One Of My Favorite Anythings

Griffin James Street ~ Pin & Ink (2007)

My kids are what get me through the day most days. I'm so lucky to be their Dad. Griffin asked the other night which one of the kids was my favorite. He quickly folded up with, “It’s me, huh, Dad?!” I told him each of you guys were my favorite in different ways, and I can’t imagine not having all of you.

Griffin has always been my favorite for his ability to communicate his thoughts well. I would send him to his room when he was little and shut the door. He would be crying and talking to himself. I would listen to what he would say at these times, because he would say what’s on his mind. It would be my time to cool down, take it all in, and every time ~ I mean every time~  I would get something out of it. Plus it was so cute!I still say to this day that I want to be like him. I’m not there, but I have made some progress.

I tell you this, because the picture I’ve posted is one of my all-time favorites. I’ll put it up there above any of the Masters. Not because I’m all that, but this piece reminds me of working with him on his panel for “Brady Bunch on Acid”. It also reminds me of what a fantastic talent Heavenly Father has given him. I am blessed to have a kid that we have a bond like this.

So now I get to my point. I was with him the other night. We were getting a soda, and I lost it. I mean really lost it. I was in the gas station yelling at him ~ I said some terrible things including I never want to talk to you again! No son should ever here that from his Dad.

I was diagnosed with Bi-polar Disorder when he was little. I’ve remained on my meds all this time, seen counselors, and have been in and out of hospitals. It’s really hard on those around me. I tell you this because shear will alone doesn’t work. It's not like I can stop this from ever happening again. At best I can lessen the severity and frequency. It's just something we all have to live with. Griffin was more worried about my safety that night than being mad at me. Yet one more way I hope I can be like him.

Take a look at the link I’ve included this time. I think you’ll get a lot out of it.

Read 10 Key Facts About Bi-Polar

Faith + Hope + Charity

Here is an idea that has been around since 1990. It's been drawn more than once, and until recently, I had lost it and almost had to draw it again. This idea has for some reason stuck with me for all this years. However, I can't take it any further than this. I think the reason I have a soft spot for it is I see the beginnings of my fascination with drawing Big & Beautiful woman.

I had this thought, "What if Faith and Hope and Charity were people?" Maybe it wasn't much of a stretch to make them woman, but then it occurred to me "What if I had a LOT of Faith?" So then things started to take shape that way. Believe it or not my Ex was somewhat of an inspiration for Hope in the middle there. When I met her she was 20 and curvy, and verbose, and an electric young woman. She had this air about her of "anything was possible". I was attracted to her immediately. Now a days she looks like the life has been sucked all out of her. Sad really.

Maybe I'll find that thing this picture is looking for someday, but for now at least it's safe at home.

Zombie Free Since 1962

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Wish I Dunnit!

My friend Dion Dewald did this drawing years ago. The lines move in there own unique way... Oh, I don't know, what can I say, it just speaks to me. I wish I had drawn it. But, hey at least I know the guy that did!

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Zombies Ahead

This design is for a shirt for Cooper; the one who is into zombies! I start with an original design, and on a black t shirt I apply bleach with an eye dropper. I've made a few of these. They come out nice. I think I have a picture of an Emerson, Lake & Palmer I made for a great friend. That's it. I'll post a picture of it when it's done. The coolest part of this, is Cooper, a Sophomore in High School, is existed to wear it to school! I'll take my being cool moment whenever I can get them.

"We're On A Mission From God..."

"...We're getting the band back together!"

It doesn’t come up much, but I’m a Mormon. We believe weird things and we piss people off. It’s not intentional, but it happens. Here's a fun fact for you:
Up until 1976, in the good state of Missouri, it was legal to kill a Mormon!

Now what’s a guy gotta do to get you that pissed off?!

We believe our bodies are made up of our physical body and our Spirits. God, our Heavenly Father is the father of all those Spirits. So everyone who has ever been born or will be born is connected by this eternal family. If you go to a Mormon Church you’ll see what I mean.We all call each other “Brother” and “Sister." Strange, but it puts the world into a clearer perspective for me.

One of the most peculiar things Mormons believe is that the first born of all of Heavenly Fathers children was Jesus. Mormons believe the Christmas story and the Easter story, and that He truly died for all of us. We know this and teach before we were born, there was a Grand Council in Heaven, all of Heavenly Fathers children were there.  2/3 of them followed Jesus and 1/3 didn’t. Simply put, that's were you get angels and devils. I’m cutting parts out because I’m not trying to teach you a Sunday School lesson. I’m just trying to tell you a story...

The last unusual thing Mormons believe: Know how you meet someone for the first time and it feels like you’ve know them all your life. Well chances are you have ~ from this preexistence. What are the chances? Trillions of people who have ever lived and you’re going to run into someone you know. What about 7 somebodies you know? It may seem hard to believe. Our lives look like a box of spilt match sticks, but to God, each match stick is numbered and counted and with it's own scenes of order. Where there seems to be only chaos to us, there is really a method to the madness. Which brings me to this life...

...come to a small house with seven kids and their lunatic father and I’ll show you chaos and madness!

Years ago on one occasion; it was one of my first real melt downs.  I was really gone, and Jennifer was really trying to help me. She took me in the room where the boys were playing and she pointed to them and looked at me ~ “You finally got the band back together. Be happy!”

That spoke to something inside me.

So now when I’m sad, depressed, or otherwise close to the edge, I put on Starship Trooper and imagine me and the boys on stage at a HOB rocking out.

Together again!

Works for me.

Where’s Georgia?

She must be at the bar drinking Shirley Temples!

Yes Logo 2013 ~  Pen & Ink and Watercolour

 

Starship Trooper 

Sister bluebird flying high above
Shine your wings forward to the sun
Hide the myst'ries of life on your way
Though you've seen them, please don't say a word
What you don't know, I have never heard

Starship trooper, go sailing on by
Catch my soul, catch the very light
Hide the moment from my eager eye
Though you've seen them, please don't tell a soul
What you can't see, can't be very whole

Speak to me of summer
Long winters longer than time can remember
The setting up of other roads
To travel on in old accustomed ways
I still remember the talks by the water
The proud sons and daughter
That knew the knowledge of the land
Spoke to me in sweet accustomed ways

Mother life, hold firmly on to me
Catch my knowledge higher than the day
Lose as much as only you can show
Though you've seen me, please don't say a word
What I don't know, I have never shared

Loneliness is a power that we possess to give or take away forever
All I know can be shown by your acceptance of the facts there shown before you
Take what I say in a different way and it's easy to say that this is all confusion
As I see a new day in me, I can also show it you and you may follow

Speak to me of summer
Long winters longer than time can remember
The setting up of other roads
To travel on in old accustomed ways
I still remember the talks by the water
The proud sons and daughter
That knew the knowledge of the land
Spoke to me in sweet accustomed ways