Penguins

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4285134&affil=ktvx

Many news stories about animals are really sad. So, I find it truly inspiring to see things like this video clip I just found on abcnews.com. In the clip a group of penguins, having been cleansed of oil after an oil spill, are being released back into the wild. Things like this really make me feel better about the world, and inspire me immensely. I hope I can do more to make a difference to the animals on this planet. They matter so much. It is so exciting to see these penguins come through such a traumatic experience with such apparent joy at just being alive.

Unfortunately I can't seem to get the actual video here. But REALLY, follow the above link, it's worth it.

Valentines

I have been really enjoying painting landscapes lately. Landscapes with lots of open spaces and simple colors. I thought I'd like to paint a picture to use for a valentines day card for my husband. I wanted to combine two themes for the picture- landscapes which I know he likes and also valentines day. I was really pretty excited with the results. I think it's restful to look at and the valentines theme isn't overbearing. At least that's what I think of it. But then again, I'm a sucker for quiet colors and large open spaces.

(Thanks to Ben for giving his permission to put his valentines card up here.)

Suck It Up

I recently saw a great show on PBS about the Bermuda Triangle. They discussed several theories on why boats and planes seem to disappear in that area. My very favorite theory is the one where the sky just above the triangle opens up and sucks up planes and ships. Here's what I'd like to happen. I'd like it if this sky swallowing things theory were true, only it extended far beyond the Bermuda Triangle. If you are sitting at your desk, or anywhere actually, and you really want to be somewhere else, this magic hole in the sky would suck you up and take you somewhere wonderful. This picture is one of the places I believe I'd like to be taken. And Hukilau Beach in Hawaii.

See Me

The other day I was listening to pandora.com at work while I was trying to save an unusually large file. While I listened, a song by James Taylor came on. I really liked the album cover photograph that popped up to accompany the song. Naturally I had to sketch it as I found the flow of the figure in the picture really interesting. I really liked the shape of the sketch and thought drawing it in Photoshop might be interesting too. This is the result. I like it. I like the quiet green color around and through the image. I like the large amounts of white. I like how the figure is bowed in a sort of greeting; definitely a pose that asks passersby to notice him, at least that's how it appears to me.

The Greatest Tv Show Ever

This is a video I found on Youtube.com showing clips from an old tv show called "The Sentinel." I think this video is so cool because I've only seen season one and a lot of the clips here are from other seasons. When season one came out a couple of years ago my husband wanted to get it. I was dubious at best, but quickly fell in love with this show. I am dying for more than just season one to be released on DVD. If anyone out there stumbles onto this post and you have any pull in regard to these things, please please release more seasons of this greatest of all great shows. I promise I'll buy them.

PS. Thanks Ben.

The Coolest Trip

I spent the last several mornings before work making this animation of a trip Ben and I went on in December for our honeymoon. He wrote some great detailed posts on his blog of our adventures. Go here to read them:

Part 1:
http://gravetapping.blogspot.com/2008/01/mojave-desert-death-valley-part-1.html

Part 2:
http://gravetapping.blogspot.com/2008/01/mojave-desert-death-valley-part-2.html

It was a really fun trip. I'd not mind going back to visit any of these places again. Next time though, I'd love to also visit Joshua Tree National Monument, it's so close to the Mojave National Preserve. It's such fun to go to new places. You can enjoy the places you planned to see, stumble upon things to see that you didn't know about, and also make a list of places to go next time.