As I said before, there has been a great dealing of planning and scheming taking place inside my head. My brain has been working overtime for the past few weeks, day and night alike. My subconscious has sent me signs and symbolic dreams and every opportunity feels like its been handed to me on a silver platter. The week of my car accident my Free Will Horoscope said, “Here’s a preview of the accomplishments I expect you to complete in the next four weeks. Number of karmic debts paid off and canceled: 1. Number of bad habits replaced with good habits: 2. Number of holes blasted in your theory about why you can’t do more of what you love to do: 300. Number of “necessities” lost that turn out not to be necessities: 1. Number of psychic wounds successfully medicated: 1. Number of confusing messes that evolve into interesting opportunities: 2. Number of romantic obstructions eliminated: 1 and a half. ” But let’s not get carried away. Just this week I went to a Japanese restaurant and the fortune in my cookie said, “There are coincidences.” I will say that whether or not I believe in horoscopes or fortunes or dream symbols, they have certainly had an affect on my overloaded brain of late.

After realizing just how dangerous everyday life can be, I’ve decided replace one risk with another. No, I’m not going to buy a new car. Brian and I have been talking for a year and a half about going on a big sailing trip to the Caribbean and we have set a departure date for the end of hurricane season, which is around November 1st. Brian still has some work to do on the boat, and I still have some sailing practice to get in first! However, in addition to this, I have also decided that I do want to go back to school for my MFA in visual arts at some point in the next year or two. In order to apply to schools in the fall, I first need to compile a portfolio, something I have been trying to work towards for about a year now but is exceptionally hard to accomplish while working full time. There is just not enough time in the day.

I’ve been saving hard for about a year and a half, and with a small amount of savings security, have decided to quit my job in an effort to pursue my dreams of becoming an artist. Yep, that’s right. I will be working on my portfolio and developing my own line of screen-printed shirts for the rest of the summer. I am optimistic, but know that realistically this will take a great deal longer than three months (hopefully not the portfolio part). I will be happy to get the groundwork laid for future screen-printing endeavors and hopefully have an awesome portfolio to show for it.

In the meantime, I will probably take some part-time work downtown or freelance if I can manage, so that I can ride my bike to work and break even on my living expenses. Brian and I will be looking into some traveler’s insurance (catastrophic coverage) and cutting our living expenses down to the absolute bare minimum, although it pretty much already is. I know the risks and am a little bit nervous considering the economy, but I have always found that pushing myself and placing myself in unpredictable situations makes me a stronger person in the long term. It sure won’t be easy, but I am pretty darn excited about all of the possibilities.

I will also be spending some more time on the blog, so you may see some changes in the next couple of weeks. You will be hearing much more about all of this in future posts; I’ll certainly keep you updated. I am hoping to make this site a little more of a resource and a source of inspiration for me and anyone else who is interested.

Happy Saturday! (and please wish me luck)