Just before I left for Origins, the poster you see off to the right was delivered to my home. It’s an artistically-lettered print of a poem by Neil Gaiman, entitled “Before You Read This.”

It’s a wonderful poem, and I deeply appreciated getting it. But there was no note. I had no idea who sent it.

It took a little while, but I found it was my partner in crime, Kris Johnson. I wanted to thank him publicly for being such a swell guy, and for getting me something because, in his words, “I knew you’d like it.”

The great thing about the poem (which will be framed and placed over my desk in my office), is that it invokes more images than it describes. What I mean is, as you read it, it pulls ideas to the forefront of your mind, and so far, I’ve found that it jumpstarts my creative process. Like a meditation.

If you want to have a little fun, follow the link and read the poem from the end to the beginning. To twist things, read some of the stanzas as “Before You Write This.” It takes on whole new meanings.

Buy one for yourself from the talented Todd Klein.

I wonder if my Google Calendar is trying to tell me something.

I’ve decided to create a Tumblelog for some of the neat stuff I find that is not necessarily a proper blog post. If you’d like to follow along, head over to http://flap.tumblr.com, or subscribe with this link.

photo credit: Todd Mecklem

Traditionally, I’ve taken the month of December and gone on an infofast. I’ve shut down my instant messaging programs, turned off Twitter, and read email only sparingly.  It feels good to get off line once in a while, and I heartily recommended it.

But not this year.  This year, I’m doing something a little different. It’s probably not a big deal to most of you, but this December, I’m striving for zero frivolous spending.

What does that mean? No stopping for coffee, candy, quick snacks of any kind. No spending at all when I’m on the commute to or from work, except to fill up the car with gas.  Buying no comics, books, toys, online goodies…nothing. Zero spending on myself.

It’s a small thing, but I know that I’ve got terrible fiscal discipline.  It’s just so easy to drop by the Starbucks and grab a coffee on the way in. It all adds up, and I want to save my pennies for a rainy day.

Besides…with the economy the way it is, I might just need them. Wish me luck!

Kris Johnson and Jason Penney have tagged me. I must obey.

1. Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs
4. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.