#3 Postcard - Killing Clubs

   

 Tournament lost and a spectator loaded into an ambulance, Abby was banned from golf until further notice. 

     "I'm a nice person, really, and I love the game," Abby insisted, "but when the club disobeys. It has to die."

     "If you stuck with killing clubs and not people," the therapist trailed off. 

     "But I didn't mean to."

     "Look, expelling aggression is healthy just not when it impacts the health of others. And your aggressive temperament was increasing exponentially." The therapist clicked her tablet and showed Abby a montage of tantrums starting with a nine iron pounded into the ground and ending with a putter soaring, twisting into a crowd of spectators.

     "If I don't change, I'm going to be banned and lose my endorsements,” Abby bemoaned.

     "Which is why I suggested the charity game and art project which benefits domestic violence victims," the therapist reiterated.  

     Abby felt weighted under the measured, judging stares of the spectators while she played, poorly. After three bogeys, she was determined to make this last hole a par. Her grip tightened around the putter as the ball skirted the hole and again after a second tap. Abby instantly raised the club for a pounding as the crowd gasped in an audible collective. They held it as Abby’s club paused mid descent. She marched pass the spectators to the silent auction table and rammed the club across her raised thigh. The bent club was added to her sculpture "Dead Clubs."

~JRogers
8.25.2016

***

Today's story prompt comes from the Story Shack: Flash Fiction and Illustration Magazine which has a flash fiction generator that breaks the story down into categories.
Word Count: 250
Genre: Adventure
Character: an Art Therapist
Material: a golf club
Sentence: "I'll deal with you later."

These prompts gave me a fun idea for a story but I was stumped by the genre classification of adventure. What did that mean? According to Children's Literature Classics, adventure stories are dominated by fast paced action. While useful to define adventure stories, it doesn't tell me what elements need to be included to write an adventure story. I need a recipe with clear ingredients like the ones listed by Elizabeth Sims in her article How to Map Out Your Hero. Based on the idea I already had, I mapped out my plot to keep me on track while writing.

1. Something goes wrong. => Abby loses a golf tournament.
2. Why is this a problem? => She lost her temper and threw her club injuring spectators.
3. Someone is chosen to solve the problem. => Abby required to go to a therapist.
4. Identify the challenge. => Only gets angry playing golf. Jekyll/Hyde syndrome. 
5. Refusal by the hero. => Abby doesn't think she has a problem.
6. Acceptance of challenge. => Forced to watch video montage of tantrums and realizes she has a problem.
7. Hero encounters danger. => Abby risk losing backers.
8. Helper or mentor arises. => Therapist suggest solution. 
9. Setback occurs. => Charity tournament mishap.
10. Hero regroups and has breakthrough.=> Creates art from killed clubs.
11. Foe is vanquished. => Anger is managed.
12. Hero has fixed the problem. => Returns to tournament circuit. 

That's a lot of information to cram into 250 words. But one of the first tricks I learned about flash fiction was to start in the middle of the story, plot point #6. 

Art in Tiny Houses

When I was designing my space from my 500 sq. ft. - 12 ft. ceiling studio apartment to my 125 sq.ft. - 9 ft. ceiling cabin, I had to figure out what to do with all my art. There were several paintings that were not going to fit, one was as large as a door and the other about half the size of a door. Those large pieces of art were re-homed with the understanding that it was temporary. The others were nice size pieces about 18"x 24". However, there wasn't enough wall space to hang them ALL up at the same time.

I ended up designating three different wall spaces to artwork (paintings or photographs). The others I keep behind my couch. Then, every three months or whenever I feel the need for a change, I take the art off the wall and put up something different.

This actually turned out to be a great plan. With a tiny home, furniture and redesigning or restyling doesn't happen. Everything in the tiny house is so specific in its purpose and use, that you can't move the couch to a different spot because it will only fit in the spot it's in. However, now I'm able to use my art wall spaces to change up the mood of the place. In a small space, small changes make a big impact.

But what do you do if you forgot to incorporate wall space for artwork into you tiny house? 

I have a friend who did just that and the result is a house full of windows. While I'm sure she and her husband appreciate the constantly changing view of nature which is it's own art form, she expressed that there are times when she would like to have a painting or photograph on the wall.

Thank you eidetic memory! My friend is not the first person to have this problem and there are actually quite a few inventive solutions.

The Refrigerator & Cabinet Doors

A flat surface that people forget about because of it's utilitarian purpose is the refrigerator. Instead of kids/grandkid's artwork, grocery list or a dry erase board. Frame out the freezer portion and change out with paintings or photographs. You can also do this with kitchen or storage cabinetry. Consider using Li'l DaVinci Art Cabinets as cabinet doors instead.

