Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Why do we go green?
‘Tis the funniest scene
That you ever had seen
We be as green
As a lime jellybean
Though ‘tis quite mean
To go and demean
Those not garbed in green

I myself ain’t so keen
To strut like a queen
I feel rather unclean
When I see my green

I had a green spleen
From the day of thirteen
Till the day of nineteen
So had my best friend Dean
And my half-sister Jean
Who just turned seventeen
Jean loves a good green bean
But keep her away from caffeine

My parrot loves to preen
He’s a regular preen machine
My second cousin Irene
Appears unusually lean
She stirs up quite a scene
Every Halloween
Quite a frightful figurine
If you know what I mean

That’s our regular routine
To go around in green
Now I should head off-screen
Before I cause another scene!

Terence and Rhiella (Again)

Okay, so this is nothing really earth-shattering, but I honestly can't get enough of these two, and I take rare pride in this picture I made myself.

Believe it or not, Terence has been a literal lifesaver. He and his story kept me going when I was struggling to figure out what to do with my life after high school (I kind of dragged my feet about college for a while, though I had no trouble deciding what to major in), and provided excellent therapy for these last two years, with the loss of my dad and all my other problems.

Other things have kept me going, too, of course, but Terence was a big help.

Plus, it just relaxes me and helps me blow off stress to draw or write about him.

Wonder if I'll be fortunate enough to make his story into a real book. Everyone tells me I write so well and they're really excited about my story. Maybe it really is meant to be written because this thing's still going strong after more than ten years (I first started writing it when I was 17) and I have writing projects going back only two or three years that I'm already burned out on. I have to say, this thing has gotten loads better since its early stages; the quality of the writing is astounding.

Sometimes I fear I have too many ideas, and I'm not so worried about whether or not this is a good story as I am about how much justice I'll be able to do it.

Everything always looks and sounds so much more epic in your head, and it's a fine thing to try to make that transition from the imagination to the paper.

One Door Closes, Another Door Opens

Today was a bittersweet day. It was my last day at Deseret Industries, after working there for 19 months.

I knew it was only a temporary job, but it still grows on you, you know? Just like with college: you just get used to the people, the routine, and everything. Everybody wished me luck (and exchanged a few hugs, handshakes, and fist bumps) and my boss, Dave Hansen, was nice enough to give me a little card that everyone on my team (who was available at the time) signed.

Later tonight, after dinner, my family and I went to Baskin Robbins to celebrate. I had a giant almond cone with two kinds of chocolate ice cream; absolute indulgence. We're going to Noodles & Company for dinner on Friday.

My new job will be in the deli at WinCo Foods; a store in my area just opened for business.

Orientation is on Friday. That means I get to relax Thursday and then prepare myself for 6 to 8 hours the next day. The day of orientation is technically the first day; they even pay you to come. That's how they did it at Barnes & Noble.

After many months of searching and applying, at least a dozen interviews, and a couple of very short-lived jobs, I finally made it. This job at WinCo may not be my ultimate dream job but it'll keep me fed and keep the bills paid, plus they've got some pretty sweet benefits. The only downside is I'll have to work some Sundays; hopefully those Sundays will be few and far between.

Guess I'll just stake it out and see what happens in a year, maybe two or three.

Until then: Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to work I go...

Rare Commission

I've idolized this artist for years, and it's so hard to get a commission from her. She's got a busy job, her work is in pretty high demand (and I can't say I'm at all surprised), and her prices don't come cheap.

So I'm pretty excited about this commission I scored from her. Isn't it gorgeous? I feel like my birthday came early!

And I also got this from her, a few years earlier. It never fails to bring a smile to my face!

My Buddy Kel

I always love getting fan art, and when I'm able to afford it, I love getting a commission, especially from an artist that I really admire--and if that artist happens to be a good friend, so much the better.

One of my most favorite artists who is also one of my best friends is Kel. (I won't post her full name here, out of respect.) She's a marvelous young woman who has been through a lot lately, and I hope things will look up for her eventually, if not anytime soon.

I've probably commissioned her the most of anybody. I get my money's worth every time, too. Once in a while, she's nice enough to draw me something for free, just because. (She's long since deserved something from me, for a change.) I'm very, very, VERY tempted to hire her as the cover designer for my novels when they're published. For now, we've both agreed that a little experimenting couldn't hurt. But either way, I'm definitely sending her a free copy of my book, with my signature!

(I'm 95% sure this is the first picture I ever received from her.)

 (One of my all-time favorites!)

(This one carries special sentimental value because this was drawn for me after I lost my dad.)

Valentine Selfies

Just because.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love may not make the world go 'round, but it makes the ride worthwhile.