Cracked Lens & Broken Pens: Minnasia

Showing posts with label Minnasia. Show all posts

Sunday, March 23, 2014

A New Day

Isn’t it funny how a change in attitude and/or purging negativity can bring an incredibly bright outlook the next day?

I was looking over my previous posts and they seem to be a dark confessional of sorts and that wasn’t my intent. I thought I’d do a quick happy post, rambling as it may be, for an insight to the more positive aspects of my mind. :D

My cats’ attempt to overthrow my regime this morning was foiled successfully. They ended up battling for dominance for the best perch on the cat tree and defending said dwelling against the canine assault.

The dog didn’t destroy anything, but I did have to stop him from chewing on a doorway corner in the hall. I’m going to pretend I didn’t see the small fluffs of carpet spread around the area. :/

I was worried last night that I’d wake up to a dusting of snow per the forecast I saw before bed last night. I was really happy to see green (ish) grass and sun! Only a few clouds in the sky. I think I’m going to take Mariah down to feed the geese for some ‘us’ time. Seeds of Ink may or may not join us. She’s been a prisoner to the shade for a week or so and it’s time to break her out.

And wouldn’t you know it that as I’m ready to take a few shots to emphasize the actions of my critters the camera goes on the fritz. The bright side is that it’s the inexpensive point and shoot that was a clearance display that got for $25. RIP Sony Cybershot. Now if I could only find my Lumix…..

The Nikon is much harder to carry around all the time-I’m kind of obsessive and have to have at least two lenses with me. And speaking of lenses, my dad gave me two BIG ones a couple of years ago and I’ve yet to work with them.

My current lenses are the auto focus ones while the older ones are manual. They do fit the camera body but one lens is really long and heavy and I’m afraid to stress the camera body without any extra support. I need to take the plunge and learn to use the manual focus. Time to check out some YouTube tutorials I guess. Until then for the remainder of this post I shall recycle old photos because I can’t have a post without visuals. It just feels wrong to me.

Someone also suggested that I pick up a solid Cannon in the future if possible because it’s nice having both. I inherited a manual Cannon a few years ago from my uncle and want to use it to-I really like shooting 35mm. I have to wonder how much longer there will even be physical film available.

***Any suggestions for photography education resources are most appreciated. Inexpensive is fine, free is even better-at least I’m honest about it.***

I’ve decided that along with my new attitude I will be cleaning out a lot of clutter from my environment. I am a collector of books, oriental décor, and rocks. Getting rid of any of them feels like I’m losing something important, but the reality is that I’d like to keep the best of the best and only the favorites. Don’t get me wrong-we aren’t talking an episode of ‘Hoarders’ but my garage is full and my bookshelves overflowing.

Not my actual house but you get the idea

I also need to purge several electronic items-a couple of old laptops, a bazillion cords, an extra stereo (or two), and you get the idea. My goal is to eliminate my need for the garage-I already rent a carport which is directly in front of my house, and if I work it just right, I should be able to keep my camping stuff in a spare closet I’m going to give it the old college try anyway.

With the influx of sun, the call of spring is strong. My garden schedule is already a month behind due to winter deciding we needed snow after all. Gah. We have a short growing season as it is. I went ahead and started a few seeds-peppers, tomatoes, squash, c cantaloupe, and a few herbs. Will see how they do. I really do like growing things myself.

The community garden I belong to is going to allow kids to plant a mix of flowers and edibles in their plots which will make it look pretty neat. I generally plant certain flowers for pest control and it does brighten things up.

I plan to grow my herbs in containers at home this year because I like stepping outside and clipping what I need. Usually I do a big showy and bright flower garden out front, but last year the new owners of the complex started to pull the juniper (awful stuff) from the landscape so I didn’t do my regular thing and lose any hard work I would have done. I get kind of particular about my flowers so I did containers.

Turns out they didn’t get to mine but will this season, so no big show again this year. (I miss it. I truly do because it smells really nice too.) I will let Mariah scatter some flower seeds and just see what comes up. I’m going to do something different with the containers-make combination pots or something. I love sitting on my back patio, small as it may be, on a warm night with an adult beverage and enjoying the ambience.

