I started on a new poem today and then went over to my daughters house. I spent the large majority of the day there. I hadn't finished my poem yet so don't know if I will be able to post it today or not.

 The people finally came to remove the tree limbs off the power lines. About three hours, and one damaged fence later, they finished. They had to shut off the power to the neighborhood and also go several houses up to cut down limbs. My daughter and her husband have two adult dogs, one puppy and three cats. The oldest dog is a German Shepherd/Akita mix about 13 years old, the other dog(actually their friends dog) is a Lab/Pit bull mix about 2-3 years old and the puppy is a 4 month old mastiff. The cats are all grown, 2 males and 1 female. Needless to say sometimes it can get a little chaotic around there. The oldest dog wants no parts of the puppy and the one female cat will swipe her given the chance.

This brings me to musings on relationships. The interactions that people engage in, be it with other people or people and animals. I find that sometimes the most lasting and loving relationships are with pets and one of the first relationships that children are involved with outside of family members. Unfortunately, these can also be somewhat abusive relationships. Our interaction with animals can teach us to be loving, caring and gentle. Our relationships with people can teach us the same things. However, it is the human relationships that can also teach us to be mean, cruel and heartless. When those lessons are learned at an early age it is evidenced all through life. I think the basic instinct of all humans is to love and be loved; but often what we learn tints, and sometimes taints our ability to give and receive love. I told someone once that humans are the only animals that kill for something other than survival. Watching the news, reading the headlines only reinforces those thoughts. However, I believe and have faith that the human species will survive despite their shortcomings. I always tell young people when they are involved in a relationship that there are actually three personalities involved. The two people and the relationship itself. I also advise them when they are arguing or disagreeing to never say something just to hurt the other person. If you say something mean it; if you are trying to hurt someone(physically or verbally), walk away. The human mind is such that what is said will be remembered and played over again and again internally. If you continue to be in the relationship, those hurtful words can surface at a later time (one week, one year, 15 years) and be thrown back at you. You may have forgotten what was said, but the person you said them to won't. Enough on the musing, just remember to be kind: to yourself and others.

I am flipping back and forth between my blog and the KC Royals/Tampa Bay Rays game. I live in KC and want the Royals to win. I also have a cousin that plays for Tampa Bay and want to see him do good also. When I first started watching the game Kansas City was ahead 2-0 and my cousin was walked to first. Tampa Bay then went on to get 4 runs in the bottom of the fourth. As I finish this blog it is the bottom of the ninth and my cousin is again at bat with the Royals leading 5-4, with 1 out. Well my cousin grounded out and the next batter got 3 strikes. The Royals win 5-4, Go Royals.

I finished my third Blackout poetry ZIA, picture posted below.

Are You Sure
Stunned, proud,ashamed,dazed,somber
She asked
Are you sure?
Zentangles: Unamed, Flukes, Whirly Bird, Ballace, Golven, Hibred

Waxing Poetic

Today, I have done some reading, created another ZIA of blackout poetry and watched some movies on Netflix. I also pulled some weeds from my teeny flowerbed in front of my house. No flowers, lots of weeds. I had a stimulating conversation with my daughter about, storms, fire, grasshoppers and ants.
My latest ZIA is shown below. I am trying to determine the best tangles to use that leave a good amount of white while covering the words I am not using.
We had another big storm last night, which is unusual for this time of year here. The last two storms we lost power for a brief period. Last night my daughter lost power. When it came back on she kept hearing a popping noise and they discovered a large limb on a power line in back of her house. My daughter called the power company and the 911 because she was worried about a fire. The firemen told her she should be okay until the power company came and removed the limb but advised her to shut off the power to her house. It's July in Kansas, you need air conditioning or a fan, so her husband made the male decision to leave the power on. My daughter was up until 4 AM worrying. Her house did not burn down and when I talked with her she was still waiting for the power company. Our grasshoppers and ants discussion was in comparing humans to the fable of the grasshopper and the ant. That's another blog for another time.
I read some of the "Stories in Stone" book. It is very educational on the history of cemeteries. I also looked at a book I got yesterday called "Pattern Motifs". It is a visual book. While looking through it I was amazed at how often patterns show up in different cultures and how many patterns I saw as being existing zentangles. I will try to scan some of the motifs and the related zentangles.

