My own Chapter 8 check in

For Chapter 8 I fullfilled my duties as a hostess, interviewing Mónica and Brianna and putting the MrLinky in place but totally disregarded my own work. "I don´t have time for this", was my excuse. I had to laugh when the description of this chapter´s work said (in a free form translation from my Spanish version): "We will investigate the manner in which we use our perception of time to avoid the creative challenges". Sooooooooooooo spot on!

My working table:

1. Morning pages: I didn´t show up ... are you ready for this? ... Ok, then. I didn´t show up SEVEN days this fortnight. That is half the days! Unheard of. And on three days I wrote half (or less) the usual amount of lines. I was avoiding this BIG time.

2. Artist date: this is the closest I got to one.

That´s hubbie and me with our niece and a giant colouring book. Picture taken by Tati. I sharpened all 74 pencils.

3. Tasks:

3.1.1 The dream: to be a well known Blogger.

3.1.2 The Goal: 500 followers here at Happysnappy, a storyteller with a camera, 200 followers at Paula en español (Paula in Spanish, just like CNN and CNN in Spanish ;) ) 800 Likes in Facebook, to be invited as Guest to another blog/site/event.

3.1.3 In a perfect world, in five years time, all that and more. What about a whole site? Some kind of event of my own. All that on line plus something personal, 3D style.

3.1.4 In this real world, what can I do this year? I´m doing that. I´m posting on a regular basis with regular features, I´m hosting the Book Club.

3.1.5 Now, same thing

3.1.6 The dream/the north/the role model: Be a well known blogger/recognition on my own (not as somebody´s mom, wife, daughter)/ Donna Downey

3.2. An ideal childhood. The only thing I´d change from my own would be to add a room of my own (remember that my Room was my father´s office?) and a bit of loud music. ;)

3.3 My eyes change colour with the weather. I change colours too. Some days I´m a very soothing blue, the voice of calm and comfort. Somedays I´m Nature´s green, nurturing and alive. Or a bouncy orange. I admit the grey washed away days are not that uncommon.

My favourite colour has changed with the years: blue, orange, green, violet. Maybe it´s red now. I have a lot of red stuff.

3.4 Five things I can´t do: stop cleaning, swear in public, feed only on coffee and cake for every meal, play on line all day long oooohhhh, errrmmm, can´t think of more.

3.5 Twenty things I´d like to do: just click on the Wishcasting tag on the right hand side and you´ll have a long list. :)

3.6 An ideal day here and now: coffee, cake and on line time. :D

3.7 I didn´t even write it in my notebook but I know EXACTLY what it implies. ;)

My own Chapter 7 check in

1) Morning pages: 13 out of 14. Mostly afternoon/evening pages. Some shorter than usual. Some quite angry. I´m uncovering old stories of mine that still hurt.

2) Artist date: our neighbourhood has been changing a lot these past couple of years with many new buildings. Some of these have shops on the ground floor. One of those shops was opened on October 6th two streets from home: an art shop!

Yay! This pic was taken on the same day. Nowadays it has a pretty sign.

I walked around a bit to have a look at other new shops and I discovered one a bit out of the way that sells handmade pieces. I will be interviewing the owner soon. :)

3) Tasks:

3.1) I didn´t make the required sign. Ooops.

3.2) Music and doodles: not yet but it is still in the cards.

3.3) Sacred space: ditto

3.4) Aromatic atmosphere at home: does wet dog smell count? It´s been raining so much poor Frida doesn´t have any other option! On the other hand I cook on a regular basis so homemade food smell is a given.

3.5) Wear something special on an ordinary day: another regular thing for me.

3.6) Buy yourself something pretty:

At 12 years old Tati reached the "I need something NEW to wear" stage. *slight roll of eyes ´cause I was sooooo different* Then a-shopping we go. A few tshirts and accesories. Why do I post it here? Because I chose some accesories for me too. We discussed possibilities to maximize the use of those. Imagine the convo: "If I choose the black barrette and you take the purple flower I can use them both with the new top." "Ok, but the bracelet is mine!" "May I use it too mom?" "Of course my darling. Mmmwa!" :D

3.7) Collage. Just in time for The Full Moon Board. This month Jamie says:

Under this moon, what harvest do you want to invite into your life? What would I like an abundance of?

