What is so positive about Brotherly Love?

I don't know - maybe its me but I have reservations about the interpretation of what 'Brotherly' love is these days. In any case, sex dependent people are not restricted to heterosexuals alone and that the' community' is sometimes no better, not much more informed, nor more responsible or untouched from the cravings of lust. The reason why I am adamant that the word 'community' should be reassessed - it has too many social implications and binds us to stereotypes that feeds on itself. It transforms the nature of the gay community that is all embracing to one of being isolationist. The 'community' is always struggling even from within - building barriers and communes like blind rat packs further perpetuating the rift.

Where has this come out from? Well, I remembered sometime back, I was enticed into going to my first Mardi Gras in Sydney. I was of course under the impression that it was a dance party - people who enjoyed hard house/drum and bass music with the company of good friends. Of course, being preppy growing up, I had no spandex nor glitter to put on so a pair of jeans was the couture for the night. I have to say, it wasn't the experience I had expected because this supposed revered cultural act was no different than a heterosexual idea of bingeing on mind-bending cocktails and the indulgence of tabooed desires; in other words even Caligula would be embarassed.

And of course in my naivety, I was confronted with fuzzy-eyed, drugged up Muscle-Marys, one of which was on his knees with the other being 'blown' away on the lawn? Huh? Maybe I am a prude, but I always thought that sex is public places is more exciting when you're trying not to get caught? It was also difficult to go to the lavatories with someone lying in the trough I might add. My lack of humour at this idea may offend but hey pissing in communal areas does not equate raining down on a another physical human being. Maybe the culture I was expecting should be intelligent enough to separate expression vs the down right ludicrous? Maybe, I was just asking too much.

I came out thinking that maybe I have lost touch. Whatever happened to a good ole fashioned,"would you like to go for a coffee or dinner or a movie sometime?" I think our community have already forgotten that there is more to life than the circuit. It is very hedonistic in nature and if we do not rationalise what our culture is all about, I have a feeling that it will eventually consume itself into oblivion.

I was @ Borders and I saw something for ohmypod!

They might be Giants!

My Lanvin Distraction...

I remembered - little thoughts left behind in Time

Two movies for the hungry minds....

Tous les matin du Monde: The soundtrack is superb including the movie.



La Vie en Rose (Sylvie Testud 2007)
Another must see for Piaf fans.


So beautiful...


I remembered how I was so captivated with living in France - I do not know why but it would have been the melodramatic influences of Art and the idea of "Passion from within" wanting to break free. Maybe the strange thing about the French is how raw and beautiful things can be at the same time. What a romantic ideal but alas here I am in Australia. How odd life's journey is.

Bravo! Madame Piaf...


And for those whom have made many sacrifices for love...."let me count the ways!"

A trip to the Chiro!

The trip to the Chiro had to be done coz my back was killing me. So a spinal X-ray is required...it seems that age is catching up. After the knee reconstruction it seems that all that running is not doing the back any good. Now back to Sq.1 on getting myself better again. Oh well c'est la vie!

I'm so happy for Andrew!

This is just a shout-out to Andrew (www.andrewfaith.com) and his new distractions. All the best mate...you can never get enough of love!!

Kurt this is for you.....

Should have been a NIKE ad:



EuroTrash A+:


Who can live without Faithless:

For KEVIN....

For the Ohmypod Boys!

Strength goes out to everyone...

Today I feel blessed and I share my gratitude to the following people/individuals for making life interesting.

• My hubby - thank you for a wondrous life dear and what a journey we've had so far.
• To Ross - may you find the missing piece in your life...I want you to be happy.
• To Peter n Pinoyboy - thank you for sharing your lives with us and keeping it real.
• Brad - thank you for persevering in the quiet.
• Kevin - for reading the blogs and for sharing your fire with us.
• To John - for connecting the disconnected.
• Andrew - for listening and being a creative outlet.
• To Seumas - for even trying to podcast in such adversities of schedules and distance.
• To Archerr - for sharing lovely moments of intimacy with us.
• To my Parents - I miss you...someday my sadness will dissipate.
• To John, Brian,Coco, Ashley,Bob and my steadfast and other love once upon a time ago in Oregon Casey - may love lost be found.
• And not forgetting to Indra and Admiral - for being good little schipperkes. Don't grow old too soon boys.

SHARE - WARE...

I have been listening to a couple of podcasts and I have to agree that sometimes we take ourselves too seriously. The podcasting world is very big and cyberspace is a shared space - a freedom accorded to all and not the few. Speaking your mind is a choice and a right; being polite and decent - well that is upbringing.

