Breaking patterns

Hey there!

It's been a while, or it feels like it's been a while. I've been busy and it's been a good busy.

I've got to get back to this good busy, but I thought I'd drop a note to share what's up.

1. The Daily Successes project

I don't know how many of you followed the transition of the Daily Successes posts to my Twitter account, but I finally stopped it a few weeks ago. I had originally intended on doing it for about a month, so I'm happy that I did it for much longer publicly. I still exchange Daily Successes with my mom (she insisted and I'm glad!), and it's nice to search for the positive, every day, in our lives. Trust me, it's a challenge, but considering how good I am at finding the negative and not-so-hot in my life, I knew I could meet the challenge of finding Daily Successes and...be successful at it!

2. Change happens

Part of the effect of doing Daily Successes is that I became more focused on the glass of life being half-full of refreshing iced tea. The truth is that the glass is both empty and full--so if both are true, which one would I like to pick? The caffeinated choice for sure! Focusing on Daily Successes jazzed me up and inspired me to get out of my own way so I could grow.

Just this last week, I broke three habits: I got dressed up for

Halloween (haven't done that since I was 10?) which involved putting together an outfit (I was a punk vampire; sorry for the bad phone camera pic), I went to a late-night party even though I would usually say "forget it" and go to bed, and lastly, I went to a party with new friends instead of getting all shy and staying home. Yay, me!

3. Bachelor #1...

I've been on two dates with someone who isn't my "usual suspect" and it's extremely refreshing. Learning to focus on my feelings through the work I've been doing in psychotherapy has helped a lot. I'm glad I met this person last week, because if it had been last month or earlier, I don't think this would be the opportunity and sweet adventure that it is right now. (I know, I need more psychotherapy!)

Invite Beauty,

I.

We are all connected

Thanks to my friend, Jesse Vail, who shared this on his Facebook page!

The lyrics can be hard to understand, so I've provided them here. Do check out John Boswell's Symphony of Science for more science and music.

Lyrics:

[deGrasse Tyson]
We are all connected;
To each other, biologically
To the earth, chemically
To the rest of the universe atomically

[Feynman]
I think nature's imagination
Is so much greater than man's
She's never going to let us relax

[Sagan]
We live in an in-between universe
Where things change all right
But according to patterns, rules,
Or as we call them, laws of nature

[Nye]
I'm this guy standing on a planet
Really I'm just a speck
Compared with a star, the planet is just another speck
To think about all of this
To think about the vast emptiness of space
There's billions and billions of stars
Billions and billions of specks

[Sagan]
The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it
But the way those atoms are put together
The cosmos is also within us
We're made of star stuff
We are a way for the cosmos to know itself

Across the sea of space
The stars are other suns
We have traveled this way before
And there is much to be learned

I find it elevating and exhilarating
To discover that we live in a universe
Which permits the evolution of molecular machines
As intricate and subtle as we

[deGrasse Tyson]
I know that the molecules in my body are traceable
To phenomena in the cosmos
That makes me want to grab people in the street
And say, have you heard this??

(Richard Feynman on hand drums and chanting)

[Feynman]
There's this tremendous mess
Of waves all over in space
Which is the light bouncing around the room
And going from one thing to the other

And it's all really there
But you gotta stop and think about it
About the complexity to really get the pleasure
And it's all really there
The inconceivable nature of nature

Invite Beauty,

I.

The Fountain revisited

A couple of years ago, I posted about the film, The Fountain, by Darren Aronofsky.

As I've gotten to know my way around the Internet better, it's been easier and more fun to share different things with you, like videos.

Here's the trailer to The Fountain. Check out my original post if you'd like to read what I thought of it (I added the trailer video there, too).

Invite Beauty,

I.

Is this art?

Maybe, maybe not--but it's HI-larious that there's a site called Regretsy that pokes fun at the funny and outrageous things for sale on Etsy. It's the commentary that makes me practically wet my pants with laughter.

Check it out if you need some tension-relieving giggles. Yes, it's at someone's expense, but at least you're not buying what they're selling so it's not at your expense.

Invite Beauty (seriously),

I.

Sneak Preview! Lovely koi

Here's a sneak preview of my next Original Finger Painting commission. It's 15" x 30" and will be of one koi.

I've decided the coloration of the koi, but instead of painting it directly on, I'm making it easier on myself by painting the background color first and then adding the markings after the white is dry, as well as fleshing out other details throughout the image.

