I can’t seem to sleep again and am hoping, praying, that by the time I finish typing this blog, I’ll be so drowsy that I’ll just easily drift off to sleep. I started painting a mural the night before yesterday. I’m painting it in my closet, the place where I hang all my paintings and “forgotten” art. They are deemed “forgotten” because I leave them in there for no one else’s eyes but mine and will bring them out of the shadows on occasions, which is very seldom. I also hang some of my favorite photos there…the ones that inspire me. My closet is a special place. You’re analyzing me now, aren’t you. I started mixing the paint the other night and was wearing the same outfit I wore when I did my final photo project, Rach and Callan you know which one I’m talking about he he he, it’s the one that I do all my best work in. I fell asleep on the floor and woke up to what looked like a zombie! I’m not finished adding the color on the face. Liana, a co-worker, said that it looked like a “friendly zombie.” She’s right ha ha ha ha! 
Getting down to the point, I’ve been reading all these books that deal with the countries that the U.S. is currently at war with. I’ve been stumbling onto some documentaries that people have been sending me that “just so happen” to pertain to the same subject of revolution, war, common misconceptions, and art. I’ve always been fascinated by war ever since I was a child. I remember hearing Terry Law talk about his stories of going to several nations that were unfriendly towards Americans and being questioned by the KGB, running from the Triads, and barely escaping Afghanistan as the U.S. commenced bombing. I remember feeling so lucky to come into contact with such an interesting character. War changes everything. It’s definitely an atrocious, eye-opening situation that a generation doesn’t forget. Everyone is affected by war, gas prices go up, ideologies are changed along with the art. The art is different, it’s darker, somberly, with a sense of reality that tugs at your heart and suspends you in time for a few moments. I’ve been warned about the danger of being a war photographer, but capturing war is necessary so that we never forget. It’s a piece of history that we must never take lightly. These thoughts have been keeping me company at night, along with life’s other issues. Enjoy your week, dreamers.
Love,
Ari
