So, in case you need an update, I am in my 5th year of teaching art. I have 2 more months to teach until summer break. I still enjoy it. Update done there. Haha.
The past 2 months, I have been working (aka: getting paid VS. volunteering) at the local art gallery at which I usually volunteer. They have a program for area school kids in 3rd grade to come in and experience art. They look at art, talk about art, and make art of some kind. This year, they got to look at art by Ardith Goodwin. She wrote a fantasy type book for kids around the made up world of Ardithian. She also created all the artwork for the book. Her artwork is very colorful and imaginative. The kids also got to join in on the "mystery room". They made their own vimispheres which then became the sunset around the made up world of Spivithia in a gallery all their own. They had a great time seeing that come to life. Heck, I enjoyed seeing it all come to life. They also wrote their own Zine story about "A Day in the Art Gallery". I lloved hearing some of their fun stories.
We have had WAY too much snow. I may be exaggerating, but I was tempted to build a series of Inuksuk figures in the tundra of my yard. It has been bitterly cold. I am not a winter person or a cold weather person. Snow and Ice are dirty words to me. You get an immediate reaction to both of those words and it is not positive. Haha. On the up side, I did get an official snow day for the first time since college....several times. I have been working my ass of these past few months so it was nice. For those who do not know, I usually only work 2 jobs and volunteer once a week. I have literally been working 4 jobs these past 2 months. Yike-a-roonies! I know I am crazy. You do not have to tell me.
I think part of the reason I have kept crazy busy is because I am still grieving for my grandmother. She died in August. She is one of "Rocks of Gibraltar" who raised me. Now, both of my grandparents are gone on my mother's side. I feel so lost without them. I had them in my life for 42 years of my life so it is weird with them not being there to call. With the exception of the past 2-3 months, I have been busy putting together a printed version of my maternal line of genealogy. I started that in August, at the request of my aunts/uncle. It was extremely hard to deal with in the beginning because I was triggered by so may things regarding my grandparents. It wasn't only my grandparents who triggered me. I also lost 2 other family members. My cousin, Emma, died in August of 2023. A year to the date of her death, my brother in law, Brad, passed away from cancer.
My sister has been a complete and utter pill to swallow for the past 5 years....for many reasons (and to many people). I love her but that is the stark truth. Yes, she can be a pill on a good day (we all can be) but she has not been herself for too long now. I worry about her. I miss my sister....she needs to come back to the family.
My niece, Hailey, is expecting her first child this summer. I am so excited for her and wish the best for the both of them. Let's just say that I am over the moon that the baby daddy is not in the picture anymore. I will leave it at that.....haha. She is expecting a little boy. He will be my great nephew. Sadly, haha, I am a great aunt several times over. This is the first time on my maternal side however.
Well, I think my brain has lost all its words for a moment. It did only get 6.5 hours of sleep and I have worked all day long. Then, I went to a teacher's meeting and ran errands. The day is not done. My brother is about to get a belated birthday call. His birthday was yesterday, but I have plans for him today....buahahahaha....
I will shut up and dance way on the dust motes that are my thoughts.....--Your friendly neighborhood ballerina, Robyn