Random rant

The Scream by Edvard Munch

want no waiting

upended disheveled

uncomfortably stable

impatient reticent

spoiled spyglass

depressed delirium

anxious anomaly

guilty guess work

loathing locked in

Perceptions on Pearl Earring

I’ve always loved Vermeer‘s painting Girl With the Pearl Earring.  I happened to catch a portion of an interesting segment on NPR this morning about the painting and I want to share it.  The painting, sometimes called the “Mona Lisa of the North”, is being showcased at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco from January 26 to June 2, 2013.  Mystery has always shrouded the painting.  Art lovers have speculated for years wondering the origin of the girl and any specific details surrounding the painting.  Since little is known about Vermeer and his muse for the painting, art lovers and critics alike have concocted their own version of the story.

The Guardian, a newspaper based in the UK, asked its readers to write in with there favorite story of who the girl is in the painting.  They have posted the top 25 stories on their website.  It’s worth taking a look.  Meanwhile I think I’ll check out the movie and maybe re-read the book by Tracy Chevalier.  While I’m doing that, I wanted to ask – “What’s your story on the painting.  What do you believe the story is about Vermeer and The Girl With the Pearl Earring?”

Enjoy!

10 Things I learned in 2012

Here are a few things I learned in 2012.  There, is, of course, more, but I don’t want to bore you:

1. Control Top pantyhose sucked when I was 20 and they suck now.
2. Christmas is not as fun as an adult.
3. Some levels in Angry Birds are unattainable.
4. You can get stuck in a Spanx.  (in a fitting room it is very scary)
5. Tim Tebow is under-appreciated.
6. Having two, male Boston terriers is a bad idea.
7. It’s not a good idea to do anything after taking an Ambien. (some of the toys your children received for Christmas can be fun to play with after you take it, but try not to)
8. Guns and Roses rock!  No question.
9. You never know someone’s circumstances.  Consider that in 2013 when you see misbehaved children or someone tailgating.  Be easy on yourself and others.
10. No matter how “cookie cutter” people seem they are all different and all have problems – even if they seem or look like they don’t.

Happy New Year!

lucygracesmom

Misunderstood

Foreshadowing of later pool scene?

Feeling a little misunderstood today so I thought I’d post some Marilyn pics.  I never tire of these.

Marilyn Late 1940s

Marilyn scowl

Marilyn in Korea

Marilyn visiting Marines in Korea

do I need an exorcism or does your medicine need changed?

A Clockwork Orange at 50?! – are we desensitized to this?  Are these “ultra-violent” times? the Rolling Stones connection?  Listen to On Point with Tom Ashbrook.

Mochi things – iPhone case and wallet.  How many of these cute things can actually exist?  Enter Crown Smartphone Pouch v2

My kindergartener rocks.  She is so intelligent and such a joy to be around.  Well, most of the time . . .

An exercise class is fun.  Here are some cool songs:  Too Close by Alex Clare (have you seen this video?), Hot Chelle Rae’s Tonight Tonight, Rihanna‘s Where Have You Been, Adele’s Rumour Has It, and Deadly Handsome Man by Marcy Playground

Do I need an exorcism or does YOUR medicine just need changed?  Why does it seem like the people on medication really need everyone else to be on more medication just to make sense?

Taming your inner tantrum

Bridge pose

Perhaps this is a normal day for you.  You do all the things you ordinarily do and feel – nothing’s different.  You feel no better.  You feel no worse.  I wonder why?  Living without living is no way to live your life.  I have what I like to call my “inner tantrum”.  When things aren’t going my way and they usually aren’t, my inner tantrum comes out and sometimes I can’t get out of it.  It’s a stuck place where nothing seems to go right and things keep getting worse and worse.  Need I say this is an anxious time for me.

I just finished reading an article in September’s Yoga Journal that is entitled “Untangling Anxiety”.  Of course, I was intrigued to see what a Yoga expert would say about my inner tantrum (anxiety). My anxiety is like a security blanket for me.  I’m so used to it, I believe it has become a comfort.  So, if self-talk won’t help, what do you do?  Perhaps you’ve heard of the “tighten/release” soother for anxiety.  You breathe in as you tighten and squeeze all your muscles and exhale and release the contractions.  This works for some, but not for me so much.  Other ways are dancing or taking a bath to soothe yourself.  These methods also do not work for me.  I carry tension in my shoulders, particularly my right shoulder blade.  What can I do to soothe those muscles and tame that inner tantrum?

