Hey, watcha doin?

for Wordless Wednesday, a cool shot from the cleveland zoo...

Memories are tricky

Nablopomo asks, "What is your first memory?" and I answer, memories are tricky.

It used to concern me that I couldn't recall my childhood precisely, that I have bits and pieces of possible memories, usually prompted by photographs....

...but then, I do not recall situations of any kind in a linear fashion. My mind contorts reality, swirling situations, mixing in feelings and impressions, possible story lines and imagined back stories of people I meet.

So, when trying to recall my first memory I think of sliding down the bump in my granny's wooden hallway with my floppy socks....exploring the corn fields with my raggedy ann .....making up songs under the kitchen table.... all the while imagining something or other.

Now that I have fallen into my creative career, i use pieces of the past that may or may not have really been there, spinning something new out memories that only flit and flirt through my mind....and don't worry about precision recollection.


This doesn't mean I do not pay attention, I often am intensely aware - but miss details while playing around with the big picture. - or, as the saying sort of goes - look too closely at a tree and miss the forest.....but never miss the emotions, or leave without taking something from the experience.

-so if we happen to be in the same place sometime, forgive me in advance for not remembering the event the way it really happened, mmkay. thanks.

I've got a new way to walk, walk-walk

                               if you are going to walk away, you might as well do it with flair.

The phrase, walk away, has been my method of defense, slink away is more like it. I do not like confrontation, avoid it at all costs - my response to anger - walk away - detach - think of rainbows and butterflies, okay, well not really, but I can shut down quite effectively and reboot in la la land in an instant.

This type of walking away is not very productive. I end up losing by default. Maybe I should employ a little more drama to my retreat. Add some attitude, a touch of sass and a whole lot of fun.....

As in the Monty Python sketch or this Sesame Street video... I've got a new way to walk, walk, walk

                             Written for this week’s topic at The Writers’ Post:Walking Away

Get out of jail free card

I planned on following the daily prompts for the October NaBloPoMo,  
                                                                    .. but was a little unprepared for today's

it has to do with what i think happens after a person dies. hmmm, please just refer to the bible on this one.


As the only player in my private little 'life-monopoly' game, i am giving myself a Get Out of Jail Free card for this move. There are too many people in my life who have left this earth too early for me to give any sort of answer.

I like thinking of death as a SURPRISE PARTY you didn't know about. Whoa, what do you mean I am dead?, I don't feel dead......

now what?

In a way, it's like one of my jobs. I ghostwrite for a travel site. (pretty sure I can at least say that...) anyways this involves doing little blurbs for different states, countries and vacation destinations.....from my tiny little house in the 'burbs.

I can research, fill in the templates and add a ton of enthusiasm, but do not really know what it is like there, at least not first hand. Same with this prompt, I can research, follow the plan, enthusiastically imagine....but do not know.

and I am okay with that.

Room 209

one of my favorite places

in the whole world

Room 209

~before the madness~

      my class room, before 1st period...

more chairs are added for 3rd, 4th and 5th

    note: 2nd period the room is used for Mandarin Chinese- if you were wondering what was on the board.

It may seem like nothing special,
it is not the prettiest classroom in the world I guess,
but the tile floor, real tables (not desks) two huge chalkboards, a desk for me,
and....

                                                                  WINDOWS!!!! 

    plus, a wall of storage closets, 

which turns the whole space into a slice of heaven.

                                                                        Action shot
Not the best picture, but this is part of my small class working on a nifty sewing project. They designed patterns, chose fabric from upholstery sample books (donated by my mom, thank you mom) and are figuring out how to thread needles, stitch, embroider and stuff unique little stuffed critters. So far there are monkeys, teddy bears, a few cats and dolls. Unusual art project, but surprisingly relaxing according to my students. 

before this, we created amazing woven baskets and rugs for the preschool class.....forgot to upload pics will backtrack and get those up.  I have not taken a single picture during the painting or cartooning classes though- busy, crazy busy trying to maintain order while unleashing the creativity of hordes of elementary and jr, high maniacs!

