I am working as a Barista and as a versatile employee for a corporate chain restaurant. Two jobs plus 12 credits of classes. Sometimes the weight is heavy. This song is a great depiction of how I feel though, and why I keep going pushing along.

Shall Be Released

They say ev’rything can be replaced
Yet ev’ry distance is not near
So I remember ev’ry face
Of ev’ry man who put me here
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
They say ev’ry man needs protection
They say ev’ry man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above this wall
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Standing next to me in this lonely crowd
Is a man who swears he’s not to blame
All day long I hear him shout so loud
Crying out that he was framed
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

"Lately it appears to me what a long strange trip its been."

Time continues to be fleeting. Although, some days seem so long.
The purposes of writing is to express emotion. To convey something that maybe can't be communicated verbally. It may not be about communicating at all. I think its possible that we write just because.

I hope that the simple things never cease to satisfy me. Like steeping loose leaf tea in the evening. Saturating a liquid solvent to extract a soluble ingredient. That moment made me smile.

It's a matter of conditioning

Spring in particular, at least for me, brings a natural sense of refreshment and motivation.
I put my mat down in the grass and took some time to re coop in the sunshine.
These are the moments that make everyday seem less complicated.

Coming home to this cute asthmatic kitty makes me so happy.

Thank you for the past 11 years of companionship, Lexie.

Montaigne

"We are all patchwork, and so shapeless and diverse in composition that each bit, each moment, plays its own game." - Michel De Montaigne

And thus the inspiration of my blog title.

Simple nights.

I love Etsy. I wish I could extend my talents that far to sell them. Making art and sharing is so special to me.

These are a few things I eyed today. Lately I look on this site everyday.

Agenda tonight is simple.
Home from work early.
A glass of red wine and a veggie sandwich.
Some studying and homework.

Some things to be excited for the weekend:
Payday.
Only 2 work shifts.
And then Sunday, Johnny and I are off to Eugene to see Yonder Mountain String Band.

Migraine.

From yesterday's bout. It turned out really well. Great color. Non-impressive lines on the bottom, thanks to a huge squirt from the henna cone.


My head was near collapsing this morning from a migraine. I thought I was going to pass out.  I finally got home from 9 am class and Johnny put an ice pack on my head. Fell asleep for 3 hours but woke up with a very cold, hypothermia like, headache. I am feeling normalish now. These things tend to freak me out a little because I take unconditionally good care of myself. Past health problems have resulted this, and also why I have decided to go into a medical field.

I recently just finished Anthony Keidis' autobiography "Scar Tissue". If you're a Chili Peppers fan, it is a great read.
Started up a few days ago "The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-time" out of a curiosity (hah) from the past few years of seeing it around. The writing structure is nontraditional, with very short chapters, and first person perspective. Mostly very acute short sentences throughout. I would summarize this as a novel about a 15 year old boy with a dysfunctional life  (and by that I mean not normal in comparison) and some people issues, enduring autism while being highly intelligent as a mathematician. The book starts off with a symbolic figure of a murdered poodle that carries the book. I am enjoying the read. Recommended for sure.

Yesterday Johnny and I took a walk downtown for our rendezvous Tuesday date. So nice.

Lawsonia inermis

This is the henna from last night. Sadly it didn't stain too dark. The henna is either too weak or my skin is too soft or thin there to hold it. I'm going to try again after this fades some.

Here are some other new designs I did last night and today.

Henna on Monday

Henna I did today.
Flaking off now, after 6 hours on my skin, which is good.
I am working on my drawing and applying, but most of this was my own design. 
I will post the after image of when it all flakes off.

This is the way.

Lately I have been extending my artistic talents and interests into the form of Henna. It seems like many people are intimidated by it, but its very easy to make and apply.

I prefer to mix my henna with coffee over anything else. The smell seems to be milder, and it stains a lot darker brown.
The idea occurred to me that I should start a gallery of some of my applications, and that I can also share some of my own designs.

So far, this is the best one I have drawn on myself.