Creative Hiatus

Hello to the few of you (if any) who actually subscribed to this and said WTF, where did she go. I got a job! No excuse for leaving this high and dry but I promise I feel terrible about not making the time to at least update the blog. It's been 2 months and I have no good excuse. That being said in the last 8 weeks I have done a lot, learned a lot and been all over the place.

I am going to put in the effort to blog at least once a week.

Yesterday, I actually helped a friend paint her kitchen. I had never painted anything other than a canvas in art class and have to admit it was fun - even though I am a terrible painter. My friend had to constantly remind me to try and do straight strokes and avoid the knobs - which I of course was instantly drawn to and painted all over. Before we started we went out and bought the paint, there is so much that goes into that process!! Watching her put the little paint samples on the wall and decide which was the better 'off white' made me a little dizzy. I had no idea how involved that process actually is, "this one's too pink, this one's too grey etc."

It was overwhelming, but a great way for me to learn. I just found out I get to keep my sublet for a year and now have the freedom to alter the decor - this girl has the worst taste in paint ever. My living room actually has a 'red wall' a la sex and the city, a big bright red wall and it's awful. Now, instead of spending the hundreds it most likely would have cost me to have the room professionally painted, I am going to take a weekend to pick out paints and do it myself (maybe with my adorable aussie roommate!). I may have to bring in one of my more experienced painter friends to do the corners and 'hard to reach' spots, but I'm now dead set on doing this myself. Plus, as my friend said as she dipped her brush into a lovely pale green pot of paint, "when this is all done I will feel like I've really accomplished something".

It's just too easy to delegate these seemingly arbitrary tasks to others. Writing a check to a handyman is so much less rewarding than wiping dirt off the brow and taking in all the work I've just accomplished myself. In the last 2 months, I've pumped air into my own tires instead of going to a mechanic, I've been making my own lunches instead of eating out and I've been drinking hard cider instead of cocktails at bars to curb spending. Cider is actually delicious and makes you look more laid back at a bar! It's just a throw in, I'm sure I'll have a lot more to say about drinking as this honeymoon with the new job wears off and I realize I will never have spring break or summer vacation again : (

I know it isn't much, but for me it's like I've become a completely different person and I love the way being even remotely self reliant has made me feel. Every time I bring up a new concept for this blog I find myself bursting with pride and I am dedicated to continue it now.

Until next time....