Friday, June 17, 2011

Manga

I'm fascinated by all things Japanese. This will not surprise those that know me well. Anime, music, novels, manga, food...I could go on and on.

Lately, my art has taken a turn toward Japan. I'm loving the melding of my mixed-media-hodgepodged-slightly-quilty art with a more Japanese flair. This has led me to relearn many basic drawing skills using the techniques used my manga artists.

I can't wait to show off the results.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Derailed

I feel like someone has shoved me off the tracks. I feel lost and left alone in the middle of nowhere.


In 1997, I jumped at the chance to go to Japan and teach English. My paperwork and resume were perfect. I had the best recommendations. Several thousand extra students applied and they threw out 30% of the applications. Mine was one of them. I couldn't reapply because I was too old once the application process started again. Years later, a friend gets to go to Japan to do the same thing I wanted to do.

We've wanted to move to Chicago for a long time. We placed the house on the market last summer and convinced several people to get out of Indianapolis and move up there. Five friends are now in Chicago including those we convinced to move up there with us. We're still in Indianapolis and no one wants to buy our house.

I seriously avoid being negative, but today is a day I'm throwing myself a pity party. I feel derailed and it's an honest feeling.

I feel like other people are living our dreams. I don't like this feeling and I hope it passes very soon.

When I look up the train tracks, I see the steam from other trains fading into the distance and I feel left behind.

I feel derailed.