What I do when me brain’s on the fritz…

Posted on March 21, 2010 by Leslie Sigal Javorek | 6 Comments

Posted by: Leslie Sigal Javorek • Date: Sun. Mar. 21, 2010 5:20 am

The tinnitus in my left ear has been roaring all week, so loud I feel like I’m trapped in the wind tunnel at NASA with a squadron of B-52’s just outside. It is exhausting and mind-boggling and so mostly I sleep but tonight I was restless and so thought I’d just play – let my mind alone to wander, my imagination take flight, and my mouse go where it willed without any restraint. I had no idea where my doodles would lead and now that I’m done, I’ve no idea what’s displayed on my screen. Is it just a bit of digital silliness? Or subconscious deep thought? I leave it to you to decide. All I know is that the jets have not landed and the ocean tide is rushing at my feet. And so I go back to sleep.

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“In The Groove”

“Ever notice how some folks just can’t seem to help talking outta their arse?”

Today’s My Birthday – Sew What?

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Leslie Sigal Javorek | 9 Comments

Posted by: Leslie Sigal Javorek • Date: Thurs. Mar. 18, 2010 5:35 am

A lot of folk in western culture seem to dread growing older. Some stop counting their birthdays after age 30, 40 or the like and shun celebrations. Some go as far as to lie about their age, deducting a few years while their physical assets are plausible enough for them to get away it and when their body’s defy the hoped for illusion, some turn to plastic surgery. Personally, I’m just so grateful for each and every day, week, month and year that I’ve been able to survive, I feel like wearing my age pinned to my chest like a badge of honor. For all intents and purposes, for me to be still alive and kicking on this day, which is my fifty-sixth (56) birthday, is a miracle and such a blessing, that I can hardly find adequate words to express it. I can think of no greater gift than to see this morning’s sunrise. Everything else is just gravy.

For those of you who share the burden of living with chronic pain, chronic disease, and/or a terminal diagnosis, you know what I’m talking about. Because even with having to deal with pain and fear and all the various effects and disabilities in our lives, every sunrise begins a new day to hope. Yep. Better days are coming.

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This post will give you the Willies!

Posted on March 13, 2010 by Leslie Sigal Javorek | 7 Comments

Posted by: Leslie Sigal Javorek • Date: Sat. Mar. 13, 2010 5:06 am

This week was pretty heavy for me. Some research I’ve been doing for a friend has really put me to the test and I came face-to-face with the realization that I am probably never going to get rid of this “chemo brain” completely. While my friend has been gracious and seems quite pleased with the results of my efforts so far, he didn’t know me before I got sick and so has no way of knowing that the “old” me would’ve accomplished 5x as much and the depth and quality of my research and writing would have been far superior. I’ve heard some people say that being a perfectionist is a bad thing – but I’ve never understood that point of view, as long as I don’t expect others to be perfect (which I don’t). Of course, I’ve never been perfect but if I hadn’t expected it of myself, I would never have been able to learn and accomplish what I have in the past. I’m not neurotic about it. It’s that the efforts involved in trying to be perfect was just a challenge I really enjoyed and I really miss having the physical stamina and the mental ability to focus at the same level I used to.

sigh…

In any event, because of the strain of this week, I really needed to do something light and fun and playful. Since my brain was too shot to dredge up an original idea, I went searching for some kids coloring pages and found a delightful abundance of sites with just what I was looking for. The absolute best site I found (based on variety, originality, and just in general fun) was one coming out of France. You should check it out as it’s just a delight. http://www.coloriage-enfants.com/ – As to the character I selected, the website indicated his name is “Winni Windel”. I was unfamiliar with the character and so did a search and came up with literally hundreds of websites and blogs for Winni Windel coloring pages or animations but only one single website that is a likely candidate for originating this adorable “diaper baby”. The site is for Steffen Soulejman Janus, who is “an internationally interactive specialist. He was Co-Founder of foco design studios in Germany and Switzerland and acted as CEO, Senior Project Manager and Creative Director for the company. For the past ten years, he set new standards in nonlinear interface design, online communications, branding and sales….” And he’s got a hell of an impressive list of clients! As to Winni, under his projects page is posted an online design study for diaper character Winnie promotion” completed in 2001 that he created for Optipresent Media AG, Munich Germany. The finished project can be found at Windel Winni Reloaded. It’s in German so you may need to use a translation plug-in or just enjoy the pictures. According to this site (unlike the hundreds of others – but obviously more authoritative) the character is named “Windel Winni” and not the other way around.

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