Rat Race

Rat Race
Originally uploaded by Lady Libertine

I wanna quit the race.

I want off the merry-go-round.

I want outta the game.

So, what's it gonna take? A small farm house in the country with a garden and a few animals? Growing my own vegetables, slaughtering my own beef and pork? Growing my own hops & grain and brewing my own beer? Can it be done? Am I capable? Can I handle it?

What are the alternatives?

Where else is there to go?

How much more money do I need to give to my government to squander on projects I don't care about, to support causes I object to give to people who are just too damn lazy to work for themselves?

How many more hours should I devote to a job I hate? How many more days, weeks, years?

When does the madness stop and what, please tell me, can I do about it?

Mediocrity

Superman In Flames
Originally uploaded by Reid Harris Cooper

Ya know what? I'm a remarkable person and I need to start doing remarkable things.

I"ve fed myself the lie that I'm "normal" for so long that I've become what I detest: Mediocre.

Mediocrity is the real-life kryptonite that saps the creative powers from the real the real-life Superman.

312 & Goose Island at Schamp

312
Originally uploaded by Zook74

Received a note today that this photo of Goose Island's 312 Urban Wheat ale has appeared in the latest edition of Schamp:

http://www.schmap.com/chicago/home/

Dead End

Roscoe with Dead End Sign
Originally uploaded by zoomar

So when do you know when to call it quits?

When do you realize that it's not going to get any better?

When do just decide that it's not worth the effort?

When do you finally stop. Look around. And see the "Dead End" sign?

Good run, Brett...

APTOPIX NFC Championship Football
Originally uploaded by elscorcho76

Yeah...this is about the same expression I was wearing when Tyne nailed that field goal.

I'm not a big football fan and usually only watch a game when it's convenient, or when it's a particular game that I really, really want to watch (like last night's game), but it was still a heartbreaking loss.

Still...a great game and I'm happy for the Giants and for Manning. I hope they do well in the Super Bowl.

And...I do hope Favre comes back for another season. He's such a blast to watch.

Macromedia Freehand: Heart Skull

Macromedia Freehand: Heart Skull
Originally uploaded by Zook74

Ya know... I just looked at the Calender and realized; We've only just begun the third week of 2008. This year already feels like last year (if that makes any sense).

I really hope I can make something of this year. Too many years have gone by with nothing substantial to show. No advancement. No victories. Just surviving.

Surviving sucks.

I want to thrive.

Here is one thing I did, though. I finally started doing some (very, very) simple stuff in vector via Macromedia Freehand. It's not much, but it's a start. I've been longing to learn to vectorize my art for a very long time, but I HATE vector programs. Just not intuitive at all.

Ah well...

This year I'm GOING TO start making beer and plush toys. Period. Not "I hope to", not "I'd like to", not "maybe".

I am.

I will.

I can.

And nothing, NOTHING can stop me!!

Dr. Zook's Death Star Logo

Dr. Zook's Death Star Logo
Originally uploaded by Zook74

Been putzin' around making label logos for my fantasy microbrew, Dr. Zook's Hand-Crafted, Home-Brewed Black Market Beer.

I was given a Mr. Beer Home Brewing kit for Christmas and am really warming up to the ide of doing some higher quality, small-batch beers down the road so long as my interest holds...

Lots more Dr. Zook Logos @ Flickr