This raincloud matches everything I wear

So I admit it, I have been in a funk.

I haven't been eating healthy and I haven't been exercising regularly (and as a result have gained 10 pounds since October!) I have not knit at all since I last saw Harland in January. Not one stitch. I keep meaning to finish up a Christmas present for Susan, but I never have gotten the courage to try and rip back two rows that have decreases. I need to admit defeat and send her the rest of her present and work on this soon.

I've been reading a lot. A little too much - I have no less than 15 books on Harland's side of the bed. I took 9 out of the library and have read them all in a week and a half. I stay up later than 10, wonder why I can't get up early... I have even been bad about returning phone calls and e-mails, which I try hard not to do, normally.

Keeping the home fires burning is sometimes hard. I promise I won't whine on here about it much, I try not to talk about it... but I really miss Harland alot. This past weekend was particularly rough for no real reason. It's not that I'm crying or anything. I just feel really lazy. Like things just don't sound as fun to do.

I've been trying to keep busy which has helped a lot, I am sure. But I've decided that I need to have a 2nd Quarter resolution session to snap out of it completley.

I'm going to share it all with you.
Starting now, I am going to really try and start exercising. No - not try - DO. I'm thinking 30 minutes a day, nothing fancy, walking counts (maybe even Wii fit should count). They say exercising boots one's mood, so this should help. I'm going to make a little counter over on the side to keep track. I'm not good with an actual fitness journal type blog (as we have seen).

And I suppose in perspective gaining a few pounds from eating too much sugar and french fries, being lazy and reading too much isn't really that bad. I mean it sure beats a lot of other stuff one who is feeling down might do. :)

Happy Ides of March!

Daffodils, Blossoms and Flurries?

Well we had a really nice weekend last weekend. The today I waited for the bus in some flurries this morning, and on the way home I also had to wait in flurries. March is a strange month.

Last night was my last watercolor class, which is sad. I signed up for next set, but there are 4 weeks in between. Before class we had a little "banquet" which was really just meeting at the bar nearby. But there was a drawing for prizes, and I won a new brush, and it was a size I didn't have so that was really neat. And when our names were drawn, the teacher gave us an "award title" and mine was 'quickest learner' which made me pretty happy.

Here are my last two class paintings (although as I mentioned, I may be taking the weekend workshop in 2 weeks).

The Purple Forest (yeah I'm not sure why I have been in a purple phase lately). This was a study of negative space.

And the house - practicing shadows.

Midweek Weekend Update

Well I have had a very busy week this week, this weekend was the big fundraiser for Arlington County's Red Cross Chapter and I worked some overtime on Monday and Tuesday so I didn't have the chance to post my weekly blog post (Harland has posted something new on his blog too, with pictures!).

The fundraiser a basketball tournament. I was in charge of the kids activities... unfortunately, there were not as many kids this year as others. I think it was that the weather was too nice. We had that snow storm that dropped 6 inches of snow on us on Monday, then this past weekend it was in the 70's! I think everyone wanted to get out!

Here are some pictures...
Here is me with the Mascot - 'Ready the dog'.

Here's a picture of the kids area. That's a parachute on the ground, one of my favorite things to play with when you have a group of kids.

And here is a b-ball action shot. The ball is in the air above the guys. I like how the one guy looks like he's just standing around with his arms behind his back (La lalala la), and everyone looks like they're ready to pounce!


This week is my last week of watercolor painting... then I have a 4 week break until the next session. Oh, I am going to miss it. There is a weekend workshop last weekend in March, I am seriously considering taking it.... and I am really looking forward to this weekend, I have nothing planned and I'm keeping it that way!

Misc. Posting

Well not much is going on... I'm doing some laundry. I know, I know! This is very exciting because usually I do all my laundry on Sunday afternoon! And it's Wednesday! You know, every once and a while you just have to mix things up and let loose!

Also I "cooked" some Bipimbap Tonight as well. By cooked I mean I cooked some rice and fried an egg and I went to the Local international market and bought a tray of Bipimbap veggies and some red bean paste. Threw it all in a bowl in a pretty design, added some sesame oil and ate it up. Yum! I haven't done this before and I did two things wrong. I added too much red paste and not enough sesame oil. You couldn't even taste the oil. Oh well. I'll know for later.

Dad talked to me on the phone the other night and wanted to see this dreadful painting. I really dislike it, so this one is for you Dad...

I also took some pictures of DC from across the river (while at my work) of the snow. People like snow pictures.


What is out there in the distance? Here is a photo with the zoom on.

And this is funny, we actually had so much snow that the apt. complex had to shovel out the 2nd floor! Hahaha! I never saw that before.

Snow, Snow, Snow!

Well I woke up to snow. Our office has a two hour delay, I'm waiting for my apartment to plow the parking lot, and for the road I live off of to be plowed. Even the major highways are not really clear... I guess I will have to emerge soon. I think I'll wait a bit to decide what to do... I'm debating on whether or not to take a vacation day.

Anyway here are some pictures from when I woke up this morning...



And I had a really lazy weekend this weekend... The only thing I did that was remotely anything other than watching TV/movies/reading was a walk to the library and get some books. Oh and I made a quiche aux artichauts (with artichokes)- with Swiss cheese freshly grated by moi! Actually, I guess it is more of a "gratin" since I did not make a crust.

More watersolors

Hello everyone, not much news here this weekend. My neighbors were partying hardy so I still need to catch up on sleep - so much for a relaxing restful weekend! I also need to clean today - I have not been keeping up on that as well as I should be. Most people when they think about winning the lotto dream about cars or houses or vacations... I just dream about having a cleaning lady... hahaha.

Harland is doing well, most days I get to talk to him once during the day. It's never for very long, and he rarely has a chance to answer back e-mails. He does post on his blog occasionally, so you can check that out too.

I didn't post any water color pictures last week, so this week you get double! I know it is always much more enjoyable to read a blog that has pictures... so, here you go!

Here is some we did in class...





And here is a silly one I did yesterday, just to see what it would be to create a cartoon girl. I like her shirt, but not much else.


Maybe I'll have more of a chance to paint later today... it is really icky out - raining and cold. It's a good day to stay in and clean and paint! I need to get a little desk lamp for painting, when the sun isn't out, my overhead lamp just isn't very bright.

Have a good weekend!

Harland has an address

Okay - so Harland has an address finally! Whee!

People are asking me what they can send, what he wants/needs and so forth. He is in a tiny little outpost. He does not have a shopette (so he can't buy any snacks, magazines, etc) and will only get water every 5 days to shower. He is really out there! So what this means to you, is that anything he gets he will be so happy! He will also love to get things to read, so don't feel you have to send a package - letters or postcards or clips from the newspaper or child drawings or well, anything, will make his day as well.

I'm not going to post his favorite food items on here, because if I list 3 things, he will only get those three things. Variety is the spice of life...especially when you're in a hellhole. So think to yourself, "if I was in the middle of the desert, what would I want someone to send me?" And that is what you can send. haha.

Although, there are a few things you can not send:
1. Porn (it's illegal there)
2. Alcohol (ditto)
3. Olives (he really doesn't like olives, so put that jar down!)
4. Baked goods - the mail is unreliable and they can spoil in the heat easily
5. Chocolate or other easily melted items
6. Anything big and bulky that isn't edible. He does have limited space. (small books or games might be welcome - entertainment is limited - I hear the ping pong table there is where it is at).

And if you want to send him something and I forgot to e-mail you his address, please let me know in an e-mail or phone call and I shall remedy that.