What is the difference between anxiety and diligence?  Doesn’t anxiety keep us on our toes and help us not to forget those important things we must do?  Since the “inner tantrum” has become a ritual we cannot seem to get away from we must first admit we have this anxiety and we want to rid ourselves of it.

One day, perhaps, you might notice that what you have perceived as anxiety is, at its core, just pure energy.

Good news!  We have the choice to experience the anxiety as an inner tantrum or excitement such as a feeling of being ready for action.  This energy could begin the growth we so desperately seek.

So to recap:

1. Locate where anxiety is exhibiting in the body;
2. Breathe and center in the heart;
3. What is contributing to the anxiety?;
4. Become aware of the thoughts – Can you let this go?;
5. Tune into the feeling.  Can this feeling also be let go?;
6. Find a feeling of warmth and pleasure – counter the negative with a positive

This practice takes practice and you have to give yourself over to this new way of thinking for the method to possibly work.  I, for one, think I will give it a try.

If you’d like to read the article it is in the September issue of Yoga Journal and written by Sally Kempton, an internationally recognized teacher of meditation and yoga philosophy.  She is also the author of Meditation for the Love of It. Visit her at sallykempton.com.

just yesterday

Just yesterday

She was two

Oh how the time flies

I remember the birthday,

the fireworks, the beach

and the butterflies

Next was three and it’s

like a blur

and four came but

was overpowered with

Dora the Explorer.

Now we’re at five and

she’s getting away.  Fleeting

moments I wish would all

stay.  I know it’s normal

but I don’t want to go with

the flow.  Sometimes

I just want that little

baby who cried all

night and realize

it’s a fight I’ll never win.

Gotta let her go to Kindergarten

and walk up the stairs with that

backpack – so grown up.

I know I’m lamenting and

I’m really tired of the sassies

and things she says as she

passes.  Why is it so hard

to let go of time, when it’s

all that’s been on my mind

sometimes.

Who?, What?, When?, Where?, Why? and How?

Who? – Me

What? – Things I want to do

Where? – Everywhere

When? – ASAP

Why? – Because I think it would make me happy

How? – Pull the trigger and do them

1.  Want to hike on the Appalachian Trail

2.  Want to rock climb or begin rock climbing

3.  Want to skydive out of an airplane

4.  Want to do Pilates with a real Pilates instructor on a Reformer

5.  Want to attend church and Sunday school regularly

6.  Want to join a Contemplative Prayer group

7.  Want to travel everywhere

8.  Get a good attitude full time

9.  Want to become certified fitness trainer or Pilates instructor

10.  Want to own my own book store/art gallery

Here’a my Want list.  What’s are your wants? and why?  I’m sure there are more, but these are what come to mind right now.

Rzeznik Tattoos Realized

The Dream

One of my all time favorite paintings is Picasso‘s The Dream.  I just realized today that one of my all time favorite bands, The Goo Goo Dolls lead singer, Johnny Rzeznik, has The Dream on his right upper arm.  I love the painting for what it says to me – it shows the woman with her head to the side “dreaming”.  I have always seen it as soothing and an “emptying out” of the days events.  Wiping the slate clean if you will.  I wonder if Johnny feels this way.  Here’s a little bit of what Johnny says about his many tattoos, including The Dream.

YouTube Rzeznik - I will warn you this video ends rather abruptly.  Sorry – not my fault

Go to hotstufftattoos to see the artist who has done many of Johnny’s tattoos

See my earlier post Goo Goo Over Rzeznik here.

Rzeznik’s The Dream

 

cherished chairs

Race Antelope Chair 1951

I am totally crushing on chairs right now. I guess it’s not a new obsession. As I survey my basement for things I’ve long misplaced, it’s chairs I need to move to get to a certain place. The old ones can be especially heavy. I’ve collected a lot of antiques over the years and the one item I can’t seem to get a hold on is chairs. There’s an Eastlake, an Eames; to me they’re all a dream. Think of all the stories they could tell if only they could talk; of times by the fire or even darning socks. Do people darn socks anymore? Anyway, chairs is the focus of this post and feel free to post a chair of your own if you dare. In a rhyming mood today I guess.

Eames chair

To see super cool furniture go to Race Furniture.

Hans Wegner 60s chair

Might have been Freuds chair

Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair

Alsace chair

Vange foldy chairs