Visas
I have had two experience's with obtaining a visa's for my college students. The first speaks volumes of this generation of kids - instant. Snap chat, google maps, texting, etc., so much in a instant. Picking out a suitcase in the basement for my oldest to take for her semester abroad in London, I brought up the fact that she needs to get a purse that can hold her passport and visa securly but with easy access when entering the country. "I should really get on that visa now, shouldn't I ?" She was leaving in two weeks. Her school advisor didn't advise her to get on that sooner than later over summer break. Scramble, scramble, expedite, got it done.
Now on the second try for my youngest to go to school in Paris. We were advised over the summer while visiting Parson's Paris that we should start to work on the visa as soon as possible as they can take a long time. I needed to wait to see if she gained admittance into any of the London and Paris schools she was apply too first - that makes sense doesn't it? Well, she got into the Paris College of Art and this is where she'd like to study.
The French Consulate grants visa appointments but once a month. We went today - jsut to come home without filing the visa request! We have to wait until 90 days prior to her travel. Oh, now that they've said it, it makes sense. they are not going to post date a visa. So she'd have a visa that would expire in April - we can't have that! The bad news is that 90 days before she should ship out in August (no worries, I am going too!) she will be in the middle of exams.
My first "emergency" visa experience isn't the way I like to get things done. I like to get the important, the you're not going until it's done important things done and done. At least the paper work is done!
15 minutes of two steps forward, one step back
the Mariner's Compass Star master class quilt block. I learn something but it isn't good enough for me to brave enough to enter the show - this year. My husband wasn't happy with is LSAT results - is he too disappointed or too afraid to retake the law school test. 
I am reminded of when
and probably helps with the process, but this is the bomb. I am so happy! As the mother of four, my watercolor days have been on hold for a pretty long time. Attending the Corcoran College of Art are some of my happiest memories - after my four children of course! I feel one step closer to getting my children's books published if I can at least convie my ideas with a simple pen and ink idea. Publisher's discourage you to submit book ideas with your own drawings unless you are in industry professional. I am no Jan Brett, 
but I would think an inkling of what I see for the story is a good idea. And it feels so good to get back to the creative process of making a picture! It kinda started with my husband needing to be a part of basketball's March madness. I have no need for this. So drawing and sketching during my show's is ideal. Except for Scandal - that's a full attention full glass of wine arena!
She a seemly wonderful husband and a healthy happy little girl, She has a well respected job in the publishing business that she doesn't seem to moan about when she needs to hop out of bed to go to work.
Why does she need to challenge herself to be happy?! I fell like with all of those wonderful people and things going well in her life, if she needs to challenge herself to be happy - she needs therapy. She needs to take a bus to some other neighborhoods in NYC and take a look at some peoples struggles. She needs to take her girl to the pond and sail a toy boat in Central Park. 
We all need to have more fun - it's called saying "Yes!" to that invitation to join an outing or a cocktail party. Nobody offering invites? Have the invites come from you. Boom.