Brief encounters with strangers

There is time where I encountered strangers for a brief moment.  Be it in a bus, in camping ground or on the street.  It was a brief moment in my life history.  They were brief and there was no other meeting.  They had an impact on my life.  My mind opened up a little more and I saw another way of thinking.  It is added to my life experience.  I wonder if I meet them more often, will it have the same meaning?  It is also amazing to meet them at least once.  How it came to be?  Mere chance or being at the right time at the right place?

Of course, I could have use those encounter in my writing.  I haven't done so.  Are they still alive?  Is this important to meet them again?  Will be a good thing to meet them again?  I don't think so.  That one meeting is special in itself.  Even if I would had liked having other meetings with those strangers, I feel it would loose the fascination I got during those moments.  I also have outgrown what I learned then.

Will I get some use from those meetings?  Maybe but it is not now.  There isn't any hurry in that.

The first step is the hardest

Proscratination is a big ugly word for many people.  I don't like it.  It sound like being lazy and pushing everything to later. It is not productive in this modern production driven mentality.  We should always be ready for the production mode, getthing things done in a robotic fashion and with volume of paper work filling the desk.  This is pretty depressing to think that we are at that point where we should be perfect and productive all the time and everywhere.

I decided to view proscratination in another way.  First, yes, I may use the word proscratinate but not all the time.  It happen when I have done nothing during the day.  I always have a few objectives for the day.  When I don't do any objectives, I have proscratinated very badly and it is where I should put some pressure to go and do them.  Secondly, I don't like to acknolwedge number one but I can recognize that the first step is the hardest to do.

Yes, It is the major point and the hardest one: sit down and do.  The starting point is the hardest to do.  After that, the motion is set.  I am in the big hamster wheel just after doing the first step.  Once the motion is on, it is hard to stop.  It is where I feel better: after breaking the ice.  Each person may have some strategy to get the switch on.  I don't think there is one better than the others.  We are individuals and we work on a personal level, so strategies must be on the personal level.  Trial and error along the way put some spice in knowing ourselves anyway.

No to proscratination but yes in finding a way to break the ice and set the wheel into motion!

At the crossover of myth and history

Recently, I have read Delphi from Michael Scott (https://www.amazon.ca/Delphi-History-Center-Ancient-World-ebook/dp/B00I5WOOB6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1495675931&sr=8-3&keywords=delphi).  Delphi is fascinating on a myth level.  After reading the book, I think it is also the case on the history level.  I knew, on the myth level, Delphi had a cult status. Think about the myth of Oedipus.  He visited Delphi and received the famous prophercy where he would kill his father and marry his mother.  The killing of his father was done nearby the city.  It is one myth among other that have a component set in Delphi.  Great men consulted Delphi like Croesus.  Croesus was very confident in his abilities and thought that the oracle of Delphi gave him the green light to invade Persia.  Instead, it was Croesus who got defeated.  I think it is the two most famous myths related to Delphi.  There are many others.  Be it mythis or with some truth behind it.

What I liked about Michael Scott's book, is that I learned more about the histroy of the city of Delphi.  I realized that I was very ignorant in that area.  I knew that the city existed for real and it was the center of Ancient Greek world.  Cities and important men gathered there.  It was the place to be at the time, even if they wanted the wosdom and oracle of the place.  I followed the news about the fumes of Delphi a few years ago.  There was a geologist that found a few clues that sustain the legend.  It is better explained in the book called The Oracle  by William J. Broad (https://www.amazon.ca/Oracle-Ancient-Delphi-Science-Secrets/dp/0143038591/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495677609&sr=8-1&keywords=the+oracle).  It is a fascinating idea how that geologist gathered his team to go a step further than his observations.  His observation was based on what he saw at Delphi.  The ones that completed his team added valid points to complete the picture.

Now, I know more about the city of Delphi.  More than mythology, more than the news.  I know a bit better the history.  I just want to know more about the history of the city.  Before, I only knew the history in vague terms.  Nothing precise.  It will be hard because there is a lot of myths that have mixed with the real history.  It can be hard to unbraid the two: mythological and historical.

Nice coincidence / Myth and famous Characters

How strange life work!  I just watched two videos that could be related on some level.  First there is Crash Course Mythology where they briefly talked about theories of Myth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blFaiB5kj6I).  I knew much of the people mentioned in the video (Freud, Jund, Campbell, Claude Levi-Strauss, Mircea Eliade).  I knew them at least by name with a bit of their theories.  I didn't study them in full details.  I know about them because they are part of popular culture,. well popular in the circle of mythology culture.  I learned a bit more about theories of myth.  I realized that I would had liked to have a class on mythology and it's theories, something that goes more in dept like Crash Course Mythology.  It is great there are place where we can dig further more on mythology.

