“at some point the world’s beauty becomes enough.”
– toni morrison
—
image credit: willowday flower project by gina – sweden
Nov4
Nov3
a star is born.
yeti has always held a secret dream of co-starring in a judy garland film
—
“somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.”
-judy garland
Nov2
today’s the day.
my spirit animal
Last year, five animal candidates vied for the much sought-after title of Mayor of Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. This important election decided the Zoo’s first Mayor, the highest-ranking animal official who showcased the important role of animal ambassadors. One of the five candidates, (and my favorite), who made it past the primary rounds to the general election was:
Peaches the Nigerian dwarf goat. Peaches is the mother of two sets of triplets and a set of twins. She has raised all the kids on her own, demonstrating her can-do spirit. She’s quiet and friendly unless she needs to assert herself and is rarely in a baaaaad mood.
P.S. Wiggles the Chinchilla got the most votes and won by a hair.
—
credit: lisa clair, hamlet hub
Nov1
buen dia de los muertos.
“the life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.”
—
image credit: prisarts
Oct31
halloween story.
the six-pack of giant grandies don costumes that tell a halloween story
who is who and what’s their story?
—
“clothes make a statement, costumes tell a story.”
-mason cooley
Oct30
wait.
on a tired evening after a long day at school
i arrived for my hair appointment
already ready to be home
a stylist new to me
was running late
quite a patient person by nature
i felt myself becoming impatient
really wanting to be done and home
and on and on about me
finally she was ready
we took the elevator and headed upstairs
thinking about waking up at 4:30 the next am.
i sat down in her chair
sensing she had been through something
while she worked we began to talk about our lives
she shared things with me:
she can only work 3 days at a time and then needs 2 days off
due to a chronic illness that has affected her leg
(ah, the elevator)
she is one of eight children raised by a single mother
she was a very young mother years ago
she loves her daughter, granddaughter, and mother dearly
she is sharing rides with a co-worker as her car is not working
she doesn’t always have dinner or time for it
this was her last week at the salon
she needed some down time to recover
she would love to have her own little salon one day
she spoke of other joys and challenges in her life
determined not to give up and make the best of things
such a strong soul
i felt ashamed for my impatience
happy i had waited and not expressed it
i had nothing to complain about
she was an incredible person
still kind and happy
still in the midst of overcoming hard things
i tried to offer encouraging words
wished her well
gave her a restaurant card i had in my wallet
as we parted ways
i was reminded to always consider the other person
wait before reacting or rushing to judgement
we really have no idea what someone’s life is like
i thanked her
so very grateful for the lesson.
—
“let the first impulse pass, wait for the second.”
-baltasar gracian
Oct29
message.
my message seems written in the sky
(or possibly on the windshield)
MB in reverse
waiting my turn
moderna booster soon coming my way.
ah – my message is in a bottle.
—
“life is a little like a message in a bottle, to be carried by the winds and the tides.”
-gene tierney
Oct28
find your fit.
olive and yeti find their fit
—
“the best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”
-audrey hepburn
Oct27
what doesn’t itch.
the time is near
soon the colder temps
will come and stay awhile
never having been seen as a fashion icon
it will soon be time to take off the sandals
and wrap myself in comfort
whatever that may look like.
—
“i base most of my fashion taste on what doesn’t itch.”
-gilda radner
—
image credit: ny daily news
Oct26
mutual tuning-in.
pat metheny, side-eye tour, orchestra hall, detroit, michigan
detroit symphony orchestra paradise jazz series
october 2021
amazing experience
—
We’re all familiar with the sense of wonder and joy we experience when we hear a song or piece of music we love, but there’s something even more magical about hearing that song performed live. Although many artists offered streamed performances online during the pandemic, these didn’t quite leave us with the same enchanted feelings as concerts. So what makes live music different? Columbia associate music professor Mariusz Kozak explains why live music is so powerful.
Live music allows us to experience what philosopher Alfred Schütz called a “mutual tuning-in.” This term refers to the phenomenon where we experience the passage of time and emotions with others. This is part of the reason humans need social interaction to thrive. When we attend a concert, we’re experiencing the tone of the music—fast, slow, happy, sad—with others around us. This creates a sense of intimacy with the crowd around us. This is also why research shows that babies who are bounced in time to music with an adult display more altruism towards that person.
This pleasurable effect gained from synchronizing with those around us is what makes live music and dance so powerful. Although most people probably relate to this feeling when remembering their favorite concert, this feeling is not limited to conventional music. It can also be experienced through collective visual synchronization. In the deaf community, facial gestures and movements are to convey emotions in music performance. The collective interpretation of the emotions behind these facial gestures also promotes a sense of unity.
The Blackfeet in North America use the same word to refer to music, dance, and ceremony, indicating the essential role of gathering to fully appreciate the benefits of music. Close friends can even experience this synchronization when walking or talking together.
Experiencing music in the presence of others cultivates a feeling of unity and empathy within us which exceeds anything we could experience by ourselves. As we head back to in-person concerts and relish this feeling once again, know that the true power of the music you’re hearing might not come from the artist, but in fact your fellow concert goers.
– Mariusz Kozak, Associate Professor of Music and Music Theory, Columbia University
I didn't have my glasses on.... 