November 2018

I didn't really have a lot to say in last month's blog, and the same is true for November too, but here's what I have, anyway.
With the festive season approaching, my job has been crazy busy (especially the madness that was Black Friday) and in all honesty I've had a bit of a tough time with it lately. However, I am still on the hunt for another job, just got to keep on with that, as always.
This month also marked my third year celebrating Thanksgiving - it was a very relaxed and mostly quiet one, me and my wife spent time watching the parade on telly, followed by a meal and a good game of 500 rummy at the in-laws'.
Something I've done rarely with this blog is to pass on music, old or new, that I'm really into at the moment, usually because it doesn't occur to me. However this month there is one song I've been listening to a lot, "Love It If We Made It" by The 1975 - it's rare to hear a current sounding song that actually addresses subjects that really matter, as well as being not too shabby musically, either. Give it a listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnLxhG3pD10 (WARNING: explicit lyrics.)
As always, I'll leave you with some artwork - this one being a reminder that just because I don't live in the UK anymore, it doesn't mean I can't still celebrate Bonfire Night.
I hope my American followers enjoyed their Thanksgiving - it's almost hard to believe that when my next blog comes around, it will be Christmas, not to mention the end of 2018. See you then.

November 2017

To say that this November has been nowt short of busy is an understatement.
I've been working at my job for two months now, and even in that time I still haven't got every single thing figured out, as with any job there are days that I wish I wasn't there (and don't feel like I'm all there!) and as I said last month, I'm not a fan of the constantly changing schedule, and I never will be. However, it's keeping me busy, and I still find myself surprised how decent I seem to manage dealing with customers at the cashier. It's helping me a bit, that's for sure.
The main reason this month has been so busy for me and my wife is because of the move. With lots of back and forth between our old place in North Haven and the new place, much packing up, and tons of help from the family (cannot thank you all enough!), it's taken some doing, and while it's been stressful at certain times (what move isn't?), the new house is really looking like home now, and needless to say we both love it. We started living at the house officially on November 24. I also want to mention that getting to work from the new place is much quicker for both of us, and in my case, I get to ride my bike there instead of waiting for a bus. It certainly makes a difference.
I can't talk about November and not mention Thanksgiving - this year was only my second time celebrating it. I still find it funny that a couple of years ago it was just a regular day for me, but that's how it was in the UK of course. To be honest, this Thanksgiving wasn't so great, because most of it was spent working on organising stuff at the new house (it was the only day off we had together however, so it was the only real chance to get the bulk of the work done), and both me and my wife felt that we didn't really spend a lot of time with the family that day, which is what it's all about for us. However, we got to watch the parade, and we still got to eat dinner as a family, and as little time as it was, it was still good to be there.
I admit, on a partly lower note, that lately because of everything going on, my motivation to make artwork has been very low. Writing the next F&S comic has ground to a halt, and when I do sit down to work on something, it feels like a chore. I also keep worrying that I simply just might not have the time to make arts anymore, which I know is total rubbish. I have wondered now and in the past if I should take a hiatus from making any arts, but then I remind myself that I should make art while I still have the ability too (and I mean that as in physically able to - not getting any younger!), as well as the fact that people enjoy it, and I really appreciate that those of you do, do. You know who you all are.
I'll sign off with some Thanksgiving themed artwork - to my American followers, hope yours was a good one, and to everyone else, ditto. Let's see what the festive season brings.

November 2016

Quite a lot happened this November, the least of which was the temperatures plummeting of course.

I'm sure most people reading this will be aware of the big political event that happened this month, as it was all over the news - but I'm not going to dwell on it, because quite frankly anything political angers and depresses me. All I will say on the subject is that it is not worth destroying friendships with someone because of who they voted for - we are all human after all. So please, just do yourselves a favour and let it go. Life is too short.

On a more personal note, I had some sad news earlier this month - a friend of mine from back in the UK passed away. She was an elderly woman who was friends with my grandma, and who me and my brother became friends with when we were kids. I used to go and visit her a lot and keep her company, as she lived alone. Sadly her health began to decline a few years ago, however I still went to visit her and also helped her by doing food shopping for her once or twice a week. It was especially hard saying goodbye to her just before I moved to the US last December, because I had a feeling there and then that it would probably be our last goodbye - with her passing, I feel like a part of my past passed on with her, along with all the memories she had of her own life - however, I can find comfort in knowing that we were able to do say our goodbyes, and that she's not in pain anymore.

November had some better moments though - for the very first time, I got to take part in the annual American tradition that is Thanksgiving. I spent it with my lovely wife and her family, we had dinner (albeit without the traditional Thanksgiving turkey), played a very lively game of 500 Rummy, and got to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade on telly, complete with all the colourful parade floats. It was pretty enjoyable on the whole.
I also got that good news from immigration that I'd been waiting for - my permanent residency has been approved! It took long enough (11 months!), but it's now there and black and white, I am now a legal alien. I should be getting my resident ID card in the next three weeks, and then the next step will be to get a social security number - and then I can finally start applying for jobs. Not gonna lie, I'm very nervous about that, but then again who wouldn't be? It's long overdue.

As always, I'll leave you with some artwork - inspired by watching the Thanksgiving parade, I doodled up my monster character Greenie as a parade balloon. And while I'm on the subject of artwork, I decided to create my own separate Facebook page for my artworks (thanks again to my good friend Shane for help with that.), if you want to check it out, you can find it right here at BluebottleFlyer Arts.

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving, even if you're outside of the US - till next time.