It’s weird to think I am 26 now, especially considering people ask if I am 18/19 and I get cared for R rated movies Birthday was on the 17th (it’s now about 15 ’til 2am so technically it’s the 18th) and I had a GREAT birthday.

Woke up this morning at 5:30am for work (not so fabulous), but overall work was a great day Coworkers kept wishing me a happy birthday and we even had pizza for lunch at work. After work I bought a few things and headed to Michael’s arts and crafts store to pick up some stuff to make a World of Warcraft inspired bag. Jose and I waited around the apartment before going out for dinner. He ordered me something and it finally came after 6:30pm. I was shocked when he told me to close my eyes and he presented me with a dozen red roses

Initially I thought of The Hunger Games and President Snow, haha (which by the way, I finished reading the final book today SO GOOD!) but they were a nice surprise. After the pretty roses came we left to go eat at Genghis Grill, which neither of us have ever been at. Basically you get a bowl and go to a buffet style area and pick what meats and vegetables you want (all raw) which you can also add a wide array of seasoning too. Then you pick a sauce for your dish as well as a starch and they cook it for you and bring it to  your table when it’s finished. It was SO good and we plan on eating there again really soon.

I had chicken, steak, carrots, broccoli, and white rice in a honey soy sauce. Was very good, also had cheesecake for dessert Also got to raid in World of Warcraft tonight with guildies for the first time which was a lot of fun (even won some nice pieces!).

Overall I had an amazing birthday. Next weekend I am going home to visit family and to celebrate my birthday again Been getting lovely cards from family members also wishing me a happy birthday! This was also my first birthday with my iPhone so I was shocked with how many facebook comments, tweets, and forum birthday wishes I was receiving Thanks again everyone!

Since I got my Kindle Touch for Christmas I’ve been addicted to reading on it. I’ve already read the first two books in The Hunger Games series (which I recommend!) and just purchased the third (final book in the series) to read. I was never really that big into reading when I was little. Sure I’d read a book but never read them as much as I do now. Now I can sit for hours and often find myself reading an entire book series in just a day or two. Back then, it’d take me AGES to read that many books – assuming I even really tried. I enjoyed reading then and books in general but just never got into any series (except for maybe Lord of the Rings).

The first book series I read in a matter of days was Harry Potter (books 1-6).  My best friend and I decided we wanted try the books and see what the hype was about. Both of us purchased the first two books and both of us read them that night. Since then I’ve been into reading series after series. I’ve also started reading the Sookie Stackhouse series (love the True Blood show too!), Northern Lights, and a few more that I still need to finish. Reading is something I LOVE to do and just can not get enough of! I almost wish the Kindle was around when I was little because it probably would have gotten me into reading even back then. The Kindle also makes it a lot easier to just sit and read for hours. Even though I love reading on my Kindle I also love having hard copies of books and probably will still by my favorites When I have my own house I hope to have walls covered in books shelves.

I’ve also been trying to update my Goodreads account more, so if you have an account feel free to add me

Do you enjoy reading? Any favorites that you recommend that I should add to my ever growing collection?

Edit// I ended up sending a tweet to the musician my painting was inspired by and he actually replied OMG! He said “This is amazing and I love the Dali clock!! I’m really sorry to hear about that…but I wish the very best…!” Jason Reeves for the win!

This is the painting from my final project in my Painting I class (which grades were finally posted and I got all A’s yay!). This painting has a lot of meaning in it for me and I had a lot of fun painting it. I still may add some more detail work to it as well. First here is the photoshop image that I created that this painting is based off of:

Now here is the progression of the painting itself (click the image for a larger view):

Here is the final image (click image for a larger view), I realize the quality of the photo isn’t that great. Once my digital camera is charged I will take a photo of it and replace the image (took the painting photos with my iPhone).

This painting was inspired by the song “Wishing Weed” which is by Jason Reeves. A very talented singer and songwriter. The song itself is basically about a couple who a no longer together for whatever reason and both do not want to get over the love that they once had. For me though, this song has a deeper meaning. I’ve mentioned this before but not in very much detail. In October 2010 I started dating my boyfriend, Jose, and right around the time we became “official” he was diagnosed with cancer. Not only were we trying to get to know one another as a couple but we also got to go through something most couples don’t deal with until they’ve been married for 20+ years or so. We are both in our 20′s and it’s hard to deal with something like this, at any age.

I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard at times. I really loved the song before he was diagnosed, but after him and I really starting falling in love with another the song took on a new meaning for me. The painting is what I picture when I listen to this song. To me it’s about a couple who can not be together anymore because one has passed. Even though they are gone the person is still in love with them and will always be. I know that one day my boyfriend will no longer be with me, that is just the nature of a disease. I know when that day comes it will be hard but I also know that him and I had an amazing time together. He is my soulmate, my one true love, and even though we have to deal with something like this it does not have to affect us negatively. It does not change how I feel about him. I know that he will always love me and I will always love him, no matter what happens in our future.

Also, he has been cancer free since February 2011 though I really enjoyed my painting class and plan on to continue painting (may even paint more about this song!) and I even tweeted this blog post to Jason Reeves, because his music is truly inspiring to me and I’d like him to see that If you’d like to listen to the song it can be found on iTunes, his facebook page, as well as YouTube.