- First I'd like to thank *Raini-Tempest for giving me an early Christmas present and renewing my subscription to deviantART, thank you Laura (and Andy)! I haven't been nearly as active in dAmn or in posting deviations as I was earlier this year, school proves to exhaust me and keep me rather occupied most days. I will do my best to frequent #DAUnderworld and my other haunts come winter break (late December). School is going well, I am getting great grades and making some friends this semester.
- I've been very active in my college's Creative Writing Club, and at the beginning of the semester I was elected as an officer for the club. In addition to the club, I am also taking a Creative Writing class this semester (Poetry Workshop) that has me fully immersed in the world of the written word. I had missed writing, and have grown fond of workshopping and playing with words and language like I used to. My photography has suffered because of my return to the ink and page, I have been neglecting my camera as of late... something I plan to remedy. I will be reading at a local poetry festival in the next few weeks and am almost certainly going to be in Denver for this year's AWP Conference. I have even been toying with the idea of changing my major to Creative Writing, though it may be a little late in the game for that. I've posted one of my better pieces recently, though I think I may continue to be scant and conservative with what I post as I am still not a very confident writer.
- I've felt the itch to paint lately, or at least sketch and pour out some ideas that are swimming around in my head into my sketchbook. I also miss doing The Dregs, it seems I often focus on one project or field of art at a time. Perhaps I only have the capacity for one at a given time. I miss the smell of paint. Even the stains on my skin and clothes. I miss having charcoal darken my palms and hide under my fingernails. I hope I can find time to paint or sketch sometime in the near future.
- The Fall semester is nearly done, I am looking forward to Winter Break and resting without the anxiety of school in the morning or assignments and due dates and the like. I wish you all happy holidays and hope that you get to spend them with those you care about most. Take care of yourselves and one other.

- Featured Deviant: *Raini-Tempest What can I say about Laura? She is a rock for me, always there when I need her, never too busy, tireless in her compassion and patience. Laura is a jack of all trades when it comes to art; she is a capable writer, photo manipulator, and is exceptional in 3-D rendering and her work with the Poser program. I've also seen first-hand her craftiness with making jewelery out of seashells and other curious little projects. She is one of those special people that is so much more than a 'deviant' on deviantART. Laura is a beautiful, wonderful person and I am forever indebted to her for years of friendship, kindness, and guidance.

Featured Deviations:






<sub>'In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion' -Albert Camus
'The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.' -Benjamin Franklin
'I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made.' -Franklin D. Roosevelt
'A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures.' -Irish proverb
'True friendship isn't about being there when it's convenient; it's about being there when it's not.' -unknown
'One man with courage makes a majority.' -Andrew Jackson
'I have always been regretting that I was not as wise as the day I was born.' -Henry David Thoreau
'He who knows best knows how little he knows.' -Thomas Jefferson


Artist: Blind Pilot
Song: 'One Red Thread'
Oh from the first that the line got drawn
it was poison in the land it was on
one red thread through the middle of a song
my only one, my only one

I can't remember the age that I was
but not that story that pumped in my blood
when you were the savior
and I was the taker of
oh where I was

oh but man oh man you can do what you want
oh man oh man you can do what you want
the only line that is true is the line you're from

I have to say there was a mile or two
I had the itch to fly and i flew
now at best we would make our dreams
with something used
with something used

and from the minute that the line got drawn
I couldn't see straight to you for nothing
now me, I'm the poison in one
yah I'm the one
I am the...

oh but man oh man you can do what you want
oh man oh man you can do what you want
the only line that is true is the line that you're...

oh man oh man you can do what you want
oh man oh man you can do what you want
the only line that is true is the line you're from
the only line that is true is the line you're from

---
The trailer for my friend Kevin J. McMullin's film, 'Exit 117'- Spread the word: [link]</sub>