Southern Cross

Got out of town on a boat
Goin' to Southern islands.
Sailing a reach
Before a followin' sea.
She was makin' for the trades
On the outside,
And the downhill run
To Papeete.
Off the wind on this heading
Lie the Marquesas.
We got eighty feet of the waterline.
Nicely making way.
In a noisy bar in Avalon
I tried to call you.
But on a midnight watch I realized
Why twice you ran away.
Think about how many timesI have fallen
Spirits are using me larger voices callin'.
What heaven brought you and me
Cannot be forgotten.
I have been around the world,
Lookin' for that woman/girl,
Who knows love can endure.
And you know it will.
And you know it will.
When you see the Southern CrossFor the first time
You understand now
Why you came this way
'Cause the truth you might be runnin' from
Is so small.
But it's as big as the promise
The promise of a comin' day.
So I'm sailing for tomorrow
My dreams are a dyin'.
And my love is an anchor tied to you
Tied with a silver chain.
I have my ship
And all her flags are a flyin'
She is all that I have left
And music is her name.
Think about how many times
I have fallen
Spirits are using me
larger voices callin'.
What heaven brought you and me
Cannot be forgotten.
I have been around the world,
Lookin' for that woma/girl,
Who knows love can endure.And you know it will.
And you know it will.
So we cheated and we lied
And we tested
And we never failed to fail
It was the easiest thing to do.
You will survive being bested.
Somebody fine
Will come along
Make me forget about loving you.
At the Southern Cross.


"Southern Cross" was a song written by Rick Curtis, Michael Curtis, and Stephen Stills, and performed by American rock band Crosby, Stills and Nash, released in 1982 on the album Daylight Again. The background vocals feature Art Garfunkel and Timothy B. Schmit, but not Graham Nash or Neil Young or David Crosby;

Once in while, I like to toss in a song that has some meaning to me, or had a place in a certain time, or is just a great song, "Southern Cross" is one of em. I think there is at least one thing in any part of the lyrics that anyone could relate to. I love that a member of the Eagles sang background on this song, and finding out what the "southern cross" is.

De-Coding Leonardo

"Nov. 9, 2007 -- A real da Vinci code is indeed hidden within Leonardo's "The Last Supper," according to a book to be published in Italy next week.
But rather than conspiracy theories, the new code points to a hidden musical score, a sacred text and a three-dimensional chalice. "
-Discovery Channel

C'mon. Is anyone really buying into this?
This is one if not the most recognizable paintings in the world. It would make some sense of course to wonder about it, but this "coding" within this masterpiece really is getting to me.
I was lucky enough to see this painting and the last thing, as an artist, I was thinking "wow I wonder if there is some secret code in this?" I never think that about any art for that matter. I see art for what it is and make my own assumptions based on the work. Color, composition, details, etc.
So why is it that this particular piece is so controversial? Is The Sistine Chapel just to much and to big to try and decode too?
And, now some new code has come up:

"This is not another spin-off of Dan Brown's novel. It's real," musician Giovanni Maria Pala told Discovery News in an exclusive interview. "I've always been intrigued by the possibility of finding a (piece of) music in the Last Supper, but I would have never imagined to find myself decoding a secret message by Leonardo."-Discovery Channel

I just cannot believe that this is considered to be "truth". Personally, Leonardo da Vinci seemed to be a man that unlike his Painting, recorded a lot of his ideas on paper, so why would he put secret codes into his work? I believe we are still stuck in the old myths about backward messages that were supposedly placed in Beatles albums which John Lennon denied constantly.
What is this obsession with trying to find out hidden messages? and if there really are "hidden messages" aren't we defeating the purpose by bringing hidden things to the forefront?
Art is a subjective thing, what the viewer see's according to his or her own interpretations, I don't like being told what is in art, unless it is "Art History" . So I added a few real facts about Leonardo da Vinci's, " The Last Supper"

Why did Leonardo paint this?
Because his employer requested he do so. Leonardo worked for Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, for nearly eighteen years (1482-99). The Duke decided he wanted this particular religious scene painted and Leonardo, who was not stupid, decided painting it made perfect financial sense.

