Giving thought to others

This is a fine day, I am among the breathing.

It is fine because nothing exceptional has happened to disturb my mundane existence. Actually I might find it better if it was interrupted with some above normal activity. Being retired, sometime thought as retarded and living in a tin box with visiting privileges. That is a reference to a child's view of her grand-parents life. Since I, our living arrangements meet that description, I refereed to it.

Anyway, this has been a day similar to most of the other days. Where I reside, the most excitement is when the EMTs and Paramedics come in on a call of assistance. That may not be true to all but it does bring out the observers.

I shall mention, our daughter's life has been flushed. She was nailed with a DUI and the judge could only see to be as harsh as possible. That will make it difficult for her to attend to her son's best interest. Yes, she is liable for the charge. Being liable should not necessarily destroy your life. When it cost you your job, your income, etc... It is more likely to drive someone to committing more "crimes".

Enough about that.

I am in contact with a violinist in Ireland. He is a man without a country, a guest in Ireland. Not permitted to leave, restricting his performing area. If he does he cannot reenter Ireland. He cannot go home without losing his guest status.

That would make my daughter's problems a bit less in comparison. I feel that he is a good, fine, violinist. Since I don't play or study the instrument, I only give my thought. I enjoyed his playing.

The reason I decided to write at this time, is this. I was watching some video I am working on, consisting of photos, and his came up and I wanted to mention him.

I have two brothers, had, he was the youngest of the two, but still older than me. He was not a lot older, two years tops, two years younger than the older of the two.

He served our country twice, once in the Amy and then in the Air force. The older of the two spent time in the Navy. I, being younger and the time right, did not enter the armed services. There are times I wonder what my life would be like, if I had enlisted. I am sure it would be very different.

If and maybe when, anyone reads and finds my cyberfiller includes some calories. I will get more involved. It may be if I don't get more involved first there will be no reason to get involved. There are times you need B to get A, and A to get B. That creates a situation of, "what do I do"?

Admiration of musicians

Salutations;

To anyone and anywho that should locate and read my words; I am new to the world of blogging. I have began to search and read, watch and listen, the words and works of others.

This morning, a rainy morning, rain has been much needed, I have chosen the violin as the topic to search. I am much amazed at the connections there are to the violin. I do not play an instrument, wishing won't make it so, but I have great admiration for those that do. I especially have great love of the violin and piano. I do not leave out the other instruments from my likes but the violin and piano top the list. Solo instruments give more and need more dedication to the sounds derived from them. A solo violin can and does give feelings more deeply than an orchestrated arrangement. The Piano does the same but because there is so many more octaves and chording available that while it gives tremendous soul to the music, the violin pulls at the fibers of the body, when played expertly.

While in Shannon, Ireland, I had the pleasure of seeing and hearing a violinist at the Bunratty Castle. There is a Medieval Banquet at the castle and the entertainment given is done in the style of the castle's time period.

I feel he played the instrument very well. As I am not a player, but and avid listener, I enjoyed his playing very much.

While the cost of the banquet is not inexpensive, to me, I felt it was a fair exchange of cost for enjoyment. The personal contact with the violinist, Aland Assiri, it made the evening memorable.

I Wish I was eighteen again...

The title is to be misleading if you think, after reading it, if you have read it, and if you are reading this you have. To define it, I explain. I wish I was eighteen again, not to be young and green to life but to be able to see and be with some of those I have not seen since.

As the earth has rotated so many thousands of times and the hands of clocks have spun 24x364 time more giving age to our existance. Mankind is responsible for the time that has passed. The recording of history and marking of minutes, etc... have made me, put me in the elder status. Those I knew and spent time with, in that teen period, have faded from my physical existance. Since I don't know anything of them since that time, I will figure the cat is alive. That may sound unrelated but it is very related. Hope you can relate and associate.

Of course it isn't just the year of eighteen that has missing friends. It seems that as the years have gone by that I know very few of those I used to be close to or thought I was close to.

