Don't play with it

She always gets the Club Sandwich...

I always get the Daddy O' Dog..

These days my nights consist once more of wild unplanned adventures involving bikes and fun escapades. I used to be rather hesitant about bikes, never really saw the appeal before... And then I went to a riverfest in the country and I realized bikes and their riders are sexy! Next thing you know, I wanted to learn to ride. As the laws of attraction deems, what you focus your mind on, is what you attract.

After lamenting about not having my license or access to a vehicle to practice on. (Especially since the bf doesn't seem to have even the remotest trust of me behind the wheel of his precious baby) One day I bounced into a close friend I haven't seen in a while - we resumed communication and now?


Last night I had the opportunity to drive both a manual car and a bike. The manual car first to get the basics. Then the bike as bikes tend to be manual. I actually rode all by myself. It was epic. Can't wait to do it again...! Now if only the stupid Tropical Storm Ernesto didn't pass, I could've been well enjoying myself tonight... but no --- it's raining cats and dogs.

So my fun escapades has brought me to hidden beaches and abandoned houses. No it's not what you think. Currently, I have a friend visiting from away and in the midst of conversation cool spots would come up. Since we only get to meet up on evenings for the most part due to schedules, late night spontaneity is as good as it's going to get to see some of these places.

This was a spot we found overlooking the airport. It was gorgeous... but I didn't have my good camera with me. Therefore, I had to rely on my android and Picasa's lovely editing abilities.

Then there was a mini-pool party by Jermaine's house. We cruised around with the top down... Got some of Jermaine's yummy cooking, took a dip in the pool

Drank some wine

Then Sher and I bounced into some old college friends...

Richie & I

Richie, Genis & Sher

Sher and I (btw, you may know her as The Wordy Phoenix poet)

And then I passed out on my floor...

So... I've spent my morning feeling rather inspired. I sauntered over to Sher's blog (yumekari.blogspot.com) and she's been doing lots of creative things recently. 

She started an ICAD project, whereby she does a drawing daily on an index card. Also, she did a project whereby she used colouring, tissue and pipe cleaner. Sounds intriguing? It is! So go peek!


What's been picking my fancy? So I've been running around taking lots of photo references. My folly? I've been taking artistic photo shots... however, it's hard to translate these shots into a painting. At least in my mind...

The other thing that's been intriguing to me? Well we all know I've had a fascination with black paper, hence my night series. But now, after visiting Aunty Dollie's house and attaining a collection of peacock feathers... I'm curious about feathers. Also, after scouring youtube, I found this interesting melted crayon technique.

Progress mark on the project so far...

I had some loose canvas sheets around. I had done a previous sketch that I changed my mind on, so I decided to freestyle an abstract piece and split the sheet. I have yet to mount the pieces... and you know how it goes. I'm still deliberating on if it's really done now.

I particularly love the down feather on the right as it feels soft and furry to the touch.


And then... my crayon experiment. I went to a yard sale early May and I have this bad habit of not being able to see art supplies and not want it. In recent years, I have reconciled my relationship with pencil crayons and discovered its actually a very good medium. So I figured, why not reconcile my relationship with crayons. I haven't dabbled with them experimentally since I was a kid.

This was a frustrating experiment. Firstly, I have nothing hot enough other than an iron to melt crayon without setting the paper afire. In the end, I shaved the crayon and melted the shaved bits. I did the drawing first. Everything was done mostly in paints - the outlines, heliconia, hummingbird, lady in yoga position and the yellow back ground. The rest of the background was done in crayons. I bled paint and glitter polish on the top edges and then added the peacock feather as a final touch. It still feels kinda rough to me... I might come back to this piece in the future...


C'est tout...
Ciao

I've made so many promises to myself to update recently but as usual, life happened.

A dear friend of mine, Sher, once gave me a journal a few years back with these Bible quotes on every other page. The words were thoughtful but I had not a clue as to what I would do with it. It was one of those gifts that you appreciate and on a deep level want for yourself but would never actually go and buy it as... there's other things you want more.

Ironically, when I was finally able to decide on what to do with it, I turned it into a goals journal. I try to write in it at least three times a year - to state my intended goals, reflect on progress, reflect on overall achievement at the end. What's my trend? Surprisingly, I actually do cover all of my goals, even if not in its entirety. Funnily enough, I also tend to not really cover anything until November-December. *wink* It's in keeping with my "I work best under pressure" theory.

This year was my most ambitious year I'd say - and with great risk comes great failures. The funny part of this story is that I swore it would be a drama free, successful year - instead it was the complete opposite, which I had not prepared for. Lesson to be learned? It's good to have a plan, but it's better to be practical where you can be with worse comes to worse situations.

