Today is a wonderfully drearie day. The kind where porch sitting with husband, coffee and dogs is likely to steal my morning work hours if I am not careful. (or if I am careful....) After today I will be caught back up to my deadlines and schedules. The week was more than eventful with a fair share of catastrophes that I hope have filled my quota for at least a few months. But things seem back on task. And hopefully the storm coming from Texas will not cancel the festival I have stayed up late painting for each night this week. But if it does, I need all the art to hang on the restaurant wall and give to the boutique anyway. Plus there will be a lil' somethin' somethin' up on ebay later today. Something brand new that is really cute and really fun. Look later for that.

In other exciting news The Surtex Show is beginning on Sunday and all my new art is there to hopefully catch the eye of lots of people. My posters turned out great and I wish I could be there, but I justed up my travel points for a while. Hopefully some good news will come soon!

And finally Miss Kate is getting a puppy! Cutums, smooshems, lovems! Go read all about it! Can't wait to see the 'baby' pics! Congrats new mama!!! I think I have the perfect baby gift for you!

There are so many things I want. I try not to be selfish. I don't complain too often. (I don't think I do, but maybe you should ask my husband.) I don't ask for jewelry, I don't ask for fancy cars or houses. I don't need Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma filling my home, although I would love the life they promise in the catalogues. I do understand all those things are wants. I am willing to not have them for the ones I really, really do want. I want to have my children's book published. Each day that goes by that I have not received a rejection letter or my packaged returned to me is good. I want to get some licensing deals from The Surtex Show and the Licensing show in May and June. (Wish me good vibes this May 16th - 18th!) I want to keep painting and selling my art for a long, long time. I am addicted to the smiles that come with each delivery. I admit it. It is perfectly selfish. I love showing kids and adults alike my art and telling them that yes, I paint silly dog and cat pictures for a living. I can't wait for the day that I am not doing 8 hours a day of graphic design work and 5 hours a night of painting. Just one career please. Thank you. Are you listening to me universe? This two careers at once thing is tiresome. I just want to paint. I am almost there. I can feel it, taste it. I have worked hard towards my goals. I work long hours almost every night for almost 2 years now. So much so that if I only work a measly eight hours in a day I feel as if I have had the day off. That deserves a payoff right? Sure it does. So here I am. Putting it out there for the universe and God to hear. I am ready for my hard work to payoff and ready to ony have to work at my painting and illustration career. I will keep up my daily routine until you grant me my wish. I can tell you this: I am not giving up. I can keep this up another year if I have to. I don't want to, but I will. I have always said that you cannot fail if you don't give up. I may be tired, annoyed, and just about as over adobe Illustrator, photoshop and quark as one can be, but I won't give up. And one day, I know, KNOW that I will be able to more than pay my bills from silly dog paintings alone. I will. I am a middle child. We are known for our stubborness. I am not giving up. Ever. So you might as well give me what I want. Ok, rant is over. I have to go do revise a magazine layout and brochure. But tonite, tonite I get to paint some dogs. And that makes me smile.