The Rule Of Three

Bedroom in Arles
Vincent van Gogh
1888

The other day I did something I have always wanted to do, and I enrolled in an oil painting class.  Mostly, I wanted to learn about composition because I am not very good at it, and I learned more in one lesson than I knew was possible.  I love drawing and painting, but I'm not very adept at composing a picture.  My objects always end up sort of crooked.  I was chatting with the art teacher about this, and he showed me several examples of artists who were wonderful painters, but were not really skilled at drawing.  In this painting by Van Gogh, several of the objects are crooked -- look at the pictures on the walls.  Van Gogh actually did three versions of this painting. This one is in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, another is in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, and the third is in the Art Institute in Chicago. In each painting, the composition is identical, but the colors are different. But the overall painting is wonderful.  The red blanket in the centre of the painting draws your eye in, and then you start to look around the room.  It doesn't matter that the floorboards are not parallel, the pictures are hung at an impossible angle, or that the chair by the door seems to be resting on a sloping floor. In Van Gogh's own words in a letter to his brother, he had this to say about this painting, Well, I have thought that on watching the composition we stop thinking and imagining.  My art teacher explained to me that some of the most perfect paintings are also the most boring, completely lacking in energy. 

The Starry Night
Vincent van Gogh
1889

Of course, I will never be a painter like Van Gogh -- goodness -- but I am learning a few tricks that he employed to make up a good composition -- such as the rule of three, which is dividing a canvas into three sections. You can see that in this painting here.  There are also three things a painter should have in order to create a work of art: tecnique, talent and creativity. Of the three, creativity is the one thing that separates a painter from an artist. I'm not sure I have it, but I guess I will find out soon enough.  Next week we begin to compose and paint an actual painting.

Watch this space...

World Rivers Day -- The Somass River

When I was a child, some of my first and happiest memories were of my father teaching me to swim in the Somass River in Port Alberni. I loved the river, the smell of the river and the way the branches of the trees dangled in the water like lazy fingers.  My father first taught me to dog paddle, and then to do what was called the Australian Crawl.  But my favorite thing was just to drift on an inner tube and listen to the sound of the water.

Our favourite spot on the river was a place called River Road Park, where my father and I used to go on Sunday afternoons in the summer. My mother would pack a picnic lunch of lettuce and tomato sandwiches, potato and egg salad, and fruit, and my father and I would get orange crush and ice cream from the store across the road from the park.  After we ate our lunch we would sit on the grass on the banks of the river, and spend long, lazy afternoons discussing all the deep, philosophical things a four year-old can discuss only with her father -- like, why do men have whiskers and ladies don't...

I particularly love rivers, and there is a rivers' conservationist here in British Columbia, Mark Angelo,  who started BC Rivers Day in 1980 as a way to bring awareness to the fragility of rivers.  The event has grown, and now the last Sunday of every September is World Rivers Day, which has been endorsed by the United Nations.

Established in 2005, World Rivers Day is part of the United Nations Water For Life Decade and the the International Network on Water, Environment, and Health.

These are all pictures of the beautiful Somass River in Port Alberni.  When I go home to Port Alberni, the first place I go is to the river.  For me, it's a living thing, an entity that is an important part of my life.  Each river has its own spirit.  Rivers and lakes are what nourish us and keep us alive.  We owe it to them to keep them alive as well, not just on World Rivers Day, but every day.

Mind Your Manners...!

When I was a little girl, my parents spent a good deal of their time teaching my brothers and me how to behave in an acceptable manner in public, and specifically to have good manners towards other people. There were certain rules and regulations that one followed in polite society. Expelling of bodily fluids and noises was to be done in private, "please" and "thank you" were de rigueur, as were good table manners.  High on the list of etiquette was never to interrupt a private conversation.  E-v-e-r.

Yesterday at the end of the day, a colleague and I were having a conversation about our weekend plans. Both my friend and I like to draw and paint, and we were discussing which media we like to use best, how relaxing it is to utilize the creative part of our brains ~~ just the usual chit-chat and blah-blah-blah. Suddenly a third person barged into the conversation, elbowed me out of the way, and changed the topic completely. Both my friend and I were a bit taken aback by the abruptness of the "buttinski", but I withdrew, and my friend politely engaged in conversation with the intruder. The conversation lasted for quite a while. Afterwards my friend said to me, "That was strange, but I have noticed that happens quite a lot around here. People just barge into conversations and take over..." And it's true, I have noticed it happens more often than not. Have these folks forgotten their manners, or were they never taught?

