One of the great things about Zentangle® Is the fact that not a lot of special tools or art supplies are required. I'm glad to tell people that all they need is a pen and paper to produce a nice piece of art.
I, on the other hand, need everything but the kitchen sink. Since I've started teaching I've managed to enlarge my "bye bye" arms by 50%. For those of you who are not familiar with what " bye bye arms" are, let me enlighten you.
" Bye bye arms" are the part of your upper arms that continue to wave goodbye long after you've stopped waving. Sometimes I like to call them "grandma arms", because my Grandma had them.
But I digress.
I like to be prepared for any situation that might arise when I am teaching. Hence the suitcase. I pack it the evening before and by the looks of it you'd think I was going on a long extended vacation . I should really be catching a cab to the airport instead of heading to the North end of the city to the Seniors Centre. Picture in your mind my sad story of over packing minus the holiday. Hubby is a saint by putting up with my constant rambling as item by item makes it into the bag. It goes something like this:
Me: ( muttering to myself)
Hubby: "Are you talking to me?"
Me: "No I'm packing up for tomorrow and am talking to myself. Just ignore it."
Hubby: "You always over pack and no wonder your back is sore. I thought you only needed a pen and paper for this art."
Me: "You do but I have to make sure I'm ready for anything these seniors throw at me. These aren't some geriatric misfits here. They're savvy people and most of them have been taking art and craft classes since they retired. I have to be on my toes."
Hubby: "Well it's late and I'm ready for bed."
I ignore him and start putting things in my bag, still mentally checking off items and talking to myself.
Lets see, .... pens , paper, teaching lesson, pencils and pencil sharpener, change ( in case someone needs to purchase supplies) eye glass cleaner and cloth, extra pair of glasses, Paper tiles, bottle of water, tortillion, handouts, kleenex and the list goes on and on. The bag is bulging at the seams and by now I've forgotten if I've put in my box of .005 pens. I can't spot them so I start digging in the bag like a mad dog looking for a bone. Sure enough, after I've torn out the guts of the bag, I spot them at the very bottom. Why, oh Why don't I make that checklist!!!
By now Hubby is fast asleep and here I am back at square one. I put back everything and try to zip it up. That zipper is stuck fast and isn't going to budge! I squish down the top of the suitcase and grab a pair of pliers and pull that stubborn zipper closed. By now I'm exhausted. I haul my wheelie bag to the front door so I can make the early morning get away. I want to be ready and calm when my class gets there.
Only one thing left to do... pack up the projector and document camera.
Good thing this art form only takes a pen, paper and is so darn portable!
At least that's what my students think, God bless their hides!
