Reveling in spring.

So cliche'.

IMG_3767, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

Enough with all this life-reflecting drivel. These cliches will drive me over the edge if I don't just get off my high horse and stop to smell the roses. Or tulips, as it were. Although I've been in more than one heated debate about whether or not tulips have a scent. All in the eye of the beholder/hair of the schnozz, I guess.

IMG_3790

IMG_3790, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

Tulip, dying.

Tulip, dying., originally uploaded by Five eyes.

IMG_3741

IMG_3741, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

IMG_3865

IMG_3865, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

On a clear day, you can see a very long way.

Sleeping Bear Dunes, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

More thoughts on music.

One song that I listened to over and over and over again during the past several months is Colin Hay's "Waiting for My Real Life to Begin." I think the irony in not only the title but all the lyrics is totally his intent. He's not suggesting sitting powerless and waiting for and letting others/circumstances steer your course. I think he's recognizing those times that you ARE steering and you ARE on the path you need to take, but that path means difficult, painful choices-- and incredible patience and perseverance to endure the "wave crashing."

Not sure the lyrics alone translate the power of this song. Colin's voice and guitar do me in every time.

Download this mp3 from Beemp3.com

Waiting for My Real Life to Begin

Any minute now my ship is coming in
I'll keep checking the horizon
And I'll stand on the bow
And feel the waves come crashing
Come crashing down, down, down on me

And you said,"Be still, my love
Open up your heart
Let the light shine in"
Don't you understand?
I already have a plan
I'm waiting for my real life to begin

When I awoke today suddenly nothing happened
But in my dreams I slew the dragon
And down this beaten path
And up this cobbled lane
I'm walking in my own footsteps once again

And you say,"Just be here now
Forget about the past
Your mask is wearing thin"
Let me throw one more dice
I know that I can win
I'm waiting for my real life to begin

Any minute now my ship is coming in
I'll keep checking the horizon
And I'll check my machine
There's sure to be that call
It's gonna happen soon, soon, oh so very soon
It's just that times are lean

And you say,"Be still, my love
Open up your heart
Let the light shine in"
Don't you understand?
I already have a plan
I'm waiting for my real life to begin

On a clear day
I can see, see for a long way

On a clear day
I can see, see a very long way

Daylight

Misty sunrise over Lake Charlevoix, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

I think we all have songlists for certain phases of our lives, whether organized that way on our iPods or just something we hear later that reminds of what we were going through at the time. Sometimes you just need background music and sometimes your music choice speaks exactly to what you want to say or maybe brings you down deeper into your psyche or, finally, gives you energy when you need it most.

Tonight's moving-out focus was a big, messy bathroom cupboard and I wished I had a playlist for "cleaning" or "energy" or whatever, because I needed something to get me going. Without such a playlist, I hit "Purchased" on my iPodTouch and then hit shuffle, which gave me songs I'd downloaded over the past year--many after hearing them on Pandora based on other choices. I wasn't really surprised about the maudlin pieces there (Nick Drake), but was particularly struck by the metaphorical and unabashedly dramatic need I had for pushing through and moving on. I don't care about the melodrama; just grateful for the energy many of those pieces have given me.

"Daylight" by Coldplay is a great example.

To my surprise, and my delight
I saw sunrise, I saw sunlight
I am nothing in the dark
And the clouds burst to show daylight

Ooh and the sun will shine
Yeah on this heart of mine
Ooh and I realise
Who cannot live without
Ooh come apart without
It
On a hill top, on a sky-rise
Like a first born child
At full tilt, and in full flight
Defeat darkness, breaking daylight

Ooh and the sun will shine
Yeah on this heart of mine
Ooh and I realise
Who cannot live without
Ooh come apart without
Daylight

Slowly breaking through the daylight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-mFwMQTDuM&feature=related

Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day

winter lake at dusk, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day--Jethro Tull

Meanwhile back in the year One --- when you belonged to no-one ---
you didn't stand a chance son, if your pants were undone.
`Cause you were bred for humanity and sold to society ---
one day you'll wake up in the Present Day ---
a million generations removed from expectations
of being who you really want to be.

Skating away ---
skating away ---
skating away on the thin ice of the New Day.

