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Showing posts from January, 2017

Digital Abstracts

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On those rare occasions that I paint these days, I'm drawn to abstraction. (Notice I didn't say I drive myself to distraction.) There's something about the power of color and form and line  that has a purity  that's somehow diminished by introducing representation into the mix, at least to my way of thinking. I've been drawn to creating abstract pieces on Polyvore lately, as well. Here's one such piece. I called it wait for it. . . . You are Art. I hate being predictable. More to Follow.

No Going Back

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There comes a tipping point for every individual when they've committed themselves to speaking out to doing what makes them a little fearful to shining their divine light into the darkness of complacency or ignorance or willful blindness and there's no going back to the safety of the cocoon.

More Art Journaling

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I bought Rebecca Solnit's book Men Explain Things to Me for my Kindle. That little digital marvel is making the time I spend  on the Octane exercise bike go faster. Not very far into it, but I know what she means. Too many men feel compelled to explain things to women (us poor addled creatures that don't know nuthin) even when they don't have the foggiest idea of what they speak and we may be experts on the topic. Did I mention I rarely date?

Roses

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At Judkins Park during the pre-March rally, there was a young man with cloth bags full of long-stemmed roses of all colors, some even multicolored. He was offering them to people who went by. Most declined. Not all. Some carried these little works of beauty with them. Don't know who he was, but thanks. It was one of the moments of delight I experienced. And that's no small thing. Narya Marcille poster, available on etsy. Just search for the Women's March poster. I just bought one.

The Day After the Women's March

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The Women's March in Seattle. January 21, 2017. On a beautiful January day in the Puget Sound region. People inspired to work for change  on issues near and dear to their hearts. People willing to be the change they want to see in the world. People who believe in compassion, inclusion, stewardship of the earth, that black lives have often not mattered as much as they should in this society, that health care access and affordable care are essential in modern society, that different doesn't mean diminished value, that love between two adult people should be honored and their marriage legal even if they aren't a traditional heterosexual couple, that diversity strengthens our country because it offers new perspectives and ideas. No every marcher subscribed to every opinion expressed. But there was room in the protest tent for expression, honoring the person even if not agreeing with the message. S

Recipe for Creating Change

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I'm supporting the Women's March for Change in D.C. and cities around the country. I think it makes the good old boys nervous to see women who are angry and saying no to power. But marching isn't enough. It may have put pressure on the US government to end the war in Southeast Asia decades ago (that, plus the fact that by the mid-sixties almost everyone in the country had a television set tuned to the nightly news showing reporters embedded with troops and presenting a less rosy picture than the official government blather). Times have changed in the intervening decades.  Spending a day marching isn't enough. The sophistication of Tea Party tactics must be co-opted and used to promote a different, inclusive agenda. One that says we won't put up with policies that promote the 1% and leave the rest of us adrift. What we need is targeted, effective action. Lots of it. Day in and day out. Not for f

Hippies, Peaceniks and Activists

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Access to health care is threatened. Social Security and Medicare are under attack. Whether or not you voted for Mr. Trump or not, these issues affect you or someone you love. . .  a parent or grandparent,  a college graduate who hasn't found a job. Someone with a pre-existing condition who will be uninsurable, like before "Obamacare." Like someone who's had a catastrophic health crisis and has incurred equivalent medical costs so they've max-ed out their lifetime limit. . .  which the Affordable Care Act did away with. You may worry about climate change and the obliteration of species after species and the climate change deniers who are now holding the reins of power. You may be adamant about protecting water, banning GMO's, taxpayer-funded corporate handouts, the plight of the homeless. The dismal state of education. The cost of college tuition. You may be non-white, or non-straight, or not native bo

Haiku My Heart: Pomegranate

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Haiku My Heart a pomegranate symbol of fertility bursting with ripe seeds

Of Course

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Art Journaling # 7

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When I created this piece last night and wrote "into every life a little rain must fall" I was thinking metaphorically. Little did I know that when I went to the mailbox this morning to retrieve the books that I'd ordered I'd be totally soaked from driving rain. Dripping! Drenched! Took a half hour of dryer time  to correct the situation -- coat and shoes both. But hey I still stand by the claim that Love is the Only Rule.