Between

Again, I missed the beginning of the NaBloPoMo month, but clicking around came across the new badge and topic and want to join in. Between is the over-reaching topic for the month and the tree image is perfectly eery for this month of almost winter, but not quite...Starting "in between" seems appropriate.

Catching up, I am going to run through the first few questions and see what happens. (there is rarely any amount of planning to my posts, I just start typing and see what my fingers end up saying)

October prompts;
Talk about one important thing that happened between last Friday and today.
List two things (however close or far) that your current home is between.
List two things (however close or far) that your childhood home is between.
Are you the oldest, youngest, middle or only child? Talk about siblings.
What is something you always pack on a trip?

Important thing that happened this past week....well, this past week brought a ton of excitement, some good, some not so good, but it all seemed to kickstart me back into creating. Roller coasters last weekend- talked about below- break-in at school - ridiculously botched fire drill - fellow teacher falling down the stairs, ending up with a nasty broken arm, dislocated elbow and upcoming surgery....I posted as much on my facebook wall and looking back realized I probably came off as terribly insensitive....

Not the case, but all the excitement really did seem to electrify the school days....

I live in Ohio. Mid-point to everything it seems. Not really the center, but definitely in-between. Canada and Cuba, New York and Chicago....more specifically I am in between Lakewood and my Medina, and perfectly settled in the middle of the Metroparks. 

...on to being the oldest of four sisters, by many, many years. My youngest sister is in college- we were spaced by 7 or more years, so it makes for an unusual dynamic when we talk. We all basically lived different childhoods.

....finally, what is one thing I always pack on a trip, aside from a notebook/sketchbook, I pack a certain black skirt. Regardless of where I am going, warm or cold weather, long trip or short, I have this odd little skirt with an asymetrical hem that I have owned since I was in my early twenties. It is made of some kind of polyester/rayon/something or other that never shows wear and tear..  I even wore it through pregnancies, 'under my belly' then.  It rolls up into a tiny ball and can be stashed in a baggie in my purse- just in case.  What this 'just in case' may be, I am not sure, but it has come in handy.  Very much a "between" piece of clothing, not really dressy, not exactly casual...just perfectly in-between.

and right now, I am between events- hence the blogging break

Falling for balance and clarity

Nothing like falling over 300 feet to jumpstart a stalled brain. I spent last weekend at Cedar Point for the senior class school fundraiser. We all got into the park for free in exchange for 4 hours of our time working a booth....and the school received a percentage of the proceeds. Not a bad deal.

I hadn't been on a roller coaster in several years, but could not WAIT to try out the new rides. There was high wind the first day so several of the big coasters were closed, drizzly rain the night of the second day....and so, the crowds were light to say the least. Sunday morning/early afternoon was perfect for riding rides- but few people took the chance. Six hours at Cedar Point may give you approximately 5 hours standing in lines on a regular day....but on Sunday- we had no more than a 15 minute wait for any ride. Amazing. Let's go!

Millenium Force broke records 10 years ago when it was built. 310 feet high....a dive to the ground at an 80 degree angle...speeds of 93 miles per hour. I accidentally found myself in the front car- (lack of attention will do that) and was um, a bit nervous since I sort of rely on a seat in front of me to break my fall in case of an emergency...kidding, er maybe...mainly though it meant I didn't really have anything substantial to hold on to.

Clicking up to the peak, I focused on the freighters on Lake Erie, watched the birds catch the wind and....relaxed. There was no turning back, I was set to fall and was about as calm as if I was sitting on the bench in my front yard with a cup of coffee, it was so beautiful out.

I was scared at the top in split second before going over....but was just as quickly amazed. I love that feeling. The rush of adrenaline, the complete lack of control, the 'holy cow, how is this even possible' thoughts.

After that ride I could not wait to try the next craziest...Top Thrill Dragster...  420 feet straight up and then you twist your way back down. It was the tallest and fastest coaster in the world when it opened in 2003.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a shot at this ride, since it broke down as we were set to get on. The car in front of us was shot up, but didn't quite make it to the top and it came rushing back down (this happens) They went to shoot it up again, but it didn't make it again, and so they shut the ride down.  next time, baby, first thing.