After that nice wanting to know more video, I stumble on Dracula (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uiyz3139tE), How did Dracula become the world's most famous vampire, to be exact.  How does it relate to myth?  Well, Dracula and vampires are very modern myth.  Some people are even obsessed with vampires.  On a personal level, Dracula is a very interesting character that have a nice aura of mystery.  I have read Bram Stoker's Dracula.  I have seen many movies too.  With the video, I learned a few details that I didn't knew about Dracula.  Like the stage play that was at the origin of the movie with Bella Lugosi,  I didn't knew he made both.  I knew about Nosferatu but I didn't knew that the production had been ruined.

Dracula have a rich history.  Be it the mortal man or be it the vampire, he have a place in our collective consciousness.  The story behind Dracula can be liked with the theories of myth.  I am sure that characters like Dracula are studied and dissected.  The story of him becoming a character in popular culture deserved to be studied too.  In both cases, it help us better understand how a character or a myth work, how they can evolve and how it can become an obsession.  A lot can be learned in both cases.  This is why I want to learn more about myth and characters like Dracula.

It is though to be a creative artist

Art is perceived in a schisophenic way.  On one side, we see the artist as famous, wealthy, socialite, well connected, admired, well percived and not seeing the creative side of him.  On the other side, there is the vision of the artist as poor, meeting fame after dying, having problems getting a hand on his material and working a lot on hins canvas.  No nuance in this opposite view of a creative artist.  I wonder how those two views could exist side by side without friction.  It is a dark and sunny side.

The more negative side of the artist influence some people.  Those people don't see getting in the art field as a profession.  It is sad because it shot up a door, for them or for their entourage.  On the more sunny side, we can get the impression that the artist doesn't work hard.  We don't always see the work the artist have done to get where he is.  It can easily get the impression that the artist doesn't work at all or that he doesn't merit his fame status.  He seems to have the inspiration at his fingertips.

On a personal level, I wish there would be a more healthy vision of the art, the artist and the creative process.  It is as many things in life: it is a continuum where sometimes, it takes hard work and thinking a lot to getting ideas flowing like a fountain.  It is compliated and I find it better balance to have a more real vision of the artist life.

Stairway up!

I found a secret and unused stairway.  I like thing that are unused.  It give me the urge to use them and become familiar with that area.  Well, I thook a photos of that stairway:

It turn after a few steps.  It link two floor but it is unused.  It could be used as a shortcut to go upstair.  It is a shame it is not used.  For sure, I would like to be there and write or do some paperwork.  It is a bit sad it is unused in any way.  I like that place.  It would be a good place to go to keep hidden.

The ugly trees saga

I start to see that trees creative influencing me have an unexpected turn.  I have found two ugly trees.  I have spoke a bit about them las summer.  Then, I kind of forgot about them.  Not long ago, with the right angle, I saw one of the tree in another light.  I started to saw an utility for that tree.  It could be sculped into the body of a pregnant woman.  I took the photo where we can see the body, from neck to legs:

The belly is leveled with the top of the door.  The legs are just below the belly.  There the breast just above the belly.  Yup, my eyes are seeing it..I also have found a use for that tree.  Maybe it will lead to something in the future.  It would be fun to see the end result in a gallery.

Of Fabric and Paint

 

The photos above are the result of paint that can be used on fabrics, in this case, t-shirts.  It was interesting.  I think it was a winner with children.  For me, it was more interesting to use to decorate baseball cap.  At least, I have tried it on a t-shrit too.  It is just that next time, I will think a bit more on what drawing I put on a shirt.  Going abstract could be an alternative too.

Quickly done earring

I found, shown above, concoments that would be perfect as earring.  It was also a quick project.  Here rare the results:

I should start to tkink about more complicated projects.  The earrings shown above are the kind of earring I like to make.  Nothing fancy, quickly done and I would like to see them as eleragant.  I should also do earring that are a bit more tribal, with natural elements like feathers.  I would like to add some dept to them.  Everyones can do what I am doing.  I should add my personal touch.  There is none in what I just made.  Time to go back in the drawing board.

Curiosity

What are behind closed door?

I am curious.  I always wonder what are behind closed door.  I am even more curious when there are no windows.  I wonder if it goes to other part of the building.  Is it used?  Is it always closed?  It is a strange place to put a door.

