Where's summer?

We had the most amazing June and July this year in Vancouver (weather-wise) -which is fabulous because we just had several not so good years. And me, being a summer baby, enjoyed every sunny, hot moment of it. Many others complained about the heat but I was very happy.

But now, we're back to grey skies - some days so dark I have to turn the light on my keyboard or all the lights in the room. It's still August, I want my sun back! Summer's not over!!

Okay, enough of my childlike temper tantrum - the grey skies keep me in the house so I can get house work and some other projects done. Being an adult, there's always work somewhere isn't there? If I could go back and tell something to my 15 year old self - that's what one of the things I'd say, "Don't be in such a hurry to grow up".  Really - work and responsibility are not what I was thinking about. I thought it meant FREEDOM. But that can't be farther from the truth - with a mortgage and other bills, what freedom? LOL. Oh the things that are wasted on our youth!

Here's to 2014

Although I have never been a resolution's writer/keeper, there are things I plan for 2014. Manly to do with financial goals because they are linked with so many other goals.

How about you? Any plans?Any advice?

Health and fitness goals? Financial? Relationship? 

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Evolution of the arts and creativity

I was inspired by these lovely photos on  Art Symphony's  blog post this morning showcasing the lovely portraits of musicians and the emotions and feelings shown in the  photographs which brought to mind hearing people in the 80's say there was no point creating real music anymore because a computer could do it all when synthesizers and computers where coming on 'the scene'. I'm delighted to see that 30 years later, people are still picking up instruments and are still creating music with their own hands, voices and hearts. I see it first hand as my 15 year old step son is inspired by his best friend to play bass guitar, and inspired by his friend's garage band to practice several times a week. I'm so glad those old predictions didn't come true, aren't you?

I suppose this is also true with other art forms too - some felt there was no need for drawing or painting because a computer could create art, but yet man is still inspired to create his own pieces. And once you start thinking about it, it goes past the 80's, all the way back to the industrial revolution doesn't it? We've had machines and equipment doing the work for us not just in music and in art but also for food, clothing etc. Just as people say 'why make bread at home when you can buy it at the store" or "why make your own socks when you can buy a pair for $2"  - many of us still have the burning desire to do it ourselves.

"I think it's fair to say that personal computers have become the most empowering tool we've ever created. They're tools of communication, they're tools of creativity and they can be shaped by their user" ~ Bill Gates

"We need creativity in order to break free from the temporary structures that have been set up by a particular sequence of experience" ~ Edward de Bono 

Soundless Sleep

Last night I was awakened by Eco walking around the house at 3:21am. I have no idea why. Sometimes I think she just changes rooms because there's a different bed in a couple of them. After a quick bathroom break I went back to bed and I thought about a friend of mine who wears double hearing aids - this means that he takes them out before he goes to bed and his poor wife gets to be awakened by things that go bump in the night.

I am grateful for my hearing and I don't want to wish hearing loss on myself or anyone but I wondered what it must be like to hear NOTHING once your head hits the pillow and what it would be like to have a soundless sleep. Don't you think you'd have a wonderful dreamy sleep? Freedom! Short of an elbow to the ribs or an earthquake you should be able to sleep peacefully thought the night. "What would it be like?" I asked myself over and over, and soon I was asleep again.

Do you wake up in the middle of the night because of noise? Do you think a soundless sleep is perfectly dreamy?