my dad is better than your dad.

There is always something really great about birthdays. I mean, what’s not to like? You have a whole day that’s about you, you get your favorite foods for all meals, people rain praise upon you all day, and give you stuff! Seriously the best day out of the whole year. Today happens to be my dad’s birthday, and I am always at a loss as to what to get him when this day inevitably arrives. I would someday like to get him a Taylor guitar, or something of equal awesome levels. However, I settled on a fun card with pictures I found of the two of us, and I’ll be picking up something to go with it on my way over to my parents house.

I sort of mesh Father’s Day and my dad’s birthday together whenever either holiday comes around, because he’s my dad! I can’t thank him enough for being that, so why not give extra thanks on days that are meant to be all about him?

My dad has to be the most incredible father in the whole world, or even the most incredible man. He got into a major car accident about a year (I think) before my parents got married, and nearly lost his life. He pulled through, after extended time in ICU, and now rocks a prosthetic leg and some wicked scars. 

 My parents had been friends previous to dating, and he was friends with my other biological “parent” as well. When that person stepped out of my mom’s life, my dad came in just to be a friend to her, at first (this is my understanding, at least). However, even with a chubby baby hanging around, my parents still fell in love. I think that was the best thing that could have happened to all three of us. My parents are clearly meant to be together. They have worked through their share of rough patches, like all married couples do, but they are stronger for it each and every time. My dad adopted me as his own child, and I grew up on the knee of the best daddy in the whole world, and in the arms of the best mom.

My dad taught me so much just by being himself. He’s an amazingly loving, caring, sweet person. I wasn’t necessarily the most model child as I grew older, and my dad sure rolled with the punches. I said things I wish I hadn’t and did things I didn’t have to, but he made sure I knew he loved me through every step of it. Whether it was a note by my bed left before he went to work in the wee hours, dedicated english paper assistant, or just an ear to talk to when I needed it, my dad was, and still is, there. He always has words of encouragement at the ready, suggestions for my problems, and a kind smile through it all.

I’ll always have great memories with my dad. All throughout my childhood, whenever one of us was sick, my dad would put on “a little Men in Black”, and later on “A little Lord of the Rings” and bring tasty beverages like Gatorade home to enjoy with the feature film. He would make me laugh while attempting to play Dance Dance Revolution. He instilled in me a great respect and admiration for the music world, something I hold dear to this day. He always sits on the couch upstairs with the acoustic and sings songs about whatever the rest of us are doing at that point in time. Going fishing REALLY early in the morning when we first moved to Washington, getting hot chocolate at Starbucks and having a fun, chilly time even if we didn’t catch anything. Hiking up the Wallace Falls trail. When we would go to the fair in the summer, even if we had to walk there from halfways up the hill to Robin Hood lane, and he ended up carrying the smallest child asleep on his shoulders to get the car because we were all too tired to walk home. Letting me have a taste of his beer before I turned 21, just so I would stop begging. Making up the best stories in the whole world (Oscar the Three Legged Chicken, anyone!?). Taking me and a friend to see Snow Patrol when I was in high school, even though I am sure that was not his idea of the best way to spend his evening. Taking my brother Nate and I to see “Thread”, our first concert, at some tiny church in Monroe. Going to see Red Hot Chili Peppers with my friends and I, just to make sure I was safe and stayed out of trouble.

My dad has done so much for me, and this is the best way I could think of to appreciate him. I love you so much, Daddy William.

definitely one of my favorites.

writing to the song in my heart.

It’s probably going to take longer to build this playlist than to write or draw anything, but it’s well worth it to me. Playlist.com=my best friend. I wish I could take the variety of suggestions from Pandora and use it on Playlist, but this works! I’ve got some Vitamin String Quartet, and lots of acoustic songs. Phil Wickham, Mae, Relient K… It’s so pretty Hopefully this will spark some creativity!

<3

Below is the playlist, actually! BAM! Go forth and be inspired!

Listen to this playlist: Writing

fffuuuu

shitbags.

that pretty much sums it up. 

artists block pt 2.

I have been attempting to draw since about 6:30 this morning, and it just isn’t panning out. There are days where art is like a foreign language, the human form on paper is as nonsensical as Picasso, and the snapshot of my art supplies has more depth.

I frequent deviantArt on a daily basis, looking for style ideas, inspiration, anything. It seems like the more I see of others’ art, the more my own looks childish and silly. I might as well be scribbling on construction paper with cheap crayons.

Other days I’ll go on a drawing binge, one piece finished after another, and in that moment I am incredibly proud of myself. I start to believe that I have matured in my style, nothing can stop me now, I HAVE TALENT FOR BLOOD! I’ll ecstatically post these pictures to my dA page, look at them over and over again in my sketch book, thinking about how fantastic it feels to draw something worth looking at. This usally lasts a day or two, until I see it posted online with no comments, next to drawings done by people with wacom tablets and Photoshop and 100,000 pageviews.

Same goes for writing, really. I love to write and I love to draw, but it always seems that there are so many people out there with much more to offer than I. My writing isn’t as esoterical as I’d like, or funny enough to make you shoot whatever beverage you’re drinking out of your nose. My art is mediocre at best, paling next to cell shading and photoshop brushes.

Alas, the curse of believing you’ll never be as good as you want to be.

I’ll get over myself shortly.

poll :]

ughhh artists block

There’s something about staring at a beautiful sheet of blank sketchbook paper for hours and not being about to draw anything that just makes my soul sad. There are piles and piles of art supplies sitting around, come on now! I need a trip to seattle or a new art store or some more caffeine, I’m pretty sure.

cue intro;

I’ve tried writing a blog a few other times, and I usually end up getting bored or distracted, and leave its pages to wither away in the dust of the internet. However, I seem to have a lot of free time on my hands these days, and all sorts of things to comment or rant about, so why not put it out there for all to see?

I suppose I could start with a bit about myself. I’m 21, with lots of life under my belt. I was homeschooled, and I think I’m basically better off for it. I married my fancy husband in August of last year, and I’m quite content with married life. I draw on a regular basis, and I’m always looking for outlets and inspiration for my art. My husband is a body piercer, and yes, there will be a post about that and all the interesting things that come with a life in the industry. I am the oldest of 5 children, which means I am impervious to most forms of mess and chaos.

The main purpose of this blog is to have a place to write about the silliness in my daily life, my commentary on my fellow humans, and post various and sundry artwork.

We’ll see how this goes :]

ab