Week 3 of my vacation

Here's a little of what I've been up to ... it's week 3 of my non-teaching term (otherwise known as vacation)

 
Fixing healthy meals - turkey burger, portobello mushrooms, soy cheese, red onion, tomato and avocado served on a bed of sauteed spinach. Who needs a bun?

Trying to capture the amazing sunsets we've had recently.

  

Learning Photoshop - combining photos with layers like art (the left one is Miss Sydney's art) or photos

  

Practicing Zentangling

Playing around with Collage

Yes, I'm enjoying the retirement part of semi-retirement!

Back to School

Granddaughter Sydney goes back to school - 3rd grade.

I don't ...

go back to school ...

this year.

my first time in 18 years ...

to not go back to school.

life ...

is ...

grand!

This week it has really hit me -- I don't go back to school. Instead, I go to the beach. I go with hubby to lunch on the pier. I hang out. Yep ... I'm lovin' it.

In a Slump

I've been in a slump lately. Unable to do much of anything. I suppose it's after all the years of work and deadlines. Now my days just flow. Days can go by so quickly. And nothing gets "done."

 "In A Slump" - crayons and pen. Love how the crayons blended.

"Flexing My Art Muscles On a Sunday Afternoon"

Sometimes you just have to put color to paper to help get out of the slump. I'm hoping this week I'll be motivated to do some art.

Week 2

Well, here I am at the end of Week 2 of Retirement. I haven't accomplished much these two weeks. The question is, "Is this OK? Am I enjoying myself? Am I happy?"

WHAT AM I FEELING?

• I'm relieved to have the decision behind me - it weighed heavily on my mind for so long.
• I'm relieved to have the "last day" behind me as that day had loomed in the future for the past two years.

RELIEF

• I feel "Free" - which I've yearned for for so long. Freedom to do whatever. There has been a yearning to have "freedom to do art". Yet I've done very little art in the last two weeks.
• I feel a little "At Odds" and "Weird" with no deadlines. I've had projects with deadlines for so long, it is a little disconcerting.
• I worry a little that I could go days, weeks, even months (!) with accomplishing very little.

AT ODDS

• I feel the sense of "Nothingness", being in limbo, that process that William Bridges describes as the Neutral Zone. 
• I know I'll develop a "routine" and my energy level will rise and a "new beginning" will emerge ... at some point.

NOTHINGNESS

At least I understand the psychological stages I'm passing through with this transition. I wouldn't describe what I feel as "happy" or "content" but I understand why.

Next week I have deadlines as I need to do my final project for the Text and Imagery class and get the guest room ready for friends who arrive on Friday. In the meantime, I intend to enjoy this weekend with no pressure to "do anything".

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day.

Hanging out at the park

One of the greatest things about not working full time is the ability to "meander" your way through the day. Yesterday was a lovely warm day to hang out at the park. We were only there a few minutes but it was a lovely "retreat".

The Canadian Geese are new to our park.

Standing watch over the family.

 

New kids in the block.

 

Love the reflection and ripples.

Gossip speak

A Little This A Little That

Well, I've had my first week of transition. I cleared out my office on Monday, piled bags and bags of books into the trunk of my car, books collected over 17 years, that are now at the local library. I went to lunch with friends (who gave me a gift card to Michaels - can't beat that!), turned in my laptop, closed the door to my office, and walked away. Didn't look back.

This little guy (or gal) sat quietly with me on the patio the day prior, when I experienced angst and doubt. S/he watched over me, reminding me to be calm and know that I'd made the right decision, that the timing was right.

My granddaughter showed up with a "retirement" gift for Grammi - her twinkle shoes! I've lusted after these since she got them. She's now outgrown them, and she gifted them to me. I am one lucky grandmother, yes? Of course I wore these on my last day of work!

Transition Tuesday started with this yummy smoothie:
1 apple
1 banana
handful of almonds
approx 1/4 cup bran cereal
big bunch of spinach
approx 1 cup soy milk
Really really good. A new habit is forming - smoothies for breakfast.

My first week was spent mostly doing paperwork, organizing stuff, trying to figure out health care plans, etc. Not exciting ... seemed like a week of work ... certainly not a week of leisure. When I dropped off the books at the library, I took some b/w photos of a line of trees that I find interesting. I took this photo with my "smart phone" which turned out to be not so smart - I can't figure out why some of the photos are so small, while others are larger. Well, that probably means the phone is smart, but the operator has a lot to learn :-).

I must say it feels "odd" to not have any "work" to do. I mean school work. There's plenty of work to do here this week:
1. Switch winter/summer clothes
2. Begin to organize my art space
3. Get the guest room ready for guests who arrive next week.
4. Organize my laptop (especially the gazillion photos!)
5. Make thank you cards
6. Contact someone to give me ideas about my yard
7. Contact a handyman - I have quite a list for him!
8. Text and Imagery class lessons

How did I ever find the time to work?

