Continuing

A big part of enjoying life for Simon and I is art. Simon is a musician and is now in a bang that is really starting to take off. I am, for the first time in my life, able to focus solely on my art which has already led to some amazing opportunities. We have both agreed that taking a three month trip at this time would be silly. If I was working at a desk, doing something I hated, I would say that staying home for my job would be selling out. I would have become the person I swore I wouldn't become. But Simon and I are doing the things we have always wanted to do. Things are progressing and looking great for both of us. To leave for so long would run the risk of losing it all, and that is just not worth it for us.

I think now would be a good time to remind you that I am not giving up on traveling. On the contrary, I think I am finally embracing it. Both Simon and I have decided to pick careers that will require us to do a lot of traveling while doing the things we love. We will also be able to make money living our dream, and in doing so, put that money towards travel. I think that is how this site, and the “Help!shop” has really changed. It is no longer some small thing that is helping me reach a bigger goal. It is the bigger goal. It is the bridge I am using to reach my future. This new look on our goals in life has really helped us gain a little more understanding and insight to our futures. We have long term goals that include everything we want from life right now, and I am so relieved and thankful for it.

With all of this thinking going on, I have also thought about how I will set up the site and the blog so it is more “business” like. I want to be able to think of it as a full time job, not just something I do on the side. If I put all the time and effort into it as I did at petco (or any other job) I would be making an amazing amount of progress. Plus, I would love it. I sill have a lot to do before then. I need to research what is actually means to own your own business. I am probably missing a lot of things. I also need to set up a sweet working space in the apartment. Ok, so I don't NEED that, but it would be nice. Having a place to sit down at that has everything thing you need around you (printer, computer, etc) makes it a lot easier to work at home. I think it would make it feel more like work. This is what I have been working towards this month, and I hope to have everything up and running be mid summer. We will see.

Finally, I would like to update everyone on the things Simon and I have been doing all this time....besides life change and all that. Simon is doing very well at his job. He got a raise for being there a year, and he still loves working there. He's my knight in shining armor. :) He also is in the middle of recording for a cd that his band is going to get mastered and packaged so they can sell it at shows. This did get a new drummer, but things are really working out and they are really going forward. Everyone seems really excited about the project again!

I am sill doing my art piece a day challenge, but never take pictures and put things up anymore. That is one of the things I want to get better at. I have so much to show all of you! I also have a lot of art in a show in Oakland, and I have print in the student art show. I am also thinking about trying to get a photography show somewhere, but I am not sure if I am confident enough with it yet. Maybe I'll take photo 2 next semester, and do a show then. I sill don't know what people consider “great photography”. Other then that I have been working away on art. I have this watercolor I want to finish since its been around for ever a year. I have this carousel horse that I'm in the process of wood burning, and then I also have this big list of things I want to start. Oh, and I have been sewing/quilting. It is fun. I am excited about it all. The house is a mess, so once I clean it up we are going to start re-arranging some things, and then SLOWLY start re-decorating it. We both want to do a minimalist/vintage/retro design around the house. We will get there. I don't think we are going to plan on moving for a while, so we want to make this place a little more homey. That is about it. There is always something in the works for us, and I will try to keep you better informed. Thank you for being patient. --Nikki