Pop (goes the weasel) art.

They {Pop art pieces) don't pretend to be precious stuff; they'll be torn down in a little while and others will be put up and so on: they don't give a damn! That's great- and that's art by God, and the best kind, mixed in with life, art without any bluffing or boasting and with in the easy reach of ordinary guys. - Felix Feneon

The Journey of the Giraffe which is probably the least eventful story in the world. But is complete with pictures.

Of course, I have many giraffe stories. However, I have yet to have a giraffe story with a CAMERA on hand. Lucky for me, while on a walk through our chalet park, we stumbled across this:




I know. Adorable.

I had a camera this time. No make up on my face mind you, but a camera. Proof:



Make-up aint nothing when you are staying in a chalet with a private pool.

We walked 20 metres up to the guy on our side of the fence and he decided to step forward to greet us.

He halved the distance in one step.

I chickened out. Ran away and used the zoom.



Magnificent.

The End.

Blog Crush Monday

I am hereby admitting to my one terminal downfall. I fall in love easy. And there are just so many writers that make my heart ooze joy.

So even though frequently my posts have been lamer than lame, and more noob than N00b, I am going to point you in the fabulous directions of some of my favourite Blog Crushes. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Megan at Somewhat Voluble. She probably thinks I am stalking her now. Poor thing. But She is also one of those crazy girls who got married before 21 and her blog is utterly heartwarming.

ScoMan at A Name in your Recollection He recently joined Twitter, and we've become great friends. He posts once a week now a days, and even though I protest daily, he will contiue to do so. Sad Day.

Ron at Ronzworld has taken the blog world by storm. He is witty and fresh and inspiring.

Brandy at It's like I'm...mmmagic Its like reading my alterego at times. Utterly fabulous!

Kerri at Your Wishcake. Another ridiculously heartwarming blogger. *sigh* She's like the nice girl in all of us.

So there you have it. My newest blog crushes. I seriously have a reader of a gazzillion blogs and love them all. *double sigh*


Have a fabulous Monday dear ones! :)

My blood.

U2 frontman Bono once said: "My definition of art started with: you put your hands under your skin, you break your breastbone, you rip open your ribcage. If you really want to write, that’s what you ought to do. Are you ready to do that? Or is rock ‘n’ roll for you just a pair of shoes and a haircut, or a certain sour existentialism or a certain sweet decay? That is one of my first definitions of art. Blood."

This is my blood.

My intentions when I wrote this poem where to echo my current thoughts in certain post-modernistic thinking. I did this in two ways. Firstly, following the belief that everything that is created has already been created before, I used either a line from another poem, another song or another work of art for each individual line. I also tried to allow the cyclical nature of the subject matter of the poem to further echo this sentiment. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!



A Love Song for a Saviour

Tarnished with things unseen

I’m taking the blame

Since the words to comfort

Suddenly rebel at questioning.


Longest I’ve been impermanent

Unsettled and unkind

Shuffle to grace

Summon my demons

Just to push them away…


Falling silent

To stumble...

Grapple with heaven’s mercies

Simple and stained

Searching remains to find you again.


Love’s soft breath strokes the cheek

In time to find…

Resolved, I am to love you

With whatever means are mine.

Words that may not fit sometimes do.

I wrote this as a worthless experiment. It was launched on a separate blog that I am in the process of shutting down.

I want to share it with you.


syntax
syntax
forgot
in the eve of
the tiresome
paragraphs
cant break
beginnings
period.
breaks Love's
trust bonds
and
when the pause
comes
effect
no longer

Sometimes I am a tad Bipolar...

I have unhappiness oozing through me today, as South Africans go to the voting stations to elect South Africa's morally corrupt and corrosive new president. I wish I could just state all my concerns in this blog. But, alas, the web can only hold so much hatred.


----- HAPPY BREAK-----


And on to something totally different and completely unrelated.

ScoMan tagged me.

What is my interior design style?


Oh so much fun... How did he know?



My flat is a modge podge of Art Deco. why? Because it makes me happy.



It's ironic. I actually hated studying Art Deco as a movement. It's just too... slap you in the face.



But now? I absolutely LOVE it!

