Tuesday, January 31, 2006

The 10 Commandments

=>NO OFFENSE INTENDED!<=
1: I am the Lord thy God, thou shall not have strange Gods before me: To be able to focus only on art I need to clean up my mind from other things and so, not to get distracted, my room. Bonus!
2: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain (blasphemy, pride): They got me there, I do take pride in art (or else it ends up in the bin before a living soul lays eyes on it!)
3: Remeber thou keep holy the sabbath day: Make time on a regular basis, sacrifice a little (everything else can wait!).
4: Honour thy Father an thy Mother: They tought me well and I use the talents they bestowed upon me.
5: Thou shalt not kill: I create instead!
6: Thou shalt not commit adultery (lack of self-discipline, degrading the purpose of human intimate relationship, self-abuse): I merely show the beauty of the human mind, and the miracle that is love and reveal the sins that lie within so they may not be repeated.
7: Thou shalt not steal (Time, Will, Pride, Physical Energies, Material Wealth, Patience, Talents, Hope, Dignity): I think the proper term in the art world for that is "borrow".
8: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neigbour (gossip/slander/lying/hating): I don't go behind peoples back, I express it. I indirectly confront them with it through art and funny enough they often like what they see. (Or not and then I have an interesting discussion!)
9:Thou shalt not covet thy neigbours wife: can I draw her though?
10: Thou shalt not covet thy neigbours goods (denying a man his rightful property, position and acclaim): if they ask nicely I will often just give it to them, how cool is it that people get excited over posessing a piece of art that I made!! :)

And as the commandments don't really cover it all:
A. Some art (other peoples or my own) can occupy my mind for hours. "Never a dull moment!"
B. I never have nothing to do (if I don't want to that is) (and on a side note: don't you just love double negatives in English?)
C. It makes an enormous mess, but when you have cleaned up just your art stuff... the room is clean again (although the carpet may have a few additional stains.)
D. If Art is the triumph over chaos, imagine all that I can conquer!
E. Being an Artist, my second and third language art English and Dutch! I'm trylingual!

Okay, so I bought some acrylic paint, and lo and behold I'm inspired.. stress will come by the end of the week as tuesday we are leaving for our first road trip and I have to take an early exam on monday. But now, I need to vacuum beofre Amy comes home, and then I'l do art :)
SCORE!

Music:Valse de Fleurs, André Previn
Quote: "Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere." ~ G. K. Chesterton

Sunday, January 29, 2006

The Story of a Hero

A statue of a Hero
High upon a pillar
Not to touch
just to admire

Does a statue care?

Stone eyes watching
over me, noticing
from up high
my every movement

Could I give it eyes to see?

A proud statue
Quiet, unrelenting
A quest un-fulfillable
I could never reach

Does a statue talk?

Stone skin, warm heart
Can’t embrace
can't pick up that
What he stared down upon

Could I, by reaching up?

Talk to me Hero
Tell me what you see
Tell me what you know and don’t know
Tell me about you
and tell me what is in store for me

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Relay for Life

So I went to the Kick-off for Relay for Life. Which is basically a run which is kept going by several teams for a certain amount of time to raise money for the American Cancer Society. If you are interested, have a LOOK at the Relay for Life website. It tells about the history and ways you can donate, has video's etc etc...
The actual run is next week somewhere, and we are praticipating in the organisation that needs to be done surrounding the event.
But I wanted to tell you about the kick-off. It was very impressive: It was raining and so there were very few people. However everyone was relaly nice and there was a little band playing. Hawaiians have an amazing talent for music and the most beautifull voives! We got invited to stand up to say why we were participating and there were some very moving stories. I just listened, I don't like speaking in public, but I lit a bag on which you could write a name and dedicate it in loving memory. So, as Lucas said on seeing the big pink cloud: Dag Grote Oma, dag Grote Opa, dag Marleid.

Coming home I realised I had locked myself out of my room. One of those days... so after getting that sorted I went to get some sushi for dinner and basically talked to people online for wayyyyy to long :) I finished some art! and it is pending for elfwood but uploaded on art attack.. was about time.. this piece was laying around since before christmas!

So I'm absolutely dead right now.. spent too much frustration on people in the pool, and on myself for having two rotten knees. Shall go call Kezia, because we are playing guitar! bound to lift my spirits! and I got Iefke's watercooker because she prefers using the microwave! YESM! Tea for me! maybe I should go find me some cookies to go with it.. let's celebrate!

Music: Brighter Side, OPM
Quote: "Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing."

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Redline & thanks for the Effort!

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Chasing Life...

It really has only been two weeks since school started, and so much is happening that I can hardly keep up with it!

