I've been trying to make sense of February. It started out like any other month, but took a completely different direction once I started making the daily photocomics.

I've been going through a bit of a withdrawal the last couple of days. I couldn't bring myself to shut down the little LEGO studio completely. I only succeeded in moving it from the corner of the dinner table where I had it set up to the top of the piano (a whole ten feet away).

It's funny how the project evolved over the month. It began on a whim - as an excuse to goof around, experiment, be creative, have fun, but it became more serious as the month progressed.

I began reading comic strips more regularly as a result of the project, both on the web and in the paper. And by "more regularly", I mean I immersed myself in them, delving into archives without hesitation. The downside was that I fell behind on world events and house chores for a few days. The upside was that I gained a greater appreciation for the art form. I'm just glad the world doesn't fall apart when I ignore a news cycle or two or put off a load of laundry.

Not only did I read more comic strips, but I began reading them differently. Just as NaNoWriMo changed the way I read books, last month's project changed the way I read comic strips. Now I read a strip more carefully and multiple times, focusing on different elements with each pass.

Part of me is happy the project only lasted a month. That part of me is relieved not to have to think up new ideas. It's also the part of me that worries if people will like what I've done. It feels I've exercised my creativity enough. It says things like, "You've had your fun. You've taken your risk. Can we go back to life as usual now?"

The other part of me is disappointed the project only lasted a month. It's the part that wants me to try something else new or creative; or if I'm going to follow the same comic strip stream, perhaps try something really risky, like drawing, as I did on the last day of the project.

It says things like, "Forget that you can't draw. Draw anyway. Make silly comics and jokes. Have fun with it. Maybe you'll surprise yourself. Then again, maybe you won't and you'll have created a large pile of crappy comics, but that's still better than going back to life as usual."

That's the part of me that gets on my nerves, but it's probably right, which makes it even more annoying. Like I said, I'm still trying to make sense of it all. I figure I can mull over it a while longer. All in all, I hope you all had fun seeing what I created and got an occasional laugh from it.

"Oh, if I could make sense of it all!
I wish that I could sing
I'd stay in a melody
I would float along in my everlasting song
What would I do to believe?"

- "Act of the Apostle Part 1" by Belle and Sebastian