How big is it?
It's huge, really - 460 x 880 cm (15 x 29 feet). It covers an entire large wall, very unlike reproductions sized to hang neatly behind one's sofa.

Where is it?
The original mural is on a wall of the refectory (dining hall) in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.
How long did it take Leonardo to paint this?
He began working on it in 1495, and finished Last Supper in 1498. This is worth noting, as Leonardo was a known procrastinator with a marked tendency to leave projects unfinished.

Why is the composition remarkable?
First, because the disciples are all displaying very human, identifiable emotions. "The Last Supper" had certainly been painted before. Leonardo's version, though, was the first to depict real people acting like real people.
Secondly, and of major importance - the technical perspective in Last Supper is incredible! You can see that every single element of the painting directs one's attention straight to the midpoint of the composition, Christ's head. It's arguably the greatest example of one point perspective ever created.

[Source About.Com- Art History ]

Soldiers' Angels

Remember our Troops on this Veteran's Day and check out this site.
They do great things.
http://www.soldiersangels.com/

-Grasshopper-

The 41st Annual Country Music Awards

The 41st Annual Country Music Awards are being aired tonight, and it's good to have something on that doesn't involve a writers strike, kind if cool when the writers are the people singing. I couldn't even begin to think about writing songs. And that's all I need, one more thing to distract me from what I should be doing. But Kudos to all that can write songs. Especially county songs, some of them have a lot to say, it's certainly not the booze and broken hearts with that whiney twang it used to be.
Many songs in this realm of music have a voice about the war and the happenings in the world. Artists like Toby Keith, who still has a feud with an award show. I think that is just hilarious.
There are a lot of artists from rock to rap that seem to be taking a bite out of the county scene. Some may have been really surprised to see Robert Plant [ Led Zeppelin ] toss his hat into the county ring, but listen to some of the more obscure Led Zeppelin tracks and you can definitely hear country influences.

It seems that Bon Jovi opened the door for that, and good for them, if any band knows how to keep in the public eye and continue to sell records, it would be them, not to mention they are just nice guys. I wish Guns and Roses thought like that. They probably could have pulled off an amazing county song.
So, I was thinking about last year and Faith Hill, when she had her hissy fit when Carrie Underwood won over her. Oddly [and I do mean "Oddly"], Carrie Underwood won again. Ok, who is this girl doing to keep winning award after award. Honestly, she is medicore at best, she's not great and yet she is awarded all the time. Now, when I first saw the Faith Hill hissy fit, yea, I thought what a bitch, and then she had that rant with the female fan who grabbed her husband [Tim McGraw] during a concert. She did the back-peddle thing, and all the excuses and how things were taken out of context, but I would have had a lot more respect for her had she just been like "yea, I am a total bitch and don't grab my man", because not only was she 100% right in both instances, she meant it. Carrie Underwood didn't deserve the award for the same song again and again, and no women should grab onto another's man, period. It's just rude and obnoxious. So fess up Faith and be real, and stay true to your original outbursts, at least they were honest.

Isn't that the core of Country Music, the honesty? Even as ridiculous as Toby Keith's feud is, at least he is standing his ground.
If I am not mistaken, it looks as if there are at least four performers who have come from reality shows. Two of them, definitely from "American Idol" in this years awards. I would really like to ask Willie, and Hank Jr, how they really feel about this, speaking of which, where is Shooter Jennings?, where are the true "Outlaws" of County music? Brad Paisey? give me a break. He has got to be the sappiest song writer since Richard Marx and now Rascal Flatts, who just happen to be doing a duet with Jamie Foxx? I would bet my last shot of Jack that Rascal Flatts are doing that for some kind of street cred, because while listening to it, well, it completely meaningless. But, I am not that cynical on this whole mess, Lucky there was a great performance from the "Eagles" and "Keith Urban" who is exceptional, pre re-hab, yes, that's harsh, but this is country and its about keeping it honest. Ok, I will cut him a break, maybe it had absolutely nothing to do with re-hab, lets say, since he married Nicole Kidman. Now, seeing Faith take a right hook to her would be pure Country. Gretchen Wilson can sing about that kind if stuff till she's blue in the face, but bottom line Faith is the real "Red Neck Women".