So yeah, I've mailed a few peopel about it or wrote them a letter. You might read it here before I intended to tell you, but I should anyways. I quit the national team. One because they wanted us home after this semester and I was not ready to give up two years of school for it. (School here and back home are not compatible) and I lose one year of scholarship (they were going to give us one year off before the Olympics, not two) and I think my body needs a break, but that alone would not have made me quit. So I think that says it all, just about... If you wanna know more mail me and I'll explain! For now I'm looking forward to a free summer.. or at least one in which I can find myself a job, hang out with my friends, stay in hawaii so I can travle with Iris for a bit, go to France, maybe harass my family too..

Second, we've been fire throwing again, of course! Some new interns came to join our frenchies in hawaii, they are Canadian, and we are going to make them get familiar with hangin out at the beach and doing acrobatics. I lit up the other night and spun some poi.. I still feel stupid doing it because though I know two ways to do it, I've seen some people that are so good that I hardly dare move haha! I'm trying to juggle with clubs too (is that what you call them?) well I'll just stick with: practice makes perfect and patience is a virtue.. right? So we had a great deal of fun and I got to meet some more people.. speaking of which, I am now acqainted with Will Farrel...
LOL


I've finally tried out my blender after Patty got all excited about it during bible study last tuesday. I threw in some banana and oragne juice.. no shit! I'm gonna be drinking fruit only now! Whoa it is sooooo goood! Thanks again Santa! It blends everything so maybe I'll have to organise a bring one ingredient and lets blend things party :) Myam, just think of a strawberry lemon mint milkshake or something.. hmmmm! (Right now I'm eating my toast with cheese and am wondering of I should toss the cheese.. it is tasting like (as my so called big sis would say Penecillin) but yeah, like fungus.. or camembart.. whichever you prefer :D LOL in any case not very good!)

We had our first game of the season last saturday. It was well, what shal I say.. the first game of the season and luckily an alumnae game. we had practice an hour before, then set up the pool, played and broke down the pool again goo thing we got some lunch after. I think we were at the pool from 9:45 till about 2:30.. so that was saturday, good thing I had the BBQ/fire throwing/acrobatics that evening. Result: a really tired me!

Best thing of the week, yeah laugh: my tires got pumped up properly! Whoa, it saves sooo much effort cycling :) I better find myself a better pump!

Music: come, follow follow follow.. and yes well someone was humming the smurf themesong which was stuck in my head longer then was enjoyable!
Quote: "Dance is the hidden language of the Soul" Martha Graham

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Participation Mystique

The idea that part of our soul would be contained by the Umwelt. In toher words: a way to view the self through the conception others have of you or how objects represent part of you instead of only through the judgement of the inner self. i.e.:Your own identification with them, or your indentification with an object or animal.
In this case, would it make sense to say that people who are more materialistic practice a greater sense of participation mystique? And would it also explain why it is hard to part with a piece of an artwork which was not made with the intention to be given away? because it contains a part of your soul?
And then, is that why home made food or presents seem to have a higer value? Why written letters sometimes tell more then an e-mail, because you are giving a piece of you or recieveing a piece of anothers soul. A piece which they have just poured into their creation.. like an extention of themself?
LOL and what does that say about people that can't cook? :D

About participation Mystique in people: I can understand it better. The borders of the self wavering after falling "in love" or the sense of family bonding. The becoming one with another. Whoa that sounds very intense! But it makes sense if you imagine part of your soul being shared by another, it would explain the understanding without words. IT explains why close firends after not seeing each other for uears can pick up where they left and be fine. It would explain why, if at old age and a long life together, one spouse dies, the other follows soon after. If part of your soul is already gone then how can the rest keep on going? (If you all think I'm insain now feel free to tell me so (you are probably right), but I'm just thinking about the info that was thrown out to me and the books I'm reading).
Finally I think it would explain the reason trust is so highly valued in a relationship.. how can you give part of your soul to someone if you don't know if they will stay and treasure it? and is that why it takes a while to regenerate after people get out of a relationship? because they need to restore their soul?

Of course this is absolutely contradicting my sexualy psychology class where "we mate because we want out genes to duplicate themselves and males stay with their female because they want to invest in their offspring because it carries their genes. Where we consist of building blocks that merely want to reproduce themselves and compete for hat reproduction." How Crude! But it is an interesting thought process...

Music: Cupid de Locke, Smashin Pumpkins
Quote: Two roads diverged in the woods and I took the one less travelled by. That has made all the difference...

Friday, January 13, 2006

The Cracked Pot

Got this from Iris' blog and with thanks to Marleen, her mom. Just wanted to spread th word :) Such a typical non-european (african to me though it plays in India) story, beautifull!

