Author: -N-

Push

For the last several weeks I’ve been feeling constrained by things and people around me.  Union meetings.  Cuts in education.  Students.  All of these create a suffocating cloud of stress and worry.

It is easy to drown in such circumstances, give in to depression or despair, to feel and become a victim.  Some people do get overwhelmed by such things, but each and everyone of us needs to look at it.  What are we contributing to the mess?  What is external and simply is, no matter what we do?  What can we change?  What can we not change?

Well, I cannot change the financial mess that is the state of California.  I cannot change its impact on education.  I know my students will move on.  I don’t have any idea what the union has in store for us, if they even understand what it is that my small coterie of educators do.  That I might be able to impact.  But if the final rule is that my hours are cut, well, such is life, pick up, move on.

This realization hit me as I was driving in to work the other morning.  What can I do if there are more free hours in the week?  Can we make it on less money?  Should I look for an additional job?  Do I want to?  (No!)  If I do look for another job, what would I look for?  Shall I work in another area?  I am beginning to take action by considering options.

The proverbial “window of opportunity” is here.

Open it.

Look out.

Fresh air.

Too Much!

Some people learn things as they go along, living life on a daily basis and incorporating the new stuff without the disruption of everything else.  Not me.  When I am curious about something, I jump headlong with both feet.  This has its good points and bad points, the worst being it can become obsession – luckily, it never does.  The thing is, I am a collector.  I collect information.  I collect things.  And I don’t usually get rid of stuff, either in my mind (though I will as senility approaches), in my closet, under my bed, or in the garage.  Granted, when I return to that interest, costs are very insignificant!

Lately, in case you have not noticed, I have been doing a lot of photography, to the point I decided to set up a blog separate from Ink, Yarn & Beer.  Here, I really want to get back into more personal things, such as the painting and knitting design, as well as just discussions or whatever I fancy.  At that other blog I can focus on photography and what I am doing there, create my little encyclopedia of links, blither on about what I am doing.  I’ve gotten a few hits there, mostly spam, but that blog, like this one, is for my own pleasure.  And to create balance.

My artistic side finds photography rather frustrating, but I am beginning to see how it is tweaking me at the same time.  Thinking about how something is made – effects, colors, process – begin to move into other areas.  Looking at the petals of a rose make me wonder how I can capture them with a brush using ink or watercolor.  Looking at the light shadows in an image make me consider contrast and detail in a painting and why something in a painting works, or does not.  Realism does not need to be done, but the impact created by color, shadow, tone, shape gives an illusion of reality or its impression.

The fact is, any form of art is limited only by the person doing it.  This can because of a lack of tools or innovation, or because one is still in the process of becoming or doing.  I am limited by my interests in a lot of things – painting, knitting, reading, writing, photography, gardening, hiking, traveling – and it keeps me from doing anything well.  On Outlook I have different activities scheduled weekly – creative activities – and that doesn’t help either!  Regardless, the plan is to try to do a bit more of all of it, and be focused on it when I can.

Jerk Chicken with Lime

If you want something a bit different and spicy, but still easy to make, jerk chicken with lime is perfect.  Boneless, skinless chicken breasts in any quantity are marinated for a few hours to overnight, and then grilled.  You can also use pieces, skin still on, if you prefer. Jerk seasoning can also be used with pork, fish, and shellfish.

Ingredients

  • Chicken
  • 1/2 c. fresh lime juice
  • 2 T. vegetable oil
  • 2 T. brown sugar
  • Spices and herbs, in varying amounts (depending on taste and what you have): ginger, chili powder, garlic, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, thyme, bay.
  • Fresh chopped peppers, such as jalapeno, Scotch bonnet, habanero, for heat.  Note:  be careful in handling the peppers!  Wear gloves and don’t touch your eyes!  Wash your hands and work surfaces ASAP.

Preparation

Place all ingredients into a glass bowl or large baggy to marinate.  Turn to make sure marinade gets to all pieces.  Marinate for at least 2 hours – but the longer, the better, as the flavor soaks in.

Grilling

Cook over medium heat on grill until pieces are done.  You might want to char the outsides a bit in the last few minutes of cooking.

Serving

Accompany the jerk chicken with rice and a fresh salad or vegetables.

Clutter

There is something about the change in weather, from winter to spring, that makes you want to clean!  Throw out old things.  Tidy up.  Fertilize the flowers, mow the lawn.  Junk and debris just don’t make it, and until all of it is settled to satisfaction, and itchy restlessness prevails.

Double Delight Rose - 100mm, f/20, 1/200s

Here, spring has moved from damp and cold to hot and warm, with temperatures up into the high 80s.  All the clutter on my desk, my unfinished projects, my hairy dog in need of a summer shave, are making me absolutely nuts.  I cannot focus on anything.

So, to task.  Depending on my husband’s mood after work (he works till 6:30 p.m.), we will shave the dog.  I straightened up my desk.  I pulled out a text and am beginning to read it again.  I poured a glass of water.  I took a picture of a rose.  Mentally, I’ve set up a game plan for the rest of the day – what I will do between now and dog-shaving time.

Clutter, chaos, and disorganization begone!