Ducks In A Row?

by Cooper on 8/26/2010 9:07:58 AMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa, where today, I am struggling toward organization. The phrase "ducks in a row" comes to mind.

A few days ago my husband came home from work, feeling quite elated for a client. Said client had "had his ducks in a row", and the financial benefits were quite satisfying to all involved. But they were working with hogs, not ducks. Why do we say "ducks in a row"? Being a fan of google-ing, I did. Google DID NOT have their "duck in a row" this time. Many were their "answers" and even more varied than numerous. Does a mother duck really "organize" her babies single file? Does the Navy really line up "ducks" (viselike clamps) with a laser when building ships? And are bowling pins really shaped like ducks? And lawn bowling? Dios mio. All I wanted to do was get organized for the weekend.

A while back I was one of three people at a meeting to plan a workshop. One meeting-ee expressed amazement regarding how organized the other two of us were. I think her response was erroneous for this reason: I believe there are three levels of organization.

1. organized
2. wannabe organized, as in love it, but don't often get there
3. disorganized, as in no desire to be

And while meeting person #3 was the epitomy of organized, I was firmly lodged in the #2 category. Casual observers would probably consider that to be my station in life---wannabe organized.

I have an art fair to be at this weekend, Midwest Salute to The Arts, Fairview Heights, Illinois. For various reasons not needing to be mentioned in this article, I am quite certain I need to "have my ducks in a row", organized to the max. I need to be prepared to the #1 level.

May I share that I am a 3x5 notecard person? And why you ask?

1. They are small, they make you categorize. One card for this list, another for that.
2. They are small, you pare your notes down to a bare minimun of words. Manageable amounts of words.
3. They make you feel organized. Isn't FEELING like you're organized the mental balm needed to GET you there?
4. They are small, they fit in your back pocket. Ha!
5. No technology needed. I add that in rebellion mode. I know, I know, I could just go get one of those palm pilot things, that would make me cool, right? BUT. A package of 3x5 note cards is 53 cents. And in a pinch, I can turn a 3x5 card over and make a quick sketch of an idea on the back of it. And they're made from a renewable resource. And they are recycleable.

Enough said. Time to get to it. Before we part, here's a new painting for you:

Meeting At The Wilde Roast, an acrylic painting on a perfect little 20 x 20 inch canvas. Available in my portfolio, of course. Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper