Sometimes good things happen to bad people.

And sometimes it happens the other way around. 

This is to say that (mostly, anyway) the universe is indifferent to you, me or anyone. It cares no more about a person's existence than it does that of a tree in a forest, or the direction of the wind. In fact, I'd guess it's probably even less than that.

Sometimes good things happen, and just as easily, bad things happen. It's taken me a bit to figure out to get over myself and not take it personally, if even sort of, occasionally, a little bit.

Now, this next part only relates to this observation sorta and depending on one's perspective but I've been chatting with a lot of people recently and they all are experiencing big life changes. Sometimes good, sometimes bad (again, it all a matter of how it's framed). One thing that is certain is that they are all inter-related and large in scale. A witchy friend (it mighta been Kristen) was telling me that we're in a point of massive convergences all relating to new beginnings. Planetary alignments, Chinese calendars, universal harmonics, and a bunch of other things I don't really understand. The upshot that I took away from it was buckling up being a good directive and as I've noted in the past, letting the proverbial current take us to calmer waters. This of course is much easier said than done, but personally, I try to keep it in mind and remembering (to continue with that same analogy), trying to maintain my position, or struggle to swim upstream has never resulted in anything but getting beat up on the rocks.

Two items worthy of note in my particular corner of said indifferent universe that have been a brighter spot these last many weeks is that I had the opportunity to move from the studio I've occupied the past three years (depicted here in considerably more cluttered times);

Into the upgrade that got an upgrade;

Oh, but then I freaked out last night and flipped it around. Does anyone know anything about feng- shui?;

Not that anyone was curious, but an abundance of wall space on the left and right hand sides are open and free for storage of paintings whenever I get those back from their current installation/more finished, or potentially could be utilized as a gallery space for other people's work. Obviously all that was needed was the addition of another rug tie the room together.

The only thing I'm slightly challenged by is that there's no outside light whatsoever (it's inside of a corridor in the middle of a subterranean hallway, so getting snuck up on is easy.) Since it's been over 25 years since I've had a studio with a windows, I think I'd be used to it, but it's given me an unexpected itch which I'm hoping the eventual wave of productivity will soothe. 

Still, I'm glad to have more room for activities, and look forward to whatever I get made there.

Also, Swobo employee number 2 Jeff Rennacker just sent me a humdinger of a care package to keep me warm in my new dank bomb shelter;

If Jean-Michel Basquiat famously painted in Armani suits, then there's no reason I can't paint in this.

Secondly , I properly rode a skateboard the other day for the first time since I blew my knee out which resulted in two surgeries, which was then followed by broken ribs and a pretty bad concussion, and a metric crap ton of recovery, and I loved it so much;

I met up with my friend Zac from Unknown and we enjoyed at least three hours together skating, and filming, and talking about life. I'm not sure I've felt so rusty in all of my years, but I spent not much time falling and I actually got some clips which he'll do something with eventually.

As the seasons begin to turn to nicer, and days grow longer (at least in this hemisphere), I encourage anyone reading these words to go outside as soon as you can and play until the streetlights come on.

Speaking of Zac- I've put the call out a few times over the last month, but this Friday sees the opening of a show of skateboard art  benefitting the new Bellingham skatepark;

Unfortunately, I'm gonna be out of town for the opening, but I trust all of the fun will be had anyway. If you happen to be in the zone, swing through and see to it.

Now has come the time when I introduce you to the brand newest episode of the Revolting podcast;

It's not the worst thing to happen to good people, or the best to bad, but either way, the universe certainly can't care.