The Windows

Do you really need the whole window to let in light? Insert some narrow glass shelves into the window frame and set up your art there. This is a great spot for small sculptures, clay pots, or leaning a canvas or photograph. If the windows are narrow, there are towel bars with glass shelves above that can be installed. This is a good option because the shelves provide a surface for sculptures and the pictures can be hung from the towel bar or used as a curtain rod.

The Curtain Rods

Why not just hang the art from the curtain rods and have them overlap the windows? A second sheer curtain can be draped behind to filter the light. A third curtain rod could hold the drapes which pull over the picture rod when all light needs to be blocked.

Interior Shutters & Doors

If you use interior shutters to block light or interior doors to separate rooms, consider them surfaces for hanging you art work as well. You can either leave the artwork loose as seen in the image, or frame it out and attach to the surface as suggested with the refrigerator and cabinetry.

Li'l DaVinci Art Cabinets

These art cabinets come in standard sizes and are easy to install. They make changing out images easy for Tiny House dwellers.

Li'l DaVinci Art Cabinets

Hope this helps!

Willy Wonka IKEA Tour

Cory Hagen, my IKEA soulmate!
Check out his designs at
TinyModernHomes.com

In response to a question I posted on the DFW Tiny House Enthusiasts Facebook page back back in July (see "IKEA & Tiny Houses"), Cory Hagen of TinyModernHomes.com, decided to lead a pied piper's tour through IKEA last Saturday.

Thirty-five of us bravely set out through the rain and high water to gather at IKEA. Despite our best efforts we continually blocked the aisle as we navigated the maze and amazing showrooms. Some Enthusiasts were lost to shopping wonder, so only 24 of us corralled in the cafeteria for lunch at the end.

Cory started off the tour by provided an informative introduction as well as a handout that people could download before the tour. (Click here for the handout Cory put together.)

Before we all went on our collective merry way, Cory insisted we each grab a map. Not only is it important to understand the layout of IKEA's stores, it's also essential to know where the 'shortcuts' are location.

IKEA Layout Map
Image Source: IKEA pamphlet, IKEA, Frisco, TX (8/20/2016)

Here are the highlights from the IKEA Willy Wonka Tour:

1. The Tiny House couch is the FRIHETEN. 

It's just so versatile because it has more than one use. Multiple use furniture is very important in a tiny house and I use this couch in mine.

FRIHETEN couch looks like a normal L-shaped sofa.
It expand to a sleeping platform equivalent to a full or queen size bed.
There is additional storage under the chaise section. I store my bedding here.

The other nice aspect of this couch is that it comes in a flat pack. Living in a tiny house makes getting large pieces of furniture difficult to get into the house. With IKEA furniture, you can bring the pieces in as you are building the furniture inside the house. It still has some challenges, but a lot easier than trying to fit an 7' long couch into a house that only 8' wide.... just saying.

Many pieces of IKEA furniture are also "hack"-able. (For more information about IKEA hacks visit my previous post "IKEA & Tiny Houses")

2. Get ideas from the showrooms.

The show rooms at IKEA are very well designed. You will see the same piece of furniture or accent being used several different ways. This will help you explore your options when designing for your own tiny home. I especially like to examine their micro living quarters of 270 sq. ft.

3. The Tiny House table is the NORDEN.

This table closes up tight and
can expand to seat 6 people.

3. Don't be space specific. Re-imagine how furniture can be used. 

While in the kitchen section, I reminded people to think about the 'problems' of their tiny house. For example, I ran into issues of not having a closet or any way of hanging up my clothes. I ended up using IKEA kitchen rods to hand a few clothes flat against the wall in the bathroom.

4. Ask for design help.

The kitchen showroom area has computer stations and assistants that can help you design your space. IKEA cabinetry is easy to use because even though they may be standardized in sizes, the option within the standardization provides many different design options when combined in various ways.

5. The Tiny House kitchen sink is the NORRSJON with the VIMMERN faucet.

The sink is actually a HILLSJON because it has a second sink.
Without the second smaller sink it is like the NORRSJON.

6. The Tiny House bathroom sink is the LILLANGEN... 

LILLANGEN sink is compact,
easy to install and versatile -
notice the towels hanging beside it.

7. Think about how YOU use your space.

For instance... Do you really need a sink in the bathroom? What do you use it for? Brushing your teeth, washing your face, shaving, etc. Are these things you can do at the kitchen sink which is probably 3 steps away? If you do need a bathroom sink, think about putting it in the shower area rather than its own little area. This will save you room.

