UPDATE 2/7/10:
So I am going to Chicago this Wednesday-Saturday for the College Art Association annual international conference. I am so very stoked. It will be nice to get away from this house that is so saturated with memories, many of them, lately, very sad.

My Godson got a webcam so I get to talk to AND see him every weekend. It's marvelous.

It's been an interesting year regarding my circle of friends. I retain several best friends of many years and make a point to clear my schedule for them in evenings. I have voluntarily severed ties with one friend who had simply become someone alien, someone other than the person I met and cherished, and upon glancing at her journal here, she has finally removed me from her friends list as well; hopefully this means she will move on and we can peacefully live our lives apart. The funny and sad thing is that it has come to light that she found it intolerable to remain close to me because a mutual friend she had once been in love with told her he found me attractive. This man has asked me out basically every week in the past six months and I always. Say. No to him. And I always would have. And I always will. It's too bad my friend underestimated my loyalty and common sense (the guy is a total player) when she and I were close. But that is in the past now. And I am progressive, not retrospective.

I have made many new friends, one of whom lives in my hometown of Cincinnati and has been such an incredible blessing to me. I have retained other friends who are swiftly becoming new best friends. And I have a weekly film group full of fellow PhD students whom I love. My social scenario is very different than it was four years ago when I moved to Cleveland, but it is unanimously better.

I have recently learned a few things about some of these new friends, occasionally quite painfully, but I still value that pain because it gives me better insight into what makes them tick. I am calm, rational, and straightforward in my dealings with friends when we have a conflict. I hope that this behavior is reciprocated, both to my face and otherwise, in the future, because these are friends I deeply value and don't want to become alienated from.

My home sitch is still crap. I have a lot to be thankful for, but also a lot that hurts. My family still needs your prayers and I still need your patience. My mom is just a sad and devastated person who needs some kind of new purpose in her life to survive. Please pray she finds it.

I am writing my dissertation prospectus. It is going well. Very well. In fact the unfortunate side effect is upper classmen and colleagues are giving me flack, taking every opportunity to haze me and assure me of my naivety, and openly admitting to me that they are jealous that I am ABD at age 26 when they are still not done with the degree in their mid-30's. I don't understand why so many people hold that against me. I'm not some kind of prodigy. All I did was work my ass off and not take time off for a job. I am not a genius, I just work REALLY hard. That is nothing to be jealous of. Believe me, I am no one to envy. I wish people could just treat me like "one of the guys" instead of setting me apart.

*****************************************

This may be the nicest pair of things anyone's ever said to me.

1) From one of my students:

Amber,

Thank you so much for your support with the fundraising. That was so generous of you. It's been so wonderful knowing you because, since my diagnosis, I haven't been able to find any like-minded people dealing with chronic illness or MS. It's been a huge blessing talking to you about the struggles of MS, or Diabetes. There are things, as you know, that just can't be communicated to someone who isn't experiencing that daily fight. Sometimes talking to my "healthy" friends (for lack of a better term) about my MS can be like talking in two different languages. And then there's the other struggle, which is trying to connect with people who have your disease but may not be ANYTHING like you! That's been my issue. When I have met others with MS, it hasn't been a terribly positive experience and I end up feeling almost more alienated. It's been amazing to know there is someone I can relate to!

On top of it all you are such a positive and generous person in your everyday life. I can tell you how much my fellow first-years were grateful that you were the Methods TA. You made our experience in that class EXPONENTIALLY more positive! And you were constantly reminding us of the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm so glad that you are getting your PhD because I think the field (both art historical, and educational) needs SO many more people like you. You will be an invaluable addition to the often narcissistic art historical community, or any community for that matter.

Thanks for giving me hope, both professionally and personally. You are a gift to everyone you know.

Love,

A***

2) From my Godson:

Like stars that shine in the heavens,
A godmother's endless love
Lights the way for her godchild,
As the Lord gives a nod from above.
She was choosen [sic] because of her goodness,
And too for her gentle side,
But also because her godchild
Could view her with love and pride.
For she is a perfect example
Of all that a person should be
A kind and caring guardian,
Standing by for eternity.
Love,
Hunter.

Wow.
************************************
Rest in peace beloved collie Autumn Song, 1996-2010, who is running free in the rolling hills of heaven right now.

Please pray for and family, who have recently suffered the loss of a 16-year-old family member. Thanks.
**********************************
[link] <-- Please go here BEFORE POSTING ABOUT MY ART if you are new to my gallery.

IRL friends

Online friends:

Online artists whose galleries I recommend: :

Co-founder of: (No longer active but please visit for lovely art archives )

**Club member of: **
SLAYERS: [link]

INUYASHA: [link] (Contributor)

HARRY POTTER: [link]

SHERLOCK HOLMES RELATED: :

StH:

FURUBA:

DISABILITY AWARENESS: