Hello everyone!

Happy New Year, Akemashita Omedetou Gozaimasu. It is the year of the dragon this year, right?

So! I am very pissed Photoshop isn't working with my computer still, but I did find a cheaper program that I think will work very well with my artwork. It is called Autodesk Sketchbook Pro 2011, and is about $45 from amazon (last I checked). So after I get that and get it installed I'm probably going to have to reinstal my Deleter comic program so I can do my manga as well, the only downside is I don't remember if that program will allow importing of photoshop files. We'll see, but I could always do things in a very round about way, Autodesk does do .psd so I don't have to worry about that and I might be able to get it to work with screen tones and the like.

Update on surgery: I'm healing well, my skin is healed but internally I'm still going so I am still not allowed to lift anything heavier than Ilaria, but now I can lift her car seat as well. I can drive for short distances, and my blood pressure is looking great. As a bonus I lost 22 pounds too! The funny thing is the only time in my life I've ever lost more than a few pounds has been when I had four teeth pulled in 8th grade and having my daughter.

I can't wait until spring. I like winter a lot but I want to go outside with Ilaria and start to show her the world around her. I'm going to try to go for a walk with her every day it is nice, and do some gardening with her (more so when she's older). One thing I really want to impart on her is a love and appreciation of nature and being able to grow your own food. "Organic" veggies are so freakin' expensive, and this way I always know what is on my food and where it comes from.

My mother, father, brother Bryan, mother in law, father in law and nephew Sammie are the only family that have gotten to see Ilaria in person, and I want her to meet everyone else. March seems like it might be a good time to travel to see them, or maybe April if it is still too chilly.

Well, I've rambled enough, lol. Good night everyone, and best wishes for the new year. I hope you made some resolutions and are able to keep them.

-Ally B.