gOING oUT wITH tHE oLD

Oh, my love affair with these old trucks continues. This is one on Edith just north of Montano. It's a '48 and everything on it is original. It's for sale. Sad. Sad because I know that the folks who own it would like to keep it, but the fact that the lot is for sale along with the truck means that they have had to switch gears. They had specialized in repairing old vehicles. Business must've been too slow for them to survive. No one hangs on to anything anymore (out with the old, in with the new) in this consumable, disposable society that we are. Well folks, only a few more days of 2007, huh? It is hard to comprehend that '08 is looming before us. Remember when 2000 was about to ring in and all the hubub of pending catastrophe because of our computer calendars? It seemed so real then and so absurd now! The image here is from a photo shoot I did back in October. I've altered it a bit by sanding it, painting it with acrylic, walnut ink, and other speciality inks related to the world of mixed media. But, for the record, the patina you see is how that truck is; I only did enhancements to make it more 'readable' since the lighting when I took the shots washed everything out.

Silent Night, Holy Night

It's Christmas Eve...in fact, as I write this, it's almost Christmas Day! Spent much of the day getting ready for tomorrow and visiting some friends. I always put out luminarias every Christmas Eve for the past 10 years here that I can recall. We've got good weather conditions for this kind of thing; usually no snow (or very little), no rain and light winds. It's just a bit chilly setting these little paper bags out and lighting them. I only wish we didn't have that street light in front of our house as it makes the effect of these glowing lights less dramatic. All is as well as it can be; Chris and Raine's car was found ('stolen' two days ago). Yay! My sister Carol in Florida called (I thought she dropped off the face of the earth as I hadn't heard from her in two years!). My two older brothers called. I know my two younger brothers will be cooking up some mighty fine meals tomorrow; Tim goes all out and plans a menu with a theme. I don't know what this year's theme is though. I'll let you know when I find out. I keep thinking someday I should plan on being there for one of those elaborate meals he makes. Got a nice email from my cousin David in Illinois. I am worried about my younger sister in Hilo, but the lesson here is to have faith and trust that all will be well. I've enjoyed reading all the Christmas cards and letters as they've come in over the past few weeks. I keep remembering ones that I forgot to send out...guess I'll have to tend to those on the 26th! Two minutes to go before it's tomorrow! Have a Merry Christmas everyone! Remember to keep on learning to live in the moment. Each day is a gift and we should use it wisely!

It looks a lot like...

When you think about it, it does seem a bit quirky that so many people participate in this religious holiday called Christmas. In the ever consuming behavior of playing it safe, many are afraid to wish someone a "Merry Christmas" as it seems to have become un-PC. It didn't seem to matter for so many decades, but for some reason it seems to have become vogue to purposefully not make any refernences to the fact that it is a Christian celebration. Give me a break! Can you imagine listening to all those Christmas songs that are played everywhere? Insert the word "holiday" for each time the word is "Christmas". Cue in Bing's crooning voice with, "It's beginning to look a lot like holiday...".

Hmmmmm....it doesn't work, does it? Here's another one: "Oh holiday tree, oh holiday tree..." Or, "Holiday time is coming soon, now you dear old man (Jolly Old St. Nickolas). Oh yeah, and don't forget that Santa really represents a saint!

Gads! It's absurd!

Anyway, glad tidings to all of you out there. For those of you who celebrate Christmas, may you find joy in the celebration of this season of light. And may all of you find this next year full of blessings beyond your wildest dreams...

And remember, "Holiday" really means "Holy Day"! Ho, ho, ho, Happy Holiday! ; )

Giving

This week's IMT prompt is the spirit of giving. I've been a mail art participant on again, off again for at least a decade. I love sending it, I love getting it. Of friend of mine Judith, recently commented that she has discovered the thrill of mail art and that reminded me to get back in the loop on that one again. This image is a 4 x 6 canvas postcard. I gessoed it with gold, then experimented with melting metallic crayons on it. I hated the way it looked and set it aside for many months. Then, with the recent motive for creating mail art, I rediscovered the abandoned canvas and decided to continue on. I added some transfers done on fabric pattern paper of the rose bud and leaves. The rest of the tidbits literally came off of the top of my desk (a pack rats paradise indeed). Acrylic paint was added, some walnut ink, and some glitter. I tried out Martha Stewart's decoupage medium which is absolutely fabulous! I got it at Michael's Craft Store. I may never go back to Modge Podge again! So, this peice will be going off in the mail to __________ (an unnamed person in case she reads this blog!). This spirit of giving thing is a bit of a paradox for me because I think I get more out of the giving than the recipient!

