December 29th 2023

 So it's that time of year again. A few major positives this year and a couple of bad ones.

The Good Stuff:

I had several of my bucket list items come true this year:

• I flew on an airplane for the first time. I admit it's a lot of stuff to go through to get to the plane but the ride itself was super. I even had a window seat on the way to Calgary. 
• I have always wanted to spend some time at the Calgary Stampede and this year I got to spend several hours on the fairground and I watched a couple of chuckwagon races. Maybe next time I'll get to see some of the trick-riding and the bull-riding stuff which are the other two things I'm interested in.
• I have always wanted to see West Edmonton Mall and we spent a couple of hours wandering around there.
• I got to see Joseph on stage!

Plus a lot of other good stuff happened:

• We went to Canmore and I got to see the Three Sisters (Mountains in Alberta, I always thought it was all flat country)
• We took a road trip during the color change in the fall and I got some lovely photos
• I rediscovered my love for Photography and treated myself to Photoshop and I'm having a blast with it.
• I have always wished I could draw the images I get in my mind and this year in December I discovered the power of AI as an artists tool and have been able to recreate a few of the images and gotten new ideas along the way.
• I got to see my sister for a few hours for the first time in three years, sadly I was not feeling myself so it wasn't an overly long visit.

of course a few bad things happened:

• one of the worst ones happened in the summer and it sent me into as deep a depression as I have had in years. I'm still recovering from it but I feel I'm doing a bit better than I did from August to November.
• my hips and left shoulder have developed some type of Arthritis I think, Whatever it is it hurts on top of the Fibro
• We put Coco Chanel to sleep which added to the depression. I do not know if her death was the triggering event or if it was my visit to the graveyard, or if it was something else entirely. All I know is that I was sad all fall and it is still going on.

With all that time stuff, my sense of time is out of kilter apparently I've been in this particular depression since last year so the trigger must have been the breast cancer and all the stuff that went with it. GD#3, the cousins at the graveyard, putting Coco to sleep they all came after that.

I am hoping it is lifting and I'll get some of my old self back but I got a feeling that that Cheryl is gone and I'm going to have to build myself anew.

Reporting In

 I bought myself a Birthday gift, it is a bit expensive but considering the works I have done in just this past month I am I'm ok with that.

Since October was also my wedding anniversary I treated myself to an option that is proving invaluable. I used Photoshop almost exclusively for awhile but then switched back to Paintshop Pro for a bit. When I found all of the Adobe applications were available for 81 bucks a month I grabbed it, we are talking something that can run to $200 or $300 a month otherwise. That was my birthday present to myself, my anniversary gift to myself cost another $45 per month. It is the Creative Assets portion of Photoshop and it has thousands of images on it plus the AI Dream-up which allows you to use words to describe what you want in a image and creates it for you, fantabulous!

https://www.deviantart.com/cherylann1960 to check it out

My Journal to date

Pictorial Essay

Playing with AI

 (Verse 1) Yeah, listen up, let me tell you 'bout love, A feeling so deep, it fits like a glove. It’s like a rhythm, a beat that won’t stop, A fire burning bright, from bottom to top.

(Pre-Chorus) We ride the waves, no need for a map, Two souls entwined, no need to unwrap. Late-night texts, emojis and memes, Our love story’s written in rhymes and themes.

(Chorus) Love ain’t always roses and wine, Sometimes it’s gritty, like a street sign. But we keep pushing, against the tide, Side by side, we ride, our love amplified.

(Verse 2) She’s my muse, my inspiration, Her laughter’s my favorite medication. We dance through life, no hesitation, In this rap of love, we find salvation.

(Pre-Chorus) From the concrete jungle to starry skies, We paint our canvas with love’s sunrise. Her eyes, like diamonds, they shine so bright, In this rap battle of hearts, we ignite.

(Chorus) Love ain’t always roses and wine, Sometimes it’s gritty, like a street sign. But we keep pushing, against the tide, Side by side, we ride, our love amplified.

(Bridge) We fight, we fuss, but we never break, Our love’s a mixtape, no room for fake. She’s my rhythm, my rhyme, my sweetest verse, In this rap game of love, we immerse.

(Verse 3) We freestyle through life, no rehearsed lines, Her laughter’s the beat, our hearts intertwine. We chase dreams together, no need for a chase, In this rap battle of love, we find our place.

(Pre-Chorus) Through the highs and lows, we stay true, Our love’s a remix, old school and new. She’s my rhyme scheme, my lyrical flow, In this rap of forever, we steal the show.

(Chorus) Love ain’t always roses and wine, Sometimes it’s gritty, like a street sign. But we keep pushing, against the tide, Side by side, we ride, our love amplified.

(Outro) So here’s to love, in rhymes and beats, A symphony of hearts, where passion meets. We’ll keep spitting verses, till the end of days, In this rap of love, we’ll forever blaze. 🔥🎶

Starting Your Poetry Journey

Writing poetry is a beautiful and expressive way to share your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just dipping your toes into the poetic waters, here are some tips to get you started:

1. Choose a Topic: Poetry can be about anything—love, nature, memories, dreams, or even mundane moments. Decide what you want to write about. If you’re unsure, observe the world around you, delve into your feelings, or explore a specific theme.

