The proof is in the pudding

Yes, in this instance, the proof really is in the pudding. Thinking of how to illustrate idioms, makes me giggle. Inspired by Lynn's postcard, I went online and checked out a number of sites that list out idioms (find one here). Scrolling through the list, I could not help but laugh imagining how I might draw:

He lost his head * Back seat driver * Flea market * A chip on his sholder * No room to swing a cat * Everything but the kitchen sink * Lend me your ear * Its raining cats and dogs

 Lynn reminded me, on the underbelly of her card, that not everyone could understand idioms. Non-native speakers and people on the autism spectrum are likely to not get them at all. Somehow I imagine them conjuring up the same images Lynn and I might if we were to draw these phrases, although just as likely is that they are just confused.  This also makes me think about times I have used idioms during work conversations in Ghana. I have a feeling that if you had been a fly on the wall you might have cracked up realizing that my staff thought I was speaking mumbo jumbo.

Tee hee.

Prankster

My dad mailed me this article about a man who wanted to brighten up mailboxes with more than bills. Jim chose a random family in North Dakota and wrote to them for years, they had a fun time trying to guess who he was and enjoyed getting his cards.  Would you like something like this, or would it bug you that you didn't know "Jim"? I think I would like it, I wonder if Jessica and I could do something like this next with our love of the postal system...   

Self Talk

Tired of work meetings, Lynn tried to change her attitude by revving herself up for them. 'Let's meet it up!', she would say, while deep inside she was thinking - really, another meeting?

Lynn was practicing positive self talk. A term I googled to double check I had not made it up only to learn that Lynn would make the motivational coaches of this world very proud. While I was not in Lynn's meetings last year, I can say that self talk works. We believe the stories we tell ourselves. Often a little self deception is all that is needed to take the first step and before you know it you are doing something that you didn't think that you could or wanted to do.

If you hear a voice within you saying,
'You are not a painter,' then by all means paint
and that voice will be silenced.
Vincent Van Gogh

Lynn, you said you were inspired to write this down and send it to me by another blogger who posts phrases on postcards. Who was it?

R&R

Jessica wrote about and drew about her weekend at the pool!  In addition to sun and water, she got a massage which helped her through the long slog of work that she had just endured.  She asked about good books to read in order to help get her life back in balance- a long term quest of hers!  I remember living in Cairo and spending weekends at the pool, we had a membership to a hotel and it had a tiny fitness center and pool.  Because of either a good exchange rate at the time, or maybe an inflated sense of earnings, we often ordered lunch pool side.  It felt so extravagant to order a cheeseburger and eat it while relaxing by a tropical pool.  How about you pal, do you snack on American foods in your bikini?

Doodles

Last time dots, this time doodles.  Jessica's busy life in Ghana had her stressed and pressed for time.  She wrote that this card started as a doodle and grew. It was literally all she had time for in a month filled with hiring and managing projects.  At one point, she said she was writing the date on a paper and realized "Oh my gosh, its March already!" Seems funny to me because last march I was feeling like the dreary, gray month was going on forever.  I wonder if Jessica's doodle of a young boy's face is inspired by any of the young people in her day to day life or that she met on a project visit?