There is only one kind of ride I will not attempt -won't even watch. Those dang swings make me ill, around and around, not really going anywhere, blah. Shocking heights and speeds do not faze me, I will twist upside down, in the dark, dangling dangerously above the ground....but going round and round is just not my thing.

Which brings me to the point of this -extra long- post...

That's life. 

Same ol' same ol' makes me ill,

potentially disastrous change is what I crave.

This can be a tough balancing act to control. I try to insert risks into my safe life, roller derby for example, but mainly my risks are mental. I take on just a bit too much, just enough to throw me in a tailspin every so often.

The GBE2 prompt was Balance and I avoided the topic because at first glance, balance reminds me of keeping everything safe and normal, around and around, just enough of this and that and everything is perfect .....gag me...

but then somewhere between Cedar Point and plotting my next adventure I realized balance is relative,  and yes, even necessary.  Now that I am back to standing in line, so to speak- balancing out work and working out- creating my own art and teaching- writing my own stuff and the stuff that earns money - friends and solitude - family and individuality....it's true my balance will not look like your balance and that's okay.


since I am self analyzing here, and you have the freedom to click away at any moment, I will continue...

I also realized detaching myself from the outcome is how I handle free falls.  On the way up the 310 foot coaster, I was "in the moment"  i suppose, but not really.....the truth was I was traveling up a coaster on my way to possible death, but I was enjoying the scenery, bird watching even, thinking about how pretty the clouds looked over Lake Erie, wondering if we were going to get any rain later...screaming wasn't necessary-worrying wasn't worth it, what was done was done, I was enjoying that second.

so, end of self analysis.....

Where ever you find yourself today-

                           look around,
                                                
                                         enjoy the view.



~ciao



I added "clarity" to the title at the last second because it worked....and it fulfilled my "catching up on GBE2 posts"   ~love it.

 





 

ready, set......kaPOW!!!!

this is me, standing in my studio gathering explosive supplies for tomorrows classes

bursting with excitement
man, I LOVE my job
weird? good. I get paid to be weird.

Moving on up....

Singing the Jefferson's theme song today....in case you forgot the words...

Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up,
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.

Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
Beans don't burn on the grill.
Took a whole lotta tryin',
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in the big leagues,
Gettin' our turn at bat.

As long as we live, it's you and me baby, There ain't nothin wrong with that.

Yep, feeling all fancy and important.

Great news....

drum roll please

Creativity Explosion gets to stay in one room this school year. The students come to ME this year. This is huge news. In the past, I had to lug all the equipment up and down the stairs of the enormous old school building. The place has like five stories, numerous stairwells, halls and strange twists and turns. Not only that, but the storage closet was in the basement.....another flight of stairs. My classes would take "mini-field" trips to recover supplies when I couldn't carry it all before the bell rang. 

209 is my favorite number.

My very own classroom. My very own desk. I have a pencil sharpener and a wall of windows and another wall filled with the chalkboard. AND storage, in the room!   These all may seem minor, but in my world, this is HUGE. Oh, and NO CARPETING. (seriously, carpeting? for sculpture class, painting, ...horrible, just horrible) 

that's all, just wanted to share.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled life.

Goodbye Monday

....Monday did not shape up to be the productive powerhouse I needed it to be. I got derailed by a bit of an emotional funk that wasn't cured by the usual bike ride. My pretty pink bike usually makes me happy...not today. Music is my second weapon, nothing. Then there is the all powerful written list, complete with doodles.

Well, I slipped out for a bike ride, I wrote the LIST, I turned on the girl power music and ...
                                   .
                                       ......gave it all                                                                                                 
                                                         .......   a sad half-hearted effort.

so, Good Bye Monday.

(technically it is not gone, as it is only 7 pm, 

but I can pretend the elephant in the room is simply an unfortunate decorating problem) 

on to Tuesday..

To do list:

• Finish all of Mondays tasks 
• Run my butt off, literally
• Clean
• Teach 
• Write Tuesdays scheduled assignments
• Submit the stupid proposal already

....try not to step on Wednesday's toes

Last year

GBE2 prompt is one year ago....for the record, I do not want to write about the past---at all.

but, hmmm, last September....um....2010, okay... Sadly, my first thought is "who died that month"  morbid, yes...but too true.

