(Re)Solutions

"Hello, did you say you wanted to play later?"

What happened to 2011? No day seems to leave any impression, as if time is constantly fleeting. I don't have any new New Year's resolution(s), I'm still working on the ones from last year (haha) but I do want to write a story. I used to write short stories and poems when I was younger but it never transitioned into a hobby. I wish I were as deeply engrossed in writing as much as I am in drawing; I still however enjoy writing especially when I want to be productive. One thing that I can't stand is not doing anything. I like using my time wisely especially when I spend long hours at work which leaves me mentally stagnant. The only creative thing I did yesterday was design a Chinese New Year header. So, after I got off work, I did a quick sketch of a dragon to supplement my otherwise trivial day.

I personally prefer the sketch – I just love the organic lines and all its imperfections, which makes it more charming. I hope you enjoyed my dragon. Happy New Year to you all and enjoy all your misadventures!

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's learning to dance in the rain."

Portraits

I am still working on my painting. I might be able to finish it tomorrow but today I have something better. Here are some of the best portraits I have ever seen. Check them out!

This is my mom in her blue jeans courtesy of Sarah, age 5, one of the kids she takes care of.



And this one is from one of my sister’s students. My sister teaches preschool. I love the long green locks, I think it suits her.


Last but not the least is me! This is my portrait from my friend Penne when she was 5.

I hope you like them. I will post some more in the future.

Rodents with PR

Has anyone seen squirrels attempt to get inside a bird feeder? It’s one of the most amusing things. Although it gets a bit annoying when birds run out of food. I have two feeders and normally fill them up every two weeks but once they located them, it was all over for the birds. I recently took them down because it’s winter but I’ll put them back up in the spring.

I don’t know much about squirrels except that they’re cute :). But did you know that the squirrel’s name can be traced back to ancient Greece, from the word “skiouros,” used by Aristotle – skia meaning shade, while “oura” means tail. Thus the meaning “he who sits in the shadow of his tail” was originated. In the subsequent centuries, the French created a noun “esquirel” to describe this creature. And that’s where the present word “squirrel” was derived.

More very interesting trivia:

• Squirrels communicate through a series of chirps. The frequency, and the duration of the notes communicate everything from laughter to alarm. Their frequency range is normally between .01 KHz. and 10 KHz. (kilohertz). These sounds when used in conjunction with tail gestures, form the basis for squirrel communication.

• A squirrel will break the shell of a nut with its teeth, then clean the nut by licking it or rubbing on its face before it is buried. This action applies a scent to the nut which helps the squirrel find it later, even under a foot of snow.

• The squirrel’s erratic path while crossing a street is an attempt to confuse the oncoming vehicle... thereby causing it to change direction. This is obliviously the squirrels biggest, and often last mistake.

• The male tree squirrel takes twice as long, as the female, to groom itself. They are the cleanest animal in the rodent family.

• A squirrels teeth grow continuously. Their incisor’s will grow six inches per year, but stay short due to the constant wear they receive.

If you want to know more about these voracious creatures. I couldn’t believe it existed but here’s a website dedicated solely for them.