2. Format and Structure: Poetry comes in various forms—sonnets, haikus, free verse, and more. Choose a format that resonates with you. Don’t be afraid to experiment; sometimes breaking the rules leads to the most captivating poems.

3. Words, Rhymes, and Rhythm: Play with words! Explore their sounds, meanings, and associations. Rhymes can add musicality to your poem, but they’re not mandatory. Pay attention to rhythm—how your lines flow. Read your poem aloud to feel its cadence.

4. Write Freely: Grab a pen, open a notebook, and just write. Don’t worry about perfection at this stage. Let your thoughts spill onto the page. Form lines, arrange them into stanzas, and see where your creativity takes you.

5. Edit and Revise: Once you’ve poured your heart out, step back. Read your poem critically. Are there unnecessary words? Can you enhance the imagery? Edit with care, preserving the essence while refining the expression.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to write poetry. It’s a journey of self-expression, and every poet’s path is unique. So go ahead, put pen to paper, and let your words dance! 📝✨

For more detailed guidance, you can explore resources like MasterClass or Writing Forward to dive deeper into the art of poetry. Happy writing! 🌟🎤

Learn more:1. masterclass.com

2. bing.com3. writingforward.com4. bbc.co.uk5. writers.com6. gettyimages.com

Lost in thought

 Trying to see the path ahead of me

A trio of years brought many tears

More tears than I can stand

Three simple lines and in my head I know there are more.

My mind is tired and my body hurts

I'm not ready to go to the great beyond yet.

Novembers Creative Journal

Writing Prompts

Write all of the poem or a selected verse in your journal. You may choose to use a whole page or just a part. You can also use other colors of ink and different styles of writing. Switch the ink color to every other line or word.

Write one thing that made the day great (30)

Write a minimum of 500 words per day using the word of the day according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/calendar

Enter one Poetry Contest each Week https://www.poetrysoup.com/poetry/contests/

Art Assignments

Beginnings: Create a cover page using a colour scheme, words, and images that symbolize November

Monthly Collage: Make a collage based on the word: Remembrance Day

Drawing: Once a week create a playing card-sized drawing of one of the images you used on your cover page

Daily Art

Once a day answer the following questions:

• What colour am I today?

• What word am I today?

• What was the weather today?

Daily Design: It's simple, look for designs as you go about your day and find one that catches your eye. Reproduce the pattern in a small rectangle on your daily page. No need to use the same colours, it's the pattern that matters.

Theme Grid: Divide a page into 30 squares. In the first square draw one of the images for the month. Each square must relate back to the first image somehow. A change of angle, a word related to November or the initial image, a change in colour, or a small change in each box, one day at a time.

Reading:

I have included the author and genre/subject for each book on the list. This is my November reading list, sans textbooks of course.

10 fiction books

2001: A Space Odyssey	Arthur C. Clarke	Classic, Science fiction
Aberdeenshire Folk Tales	Grace Banks	Folktales
Adventures From the Land of Stories: Queen Red Riding Hood's Guide to Royalty	Chris Colfer	Childrens, Fairy Tales, Fantasy
Academy of Monsters	Madeline Fay & Jenee Robinson	Reverse Harem Medium slow burn.
Amphigorey: Fifteen Books	Edward Gorey	Poetry, Graphic Novel
Anthonology	Piers Anthony	Fantasy, Biography
Bio Dungeon: Symbiote book 1 of Body Dungeon	Jeffrey "falcon" Logue & Jonathan Brooks	LitRPG
Quilt as Desired	Arlene Sachitano	Cozy Mysteries, Mystery
In the Land of Leadale, Vol. 1	Ceez	Fantasy, Humour
Liches Get Stitches	H. J. Tolson & F. R. Smith	Fantasy, Horror, Humour

10 non-fiction books

Incite: Dreams Realized	Tonia Jenny	Mixed Media, Magazine
Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything	B. J. Fogg	Self-help
365 Ways to Live Happy: Simple Ways to Find Joy Every Day	Meera Lester	Inspiration
The Urban Walker: How to Upgrade Your Mind, Body and Spirit in 30 Days	The Urban Walker: How to Upgrade Your Mind, Body and Spirit in 30 Days	Fitness
How to Move It: Reset Your Body	Joslyn Thompson Rule	Motivation
Writing Wild: Women Poets, Ramblers, and Mavericks Who Shape How We See the Natural World	Kathryn Aalto	Biography, autobiography
How to Self Publish Inexpensive Books and Ebooks	William Allan	Writing, Reference
Why We Dance	Kimerer Lamothe	Dancing
The Book of Lists: The Original Compendium of Curious Information	David Wallechinsky & Amy Wallace	Humour, Trivia
How to Build Self-Discipline: Resist Temptations and Reach Your Long-Term Goals	Martin Meadows	Self-dicipline

Education:

My main aim right now is to learn how to create a film short using animation. The textbooks I’m using right now are aimed at teaching me the basics of filmmaking, animation, and desktop publishing.

