Coming round slowly

My birthday party this weekend was really wonderful. I was amazed by how many people showed up. Thank you to everyone for that. You made my day! Deborah offered to take all the pics, as we still haven't replaced the battery in our camera. [This will hopefully happen before we leave for Germany in 2 weeks] Max prepared an awesome food spread, including his famous onion torte, and Melissa made a gorgeous green spaceship cake. I am hoping to show images of this once she sends the pics she took at the party. Kate, the owner of Cafe Royale, provided delicious salmon with tartar sauce and a beautiful cookie tray. She is a generous woman to say the least.

The vibe was really chill and relaxing. People came and went, eating and drinking. It made me very happy. Interesting gifts included a Harley Davidson Encylopedia,a Mediterranean Fig Candle and an exquisite handknit hat from Deborah.

School is starting to feel a little better too. I was thrown for a bit of the proverbial loop with my candidacy review. I have been trying to sort through what I think happened in that meeting, and what I am going to do/show in the re-review in January. I think I needed to take some distance from school and just relax a bit. I've had some wonderful people to talk with about what it all means and how the work can return to the creative source that use to feed me. So many people were kind enough to lend an ear, do studio visits and offer some real advice. [You know who you are] I am really lucky to have the support network that exists in my life right now. I suppose, in the end, that is what grad school is all about.