Tag: military spouse
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Failure, success, and the looming fear of more failure… | Vignettes of my failed marriage
April 2017: Starting my new job I had panic attack at least once a day the first two weeks. I was confident in my abilities and enjoyed my coworkers, but I subconsciously feared–don’t get too comfortable, because all of this good could all fall apart–like it did last time. Looking back now [especially 3 years…
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Someone else’s plus one | Vignettes of my failed marriage
February 2016: “But it has to stop hurting so much, eventually, right?” I asked him. The look on my face had to clearly be a desperate sadness, pathetically searching for hope—for him to say something to ground me, to ease my mind that this moment is only a hard moment in the grand scheme of…
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The supporting role in my own life | Vignettes of my failed marriage
I knew moving back to the US would be a difficult transition. I loved so many things about the Azores that despite my intentionally positive outlook, I knew moving to Grand Forks, ND would be hard. I’d mentioned perhaps pursuing grad school before the move. As much as I loved our time living abroad, it…
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featured artist: art, wine, and consignment
When we first moved to Grand Forks, I forced myself out of my comfort zone, and applied to any community art event/exhibition if my art was suitable. I donated several pieces to charity auctions. I was also elated to take part in Grand Fork’s annual The Art of Giving charity art sale. Any exposure is…
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artist’s way II: introduction
I have decided to work through Julie Cameron’s The Artist Way for a second time. A couple of years ago, I tried The Artist’s Way on a whim. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right. However, over the weeks, I noticed a subtle positive shift in my perspective and I began…
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i’m thirty–
As I sit on the sofa this morning, drinking my warm coffee, with a little white dog nuzzled up next to me, falling asleep and I can’t help but feel content. The sunlight is streaming through the French doors in the living room in the distance I can see the ocean. My husband is…
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painting with a twist III
I facilitated my last Painting with a Twist event for the spouses’ club this month. I never expected to enjoy being a member of a military spouses’ club–however, I really have. It still feels strange to realize this was also my last club meeting before my husband and I move back to the US.…
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Ancient Gods and Contemporary Circumstances pt. II
Last night was the opening for my Ancient Gods and Contemporary Circumstances exhibition. I had previously displayed this body of work earlier this year at the Academia de Juventude, shortly after its completion. I am very proud of this recent series, and I have received a generally positive response. I think many people share my fascination…
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don’t ask what she wore–
I don’t know if it is my subscriptions to several feminist blogs, or the recent sexual assault scandals involving high-ranking military officials (and me being a military spouse) that has brought the concepts of victim blaming and rape culture to the forefront of my mind. More than likely it is a combination of both, however,…
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guest post: week three in the azores
Azores Day 15: I’m Getting What I Came Here For (it’s time to get deep, Blog) Blog, I’m going to get all Artist’s Way on you now because today was rather rainy and my morning pages have made me aware of the things I want to do, not the things I have to do.What is The Artist’s Way? Well, it’s something…
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this is lulu.
“I want to be upfront with you,” the desperation is evident in her voice. “She doesn’t like little dogs, and she is aggressive with children.” I can hear her voice quivering with tears over the phone, and my stomach is in knots—hoping at the end of all this I can save a life. I know…
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my love of a quiet island life…
Local village festivals are a beautifully quaint and genuine part of summer life on Terceira. I’ve seen flags, branches, flowers, and quilts decorate roadside, fences, streets, balconies, and windowsills of the houses. Along the main roads of each village during their festival week, each home comes alive with vibrant color. Decorations light up the main street…
Carly Swenson | Intuitive Painter 
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