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots was perfectly made and never leaked. The other pot had a crack in it and by the time the water bearer reached his master's house it had leaked much of it's water and was only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. 'I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.
''Why?' asked the bearer. 'What are you ashamed of?''
I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts,' the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, 'As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.'
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, 'Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.'
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots.Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.

And okay, humor me.. what do you see? It's a WIP that I started on lined paper in class so if I like it I'll finish it someday :) (Please help me out and be honest and don't look at the other comments first! I shall not be offended! Thanks!)


Music: Landing in London, 3 Doors Down
Quote: "Life is something that everyone should try at least once." Henry J. Tillman

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Sure...

Disclaimer: sorry of you find this offensive (picture or text) I find it interesting! so if you donlt like it, don't read it!
"We know of no other way that human nature can have developed except by evolution, and there is now overwhelming evidence that that there is no other way for evolution to work except by competitve reproduction. Those strains that reproduce persist; those that don't reproduce die out... ...It seems to imply that Mozart and shakespear were motivated only by sex... ...it seems to deny free will, ignore those who choose chastitiy and portray human beings only as robots bent on procreation... ...there is nothing inconsistant with free will or chastity in this view of life, free will was not created for fun; there was a reason that evolution handed our ancestors the ability to take initiateves, and the reason was that free will and initiative are means to satisfy ambition, to compete with fellow human beings, to deal with life's emergencies and so eventually be in a better position to reproduce and rear children."-The Red Queen, Matt Ridley

So does that mean choosing chastity or anything else that does not enhance reproduction are side effects? What else is there that does not link to reproduction in the end, I mean, you can just keep on going untill you find a link with just about anything! Is that not very easily thought though? A bit to black and white? How am I supposed to read chapters a week, 19 books this semester if I can't get through a single page without having a thousand questions and my mind wondering off!!
It's interesting, that is good, but PLEASE! just let me read! *goes back to reading*

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

4:30

Yes well hmm..
I woke up with my brain 200% active, at 2:52 or something. Spent some time trying to get back to sleep but as you can see it didn't work.
Was dreaming a lot too. Strangest part was having little goldfish hide in my hair. First in my french braid, after I untied it to get them out they kept swimming though it. I was in the sea somewhere: open sea to one side, an open cavenetwork on the other. Wierdness...
Will go read my book for english, might as well now right? and then I have practice in an hour!

Edit: writing this down it became three and a half dream covering 2 pages on both sides. And all that for one night! Wowsers! I really like my English class so far though it looks like it is going to be hectic! So much writing (I guess that is why it is called writing intensive?)
Am so far quite enjoying having the room to myself, Amy will come back in February which will be nice too 'cuase then I can harass her again!
I shall now go take a nap and rid you of my ramblings or else you might never come back here again and I might not make it to the end of this day..

Music: The musings of my mind.. it is awefully quiet at 4:45 in the morning!
Quote: "What is Wisdom? To do only what your heart tells you to do." Indian Proverb

Monday, January 09, 2006

"Hellweek"

The start of a new semester, the start of a new waterpolo season and the start of a new chapter of life... at least I think so, will let you know ;P

Just came back from Calgary and life was just to good there. I really got some rest and I had an awesome time and am actually ready to go, that is, if I can find what lectures I have tomorrow 'cause right now I dunno and I canlt find anything in the chaos that is my room.

On the left a view of Salt Lake taken from the airoplane window...


This morning was the last practice of "hellweek"; named for the condition it leaves you in. We do about 6 hours a day 6 t0 9 am and 1 to 4 pm. In between and after al you do is eat and sleep.
My knees disagreed even more than the rest of my body but I suppose it is just part of life that I'm not very strong. Starting to wonder how many ab workouts I need to do before it shows :S But I suppose it was good to have everybody loose the weight they gained over christmas break :) and to get a nice cap-tan :S I did actualy have some fun.. but I'm crashing now, so it is time for dinner which I was going to get with Dana but seeing as we are in Hawai'i again I reckon 5:30 was aloha time!!

I havebeen staying with Britt (Brittany) the past few days because the dorms were not open yet. It was really relaxing and easy going. She live in a rather small house but avery cozy one where the whole family hangs out and everything feels warm and welcoming. so that was really great. Also I never got so much sleep in ages! we went to bed at like 9 got up at 5:15 and slept 2 hours between practices! Whoa! she has two sisters of 10 and 11 and they are very funny but very much 10year olds... howevere Britt did get a massage after practice! Awww!

Music: The Rasmus, F-F-Falling
Quote: "There is no room for new start if you do not dare to let go of the old."