Dark Chocolate Sorbet. This is a very recent discovery, folks. Imagine my chagrin when I had to make the final call to end my affair with ice cream earlier this year. I was like, “Lord, I ain’t gonna make it!” Typically, I don’t care for dark chocolate but Cioa Bella Sorbet saved me! It’s an addition to my new menu and satisfies sweet carvings in a natural and healthy fashion. I’m making my way to the market to get more today and I know this sounds sick but I’m excited!
Acrylic on Paper. Copyright 2011 Totsymae
Exercise. I hate it. I’ve got other shit on my plate but my plate is no good if I don’t exercise. I use(d) Rodney Yee’s Yoga for Beginners, Total Body Cardio and Walk at Home videos, in combination with walking/jogging in the neighborhood to establish my fitness program. Let me also let you in on a little secret, folks. I’ve had all of these CDs sitting around in my house for about four years and finally got around to opening up the darn package to use them. Ain’t that a trip?!
SheWrites. This is an online community of women writers at all levels. I remember wanting to reconnect with writers after months of not being able to attend my writers’ critique meetings anymore. I discovered SheWrites and credit the women there with me putting my writing cap back on.
Blogging. After a very stressful time, mid-year, I wanted to know what the big deal about this blogging thing was ’cause a lot of the writers on SheWrites was doing it. I had no direction, other than just knowing I had a lotta shit to say. Having found my voice through my local writers’ critique group, I decided to blog the way I wrote, pretty much. I still haven’t defined what the blog’s direction is, other than a collage of everything I am. Bear with me, please.
Character Sketches. I learned to redirect my thinking about the folk whom I’ve met in my life as creative forces in my art and writing. No, I wouldn’t want to be among some of them again and I’d wish them upon none of you. I’m sure you’ve met some interesting characters of your own. I was also challenged to try different ways to create artistically and whatever feelings I held for them, I need to send a shout out for the time spent knowing them, good or bad.
Cat Phobia. I’m over it. I’ve had one in my house over the last 5 months, so I ain’t scared of cats no more. Understand that I didn’t grow up around animals unless I was being chased by a dog, which I ain’t too fond of either. This fear of cats pouncing on me is now a thing of the past. Free at last, folks!
Hibiscus Tea. Never one to drink coffee (unless I was desperately cold & that being my only option), tea has been my thing. Over the years, I’ve tried a good number of herbals and this year it was hibiscus. Mostly, I drink it unsweetened. If I do get the urge to take the little bitterness out, I use an organic maple syrup. Only takes a little and it’s delish, y’all. A very relaxing drink when I’m stressed.
Reality TV. I know. Some of you don’t respect the programming but I ain’t mad at any of them. I won’t even lie to you. I might cut a fool for the right price myself. Besides, just like business folk have websites to promote themselves, reality TV is the new business card and I’m studying up on this trend in order to develop my own sense of creativity. My current favorites, as I’ve told you about before, are Braxton Family Values and Basketball Wives.
Taiwan. The folk there are so very kind. I could walk the streets to a 7 Eleven at one in the morning and never fear being accosted. I walked a lot there and enjoyed my brief interactions with the folk. There’s very little cultural diversity there and the folk are so willing to help a non-native. I’m telling you, I’ve never been met with such generous reception, for which I’m deeply thankful. Now, you may be asking yourself, “However did a country girl like Totsy adjust in Taiwan?” Folks, I did for the short time I was there. Found me some good eating restaurants and walked everywhere. Even went shopping on foot. Glad when I got back to the states though. I can’t rightly disclose all the whys now but maybe some time in the near future. I will say that little taste back into another world encourages me to continue exploring other countries.
Seoul, Korea Airport. Took me a nice nap in the airport where I laid over for some hours. It was empty there at 12 in the a.m. By 8 in the morning, it was bright and lit with folk as if they’d been there all along. I’d never seen an empty airport in all my days. Anyhow, that’s where I bought a lotta trinkets for folk back in the U.S. They were nice folk too but I suppose they would be since I was buying stuff. I’ve had funky customer service in my home country, so it was nice to be treated like Oprah as I looked for deals.
Flash Fiction. I had absolutely no idea what this was. I read a few pieces and then tried my hand at it. I loved it. In my off-blogging time, writing flash has become a way to get me up and going. I now have a small collection I hope to one day publish.
Of course, I learned other stuff too but for time sake, I’ll stop here. I hope you’ve collected good returns in your own discovery/learning bank this year. Maybe you wouldn’t mind sharing. I won’t judge you and I’m a pretty good listener. (wink, wink y’all)
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, folks!
I'm an artist who's writing,mothering, blogging and doing a few other things under the sun. I buy toilet paper 99.9% of every trip I make to the grocery store. I'm a people watcher, so I know you're here but drop me a line anyway.
The painting is lovely.
Thank you.
Good for you!
Big fan of flash fiction. Helps get the motor going for me too. She writes? Must check out this site.
I discovered you this year and that’s a wonderful thing. I also learned how to pronounce Ghiradelli. I’d been slaughtering that word for years.
Yes and I’m so glad we’ve met. Of course, I learned about all of you during my blogging and that’s been a good thing.
What in the heck is that G word?
What a great list. I’m very glad that you discovered characters sketches and flash fiction this year since I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both on your blog. Speaking of which, I’m also glad that you discovered She Writes and blogging since that’s how I found you.
Yes, we’ve been sticking together for quite some time. I’ve met Lola and it’s been great. Thanks so much for hanging in there with me and enjoying the work. Merry Christmas!
I’ve discovered the world of blogging and a few really interesting people as a result. Just sayin’.
Merry Christmas to you Totsymae!
Always nice to meet a cool blogger as yourself, Phil. Merry Christmas!
Always a pleasure to read your entries. Have a Bless Christmas! God Bless You!
Enjoy your holidays and merriment. I feel at peace when I step over to visit your blog.
I love the painting Totsy! What I really love is that you put a little piece of “you” in everything you paint. (Thought you could slip that past me, huh?)
My daughter has been all over Europe. While she enjoys it, Asia is her favorite place. She adores China, Korea, Japan, and thinks the people are the nicest and friendliest in the world. (But then this is a girl who also loves going to UAE, Kuwait and Iran.
The Orient is mysterious to me. I always dreamed of going there on that train. The Orient Express is gone now, and it’s too bad.
You are adventurous and I love that in a girl.
If you saw me in that painting, you know me better than I think…Uh oh ;-o
Your daughter’s very well-traveled. I can identify with why she loves the Asian countries. And she’s right. They are the friendliest people in the world. It was like a really good dream.
2011 has been good to a lot of us it seems. I sure discovered a whole lot of great things and people. Thanks for sharing your discoveries.
You’re welcome and thank you for sharing your experiences with us.
What I discovered this year is that when your preparing to self publish a book you need to constantly work on gathering a following so that when your book is ready to purchase someone will actually want to buy it! I already kind of knew if before but actually knowing all the work and doing the work to gather a fan base is time consuming but well worth the effort. Shewrites, twitter and wordpress have kept me busy.
It’s an ongoing job and the author has to wear many hats. So much work!
Yes, authors do wear many hats with writing. I’ve meet a lot of interesting and creative people through blogging. Your posts helps me to keep my blogging and commenting habit going. Thanks for all your hard work.
Colleen
I love Taiwanese people, 3 of my friends are from there and they are just the friendliest people i have seen, would love to go there sometime
I imagine you have some really good friends. You’re lucky to have them. It’s a very busy place. Constant movement. It’s like New York. Being a country southerner, it was a bit much for me. Hard to sleep at night but I managed, thankfully. I encourage you to visit. Because of the reception, the Americans I knew there loved it. Very inexpensive to live there but you’ll deal with the pollution if your stay is extended. Overall, I think you’d enjoy it.
—So fun to read, Tots.
I love Flash Fiction, although i haven’t done this for a while.
& I love reading more about you, dearest.
Thanks for wanting to hear about my little life. Maybe in the new year, we can all get to read flash fiction from you.
Same to you, Totsy!
I’ve learned a lot from you this year — can’t believe it’s been a year already!? I’ll have to try hibiscus tea. I bought some ginger and lemon, and lemon grass tea today, will try them tomorrow.
