I have a question for the artsy types among us that I'm certain I don't really want the answer to.

Is there some seekrit, super discount site for buying art supplies? Besides Amazon, I mean.

I can't even contain my lust for the Prismacolor sets (despite having 36 totally adequate pencils in hand) but am floored by the asking prices for the sets. They are worth it, I'm sure, but eek.

Also, is there much difference in the quality of one brand over another? Faber-Castell, Derwent, Prismacolor, Steadtler? Even Ultrecht has its own house brand that seems pretty reasonably priced. I wonder if it is a well known brand, rewrapped.

The only review I could find is a Brit blog that puts Faber-Castell out front.

Now that I'm past the marker lust (too bleedy and less blending control), I'm absolutely obsessed with pencils.

eta: my sketch pencils are Derwent (purchased in Copenhage,no less) and are lovely, but I must confess that the Prismacolors feel better in my hand...more comfortable for long-term work.

{{Erin}}

Erin, I hope you find a path that works better for you.

Bonny, this link sells them individually for .88 a piece, and they have a 10% off sale until 5/31.

They also advertise that they are 45% off list price, whatever that means.

[link]

Congrats on the big decision, Erin. May you find the right path for you.

Dressed to Kilt Charity Fashion Show

Erin, I salute your bravery and self-knowledge, and send you all good thoughts for the HR meeting.

I do think Beth may be onto something. As you do love teaching, perhaps you could pursue mentoring, tutoring, or other either part-time teaching (community college, adult ed, high school substitute), or one on one situations. It would allow you to do the teaching you love, but avoid the fulltime classroom stress.

In any case, all best luck to you in discovering what comes next.

Hence my hieing myself to therapy to keep Il Voce Insidioso contained in her little box, where I will jeer at her and poke her with sticks.

This made me laugh. I'd COMM it, but not sure if it would work without context, and with context might be too personal. I'm sorry that you are having such a rough time. I hope that you quickly find a job that will use a wide range of your talents and experience, that also does not cause trouble for your health, nor sap the joy out of your life.

Shir, it was wonderful to hear of the Buffista booty bounty that came to you today. All three of you made me smile.

Vortex, that was some fashion show, alright. Very nice to look at.

Erin, I know I'm latish on this, but I found your post so inspiring.

From time to time, which is to say, way more often than I would like, I find I have limitations that I don't want, both emotional and physical. I almost never respond to them as sanely as this.

I am so proud of you for determining what the right thing is for you and then doing it and not beating yourself up for it. It gives me the goal of determining the right thing for me, doing it, and not beating myself up for it. More importantly, it gives me hope that I might actually be able to do that.

Thank you.

Shir, your post and your happiness make me teary and giggly at the same time.

Erin, kudos to you for doing what you needed to do, even though it must have been a really hard thing to decide.

I am still awake at 1:30am, I have to leave the house at about 4:30am to get to the airport (in another city!) for my flight that leaves at 7:30, and I still have not packed a suitcase. Unless I totally flake out and miss my plane and have to tell my boss I crashed in the Andes, I'll get to the hotel about 9am, and won't be able to check in until 3pm, so I'll sit in the lobby like a zombie and try to work for six hours, and hope they don't chase me out. I did not plan this well. I knew the entire week that I was not planning this well, and still! Didn't plan well. Or plan much at all. Now I'm paying the price, because I'm getting sleepy and this day is gonna suck. I really really don't want to go to this meeting. Today I am failing entirely at being a grown-up.