Losing Maria.....

She said it was on her mind for a while.

To me it was a rash decision, especially since she has two children and no other job lined up. But she seemed to clash with Corporate a lot recently and got paid very little for all she had to do.

I can completely sympathize with that.

Our assistant store manager at the arts-and crafts store gave her two-weeks notice. Today was her last day.

I reported directly to her and together we made a GREAT team!

We attended the same art college (though at different times) and we'd often discuss all the men that have played with our hearts.

I considered her a friend at work and hopefully now, one outside of work too.

She's struggling with the unknown right now and going through a difficult time so I wanted to make her something.

Here's the painting I did just for her.....

"Maria's Freedom"

Mixed media on canvas - 8" x 8" x 1 1/2" (NFS)

Since she has a passion for our store I wanted to use items we sell:. the rhinestones, decorative paper, glitter (of course!), and paints.

It made the finished painting a fine art/craft hybrid. I've always done one or the other and this is the first time merging the two styles.

::: Close-up detail :::

Hopefully in the weeks ahead it can bring some comfort (and sparkle!) to her.

She advanced several times within our store over a two-year period and I know she's resourceful enough to do it again elsewhere.

Fly free, Maria!

One day I'll get to escape from there too.....

Coming out of hibernation.

They've lost before they even started.

Loud and vulgar, they put the "o" in obnoxious.

They're the bane of my existence during baseball season.

Drunk. Cubs. Fans.

Opening Day started at the beginning of this month and these inebriated fools have come out of hibernation.

They usually are seen between the afternoon and early evening so tread with caution.

You can spot them by their smurf blue and fire engine red outfits. They love to shout obsenities and reek of alcohol as they stumble by.

Forget fiery pits where you're poked and prodded for all eternity, I'm convinced now more than ever that hell is being trapped on a crowded train packed with drunk Cubs fans.

They've been filling up all available seats on the ride into the city during game days. Already in a drunken stupor before the game even starts, they openly drink beer on the train like it's water.

Trying to make sense of their conversations while I commute to and from work is like trying to communicate with a rock...that's been smashed with a sledgehammer.

I can't believe I have to put up with this shit for the next six months.

The Cubs usually lose early on though so hopefully this baseball season will be short for them and these losers can go back to whatever bar(s) they were conceived at.

Pray for me!

Wordless Wednesday - "Please stand by ME" (Van Buren Street Train Station)

Endure.

Endure v. 1. To carry on despite hardships. 2. To suffer patiently without yielding.

Going to sleep is all I can think of.

I don't want to do yet another work-is-wearing-me-down post but here it is.

I had to work several mornings at the crafts store this week in addition to my university job late at night. I got about five hours sleep (or less) each day, four nights in a row.

I'm sleep-deprived but determined.

All I can do is push onward and pray to God this will pay off in the end, someway, otherwise I'll be suffering for nothing.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get up for work in about five hours and can no longer think straight.

But I mustn't fall just yet.

I. Must. Endure.

Magic paper!

From the corner of my eye I saw them.

Twinkling at me as I'd walk past....almost as if saying hello. Mesmerizing me with their sparkling color.

One perk of working at an arts-and-crafts store is getting to see all the new merchandise before anyone else.

We've gotten a lot of specialty papers in lately.

Glitter paper in even more colors than before.

Metallic mirror paper in red, blue, purple, silver, and gold.

And best of all, prismatic paper, which when tilted back and forth appears to move!

You read that right.

Paper. That. Moves.

Whoa!!

I was worried some weirdo would snatch them all up (our store only orders small batches at a time) so I went ahead and bought almost the entire supply!

All mine!

When I showed my coworkers all these wonderful papers they asked what I was going to do with them.

I don't know just yet but it WILL come to me. And when the idea hits I'll be armed, ready, and fully stocked!

Let the magic begin!

Wordless Wednesday - Juliet of Verona (in the rain) at Navy Pier