Community Service: Colorful Canal of Impressionistic Complexity

Labor Day is approaching. Folks talk about it since school's are opening this week and next.

Each Monday in the late afternoon and early evening, I support a community service project. This has been a part of my current Journey over the last year. I support food preparation, assist with cooking, wash dishes, and complete kitchen cleanup. We serve 75 - 100 local folks in families with a tasty, nutritious meal. This past week, we experienced a new high of 125 served.

I had a chance the week prior to support a seasonal, special project where we handed out school supplies. I know that helped the families stretch their dollars because I was shocked by how much I had to spend on my one youngest child to outfit her this year with the school-prescribed list of supplies. It was very pleasing to me to hand out colored pencils, crayons, colored markers, etc. because the elementary grade children in particular will be so excited to have those instruments of creativity. I can envision their earnest faces with tongues out and heads down concentrating on the Artistic Endeavor and the Creative Pursuit.

I have been doing this weekly bout for a year and I look forward to each Monday's Daily Walk. As I approach the kitchen, I walk by a canal adjacent to an old New England mill complex. The canal changes its complexion throughout the seasons. The water is deep, cold, dark, and rushing over hidden boulders in the winter months. This late in the summer, it is shallow and languid.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Summer Canal

I noted the sunlit, underwater plants swaying in the ripples this week and it caught my eye as a unique waterscape and pattern in the late afternoon.

Copy right James E. Martin 2014 Sunlit Sway

There is so much complexity in the light-dark contrast, the coolness underneath the bridge, the warmth in the sunlight, the transparency of the water, and the reflections of the sky and the field-stone wall.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Complex Water Reflections

It makes me ponder that there is so much to learn about painting subjects of this complexity. A lifetime is not long enough to try all these scenarios to see if it can be captured with intrigue. I catch only a glimpse of the artful truth in a moment's impressionistic passing. Mindful of all these complex interconnections or not, the water continues to flow each day, season to season, even after I depart. I am provoked by the wisdom and perspective in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 as it speaks to me today about our labors:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. 16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Weekend Roses: Ice Cream Satisfaction

Roses are in bloom adding a splash of color to the arbor by our home entrance. The pink rose was original to the 1896 farmstead when we moved in but was tangled amongst an old stone wall. I rescued it and gave it a more central position on the property. The farmstead rose flourishes better even without care than any of the other roses I have purchased since moving in.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Farmstead Rose

The yellow rose is reminiscent of my wife...my yellow rose of Texas. 

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Yellow Rose of Texas

Each summer that we have been in the old farmhouse, the ice cream truck chimes its electronic bells as it circles through the neighborhood. At their early ages, each of our three girls have run out of the house past the rose arbor with hair flying to the curbside calling out to Daddy to get his wallet. I am sure there are happy day memories established for each of them that will be invoked throughout their lives when an ice cream truck rings and circles around the neighborhood.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Anticipation of Summer Ice Cream

This weekend, the youngest Itsy Bit raced through the ritual and enjoyed a cone of cotton-candy-flavored scoop. I love the antsy anticipation at the window during the purchase. And the confident and satisfied swagger after the first lick.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 First Lick of Cotton Candy Cone Satisfaction

This weekend I walked out with my wallet in hand and had the smartphone camera as well. These are images and memories for painting that depict life in small town America. My summer roses and the ice cream race. All in my mind's eye.

College Week in the City: Watching All the Time

This last couple of weeks has been about getting my Number 2 daughter set up at college in the city at the start of her second year for nursing. My commute this morning included stopping off to see her before zipping across town to work in Cambridge. I keep the smartphone on camera mode during these visits and even snap as I drive in stop-and-go traffic. Although these are slapdash views along my Daily Walk and Dash Drive, there are components that can inform my Artistic Endeavor and Creative Pursuit. Each of these also tells a story of human endeavor and about diversity in the Journey.

There's modern.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Modern Boston

And quaint.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Quaint Boston

With pedestrian traffic.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Boston Pedestrians

And bicycle traffic.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Boston Bicyclers

All sorts of architecture offering different perspective views. With bridges.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Boston Bridgescape Perspective

And towers.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014  Boston Tower Perspective

And advertising.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Boston Shell Advertising

And ornaments.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Ornament 01

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Ornament 02

And attractive windows that inform the intriguing potential of the world within.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Windowscape 01

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Windowscape 02

There are high flyers during baseball games fighting the prevailing wind. Here is the Hood blimp in a beautiful cloudscape.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Hood Cloudscape

Venerable old trees.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Boston Treescape

Views of the water and boats.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Boston Waterscape

So it is sometimes difficult to fit everything I would like to do about art into my day. But I can be sneaky about it. And collect serendipitous views. Capture the light and the dark. Evoke and remember the feelings in the moment. Dream.

My Number 2 daughter says we should take a Friday in September off from work and school and have a photography day in Boston together. A Walkabout. I look forward to that. We are planning the details of the trek already.

And I paint all the time in my mind's eye.

Evening Baseball and BBQ: PawSox in Pawtucket

I am working longer hours lately but my wife's employer hosts an annual BBQ at the Paw Sox baseball game in Pawtucket, RI. I got there after the start of the game this year but it was still fun. I ate too much. I liked these photos with the fuzzy edges and deep, contrasting color. Made me think of Edward Hopper's paintings.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 PawSox First Baseline

I like vintage stuff and this baseball song from 1908 is also enjoyed by my seven-year-old as she ardently sings along. Building memories. 

The Old Ball Game [Sang it in the 7th inning]

Take me out to the ball game

Take me out to the park

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks

I don't care if I never get back

So it's root, root, root, for the home team

If they don't win, it's a shame

So it's one, two, three strikes your out, at the ol' ball game!

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 PawSox Outfield

It's great as she asks questions and makes comments about the rules and practices of the game. What's a pop fly? What are those large yellow posts [the foul line markers]? How fast are the pitches [70-90 mph]? What's a shortstop? The first baseman isn't very good because he always throws the ball on the ground to the other infield players during inning warm-ups!

There were a few home runs! And we won! 9-0. The great American pastime.

Harvest Season: Our Own Tomato Festival

Each year we harvest our tomatoes. We always anticipate canning some for tasty spaghetti sauce in the winter months. Mostly Roma variety for less juice but other larger beefsteak varieties as well. Need lots of newspaper on the table to soak up the juice spatter during food preparation.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Tomato Harvest

While canning through the long heating cycles, we celebrate our own Tomato Festival with a sip of fresh tomato juice mixed with a splash of V8, followed by a salt dash licked off the back of the hand, a squeeze of fresh lime juice fresh off the rind, and a shot of Herradura Anejo tequila. This has been an annual celebration for the past several years.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Our Own Tomato Festival Celebration

There is a sense of satisfaction with all these jars of tomatoes with their fetching color. The herb trough below was made from cedar picket fence remnants when we were first married and living in Dallas, Texas. Still enjoying after all these years.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Winter Tomatoes

We can never have enough tomatoes it seems. So today we will be off to the local farmer's market to see if they have bushel baskets of seconds and slightly bruised...good for canning tomatoes. And then we visit the local orchard since August should be full into ripe peach season and I need at least one bushel of juicy ripe peaches. I can't wait. My girls are sleeping in late this morning and getting their beauty sleep.

Restoration of a Memory: Thirty-eight Years of Music Appreciation

Recently, I started playing the piano again. It has been a quite interesting exercise to recapture the mental memory and muscle memory for songs I knew by heart 30 years ago. As I have been recovering and restoring some musical aptitude, I am recalling Mr. Salvatore A. Viggiano, my first music teacher in elementary school in Massachusetts.  He taught me the discipline of Practice. And it all started on the 3rd grade flutophone. I found one last summer at a yard sale in the box.