 It seems I have completely worn out my funeral dress.

 While no one close to me passed away that month, the holes certain people have left are starting to create a real minefield of memories. Looking back a year ago, I see a friend who was struggling with a "not-fatal" disease, she was sick, but getting better...we talked, hung out, we saw each other at events...
fast forward a year and she's gone.

 I don't want to look back anymore. I don't want to trip over a painful explosive, or fall into a hole of depression. Shell-shocked into a pervasive antisocial mode is not where I want to stay.

Looking forward is all I've got the energy for right now.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yikes, that was a bit heavy for a Monday morning....um, let me give it another stab. September always seems more like a New Year than the winter holiday. I am forever on school calendar and love it that way. 


Last year,

• I was setting up for my first round of new sculpture classes, excited about the new classrooms and my very own storage area! (well, not really my own, but it was better than lugging everything back and forth from home)

• writing assignments were picking up to where I could actually say I was making a living stringing together sentences. 

• paid off a major debt....making the above (living from writing) much more possible.  

better...... 

  

Got your number, buddy

The fan-tab-u-lous GBE2 group theme for the week is children or parent  (we have a choice)
I was a child, I am a parent and, so, I have children....but what I am going to talk about has very little to do with any of those three roles. - Why? because I can not afford to tear up today, I already 'put my face on' and do not want to deal with mascara lines...again. Yes, I am an emotional writer,
(and just as an emotional reader...all these sappy-lovey dovey posts are killing me this week, people!)

So I will write about my other 87 kids:

September brings another school year and a new roster of students. There are several names that are new to me, some I expected would come back, but others were a HUGE surprise that they chose to come back to my classroom.

HUGE SURPRISE. 

You see, my classes are optional. There are basic art classes that cover the, um basics - led by teachers that are not quite as eccentric who actually provide clear cut steps for proceeding. They have examples to follow and everything. It is really neat and structured and seemingly a much better fit for this group. 

I, on the other hand,  do not work like that. It really bothers some...or so I thought. The kids I suspected would never want to take another class with me, signed up for another full year.

What?  Why?  Are they trying to torture me?  torture themselves?

After presenting a project, I leave the door open for interpretation, I want them to use their brains to figure out "the what", I am there to help with "the how." Many jump at the chance and get right to putting their wacky ideas in play, but there are always those who squirm in their seats. Some children, mostly the teens, will not proceed until they are told what to do. Pulling creativity out of some of them (this puzzling group especially) was flat out exhausting. 

These are the ones that are coming back. ????

First period nonetheless.  huh?

I could not contain my curiosity and called one of the parents, What is up with this?  Well, turns out, the one boy actually did enjoy my class, his self-proclaimed "stupid papier mache bird" sits on his dashboard, and, oh yeah,  it was his idea to sign up.

You know, I get it. While I might tear up at the slightest amount of emotional prodding, I don't always express myself well in person. I've taken classes where I did not say a word, wrinkled my nose at projects and may have made a general negative impression....and yet- deep down, got a lot out of it.

School officially starts next week.
I get to meet 

all the new (unsuspecting) children 

and greet my the returning students...

with a gleam in my eye -
yeah, ya'll don't fool me. ;)

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Okay, sure, the upcoming year of rolling eyes and deep sighs is something I am still working out in my mind....while I plan their first project.

Muhwahahaha!!!!!   

   

 I'll be waiting.....

Flashback Friday - Stop the bus

 In honor of flashback Friday, I was flipping back through some old posts. Surprisingly this blog has been around in one form or the other since 2006. That is an awful lot of random ramblings from a girl who isn't much of a talker.  Anyways, glancing at some of the posts make me cringe- I want to hit delete and completely erase certain choices......tell that silly girl to open her eyes.... oh well.

I stopped the bus on this post because it is still (mostly) so true - and I want to torture others. Plus, a friend randomly pulled up a different "things about me" note I had written a few years ago on facebook. I completely forgot about that facebook notes thing. weird. 

stop the bus

just a weird photo of "Spartans stopping a bus"  no real significance.

