I'm Only Sleeping

Sloth- original watercolor illustration available at Mad Shiny Shoppe!

Understandably so, I think I've lost my faithful few. You guys, I promise I'm going to keep the posts coming this time. I quit my depressing job, and am making art every single day. I'm over my poison ivy plague, as well as the horrid steroid psychosis. I think it's safe to say that I'm stable...as I ever was.

This is a new beginning for me. I know I've mentioned that a lot lately, and it sounds all hokey, but it's true, I tell you! Art commissions are rolling in, thanks be to God, and I'm working on establishing actual work hours. I have a tendency to sleep in, as I can be eerily similar to a sloth. Then I'm up until 3AM sewing, painting or writing. Not the best sleeping pattern, I know, so I'm trying to change that.

With all this work to do, and the support of my magnificent, marvelous Mr. T., I'm pretty darn content. I just hope art commissions keep a'coming, and my procrastination remains manageable. I'm participating in a craft show next month, and I've got to get to making some more wee wonderful things!

Just in case you're new here, and even if you're not, please feel free to check out my etsy shop! I create all manner of funky cuddly things, personalized cake toppers/keepsakes, pin back buttons, greeting cards, watercolor portraits, and YOU. JUST. NAME. IT.

Sweeter Than Bee Pollen

Watercolor illustration prints available by request at Mad Shiny Shoppe!

Earlier this year, I found myself feeling like someone came and wrenched every last drop of honey from my happy little hive. That someone was my now ex-boss, whom I often refer to as "She Who Must Not Be Named." With her verbal and emotional abuse, she was pretty much a nightmare, and that's coming from someone who can get along with just about anyone.

When I graduated college, I had no idea how to apply my studio art/art history degree. A friend's father offered me a job making art with homeless and at-risk youth, so I jumped on the opportunity. I absolutely loved that position, but funding was cut the next year. I was bumped into a couple neighboring positions, and just counted myself lucky to have a job.

To cut a long story short, I stayed with that agency for six excruciating years, before I'd had too much of She Who Must Not Be Named's tormenting. I'm currently working as an artist/author from my humble home, and it's good great dripping with awesome. Quitting was terribly frightening, and things haven't exactly been perfect, but this new beginning is definitely sweet.

Project Update!

A friend of mine is doing a safari theme in her grandson's room, and wanted me to come up with a waterdoodle for him. I was thrilled to find that the little man has taken a recent liking to Maurice Sendak's work, so I got to come up with a Wild Things inspired camera safari illustration. Squee!

I'm still in shock that I'm working on art full time. Maybe someday I'll find a stopping point on my to do list, so I can clean out my studio. It needs a major overhaul. One thing at a time...

Time Well Spent

It's been almost a week since I quit my job of five years, and I'm pretty happy with how I've been spending my time.

I can't remember the last time I was able to spend days in a row making art, and just enjoying life. Maybe that's a little dramatic. I know there are a million different ways to enjoy life in the ever day. As of late, my days had become somewhat of a soul suck. I'd come home with the intentions of being creative, but would end up crying all evening.

The first couple of days I cried a little, cleaned a little, and cried a little more. I've spent the last few days promoting my Etsy shop, working on commissions and just being thankful for the time to do it.

Behold!

"Boom Chicky Boom" card

"Ninja Love" card

"Nuts About You" card

Wee Hand-sewn Owl Plushies

My husband is being incredibly supportive about the whole "me not working" thing, because he's wonderful. However, unless my art sales become a lot more consistent, I'll have to get a job before too long. I'm just enjoying a little time off before it's necessary.

How Can Anyone Walk on Water, If They Won't Get Their Butt Out the Boat?

Anybody out there? It's been a long time since I was in a sharing mood, and I feel as if I should apologize for that. I allowed blogging to become just another place that I couldn't speak my mind. I'm not proud of that, and am in the process of changing it.

I've worked for the same nonprofit for over five years, and I've been unhappy with my working situation for around two of those.

If any of my faithful few are still out there, you may recall me blogging about landing a better paying job, giving my notice and leaving in 2009. You might also remember me spending one day on the new job, before crawling back to what I knew. What you won't remember are all of the feelings I never expressed, because I knew my boss read my blog.

Well, I went back to the old nonprofit job thinking I hadn't had it so bad after all. My paycheck wasn't a hefty one, but I was doing something good there. Believing if I just did my job to the best of my ability, I could put up with my boss not respecting me. I also thought I could handle snide remarks and nasty jokes at my expense, and rude comments about others...