Internet Fair Use - Flutophone

Yes. We must have looked just like the 1960's vintage flutophone class below.

Internet Fair Use - Vintage 1960 Flutophone Class

And then I graduated to the trumpet and the chorus in grades 4 -6.  I only took up my piano lessons in high school years. I remember the Selmer Bundy trumpet in a grey case with red velvet and the smell of brass instrument slide oil. I still have the instrument.

Internet Fair Use - Selmer Bundy Trumpet

To best recall that era in time, I was able to recover a newspaper article announcing the annual Festival of Music fundraiser that Salvatore orchestrated when I was in third grade flutophone band in 1966 so long ago. The Festival band and chorus were 4th to 6th graders, We packed the auditorium. Had to have white shirts and black slacks and skirts. The trumpet section was at his immediate right-hand and I was directly under his watchful gaze and received scorn if he heard an errant note. It brings back many mental images of places and faces. He was amazing at providing lessons for us and putting on a show throughout the year at holidays. He had high expectations and it was a blessing to have been under his tutelage.

Perhaps the highlight to be attained under his instruction was to perform the taps solo at appropriate ceremonies. Again, it was a privilege to be earned from him and I wanted the right to be the chosen trumpeter for Memorial Day taps. It was my first time to be in the literal spotlight. I felt honored at a young age to enter the ranks of those who paid tribute to the fallen soldiers of days past.

Internet Fair Use - Legacy Bugler

Internet Fair Use - Trumpeting Together

There were first, second, and third trumpet sections..maybe 4-6 earnest youngsters in each row. We all tried so hard to get it right and perform in harmony and synchronized tempo.

I remember walking home from after-school lessons trudging and swinging that trumpet case to and fro. It was a long walk for a 9 - 11 year old. My smart phone says 1.2 miles once a week. We had to practice a minimum of 30 minutes a day and record it in a book. I was first trumpet, first chair as long as I practiced and achieved good results, otherwise I was relegated to second chair and had to earn it back. Learned diligence early.

Many of the folks named in this article were kids and families I grew up with. I am amazed that as I see the names, I can recall their visage in my mind's eye from those bygone days. I should make an effort to sketch what is in my mind's eye for these names from the past to see what happens from very early memory. Thank you Salvatore A. Viggiano for pouring your discipline and appreciation of music to me early in my life. I am still enjoying it many years later.

     Spaulding Memorial School Music Festival Set at Townsend [Fitchburg Sentinel - June 2, 1966]

     TOWNSEND-The annual Festival of Music at Spaulding Memorial School will be held Friday night 8 pm at the school auditorium under the direction of Salvatore A. Viggiano supervisor of music direction. Piano accompaniment will be Mrs. Jeanette Bullis. Participating will be the Flutophone Band, the Festival Chorus, and the fourth grade chorus. In charge of tickets are J. Verne Quimby and Miss Judith Viewig; programs, Mrs. Arietta Rice and Mrs. Eleanor Frank; projectionist, [principal] Gordon DeCato; house committee, Deborah Cahill, Nanette Collins, Janet Thatcher, Sandra Thibeault, Susan Valois, and John Weir; stage hands, Stephen Esposito and Michael Therrien, with refreshments by Mrs. Marian Merrill, Mrs. Anna Boyd, Mrs. Bertha Wheeler, Mrs. Eleanor Hamilton, Mrs. Genevieve Mohan, and Mrs. Dorothy Smith.

     The [Festival] chorus includes Jane Briguglio, Deborah Brown, Jill Clark, Jane Egan, Beverly Johnson, Sandra Leeds, Erving Marshall, Margaret Maxwell, Doris Moore, Marcia Mountain, Anne Nauman, Marianne Phinney, Marjorie Pine, Jeralyn Robbins, and Patricia Sanderson.

