Art and Home

Imagine you live on the street. Where is your venue for self expression? Do you care or is that so far off your radar because you are cold, hungry, afraid, sick, addicted and desperate to simply survive another day?

I don't have the answer. I'm not even certain about the relevance of my questions! Some people are without society's concept of home because they want to be. Some people on the street have homes and can't go to them because they are not safe.

I do know that many people not living within the construct of walls and roof are simply not seen by those of us who do live within these constructs. Living outside the normal boundaries of society's dream can come with the price of not being seen. You are outside the realm of others vision of acceptability. If you are not seen, do you question your place in the world? Do you drift outside of yourself or do you drift inward? I imagine it is as individual as each being.

I do know that, for myself, I can examine my interconnection with the "all" through self-expression. For me, this is sometimes facilitated in the form of visual art.
So, I'm thinking about the possibility of getting some local art supply stores to donate sketchbooks and other art supplies to the shelters and folks on the street. I think it is a fairly simple way to facilitate a form of self expression. I would love to gather drawings from the street and create a show for the whole community that may start a dialogue - perhaps create a conduit for our brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers who are suffering from invisibility to reconnect to that sense of being part of the "whole". A picture truly is worth a thousand words and art can transcend borders.
Let me know what you think.

Back In the Game

Plumerias on LanaiPumpkin-Fest 08 - Saanich Peninsula

Hello All,

After a sabbatical of a certain stretch of time, I have returned with more access to technology and a recovered spirit. There is a great deal of information I am hoping to put forth here in the next few months and hope that I will re-establish contact with some of my previous readers. In the meantime, enjoy the visuals.

august in victoria

It's a grey day in Victoria

It's August

I feel strange

Here is a flower for my friends

and I have not a word to say...

HANG IT UP!!!!!

That's it! I've had it.

There is no way other than this to say it:
Talking on cell phones while driving is stupid and dangerous.

We have been hit twice in six months by people who were not paying attention while driving - aka - talking on the phone. This is completely unacceptable.

These people are not being punished for operating a machine that weighs over a ton doing anywhere upwards of 100 kmh and talking on a phone. Think about how stupid that is.
Particularly since they are doing it on a road that is crammed with a whole lot of other stupid people doing the same thing.

Cell phone use in cars has now been prohibited in two provinces - Quebec and NFLD. I hope that we can get British Columbia to follow suit before too many more people are hurt or killed.

I was hurt, lost a position at my workplace, have suffered both mental and physical trauma, have injuries that may never fully heal and undergone huge expense. Why? So someone could phone someone else and say, " Hi, What are you doin'?"

PLEASE, PUT DOWN YOUR STUPID PHONE AND JUST PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DRIVING!

Almost summer

Okay, I know it's snowing in some places of the world but this is Victoria, n'est pas? It's almost summer and it is chilly. This is supposed to be Canada's Hawaii! Where are the gentle breezes wafting with scents of warm jasmine and the swish of the palms while I sip a cold drink on the rooftop patio?

Pleeeaase! Let summer come soon...

Victoria Day Parade Pictures

Parade Pics

I know, you can hardly contain yourself - fear not - parade pictures will be coming as soon as I have time to take them off the camera and load them up. Try to hold on - I know not when I will get to it. I can feel your anxiety and excitement from here ...really I can.

Victoria Day Parade

Today the city will be alive with the sound of marching bands as the Victoria Day Parade gets underway. A peculiar phenomenon as most of the bands are from America (United States of...). Odd that they come here to celebrate the birthday of this queen - odd we celebrate it, when it comes right down to it. Let's just make like we are celebrating the City of Victoria....yeah, that's the ticket!

Anyway, one of my peculiar pastimes is taking contemporary pop songs and setting them to a marching band tune. Try it - it's most unnervingly addictive - or not...

Try a classic pop tune to start with, perhaps "It Ain't Me, Babe" by Bob Dylan or something by U2 and go from there.

Enough about that. If I get some pictures of the parade today, I will post later.

More Spring Photos in Victoria

Peacock in the Park

Peacock In Beacon Hill Park

Flower of Springtime

Happy Spring!

Your Birthdate:

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Me and my brother Phil - I was around 3 yrs old...

Launch!

It's a new year and a new way of approaching life - I listen to the voice of Hawaii and echo the Aloha spirit.
I welcome you, here and now, to this breath in your life.
Remember, everyday is an opportunity to re-invent yourself.
With best wishes to all of you for peace, love, and laughter.
A hui hou.
Kila Nalu
(Gillian)

Nancy Adler's Pictures of Me on Lana'i

It was the best! - HAWAII 06

The Last Hours in Waikiki - It's hard to leave...

All Hawaii - All the Time!

Aloha from Gumby & Pokey
Back in the cold
On my balcony - Victoria - B.C.

This is what I came back to... - Victoria - BC

My buddy Greg - Kuhio Beach - Waikiki - Oahu

I think - Portuguese Man o' War
Shipwreck Beach - Lana'i

Yep, that's me - Shipwreck Beach
Lana'i

Last Day on Lana'i at Shipwreck
with Bev
So much Aloha to you my sweet friend!

Perfect Day at Hulopoe - This is where I camped
Lana'i

Bird of Paradise - Lana'i

The Grounds at the Four Seasons Koele Lodge - Lana'i

Four Season's Manele Bay Resort - Lana'i
(Had a dinner and a lunch here - Deeelux!)

HAWAII! HAWAII! HAWAII!

Cool

Gumby and Pokey working on their tans - Hulopoe Beach - Lana'i

Pu'upehe - (Sweetheart Rock) - Lana'i

Shark Cove, Lana'i

Inside my B&B - Lana'i - oooh, 4 poster bed!

My B&B - Lana'i

ALOHA Part Two!

The view from:
Brown's Beach House - Fairmont Orchid - Big Island

Gumby and Pokey by Shay's Pool - Kamuela - Big Island
I think Pokey is drunk...

Big Island Buddha

Turtle on the beach at Puako - Big Island

Gumby and Pokey chillin' at Mauna Kea
...Pokey is still drunk

Hulopoe Beach - Lana'i

The view from Shay's lanai - Kamuela - Big Island