Once Bitten...

*** I have resumed re-writing & posting those updates which Google had lost some months back. Once I'm finished with my April "butterflies" project I will unveil my new blog over at Wordpress. *** Much love to all, bobby 2011-09-14

Inspiration, joy, beauty, Oneness, the spark of recognition...

Monday, February 28, 2011

Day294 - Epic

Fresh from a workout, I hit a new Personal Best.

Endorphins race, awakening muscles & fibres, pushing through depletion. Exhausted, yet summoning strength to squeeze out that last drop of energy, before falling into a heap. Satisfied.

For now.

-

An epic workout demands an epic song. This is my Eye of the Tiger:

Journey - Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

-

Day293 - PP 4 NP

One of the most relaxed & blissful Sundays in a while. I even managed to squeeze in not one but two siestas!

Though I may have overdone the indulgence slightly - a bit discombobulated & have been eyes open since some ridiculously small hour, working on ways to fall back to sleep.

One failed attempt included watching a most excellent lecture series Particle Physics for Non-Physicists, which details the recent and short history of the study of said - we're not even 100 years deep; it's an exciting time. This does however have the adverse side effect of keeping me awake, purely because it's far too interesting to fall asleep to.

It's now 0515 - for one person, the perfect time of day to test out their new high-noise/small-penis muffler. I wonder if there was ever anyone born who is actually impressed by this. Does it lead to romance? How does one seal the deal - chase after the noisy car or motorbike, honking one's horn & waving them to pull over, to declare everlasting love?

I don't get it.

Back to particles.

-

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Day292 - Mermaids and Pirates

The lovely and talented Rianna and I have created a shared art project in the form of a blog.

A conversation of beauty in both images and words.

Click for a dose of inspiration.

-

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Day288 - Music Soul Battery

I had a stark realization today of just how much power I receive from listening to music.

I ran a couple of my favourite Blind Melon songs through my phone, and felt my energy levels steadily increase, motivation rise & inspiration well, as if years of cumulative positivity, joy and bliss are stored in certain songs, to be drawn upon listening. I have always understood that music affected mood but I had never before looked at it quite in this light.

There is the knowledge that the power source is internal and that the music is only a catalyst, but it - and all forms of art - are such a necessary part of the battery of the soul.

-

Blind Melon - Soul One

-

Monday, February 21, 2011

Day287 - Echidna


I found a good use for my otherwise useless 5 cent coins: bagged and dropped into the hat of a most grateful and kind-faced panhandler. I'm not sure what the dollar total was but I enjoyed the look of surprize on his face.

-

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Day285 - 3 Days in NZ, part 2

Heelys. I want a pair.

I'm not sure they come in size 12 or 13's.

Bubble saved up $35 worth of pocket money which I "matched" to allow her to make the purchase. I can already tell that they're one of those items that will in part define her childhood.

-

More Jane's Addiction (and one of my favourite songs) =)

Jane's Addiciton - Classic Girl

"4:05
In my neighborhood,
When shots go off,
No one bothers.
A POP, and a reply POP, and no reply...

Dinosaurs on the quilt I wore
With a girl.
Such a classic girl...
Such a classic girl...
Such a classic girl,

Gives her man great ideas.
Hears you tell your friends,
Hey man, why don't you listen to my great idea!
It's true I am a villain
When you fall ill,
that's probably because

Men never can be.
Not like a girl.
A classic girl...
Such a classic girl...

They may say, Those were the days...,
But in a way,
You know for us these are the days.
Yes, for us these are the days,

And you know you're my girl!
Such a classic girl...
Such a classic girl...

Yeah for us these are the days..."

-

Friday, February 18, 2011

Day284 - 3 Days in NZ, part 1

6AM start, worked through the day, then an afternoon flight into Auckland - an impromptu visit to see my girl, on the back of a bunch of airpoints that were set to expire at the end of the month.

The glow in the background is the moon: full, large & looming - the camera having it's own surrealistic interpretation in the low light.

