Thursday, November 21, 2013

IF: "Tail"

Here is my illustration for this week's IF. Deuteronomy 28:13 :) God wants to make you the head & not the tail!

Friday, November 15, 2013

3am on Decaf...

So, it's a little after 3am and I'm awake, in my little kitchen, on my laptop because I need to stay awake all night for some test tomorrow. A sleep-deprived EEG. Most people would be upset about having to be up all night, but I'm actually grateful for the chance to get a little stuff done...

Time is a luxury. I'm a full-time Mom who lives in a very small space with my family. I have a laptop which only comes out of my closet maybe 1 or 2 times a week. I'm with the kids all day and at night, I work. I usually don't have a lot of "me" time. But I'm not complaining... my kids mean the world to me :)

That being said, there is a lot of technology out there that I'm completely ignorant to. A friend was telling me that there is a new phone that comes with software where you can literally do your drawing/sketching directly ON the phone, and even has the capability to color and adjust it at will. A PHONE. Only a few years ago, people were clamoring to get into colleges to learn the latest Photoshop and Corel... now you can do that stuff on a phone. It is incredible.

I still don't have a definitive way of storing my files. God forbid something should happen to this laptop, and a lot of my pictures (of my children AND artwork) would be gone. One of these days I'll get around to doing what is necessary to putting everything where it belongs. It's funny how people take space and equipment for granted. I share one bedroom with my 2 children (lol)... I have to cut back on art supplies and what not because I've simply no room to keep them. And as far as what I've on my computer, I would need a lot of computer time to go through everything and try and categorize/organize what I've got on there, and then decide what to keep, and finally, HOW to keep them. I don't have a scanner, nor a printer. I don't even have a PC. These days, most of the previously mentioned items are standard in a household.

And don't even get me started on apps... there is an app for everything. And the popularity of things like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. is astounding. I was online last month at a Dunkin Donuts and EVERYONE was on their phone... even me. Talking to someone? Oh, no... typing or whatever on it. It's as if all the latest gadgets have become greater extensions of ourselves... an extra appendage, if you will.

Christmas time is vast approaching, and a commercial I just saw featured a young boy talking about presents. He basically showed two items: a scooter, and a computer tablet. Then, he pretty much said NOT to get the scooter for your kids this Christmas, because it won't be used. He told the parents to get the kids the electronic device because that is something that WILL be used. I'm not exaggerating... this commercial was LITERALLY promoting getting your growing child an electronic device rather than something that they can use outside, to keep healthy, and have fun playing in the fresh air and sunshine like we used to when we ourselves were kids... oh, the times, how they have changed. The more technology advances, they say the better it is for us. I'm not so sure.