Thought for The Day - Preparedness, Thoughtful

Pastels, arranged by colors

Empty palette, prepared for painting.

It's Sunday, and later than I would normally publish the blog; my apologies. But it makes this subject no less poignant.

I remember, as a child being aware that my mom was about to prepare "one of those meals." This wouldn't be a few pieces of chicken and string bean, meal. No this would be Sunday or Holiday dinner, with one or two meats a few vegetables and a "starch." I would hear multiple pots and pans being pulled from the cabinets, the refrigerator would open and close several times and spices would be pulled from the pantry. I would hear the stove start up and a couple  of "eyes" on the stove would be fired up too. It was going to be a long day in that kitchen.

Cut to my own adult years and the sense is no less epic. My wife does the same and often, it is in preparation for the week, multiple meals are considered and prepared, with the same sense that when all is said and done, a feast is prepared!

In situations such as these, forethought "has to be" part of the plan! You can't walk in the kitchen on a whim and prepare meals like this! Actually you can, but somewhere within the last few weeks or months, you have to have gathered all the ingredients and you have to know what is available to make "whatever!" And you have to know what "good food" tastes like and what it takes to get it there. There has to be "trial and error" as part of your past, too. "Over-season", "under-season," over-cooked (burnt in some cases) and maybe under-cooked probably occurred. But in this process of learning, experimenting, succeeding and failing, you learn to not only be prepared, you become thoughtful.

Now mind you, I always "think larger" than the current application; it's part of my preparation as well! You may not be a "cook" can't tolerate the idea of rattling pans, putting your hands in or on uncooked meat and vegetables (I guarantee you everyone who thinks this way, still loves to EAT!) and your food supply might be a single egg and half a container of orange juice, but you have to prepare for anything! Including work, family, vacation or evening out! Everything requires "forethought," thoughtfulness, if you will.

Thought for The Day - Tool Sharpening (and other lessons)

Saturday, I took a long drive to buy art supplies. Admittedly, I liked it better when Bower and Bower was up the street. It was an art supply store that carried commercial, fine art and drafting supplies. Apparently there was a large clientele in the area at the time. I'm guessing, with the people retiring, moving away and such, the wonderful local company gave up the business. And it doesn't help that people were interested in computer aided drafting and rendering. Now the art store where I make my purchases doesn't have a convenient location, but they have excellent selections! So it's in the car I go!

Given the pace of the week, a Saturday or Sunday, in between running errands, cleaning and laundry, I like to take time to render. But I've noticed my brushes were getting "gunked up" no matter how I cleaned them.  I took inventory Saturday morning, and figured I would take some time to clean brushes rather than paint. I started the process and after about an hour of cleaning a couple of them, I had to get to the other tasks. Time ticks by faster than you think, so I came back to it later that day and then again on Sunday. Wet brushes; that means until they dry, no painting...humph! Not the best use of my time, but what choice do I have? I have other works in pastel I could work on, but a trip back to the art store because I bought the wrong length stretcher bar interrupted that time as well.

In terms of spending the weekend being creative, the time was a bust! But in terms of learning to be careful with my more expensive tools and most needed, the lesson was invaluable. I spent a lot of time driving to this place, but I learned a lesson in the way the art supply business works. I also found a better brush cleaner and tried it out this morning. Though I wanted to squeeze in a few minutes painting today, I did a better job of cleaning my brushes. Sometimes, we have to surrender our joy for a short time to make better use of it later. And that's the way it is in life: you endure some difficulties and take what seems to be needless time, to prepare for the next time.

Thought for The Day - Getting Out the Door

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like getting out of the house on a typical day is like preparing to do battle. Now, I've never been in combat or faced an enemy on a field,  but I've had quite a few fights and that same sense of anticipation  is felt as I prepare to leave the house. For the most part, I don't acknowledge it on a regular basis; I simply rise, journal, draw, paint, shower shave and a myriad number of tasks before hitting the door. Many of the tasks I do without consideration, but it's the thoughts of the gym and the mad scramble getting to work that brings these thoughts to mind.

The prep activities are less of a concern, it's the thinking and planning for the day that gets me amped. I consider the gym time, what exercises I have to do that day, how much time I have and the amount of weight I've done and will do in this workout. Then I consider the rush afterwards, the mad dash to shower, get dressed, fight traffic to the train and then there's "being at work!" I work in a relatively quiet setting, but like any "place of business," there are these attitudes and subtle political games being played out nearly every second of the day. What is said loudly, said by whom, the usual challenge of who will "one up" whom and so on. It never ends. And I consider all these factors before I hit the door. As a matter of fact, I would say at this point in my life, if I didn't anticipate and plan my place in the small daily skirmishes, I would be a victim, rather than a simple participant. Mind you, I'm not out for blood; I came to perform certain tasks and receive my pay, that's it. Positioning and posturing for "higher ranks" has never motivated me.

Not every warrior is out for blood; for many of us the battle we fight is for the lives of our family and our own growth. Consider your needs and place that over what others are fighting friend and foe to gain!