-

One of the most epic songs of all time:

Jane's Addiction - Three Days

"Three days was the morning
My focus three days old
My head, it landed
To the sounds of cricket bows...

I am proud man anyway
Covered now by three days

Three ways was the morning
Three lovers, in three ways
We knew when she landed,
Three days she'd stay.

I am a proud man anyway
Covered now by three days

We saw shadows of the morning light
the shadows of the evening sun
till the shadows and the light were one..."

-

Monday, February 14, 2011

Day280 - Cut-off

Men in cut-off jean shorts: there should be a law against it.

/shudder

-

I need something soothing to take my mind off the above:

The Black Crowes - "Sometimes Salvation"

-

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Day276 - Return to Gatsby

I recently finished reading The Great Gatsby for the second time in 6 months. No less enamored, I consider this book to be one of my great loves. It was life-changing the first time, in that it spoke to me in a most familiar tongue, as if I were having a conversation with my own internal monologue. I knew then that it was the template, the yardstick for my own writing & that when I came to write my own novel, I would aspire to be even a shadow of this; the absolute pinnacle, where words are elevated above mere syllables, into poetry.

As with returning to a lover, there was anticipation of the known and excitement at the prospect of discovering something new this time. Sure enough this was the case. Some of my favorite passages from last time did not hit me with the same impact, but others that had previously washed over me, seeped deeper, into the cracks of my consciousness...

"they had never been closer in their month of love nor communicated more profoundly one with another than when she brushed silent lips against his coat shoulder, or when he touched the end of her fingers gently, as if she were asleep"

"You said a bad driver was only safe until she met another bad driver. Well I met another bad driver, didn't I?"

"...I'll make you a mint julep, then you won't seem so stupid to yourself".

And one of my favourite lines:

"He looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of his hand."

which leads into the following, molten poetry:

"...One autumn night, five years before, they had been walking down the street when the leaves were falling, and they came to a place where there were no trees and the sidewalk was white with moonlight. They stopped here and turned toward each other. Now it was a cool night with that mysterious excitement in it which comes at the two changes of the year. The quiet lights in the houses were humming out into the darkness and there was a stir and bustle among the stars. Out of the corner of his eye Gatsby saw that the blocks of the sidewalks really formed a ladder and mounted to a secret place above the trees — he could climb to it, if he climbed alone, and once there he could suck on the pap of life, gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder.

His heart beat faster and faster as Daisy’s white face came up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning-fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete."

/a most satisfied sigh.

Once more, immediately after reading I didn't want to read anything else; purely uninterested. I will wait until the glow fades, until it's no longer fresh in mind, because as of then I will have processed the beauty in its entirety and will reflect upon it with only fond and further enlightened eyes.

I look forward to next time, Gatsby.

-

Not sure why, but this song seems to fit the post:

The Black Crowes - She Talks to Angels

-

Day275 - Nothing

Quite often I will lay my head at night and drift to sleep with a lecture, documentary or or audio book playing, in part to maximize my time on Earth, in part because it is the time of day when I am most receptive to knowledge absorption, and partly due to the instant dreams generated.

But last night I went with nothing.

I'd forgotten how beautiful the figurative music is that my own thoughts make, without effort.

I should do this more often.

-

This song featured last night in a dream. I remember thinking, "oh, I recognize this - it's unusual for this store to be playing it". At least, I think it was a dream - it may well have happened yesterday. Life has been a little blurry lately...

Lemonheads - Half The Time

-

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Day274 - Dedicated

As a tall lad, I grew up being unable to lift my own body weight, ever since the first time I attempted a pull-up in early high school.

I managed one.

Yes, a single pull-up. But it didn't count anyway as I used the momentum of jumping off the floor to reach chin to bar (ie I cheated).

Today at the gym I was thoroughly happy with my progress - I managed 3 sets of pull-ups: 4-3-2, a new personal best =)

It may not seem like much at first glance, but bear in mind that these were performed after an intense pec & bicep resistance workout - the final squeeze of muscle, the last gasp of sinew.

