"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment."
-Jim Rohn

So, because I'm neurotic and OCD, I tend to place great and unrealistic significance around round numbers. So once I realized my Deviation counter was about to hit ol' 1000, I thought ti fitting to try and do something pretentious and symbolic.
Because I'm cool like that.
But before I get to my little celebratory pieces, a brief history of myself and DA.

In the summer of 2006, I was staring down the barrel end of my career at the Culinary Institute of America, and had already made plans to move to Florida after graduation.
Now, i was never any fun in college, and, if at all possible, even less fun in grade school. Only in the last 9 or so months of my collegiate endeavors did I realize that it might not be prudent to live like a twitchy hermit in my dorm, even if I did have an internet connection and an impossibly beautiful view of the Hudson River.
it is kind of sad that the greatest frequency of solace and giddiness that I felt in my college days took place within the confines of the Dragon's Den comic book shop. So, needless to say, I had begun the habits that would help nurture me into a healthy little internet addict, which i remain to this day.
Shortly before bidding the Empire State goodbye, my search for fanart rendered by more talented hands than I'll ever possess lead me, inexorably, to DeviantArt.
I was hooked and became a lurker instantly.
Of course, it was only a matter of time before I realized that if I made myself a member, I could lurk with a great deal more efficiency.
And it was only a matter of time after that until I realized that if I was a member of this community, with so many cool people with dazzling and varied talents, it might behoove me to give something back and actually contribute.
Now, mind you, all of this coincided with me moving to one of the most desolate stretches of land in the continental United States. Southwest Florida is often referred to as "God's waiting room," and if you've spent any significant mount of time there, you realize the truth of this sentiment beyond the ample population of elderly folk.
So, armed with a sony pocket camera, I took advantage of the one thing that I had in abundant supply; the diverse wildlife and ample beautiful scenery of the mangrove swamps of the southwest Everglades.
This in conjunction with living on an island where the median age was three times my own, a ready connection to so many bright, talented people was a source of inordinate solace for me.

Ever since those fumbling early attempts at actually holding a camera steady and hitting the shutter with any degree of competence, what started off as a hobby to stave off stultifying boredom became something I managed to develop a semblance of skill at, to the point where it's actually managed to put a little money in my pocket. Nowhere near enough to live off of, but it's certainly nothing to sneeze at.

Ever since I was a lurker and an outsider desperate to get into a community filled to the brim with kind, bright, gifted people, I've come quite a long way. I've become better friends with some of my Deviant friends than I've ever been with all but my closest of grade school chums. To the point where I exchange christmas and birthday gifts with the crème de la crème.
I'm truly grateful for some of the dearer friends I've made here. They've helped me through some emotional tight spots and have been an unending source of joy for me.
You all know who you are.

"And I love ya'! I LOVE YA' ALL!"

So, how am I going to celebrate one thousand and one Deviations?

With some pretentious literary reference:



And a random goofabout:



What else?

Thank you so much, EVERYONE!

Here's to another 1001!

NOW EVERYBODY SING!!!



[link]

There is beauty in the bellow of the blast,
There is grandeur in the growling of the gale,
There is eloquent outpouring
When the lion is a-roaring,
And the tiger is a-lashing of his tail!
Ko-Ko:
Yes, I like to see a tiger
From the Congo or the Niger,
And especially when lashing of his tail!
Katisha:
Volcanoes have a splendour that is grim,
And earthquakes only terrify the dolts,
But to him who's scientific
There's nothing that's terrific
In the falling of a flight of thunderbolts!
Ko-Ko:
Yes, in spite of all my meekness,
If I have a little weakness,
It's a passion for a flight of thunderbolts!

Both.
If that is so,
Sing derry down derry!
It's evident, very,
Our tastes are one.
Away we'll go,
And merrily marry,
Nor tardily tarry
Till day is done!
[link]

Ko-Ko:
There is beauty in extreme old age —
Do you fancy you are elderly enough?
Information I'm requesting
On a subject interesting:
Is a maiden all the better when she's tough?
Katisha:
Throughout this wide dominion
It's the general opinion
That she'll last a good deal longer when she's tough.
Ko-Ko:
Are you old enough to marry, do you think?
Won't you wait till you are eighty in the shade?
There's a fascination frantic
In a ruin that's romantic;
Do you think you are sufficiently decayed?
Katisha:
To the matter that you mention
I have given some attention,
And I think I am sufficiently decayed.

Both:
If that is so,
Sing derry down derry!
It's evident, very,
Our tastes are one.
Away we'll go,
And merrily marry,
Nor tardily tarry
Till day is done!

If that is so,
Sing derry down derry!
It's evident, very,
Our tastes are one.
Away we'll go,
And merrily marry,
Nor tardily tarry
Till day is done!

Sing derry down derry!
We'll merrily marry,
Nor tardily tarry
Till day is done!