I realize now that I have spent about three of the past five years just waiting. I've been waiting for something to change for me. Finally, I realized that I had to be that change. I've learned that we can't expect the constants around us to vary. We have to be the variables.

So...I quit my job last week. Live and learn, right? I'm taking a little time off, before I start looking for something else, and am not-so-secretly hoping that my artwork will make me a rich woman.

In the meantime...

Nothing but blue skies from now on. ^_^

Really In a Stew!

I googled ANGRY BIRD & found this image here.

Disclaimer: I am ranting in this post. I love many a person with free-time, stay at home wives, and/or mothers. I know we all have different priorities. I'm currently frustrated, so please refrain from taking offense to anything I type. Thank you.

If any of you pulchritudinous* people out there have read this old blog before, chances are high that you're aware of my tendency to overbook myself. To say I have a lot going on would be an understatement. I'm an artist, a secretary, and a program director. I'm slightly obsessive compulsive, and I have a problem saying "No."

All that being said, I'm not alone in my way too busy for a day-jobness. I had the following conversation recently.

BFF: I'm so tired of database work! I want to be at home sewing!!!
Me: Yeah. I keep thinking about things for etsy, the cake topper/guest book I'm working on, the book I'm illustrating. There's just so much to do that work gets in the way of, and it's insane! I even find myself being a little catty towards people who stay home. I know mom's that have kids in school have plenty to do, but I start wondering how they can have NO ARTSY CRAFTY ANYTHING! No hobbies!
BFF: Me too. It irritates me that other people have all this time on their hands, and I have none. When I do nothing - I feel guilty.
Me: I know.
Me: Why can't all the world be like us? It'd be a much better place...There would be biscotti and puppies...Starbucks and photography...
BFF: Warm woolen mittens, and brown paper packages tied up with string?
Me: Yes! Yes!! YES!!!

Now, this may seem a little off subject, but it's not. We have so much to do, and no time to do it! We're also ever so mildly insane, as you can see from the above conversation. If I were you, and I had free time, I'd come up with a hobby real quick-like. There are more of us, and we're likely to lash out eventually.

*That means you're beeeyooootiful. I used the thesaurus to find a new word for lovely to behold, and I thought that pulchritudinous was pretty interesting. Kind of an ugly word to have such a nice meaning, don't you think?

Brendan ♥s Kate

Today was a busy, busy day. I worked in a frenzy as it snowed like crazy outside my office window. I'd peak out between phone calls and reports to see the court house lawn getting whiter and whiter. I successfully fought the urge to go play in it, until it was time to go home. At which point, I crunched up the back steps to my Jeep, with my head back and mouth wide open for maximum snowflake consumption. It was glorious.

In the midst of my busy morning I received a link from my dear prickly pear, Ari (Wha? The girl loves cacti, and I love pet names.). What was this link, you ask? It was a post by Stevie, about an awesome, unstoppable man named Brendan and the girl with whom he fell in love.

While deployed in Iraq last year, Brendan's unit received a terrible blow. Some men were lost, while others were seriously wounded. Brendan suffered injuries to his head and face, and he lost both of his arms and legs. He's the only quadruple amputee to survive a major American war.

Currently, Brendan is doing physical and occupational therapy at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he met Kate...
Sounds like an amazing guy, right? You wanna know the rest of the story, right? Please go read it HERE (it's short and sweet, I promise). They've entered Crate & Barrel's Ultimate Wedding Contest to win the wedding of their dreams, and they need YOU to go vote for them.

We've got 6 weeks and 5 days to make this happen, and there's competition, folks. Let's do this, shall we? We're The Internet. We can so make this happen!

P to the S: Go now! Tell your family, friends and coworkers. Blog about it. Tweet about it. Go!

Vader Approves

Who here knew that you could win something via signing up for and completing NaBloPoMo? Why did no one tell me this?! That's awesome!

Luckily, I'm O.C.D. enough to complete 30 posts in 30 days without that incentive. All I need is Darth Vader giving me a thumbs up. Did you see that badge over there?! On the right. Adorable.

I'm going to go look at him now, as a matter of fact. It was a heck of a work day (Beginning of the month nonprofit shenanigans! Augh!) I didn't win a prize, and I need the moral support. *sniff*

NaBloPoMo Hitch

Sometimes I just take things for granted. I thought there would be free Wifi in my hotel room. WRONG.