We have all experienced the awkwardness of being at a party, and trying to include ourselves into groups of conversations.  Do we hold back and look like a wall-flower?  Or do we walk right up to a group, smile, and start chatting?  That first step can be nerve-wracking, and for some folks there is no easy way to do it.  But barging into a conversation between two people, elbowing one person out of the way and taking over the conversation with an entirely new subject is just boorish.  My mother and father would definitely have a chat with her.  "Mind your manners...!"

Space Junk ... Alien Beings Not Welcome...!

When we see the iconic photograph of our beautiful planet earth, this is not the view we imagine, is it?  These pictures are images of space junk that is currently being tracked orbiting earth.

According to Nasa, approximately 95% of the objects in these pictures illustrate orbital debris, not functional satellites.

The dots represent the current location of each item.  Can you count them?

These images provide a good visualization of where the greatest orbital debris areas exist.

Even if alien beings from other planets wished to visit us, would they really want to risk flying through the space junk?  They would take one look at our planet and head for home.

To Veg Or Not To Veg ... That Is The Question

Still Life with Mediterranean Fruit
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
1911

Lately I have been toying with the idea of becoming a vegetarian.  Well, let me rephrase that.  I have been thinking of making vegetables the main focus of my meals, and continuing to eat some chicken and fish as well, but in small portions.  And as much as I love a well-cooked steak or roast of lamb ... sorry ... I have not eaten red meat for a while.  I'm not opposed to eating meat, and I'm not a member of PETA, I just find when I eat red meat it seems to slow me down somewhat.  When I eat vegetables I feel energized.  Maybe that's the deal with the Energizer Bunny -- he eats his carrots.

There is some evidence to support the fact that people who eat a lot of vegetables feel better, they sleep better, they have more energy and they have lower blood cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure.  Well, that can't be all bad, can it?  My favorite TV snack is brussel sprouts.  When I was a little girl, every year I looked forward to Christmas -- not just for the tree, or the Christmas presents, or all the other wonderful things at Christmas, but specifically because we would have brussel sprouts with our turkey dinner.  That, to me, was the highlight of Christmas.  I had no idea folks could eat brussel sprouts at any other time of the year.  That delicious little cabbage could be mine, any time I wanted.  Who knew...!  You can keep your popcorn or potato chips, thank you.  I'll have my brussel sprouts.

So -- if there are any vegetarians out there who have some good recipes for veggies as main dishes, I would love to read them.

Happy Birthday, Russell...!

I love celebrating people's birthdays. It's one of my favorite things to do. Each person has one special day a year, and today it's my friend Russell's birthday. Here is something I read about people born on September 22nd. Virgos born on September 22 have a powerful personality. Although they may be drawn to scholarly pursuits, they almost always find themselves in demand to fulfill more worldly aims. They are brainy and can deflate the pomposity of others. They have a stylish, even elegant, appearance. September 22 people are often drawn to social or political activism. They are unfailingly attracted to a crisis atmosphere and may seek out careers that put them in dangerous circumstances. They like to live on the edge.

Perhaps they also like birthday cake.

I know Bailey likes birthday cake.

Happy Birthday, Russell...!

Word Verification ... Arrrggghhh...!

Word verification is absolutely the bane of my existence.  I'm sure a lot of people wonder why I don't post comments on their blogs, when in fact I have posted comments, only to find out days later that the comment did not post. If your blog has one of those comment boxes where folks have to scroll down to comment, and then they are required to type in a word verification ... the comment box flips back up to the top.  So, if people don't scroll back down -- yet again -- to see if they typed the word verification correctly, they often won't see that their brilliant, witty, sophisticated comment did not post.

Argh...!

Having a blog is very much like inviting people to visit your home. I think the purpose is to make it as inviting as possible. In my humble opinion -- and I could be wrong, as I often am -- having word verification is like having a welcome mat that says "Stay away..." And don't even get me started on comment moderation. Even CNN, New York Times, Huffington Post, etc., don't have comment moderation anymore.  If someone posts a comment you don't like, just hit "delete".  You can even hit "delete forever".  Fortunately, here on my boring-little-blog I haven't had to do that.  But often if I post a comment on a blog that has comment moderation, I don't remember to check back to see my comment was actually posted.

