Hi !

Back in Sweden and back to as if the last four weeks never really happened. But I have pictures to prove that it did, and also a stack of Commie books.

Also stuff from my grandmother's house, because after 97 years it was finally time for her to admit she couldn't care for herself properly any more and roll on up to an assisted living facility. Last week of my vacation was spent sorting through everything she'd held on to for the past God knows how long, deciding what to keep, what to throw away, and what to donate to charity. will probably hate me for this, but we ended up donating almost all of the pictures she'd painted because we didn't have room for them, and we weren't sure we could find a library that would be interested in having them as part of a "loan a painting" program that some of them do.

It was actually kind of a trip; we found her monthly budget accounts from back when she was first married in 1941, with all sorts of side notes and comments that were funny to read seventy years later. I ended up with some fun stuff like a pair of wooden elephant bookends from Japan that I named after two of her brothers (justifying it with a rather elegant pun based on the names of her other two brothers). There is also the mantelpiece clock my grandfather gave her as a wedding present, which is still going but needs some TLC from a professional clockmaker before it can take pride of place somewhere in my house.

And that's what it's all about, up in the mix.

I dunno. Pasta or rice?

You've got me wrong, bro. If anyone knows what a burden storing paintings can be, it's me. (Maybe it's the profile pick that makes me seem like I'd be disapproving?)

My grandmother passed away a couple weeks ago, and my mom, who had been caring for her the last couple of months (and absolutely exhausting herself) is out staying with us for awhile. She brought some of my grandmother's clothes, which are fairly expensive things (cashmere sweaters, etc.) for my wife. Which is a sweet gesture, but my wife is feeling like she can't admit that she doesn't actually like the clothes, and they don't really fit her.

Yeah, but, y'know, art. That somebody did.

I suppose it's better than just chucking it. Also my condolences on your loss.

Oh man, I forgot that I have a meeting this afternoon. It is not too horrible a meeting, but I do need to figure out what I have been doing for the past two months. Luckily it is mostly one big horrible project.

Art. It is tough to figure out what to do with my own originals. Never mind friends' zines, pages from comic jams, drawings by nieces and nephews and so on!

Have to do some financial planning with the missus tonight. I predict austerity measures in the future...

I did sleep better last night though, so that's good.

I'm pretty ruthless with my art, I paint over old canvases or salvage frames and toss the paintings. I've also recycled many a print and comic page over the years. There's a certain catharsis in the destruction of old art.

Found out my Dad sold the old family DeSoto. I'm a little bummed. Wished I could have kept it but condo living couldn't make that happen. 66 years the car belonged the patriarch of my family.

Heard this term the other day:

Giganomics: combining multiples skills, talents and abilities to generate income for living. Taken from the old musical term "gig" which means a performance. Many "gigs" in a variety of disciplines, when worked together, can provide a livable income.

Which was weird serendipitous since I had been thinking of ideas to do that very thing. It seems full time jobs just aren't cutting it anymore for me.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooo....

That sucks majorly, but sometimes that harsh shit has to happen. Kinda like with old art. I did neglect to mention that we kept the one painting that meant the most to her, and it's now with her in her room at the old folks' home. That one will be squabbled over when she passes on.

Oh I thought it was going to be about giant economics for a minute there.
Yeah weighing the pros and cons of . Though honestly, I don't see myself changing any time soon.