     Lynn Schofield, Veronica Stoll, Judith Syrjala, Maura Tracey, Karen Welch, Mary Cahill, Pam Conley, Janice Downs, Lorraine Fielding, Richard Lammi, Mary Martin, Cynthia Matthews, Karen Quesada, Patricia Rousseau, and Brian Russell.

     Lauray Bolden, Gwenna Bourn, David Fisher, Joan Hebb, Patricia Koski, Louis Marino, Linda Marley, Paul Morin, Charlene Smith, Michelle Thonis. Paul Anderson, Linda Beese, Kathleen Carey, Jeffrey Conley, Mark Connor, Dabiel Decato, Jeannie Deroy, David Eaton, Darby Fletcher, Melissa Green, Heidi Harju, Michael Hotaling, Paul Magoon, Louise McNally, Linda Polzer,William Profit, David Sanderson, William Schultze, Clarence Smith.

     Fourth grade chorus members are: Dawn Anderson, John Boucher, Jeff Bullard, Stephanie Burns, Mark Carbonneau, Bruce Collins, Claudette Daly, Lee Davis, Gail Dodge, Becky Dow, Rosemary English, William Epps, Celeste Eyles, Patricia Fisher, Richard Foresman, Donna Forest, Mark Garratoa, Richard Gravel, Frank Gyles, Mark Hussey, James Kilbourne, Cindy Knox, and Walter Kumpu.

     Thomas Lagasse, Eileen Lamoureux, Kenneth Lamport, Caroline LaVorgna, David Ledford, Douglas MacPhee, Deborah Martin, George Martin, John McEndarfer, Gail McNally, Ruth-ellen Miller, Richard Morey, Barbara Morris, Gary Oinonen, and Norma Parsons.

Lillian Pillman, Melba Porter, Donald Powell, Debra Profit, Paul Rafuse, Sheila Rhodes, Tommie Schofield, David Schrok, Ann Shaughnessy, Douglas Smith, Bette Stow, Linda Sundstrom, Scott Swicker, Donna Truitt, Kevin Valcourt, Inis Waite. Susan West, Susan Willard, and Deborah Wornham.

     The [3^rd grade] Flutophone Band is composed of Paul Adams, Susan Barrett, Patricia Bedard, Kevin Bernhardt, Linda Berry, Donna Boucher, Debra Boutwell, Matthew Bryce, Ann Bullard, Lorna Burnside, Linda Chatigny, Michael Churchville, Gail Clifford, Robert Clark, Peter Collins, Robert Collins, Heidi Conley, Cynthia Daley, and Jonathan Davis.

Kendra Davis, Elizabeth Dorian, Philip Ekola, Holly Jean Estes, Mark Estes, Valerie Eyles, Greg Farrar, Lynda Fogarty, David Funiaole, Robert Ganong, Kathy Green, Barbara Greenough, Chris Gregoire, Michael Hallisey, Pamela Hare, Kathy Herrick, Wayne Howe, Wayne Hussey, David Johnson, Joyce Johnson, Jeffrey Kammerer, and David Keefe.

     Faith Kelloway, Joel Kelloway, Belinda King, John King, Celia Koski, Dana Kumph, Robert Laine, Karl Larson, John Lashua, Kenneth Maki, Lisa Marshall, James Martin, Brian Mattson, Kenneth Mattson, James McCann, Barbara McEndarfer, Karen McNichols, Mary Ellen Morton, Robert Obea, and Susan Ojala.

Diane Oliver, James O'Neil, Gary Peaslee, Mary Perigny, Brian Peterman, Kristine Pfister, Kenneth Pillman, William Prescott, Andrew Reida, Paula Rhodes, Yvonne Rogers, Laura Rousseau, Philip Runkey, Arlene Russell, Nancy Rutherford, Holly Saball, and Mikko Sauokangas.