My random thoughts today:

• Married gay people need to get over their insecurities and invest in a long-term relationship with another man or woman.
• There are no such things as semi-truths just agendas.
• Just commit to your fears - Love is wondrous.
• Tough it out - keep your libido in check.
• Sex is over-rated. Short but highly over-rated.
• Live with the mistakes you make coz you've already made them.
• Love is so fleeting - if you're busy doing something else, you might miss it.
• Sometimes there is only one train - get on or get off, it is your call.
• There is nothing wrong with making mistakes - stupid ones are hard to live with.
• Be accountable for your actions.
• Compassion and accountability comes hand in hand- there are many levels of compassion as there are hypocrisy.
• You are beautiful - know it and live it.
• Love all things beautiful and bask in sharing it with others.
• Loving someone and being in love are two different things.
• Friendship is a responsibility not to be taken lightly.

And so the day begins.....

Light Lunch!

The weekend as always.....

It was a real cold winter weekend and the heater is finally running in the family room. Another major cleaning took place on Saturday from bathrooms to the main section of the house getting a thorough wipe down.Totally exhausted thereafter - maybe a bit too enthusiastic there. The box in the garden was transplanted and the new Tom Thumbs are now in as a hedge. The bird bath though needs a new paint job - that has to be next week.

Mum and Dad's garden was in tip top condition having finally dropped its last leaves. My Golden Elm is still working itself out so the garden does not look like this at all. I wish it did coz the leaves are driving me insane.

Sunday morning was Market day - got my usual flowers and dark chocolate coated figs. I've decided that this grid veggie construct might be a good idea - makes it mobile and convenient to place on top of our current vegetable patch which is currently composting.

Sunday was off to Harndorf, a little German town 1/2 hour away from where we were on the hills. We had our pasties and sausage roll + buttered finger buns. Talk about being able to eat your way through the town but we didn't. Somehow we've come good with balancing needs and wants. The cheeses were the hardest to resist.

It's Cabaret weekend next week...so looking forward to not doing any cleaning for once.

Sugarfree Zone for Bears!

How can you not want a cuddle?

International Clearners Day 15.06.07

You need Superpowers to do this job!

Is this true?

Woes of the day and new learnings!

Sadly my Canon Pro1 is sick. After going through the rigors of India and Burma where tiny particles of dust and sand was running amok, it is experiencing its first 'noise' problems. The LCD has also taken a hit and while on manual mode, varying Fstops are creating more noise even in RAW format. I've tried everything from refreshing to default but to no avail.

The barrel is also making a very strange whining sound probably asking me to clean it out. It also farted last night. That was odd as it has never done that before. I thought it was the boys but realised that the camera was whimpering as it tries to focus. It must be really sad having to resort to human afflictions.

The auto-function is nonetheless producing great 8 megapixel images but being an avid picture taker, I prefer having the manual option at hand. So it is going to the service centre today. It will have to go before Japan in November. It will be autumn and how disastrous that would be if the camera decide to pack it in then.

As to my new found interest, it is HDR images and working with Photoshop CS2 to merge the images. If you are interested, here is a link that I have found helpful especially for beginners like myself. I am excited at the prospect of what it will offer and the image quality that will be derived... next stop is to get KITTY YUM YUM in October!!

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/hdr.shtml

Man of Faith?

Where do I get one of those shoes?

More Kitty YUMM YUMM...

How can anyone not fall in love?

A night with Penfolds @ the Stag

Last night was enjoyable and now I am experiencing what one may call a slight hangover. The partner and I were out wine tasting over a degustation menu. From Riesling to Cab Sauv to Port - the crowd this time was a mix of people. Five tables of 8-10 with the youngest I guess in their late 20s with the oldest being in their 60s.

Peter, the owner of the Stag, has recently lost some weight. He commented that he was ill, the reason why we ended up with a surgeon on our table and his interior decorator wife. The Penfolds brand manager was there too but was less enthused about pushing the wine probably because Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon was not on the sale list at the end of the evening. I like Peter for his nature but the health issue has taken a little of his spark...which is quite sad really. I wish he gets better - somehow you feel so helpless and irresponsible.

So just two images, one of the Allianz building @11pm and the tram in Adelaide. The Allianz building is interesting because they have two hollow wings where they've planted huge palms that are 4-5 storey high, growing out of a historical building.

Salutations to Peter, Pinoyboy, Kevin, John, Andrew, Brad, Seumas and the Boys!

Leopard YUMM YUMM...

Why we need faster Broadband in Australia...

The Opposition party is making Broadband high on the agenda of must haves in Australia and could be the one thing that will see them in office. I think we know what Broadband is all about don't we boys?

Why I like Green....

How can you not want an Ipod?

I just can't help myself...

Yes Ohmypod - Ive is hot!

I love my helmet!

Always wear protection!

The in-laws can take pictures....

My task at the end of each trip is to download pictures, fix the crappy ones and somehow produce this slick CD for the in-laws. It usually takes 4 hours especially when I am in damage control mode but sometimes I do find some beautiful pictures. Yes, the in-laws can take pictures.

Catherine was huge! St. Petersburg...

MOSCOW - I like Candy!

HANDSPUN - South America

AMAZON - XENA's sidekick!

South America and Russia is in the pipeline...the architecture is superb. Last but not least, some monumental sculptures - where man once shaped the earth and not just lived.

The world is a beautiful place to live....