Through the years socializing with others has diminished until there is practically none. It is probably my fault as I now live a thousand miles from where they are. The social had stopped long before our moving so distance is not the defining factor. This however again is not the same ones I knew when I was eighteen, not many of them, anyway.

By eighteen, I am actually more accurate to say pre-eighteen, the school chums. Those from elementary and high school. Also those I knew in the ancient times of third, fourth, fifth, etc... It would be good to know something about them. It would make the past seem more authentic.

As I ponder, weak and weary, over an un-notice bit of bore, I think, there may be a rapping, a rapping on my blogging door... I should wish it so. Until then I won't get too involved in putting alot or words to cyberplace.

Thank you gift

Marble relief carving, side 1

Marble relief carving side 2

I did this marble relief and presented it to a gracious hostess.

We, wife, daughter and me, last year, went to Europe. We spent time in many areas but the time spent in Luxembourg was marvelous. We were boarded and entertained by the mother of our daughter's friend, Carol, whom we had not met, previous to our trip. She picked us up at the train station, taken home with her and treated wonderfully. We spent 3 days there and she drove us everywhere we went. She gave us a tour that took us to France, Germany, and areas of Luxembourg. She fed us like close family.

I could tell from her various displays of art that she enjoyed sculptures, paintings and many other genres of art.

It is made of white Italian marble, carved on both sides and sits on a walnut base. For it's size it is really quite heavy. It was not completed, I had started it before we left for Europe and while thinking on how to thank her for her wonderful hospitality, began to visualize finishing it and presenting it to her.

The marble had been in my possesion for more than 30 years before I did something with it beyond it laying around. It is a small portion of a larger slab.

It is in Luxembourg, several thousand miles from me and I picture it among her other collectibles.

TV Station graphics rant

Tuesday March 24, 2009

Before I begin speaking of beautiful things, real or imaginary. I wish to, since I will, wish is incorrect, mention the irritation the TV stations have caused with their annoying graphics after each, and sometime prior, commercial. If I didn't want to watch the show provided, not to be distracted from the scene, I would not be tuning into the channel. The logo they have been putting on the screen for years now are annoying enough.

It seems they are using any reason to mark the screen so that it is not worth keeping to view again. In this age of time shifting and electronic storing, being told what you are watching and what is following is not a desirable service. I understand the studios being fraught about videos being traded and shared, without compensation, but if they are going to market it they will have to accept the way things are. I personally do not think most shows are worth the bother and irritation. I am waiting for the DVD version. If those become branded during the show, I will go back to reading books or spending time away from TV. Should not spend so much time at the entertainment center, anyway.

In not writing a novel about, what should be a minor irritation, I am keeping it short. I know I am not the only one unable to ignore the stations graphic distraction. I may be a bit more bothered by them but I don't think so.

Next will be a lighter type topic.

Beginnings

March 23, 2009

I was born once again, this morning, as morning gives birth to a new day and a new me. It has been doing that, for what seems and eternity, to rise from the depths of sleep, becoming conscious, to face the world day to day.

I don't actually face the world as I spend most of my time at home. I sometimes travel the world via the Internet. There are many tracks, traces, evidence of my movements, no matter how hard we try to not leave a trail. That is to by anonymous, similar to being in a car and doing things we would not do face to face.
I used to go out daily to earn my keep and to keep my family with room and board. All the necessities of living. That is the past as the children have morphed from babies in our nest to adults with nests of their own.
Since the needs have lessened, our nest is much smaller, I left the daily routine of going to a job to exist on a pension.
Without the daily interruption of punching a time clock I had intended to begin using the freedom to do more interesting activities, this has not become a reality. The reasons are mostly excuses, of which I am not going to list.
Anyway, I have tried many art forms, media, from the crafted to the imagined. Poetry, painting, carving, sculpture, leather work, photography, etc...
The art of musical creation seems to be beyond my scope. In that field I am audience, in awe of the ability to convert the physical to auditory rhythms and give pleasure via the ears.
Perhaps I will choose to expose some of the artistic endeavors through photos and text in future writings. I cease this verbiage for now.