Coulours and art! :D Very "spring" board. Please remember I´m on the Southern Hemisphere so I´m going into summer here. Totes and owls, the art blossoms on line.Side B: shoes and bags again! I had missed them. A lot of "grown up" images, many deep coloured accesories: bag, shoes, make up, a titanium watch, bracelets. What is that bonsai tree doing there?

3.8) Favourite movies: the ones with races, things that explode and the good ones win in the end. :D A short list: Star Wars (the original one), Fast and Furious Tokyio drift, Men in Black, Star Trek (teh new one), Los peques (local).

3.9) Favourite reads: Nora Roberts books, light detectives stories and creativity ones.

3.10) Put the collage in a visible place: I do that every month! :)

My own mid way Chapter 7 check in

By now you all know I´m the colour coded type of girl. :D Each chapter in The Artist´s way has had its own colour. I decided to pull the whole colour scheme together. Here they are:

Felt tip market for the chapter´s title, fine point for Tasks and pencil to underline the book.

Chapter 6 revisited. I have been paying more attention to what I was creating in the kitchen. I´m not a cool foodie like my dear friend Suzi, but she has inspired to introduce more variety in my everyday cooking. :)Layered salad.

On to chapter 7. :)

1) Morning pages: let me count them ... 6 ot of 7. Three real morning pages and three afternoon ones.

2) Artist´s date. Not alone but we went out on Saturday.

We had to take Mati to Tigre for him to go to a birthday party in an island, so we hanged out at the river side during the afternoon taking pics of nature and architecture (there are many very old, very rich maisons along the riverside)

3) I have read the tasks and done a few. Full check in next Sunday. :)

Chapter 4 Check In, the rebels week

All in all, this was an ugly chapter. Truly. I almost ignored my own deadline and avoided sharing this week but I´m keeping this honest. Here you have it. Next time will be so much better. Promise. :)

1) My daily pages this week: 5 out of 7. On Wednesday a cold took me by surprise and knocked me for six. Final count for the fortnight: 12 out of 14.

2) Another unexpected artist´s date as I discovered the local Town Hall had a new oil paintings exhibit when I went to pay our tax.

3) Tasks.

This is the proof I didn´t follow the "no reading" thing for this chapter. My picture a day for August 27th was the book I finished. I love Maeve Binchy´s books, specially the ones that have short stories that tell the same story line from different perspectives according to the characters.

3.1: Ideal environment. Easy: here, now. My neighbourhood has the perfect size for me. Big enough to have all the services I need, small enough to get to know people.

3.2: Me at 80. This one was a complete surprise. Maybe due to the cold, maybe some other things that have been happening, I saw myself in a nasty light. Tired, defeated, still with unaccomplished projects (but in a "it´s too late" way). Awful.

3.3: Me at 8. I smiled at the amount of doll´s names I could remember. I had such faith in me. I was going to be a glamorous, famous astronomer.

3.4: Private space: I already have it.

3.5: Changes? Can´t say I see much this week. Gifts for my inner artist: knitting magazines, base acrylic colours, a journal.

3.6: Artist´s Prayer. I think it was Danielle LaPorte who said "let us shine" before each event. It covers both her and her audience. I like that one.

3.7: Longer artist´s date: N/A

3.8: Get rid of ugly clothing: I do this on a regular basis. I have an "one in, one out" system. If I buy something, one item of the same category must go.

3.9: Why do I keep quiet in the face of conflict? Because it gives me time to think. And it may go away on its own. Hopefully.

3.10: reading deprivation: it just didn´t happen.

Chapter 4 Check In, the rebel week

1) Morning pages: 7 of 7 daily pages. Most were afternoon pages, a couple of evening ones. Only one day with short version (one page). Insights? None so far this week.

2) Artist date: just in time for the Kids Day here in Argentina a couple of new shops opened in my neighbourhood.

I entered Walkiria with Tati and had a nice chat with the owner, asking here about the concept and why she had started it. It is a mom & daughter team. They offer pretty, femenine accesories and make up classes.

We also entered Rampagge which opened last month and we hadn´t visited yet.
A photographic date on my own. Many old houses are being taken down to build new appartment buildings. :( This one has been abandoned for a while and the land on the right side of it is already being excavated.


