now, only efforts of restraint and discipline count. it's what you do and don't do that come together in the moment of creating something new.
now, today, i have first to work on generating an income. both through online inventory maintenance and here in my studio.
every day begins with work. at my age, 67, morning energy is precious. as the day waxes on, the uphill battle to concentrate and make the best use of time is always peppered with the interruptions of food and other civilized necessities.
so, i have my meals and preparations of grazing food such as concoctions. two of my staple favorites are a lemonade, ginger, maple syrup cold drink and a strawberry-banana protein and wheatgerm shake.
usually muesli softened in warm water with a few pitted prunes will coat my stomach until early afternoon when a sandwich with condiments carry me through to dinner time around eight. all this takes time so i work as fast as i can and use the time to relax.
i try to skip the nap, but if i am exhausted, i put on some music and sleep for an hour.
writing is a nice break from drawing and painting.
today i began the day as usual with a morning 'sit' for half an hour. my ambitious side concluded that i should hang little signs around the room saying, "only super efforts count." and concentrate,concentrate,concentrate. lol
but it's all in 'process' and no amount of impatience is going to produce better results. just another day to follow the muses.
right now i am working on a calendar for 2012 with illustrated short stories. maybe there will be a little book also.
“Hmmm, looks like that rock is a
little high in the water today.”,
thought the Bodhisattva one day
as he returned from ‘Banana Island’.
“I’ll bet that crocodile Devadatta is lying
on it waiting to catch me.”“Oh rock!”,
he shouted. “Ohhhh roooccck!!!”.
“Maybe the rock answers him.”,
thought the young crocodile
and shouted back.
“Yes, monkey?”
“Is that you crocodile?
What are you up to?”
“My mother said she would die if she
didn’t have a monkey heart for dinner.
I am just hoping you will jump
into my waiting jaws.”
“Not today. Sorry.”
“Well, I give up. You’re too smart for me.”
“Nevertheless I will be watching out for you all the same.”, whispered the wise monkey to himself.
well, here is the final print of the new "cinnamon tree". i am selling it on saatchi for $30,000.
podloonaroon 
Seems like you've got the basic ingredient to success … discipline. I'm jealous. :irked:
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don't worry moon baby, i am still on the razor's edge. i could lose it all in an instant. here, have a cuppa coffee on me. :happy: oops :coffee: see what i mean.
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Thank you, my good friend. 🙂
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yvw here's the coffee… :coffee: the devil is in the details. 😎
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😀
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Well done on the cinnamon tree; I first need a few people to buy my book(s) before I can afford it though. :)like the calendar story.
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thanks… your heart is in the right place. :happy:
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enjoyed reading about your days, Scott. I thought you were about my brother's age.I like that crocodile piece. and the other is amazing.how do you feel after the hour nap when you take it? & do you drink coffee?
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interesting to see what happens in someone else's life. Guess this is why blogging is so much fun.
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Originally posted by studio41:
jill, i usually feel terrible. one reason why i try to skip it… just plow through… make the effort. and coffee helps.a long walk helps. a bike ride helps.
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I'd go for the bike ride. But hey, you know me. 🙂
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cois,just a natural interest in other humans… not a bad thing at all. :cool:ben, finger exercises are important also. 😆
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I must admit, I'm the baby here. But on the rare occasion I have an afternoon nap, I feel awesome. I fall asleep at one, wake up at four, and I'm good for another 10 or so hours…But like I said, I'm the baby here bursting with energy on the laziest of days.
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Originally posted by I_ArtMan:
that's usually how I feel. I like (very much!) the tumble into bed to nap, but getting up. NO!) I use chocolate.
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Sounds like you've got your day laid out well. Wish I could do the same.
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Originally posted by studio41:
chocolate is a painkiller. 💡
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Originally posted by CultureSurfer:
you do just fine naomi. 💡
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Originally posted by bentrein:
hell. when i was 34 i could dig a four foot deep ditch a mile long in two hours. why i could drag an elephant down the road with my mustache, cut and split four cords of wood in a single afternoon. 😆
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Originally posted by I_ArtMan:
I will use it more 😀
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Originally posted by I_ArtMan:
😆 Sorry if this grosses anyone out, but I had to think of Indian Saddhus after your comment. :)I'll have a go with that mile long ditch. I'll get back to you.
