"Book of Lies" represents all the lies the media tells us, for whatever reasons it does. I don't know why I didn't draw the Set figure with his famous ears. Other than that, he's a combination of the 'Set animal' and the 'animal headed man figure' in the form of a centaur. The unhappy older man, possibly a philosopher or teacher, presents Set with the book, demanding action. But Set just asks him "What Ya Gonna Do About It?" Perplexing, isn't it?

The dictionary definition of "circumspection" is "carefulness to consider all circumstances and possible consequences"

Tuesday, April 4, 2006 B

"Good Effort"
9:44pm

I think the 'Book of Lies' was influenced by a movie we saw at the Mensa gathering, "The Corporation". That one is quite unsettling. Some corporations not only pollute the environment and endanger species, they abuse humans, and even try to own the water that falls from the sky. When news reporters try to report the abuse, they can't because the stations' advertisers (those same corporations) demand they edit the stories. How can we know we're getting truthful reports?

So that really disturbed me a bit. But they give hope, as people can insist they make changes. At least one poor village can now collect rainwater in pots, which they couldn't do before without a huge fee.

I added "What ya gonna do?", along with two others, 'Relaxing with calm dignity' and 'Surveying the kingdom' to the Set gallery. They don't fit the traditional iconography, but even the ancients varied it, as the griffin was associated with Set, which I explain as to the 'why' of these oddies in the gallery.

I've had a small bit of 'badness'. Those gazillion catalogs we get, which overflow our mail box, sometimes I look at them. Thus it was a Lands' End shirt with the nice pocket flaps is now in a lovely red orange. "Yes, Oprah, I will feel 'alive' in this color, it is so 'me', that surely I shall feel beautiful in it..." For that, I can be extravagant. I was so indulgent, I got both long and short sleeve versions. There's a reason. I roasted yesterday as I wanted to wear my 'leaf green' shirt, and couldn't find the short sleeve version. I wore the long sleeve and sweltered. The seasons are definitely changing. We're leaving the windows open now at night.

Here are some more items seen on our weekend adventure:

   
Pair of earth spirits: one lion-faced and one human-faced. Chinese, Tang dynasty, 8th century, painted earthenware,
Phoenix Art Museum

Now I think I'll make good effort to get to bed at a reasonable time. Good night!

Thursday, April 6, 2006 A

"Skin Deep"
4:16am

I went to bed very early last night. I just crashed. But as back will have it, I have to get up very early to ease it. Aging! Oh, it's a thing I don't want to admit. As I put on socks for the night chill, I looked at the bottoms of my feet. The skin is getting thin and shiny. The skin on the tops of my hands, thin and shiny. And the demanding back! I cannot stand too long in one place, it yells. I cannot sleep for long hours, it screams.

It's such a dichotomy, for I do not feel old in spirit. I think I'll just be as young as I can be, with the means I have. I saw a clip of Joan Collins on TV, was shocked to hear her age, 72!!! She's still gorgeous. Of course, with exercise trainers, boob raising, double chin removal and what other alterations they go through, it is more possible for the rich to look gorgeous at 72. Ah, it is in matters of the spirit that I feel young.

At Phoenix Art Museum, "Lingerie, Secrets of Elegance"

No matter what society tells us, we don't have to listen. I don't like the radio disk jockey, speaking of 'low' ticket sales, who said of Sharon Stone in the second 'Basic Instinct' movie, "Who wants to see a forty eight year old woman?" Spoken, of course, with all the arrogance of someone in his twenties. Yes, I would have looked better in those delicate things in the picture above when I was in my twenties than I would now. Yes, I suppose this be so even with exercise trainers, boob raising, double chin removal and what not. But the disk jockey, should fortune favor him, will reach his late forties also, and his body will give the signs. Yet we are so much more than just our surface appearance, and even the inward groanings.

I think of my aging mother, and the thing she always said, "I'm not a number, I'm not a number, I'm not a car on the car lot!" Of course not. Laura, who also wasn't 'a number', made a cartoon of my mother:

'Being in denial', what is that?

Of course, I don't want to ignore the portents. I don't want to waste the 'numbers' of years, days and minutes that remain. But I will not say to Laura, 63, that is your number, and to my mother, 75, that is your number. Laura's realm of influence still goes on. I get letters from people who are still inspired by her writings. She has a certain form of immortality. 'Rage against the machine', may she continue to. The mechanical 'grim reaper' can not have our souls, unless we offer them.

Thursday, April 6, 2006 B

"Pouring Tea"
10:28pm

This was quickly sketched from a photo of Julia pouring tea at the Phoenix Art Museum café.

Friday, April 7, 2006 A

"Greetings..."
6:40am

"Greetings!" from a very strange individual... grin!

Friday, April 7, 2006 B

"Organized"
8:39pm

My clothes are at last organized...

The two new blouses I'd ordered arrived today. I almost felt guilty, knowing I already have so many. There was only one solution. I went through the closet, and organized them, taking out what I no longer like or which doesn't fit. Now, skirts are to the far left on the perpendicular pole, short sleeve blouses are to the left and long sleeves are to the right. I counted them, there are fifty six! I do not feel guilty. But I think from now on, I will just chuck the catalogs out without looking at them.

Then I took the blue box of things put away, that was now overflowing with the current rejects, and went through them. I asked myself, if I ever got to be that size again, would I want to wear that item again? As a result, two and half bags are full of items for giveaway, and I can again shut the lid on the blue box.

Now my stuffed drawers and messy shelves await my attention.

Saturday, April 8, 2006

"Fair Sights"
1:42pm

I haven't shared very many of the Phoenix trip photos, and now I'm onto this weekend's adventure. Much closer to home, we just went to the Yuma County Fair. I always enjoy the exhibits and the critters.

Striped mirror effect...

Julia and I stood on opposite sides of a striped mirror device. Between the mirror stripes is clear glass, so inbetween the reflections of me, Julia, who is taller, shows through. I am in the peach blouse, while Julia is wearing sunglasses. (I sent a smaller version of this to The Mirror Project)

I always enjoy the photography galleries:

An owl seemingly peers through the reflective glass ...

I like the floral displays as well:

A beautiful iris..

You can almost smell this lovely prize winner...

And of course, I could not miss the critter exhibits:

This proud rooster caught my eye...

Fair pics of 2004