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RAMBLIN' RAG #8
Date: 10.16.01
Life goes on(a prayer kind of), scroll way down if you want to get to slumps and solving them, upcomings and The Goose Story.

I think we'll have to admit, Life goes on...in one way or another. The children still laugh (and fight), the laundry pile up does not cease...EVER, the birds are chirping - i heard em - babes are born... and angels as well. All of us have had a heartsick September, one that we shall never forget. By now tho we should look towards the festivities of fall and winter. Myself, I want to forget that awful day, but I do not want to forget some of the feelings that have intensified within me since.

I do not want things to return to normal.

NO!


My spirit has been awakened. i do not want to return to that slumber where i had no time to walk with my neighbor, no time to see a movie with my children, no time to make a pillow for our couch - tho i sew every day, no time... no time... no time.... to make up a little poem and etch it in the sand. My heart still aches from our tragedy but on the other hand, I relish the fact that the porch swing is no longer covered with dust but instead reveals a pair of fanny marks.

Go away bad day....but leave with us the compassion, understanding, love, brotherhood, sisterhood...that fell upon us with your aftermath.

Oh God, Jah, Budda, Super Nova, Majestic Redwood, Bugs Bunny . . . whoever you please. . . remind us that if we do not change our lives, if we do not change our ways, if we do not change our greed, we may have another bad day....and another. Please remind us that we should not be too busy to remember these things. Keep us realistic in knowing that Freedom has it's price...these days, it seems that the price is war. If you please, could it be a short war, void of arrogance and overdoing, so that those many brave souls so willing to protect our Freedoms, do not do so in vain.

Patriotism - gather us together....but do not let us be blinded by you. Remind us that other lands have had their bad days as well.

Unity - keep our injured nation warmed, but also, spread your wings far and wide and encompass a torn and fragmented world.

Hope - hold fast to our hearts - keep kindled our new spirit - let it nourish our self, our families, our neighborhoods, our country, our world. Keep lively, our thoughts of World Peace. Make us passionate, even feverish, in our endeavor to make the dream of
World Peace
a reality.

I'm a bit surprised....but I think that was a prayer.
well then.....

AMEN!

Oh....and please remind ME . . . to practice . . .
what I pray . . . . thank you.

.....at last some SEWING MATTERS......

A very good question came up on a doll list that i am on about creative slumps and lack of inspiration.."what do you do to propel yourself out of slumps and get inspired?". What are the reasons for your decline in creative energy? Here are a few things that you can sometimes attribute slumps to and some things that you can do about them.
  • You simply cannot get inspired to create. Everything you try ends up in the reject basket. This is the time to seek out another creative medium to experience. Best for me is a live musical performance of any kind. Go to a play....our last high school play was incredible. (This weekend we're going to see the play, Barefoot In The Park...so you know my next doll will have no shoes.) A dance recital works just as well. Pick up some friends and go to a museum and revel in antiquity or go to an art gallery...lots of inspiration there for sure. Hey, maybe even a......fashion show!???? Or if you want to take it into your own hands, take a class in an entirely different creative medium than you have ever delved into before....Cake Decorating??!! I'm sure you can add to this list.
  • If you work with deadlines, your deadline is too far off....as soon as the deadline rolls in a bit closer, pressure builds, panic sets it...and then you really get your butt in gear - you're suddenly INSPIRED!!!. But sometimes it's too late...and you have to hurry...and you don't do quite the job you wanted to do. A better idea ... make a list and set your OWN, earlier deadlines instead...WRITE them down in LARGE LETTERS ...and stick to them. Just crossing things off your list actually becomes an inspiration in itself.
  • BUT..perhaps you are the type that only works well under pressure. Don't waste time starting early and bumbling....just leave it til the last minute.
  • Trying to do way too many things at one time - very confusing and difficult to finish any one thing. Best here to stuff all but one (maybe 2) projects in the cupboard and allow yourself to only focus on that one or two items until they are complete. Focus is a key word in everything we do.
  • Sometimes we're slugs and have not gotten enough exercise - a lazy body puts the mind to sleep. On mornings when you miss your exercise routine, come afternoon, try putting on some good dance music and dance for awhile. Stimulates the brain. A good lip sinc session is very reviving also....being a star, if only for a moment..is very motivating. (I'm kinda hung up on doing Bette Midler)
  • You have just completed something and are disappointed with the results. Very easy here to indulge in feeling discouraged and depressed instead of realizing that there is no WAY we can like every thing we make. Turn the page....clean house for a llittle while, get reorganized...then dig in and start anew.
  • You're burned out and need to go to the beach (park, city, etc.) Put on yer hat and GO!
  • One thing i discovered when i drank caffeine daily was that come afternoon, I had zero energy. Well if you drink caffeine be sure to drink a whole lot of water before and after.....it will greatly minimize the afternoon plunge.
  • Then there's that list of minor things that make focusing very difficult. The weather is gorgeous, ate too much chocolate, forgot to deep breathe, too many fun emails to answer, too many basketball games to attend....so what...sometimes you've just godda live a little.
    One more thing....if none of the above works for you, i'm afraid you will just have to go dye your hair FIRE-ENGINE RED! Dramatic yes...but it works...HONEST!

    Here's some upcomings:

    • Gallery - pictures of your things made from a Reets pattern. Send me your pictures and I will post them in the upcoming gallery. You can add a bit about yourself and your crafting if you like and we'll work that in too...or, just send your name if you like.
    • Will try to post some of the cookie recipes from our sewing club Christmas Cookie Party, as promised. ALSO, PLEASE send your party ideas to me and i'll put them up with the recipes.
    • Now that our last fall show is completed, i hope to be getting some things up on Ebay.
    • Folsom Quilt Show end of January. Dates and such in next letter.

      That's all for now. Think good thoughts....and don't give up. (i'm talking to myself).

      Below is The Goose Story. It has been around so you may have read it...but i'm sure there are a few that haven't. I have always loved this story and here someone has applied it so very well to These Days.

      THE GOOSE STORY
      Now that it is Fall, when you see geese heading South for the winter, flying along in V formation, you might consider what science has discovered about why they fly that way?
      As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formation the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
      When the Head Goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing, and another goose flies Point. Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
      Finally, and this is important . . . . when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshots, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection.
      They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.

      IF WE HAVE THE SENSE OF A GOOSE, WE WILL STAND BY EACH OTHER LIKE THAT.


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