Charlie's Blog?

Sometimes I wonder if this is Charlie's blog. I mean, she is basically all I write about. Life isn't too exciting lately without that news. 

She's growing, as she should. Probably about 2.5 pounds now. Just a few days ago we began our 3rd trimester. Only a few more weeks to go! Well, like 12... Not so few. 

Baby girl still doesn't like when Mama sleeps. I had to leave my bed last night to venture to the poof that lives in our living room. I slept a little better there... Joshua noticed I was gone about 6 hours later and joined me in the living room. I woke up to see him sleeping there on the couch. I guess he missed me (:

Classes are going well (WIC, Lakeshore Pregnancy Center). I keep learning impractical things about babies and all the rules there are to keep now that we are learning more about everything. 

The house is a mess. I look at it and think of all the things we will have to change once Charlie starts moving around. We really don't live in a baby-proof place. 

I'm getting my business started... Alainya Falk Photo and Design. I don't have a website, but I'm making a blog and I have business cards on the way. There is a shop on Bonanza where people can order artwork... and I am trying to do portraits, but it seems no one has much interest in that. Everyone has an iPhone and most people are happy with that quality of photo and with selfies. Hopefully I will begin to find people who want portrait style photos and are willing to pay for them. 

Joshua and I started our ceramics class on Tuesday. It was...an interesting experience. The teacher started by going through the rule book...and a lot of bunny trails. It should have taken 5 minutes, but took nearer to 30. Then she began to demonstrate what we would be doing by cutting a large chunk off my block of clay and beginning to rip it with her hands. I asked if I should get a new block (I had paid for my clay and I didn't really understand why she was using it). She was offended by the question and said that she didn't think I'd mind if she showed the class with my clay. I kind of did... I wanted to be able to use my clay. She had her own block. 

Anyway, she went to her own block of clay and began to show again. This time I tried to follow along... But my pinch pots looked horrible. They got all wide and floppy. All the other people could make teacups and whatnot. Not me. So...she decided to come over and loudly console me saying that not everyone can do it perfectly the first time and there isn't really a wrong way to do it (though if there was, I'm certain her voice was saying I had found it). And she begins to make me an example to the class, though not directly, of how not to do it and teaching everyone how to do right what I was doing wrong. And then she stares at me, waiting for me to do it right. 

By this time I have tried 3 pots and smashed them all because they were horrible. She continues to watch me, and I am turning red and about ready to walk out, so I look up and calmly ask her to please not stare at me. She is offended again, but seriously, I don't want all the attention when I am struggling. And I don't want her hands pulling my clay. I'd rather work my way through it and ask for help if I need it than end up with 100 beautiful finished products that I didn't make. If I need help, I'll ask for it, and I will keep my hands on my clay and struggle til it works or dies. I don't want the teacher making it for me or staring at me while I struggle. 

Anyway, that was a hard class. I had been the one who wanted to go, so I paid for it and dragged Joshua along. Then, he was the one having fun and I was the one who couldn't stand to be there. Oh well. 

I did have a chance to try wheel throwing at the end for a few minutes, and that went well. I centered my 3 pieces all on my own...But I made them too thin and lost the top off each one. I'll need more practice at that. 

Anyway, that's the big excitement of the week. I'm going up north and leaving Joshua here for the weekend to fend for himself. I have a cousin's baby shower to attend and a party to be at. I quit my job at Anna's House in Holland last week. They don't have hours for more than one person and kept telling me not to bother coming in. It was not worth it any longer to stay there when I was getting 1.5 hours one week and 0 the next. 

That's all, I think. More news another time. Thanks to the few of you who actually care to read my nonsense. 

I'll see ya.