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Endings and Beginnings

Yesterday, I had to say goodbye to one of my oldest friends, Angelique.

Angelique was the old family dog, and after two years of illness she finally told us it was her time to go. We picked up Angelique at a shelter back in 1998 and were told by the vet that the puppy was too unhealthy and wouldn't live for very long. He advised my mother to just go adopt a different dog to save ourselves the heartache and medical expense. Well, 15 years later Angelique was still with us and suffered minor health issues until about two years ago when old age finally caught up with her. She was a good dog, strong-willed and stubborn like an ox. Angelique will definitely be missed greatly.

  

On a more positive note, a couple of weeks ago we added a new sweetheart into our family:

This is Lady

We found Lady at a nearby shelter and fell in love at first sight! She is super sweet and gentle (and incredibly demanding of belly rubs). Although she's only been with us a few weeks I cannot imagine life without her! She comes with me wherever I can bring her and she appreciates it because she hates having to be alone.

She also hates thunder

But she loves being toweled off!

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month!

The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) is bringing awareness to the importance of pet owner preparedness for emergency medical situations! Check out some of the pages below to find out how to build a first aid kit, what signs of illness or injury to look for, and what to do if an emergency arises:

• Fido Friendly's article about Pet First Aid Awareness Month
• Red Cross Pet First Aid Kit
• Pet First Aid Tips for Pet Owners
• AAHA Healthy Pet | Pet First Aid

 

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Another exciting milestone...

So I am at 11,500 words (approx.). It's very exciting! I think cresting over the 10,000 is a big step for me.

So here's the word count widget. I am going to try to put it up as a gadget later. Not sure how to do it though.

NaNoWriMo Update...

Reached 5,000 words for my NaNoWriMo. Still waiting for them to put up he word count widgets or APIs. I'm a bit behind but I'm working hard to catch up. Got a new computer, it was a bit distracting over the weekend. I have to make up for it now. Well I hope I can double my word count by the end of today.

Now I just have to stop myself from playing Morrowind and reading American Gods for long enough to write another 5,000 words.

Only a NaNoWriMo away...

I am going to be participating in NaNoWriMo this year. I have spent the last few months researching and outlining this novel. I am not really sure how advance it past a certain point, but my hope is that I figure it out as I'm writing it. Mostly I just want the practice that happens to come with writing 50,000 words in a month. I hope that the novel I thought up is good enough that when I finish I have something I can edit and later use, but I'd be happy so long as I finish it. Good or not. I'll try to figure out how to put up a wordcount somewhere on here to keep everyone updated on my progress. Wish me luck, I'm going to need it.

All we want to be is art...

I haven't put up a post in a while. Everything became quite hectic between the end of school and going to Spain (which was a wonderful two-week trip to Barcelona and Asturias). A lot of changes, a lot of the same. At least I have had time to enjoy myself.

On another note keeping track of finances is both annoying and infuriating. It seems like every time you spend a penny, somewhere in the universe they are charging you a dollar for doing so. Banks are horrible, scamming monstrosities trying to spin you into confusion. Then, when you're bewildered enough they start throwing mysterious charges at you, and you're too perplexed to even question them. "I don't remember making tha... oh it's from where? But I've never really been there... oh so you're saying it's because... but that doesn't make sense... I guess... maybe... uh... whatever, here's all my money. Solve it."

But on a lighter and more positive note, I have a "pocket" watercolor set and a watercolor Moleskin notebook now and I'm loving the heck out of it.

Here's a giant tree to prove it!

It's quite fun to fiddle with. I've been working on this particular piece for two days, I hope I can finish it by the end of the week and then it can end up on my DeviantArt.

I've also been enjoying my new Moleskin sketchbook. I try to sketch in it whenever I have the time or inspiration. I've also been practicing anatomical structures of animals and wings, as well as colors. Here are some of my current sketches, doodles and scribbles.

A mommy and her children. From a photograph I found online (in-progress)

 

This is from a dream I had in Spain, the picture is in progress

 

I just like the look of the black pen on the beige paper :)

I had to pull over to write/sketch this one. Extremely sudden inspiration.

 Wing tutorial on DeviantArt

 Left- From an art book I have about color // Right- Random thoughts

 Working on facial structure of different animals

Wolf anatomy from tutorial found on DeviantArt

I kind of wish I had more time to write lately. I've been able to slip in the occasional sketch or doodle, even a random quick writing of current thoughts, but I haven't really had the chance to sit down and write. It's a process for me. Joseph can just pull a little book out of his pockets and scrawl to his heart's content, I cannot.  Maybe writing comes more naturally to him, but I have never been able to write without mental preparation. Ah well, life will settle and I can get back to writing. 

*The sky is over...*