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cinnamone tree is a beautiful artwork. I like it but I dont have enough means to buy it so I have downloaded it as my mobile wallpaper.
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Piracy! :pJust kidding.
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Originally posted by bentrein:
about 'this'… noooo he's not pulling the car with his…. ummm whatchamacallit? :faint:it would be something of a 'fakir' thing to do. quite a powerful image… the "saddhu's mustache"… hmmm i feel a story coming on.now of course i am a harmless sanyasin. :happy:
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Originally posted by tuhinra:
tuhinra,that will be an honor for me. great idea. 💡 :happy:
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Originally posted by studio41:
a bag of tollhouse dark chocolate chips works fine for me. eat 'em with a few pecans. grazing food. 😎
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Originally posted by bentrein:
aye, an i' twere a great white shark wot got me eye, arrrr :pirate:
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talking of downloading. Would you mind if I could download some of your others in your albums?I'd rather ask than just taking the initiative to just download as most people do..
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don't mind at all. i have tried to use good resolution in the albums, but sometimes i don't. if there is one in particular that you want a printable copy of, let me know and i will email it to you. :happy:
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cool mom, you have a discerning eye. :happy:
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Two very lovely pieces of art! I really like them both, especially, the monkey-alligator one. The unusual coloring and flowing perspective of the river,contrasting the stillness of the top of the painting is quite fetching. 🙂
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Hi Scott
Good news… I would like to seeand the painting is wonderful….i am selling it on saatchi for $30,000.:yikes: well you have a good price.
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yep. if i just sell one… my trouble will be over. :cool:thanks for dropping by marie. :happy:
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ok excellent. :up: if I find the resolution be too low I'll let you know thank you.
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Originally posted by I_ArtMan:
often the best kind
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Hi,Scott! I have been trying to skip siestas for ages but in vain. The problem is to keep it short, say a quarter of an hour. Otherwise the next night is crap. Have a great Sunday, my friend.
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jean,i know exactly what you mean. a friend turned me on to salvador dali's technique… you know how we geniuses hate to waste time… especially sleeping. "sleep plenty when you're dead."anyway, dali would sit in a chair with a bundle of his keys in his hand over a metal pot. he would close his eyes… when he dropped off his grip on the keys would loosen. and bang! he would awaken.i have tried this. and i am amazed that three or four seconds is enough of a rest for the brain to reset. i can't help but compare with computers. how many times have we found that 'rebooting' helps.now if my nap is too long i will spend two grueling hours in bed trying to get to sleep. but if i skip the nap, i may weaken when it's important to be alert and all perceptive.still studying but i am coming around to the hypothesis that nutrition kind of rules functioning.
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Originally posted by FIFINELEB:
This reminds me of my late uncle; he said, the best is to have a key-sleep: sit in a comfortable chair with a set of keys in your hand – and your hand dangling down the side of the chair. When the keys fall on the floor, it's time to wake up.Still have to try that one myself.Originally posted by I_ArtMan:
It's amazing how Microsoft has imitated the human mind… 🙂
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What a grace if those keys were Saint Peter's! You drop them and you enter paradise in no time. I wouldn't reboot in that case. Would you,mates?
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Hey, Scott, what odd and interesting is your sharing about your daily activities & inactivities! :p One feels so familiar with you. Few people is willingly to do so with day-to-day activities. However, Life is a challege every day, isn't it? 😀
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ermmm jean, yes. i will reboot as long as there is still 'juice' in the machine. :idea:Originally posted by bentrein:
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yes, teresa, every single day is full of decisions, resistances.i speak about daily things because they are real. i am interested in the present moment mainly because the solutions can be revealed by digging deep. the only deep i know is now, the unknown.i mean why struggle unconsciously, when you can face existence with a conscious approach. the need for escape may increase, but at least i make the choice.
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Originally posted by Scott_Cumming:
[/quote]:lol: But you have a really strong skin -I'm going to explain you, friend :p : once I tried to put an inyection to a really grow-up friend of mine and I gave up that… 😆 his skin was so impenetrable… so resistant to me. You must have more resistant that those of your full-of-resistances-days, Scott: you have a help in your skin! 😀 JK!