(oh my the way, Those photos actually are nothing I own (sad day)... yay to google images for those babies)

Hey hey a mere five days until my birthday. Have you voted in my poll? GO DO IT!

Before I get PMS on your ass...

Me on a silver platter

So, it's no new news that I am not shy. Meek, mild and gentle are not my characteristics. No one has ever classified me as laid-back.

These are things I am not.

I am, however, arty. I blame it on my mother. I am contantly in book stores researching a new playwrite or enjoying an old one.

I found a blog today that... I could have written myself... without sarcasm and overt snarkiness.

Chic Geek appeals deeply to the finer details in everyday. I am hooked.

She posted a meme that looked like a lot of fun. And by fun I mean a chance to wow you all with my seriousness.

I am not always a snarky biotch. Unless of course you ask my neighbors...

1. Have you ever been influenced by a work of art – music or painting– and if so, how?

I have to narrow this question. It's like asking what types of foods keep you alive-

It's all of them.

Paintings.

This piece by Goya rocked my world:



Saturn, Goya 1820-1823

It haunted me. How can somehting so disasterous be so beautiful? How can I be appalled and enchanted simutaniously? I would call this painting the cornerstone of my view on art. Beauty is not limited to beautiful objects.

Music.

I saw this video a few days ago. I wouldn't say the song inspired me. I wouldn't say the woman inspired me. I wouldn't be able to actually pinpoint a certian anything that made this performance extraordinary. Maybe it is truely just her story that rocked my spirit. Take a peak and see what I mean.

Also, my personal fight song has to be Foo Fighters 'Best of You'. It was so commercialised it saddened me as it spoke to my guts like it belonged there. If you don't know it click here. But even if you do know it, watch the video and be amazing any way.

2. If you were a chocolate bar, what type would you be?

I like chocolate. If I were a chocolate bar I would be a self consuming canabal and I am so oveer that idea. Sorry but no.

3. What is your secret weapon to lure the opposite sex?

My eyes are fiery green most days. Some days they are milky brown. Either way, they helped Hubs fall for me. Them and my outrageous calves. One flash of those hotties...and...men crumble.

4. What, in your opinion, is your greatest accomplishment?

Already I have lived in two opposing cultures for several years, learning their positives and negatives. I have learned to adapt and change and learn. I have had to question my religion, my self, my future and my ideals. I have found my soulmate and started over. These are all my greatest accomplishments. I may have a few published poems. I may have begun my writing career with a bit of a bang, but those aren't what I count as accomplishments. I am a growing and mature woman who is certian. And that, to me, weighs more than any silly piece of paper.

5. How many friends do you have on your Facebook account?

273. I recently had a friend purge to only those I actually keep in contact with.


See? Wasn't that glorious? If you are keen, send me the answers to those questions either on your blog, in a comment, or even in email.

xxoo

A break from the sugary sweetness

I love treats. Obviously.

However, what good is sweetness without the sour? If we did not know hate, would we know love? Without an enemy would we value friendship?

Of course not.

I have been focussing on the treats in my life. All while a brief email from someone I knew in the past shook me back into reality.

I may be in love with the greatest man on the planet. He might treat me like a princess, but if I don't remember the boys who didn't treat me like he does, I'll never really appreciate him. I'd grow complacent in his love.

The email was from one of those who didn't see my beauty the same way Hubs does. He didn't see my value. He didn't realise my potential.

I may have cared about him long ago, but now? no thank you.

I choose Hubs everyday anyday over you and your kind Mr. ukboy.

Searching for Fool's Gold.

When I was a kid I truly believed that I was the richest girl in the world because I had a treasure chest full of gold. My foot locker had serious bling-age. Eye blinding sparkly goodness.

I was happy rummaging through my pieces of gold, emeralds and amethyst. I had even found a few precious white rocks from the gravel that I was convinced would turn into beautiful stones with time.

I was happy. I had my sparkle. But I didn't know that my precious gold and gems were merely polished rocks with a slight glimmer.

I spent a lot of my life happy with a little glimmer. I found the boys who would glimmered just a little, the friends with glimmer and the church with glimmer.

But that's all it was- a little glimmer.

The first diamond I have ever owned was given to me by Hubs. I still get lost in the sparkle and shine like I did as a child admiring my polished 'jewels'. Except I know that this is costly. This is real.

