Sunday, June 08, 2025

Summer 2025

I'm writing my first post in many years! A lot has changed, and a lot has stayed the same. I'm still doing graphic design, but I'm employed with a Federal job now. Our agency is focused on conservation, and it gives going to work every day meaning and purpose!

This year has had many adventurous moments already. A trip to Japan in the spring opened my eyes to how a very different and wonderful part of the world lives. It is very possible to walk many miles every day and consume less sugar in the desserts we eat! 

My good friend, Nikhil, and I started a Facebook group called The Friends of the Arts. Nearly every week we attend concerts, art openings, dance lessons, painting sessions, and just about anything else art-related in our community. I'm grateful for Nikhil, and our club has introduced us to many fellow art-lovers in the community. My good friend, Rebecca, and I started the Bizzo Art Club Facebook group. We've been meeting up for sketching, painting, and maybe even some ice cream!

Dancing: I continue to do Cardio Dance and Zumba classes at the Y. I'm happy Middle Eastern Dance performance practices have started. Time to shimmy! I really enjoy being outside in the summer and rehearsing for upcoming performances. It's so much fun dancing with fellow dance enthusiasts!



Sunday, August 21, 2022

Labor Day Camping Trip 2022

Our Labor Day Camping trip is coming up quickly! Although Shawna is moving for work, I am grateful we will continue our Labor Day camping trip adventures in the future.

Tuesday, August 09, 2022

Camping and Dancing!

Our plans have changed for our fifth annual Labor Day outing. Our group is considering Kemmerer, WY (Fossil Dig!) or a campground in Wisconsin. 

Our Middle Eastern Dance performance at Capital A’Fair was so much fun! Our next performance is at Urban Harvest week. We have another performance pending at Buckshot Junction on August! Lots of shimmying this summer.



Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Summer Plans 2022

Listening to: "Strike It Up" - Black Box

I'm excited for Summer 2022! I get to work for a new contractor in June: Clear Global Solutions, LLC. The benefits with this company look very promising. I will be teleworking/hybrid for most of the summer.

Memorial Day Weekend kicks off with a road trip to Fargo to attend Rachel and Al's wedding. I'm being accompanied by Nikhil! (I would be the Elaine Benes to his Jerry Seinfeld.) SO GRATEFUL he and I have remained friends. I'm happy we can drive to Fargo together and hopefully go to India Palace for supper before driving back to Bismarck.

Summer 2022 Activities: Medieval Rush training! Our Team this year will be made up of Nikhil, Steph, Corey, and myself! Training for myself will be eating/drinking healthy, #AMP 7+ Challenges per month at the YMCA, and jogs with Becca (and whoever else wants to jog with me.) Family will be visiting from Georgia, too! Can't wait to see my aunt and uncle! Summer will end with a Labor Day camping trip to the Michigan Upper Peninsula.

I plan to treat my friend, Nancy, to an ice cream cone at the DQ when the weather gets hot. The Fruity Blast Dipped Cone is rumored to taste like Fruity Pebbles! YUM!

Middle Eastern Dance practice for Summer 2022 performances start tonight. I will plan to perform at Capital A'Fair (and possibly BisMarket if opportunity arises.)



Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Sia

One of my all-time favorite musicians is Sia. Art and Wine nights at THEO Art School have brought me great joy. Here is a painting I did dedicated to Sia.



Friday, March 11, 2022

High School English Project Revisited

Listening to: Von Glitschka Vector Training Video

In the early 1990's, my Senior High School English teacher gave us an assignment. Our project was to write and illustrate a children's book. I was in heaven! I got to illustrate, write, and edit my own children's book! The local newspaper even did an article on a classmate and I hugging a tree since our book subjects both involved protecting the environment.

I'm revisiting this book and vectorizing one of the pages I drew over a decade ago. Thanks goes to All-free-download.com for free vectors that I added to my updated page.



Thursday, March 10, 2022

Holi: Festival of Colors

Listening to: Von Glitschka Vector Design Training

Holi has been intriguing to me ever since I went to a Color Splash Fun Dash race a few years ago. I think it would be amazing to go to a Holi festival in India or even here in the USA. The festival led to inspire me to design an illustration celebrating Holi today.

Every year, Holi celebration starts on the evening of Purnima that falls in the month of Phalguna, as per the Hindu calendar - which is in the middle of March according to the Gregorian calendar. This year, Holi will be celebrated on March 18, 2022.

Some delicious desserts to celebrate Holi can be found on: Madhu's Everyday Indian