Instead of Real Issues, here's a post about miniatures.

I could have written about Sandy. I could have written about Earl's long stay in the hospital and passing. I could write about all manner of depressing topics, but I don't feel like visiting that, right now.  I do have the urge to write about taking up painting minis again.

The last time I put brush to mini was two days before Sandy. I brought my whole painting rig camping, and did a great Orc Chieftain out there in the woods, with natural light, peaceful music, and it was amazing.  I wouldn't have guessed that's the last time I'd really do anything with the hobby for months.  That was a Saturday, the Monday after was when Sandy hit, and when our house got pretty much demolished.  The space I use for my hobby was sort of covered over with stuff from downstairs, and the  bedroom stank, and I just fell out of it.  Today, I finally went up there, and cleaned the area, and rearranged my whole table, and made the space ready for painting again.  Also, I think having Earl suffering long was a weight on the whole family, and now that he's gone, I feel almost free to just do whatever, again.  It's weird.

I look over my whole WIP shelf, and think "I have a lot of unfinished minis."  But, that's not entirely correct, because I have a lot of them that are fully painted, right down to minute details and finishing touches, but not based.  Apparently, I have to be in a certain mood to do basing.  Painting is one thing, basing is a whole other, involving building, fussing, gluing.  So, about 50% of my works in progress, are really finished, minus an amazing base.  I should keep a whole other shelf for those, just to keep things organized.

Shelving is a whole other issue.  The space up there isn't really finished. I keep meaning to put shallow shelves above the table, to hold minis, paints, whatever.  It needs more organization.  I want it perfect, because when I'm in the zone, I don't want to have to dig for anything, or wonder where anything got off to.  I want to reach and find the right color immediately, or the right brush, or mini.  Even the area I have, is a WIP.