Oh, you don't know where I am! I'm on a fun-filled (not being sarcastic) business trip in Orlando. A whole heck of a lot of child care workers, from the South East United States, have gathered here to share and learn how to better serve youth and families. It's really pretty great.

Wifi? $9.95 for 24 hours. I can do this, but not so great. Supervisory Companion and I didn't get in from the airport until late last night, and had training all day today. We didn't even get the luxury of the two hour lunch break. We had a meeting. An awesome meeting, but a meeting.

So...here I am. All paid up for 24 hours, and posting TWO posts tonight. Though, I will post one of them dated as November 4th, because I'm awesome like that. I have not given up on NaBloPoMo! I will prevail! ^_^

Absence Makes...

*Us. In all our glory. Todd's hair is chopped off now, and he has a full beard, but I like this pic.

...the heart grow fonder, right? Now, when used as one of those pseudo positive/encouraging statements, I pretty much hate that phrase. However, right now? It works.

I've only been away from home one night, and I flippin' miss my husband! I can't even think of anything sassy to say to him when he calls. I'm being sweet as pie, and that's it! Seriously, I'm on the verge of being all mushy here, people.

I adore my husband and all, but I'm just not one of those lovey dovey chicks. More often than not, I'm sarcastic and clumsy-flirty with him. By clumsy flirty, well, that doesn't really need an explanation, does it? I'm am NOT smooth, and I've never really known how to flirt properly, but it works.

I figure my only hope is to get back home before this sticks! :P I hop on a plane tomorrow afternoon, and will be back in good old Alabama before sundown. My adorable huzbun will be waiting at the Birmingham airport for me, and I'm hoping by the time we get home I'll be able to muster some sarcasm.

Wish me luck. And pray! Supervisory Companion is staying here until Saturday, so I have to navigate my way to the airport and fly home alone! Traveling inept and unsarcastic?! I might not make it, people.

P.S. This counts as Nov. 4th's post, so I'm dating it as such. NaBloPoMo!!! ^_^

That's It...

I've had all I'm going to take today. Despite the fact that I've now been prescribed, and am hopped up on, anxiety/antihistamine meds(who knew these two were related?!) I am ready to rip someone a new one. No joke. I've had all I'm going to take today.

Problem. I'm not very assertive. Expressing my anger usually brings about the same reaction as the following adorable puppy(thanks google images ^_^).

In college a friend of mine told me that I had the intimidation factor of a declawed kitten, and he was right. Sometimes I wish I could be mean. Though, I'd probably feel bad about it later.

So, back to my anger and disdain.

I long ago accepted the fact that my tonsils hate my guts, or at least my ears, nose and throat. So, tonsillitis hanging on for dear life? I can deal. Breaking out in little red stripes that itch a lot? Been there. Done that. For years. And now I have meds for it! Which seem to be helping. Whether it's an allergic reaction to my antibiotic/the world, or stress-these wee little white pills are just the thing.

What I can not accept today, little white pills or not, is a pushy person. Not today. Maybe tomorrow, but NOT today.

I'm at work, minding my own, when I get this call. This chick on the phone starts blathering on about how she needs some healthy marriage classes. I work for a non-profit family services agency. I'm used to calls like this, but before I can refer her to someone who may be able to help her she starts getting all belligerent. Seriously.

Apparently my name is on a website, along with a friend of mine, as offering healthy marriage counsel.

Whatchu say?! TIME OUT. Not so.

I tell this lady that it's a mistake. I politely (as always) inform her that I am not trained to, nor have I ever taught such a course.

Does she say, "Oh, okay. Thanx. Bye!"?

OF COURSE NOT. She proceeds to treat me like I'm a liar, and explains how much she needs this course.

Now, I feel bad for her and all, but oy vey! I am not a healthy marriage counselor, and I'm not lying! My tonsils hate me, despite uber huge horse pill antibiotics. My chest, neck and back look a little like I was attacked by a hoard of angry pixies in dire need of manicures, and I'm doped up. So, best be easin' up out my face 'fore som'n bad hap'n. A'ight?

I'm ready for bed now.

x_x

Monday

I've been thinking a lot about this today. I think it'd be safe to say that approximately 75% of everyone I know has an aversion to Mondays. We cower and cringe at the thought of her. Sort of like this.

(any excuse to squeeze in some Klimt ^_^)

Now, the other 25% are the optimists on a quest to redeem or save Monday, to turn it into something else-something worth celebrating. Still, they know it doesn't like them...and it has a club.