My secondary aim is to create a book of poetry and images created by yours truly. The textbooks for this focus are on writing poetry and creating art photos to go with them.

Think back to something you have wanted to do for decades, that's what I did. Making my own little cartoon and publishing a book of my poetry have both been on my mind for 30 + years. With everything that has happened in the last 3 years I was lost. This is me trying to find my way again.

New Year

 October 31-November 1 are the pagan New Years Eve & day and since it comes shortly after my birthday I have selected it as my own as well.

My birthday being in the first week of October, thus this is the beginning of my 64th year. I've talked about this before so you can guess what's coming next or maybe not.

I use a journal, it is not one thing but everything that happens in the year. This year it is called "Journal of Life November 23 - October 24" and I have begun setting it up, it is a lot of work at first but once it's done, its just a matter of using it. I had hoped to use a preset list of activities each month, but the No Excuses site is gone, so I am creating and recreating my version.

As you are aware I have many interests in the creative fields- Writing, Drawing, Photography, Painting etc. This year I'd like to include it with the standard Timer Journal (can't recall what it is called right this moment but it is an appointment book/Tracker thing.) 

Anyway without the website and having not found it anywhere on the internet I am using a sample in the book to create my own Monthly insert to use. It is a lot of work because I am fussy and want a bit of everything on it from suggested books to read to photos to take to writing to do to watercolour and other paints or ... on and on. I figure when I get the first one made the others should be easy because they will only include different poems to Letter and a monthly theme for the drawing. Oh and a different colour scheme. I may even reuse the same photo's to take list.

Naw that sounds a bit boring. The last one not the other things. But I am designing it practically from scratch. I am also considering posting the list here for you and sharing my results at various web sites. Now understand it will be paper not digital although I may add a bit of that in for me as well so I can learn to use the Open Source software I have downloaded.

E knows what I'm talking about but I will explain it for those of you who don't.

Open Source software is an application that anyone can add to if they are so inclined, its benefit to me is that it is on par with Photoshop and other really expensive software but for free. I will reference the apps when I use them so you can find and use them too.

Like I am creating the journal insert using Libre Office- Writer which is equivalent to Microsoft Word. Libre Office has parts just like Microsoft 365 only again for free.

Oh one last thing during the last week of November I'll be in British Columbia, I plan to write the days here as I did with the Alberta trip but as they happen instead of weeks later. I am thinking that way it will remain fresh in my head.

And yes I will eventually get the day in West Edmonton mall done and I apologize for it taking so long. As you are aware I have been dealing with some mental issues but the worst seems to have passed. As long as I keep my mind busy I should be fine that is what the classes are for.

Self-Education begins here

 Like many creative people I always have several plans in the works, my UFO list is long as is my WTD list (UFO=Unfinished objects, WTD=Want to do). Right now I am trying to work on the following:

1) Learn how to make a short film (Animated, Documentary)

2) Learn to create good page layout (for the poetry)

3) Create a book that consists of my poetry and my art

4) Write a publishable short story or two from previously created ones.

5) Create a series of digital art pieces using my own photography

I have Adobe CC but it does not work properly because they are not paid for. I needed applications that can do what I need so I downloaded and am learning several Open Source applications for practice and basic training. If they go well then and only then will I rent the Adobe CC ones.

I happen to have a membership to a digital library that allows me to download books on nearly any subject which is where I have been finding books to teach me what I need to know. That and I have been seeking websites that can and will give feedback on my work. Two of them you are probably familiar with, they are Deviant Art and Instagram. 

There are also many free courses online and through YouTube which I will be making use of as I go along. The paid ones might be better but I can't afford them.

Today is Drawing day. Drawing is an important skill and though I would prefer to go full-tilt ahead to digital drawing I need to get some practice in first. The book I am using for this is called "Drawing For the Absolute Beginner"

When I checked out the contents it seemed absolutely perfect for me. I draw, have drawn many things but there is no consistency nor shading in what I have done. Even the digital ones have been hit and miss.

Tomorrow is 2D animation which is why I am trying to learn consistency. It is the basis for 3D animation though I am not sure if I will go that route. The first animation I want to create is pretty simple and would work well in 2D format I think.

Yes I already have a story in mind, I even got as far as making a storyboard for it a while back but had no idea how to go from drawing the sequence to making it come alive, thus 2D animation.

The other classes I am doing are as follows:

Photography- Both from the standpoint of taking strong photos and digital manipulation. You will find most of these on Instagram

Film Making- with emphasis on making a short documentary using my camera and Opensource software in particular Blender, followed by the animation short. These I am hoping to put on a Youtube channel but I don't have one yet.

Visual Communication- The Basics of Digital Art. You will find them at Deviant Art. There is nothing there just yet but there will be. 

Art & Creativity- This is for Art Journal stuff again in digital form, these will also be at Deviant Art. Colour Theory and learning from the Masters will be part of this, it is basically Art class

Digital Essentials- This is for the applications and programs I need to learn to create any of the above.

Seven different classes, one for each day of the week. I have several textbooks on these subjects including both for instruction and assignments. The process is not stream-lined like it would be in a school but I believe it is possible to become good enough to create what I want to create.