Tasting Life Twice - 11-26-08 to 11-30-08

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 B

"Intuitive Drawing - Bus Rider"
11:36pm

I'm not sure what the inspiration was. Our web connection down because of much rain and some storms, we watched TV tonight. PBS had a few specials on the British royalty. We stayed up late enough to catch one about the queen as a teenager and then getting married. It seemed a bit like time travel to see the older queen and then the young queen. They also showed what life was like there at the time. They had much rationing of coal and food because times were difficult.

For them, the patriotic thing to do was to endure cheerfully, with that 'stiff upper lip' thing the British are known for. By contrast, we Americans might seem spoiled. But then, you must realize that we've been conditioned that 'buy, buy, buy' consumerism is our patriotic duty. The movie 'The Story of Stuff' explained this. Now that we are seeing the results of all this and other things, we are going to have to learn new ways.

But the adjustment will not be easy. However it may be the best thing for us as a nation as we learn resourcefulness and gain less 'material' values.

Thursday, November 27, 2008 A

"Early Morning Thanksgiving Day Thoughts"
5:27am

I woke from a strange dream last night in which we were living in a communal dorm. Nine beds were all in a large room, and people's belongings were stacked up against the walls. There was writing on the wall. When I first looked at it, it said 'Only one person on the computer at a time'. The second time I looked at it, it said 'Only one gun allowed at a time'. Yes, things could really go bad with heated tempers then. We saw a _Metropolis_ episode that showed how nasty life was in Paris of the Middle Ages. The poverty was horrendous. Titled 'Murder in Paris', that might have influenced my dream.

Regarding my earlier thoughts last night, sigh, that begins to get into 'politics', and things I don't understand. Julia, who took economics in school, says some of the problems of various institutions collapsing is this thing called 'deregulation' recently instituted. Apparently, they needed it.

But I don't understand this completely. I admit I enjoy my 'material' pleasures as much as the next person. In fact, when I think of everything I'm grateful for, these items are among them. So to a random stream of consciousness in no particular order:

Warm clothes! (House is chilly and flannel nightgown and fleece vest feel good)
Computer (This device helps me to create my art, photos and writing and allows me share them with the world.
The internet (This is the most wonderful invention ever, dependent on those computers, which allows world wide communication. I enjoy all aspects, research, and keeping up with web-friends.)
Flush toilets (I can't imagine how life would be without them. What did the ancient Egyptians use? Are there examples in the tombs? They sought to prepare everything for the afterlife in every aspect. Did they at least have a special chair with a pot underneath?)
Indoor heating and cooling (Again, I think of Paris in the Middle Ages, how cold everyone was, how unclean, how the filth enabled disease to spread...)
Running water (To keep clean, and for drinking. {We use especially filtered water for drinking, but if we had to, we could use tap.})
Good food and a good cook that makes it (Julia does wonderful things with the basic elements, she knows how to use spices.)
A good companion to share my life with who understands and appreciates me. (This is a rare thing these days in which there are so many divorced and separated people.)
So many enjoyable things to do together:
Movies (I love the work of a good story teller come alive on the big screen.)
Walks in the parks (Yuma is blessed to have so many nice parks.)
Good air that is not polluted (We've had bad and know there is worse...)
Good music so readily available (Via the radio, TV, CD and mp3, we have entertainment only royalty used to have!)
Good restaurants (Yuma has quite a few, in which Julia and I have shared happy times and tasty food.)
Good clothes (I have so many colorful and well made blouses and skirts which are so comfortable.)
Good shoes (I love my Birkies and Wolkys.)
I love my ability to find things to amuse myself.
My many books ('Material objects though they are, whats contained in them increases my knowledge (oh yes, and what I can find through Google book search, too.)
Micron pens!
Bristol drawing paper
Printer paper (it, too, is 'acid free' and fairly durable).
(In the _Metropolis_ episode about the middle ages, they explained how paper made from cotton rags and the Gutenberg printing press was invented then, which opened up writers and artists opportunities and made books widespread. Previously, books were held under chains only in libraries and for the very wealthy.)

Sewing machines (They sure make my job easier.)
Hot air balloons (Maybe someday I'll go up in one...)
Air planes and all the wonderful places they've taken me
Cameras which allow me to record those memories
Eye drops (which make my dry eyes feel better)
Cooking stoves, gas or electric, and microwave ovens, too.
Fizzy water, pumpkin pie from the bakery, tasty bread from the bakery, blueberry pie...
'Palek paneer', and all the tasty Indian foods...
Cold water, good tea...
Warm bed, with Julia in it, I'm going back to bed now...
But before I do, I must include in the random list of things I'm grateful for,
YOU, my dear reader, YOU!
May you find yourself especially blessed!

Thursday, November 27, 2008 B

"Drawing - Man With Egg"
8:31am

Our web connection is still broken. So I amuse myself with items saved to the computer. I have no idea where the original photo came from. If I find out, or you know and tell me, I can at least give credit.

