13.1. Done!

I've been in sunny San Diego the past few days.

Before the race. We look happy and ready to go.

Oh it was so nice. We ate food and hung out with my friend Kim. Oh, and both Kim and I ran a half marathon! Woot! It was great. It was a lot of fun and we didn't hurt ourselves. I had a pretty serious migraine afterwards, but it didn't last too long...

I finished in 2 hours and 5 min. I think that's pretty good! I didn't start to get too tired until about mile 11. I did push myself a little too hard at the end. I really wanted to get under 2 hours and I really wanted to beat these twin 12 year old boys. I did neither. In fact, according to Nate, a blind woman beat me to the finish. That blind woman is awesome.

After the race. Kim looks good. I look like I need an aspirin and a hot shower.

I know this might sound a little crazy, especially since it hurt to walk the following two days, but I already signed up for another one. It's the Portland Marathon. Today was the last day to sign up, so I went ahead and did it! I really wanted to sign up for the full marathon, but I feel like I need just a few half marathons under my belt first.

I'm excited! I'm excited to train in nicer weather! This winter has been hard and I'm looking forward to a training program that doesn't always include rain. And will almost guarantee I'm not running in snow or ice.

The pretty view from the apartment we rented.

It's nice to be back home, but I already miss my friend and the sunshine... Maybe we can retire in Southern California. If it doesn't fall into the ocean first.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I'm leaving for San Deigo tomorrow!

I'm excited. I haven't been back since last March, and I am looking forward to seeing my friends. We leave the following day, on a road trip, to Bakersfield for the opening of my solo show, at the Surface Gallery. I am so so so nervous. So nervous. Gah.

I know everything will be fine, I'm just not very good about talking to people about my work. Maybe a few glasses of wine will help :)
I hope so. Maybe my friend Kim can just pretend to be me all night. She's really good about talking to people. Yeah...that probably isn't the best.

Oh well. It's going to be fun. It's going to be a lot of fun.
So, if you don't hear from me, it's cos I'm on the road with my friend K.Trinks, heading to Bakersfield, Ca. Living it up Thelma and Louise style...without the whole death thing at the end, of course.

ps. This is my newest painting :)

Tuesday!

Today went a bit smoother than yesterday.
Thankfully!

Got some work done, but mostly took a break today.
Hung out with my neighbor Kelly, drank some afternoon drinks, and got all caught up on my gossip magazines! Yay!

I did manage to get two small paintings done, some orders put together, and some more prints to send out to Tilde, in Portland, Oregon.

My show in July is almost done! I have two more illustrations to do and frame, and then it's just touching up and putting the finishing touches on the paintings.

Oh! also, I bought tickets to fly out to San Diego in July!! yay! I'm going to fly down to see my friend Kim, then we are going to rent a car and drive up to Bakersfield to attend the opening of my show at Surface Gallery! I'm so excited and happy about this. It should be a lot of fun. I'm mostly excited that Kim will be able to attend not only one of my openings, but my first solo show.

Yes! Okay...that's all I got today. Hope everyone is having a good Tuesday!

What I Meant to Blog Yesterday

So here is what I was going to blog yesterday, but felt like feeling sorry for myself instead.

Megan is totally right in saying that I should cut myself some slack. Thanks!

Anyway, I was going to write a little about my trip and how things went.
It was really nice and I had a lot of fun. We mostly did a lot of running around. Weddings are pretty stressful and busy even if you aren't the one getting married.

The wedding itself was pretty awesome. It was straight out of Martha Stewart with a little twist of Kristen. It was perfect!
There are some picture of the limo ride to Balboa park.

We had a lot of fun, but I think by Sunday our livers were feeling a bit under the weather. Two open bars two nights in a row?? How could you say no?

The weather was nice and it was so much nicer than being in Michigan...

Three Days!

Three days until I escape from the cold frozen tundra that is Detroit, Michigan!

I am so excited. I am excited to see sun, to feel warm air, to breath in the ocean, and most importantly I am excited to see my best friend. Oh! and to attend the KH wedding of course!

I am so excited to see K. Trinks. She's the best, and I am so proud of her!
Go k!!

We've been friends since middle school and I was remembering today how we had this obsession with punk, and the movie Sid and Nancy. I had my parents convinced that we were using drugs. But we just liked to watch it because of the clothes they wore. We never even smoked pot together.

Anyway, I am really excited about seeing her and San Diego soon. I can't believe I leave in a few days...I was going to post some pictures, but blogger is acting weird, so maybe later. I think I might be able to post some pictures of my new work tomorrow, so be sure to check back. I am excited.

