Amazing Musical Week

Two fantastic things happened this week.

I saw Axl live. He was just totally brilliant. Hearing November Rain live just made time stop. There were so many awesome moments during that concert that I just want to keep them locked in my memory. If I try to describe them, the impact will be lost by the time the words show up on the screen.

I also caught two Point Blank shows by one of my long-time favourite artists: Mr Dave Graney. But that’s not the best part. We actually had a conversation. One that he’ll forget, but I’ll remember. Heh. I told him that I was too scared to open my mouth in case crap came out. And that’s exactly what happened. But, somehow, I think he understood. Again, I’ll keep it all in my memory. It will preserve better that way.

The Inspired Woman Forums

I’ve started a project called “The Inspired Woman” and I plan to run it for 8 weeks. You can see it in action over here. It’s an establishment of forums for women to inspire, empower and encourage each other. I have a kind of mission statement, which is:

A place to promote our qualities and strengths, celebrate our differences, share our experiences and find common ground.

If you are looking to inspire, or be inspired, come along and join us.

Visual Of The Week!

On Saturday morning, I was at the local shopping centre and I passed by the pet store. Something horrendously cute caught my eye. A labrador pup was asleep in one of the cages. However, this was no ordinary slumber. His little body was pressed against the wall of his huge water bowl, and his long, floppy ear (wait for it) was draped over the bowl, the edge of it submerged in water. He was dead to the world, and to the water. Hehe. Seriously now, is that not the cutest image ever? It certainly made me want to run home and squeeze my little Arky.

Still Beating…

This morning on the bus, I wrote an entry that I had planned to post here today. It was going to be called, ‘Life’s simple Monday morning pleasures’. The mood for that died not long ago when I found out some devastating news about a close friend of our family, who passed away from brain cancer last night.

The last time that I saw him, as the spirited man I knew, was on my wedding day.

Today, I honour his life, because he was a great man, and a great friend to my father. I saw him a lot throughout my childhood. He had a heart that, in a sense, has not stopped beating.

I send lots of love and support to his family, and I acknowledge a very strong but sweet young man — his son. His heart is just like his late father’s…

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I’ll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I’m laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star

Zaadz

Are you over at Zaadz? Yes? Come and say hi.

Livien Needs To Stay Focussed

I have a very bad habit of changing web addresses from time to time, and moving content back and forth.

I guess I’ve been behaving like some sort of web fugitive.

By doing this, I’ve been discouraging the build-up of a strong web presence. From now on, I’m going to make a conscious effort to stay where I am, and leave the data alone too.

Perhaps if I looked at the real reasons why I want to keep a web journal, I’d be able to work out why I’ve been moving around; the next time that I contemplate another move, I will ask myself: is it really necessary?

To date, this journal has existed as an outlet for general thoughts and ramblings. I do enjoy being able to note what I saw, what I felt, what I thought, what I learnt, at any time.

I’d now like to take the thoughts and ramblings here one step further. I’ll write more about that soon.

“Facing Robin Sellick”

Today I spent some of my work lunchbreak browsing this book. It was entertaining; my eyes widened a few times — put it that way.

Robin Sellick’s portraiture style wasn’t really influential for me (although who knows what will happen to my vision in future!) but I could still certainly appreciate it.

Loved the portrait of Dave Graney of course. (I’ll be seeing his show on June 16th, mind you. Yay!)

Elvis Presley With Celine Dion

This morning, I watched the fantastic video of Elvis singing If I Can Dream with Celine Dion, from the American Idol show. What can I say, but oh…my…God. It was the most amazing thing I have seen in a long time. There were tears! (I just couldn’t help it—I’m a huge Elvis fan!)

I even forgive that Celine changed the melody a few times, and also that it was indeed Celine Dion (instead of someone else — I’m not a fan of Celine, sorry) because the whole set-up, and the Presley energy, was just unbelievable. I am so glad that the producers of the show bothered to arrange this. I think it was an excellent and awesome way to boost ratings.

I drink to technology this morning! (With my coffee, that is.)

Direct link to video here.

For those that may not know, the projected footage was from the 1968 comeback special, and I recommend that you give it a whirl if you appreciate his music.

My Artistic Re-Calibration

I know that an update on my creative agenda has been long overdue.

Firstly, I am no longer doing the writing course that I had enrolled in. My growing interest in photography proved to be too much of a distraction. (For those who may not be aware, I had agonised over the decision.)

Also around that time, I had said that I didn’t have the time to maintain my journal online — hence the huge time gap which started in December and ended last week! I’ve started up again for two reasons: a) this kind of mental release is still part of my artistic process and some of you like to read about it; b) sometimes I just want to write about stuff that doesn’t suit my pro site; c) sometimes I just want to write.

And now to expand on the photography: it is beyond a growing interest. It’s a new passion for me. It does not replace my passion for writing, but it does take over its priority.

The market stall which had me selling my photography prints was a lot of fun. It was the turning point for me, from hobbyist to professional, even though it was not the best outlet for me commercially. Nevertheless, it was still a stepping stone.

I bought my canon DSLR in January and decided to take the necessary steps to start up my photography business after my 30th birthday in February.

And ever since, there has been much to learn and set up. I am doing things slowly; there is growth all the same. The pro site is not quite completed, as I am yet to roll out the gallery and shopfront. (This is where I have had to learn to be patient!)

This wordpress sub-domain is a new address for Livien, hence some links may be out of date. I am doing my best to correct these. If you encounter a bad link, please let me know. Furthermore, most of the entries here will get their photographic illustrations back (formerly hosted on Flickr) very soon.

Knocking On Autumn’s Door

There is a lot of talk about “climate change”, but it does depend on how you look at it. I’ve been knocking on Autumn’s big brass door since March 1st, and have rang its doorbell constantly, and all I get in return is the little peep-window opening with Summer staring back at me!

Autumn! Where are you?! Come out of there! WE WANT YOU! I’m owed loads of crispy days, you know.

(Yes, I do know the definition of climate change, but a little tongue-in-cheek won’t hurt anyone…)