What's your excuse?

Today is the eleventh day of NaMoPaiMo. There are twenty two models in the Winners' Circle.

That means there are six hundred and ninety eight models - including mine - not in the Winners' Circle. I know what's hold me back, but I wondered what other people's reasons were. Naturally, I asked.

The response was immediate and overwhelming.

Some of the posts were light-hearted and funny.

But let me tell you, as a group, we are dealing with a lot of stuff.

No surprise, a lot of it falls into the two big life categories of family, especially kids...

photo by Heather Davis

and work.

photo by Missy Shaw

Often both. Karin Hullatti writes: My kid was in the school play. Plus, I have an actual, paid job for the first time since NaMo started.

A lot of us are working way too much. This includes Ashley Ricker, who says: Yes, that’s my work laptop with the Titanic sinking on the screen. That is how my boss and I feel about the contract we are working on.

Jessica Clapham wries: Work is the main reason for me… too many cars during winter season getting into accidents!

Winter weather has had an affect on a lot of people's progress and lack thereof. Ellen Coleman writes: I have snow/ice/work exhaustion, but I planned ahead and have two whole weekends off and two weekdays, as well. I plan to really put in some time before the month is over.

Stephanie Blaylock explains: I've been dealing with mountains of manure from two weeks of frozen ground and twenty plus horses on rotating covered arena turnout. Thank goodness the ice broke yesterday, and we saw the ground. North Carolina isn’t made for this.

Warmer temperatures don't necessarily help. Lillian Shupe explains: I got distracted by the temperature being above freezing for the first time in weeks. I went to get pictures of the frozen river before the thaw. Bird/wildlife photography is my other hobby.

On this side of the continent, it's been unseasonably warm, which presents a different set of challengs. Twyla Wehnes reports. The weather here has been incredibly warm, she writes, so taking advantage as much as time will allow.

From weather to being under the weather: A lot of us are dealing with health challenges.

photo by Beatrice Rudolph

Anne Veeneman-van der Weel: Right when February started I got hit with the flu, was in bed for five days, got slightly better for one day... And then I was hit with some pulmonary infection that has me out of breath over making a cup of tea or peeling an egg. I'm almost done with the antibiotics and starting to feel better, even though pretty much anything that's not sitting/laying on couch or bed still has me out of breath.

Of course, my hobby desk is up two flights of stairs. Currently that's like climbing a mountain. This afternoon I felt it was time to tackle that mountain so I could pet my victim. Thankfully he was still there, patiently awaiting my return. I did ten minutes of prepping and decided he's ready for his final (hopefully?) coat of primer. This was all enough exertion for today and it's raining anyway. Hopefully tomorrow there's a dry spell so I can spray him outside.

Weirdly, no less than seven of us - myself unfortunately included - are experiencing dental issues. I am super phobic and squeamish about all things tooth related, so here's a picture of Becky Nowak's very cute and distracting dogs.

In addition to physical health a lot of are also dealing with depression and other mental health challenges. 

photo by Kelly Weimer

Cindy Evans-Yates writes: I have a cold, cuddling my dogs, my job (really cuts into my studio time!), having a day out with the spouse to see Hadestown (WORTH IT!), and juggling ADHD medications that apparently went right past "focus" and straight onto anxiety and agitation, which caused me to crash for long naps out of the blue. I hope to get to it this weekend, though!

Rebekah Pesqueira says: Chronic illness + AuDHD are the biggest reasons I'm finding it hard this year.. I've got limited energy each day, and overusing my brain before I've even got into the studio has been doing me in the last few days.. also not to mention this event inspired me to tackle an even bigger dream of mine which has taken up my brainpower.. I've kept trying to put some paint on every day or so, but I think I just have to focus on "done" rather than exactly what I planned for my Namopaimo pony this month. Picture of Scarlett for tax.

Finally some of us just aren't feeling it.

Tina DeCaussin writes: I actually had the thought last night that this could be the year I do not finish. Last week, I spent all week at the barn with the horses and then was gone over the weekend. I want to work on my horse, but the motivation is not there. For much of anything. Tuesday of next week, we are scheduled to close on my Mother's house and I am having a hard time with that. But maybe tonight, I might paint.

Today was really busy for me. I did not work, but I spent a couple hours in a dentist chair, had an "exciting" training session with Sage, sat with my injured Emma and spent way too much time on this blog post.

But tomorrow is another day. And tomorrow, I might paint.