Sometimes Time Just Slips Away

No apologies for my lousy blogging skills. And yes there is a song with the same title as my Blog.  I'll just ask... Where the heck did the last few months go?  Let's pull up our socks and do a post.

Did I mention that my Hubby is retiring at the end of the year? No? Well it's true, and we have been looking forward to this day for 38 years. Or so we thought. Since our announcement of his plan to kick the job to the curb, we have been bombarded with well meaning advice. None of which we plan to use.

Some advice is just plain scary. I recently had a conversation that went something like this.....

Me:          "Did I tell you that Hubby is retiring at the end of the year?"
Jane :        " Really? Do you think that is a good idea?" I mean, you know what happens
                   when somebody retires don't you?"
Me:            "No... What happens?"

By the tone of her voice I could tell that this was not going to be an answer I was prepared for.

Jane:        " Oh dear, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned anything, but usually someone retires and then, "Boom", one or the other gets sick and dies. Or they end up getting divorced because the guy sits around all day in his underwear watching TV because he has no outside interests.  Are you sure you can handle him at home all day?"

Holy crap! I've never really thought about it, and now the seed of doubt had been  firmly planted by this one little whacked out comment. I had to reevaluate my situation. Needless to say this conversation put me in a very agitated state of mind. I have to admit I did worry about this until this past weekend.

That sweet guy I married fixed the key holder that was loose for the last 2 years. I asked him why he did that, and he replied "when I'm retired, I'll have all the time I need to fix the little things."

You know, suddenly I'm not worried any longer. Goodness knows we have lots of little things that need fixing ( enough to keep him busy for years). Besides, he has outside interests as well; no strutting around in underwear for him!

And me.... I have my artwork and Zentangle to keep me occupied. Speaking of which, at a recent gallery show I sold this large 3'x5' ZIA (zentangle inspired artwork) on canvas to the City of Spruce Grove for the City's art collection.

  Life is gonna be great and retirement looks even better!

                                                                          "Brainstorm"
                                                                           3' x 5' Canvas
                                                                           Pen & Ink/ Acrylic Blue Glass Beads

What is this "Zentangle"® you speak of Oh Wise One?

What exactly is Zentangle®?

Well, in a nutshell ( and this is my own nutshell I speak of) Zentangle is a method to a better understanding of who we are as people.  Technically it is a method of drawing repetitive patterns by using "one stroke at a time" in order  to achieve a restful state of mind, and open up the creative creature residing in our subconscious. (thanks Rick and Maria for a great phrase "One Stoke at a Time".

When I answer this question to people who ask, they typically assume it is all about drawing doodle patterns. ( Sorry, I mentioned the "D" word here.) Nothing could be farther from the truth.  When I first started to teach myself Zentangle from websites I was as guilty as the next person in thinking it was about the drawing.
Now I know better. I guess that is why I am so excited to share this with others.

 Great artwork is just one benefit that comes out of teaching ( or learning) about how to be more in tune with others and ourselves. What better way to do this then by a meditative, mindful, way of soul searching? We focus on the positive things, and things we can do to make others feel better. That, I believe, is what draws a certain kind of person to the practice of Zentangle. The need to do good, and be kind.

SOME DAYS ARE JUST A PAIN.

It’s a good thing I've found Zentangle®.  He/She is my new BFF and has saved me hundreds,

 if not thousands of dollars in psychiatric fees.

Yesterday I went shopping for a few office supplies at the discount store. I happened to need a  stapler. (I wanted to keep my Zentangle notes all neat and tidy).  I was in an organizing mood and was in a hurry to get things done. . Unfortunately, that was not in the cards for me.

Now, I’m no weakling. I’m pretty sure I could fight my way out of a paper bag if I was provoked, but getting that dollar store stapler out of its wrapping was an exercise in frustration.  That thing was sealed up tighter than Fort Knox. Who wraps an item that’s worth a dollar in plastic that costs three times the cost of the contents? Just doesn't make sense. After two broken fingernails and a gash on my knuckle, I finally wised up and went for the kitchen scissors.  This “plastic” must have been an off shoot of some space material the government was testing for space use. It was indestructible. 

I was working up quite a sweat, and my annoyance level was entering the red danger zone. If this was a Barbie doll my grand-daughter would have gnawed through and opened it in ten seconds flat. (She has a talent for opening these kinds of things at holidays involving gifts)

Finally I managed to break it open, and filled it with staples as fast as I could. I’d already wasted too much valuable tangle time on this stupid chore. Walking over to my desk I accidentally dropped it and it exploded like shrapnel from a ten ton bomb.  A sigh as big as Texas came up from that deep well of despair inside me. It’s times like these that I overtly thank the “Zentangle Gods” that be. 

Sitting down doing a tile saved my sanity, not to mention some random act of violence from  occurring. Next time someone says to me “What are ya doing that for?”, I’m getting them a stapler from the dollar store and a few tiles to work on.  

‘nuff  said.

Here endith the rant for today.

Sharing the Zentangle bug

Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Sharing the Zentangle bug

Yes sharing is caring.


  I know this worn out statement glides over our lips like an insincere apology, but dang it, this bit of
wisdom is really tue. I'm a firm believer in the adage that " you get back what you send out", and since I have been travelling the Road To Zentangle®, I find that I am enjoying a better life.  I'm looking at the world in a different way, a more joyful and positive way, and in turn I am reaping the benefits. "What're ya  talking about?", you ask. Well get comfy for a moment, and I'll tell you.

Let me just give a short list here, after all long stories are, well..... Just too long.

1. I don't freak out in line ups at Walmart anymore. I look around for interesting patterns. Goodness knows interesting patterns abound here!
2.  My annoyance quotient has dropped by several points and my urge to slap people silly has all but disappeared. I attribute that to the self control I've acquired doing Zentangle®
3.Suddenly I have found my art mojo, which had mysteriously disappeared for whatever reason. Being creative, has a way of divorcing you just when you need it most, but Zentangle has become my artistic therapist.

The best thing is ... I get to meet knew people and share something that can make them better people.
As a matter of fact, tomorrow four ladies will be joining me for their first class. Four new souls that will be able to share this beneficial art form with their friends and family.

Maybe instead of sending guns and soldiers to worn torn countries, we should be sending CZT's and Zentangle supplies.  After all, we've tried the other routes and they just don't seem to be working.


Once again... Here endith the rambling for today.

Please visit the Northern star  online for some of my humor articles.  Here's a link to get you started.

http://northernstar-online.com/peek-a-boo-where-are-you

Or
www.vals.webs.com/

Carol Dee, CZT22 July 2014 13:24

You are a natural! Congrats!