Chloe graduated from puppy class today! It was kinda sad because none of the other owners showed up, so it was just little Chloe. She didn't seem to mind too much. She didn't throw up at all! That was really exciting for us.

Anyway, tonight is daylight savings. Spring forward! I hate springing forward. Falling back is much nicer.

Mini Art

I made a lot of art today. Yay for me!

I decided that I would make some collages on printmaking paper for my shop.
When I was in college I worked really really small. I loved it. I still work relatively small, but that's due to a number of factors I won't really get into right now. Anyway, they measure 2.5" X 3.5" and they are just some mixed media collage pieces.

They are very reminiscent of the work I was doing in school. I find this way of work so cathartic for me. Tearing paper, painting it down, all while not really thinking about it or planning it out. Just making something almost subconsciously. Really getting lost in my thoughts and later looking down to discover what I made. It sounds kinda weird and almost hippy like...but I remembered how much I really like working like this.

So you can check them out in my shop. All together I made 8, but I felt only 6 were really successful.

I remembered this little cupboard I made for one of my book arts classes when I was working today. I had forgotten how much I love it and loved making it. I found the cupboard itself at a Ross Dress for Less and collaged it with the graphic design paper samples that I had gotten for a class. Then I made all the tiny little books to go inside. There are little photos on the inside of the doors that are just the contact sheets I got from the photolab. They are pictures of San Diego and Disneyland...

So yeah. That was my day. You can see the destruction of my house in my photos. Ah! Working at home has so many joys....I had more pictures, but my computer is hiding them for me. It likes to see me get angry.

I Should be Working

I just want to veg out today.
Chloe is taking a nap under my chair and I want to join her, but I can't.
I need to get homework and painting done.

I have been seriously contemplating making prints of my work and selling them on Etsy. I've done it for my more expensive paintings, and they do seem to sell well. It's just a matter of how I really feel about it. I think one of the great things about my work is that it's original, and if I start making prints, they won't be as unique. On the other hand, I think they would sell really well, and with no job prospects in view, it might not be a bad idea.

Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions about this?
It's something that I have really been putting serious thought into.

We got 5 inches of snow last night. I think I might just becoming a pro at driving in it.
Seriously no roads were plowed last night or this morning. I absolutely hate driving in snow. Ahhh only a few more months. I can't wait until I visit San Diego in March.

Chloe Pictures

Ok so here are some new Chloe pictures. She really likes to pose for the camera. She's also discovered a new place in the house to sunbathe.

So let's see what happened today. I went to UPS to re-send a package for someone.
The guys at UPS were really nice. They even helped me with all my photocopies. While I was there this man came in asking for some info on shipping an item. He wanted to know how much it would cost to ship a very interesting item from here to his brother in Georgia. No, this wasn't a gift. It was a rifle. Yes, a rifle. Laying on the counter. He had taken it apart and duct taped it together with camo duct tape. Only in Michigan. Or the Appalachians.

So after UPS I headed over to Kroger. It's Valentines season. I love Valentines season. They have all the best candy during Valentines. Not only do they carry Valentines candy, but they are also carrying Easter candy. It's a special time of year for candy lovers. Now, for years there has been one Valentines day candy that I seek out in every store. A few years ago stores in the NW stopped carrying this particular candy. I would search and scour the candy shelfs in every grocery store every January through February for this candy. Many stores carry another candy that is very similar but pales in comparison to this brand of the same candy. I have many fond memories of this candy....
The candy I speak of is Brach's Conversation Hearts. Not to be confused or mistaken for Sweethearts brand of Conversation Hearts. No no no. Brach's brand is far superior to the Sweethearts. Brach's is smooth, soft, and has a sweet sugary meltiness when it hits your tongue. Sweethearts are hard and leave a bad aftertaste.
Brach's also hold a special place in my heart. My favorite memory of this candy is when I lived in San Diego. Kim and I bought a large bag of said candy and sat on a curb just outside our local supermarket and managed to eat the entire bag. Ahhh....to be young and able to eat an bag of candy...I also remember Kim buying Brach's while it was on clearance at Target
(at the end of the season) and freezing two bags of it. We could enjoy the sugary goodness well into May and June!

So now...wandering the Kroger, seeking out Valentines candy. Searching, scouring, trying not to get my hopes up...guess what I find? Yes. Brach's Conversation Hearts. Although not in a large bag, but in small boxes meant to give friends, I find my little jewels. I bought three packs. I will have to buy more later, of course, I just didn't want the cashier to think that I had totally lost my mind. It was a good day. Thanks Michigan Kroger for coming through for me this time. I knew there was a reason I moved here....