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"I took a breath and listened to the old bray of my heart. I am, I am, I am."
-Sylvia Plath
While visiting at my friend Suzanne's blog this week, "Suzanne R's Life," I found this little meme/game. You know much I enjoy a good meme/game so I thought I would give it a whirl. Here's what you do. Hop on over to Google search, put in your name, followed by the word, "needs." Then, take the first ten sentences that make sense, and write them in your journal/blog. LOL. It was so much fun, it had me laughing in no time. Here's mine...
1. Carly needs to go on vacation.
(This was a reference to carly Fiorina, formerly of Hewlett Packard)
2. Carly needs to be institutionalized. Ric tells Sonny. (In reference to Carly Corinthos, a character on General Hospital.)
3. Carly needs professional help. (Carly Corinthos)
4. Carly needs to be locked up and the key thrown away! (Carly Corinthos)
5. Carly needs someone to turn to when she has problems, and Jack is just the person to help her because deep down, in his heart, he still loves her. (Who the heck is Jack?) LOL.
6. Carly needs to be on her own for a while. (Finally, a Carly from a different soap opera, As The World Turns)
7. Carly needs to meet someone special. (An ad from the San Francisco classifieds)
8. Carly needs to stop screwing up her life. (Carly Corinthos)
9. Carly belongs with Sonny. (I don't know, she's good with Jax also) LOL.
10. Carly needs to be in Port Charles. (Carly Corinthos) LOL.
Well, it seems my first name is most often related to one soap character or another, lol, I suppose I should be glad that it isn't most often linked back to folks who think I am the worst person on the Internet. LOL. Or someone who thinks I am an awful writer or photographer. LOL. And while my life has been a bit of a daytime drama in the past, things at the moment are blissfully normal. :) Now Carly Corinthos on the other hand has married to two different Mob bosses, switched the DNA on not just one, but two paternity results, seduced her stepfather, faked her own death, and was once kidnapped by not just one ,but two of Port Charles's bad guys...and lived to tell the tale with perfect hair! LOL. She's a blond, I'm a brunette, she is tall, I am short, she went nuts...and so did I. Hey, maybe life is a lot closer to fiction then we think. LOL. Tune into General Hospital, Monday thru Friday on ABC. :)
-OndineMonet
"Me v She"
Note: If you decide to play along, be sure to come back here and leave me a link to your entry! :) Be sure to go and read Suzanne's entry, which can be found here.
"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religious, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers."
-Dave Barry "Things That It Took Me 50 Years To Learn"
Weekend Assignment #115: You'll find an online highway sign generator here, Go there, write your own highway sign, and post it on your journal or Blog.
Extra Credit: What was the worst traffic jam you've ever been in?
-John Scalzi (By The Way...)
O00ppppps! There goes my wacky sense of humor again! Still, isn't it one of the great questions of the ages? Tee Hee ;)
-OndineMonet
"Art is much less important then life, but what a poor life without it."
-Jasper Johns
In May of 1984, a colorful and whimsical sculpture was dedicated to the town of Berkeley, by local artist, Joe Slusky. The artist titled the piece, "Calliope," and was commissioned by the City Of Berkeley's Department of Parks and Design. The sculpture was placed for display permanently at the Berkeley Marina, where it has weathered storms, sun, and the natural aging process. Over time however, the salt air had dulled her bright pastel colors, and her paint began to chip, but fast forward in time to 2004, that's when the Berkeley Public Art Maintenance Project, lovingly restored the time beaten Calliope to her original, joyful self. And what a lovely, inspiring sculpture she is.
Calliope is an 11 foot steel sculpture that took Slusky over two years to complete. Local art critics from around the Bay Area hailed the piece as eccentric, whimsical, and playful. The artist describes Calliope as "a fossilization of the imagination." I have to say, as I sat admiring her today, I simply couldn't get enough of her color and seemingly endless twists and turns. So many thoughts went through my mind as I gazed upon her.
Yellow, aqua blue, lavender, red and green, and all the emotions they evoke. I think the most important impression that I got from her, might have been how enthusiastic she was, and how positive she made me feel. Looking at her was like looking at a lovely cloud formation and seeing all the wonderful possibilities that life holds. Musical notes, arms outstretched with love, puzzlement, amusement, and just sheer joy. Calliope is a dazzling sculpture of fanciful energy, that is the perfect contrast to the quiescent nautical blues and whites of the marina.
Artist Joe Slusky's art is widely acclaimed and is displayed throughout California. He has taught art for many years in the Bay Area, and is now a lecturer in the Architecture department at the University of California, Berkeley.
-OndineMonet
"Calliope"
Berkeley Marina
Berkeley, California
June 7, 2005
Afternoon
"Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don't vote."
-George Nathan
I bet when you saw the title of this entry you thought I was going to write about the remake of the 1976, Richard Donner horror classic, "The Omen." Well, no, I was actually talking about the California primary. I went yesterday afternoon, (Tuesday) to my polling place, which looked more like a ghost town, then a place to make my social voice heard. And it had been that way all day. According to a recent Field poll, only one-in-four Californians or about 5 million, were planning to go to the polls, which makes it the worst turn-out since 1946.
As I mentioned in a previous entry, the campaign between the two top democrats seeking to challenge Gov. Schwarzenegger, Steve Westly and Phil Angelides, became more then a little heated. Lots of mud to be slung any way you looked at it, which apparently turned a lot of folks off to the whole prospect of taking time out of their day to vote. As disgusted as I felt myself getting over the dirty politics, it only strengthened my intentions to make it to the polls today. I saw one or two "Man on the Street" interviews throughout the day, and here is a small sampling of what folks told the reporters who asked them if they would be voting today...
