Update and yayness
 

Hi everyone, I've largely been off the boards lately for a few different reasons but I wanted to pop back in and officially say hello. :cheers: Welcome to all the newbies I haven't greeted, and belated happy birthday to those whose b-days I've missed. There are a LOT.

So in the past year there have been quite a few ups and downs in my life, as many of you know about a year ago my younger brother passed away after an extended amount of time on life support. He was 31. His health problems were ENTIRELY brought on by alcohol abuse, so please, PLEASE be careful with drinking. (On a side note it wasn't a binge episode that caused it, it was long-term heavy drinking on a daily basis.)

But on a more positive note, I am engaged. :wub: Last February when I went to India I reconnected with a man I met on my first trip there two years ago. I went back again this last summer (India trip #3, time for a new destination!! lol) to travel around with him for a couple of weeks, and that cemented everything for us. :) The original plan was for me to move over there for a couple of years, but after some serious thinking I decided that it would be better if we started our life here. He agreed and is looking forward to it, but he would honestly prefer me to move there. C'est la vie.

And besides that, my artwork has been getting a lot more attention lately. I've just finished one show in a cafe downtown Seattle and now they're hanging in another cafe in the artsy part of downtown. Best of all, I'm going to be part of the Big, Important ArtWalk in January and the cafe is throwing me a little reception!! :stoked: I'm really, really excited. 6 paintings have already sold since October, 4 of which are still hanging in the cafe with "sold" stickers on them. (I'm told this is a VERY good thing to have for an ArtWalk.) If you want to see them, they're in my Flickr gallery here.

If you're the nosy type, you'll also find my India Feb 2008, Turkey March 08, Greece April 08 and India August 08 pictures on there as well.

I'm going to try to be more active on the boards from now on, but I gotta get to work producing more paintings! :cheers:

congratulations on the engagement and the art stuff! it's good to see you back

Welcome back and congratulations! Glad things are going well in your life at the mo.

Thats awesome!! Congrats! :D

Yeah!!

yay!!! glad to have ya back around - and congrats on the engagement and the artwork going well! :)

Thanks everyone. :kisscheek: After surviving-- or, perhaps, even thriving-- in what could be called the worst year of my life so far, it's really nice to have some positive things happen.

Life cycles like that, I think.

I checked out your flickr artwork. I am really happy that you are finding a market for it. I remember seeing your stuff months ago. At the time I was surprised that you didn't already have interested people. I'm glad you have.

Congratulations on your engagement:thumbup:

Wow, congrats on the engagement, and I'm loving the artwork.

For Jeannie to use the word "yayness" it must be good. Congratulations girl! Glad things are looking up for you!

I completely agree. Now you have the pleasure of the super upswing:stoked:

congrats Jeanie! here is to many more good things :cheers:

Congratulations on everything!

Felicidades! That is awesome!

Good on ya girl! 2009 seems like it will be one wicked year for you!:kisscheek:

whoo hoo Jeanie! you deserve nothing but the best this life can offer! can't wait for the artwalk!

Congrats, Jeanie! Things are looking up, kiddo:kisscheek: ! I am the nosey type and didn't see your new beau...:mf_plasmawhore:

:lookaround:

All of my "personal" pictures are only viewable by the contacts I have marked as friends and family on flickr but here are a couple. You'll have to click on the links to see them, my photobucket is being a little bitch right now, sorry.

The artsy shot-- in an abandoned castle on top of a huge hill with a LOT of wind
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1230322234

in Kerala
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1230322662

damn you two are hawt! :blink:

Heyy, congrats girl! I think many of us had a tough last 2 quarters, so great to hear you're already on the upswing back! :cheers:

You guys do make a cute couple, that dude looks like some Bollywood actor..

BTW, I heard Indian weddings can traditionally get pretty theatrical - lasting for days and with the groom sometimes even riding in on a white horse or elephant. Dunno if you guys will go for something that elaborate or probably much simpler and low-key...but I'm sure it'll be interesting! :)