End of June already?

It always amazes me how quickly time passes. This year is already half way over now!

This past month I've been focusing on oil painting, tattoo designs and working towards booking larger color projects.

Jess, Alex and I took a two day beginners oil painting class at The Plains Art Museum here in Fargo and it was so much fun! It really helped to see someone's process from start to finish (in person). Frank, our instructor, was able to break it all down into manageable moments so we all walked away with two completed paintings! It was so amazing and we will absolutely be up for doing it again! August maybe?! We will see how that pans out.

I've still got my large owl design available to tattoo at Rough Rider Tattoo Expo coming up in October so that should be fun to do once I get it booked!

Today is also my mothers birthday. She would have been 69. Every day without her honestly seems to get a little more difficult even though many use the expression "it gets easier with time". In my opinion it doesn't seem to work that way at all to be quite frank. Although most days are a little easier to kind of ebb and flow my way through the shelves of grief that stay tucked away in the dusty parts of my brain. That clock seems to be frozen in place somehow, not really allowing the sense of ease to arrive; as many have promised it would.

So much has changed the passed few years. Many things were absolutely, without a doubt for the best though. I wish I could just call her up and share it all. Every last juicy, diabolical or delectable detail. She would be so proud for the most part. I can't help but think she would think it was quite unbelievable too though, some of the things that popped up. Sometimes I sit and reflect on my years and I too, am

also quite astonished and often times find myself in utter disbelief.

Everything will be ok in the end though. And if it is not ok, well, then it is not the end.

~SJ