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Great to see all your news here Scott.. you are doing very well my bro' :yes: :up:John:happy:
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Originally posted by I_ArtMan:
daily things are reality bro' and like you i am in touch with reality, the present moment.as an artist (of words) i can paint a canvas that creates a past, or many pasts; i can also paint a canvas that speculates a future, or many futures, but i am grounded in reality, even if my reality is different from yours (but as in a Venn diagram our realities touch and overlap). my struggle was in my very early years, but it was not a struggle to find myself, or to know what i would be, it was struggle to help my widowed mom and to look after my young sister. i came through all of that and everything that unfolded in futures that are now the past, since then, proved that it had been worthwhile and cause and effect had played out, as it always does, in the long run.
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Originally posted by lokutus-prime:
karma, they call it. and it depends on my choices.you chose well to serve instead of rule. to give is the essence of good being, i believe. thanks brother for the good words. very true. :happy:
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brother, you are the one i look up to and if i have known you in our mutual childhood that would have been a gold thread in my mind for ever, as it is now, since i first met you and learned wisdom from you these past seven years. karma will have its way, there's no getting past that, and its up to us to do what we can to ensure it be good karma. thanks brother, for being a bedrock, a place where i can come to seek out your gentle wisdom and abiding good heart. :happy:
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I applaud your serious efforts. :up: Hope things progress and (perhaps) that you make some money. 🙂
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Originally posted by I_ArtMan:
:eyes: Perhaps Venezuela? I guess not, Scott :p
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thank you ed. i am dancing as fast as i can. i'd better make some money soon or i will have to move to 'third world' country. 🙂
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Ah, well… an invitation? You're welcome then my friend I am willingly to take care of you of course! 😆 If you know about five hundred words in Spanish it's enough to stay here. :happy:
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thanks, i will consider that an invitation. i have one other friend in venezuela. his name is nilo. he is a retired dentist. he must be at least 82 by now. if he still exists.but i was thinking that belize is english speaking. and when you get older, i think you want to make things as easy as possible. my spanish is not fluent. :up: 💡 :happy:
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Originally posted by I_ArtMan:
I think we pretty much are a third world country at this point. :p
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Originally posted by tdjmd1:
oh i know that many for sure. :happy:
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Originally posted by edwardpiercy:
where is the smiley for "that's not funny. it's true."? :faint:
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To me, that's funny, Scott for I live here! :pBut so sorry my friend… Don't I amuse you, huh? 😮
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Originally posted by I_ArtMan:
belize is beautiful, scott, but so is the area where you live… Sometimes when people want and need a change it is reasonable to consider going to live in a different place where a 'dreamtime' may exist. but when there (some of those who do this) they would like to be 'well off enough to have reasonable creature comforts that make life in beautiful places enjoyable (nobody wants to deliberately move down to a level of relative poverty, do they?, that just blunts the comfort of living and reduces one to worrying about to manage financially).On the other hand, if you are able to sell some of your art at a good price – you mentioned one that you have priced at £30000? … then you can live well, providing you can stay alive. You won't want to live in Mexico because of uncertainty on that score. I don't know what the crime level-situation is like in Venezuela… but Tere will advise on this.I've looked up Belize and it looks good for a number of reasons, but on the other hand many of it's Kriols are migrating to USA, so there's clearly a problem for them in sustaining a living above poverty line. But for you, if you go live there and keep your US bank ac and your US citizenship, the standard of quality-of-life would be different…. but remember that old adage that says "the grass is always greener…" – don't pack your bags in haste, dear brother 🙂
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thanks for the advice john, i have been eying belize for about fifteen years. but i am still playing out my hand here in l.a. and who knows what can happen. "bloom where you're planted." but eventually, with prices going up and and a paltry and frozen retirement account with social security, it may be necessary.right now even i wouldn't live like a king but i would never want for the necessities. 💡
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Originally posted by I_ArtMan:
:heart: I hope you are able to stay in the states if that is what you like. but, other peoples in other places would be blessed by your company, abilities, cooking… and kindness.
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thank you jill. i would just as soon stay here… 😎
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Scott, stay where you're happy. Which is why I live in Thailand. 🙂
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im sorry, Ben r u staying in Thailand ??