It is not the only place where I am curious about.  This door is not the only place I wonder about.  I would like to explore what is behind that door.  There are also whole area where I would like to go and look around.  It is the curiosity and the new.  Being in a new place is a new experience.  Nothing is totally familiar.  The fourniture can be familiar.  A chair is a chair, a desk is a desk.  It is not where I live.  It is not where I work.  I may be there for the first time.

It is human nature I guess.  It is also good to wonder about thing.  Maybe it will get the source of inspiration for a story one day.

Fabric's paint

I just tried paint that can be put on fabric. Here is the results:

For the last photo, I have added red circles around the black spots and green as leaves and stems.

Always read the labels!

I made a mistake.  The worst: it took me a few days to realise my mistake.  A few days ago, I planned to do some tye dye.  I also wanted to try some fabric's paints.  So, I bought all the material that I needed.  Among them was some white t-shirt.  I didn't really read closely the labels.  I only stopped at the right size.  Today, I remouved the labels and it is where I found my error: I took children's t-shirts!  Not adult ones!  It's the adult ones that I needed.  It is not a good feeling at all.

Now, I will have to go  back to the store and buy some adult white t-shirt.  For sure, I will be more vigilent and careful in buying the t-shirt.  It is a bit vexing to have to go back to the store for that.  On the other hand, I won't return the children's sized t-shirt.  It won't be waisted.  Children are in the house.  In addition, they will also have the chance to try the fabric paint: there is plenty for my project and for them.  Everybody will be happy and no waiste.

I am lucky in my mistake.  I can make a crafty u-turn and make up something useful with the extra unexpected items.  In the case that there was no children in the house, I would had experiment on the children's t-shirt and give them to some children.  It is a lesson learned on the hard way and I don't think I will forget it in the long run.  I am lucky in my absent-minded mistake.  Now, I can't wait to try with new possibilities!

Mythology in Modernity

Watching the latest instalement of crash course mythology, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyU54gV_PWM&t=600s), it solidified what I was thinking on mythology.  Mythology could and is relevant in today world.  The topic of the crash course mythology is on Norse Mythology.  I had always view Norse mythology as an big party that have a epic ending. Worthy of an opera.  Norse Mythology is a bit like college life.  Party, classes, field work, study, getting witty along the way and reapeat.  Norse gods seems to have a live in the present vision.  It can be seens as carelesness but I see it more as getting all life offer before the big apocaliptic end.

It also lead me to think that many ancient mythology gods and goddesses can be linked with modern life.  It can be people that are perfect unknown.  It can be easy link like Zeus and some presidents of the U.S.  Mercury with tech people or travel agents, Hephaïstus and metalsmiths, Aphrodite with Paris Hilton or the Kardashian.  I am surprised that he LGBT community haven't reclaimed Dionysus as their own patron.  On a personal level, I can link a few persons with some Norse gods.  It seems that Greek/Roman mythology is more suited to famous people and group and the Norse ones are more for a personal level.  Well, it is the trend I see out of it all.

Seeing the explanation in the crash course mythology make it even more clear of my thought: ancient mythologies are still relevant.  It still can apply to our mondern world.  We can still relate to them.  It still get talked about, refer to and used in entertainment.  There are books, tv shows, new versons of some deities.  The Flash is a modern version of Hermes/Mercury.  Both are fast.  Older versions of the Flash have a more in your face hint to Hermes/Mercury.  So, mythology could be pick up again, on our own term and not all literal.  It still have relevance to our modern world.

A phototgraphic experiement

It is an interesting result after an experiment:

There always seems to be something in the way for a perfect photo, something that is always off.  In this case, the grid lines add the potential of making a painting out of it.  It could be better, because only the trees in the middle are in focus.  The trees on the right side and the house on the left are blurry.  They could be removed in the end result.  The background would be great and stay in.  I expect then to be blurry because they are far away.

It is a rare thing to see this interesting result.  It is a bit of a chance.  I didn't planned nor thought about the result.  I just snap the picture and got this result.  I wasn't ready to go on the roof to make the same photo with the same vantage point.  Of course, if I did it, there wouldn't be any grid.

I also took another photo:

It is taken by a different window.  No grid, pure window without widnw screen.  It is where I would have liked to have another lens.  I would had taken the photo to have it a little bit closer and more centered on the window's shape and what is on the outside.  The photo is nice.  Could it have an improvement?  Of course!  I am also tempted to take a photo solely of the outside, from that window.  I will have to remember that next time I excperiment.