Documenting the World, Wk 6, Together

This is a picture close to my heart. I look at it and I reflect this past year, all the love that was shared between these two people. I see their similarities and I see their differences. I love how this photo turned out. I love the colors and just the togetherness they show. I was inspired by several and convinced by one to try this shot out and I'm thrilled that I did. It's my favorite. It leaves out their faces and shows their action. It has a taste of rugged grace and I cannot help but want to play, be around this loving couple. Yes, it's true, I'm the one with holes in my jeans, and Richie, the boy next to me. This is us, taking a time out from our busy schedules just to be and enjoy each other's company.

I hope that you, too are able to spend the holidays with the ones you love the most!
Merry Christmas To All, and To All a Good Night!

Project Homeless: Gloria Says...

I have seen Gloria a few times, but on that particular day, she was atimate about getting my attention.

As I was passed by on the street, she waved me down and asked me to take her picture. I stopped and snapped a couple of shots while she gave me an exuberant smile, proud that someone would want to photograph her. When I finished she took my hand and asked my name. I noticed immediately that her eyes were heavily dialated and I had suspected for sometime that she might be mentally handicapped, but course who can be sure?

She held onto my hand tight and told me I was just like her neice, with the same name as daughter of her sister, she said. Gloria soon went off track and kept talking about a number of other people she knew, I couldn't always make it out, as she would trail off and mumble. But if I tried to say good-bye or walk away, she became very frustrated and spoke louder. It wasn't until another girl came by that we were able to tag team and say good-bye to Gloria. 

Certainly it was a difficult visit. And I would be lying if I told you that there are homeless men and women who weren't socially awkward, don't do drugs, or don't have handicaps. In many cases, that may be the very reason they are homeless. I can imagine that Gloria has had a hard life. I imagine that her memories are jumbled and perhaps her mind doesn't always follow what others are saying. I also imagine that Gloria does what she can to cope with the streets, right or wrong. She collects things and always has them with her, in boxes and ags. Her broom is never far from her reach and I've seen her with and without blankets. 

It's hard to know how to help someone like Gloria, mostly because it is difficult to even communicate effectively with her. For now, I will pray for her. I encourage you to offer your prayers this Christmas season as well as any time and energy you may have to give to the homeless people. 

Eco Friendly, Eco Struggles

The other day, I read an article in National Geographic's Green Guide magazine that suggested ways to conserve on energy, save money and the environment. I am certainly a promoter of creative ways to go green, so I thought I would put my stamp on a few that just might be useful. 

~Update on the World~

The morning paper- the news that we live to love and hate....Green Guide suggested that we should read our morning news online rather than subscribing to the paper. Besides avoiding the paper boy breaking a window and looking like idiots in our underwear during the winter, reading the news online is an economically better suggestion and it's free! This is actually something I already do since I have to be constantly up to date on the latest in the world. It is also something my generation has ushered into the new millinium. We live in a technologically advanced world and newspapers are needing to follow the new age. 

~Coffee...Talk~

We all enjoy our morning and evening and...well anytime of day cups of coffee from Starbucks. Or perhaps, that fabulous hole in the wall coffee shop that makes french press; it's just delicious. But according to National Geographic; Americans throw away 16 billion paper cups per year!! It also stated that paper can be a terrible waste because of its decomposition. So why not invest in a steel thermos or other tricked out style and have Starbucks fill it up? Not only will it save a dollar or two on your daily fix (which, by the ways adds up tremendously), but it also will save the paper and keep your coffee warmer a bit longer. That's a great additive for me since work gets busy and I have to set my coffee down, by the time I get to it, it's gone cold. 

~Lunch Break~

Despite our growing busy schedules we still have to eat. One of the method's Green Guide offered was to use reusable containers and tin foil rather than paper bags. It also suggested taking your own silver ware rather than using plastic ware. This saves yet another tree and if you're not buying your lunch on a regular basis, a cheaper, healthier lifestyle.  I admit that I'm not always good about this. Frequently, I  just buy lunch as I don't want to take the time. But the magazine's suggestion is a fine one and certainly we can all benefit.