I have been blessed...????

I never really heard that I had "heart"before. The compliment, as I suppose it was, came on a day when I thought it was going to be an excellent day to showcase some of my art work.
A large Annual was being held last Sunday and this event is hosted by one of the largest Motorcycle Companies in the world.
This who fiasco as it turned out to be began about two weeks before the event. I had gone there to try and get a vendor space to sell those silly trinkets I mentioned before. Well, no deal on that. Conflict of interest with what the store sells. I still have yet to understand where the blue fairy's I have clash with the heavy steel of biker parts.
With that I tried another tactic to get into this event, sell the T-Shirts I have. No. They weren't to keen on the club it represented, and yet that club rides nothing but their line of bikes, go figure. By this time I was running out of options, especially since my ace was being there last year. Unfortunately, the same people were going to be there again and I was no longer part of them, that of course turned from an ace to a spade real quick.
By this time, I was practically begging for a "space" at this event. The person on the other side of the desk must have felt sorry for me, rightfully so, if I weren't standing I would of been on My knees in my pleas [not really, but I was close enough]. We agreed I would just bring My "Book" , show my art. I took the offer and walked out with this unsatisfied feeling. But nonetheless, I got in.
For days I re-worked my book and even into that same morning, loading up and ready to go.
The day couldn't have been any nicer, clear an cool.
As I parked my vehicle, to find the lady that sympathized with me, and unload my small portfolio, I was suddenly approached by this man who looked like a "priest", and he was , actually a "Bishop" as I later heard him addressed.
He walled right up to where I was exiting from my car door and said "You are Blessed"
"I am?" , I said? and He made me repeated it and promise to say it all day.
Now surely, at the beginning of an event such as this, hearing such would make one think, "This is a darn good start", as the words from my last blog about "pick and choose" ran through my head.
The Bishop had a nice calming presence as He walked away. It was right at that moment that my car just shut off, so I tried to re-start it, and it wouldn't. But alas there were some of the best bike mechanics walking around there to take a look at the car. And 25 minutes later I watched as my car was being towed out of there completely unfixable at that point. Did I mention its a 2007?
Soon after my car left, so did I, being convinced I should go by my other half. At the time it seemed like a good idea. But it wasn't.
The rest of the day had me sulking and glaring at my boyfriend. I kept running through all the reasons why I should have stayed there and possibly a shot at my art work getting some "work". I also wanted to be out and see the people there and sadly, I wanted to see to people I was with last year at this time, so they saw I had moved on and was a vendor at this event just as easy as they were.
I say "sadly" because there is a part that feels that's really shallow of me, but after all the crap I went through with them, it felt justified in some way. I kept wondering why I didn't stay, and find a ride. And through all this, I kept thinking of the Bishop and being blessed.
The last thing I felt that day was blessed.
This whole incident bothered me so much that it carried over for the next few days. Sorting out the in's and out's of logical explanations. Was there some kind of "test" in this?, when would the "big picture of it all come into view? For some reason I wasn't meant to be there, yet , even that made no sense to me, and still doesn't right now.
And, so I am back to the "heart of the matter" the comment of having "heart" and in the context it was said, meaning I keep trying. I still am pondering if that is a "blessing".

Beginners Luck?

Sometimes the things that we concentrate on as what "we are supposed to do" take a strange turn when you toss your hat into the ring and try something else that you enjoy.

For me that is writing, and I guess that is why I "Blog"
Today, I saw my first attempt to write an article about an event that happens in our area get published to a National Magazine. The strange thing about it is that I have been doing art now for so many years I have lost count and then I take a shot at this writing gig and get published. I don't have any art published.

Beginners Luck? I don't know and don't really care at this point.

I am thrilled- thing is they forgot to publish the "revised article" so things were left out, and they also forgot to add my -bi-line- so pretty much I am still an anonymous writer :)