I’ve taken mercy on the kitchen table and have a plastic shelf set up for my seedlings. The kids really protested when I took up 60% of the table rather than the 20% I’d promised. When green fever kicks in, it really takes over.

And in other news….

Books...

I haven’t read much during my murky funk, but a favorite author of mine recommended a story that looked interesting so I took the plunge. I’m reading “The Girl of Fireand Thorns” by Rae Carson. I’m only a couple of chapters in but I already like it. I don’t have enough read time in to share a more in-depth view.

I was stressing on the eyeball thing and in a twist of irony another one of my favorite authors, Jennifer Armentrout has been given an eyeball diagnosis of her own. In this case, it’s not a great one and my thoughts are with her as she takes her own journey.

Music...

I’ve been enjoying some new music by Minnasia-they have a new EP out, 'World of No Errors', and its FREE! You can get your copy here. The EP has a more unpolished, gritty feel and I like the way it turned out. My favorite track on the EP is ‘Ice Burns’-it gives me great feels. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter as well.

I discovered a new artist via an acquaintance’s Tweet earlier this week. His name is Toumas Kasselgaurd Easton. I made some small talk (you know me) and he seems like a nice guy. He’s a keyboardist and his first official music video ‘Daydreaming’ can be seen here. He's got a Facebook and Twitter too.

And with that I shall leave you to start my day-I want to go get in some sun time and will the few clouds that have crept across the sky away.

Wishing you a great day!

Until next time,

Robyn

~Post Script~

We had a wonderful time down at the lake-the sun was warm and there were a bunch of people feeding the birds that the bread could have filled a bakery. It made for very happy geese, ducks, and of course, sea gulls.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

What am I listening to and how did I get there?

Let me start off by saying that when I sign on to Twitter I do check who's followed me. I actually check out who it is. I actually like to have conversations or at least say hi to them.

I'm not about the numbers in any of my accounts.

Yes, I know that bands follow followers of other bands, etc. If I don't care for an artist I won't necessarily delete them unless they represent something I can't support. (Cutting themselves and bleeding all over themselves and on the stage is just not something I'm down with, but that's just me).

If I do like an artist I will thank them and follow them back with a comment of what I like about their sound (and I do check out their music first). This often starts a conversation that may or may not lead to Facebook friending, etc. In many cases, it's even gone to the personal accounts for fun filled and sometimes thought provoking topics.

I always add in the 'I'm a harmless old lady that loves to rock' so I don't scare the poor souls away. I mean, you never know and this IS the Internet, right? RIGHT?

Sometimes I do feel this old

Why do I pursue this avenue in-depth with an artist? When it comes to art-especially music, I like to get an idea of what's behind the music-what drives the artist.

I also just have this epic maternal instinct and love to 'adopt' people. If you've known me a long time you've seen this in action, and know it's from a pure place. I mean when you are out on the road, getting some good old fashioned encouragement with no expectations back is good for the soul.

I have two at the moment.

Now on to what I am listening to.
The playlist for this post consists of Clint Lowery's work. (The guitarist for Sevendust)
"Summertime", "Uncomfortable Silence", "Expectations", and "Caved In." I just love his melodies and softer side of his voice. Don't get me wrong-the man can rock, I am just in a quieter mood today.

I've been slowly organizing "Mercy" and setting up the final playlist. The majority of the artists are indie and I found them on Noisetrade for free.(I have since donated a small amount as I play the music constantly). Similar to Clint Lowery, some are side projects from musicians in larger, well-known bands.

"Mercy" playlist

Of course they aren't necessarily in order. The Hawk In Paris and Stephen Mason are launched from Jars of Clay. Joshua James is absolutely amazing-brutal and realistic lyrics. I saw Stars in Stereo when they opened for Bullet For My valentine and I just loved them and this acoustic rendition of their song in particular. Feel free to search them on your own-I think you will be pleased.

You can really see the boy + girl elements when put all together. This is going to be a lot of work but that only makes it a better product in the end.

A few other recent discoveries are Socionic, Voyageur (formerly Saga City), Summertime Dropouts, Letters from the Fire, The Letter Black, Stars in Stereo, Minnasia, and Hope & Harbor.

