#160

Hello, all.
Here's the art…

We are finally decorated for Christmas around here. Last year I think we busted out the Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving. I guess we've been too busy this year. We're still in shock that it's December already. Our decorations are split into four distinct areas, each with its own theme. We have all of the Santas on a bookshelf. When you put them all in one place, they look kind of like a street gang for bearded, elderly gentleman. Frightening.
Then we have the biblical Christmas area. This consists of a small fake tree on a table with strictly angel and star ornaments, and a nativity scene beneath. Of course, the star of the show in the manger is “Baby Cheese”, as our son used to call him when he was really little. “You know…the one with the powers!”
Then there is the real Christmas tree by the window. It has a healthy assortment of homemade and store bought ornaments. And against my wishes…no tinsel.
Finally, the stockings are hung from the bookshelf with care, with a group of teddy bears wearing paper hats guarding the top shelf. This is probably the most puzzling part. They kind of look like their just waiting around for a birthday party to begin, which I guess they are. Happy birthday, Baby Cheese!

-Dylan

#159

Hello, friends.
Here’s one lonely listing…
A lot of things have contributed with our lack of showing on eBay recently. My parents are visiting from Florida this week, so we’re trying to play hooky as much as possible to visit with them. We’ve also been working on a cheater quilt and some dolls for a gallery in New York City. They will be there for a six week show beginning the second week in December. Here’s a picture for you…

If you want to stop by and see our art there, you can find them in the gallery adjoining the Kicokids clothing store in the Chelsea Market. This gallery show marks the end of our side projects that we’ve taken on outside of our eBay auctions. We’re looking forward to getting back to our normal routine.
Another side project that has taken a bit of my attention has been getting my two albums available for download online. They will be on iTunes soon, but for now at least they are available on the Amazon MP3 site.
Hope you enjoy the art and music!
Until next time…

-Dylan

Hello, all.
Here’s the art…


I think that our cars can hear us talking. They’re not even parked in the garage. They are both parked outside in the driveway, proving their sense of hearing to be acute. I know they can hear us because Jo and I have been talking in whispered tones about what Christmas presents we want to buy, but our Volvos have hatched schemes to get us to spend that money on them. The more wicked of the two is in the shop right now, his grill grinning from headlight to headlight while he awaits a brand new alternator. Merry Christmas, sedan! Then our daughter’s Volvo wagon, the Bananamobile, threatened to faint and got a new battery out of us. Merry Christmas, wagon!
But that’s OK. There is too much to be thankful for to be worried about these little bumps in the road. The holidays are here again, and I feel inclined to remind myself, and anyone else that will listen, that we don’t have to let the holidays rule over us. The calendar isn’t going to tell me how to act, making me jump through its annual hoops. As long as I focus on the good things in life every day, the calendar can call that day whatever it wants.

-Dylan

#157

Hello there.
Here’s the art, my friends…

I’ve never been good at keeping track of time. Don’t misunderstand me, I’ve mastered seconds, minutes, and hours. I’m freakishly punctual. But weeks, months, and years elude me. I was just getting used to the idea of it being October, and here it is half way through November. Jo and I don’t have any Christmas shopping done yet, even though we were finished with it by this time last year. I guess we’ve just been too busy. Our kids have typed up their Christmas lists and printed them out in some cheery holiday font that’s supposed to distract us from noticing how INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE everything is on their lists! One year when I was a kid, I remember having just one thing on my list. It was one of those magnetic pens that you used to grab the metal flakes and paint hair on the bald man’s head. If you were born in the 80’s or later, you probably think I’m making this up. Those were simpler times, my friend. We didn’t have iPods. If we wanted to instantly hear our favorite song, we had to hum…and fake our way through the verses until we got to the part we knew.
‘Nuff said for now.

-Dylan

#156

Hello, citizens.
Here's the last link in the world that it's safe to click on…


My ears don't feel right anymore. I've been wearing headphones plugged into CNN since the primaries, and now it's all over and my head is bare. Should I plug back into my turntable? (Man, that's old school.) No, wait. There's still the lame duck period, the inauguration, the first 100 days, the 2012 campaign.
I admit. I'm addicted to CNN.
Jo has cracked open our ridiculously heavy wooden trunk containing all of the kids' art and other projects that we've kept over the years. If you were here, I could hand you all sorts of funny pictures and essays, but you'll have to settle for one way cool octopus that our daughter drew at the age of seven.


We also have a handful of VHS tapes with home movies from the early 90's. The images are already starting to deteriorate, so we'd better transfer them to DVDs soon. We wouldn't want to miss conversations like this…
"Is Daddy old?"
"Daddy not old. Daddy new!"

-Dylan