Alright, I know I need to update this thing desperately. This update promises to be intensely personal, for sure.
Multiple things have transpired since my last real journal. Which... was last September.  Shame on me.

I changed my career path. I have decided that it is time for me to take a possibly indefinite and permanent hiatus from teaching. Don't get me wrong, I do love it, and I had better for the amount of time I have thrown myself into it over the last few years. There is an incredible amount of satisfaction to be had from teaching a child, especially at the high school level. There is just something about them at that age. They are so easily influenced, yet so sure of themselves all at the same time. They have already developed a discernible style of their own, but it is still pliable, still elastic and still so ready to be filled with information. It is rewarding to have a hand in their perspective, to be sure. It pained me to leave all of that behind, especially so early, but I just could not overcome my stage fright. Even after years of standing and teaching in front of large groups of students, it just would not back off. I never got used to it, and the more I worked at it, the worse it seemed to get. It was interfering with my ability to teach and guide, and I know that is not something that is excusable. I had to leave.

Now, that's not to say that I can't go back to it if I ever have a change of heart in the future. It's not like all of my hard work will just fall away and cease to exist. I look at it as kind of putting it on the backburner for now. In the mean time, I'm working on my personal development as an artist. I've been heavily booked the last couple of months with commissions, and they have been keeping me busy and well-fed. Haha.

I am unsure of where I'm going from here. Perhaps eventually I'll start looking at possible college teaching positions, in smaller classes. Or maybe some kind of curator-esque job. For now? I'm alright with where I am.


Most importantly- </b> To repeat my last (teeny tiny) journal update, I am engaged to ~hellhoundp2k. He was here with me back in December, and after what happened in January, he elected to stay longer than the intended 3-week time period. He ended up staying here in the States until mid-May. After being together for a couple years, he figure it was a good time and he asked me to marry him in April, and of course I said yes. The ring is gorgeous, absolutely perfect. I am a happy little brat. Haha.

He will be back this coming Wednesday for the summer. I'm already giddy with excitement. As much time as we spend together for a couple who live in different countries (and we do spend a ton of time together for the distance!), I always find myself excited to know that he's coming back.

The wedding will happen sometime next spring, hopefully. The date is tentative, though. I really have no idea what I'm doing as far as planning a wedding, and am stressing out about it. It's rather hard to throw yourself into this kind of thing with as much finesse and aplomb as it deserves when life is busy dragging you away. Thankfully, I have lovely, absolutely wonderful friendlies, and they are all jumping in to help. I am most grateful.



Okay, so moving on from all the serious, life-altering bullshit…
Who's ready for Transformers: Dark of the Moon??? I'm ready, that's who. I'm such a dork, and some of you will be cringing and scoffing at me for this I know, but I bought tickets for the midnight premiere this coming week and I am absolutely thrilled.

Secretly, of course.


Also, I'm on the move again. Prowling around for another house, and will be pulling up shop and leaving this coming September. While house-searching is stressful, it's also somewhat exciting. For me, anyway. As long as we can find something good… I'm a little picky. Need a four bedroom, preferably hardwood. Large yard would be wonderful.


It's been really hot here lately (read: I'm burning in the seventh layer of hell.). The state is virtually consumed in flames. We are known for our clear, bright blue skies but lately the sky is the shade of… New York City skies. The smoke is almost choking. It's permeating everything, and while some people like the "campfire" smell it's giving off, it makes me gag. I'm walking around with some kind of facial cover on most days when it gets really bad. Anyway, we're so in danger of bursting into flames that they've banned every single fire source in existence. This, unfortunately, includes fireworks and campfires as well as all types of outdoor grills. More fortunately, people are no longer allowed to smoke outdoors.


I have been so inactive on here lately that I feel as if I've taken a rather subtle yet ungraceful tumble from "the loop." What have all of you been up to???

This set of features is from my recent favorites;