....in case you caught that little phrase up above "I want to torture others"....I meant it, if you innocently click on this blog post to waste a little time....you are IT, meaning, you now need to scribble down ten facts about yourself. Uh huh, yep, I mean you. Thanks for playing.

Old post follows...I copied and pasted for your convenience- you know, since you will be working on your own list and all. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May 16, 2007

Valerie, i.e. art addict, tagged me to share 10 interesting and relatively unknown facts about me/ opinions of mine/ habits etc...

1....can’t sing a lick…but use that sing song voice and make up crazy songs when I’m really tired…it’s like my own personal alarm for ‘Sylvie needs a nap’

2...listen to NPR or the BBC for my news…and love independent college radio stations, not just for the off the beaten track music, but for the off the beaten track DJ’s, their views, and sometimes rough presentations....um's, ah's, just a sec's...

3...fancy, expensive, rich…does nothing for me. I’m not impressed by big bank accounts, jewelry shop jewelry, fancy cars, big houses, designer clothes or purses, *shrug*, I like simple, unique, handmade, interesting, things with a story….

4...I love soccer…sports in general, but hate being called a soccer mom, won’t wear a “I love soccer” t-shirt, or any of the stuff the incessant marketing machine generates, don't drive a mini van.…I play the game, love the cleats, the team, the competition, I watch, ( won’t coach or ref though, many of my teammates do, but I don’t like being “in charge”)  

5... I’m not one to go all googly over a kitten or puppy, never feel the urge to run up to a new mom and grab her infant child, don’t speak baby talk…..not that I don’t like these creatures, I’d rather observe than entertain, I suppose.

6... Have the annoying habit of personifying everything, or coming up with a metaphor or weird simile's, connect dots that don't exist, think in spirals, circles, curly-q's…helps in my creative writing classes…social situations…not so much. ;)

7... Avoid shopping ( as my cupboards and children can attest) ….but, love exploring new places, outdoor markets, stuff like that…

8... My dream home is either a floor of an old factory downtown, or an old church/school that I can remodel and open most to the public….living and work space together…..currently I live/work in a bag of wonder bread in the suburbs, not awful, not complaining, it is easier to maintain.

9... I have never balanced a checkbook, have no math sense whatsoever…yet love numbers and old clocks, attach my own significance to numbers, dates, times….won’t explain, you’re welcome.

10... I keep a magic 8 ball on my desk…sometimes will even ask it a question or two…..maybe I need more friends…unfortunately I don’t think this list will help in my quest.

"to know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer is to have kept your soul alive" ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Longing and the Wizard of Oz

 

Longing reminds me of the Wizard of Oz. 

"If I only had a brain, a heart, courage..."

I have longed for these things in various forms over the years...longed for love, longed for acceptance, longed to understand, longed for wisdom and the courage to pursue my dreams.....funny thing, there is no man behind the curtain waiting to hand these to me...

Longing should lead to action. Take that yellow brick road, grab a few friends, get an Emerald City makeover, throw a bucket of water on your fears, 

...............................*run from the flying monkeys* (those things are ridiculously scary) ...

but then, even as I write this, I sometimes long for days gone by, 

the little boy that was, is getting ready to move on to his new life,

close friends have died, leaving a huge void...ugh, longing can be painful and empty

and it really takes on a new meaning when the sands of time get involved...

 

like an etch a sketch 

 

 

shake, shake, shake...

 

 

draw something new ....move forward...

 

Brought to you by the blogging world of the GBE2 who proposed the word, Longing, as the prompt for the week. So many good posts on this, there was a a short little tearjerker, memories and resolutions.....

 

 

(love and a box of tissues for you all) 

 

Flashback Friday - My Good Day

 Flashback Friday...this is the day bloggers link to an old post,

and then share it on Chasing Joy's facebook page.

For my little entry, I dug up "My Good Day" a post that gushes on and on about my job.

Yep, my job. I really, truly love my work,

(although in the midst of the stressful logistics of cramming all the 

must-do's in with the want-to's and have-to's, I sometimes forget)

I'm also reminded in this post of all the rapid fire changes that have happened in the past few years. Back in the fall of 2008 my son spent a month in the hospital...well, 3 hospitals in all.

