Dance like nobody's watching...

Suzanne from Quietfire Designs posts a weekly journal prompt.(Just in case I run out of things to say. I usually just write my own bit in my journal at my bedside, but this prompt inspired me to actually post it. This week Carol, from Where will you journey to? suggested this prompt.


Weekly Journal Prompt
March 12, 2010

If you were a character in a painting, which painting would it be, who would you be and why?
You could extend this perhaps by writing something of a back story for your chosen character.

On a day like today, all wet and rainy and damp, and I can hardly move without the aid of some Aleve, I'm so envious of the ladies who can dance.

So here it goes, If I could be a character in a painting, it would be in anyone of the Degas ballerina paintings. The ballet was one of Edgar Degas favorite subjects and so they all would be a most acceptable place for me to find myself in, alas at the size I am now I think I might even be too big for La Toilette, although I have my own version of that as well. One of these days I'll post it. I also have to confess I particularly loved this one, since it has that chair, and you know my obsession with chairs. Speaking of which I need a spring chair for my front hall. I guess even dancers have to sit and put their dancing slippers on.

It's been great fun to participate in Quietfire's prompt of the week, be sure to check out Suzanne's site. She has some very talented designers on her team, and her products are #1. Good think for my bank account that her shop is so far away, and I have to order on line, and I'm not so good at that. Here's Suzannes's blog, but I strongly urge you to check out the designers corner, and sign up for the journal prompts.

What about you?

Every week Suzanne, from Quietfire Design sends out a journal prompt. I try to participate, these are private journals. It occurred to me that my kids really know little about ME outside of what I do in relation to them and their upkeep, so I started to write a private journal and I love how Suzanne prompts me into thinking about things. So today I thought I'd bore you with some of my thoughts on this particular topic.

Today's Prompt.
Do you travel regularly?
Have you ever traveled for work?
What is your usual mode of transportation?
Is this mode your favorite way to travel?
If you travel for work, is it all work - or do you take time to "smell the roses" while you're away?

I seem to be traveling all the time. I travel by "Go" Bus. The "Go" system is a series of commuter trains/buses in the Greater Toronto Area, now reaching as far as Niagara Falls, Pickering Milton/George Town, Acton and beyond. I travel by this system to visit family and friends, to Dr. appointments, to painting group etc. Is this work? I wish I was getting paid mileage.

Then again I did travel for work a couple of times. I had opportunity to go to a training session or two in Ottawa. The unfortunate part of that was it was BRRRRRRRRRRRR cold. Not winter yet, but cold. Ottawa is quite a lovely city, the capital of Canada. We were in class most of the day so by the evening, the sidewalks were rolled up and not much sight seeing got done. I did however go to high tea. I arrived in Ottawa via the VIA Train, (Go borrows the tracks from Via). The country graciously booked me on 1st class, well I thought I could easily be transformed to the Orient Express, such service and all with a little french accent. Gaston brought out the wine the minute the little hand and big hand hit 12noon. I only had one glass, just in case the Prime Minister or the Queen was meeting me at the station.

But the ultimate travel for work I'd like to say I did was to tell you all I'd been to Japan, Ohara School of Ikebana. But alas no such luck,...

What about you?
Do you travel regularly?
Have you ever travelled for work?
What is your usual mode of transportation?
Is this mode your favourite way to travel?
If you travel for work, is it all work - or do you take time to "smell the roses" while you're away?

What kind of a sandwich are you?

In one of the e newsletters I receive the editor/creator of the newsletter also sends out journal prompts. I found this one particularly interesting. We were discussing being a member of the sandwich generation. You know those of us who are still parenting children at home and increasingly parenting our parents. It worries us, it is constantly on our minds. I'm sure we were not anticipating making the sacrifices we are now making. We rely on our siblings and anyone who is willing for support, but even that becomes not enough. Some days I would like to have a crystal ball just to know how it will all play out. Perhaps I can find a gypsy with a spare. GUILT is a huge issue. You feel bad sitting down to talk with someone or have a evening out, because you should be checking on your parent. And if you don't feel guilty someone will point out that you should. By the time things get settled will we feel like living ourselves, will we have the energy or health? As I write this I feel selfish. What the answer is I don't know. There just seems to be an overwhelming amount of questions.

Bloomin Beauties

This week Suzanne of Quietfire Design
suggested we think of what flower we would like to be if we were flowers. Yes, it must be spring in full swing where Suzanne is. I thought about it and thought about it. I know I would not like to be a Carnation. I'd love to be a Rose, sweet fragrance, a little prickly, but hardy and persistent, able to endure long winters and hot summers. But then I thought what about something a little more exotic. An Orchid, I love orchids. I also lover Fresia, and Sweet William, and Hydrangea, and Lilac, and Violets, although I don't think I'd like to be named Violet. There are just too many flowers I'd like to be. I think I'd like to morph, or be a shape-shifter. Then I could be a Crocus in spring, change to Iris, a Rose, Lily of the Valley, but most of all I hope that at the end of the day I will be a Forget- me- not. Happy blooming. .

The Bucket List

With my many interests I receive just as many e newsletters one of which is Quietfire Designs. Suzanne sends us blog prompts. Sort of an inspiration for our blogging. A few weeks ago she suggested " The Bucket List". The Bucket List was a movie starring Jack Nickelson, and Morgan Freeman. It's a list of things you would like to do before you kick the bucket. Well I must say, I have several buckets going. I have a bucket list for my painting interests, a bucket list for my art group, and of coarse one for writing. There is most definetley one for my family and the list goes on. So far I have checked off two items with my painting group. I had the privilege of painting with Maureen McNaughton at her studio this past May, and I painted with Shelley Prior earlier this year. Both experiences were well placed on my list. After talking to my cousin in Poland this week, I thought HMMMM.... should I have a bucket list for places to visit. There are always more things to do, I'll have to live for awhile I guess.