August 14, 2005

"A Rich Weekend"
2:37pm

We have had a lovely anniversary weekend. Friday evening we went to River City Grill and Julia wisely remembered our decision to split entreés. I had all the halibut I wanted, plus the tasty tidbits that go with it, also a delicious appetizer of stuffed figs. I never had fresh figs before, and they were tasty.

Saturday morning, I didn't feel much like concentrating, so I did other tasks, such as washing the clothes. When the noggin is boggin', I figure that is the most efficient use of time. Then we went to see the movie Sky High, about a 'Hogwarts' for super heroes and a group of kids who aren't considered 'hero' quality. It was great fun. After that, we had a big feast at India House. Julia has learned about me and buffets. Her first plate is very sparse. I arrive hungry, my plate is piled high. I eat about half of it and am stuffed. Then she finishes up what I don't eat. This way, we each get nicely full.

In the evening, we visited with our friends Horst and Margo and had a great time. We now have a copy of their autobiographical book, titled Rising Up Again and Again, about not giving into defeat. At the end of the visit, Horst said how we make our own reality, and I wanted to reply "Xeper", and I knew that if he knew the meaning, he would understand.

I didn't go to bed after that. The good conversation energized me. The earlier afternoon nap helped, as well. So I was surfing around, looking at what other people had done to illustrate the Friday Illo theme of Wisdom. I followed a link to an artist who does women and Goddess inspired images. I kept wishing her little pics were bigger, so that I could see more details. But I enjoyed what I was able to see. And I was inspired. Her picture of Sekhmet's Temple in the Nevada desert inspired me to a spontaneous drawing:

A Woman At Peace With Herself

It started out as an automatic drawing, then I realized it could be a FRESH illo for 'Wisdom', so I added it to that gallery, as well.

I stayed up late last night doing that. In the morning, I got up long enough to watch the CBS Sunday Morning Show with Julia. They were doing themes of 'The Good Life'. I didn't have much envy for the exorbitant wealth displayed. Wealth to me is measured in richness of experience. However, I do admit, with a little more money, perhaps a richer experience can be had. (Plane fare, etc., is not cheap.) Still, it is the desire to have fun and to enjoy the adventurous spirit that is most necessary.

After a long nap, I woke refreshed and ready to return to my Book of Life project. Remembering the rough years in college had not been easy, yet it was those times which brought about in me a greater strength. Today's remembrance involved my first sewing job, and the challenges of slowly learning those tasks. I will admit to a bit of 'slowness'. I remember the first pair of tailored coat sleeves I did. My boss was not easily patient, but I did eventually master the tasks.

About three years ago, a man came to the sewing shop, and took everyone's pictures for an article he was writing. I found the large original and used that as the model for this drawing:

© JAL, 8-14-05, (Click to see larger version)

And thus I have spent most of my working days since 1982!

It has been a lovely weekend, and it is not over yet! I wish for you my readers, blessings both bright and dark and joy from unexpected places.

August 16, 2005

"'Blind' Contour"
12:52am

That is my attempt at 'Blind Contour', drawing my face without looking at the paper. The artist who has inspired me and many others does it so much better. I had fun, none the less.

Saturday, August 20, 2005 A

"Tasting Life Twice"
5:03am

I woke up early with an idea I should change the title of this journal. After this journal no longer was a Dietlog, it became a rather peculiar title. But I liked the general design too much to change it. Years went by. Quite a few years. Now, after considering so many failed intentions, I feel moved to change the journal title. I read the beginning entry of this journal and ruefully laugh: I am still the 187 pounds I was when I first began! Through the years, ten pounds less, ten pounds more, but on the average, not a whole lot of change there!

But I still like the general design. Or is it general laziness? For whatever reasons, I don't feel moved to change it. So I'm keeping 'the plate' and the 'past repasts'. However, something Anais Nin said came back to me in remembrance, “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in introspection.”. I certainly find that true, and true once again, in rereading what I've written in the past. Therefore 'ye olde' 'Weighty Matters' is now Tasting Life Twice:

I'm not changing all the old journal sections. That's too much work, for having begun in December 1998, there are nearly seven years of them. However, from further on, this journal will be known as Tasting Life Twice.

