the view from here

Life is Good?

One of the many things I love about winter is the low visibility of the "Life Is Good" t-shirts. Don't get me wrong -- I have nothing against a couple of guys who started their business selling t-shirts out of the trunk of their car. In fact, I love that.

I can't decide what's more annoying: the in-your-face, unbridled optimism of a person who would wear such a t-shirt or the shear obliviousness of this person in light of the current state of world affairs. (Hey, Pollyana, we're suffering here!) I would almost prefer a "MY Life is Good" t-shirt. At least it doesn't presume to encircle me in the t-shirt wearer's bubble of self-deception.

Oh, to be able to package that kind of optimism! Somebody could make a mint. Oh yeah, they already have.

Brrrrrr!

OK, so it hasn't really been all that cold here in Boston but I can still dream of a White Christmas. I originally drew this Snowy Tree via Adobe Illustrator and used it as a design on some cards and imprintables. I wound up re-drawing it with a pencil onto a linoleum block and then cut out the design. There's something so basic about linoleum block printing. I think it's the directness of the imprinting process. Maybe I'll do some bigger prints. I like reproducing art yet this method has a lot of room for individuality (read: it's a little messy).

Here's another design. The polar bear is making its debut on this gift card sleeve. Why gift card sleeves? Because by themselves they are rather dull and could use a make-over. They also make nice gift tags and scrapbook pockets -- if you are so inclined.

I Confess

...that I don't much care for Bob Dylan. Heresy, I know, especially for someone my age (let's say someone born at the sputtering end of the baby boom generation). I know I'm supposed to like Bob Dylan -- everybody says so. Critics and intellectuals alike all hail him as musical genius. Maybe so, but when it comes down to his music reaching my ears and going into my brain, it fails to strike an emotional chord. It just doesn't. I don't actively dislike him or his music. I'm just wondering why I'm not getting it.

People are naming their childern after this man -- when you see kids named Dylan it's unlikely they are named after Dylan Thomas, the poet. So what's it all about?

I feel like an atheist when I say this because I know Dylan is practically a god to some. Oh well, maybe I'll experience a conversion someday. After all, I used to hate spinach and now I like it. Maybe like Saul I'll be on my Road to Damascus and it will hit me -- this guy's a genius! Until then, I'll just continue not to get it.