Acccckkkk, it's moving day!

Ok, I'm freaking out just a tad bit here...

I have TONS of stuff left to pack, and I have to make decisions on what to leave behind. It's tough deciding what I can do without because I'm sentimentally attached to a LOT of my things and I have too much. I don't get the truck until this afternoon...which I wasn't happy about, but oh well. Since I have to pack a lot, I might as well get on it.

But I wanted to pop in and write a quick note to everyone first. This may be the last time I post a blog post from my loft in the home I've lived in for 7 years. It's a bit strange leaving here, even though I am thrilled to be doing it. I guess it's a bit on the bittersweet side. I'm not the only one feeling the emotion, so is Ben. He grew up in this house and is having moments of sadness having to leave it. But I'm there for him and he is coping well everything considered.

Night before last I went out on my back porch about 3am for one last listen to my Great Horned Owl friend. True to it's nature, it was there loaning intrigue and mystery to the warm night air. It was gorgeous and I cried a little. I will miss this owl a great deal. It has been a source of comfort for me on many nights.

Well, signing out for now my dear friends. The next time I write I will be writing from my new place. I will take pictures of the whole moving process so you can be glad you are not the one doing it...that is if you aren't glad already! ;)

Ciao

Acccckkkk it's Thursday already!

This is ridiculous...time needs to slow down just a bit for me!

It's Wednesday Already!!

Yep, the week is flying by. I have my utility accounts set up and a U-haul lined up. Now I need to secure renter's insurance before Saturday. I also need to get an internet provider. I am hoping to find a company other than Road Runner, but may have no choice...haven't crossed that bridge yet.

I still have a lot to pack but don't know when that is going to happen lol. I am going to move as much as I can with the u-haul though...the big stuff anyway. I can make a few trips with my car to get the rest if necessary. I'm trying to keep a perspective of this being totally easy. They say moving is one of the most stressful times ever...I say screw that! ;)

Can't wait to get it all done though and have a party!

I Move Nnext Weekend! Acccckkkk

Ok, this is a bit of a stressful time, yet exciting one too. I can't believe I'm moving into my own apartment at the end of this week. The time has gone by so fast that I'm stressing over deadlines, getting accounts set up etc...

I'll fill in more details later when I have time. :)

Stragglers I Should Have Posted a While Back...Pics

Home away from home. Ahhhhhhhhhh good to be in my little tent.

Cool white lichen with black spots. I've never seen this variation before, an exciting find!

Keith loving the trail during our day hike! I actually let him carry the pack for a while. He doesn't know what an honor that is... that pack is my life on the trails, my comfort, my baby! lol

More fun trail for us to enjoy. I LOVE Hill Country!

exotic lichens...I love this stuff. This is definitely a future painting and I already know who is getting it. I'll give you a hint...his name starts with G...and he is a very close friend of mine and I owe him one. This will be a blast to paint! :)

Going uphill...it was fairly steep. Loved it of course. I'd rather go up than down...

Me in winter gear out at Hill Country State Natural area with Keith. We hiked six miles that day in mucho cold wind. Felt like 30 something out...probably was. Anyway, I love my gear! I get so excited when I put that pack on and begin to walk...Damn I look happy!!! I was...the outdoors is most assuredly my element.

I never wrote a trip report...but suffice it to say it was a fantastic trip! Hill Country State Natural area will always be one of my favorite places in Texas to backpack. I was happy to share it with a new friend and love the feeling of accomplishment after hiking those trails.

And now for something completely different...This is Caitlin with our friend Roland and her dog Sugar. Roland and Sugar LOVE each other. Roland only comes to visit the dog really...he couldn't care less about us! ;)

Thank you Secret Santas!

I know I am very late in posting this thank you and these pictures...please forgive me. I absolutely appreciate what you ladies did for me and Ben this Christmas. You made the holidays special for us and I'll never forget your generosity. I hope you enjoy the pics!

Ben absolutely loves his presents! This is one happy kiddo.

