Random updates
Jun. 30th, 2008 08:31 pmI haven't had a chance to post much lately, mainly due to being waay too busy to sit down and write about goings-on. Today I'm not feeling all that hot... except for brief bursts of activity my body is telling me that the best plan is to lie in the air-conditioned bedroom. So here I am.
I posted previously about helping Tam frantically salvage as much of her final project as we could so she could graduate already. We pulled it off :) Her graduation was this past Saturday, and then we un-installed the artwork on Sunday. This is why I missed Baitcon, continuing my perfect non-attendance streak. Ah well, as we used to say in Red Sox Nation "Maybe next year".
Business has gotten really slow at the shop. I can't *prove* it, but the downturn seems heavily correlated with gas topping $4/gal. Those of us in luxury businesses really feel the pinch. My reputation for giclee reproduction is spreading, though. I've picked up a few new giclee clients in recent months as each tells the next how good I am :)
Unfortunately, I still have to do technical contracting to pay the bills, and that's got me in a bit of a vicious circle... the tech stuff eats into the time and energy I would normally pour into promoting the shop, so the shop languishes requiring me to put *more* hours into contracting. I'm hoping that now that she's gradutated Tam can help out with the shop...
The kitties have issues of their own. Lunette seems to be hyperthyroid, and so far each of the medications we've tried has problems (the pills and the liquid are horrible on her digestive system, and the topical cream irritates her ears). Jasmine seems to have a cancerous mass in the chest, but they can't quite tell exactly what it is. They drained a lot of fluid out of the mass and she's feeling much better, but the biopsy was inconclusive.
Chorale is over for the year... much as I enjoy it, I'm glad to be rid of one more weekly obligation, at least for a while. I'm still playing the harp, though not practicing as much as I should. At the last Art Walk I was once again sitting outside my shop playing, but there was a lot of traffic noise and it was hard to hear me. Now I'm seeing if I can put together a brass quartet/quintet for the next one...
I'm hoping Tam and I can start to have lives again now that school is over. I, for one, need to get out more and connect with people.
We'll be at Readercon... anyone else going?
I posted previously about helping Tam frantically salvage as much of her final project as we could so she could graduate already. We pulled it off :) Her graduation was this past Saturday, and then we un-installed the artwork on Sunday. This is why I missed Baitcon, continuing my perfect non-attendance streak. Ah well, as we used to say in Red Sox Nation "Maybe next year".
Business has gotten really slow at the shop. I can't *prove* it, but the downturn seems heavily correlated with gas topping $4/gal. Those of us in luxury businesses really feel the pinch. My reputation for giclee reproduction is spreading, though. I've picked up a few new giclee clients in recent months as each tells the next how good I am :)
Unfortunately, I still have to do technical contracting to pay the bills, and that's got me in a bit of a vicious circle... the tech stuff eats into the time and energy I would normally pour into promoting the shop, so the shop languishes requiring me to put *more* hours into contracting. I'm hoping that now that she's gradutated Tam can help out with the shop...
The kitties have issues of their own. Lunette seems to be hyperthyroid, and so far each of the medications we've tried has problems (the pills and the liquid are horrible on her digestive system, and the topical cream irritates her ears). Jasmine seems to have a cancerous mass in the chest, but they can't quite tell exactly what it is. They drained a lot of fluid out of the mass and she's feeling much better, but the biopsy was inconclusive.
Chorale is over for the year... much as I enjoy it, I'm glad to be rid of one more weekly obligation, at least for a while. I'm still playing the harp, though not practicing as much as I should. At the last Art Walk I was once again sitting outside my shop playing, but there was a lot of traffic noise and it was hard to hear me. Now I'm seeing if I can put together a brass quartet/quintet for the next one...
I'm hoping Tam and I can start to have lives again now that school is over. I, for one, need to get out more and connect with people.
We'll be at Readercon... anyone else going?
no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 01:41 am (UTC)I completely get the economic woes and your vicious cycle and hope you work your way out of it soon.
Have you considered getting Lunette irradiated? It's a big expense all at once, but over a few years less expensive than the pills -- and very successful. I know a few vets who recommend not even trying the pills, but going straight to irradiation. Myrtle had it done and it cured her hyperthyroidism.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 03:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 02:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 06:04 am (UTC)