I’m a creative, experienced, multi-purpose artist and art director
who can take projects start to finish in a variety of styles.

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Saturday, August 10, 2013

"Fresh"

My 200th post!  Woo hoo!!  I never could’ve imagined it when I started blogging in 2010.  I was “Adrift” at the time, and the Illustration Friday word for the week fit me perfectly.  Looking back on 200 posts I realize that this blog has been both a personal and cultural diary of the times.

Starting with “Adrift”, I was laid off like a lot of people.  I was upset with the gulf oil spill.  My dog died, my friend died, my basement flooded.  I figure that was enough to depress anyone, so I wrote about happier times in my life when I went camping with my family or ate breakfast with Grandma.


I was still laid off and depressed in 2011. Another friend died. A big tree fell down in my yard. Looking over my posts for the year, I think I was trying to remember the people and events that formed me and my place in the universe. I remembered jobs I had and things I learned along the way. I put my art in a gallery and recounted disappointments in people and relationships. I had a lot of migraines.

I was more actively living in the world in 2012. I was working regularly again, and because I work for a religious organization, my environment made me think about spirituality in different ways. Because I work in an office, I started thinking about relationships between people too.

This year, the boss died and my world changed dramatically when I got promoted. You may all thank me for not discussing the finer points of dealing with personnel or databases, but those topics have been foremost in my mind this year. It’s been crazy, and my posts have often been more rushed than I’d like, but I’m happy that I’ve still managed to post every week. I also notice that I did more hearts than usual this year.

Blogging has been a pleasure, and thanks to all of you who have been with me on the journey. I love seeing your comments and appreciate it when you give me new things to think about. I love visiting your sites and seeing what’s going on in your mind and life too. Thanks especially to Mary Lou who got me started with blogging in the first place.

Here’s to hoping for another 200 posts for all of us!

…Oh yeah, “Fresh”… hm… Well, there was a guy who got fresh with me in college and I decked him, but I suppose that’s hardly the story to tell? At the time I got a lot of flack from my friends for “overkill”, but I’m very belatedly feeling kind of pleased with myself for knocking Dave out. He deserved it. Thankfully I haven’t felt a need to deck anyone else in a long time.

I’ve got fresh food growing in my garden and ate my first tomatoes of the year. Yay! I ate a blueberry off of a bush yesterday and felt summertime and happiness spread through my system. We’ve gotten a lot of rain in Ohio lately, and the world is fresh and green. Are these enough “fresh” thoughts?

22 comments:

  1. It's been a real pleasure getting to know you via your blog, (and our private emails) Linda. You've shared a lot of your "girlfriend" self, and it's been truly a *fresh* breeze in my life. Too bad your physical body lives so far away... :-) Oh, and of course, super Milestone Congratulations on your creative blogging persistence through thicker and thinner! (And love those thumbnail recap images...)

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  2. Congrats on 200! You're amazing :) love ya ML

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  3. Many congrats on your 200th post Linda, I have read every single one of them and really enjoyed all the ups and downs you have shared in this blogging world. Your drawings and your stories really do entertain and I love seeing what is going on in your bit of the world. I also class you as a great blogging buddy too, it's been pleasure getting to know you ;0) Here's to the next 200, Jane x

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  4. Congratulations with you 200 posts. It's been a great pleasure following you, not all from the beginning, but since I found your blog, whenever that was. I always enjoy reading you thoughts - and your illustrations that follow the posts. Like this one, which is beautiful. Flowers to you - and I look forward reading your next 200!

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  5. Congratulations on #200! I'm glad you've persevered, and I'm glad I "found" you, however that happened.

    Nice montage, and nice "fresh" illustration. I'm glad you've not decked anyone lately.

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  6. Wow - 200 posts! Congrats.
    And it is so great to see you've made a collage of all your posts (images). It shows how you move with everything around you.
    I hope to be here to read your next 200 blogs!

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  7. Hugs all around. You have all made the journey so much better, and I so appreciate your friendship. Who'd a'thunk it was even possible to make real connections online? Thanks for everything, including thanks for your comments!

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  8. SUPER smiley face today, Linda!! Congratulations on your 200th post, but more importantly for sharing your wonderful art and words each week with all of us. It's fabulous that you've captured all of your posts in this post and did a re-cap of your years so far blogging. I don't think many of us stop and reflect upon what has transpired just one or two years ago..though more recently, I have done so, since my mother's passing two years ago. It's as if the light came on and I am savoring every day and moment, and trying to just let go of the frustrations a little more easily than I used to. I digress. Anyway, my heartfelt (yay hearts!) thank you to you for your wonderful words today too - I am inspired by you, Linda for you truly see and move through this world with purpose and reflection. I am wishing you a fun next 200 posts and will be there to enjoy them along the way.

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  9. Thanks so much Shirley! It's hard when we lose people we love, but sometimes losing them makes us live more fully too. You were lucky to have your mother as long as you did, though you have my sympathies for losing her. Keep smiling, keep living, keep drawing!

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  10. Blogging can be like crack sometimes.
    Or so I hear.

    Keep it up for 200 more and we'll see where we are from there.

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  11. I'm resting on my laurels this week Josh. Maybe Friday I'll start on thinking about the next 200 :)

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  12. congrats of your 200 posts! I've probably missed a few but every time I come over, I go through a couple of pages of your delightful stories and images - your posts have a way of planting thoughts and ideas in my mind, always inspirational! Looking forward to many more :)

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  13. Congratulations, Linda, with your colourful and enjoyable 200 blog-posts. I hope you are aware you can turn your blog in a book. Your book would be visual and story-telling feast.

    You are one of the very few who have been consistent and loyal with returning visits and comments. In that sense, 200 blogposts mean much more than a celebration of your blog alone. Here's to your kindness and good friendship!

    All of us...Hip hip hurrah for Linda!
    Again!
    Hurrah to Linda.

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  14. I enjoy visiting other people's blogs, and I like seeing your messages. They remind me to go visiting, and I love seeing what other people are doing, especially since work is taking so much of my other time lately. No book plans in the immediate future :) Thanks for the comments!

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  15. Congrats on your 200th post! I'm glad that it seems that many things have turned around for the better over the past few years! I've only been along for the ride since 2012, but I know I've enjoyed coming here for your thoughtful and insightful posts...sometimes they've brought back memories for me, & they usually make me think! Love the illo - there's such an appealing softness to it....

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  16. Thanks Mit! I love it when something I do gets other people to think about stuff that's important to them. Life's a circle, and I think about stuff after visiting other blogs too. Your stuff makes me smile :)

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  17. I think I've enjoyed all 200! Hmmm. I wonder how many posts I've done. Too many. Especially this August.

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  18. 200 gifts, you mean. Thank you Linda. I can hardly wait to see what you come up next! Cheers!

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  19. Just Beautiful!!
    Yet another fantastic post :)

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  20. Milestones have a way of making us stop, look back and sum it up before we move forward again. It hasn't been all beauty and roses like your illustration, but you get through it (some good, some not). Here's to 200+++ more posts, because you have a lot more to say and I'll be around to listen. :)
    Cheers!

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  21. Thanks everybody! Time to work on 201...

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  22. Congratulations, Linda. I feel so lucky to be able to share your posts. Your power and perstistence gives so much hope.

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