This life I live is real. The choices I make are real.

No more fools gold for me. No more imitations. I am no longer searching for more fool's gold.

Definitive moments

I have had several moments in my life that I place in my definitive category. Some I will never find words to express. Some are so deeply entwined in my core that to remove them, analyze them, and reveal them would strip them of their power.

But some of them only have power when stripped open. Some moments yearn to be shared. These have no shame. Like the beggar at the traffic light, they cry out to me. Sobs of fear, regret and desperation are met only by my own heartache and incompetence.

I had another dream about her. Her name was Sali and I first wrote about her here. Lately, she has been invading my subconscious, crying out to be shared.

I met her July of 2008 in a small village in Mozambique called Panhame. Her lifestyle is what you see on National Geographic with little comfort and even less guarantee of tomorrow.

Yet, she aroused no pity from me.

Sympathy, sure. "Man, somebody's gotta do something" sure. Pity? No.

This does not mean that I am immune to the sadness of seeing impoverished people. I felt no pity because she felt no pity.

This was her life. She is 4 or 5 years old and herded her family's goats. She helped her mother with the only meal of the day. She would probably never get an education or learn where babies come from before she was married. This was her life and, at her age, she seemed to accept her life in all its entirety.

I am no photographer but here she is:



And these are my words:

To the girl who aided my heart recovery:

Sali

The great expanse of dust packed still
By bare feet trampling
The shadows pool beneath Marula tree
And dusty rocks, undisturbed, watch

Sali toddle across the plain
Heavy laden, haunting eyes
And the beads and bracelets clanking

And she tumbles
Embracing shrouds
The dust- scarlet and steaming

Tear neglected she leapt
To chase the goat
And fade into the blackness.

2008 and it's vibe

Due to the craziness that continues across the country as we are still on holiday, I have had a really difficult time sitting down and focussing enough to write something worth your time.

This has technically always been my problem. When have I not wasted you time? Maybe
only here.

And that's because I didn't even write it!

Today is the 31st, despite my own constant forgetfulness about the date. It is indeed the final day of 2008, a year overflowing with joy, happiness, friends and family.

I found this questionnaire here. Her blog is great. Give it a read because she is funnier and a better speller than I.

1.What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Being proposed to. Had a *severe* wardrobe malfunction. Went to university. Got a Ta too.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I make the same resolutions every year. Every year I fail miserably. Next year I will probably make them once again... I am just that sadistic.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No! The group of us married (slash me being soon-to-marry) girls are all waiting to see which one will fall preggo first. They have all been married a year or two longer so they shoudl get on it!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No. Thankfully God has been gracious.

5. What countries did you visit?

Mozambique and The Free State. I am pretty sure The Free State is it's own strange and backwards country.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A Husband. A South African Driving Licence. A smaller butt.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

16 August, the day that the Fi proposed. *sigh*

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

This. It's one more step away from her.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I lost my wit. Here I can just link this entire blog...

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Sprained ankle twice. Several icky flus and colds. Multiple mystery bruises and the most recent unknown injury to my toe that has left it purple and in pain.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My tattoo. It's my constant reminder to breathe life in.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The Cope. Next year South Africans might actually have a Democratic election and a chance to break away from the corruption of the ANC.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The choice of the US election candidates.

14. Where did most of your money go?

University and the revolving items. And developing pictures.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?


The wedding.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Sting. His music was the soundtrack for my year at university.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?

Happier definitely. I'm probably the same size. And most definitely poorer in money. But I am most definitely richer in other areas of my life.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I wish I enjoyed res more.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Less stressing about Spanish!

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With the family and the Fi. Chilling SA style.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

Re-fell...

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Whose Wedding is it Anyway, Grey's Anatomy and Army Wives

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Probably. I am a really not-nice person most days. But lucky for them I am also a terribly forgetful one as well.

24. What was the best book you read?

eh, I read a lot of books this year. The best one? Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles were actually surprisingly good. I had not read a book like that before and really enjoyed it.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Wind it by Jody. Can't get that song out of my head despite hate/loving it

26. What did you want and get?

A ring.

27. What did you want and not get?

A discontinuation of country music.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Were there any great films of this year?

