Oooooooo Very Scary!!!!!

Two years ago Dallas was treated to its very own "Ghost Bar" perched precariously atop the W Hotel on the 33rd floor. In developing downtown Dallas, at first it was THE place to be seen. So, naturally, I didn't go. However, since the subsidence of the hub-bub, me and my "pack" decided to go have a lookie-loo. It was tres cool and the most amazing thing was that aftteer being there over an hour, no smoke smell. NONE! And there were definitely people smoking. 

For your ghostly delectation:

*posted while listening to Bill Withers', "Lovely Day". get your groovy shoes on*

Behind Curtain #2

THIS is what we saw last night at the exhibition opening. We are all familiar to a certain extent with the French Impressionist painters; Manet/Monet, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and my personal favorite, Degas; but few of us get the distinct privilege of peering at them from 6" away with no scrim to blur the genius. 

The Kimbell is a fine museum in which to view them, laid out in a winding series of halls through which one strolls through varying intensities of light suited to the framed pieces therein. They had little tables with canapes and, of course, the simply stocked free beverage bar of which I partook of some mediocre but perfectly acceptable bubbly. I only saw a few people that I knew, but there were all of Ft Worth's finest out for this social event. The only couple of note was the fantastically preserved "cougar" dressed in a stunning and understated black gauze dress with plunging neckline to highlight her surgically preserved boobies. She was easily 20 years the senior of her date, but who could blame him. I exchanged pleasantries with her so that I could take a closer look, and inwardly was a tad jealous. I hope I age that well - better get to the gym....

Otherwise a delightful evening with the Units and good friend, Bean. We offed to a wonderful restaurant around the corner, Lanny's - Alta Cocina Mejicana, for a scrumptious dinner of interestingly concocted Latino food. I had the bibb salad complete with a walnut/goat cheese flan followed by a poblano/asparagus soup with duck confit. And a yummy Kaiken Malbec to complement. We goofed at dinner and enjoyed our meals heartily and then back to the abode for some late evening "tipsy texting".

Yes, a fine evening.

The Time in the Show...

When I go to the art opening...

with my parents.... 

THIS is what I REALLY wanted to say...

This site offers daily wisdoms that are a cut above others IMHO. But today's posting was particularly relevant given my little rant from yesterday.

"Evaluating Media: Fresh Mind
There is a lot of information available to us at this time in history, more than ever before, and it travels fast. We are able to learn in the blink of an eye about something that happened halfway around the world, and it’s natural for us to want to know what’s going on. However, it’s also fair to say that we don’t want to become so caught up in one way of looking at events that we lose perspective. Often, the news comes to us in a very fear-oriented format, and when too many of us get caught up in fear, the balance of the whole is disrupted. It helps to remember that we have a much greater and more positive impact on the world when we maintain our inner sense of peace and joy.

We are aware enough to know when we are eating something that is not good for us, because we don’t feel well after we’ve eaten it. In the same way, we can determine for ourselves whether the sources in which our information comes are ultimately healthful. News can be presented in a way that inspires us to take positive action to help the world, or it can be presented in a way that leaves us feeling powerless and sad. It is up to us to seek out and support media that empowers and informs us, and to say no to media that drains our energy and our hope.

For a time, it may even be of benefit to commit to a media fast, in which we stop taking information in for a time to give ourselves a rest. When we return to the task of taking in and processing the information all around us, we will come to it with a fresh mind. This will enable us to really notice how we are affected by what we hear and see, and to make conscious choices about the sources of information that we allow into our lives."

So there!

You Can't Make Me

In a year fraught with all kinds of news being spun mercilessly by the media, my lack of political and newsy interest is acute. All folks seem to want to talk about is the election and how vehemently "liberal/democratic" they are, or how excessively "conservative/republican" are their beliefs. And, not only do they want to publicize their own beliefs, but feel it is necessary to stringently condemn those who do not share their beliefs. I don't have a problem with reasonable stereotypes, because they spring from truth, what I DO have a problem with is pigeon-holing based on inflated stereotyping or conjecture. No one likes being flung in a box that just doesn't fit, and crammed into a belief system that is not reflective of years of contemplation and maturation.

Furthermore, how does it behoove us as "Americans" to continue to encourage separatist leanings using politics as a basis for division?? Demographics are already so factional that we feel we must refer to ourselves with an ethnic desciptor preceeding our true heritage as "Americans". Hmmmm, how does that address a basic and fundamental degradation of our society into fractious anti-social bands? On many levels I blame a mob-mentality, spinning media that hypes EVERYTHING so completely out of proportion that reality is left whimpering in the corner. Despite the fact that "reality" is merely a perception anyway and only a general sense of reality can be possible when involving humongous hordes of angry populace.

And where I'm really going with this is that I don't need the news/media to come into my home every day and clue me in as to the severity and frequency of the ugliness that is happening not only outside my very own door, but on a global level. Don't mistake me for being all "Ken Kesey and let's get on the love-bus together", but nor am I a doom-monger looking for any excuse to predict the end of all life as we know it. And maybe what I am really talking about here is my own shortcomings and doing a little transference.

All I know is that there is a pall hanging over our world which makes it hard to find the sunshine sometimes and wouldn't it be nice if we could all just TRY to get along???? Or at the very least not indiscrmminately malign eachother based on the whims of media producers and political poseurs??

***btw, rimmer, just what were you doing up at 3:45am????***

Something about sEa

If anyone is even remotely interested... Instead of doing a meme-thang to tell you all about sEa; 'cause, Dear Reader, I know you are wettin' your pants to know; I thought I would do something a wee bit diffy.

Go here and keep in mind that not only did I read every word, but most twice.

Rarified Air

The irrigation system MUST be finished. I have been threatening for a year to finish my little above ground irrigation system and then plant something - anything, but then I get home and there are birdies to play with (translate "get bitten by and bleed a lot from the gaping wound"), and doggies to treat, and floors to mop, and incense to light, and garbage mail to throw away... and, and, and... AND, then there is the heat. The senseless Texas ass-kicking heat is only an excuse, because if I can do 90 minutes of yoga in a 108deg room with 30 other sweaty people, then I can certainly fool around with some 1/2" tubing, plugs, drippers, and spritzers for an hour.

What I really want to do when I hit the door in the eve, or wake up on the end, is to sit in the coolness and drink some kind of nice beverage and nap and sit and nap and sit. And maybe occasionally rip out 45 minutes on the spin-bike, but mostly just sit and drift off. Why do I keep loading myself up with projects??? I don't want any more projects. I want a new job, with a new house, with a new pool/gardener person-type, and a new housekeeper, so that I can do more sitting and napping. You know... the REALLY important activities.

Promises, Schmomises...

Go ahead, flog me now. My back is exposed and waiting for the flagellation. I have promised a fun and irreverent comingled post which, presto!, is not posted. And that because I am under pressure - extreme, diamond-hardening, center-of-the-earth, turning-my-soul-into-molten-lava pressure. All two of you who stop by... I apologize.

*winces and turns away*