On my way from home...rainclouds ahoy!!

What a sight - I am sure the garden is rejoicing!

We are flawed creatures....Made from Earth

DOES INTIMACY FRIGHTENS YOU?
DO YOU FEAR THE TRUTH?
DO YOU LIE TO YOURSELF ABOUT THE TRUTH?
DO YOU HAVE A SECRET?
DO YOU FEAR YOURSELF?
DO YOU FEAR THE WRATH WITHIN?
DO YOU FEAR YOUR FRAILTY?
DO YOU FEAR YOUR HEART?
ARE YOU BURDENED BY YOUR EMOTIONS?
DO YOU SEE OTHERS IN YOU?
DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN OTHERS?
DO YOU FEEL REMORSE?
IS THERE A SADNESS WITHIN?
DO YOU EMBRACE THE MULTIPLICITY OF YOUR CONSCIENCE?
DO YOU DETEST THOSE THAT DON'T?
DO YOU FIND RELEVANCE IN EXISTING?
IS THERE MORE THAT MERE EXISTENCE - IS SPACE RELEVANT?
IS MERE BEING SUFFICIENT?
DO YOU LIKE EATING?
DO YOU FIND BREATHING RELEVANT?
DO YOU FIND EATING RELEVANT?
DO YOU THINK THAT THE EMOTIONAL SELF VS THE PHYSICAL SELF IS IN CONSTANT FLUX?
DO YOU EMBRACE LOSS?
DO YOU FEEL LOSS?
DO YOU REJECT CHARITY?
ARE YOU RACIST?
ARE YOU HONEST?
ARE YOU DECEITFUL?
ARE YOU LUSTFUL?
ARE YOU A HEDONIST?
DO YOU DETEST HEDONISTIC GESTURES?
DO YOU DETEST OTHERS THAT ARE HEDONISTIC?
DO YOU BELIEVE IN COMPASSION?
ARE YOU COMPASSIONATE TO OTHERS?
ARE OTHERS COMPASSIONATE TO YOU?
DO YOU SHED A TEAR WHEN DEATH IS FAR FROM YOUR DOORSTEPS?
DO YOU SHARE THE JOYS OF OTHERS?
DO YOU SHARE YOUR BURDEN OF SADNESS WITH OTHERS?
DO OTHERS BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE RELEVANT?
DOES EMBRACING YOU MAKES YOU RELEVANT?
DOES EMBRACING YOURSELF MAKES YOU SELFISH?
ARE WE ALL UTILITARIAN... WITHIN THE SCHEMA OF HAPPENINGS AROUND US?

IS THIS THE CREATOR'S IDEA OF CATCH 22?

Annoying but hilarious!

OK - you have to laugh! OK - you don't ...
Just the one - Palmer ...

The 1 hour assignment...

I had a strange dream. This is for you Andrew....

Andrew came into the room with vigilant eyes following his every move. The assignment was simple but yet difficult.

"Your task is to take 8 pieces of a word puzzle and come up with a marketing/promotional strategy and the main colour for your ad is Orange. Everything has to work with Orange and those that is unable to come up with anything reasonable within the hour will fail my course! Now begin!"

1 hour - 1 strategy - 1 colour.

Tough love?

Cute as...

There's a bear in my slot!

SOME PEOPLE JUST PISS ME OFF!

DISLOCATION > INDOCTRINATION > CONFORMITY > ACCEPTANCE > CONTRADICTION...

BE DIFFERENT - BE BOLD - BE CRUTCHLESS - BE BRILLIANT - BE BEAUTIFUL - BE KIND - BE SELFISH - BE HONEST

&

STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE!

What a tiring weekend.

I am exhausted - what an awful Monday. Not that it was a terrible weekend but did a whole load of stuff. Saturday was spend running around measuring baths - after the usual morning routine of picking up the ironing from the laundramat, a cheezymite from Baker's Delight and to the newsagent for the morning papers. Went on a cleaning rampage thereafter and then in the afternoon to the light shop to get my Art Deco light. It looks fantastic and the room is looking grand. It will be about 5 more weeks before the wardrobe comes...

Saturday night went to an Italian restaurant "Assaggio" and had lamb shanks plus a 1996 Penfolds Cab Sauv that we brought along ourselves. Corkage $15/- but it was worth it. Thereafter to Illy for latte and gelato.

Sunday was even worse - morning to the farmers market for sourdoug/Olive bread/ Flowers/Chocolate dipped figs. Then off to Bunnings for 5 bags of cow manure, 5 bags of Mushroom Compost, 5 bags of potting mix, a bag of chicken poo, a 100m drip pipe and slow release fertiliser. Then we started ripping apart the front garden...in the rain and did it rain and rain. This was the best time though to turn the soil while busy mowing the backyard lawn, trimming the edge and picking up the kikuyu.

Then dinner and off to the movies to see, "Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End' which was a disappointment. I think we were just too tired and not easily entertained. Then back home for a cup of latte and then off to bed...it was 10 by then. Can I be more exhausted today?