I personally love IKEA for many reasons. Another happens to be because they have a webpage dedicated to "Small Spaces." There you will find an excellently produced video which walks you through IKEA design concepts and how they re-imagine the purpose of a room and the furniture within.

***

DFW Tiny House Enthusiast at IKEA, Frisco, TX
#tinyhouseIKEAtribe

***

Those are the highlights from the  #tinyhouseIKEAtribe and now I'd like to invite you to the Tiny House IKEA Challenge. The person (or group) who turns in their Challenge sheet with the most points by November 1, 2016 at 4:00 pm will receive your choice of hand-crocheted scarf, handmade olive oil base soaps, a handmade basket (all made by me) or your choice of a 8x10 photo from my Studio page. By the way, if you use examples from this blog points will be deducted!

My hope is to put together a collection of ideas and designs inspired by fellow Enthusiasts for everyone to enjoy. Be inspired!

Where Everyone Whispers

I drove to Arches National Park late in the evening, my first national park of the trip. Before I arrived though, I had to travel through Colorado and parts of Utah. That was no hardship.

Let me begin by saying that Colorado was an adventure to drive. The scenery varies from meadows, to canyon walls and highways following the river bends.

I experienced a stillness as I zoomed forward through Silverthorne, Vail, and Glenwood, Colorado. The contrast of Texas' temperatures (well into the 100s) and Colorado's 50-60 degrees brought on feelings of calm and renewal associated with Fall or Spring. The glimpses of snow peaks in the fogged distances were wintry surprises. Colorado was magical not only for its adventurous landscapes but also for its Summer of all Seasons.

Though tucked away from the main interstate, many of Colorado's towns have entrenched themselves into the nooks and crannies of the mountain and canyon walls. Though you may not see them, they are there scattered between the major cities. Cross the state line into Utah and the little towns are few are far between.

I didn't know what to expect from Utah, other than a beautiful national park. My first thought after crossing the state line was, "What do people do here?"... "What do visitors do?" If you really want to experience the beauty of Utah, you have to stop the car frequently. Whereas Garden of the Gods taught me to slow down and enjoy the places around me. Utah brought me to a halt. (Click here for photographs of this trip.)

Without words being spoken, people smiled as they passed on the trail. It didn't matter if you were Hispanic, Biker, College kid, Punk/Goth, Muslim, or White Girl. Interactions were careful, sincere, polite and often conducted in whispers. We all had a single purpose when we stopped, to see an indescribable petrified beauty.

It wasn't until I reached Arches National Park that I realized a silence had permeated the entire trip. At Arches everyone spoke in whispers including me. Even children recognized the reverence owed when witnessing the majestic artistry of the Earth. Arches National Park truly was like a outdoor art museum in which the statues were molded by the science of nature.

Sacramento Scenes

Back of Typewriter - Samsung Galaxy s6

Street Curb Writing - Samsung Galaxy s6

Post Writing - Samsung Galaxy s6

Plywood Eyes - Samsung Galaxy s6

Russian Orthodox Church - Samsung Galaxy s6

Time Tested Books - Samsung Galaxy s6

South Lake Tahoe Scenes

South Lake Tahoe, NV - Samsung Galaxy s6

Pine Needles - Samsung Galaxy s6

Utah & Nevada Road Scenes

Black Dragon Canyon, UT - Samsung Galaxy s6

Salt Wash, UT - Samsung Galaxy s6

Petrified Reef, UT - Samsung Galaxy s6

Great Basin Forest Fire, NV - Samsung Galaxy s6

Highway 50, NV - Samsung Galaxy s6

The Trail Less Traveled

Tree, Roots & Rock Formation
Garden of the Gods,
Colorado Springs, CO
B&W - Samsung Galaxy s6

After my incomparable experience at Carlsbad Caverns National Park on a Sunday, I was hoping the Sunday following the Tiny House Jamboree would boast similar results at the Garden of the Gods. That hope was in vain. Maybe if I had gotten up at dawn, but that wasn't to be either.

It's obvious that some people find comfort being in a crowd of people and if I were people watching, this was an excellent opportunity. But I wasn't at Garden of Gods to see people. Like the thousands of others there on Sunday, I wanted to witness the artistry of the Earth. I couldn't fault these people for wanting to see the same visions I did, but I wanted to.

Rather than pout at the people crowding the trails, I took Robert Frost's advice. When the crowd surged right at the trail fork, I went left. As the tides changed and the school shifted right, I went left. When I got stuck in a flock, I slowed down until it passed.