~Lights...Action!~

Turning out the lights when you leave the room can be easy to forget esp. when you're in and out all day long, but when if you're leaving the house or won't be revisiting the room, it's best to conserve the electrical energy. Green Guide emphasized this method and I agree that it's probably useful. 

Other Creative Alternatives~

1. Bamboo flooring instead of Maple or Oak (this is more of an investment into your home, not the simple easy way, but because I came across it, I am mentioning. I may discuss it more in another entry)

2. Newspaper as a retro alternative to wrapping paper (this is great esp. if you're just switching to online news, re-use that paper you'll probably end up throwing away).

3. Reusable coffee filter rather than paper filters. 

4. Power down your computers or put them to sleep when you're finished with them. 

The suggestions I've made are typically simple and can apply to your everyday. Can you think of any??

Documenting the World, Week 5

It's true, I've been a little lax on the blog front this month. But with this week's Documenting the World, I will start to give you a taste of a coming project, called "Long Road." The city can appear a lonely place during the winter months. Here is a small taste of the pictures I have been taking. More to come, my friends.

Documenting the World, Week 4

Winter-

Cold, but comforting

Change of season

Change of will.

Dry and-

harsh but beautiful

All looks barren

but all 

is not lost. 

Dreams come true

and worries decease.

but in between are lovers

snuggled-

in the sheets.

Documenting the World, Week 3

This is probably one of my favorite pictures from Thanksgiving weekend. The little man is getting bigger every time I see him. He's articulate, for as much as he can be at 2, and he's fun to watch. After this picture was taken he wanted to go behind the little field behind the cabin and just run...and he couldn't do it unless someone went with him. So I joined him and we ran all the way across the fence and back. It was really cute! With intelligent and colorful parents; he will definitely grow up to be one smart kid and certainly very active.

Documenting the World, Week 2

Questions

What rides the wave of my past?

Who knows

From where it comes 

or how it goes?

When it changes

And why it begins

What it will say 

Who it will ask to listen

Is a mystery displaced~ where

I cannot know how to understand

When-ever do I ask

"why ever was this the plan?"

Lost in what I do

Who knew

this is where I'd be

how time just flew

When did it begin

Or why did end?

My past and present is what I know

Who will chage it but me?

Where-as now my future

How I hold to be

Why I stand for it all

Only me

Secrets and Confessions Part 2

When I need a little mind numbing television, VH1's reality shows usually do the trick. From Rock of Love 1 & 2 to Charm School with Sharon Osborne; I can laugh and not think about the siliness of the reality show. I can smirk in amazement at the contestants and how they've all  become regular "reality tv stars."  And of all the sheer insanity that I see - one show rises above the rest- Dr. Drew's Celebrity Rehab. 

I actually like the show. I'm not religious about it or anything, but if I catch it, it is pretty interesting. Dr. Drew Pinsky, known for his radio program called Love Lines, hosts a show that assists celebrities with their drug and mental difficulties. Last week I watched an episode where the people getting treatment were participating in group therapy. It was quite amazing to see these men and woman, so low, yet able to find encouragement for each other. Certainly Dr. Drew offered his advice and guidance, but each person had something to contribute the woman who's mother was a drug addict and influenced her, or another woman who was raped and felt she deserved it, or the man in a wheel chair, suffering extreme pain and emotional problems after his surgeries. There is something about a group of people confessing to one another, laying their burdens down, feeling like they can make it b/c they are not alone. 

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote to you about how the online community is supporting people's dark Secrets and Confessions.  People need community. They need to be lifted up.  They need forgiveness. They need human contact, love, and acceptance. Their admittance is often their ticket to freedom. 

But someone brought something to my attention, after my last post. There are things that people will still take to their grave. What I want to know is, why? 

If confession is so "liberating," then why must their be shame? If we want to find out that we're not alone, then why hide? The truth is- there is no need for either of these things. There is Forgiveness, there is True Love and there is Acceptance. But it takes a kind of faith to believe that. It takes the acknowledgement that doing it "alone" is getting us no-where. It is the belief that "there's no such thing as a secret." Someone already knows, someone already shares your experience and it's ok. 

