ideas

I like the idea of creative projects and have a lot. I don't want thisto sound as if I don't think a creative endeavor is a good idea. I like to try new things, too. I think my point-of-view is that I have alot of those already. Most of which were stumbled upon. Maybe it will make more sense to see what I mean. First, I will give a little background on what I have learned while on my everyday path. Most of these skills were icked up under the auspices of frugality. I figured if I could learn to do something cheaply, I'd rather not give the profit to anyone. :)I have a short list of possible things to tackle and I think I have found a project.

• When trying to redecorate my daughters room I learned to sew curtains, pillows and bedroom sets.
• When she wanted a unique fashion statement that was within our modesty guidelines, I tackled making doll and girls' dresses.
• In order to repair or buy needed furniture pieces cheaply, I have learned how to build furniture from kits and modify (not build from scratch). They actually give you step-by-step directions...with pictures of each step!
• So communication would be easier and to check translations of opera lyrics, I studied Latin, Spanish, and Italian I can now read and/or understand a few different laguages.
• In order to help with the needed downpayment to buy our house, I got a Real Estate license.
• Whe working for the Child Protection Unit in Gwinnett County, I need a permit to carry a firearm.
• I have done arts and crafts for everyone from 2 yrs old to senior citizens.
• I have directed vacation bible school.
• I have sung in choirs, at churches, in jazz groups, and even got a small record sampler recorded a long time ago.
• I have written articles and short stories.
• I have made movies and taught computer skills to perform my job more efficiently.
• I bake cookies and muffins and delier to teachers during stressful times.
• I recreate county documents to make them more effective and user-friendly.
• I have a small notebook of inventions, poems, and songs that I may get to someday. I think I may be forced to open that invention journal before semester's end. :-)
• In order to help make room in my limited space house, I learned how to fix arcade games (that I would get for free) and sell them on e-bay.
• I learned about home theater components and the wiring, designing, electronic needs to understand my husbands job better.
• I trained him to bring home copies of alll reciepts so I could track, sort, and send info to all the manufacturers to benefit from the incentive programs they offer.
• I went to tax school to learn how to save money on my taxes and to help others prepare theirs for free.
• I started to draw, sketch, paint, and sculpt but this has to be done in miniscule steps to avoid scaring the truly artistic. I may not be good at it, but it sure is fun and messy.
• I have a humor hanger where we write and share funny things we encounter, see, find or hear.
• One of my favorites is my Rosie Project. I force myself to find something good in every situation. My colleagues have tried to pierce the rose-colored-glasses view of all things educational, but to no avail. I started it to help my own negativity, but it's almost become a challenge from others. they'll come up to me and tell something bizaare and I'd find some small nugget of possible goodness that could happen. I still fall off the wagon sometimes, but it does wonders for the readjustment. I almost chose this as my creative project. especially when I saw the great, "Seriously Stop" idea. But I figured it needs to be something new, not just unperfected.

As promised, I have shortened the list to things I feel strongly about. Rosie was one finalist. Another was this Calvin & Hobbes project I started. I got approval from the publisher and 'handler' for Bill Waterson who approved a mock-up of my use of different C &H cartoons as the 'grabber' feature for a middle school curriculum guide. I haven't finished it, but I also thought this wasn't a new idea. I thought about a video documentary of life in the trenches of teaching. You know, kind of survivor-style with how many hours it really takes, how much no one tells you, how much of the materials you need to purchase yourself so kids can be productive, how much accounting, paperwork, legal disclaimer and expertise is required to seem credible. The monumental amount of counseling required to get the children to a place where they can be ready to receive information. I didn't choose this option because of the potential to jeopardize my Rosie project. (smile)

I will tell you what I did choose....tomorrow.