Christopher Ewing

Hey Chris,

Wondered how you were doing. Pleased you’re on your “feet” again, so to speak and looking like getting out of the storm.

For me, this festive season, is something that I will use to chill out, spend to time with the folk that matters, get out to do some serious photography and look forward to the year ahead.

Make up my new year resolutions…....AGAIN (be interesting to see last years ones to compare with what happened this year – I don’t think I’m far off!). Think I’ve got quite an exciting year ahead of me so fingers crossed!

Again, glad to hear from you again.

Kevin

Wow, you’ve passed with flying colours! :) And what a great thing to share and ask about.

Well ours will be totally different this year as we’ve moved to a small town and bought a new house. Last year truly sucked! LOL My husband had been in and out of hospital for 3 months, we were trying to get our old house fixed up to sell and my husband’s grandfather, whom we absolutely adored, was nearing the end of his battle with Parkinson’s. Sadly he lost that battle a few months after Christmas.

But this year is just amazing. New house, new community, great people and new traditions! Now I usually go a bit crazy at Christmas so it’s going to be a blast figuring out where everything goes as well as buying new things… of course. My daughter is a little older this year and is into the crafts and baking and I can’t wait to share that with her. My oldest, who moved out this year, will be back with us for a couple of months, and my baby, who’s not yet two will be a lot more fun this year as well. And since we are not entertaining family this year, we have decided to have our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. I’ve never really done that before but I just want to have my day with the kids and the family instead of spending time with the turkey!

And I’m looking forward to next year even more. To growing my business again in this new place (which is already going great), to enjoying this better quality of life with my husband and kids and to making more changes within myself to ensure I continue on living for the moment and being happy rather than living for the future and looking for happiness.

So I’ll share your new attitude with you! Here’s to a fantastic 2010! (and maybe a bigger Christmas tree to go with the higher ceilings? Hmmm… )

No apologies ever necessary Chris – you remain one of the anchors of the bubble in your generous spirit and passion for your gift (even if you feel you’ve not contributed all you can) I think there are many of us here who have gone through a difficult time for one reason or another – health, economy, heartache. I know that’s been the case for me as well – certainly I feel as you do about not being here enough to comment and encourage the many extraordinary artists and writers I’ve come to know. But I also know that we do ourselves and others no favors if we push ourselves beyond our limits or take on the weight of guilt for what – at the time – could not be helped. There is a voice inside that we have to listen to that tells us what needs our attention most at any given time. I, for one, am overjoyed to hear that you approach this holiday season with what I call “an attitude of gratitude” for blessings we often don’t even recognize at the time we receive them. After a difficult year myself for so many reasons, I’m adopting that as my motto for this holiday season and the new year. Whether I turn the corner on a stubborn health issue or not, I have much to be grateful for – not the least of which is some wonderful new friends right here. So I’m going to decorate too – something I’ve tried to keep to a minimum the past few years since I’ve been alone (though I have put up a tree!), I’m going to play secret Santa for a family that has fallen on more difficult times than I have, continue working on an inner journey begun this year, and as far as my health will allow me, get back to more giving involvement here on RB. Your question, Chris, is the spark that many of us may need to recognize how blessed we are in the present regardless of what the past has wrought. So I thank you for the “nudge” and wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving, a blessed Christmas and a very happy and positive New Year! (and Brutus too!)

I know the predicament!!!! Happy holiday season for you I hope :)
This year, I am having Christmas at home – After the year I’ve had some would think I am totally nuts!!!!!!! LOL… Anyways, this year my theme is “Winter Wonderland”... It will probably be about 40deg so no real snow obviously!! But I am going out in a big way to make it as wintery as possible!!! Should be fun – and will post the pics! Glad things are improving for you – and yes – i agree it has been a tough year it seems for all!!!!!!!!! Here’s to 2010!! :))) x

always keep positive, thats my moto, never had much so i wont miss anything, and if decorating my house cheers a few souls up then i have acheived something hehe many congrats on getting what you surley deserve in the job front, dont forget keep having a dreams as one day it may just come true,dawnxx

I am so happy to hear this, they way you turned your life around is not only awesome, but inspires me as well… Congratulations on your puppy, I know mine makes my days happy… My goal for this coming yr, is to make sure I appreciate all things, In march I was physilcally hit by a car, I am just now getting a piece of my life back, I truly appricate what God has done for me, My desire now is to give back…thanks for this, it is an awesome message :)

Congratulations in pulling yourself through and your new position. I’m by myself and used to absolutely dread the holidays. I did something last year that I’ll repeat if I’m not scheduled to work, I went to the movies and treated myself to a nice dinner on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I met a lot of “happy to be single” people who found their holiday spirit, also.

I can’t afford the luxury of eating out in a restaurant where you can’t wear jeans and a t shirt but it’s now my holiday gift to me. Money is much tighter this year than last but I refuse to sit home and be miserable.

