Lucidity - First in a while

I signed up to do a workshop for Professional Development (PD) Days ... a "fun" workshop, not related to teaching or stress or pedagogy or curricula.  I proposed to repeat a talk I gave some years ago on lucid dreaming.  It was a physics instructor-friend who talked me into the first presentation at Cafe Scientifique, a regular public session at a local bookstore.  I said no I'm not qualified, he said yes you are, I said no I'm not, he said yes you are, I said, I have two small children, I can't get away for an evening, he said I'll wait.  He waited, and eventually I gave the talk.

So I have done this once before, successfully, with a room full of people who actually wanted to hear me talk about dreaming and also wanted to share.  A lot of things.  Including, "I had an organ transplant and now I have the dreams of the original owner of the kidney."  Not kidding.  I was blown away by the amount of sharing.

Myself, I have always had a vivid dream life.  Always.  For as long as I have had memories, I have had dreams.  Sometimes I can control them, which makes them "lucid."  A lucid dream is vivid, crazy vivid, colorful, beautiful, fleeting, amazing, so amazing.  I have flown over the Masai Mara and into the stars.  Once I ate asparagus (why not?).

There are ways to "become lucid" on purpose, and I used to do this (or at least try this) regularly.  Getting ready for PD Days I'm trying again, and last night I was sooooo close to being successful.  So so close.

I had a dream where I was at the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) and I saw a person in a costume.  The costume had a ribbon (like a bow) where the head should be.  I woke up and remembered the dream and thought, "That was a sign I was dreaming.  There's no way a person could have had that costume on, there was no room for their actual head."  As I drifted back to sleep, I concentrated on re-entering that dream, and I did.

I looked at the costume and said to myself, "That's not real, I'm dreaming."  And I became "lucid."  I told L and K that I was dreaming and they congratulated me.  I was trying to think of something to do, and I considered jumping out the window and flying away.  This is where it fails, completely.  I decided not to, because L and K would get upset if I jumped out the window.  Big time fail.  I did NOT recognize that L and K would not be upset because they were dream-people, not actual people.

Some sound woke me, and done.  I'm close, if not there, and I have a few weeks before the talk.  So here's to a night of lucidity, and patience from my husband as I ask him for the 100th time, "Am I dreaming?"

Building Infinity

I told the kids we could use every last Lego in the house to build a great big Lego tower/city/country.  Michael has named it "Lego State University," and I estimated that we would be finished by Thanksgiving.  Alas, in my text-to-Aunt-Eileen that we were "running out of Legos," she sent a box more. 

And so it continues, into Lego infinity, including my own Lego set from 1976 (red, white and blue).  Send more, lest we are faced with that last "snap" of one to the other.  How sad will that be?

Diva Challenge #193

This week's challenge was just perfect!  THX to all who have served using:

Trio (pattern by CZT, Hanny Waldburger)
Huggins (by Zentangle)
Xyp (by Zentangle)


When I first tried these three in my sketchbook, I was beyond frustrated, especially with Huggins.  I could NOT make it look weavy.  It looked all slapped together and sloppy.  Then, funny enough, I let go of the instructions, which is very not like me, and figured it out.  Another busy tile, but I'm okay with it.  This one, at least, does reflect the mood.  If I did the Trio pattern again, I would try for a little less heart-ness and a little more something-else-ness.

Diva Challenge #191

Oopsie.  Pretty sure I violated the monotangle thing...but I saw these bubbly things and I thought I would just use a few and then, well, this is what happened.

Sorry, rule-followers.  I'll do better next time.

Diva Challenge #186

Okay, so you know when you start working on a project and halfway through you step back and say, "Um, who did this?"  In contrast to the clean, restrained pictures I've made for the last few weeks, this one went all wacky on me.

First, I had an hour to start the challenge, and I didn't have a circular tile.  That's right, I'm now the girl who was asked to bring brownies but shows up with chips and salsa.  Then, I didn't like my leaves, and I vowed to use only three tangles but I couldn't get enough contrast and then I had to continue the tile in the early morning hours before work and so my tile is all, "I was drawn by a crazy person."

There you have it.  What I could use (if you feel like commenting) is some constructive criticism on how to make the busy tiles look right.  You know, some of my most favorite tiles done by NOT ME are full of different designs and ups and downs and movement and, well, wackiness.  But they look RIGHT.  So give me comments like, "Don't put those two designs next to each other because blabla..." and things like that.  And if you don't want to deal with it, I don't blame you.  I wouldn't either.

Weekly Diva Challenge # 185

My new favorite tangle is Phicops.   It's ALIVE!  I love it love it love it.  My Diva Dance needs a little work, but I'm getting the hang of it.

Comments from the family included, "A butterfly?"  "Cuts of meat," and "It's not my favorite."  But I thoroughly enjoyed creating it and I didn't rip it up.  :)  Thanks for the challenge and thanks for the inspiration.

The Weekly Diva Challenge - #181 - Water

This week's challenge was "Water."  I can see why so many people decided to use color!  It's hard to feel water without the blue.  Time to buy some good colored pencils. Thanks for the inspiration.  It's been a tough week, and this process does help me relax...

My first water tile.  A 2" square and my first time adding any color.  As you can tell, I'm taking it slow.  This one is for a friend, initials KC...Kelp and Cockles and Mussels.  

My second water tile.  I think I'll take a cue from others and photocopy it to color.  It wants blues and greens, but I was afraid to mess it up!  :)