I remember earlier up as I approached my 23rd birthday, annoyed at aging and not feeling like I've accomplished very much by that age, I pestered everyone about their experiences about their 23rd. The consensus was that it was a period of growth, learning and understanding of self. I thought to myself "ahhh psshhhh, whatever... let's see how this is gonna go."


As the year teeters to a close I must grudgingly admit, it has been a spiritual year of sorts. I once read somewhere that your 20s are about self-discovery, defining who you are, experimenting and so forth. My 20s thus far have been utterly disorienting in the manner of which one jumps through a rabbit hole unintentionally and just prays for the best.

What I've learned - finally - was that maybe I've been too idealistic in my approach to life. I still believe the world needs a little more naivety as people as too aware of all that's bad... But I think because of that awareness, it necessitates some sort of grounding within oneself within the real world. This is how it is - it could change, be yourself, but this is the world we live in currently.

I think it took me a while to reconcile that not all who listen are listening because they care, not all who seem to care, truly do and not everyone who seems trusting should be trusted.

I found myself disappointed, unhappy, somewhat bitter, and struggling to orient myself most of the time. At the very least, it's been truly experimental, riddled with bad mistakes and decisions, and some even bold ones. Who am I kidding? I'm being euphemistic. In many ways, it's been hell but there are a few people that helped make it heaven. Thanks for riding that wave with me, you know who you are. One must always be prepared for riotous and endless waves of transformation, and gracious for those who stick around for the ride.



Most of my goals for this year were practical, financial, self-improvement goals. By time mid-year, I pretty much gave up hope on accomplishing anything as everything just seemed to be going wrong the harder I tried and then something magical happened.

I stopped trying. I think somewhere around here I was just too exhausted and decided to just ride out the year and try anew 2012.

What happened? Life slowed down for the first time in years. I was finally able to see. As corny as this may sound, I was able to take my own advice that I had been giving to other people through out. I learned to fix what I can, leave what I can't, forgive myself and move on. It's hard to do it, if you still have the fight in you. I think it's only when you've reached your moment of pis aller (last resort) does some sort of light start to shine.

Every single piece of advice I've ever given, or had been given to me, suddenly made sense. (...well not every piece, you know what I mean.) Not in the "Yeah... yeah... yeah..." way but in the way of an epiphany, almost as if things would never be the same.

In turn what happened? I was able to reflect on situations that happened through a different light. Earlier in the year a friend told me, "Third person is a motherf*cker." While I grasped the concept, only now I finally got some true semblance of understanding. When you're able to remove yourself from a situation, only then can you truly start to see just what it is or could be and come up with a sensible resolution. Until that moment, it's just sheer emotion, irrational acts and lots of prayers and hoping for the best.


After the mid-point, things got better. Those goals I wanted to achieve? Guess who got a few of her art pieces sold.

I also reluctantly found myself in bittersweet situations as I realized that I've been holding on to a lot of people and things for sentimental reasons - their chapter has since closed in my life. It's time to let go. Letting go has been a lot easier with those who're supposed to be on their way out... much, much easier than I thought.

I was also able to see some people in different lights. There are those dear friends and family that I love, always will, and I truly believe will always be a part of my life. If it's meant to be, it will be. I've learnt being a part of my life doesn't mean separation anxiety once you disappear. True friendships are not about those who are with you every day doing randomness, it's about those who are there when the chips are down and ready to help you back up. I have a few gems.

Toni Morrison once said, "If you wanna fly, you got to give up the sh*t that weighs you down." With that said, I've learned to say 'no.' Since I'm no longer stretching myself thinly, badgering myself about doing things I don't really want to do, joining projects, adding new hobbies, etc... I get to do more things that make me happy and, by default, others. They say when you walk with purpose, you collide with destiny. I wrote a whole post about this a few months back. Once your attitude to life changes, the things you attract changes. When you open yourself to the mere possibility of possibilities, they start to reveal themselves because finally you're ready for them.


When you're gone... it's kind of like that story of the horse with the limp leg fetching a bag of grain on its back. No one knew where it came from, but they could've told you where it went from the trail of grain and dragged hoof marks. What sort of trail are you leaving behind? What's your story? And... it's never too late to change that story.

Les Brown said that people often wonder about what sort of funerals they would have, who would come, who truly cares, etc. But, no one ever thinks about all the hopes and dreams that would surround your casket dead with you... lamenting that you were the only person they felt capable of achieving these brilliant dreams and now, they're going to die with you. The graveyard is the richest place on Earth - it's filled the best ideas and inventions that never came to pass.

