Art Attack Central
Fixing stuff, myself included…
Oath Update
But, you never finished telling us about Mr. Potatoehead’s eyes?
The fact that Mr. Potatoehead had too many eye’s is “linked” to not always accomplishing what one sets out to do.
Huh?
He had so many eyes that just crossing the room made him very dizzy, but after rolling on the therapists rug some of his eyes were permanently closed, and he found it much easier to maneuver. In other words, it’s much easier to focus on one thing, if you only have two eyes.
Haven’t you heard of the third eye?
Yes, and you have a point, but what is it? Never mind, I’ll tell you what I think about third eyes. If I have one, it’s not open. It’s one of those things on the shelf that I’d like to believe in, but don’t. Maybe I should take that back, because on reflection the theory may be similar to what I mean when I refer to being lucid in waking life.
I thought lucidity had to do with dreaming.
Well it does, but consider the fact that much of the time we spend awake, we are not present, or not aware. Many moments pass “mindlessly” by. To be “caught in the act” means more than what first comes to mind.
Such as?
Try trapped or ensnared, and think of the act as anything you happen to be doing. If you are a lucid dreamer think of it this way: are you aware of the doing while doing, in the same way that within the dream you realize you are dreaming? Perhaps “ordinary life” is like “ordinary dreaming”.
Why are you always talking about awareness?
Why bother to live without it? Awareness can sometimes be scary; although putting my finger on why is difficult. Maybe what’s more scary is the idea of how much of life slips by when I’m not completely present.
What’s this got to do with the oath?
According to my calculations, I should be finishing 4 paintings a week in order to have twelve new ones by the 23rd. This week I’ve only managed to do two. How does awareness fit into this process? It’s in the doing, it’s in the eyes of the potato, it’s in the way I go about it, or get diverted from it.
I’m not sure I’m following you.
It might be better, if you didn’t. However, if you must know, I’ve been distracted by other concerns (too many eyes) this week. I would just like to make sure that whatever it is I’m doing, I’m fully/lucidly doing it. I’m present rather that caught in the act.
“Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line we have drawn for it. Beyond the pairs of opposites of which the world consists, other, new insights begin.”
—Hermann Hesse
The World on Fire
Continued from yesterday:
Did I say smoking gun?
No, you said smoking rug.
Right, smoking rug. Well, yes the fat was in the fire so to speak. Mr. Potatoehead’s quick response to the emergency had smothered the possibility of danger in the therapy room quite sufficiently. Transference however, began almost immediately; the freudian retrieved his pipe (Michel Foucault. This is Not a Pipe) as Mr. Potatoehead brushed cinders from his rumbled and ruined suit. “Shocking, absolutely shocking”, said the freudian through chattering teeth, “and to think, only moments ago we were chatting unaware of the danger that lie before us”. “I’d best be on my way”, replied Mr. Potatoehead “now that I’ve most effectively used the remaining time within the hour.” “Aha”, said the therapist, “but what is real, is it you, or my pipe (Jason Leary. Pipe Dreams & Pipe Realities)?” Mr. Potatoehead was somewhat taken aback, “why we both are as real as I’m standing here”, he responded.
“The best way out is always through.”
–Robert Frost
Getting There
Getting from here to there is not always easy; sometimes the route is less direct than you anticipated. Many things can happen along the way to distract you from reaching your destination in a timely manner. In fact you may not even reach your destination at all. Suppose somewhere a long the way you encounter an unexpected request for assistance and you feel obligated, or some other situation presents itself that must be addressed before you can proceed. That’s what happened to Mr. Potatoehead on the day he was scheduled for eye surgery.
What was wrong with Mr. Potatoehead’s eyes?
It wasn’t so much what was wrong, but rather the number of eyes Mr. Potatoehead had. He had always been a firm believer in “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” It was that strong belief that kept him passed the usual time on the Freudian’s couch. Therapy had progressed very nicely up to a point, but as you know there are many things about teeth that Freudians feel compelled to [lie] upon. What I mean, is that teeth have a very sexual connotation to Freudian therapists. Having revealed his staunch conviction pertaining to the eye and tooth equation very near the end of his hour, Mr. Potatoehead was feeling a sense (not common) of catharsis. Emotionally drained, but charged at the same time he leapt from the couch, and hurried towards the door. Just as he was about to slip through the door, the quite overwrought therapist jumped up from his chair, knocking over his glowing pipe onto floor, and shouted out, “but, Potatoehead ole boy we’ve not yet finished the hour.” Mr. Potatoehead turned back as the red tobacco embers were adding rug fibers to their list of carcinogens; without hesitation he threw himself onto the floor and rolled vigorously back and forth over the smoking rug.
But what about his eyes?
Later, I’ve got to get offline now.
Tuesday Too # 15
1.) Is there a goal, or something you value highly that a simple time commitment would put within your reach? What is it? Why is it important to you? If it’s a high school, or college degree that is of the utmost importance to you, why is it significant beyond the obvious reason (i.e. job)?
I know, I know, a time commitment is not always simple, but if you don’t make whatever it is you’re after important enough to spend time on it just won’t happen. My answers are in the last post.
2.) Why haven’t you done this already? If you’re already working towards it, tell us about a particularly difficult hurtle.
3.) Be realistic. How much time can you comit towards making it happen?
Post your URL in the comment
“With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.”
–Chinese Proverb
Blogging Hiatus?
I’m finding that I spend more time these days blogging then playing with flash, programing or design.
Now that’s just got to be BS.
Well, I guess you’re right in the sense of the actual amount of time spent on blogging, although if I include time spent reading other’s blogs… Maybe I mean, it’s about spending creative energy. While hopping around reading answers to last week’s Tuesday Too. Sara @ sheherazade answered the question, “Who would you like to spend the afternoon/evening questioning?” with a negative. Her response included, “…not the cruel Psychic Revealer.” It made me realize that I haven’t fooled around with, any new flash designs for months!
So you’re blaming this on blogging?
It’s really a combination of things, and if I’m honest with myself, I’d have to say that I sometimes put flash, design and programing ahead of painting. Maybe the real issue concerns keeping my own priorities straight; in other words paying attention to my hierarchy of priorities. Perhaps I need a day or two of reflection, or it could be that I need a good whack on the behind, to do the things I love/fear the most. For months I used “the thesis comes first” as a reason not to paint. It should be noted, that during that time I still managed to blog, and produced two flash designs and a new navigation interface. Could it be that I’m just looking for a new whipping [toy] in order to justify my slim productivity?
Where is this going?
I’d really like to have a show of my paintings. I have nine that I would consider good enough at the moment. If I can actually allow/induce myself to spend 4 or 5 hours a day painting, I should be able to produce a dozen more in a matter of weeks.
So why don’t you?
I don’t know; there is no reason not to do it. Okay, or alrighty then, today is June 2nd; so I’ll say: “by June 23rd, I will have produced 12 new paintings.” OMG oaths online now that’s scary. What an idea; Oaths.com could be the next…
“Once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it’s hard to get it back in!”
–H.R. Haldeman
Baltimore Bloggers
Going to a BBQ tonight hosted by two of the Baltimore Bloggers; whahoo put some faces to the blogs. Thanks Dean and Amy.
What else is on your plate?
I have to hobble around on my broken toe, and glaze some windows I prepared last week. I do not feel like doing this, but I need the money. Damn car insurance is due, so since I intend to keep driving, I’d better get a move on.