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!

I hope everyone had a great holiday and is enjoying the new year I got lots of goodies for Christmas (clothing, money, giftcards, movies, and more), but my most used gift is a kindle! Got a Kindle Touch (so did my sister but mine doesn’t have 3G) and I LOVE IT. I already finished the first book in The Hunger Games and am currently halfway through the second. I find it so much easier to read on then the iPad (at least when it comes to reading for 2+ hours straight) and the compact size of it.

Besides enjoying the holidays and the time I spent with my family I have not been up to much. I have been applying to lots of local and some not-so-local design jobs in hopes of finding something (I really don’t want to do retail any longer than I have to!). So my fingers are crossed on that Classes start tomorrow and it’s a great feeling knowing that I don’t have to return!

Anyone have any New Year’s resolutions?  I tend to make the same ones every year. Do well in school (or now I guess do well at my job?/find a new job?), eat better, exercise, be better person, etc. But once again I want to try to do a 365 project … or this rather, it’s a 366 project! I’ve done these in the past (most recent was around July 2011 I did it for about 2 weeks, haha) so I am reviving the website I made for the last one I attempted and deleting the old posts and starting again!

So, Pocket Pix is back I literally decided today to do this (yes I realize it’s the 3rd :P) but thankfully enough I took photos the last two days on my phone anyways. I also love the idea of having a seperate website for a photo-a-day because I can upload them straight from my phone plus it’s easier to share with people. If you’re doing one too let me know! Also link me to your site if you’re uploading them to a specific location, would love to keep track of others and maybe we can motivate one another! Even added a Pocket Pix category here, at the end of each month I’ll post a few of my favorite photos that I took.

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.