In line with my February re-focusing of Self, I've been hitting the gym every 2 to 2.5 days (alternating morning/night workouts) - possibly a little too frequently but it's nice to shake up the routine now & then and shock the body in the process.

I've really come alive lately. I love the motivation I've been privileged to harness & am grateful for the inspiration of those who provide it on a daily basis, especially those who occasionally take the time to read my words. I don't require a huge audience - in fact my favourite blogs have a small number of followers and I love the community that grows up around them. I'm just happy to have an audience of beautiful ones, who inspire me in return. It means a lot to me.

-

This just happens to be playing right now. One of my top 10 favourite songs of all time.

Dedicated to all the lovers.

You know who you are.

The Black Crowes - Descending

-

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Day271 - Extreme Spaghettification

This is but one of several poetic terms used in the amazing History Channel series "The Universe" now into its 5th season - a highly recommended watch for anyone with an interest in astrophysics, with up-to-date discoveries & theories. It's most astounding how alive and ever-changing the field is.

The titular phrase from Stephen Hawking was quoted by one of my favourite physicists (yes, I have favourite physicists) Alex Filippenko, on the topic of black holes, whose work I had encountered before in various lectures for The Teaching Company. It is thinkers like Filippenko who have such an infectious enthusiasm for the beauty with which they deal every single day, that can only manifest itself in poetic language.

There have been some truly mind-blowing episodes, on which I will talk more.

-

"I don't know my telephone number
but you kiss good and I'd like to see you tomorrow"

Black Crowes - Nonfiction [live]

"Clouds conspire, above my head..."

-

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Day269 - Dragonfly

I have a soft spot for dragonflies - they never seem afraid of humans - as if they know they can get away with just about anything because they're so damn beautiful.

This lovely specimen was kind enough to pose for pictures before I carried it over to the window and gently blew it out into the world.

-

GD I love this album! For anyone who hasn't heard The Southern Harmony & Musical Companion, do yourself a favour & download it now, before Summer's gone. Here's one of the singles:

The Black Crowes - Remedy

-

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Day268 - Ibis

Lunch at Darling Harbour yesterday, enjoying myself when this slightly scary specimen came up to me with a look in his eye as if to say "gimme your wallet!". Scarier than a Bondi cockroach, I breathed relief when he wandered away to peck at another of his kind.

Being an immigrant, I can be forgiven for having not known the genus, let alone common name, but enlightened by an ornithologically adept friend, I learnt that the bird in question is an Ibis.

Aside from having a succinct & sweet-to-the-lips name, I found myself in an odd way quite taken with them: monstrous, yet elegant; beautiful, yet intimidating; instilling a modicum of uncertainty when in proximity - just enough to put one on edge.

Imposing beauty with a hint of the unknown.

This combination always gets me.

-

Chris Robinson - 40 Days

"The savage hooks of midnight, have pierced your milk white skin,
tattooed in gold dust splendor
A jeweled thrown you ascend
So be safely on your way and heed the words I say"

-

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Day267 - Meditate

It looks like I've finally shaken the persistent cough I've had for the last month. It really was starting to drive me nuts, especially over the last week - I've barely exercised and stayed in as much as possible. Stir crazy and restless, I was glad for the change to come:

I awoke this morning at 0530, full of life, full of my usual exuberance, motivation & spirit. I dove into a delicious yoga workout followed by an intense gym session and some early morning acoustic guitar - a fantastic start to the day! A fantastic start to the month!

I'm sure the 40ºC day helped - it was beautiful! Humidity in the 30's, Sun obviously hot but not scorching - gentle - completely matching my mood.

The tail end of 2010 saw me not only burn the candle at both ends but melt in the middle, so I'm spending the next 28 days focused on balance through introspection & meditation.

I'm enjoying the various music, writing & art projects I'm involved with, so here's hoping these are all stimulated as a result.

I have a wonderful network of inspiring & supportive friends - chances are if you're reading this, I count you as one :) The people I've met in blogland over the last 267 days or so are such a lovely - and loosely disparate - group.

-

Something random:

Frank Mills - Music Box Dancer

-
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...