Smooth Bubble Gum Font lowercase

After designing the CAPITALS for this True Type Font, creating the lowercase letters was much easier. It may have taken just as much time, but it seemed to flow better, probably because I had already created the desired style and didn't have to make several versions of each letter. 
I used Adobe Illustrator for each individual vectorized glyph, and then copied and pasted each one it into Font Creator. I also decided to change the font name to Smooth Bubble Gum after checking on dafont.com and seeing the same name.

A New Kidney and a New Life

And she's back. Well now that I have a new kidney I have time to get back to the things I love and missed.

The transplant was on February 3rd. 2019. It's been life altering. I have energy again. No
dialysis. And most of all I can go camping again. With peritoneal dialysis it just became too difficult to stay clean.

I've never been one for enjoying cleaning, but with this new found energy it's nice to have the ability to do mopping, sweepping, and bending down to pick things up off the floor.

Before the kidney disease was extreme I was walking 2-3 miles a day. I hope to get back to that again. Right now i'm just taking short walks down my quarter of a mile driveway.

With this new life I've also been doing more crafts and creating new works of art.

 

 Stars & bunnies

I've been doing a little paper mache to get a few decorations done around the house.
I'm keeping busy until I get start working again in July. The hope is to work at a local newspaper. Where I can do Graphic art, writing, and Editing.

It's been a bit of a journey, but as a familiar jingle states. "I"m loving it!"

Gingers Extinct By 2060?

Growing up as a Ginger was tough. At 13 years old being teased for the color of my hair, fair skin, and freckles was hard at the time. Living in California; Land of the Tan and Blonde, wasn't pleasant for a Ginger.  In my high school there was only about 4 other Gingers in the whole school. (and dying you're hair red wasn't big at the time.)

Being told to get a tan or that freckles made my skin look dirty were just a few of the comment that still to this day I hear from people. Okay, hear this people. Redheads don't tan! They burn! And for me when the burn peals off it's the same white skin underneath. Now days, I'm more than willing to tell people to F*** off when they feel the need to comment about my fare skin. But at 13 years old I didn't have half that courage to speak up.

You'd think that by now with all the skin cancer talk, people would wise up. As a Ginger I can even get burned from overcast. In the summer I slather SPF 50 on my skin daily. Beach outings usually require a hat, long sleeves, and pants.(Because having to put sunscreen on several times throughout the day can be slightly annoying. And even then there's a chance of burning.)

 I remember one experience while at a store a fellow Redhead came up to me. And with out a word from me she smiled and said, "Someday, you'll love your beautiful red hair." How she knew, I can only assume, she too likely grew up being teased about her hair also. Having a beautiful, vibrant haired, fair skinned woman encouraging me to accept what I viewed as cursed hair was a wake up call that years later would ring true.

Today, I am grateful for my red hair and fair skin. It's different and makes me stand out in a crowd. As a teenager I wanted to blend in and couldn't, but as an adult I have no desire to blend in. Being different makes people remember me at a interview, or in a crowd I'm easily found. Also 4 of my children had red highlights in their hair which was the cutest thing on a kid.

Recently, I heard it was suggested that redheads will be extinct by the year 2060. Less and less Gingers are being born. I hope that this doesn't happen, because redheads remind us visually of one thing, be different. Whether the public realizes it or not, redheads teach people about acceptance and being unique is about accepting our true selves.

Simplifying for now...

With the kids off for summer break I've had to make a few changes. Instead of writing on both blogs. I'll only be posting on one blog each week. I'll be switching between the two blogs for now. At least until September when school is back in session. Go to

ReGeneration Series: Deleted Scenes, Untold Stories, and Character History for a current blog post.

Family Drama: Choosing to be Happy instead of Being Right

Everyday we make a choice whether we're aware of it or not. Most people, myself included have fallen into a repetitive trap we struggle to get out of, once we've realized we're in it. The trap is deciding that we're right, no matter the consequences. Being right or being happy is that trade off.


The way I've fallen into this trap is with my siblings. As a 37 year old woman, time and time again I find myself unable to handle being around them. Growing up in a large family as one of the youngest I have always struggled to be heard. (Probably why I'm a writer.) Being told to shush or grow up by my older sibling has been the norm for me. However, in the last seven years I have begun to speak up and stand my ground to be heard.

Unfortunately, it's come at a price. I've been labeled as a trouble maker. Instead of listening to the little sister who's now not afraid to speak up a full blown war has begun. The sibling rivalry has changed into an all our battle for power. Party because I won't cower to them any longer and partly because I allowed them to dominate over me for far too long.

I realize I created my situation by allowing them to speak for me at family meetings and functions. Not saying anything when I don't agree with their views or keeping quiet instead of standing up when criticism was given. Usually, I would suppress any of the anger I was feeling towards them. Seven years ago for reasons unknown to me I no longer could suppress it any longer. Instead of dealing with it in a healthy way I began exploding and leaving bitter feeling of resentment all over. So, now being aware of the problem and want things to change.  I now have to find a better path for myself.

As you already know I believe in change and with that change I've decided I don't need to be right, I'd rather be happy. In order to make a difference I'm moving forward and learning better coping skills for dealing with family members. Especially, the control freaks who feel they need to tell me how to live. I don't like being controlled, which stems from being in an abusive first marriage. (Only around some, do I get sucked down into this negative and toxic cycle of destructive behavior.)

In my family there are only three who are the big hitters, who are the dominating ones, that must be right at all costs. The rest of the siblings are willing to listen and take others feelings into account. Realizing this I know that for now I'll have to stay away from them until I've learned some very strong coping skills. 