Being with people doesn't usually bother me, especially if I'm traveling with other people. Having companions, either friends, family or strangers is part of the experience and it's built in to my expectations. However, I have noticed that when I solo travel, I have less of a desire or threshold for engaging with others. Hence my annoyance at all the people in my way.

What I failed to realize until the next day, all those people were pushing me away from the popular scenes and forcing me to venture out into parts of Garden of the Gods that I would not have otherwise visited. When I slowed down to let a group pass, I saw more beauty. Because groups were blocking paths, I often made loops twice to take in the whole view - enriching my experience.

Garden of the Gods is a visual and physical experience. I posted pictures in an earlier blog article, Garden of the Gods. The reality is, it's hard to take a bad picture here because every angle is unique and beautiful.

Again, thanks to the mass of people, I learned to stop and rather than tap my foot impatiently for the group to pass, I stood and looked around myself. I didn't just stare straight ahead. I turned my head from side to side, up and down, and turned my body completely around 360 degrees. I found myself backtracking, thinking, "How did I miss that?"

Prior to this adventure, I would have considered myself an attentive person with a visual awareness of the world around me. Now, I'm not so sure. It took these moments to show me that I had indeed fallen into a trap of looking straight ahead, keeping my eye on the ball, and other similar euphemisms. This is not to say that looking ahead is a bad trait. Think about it. A human's most natural motion is forward. The human head easily rest in a position that provides a clear front view.

 Even though the forward motions and views are the most natural, humans can and do move in other directions. Side to side. Up and down. Reverse.

More valuable than witness the beauty of Garden of the Gods, I was reminded that my straight ahead approach needs to be balanced out with patience and awareness of what I have passed by.

"...I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." ~ Robert Frost

Colorado & Utah Scenes, and Arches National Park

 Colorado Scenic Stops

Rock Texture - Samsung Galaxy s6

Cliff Face - Samsung Galaxy s6

Lake View - Samsung Galaxy s6

Cliff Wall - Samsung Galaxy s6

Cliff Wall - Samsung Galaxy s6

Utah Scenic Stops

Cedar Trunk - Samsung Galaxy s6

Cliff Edge Cedar - Samsung Galaxy s6

 

Rocky Climb - Samsung Galaxy s6

Tree Alley - Samsung Galaxy s6

Utah Sky - Samsung Galaxy s6

Shrub, Trees & Rocks - Samsung Galaxy s6

 Arches National Park, Moab, UT

Arches Monuments - Samsung Galaxy s6

Arches Monuments II - Samsung Galaxy s6

Skeletal Tree - Samsung Galaxy s6

Sunset on Rocks - Samsung Galaxy s6

Trailhead - Samsung Galaxy s6

Tree Regrowth - Samsung Galaxy s6

Wind Carved Stone - Samsung Galaxy s6

Geeking Out at the Tiny House Jamboree, 2016

Photo Credit: Carla Adkins
Photo Image: Bryan Adkins hugging Dee Williams of
"The Big Tiny: A Built-It-Myself Memior"

For this DFW Tiny House Enthusiast, the Jamboree was practice in remaining cool in the face of meeting and talking to those who inspired me. And I know I wasn't alone in this. I felt like I was holding it together well when I met, talked with and briefly hung out with Lina Menard of the Niche House. She gave me her freaking card! Unbeknownst to her, the Niche House graced my computer screen saver for several months. You can see why when you click on her website www.nichdesignbuild.com

Several friends were introduced to Jay Shafer by another longtime DFW Tiny House Enthusiast. I admit to feeling mild envy for missing that. (It's okay though because I ending up meeting him anyway. Strangely, we didn't talk about tiny houses but my ability to lip read and eavesdrop on converstations from across the tent.)

At one point I thought I saw Jay Shafer at the ticket tent and nudge my buddy, "Is that Jay Shafer?"
"Who's that?" Cue the bug eyes.
"You don't know Jay Shafer?... Founder of Tumbleweed tiny house company. Now runs Four Lights... One of the founders of the tiny house movement." All I got was a negative shoulder roll. I rolled my eyes. This is a geek out as described by the Urban Dictionary, "an intense excitement and knowledge of specialized nontraditional culture."

Another friend related that she was having breakfast with her family when she saw Deek Diedrickson and Jay Shafer... and they "spoke to her." Now what they said, I don't know but when the people who started a movement you love speak to you, does it matter.

I hesitate to use words like "heroes" or "idols" because the terms are too worshipful and it removes their humaness. I look to these people because in so many ways they are ordinary people who where moved in a direction or commited to a goal that the average society finds counter traditional. Moreover because these are ordinary people, it instills in me a belief that I too can commit to an ideal not readily accepted by society. So instead of "heros" or "idols," I prefer to the term "movers"

Another DFW Tiny House Enthusiast, Bryan, got to meet the person who moved him, Dee Williams (see image above). I've listened to her Ted Talks and found her to be inspiring as well. She wrote a book, The Big Tiny: a Built-It-Myself Memior which highly recommend.