Everyone is telling me not to do it but I may even get my butt out to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year, too! Why don’t you meet me in front of Macy’s when Santa arrives?

Chris my family and I are really not going to do anything different I’m afraid. Same old, same old get together with families, my sister’s house on Christmas Eve and my brother-in-law’s house on Christmas Day. Glad to hear you got a promotion and a raise. That is a big deal. Sounds like you finally got the recognition you deserve. I think 2009 was a big change for most folks. I had to re-evaluate everything from reducing insurance coverage on my truck to cancelling my credit card. That’s right. I no longer have a credit card!
I appreciate that you took the time to explain why you have not been on RB. You don’t have to apologize. I understand and wish you a better year next year. I get the feeling you are going to do well. Looking forward to some great new work from you and some comments on our work too. Take care.

I’d hang out with you at Christmas if we were down there then. You know that! Not planning on being there at that time though :( You and Brutus could come up here though!

Well, for starters, I think I’m going to use your journal as a guide on improving my own attitude, Chris. Yes, times have been tough everywhere including cyberspace. I’m sick of feeling sad. First thing I did recently when I decided enough is enough, was post a smiling avatar! I look different when I smile (der). And maybe I’ll stop trying to resist and deny the big issues in my life and work at them a little bit at a time.

Christmas is always a sad time for me these days. They used to be a huge family festival but sadly my family has drifted apart. So, I will GIVE to the wonderful friends I have – two in particular who have kept me sane and given me the gift of caring.

No big purchases this year … probably no purchases! So I’m ‘making’ gifts. I know plenty of people think it’s naff and mean. But there’s nothing mean about putting time and effort into a gift. It should be that way every year and I think in my own circumstances I’m being mean ‘shopping’ for gifts. It’s not putting ‘me’ into the ‘thought’ but just ‘getting it done!’ at worst, and indulging my own enjoyment at best.

I don’t know yet, but I think I’d like to do one major charitable thing too, but something local. I have something in mind that I can’t divulge yet … but it’s for an individual who has fallen on very tough times. Not sure what I can do for her yet, but working on it.

Thank you for the inspiration Chris. Your gift to us!

I’ve always kinda liked your attitude. We all need some type of adjustmemt sometimes.
I fell into a slight depression, as it carried over from the misses. 30 Days and 30 Nights with no work. And hearing from you makes me (00) open my eyes!!!
The neighbors are discourteous and play loud music at all times of the night. I’ve been up for 27 hr.s (+) and had given it some serious thought as to rather or not I would go and photograph President Obama on Veterans Day. I finally got to sleep towards 6pm…New Years resolution…I’m Moving! Then I’m packing my equipment into the CRV and I’m going to take a laptop, PDA, solar powered electrical system, some “Scoobie Snacks” and I’m going to take pictures of EVERYTHING!
I am going to revamp my business plan and get more work out also, to look into a retail outlet for my work. You are an inspiration towards this goal. Coodles! Matsumoto

make that CHANGE….I’m starting with the man in the mirror-mj
bad news is I will not be able to head home for Christmas because of work, good news is I have work! got me thinking dude…..

Yes, it’s been a real tough year. We came 6 days away from foreclosure starting on our house, yikes. Money got so tight this year for us, I had to stop going to my shrink. Just couldn’t afford the $75 office visits. I suffer from depression and I’m also bi-polar. Stopped taking my meds 5 months ago cold turkey, that was like being in hell for 2 1/2 months. Things have leveled off some, but they’re not great. Took about four months off from Redbubble, I was really pissed off at Coke for making Redbubble take down two of my shots. They were shots of a coke can, and they claimed it was a copyright or trademark issue. Oh well Coke you can kiss my ass, I stopped supporting Coke from then on out.

Well after 23 months of being out of work my wife finally got a job. I know I should be more happy, but we’ve lost so much. Luckily we had some toys to sell. The part that sucks she’s making less than 50% of what she was making 23 months ago. We’ve had to make so many changes to our lifestyle. I could go on and on, but I’ll stop now.

I just wish people liked my photos more because I would give more as gifts this year. Our daughter moved last weekend to be with her husband in Massachusetts. This will be our first Christmas without our little girl. It’s going to be weird. Not much in a holiday mood, bah humbug. I’m looking forward to having some money again, and maybe I’ll be able to afford going to the Dr. again and get back on my meds. I just want to feel normal again and want to take photos again. I just haven’t had the motivation to do so in a long, long time.

Just don’t know what we’re going to do this holiday season. It just seems so weird to be on the brink of disaster, yet thankful we still have our house. We’ve always helped out people in need during the holidays, by adopting a family and buying presents for them so they can enjoy a Christmas. Not last year and not this year.

Well have a great holiday season everyone in Redbubble land. I just hope everyone enjoys this year and please stay safe. Hope to see you around soon. Would love to see some more photos of that cute dog.