Foxy-Lady-Jacqueline

G'Day!

When I typed "Lost In Space" as my journal entry, I am not referring to the retro television series nor the movie that came out in the 1990's. When I refer to "Lost In Space", I am stating that I have been gone from DeviantArt for so long that I might as well have been somewhere in the realms of deep interstellar space. I realize that my last journal entry was more than a year ago. I have a lot of catching up to do on this site. For the longest time, I had forgotten my password and it wasn't until today that it suddenly clicked in my memory. I see that this site has changed, whether for better or worse. I wonder who is still on here (that I knew when I used to be on DA from 2005-2009). 

I still haven't drawn a single thing since 2009. Will it ever come back to me? Who knows? In a world of constant digi-this and digi-that, it seems traditional art no longer has a place. I miss traditional art. I love those who still use traditional mediums. Don't get me wrong: I am not bashing those who prefer digi-art. I enjoy so much of it. All of you are so talented! However, traditional art will always have a place in my heart and I prefer it over digi. I've noticed a lot traditional artists have gone digi. Has the whole world become digitized? 

I haven't continued on my novel either. Last time I worked on it was 2010.

It is rather difficult to work on any art or writing when life has become busy. Ever since grad school (January 2010-May 2012, which kept me incredibly busy) and my job as a Code Enforcement Officer (which I have been doing since April of 2012, working 10 hour shifts), I find myself doing other things instead of my old hobbies. I do miss drawing at times. I especially miss writing. (I need to finish that silly little novel, that way I get let a former English professor read it.) At least I am still into one hobby, which is making costumes. (I've been doing that since 2003, for those of you new to me.) Last year was Steampunk (at WildWildWest Con in Tucson, AZ, and had three outfits), two comic cons (both in Albuquerque, NM, which I have been both Jedi and Sith - so I've made Star Wars costumes), and the Arizona Renaissance Festival (I was British Royalty - circa 1520, like Henry VIII's 2nd wife, Anne Bolyen - one day and a Scottish lass the other day.) Earlier this year, I made two more Steampunk outfits (one of my Madam J dresses and a military airship cadet the next day) and once again, the AZRF (where I was a barbarian one day - that outfit was so much fun to make, and I want to eventually upgrade it with armour - and a bellydancer the next). James (my life partner of 5 years & 3 months) also makes costumes and attends all these events with me. We also went to the Santa Fe Renaissance Fair (here in NM), and I once again wore my 1520 gown while James with an early 1600's mercenary. The 2nd day I wore my belly dancer outfit again (and upgraded version).

Upcoming events for 2015 is the AZRF once again (we love it so much!) and I am going as a fairy/fae. (I"m not sure what James will wear.) I have to wear something comfy because guess what? I am pregnant. Yes, that's right. Today I am at 16 weeks and 1 day. I've been very calm and Zen-like about the whole thing. I never wanted children but some things are just meant to be. James is thrilled (he's always wanted children). It helps when your life partner is happy about it. So, because of that fact, come next February, I will not be able to fit into my RenFair outfits, which is why I am going to be a fairy (easy to make and comfortable). For WildWildWest Con, I'm going to make an Edwardian dress. Edwardian dresses (particularly in the 1910-1912 time frame) had empire waistlines, so that will be comfortable for me come this March, when I'll be ever bigger! My life is changing once again but I have always embraced change. (Except digi-art. Just kidding! ) 

I will do my best to visit the galleries of those I interacted with. For those that are new to me, I will have to visit your galleries as well.

I hope someday that inspiration will strike me once again and I can get back to drawing. Those Copic Markers have been sitting in storage since 2009. I hope they haven't dried out! *Eek*

J.E.McNeese

Greetings!
I am well aware that I have not frequented this site in a very long time. Almost two years have passed by since I was last active on DA. Grad school had kept me rather busy from January 2010 to May 2012. It was well worth it in the end, for I obtained my Masters in Criminal Justice & Chemical Dependency on May of 2012. Just the thought of being done with the university (and school in general) brings forth a whirl of delightful emotions within me.

2012 was a very fortunate and kind year to me. I landed a job in April of 2012 as a Code Enforcement Officer. The fact that I was hired a month before I graduated was such a joy. Being able to have a constant bi-weekly paycheck is such an added plus. Being a Code Enforcement Officer for the town has a lot of great benefits. I also have my own office and town vehicle as well; it's wonderful. It's a thankless job, people get angry at me & the lead officer, and we have to deal with people complaining about the most preposterous things and telling on their neighbors, but I am not doing my job to make friends with the citizens of the town. All we ask for is voluntary compliance. (In a way, it's sad that we have to tell people to clean up their trash and debris, cut their weeds, getting rid of or hide wrecked/dismantled/inoperable vehicles, etc., etc., etc. Adults should be responsible in the first place. But hey, it's job security!) It's a type of job where one must have humour or else it would drive somebody up the wall and leave one stressed. (The lead officer has stated that I handle stress extraordinarily well and have a sort of poker face when it comes to emotions, which is good for the job. It probably helps that I see humour is mostly everything.) I find it an interesting job. I work 10 hours a day. By the time I get home, there are household chores to be done (dishes, vacuum, etc.), shower, taking care of my plants & trees, and making dinner. It leaves hardly any time for hobbies.

