Hey pals. It’s so lovely and warm outside. How about that? Makes me want to go outside and sing.

But I won’t.

Been sore this week from various weightlifting activities. So, getting up from a chair or turning my head results in lots of “oohs” and “ows”. On the plus side I’m making a lot of progress on this installation piece I’m working on. I think the trick is to use a heavier weight yarn and larger needles. Otherwise, when knitting with smaller needles, you look down at your work and weep over any lack of progress.

Ben and I are planning on going out of town in a couple weeks. Just going down to Maryland/DC. Definitely planning on hitting up some hiking trails while we’re around. I’m partial to hiking trails with waterfalls… And of course there will be dog time. Always.

Excited for that. It’s just the waiting part that sucks.

Have a good weekend, friends!

xo
craig

Happy Thursday.

It’s been a muggy week, and I feel like I can’t get enough sleep. But I’m feeling better than last week. Last week was having major motivation issues. Even my workouts were suffering.

Things are better this week. And I’ve gotten a lot of knitting done. I’m working with rope right now, which is really cool. It has a nice texture and a nice weight. I took a break from a much bigger knitting project I’m working on in order to complete this smaller installation idea I have. I’m pretty excited to see it all completed.

Looking at cute swim trunks online at the moment. I’m really ready for the summer. I feel like I say that every week, but I can’t stress this enough! I know my first trip of the year to the beach will be a very liberating feeling. I love looking out into the distance. (I mean, I’ve been to the beach a lot this year already, but only when it’s cold. And only to walk on it, not swim or tan.)

I’m ready for fun times.

xo
craig

Hey, friends. It’s Thursday. Happy day.

This is taken right after doing these exercises called reverse crunches. Sweaty and out of breath. They’re the hardest part of my regimen because they make my abs burn so much. I usually have to stop during my sets to rest for a second.

Narrow pushups are my favorite exercise.

Okay, enough of this talk.

I had a really good weekend. Plenty of rest and plenty of social time. But I must say that with this new warm weather, I have been drinking more than usual. Usually I could go a month or month and a half without having anything to drink. This warmer weather is putting me in the mood for daytime drinks with friends. But then there are hangovers to deal with… And feeling groggy all day… And that’s depressing.

I’m just excited in the moment, I guess. This will pass soon. I promise.

xo
craig

Happy Thursday from the salon!

I’m in a good mood today, though I’m fighting off a headache. I had a good workout this morning, which is always a great way for me to get the day going. Especially if I have one of the post-workout shakes I’ve been making the past couple weeks.

Last night I was making a shake for myself as an after work snack. But the blender died halfway through, making this really scary screeching sound. I had such a taste for it on my way home last night that dumping half blended shake into the trash really put me in a bad mood.

On Tuesday it was so dreary outside that I was depressed all day. It was so sad, the weather and me. My life just didn’t seem right. Nothing did. I thought maybe (MAYBE) if I dragged myself off the couch to go shopping for a new shirt I might snap  out of it, but I was still left kinda down. And $30 poorer.

You know how it goes.

All is well now, though.
xo
craig

Hi, pals. Happy Thursday.

Dreary day here, but I’m in a good mood. I have a newfound sense of direction this week. I wrote out my goals list. More of a realistic life to-do list. That’s left me feeling more focused than normal.

I taped the goals to the fridge.

Not much else to report. Working out a lot. Scheming summer looks and getaways. NYC is in this weird weather limbo: it’s warming up and the trees are blooming, but it’s still cold enough to keep us in check. There’s an energy dying to come out. Which is good. And also bad. This also means NYC is going to amp up the volume.

The other day Ben and I were sitting on our couch when all of a sudden I said, “Damn, it is so loud here.” There was a siren going on outside, loud neighbors in the hallway, somebody blaring some music from below. This only intensifies in the summer.

But it’s nice seeing everyone happy, I guess.

xo
craig

Hi friends.

It’s been a good week. On Tuesday Ben and I went upstate to Beacon to go hiking, which was totally fun and awesome. I love to go out of town and explore and do something new. Being out in the woods and listening to the waterfall was really great.

In my fantasy life Ben and I own a house in Beacon and an apartment in Brooklyn. We can hike in the woods and go to Dia:Beacon and come to the city whenever we want. And vice versa. I’d love that.

The week has been better than recent ones. Last night I was a little depressed because I’d set a weekly goal for myself with my art but failed to reach it. So, I was feeling bad about myself because I wasn’t applying myself completely. I forced myself to do some knitting before bed, though.

Time to wake up!

xo
craig

Hello from West 10th Street, friends.

Sorry I didn’t post yesterday. It was a bit of a bad day. Ben and I weren’t really getting along. And on top of that came the news that Roger Ebert had passed away, which supremely bummed me out.

I’d been reading his reviews since I was 12. I remember we got his Video Companion 1997 book when we got a new VCR, and I memorized it from cover to cover. But it was much more than the reviews I enjoyed. I just really appreciated the way he wrote and the way he thought. He was super insightful and fair and was really great putting a movie into context. To find out he passed meant that we lost a great writer.

I don’t usually feel strongly about men. And Ebert was an unlikely figure for me to latch onto. But he really was a great man. I will miss him forever. I’ll forever be sad about his passing.

xo
craig

Happy Thursday.

Not an actual self portrait. Ben took this of me at Grand Central Station this afternoon. We were there to check out Nick Cave’s performance piece there. I’ve always liked his work. It’s very imaginative and great to look at.

The past couple days have gone well. I didn’t have a good last week at all, though, so that had my head in a weird detached space. All is well now.

I’ve been plotting my next couple art projects. I might interrupt my current one to do a quicker piece. I’ve been frustrated with how long it takes me to produce new work. I’m not losing interest, but I worry about losing steam. Ideally I’d love to have two or three knitters/assistants on hand to take direction and produce for me. Or help me work.

In time.

Anyway, since the current project I’m working on is taking awhile, expect something else from me in the meantime! I’m thinking guerrilla installation.

Hope all is well with you.

xo
craig

Hi friends. One of my hair salon self portraits. I didn’t have enough time at home this morning to take one. Not having the greatest day, but I just had another cup of coffee. So, hopefully things will perk up soon. Wish I had more to report!

Tomorrow is my five-year anniversary with Ben. We’ll probably go out for cheesecake or something sugary like that.

Have a good weekend!

xo
craig

That moment after my morning workout where I just collapse on the floor. And look deep into the camera.

Ben and I are finally getting out of town this weekend. Going to Maryland/DC. We haven’t been out of town since going up to Dia:Beacon on New Year’s. So, it’ll be nice to breathe a little. Get perspective and relax. (I have been going out to the Rockaways about once a week to see Lillian, and it’s kinda like getting out of town… But just not the same.)

Ben’s dad also has gym equipment in their house, so I want to check that out. And play with dogs of course.

Have a great weekend and a great Thursday.

xo
craig