February update - More origami, carnival season, WIP research, etc.

It's been a wild couple of months, hasn't it?

Okay, what have I been up to. Let's see. My wife has been doing an art class for kids and I've been showing them origami while they wait for their parents to pick them up at the end, as a bonus. Apparently the one time I didn't show up because I got caught up at work they rioted, so that was funny. They really liked this mountain goat uhhh... bighorn sheep? that I brought for show and tell purposes.

Design by John Montroll.

By the way, I posted an origami tutorial on YT for another design. I'm not going to become an origami youtuber or anything, I just thought it'd be neat to make a tutorial that I could've used :')

It's carnival season over here, so I'm currently holed up in my house while I hear the whole city blast music and throw paint and water at each other. I'm hoping to check it out this Sunday--I'm not much of a party guy, but I feel like I should experience it at least once. Plus, they say Sundays they only throw water, not paint, so I hope it'll be more fun than uncomfortable. I may post pics depending on how that turns out.

For the Abadosos WIP, since it's longer and more worldly, I've been reading The Ornament of the World by María Rosa Menocal. It's not the exact same time period the book is set in, but there's overlap and important context. Plus, I'm enjoying it a LOT. It's a fascinating read, it really changed my perspective on what I'd been taught in school about Spain and the Reconquest. It reminds me of a history teacher I had in college, who started every class with an interesting anecdote related to the day's subject--it's a very similar format, and while the facts are not laid out as clearly as with a solid timeline, it allows the reader to see through the eyes of key people in that time and place. Highly recommended! I might even check out the author's annotated version of The Cid, I'm charmed. 

Oh, and I'm gonna be taking a theater class starting on march! As a home office guy, I'm very excited to meet people with common interests, and hopefully get to rant about Jesus Christ Superstar while I'm at it :^)

Take care of yourselves, everyone. Keep making art, keep in touch with your loved ones, and help in any way you can, even if it means just staying alive. See you next time.

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