(#101/365) Offerings

"Passions do not exist in objects, nor in the senses, nor in the space between, nor anywhere else. Then where are they, that they torment the whole world? They are nothing but illusions. So, my heart, leave behind your fear, and strive towards wisdom. Why should you put yourself through hell for no reason?" - Shantideva


Title: Inside the raindrop.....happy Earth Day!
Flickr User DFlora

wind in the eucalyptus is different

Miss Kate and I got up this morning and went for coffee. I got out of the car for coffee - and Miss Kate went into a full-on superpowerpout^tm and I assured her I'd be right back. and sure enough I got my coffee and when I got in the car she exploded in a circle dance and face-licking frenzy - my little girl was ramped up - - so we decided to go for a run in Eleanor Pardy Park.

The park is a few blocks over from the house - in a neighborhood full of Eicklers. (60's bungalows by architect Joseph Eickler) Our usual routine is to walk a figure eight through the neighborhood - and then go for a run in the park. I'm incredibly fond of Eicklers - so I look at how each home treats their respective set up - (knowing that most Eicklers are oriented around their back yards so you can't really tell much from the front). I wonder as I look at the homes - what is original - what has been added? and when a decision is made - do they worry about keeping to period - keeping it Eickler-esque - or do they bring in new textures and materials. Miss Kate, of course, is nose to the pavement on sniff patrol.

Eickler owners are very fond of a shrub I call "stinky bush" - that blooms this time of year with a very very strong scent. It overpowers my senses and does the same thing to poor Miss Kate (with her powerful dog sniffing abilities) - she'll literally look up at me like "omg - that bush is kicking my ass! can we get to the next block please?" then she'll literally let out a little puppy-sneeze and launch off for the next block - hoping that it's a stinky bush free zone. More often than not - its more stinky bush - and she'll let out this little huff - like "is this is the only goddamn shrub people can plant?" - she's much more prone to a bushy plant that blooms in the early summer and again in late summer with blue bell shaped flowers. she can sniff that all day long. I suspect - its because raccoons (that live in the waste water system) dig for grubs at the base of these at night - and leave that irresistible scent Miss Kate loves.

This morning's weather was very moody - (a rainy front is moving in) - and it was gusty and windy. The park is lined by eucalyptus trees that are 500-600 feet tall? (math isn't my strong suit - but I don't think I'm over estimating) and when wind gusts come through - eucalyptus trees experience wind differently than any other tree. They have leaves from the ground to the tips - so it's like watching someone drop a stone in the water - and you can see the wind moving through the trees. Gusts are seen by the whole tree moving in unison - while gentle breezes literally achieve three-dimensionality moving across the many leaves on the tree. and it was a fun moment when Miss Kate and I were running around the park when a big gust came through and the eucalyptus literally let out a creak and a flurry of noise that both me and Miss Kate stopped and looked up at the giant trees. I knelt down and Miss Kate came in for a nuzzle.

We had the entire park to ourselves... it was amazing as the park usually is crammed with kids and families. They are rebuilding the playground (its literally all torn up) so - it was amazing to have the whole park to ourselves. Just a remarkable time!

Patio Furniture Shopping

Dave and I started shopping for patio furniture today. As with any Dr. Dave process - there is preliminaries - finalists - obsessing - THEN purchase. :) A fine multi-step process. (giggle) Today - was preliminaries:



four very different stores - and looks. I am a fan of the bar set from "The Teak Patio" - and Dave (Mr. Modern) likes the Synthetic Wicker set from Lane Venture. We'll see! :) but there are a lot more styles out there than I thought there was. I liked the Marley set at Tom's. I am not sure Dave is sold on Teak vs. metal or something else. We both liked the Mixed Materials Chair at Gloster (weaving and Teak arms and metal legs) but it's also a "champagne taste" kind of chair - its far far more expensive.

HOORAY!

Tonight I had the great pleasure of having dinner with Robert Coren rsc and John Gintell jwg whom I've corresponded with for nearly seven years over LJ and email. They are just delightful and to meet them in person is a gigantic treat.


rsc, jwg and low_fat_muffin

These two and I have written emails and shared journals and ideas for over six years. Thanks to Van Waffle vaneramos for introducing us over the internet! :) These two youngsters met at work in 1973 - and are celebrating 38 years together as a couple. ;) It was just so wonderful to meet them in person finally. HOORAY!

(piano lessons) 2nd Lesson

so - my piano teacher, Alita - recorded my second lesson - and posted to her piano studio's website this video of me playing "Indian Song" from the piano level 1 book.

She writes (as she speaks in broken russian/english):

"You're on my You Tube!!! So sweet! This has been a week of Indians Songs recordings. I tried putting you not so next to each other, guys, but it does not matter I guess. Your main competition is not Issac actually... It's Nicolas, he is 5. Check him out!

Ok, I want you to know that you might all play Indian Song, but it does not mean it took you all the same amount of effort. It took Issac about 4 months to get to it and for Nicolas it is a huge accomplishment, he worked 8 months to reach such a difficulty level. In any case, I like your beat, though, you definitely have a thing going there with the beat. I see big future."