The Artist's Way

So, one of my favorite writing podcasts, I Should Be Writing is working through a book called The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron together. It's a kind of workbook for unblocking creativity. I wasn't feeling particularly blocked or anything, so I'm not sure why exactly why I decided to join it, but I did. So I'm doing the exercises and stuff. I'm in week 3 of the program. There's a total of. . . hang on let me look it up. . . 12 weeks. I guess I felt like since I don't get as much writing and other creative time in as I'd like, maybe it would help me to do that.

So far, it isn't helping me get more writing done. In fact, I'm actually getting less done. The program requires me to write 3 pages (longhand writing) every morning about. . . just whatever. Stream of consciousness stuff. I usually can't even get dressed in the morning before kids and cats and husbands (okay, just the one husband) need me for something, so I moved the page writing to evening. But evening is when I usually sneak in the little bit of writing I already did. So now I'm writing what feels like pointless ramblings (the book assures me it isn't pointless) instead of working on my novel, or my newsletter, or my blog. Not loving the program yet.

Another problem I'm having, is that it's difficult for me to view myself as an 'artist'. That label doesn't feel like it fits me. I write about alien fish and robots, and sew quilts that are made to snuggle with, not be hung on walls. Yet I feel like it's strange that the name should bug me. Artist. Fine. So what? Don't know why I don't like it.

But I shall plow forward with this thing for a little while longer at least. If I gain any great insights that I feel are worthwhile, I shall come and report in about it. If any of you have ever heard of this book, or gone through the steps, I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.

Rainbows

We had a beautiful rainbow here today.
I got to wondering. . . are there any old mythological stories about rainbows? They are so beautiful, so amazing, I believe there must be, but I've never heard of one. There are myths from so many cultures about the sun, moon, planets, and even the wind and rain. So there must be some great rainbow stories out there, right?

I just wonder why I haven't heard any.

I'm sure my curiosity will get the better of me eventually, and I'll search out some rainbow myths and stories, but I thought I'd ask here first, if anyone wants to share a favorite rainbow story.

On Vampires

I remember saying that I'm not into vampire stories. But the last few I've read, I've really enjoyed, so I guess I need to rethink that generalization. Back in college some of my friends were into the Ann Rice vampire books, and they were too dark for my tastes. I never really cared for any of the versions of Dracula I've seen over the years either. That's probably why I thought it must be the vampires I didn't like.

Then with the popularity of the Twilight series, I decided to see what all the fuss was about. I think it took me three weeks to read all four books, I was so into them, and they were easy reading. Shortly thereafter I was sad to hear one of my favorite writing podcasts routinely making fun of the series, and putting it down in almost every episode. Some of it, I think, is that when anything gets to be too big, too popular, some will always have to come with negativity to balance things out. But, I listened to their criticisms anyway, hoping to learn.

Just this week I listened to an episode in which the host admitted, to my disgust, that he had never actually read any of the Twilight books. All his criticisms were based on watching the first movie. I would have thought that a writer would know better than to judge a book by its movie.

Anyway, one complaint I've heard from a few sources is that the vampires are too tame. Vampires, some feel, are monsters, not just dead people who may be nice or may be jerks. Since vampires are made up creatures, I guess they can be whatever any of us want to imagine them to be. It's really a matter of personal preference, right? So then I thought that maybe that's what I like. Nice vampires. I don't like monster stories.

Then again maybe not.

My good friend Amanda just had a vampire story produced on the Shadowcast podcast. I think it definitely falls into the 'vampires are monsters' camp, and I loved it anyway. Maybe because I was pulled along with the heroine's hope to find the nice vampires. I wanted a nice vampire as much as she did, even though her limited experience with a vampire was definitely of the 'monster' variety. I won't tell you what she found at last, so you can enjoy listening to the podcast or reading the story:
Letty by Amanda B. on Shadowcast.

The moral of this post is that I've learned not to make blanket statements like, I don't like fill-in-the-blank stories. If I'd stuck to my guns against vampires, I would have missed out on an awful lot of enjoyment. Each story should be judged on its own merits (but remember a story should never EVER be judged on its movie!)

It's That Time Again

I'm starting a diet tomorrow.

Again.

I decided this last night, and not on New Years day, or late in December like I normally do. But it's time.

