I also went through a breakup this summer. Which sucked pretty hard. At least I had physics to help me through the tough times, as it usually did in the past. It kept me from spiraling too hard, especially in the lab. Along with Katatonia and Ghost on repeat while waiting for the XRD to finish.

I've come a long way and am hopeful about the future again. One day I'll insert my art back into my life but for now, I'm enjoying the physics ride. It's something that has been well overdue for almost 20 years.

I showed up, did the work, and thrived like crazy. I even presented my research at a conference last week! Something I never thought I'd do so early considering I had to start at the bottom in math before even touching a physics class.

It has erased my doubts about being a nontrad student and has re-calibrated my goals for the rest of undergrad.

Anyway. I had a wonderful summer in physics research. More specifically materials science. I have a wonderful mentor who showed me a career in this field is not only obtainable but that I can thrive in it.

I hope this reevaluation, and constant confidence building going on in university, helps me become a better person and artist in the future. It still feels like an uphill battle but I'm working on it.

I've also been reevaluating my relationship with art. With the stuff going on in certain areas of the art sphere, I decided to take a step back and keep the art stuff to myself, for now. I'm still drawing and creating I just don't feel like sharing it in this moment in time.

Not many seem to care about the flora as much as the fauna!

Pterosaurs, which is covered. Marine reptiles like plesiosauria and ichthyosauria. Early to mid Permian and Triassic life. Stuff like that.

I had sources on Twitter yet lost them by leaving the platform. Finding websites outside of social media is the best solution.

For pterosaurs, I recommend pteros.com - it's amazing and well vetted. Anything else, just steer clear of reptileevolution and ptetosaurheresies

Oh, that website is nice! Are there others similar for other extinct creatutes?

Aaand I jinxed it

My mom wouldn't even entertain buying one of these things. They creeped her out that much lmao

The bottom panel has been a favorite of mine since the page debuted

The only part that worries me is the financial aid. The FASFA gave me some hope a lot will be covered with a Pell Grant. I also had one full day before the scholarship deadline to put my application in. Here's hoping late spring has more good news. It's certainly keeping my spirits up.

I learned Photoshop. Knew a lot about it. Ditched it for Krita and all that knowledge from Photoshop moved over with the new program.