Know

know when to ...

The text of this journal page is about knowing when to stop eating. Know when you are full; know when you are satisfied; know when to stop.

The same applies to working. This is my final week as a full-time professor. My final week of employment. With the exception of time off for two kids and my dissertation (my third child), I've worked full-time since I was about 20. I'd planned to retire last December. My salary, however, kept me going. An additional 4 months of salary was going to make a difference, right? Well, it has and it hasn't. I'm in a slightly better place financially, but only slightly. 

Where I'm in a MUCH better place is KNOWING IT IS TIME. These four months have been a great time for reflection ... a time of renewed commitment to "extra curricular activities." I really wasn't ready in December and I told myself that the money was worth it. Well, I just received notice of a nice raise in salary and in the middle of the night, the nagging question raises it's ugly head - should I stay ... just a little while longer? Is working full-time really that bad? YES, it is! I KNOW now that it is time to stop. At least most of the time I feel confident that I know. 

I suppose it is only natural to question ... to wonder ... to doubt ... when making such a huge step. 

Rainy Sunday

On Sunday, it rained and rained ... and I created. These are my final pieces for the Composition Class. Really enjoyed exploring various compositions. I particularly enjoyed practicing layering, which has been challenging for me. I feel I'm on the road to understanding more of how to create interesting backgrounds.

Dancin' on a Rainy Sunday 

This was a playful piece ... a perfect companion to the blustery rainy weather outside.

Transitions 4

 My work and careers have followed many paths, from secretary to professor. Along the way I have collected many memories, forming a rich and layered life.

Transitions 5

And now I at a crossroad to a new life, a new era. Perhaps less complex, more simplified. Yet still filled with color and texture.

These two pieces were for the Keys to Composition workshop with Jane Davies. The lesson was on layering. I've struggled with this concept of layering for a long time. Thanks to the great instruction, I feel I accomplished creating depth and unity with all the 7 layers paint and collage (sort of like 7 layer dip but without the calories).

Transitions2

Transitions3

So, I continue my transition. With this week, I have only 5 more weeks to work. I can really "taste" it and I'm beginning to think about what "I'll do" in May. I'll have to update my "What Will You Do" list.

Transitions

Transitions 1
It's 6 weeks 'til Transition Tuesday. I have nothing much else on my mind. All the bits and pieces of my work life are being pulled together, as scraps on my art table have joined together in this painted collage.

What will you do?

So, what will you "do"? (heavy emphasis on do). I've discovered that when you tell someone you are retiring, their first question is "So, what will you do?" Because it doesn't seem wise to say "whatever" or "nothing" ... I've made a list of things I intend to "do" starting May 1st.

1. Take walks
2. Sun bathe by the pool
3. Learn to swim (once the pool is heated)
4. Visit museums
5. Visit galleries
6. Learn yoga
7. Collect stones
8. Take my camera to the beach
9. Day trips
10. Photography classes
11. Learn photoshop
12. Organize my photos on my *new* laptop
13. Take naps in the sun (i.e., catnaps)
14. Read all the "O" magazines I have laying around
15. Read lots of books
16. Meet friends for coffee or lunch
17. Entertain friends
18. Journal in a coffee shop
19. Serve on the HOA board (somewhere down the road)
20. Write my "life story"
21. Return to geneology - learn more about my father's family
22. Make art - hopefully daily!
23. Organize my art supplies
24. Organize my computer files on my *new* laptop
25. Grow vegetables and flowers
26. Cook new foods
27. Fill up empty photo albums I have collected
28. Fill up art/visual journals
29. Complete the UFOs (unfinished objects of art)
30. Decorate seasonally
31. Teach (on occasion)
32. Read sufi poetry
33. Study buddhism
34. Travel
35. Organize my pantry
36. Visit farmers markets
37. Learn how to make a good cup of coffee!
38. Blog - redesign my blog; learn how to upload slideshows, etc.
39. Start a group focused on "Positive Aging"
40. Make new friends
41. Take more time with old friends
42. Organize my files
43. Take a ceramics class
44. Take online art classes and *do* the work
45. Go to the beach
46. Investigate educational travel
47. Creativity Playdates with friends
48. Art retreats (with friends and alone)
49. Learn to draw (maybe)
50. Just be!

Photo taken somewhere in Italy

In the studio

it pays to get up early!

peace in my heart

fun with paint

 

more fun with paint

my message for today as I prepare my letter of retirement to turn in tomorrow! inspired by donna downey.

wish me luck!

Release

My word for the year is Release. This is the year I will retire ... and be released from the responsibility of full-time employment. This year I will do more art ... and release my mantra of "if only I had more time." This year I will slow down and breathe and release my need to always "achieve" and breathe in "just being."