I love the quote above. I found it recently somewhere. This is something I need to remind myself of very often, as I've spent most of my life wishing for another life, or better this, or different that. 
I finally began to miss my long hair again. I may still cut it off in the future, but not soon. If I do, it will be to support Locks of Love again. Breifly: I cut my hair for the cause a few years ago, and a couple more times. Before that I was a long-hair, and I intend to be again.
I've gone to school at IUPUI and come close to an AA in a Vincennes University degree program. Who knows, I may one day get my bachelor's degree. I've never been one for studying for one sole purpose and having practical goals. As a child, I wanted to be an artist and musician. (I also wanted to swim across Lake Michigan.) The realization I had recently, is that even though I'm working FOR an artist, I'm still working with clay. And just recently, I began singing with a group. Not to mention all the music Brandon and I are working on arranging for cello and clarinet...
I am. Then and Now....
I've always lived in Indianapolis. I did time in city schools, but graduated from a township high school. (Go Panthers!) North Central H.S. had an excellent symphony orchestra, of which I was a proud member for three years, under Richard Dennis. I was also quite familiar with their visual arts department.
I still enjoy artistic endeavors today, though inspiration eludes me often. I enjoy photography, and am in the process of purchasing a camera. I work with colored pencils too. I've been working for ceramicists for a few months now. They've helped motivate me to get my work out there, even if it's just small time craft fairs. I would say I'm more crafty than arty. I love to crochet also, and I'm still practicing knitting.
I would like to do more with my cello. Since I got a new bow for Christmas, I may get some lessons. Not so much in cello itself, as bowing technique. (Haven't had that kind of instruction since I was 10.) Still, practicing by myself isn't much fun. I'd like to find a group of my own, to play music with and toss around musical ideas. Brandon and I get to do this sometimes, and it helps.
I've been playing handbells since I was 15. I love it! This semester has been challenging. I belong to Bells of Praise, at the church I've gone to since I was 11. I tried to take a semester off, but went back early. Many people have quit or gotten sick recently, and the choir has reduced in numbers. I would rather go back and help, than see them fold. On the other hand, I wouldn't mind helping out by being a part of more small groups.
Listening to music is a favorite past-time of mine. I've been a library junkie for about 5 years. I appreciate the fact that I can borrow CDs and videos for three weeks or more. (Beats paying $4 per movie at your local video store, or $8+ at the theater!) I've explored different kinds of African music, Indian music (Eastern and Native), Middle Eastern music, South American music, and some European music. Putumayo World Music has excellent examples of world music, with their own line of CD's, which I highly recommend!
I've also enjoyed researching things through the library, such as homebirth and midwives, homeschool, Buddhism, animal rights, animal psychiatry, simple living, and most recently, epilepsy and mental retardation. I read some fiction. I'm actually in a book club, but have not been to a meeting yet. I've always wanted to be in a book club, but I just don't make it to the meetings. I did go to my first library lecture though. It was a guy lecturing about Henry David Thoreau. (Got a free copy of Walden too!)
Now that the weather is getting better, I've been out riding bikes with Brandon a few times. He loves it when I go with him. I've even been out rollerblading once or twice. It's so nice to be able to get out again! Then again, I'm sitting here at the computer updating all my websites, and its still in the 60's out. (We rode earlier.)  Me! I was around 4 years old in this picture. Proudly wearing my 12-mile Tractor Pull t-shirt, and Stride Rite shoes. I still wear pig tails like that sometimes... when I have long hair! I am working for a couple local ceramicists currently. The job was passed on to me by a friend I worked with at Hubbard & Cravens. Abby was working and saving to move to Japan. She got the job from Lauren, whom we worked with at the coffeeshop. Lauren was saving to travel and go to school in Europe.
Anyway, the work is fun! I help out in their home studios. I clean sometimes. I do the time-consuming stuff that keeps them from more important things. I've gotten so much insight and support in just the short time I've worked for them! Plus, many myths have been dispelled, as the last few times I worked with clay was in school settings.
I wouldn't be submitting in craft fairs if it weren't for Gayle and Toni. Lauren and Abby did their best to encourage and motivate me as well. Many thanks!
Money...
I am concerned about money. Who isn't? I've read some great books about money stuff. A couple of them were by Dave Ramsey. I have to say, he knows his stuff. Even outside of his books, I've heard of people only making big purchases with cash; people not being in debt. Wow. I wanna be one of those! That's a goal, if I have only one... |
