Doom Cow and A Girl and Her Sheep

I was thinking the other day about how horrible I have been about updating my own artwork.  For my graduate classes I am taking an online art education theory class as well as an independant study drawing class. Currently I have about 7 works I have finished this semester. One reason I chose this program was the ability to take studio classes.  I haven't consistently made art work since I graduated from college and this has given me the reason to start again and truthfully I feel more like myself since I have been making work.


These are both mixedmedia pieces and roughly about 9"x11"

I also created a website for background info on these two pieces if you art interested
Doom Cow and A Girl and Her Sheep

Oh Friday I love You

I always forget how much I love Friday afternoons until they roll around each week.  What a relief knowing I can stay up and do whatever I want, sleep in on Saturday and take care of all those little things I have been neglecting.  It kind of makes me feel like this.



Last week I was so sick that a lot went by the wayside.  One of the things I have been needing to do is check my 2 batches of peach wine.  I syphoned off the big 5 gallon jug and then decided to taste the 1 gallon batch.  It is a little tangy still.  I think it needs a few more weeks but holy crap is it strong! At least I know it gets the job done.

Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue.... is that even a thing?  Well that was what I was told that I have today.

I have been running myself so hard at work and at home that I am just down right exhausted.  This school year has been hard.  Luckily most of my students have been awesome.  They all seem to like me and I have had hardly any behavior problems.  As the school year has gone on we have had a lot of fights and drug issues.  I had a student suspended for two weeks for beating another girl unconcious.  The teacher I share on office with discovered two girls drunk and throwing up in the bathroom at 8 in the morning.
Last week I had a former student walk into my classroom and start sobbing.  I spent a good part of last week with her since she was so unstable.  On Sunday I got a call from another teacher (which is never a good thing) that a student had committed suicide.  I unfortunately have had to deal with this before and sadly it never gets any easier.  On Monday I had to tell my first period what had happen and then filter kids to the counselors office, answer questions, pick up crying kids in the hall and bring them to my classroom and overall just be sensitive to what was going on.  As the week has gone on it has been easier to deal with but there is a somber mood to the whole school.  Today as I was working in my office on my off hour another former student came in, sat down, and told me she is depressed and thinking about hurting herself.  We talked about depression and I asked her questions to gauge what was going on.  I never tell my students about my past with depression but knowing exactly how it feels and the various levels to it I am generally able to communicate with them about how they feel.  I walked the student straight to the office and talked with her and the counselor.
Physically I feel like I haven't slept for two days.  I am dragging and living off caffeine and sugar.  I was planning on not drinking for two weeks (that is a whole different issue) and giving up my 3 cigarette a day habit ( I know I know) but I am thinking that might be put off till everything mellows out.

I'm funny

I just found this picture on the Flickr account I set up for people to upload pictures from my wedding and I about died laughing. I was so tired after my wedding that I retreated to the room where I got ready to find two of my bridesmaids resting and proceeded to lay down on the floor. My mom walked in (after she had disappeared towards the start of my reception and the last time I saw her was demanding a larger glass of wine at the bar) laughed and then someone took this picture.





It is hard to believe that our two year anniversary is next month. Where does the time go? In that time we have gone to 6 more weddings, three friends have had babies, we bought a car and have moved twice. Crazy. We don't have any plans just yet for our anniversary because we will be moving into our new house and then taking our annual 5 day camping trip after that. Either way we will be together. I still have wedding cake in the freezer. I am sure that is delicious by now.