The Asian Welder

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“Catalyst, aren’t we all catalysts for each other all the time? Life interacting with itself. The momentary individual creative expression just a sparkle like when the grinding wheel interacts with a chunk of metal.”

taken from an email sent to me by a very wise man..Klaus Kommoss.

Catalyst: a person or thing that precipitates an event or change.  this is how i thought of Klaus and his words…which he in turn responded with his thoughts above.

he brought about a change within my mind..the seed of laziness is sometimes difficult to dislodge!  at any rate i do hope he will take into consideration my invitation to do a post of photo and words here, it is not easy to put thoughts into words at least for me.  my tendency is fragmented thoughts which leave many with more questions and little understanding as to what i am trying to convey!

just as Klaus said we are all connected to a greater outcome whether we are aware or not it exists. everything and everyone is a dependent relationship. we just need to be open minded and alert to recognize the wisdom at hand. take the image above...without sun it would not grow, without water it would die, without kindness from some being it would not be cared for, and without the seed there is no cause for birth.

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taken in chicago…some beautiful eyes from a poster.  what was she looking at? why? what story was she told to evoke the gaze? so much goes into the details of marketing and what will evoke an emotion from some passer by  to stimulate an action of consumerism.

“Marketing is the process by which companies create customer interest in products or services. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business development.^[1] It is an integrated process through which companies build strong customer relationships and create value for their customers and for themselves”

taken from   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing

sounds and reads misleading…that they are “creating” relationships and value for….whom?  before the 1950′s the word “marketing” had not been defined….i wonder…

today when i sit down to watch the world news i am bombarded by marketing in the spots they call commercials.  90% of them are drug companies pushing their wares however if you listen to every word they say the symptoms from these medications have far more consequences then what the little pill delivers…an illusion of a cure. our “eyes” or ojos cannot see the truth it is up to our mind to investigate the true nature of what or how we see.

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lyrics by The Beatles

When I wake up early in the morning

Lift my head, I’m still yawning
When I’m in the middle of a dream
Stay in bed, float up stream (float up stream)

Please, don’t wake me, no, don’t shake me
Leave me where I am – I’m only sleeping

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“A thought that apprehends its object through a generic, or mental image.”

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

taken at a local hospital in wait while a dear friend under went countless tests, to determine the cause and symptoms of pain.  suffering is pervasive in this environ…within the walls of a hospital there is much to witness and observe of the human condition. some people look healthy and yet sit with IV’s attached to them, others look terribly ill and lay on gurneys sleeping or with clear expressions of bewilderment or fear.  it is not a place one would expect to find peace or serenity of and in the mind, yet i did experience moments of peace and calm…because of my friend.

with each sharp pain my friend embraced i winced…she asked me to lead her into a meditation to relax…because of her strength she gave me strength. because of her acceptance with her body and its physical limitations i found patience. because of her asking for my help i found compassion. even under heavy sedation she spoke with kindness to EVERYONE, while i had to be mindful not to run out of the room and and yell at someone anyone to help or pay attention damn it..now! “can’t you see this is not working, can’t you see she is in pain, can’t you see she needs help…?”  i don’t know if the meditation helped her but it did help me!

at one point i was the one whom had to administer liquid for a particular scan she needed to have done. the liquid smelled nasty and when i asked her what it tasted like she said “lemonade made with a rotten lemon!”  i was given strict instructions for her to consume within 30 minutes…ok, i am not a nurse by trade but i am a mother so i told myself this is only medicine she needs.  what neither of us realized was she had an allergy to this concoction!  she became more and more distraught and ill, and now i felt like i was administering poison…in effect it was for her body!  long story short, she survived  after her body expelled it forcefully. what keeps going thru my mind though is how strong our survival instincts are. how much capacity we have to change. how precious this human life is.  how fragile our bodies truly are. AND never enter a hospital without an advocate by your side!

i drove her home around 9pm, a full day of pain, suffering, praying, crying, laughing, meditating….life.

in the lineage of Buddhism i study and practice under we call this “samsara”, an uninterrupted rebirth without freedom or control, characterized by suffering and dissatisfaction…life in this world today as we know it.