People focus too much on why things can't be done, rather than what can be done. Remember the road to mediocrity is paved by the hands of practical people. None of the great inventions past, and great inventions to come, were deemed practical nor possible but it just requires the belief that it could be done... and the attempt of doing it. And as the saying goes... there are the people who make history, and the people who endure it.


On that note, as another friend told me a few weeks ago, "turn your bruises into wisdom." Let each day be a testimony of your daily effort to self-improvement, another effort towards achieving your own personal greatness, and another day of bestowing some sort of positivity/happiness into the world. I mean, there will be bad days though, some days are meant to be counted, other days are meant to be weighed. And remember that ruin is the road to transformation - only after you've broken down the bad, weaker parts can you build a stronger structure.

New hair for the New Year (again)

Now we shall go back to this station's original programming...........

I deliberated on my post too long. I forgot most of what I wanted to write and I misplaced my scribbled notes on the topic... I guess when I find it I could just do an edit.

Anyway, the following photos are from our field trip last Friday. We went with a botanist, Dr. Linda Lyon, from Montana to visit various habitats and look for different plants. Sure, we've been to the locations several times but it was different this time seeing it through the eyes of a botanist. She took us through the habitats and explained various interesting facts about the plants, why they're where they are, where they're native to, and how to identify them. I don't remember everything I learned over the past couple days... but I do find myself recognizing different plants now. Dr. Lyon kept saying that after a while, recognizing them kind of gives you a sense of placement as to where you are and what to expect habitat-wise. Now when I see certain trees, I think "Oh, well that makes sense." Furthermore, it's not just trees in a blur anymore, I know some of their names or at least I have an idea of what family they might fall under.

Dry forest...

Acacia in the dry scrub habitat. (worry not..  the habitat is only that green because of all the rain.) You can tell because of the type of (pinnate/bi-pinnate) leaves and thorns along the stem/branch. The thorns serve as protection for the tree, and the flowers. It's part of the fabaceae family.

This, is a single flower of the leucaena, it's part of the  fabaceae family as well.

But this is how it looks on the tree. So the whole fluffy puff is really a bunch of flowers, not just one.

***

So I was walking idly down the hallway of the Baruch building on 23rd (4th Floor) when I remembered that Roxie once told me to always check the bulletin boards. As my eyes scanned the board, I saw other (medicine) school offers, LSAT classes, CPA classes, etc..... then I started to ask myself, "How come I don't see SGU? I see schools in St. Kitts... but none in SGU?"

And then.....


I couldn't help but gleefully whip my camera out and snap pictorial evidence. SGU, Grenada, West Indies. We're on the map... lol

***

School is going pretty good.

I really love my Bio class. I'm considering changing into medicine. According to the SGU ad, it's only four years. *wink*

Today we learned about steroids. Yummy.

Steroids are cholesterol derivatives. There are natural levels of these present in your body like estrogen and androgens.... However, some people take anabolic steroids to build muscle mass.

When a boy hits puberty, the testosterone in his body - regardless of exercise - builds up skeletal tissues. When one takes the anabolic steroids, it helps to build these some more. However, taking anything in excess into the body is hardly healthy.

Anytime testosterone levels are raised in any excess in the body, there are side effects. Whenever an anabolic androgenic steroids are being used, it could result in impotency/sterility, kidney failure, liver failure, mood swings (i.e, rage), bone deterioration and an increase in the risk of getting cancer.

Worse off if you start at a young age.

Phooey...

***

I had a good day. No complaints. Taking everything in stride. Irie mon. Good vibrations flowing.

Positive.

Anyways.. how could I possibly be upset when there are idiots proving far worse could happen when one decides to do things to themselves like... David Blaine. His latest stunt is hanging 6 stories high without a net upside down Central Park for 60 straight hours.

I heard about it on 101.0 radio this morning while getting ready for school. I think my West Indian maco-ciousness (fastness/inquisitiveness) insists that I go camera in hand to squirm in person.

Health risks of what he's attempting to do are limitless... First of all, he's hanging upside down. That's a literal rush of blood to the head. There's going to be a build up of pressure. Gravity takes the blood away from the brain, so that there isn't a build up. Unlike the male nether regions, there's no blood vessel mechanism in the head to control the blood flow if it becomes too much. He could go blind, hemorrage, and such... As for his legs, the heart has to work several times as hard to get blood all the way up there defying gravity. Yea, right. So, the consequent result could be.... since your muscles need oxygen to survive... lets just say they die off one by one.

Idiot. I really don't see the value, or purpose of this...

Idiot.

Read more at the links below...

• The Press Association
• AFP
• ABC News link

***



That is all for now.
Shelli Out.