Well, I would say I've been really busy and all that -- and it would be pretty true.

The whole truth is that I just haven't been busy with work, job-wise. I have been doing an unnatural amount of beadwork, so artistically I have been excercising my right brain cells, at least.

But, I guess you could say that I've also been busy with...um..."getting my needs met," so to speak. And in the process, I've observed a very interesting aspect of the digital age: Narcissism.

Has anyone noticed that MySpace, Facebook, and online dating services actually reduces us to view us as pieces of meat and plastic figures on a photodrop background? I found it unnerving when I discovered that I, myself, was guilty of this.

So, the "Shades of Vanity" series was done using the only logical model: Me. I've never put myself out there like this, but here goes.

Hope you...uh...something.

Love,
Ray