The End
Basking in the light, he dove in.
Too late, he reached up once.
The end had come.
 Tangles: Hollibaugh, Onomato, Floatfest, Knightsbridge, Rixty, Meer, Crescent Moon, Laced

ZIA's

I have added a new page for Zentangle Inspired Art pictures. These tend to be larger works done on 9x12 multi media paper. I have identified the tangles used under the picture. I also included my first black out poetry piece and titled it "Forgiveness". The poem I came up with is: death and fear, standing in silence; an unexpected voice asking forgiveness. I am still debating whether to add color. This was a fun project and  think I'll do another one as I liked this one so much I want to keep it (at least for now).

Books!!!!!

I have renewed my library card. Now that I have a little more time to dabble in everything, I am going to the library once again. I recently checked out a book called "Cuckoo's Calling" by Robert Galbraith (aka J. K. Rowling). I also checked out some art books, computer books, books on lettering and clip art books. Some of these I checked out to broaden my knowledge, some because they are pretty to look and and might inspie my creative side and the lettering books because I want to learn something new and useful. I also picked up a book called " Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography" by Douglas Keister.
As you may be able to tell, I have a very diverse and eclectic mind. I believe it has something to do with my upbringing and a natural curiosity that has never left me. I studied astrology for awhile and learned quite a lot about what motivates my behavior. I have Gemini rising and a Gemini moon and my Mars is retrograde. I think these placements have a lot to do with my thirst for knowledge and my ability to understand symbology. I wish I had known that when I was younger, it might have changed my career path.
I will let you know how the Galbraith book is and may even give a review of some of the other books.

Difference

"What a difference a day makes."
The feelings from yesterday have dissolved and I am doing much better today, so far. I am currently working on something new and different. I joined the Zentangle Inspired Art group on YAHOO. I will try to post their badge on my blog later. One of the July swaps is to do blackout poetry. I looked at one of the recommended sites and found this to be intriguing. This is a challenge to me in many ways. First, I don't really like to deface books( this comes from a lifelong love of reading). Second, I'm not really poetic so it is hard to find something in one page of text. Third. I am finding it kind of difficult to tangle over other images, but find it kind of neat. When I finish my project I will post it here and possibly even enter the swap.

Quote:
"Until the lion has a biographer, the hunter is always the hero." African proverb

It's funny how when you don't have things life sucks. My finances have always been a little shaky, but I still try to keep everything going. Right now I don't have a cell to talk on because I couldn't pay my bill. I can text, but it's not the same. I don't have any money right now so I can't get some things I need, but it wouldn't matter because I can't get to where I need to go anyway. My "friend" isn't talking to me and is walking around acting like he's angry about something (probably because I don't have any money and didn't get him any cigarettes yesterday). When he has money he still doesn't buy cigarettes and doesn't really share with me ( very lopsided relationship). I texted my daughter to see if we could go to the library today. She has a date to do a manicure for a 6 year old and said how about tomorrow. My other friend, who probably dropped him off after he cut her grass, doesn't really text. So here I am, once again, stuck in my house due to my own improper handling of life. I think I missed something along the way but don't know what. It is very hard to be creative when everything seems negative. I try to look on the bright side, but some days it feels like that is dark also.  I had a cry earlier, but that didn't help. Oh well, grabbing my boootstraps and pulling myself up.

Branching out

I have been doing some artwork that I really like and am adding pages for it. I have been doing "abstracts" and a lot of ATC's. I will be posting the pictures over the next few days. Look for the new pages and let me know what you think. I have also done another hand. This one is the hospice nurse that comes to visit every week. I framed it with a light purple mat as that is their color.