TIME IS FLYING!!!

I have always taken my blog seriously as a way to document my life and to, well, vent!  For some reason I have drifted away from blogging.  I am back and hopefully will stay!

The Keys 4 Art Retreat was in March and was spectacular.  We had a lot more down time and really did much less art than usual but it was fun.

Keys 4 Art 2016 is already on a roll!  We have already rented a house and this time in Asheville, North Carolina!  We have been in the Keys for 6 years and all wanted a change.  Besides, I think part of it is to get me away from my home and office so I can stay more focused on the retreat and I love my crew for that.

The law firm has undergone some serious changes and is facing some serious challenges.  We are now down to two partners, Bernadette and I, and have so me financial challenges as a result of the breakdown of the original firm, but we are up to the challenge and working on building up a new and "improved" firm!

Most important of ALL, my son Charlie is CLEAN!  He has been clean for months now and working his way up to a new life for himself.  I feel like a million pounds have been raised off my heart and my life and am so grateful to God for his mercy.

My law partner, Bernadette, gifted me a trip to Italy!  It has always been the one and only trip on my bucket list and she knew that.  Her kindness and generosity is totally overwhelming.  I am going on September 7!  I got from Miami to Venice for 4 days, then to Rome for 4 days, then on an 8 day cruise to France, Livorno and Spain.  I am so excited it's all I think about!

I have been getting ready for weeks.

     New suitcases (check)
     New clothes (check)
     Journal (check)
     Scrapbook  (check)
     Art supplies (check)

(See a pattern here? LOL.)

So I will be posting along the trip and sharing what I know will be a wonderful experience.

A SPECTACULAR WEEKEND!!

Wow!  I cannot believe it has been so long since I posted anything!  It's been a crazy couple of months, but thankfully, it has been mostly good "crazy".  I started and I'm actually caught up on the documented life project. Last year I started it, and then just let it go.  This year I plan on completing it.

I have three wonderful Joanne Sharpe classes that I have purchased and really want to do.  I have a couple of classes I have purchased from The Art to the 5th Academy that I want to complete.  And of course, as always, I do all of Ali Edwards' classes.

But this weekend, was just fantastic!  I attended a three day retreat in Delray Beach with Dina Wakely and Dyan Reavley.  I admired both of them before, but now I am totally in love with them, as women and as artists.  Not only are they insanely talented, but they are two of the nicest women I have met in a very long time.

I had so much fun at this retreat and learned so much. I think I actually learned more in these past three days than I have in a year.  I went with my best friend, Jacquie,  and with my cousin Sarah who came from Cuba to attend this retreat with me.

I took some great pictures I will upload tomorrow. And I will also post some pictures of what I did. I just wanted to get these thoughts down because I am really really glad that I went to this retreat.

See you guys tomorrow.

Max Farinas

Max Farinas

August 3, 2002 - November 22, 2014

I lost my Maxi tonite.  So unexpectedly.

I LOVE MY UPS GUY!!!!!!

I have been preparing for a trial all day today.   I enjoy it but it's not exactly FUN - know what I mean?  And then my man Anthony - our boy in brown - walks through my door and brings me ....

Happiness in a box.......

KEYS 4 ART 2015

Only 131 days until the 2015 Keys 4 Art Retreat!!!  Our SIXTH one!  Now is when the time begins to just FLY!!!  Already making preparations... looking for house to rent.... looking at goodies to buy... Can't wait!!!

BLAH BLAH BLAH

I refuse to work today.  I am so exhausted from hearing so many complaints and bad news. Granted, as a divorce attorney I really should not expect anything different.   This is the career I chose. But there are times during the year when I find that it just overwhelms me. And this is one of those times. No matter who I speak with today, all I hear is "blah blah blah"  so I figure I will just not talk to them today. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

I purchased Ali Edwards Week In The Life class. I still have not done it. I guess I'm waiting for a more "interesting" week!!   Today I have looked through her week in the life Journal and as always, I'm flabbergasted by her innate ability to document the small every day things that make our life.   I buy all of her classes because I find her to be such an inspiration.  

 So what to do about the funk I am in? I really don't know. I realized last night that a lot of it has to do with my father. He was diagnosed with cancer on October 13, 2009 and died from it on December 28, 2009. 9 weeks between diagnosis and death did not really give us time to get our heads wrapped around what was happening. It was the biggest loss of my life. And, honestly, I have never been able to enjoy the holidays again since his death. This time of the year brings back so much sadness.

Lazy Sunday

I woke up at noon today. Didn't really want to, but thought I should.  Made myself a nice breakfast, mopped the floors, did some laundry, and was deciding between going down to my studio or getting lost in Pinterest for the rest of the day. 

I've been very unmotivated lately and that bothers me. I have been unmotivated about work, about art, about everything.  I have absolutely everything anyone could dream of to do the things I love to do. Journaling, project life, you name it, I have it.   My studio is absolutely perfect. I have more supplies than most scrapbook stores.  I keep telling myself that I have so many things I want to do, but I don't do anything. I sit in bed, I watch TV, I sit on the computer getting lost in Pinterest and Facebook and get nothing done.  A part of it is because I know that these two days, Saturday and Sunday, are the only days of peace I really have. Work is very stressful right now and I barely have time to think.  So on these two days, a part of me feels like I just don't want to do anything.  

I have all the right apps, all the right technology, an abundance of absolutely everything I could possibly need and yet nothing seems to jumpstart me.   I guess it's what we refer to as a "funk".  But I think the only way that is going to change is if I get out of this damn bed, go down to my studio and do something.  So I am on my way to create something! 

Wish me luck!!!