Moving Forward

I know I'm not working on my business plan as much as I should be, seeing as how I want this more and more every day. Today I've added quite a bit. I'm starting to get into weird jargon that I barely understand and I'm having a hard time deciphering it all so that I can actually type a decent response for my plan.

There are five areas of the plan, and it's nice to say I'm almost completely done with the first two. The rest is going to be a bit more complicated... :/

I need to set myself a deadline for this plan so that I can start working on the rest of the paperwork for my business. I have quite a bit that needs to be put together. This is beginning to look like a rather daunting goal...

I've found out a bit more about the schools that are offering online degrees. They both sound pretty great, just expensive seeing as they're both private schools. At the same time, they're just as expensive as a public school that I would have to pay out-of-state tuition for. I don't plan on working on graduate school for at least another year, but I'd still like to have some plans laid out for it.

My Harley Quinn costume is also sort of coming along. I don't have the actual clothing articles ready, but I've ordered just about all of my accessories. I'm still missing some items for her hammer, contacts, socks, and some other little makeup items. I'll also have to color the wig and probably make some adjustments to the wig once it arrives. I'm getting pretty excited.

I'm also impressed with myself for working out. Although, I haven't been working out as much as I planned, it's still something and I'm starting to see improvements. I've tried my best to cut out unhealthy foods and snacking. I thought about buying a gym membership, but decided against it and have been doing my own calisthenics workouts in my own apartment. They've been pretty great, even if I don't always have the motivation to do them. lol. So far I've lost probably an average of a quarter of an inch on most of my main body measurements and I'm about 114 pounds. I'd rather not be too skinny, but it's kind of nice to see something below 115 since I haven't been below 115 since 2007. If I can lost the fat, I'll start eating more and pumping up my workout to gain the muscle I need for the weight. Overall, I'm pretty excited about my goals right now. :)

Motivated

For my Spring Break- yes, I still get one as a full time employee- I'm going with my dad to Kentucky to a comic book and toy convention and to visit family. It's a pretty big con so I'm excited about cosplaying at the convention. I'm pretty dead set on going as the New 52 Harley Quinn. It's gonna be a lot of work and money, but I think it will be worth it in the end. I'm so excited though!

And since I want to do this cosplay so bad, I'm trying to work out every day that I can to get into shape by the time the con rolls around. So far, I've done great with my core strengthening exercises, but I have trouble with actually doing my cardio for the day.

I also recently found a couple of schools that are offering completely online degrees for Photography. Although they are more expensive, it would still cut out the weird transition and costs of moving just to go to graduate school. Also, if things work out with the art store, then it would be even more difficult for me to relocate just to attend school. Although I haven't actually applied or been accepted, it's still pretty awesome to know that my options are opening up.

Now if I can just get my business plan finished. :P

Dinosaur Bones

That's what I feel I'm digging up by posting here again. Thought it would be nice to give some actual updates since I don't really post status updates on facebook anymore.

I'm working full time as a secretary for NSU's Communication, Art, & Theatre department. I was lucky to get the job only two months after graduating, but it's definitely not something I want to be doing forever. It has great benefits and I love the faculty I work with, but most of the time this job is overwhelming and I get frustrated with everything I have to do in such a short amount of time.

I'm still working on opening my own art store though. I've heard rumors of someone else opening one, but have seen nothing yet. I'd love to be able to open for next fall. I keep dreaming about it, but I'm finding it hard to be motivated enough to finish the business plan. I think I'm just going to have to set some serious goals about working on this if I want it done. Hopefully, if I post it somewhere where I see it everyday, I'll actually work on it.

At the same time, I'm still debating graduate school. I would love to have a Master's for Photography, but finding the right school and getting the funding are my concerns. If I could take some online courses while working with my store, that would be amazing. I doubt that I could find something that awesome, though.

I guess I'll see what the future brings.

Busy!

I know I was going to blog every day, which I actually did for a while, at least on another blog. I don't blog every day, but I at least blog frequently. I need to blog here more often though so people actually know what's going on in my life other than lame facebook status updates.

I'll keep it short for now.

Went to visit my family in Kentucky for my niece's high school graduation. My niece, Susie, just graduated last week. Man, do I feel old.

Kentucky is amazing, especially Lexington. I think I'd like to live there one day. Not literally one day, but you know what I mean. There's so much to do there and you can still live in a country setting and still be within like 15 minutes of this giant city.

It was so much fun visiting with family, especially since I don't see them very often. It's funny, because my niece, Jenny, acts just the same as when I last her (not maturity level, but personality), when she was about 12. lol.

