sigh. thanks guys. you give me good advice and i feel support. LP, i ALWAYS try hard to do things. whatever i do, i give 150%. i'm like that. u guys say words i need to hear...LP said, "let your work flow from you." Donald... you said: "For an image to have "soul" I think it needs to flow from the artist." i am like that! i go with the flow. that describes me perfectly!!! good advice. thanks!! i think i'm trying to swim upstream. i relax and let go....thank you for saying exactly what i needed to hear!!! Michelle, funny you mention that about magazines!!! that's exactly what i do...cut out pics in magazines. i have about 20 magazines stacked up now. i find this very useful too!! i didn't know anyone else did this!!! it helps me. i can't read now because i can't concentrate. i have ADHD. being so constrained physically makes my inability to concentrate even higher. in order to have high enough concentration to sit down and read, i need to spend energy...and LOTS of it. today i cleaned and organized for about 4 hours i think. i'm bouncing off the walls here. when i go shoot photos it's like tranquilizer. calms me down. i shoot, shoot, shoot. i release energy. i start slowing. relax. plus itching every single second under that cast just makes my inability to concentrate that much higher. i can't be creative because itchies i want to tear at my skin!!!!! plus when i'm under big stress like this, my need to be creative intensifies. and Donald I AM dealing with things i'm not used to. one arm is problem. i can get tripod adjusted in one position only. kemal does it for me before he goes to work. if i need to change tripod position, i'm just shit out of luck!!! i can't do it with one arm. lighting i'm not used to. images i make in the house...i normally make in broad daylight because i work 2nd shift. i have good morning light. but i've had to switch shifts because i can't work at restaurant. so light in my house is virtually nothing. it's dark before i go to work and very little light when i get home. doug and william...you're absolutely right. trying to get perfect pic...well...it can't be forced. it just comes. i need to flow with it. let it happen. it will come. yes, i need to just get out and take pics like i normally do. walk, go to park. scenes will come. i guess i gotta heal first. i think when i get cast off on 31st, i'll be better. i won't be able to lift more than 1 pound with left arm until almost April...but at least not itching every freaking second will help my mind be clearer. Onslow, Donald...i will try to let go of anger and frustration. flow. flow. flow.... i worked on many images today. expressed some creativity. venting helped. THANKS guys for looking at crappy images i take, listening, and for your words of advice and your support. poor kemal. you guys think u have it bad listening to me...OMG...LOL...he's been fantastic though. waits on me hand and foot. he told me to rest ALL day. he's gonna kill me when he sees what i did...couldn't help it. i was too hyper. i made chicken soup today. homemade. one arm. harder than hell to get chicken off bone. LOL. i would post a pic but it's freaking lousy. i'm too ashamed. so just imagine. i feed you all. yummy, soothing chicken soup. good for soul. i go back and reread this 100 times when i get down. u guys are the best!!!!!!!! thank you!!!!!!!! hugest one-arm hugz!!!! sheila p.s. sorry for novel!!