Kuriosities

After an excruciatingly long day, a new van was found and purchased. Well sorta new anyways, a 2007, new to us van. Sooo glad that that is done! It is lovely to live in the country and know that you can get back to civilization. It is another feeling altogether to live out in the country faaaaaaarrr away from any stores or people and to know that you have no way at all, aside from saddling up my pony, to get anywhere. And although Miss. Lyrical would gladly treck the 45 km to Ch’town, I am not sure my bum would thank me for that long of a ride, especially in its new improved reduced size.

I am shrinking. But in a good way – though I don’t want to shrink too much more, as I am fond of curves. I have lost a total of 14 lbs these past few months by doing only two things… no bread at breakfast or lunch, and no junk food. Well, actually a little junk food here and there, chocolate must be eaten every now and then, and today I ate a creamsicle, but on the whole I am snacking on things like strawberries and apples, carrots and hummus – stuff like that. I never ignore being hungry, I eat whenever, I just make sure that what I eat is going to be good for my body. So far, so good! I am now only 108 lbs. , and down to a size 1. Which sounds skinny, but as you can see from yesterday’s pics, I am not scrawny at all. I am, however, only 5′ tall (well, ok, that is exaggerating slightly..I am actually 4′ 11 1/2″ but that half sounds so silly, so round up, I say! ) But the best part is not the new small size of jeans I get to buy, but that I feel so good! So much energy, and happier too.

I feel younger, in body at least. 35 I have to say is pretty damn awesome. People always seem to want to stay in their 20’s, but I am so happy in my 30’s – so finally well rooted in my bones, in my soul, I wouldn’t trade it for anything, this knowing of who I am, and knowing what I want.

Someone kind and brilliant recently recommended the works of Ray Johnson to me, and I was instantly enchanted (and thankful!). I won’t get into a whole summary and critique of his work, or all that pretentious stuff where I want to appear so clever. I’m just not into that, and truthfully, I have only scraped the tip of the iceberg in terms of research.  What I will say is that Ray Johnson has intrigued me with his mail art, and collages. One reason being obvious, that I have been working with all these themes of letters, and using the mail to connect people’s lives…and that is what Ray Johnson works with – mail art. These wonderful spontaneous creations – and what was even neater is that he would often ask the recipient – who he may or may not have known – to add to the art and then send it on to somebody else or return it to him. A sort of communal creation. I love this idea. I have yet to see the documentary “How to Draw a Bunny” that details his life and work, still trying to find it actually, but I hope to see it soon. I will write more about him, as I learn more – but check him out.

In musical news, somebody told me today that it is Mr. Jack White’s birthday, so Happy Birthday,Mr. White. If you don’t know who Jack White is, holy smokes,  look him up! But don’t read the articles or gaze upon his photos, just listen to his music because that is what is truly important to know about Mr. White. Not that he might not have other lovely things to know about him, he likely does (having never met him, I wouldn’t venture an opinion on the matter), as we all do – just his music is extraordinary.

Apparently Jack has written a poem in honour of his hometown Detroit. I think that is a lovely gesture! But the sites that I found it on were so negative, and awful. I can’t imagine the need for people to be so publicly spiteful. It’s an ugliness that I do not subscribe to, and one that makes me so glad that my chosen passion can never make me famous in a way that I am open to such public scrutiny. The poem itself seemed heartfelt and sincere to me, with some stand out stanzas that were lovely, like the following:

“I sneak through an iron gate, and fish
rock bass out of the strait,
watching the mail boat with
its tugboat gait,
hauling words I’ll never know.
The water letter carrier,
bringing prose to lonely sailors,
treading the big lakes with their trailers,
floats in blue green chopping waters,
above long-lost sunken failures,
awaiting exhumation iron whalers,
holding gold we’ll never know.”

excerpt from : ‘Courageous Dream’s Concern,’ by Jack White

Well that’s it for tonight, I am tired and weary from work. I will endeavor to post more photos of new works tomorrow. I have a lot of custom orders recently, which is inspiring.

PS. BB is still wearing my pendant! This is silly of me, I know, but I check the previous night’s concert pics every morning before I start work to see if he is, and every time I see it, a smile crosses my face and I just feel happy. I mean silly because people wear my jewelry every day, thousands of them in fact, and I get lovely letters from many of them, thank-you notes every day,  which also makes me very happy. But this is just, I don’t know, much more nifty in some way – and because I admire his work so, that he might also admire my work is just somehow smile worthy over my morning tea, and a nice way to start the day. I’ll take it while it lasts anyways!