three weeks later

You may want to grab a snack, a drink, and a seat.

This one is a doozy.

It's amazing how fast time goes by when you are doing things you love.  School has been out for about 6 weeks now and I'm shocked that we are already into the middle of July.

The funny thing about not being employed is that people assume you are sitting around watching soap operas and eating bon bons.  But in fact, nearly every hour of my day is consumed with doing something productive.

Granted, the first two weeks of summer vacation was a blur of gardening, reading, and napping but it was a MUUUUCCHh needed break.  I think I was catching up on the entire school year's worth of stress and sleepless nights which is usually what I do at the end of every school year.  

This year was different though because it ended the entire 6 year stretch of teaching and I breathed a huge sigh of relief that I would not be returning in August.  

Doing nothing was definitely the cure for what ailed me.

So, around the middle of June, I said Crap, I gotta get things going!  I'm UNEMPLOYED!!  As much as I enjoy the life of leisure, the bills still need to be paid, we still gotta eat.  

Lord knows he can't afford to miss a meal!

To update the handful of you who read this, I will share with you what my life has been like for the last month or so.

SUMMER TIME ACCOMPLISHMENTS

#1

First on the list was to set everything straight with the start of grad school in the fall.  I had to file all of the financial paperwork to get things settled along with researching financial options.  I spent quite a lot of time on the computer.

#2

Follow up with job opportunities.

One of the ceramic teaching jobs fell through.  The lady seemed to be a little flighty, so actually it's probably a blessing that things didn't work out with her.  I could see her "forgetting" to pay me.

The other gig though has worked out great.  Even better than I thought.  I'll be teaching a teen pottery on the wheel class at CHASTAIN ART CENTER.

It's also very possible that I'll have more classes in the very near future as well.

I've also been applying for some waitressing jobs.  This is what I've done in the past while in school because you can make a lot of money and only work 20 or so hours a week.  The schedule is also pretty flexible so that it won't interfere with school.

#3

Next on the list was lowering all of the bills.  I actually started this before school was out because I knew money was going to be tight.  I switched home and auto insurance companies, phone and internet plans, I locked in rates and signed up for budget billing with the utility companies, and even changed banks.  Our current bank was getting too big for it's britches and I refuse to pay any fees for something I can get for free elsewhere.  I also starting working at the Beehive Coop which lowers my monthly rent there.

#4

I completed several projects around the house that I'd had on my TO DO list for months.  Stuff like organizing the closet, adding shelves in the pantry, reorganizing my studio, etc.

#5

Of course, with every garden comes maintenance.  There is always weeding, feeding, and watering to do.  My tomatoes really needed a better support system.  Every year they get so big they topple over .  No stakes can hold them.  So, I designed and built a permanent support system that can be dismantled at the end of the season and thrown up quickly next year.

#6

Then, of course, is my studio.
I've been making A LOT of pots.  I've been selling pretty well at the Beehive and then I'm talking to several other galleries and shops about selling there as well.

And then....

the kiln broke.  

I had to replace a heating element.  Of course, that took a week to be shipped to me.

And then I spent three hours replacing the damn thing.  

And you know it just HAD to be the one at the bottom.
Three hours bent over a three foot deep kiln int the sweltering heat.

Good times.

I was finally able to fire all of the pots I threw, trimmed, decorated, and glazed two weeks ago.

I've had some interest in my jewelry as well, so I've been coming up with new designs and making some pieces to sell.

Well, if you've made it this far and you're still awake, then consider yourself informed.  I can't guarantee that I'll be writing a whole lot simply because when all of this is going on, something has to give and free time on the computer was the first to go.  I wish I could see friends and family more often but unless they want me, a dog, 2 cats, and a boyfriend moving into their basement, this is just how it's going to have to be for a while.  Which is really no different than it has been, right?

Peace out.