Speaking of which, I still have yet to continue drawing. I do not feel compelled to force myself to something I am not very passionate about anymore. I know that must sound awful, especially since I loved doing artwork. I do not believe I am not going to get better at my art, so there isn't a point to keep continuing. To be completely honest with everybody, I actually feel free not drawing anymore. I have discovered that I drew to escape reality. However, when things turned around in my life and are going well for once, I do not have a need for an escape. Who knows. Perhaps one day I will attempt at drawing again. There are times I do miss it. However, I'd need a whole month off to be able to motivate myself and get into again. (Which would be rare, since I only have 2 days off in a year.) I do have ideas in my head, but they have yet to make it on paper. I have not even worked on my novel. Of course, I'd love to finish it, but in reality I know that I do not have time to write when there are others things in life that take priority. Perhaps someday I will finish it. That would be a great accomplishment. For the time being, I shall do my best to frequent this site more often and check out everybody's artwork. I have a lot of catching up to do.

I have gotten back to costuming. I find myself very lucky to be with a man who likes costuming as well. James & I have been together for a little over 3 1/2years. We have always dressed up for Halloween, but recently James got into Steampunk, which is a total treat for me, since I got into Steampunk years ago. I've always wanted to dress up for the Steampunk subculture, but never knew anybody who was into it. However, James discovered it a few months ago and thought it would be great to put together a Steampunk outfit. This past January, we attended Albuquerque Comic Con and went in our own Steampunk designs & as Jedi. I haven't been to a convention since 2007. This past weekend we just got back from WildWildWest Con (a Steampunk convention) in Tucson, Arizona. That was a lot of fun & it was great meeting other Steampunk folks. They are really friendly people & it was wonderful to see that it was mostly adults….even adults in their 70's were dressed up. The best was being able to see Abney Park (amazing!) and the League of S.T.E.A.M. (great folks). We also attend the Arizona Renaissance Festival as well. (Shoot, when else can I wear a 1520's Tudor Era gown?) We attended the "Pirate Invasion " weekend a few weeks ago. It's great to be in a relationship with somebody who has a lot of similar interests (we do not deny we are total nerds) and it just keeps getting better. He introduced me to Dr. Who (I LOVE that show), Battlestar Galactica (too awesome), and Dead Like Me. James bought a house in July 2011 and I moved in with him in September 2011. I started my own garden, which is a challenge, for the land here is harsh & dry. I love my plants & trees. There's also a neighborhood ghost that frequents my house as well, but that's a whole other story. (In fact, the whole community experiences really weird and paranormal b.s. The place has a lot of history to it.) It's still a nice community, a few miles out of town. Everybody keeps their homes and yards very tidy. We were lucky to get a house with an extra bathroom, a dining room addition, a patio, a courtyard, and an enclosed garage.

That's about it. I hope everybody is doing well and that you are living a fortunate life.

J. E. McNeese

Hello!

I just realized that I have have not been on DeviantArt for over a year. I figured I would update my journal, for the last one was from January of 2010.

First things first, I am not coming back to Deviant Art to update anything. I am not going to submit any artwork. (Notice I have not done so for over a year?) I gave up on artwork as soon as I started graduate school (which was January of 2010). I just do not feel inspired or the need to continue it. I do not have an interest in it. I know this may come as a surprise to many, but that is how life is. I enjoyed artwork while I did, but it serves absolutely no purpose for me anymore. I do not have a desire to draw anymore. Perhaps, in the future, if I feel like it, I might. But for not, it's not something I want to do at the moment.

I have other important things in life to consider about. Finishing grad school (a.k.a. getting a Masters degree, for those of you who do not know what grad school is) is my priority. I have a year left. Come May 2012, I will have a Masters in Criminal Justice and Chemical Dependency. This past semester (Spring 2011, which ended two weeks ago for me) was a great experience for me. It was challenging and kept me incredibly busy the entire time, but was worth it, for I did an internship with Adult Probation & Parole. I absolutely love it and it is a career I want to continue once I get my Masters. (Yes, I worked with criminals and felons. If you want to know more about this career, please ask.)

I am still in the same great relationship with the Army-veteran & police officer. Our focus is finding & buying a house in the near future. I am not sure when this will happen, but I have not pushed the subject. We have the most easy-going, relaxed, laid-back, and independent relationship. We do not force anything on each other. We take things as it comes. So far, so great. I met his parents and family back in September 2010, in Texas and Arkansas. It was great. I got along with his family perfectly & vice versa. Not an ackward moment. I never expected one, anyway. My boyfriend's parents are visiting our area in just a few days. I look foward to seeing them again. This upcoming September, I'll be going with my boyfriend again to TX & ARK like last year. I already can't wait for what this summer brings.

So yes, a true career and a potential future home is what is important to me at the moment. I am not going to delve into more details about how busy my life has been since January 2010. Remember how I mentioned I was working on a novel? Well, I haven't had time for that either. Last time I touched that thing, I was at 250+ pages, but that was last summer. (Yikes! I hadn't realized I haven't worked on it for almost a year.) I'd love to finish it.  I love my story...I just need to work on it and finish it. When will that be? I haven't a clue. Like I've mentioned, I need to concentrate on grad school. I'm taking a summer class next month (in June).

I hope things are going well for everybody else.

Jacqueline McNeese