Many people who know me think that I have two middle names. Legally, that’s correct–when I got married I took my spouse’s last name and just upgraded my original last name to being a second middle name. Most people get that I did not hyphenate but rather have four individual names. It’s hardly unusual, and even those notoriously fussy creatures known as federal agencies have figured out how to address me as a four-named person without batting a governmental eye.
But to be entirely transparent with you, I ought to add that I have a sort of unspoken additional middle name, that to which I’ve alluded here before, and it is: Lazy Pants. Okay, that’s two more middle names if we’re being truly precise.
Laziness is at the very center of my being. Believe me when I say that this is not bragging; I do realize that it’s not an enviable, admirable trait or one that should be emulated by others. But it’s my reality, and greatly affects what I do and don’t accomplish in this life of mine.
The happier news here is that I am surrounded by non-lazy people who not only know how to do fantastic things but get out there and DO them. This is pretty much a life-saver for your correspondent Miss Lazy-Pants. It means that someone more energetic and probably a lot more skilled is doing what needs to be done. Perhaps more importantly, it means that sometimes I receive the blessed necessity of a kick in the lazy pants to DO something myself, and better yet, the needed information and inspiration to help me do it better than I would have in the first place.
This is a gift I enjoy receiving regularly from those lovely people who, as family and proximal friends, make up my immediate daily surroundings and embrace me in their great and comforting network of support. Thanks to my life of blogging I have now got the auxiliary family of encouraging people to push me out of my comfortable lazy cocoon and make me willing to tackle actual projects, motivate me to do something new and maybe different and, just possibly, even useful.
And I thank you, each and every one of you. I’d say ‘you know who you are’–but a whole lot of you don’t even know that you inspire me, let alone how deeply you inspire me. If you’re reading this and I’ve ever, ever visited and commented on your blog, you have inspired me. Even if I’ve only lurked at your blog and never come out of my shell enough to say Hello or make a remark, I have probably learned useful things that lit a friendly little fire under my lazy pants to get back to work and do something that, if not useful in a universal way by a long stretch, will prove useful in improving me as a person and as an artist.
One of my regular inspirations and motivations comes from those bloggers who focus on making art, because it’s one of those things I love to do but often have to get pushed into starting no matter how much good I know will come from getting back to work. So today’s post is brought to you in part by the good graces of you, all of you, and I thank you.
Specific thanks for this bit also go to that marvelous pencil-wielding mistress of Drawing Saudade, who daily doses us with her creatures, characters, costumes and comforts in a marvelous flowing style that made me want to play with something similar for a change from my own typical stuff, as well as return to a longtime fascination with costume design. Thanks, friend!
Art-Colored Glasses 
I can hardly believe you ever need a kick in the lazy-pants – I’m always in awe not only of your prolific output, but the marvelous quality of your work. You do your own part to inspire, you know. I have your wonderful “quilted chicken” tucked into my files for no reason other than it gives me a smile when I need a smile. How many artists have one of their works lurking on a desktop, labeled “smile chicken”? 😉
I am deeply honored. I’ve always said that I was most flattered when people told me they hung up my artworks in their bathrooms, as I know that’s where one often spends true, lengthy and thoughtful quality time when at home, but I now realize I must add ‘computer desktop’ to the list of places of distinction. Thank you! 😀
Based merely on the dedication shown, the talent exhibited and the perseverance of your daily entries, there is no way I’m classifying you as a “lazy pants”. You’re a source of enjoyment to a lot of people who turn to your blog for everything from creative recipes on Food Tuesdays to artwork and photography brimming with techniques and ideas. So, don’t sell yourself short. Maybe “relaxed pants”, but certainly not lazy!
I am *so* going to quote you on being a Relaxed-Pants! 😀
Oh boy do we have different definitions of lazy, I always enjoy your prolific blogging.
Perhaps I should confess that part of my definition of laziness includes avoidance of certain duties and tasks by indulging prolifically in pursuing others! 😉
Sometimes I think the main reason I married my Sweetie is because some piece of his Non-Lazy Organization manages to spill over to me, simply by living in close proximity…Deep inside, I’m still the Gal who can waste an entire afternoon playing Solitare on the computer 🙂
I would even go so far as to admit that one of the reasons I married *my* Sweetie is because his industriousness usefully makes up for some of my laziness. 😉 😉
You, lazy? You’re kidding, right? Tell ya what. You come here for a week and I’ll show you the real meaning of lazy. These amateurs …
I’m always delighted to spend time in the company of the professionally lassitudinous. It’s so inspiring!!!
You’re doing better than I, keeping up with your blog posts & comments; always writing in perfect grammar while finding time to create lovely art, as per the above beauty. Please excuse me, as you are one of my favorites here on WordPress, even though I am remiss in commenting on some of your best…
You are so sweet and generous to say so, my dear!! The ‘perfect’ grammar is partly obsessive behavior on my part, partly a pinch of luck and a micron of auto-editing (that, in turn, I have to correct sometimes!), and partly the kindness of readers who spot my blunders and fill me in so I can edit after the fact!
Hey, better late than never…
Well, I’m certainly good at ‘late’!
Thanks, friend, for you are an inspiration to me! XO
xoxo 🙂