Instead of dealing with the hard hitting family members, I'm going to work with those that are less contentious and troubling. Baby steps. The progress will most likely be slow and bumpy, but I'm willing to try. I'm not expecting everything to be prefect or that we'll all end hugging it out, but we may start building some  boundaries that we can work with.

Families can bring so much drama and heartache. Since I'm on this journey right now, I would love to know how others out there have learned how to deal with family drama. What are the skills that have worked? How would you handle family contention?

Guest Spot Jamie McCormick

Today's blog is inspired by another type of rebel. Jami McCormick is a creative strategist whose blog Jamiemacthinks.blogspot.com is an inspiring reminder that encouragement is a beautiful gift anyone can give and actually showing it to others can prove to be productive. 

  

Get Your Encouragement & Validation On

In jest, I mashed up a couple lines from The Birdcage for a Facebook post yesterday: “Is it too much to ask for one hint of encouragement, one scrap of validation?” In all sincerity I was kidding.  I was met with two types of responses: Jokes and serious advice and concern for my need for support. Okay, after I had a good laugh – I took a moment to pause and think about our innate human need for encouragement and validation. I have no answer as to why we need it and I am not willing to seek out research to support that statement. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

Most of us with some modicum of a soul have a need for said encouragement and validation. It doesn’t matter if it is for an academic achievement, professional stone stepping or what what’s from our partner. We need it. It is important to communicate with the people around you when you recognize what they are doing or what they mean to you. With my kids, for instance, no matter how much they try to drive me to the brink of mental destruction, when they do something good or need a reminder that they are loved – I dish it out family style.

In a professional capacity, I make it a point to give credit where credit is due. I think it is safe to say that most of us feel like we work way too hard for what we earn, so professional kudos are exceptionally important. Even our friends, family and random strangers need a boost now and again. The key is to learn when it is needed. If you say to someone every day, “You’re doing a great job,” as you pass by their workspace without noticing what it is they are actually doing, it becomes disingenuous and let’s face it, meaningless. There’s a little bit of work involved in recognizing the need for accolades and acknowledgement in others. It’s called being engaged in the process.

Blowing smoke up someone’s proverbial arse isn’t going to help anyone; it will eventually make you look like a clueless idiot. So, how do we become engaged in the process of encouraging and validating the people in our sphere? Most important is opening up some dialogue and listening. Talk to the people around you, figure out what they are doing – follow their progress (not like a stalker, just pay attention). If your BFF is posting her progress as she works toward a fitness goal on Facebook, read her posts. You don’t have to respond to each one but when you do; give up well thought out words of encouragement.

Now, we all know I don’t give out relationship advice publicly; it’s just not my forte. I will say this about that though, especially in an increasingly visible society, where our laundry both dirty and clean may end up being seen by hundreds if not thousands and millions of curious eyes– for crying out loud, let the person in your life know they mean more to you than some semi-anonymous individual hailing from the Cloud. I have several friends complaining about this very thing. It just isn’t that hard to say somebody means something to you without making a public display of it. Mind you, I am someone who even after being in a relationship for a year and a half never changed my status on my Facebook. I’m sure there was a little subconscious sting in that for my partner. I learned my lesson and may do different if a next time rolls around.

To bring this thing to a close, this week I am going to do a better job of recognizing when someone near me needs a pat on the back or just a nod to their importance in my life. For you, maybe you will pick one or two people that you can offer some validation and/or encouragement to. Open up your listening ears and focus those reading eyes. Get engaged in what the people around you need. Believe it or not, that goodness will come back to you tenfold. Best for a week of being the support in someone else’s life and feeling good about the contribution you make to their successes.

Life Lessons from the Wash

Today was my oldest's high school graduation. I guess I should be sentimental about the mile stone, but then again that wouldn't be me. Don't get me wrong I'm grateful for all the work she's set forth and for all she's accomplished in her life, but talking about the way she use to be isn't really my style. For me it's about enjoying the moment.

Of course, I think about the fact that she use to be a kid, but dwelling on it and mourning it like it's a loss isn't my way of living. I raised her to be independent. From the age of 5 my children start doing their own laundry. It may sound extreme, but it's been my experience that they do it well even at such a young age. Separating their clothes into piles, having them fill the washer is all part of the process. (Typically, I help with the measuring of the soap and spotting the stains, until they're use to it.) Switching the clothes from the washer to the dryer and folding them is also sanctioned as their job.

I think having them start so young has also makes them feel comfortable with accomplishments. Yes, even laundry can teach a child a few things about life.

Lesson 1: If you want something done, do it yourself. If your clothes are dirty, get up and clean them. This can also translate into being in control of your own life. How it turns out is completely up to yourself. 

Lesson 2: Mistakes are inevitable. Over filling the washer, missing a stain on a shirt, or dying your white underwear pink, cause it got washed with your new shirt, can be teaching moments. ( I did this in 6th grade.) Lucky for me, dying my undies wasn't too tragic, but learning to live with pinkish underwear was my reminder, taking a little extra time, just to be safe, is always worth the effort.

Lesson 3: Knowing you have, the know how. Sometimes, when we don't think we can, we find out, we really can. Showing them how to do it on their own can lead them towards trying something new on their own.  For me, knowing I'm crafty has helped me try several different projects. The latest was gluing a tear in a leather couch, after hearing how expensive it would be to repair. (cough, cough) And having accomplished so much in the past like; laying some bricks, build a corsage, and mending a torn sweater all helped me realize that fixing a couch wasn't so far out of my comfort zone.

I feel even the smallest life lessons, like children doing their own laundry or having a cooking night (another one, we regularly implement around here.) can be some of the simplest ways we teach our children about the bigger world beyond home life.