Until he finally came home, it was very scary.

Now, he is the epitome of health, 

captain and starter both offense and defense - on his football team and is 

just a great kid.  

This was also the first official year of my Creativity Explosion!!! classes....

In a week or so, the 2011 school year begins for me 

5 new classes, full to capacity 

pure joy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                                                       My Good Day

Growing Wild

Today's post comes via a picture prompt with the phrase "Growing Wild"  from the GBE2 group.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

        Some people 

                                        grow up.......

                                                                        .......others grow old...

                                                                                                                     ...I want to grow wild!
 

I have a basic direction

UP

and a general idea of what I need

and loads of wild things to try. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, before you get the wrong idea, I am not talking about "wild" as in rebellious craziness

I mean wild as in not contained, 

not tamed...

or declawed.

I do not want to be one who "apologizes for taking up space" 

No way.

Growing wilder and wilder 

with each passing birthday... 

(everyone knows Wonder Woman, but in case you are unsure of who Betsey Johnson is...)

she is a crazy, wild, fabulous designer. 
Here she is on her 69th birthday at the launch of her new perfume, Too Too

This isn't my version of wild....close, but not quite, I never could manage the splits...

besides, I would hope each woman would be her very own, very fabulous self

Grow Wild 

along with me

the best is yet to be 

CHEERS!!!  

practicing....

As you can probably see, I have a "Learn how to make a screenshot" tab open in the top right.  : )   it works, I learned how to take a screenshot of my FEATURE article on Yahoo! Shine. Sort of, it's not quite what I wanted. Close, but not quite.

I've been on this page before....just not the top dog. (and never had proof like I do today) 

"Are babies smarter than we think?" is mine, btw.  If you decide to read it, please ignore the rogue commas. I type fast and edit faster.

Trust that it will end with a Happily Ever After

......seems a bit ironic that TRUST is the topic when I am jumping back into the GBE2 group after a long absence.  But it really just amplifies my point. What point is that? you ask.  Oh, yeah, sometimes I forget all these voices in my head are not audible.

Trust is a tricky thing.

Trusting someone else does not always play out the way you think.

Trusting yourself is just as problematic at times.  ( people can be fickle as cats...)

Trusting that you will find the place everyone says, "Oh, you can't miss it"  is faulty. Yes, yes you can miss it.

But I have to say,

I love that place of trusting everything will be okay. 

Trusting that in the whole big scheme of things there is Someone in control 

and somehow everything all weaves together just right in the end. 

like a wild adventure/mystery/romance/sci-fi/thriller with a Happily Ever After ending.

eventually...

Decision

This is my decision making style. 

"Leave the light on for me."
I may, or may not stop by.
(Not "green" in any sense of the word, I guess)

Leave a few doors open, carry a few extras just in case I change course mid-trip. 

This works for me. 

For example, unable to make a decision about my youngest daughters schooling, I went ahead and signed her up at two schools. Filled out all the documents, started preparing for both in a way. Like most decisions both choices had pros and cons. Unfortunately, the scales weighed out fairly even. It could go either way.

We discussed the options. I put a positive spin on the negatives.

 I have an incredible knack for spinning

Reality is the issue. She is my daughter. I know her quirks. I know that the one school will not work. Regardless of how "right" it is. How important it is to my "career" I cannot in good conscience send her off to the school that makes her anxiety attacks flare up. .....

although it was a little late for that. With only a week left until D-Day, she has been bolting up in the middle of the night, wracked by fear...waking me up again, and again...and again) 

This is not worth it.
 

Decision made itself. 

whew. 

I sort of wish I would have made the decision earlier. Chosen a single path and walked it out. But then again, I wouldn't have known for sure if it was right. I would have second-guessed myself. I needed the clarity that can only come through pressure.

 

 

 

Livin' La Vida Loca

Livin la Vida Loca....or, "Does this career make me look weird?" 

Living the crazy life. Yesterday, I read an article in Scientific America "The Unleashed Mind: Why Creative People Are Eccentric". It basically, scientifically, with all the mumbo jumbo they can cram into five online pages ( you need a subscription to read the rest), explains that creative types are naturally crazy.