In my version, the egg has been carved or painted

Thursday, November 27, 2008 C

"More Thoughts"
11:26am

It's been almost a blessing, this lack of web connection. After creating my drawing, I called Eleanor, Laura's mother, and had a nice conversation with her. Then I took to removing many of the layers covering the table behind where I sit at the computer. That task always gets neglected because there are so many more enticing things out in webland. When it piles up so high, it gets almost overwhelming to think about it. It must be how hoarders begin. So I took one catalog, just one, and item by item, I decided. The pile remaining is almost neat.

Then I took an eye to the small table/storage chest to my left. It had grown a layer of dust. My altar, too, had grown a layer of dust. We listened to a radio special via KAWC on Thanksgiving while I cleaned. This is always a meditative process for me, as I cleanse and add each piece back.

Words from the radio were entering in, as well. One poet mentioned the sheer 'gratitude for being alive', 'the existence of consciousness, the marvels that we feel are all results of our consciousness'. I pondered the hieroglyphs for 'to give thanks', the'dua' hieroglyph, and its possibilities of layered meanings. A statue of Anubis shows the hand positions. Looking overheard, the hands are in 'KA' hieroglyph. There's some deeper meaning, I'm sure. Hands of blessing, as we send out gratitude for the many gifts we have received?

But I really like what the radio poet said. All gratitude has at its deep core gratefulness for the gift of being alive, of being aware, of being conscious.

Thursday, November 27, 2008 D

"Xmas Letter of 2008 and Another Drawing"
9:15pm

With lack of 'distractions', I got right into it and finished writing the annual letter. I enjoyed looking back at a year's worth of journal entries, from which I made excerpts. We've had a marvelous year, really, and I'm grateful.

Here's one photo from our trip to Tucson, which never made it into the journal:

A line drawing by Matisse... (at the U of A art museum)

What I like about it is how the graceful fluid line expresses the lady's characteristics, and gives a suggestion of solid form. I can learn from this...

Of course I cannot look at it and not want to have a try at line:

I think the model is from the Berkeley photographer, when we have web access again, I will check...
(note of November 29, 2008: Yes, I was right, and there he is!)
(His image titling is month/day/year/ with the last two digits given to number of photos that day.)

Anyway, I aimed with this piece to have an exuberance of linear expression, to not worry so much about the accuracy, but to keep it flowing. I'll keep working on that...

Friday, November 28, 2008

"Refining a Picture"
8:13pm

We are still without web access. Julia called the internet service provider, and they said they'd call back. I got to deal with them. They had me moving phone cord lines around, and still, the DSL light only blinks and the light to indicate internet access is off. So a technician is to come tomorrow. We think it is something outside that needs fixed. If it is indoors, we'll be charged.

It is quite frustrating. I'm missing all my web haunts. Meanwhile, I'm planning on framing one of my self portraits. However, when I found the drawing, it seemed rough and splotchy. So I've smoothed it out a great deal, using colored pencils:

The Original Version:

The Improved Version:

Sunday, November 30, 2008 A

"We're Back!"
7:34am

Seeking to not waste the time yesterday morning, I went and got our mail and the groceries. I worked out a list with Julia, and then went solo, so she could be there for the web technician.

He came shortly after I got back with the groceries. As suspected, it is Wednesday's rain which damaged our connection. Part of the problem was in a locked room, for which the technician had to wait until it could be unlocked. That part done, he then looked at our apartment. The outlet the phone and web were on is also hopelessly soaked with water. However that line is in the roof, impossible to get to, but we have a good line via the kitchen outlet.

The house has been nearly rearranged, as we've had to move the phone, the DSL modem, and the router box but now we have web access!

Four green lights means go!

I had to give up part of my table for the phone, so only Shiva and one vase can be there. We've found space for all the other pretties. The blue cord now is connecting Julia's computer into the web router, now at a shelf on my computer.

(The 'talking head' in the background is from the CBS Sunday morning show.)

Sunday, November 30, 2008 B

"We're Not!"
2:51pm

I don't know what the problem is. But we are again without internet access. I feel very disappointed. Is the line in the kitchen, while less vulnerable to getting soaked by water, more vulnerable to interference by cooking pots, such as the rice pot? But the rice has finished cooking, and nothing is on.

Oh, I'm so disappointed, and I would like to tell you right RIGHT NOW, this moment 3:05am, Sunday, November 30, 2008, how disappointed I am, but I cannot, for I can't connect to the web to tell you!

Sunday, November 30, 2008 C

"We're Back?"
3:20pm

After I powered it off, Julia pulled the computer out, and the modem lit itself up again. No cord seems strained, we think the connections are good. But we don't know.

Sunday, November 30, 2008 D

"I'm Back and Researching"
4:02pm

I've come across some books useful to something I've been studying. Schwaller de Lubicz speaks of the 'intelligence of the heart', and here are two teasers I've saved from tiny peeksies: