Mood:
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Sometimes I go really slow and careful through the day. I have to do whatever I can to push myself forward and not give in to despair.
Yesterday I walked to the library and did some writing there. Then I started to have anxiety and came home. After Mike came home from work I asked him if we could go for a walk before it got dark. We strolled through the town and Mike got a little money out at the bank for milk. He intended to buy us coffee too at Mocca Joe's, a funky little coffee house. But I didn't want us to spend the money on something so frivilous. Mike said that we have to live like ordinary people and treat ourselves. But I'm starting to remember more and more the days when I lived on disability, and remember how careful I was for many years. For our family to live safe and sound we have to be very, very careful how we spend our money. Mike said that he is going to work an extra half an hour every day and several hours on Saturday so that our monthly earning will be greater. We have to do that because soon we are going to be paying for propaine heating gas and extra electricity to drive the fans on the heater.
I need a new pair of pants. But I don't want to spend any money for a new pair of pants. If I can lose weight then I have a bunch of clothing that I can fit into. So I have to lose weight, and fast. I've never lost weight because I was running out of clothing to wear before. There are two pairs of jeans that both have big holes in them. I'm going to cut up one pair to patch the other pair.
My show at the library starts in October. It is a pain in my ass. But, I guess it is something to focus on. There is artwork that needs to be put into frames and I have to hand print a banner with the words, "Schizophrenia, Art & Recovery." One thing Mike and I talked about on our walk yesterday was wether or not to frame my latest artwork, "The Lady and Jumper". It requires a thick, sturdy frame, something Mike can't make himself with wood from Home Depot. I hate to bring the painting to a professional framer, but the picture is really quite good and would look great in the show. It becomes a point of pride to have it hang. It was the decision to frame the piece that prompted Mike to offer to work over-time every day. I made the commitment to this show back at the end of last summer when I was still not yet married and was still receiving alimoney. Now that that money has stopped I am completely dependent on Mike. The way I feel now, I wouldn't commit his money to putting on a show for myself. But, who knows, maybe I can sell an artwork or two and get back the money spent on the show.
Part of my trouble is that I am in-between projects. When I was 23 years old and trying to finish college my best friend said to me, "Karen, I hate it when school breaks for vacation. You don't do well when you are on vacation."
On September 22nd I start an art class at River Gallery Art School. I won a scholorship for the fall semester. It will be 15 weeks of classes, and the class I picked meets for two hours on Friday. Last time I asked for a scholorship I emailed them a letter and I think the request was lost or forgotten because after a short return email promising that a commitee would review my request "asap" I heard nothing. So this time I wrote a letter and printed it out. Then I printed out three pictures. I showed them what I did last spring semester (The Orange Tree Grove), my latest piece, and the work "Cinderella" that I wrote in the margin I needed help with. I hand delivered the packet and heard about my scholorship grant the next day. Here is Cinderella but she is not yet finished, the flesh tones are too pale and some of the objects in the room are not properly subdued. You can't have too many bright objects shouting in a picture, "here I am!". But the fireplace looks great. You only get a fireplace that that by painting thin layer after layer of color.