Saturday, August 20, 2005 B

"Upon Reflecting"
5:03am

It is strange, perhaps I kept that old title, too, like it was a magical talisman to prevent weight gain. Losing that title, I find myself with the oddest slight fear that now there will be nothing restraining me from ever expanding girth.

My mind is 'a strange and fitful' thing at times, isn't it? Well, I'll let you all know if anything unusual happens in this regard.

Monday, August 22, 2005

"Summing Up the Weekend"
10:31pm

The weekend had much to savor, despite the painful distraction of a sinus headache. Perhaps it might not have been so intense, had I not 'savored' some mango ice cream Friday night. But the lamb shishkabob was quite tasty.

Julia did well with her spontaneous talk regarding 'her path' at the YPN gathering, and the other guy was also interesting. It was kind of surreal, hearing the sound of a tattoo drill as background 'music'. (There is a tattoo parlor next door from the coffee shop where we met.)

In the evening, we went to the Mensa games night, and enjoyed the stir fry Charles made for everyone. I won the 'Phase 10' card game, even though at the beginning I thought I would lose. One psychic thing to report, for I picked up Julia's cards by mistake, and I felt disappointed to take my own, as hers had a 'tingly' feel. Sure enough, she went out that round, achieving her phase goal right off the bat.

Sunday was rather quiet. I wrote a poem of uncertain quality and made a picture, after learning about the 'Samtaui'.

Set and Horus are the Samtaui, the two primal neteru as active forces in the Universe.

Julia told me the word Samtaui meant 'a pairing', because of its ending. (I think she's dabbled in a hundred languages!) I really worked to try and make Horus look like he was radiating light, and Set to be dark. I put the shoulders of Ramses II dark, to show the 'broad shoulders', synonym for strength, is from SET's energy, and the light in the crown to show a good ruler needs the 'outward looking eye' of Horus. Horus is seen as a falcon, for as he soars he must have keen far vision.

And what fun we had with the Google Earth program tonight! Julia and I went to many places, our old hometowns, the Giza pyramids, the Statue of Liberty, to name a few. We looked also at Malta, where Julia has spent much time, but that map isn't so detailed yet.

The porch kittens have discovered their vocal cords. They mew quite loudly. They're probably complaining that their mama has abandoned them and they are hungry. I think Mama is rather feral, for she runs when she sees either of us, even if she had been nursing.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

"Empty, Now Full"
6:33pm

Julia has been gently nagging me that we really ought to go grocery shopping. A few days went by, I was too hot, too tired, too achy, but then I finally consented.

It had been a while since we'd gone to Smart and Final, and we filled the entire basket, even placing some items on the bottom rack. Julia and I have a system. I load them into the back of the car. She takes them into the house and I put them away. I had quite a surprise when I opened the freezer. Three small bags of vegetables with maybe one or two servings left in each, some meatless burgers, and that was about it. Oh, we still had some frozen blueberries.

I have never seen a refrigerator so bare. I remembered back to when Laura was with us. Laura equated huge stockpiles of things with security, and we had not only a stuffed refrigerator, but a three foot tall freezer that was stuffed with all manner of edibles. After Laura passed away July 2002, it took months for Julia and I to finish up everything in that big box freezer. Now, the regular refrigerator is sufficient for us.

Not only food, Laura stockpiled printer paper. It was not until some time this year that I needed to buy some more. Perhaps it was part of her way of taking care of us. I still have colored pencils by the hundred and lots of art paper, in all sizes. She wanted me to have no excuse for not exercising my artistic skills. I do miss her.

Meanwhile, now we have a very full refrigerator and full tummies. The mixed vegetables just nicely touched with canola margarine were so fresh and tasty, and the oatmeal raisin cookies afterwards were delicious.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

"A Small Remembrance"
8:35pm

I haven't accomplished much this evening, just quietly reminiscing and looking at old back up discs, retrieving some of the pictures.

For some reason, space concerns, I think it was, I'd removed the picture of Laura in the pine trees from an old journal entry, and today I put it back.

Also, I found a couple of pictures taken while traveling to Canyon Lake back in January, 2000:

Superstition mountains to the left?

Canyon Lake in sight...

Those are worthy of retrieval, and that day pleasant to remember. Laura was just beginning to heal after Shayna's death, so the two of us getting out and about exploring a place we'd never been to was most restorative for both of us.

I especially like the second picture for my eye keeps wanting to follow that road to see what's ahead.