I don't always have time to respond to comments on my blog, but I love reading all of them, and I will often go back and read them more than once.  You guys are a hoot...!  However, I do like to reciprocate by visiting your blogs and posting a comment there.  If you absolutely don't need to use word @#%^*#! verification -- please turn it off.

Hantk Uyo  :-)

Skellig The Angel

This is not normally the image that comes to mind when one thinks of angels, is it? But in my opinion this is probably closer to what angels really look like than what we imagine. If angels were to walk amongst us, they would have to be visible and yet indiscernible all at the same time. I have had encounters with angels, and they are not creatures with radiant bodies and shimmering wings. They are more like rough-hewn diamonds and their beauty and strength is from within.  I once had an angel tap me on the shoulder when a woman next to me was dying, and I was able to save the woman's life.  Angels don't fool around.

Recently I watched a movie called Skellig the Owl Man, taken from the children's book Skellig, by David Almond, and I think it is one of the most wonderful movies I have ever seen. Skellig is definitely not a conventional angel. At first he is mistaken as a homeless man.  He craves Chinese food, beer and aspirin.  He is crotchety, unkempt, arthritic, and he just wants to be left alone to live in the garden shed. But as the eyes are the windows of the soul, Skellig's power, kindness and love becomes evident through his eyes.

The movie is not a religious movie, but rather a spiritual one.  There are references to evolution in a spiritual context, and also references to the poet William Blake, who had unconventional ideas about spirituality.  Personally, I have never been a fan of organized religion, because often the proponents of organized religion are also judgmental, and I have been on the receiving end of that judgment.  Organized religion and real spirituality seem to be moving farther apart all the time, but I believe spirituality is all around us if we open our eyes to see it.  Skellig the Owl Man is a perfect movie for kids, to teach them to look for spirituality everywhere and in everyone -- even in themselves.

In Praise Of Women Of All Ages...

Woman with a mirror (Femme qui se mire)
Frederick Carl Frieseke
1911

A few years ago Andy Rooney did a piece on 60 Minutes regarding women over 50.  I just recently discovered it, and I thought I would share it with you.  I chuckled when I read it.  Here in Andy Rooney's own words...

~~~~~~~

As I grow in age, I value women who are over 50 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

* A woman over 50 will not lie next to you in bed and ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.

* If a woman over 50 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting.

* A woman over 50 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of 50 give a damn what you might think about her or what she's doing.

* Women over 50 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.

* Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

* A woman over 50 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women.

* Women over 50 could care less if you're attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her.

* Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 50. They always know.

* A woman over 50 looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women or drag queens. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 50 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

* Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one! You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

* Yes, we praise women over 50 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 50+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 18-year-old waitress.

* Ladies, I apologize. For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free." Here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig, just to get a little sausage......

Happy Birthday, Mac...!

Today is Mac's birthday, and this is her in one of my mother's many Halloween costumes.  In this picture Mac looks as if she's saying "What is this getup you've gotten me into?  Do I have to wear it?  It's scratchy..."  My mother used to love making Halloween costumes, and Mac has inherited that talent as well, along with many of my mother's talents, including her intelligence.  Some people are born with a big personality, and both Mac and my mother have that in common, along with their sense of humour.  When Mac was about 15, she had a friend who also had a larger-than-life personality.  One night I was out for a few hours, and as I was coming home from my evening out, I could hear Mac and her friend laughing from two blocks away.  Laughter like that is a gift, and fortunately both Mac's children have that gift of laughter too.

Mac is one of those unique people who does not realize she is unique, but my mother recognized that she was, and so did our Shaughnessy matron friend Janey.  And a few people, including Mac's cousin and a couple of her friends, have told me that they were inspired by Mac to go back to school to get their university degrees because they admired her success.  Of course, Mac would never believe that if you told her. Oh, and come to think of it, I think there may be one other person she has inspired to go back to school too.

When Mac was about nine months old, my friends used to come over to visit, but it wasn't me they were visiting, it was Mac.  At that age Mac was already walking, and she used to have long, animated, philosophical conversations with the walls.  She had learned to imitate perfectly the vocal expressions and gestures of adults.  She would ask the wall a question, and wait patiently, listening thoughtfully while it answered, and then she would come back with a lengthy retort, complete with head and hand gestures.  It was hysterical, and I could have charged admission to all my friends who came over to watch.  My friend Andrea still laughs about it whenever she and I get together.

Always keep laughing and having fun...  Life is not meant to be taken too seriously, but to be enjoyed.

Happy Birthday, Mac...!