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Originally posted by studio41:
Ah, well, I shall be very happy if Scott cook for me I assure you. I promise I'll wash the plates 😀
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Originally posted by bentrein:
Ah qué bien, Ben! To me that's perfect… you could invite me to your home then: I :heart: washing plates, pans, cutlery and such, no matter if your cousin cooks, no matter who does it! 😀
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You were raised well, Teresa. In my home, the rule was: Who cooks doesn't have to do the dishes.Until my cousin came to live with us. He loved cooking, and did it very well, but he always managed to use every bit of kitchenware we had (all pans, plates, cutlery and such) to make – say – macaroni and sauce.So the rule got an addition: except when cousin cooks. 😛
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Originally posted by BohemianCharm:
Yes, I live in BangPhli – Samut Prakarn. You?
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@ Ben…im living in Korat (Nakhonratchasima)nice to meet u here and all 🙂
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😆 I feel you… I understand it was a very hard coincidence your cousin also live in Thailand, it would be too much Ben, it's clear you were talking about your chilhood. In any case, if Mrs. Trein cooks… it would be my pleasure to wash all of those she manages to use no matter what quantity was :p Of course it's a good excuse for you your chico's care. Está bien, hecho! Okay, the matter is settle :up:PD: I am recalling I have never find a man that loves washing dishes. Do you know some one? :sherlock:
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Please join us for dinner then, some day! Both me and my wife hate doing the dishes, but my wife is an awesome cook.I was talking about the time I was a child btw, when my mother usually cooked. Now my wife is in charge of everything – and I take care of our son every night – bathing, toothbrushing, reading, sleeping…
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Ben, is there another spare seat at the dinner table? 😀
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me three… and i have no trouble with the dish washing. :happy:
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I'll make notes as you dishwash.. and of course while I do that I'll be sitting with an encouraging grin on my face 😀
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Originally posted by Scott:
😮 Oh, a man who likes to have the dishes? What a rare event! :eyes: Am I dreaming perhaps… or had I read correctly? :sherlock: :pHey John… you are a honest man, aren't you? As I can see you never lie, huh? :happy: Just grinning like Chessur… the Cheshire Cat you know :p
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Originally posted by tdjmd1:
I'll do the silver :DOriginally posted by I_ArtMan:
:coffee: :yes:
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very funny… just a sec, let me check if my lear jet is fueled up. 😎
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Guys, you're all welcome for a nice garden party. Just give me an hour or so notice, so we can buy supplies.As for the dishes, I love having them done; just like I love only three kinds of work:1) Work that's finished.2) Work that's done by others.3) Firework(s).Yes, John, I have a few spare seats at my dinner table, though I most often eat at one of my garden tables – depending on the direction of the sun – and the time of day.The one I expect soonest is the heartbroken Bohemian Charm – well, that is, if I read her blog correctly! 🙂 She seems to be the only one who lives less than 1000 miles from my place. But just in case, I'll jot down a list of names of people to expect, so that my wife is not surprised when others start doing our dishes! 😀
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Honestly, you're welcome any time. If you want me to reserve a landing strip at the local airport, you should give me an ETA though. 🙂
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I can't come today because it's my birthday. I'm underwhelmed by the cards from all my OC friends (nothing yet) :p but I have sent me one over there :yes: :happy:(this announcement is a sort of groveling one, so that I get BD wishes :p )
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Originally posted by studio41:
Ok, I agree, OMG -what are we doing, hum, this is not my blog :left: :right: :p – Hi studio41, how do you do! A friendly Hello from Venezuela! :heart::DOriginally posted by bentrein:
:yes:
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Happy Father's Day – Scott. Thanks CBLL for reminding me that it's father's day today…Father's day? Is that today? Hm… Would've passed me by completely! 🙂 In Thailand it's father's day on December 5th; the birthday of the father of the nation – King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Where's my Skype link – gotta call my dad!
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Originally posted by bentrein:
he will be surprised. :up:
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thank you cbll, it's beautiful. made me happy. :happy:
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Originally posted by I_ArtMan:
He wasn't. He wasn't home… 😀 I still don't know where he was.Ah well, after 9 years of me forgetting it, he may very well have gotten used to that…
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These have been the most interesting comments I've read in a very long time. The fact that some are considerably younger than others comes across very well. I surfed into your site after you commented on a painting on my site. Now I'm more apt to keep returning! Have a nice day!Encee
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Originally posted by salinas50:
that would be my pleasure. thank you for commenting. feel free anytime. :happy:
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