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We gotta make a change…
It’s time for us as a people to start makin’ some changes.
Let’s change the way we eat, let’s change the way we live
and let’s change the way we treat each other.

lyrics by 2Pac

this image is the old way to do arithmetic founded in china, imported to other eastern countries. i have had my “soroban” , a japanese abacus since i was a child watching my mother use it daily. she no longer does because she was told to become more “western”!
what i want to evoke in this image is that no matter how far we advance technologically we need to ask ourselves how far have we truly progressed in connecting with our fellow human. are we kinder? are we more compassionate? do we “see” differences or do we see ourselves in each person we are fortunate to meet…even on the internet and if we see ourself than why do we treat others with indifference and judgement?

old is new and new is old…”changes” begin within NOT externally.

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taken in chicago near a bridge and train crossing…a red light, a symbol for STOP.  my cessation of sorts  from participating in this project of  capturing moments daily thru photography and posting on Flickr. it is a great social media sight designed for a plethora of creative photographers. my choice is to keep my commitment with the project but STOP posting on Flickr.  my computer is my greatest source of distraction in my every day life.  Flickr contributes to this distraction because i end up spending time perusing others works instead of the tasks at hand i need and want to achieve in any given day! i intially joined because first and foremost i wanted to get better at “seeing” life and capturing any given moment to post for others to “see” and interpret thru their minds eye. a world within a world…secondly what i wanted was for others to critique my work so i would feel challenged and educated. what happens is that people by nature are kind and only comment on the good things or we develop “connections” of friendships and then posting an image becomes more than posting an image it requires time to connect with your viewers and friends and by doing so an hour, two hours or three passes and time is something i can never gain back!

the amount of creativity out there is endless, and i love “seeing” someone else’s perspective of a moment in their life,  i tried to limit my time on Flickr however i find i am not so good with that..i lose track of time and then…well you get the picture!(no pun intended)

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taken in chicago…lulu sleeping after a very long day of sights, smells and tastes!  i had such a wonderful vacation and witnessing how my baby has grown into a lovely caring compassionate woman is heartfelt.  she has always been a caretaker by nature…her karma…but watching others around her whom delight in her presence, who love and support her freely and spontaneously is wonderful!  people have always loved her but my gosh i had no idea how much!!

this is taken in a restaurant within her hood..walking distance, however in high heels we both suffered after with dreaded blisters…for the sake of fashion!!  this also happens to be her place of work!  the welcome towards me, her mother, was an unexpected thrill.  we were greeted with champagne to start..laurel had to finish mine…and a nine course meal with a bottle of  fine wine…again poor lulu had to drink most of it (i have a genetic allergen to alcohol, in any form!)…and then a dessert that was absolutely divine!  everyone was so gracious and kind..i have never been treated so much like a celebrity in all my life!!

ALL because of Laurel…my sweet daughter that i am grateful to have in this life.  not a day goes by where i do not think of you and smile…..

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Sharon Bladholm

http://www.opalglassstudio.com/artist/Sharon.html

laurel and sharon…chicago, on albany..

one of the highlights was meeting this extraordinary contemporary artist who lives, breathes and plays creation!  she is kind and prolific in her works…a true working artist who’s worked and lived within her studio for over twenty years!!

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taken in Chicago, the Garfield Park Conservatory. the greenhouse ceiling and the water provided this image…though upon looking at this image one can come up with a whole bunch of vignettes into “what” it is!  i always question what my eyes see…what illusion presents itself?

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http://makebelieve.wegotitinwpb.com/artist_page/9

both images were taken in Chicago’s Wicker Park area…these are two installations i witnessed first hand, check out the link to navigate thru to see better images….AND vote!