The soapbox.

We went all over Pulaski Co, and even into Casey Co., Monday looking at houses.  We might have found one!  I don't want to say too much because I don't want to get my hopes up since we haven't gotten anything official from the bank saying the house is mortgageable, but as soon as we do (if we do) I'll have pictures and will spill my guts about how excited I am. 

For everything else, once more, we are in limbo.  Sometime this week we should get the "yay" or "nay" from the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen.  We picked up our goodies on Monday, but they couldn't tell us anything.  I think that's silly, but it's their rules and there is nothing I can do about it.  I would just like to know, but it seems that the lesson I need to learn from this part of my life is patience, because I do an awful lot of waiting recently.

On the TPOT side of things we are waiting for the printers too.  I'm excited to see Issue 3 in print.  Our first Trade Paper Back isn't that far off and that is very exciting.  We are planning to even add some unseen "issues" into the TPB that will not be in the single issue form, at least in this first edition indy printing.  In the end we are looking at having three TPB, but I can't believe that we are almost 1/3 finished with TPOT.  I mean, it seems like just yesterday that it was a single issue idea about a girl, a dragon, and a bunch of demons holding up the tea shipment.  Almost 8 years and a research trip to Japan later, its really developed into something learned and deep.  I'm proud of my baby, but they grow up so fast. 

This past week we had a self-assignment to try and find some grants or programs that would help our artistic endeavors.  We did find a few, but nothing super promising.  What I did find out is that sexism is still alive and well.  Not for me, there is a lot of opportunities for artistic girls.  I feel so sad for my CJ, though.  How many things did I run across that were set aside for women only; grants, programs, scholarships, and even paying jobs!  Sexism should not be allowed on any side.  How many people would be all over something that said, "for men only,"  so why is "for women only" acceptable and even held up as a higher standard?  Just because you have breasts and a vagina does not mean that you hold some deeper understanding of the artistic expression and certainly doesn't make you instantly a better artist.  No one should be passed over for any reason; sex, religion, political choice and I certainly don't think you should be chosen just because you are a certain way.  Equality for everyone does not mean special treatment for certain groups, that just puts us right where we were before.  People who do this should be ashamed.  Maybe this will make me unpopular in my field, but I'll stand up for the strong men I know who can't work hard enough to over come what God gave others.  I love my male artist.