When we, as human beings, realize this- then we are one step away from breaking out of our box. We are one step away from living a life of freedom and grace.  We can love ourselves, we can love other people. Everyone has a past, everyone has a story, and there must be away to release it. There must be others to recieve it and accept it. It is possible to fight against the thing that tears each person down from who they are and are meant to be. Sometimes in our weakest moment, we can be used for the greatest good...for someone else's good. 

Whether it's anonymous admission, or perhaps sitting amongst a group of fellow addicts- "Living," really really LIVING is possible. 

This video is by Alter Bridge. It is called Watch Over You and was dedicated to Celebrity Rehab.

Documenting the World, Week 1

I love the colors of the fall. I actually began to believe that I would not see them this year as it took so long for the leaves to change and fall to the ground. But here we are, in the middle of November and it's beautiful outside. The air is crisp and moist but not frigid. Cool enough for my sweatshirt, but warm enough to stand outside and take in the misty air. It's been a few days since the sun has shone, but the fog outside still, somehow, gives nature it's glow. 

It's so quiet. I am amazed and how wonderful the silence around me actually sounds. It is as if everything is a peace. The air is calm and I can breathe in the world around me without any sense of rush and desperate necessity. It's fascinating. I anticipate the winter will not be treacherous...simply b/c of how the trees around me look today. The leaves appear chaotic, but they are beautiful and assuring. The array of colors is almost...comforting.

Plugging In

I hope all of you enjoyed the short story in October. I'm sure you're as glad as I am that the election is over and we can finally find new things to talk about! So to start us out, I have some great plugs for you this month. Ready?

**Sites for Sore Eyes-

Daniel Edlen is a distinguished vinyl artist. He is a record collector and he combines his love for music and art to create portrait masterpieces. He features his own blog, which tells the stories of his artwork and what has inspired him to do various pieces over time. The vinyl records are often worn to the point of being destroyed. The acryllic style painting does not come off and he sells them directly on his website. From Jimi Hendrix to Bono to the Beatles, Elden hopes that his paintings will inspire others as well. You can check out his Gallery, here. And to see more about how he works, check out Current TV's piece on Edlen.

Current TV has recently posted a 25 minute interview with Al Gore. Gore is the Chairman of Current TV and also on the board for Apple. He has some very interesting comments, ranging from politics to the interenet to the environment. All the questions were submitted by viewers and users of the Current.com and Digg. Whether or not you agree w/ Gore's ideals or policies, his savvy for the business industry is attention-grabbing . It's worth checking out if you have the time.

**Recommended Read-
Currently I am working through another book by Terry Pratchett, entitled, Reaper Man. Pratchett is a fantasy fiction writer and his works are brilliant. I will have a review when I finish the work but I would, thus far, highly recommend it. In the story, Death is told that he must retire and goes off to be a farmer. But with no one collecting souls, the world is confused about where to go when they die and they remain...well, rather zombie-like. Despite the fact that I am not accustomed to the genre of sci-fi or fantasy, I thoroughly enjoy Pratchett's satirical references and writing. You can take a look at my previous review on Pratchett, here.

Words Without Borders is supporting a theme of Immigration this month. One of the essays included is from Alexei Bayer from Russia. Bayer discusses the nature of translating from one language when reading or writing or viewing a play. Her perspective is fascinating and worth reading.

**Photography-
This week has started off great for Leah and Brandon who have designed a collaborative effort across the continents to post photographs from their daily lives. Lately, LeahMeetsBrandon has displayed an array of faces and colorful photos that capture something a drawing feeling. Leah lives in Canada while Brandon in Africa. They post new pictures every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Finally, stemming from the inspiration of friends, I am going to post a photograph once a week. I will call it~ "Documenting the World"~ and will offer some sort of explanation behind the piece. So- be looking for that very soon!

Happy Monday Everyone!