Duenorth's Journal

     Woke up around 6AM which was very surprising since I only got about 7 hours sleep and had woken around 3AM for some reason as well. I was still really tired, but essentially alert and since the alarm was set for 6:45, I got up and used the extra lead time to freshen up and relax before it was time to get DD up and ready to go. She was also quite drowsy and it took a bit of extra coaxing to get her to cooperate; but once awake she was cheerfully bouncy & playful to the point of not following my directions well at all. I was getting a bit frustrated, but tried so hard to keep my cool bc she was so happy. However just as I was prodding her out the door she started to whine and be resistant bc she didn't like the breakfast snack I had packed. After three rounds of telling her that I wasn't packing another snack, my voice rose and high pitched told her that was it, we were going NOW. She cried briefly, then seemed to bounce back very quickly and was chatty in the car. I felt Mom guilt about snapping at her and apologized for that, but told her she needed to Listen.

      I made it to my school just in time for my weekly meeting and critique with my painting instructor. I had a painting that I felt really good about and he liked it too. He also waxed lyrical on other artists whose work I might find inspiring and some of his own experiences finding people to sit for him. (I'd mentioned wanting to try some portraits from live models). It was very upbeat and left me feeling enthused to paint. But first I had to run and move my car out of the 1 hour parking zone and retrieve some stuff that I'd left in the trunk...including a new electric hot water pot that I just bought to brew tea in the studio. (the cafe drinks were eating into my budget) I've discovered Stash Decaf Chocolate Hazalnut tea which is quite excellent if unusual. The steamy fragrance is the best part and it tastes pretty good; gives you that warm fuzzy experience. Accompanied by a blueberry muffin, I was able to unwind with my tea for few moments before setting up my palette and going to work. First I touched up and signed the painting that was just critiqued. Then I set up a new stilllife and went to town on it for a few hours. It's kind of a kooky subject and while I am still excited about it, it will take several sessions to get it how I want it to look.

     I cleaned up and headed over to the cafe for lunch: BLT & a cup of chicken curry stew, yum! I quickly skimmed my philosophy reading which is an overlap from my Late Modern class last semester so I'd already read, highlighted and discussed it in that class. Memory refreshed I arrived in the classroom a bit early and pulled out my little notebook of "To do" lists and "Want to do" lists; spent several moments pondering my schedule for the rest of the week. It was warm in the room and suddenly all my tiredness from earlier rushed back (probably from a blood sugar change after lunch as well) and my joints & back were aching from the 3 hours standing in the studio and painting. By the time the class started, I was ready for aspirin and a nap!

     I managed to perk up enough to pay attention and contributed a few intelligent insights to the discussion. I must have still been drowsy though bc my mind was wandering at the very end of class when he was discussing the next assignment. I focused as he mentioned everyone having a chance to rewrite a paper. I thought he meant the writing prompt for the previous reading that he had passed back, which seemed unusual. Well it turned out he was talking about the 5 page paper from last week that he then passed back. I got an A-/B+ which I was pleased with since I cranked that puppy out in one draft and printed it 5 minutes before it was due. I don't really want to rewrite it, but feel like I should for practice for upcoming term paper and to set a good precedent with the prof.

     Afterwards I just wanted to go home and put my feet up. Unfortunately it was raining steadily outside and my car was three blocks away. I dashed for the art building and went back up to the studio. I do need to put some major work in on my art for the upcoming critique. I really enjoy it too, but feel pulled in ten different directions this semester. I hauled my paints back out and put another hour in on the painting. I had a pleasant chat with several other art students and with the Art Club faculty advisor about a few club activities. Initially my painting went well, but then I botched some areas of the background, just totally put in some big swaths of the wrong color. I tried to fix it, but there was too much paint down. I scraped some off with the palette knife, but it was still too greasy to cover up. It had stopped raining and looked really nice outside, so I figured this was a sign that it was time to go home. I'll let the painting dry awhile and then be able to paint over those areas. Satisfying start on the canvas; now if I can get several more going then it will be easier to switch back and forth to work on them as I get inspired or need to let areas dry.

     I had about an hour to kick back at home before I needed to pick up the squirt. She was just as bouncy and stubborn as ever! It took 5 minutes at least to get her to put her coat on and out of the classroom. I could have pushed harder but she was being playful and silly rather than whining and after this morning I thought, why rush her if I don't have to? She rejected the next snack I offered and inwardly I had to take a deep breath and just let it go. (it was a blueberry muffin that she would have loved if she'd tried a bite) I said okay and put it away. She must have gotten the message though bc she didn't whine for another one right away. A little later she asked politely and I got it for her.

     The rest of the evening went very well. We sat companionably in the livingroom for awhile and then she sat on my lap for part of a cartoon that she liked, but had a bad guy that was a little scary. I made her chicken for dinner. Got her ready for bed and she was much better behaved about getting into her pj's and settling down. She picked a book off her shelf and it was one I bought awhile ago, but we had never read: Charlie Cook's Favorite Book. She loved it! It rhymes and is a story within a story etc....each page briefly describes another story. So it's like Charlie Cook's favorite book is about _and the main character has a favorite book about_and that character's favorite book is_etc. After we finished, DD wanted me to read it again in a special way that we do where "she" reads it. Basically I go one line at a time and read it very slowly while tracing the words with my finger and whispering the line to her. Then she repeats the line like she is reading it. It takes a bit longer, but she loves doing it and I feel like it is an excellent way to prepare her to actually learn to read it herself. I tucked her into bed and she asked me to leave the light on a few more minutes so she could "read" the book again to her stuffed animals.

     It took another 15 minutes for her to fall asleep. She had to make a potty trip and have some milk. Then she asked me to tuck her in again and turn out the light. It was a nice night. I feel lucky to have such a great kiddo.

     I think an early night is in order for me too! I never did take that aspirin and my shoulders are killing me. :)