     Debra Scott, John Siren, Andrew Smith, Sandra Smith, Shirley Smith, Kathleen Stanley, Robin St. Hilaire, Cheryl Thomas, Mark Truitt, Martin Truitt, Larry Valcourt, Ronnie Valcourt, David Weymouth, Carnie Whitman, Thomas Williams, Deborah Winter, Robert Wood, and Elaine Wright.

     The [Festival] Band includes Jane Briguglio, Melissa Green, Karen Pfister, Marianne Phinney, Rebecca Rice, Marla Fogarty, Linda Polzer, Jeralyn Robbins, James Smith, Jean Bedard, Sara Churchville, Beverly Johnson, Marjorie Pine, Jeffrey Siren, and Jeanne St. Hilaire.

     Henry Albro, Gwenna Bourn, Margaret Maxwell, Ellen Morrison, Marcia Rouleau, Virginia Waite, Howard Davis, Michael Hotaling, Richard Lammi, Floyd Morrison, Jonathan Mattson, Gary Mattson, Steven Sundstron, Philip Boucher, Richard Green, Lynee Eaton, Mark Connor, and David Fisher. David Bulard. Daniel Decato, James Taubert. William Epps and Richard Foresman.

Boston: Cityscape

Brought Number 2 daughter, nicknamed Little Bit, back to college campus in Boston this weekend. A view of the skyline from the top of her college dormitory. Nice cloud-scape.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Boston Cityscape Skyline

Paragon Park: A Remnant of Days Gone By

We are on the downhill trek of yard sale season.  I haven't been out much this season but this weekend I got a few things. I was particularly pleased with a small toolbox I bought with miscellaneous gadgets, tools, and workshop detritus. Within the box were three matchbooks.

Paragon Park was a New England amusement park at Nantasket Beach and like most parks started at the turn of the century. It closed in 1984. These appear to be printed in four-color letterpress printing...black, red, yellow, and white. I didn't notice them until I got home and went through the toolbox content in detail. How fun the surprise!

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Paragon Park Matchbook 01

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Paragon Park Matchbook 02

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Paragon Park Matchbook 03

Here's some more shots of the old-time entertainment park from Days Gone By.

Internet Fair Use - Entrance to Paragon Park

Internet Fair Use - Paragon Park Rides

Internet Fair Use - Paragon Park Roller Coaster

Internet Fair Use - Paragon Park Airship Swing

Internet Fair Use - Paragon Park Palm Garden

Inching Forward in Destiny: Serendipity Saturday

This weekend, I started the canvas layouts for painting the Angel of Grief. I use the plural because I plan on doing two canvases of the painting simultaneously. I have always wanted to do this to compare and contrast the efforts and to see if one comes out "better" or pleasantly different than another.  This is my opportunity to achieve this milestone in my Journey.

I had so many other things to do this weekend that the layouts almost didn't get done. So instead, a few other things didn't get done that were on my to-do list. I had really set out to paint but only got the layout accomplished. But I feel pretty good pushing forward to at least gain what I did.

One of the opportunities that came up to keep me from just painting this weekend was unanticipated and occurred during yard sale Saturday. I always try to run a casual circuit around three local towns to see what's out there. I usually come home with something.  Hence Serendipity Saturday. It's my favorite form of shopping since I never know what I will see and the prices are better than I can find in the American Retail Acquisition and Procurement Experience (A-RAPE).  It helps me stretch my dollars.

Some of the stuff you find in yard sales, they don't make anymore. I find it relaxing to select antique or vintage items to use in a still life painting. Buying books or craft supplies or tools. It's sort of a way to build my "redneck" 401K pension plan because I envision using this stuff in my Artistic Endeavor and Creative Pursuit in retirement years. Or if I have to sell the stuff later, I can probably get my money back out of it. But I have mentioned before that I don't anticipate waiting to do art until I retire. I am drawing and painting now even while I am working. This is a part of my Daily Walk.

