It's snowing again in New Hampshire. Big Surprise.

Normally, I like a good snow day. It adds to the depth at the ski areas, extending the season well into April. But I didn't ski last year and I probably won't this year...i just can't get my racing boots on after having broke my ankle in roller derby almost 2 years ago.  And without being able to enjoy 30 or 40 trips to the mountain, I now despise the snow.

The snow is inconvenient, sometimes traps me in my house, and often forces the cancellation events I want to attend.

Today, that event was Toastmasters. OK...actually wanting to attend is pushing it. It kinda makes me sick to my stomach. But i need to attend.

I had my first "assignment" or role to play this week...Jokemaster. I have been practicing all week so that I would be comfortable (or at least undetectably nervous) when I stood at the podium to deliver my joke. I think my preparedness brought the snow.

Anyway, here's the joke I was going to tell.

One night, during one of their rendezvous, she confided in him that she was pregnant.

Not wanting to ruin his reputation or his marriage, he paid her a large sum of money if she would go to Italy to have the child. If she stayed in Italy,
he would also provide child support until the child turned 18.

She agreed, but wondered how he would know when the baby was born. To keep it discrete, he told her to mail him a post card, and write "Spaghetti" on the back. He would then arrange for child support.

One day, about 9 months later, he came home to his confused wife.

"Honey," she said, "you received a very strange post card today."

"Oh, just give it to me and I'll explain it later," he said.

The wife obeyed, and watched as her husband read the card, turned white, and fainted.

On the card was written "Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Two with meatballs, one without."

I have begun to force myself to learn something new today. 

I have argued in the past that there is just TOO much to learn as a web designer to learn everything...MooTools, JavaScript, PHP, Python, ASP, JSP, Java, jquery, ColdFusion, HTML, DHTML. So I have stuck to being a designer, not a developer...though I do fairly well with my knowledge of PHP, HTML, CSS and Joomla. And when I have to, I go online to grab scripts to do what I need to do or want to do.

But, the popularity of blogging and of Wordpress has prompted me to learn about creating Wordpress Themes. So far, after one hour, I have a bit of a headache.

Back at it first thing in the morning. I'm a little behind...but if i put my mind to it, i think i can get back ahead of the curve.

Despite historically trying not to make any resolutions I am only going to fail to keep, 2011 has already brought many changes--new home, new gym membership, new goals, new skills--which seem to make now the perfect time to focus on some resolutions.

First, I resolve to write more and become more comfortable with writing. Regardless of what I write about, I will write. It might be rambling thoughts, a single thought, a thesis, or an article about graphic design, marketing and business. Whatever it is, it will be put to paper (or more accurately, the Internet).

Second, I resolve to be more visible. That means showing up at the networking events or other business gatherings that make me uncomfortable and anxious. I will overcome my confidence issues and lack thereof. I will go to Toastmasters...even if speaking in front of the group makes me want to vomit.

And finally, I will draw. I have been sitting on a great story to be illustrated and for some reason have been unable to get myself to, in the words of Larry the Cable Guy, "Get 'er done!"

So please be on the look out for new articles and/or drawings daily on this site or on facebook or on twitter or on twitpic!