3) The rebel part: I skimmed the chapter as it was not too interesting for me. And the tasks, I couldn´t see the point. I´ll make myself read the chapter again and go through the tasks next week. Even if it is to write why they don´t fit me. ;)

Chapter 3 Check In, getting kind of artsy

1) Morning pages. I´m all over the place writing things like "I haven´t got a clue what to say this is getting kind of boring i have already said everything i need to say do i really have to say it all over again just to fill this ... lines no i´m not going to write swear words what if the kids ever get hold of this notebook..." And so it goes on and on for two pages at 5pm. I´m glad there is no wrong way to do these pages or I´d get an F for these. :D

2) The artist´s date was not what i had planned. I had this long list of recommendations for the library. I envisioned a nice chat with the librarian (who is a friend I´ve known for over 20 years) while stocking up on books. Only they have changed their opening hours and I had 10 minutes to gather my things (My public thanks to Ceci who stayed 20 minutes after her hours for me to run around like a crazy headless chicken)

The Universe was kind and sent me another date. I usually visit my mom with the kids after school. Hubbie picks me up later and we go to the movies or dinner while the kids have dinner with my mom. A win-win situation. :D

I told hubbie I wanted to try something slightly different for dinner as we usually stay within our comfort zone near my mom´s place. He took me to the old part of the city, a traditional pasta restaurant called "Campo Dei Fiore". The framed mirrors were amazing and they had pretty paintings too, lots of them. Another artist´s date on my doorstep. Or should I say delivered to my table? ;)
I was playing with my new turquoise paint. I was doing some sanding outside. Don´t worry, I didn´t touch the camera. :D
Neither did Daniel.
3) Not a single task!!!! Better get cracking. :)

Chapter 2 Check In, an unexpected lot of writing happened

Control point:

1) Morning pages: gold star for me, 14 out of 14 days for this chapter.

I admit my gold is a bit tarnished as they were not actually morning pages (more like "as soon as I can fit them in") and they were not three. Furthermore, my goal is two but on three days I only got to one. A bit chipped and rusty but it is my star and I like it. :)

2) Artist dates:

Week 1: the Independence House Museum. That´s where we recorded the video for Jamie. That´s me on the left, with my kids. Pic taken by a another tourist (hubbie was working).
Matias, 15, my director and editor.
Tatiana, 12, my producer (she provided the camera).
Week 2: a visit to the Casa Carnacini, a local art museum. It was the living digs of Ceferino Carnacini, a painter. Still has a lot of his and his friends´work in the house itself in the form of murals and ceiling paintings. This month they are having an exhibition by Carlos Paez Vilaró.

This was my favourite piece. A landscape showing his home in Uruguay, Casapueblo.

BIG paintings with bold acrylics. So totally my style. :)
Tati by the one of the pictures of the catalog.
Not actually artist dates but playfull dates. We were without power so we played a lot of board games. Yay.
A visit to the mall with my mom and the kids.

3) Homework Assignments. This is where I wrote so much, specially compared to my 2007 version (which I was careful not to read till now, so I was not influenced by it).

3.1. Affirmative reading

I still skim over them, but I´m not as dissmissive as I was.

3.2. Where does your time go?

I don´t have a job outside the house anymore, so that went off my list. And also all the driving time. Food is still high on the list. I like the way I subdivided it in 2007: buy/process/dishes. This time around I´m taking all the housechores on me (no more hired help) so I got: cleaning, grocery shopping and cooking with subdivisions. Kids and on line activities still going strong but more organized.

3.3. Twenty things

It took me a long time to come up with them. In fact, I wrote the list in three separate times. Give me a minute to check what I have in common. *Paula notices she is humming the "We are Furiously Dangerous" song chorus while she is writing her exercise. Funny*

Ok. Done. Only 12 things in 2007, 18 this time around. Wooooow! I didn´t put "Taking pics"! What happened to this Happysnappy?!?!?!?!. Getting mail and putting puzzles together also disappeared from my list. Coffe and TV are on both (although I had completely cut my tv watching time, some series like CSI creeped back in). More art related things in 2011. On line chat was changed by FB messages.

3.4. Two things

It seems I´m quite good at doing things I like. ;)

3.5. Affirmations

Nope, sorry girls. I was not going to "waste" my paper and ink on a repetitive thing. I did write about the blurts that came with the three affirmations that caused the most resistance.

