woty

I have a guest post at the de-lovely Christine Kane’s site! This means I am theoretically no longer invisible (in the blog world that is). However, something went awry with the post and my bio and links are missing. Shucks:( I sent them an email, hopefully they will switch it – but the day is over, and the sort of first rush is gone.

So it got me thinking about how to handle these little mishaps. I’ve had much worse.

Example 1) My first solo show – the curator was brand new to the job and had not written a press-release. When I asked her, she didn’t really even know what a press-release was.

Example 2) I was invited by an art magazine to publish a web art project (Flight Path [a bird in the google], and naturally was tickled pink. They let me choose a writer, and he wrote something I was happy enough with. Not ecstatic, but felt it was a good piece of writing. Well, the piece came out and they didn’t have my name right at the beginning or even featured anywhere on the page. It was only a sub-mention of his work. That really ticked me off, let me tell you.

I learned from these 2 examples, that when it comes to press, you have to triple-check and insist on seeing a proof and any other details you care about before anything goes to press. Well before. It was a good, if painful lesson.

It also made me think there should be such a career as an agent for visual artists – they could handle these tedious details! 🙂

From this guest post situation – a much less significant oversight – it started me thinking about the word “Acceptance”. Ok – so I didn’t get the sympathetic viewers linking here to read my words of wisdom, etc etc. But, I did put my thoughts out there publicly (even with a photo!) and that will have to be good enough. I don’t think I’m going to choose Acceptance as my word of the year, too many other possibilities await, but it will sit at the back of my mind, helping me prepare for the ups and downs that relate to expectations.

Cheers,

MzD

Edited to add: They updated my post with bio/links in early Jan.

[ On Wednesday, Environment Canada outlined predictions for a series of snowfalls in a weather bulletin, adding “could this be snow-mageddon?”] via globeandmail

Being 6 hours away from T.O., is close enough to wonder if s-m will occur here. It’s most definitely bordering on the point where Celsius crosses Farenheit with the wind chill factor. There is something to embrace about the crisp, ardently cool weather. Wait. I’m writing about the weather. Full stop.

I’ve knit 10 more rows in my hat, and am ready to cross over to working on 4 double point needles (which I’ve never done) and I just discovered I brought the wrong size set with me.Â Which means I get to discover if there are any delicious wool shops in Montreal. Suggestions, mes amies?…

What I like about knitting is the same thing I like about the sharp weather. Both provide you with an intense focus and a clear and precise goal. The first is something long term, an object you can wear or use measured in years. The latter is more instant to instant. Dash indoors, quick. “If wearer if found shivering, administer hot chocolate immediately.”

It’s the same thing I like about travel. Time is suddenly restructured into a new framework, even though with the whole “mobile office” aspect of it, work is still happening. Again, in a more focused way.

I wanted to write about the Word of the Year post which may or may not appear in the fabulous Ms. Kane’s site, but I am still mulling them over.

Here’s a few rolling around my tongue:

grace
strength
poise
allow (seen on CK’s guest post)
courage

First I need to banish my apprehensions, or convert them into their possible French ancestors (apprendre?) and actually learn something from them.

This is an all over the map post, I’m down with it. This is about practice, not outcome.

Day 19: Guest post – Word of the Year thoughts

Day 12: on the edge of snowmageddon