Observation: Autumns Bloom

Today the ravine welcomes me back as a familiar guest. This time the sun is setting while the goodnight chirps of the birds in the tree sets the atmosphere for all that gather near. The deep red and purple hues in the sky eagerly chase the sun behind the mountains and ushers in a cool blanket of darkness to tuck in all the plants and rocks into their place of rest for the evening. All the little weeds surrounding me have sprouted a final bloom of flowers for the season. Each one similar with bright yellow pedals all facing the same direction facing the sun. It seems each one is waving goodnight to their beloved daylight as the gentle breeze causes each one to sway slightly. Today is Autumns Bloom, a rhythmic antonym to life.

Convex reactions

Recently while taking a shower getting ready for the day, I noticed water slowing dripping from the bottom of the shower head. For that moment my focus came upon the drop about to fall and it seemed that everything else slowly shifted out of focus. That drip had my full attention as I could see the convex reflection of everything around me. I watched as it slowly accumulated until it could no longer be contained and then proceeded to drip. Right then I had a thought and I felt connected to that meaningless mass of water for that second. It was a symbol of emotions and everything inside of me or any other person. What is it that is within everyone of us that slowly accumulates until it cannot be contained? What is it that inspires us, makes us mad, or is something that we cannot simply keep within? I have had a lot of this kind of thought lately and am in the pursuit of finding out exactly what that is.

Birth and death of a day

Observation: The Watchman

Today I sit in my natural observation spot. It's nothing fancy but a small ravine where the sides of a small hill meet together at spot in the middle. There a juvenile tree fills the vertical space. I sit here feeling all around me. A sense of cold is coming. I can feel clues of it in the cool dry air that meets my face, as well as the cool cushion of dirt underneath the weight of my body. Today is different from the other occasional times I've been here. I feel an anticipation and a slight worry. Today there is life here. There is a monochromatic palette of green with occasional highlights of yellow and sparse shadows of brown. All the color, life, and plants are patiently waiting for whats to come and are holding on to every breath that they can. Soon all saturation will be lost for a period of rest before next year's cycle. The tree seems to be the watchman relaying the news of whats coming to all that lay below it. He communicates by setting the tempo of noise. At certain points it is heightened and the message is carried in a chatter by all the bushes and plants along the hillside. For those who do not have the advantage to see, the tree scatters light into thousands of tiny rays. This code lets them know that for now they are safe, for now there is life, and that no more worry shall come out of today. Today will take care of itself and tomorrow they will stand again.

Let Go

This blog is the product of my Ideation class in school. We have been learning how to just let go of our predisposed judgments of ourselves and just "create". It is this childlike mentality that has really helped me the most. As a kid we just did whatever we wanted without an awkward feeling attached to it. If we wanted to play…we played, if we wanted to dance…we danced, if we wanted to draw…we drew, etc. While watching different videos or reading different texts it has become very obvious to me how much we in a sense "grade" ourselves on everything we do. We are so self analytical! This is the wall that I have been climbing over. This is the obstacle that I am still overcoming. The good news is that I have already felt tremendous progress in this area. The first time that I told myself "there is no wrong answer" and surprised myself with what I came up with, was very liberating. I feel this is the central connection to all other creativity. It is the freedom to let go and see where you land. In this you can truly find your voice and connect yourself to what inspires you.

"LOL"

I am a person who laughs. I think laughing is one of the best things for an individual. Making people laugh is something that I really enjoy to do. From a light smile to a full out "LOL", I am a fan of it all. However, this sometimes can be a problem for me. Not in the sense of how to make people laugh but rather isolating that act by itself in social situations. The problem is that it is easier to crack a joke or be funny rather than have a serious conversation. One that is deep or meaningful anyways. It is my default social scapegoat. I have been better about it lately but I think just as important as laughing is for us, it is equally important to have real meaningful connections with other people. Other wise we will walk the thin ice bridge of relational interactions with one another. This is something I will continue to be very conscious of.

DIssecting an Orange

To me the most notable observation about the orange was its visual presentation. It was broken down into a series of "packages" While each package stimulated different senses, each one also was completely individual carrying out a unique role to fulfill its position in the body of an orange. In this sense it was a "community." It also had characteristics of a russian doll set in the way each package contained numerous smaller packages. The smallest that could been seen by the naked eye was an individual popsicle like sack filled with a small juice content. What looked like hundreds of these made up a single orange slice enclosed by a membrane, or package if you will. While containing several more layers, the largest was the outer peel who's main responsibility was to protect and safe guard all that lie underneath.

In addition: How are we similar to the orange? In what way can we be broken down into parts by our different traits or characteristics that make up our 'content' to carry individual roles to make us who we are as a whole?

Turtle vs Rabbit (A second encounter)

(One mellow day in the forrest, the two acquaintances run into one another again.)

Rabbit: Well...isn't this a fine day there turtle?

Turtle:  Oh not you again...Look I told you there is no way we are going to do this another time.

Rabbit: Oh come on turtle, don't get your shell in a ruffle! Besides, I'm not even in the mood to race.

Turtle:  By the looks of it, you haven't raced in a while have you? Judging by all those extra pounds and all. You look one carrot shy of a...never-mind...

Rabbit: Say speaking of, you wouldn't happen to have an extra carrot on you would ya?

Turtle:  Nahh, I don't touch the stuff. Never a need for it.

Rabbit: Come on turtle don't hold out on me! I NEED a carrot!!

Turtle: Woah easy, calm down. I told you I do not have any nor have I ever. You remember our last encounter don't you?

Rabbit: Hey don't go there! You cheated anyways!

Turtle:  Yeah, Uh huh me cheated, a turtle, cheated...

Rabbit: Well then it was rigged or something!

Turtle:  I remember it clear as day.... You came up to me and starting picking on me and calling me names and bragging about how great you were. Then you had the nerve to challenge ME to a race! Next thing I remember, we were well into it and you were so hopped on legumes that you passed out right on the trail. And you told everyone that you were so far ahead that you took a "nap".. Haha yeah right! With the right authorities present you would have been arrested with an H.W.I. For hopping while ingesting...

Rabbit: You shut your turtle trap! I've had enough of you!

Turtle: Yeah well heres an idea. Why don't you race your furry tail the hell out of here! Good riddance!

(The End)

I Am From

I am from the small town kitchen
from rural grocery stores and boxed food.
I am from the long and narrow house
with the two acres on the south.
I am from the last patch of grass without stickers
the one mulberry tree
who's long gone limbs I remember
as if they were my own.

I am from hard work and sports encouragers
from Michael and Eileen.
I am from sunday's lunch and the leftovers to follow
and from prayers unseen.

I'm from wash your hands and to be good
and today is going to be a good day son.
I'm from where all have trucks but me.
I'm from Carlsbad and places unknown
Somewhere maybe in the south and enchilada pie as well?
From building things from nothing with my brother
where dirt and land was our medium.
Where all our tee-ball pictures
are still stuck on the same fridge
that I can still remember.