My theory is that Monday is tired of being the day that everyone hates, or at least has to try not to hate. She's fed up with being Monday. Can't say's I blame her, but I don't enjoy the punishment.

So, what can we do? I propose that we give Monday a new name. Perhaps that's all she needs. A new start, a chance to recreate herself. Maybe then she'll not feel like reciprocating our distaste for waking up early to go to work anymore. Maybe she'll have pity on us.

What's your nomination? I already have one from MadamRaspberry. Her vote is for Princess Mon, which I think sounds Jamaican and I like it. What say you? Pick a name! This could save us all!

Deep Breath. Chin Up.

It is far too late to be posting, but I've got too much to blather about to sleep, or hold it in anymore.

I've got a new job. Great right? Riiiight.

New is good. More money is good. Change? Change is bad. Well, maybe not bad, but certainly not my friend. At least not at the moment.

I am a creature of habit. I know this. The thought of leaving my current coworkers kills me. It feels like there's a great big old hippopotamus sitting on my chest. My heart is heavy, and I can hardly breath.

I just wasn't prepared. I mean, I went to an interview, got turned down. 'Nough said. As soon as the answer was no, I went right on my merry way, back into my routine, thankful that I wouldn't have to change. Then, out of the blue I get a call.

An opportunity has presented itself?! One week's notice?! Umm...well...uh...can I call you back?! Ugh.

So, new job starts on Tuesday. It'll take some getting used to I'm sure, but I think I'll like it. The husband person and I can carpool. I'll not be worried about my little nonprofit closing down on me. Well, I'll worry about them, but not whether I'll be without a paycheck or not anymore.

I'm still going to volunteer to teach art at the shelter, and to transport runaway and homeless youth. So, I'll be helping people. I just worry it won't be enough.

I feel so bad for leaving them. I'll miss them SO much. My heart aches, but I feel as if this job is an answer to prayer. I mean, I ask for The Man with The Plan to help my doddering little self along. I don't know what tomorrow will bring. So, I figure I'll follow someone who does.

Sometimes He surprises me is all.

Deep breath. Chin up.

In All My Glory

Let me start out by saying that Shannon made me do it. I've been tagged, folks.

The Rules:

Take a picture of yourself right now.

No primping or preparing. :(

Just snap a picture.

Load the picture onto your blog.

Tag some people to play along.

Evil, isn't it?

Oh yeah. That's me, in all my glory. See the red stripes on my chest? Eczema. Makes you colorful, and ever so slightly diseased looking. It's just wonderful.

So, you can all thank Shannon for this Friday morning shocker*. I wouldn't have subjected you to this, had she not tagged me. ^_^

Now, for my victims. Muahahahaha!

Ari
Jodi
Ashley
Matt (You have to do this one, or I'll come to Denver and kick your butt.) (Kidding-I know you box! ^_^)
Austin

* I still love Shannon. Like her, I just wasn't too terribly thrilled at having to share a photo of myself this fine morning.

I Could Burn The Building Down

I know I've mentioned how unattractive my office is before, but it's due time to grumble about it again. So...it's unattractive. I try to hide the aesthetic ickiness of it, but sometimes there is only so much my paintings and other quirky bits can mask.

So, imagine my reaction when my boss mentioned looking into moving offices! The grin on my face could only be equalled by a golden retriever puppy in a room full of people lying on the floor. Oh, the possibilities!

Before I go completely off the deep end, let me say that being a non-profit teen shelter, we can't really afford to keep paying such an obscene rent for an office space. So, it's for the good of the agency.

Okay. Yay!

So, we looked at a few options. A couple were worse. A couple were okay. Then we found it.

A cute little place about 2 minutes from our current place of business. It's a wee house that would make such an adorable office. Not to mention that the wall colors are glorious and totally work with all of my art. It's like 350 bucks cheaper a month. It has an adorable back yard with a privacy fence, and a pregnant kitty. It also has a kitty door! This is very important to me, people. Do you know what this means?! An office kitty for meeeeeeeeee! Although said kitty might get lonely on the weekends. Hmm. This is still in the slightly psychotic pondering stage.

So, yeah. If we move into this joint, be prepared for mad pictures. Well, not mad as in mad. You know what I mean. Yay!

P.S. I doubt we'll get an office kitty, but let me dream.

Well Digger's Brassiere?

