Whine and Cheese

Work has been a bit of a bear lately, and not in a good way. I've been trying to work out regularly and spending many evenings trying to get back into a creative mindset. Forcing creativity doesn't really work, in case you've never tried it. It reminds me of when folks ask for a cartoon, but gives me no details of what they want. It sounds like freedom, but the worry about what they want stifles your brain.

I've been working on Issue 26 of my comic, but the story has been very slowly coming along. I think the plot is a decent one, but the details leave me lingering if it could be better. Along with working on Christmas card designs, I also have a co-worker retiring on Dec 14, so I need to spend a bit of time this weekend working on her retirement gift, which is a cartoon of her. At this point, I have no idea what to draw for her.

The weather could be one of the issues. I love running outside with my headphones on as it allows my mind to roam and ideas sometimes comes to me that way. It's been cold and rainy of late, so I've not been running outside much. Running at the gym isn't the same as there's often eye-candy there to distract me (not that I'm complaining about THAT).

I'm hoping for a bit of a "Eureka" moment this weekend.

Last week, someone posted the following on Facebook:

Being raised as a Baptist, I was taught that this doesn't happen. I was told that when we die, we go to Heaven if we haven't danced, drank, swore, had sex outside of marriage, taken the Lord's name in vain, honored our parents no matter what they do, etc. Only good Baptists go to Heaven. I've met "good" Baptists and quite frankly they are not the folks I'd want to spend eternity with. As an adult, I've come to the conclusion that Heaven is for good people, not just "good" Baptists.

The idea of reincarnation is actually intriguing to me. While the pic is somewhat in jest, what if it were the truth? Would it make living this life more tolerable if you knew that the next life would or could be a reset button of sorts? And I haven't even addressed the idea that being good in this life would reward you in the next, an idea that seems common in most religions regardless of whether you believe in reincarnation.

I have seen psychics over the years at Renaissance fairs and most recent in Salem. Each of them have mentioned that I am an "old soul," telling me that this life was not my first go around. My mother has told me the same thing, that I always acted more mature than my age in some situations, even when I was little. I don't put a lot of stock into psychics as it's not like there is a training program for them, but I find it strange that I exhibit certain behaviors so the psychics can make the statements.

Pushing the idea a bit further, what if a past life influences your present one? Does it explain your likes and dislikes? I am very enamored with the early 1970's -- the culture, the clothes, etc. Being born in 1973, does that mean I was around just before that? I can't imagine I would have been so intrigued with this era if I had been an older person, so I must have been younger. If I was younger, what happened? A fall (explaining my fear of heights)? A snake bite (my dislike of snakes)?

Not that I really believe in this but I certainly don't discount the possibility. It is fun to think about though. I hope in my next life I'll be taller, with muscles, and a trust fund. :)