Traumatic Day

Today was a very Traumatic Day. not for me, thank god, but for poor little Parker, one of the lovelies I babysit on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.

Parker just turned four, and her favorite thing to to do is play on her little tykes disc swing. One rope, tied to a plastic disc so that she can swing in every which way. We were outside playing while her brother was inside asleep and she was spinning in circles when she yelled, "stop the swing." so I did. but she didn't climb off immediately. She was stuck. More precisely: her hair was stuck. Two strands of her long blonde hair twisted in opposite directions around the nylon rope holding up the swing. I tried to twist it, I tried to pull it. Nothing worked. It was time for scissors. and then the choice needed to me made: cut the swing or cut the hair.

I chose to cut the swing, because you can replace a rope a little easier than you can replace the hair on a child's head, but still, traumatizing day for the little one. lets hope for no future repeats.

How Creative is Microbiology?

School Started! yay? I don't really think so.

the creative juices have been flowing rather slowly this last week. The week has been a blur of early mornings, balancing babysitting with attending class, and trying in vain to get a schedule that actually works, rather than one that leaves awkward amounts of time in between classes.

So far, school sucks. but what can I say, it's community college. And I did things backwards, so I can't really count on things being perfect.

I have a microbiology class that is thrilling and absolutely disgusting, simultaneously, (you do not even want to know why every once in a while your eyebrow itches...).

I have a psychology class that makes me ache for the days of listening to dr. paloutzian drone on and on about his weight loss goals and the loss of his wife and sister,

and i have a nutrition class that so far i have only been to fifty minutes of because I spent the rest of the day with Jack. or at least part of the day.

Jack, or Jackson, is my favorite little almost three year old whom I am lucky enough to babysit on a fairly regular basis. His parents are awesome, and Jack is a kid I would be happy to call my own. He is full of life and humor, and really does say the darndest things

some favorite jack sayings:

-I love rainbows (in reference to a picture of a rainbow in a book)

- two hands Suzy (when I was driving and only had one hand on the steering wheel and the other hand was drinking coffee)

-I love yummy cookies

-Jack is looking through his flash cards, comes to a picture of a cow

Cow. Daddy is a cow.

Is mommy a cow?

Yes, Mommy is a cow

Jack, am I a cow

no, you are a lion

is jack a cow

no, I am a boy

so, just imagine the cutest little curly blond haired blue eyed little boy saying these things in a hybrid of american, australia, british, and toddler accent. he melts my heart every time i see him.

Film Review: New York I Love You

Or perhaps it should have been called "the paris version was better."

New York I Love You was supposed to be the companion piece to Paris Je T'aime, which I had the pleasure of viewing a few years back with a dear friend by the then name of Ashley Schuster.

It was twelve love stories that all took place in different areas of Paris. Each told a bit about the character of the place, as well as delivering a story about love in that particular area. Some were odd, some were sweet, some were sad, and some were just plain good.

In New York I Love You instead of having twelve separate vignettes, most of them were blended across the 90 minutes of film, and thus the careful viewer had to dissect the film and try to piece together who went where and with whom, and how everything folded together in the end. It was the sort of film that may have been fun to make, and perhaps the directors and the editors loved it because they watched it over and over and over again, but for me it was a big fat let down. so much so that I paused it about halfway through out of shear boredom to look up meaningless crap on the internet. So, if you are in the mood for a cinematic treat, rent Paris Je T'aime and cuddle up with a glass of wine while you wish for Paris memories.

If you are in the mood to pan a movie big time, rent New York I Love You and sit cynically with a pad of paper and a pencil to take notes as to why the movie sucks so bad.

the end

Creativity For The Day

Today was a mildly creative day. as was yesterday. and monday,

but first today

I mailed two packages. so two people should be expecting to receive something in the mail. one person may know who she is. the other is probably not expecting it at all. which i love.

I also had some creative interaction with a four year old, and had some love on love time with an infant. babies falling asleep in your arms is heartwarming and makes me want to be a mom.