I didn't think there was anyone questioning this.

The Unleashed Mind: Why Creative People are Eccentric

"Highly creative people often seem weirder than the rest of us. Now researchers know why"

So, they gathered a bunch of creative people and tested them to see why they are weird. That's weird. Like herding cats I imagine. I'm sure they cooperated perfectly.

After all their science-stuff was imposed on the "creatives" this is the label they came up with...schizotypal personality, meaning they have the following;
magical thinking ( fanciful ideas or paranormal beliefs)
unusual perceptual experiences (distortions in perception) 
social anhedonia ( preference for solitary activities - preferring work over socializing)
mild paranoia (unfounded feelings that people or objects in the environment may pose a threat )
 .....not included but I think they skipped this.. personification (giving personality traits to random objects)

The researchers tempered this by saying that even with this personality disorder, they are often very high functioning, talented and intelligent.

(now they are just complimenting the cats.... think they were scared, er scawed)

None of this is new. But I suppose giving creative people a label puts the scientific minds at ease. "Ah, they have a schizotypal personality, that explains everything."


....if I sound snarky. I am. There are days, (like all of last week) that I considered taking a "real job." Granted I'm not good at much of anything "real"  But, that didn't stop me from imagining myself heading off for work, in work clothes, gathering a predictable paycheck on a regular basis, going out, coming in, being normal.  

Writing for a living is wonderful, I love it, and I hate it. I spend hours talking to myself, consult all the random thoughts in my brain, make up things and people and places. It's odd, it makes me odd. Or so I thought. Now science comes along and says, no. The work doesn't make you odd, you are just crazy. Thanks.

No, really, thanks science folks. That does help.  

Art disturbs, science reassures.  

~Georges Braque, Le Jour et la nuit  

Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity | Video on TED.com

Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity | Video on TED.com


Creative types, stop what you are doing, sit back, relax and listen to this talk by Elizabeth Gilbert. Guaranteed to change the way you approach your work.

......then when it is over, GET BACK TO WORK.

Olay- Olay, Olay, Olay!

Coffee Love

How do you like your coffee?

 I had my first cup of coffee at my uncle's house in Michigan. 

I was 16. It was Folger's instant and it was perfect.

Putting anything but coffee, in coffee, seemed sacrilegious from day one. 

Nablopomo asks, "How do you like your coffee?"

Black, strong and constant, that's how I like my coffee. 

It's more than just drinking it though. It's the process of grinding the beans to help wake me up in the morning, then making sure my limbs all work while I pour the water....

When I am stuck on a word....I get up and pour a mug of coffee....

while trying to jump-start my brain, I often misplace said cup of coffee.

So while I go through several cups a day, I don't actually drink as much as I pour. 
(or, at least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it)

coffee, Coffee, COFFEEEEE!!!!!

(cartoon by toothpaste for dinner)

Lemonade stand sweetness

My daughter held a lemonade stand today with her best friend. They planned their set-up for a good week...right down to matching outfits.

($3 sets from Walmart, $1 flip flops and $1 visors-two girls, two outfits, under $10, not bad)

Planning their outfits was not the end though, they also made fliers announcing the opening day of their Lemonade stand, made a collection of duct tape wallets and purses and slowly added to my grocery list, item by item...so I wouldn't "feel" the impact.  :)

After swim team, they set up the stand at the first intersection of our neighborhood/a.k.a. the school bus stop and there they sat for several hours. Serving customers, having fun that only best friends can understand.

To say the sale was a success would be an understatement. 

Due to all their preplanning, talking to neighbors and being overall very cute.....they pulled in $72 in profits.

Not kidding. SEVENTY TWO dollars.

(My older daughter wants to incorporate...build up teams of lemonade girls.....across town,

but I suspect they are all on to bigger and better things.) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The neighbors were all so sweet to these little entrepreneurs, tipping and coming back for seconds...even buying their homemade wallets and promising to come back next time. Love my neighborhood. :)

.....in response to the Nablopomo prompt of the day...."Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?"....it would be my little lemonade pusher, asking me to come help tear down the business...til next time.