As usual, they are all over the place, genre-wise. For the most part, I like just about everything.

I know this is a short post today, but I would love to know what YOU are listening to?

Please excuse my use of more pics than normal. It's just one of those days.

-Until next time, my friends. :)

Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy it.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/saibaba176928.html#6iuspD7oearf13JT.99

"Life is a song-sing it. Life is a game-play it. Life is a challenge-meet it. Life is a dream-realize it. Life is a sacrifice-offer it. Life is love-enjoy it." -Sai Baba

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Change

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.

-Anatole France

ccdc

Change.

What does it mean to you? Do you fear it? How does this fear affect you?

Webster’s online dictionary proved the following as being terms that are relative to change: alter, make over, modify, recast, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, vary fix, freeze, set, stabilize, transfigure, transform, transmute,; commute, convert, exchange; rejigger, & retool.

There were several more, but you get the idea. Change is inevitable.

Madhura Panse writes:

“Fear isn't always unreasonable; but it is always relentlessly irrational. Change fear comes with all thought-of possibilities whose natures are invariably untoward, and they're existence is unreal in the moment. When a person has fear of change, he's preoccupied with thoughts of only a future that knows not much of mercy, and is haplessly abundant with the grotesque difficulties and a shaky unstable ground, ready to open any time and devour him.” You can read the rest of the article here.

Personally, I’ve never been fan of change, as much as I tried to convince myself otherwise. Even when I was in full gypsy mode, traveling with the carnival (that’s a story for another day), meeting new people, trying new things, or just aimless wandering-I was in a pattern of consistency within the inconsistency.

Does that even make sense? To me it does. Unexpected change is difficult most of the time, but I’m not going to kid you-knowing a change is coming is no picnic either.

I had a situation come up recently that really upset me. I stormed, ranted, and raved for two days until it dawned on me that it was not the actual use of the item, but it was the idea that it was no longer going to be available to me if I did need it. My backup would be gone. In reality, the likelihood of the actual need for this item was slim to none, but you would think from my reaction that my life depended on it. When I finally calmed down enough to really look at this change, this fear, my brain was sending me a strong distress signal.

“Great-now the one time you won’t have it is the one time you’ll need it.”

That was hard to deal with.

I’m being sent in a different direction to deal with the underlying issue. I’m relieved and afraid at the same time. Fear of change is a nasty little piece of work, whether we are conscious of it or not. It can take control of your life before you can say ‘fluffernuts’. (You just said it, didn’t you?)

I know I am kind of unorthodox when faced with different things, so as far as this issue goes, I’m just to roll with it and the results l prove themselves. I’d be lying if I said it was easy; rather it has taken quite a bit of effort. Once I got used to the idea, the flame as been taken out of the fear and I’m hoping for good things to happen. (And , yes, I've said it sucked in many different ways in this post, which should give you a clue just how much it throws me, lol.)

Getting out of one’s comfort zone is a hard thing to do-it’s like getting rid of a much loved, comfortable, and worn shirt. (I have all my torn-up tie dye shirts in my closet…I just can’t seem to let them go, lol).

When I had my eldest daughter, I made the choice to step out of my comfort zone to become the mother I knew I needed to be. I was living a lifestyle that was far from safe for a baby. It was scary. It was HARD. I gritted my teeth and got through it, and I’m so proud of myself for it.

I’d patted myself on the back for years as I conquered various fears, from battling my habit of self sabotage as I approached my college graduation (Now what will everyone expect of me). I’m still waging the epic and eternal battle of the bulges (keeping it real). Losing weight (I’m safe being fat because it keeps people away from me so I don’t get hurt). My eldest daughter moving out. (What will I do with all my time? I’ve spent so much time assisting with her daily challenges? Who will need me now?)

As you can see, my thoughts trend toward the more dramatic.

We seem to forget one thing: change is often good and exciting.

So how do we embrace the change and take the reins away from fear and put it into a more realistic place?

There is no recipe to follow, no clear cut diagrams, or step by step guidelines. It’s different for each person.

One thing is for certain. Change will always be a part of life. It’s all in your perspective.

ccdc