Bought some new clothes and did cool things. I kind of miss it already, except their super cold house... :[

Back home now, but already packing for Tahlequah this next week. I've got AOII work week this week and my friend's wedding on Friday! Man oh man alive! Pretty excited! Not exactly looking forward to the 10 hour drive to Louisiana though... :/

Fun times ahead though! :D


~Me


P.S. I've also decided what I really want for life, well, besides family. I'd really like to teach for a while, but I really want to open up my own gallery/studio, maybe one with my sister if we could both every agree on a city to live in. lol

Career Uncertainties

So phone blog was a success, so here I am again. Phone blog is a fail unless I only send a little over a page of phone text. It ended up just breaking up every page into it's own individual post. Lame.

I've been reading a book called "What Color is Your Parachute" by Richard Bolles. My sister was recommended the book by an old professor and in turn, my sister recommended it to me after a discussion we had about careers. The book is a guide for job/career hunting ,and needless to say my sister and I have our uncertainties about our future.

I'm only about a third of the way into the book right now, but it's really interesting. He talks about being more specific in your job hunt. Like if you want to be a secretary, decide if you want to be a secretary for a law firm, or a day care center, etc. He walks you through every step so you can discover what you want to do and how to get there.

This book has helped me analyze what I really want to do. I'm still pretty uncertain, but I have a better idea of my ideal job(s). It's definitely better than just shrugging when asked what I plan to do when I graduate.

I've realized that I really enjoy writing, and ideally, I'd absolutely love to be a web writer for an art site of some sort. I'm trying to blog every day now so I can get more experience. I wish I had something more specific to write about that hasn't already been done, though.

I'm still interested in running my own craft/art shop. I love crafts and if I really had more free time on my hands that's what I'd probably be doing.

I'd still kind of like to be a photographer or design professor, though. It's not exactly at the top of my career choices, but it would make me feel more comfortable about the photography degree I'm working on. It would still require more school, unfortunately...

I've even given thought to fashion photography, but still not certain if I want to go that route. At least these last two options would make me feel that my degree was worth something.

I know I didn't talk about the book much and even if I'm not done I still highly recommend this book to anyone who's concerned about their career.

I'll keep you all updated on the book and how my career planning goes. <3>

Ugh. Sometimes I really hate mobile phones especially with the limited internet capabilities they have. I guess I should be lucky to even have what I do have when it comes to internet for phone. Well, just seeing how this mobile update works and if it will work well enough for the future.

Renewal

I wanted to update earlier this week, but I just kept putting it off. Figured I'd take advantage of the bit of free time I have right now.

I've edited this post. I was originally going to rant a bit about stupid things that happened this week and how I want to punch a certain set of specific girls. But after today I don't feel like complaining. I'd like to move on. Ignore the anger and frustration, focus on the good.

I'm really excited for this semester. So far, I think my Heavenly Father is really looking out for me. Last semester was Hell. I feel that this semester isn't going to be as stressful in my work load.

Classes didn't start on Monday as scheduled, but got my first syllabus that day for Web Site Design and Management, my online class. I was a bit worried when I first enrolled since I pretty much bombed the online class I took this past summer. I was so excited when I realized it would be more in depth information from the Web Design class I already took. There was even more of a burden lifted when I discovered I had the entire semester to work on the projects for class and not having to turn in weekly assignments.

Printmaking is going to be lots of fun, very, VERY expensive, but lots of fun. Frustrated because I went to buy supplies and they're out of 4"x6" linoblocks and I need to have my first proof done by Tuesday's class. I don't drive either. Not that I'd be able to get to Muskogee to buy one even if I could drive since I have a weekend class starting this afternoon at 4:30.

Walking for fitness will be extremely easy. Just show up to class and walk. Whoo.

Computer Science might be the class with some of the biggest problems, mostly because it's so boring. Ugh.

Then there's Typography. SO EXCITED! I love Mr. Cotton, I won't lie. Not at all in the romantic sense, but clearly in the platonic student - mentor relationship. Last semester was his first semester here, right out of graduate school from Louisiana. He's the Graphics professor we truly needed for our department. I love his drive and passion for all his students to do their best. I love that he keeps telling us how we should be able to get the best jobs right out of school and that's what he's preparing us for. I know I will probably struggle to a degree in this class, but it's all for the best. I'm so excited to see what I'll produce for this class. I'm really wanting to go to the conference in Texas at the end of March.

Just got out of one of my weekend classes, Understanding Suicide. I know, completely unrelated to my major or minor, but definitely an interest of mine, understanding and preventing it, not suicide itself. Oh gee. I might go into more detail about this in another post, but it was a real eye opening experience. Some of the things people had experienced in that class... I know this sounds cliche, but it was deep. I feel more aware of things going on around me and that I have a new appreciation for life. Sounds odd saying that seeing as it was just a two day class. We also watched Seven Pounds. If you haven't seen it, I recommend watching it. I just really appreciate that class. I've been wanting to volunteer for Hope Line or something similar, and this class has given me a little more drive to do so.

I'm just so excited about this semester.
About all the things I'm doing for myself and to improve things in my life and prepare myself for the future.
About all the things I want to do for others.