January and It's On.

Things are Cha-Cha-Cha-Changin' around here. I've been pretty busy working in my studio, working in the gym, and working at...well...work.

I purchased a 2017 planner this year, and have been getting my money's worth out of it. If I write something down in my planner, it happens. I don't know why it works, or how it works but...it works. It's MAGIC. It's like that old Christmas movie where the nerdy perfume lady writes all of her Christmas wishes on a list and puts it in Santa's North Pole mailbox. Then one-by-one, they all come true. She gets fuzzy slippers and a promotion. 

Along that line of thinking...I'm going to write "8:30pm - Casually bump in to Ryan Gosling" for Friday Night's slot in the agenda this week. Cha-Ching!

​I've managed to schedule more times throughout the week for me to be painting in my studio. Which is SUPER because I'll have several new pieces to have photographed Saturday, and then have in my show at Round Town Brewery for the Month of February

On their way to get framed!

I've also been working on the big oil painting with my girls. Last weekend, (while I had the daylight) I worked on their skin tones. I'll be honest, I'm constantly lost with this piece. I'm incredibly out of practice or out of my element, and it's such a bummer. When I look at it, I can tell there are definitely things working in it, yet I still feel frustrated. I have a clear vision for what I'm going for but I'm struggling to execute it. 

This is perhaps why this painting is taking so long to complete. I'm fighting through it, instead of gliding through it, as I'm used to with so many others. 

The only way I know to get out of that kind of a funk is to just keep at it. 

I'm eager to get to a "happy place" with this one.

Outside of art I've been trying to be actually consistent about exercise and physical fitness. So far I've been relatively successful; I've lost approx 6lbs since January first! I don't think I look any different yet (although I'm sure if it has started to show anywhere, it will have been in my boobs).

How am I doing this, you ask? Very very very unpleasantly. I mean, say what you will about weight loss, but I won't lie to you, it's tough. It is. You literally can't sugar-coat it. Guess what else you can't do: eat an entire frozen pizza then a pint of half-baked ice cream all in one sitting.

In lieu of giving up long my term relationship and love of cheese, bread, and generally cheese-y bread, I've been meal planning pretty consistently and going to Muay Thai classes multiple times per week. Worst of all...the last time I had even a drop of alcohol was, gulp, December 31st. Oh yeah, I'm doing a dry month. 

I complain, sure, but it's not been too bad. I am, however looking forward to some Italian red wine on February 14th. I've been saving a bottle. 

"Catch me Ousside!" Feeling tough in the locker room after Muay Thai class. FYI: this is bad form. It's a joke okay.

​Using my exercise habits to segue into something else....

I also made a point to march on Saturday...err well...I mean....I stood around for a couple of hours and said "Woooooo" a lot.

In  Indianapolis, we didn't have a march; we had a rally. I won't go into all that I'm thinking and feeling about that now because don't feel like experiencing all of those emotions again. I was there physically and still am there emotionally. 

Okay you know what, I will. briefly. If you don't want to read this little paragraph, skip ahead, but don't get mad if I delete a comment that I just don't want to deal with right now. This is my website, and I paid for it.

Here it comes. Here's what I have to say. Cue the liberal tears. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER IN EQUALITY FOR ALL. DON'T BE A DICK! WE CAN'T BE AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN, EVEN IF IT'S UNPOPULAR. End Scene. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming. 

Finally, last night Indy Reads Books, hosted an event with New York Times best-selling Author Roxane Gay. She read some of her new book, Difficult Women, and talked with us about scrabble techniques...oh and feminism. 

As you know, I am a woman, and as you may not know, I believe in women can and should be treated equally to men. So yeah, the evening with Roxane Gay was enjoyable. I'm looking forward to reading a couple of her books that I purchased.

And, just in case you were angry at me for being mildly political for a second there, or for being a feminist, or both...I spilled coffee on my shirt TWICE within one hour yesterday. First I spilled a moderately embarrassing amount on my nice sweater from the LOFT, before a meeting. I was able to douse myself with a water bottle and somehow save the day. Crisis averted. 

whew. I thought. I dodged a bullet there...

Then, upon leaving the meeting I went to take a photo, raised my camera up, and forgot I had my coffee cup in my hand. The warm dark fluid poured all over, in, and under my soft off-white sweater. I had to go home to change. 

This is a very "Romantic Comedy" sort of thing to happen, but Ryan Gosling was nowhere to be found. :(

​So there you go. Maybe I had it coming. However, I'm hoping this sweater doesn't stain but always smells of coffee. Actually, If I could get caffeinated just by wearing it...that would be greeeaaat.

Xoxo,

​Angela DeCamp