progress

coffee shop - polaroid circa early 90's

I've been sleeping really well lately. I do still wake up in the middle of the night most nights but my new secret is to not look at the clock by my bed and therefore no OMG it's only 1:10am and I'm wide awake. The second secret, thanks to Eckhart, is to breath deeply and to focus on my breath and I've also thrown in my own little twist - I'm only allowed to think of happy thoughts, memories or dreams while lying awake in the middle of the night (often much easier said than done). I'll think of lying on my bed beside my big red Noodle dog Jake and how his paws always smelled like fresh cut grass with an odd, subtle hint of fried chicken, how I'd lie there beside him and try to breath in sync with his breathing, God how I love that dog, and oh how I miss him. Or I'll think of my golden girl Em and how she loved to flop down in a hayfield, all four legs in the air and grind and scratch her body in the tall grass. I'll think of the progress that I've made, just this past year, of growing my own little creative world and venture and dream of the day when I won't always be worrying about money. In those wee hours of darkness I am trying a little of the power of positive thinking.

I have two projects on the go with my new big fish Chicago company. Had a long phone chat with one of the designers that I'm working with last night. Further direction and next steps moving on to phase two of the project, the technical production drawings. I hung up feeling very satisfied with myself, as it's become crystal clear that they are thrilled with me and my work. Phew ! that's such a relief and now I can hope for a steady stream of projects from them plus I'm also able to dream up my own product ideas and present those potential ideas to them. When I do think of the course that I set for my little Product Design & Illustration business 6 years ago ... I am definitely on course and I am making very good time. Smile. I need to remind myself of that ... way more often.

The weather here this morning is tres shitty. Two (then 3, then 4) lobster boats just raced out of our little harbour on their way out into the Strait to place their traps. The weather seems much worse today, it's windy this morning and raining really hard, yesterday actually turned out to be a much nicer, calmer seas kind of day. Miss Dixon and I will stay home this morning. We normally go out in almost anything, but pouring down sideways rain ... it's not that nice and I have discovered that she's not crazy about getting soaked (especially without her rain gear -wink). So this morning - bubbles and scent, and I'll spend the time I would've been walking cleaning up my very messy desk in preparation for more high gear productivity.

9am update - we did go out after all, the rain did let up a wee bit and one look at that scraggly black & grey expectant face ... with melty heart I put my long waterproof coat on, baseball cap (to keep rain off my glasses), fleece headband and fleece mitts ... and Miss Winnie and I had a great walk in stormy rainy-ness. Smile. I love her !