This weekend I probably snagged my "best buy of the summer". There is usually one yard sale purchase each summer for which I am especially fortunate. I met a friendly, middle-aged couple, Tom and Deb, selling three double units of artist flat file drawers. So, three bases and six five-drawer units that are stackable on the bases.

Internet Fair Use - Artist Flat File Drawers

He works as a contractor at cleaning out homes and businesses. To some degree, he acts as a "picker".  He finds useful stuff to sell or re-purpose. Anyway, he found these units and was willing to sell them to me. I think it was destiny. Sometimes the stuff he cleans out is trash, sometimes junk, sometimes useful for re-purposing, and sometimes of resale value. He even mentioned that sometimes he doesn't even get paid...those unscrupulous businesses and people!

These drawer units will help me organize the many prints and ephemera I hold as artistic inspiration. Also, they would work well as a storage unit for art supplies or tools. They worked with me some on the pricing and it took more than one trip in the van to get them home. I was only going to buy four of the six units but realized I might regret not getting them all. I have so much in prints and ephemera. I was so pleased. It's not a purchase I would have made in a retail store because of the expense.  Although for me to look at an art supply catalog would always induce my Pavlovian salivation response when viewing the flat file units. I think I have traded the sin of catalog envy with the sin of collecting stuff.

I enjoyed meeting Tom and Deb. We had some interesting and enjoyable dialog throughout the transaction. It was a pleasure to meet them. After I completed the purchase, Deb indicated that other folks had stopped by to purchase the units while I was getting ready to transport them. So I ended up in the right place at the right time.

Now I have a new project on my to-do list to organize and arrange my future.

A New Day: A Trek Inch by Inch

Worked real hard yesterday at just staying the course and keeping an even keel.

I started the day reading from my youngest daughter's Adventure Bible for early readers in the NIV version. Ecclesiastes chapter 3-9 was helpful from the wise man Solomon's direction. The headings included: There is a Time for Everything; Suffering, Hard Work, and Friendship; Getting Ahead Doesn't Have Any Meaning; Have Respect for God; Riches Don't Have Any Meaning; Good Advice About How to Live; Obey the King; Everyone Dies; Being Wise is Better Than Being Foolish. The verses that particularly struck me and stayed with me throughout the day were Eccl. 8:2-6.

"I am telling you to obey the king's command. You took an oath to serve him. You made a promise to God. Don't be in a hurry to quit your job in the palace. Don't stand up for something the king doesn't like. He'll do anything he wants to. He has the final word. So you can ask him "What are you doing?" No one who obeys his command will be harmed. Those who are wise will know the proper time and way to approach him. There's a proper time and way for people to do everything. That's true even though a man might be suffering greatly."

And excerpts from Eccl. 7:1-4:

"People can learn more from sobbing when someone dies than from being happy when someone is born. Sadness is good for the heart....Those who are wise are found where there is sorrow. But foolish people are found where there is pleasure...."

I found solace in pondering those things throughout the day. It is becoming to the the context.

The morning started out grey and dismal. Just a tiny bit of rain on the morning commute into the city. I had planned an early morning, first time golf outing with a new friend to get some exercise but we postponed due to weather. After the morning's review, we probably would have been safe to continue.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 - A Grey Start

My mind was racing throughout the day. Extra diligence to stay focused on the mundane. Mental struggling to keep moving forward inch by inch. I took a mid-day walk to get the blood moving, fresh air, and away from people and work atmosphere. I was able to accomplish some work endeavors but they seemed relatively minor but inched me forward. This is unlike the real me. But perhaps there is a time and place for everything under the sun.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Fresh Pond

Along the stroll, I took a detour due to construction. An old abandoned rail. The road bed is there but changes its nature and eventually goes to nowhere. I was struck by the contrast of old technology and the current day state.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Rail Bed to Nowhere

These are the things I saw and noticed with my perspective on today's Daily Walk. If I was not working, I could do the same walk but perhaps have the time to bring the paints and easel along. But I might not have the same perspective without the trials and tribulations of my workaday events amongst people frolicking in positive outlook and laugh-filled pleasure-seeking. I am different. A sojourner is a strange land. I have always known this.

