New Years

I think of New Years Eve celebrations similar to a high school homecoming. It's an opportunity to have fun, but it can easily get over-hyped and then let you down. Your only hope if you get caught in the hype is to punch the gas and push through it. A point is eventually reached where you just want a quiet night with the people whose company you enjoy.

Bringing in the New Years is about the midnight kiss. When deciding where to spend it the decision was simple: wherever Terra was going to be. (She's my Fayetteville girlfriend) :) I had hoped to spend it in Austin with her, my bro, and some of his friends, but, with work 2 days after, she couldn't do it. So after spending some extra time in Dallas after Christmas, I drove to the ville New Years Day.

While many of my good friends have moved away, I feel blessed to be in the company of those still residing in NWA. Many people came over to 7 West and it was a great, casual party. The roomies had found about 7 random pinatas that acted as the wild card to the party. There were lots of silly pictures, some champagne, and some pinata breakage; and yes, a New Years Eve kiss. What sweeter way to start a New Year?

Christmas 'Oh Eight

Last Christmas was easily one of my top 3.

I had a good amount of time before Christmas to relax with friends and girlfriend without having the constant worry of studio in the back of my mind. Leighton, Kennedy, and Terra's (said girlfriend) birthdays were celebrated, and a trip to Dallas with Terra was greatly enjoyed. My definition of a break is having to ask what day it is because you're not concerned with the clock; which happened a few times.

So Christmas. With 2 sisters and 2 nieces, it was definitely unique. The whole family was together for only 4 days (with Asher, Missy, and Gaia arriving on Christmas day), but it was such a glorious 4 days. Golf, warmth, family, extended family, Christmas lights, food, dessert, presents, fire, laughs, etc. Since Nelson was renovating the previous holiday hangout house, all of the extended family in town came to Caruth. There were bodies everywhere, but it was great. I love my family. It was great seeing people taking care of other's babies, seeing babies playing with babies, eating home cooked meals/desserts, listening to all the conversations. It was such a warm environment that is Christmas.

Here are a few pics.

Terra and me at the Kimbell Art Museum.

Olivia, mom, the grandparents, and Aunt Kathy Christmas night.

Gaia running to Asher from Fulton.

The G parents.

Baby G.

Umm...yeah.

Asher's painting of G for the rents.

Gaia and Kennedy.

Bros, wives, and bebies.

Marshalls, Eoffs, and Blaggs.

The dessert table at its prime (it doubled in size later).

Christmas morning tradition.

Christmas Eve boys.

Twenty Oh Nine

It is the start of a new year and a new blog.

I decided to start up my blog again. I hope to use it as a means to collaborate pictures and writings in a somewhat chronological and somewhat coherent order to try to transfer transcendent thoughts tangibly. Basically an online sketch book for me.

While in Rome I kept a blog to share some of my adventures with folks back home as a way to keep from telling the same story in 10 different emails. This time it will be different. My blog now will be more geared to me portraying stories, thoughts, poems, art, photographs, complaints, ideas, etc. rather than the presentation of me to others. It will be more incoherent. More informal. More me.

We'll see how it goes.