Breathing Mindfully

Around 8 a.m. on most Sunday monrnings, you'll find me in my yoga class at the nearby gym. Yoga had been on my "to do" list for a good part of my life, but it wasn't until four years ago that I was able to make that happen. It's the perfect day of the week and time for me to take yoga as I am not one to luxuriate in bed on any given day. Both my boys are in bed sleeping when I leave and just barely getting up when I return. I love my class; it is gentle yet it strengthens me. It clears my channels. It centers me. It teaches me to listen to my body. Most of all, I learn how to breathe. Doesn't it sound odd, this learning how to breathe? If your'e not a yoga practitioner, you're probably saying to yourself that if we're alive, we know how to breathe. In yoga, we learn how to breathe mindfully and without effort. There are eight limbs (or, segments, if you will) to yoga and this breathing part is referred to as the pranayama. For Hawaiians, this breath is called, "ha". If you say that word with the "h" coming from the bottom of your diaphram, it becomes a breath. There are many different ways to breathe mindfully. And yes, this mindful breathing DOES relax you. Heave a heavy sigh. Notice how you feel during that sigh? A bit of calm? Most of us have had a crying jag (or two or more) in our lives where you cry so hard that your breath pattern changes and you find yourself taking in several breaths before one is let out (sorta like a rapid fire sniffing). If you were to try that out right now, notice how it makes you feel. Alright, before you start squirming too much from this mind-body-spirit mumbo jumbo, I'll leave you with a link to Hawaiian Proverbs. They post a new proverb each week and over time, these proverbs will give you a great insight to what the Hawaiian Way is. One last thing: heave another heavy sigh. Now, doesn't that feel good?

IMT Ice Tree

This week's Inspire Me Thursday's prompt is ice. A week ago, it felt like fall weather, so it was hard to imagine ice. Now, our winter storms are finally coming through. This was a photo of a tree out in our front yard from many years ago. The storm was windy, wet and cold. Instead of snow, we got ice. It was shot on print film and the film speed was too slow for the low light condition, butI scanned it in a few years later and played around with it and this is what I ended up with.

White

Tomorrow is our trade day for the Albuquerque ATC Group. The suggested theme for December was, "White". How fun is that (ooo, shades of Rachel Ray)? I made 24 of these and no two are alike. They involve recylcing postcards from a previous mailout, white paper with different embellishments done to them (from the scrapbookers section of the store) and things that I had papercast a few years back that was waiting for just the right project to come along. Some of the castings were done from stamps, a candy mold, and some were contrived from laces and sewing notions. I painted them irridescent white. A few of them have tiny crystals glued to them. That being said, though, these were made from things that I already had in stock, in trying to keep with my resolution to use what I have. Now I have Bing Crosby's rendition of "White Christmas" floating around in my head! Aiyee!!

Tagged...

Tagged… OK, Leighanna tagged me, so I’m rising to the occasion. Listing 8 things of anything is going to require some thought and commitment. For me, the process of thinking it out is a fluid one, so think of what I list here as a snapshot of how I feel about these things today. It’s a work in progress! 8 Passions in my life: My family Dance Visual Art Gardening Cooking Dining on food that is scrumptous Where I grew up (Molokai) Learning 8 Things to do before I die: Go to Oaxaca (at least once!) Visit all (or at least most) of the wine regions in Europe! Visit other parts of Polynesia I still want to learn hip hop… Take a fabulous trip somewhere with just my sister Take my brother Robert with me to visit France (Chartres Cathedral) See at least 10 major art museums in the world Take at least one major art workshop a year 8 things I often say: Babies won't die if you don't... Really? You don't say? Blah, blah, blah ,blah, blah, yada, yada, yada Interestingly enough... Talk about a disconnect... Is that so? I don't think so! (8a) No, John. I said, no!! (8b) (this one is in reference to my teenage son) 8 books I’ve read recently: The Secret of Rusty Things Photoshop CS2 Wow! Sacred Architecture Signs and Symbols Nikon D200 Digital Field Guide (now, isn’t that exciting?) Frieda’s Fiestas (for the umpteenth time) Spiritual Pilgrims 1,001 Symbols 8 Songs that mean something to me: Faure’s “Requiem” Durufle’s “Requiem” Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Pia Jesu” Beethoven’s 9th Symphony Everything written by Queen Liliokalani Everything done by “Izzy”; his musical arrangements are astounding, let alone his deliverance of instrumental and vocals “After Hours” by Rickie Lee Jones “Hallelujah” by Rufus Wainwright 8 Qualities I look for in a friend: Honesty A really good sense of humor (I welcome the warped and irreverent) Positive attitude Joy of life Connected to humanity, connected to self Compassion Creative Common grounds 8 people I will pass this on to: Leau Regina Laurie Judith Allison Chami Louise Raesha

Paradox

Inspire Me Thursday's challenge (yes, I know today is Monday, but it runs from Thrusday to Thursday!) is PARADOX.

The image of the monarch is a symbol of life, more so, of transformation and the afterlife or rebirth. It's really one of the most abstract concepts to wrap your head around, this belief of life after death...that in itself seems like a paradox. In looking at this monarch, you see what it represents because its sybolism is so universally prevalent. But, this one is a dead one. Yet, I still see what it represents as a symbol. That is my paradox.

Interestingly enough, in researching this as a symbol, I also discovered that "mariposa" (the Spanish word for butterfly in Latin America) is also a reference to a prostitute; moving from one man to another. Interesting...gads! We have a very high end art gallery in town named, "Mariposa". I wonder if they know?

My second image and paradox I put forth is a close up of what I know to be 'slag glass'. Big chunks of glass that seem to have a life of thier own. It is hard to believe that even in the state that we see it that it is not truly in a solid state. I like to think of it as liquid glass. The science jury is still out on the fence on this one, but how else does a window pane get thicker over time at the bottom? Yep. Solid glass. That's a paradox.