The waterlily I painted more quickly this time than in my other paintings, which is a huge relief! Usually, it's what gives me the most trouble. I love painting flowers with watercolor, but I find it difficult with oil paint sticks and my fingers.

Right, so it's time for bed for me now.

Invite Beauty,

I.

Details of Pumpkin Pie

For the full Original Finger Painting of Pumpkin Pie, please visit my gallery.

For the full Original Finger Painting of Pumpkin Pie, please visit my gallery.

The Big Three

I just changed the title of my Biblical Series into the Abrahamic Series.

I had used "biblical" because I felt it united the common basis of the three, major, Western religions through their scripture--all founded upon the Jewish Torah. (By the way, "Bible" means "book.")

However, as I cleaned up my 2,000 labels on this blog to a mere 54, I thought again about the term and how "Abrahamic," even though it's more scholarly, was more accurate and encompassing. I like encompassing (it goes back to wanting to feel like I belong, I guess).

Anyway, just wanted to update y'all in case you noticed the difference and wondered what it was all about.

Invite Beauty,

I.

Sneakier preview! Pumpkin pie

Here's that cutie, Miss Pumpkin Pie herself.

It's kind of funny that the patron for this commission wanted a valley oak in this painting, because the (big-eared) dog and oak are so reminiscent of Rodrigue's "Blue Dog" work for me.

Of course, this dog isn't blue, but if you think about her oranginess, it's actually a complementary of blue! How 'bout them apples, huh?

Anyway, I'm sorry I'm taking so long to get the final photo of this handsome painting posted, but I did add some details (the legs are speckled and the chest is whiter), and then I painted the sides black instead of taking a photo first. (So I had to wait for the sides to dry before I could set up the painting for a photo shoot.)

When I was finally ready, I found my good camera's battery was dead. Serves me right for not painting more often and keeping up with the charge needs of my camera!

So to the good and gentle art lovers stopping by, I promise a final pic very soon.

Other than that, I've got my written comprehensive exam for my master's in counseling psychology tomorrow morning. Brushing up on some ethics, laws, psychopathology, and theories.

I'll be posting a sneak preview of my upcoming koi painting commission, too.

Invite Beauty,

I.

Analysis of an angry cat fight

Okay, I don't want to rain on anybody's parade, but I guess I will.

When I first found this video, I thought it was hilarious. It highlighted the way some people communicate--angry, accusatory, blaming, insulting, aggressive, submissive, etc. The subtitles are brilliant this way because it's like that moment when you look at a chimpanzee and think, "Oh my gosh, I want one!" Wait, that's just me. I mean, when you think, "Oh my gosh, they act so much like people!"

I write about the seven emotional command systems that all mammals have in one of my relationship advice articles, and this example illustrates through behavior the emotions these two cats may be feeling; the subtitles are just comedic gravy!

Then I watched the video again and noticed the subtitles had been extended. I felt upset because it went a little further in the insults (calling the other cat "deaf" hit a nerve, considering I have Deaf friends), and when the tirade went into how much was spent on the bridal dress, etc. I realized even more clearly than before that a class issue was at hand.

What socioeconomic class do you think these cats "represent" when you read the subtitles? When we laugh, what does that say about us and what we think of their plight and perspective?

Yes, I do still think it's funny. I have an offensive and politically incorrect sense of humor, so please, leave your guilt under the bed.

I'm aware of why I'm laughing. It's like watching South Park or listening to comedians joke about taboo topics. Sometimes the truth hurts from the ache in your side--just remember to hear the truth underneath it.

Invite Beauty,

I.

Another hero: Philip Spooner for Equality Maine

You know, there's wisdom everywhere, and there are people who stand for certain basic things I believe in, like equality. Again, there may be the stereotype of the crotchety old person who's racist, homophobic, sexist, and what have you--but really, those delusions (I refuse to call them "overvalued beliefs" according to the DSM-IV-TR) can be in a young person, too.

It's a wonderful surprise, and humbling, to see this man speak about one of the principles upon which the U.S. was founded, and for which he was willing literally to sacrifice his life (I'm glad he survived).

I am moved because he and I are connected through our shared belief. He's an ally, and I feel less alone in the world for it, even though I've never met him, and probably never will.

Invite Beauty,

I.

I want it this way, too.

Aren't stereotypes funny things? Thanks again to Lam for sharing this video with me. It's refreshing to see people being themselves--and not how we might expect them to be, or have seen them depicted in our particular media.

No kung fu masters, thugs, or nerds in this one!