Dark choc sorbet? I’ll have to tell a friend, a bona fide chocaholic. Love your paintings and character sketches, heck love your voice and POV. Nice ‘meeting’ you. Looking forward to reading more in the new year. Holly Jolly to you too!
Gee, thanks for enjoying the blog posts/paintings. I’ve enjoyed reading you all’s responses, which has made the blogging experience fun. I try to add things here and there to keep it interesting, so the new year will bring something new as well.
Ah Totsymae, your art’s giftrapt – it’s captivating … am at the Fantastic Plastic Cafe, laptop turned outwards, me flying thru your blog … folk huddled around loving your art! ‘Dancing with my Baby’ just rocks with vibrancy!! Merry-Merry, cheers catchul8r molly
Thank you. That cafe must be the coolest hangout. So glad we’ve met this year to share some fun and learning together. Your fine way of mixing words gives me a good chuckle and I’ve definitely learned much in visiting your blog. Merry Cheers to you!
You’re into some good stuff, and your blog (and art) are great. Have a Happy New Year.
Yep. The good stuff is where I wanna be next year too, whatever that is. Enjoy the holiday season/
I like the end of the year blast, how you did little posts on lots of topics. the art is fantastic as well.
Well, thank you. It’s a wrap.
I’m gonna lay low for a few days to write and paint myself into the new year. A happy one to you.
Tots, it is really too bad you had no dark chocolate sorbet in the Seoul, S.Korea airport! And now I will not rest until I investigate this flash fiction stuff! Thanks so much for the generous sharing here, which stimulates us all, I am sure. God Bless!
You mean I missed the sorbet? I must take a better inventory next time, if there is one. And in the way you write, I think you may enjoy flash fiction. Have fun at it! Blessings to you.
Great Discoveries – great to read you
Happy Holidays from Toronto – with Love
x Cat
Thank you for the love, all the way from Toronto! May you have a great holiday as well! Love and blessings to you!
I love your paintings, too, Totsy. They’re so fluid, bold and jazzy. Colorful, too. I enjoyed this post, how you took inventory of all you’ve discovered. Great idea. Will have to think about my list. Hmm…
Thank you. I’m sure you have a great inventory to write about. Would love to read.
Don’t ever change your blog, love it just as it is! Keep on blogging and that is all
Except, I do understand on the exercise but I sure like how I feel afterward. Only now I feel more like dark chocolate sorbet than exercise in the morning, thanks a lot, LOL LOL
I do enjoy blogging. It’s a good outlet, as I’m sure you know.
Yes, it’s a great feeling that exercise gives the mind and body. Have a scoop of sorbet for me too.:-)
Totsy, I love your list! Almost as much as I love your flash fiction and character sketches!But what I love most of all, is your art work! I could look at it all day! Happy holiday to you, lady!
Thank you, Bella! Seeing your name on this post is making me giggle again as I think of your last post (the kissy, kissy couple).
So glad to have you visit and that you enjoy the art and stories.
Happy, Happy Holidays
That’s a great list.I like how the discovery of both the dark chocolate sorbet and exercise get top billing. I fill the same way you do about exercise but I do it anyway. It has strange benefits like more energy. The walking (you have probably found) is wonderful when you managing emotions, ideas for a story or an sketch. Did blogging help with the stress you were working on mid year? I love the writing, but blogging for me sometimes gives stress – the reading and the commenting (the time issue). S glad in any event you are enjoying it, you flash fiction is wonderful.
After the post, I noticed that I must’ve been overly excited to out sorbet first. Shame on me. You can see my priority.
Yes, I enjoy the exercises and it motivates me to do other things.
I say blogging helped because I was under immense stress. Writing and connecting with people outside of the circle of where the stress came from was very cathartic. I was writing again through blogging and composing short stories. If you only knew what I was actually dealing with, you’d say, “Oh, I see why.”
I just discovered flash fiction too, though I doubt I’d be good at it. I am gonna check that She Writes site out. Thanks for bringing it to my awareness.
Try the flash. I think you’d do very with it. What I know I couldn’t do well are haiku. That’s such a disciplined writing form.
And yes, check out She Writes. I was glad to come across them. Very resourceful group.