So as you push off from the shore,
won't you turn your head once more --- and make your peace with everyone?
For those who choose to stay,
will live just one more day ---
to do the things they should have done.
And as you cross the wilderness, spinning in your emptiness:
you feel you have to pray.
Looking for a sign
that the Universal Mind (!) has written you into the Passion Play.

Skating away on the thin ice of the New Day.

And as you cross the circle line, the ice-wall creaks behind ---
you're a rabbit on the run.
And the silver splinters fly in the corner of your eye ---
shining in the setting sun.
Well, do you ever get the feeling that the story's
too damn real and in the present tense?
Or that everybody's on the stage, and it seems like
you're the only person sitting in the audience?

Skating away on the thin ice of the New Day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGz_g1i7KU8

A

Writing, all boxed up.

I'm moving. Still can't quite get my arms around it, but it'll be okay. Daunting, though, after twenty years of packratishness.

So I started with some books. I fancied myself a writer wannabe for several years, stocking up on all the Deep Writing/Courage to Write books available. The fact that I'm packing them up to take with me makes me realize I'm hopeful they might still come in handy. Someday.

I'm not a slave to housework. I just don't do it.

Love Billy Collins and I'm bringing him with me. And that Spanish dictionary? You never know. Plus, I used it in Venezuela.

Found this faded, water-stained photo of Emma and Lamby when I was sorting through stuff. It was damaged in an air-conditioning episode and I'm not sure where the original is. Such a sweet photo of her--taken in a hotel room when we visited the Detroit Zoo. For some reason I remember that she was wearing one of Jay's big white Pluma t-shirts.

poppy petals

poppy petals, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

Once in awhile when I'm looking for a photo in my poorly tagged stream, I come across one I completely forgot taking. The next few are among them.

IMG_6790

IMG_6790, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

No recollection of this one. I want to claim the bokeh, but...did someone else sneak this in?

IMG_8417

IMG_8417, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

I think this may have been in Sheri Dwyer's garden. Or maybe Betsy's.

Red-winged blackbird, calling.

Red-winged blackbird, calling., originally uploaded by Five eyes.

I actually do remember taking this one, but I had forgotten it until I saw it again. Does that makes sense?

snow saddle

snow saddle, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

No idea why I like this so much, but I do.

snowshoes

snowshoes, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

Just thought these were kind of fun. I like the bokeh, too.

on a bender

on a bender, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

I took this in Chicago on Emma's birthday--that whirlwind day trip via the Southshore Train on an absolutely frigid day. I like the lines and the reflection, but I wish it were more colorful. A blue sky would have done wonders.

Actually went to the Hall of Fame for "Reflections." I was surprised.

in step

in step, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

Took five rounds in the "repetition" category. :-)

so tired

so tired, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

This was an odd little win in a odd little category called "Can(s)." It was also posted in my early months on Flickr--way back in '07. A lifetime ago.

A gift from Larry and Cheryl.

Under my Christmas tree was a small gift. In that gift was a puzzle. The puzzle solved brought a note. On that note were directions to the real gift. The real gift was a Sigma 150-500mm telephoto lens, a beauty of a beast I never dreamed I'd own. I call it my fine piece of glass. Also, a kick-ass lens. These are my first practice shots as I try to learn to conquer the beast.

Marching something or others.

I

Is she looking at me?

More practice shots with my new glass.

Is she?

Sun slants on the day after Christmas.

knob

knob, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

I came across this picture while looking for something else and I really liked it.

penguin contemplates fresh water living

penguin contemplates fresh water living, originally uploaded by Five eyes.

Showing up for the second time; sorry. This recently entered The Pinnacle's Hall of Fame for winning in the "Scape" category--and then went on to take 2nd place in the K2 Challenge. That is so fun for me, because really, the talent of that group is phenomenal. I'm so honored and humbled to even BE in the challenges, let alone place in some of them.

Maybe people just liked my title on this one. I do sort of crack myself up sometimes.

The Lovely Miss Emma on the Occasion of Her 15th Birthday.

The lovely Miss Emma on the occasion of her 15th birthday., originally uploaded by Five eyes.

I know it sounds so cliche', but who can ever believe it when their child turns fifteen? I just remember looking into those deep blue eyes the first moment I held her, and she looked back up at me and I instantly and infinitely loved her more than I ever could have imagined.