Cloudscapes: The Barren Vissitudes

As the dawn begins today....

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 A New Day

I am feeling depleted, like a barren landscape out of season...but I want to share something and keep going forward...

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 A Barren Landscape

Despite the feelings of emptiness, I will share a couple of cloud-scapes with color and form....there is a sense of a pink and purple funk....

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Full Contrast

I think I have been shelling out a lot of energy to others in the work environment...and I am on a rebound...not a good one....there hasn't been enough return on investment. That can spell a burnout. Or there is grief, depression, and withdrawal that I wasn't foreseeing that is peeking in. 

And I am feeling less in control as I contemplate moving on in my employ....other friends are unemployed or close to it and seeking their next position during the summer hiring lull...so I have a blessing of current work, however disappointing it may appear in my heart and mind...

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Pink Cloud-scape

I tried to touch base with one friend from my mentoring past and we haven't connected yet. Another friend from across the country called with a dismal work outlook for September...but a prognosis to start writing his next book as a proxy activity. But he seemed ambivalent about that alternative work to keep busy. 

Family seems to be doing OK after Mom's passing which is a good thing. The garden is busting with produce. Tomatoes. Spinach. Chard. Summer squash. Zucchini. Broccoli. Potato plants are three feet tall and falling all over themselves! Winter squash plants are monsters. A small but promising outlook for a corn sample and sunflowers. A small bunny rabbit was in the fencing and munching down the bean plants. Durn rabbit. But this morning, I am OK sharing even with the furry critter.

News around the world is unsettling if I really paid it mind. I try not to since I can't impact the world events. Think globally. Act locally, they say. I worked my weekly community service last night serving approximately 100 needy folks with a meal. I pray for them each week as I assist in food prep and cooking, and complete washing dishes and kitchen cleanup. Last night, despite the best of my intentions, I observed some selfishness and lack of gratitude that hasn't left my mind. It made me feel isolated and alone in my giving of time and energy.  I am preoccupied.  There are the Haves and the Have-Nots. There is Unfairness and Inequity. There is Beauty and the Beast. One is favored. The other not. So, I continue to march through Duty. I am not seeking righteousness through these thoughts and activities...only a giving back. Is it worth it? Is this what I should be doing?

This morning, I awoke very early and I worked my job search with some new search engines and job titles. Nothing concrete to jump at yet. I received two calls from headhunters in the last two days since a new resume was posted. Both kind of cheesy. They are unemployed also and they have to make lots of phone calls to stay in the game each day. There are lots of positions open with my descriptors but little that appears exciting at first glimpse. I think I know that I need to move on to the next ideal position for me. I have the objective written out. Seek and ye shall find. So let it be said. So let it be written. Part of the near term Journey is to seek and find. I am a good Scrounger.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Bursting with Color

I am currently so blessed with work, food, shelter, peace, quiet, family, relative health, and insulation from calumnity. Many in today's world do not enjoy those things in their daily lives. I am thinking a good breakfast. But I might forego the pleasure to think about basic and deep needs and wants. Today may be a fight to maintain mental and physical balance.  Perhaps a sort of fasting and contemplation instead. Here's a picture from another morning breakfast early this spring. Looking only...it keeps the calorie count down.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 A Colorful Start

But there is an underlying Dissatisfaction and Unhappiness in me. Dismal disconnectedness. My feelings are not connected to my thoughts. Is this Grief? Is it just time for a work change, change of scenery, and people and mission? Is that enough? Who am I? What am I really about? How do I go about this Endeavor? This Pursuit? One step at a time.....the Daily Walk....the human experience. The Vicissitudes.