I know that lots of folks aren't blogging anymore - at least folks that I know. We're all Facebooking and Twittering (or is it Tweeting) and I have become a lurker again, just like I was in the beginning. I'm reading blogs and not writing. I'm being a voyeur, which is really lazy in a way. And it's no excuse to say how busy I am but oh boy am I busy!
My money work - the actual job I have - is overwhelmingly busy. So much so that I wonder how to possibly get along. The Japanese people that I work for work at least 10-12 hour days in the office every day. Barely any exceptions. Heads down, working hard with multiple cigarette breaks. I find myself working at least 9 hours every day behind a desk, with walks to the bathroom or meetings or to get some crap food to keep up my energy. Needless to say this has not been good for my health, and I've now vowed to eat better and walk at lunch and get out of the office every day.
I attending the SCBWI conference in NYC this winter and was tremendously inspired to keep going down this road. I also realized that in order to illustrate my own books that I have to learn to write. So I started. I've always told myself that I was a bad writer but I tried to put that aside and wrote two stories. My friend KJ says "not so bad Mim" and I trust her honesty and knowledge. I have an opportunity to submit a story and some illustrations to Houghton Mifflin and I'm hoping at least the story will get taken. I'm working slower on the drawings, letting them mature a bit. I'm using different materials, inks, gouache and hot pressed paper - it's all different but good.
To further my writing side, I've joined a once a month Children's book writing group. We meet at Barnes and Nobels and read and critique each other's work. Their work is so creative and beautiful - and I'm enjoying meeting these women and men. I'm learning to slow down, to rewrite, to critique my work, and to listen to what's inside. A group of us also have an ATC trade going on which is really wonderful and fun - wow the great art I am getting!!!
And aside from all that wonderful stuff going on, I have a 91 year old mom who I want to see at least once a month, I have a home and a husband and good friends and vacations to plan (Argentina in May to see a nephew who is studying there for a semester and yes...I have Rosetta Stone spanish to listen to). Starting Sketchbook Skool next week or so, and a California high school graduation to go to and a NYC bar mitzvah in June. A weekend away to NYC with girlfriends.
Writing this all down feels satisfying and good. I am happy and fairly healthy and I have the luxury of writing and drawing and working and playing. I enjoy just about everything I do (except those 9-10 hour days...would love 8 hours, but oh well...)
And I miss sharing with you. I guess I miss the writing and expressing myself here. I miss sharing moments, and some things I would not share on FB. I'm going to try for a once a week update on art and life and all the good (and bad) things that go on in my life. Because Blogging has given me friends, and an outlet and opened doors that I never knew were even there - let alone trying to open them.
Right now I am watching rain wash away the snow still in my yard. Im enjoying the crisp air and planning for spring. See you all there!