I'm not going to complain about the fact that it was pretty chilly the entire time that Todd and I were in California.

I'm not even going to mention that it started to warm up the day we left, and that it is supposed to snow here tomorrow!

What I'm not going to ignore is the fact that I'm uncomfortably cold right now! What is up with this office?!

I have my heater running, my wool coat on and my nose is still colder than a...what was it? A well diggers butt...somewhere cold? A witch's brass brassiere? I don't know. My Mom always has the greatest phrases, and I never fail to butcher them. I'm just freezing.

I'm going to get in my Jeep, crank up the heat, listen to some Sublime and go home!

Window Seat PLEASE?!?!?!?

Okay. I have no time to be blogging right now, but I must vent.

Me + Plane = right as rain

Unless I'm without a window seat. Then you just don't want to be near me, or between me and that ever so luxurious bathroom that everyone's DYING to piddle in.

I flew all the way to Korea by my lonesome and I was fine. Enjoyed the flight. Not the 17 hour one so much, but it was cool. Why was it cool? Because I was by a window. I could see. I could breath.

So, husband person got approved for a convention thingy in San Francisco and that's grand. We just have to pay for my ticket and tada! Awesome mini vacation.

I should be completely stoked. Yes I say stoked. Instead I have to be stressing out because Todd's supervisor has been sitting on this whole getting everything set up thing for like two months!

Since Bossy Poo thought he'd tell us about this trip to Cali, oh I don't know, two and a half WEEKS before our expected departure...deep healing breath...I am going to have an isle seat from Missouri to California. Like 4 hours of me trying to pretend like I can breathe that canned air blissfully.

I will throw up.

Oh, and I don't get to sit by my husband on that flight either!

GLORIOUS!

Maybe someone will be nice and switch seats with me. Maybe.

Ice Ice Baby

My boss uttered these promising words of hope today.

"If it's icy in the morning, y'all don't try coming in. I won't be here to know if you did or not."

Okay bloggers. I need ice. How, pray tell do I think I'm going to accomplish this? I figure we can make it happen through the power of suggestion.

I mean, isn't that how Storm does it? She just rolls her pretty little eyeballs back in her head all exorcist-like and WHAMMO. Positive thinking.

If that fails I will resort to my ice dance. Watch the weather channel in the morning to see what the verdict is on ice in Alabama. No ice? You can rest assured that I'm moshing in my driveway with my ice trays at 7AM sharp.

You think I'm kidding.

Bits & Pieces

I've semi recovered from the grogginess that was my yesterday, and would like to write a coherent post. To keep it safe I'm just going to stick to sharing a few bits and pieces from the past couple of days.

First of all, we had a heck of a storm last night. Tornado warnings and the whole bit. It flooded my office and I've been using a shop vac all day. So, I have a hellacious headache.

It's still gloomy outside too. What happened to the insanely pretty day after the rotten weather? Normally it's gorgeous here. I took this at the lake Monday night, before heading to Ari's.


I want that weather back now, please.

I mentioned Taffy yesterday, right? She is the sweetest old girl in the world (fifteen I think). Well, I took a picture of her for you. She said I could.


And here are the Christmas ornaments I made. I still have a few more to go, but that sick day really helped me get a jump on things. I might actually get finished by the time of the bazaar. Might.

The Mondays

I've got a case of 'em. Plenty to do to keep me busy, and yet I feel like a nap might do me good. A nap and my kitty. Doing something crafty and then a nap and my kitty. That would be good right about now.

My drive in this morning ought to be fun. I'll be fighting off sleep with The Shins and cold air.

I hope I'll be more alive for the trek to Ari's for Girls' Night In. We've been redeeming Mondays pretty faithfully for a while now. It's great. She and the very awesome Ashley have Girl's Night Out on Fridays. We've converged once and plan on it in the future. We natives of Planet Awesome try to get together whenever we can.

What's that? You're dying to know what gloriously interesting, fun and productive things we'll be doing tonight? Well, besides playing with Puppy and keeping secrets from her husband person, we'll be creating little bits o' joy.


I'll be making Christmas ornaments for a church bazaar(like the gloriously sparkly one pictured above). As for Ari? I'm pretty sure she'll be knitting, as she almost always is.

We keep trying to sell this craftiness as cool and admirable. Making stuff is fun, and it's all anti-mass merchandising. Some people just aren't convinced. My husband calls us little old ladies and Matt says we're dorks.

We're oppressed I think. ^__^