I haven't decided what diet I'm going to start, though. I've used several with happy results over the years. Richard Simmons, Sperkpeople.com, Trim Advantage (one sold by Amway and if my understanding is right, it's kinda South Beach-ish). Then there was the plan from the nutritionist from when I was pregnant. Although that wasn't for weight loss, I did stop gaining for the rest of my pregnancy, so my tummy got bigger, and the rest of me got smaller.

I've thought about asking to see that nutritionist again actually. But I feel like after 2 visits with her, and becoming a dieting expert over the years, I shouldn't need help again. But none of the plans out there are designed for vegetarians, so I have to change them all. The plans she gave me were for pregnancy, so they aren't right for me now.

And, honestly, even after all these years, and after all I've learned, I do still feel like I need some help. And that makes me sad.

I don't know if I've put it off because it makes me sad, or because, having been here before, I know the work I'm getting myself in for. To stick to a diet is to spend an awful lot of time thinking about food. You'd think I'd like that, but I don't. Planning, and measuring, and planning some more. Then heaven forbid, plans change and I'm stuck having to improvise something to eat away from home. Oh the horror.

But it can't be helped.

And it's never as bad as it seems like it will be. That's the part I need to remind myself about. I'm always happy I did the work. Everything worthwhile is like that, isn't it?

My Best Kid Party Idea To Date.

At my daughter's last birthday (turning 2) we were going to end up having a lot more grown-up guests than kids. It was mainly family. So I wanted a fun activity for the adults. Since the kiddo's favorite phrase at the time was "I do my own!" we had a DIY theme for the party.

I saw some darling dolls from GooseGrease on Etsy.

And I also noticed that they sold kits, and blank dolls that you can paint yourself. Now, my kiddo's love the old wooden "Little People" dolls that my parents saved from when I was a kid. The have named each of the dolls for people in our family. I thought, How cool would it be to make them a set of dolls that really looked like our family?

So I bought a blank set of dolls, and had each person at the party paint themselves as a gift to the Birthday Girl. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and the dolls are played with almost daily. It really made the day extra special, as cheesy as that sounds.

Android's Dream Sheep Amigurumi

The next few posts will be a little bit of old news, but I still want to share these pictures, even though time has gotten away from me.

When my kiddos entered some items into the local county fair, I decided to contribute as well. I was learning a type of crochet called amigurumi (which is Japanese for a knitted or crocheted stuffed doll). I was also reading a book by John Scalzi called "The Android's Dream". Turns out, the book isn't about sleeping robots like I thought when I picked it up. I won't tell you what it is about, but my fair entry is a hint.


I got a nice red, second-place ribbon, which is amazing considering I misunderstood how to do the decrease stitches on the back of the head. It ain't pretty back there. My theory is that there were only two entries in this category. I also want to credit RoxyCraft and the book "Tiny Yarn Animals" for the pattern for this cute little sheep. I sure couldn't have come up with it on my own. I met Ms. Snow at the Maker Faire last year ans she was uber nice, and there are free patterns on her website, so go check it out. I have more amigurumi to show off soon, most are also from her patterns.

Stuff

My buddy Amanda over at A Fortnight of Mustard nominated me for this Kreativ Blogger thing. Thanks Amanda! So what that apparently means is:

Here are the rules:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

So, 7 interesting things about me. . . humm. . .

1. I'm a horrible packrat, but I hate clutter, so I'm always a little uncomfortable about the state of my house.
2. I cannot stop myself from putting two spaces after a period, no matter how many times I read/hear that one space is now the standard.
3. With my father's help, I once built a wheelchair for a cat.
4. I've been bitten by a cat, a dog, a finch, a monkey, a bat, a hamster, a rat, a budgie, a mouse, a snake, a vulture, a donkey, a macaw, a cockatiel, a pigeon, an iguana, a rabbit, and a gecko, but I still like animals.
5. I felt really, really bad when I saw that my last entry for this blog was in May. I've had about 50 great ideas for posts; why haven't I written any of them?
6. I'm in the middle of reading 3 books right now. No wonder it takes me so long to finish one!
7. I like these games, but I always kill them, 'cause I don't send them on to others. Sorry.

Star Trek

I'll keep this short because I know the world doesn't need another movie review.

Just have to say that I'm home from the theater and doing a nerdy fan-girl happy dance. They done good with this one.