[ ] I've popped E. (What the hell is E?)
[ ] I've inhaled Nitrous.
[ ] I've done hard drugs.  (Ibuprofen is a hard drug to me, friend.  Knocks me out like a right hook.)
[ ] I have cough drops when I'm not sick.
[x] I can't swallow pills.  (Oh, I can do it, but it's not pretty.  And don't look at me.)
[ ] I can swallow about 5 pills at a time no problem (My throat tightens, just reading that!)
[ ] I have been diagnosed with clinical depression.  (Not diagnosed, but there have been days...)
[x] I have been diagnosed with one or more anxiety disorder.  (I'm shy, one handicap that even fandom punishes you for.)
[x] I shut others out when I'm depressed.
[ ] I take anti-depressants. (Does that Dew count?)
[ ] I'm anorexic or bulimic. (Might do me some good, for a month or so.)
[ ] I've slept an entire day when I didn't need it.
[ ] I've hurt myself on purpose.
[x] I've woken up crying. (Very bad dream.)
[ ] I'm afraid of dying. (I'm not in a hurry to do it, but it makes me more sad than afraid.)
[x] I hate funerals.
[x] I've seen someone dying.
[x] Someone close to me has attempted suicide.
[x] Someone close to me has committed suicide.
[x] I've planned my own suicide. (I'm thinking, maybe that on-the-precipice road coming out of Los Alamos.)
[ ] I've attempted suicide.
[ ] I've written a eulogy for myself. (but it's a kinda fun, creepy idea, isn't it?  Here lies Bill, Under the grass, We liked him well enough, though he was a pain in the ....)

Materialism
[ ] I own over 5 rap CDs.
[ ] I own an iPod or MP3 player.
[ ] I have an unhealthy obsession with anime/manga.
[ ] I own multiple designer purses, costing over $100 a piece. (Maybe there should be an "art book" version of this.)
[x] I own something from Hot Topic. (Correction: I buy somethings from Hot Topic, 'cause my wonderful babies turned into teenagers. Hey, one of my fav teenagers, Morgan, works there!)
[ ] I own something from Pac Sun. (Is that a store, or a bright point in the Great Orion Nebula?  - Hey, I've painted that.)
[x] I collect comic books. (My son collects 'em.  I still have lots from the 60's/70's, and some day I'm gonna find that kid that pilfered an armful (including several of the first 10 Ironman).)
[x] I own something from The Gap. (See Hot Topic topic above)
[x] I own something I got on e-bay. (But I don't buy there any more, 'cause they're rabid, both other buyers and sellers. "You took a day-and-a-half to pay me, just 'cause you were out of town?!!  I kill you now.")
[ ] I own something from Abercrombie. (But a guy up the road models for them.)

Random
[x] I can sing well. (at least I think I can)
[ ] I've stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant.
[ ] I open up to others easily.
[x] I watch the news. (Don't miss the weather around here, if you know what's good for you, especially this time o' year.)
[x] I don't kill bugs. (Ok, I'm lying.  I spray for bugs and kill ones in the house and most of the ones out in my airbrush studio, especially the wasps that have found some secret way in there. But out in the world, it's live and let live.)
[ ] I hate hearing songs that sacrifice meaning for the sake of being able to rhyme.
[x] I curse regularly. (Is "bloody" a curse here in Oklahoma?  If so, why, exactly?  And my mom, a great Catholic, daily taught me the value of a good "Damn.")
[x] I sing in the shower.  (Sorry, wife.)
[ ] I am a morning person. (I borrow ladydragonbane's: HELL NO!)
[ ] I paid for my cell phone ring tone.
[x] I'm a snob about grammar. (Mildly.)
[x] I am a sports fanatic.  (Sometimes, but lots less than long ago.  Go Sooners!)
[x] I twirl my hair. (Got it from my Dad, but I try not to, 'cause it drives my hair to curly craziness.)
[ ] I have "x"s in my screen name.
[x] I love being neat. (And sometimes accomplish it.)
[ ] I love Spam. ("Love" is way too strong a word to get an X, but I buy it for the boys, sometimes, young fools that they are.)
[x] I've copied more than 30 CD's in a day (Art sample CD's - and I've sold as many CD's in a day, for a buddy, at a big convention, not realizing for a while (naive pup that I remain) that they were of dubious origin.)
[x] I bake well. (Ok.  I'm lying again.  You guys really drag the truth out.  My wife bakes well.  I cook pretty well -- or at least no one has died yet.)
[x] My favorite color is either white, yellow, pink, red or blue (The more kids we had, the more I painted big, cool, quiet, blue pieces...)
[x] I've worn pajamas to school (and to the midnight pajama panels at conventions)
[x] I like Martha Stewart. (Hey, she's good with olive oil.)
[x] I know how to shoot a gun. (And I'm wicked with a rubber band.)
[X] I am in love with love. (Hopeless romantic.)
[x] I am guilty of typing lIkE tHiS.  (and lilo yjod/)
[x] I laugh at my own jokes. (I'm still laughing at moving my hands one key to the right, so clearly, it doesn't take much.)
[x] I eat fast food weekly.
[x] I believe in ghosts. (Like airplanes and magnetism and the effects of smoking, I've seen and don't need to believe.)
[ ] I am online 24/7, even as an away message.
[ ] I've not turned anything in and still got an A in a certain class. (No, but I did give Julie Hixon a better grade than she deserved on that paper I got to grade in the fifth grade, but hey, Sherrie, I married you, didn't I? (That was the class where I met my wife -- though it was a good while before I was clever enough to marry her.))
[ ] I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room. (There's probably always a spider in the room, you poor things.)
[x] I am really ticklish.
[ ] I love white chocolate. (It's okay.)
[ ] I bite my nails.
[x] I play video games. (But nothing like back in the day.  I miss Doom.)
[x] I'm good at remembering faces.
[ ] I'm good at remembering names. (So sorry, to those I've known but been unable to name over the years.  Why do I remember almost everything they tell me, but not names, or at least not which name goes with which person?  Blast.)
[ ] I'm good at remembering dates.
[ ] I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.