Seeing the tiny houses at the Jamboree was a great experience. All the different designs proved to be fertile ground for new ideas. For me, it doesn't make the Jamboree any more or less special than the Earthday Dallas Exhibit or Tast of Dallas expo; although, there were about 5 x more houses. The Jamboree is special because there is such a large collective gathering of like minded 'movers' mingling amongs us.

When Does a Vacation Start?

Does a vacation start the moment you set out on the road after filling up that first tank of gas? The point of no return. 

Or does it begin when you pull out the suitcase? The pack and load.

Or is it the moment you realized the vacation is 'x' days away? The countdown.

Maybe it's all of the above. Vacations don't have solid start days and times because the anticipation of the vacation produces a sense of excitement and releases positive endorphins. But what happens when the anticipation of a vacation gets interrupted?

I had the not so pleasant experience of having my vacation plans interrupted by car issues. In the course of doing my due diligence before venturing out westward, I got my oil changed. This is two days before my vacation is scheduled to begin. The same evening after the oil change, a series of scary lights lit up my dashboard. My endorphins plummeted and by anxiety skyrocketed. I really tried to focus on the silver lining, "At least the lights came on before the trip and not during," but I was stressing.

Worry #1 - What if there's something really wrong with the car and it cost a lot of money to fix. I won't be able to go on my vacation.

Worry #2 - What if they can fix it but have to wait until after they come back from vacation before the part is put on. I can't go on my vacation.

These two thoughts were cyclones in my brain interrupting my sleep.

I took the car into the my trusted mechanic and since he was planning on going on vacation the following week, I knew I had to wait. The car was dropped off and a friend took me to get a rental. This was the first hit to my vacation budget. 

I called the mechanic later in the afternoon and he did not get a chance to look at the car yet. This meant the vacation schedule was taking a hit now because I didn't have the car to "pack and load." Additionally, I no longer had a sense of anticipation since I didn't know when or if I would be getting the car and leaving, no "countdown."

A few years ago, the New York Times published an article "What a Great Trip! And I'm not Even There Yet"in which the author says, "Taking a vacation won't necessarily make you happier. But anticipating it will." 

To get ready for this trip I built up a playlist on my AmazonPrime Music for the long haul drives. I even put some tracks together specifically for the national parks I was going to visit, lots of Enya and Celtic Women for Arches National Park which ending up being perfect. I improved the design for car camping this summer, such as adding a cargo net to the interior roof of the car and fabric screens for the side windows which allowed me to leave the windows down for ventilation and block out bugs. I mapped and remapped the route for the trip, Skyped with my pals that I planned to visit, and created a new travel journal to record my experiences. Stephanie Rosenbloom says, "Doing this allows us to build up positive expectations, to relish how enjoyable the experience might be."

But what happens to all that anticipation when the much lauded vacation is suddenly in jeopardy? All I can tell you is it's not fun anymore and fraught with disappointment. But there's not much that can be done when stuck in vacation purgatory. I made a Plan A, Plan B, all the way to a Plan G but having a plan does not build the anticipation back up.  

Turns out the car issue was an easy fix. To get it back and save money on the rental, I had to scrabble with my work schedule and a friend's schedule to drop off the rental and pick up the car. Then rush home for the pack and load. All the rushing, scrambling and last minute errands added to my anxiety as I tried to stay as close to my original countdown as possible. The anticipation never fully recovered because it was drowned by the stress.

That's why I'm making the most of my vacation journey experience, because, contrary to the New York Times article, this vacation will make me happier. It started the moment I filled up the tank and reached "the point of no return."  

* Fun Information. NPR did a talk about vacations, "The History of the Vacation Examined," that's worth listening to or reading. 

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO

Climbing Access - B&W - Samsung Galaxy s6

Leaning Rock - B&W - Samsung Galaxy s6

Leaning Rock and Formation - B&W - Samsung Galaxy s6

White Prairie Thistle - B&W - Samsung Galaxy s6

Rock Formation and Mountains - B&W - Samsung Galaxy s6

Round Rock Formation - B&W - Samsung Galaxy s6

Flower Meadow - B&W - Samsung Galaxy s6

Sunflower - B&W - Samsung Galaxy s6

Sunflowers - Color - Samsung Galaxy s6

Tree Roots - B&W - Samsung Galaxy s6