And now I will work on a knitting project while I watch a movie and zone out. some days babies wear me out. today is one of those days, plus, i seem to be suffering from some sort of seasonal allergy or something. allergic to winter: the Suzy Galletly story.

but the real creative news is that I really want to try to get a children's book published. thoughts an opinions on this? I have it written, so if you will be so kind as to read it please let me know and I will send it to you. I always welcome the criticism of those that know me best. And if anyone knows of anything relating to getting published, share the news because I am walking into this blindfolded.

peace and love and all that stuff

My Business

Its still under-construction, but here is the gist of it. Comments/questions/critiques are welcome!

http://heirloomnarratives.wordpress.com/

20 cards for 20 years

Little Sister celebrated her 20th birthday today. and since I couldn't be with her for the celebration, I sent her a box full of cards. 20 cards, each handmade. I used a loose interpretation of the word "card" and thought up some of the fun things we do together to get the creative ball rolling. because I was pressed for time I didn't take any pictures of the final product, but rest assured that this creative project kept me plenty occupied for a good couple of weeks.

One of the cards was actually a box, and one of them was an embroidered word. another was a little heart on a string and others were simple pieces of paper. but all of them were special and just for the little sis.

Sorry For the Long Absence

I have been gone way, way too long.

but that is mostly because I was out of town for a bit, and because I was sick, and then because I was busy, but enough with the excuses, and onto what I have been busy with.

I was busy making valentines to sell on etsy.com

and I was busy with an unphotographed project that is currently titled "2o cards for 20 years" and has a lot to do with the fact that a certain little sister turns 20 in a few short days.

peace and love

Suzy

New Job....??

As you know, the economy has not been working in my favor when it comes to finding a job. So, I am starting to think I will take matters into my own hands and create a job for myself by starting my own business. I have an idea brewing in my mind that I'm really excited about. Its not fully thought out yet, but I'm really hoping I can make it work. So, for the next week my creative energies will be wrapped up in creating a business from scratch. More details to come :)

Today I Made Something I can't Tell You About

Today I made something. But I can't tell you what. You will just have to wait, but rest assured that I fulfilled my goal and created something every day this week

taking the weekend off though, to create memories with the best friends a girl could ask for.

pictures to come next week.

can sewing buttons be counted as creative?

First, I have been a bit remiss

I missed a few days, but I was creative in those missed moments

Saturday I engaged in my inner child while playing with children, and came home to work on a surprise project. you will see soon enough

Sunday I worked on valentines day cards. may seem a bit early, but I am going to try to sell them on etsy, so we'll see where that ends up

and today, well after a morning of volunteering at the hospital and an emotional afternoon after I cut off all of my hair, I decided to take it easy and finish up a scarf I started for sami before christmas and sew on a few buttons. 

the scarf was finished once before, but our dog likes to chew buttons, especially when they are wood. 

so, i sewed on buttons. 

creative? I count yes

by the way, my hair is now shorter than it has been since 2004. you may not recognize me

Turning Down A Job

This dilemma has called into question what I really value in life and what I wish to spend my time doing. In this economic climate turning down a job while unemployed seems stupid. Also, turning down a job while I sit at home restless, wishing for activity in my life seems stupid. However, I am trying to think about the world, my time and my life in a different way. When I got called to interview for the job, I was ecstatic. Finally a bite! When the employer seemed into me I was even more excited. It is extremely tempting to take the job. I would get money, a title, a sense of purpose and productivity, and be able to tell people something more than the shameful "unemployed" when they ask what I do. Upon deeper inspection, the job would also bring me over two hours commuting every day and no closer to my career objectives. I would be working for an organization I feel no affinity towards. And, I would be doing the same work as when I got laid off five months ago-work I did not enjoy.

So, I am doing something new-I am turning down a job. I know that refusing work is not an option for many people, and I feel blessed that I am able to live for a while without work. This particular job offer looks enticing, but somehow I know its not for me. So, I continue my search and in the mean time, I will continue to live more simply and to try to find my purpose from the one who gives all purpose.

"Breakfast" revision

I bought the banana out of guilt.

Breakfast

I like this idea. I could use some help at engaging fully in life right now... good idea Suz. I am on board.

Tody I visited a QFC near my work for the first time. It is being renovated. I bought a doughnut and a banana. (Confession: I bought the doughnut out of guilt - I liked the doughnut better though:)

A New Adventure for a New year

Last year, on January 1st 2009, after a nice long nap following the early morning Rose Parade, I made a resolution: I would do something creative everyday. 

that resolution died. rather quickly. I did not do something creative everyday, I probably didn't even do something creative every week if I really want to be honest. 

So this year, I will chronicle my efforts, and invite others to chronicle their efforts as well. Your goal does not have to be the same as mine. Perhaps you want to eat a new food everyday, or find a new coffee shop every month. Just challenge yourself to leave your comfort zone and do something as often as you see possible. 

and next year, on January 1st of 2011, we will see how far we have come. 

Today, I am painting

what are you doing?