And Then The Fish Painting...

A quick post about the fish painting.   I have begun the painting process!   Not that special, unless you consider the amount of overtime I have accrued this last week.    I have barely had time to relax, let alone have time for painting.   So not much happened between my last post and today.  

But!  I DID manage to get a little bit done tonight... before the lions game.   Not being much of a football fan,  I happen to currently live with one!   So... the football bug has rubbed off on me.  I actually found myself cheering for Green Bay!  ( Unthinkable!)   

But tonight Detroit plays... and I guess they are going well this season.   Funny, becayse we always thought they were "losers" being from Michigan...   ( We were from Michigan....  So  OUR team by default.)  But now, I guess they might have a shot!   I probably just jinxed them, but I will watch the game at least. 

Getting back to the fish!   There are many colors to the Pumpkin-seed Sunfish.   I have only begun the process of layer after layer of colors.   I will chip away at it as the week goes by.   

In the mean time... the game is starting and the Beer and Munchies are calling.    So I will make this a quick post.  

Hope everyone is having a great weekend ... if they did not have to work for half of it. ( like I did!)    Because ever second counts.... especially in Football

Who Are You Working For?

A question that just popped into my head this morning.  "Who do I work for?"   It seems like a fairly obvious question.   But if you think about it for more than two seconds...  it begins to get more and more complicated.  And sometimes... I enjoy blogging about complicated things. 

So.   Who am I working for?    Me!   Of course...   Right?   If I were ever working for someone else,  I would hardly work at all.  I mean,  Why should I work so hard if the other guy is the one getting more money?    

But then the follow up question would be:  "Why am I working so hard?"   Some people may say "to pay the bills!"   And I guess that would be right.   But then you find yourself working for someone else again!   And why would you work so hard just to pay bills?  Seems like a rat race to me.   Being hit by the stick if you don't work hard enough on the front end or the back end!  

So then you may ask:   "Why work at ALL?!" And there is the real nut of it.   To be able to buy food?  To be able to buy shelter?  To be able to live?   That sounds terrible!  We live only to work and survive?  Like a form of slavery...   Why live at all?

I have been around for a number of years and although I know I don't know many things...  I DO know that I know more than I did yesterday.   And definitely more than I did 30 years ago!  In those years I have went down more than my fair share of dead ends and thorny paths.  And through all of that, I have gained a certain amount of knowledge and wisdom.  The kind of life lessons that can not be taught in a classroom setting.  

One of the life lessons I have learned is that "you can't take it with you."   A cliche'  I know.  But Truth usually is clothed in the obvious. (That sounds like a cliche' too!)  I have gained and lost many things over my short amount of years here on Earth.   All of the reasons I thought I was working for... The "Stuff" and "Things" that I thought would give me purpose and meaning in life...   Are gone.  "Poof!"  And after the third time of losing everything that I held dear,  I realized that working for things is a fool's errand.  

When my Father was still alive,  He asked me to help him clean up his house and garage on our property.  Mostly it was simply clutter that my Dad had held onto for most of his life.    The moment I tried to throw some of the older, unused, or broken things out;  He would grab it out of the garbage bin and ask me why I was throwing that item away.   At one point he blurted out, 'You are throwing my life away!"   I thought that was rather telling.   Upon inquiry,  I discovered that while many of the items I found to be worthless, my Father had attached a memory to them. 

Ah Memories!   Moments in time that give us great pleasure (or sorrow)  when we look back on them.   And having items around us that remind us of those times might be the reason many of us choose to accumulate "stuff."   And work so hard so we can have those memories.  But why do we have to make it so complicated?    Memories are free!   And you will gain them with or without purchasing more "Stuff" to attach them to.  

Everyone has their own life experiences.   Their own "memories" that they can recall when they face a new challenge or unknown situations.  A person who almost drowned might forever fear the water.  While someone else who learned how to swim and gained a new skill might crave it and swim daily.   Memories are more than a simple catalog of your moments.   They are also life lessons that you gain as you trudge through your time here.    And best of all....  You can share them!

But getting back to the topic at hand:  Who are we working for?  And why are we working so hard?  Many parents might say they are working for their Family.   That seems noble!  Making sure your Family has enough to eat and a safe and warm place to live seems like the kind of goal that everyone should have.  But in the end,  they are still working for "others."   The difference is that they can see first hand the faces of the "others" every day when they come home.  The kitchen table is lined with "others" that are not you...  Yet these people you care  about!   Enough to be willing to work long hours at some job to be able to provide for them.  Why?   

Perhaps it is Human nature to want to help family.   I'm sure you must first "Help Yourself" to be able to help others.   But helping Family is one of the things that seem to benefit  you as well as them.   Call it a sense of fulfillment.   

There are many ways to help others that are not simply throwing money at them. Sharing time and knowledge with people can help them avoid the pitfalls that you stumbled into.  Offering a second set of hands when someone is moving might make their life a little easier and safer while giving you a sense of pride.  Just by being a decent person might make someone else's day go by a little smoother. 