I made something different for Christmas dinner this year. Pork Tenderloin, roasted artichokes, mashed potatoes, and glazed brussell sprouts. Everyone scarfed it down! Ben especially loves artichokes and requested they be on the menu. I thought it was a great idea!

Extra "chokes" with a dipping sauce made from the pan drippings of the roast. Super stuff!

Everyone at the table that was with us this year. Ben is at the head of the table, to his right is Caitlin, to Caitlin's right is her friend Beeson, and to his right is Sam's boyfriend Vince, and then finally Sam. I'm taking the picture of course. I'm sure you artsy folks out there can appreciate the beat up state my table is in! It's seen many a project. :)

Yeah, I'm getting the hand. Caitlin is like "Mom please, I'm eating here".

A close up of the tree. Ben made the cute star ornament with the "jewels". He is very proud of this ornament. It will be well taken care of and grace the tree for years to come. The victorian style angels are from my grandmother's collection. I think they are gorgeous!

Guess Who Got Promoted ALREADY?

I rock! I started the new job on the 19th of December as a temp and last week they came to me and said they wanted to hire me permanently! I got a very nice promotion and a 40% raise. I'm the first person they have hired full time from a temp position in such a quick amount of time.

The new position is challenging and fun. I'm told I will go far in the company. :)

Photos of the past few events...

My new friend Keith

Keith talks on the phone with Anika

New Years Eve party at Maryann's house with Johnny Flash and Kimberly

Kimberly!

Kimberly singing

Kimberly Jams

Hair a flyin! She is always in motion

Keith helps out in Kitchen...making coffee with a French press

Camping with Keith...just woke up!

bed hair

Happy Me

To the beach yo

More pictures later!

Told ya!

New Years Eve at the Doll House. Went to an amazing party...My new friend Maryann is a rockin hostess. Thank you Maryann for that amazing night!!! Kimberly and PJ you brought it good as usual. And so did Johnny Flash! Look this dude up on the internet ya'll...

The music was absolutely fabulous dollings. :)

To see the above photo better, click here

My pal Maryann. Lovely person, just lovely. :)

One more time...

The last thing for this round of blogging is asking for your kindness and generosity one more time and vote for this painting if you like it. It is being viewed by thousands, including people in many other countries. There is an interesting geo view of where my votes are coming from.

It's actually quite amazing to me that its been viewed from places like China, Japan, Africa, Russia, South America, Canada, and just about every state on the US map. I never dreamed I could get my art viewed by so many diverse people from all over the world.

It feels like success to me whether I move on to the next round in this campaign or not. So thank you once again for every one's help. I couldn't have come near this far without your support. There are roughly two days left to get in those final votes. Then I can relax. Whew, the campaign trail is a rough road. I need to sit a couple out...give all of us a break!

Artist's Choice - Round 1 Brickfish

I wrote today...

Particles of dust fallen
From winds of time and space
Primordial past of who or what

Alive creating to learn to grow
Molding a name and a face
Our print a faint presence

We wax we wane in the vast dark
Our world our time our place
Come see our dawn

Just Words

Glow touch spark grow
Know speak flame bestow
Blow futile wind throw
Slow Keen String Sew

Words travel

Elevated above or drowned in noise
Belated in your mind perfect poise
Exonerated lifted mark of choice
Perforated truths frenzied voice

Words travel

More...

Set free in the winds of time
blowing away doubts and fears

Travel and learn the infinite ways of life
Now a super sonic sound wave flying past

Assimilate the knowledge
Curious mind come aboard

Unhinge the world unwind in truth
Trust in the fate that brought you to this point

WOO HOO!!!!!

New Year's Eve is going to be SLAMMIN! I'm going to a private One Eyed Doll party with a date and I can't wait! We are going to have a blast for sure. We will get to see Kimberly rock her little heart out the only way Kimberly can do...like no other I tell ya...and we'll meet all kinds of amazing people. And Three will provide the beat of a lifetime as he rocks out on his little 'ol drums. Go THREE!

