Rounds: August + September 2022

Hello Hello and salutations once again everyone!

It has been absolute madness for the last two months.  Genuinely, just bonkers.  XD
Last we left off, convention crunch was starting, and the looming dread of juggling it, Patreon, the kids' school starting, and sickness was looking intimidating.  

And dreadful is an accurate term for how much I crunched all that. XD

I dredged up all shortcuts I possibly could for the convention, while still doing something new.  I had an MHA pic that had been sitting on the shelf for 3 years now.  Dust that off, finish that.  Semi-abstract Evangelion piece?  Hell yeah.  Genshin charms?  Done and done.  Bonus Bojji and Anya?  Done!  Guys, I pulled out every half finished project I could, and I still didn't get stickers done.  XD  But the big one...the shoujo piece?

It was madness, but it's complete!  And you guys, through all of this, being amazingly patient, awesome, and supportive; all of you tried so hard to get things to me early, and were so kind about not rushing me.  Honestly guys, it meant so much to me.  I really can't convey here how much it made everything possible, even on days where I was about at my limit (shout out to the hubs for cooking so many dinners even though he's working too!).  Everyone's efforts made the deadline happen!  

I know I don't go into these picking a theme or anything (that's not the point of Rounds. XD), but if I had to pick a theme for Rounds this time, it's the importance of keeping a consistent schedule. Seriously though.  Nowhere did this rear it's head more than when the kid's school started back up in the middle of this.  Taking time to do work, then taking time to do convention, and trying to readapt to school schedules making sure homework is done and everyone's up and teeth brushed and whatnot.  It's so important to have some structure.  Even when I didn't have a family, years ago.  Having a schedule helps so much.  I know it sounds silly to structure in "give myself free time", but it's more important than you realize until it's gone.  =O= 

Speaking of scheduling, I've been enjoying reconnecting with an old friend recently!  It's very difficult for me to maintain friendships--most of my friends are from back in college, and everyone's moved away and has their own lives.  But all of the jumble and previous summer months' events really had me thinking about who I do and don't want in my life, so I re-contacted my college bestie.  XD  And I'm over here thinking why the hell I didn't sooner?  Because I'm a terrible introvert that hates phones.  But I forgot how simple and easy a phone call can be when it's with someone you're comfortable talking to!

Staying connected and maintaining connections is both a struggle and a reward, and it's genuinely been difficult to do that with all the extra stuff going on.  Time with the kids, time with the hubs, time with old connections, time here with all of you.  Sometimes, I wish there were two of me; one for work, and one for home.  But, more realistically, it's better to do that whole schedule thing we talked about. XD

Artwork wise, it's been fun for convention, but also a struggle.  Drawing in a MORE anime style than normal takes some doing.  Wrapping my brain around it is....ugh, it's been a while.  Sometimes the work for the con felt like trudging through thick mud. Guys, I've drawn who knows how many yards worth of frills for that shoujo piece.  XD  But, on the upside, I got to draw the Eva piece.  Which is great, because it solved my difficulty of mechanical drawings, and getting to paint something, which I don't get to do often.  I can draw robots given enough time, buuuuuuuuut that's still a whole thing. XD

And so here we are, start of October, me ready to throw up the Halloween decorations (I have the box SO READY to go!), hoping the giant hail yesterday didn't kill my acorn squash that was one of two plants that survived the heat this summer, and getting ready to go the the con!  So, that brings a little news here at the end:  I will be gone for the Convention this month!  13th - 18th!  If you guys can get things to me quick again so I can pace out again, it would be awesome!   If I go next year, I'll match you by pacing out better next time. XD  Last crunch month!
If there's something in particular you want for stretch goals be sure to drop them on the suggestions post as usual, and as always, Take care everyone!

~Abysmal0