Taking stock in what you have that are truly yours:  Your Body.  Your Memories.   May help you focus on the important reasons why you work and toil at a job that pays you for your time and labor.  To find happiness.   To find Purpose?  To work your way through the story line that is your life as you write it with your actions and decisions.  And how you spend that capital of memories and experiences is entirely up to you.  Because the wisdom and knowledge you share benefits everyone. 

So who do you work for?  How about God?  He is everywhere and in all things, right?  By working in this world He set up, you honor Him by passing on your experiences and knowledge to the next generation.   That helps to grow humanity and I'm sure it gives God a bit of pride each time we as Humans, progress to the next level of life.  Like a Father watching his Son learn to walk, talk, ride a bike, score a goal, get married, and have kids of his own...A grand sense of pride and happiness!

I know "working for God" might seem intangible for some.  Or they might outright dismiss it as "working for the Man!" and feel the same level of contempt as working for a faceless corporation.  I'm not sure how to get to those people other than trying to show gratitude everyday with what you do.  Gratitude for your time here on Earth.   Gratitude for the acquaintances you have made while at your job and the money that the job provides.   Gratitude with the opportunity to show up and have a purpose...  No matter how small! To be able to help push humanity forward...  Even if it is only by a few inches.   

And mostly to be grateful for His plan of Salvation.    Because life is short!  And every second counts.

Mod Podge The Fish!

 That sounds like a Gordon Ramsey quote from one of his Monster Cooking Shows... But it is not.   

It is from Me!   And I don't cook!

Well, I do cook a little... but that last part sounded funnier. so I went with it.   

If you are unfamiliar with Arts and Crafts, you may be wondering: "What is a 'Mod Podge?'"   I will tell you it is not a cooking style or ingredient.  Rather, it is a type of glue that strengthens paper.   And it has many wonderful uses!   

Like finishing a rather large fish project.   

Not only is the project " Large"...  As in "Length of Time."   It is also Large in scale!   A bit larger than I had originally planned.   There was a moment where I thought I might actually make a Halibut instead of a Bluegill!  (A joke! For fishermen and Ichthyologists.)  But.....  Here we are.   With a Bluegill the SIZE of a 'small' Halibut.   Go big or go home....  Right?

Well,  the thing took two large bottles of Mod Podge and two days to completely cover.   I can't wait until I start the painting. ( Which is the next move)   Not only will there be a lot of surface area to cover,  there will also be the crazy color pattern that Bluegills display.   I can hardly wait! 

SO that is pretty much all I did today.   I went outside in the biter cold to buy MORE Mod Podge so I could finish this step and move on to the primer coat of paint.   The temps are hovering in the negatives and you can certainly tell.   Subie might like the snow, but he does not like the cold.

In Alaska,  it was colder...  But people knew, adjusted, and prepared for it.   There were battery Blankets, Oil heaters, and coolant pumps that kept your car plugged in and warm during the deep freeze.  But here in Wisconsin...   Cold  weather flashes in on you and if your car is outside,  all of your doors freeze shut.   Your car turns over slowly ( if it starts at all!)  and your car takes forever to warm up.   Not a lot of fun.  

But I'll survive.  And hopefully,  Subie will make it through this winter as well.  He is showing his age and cold weather always seems to speed  things up while snowing other things down.  But that is another tpoic for another time.  

In the mean time...  Fish project is progressing and I enjoyed a relaxing day.   Even if it was in the cold.    Tomorrow begins work at the Zebra anew!  I can hardly wait!  For the Morning commute...  And the Evening return Home.   And maybe I will even begin the painting process if I feel motivated and have the time.  Because every second counts.

Timber! The Tree Goes Down

 Today I took down the Christmas Tree.  It was fairly easy and rather uneventful.... But I took pictures just in case I had nothing else to blog about this weekend. 

Timber!  

But actually....   I do have other things to blog about!  

Like the snow!    And the cold!   Yesterday it snowed even more and the temp dropped to below zero.  I did not go outside much, choosing to stay inside near the fire.   Nothing beats staying warm with a warm beverage near the fireplace while the weather rages outside.  ( A bit of an overstatement, but you get the drift...)  I spent the day relaxing and admiring how I had the entire day to myself... No job or overtime this weekend. ( Due to the bad weather.)   I heard from a friend I know  that Iowa got DUMPED on!  Currently,  Iowa City is boasting 20 inches of snow!  ( That is a LOT for Iowa.) and now the cold has settled in there as well.  

As for Kenosha.   The wind was blowing out of the east and off of the lake ( I live only a couple miles from the shore.)  The thick heavy snow that did manage to fall stuck to the driver's side of Subie.... Making my evening Church visit  that much more fun. ( The doors froze shut.)  I'm just thankful that the snowfall was limited to only a few inches in spots.  The roads are still slippery... and there is a Wind Chill advisory at the moment,  but otherwise,  we have had a rather mild winter so far.  

But what does one do when you are stuck inside for most of the day?   Well,  Work on my project fish.   (It is good to have hobbies!)  I made some pretty good progress yesterday and today.   The fins are currently covered and drying.  I even managed to get the "mount" glued in so I can now hang it rather than roll it around on the ironing board.  Sometimes you have to get creative with your work environment.