3.6. Imaginary lives

Are you curious about my lives this week? Here they go: astrologer/tarotist, paperback writer, something for Disney (I still don´t know what), researcher for an American TV company, researcher for documentaries (think History channel).

3.7. Life pie

I made 4 concentric circles. Spirituality is the only area I´m on the outer circle. Not because I have everything clear but because I´m working on it. I´m showing up. Again and again. Exercise is on the smallest. I know I have the potential for more but just don´t want to.

3.8. Ten tiny changes

The six from the 2007 version: Two were done. Ouch, after four years learning Photoshop is still on the list. The new ones, all small doable practical things like buying a new plant for my entrance hall.

3.9 Choose one change: change the pics on the mantel with newer ones.

3.10. Do it. *sigh* Forgot about it. There´s always next week. :D

Chapter 1 Check In, artist´s dates galore

1) Morning pages:

This is where I´ve been writing my morning pages this week. :) We are staying at the Hotel Reydon in La Cumbre, province of Córdoba. For the whole chapter: 13 out of 14 days. Super yay for me!

2) Artist´s dates:

Disclaimer: all my artist´s dates this week were with company as I´ve been on winter holidays with my family. In case you haven´t met them, here they are: our son Matías (15), hubbie Daniel and our daughter Tatiana (12)
Sunday: an Argentinian writer´s home (Manuel Mujica Lainez) is now a museum.
Monday: photography date, amazing views from the top of the hills. Kids and hubbie went down the slopes three times in a row. :D
Tuesday: La Falda. Lots of turn of the century homes with some modern touches.
Wednesday: Capilla del Monte. More old architecture and the cerro Uritorco (lots of personal energy/yoga/spiritual/stones related shops)

Thursday: Pintos River and Los Terrones

Friday: Restaurant Caraffa provides you with games while you wait for your delicious food. I remembered to have my pic taken just when my "mondongo" arrived.

3) Tasks:

1. Morning Pages: Done as said in #1

2. Artist date: loads of pics in #2

3. Acknowledge Grievances: Arrrggghhhh! This one was a tough one. Just as I wrote huge lists in 2007, this time around I was kind of "Naaaaaa. It wasn´t that bad" Denial?

4. Be More Specific: even more Arrrrgggghhhhh.

5. Letter to the Editor: It was reeeeeal short. And written because I can leave an exercise undone. At least not yet. That´s how this type A student rolls. ;)

6. Your Champions: Surprisingly this was a tough one as well. *Paula looks around bewildered*

7. Thank You Letter: Uh? I´m always writing thank you type messages but a dedicated letter? *Shuffle feet* Ok, a short one. And I´m not sending it.

8. Imaginary Lives: this one was easy. All teaching related jobs. Not as a regular teacher, I´d go nuts if I had to teach the same thing again and again.

9. Affirmations. This one was a total surprise. It had been a HUGE obstacle the first time around and now it was a breeze. I could accept most of the affirmations and was comfortable with a lot of them. I see an affirmations collage type scrapbook coming. :D

10. Walking. I´ve done enough walking for the whole book!!!

Mid Chapter 1 Check In

1) Morning pages: I showed up 6 out of 7 days.

On Friday 8th I had to be at school at 7.45am for the Independence day event. {Our Independence day is July 9th}
As I told you before, Tati was chosen by her peers for one of the three honour positions escorting the Buenos Aires flag at all the official school events. The actual flag carrier position is rotative so she gets it one in three events. This time she was first escort.

Then life took over: art class, banking, bla, bla, bla, the usual comings and goings and I never got to my notebook

2) Artist´s date: On Saturday, one day shy of my first week, the Universe was kind to me and gifted me with an artist´s date at my doorstep. Literally.

We are staying at the Reydon Hotel in La Cumbre, province of Córdoba, Argentina. Right out of our room there is this little art gallery with watercolours by local artists of local points of interest.

While the rest of the family settled down I took the time to peruse the gallery. I paid special attention to the sources of light, the blendings of colours and totally delighted in the luminous beauty of the pieces.

Here´s my favourite:
3) Notes: I read the first chapter and let it simmer. Then I re-read it, underlining my favourite parts and copied some of those in my folder to keep it all together. Now I need to do the homework (tasks).

I compared notes to my 2007 version. I got so many more positive affirmations that I could relate to! Yay! On the other hand, some of the tasks presented a stronger resistence. Weird.