"All the mud slinging put me off."
"The issues don't really affect me."
"I was put off to the political process back in 2004."
"I didn't have time."
"I don't care who runs against Schwarzenegger, I will figure it all out in November."
Sigh. I hear over and over about how we have our young women and men in Iraq to fight for our freedom, and democracy, yet only 5 million Californians could be bothered to get out and vote? Yes, the primary decided state issues, such as senatorial candidates, and propositions, but it all matters or none of it does. It doesn't matter what party you are affiliated with, we shouldn't be picking and choosing what freedoms we embrace. If we do, we risk losing all freedom. We already have less privacy then ever before, so I guess we all need to decide what we are willing to give up next, due to complacency and indifference. I will admit, it felt strange to cast my vote on 6-6-06, but on the other hand, I think given the projected low voter turn out, I am glad I decided to "Heed The Omen."
-OndineMonet
"Alameda County"
Berkeley, California
June 6, 2006
Afternoon
Update: Phil Angelides has been declared the winner in the primary, so tell me, will Arnold Schwarzenegger be re-elected in November or will Phil Angelides be voted in as the next governor of California? Tell me what you think.
"I read in the newspaper they are going to have 30 minutes of intellectual stuff on television every Monday from 7:30 to 8:00 to educate America. They couldn't educate America if they started at 6:30."
-Groucho Marx
Your Monday Photo Shoot: Take a picture of something that starts with an "M." From marshmallows to mucilage, it's all good.
-John Scalzi (By The Way...)
Here's my photo. This is an Apple MARTINI. I tried one a few years ago, and while for the most part I don't drink, I do enjoy the occasional libation. I have a fondness for apple juice, which is one ingredient, I really like the way it kinda tastes like a green apple Jolly Rancher. I love sweet/tangy drinks. So, that's my "M" for this assignment.
Apple MARTINI (Webtender )
1 part Vodka
1 part Sour Apple Schnapps
1 part Apple Juice
Monday Monday
By The Mamas and the Papas
Monday, ,Monday
So, good to me
Monday mornin, it was all I hoped it would be
Oh Monday mornin, Monday mornin couldn't guarantee
That Monday evening you would still be here with me...
Every other day, every other day,
every other day, every other day is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin all of the time
Monday, Monday
So good to me
Monday, Monday
Can't trust that day
Oh Monday, Monday
It's here to stay.
-OndineMonet
"Apple MARTINI"
Berkeley, California
June 5th, 2006
Evening
"Lets not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives, and we obey them without realizing it."
-Vincent Van Gogh
For me,it's the little moments of perfect timing with my camera, that can bring about whirlwind of emotions, especially when I am not sure what to think. You know those times...everyone has them...the moments when you feel like you are standing on the edge of something, but you aren't sure what. It can be about a job, a relationship, a social ideal, a religious contemplation. It's not about faltering, and it's not about fear of the unknown...it's about the challenges we face, when making up our minds. Especially when we would have sworn that our feelings, thoughts, ideals, and yes, emotions, were set in stone. Emotions always serve as a vivid reminder of how we can take things for granted. Sometimes, it's ourselves that we take for granted the most.
Our current Round Robin challenge seems particularly challenging for me this time around. The subject is, "Emotions," and was chosen by our friend Chris, author of the journal, "My Photographic Life." I am not sure why I am finding it so challenging, but I know it's a good thing that I do. It's good to push our own creativity, particularly with the camera, because it captures life in the moment. I know it was my camera that helped me come back to the land of the living, after spending three years in a walking death of Anhedonia. With each new photo I pushed myself to take, I saw more and more emotion returning to my life, and my existence. Those little moments, made me feel alive, and now I realize that when I add them all up, it totals up to happiness. As of this coming August, my Anhedonia will be in remission three years. My therapist tells me that there is a slim chance it could comeback, but she doesn't think it will. Frankly I don't think it will either, because if anything, I can see life a whole lot clearer then before I got sick. My camera saves me, and every moment captured in it's lens, represents a world of sweet emotion.
If you are feeling like you could use a little creative challenging, why don't you join us for the next Round Robin Challenge? The date for this challenge will be, Wednesday, June 14. As always you can post your entry any time between the midnights. Just pay a visit to the official Round Robin Challenge blog to find out all the details. We are always pleased to have a new Robin join us, just be sure to read the ***Welcome Entry & Rules Of Play*** Come on and join us for the fun, you know you want to! :)
-OndineMonet
"Monet's Moment"
Golden Gate Park
Japanese Tea Garden
San Francisco, California
May, 2005
Afternoon
"Have you ever observed a hummingbird moving about in an aerial dance among the flowers? A living prismatic gem... it is a creature of such fairy-like loveliness, as to mock all description."
-W. H. Hudson
While I was searching for the Woodstock sculptures around Santa Rosa Thursday, I saw some amazingly beautiful sights. The town was filled with all types of public art, not the least of which was nature itself. I saw so many hummingbirds that day, but I had given up on being able to photograph one because of how fast they dotted in and out of the flowers. Around 1:30, I decided to pause for lunch in Courthouse Square, and to my delight I was able to capture this hummingbird. She paused for a moment at this flower, turned to me just after I snapped the camera, smiled, and moved on her way. Ahhh...life with the camera and sweet serendipity.
The Hummingbird (Haiku)
By Carly Gordon
Here is the dreamer
Her dream transcends the darkness.
Her soul seeks the light.
-OndineMonet
"The Hummingbird"
Santa Rosa, California
June 1, 2006
Afternoon
"I took a breath and listened to the old bray of my heart. I am, I am, I am."