As for now...  I'm writing this blog and sipping a coffee.   Now that the tree and lights are down, I probably will not find the living room fireplace as enchanting as before.   But...  On a cold day like today, ( And tomorrow...) I may find myself up there again,  warming my tootsies while listening to Frank Sinatra and drinking some warm beverage. It's the simple things that give the greatest pleasures in life.   And you only have so many moments  in life...  So make every second count.

A Very Snowy Day.

Today was a short day at the Zebra.... Due to Weather!  I can only imagine it was because the trucks were not going to make it and NOT because they were concerned about the well being of their employees.   But... Who knows?    Bottom line:  We got out at 1 PM instead of 3:30!   

Some of the people had a challenge just making it to work this morning.   ( Everyone wants that holiday pay for Dr. Martin Luther King Day.)  To get that day paid, you have to show up the day before and the day after.   And if snow is in your way... you find a way!   ( Unless you get sick.. like I did  two weeks ago!) 

It continues to snow here in Kenosha.   The snow is heavy and wet! And it is coming in sideways!   When I went out to the Subie,  the snow was clinging to the car like frosting!   I was not worried, though... Because Subaru s LOVE the snow!   ( It is all the other crazy drivers we have to look out for...) My commute was fairly uneventful both coming to work and going home this afternoon.  

Other people have reliable transportation as well.   There are the "Jeep People"   who have that trusted 4X4 drive to depend on.   Ah,  I remember those days with the Ghost Bear....   He loved the snow too!   IN fact, if I had not stumbled upon the Subaru brand, I would still probably be a Jeep guy.   There are certain vehicles you simply fall in love with. 

Joan was ready to leave as soon as the buzzer sounded. One of the perks of  this Winter storm is that we do not have to come in tomorrow!  ( It was an option for me, but for the rest of outbound,  it was mandatory!   That ticked off a lot of people who made plans for the three day weekend. )  Now that the weather is awful outside,  the powers that be have decided we can enjoy the indoors at home.  how thoughtful!

But at the end of the day, I'm just grateful to have the extra day.   I can afford to miss the overtime for one Saturday.   And there were be plenty of Saturdays in the future by the sound of things.  So might as well enjoy the tree time while I can. I still have the Fish project to chip away  and a few other ideas floating around in my brain.   I will use the time without worries. 

And that is all for this Snowy Friday.   All of the stress of having to cram all my weekend activities into Sunday have now fanned out to an easier schedule.  I think I will sleep in tomorrow...  And take on the next task at my leisure.   I'm relaxing just thinking about it!  Yeah!

With my new found time,  I'm sure I will have a few pictures to post for the fish project.   Tonight I added a couple more fins. Tomorrow I will cover them with the paper strips and maybe even do the other side.  We shall see how quickly things dry and if I have the time.   Because every second counts! 

To Blog About A Fish.

With very little else happening this week,  I did manage to take a few pics of the latest Fish Project.   And luckily,,,,, I have at least one thing to blog about for the week.  

This week has been rather uneventful!   The only laundry I had was work clothes!  Meaning: My week consisted of getting up, going to work, and then coming home to sleep!   Not very exciting... and hardly blog worthy.   ( In fact, I just posted everything there was to say about it.... so there!)  But boring moments are filled with project progress, if you are fortunate enough to have a project...   Which I do!

The latest fish!  Something from the Centrarchidae family.  Also known as the sunfish family,  Bluegill, or Bream!   There are many species, and I have not fully committed to one just yet.  (Probably not going to be a green sunfish, though...) That final decision will be made when the painting starts. 

I actually made a lot of progress this week!   ONe of the perks with having a couple hours each night and nothing else going on.   Did I mention it has snowed here in Kenosha?   Cold and snow are not great for outdoor walks in the park.  ( Unless you ski or snowshoe...)   So indoor activities are all the rage!

Normally a project like this is excruciatingly slow.   I have to do a small section and wait for it to dry.   Then,  24 hours later,  I have to do the next section.   Having the ability to work on it consistently, with no other distractions eating up the time,  really helps it move along.  

I finally added the fins today.   Only the Dorsal and Anal fins so far.   But those might take a few days all by themselves. And they will add to the challenge of trying to get it to lay flat and work on it without destroying the spines.   Already I bopped myself in the nose with the brute as I wrestled it into position.  I didn't see stars, but it did thump my nose pretty good.... enough for a good stunning. 

So that is all.   I worked Saturday for some reason.   Mostly because I had very little else to do.  ( Other than the fish) I can only work on the fish project for 30 minutes to an hour each day, so that is not a huge commitment for a weekend.  The rest of the time is spent watching the paper dry.   Loads of fun there.  But...  I seem to like doing it. 

I think my next project will be to begin work on my fly rod.   I will have to purchase the materials and then form a plan to begin the assembly process.   I'm kind of excited about that since it has been over 40 years since I have tied up my own fishing pole.  There is something very satisfying about creating your own work of art and then using that item to create memories for the future.