Update

We are in the final months of our tour in the Pacific Northwest. For those who don't already know, in addition to being an artist, wife and mommy, I've also been a full time Navy Wife for the last 14+ years. We arrived in the Seattle area when my husband decided it was time to go back to a ship. I've really enjoyed living in this area of the country, despite my problem with Seasonal Affective Disorder and my husband being gone at least half of the time we've been here.

This will soon be yet another set of fond memories and new friends I try to stay in touch with come next year when we make our final (hopefully) move to Tampa!! Since we are both from the Orlando area, this will be like going home.

As I stated in a previous entry, we are extremely excited about this upcoming move. After 14 years of moving every 2-3 of them and living in 2 different foreign countries I admit I'm getting a little world weary. I'm ready to start settling in somewhere. It is going to be nice to feel really at home somewhere again and I'm looking forward to finally being able to set up a permanent studio, exactly as I want it with NO CARPETING!!

I've gone back to school and work since arriving in the P.N.W. and as much as I enjoyed being a stay at home Mom, I've also enjoyed having much more to do besides making sure all the electrical outlets are covered and all the sharp items are out of reach while planning meals and cleaning at the same time. I've enjoyed the whole "school/work experience" even when it got a little overwhelming.

Whenever I've started to feel that I wasn't spending enough time on my art, I told myself that I have been absorbing a lot of potentially very inspirational life experiences. This will come in handy sooner than I'd probably like since our son is in school now. Kindergarten came long before I was ready for it. But I will survive, like many Mommys before me.

I've also finally reached a goal I've wanted as long as I can remember. I've been taking ceramics classes since we moved here and have recently become quite comfortable using my creative skills on the pottery wheel. There is something very satisfying in fulfilling a long time dream.

So that's it for now. They say we're supposed to have snow this year. I'm really, really looking forward to being back in Florida!

Don't forget if you are over 18 to check out more of my work at my site: www.annmonique.com