Another week of SM shares that did not get SM shared but are here. Untagged unloved unnoticed. I guess this is my public journal of me journaling. Well not really journaling since I’m not gnashing my teeth about me and the world and my life. More just here is what I find cool and groovy. Hope you do as well.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page
I'm not much of a video gamer primarily because I get frustrated easily not being better and I’m so clumsy with the controller. It's sad being old and broken. I'm intending to do more gaming this year. Build skills slowly with easy RPG games and build until I can really kill some Clickers in Last of Us.
One of the games I've been playing and enjoying is "Lost Words: Beyond the Page". It is a simple game that tells the story of Grace and her wanting to be a writer. She has a journal and is writing a story about a mystical kingdom. In this game her grandmother has a stroke and dies. Grace uses her journal, the story she is writing about chasing a dragon, and her grandmothers death to understand loss and grief. It the writing is brilliant and for all my years writing and reading about love, loss, and grief what is in this game is magical in its simplicity and depth of understanding. The developers Web Site.
Burning Man 2011
August 2011 Donna died and the time since then has been documented here and the other SM sites as well as my YouTubeChannel. I saw this video from Burning Man a number of years ago. It’s a video from the hipsters at BM acting out the Dr. Seuss book "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" Donna got that book when she was diagnosed with cancer. We never really opened it because she did not want to go in the literal sense. After her death and the connection to the year 2011 and the book this video is perfect. I do weep a watching it.
Glenn Brown
I did not know who Glenn Brown is or anything. Kinda stumbled on this I would guess from Kottke. "Glenn Brown, CBE, (born 1966) is a British artist. He is known for the use of art historical references in his paintings. Starting with reproductions from other artist's works, Brown transforms the appropriated image by changing its colour, position and size." His work is beautiful
Cat and Girl
Some great comics that are powerful in there messaging. Again from Kottke
Blue Eye Samurai
Blue Eye Samurai is an adult animated action series. It is just a wonderful series to loose yourself in. It is action based. It is historic with its references to Samurai and feudal Japan. It is a story of girls and women succeeding. So binge worthy. Within the story is a reference to a Sutra which are a type of literary composition of aphoristic statements. They reference one that I went to read. It was the Heart Sutra. This quote from it captured my imagination “That is why in Emptiness, Body, Feelings, Perceptions, Mental Formations and Consciousness are not separate self entities."
Eight Art Shows in NYC
All eight are on my list to go see. Assuming I can get over my not wanting to leave the house. Take a look and let me know what you'd want to see.
Blind Magazine
This is another pull from Blind Magazine. It's called Life Without Filter by Nick Waplington. Very powerful photos that made me stop and think and marvel.
Worcester, MA
Worcester, MA is where I was born and grew up till the fam moved to Seattle when I was 5 and back. My memories of there are deep, resonate, and beautiful. As many of our idlic childhood memories can be. I stumbled on this gem from Worcester. They have there own web site. Added bonus is they have a radio station as well. Listen here. Worcester is not a major town. Having a dedicated web site that is not the usual city hall bloated bullshit is something to behold. And a radio station. Nice going Worcester
How to be alone with your thoughts
Found this piece in Vox. The lede on the story is "Sitting in silence is, for some, an experience more dreadful than physical pain... a study from 2014 found that many people would rather give themselves electric shocks than spend just a few minutes alone with their thoughts." Yup Well previous yup for me since I've mastered being alone after Donna died I thought I had it wall to wall. Seems there is more to learn.
Some of the tips and tricks from this piece: Plan Thinking Time I try to do that but get all caught up in worrying that I'm being lazy. Embrace negative thoughts as they come: My life is one huge negative thought. It seems from this writer I am all caught up in ruminating. Start small and keep practicing: Doing this exercise here without SM is my small start to be alone with my thoughts while writing. Now to go sit alone.
Suicide Depression and Farmers
My volunteer work is crisis counseling. Which is about suicide prevention and helping support those who are struggling not just with suicidal ideation. What this piece from PBS spoke to me about was how community is key to helping prevent suicide. Community is who we trust, respect, and look to when we are need. Community is who we know will come to our aid.