When it is dark enough, you can see the stars

I started our new bookclub book this past weekend, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. So far, it is a really good book and I find it hard to put down which is rare for me. I have to remind myself that our bookclub meeting will not be for another 3 weeks, possibly 4, and I don't want to finish it too soon and forget key parts.

Each chapter begins with a quote or saying. Chapter one began with what I have as the title to this blog - "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars". At first, I just liked the way that sounded and it's direct meaning. The past few nights I have been walking places at night and on multiple occasions I could feel a very strong light shining down. At first I would assume it to be a street lamp, but upon glancing up, I realized it was a big, bright white moon shining down. On nights that are so bitter cold you can barely feel your face after walking just one block, the sky seems to be 10 times more clear, the stars 10 times more visible, the moon 10 times more powerful. I love nights like this. I get lost in the moon, entranced by it. The glow it creates behind the few wispy clouds feels so magical.

I began to think more about that quote in terms of my life in general and realized it has a very direct relation to things going on in my life at present. Sometimes things become most clear when everything is turned off, all distractions put aside, everything removed from the situation for at least a bit. Sometimes clarity comes from stepping completely out of, and far away from the box. Sometimes it seems dark at first, scary, unpredictable. But then your eyes begin to adjust to the "dark" and slowly, the "stars" appear. We become so used to seeing things by the light of day, and sometimes are so scared of the dark and the loneliness that can sometimes accompany it, that we avoid the dark with all of our might. I think the dark can let all of our other sense perk up and absorb things we were oblivious to in the light. And then the stars appear and we are no longer lost, no longer wandering blind.

Photog blog

A very exciting thing happened recently. An acquaintance of mine in town was supposed to display his photos at this cute bar/lounge in Winooski, but the timing was off and he wasn't ready to hang in time. Somehow I popped into his head as a good person to take over the walls. Luckily the walls in my house are adorned with various prints of mine, framed and ready to go so it was an easy decision for me. This will be my first real solo show. Although it is not a gallery, and although I've had a few prints up at a coffee shop, this feels like the first actual "show".


I must admit that I have been slacking on my photography lately. After finishing my darkroom class, things got crazy and I neglected the darkroom and my camera in general. Since I have never had a real show, or sold anything, I think I take it more lightly. But now having my own show, I realize what a passion it is of mine. I have begun to morph back into artist mode. I spent so much of my childhood and grade school years pursuing art, showing art, winning awards. My mom always encouraged me to consider art school if I felt that's the path I wanted to take.

It's so easy, as we get older, to neglect things we are good at because our time is consumed with our bill-paying jobs, house chores, self maintenance, etc. I am excited about my show and more excited about the resurgence of artistic energy I feel within. I have already begun thinking about future projects I want to do in hopes of acquiring another show, more shows, bigger and better shows. Here's hoping this show will open new doors for my photography.

Fake or real?

I had an interesting conversation with my dear friend Becky recently regarding fake eyelashes. Now, personally we both love them...well, the effect of them. But the discussion turned to the reality of falsies, what those who don't use them or who don't know you are wearing them, are unaware of.

I am a firm believer in lengthy eyelashes, luscious lashes, the kind that could fan a sweating man by simply batting them. I picture old movie stars giving that look to the male protagonist that stops him in his tracks. Generally that look involves batty eyelashes. I do believe though, in life and film, many people are unaware of this little prosthetic addition.

Ladies and gentlemen, these are not Kate Moss' real eyelashes:


Here is what we summarized, and what it really boils down to...are they worth it? Putting on false eyelashes is like intricate hand surgery..it should require extra special, separate training in the makeup and aesthetics department. Not to mention that application is occurring milimeters away from where you gain your sense of sight. Not only does it take a painstakingly steady hand, but rarely do you get it right on the first try which generally means a few twinges of pain as your involuntarily rip off skin cells and/or an eyelash or two. Once you get them on, think you are in the clear? Au contraire. For the next hour or so, you will be so acutely aware of your own eyelids it may drive you into mild insanity. On top of that, something about false eyelashes causes severe dryness of the eye. So, yes...all in all, they are quite a hassle and not comfortable whatsoever. But the look? Can't be beat.

I once heard someone say, "you've got to suffer to be beautiful, hell, I've been suffering my whole life." Take from it as you will.

Black and white, shades of gray.

I have a mind that thinks in shades of gray, in sharp contrasts of black and white, in shadows and highlights, in texture and pattern. Sometimes I have to remind myself that not everyone thinks that way. The dichotomy of this with men and women is even more pronounced. Women have often gotten caught in the web of implying things only to have their point not understood because the point was artfully placed amidst carefully constructed words and phrases. It can be like this in the office and in the home. Sometimes we muddy our point by adding one extra word or phrase that adjusts the focus away from where originally intended. I had such an instance this evening that made me truly laugh. It was something that was meant to be provocative and ended up reverting to a minor detail becoming the theme of the conversation, the whole initial "big bang" passed by unnoticed. I got to laughing so much about it I had to call my sister and brother-in-law and they had an equally good laugh. Had I thrown the readers mind off course by included what I had thought was a fun quip? Or is it really just that where I think in multi-dimensions and absorb all details while still maintaining sight of the broader vision, others (men specifically) fixate on something small and insignificant and therefore lose sight of the original goal?