Notes, Notings, and Common Refrains

First, here's the monster I started to draw, yesterday, in honor of MONSTER DAY (February 16th), 2011 (I only finished it a few minutes ago -- it, um, kept getting hairier and hairier >_>):



Second, thinking about the origin of the word "Monster" (from the Latin for 'omen' or 'sign,' specifically, an omen that the gods are about to wreak vengence for humanity's sin), and how that can still have meaning for me, as an atheist:

Omens, like life, can spring forth without a scheming architect scribbling away behind the scenes (Creationism is Intelligent Design; Evolution is Intelligent Improv.*). An organism born with a radically unexpected body form could very well be a sign that Something Big is Changing deep within the system, and soon, we will feel that Big Change.

Humans: a) Don't like Big Change, and b) take everything personally, and assume anything we don't like is a punishment. So.


Third, thinking about how this "holiday" (it may be on its way, but it hasn't yet reached self-sustaining meme power) can fit into my own year, and my own experience of the seasons:

If I understand monsters to be embodiments of big change, or signs that big change is coming, then maybe this can be my "Hooray! Winter is over holiday!"

Y/Y?

*Say "yes" to everything, just keep going, and see what happens.