I can't wait to see my new friend Maryann too! She is so awesome...I adore that girl. Ahhh, life is good. The new year brings great promise and I'm very excited! :)

Love to All of my Special Peeps

I am having a big time love attack and want all my friends and family to know how much I cherish each of you. I know I don't get to see everybody as much as I'd like to, but know you are always in my thoughts and above all I send you my love. Each of you are special to me in your own way.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Love,
Ginny

Ginny has a Job!

Yep, after sixth months of not being successful finding work, I finally landed a job. It's a temporary to hire position and I have no doubts I'll be hired. The pay is very low to what I'm accustomed to, but once I'm hired full time I will get a raise. I hope it will be a good raise, but some is better than none.

The company is a mortgage company, which is an industry I know little about. Being the receptionist makes it very difficult to get any training in more challenging areas, but my new employers are finding out very quickly that I can handle way more than the job requires. Thankfully they are giving me more to do! I hate being idle in the work place. I've been told several times over that it took me mere hours to learn what it took the girl I replaced three weeks to learn. Yeah, I'm good *pats self*, but then again reception positions are easy as pie.

I like the people there, although they seem a bit stressed out. I'm doing my best to help them anyway I can, it's unfortunate that none of them can slow down long enough to teach me their computer system. I have limited access and am only able to use the internet to look up people's place of employment for employment verification. I know if they would give me the opportunity to learn their software, I could make a huge difference and possibly even find ways to streamline some things. I'm good at that. But they say I am making a huge difference already and they are happy.

The two owners (husband and wife) are nice as can be, and they are so grateful I'm there. It's nice to be appreciated and have received rave reviews. The wife is particularly thanking me all over the place because I've been able to take over the position I'm in with very little help. I'm making it my own and asking her constantly to give me some of her work load. I can see in her face how stressed she is and I want to learn fast so I can be a key player. I wonder if she'd be willing to come in on a weekend and teach me stuff. I should ask...

Never Forget

I'll never forget candy canes...for someone special...and when you read this you'll know. :)

Hi Everyone! An Update...

I joined a new blog called "Daily Painters Marketplace". I was going to create a blog very similar to this one actually, but why re-invent the wheel? I am happy to be a member of this community and add their link to my blog. Hopefully I will make some really nice friends and gain some good contacts. :)

There is some really great artistic talent here. I hope to add my works at some point. Painting has had to take a back burner for now unfortunately. I'm still job hunting and trying to make my way in this world. Thank goodness for the excellent network of friends and family who offer me emotional support. I would be so lost without it.

Things are stressful but I am keeping my chin up and not moping about too much. I hope that is shown here in my blog. I want this to be a fun place to visit on the internet...not a depressing one!

Love and gratitude to all of my friends and supporters!
Ginny

17 days left!

Hi all,
I only have 17 days left to get my campaign hotter than it is. I need everyone who can to vote, and then pass on the link(see the "share" button). The more people from different sources you can get to vote for me the better! You can send links through email, post them on your blogs, imbed the code directly into your face book accounts, and myspace accts. If you belong to other sites that allow you to post code, you can do that too!

You won't get spam or have to register for anything I promise! Thank you so much bloggers for your continued support. You are a large part of the votes that are coming in. Help me make this thing rise to the top and go as viral as possible. I'm so close to the top twenty...I just need that extra big push to get over the edge and be extremely competitive.

I appreciate each and every one of you!

xoxo,
Ginny

Artist's Choice - Round 1 Brickfish

More Dress Up

I went to a themed party a few weeks back. The theme was Space Disco/Space Opera. So here are pictures for your amusement. I did all the costuming myself for me and my good friend Azzurra. :) The "pod" thing I'm holding was our space baby. It glowed, but that doesn't show up in the picture. Too bad. It was the hit of the party!

I love themed parties!

By the way, Those dresses are my daughter's. She went to two different proms. I was so glad she had these! Azzurra paid for the hair accessories, and the pod was from a lamp I had purchased eons ago. :)