More Post Secrets: Cautionary Tale

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Sometimes we can only learn the hard way. We ignore red flags. We minimize stinging comments and say "He/she didn't really mean it." But guess what. Being alone isn't so bad,  as long as you don't take up where that other person left off in the emotional abuse department.

More Art Journaling

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You may feel lost because of the state of U.S. politics and all the chaos and confusion. Don't worry. There's plenty of inspiration. Your story isn't over yet.

Detours

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We all find ourselves confronted from time to time by detours in our life. We think things will happen one way, but reality is something else altogether. So we're off down an unfamiliar road, griping about what isn't as much as what is because we were really attached (and still are) to the outcome we imagined. Learning to love what is seems like one of the hardest things a grown-up has to master. . . . but it's all a matter of realizing that  you can't believe everything you think.

Haiku My Heart: Venice

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Haiku My Heart gondolas rocking vaparetto passing by Venice awakens

Up, Up and Away

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Have you ever been up, up, and away in a beautiful balloon? Once long ago in a galaxy far, far away my spouse arranged a hot air balloon ride and champagne picnic afterwards. The couple that went with us --  a business client and his wife -- we kind enough to not tell us that they'd been on a hot air balloon excursion previously and that they'd crash landed. We touched down with only a jolt or two and the chase car was waiting  to transport us to our feast. Somewhere in my memory box there's a small photo album to commemorate that birthday. That spouse is now planning parties for wife # 3. That's my story.

Follow Your Heart

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As for "Just Give Me Time and I'll Get Over You," yes, and no. Getting over someone who blew your little heart to bits isn't just a matter of time, it's a matter of forgiveness. Not because he or she deserves it, but because you do. And you deserve to forgive yourself, too. For loving someone that cheated, or took advantage, or walked away. Consider it exercising your heart muscles and find someone who deserves the love you have to give abundantly. As for  "Follow Your Heart," well. . . . that should go without saying. Use your brain, your powers of thought, to figure out how to move yourself to where your heart beckons. I have a special mug with the phrase "Listen to your heart" written on the inside lip, so I see it when I sip my morning cuppa chai. It's a replacement mug, as someone accidentally broke the first. It was out of production when that happened and it to

Who Else?

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Authenticity. The art of being who you are, without comparison.

The Best is Yet to Come

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This phrase "The Best is Yet to Come" generally matches my optimistic nature. Even when some event in my life stuns me or chaos beckons, it's comforting to think that there's some great good waiting just over the horizon, if only I keep moving forward. With some of the things happening in  our Nation's capital, like the de-funding of Planned Parenthood even though no federal funds are used for abortions and haven't been for quite some time, the effort to repeal Obamacare -- a law that's been highly successful in many dimensions even though I personally don't think it went far enough -- without providing an alternative plan, and documented election interference from a government that holds ill will towards our country. . .  Well, I'm not sure I can muster up any optimism at all, at least as far as the next four years. And then there are the tweets  from a thin-skinned child-m

Change of Pace

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I've posted a few consecutive Secrets, some real, some not-far-from-truth, but I thought I'd go for a change of pace. One thing I can do while playing at Polyvore.com is create an art journal spread in no time flat. No waiting for watercolors to dry, or glue to stick, or fussing over drawing and calligraphy. See what I mean?

Haiku My Heart: Sculpture

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To join in the fun  or appreciate the offerings, Haiku My Heart a tight formation silver-winged aviators reflect pink sunset

Post Secrets: Laundry

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Actually, I still do. Not the sorting and washing and drying part. The folding and putting away part. Where is automation when you need it? But I am amused by women who claim that the vibration of the spin cycle excites them. I guess you need to take pleasure where you find it.

Post Secrets: Alas

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Maybe that's why men seem to be allergic to me.

Post Secrets: Domestic Goddess

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Too much time on my hands.

Post Secrets: Legend

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If the shoe fits. . . . 

2017 Word

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My word for 2017 is MIRACLE. Work with the Divine to co-create miracles. Look for them everywhere.