Pressure, pressure, stress, pressure!

I was so wishy washy miss procrastinator over whether or not to send something into Somerset's Vintage Halloween challenge, I put it off to the last minute. So, I worked today knowing IF I got anything done, I would have to mail it overnight to them tomorrow as it is due Wednesday. I used to be the kind of girl, when given a research paper to do over the next 6 weeks would go home and start it and get it done 2 or 3 days after assigned. What on earth have I become? A procrastinator! I know very well some of you could just whip this out in a glorious few minutes. But you know me. Nope. I am slower than a turtle in molasses. I don't really like doing holiday art - seems so temporary to me and that's probably why I put it off. I spent half the day trying to figure out what to do, then the other half coloring it. It's a simple piece and may not get published for that reason but all the pictures were completely black and white, even the hats, and then hand colored by moi so it was intense work today . . .

Witches


copyright by Marsha Jorgensen 4/13/09
5 x 7 collage using all black and white pictures reprinted from the public domain, trimmed and hand-colored.

I got so tired of making decisions on it that I took polls on the background, which I now think is too simple. But, I did the best I could do today. I have some bodies and faces and hats left over so I may send in some single portraits too if I get them done tonight. I definitely missed the luxury of not having a deadline or a deadline I could put off.

Also to the stress of the day, even though we turned our tax stuff in over a month ago, as is usually the case year after year, we didn't hear from the accountant until today. I've been sweating bullets since last week. I do this sweating bullets stuff year after year because our accountant is rrrreeeaaalllllyyy good and specializes in the movie industry (where hubby works), so I just drink heavily (not really) around this time of year and live in a fog until we get the results and I can go mail the papers off. This year, I'll be sending a check for over $4000 along with those papers! HOLY CARP! (much nicer to say than crap). HOLY CRAP, I mean CARP! I budgeted around $1000. So, needless to say, it was hard to focus on art at all today. There is some good news. I quit my job in 2008 so next year we should get money back. Did I say HOLY CRAP already? Just in case, HOLY CRAP! All of my art is now going to be priced at an even $100 a piece. (just kidding)

Better news. It's only money. As hubby says, that's what a savings account is for. (though I argue it should be going up not down!) We have a roof over our heads and food to eat and everyone is pretty healthy. So I'll leave you with a free verse poem my daughter wrote today for school. It is about us moving our kids from their home of 15 years to here last May leaving behind best friends and boy friends.

It doesn't make the same sound
Out here isn't the same ground
I'm supposed to be there but I'm here
Where life isn't so clean and clear
I smile to cover up the endless tears
It's not the same "me" I see in the mirrors
That your forever can be changed in one day
And when it changes, it takes your breath and leaves you with nothing to say
It's hard to find the old any more
And in the new living, life seems like such a chore
But I'll smile and laugh through it even if it wears me down to the core
Because, I refuse to let change win and close the door
I'll throw it open and live my life
and fight the pain, longing, and strife
So, I'm gonna keep smiling to crush the sadness and the sorrow
Because, today's the day . . . I might not have a tomorrow.