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 20 and went on a picnic with the Fi and the family.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A licence or maybe the set box of Greys.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

This year my personal fashion consisted of the "I'm too broke to buy clothes" look, combined with the "I live at res and res food sucks so bad that I am putting on weight and don't really have anything to wear" look, followed by the "I am no longer in res and losing weight and can't keep my clothes on"

32. What kept you sane?

Weekly phone calls from the Fi. Dancing with the flatmates. Chilling with my gnomies.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?


Johnny Depp.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?


South African politics always stirs me up.

35. Who did you miss?

Meeka the BFF

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I met the most incredible group of girls that I lived with.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Things don't always work out the way we planned but sometimes better!

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"That was when I ruled the World"

She's BAAAACK!

I know you loyal readers definitely missed me. I know, I know. It's good to be back.

I had a wonderful Christmas with my family and the Fi. The entire day was spent lounging around, braaiing and eating said braaied food. Yum. Over and over I looked around and thought, 'Man, I am so blessed'. Because I am.

After the whole debacle about Christmas presents, everyone thought up gorgeous presents for the Fi and me.

I must have been a very very good girl this year.

My parents bought us one of these:
Since we didn't have a television. It is glorious! I can't remember the make or size or anything of it, but its ours and that makes it special. In addition we got one of these too:
Same unknowledge of make and size and things. That's what the man is for! You know what I know? I know that ours is black and ours. and shiny. and plays DVDs. Hooray!


The Fi spoiled me with a puzzle with a beautiful picture that I have been lusting after and one of these:

It's possibly the nicest wallet I've ever owned. I mean Mr Price R30 wallets PALE in comparison! Thank you! :)

So that's my bragging! Especially because my sisters, brother and aunts all spoiled us with magazines, kitchen goods and photo frames. *sigh* I must have been very very good.

The Fi and I have been busy moving his junk...err... things around into the place we will be living in after we are married. It is a beautiful flat complete with balcony and an extra room deemed 'the study'. This makes us sound educated and intelligent and well, that's the vibe I am going for. Inside The Study we have his books (soon to be joined by my books) and his desk (soon to be joined by my desk) and all the smart things we can possibly cram in there to be- you know- studied.

I do suppose that is the best synopsis that I can give you, dear reader, this evening. I am tired. I have 70 more Thank You for Attending the Wedding cards to produce. I probably should go do that.

Or maybe I'll just go to bed and sleep off the cramp in my tired-of-moving shoulder.

The Naked Truth

Prompted by Hillbilly's contest I have been thinking a lot about my expression of truth.

It really baffled me. How do I express truth? When has truth been best expressed to me? What is truth? How do I know that it is true? And worst of all how the heck am I going to communicate this to a gaggle of strangers?

And so I thought. A lot. And I worked out clearly what I know truth is NOT.

I really don't buy into relativism. The thought that truth is transient doesn't fit well with me. I am transient. I am fleeting. My mortality encourages my search for truth that is steadfast, unwavering, and strong.

My closest experience to Truth was when I was taking a picnic in the Pilansburg Mountains. I wandered off by myself exploring and found a spot on a gigantic rock overlooking a scene much like this one.

I looked out. The wind picked up and threatened to throw me over. The jutting dead trees littering the ground deep below me offered little comfort. For a brief moment,vertigo gripped me fiercely.

I panicked.

I was going to fall.

In my panic I looked to my feet. They were firmly planted. The rock had been my support and I was, in fact, in no danger. I sat there for a while because, despite being on a cliff overlooking a kilometer plummet, I was completely secure. I was not going to fall.

Truth to me has inherent religious connotations. I have no shame in saying I put my trust and my hope in Jesus Christ. This is rock solid. This is stable. This has found me completely secure in my situation. Much like how I felt on that rock in the Pilansburg, despite the immediate danger I am facing, I am safe. The truth is that when the wind dies down and the sun beats upon my face once again, my feet will remain firmly planted in truth and I will not fall.

The normal Thanksgiving schpeel

Apparently today is Thanksgiving. So Happy Thanksgiving! Eat, Drink and be Merry.

Obviously Thanksgiving isn't a holiday (or even mentioned) here. This makes me sad because we could always use a little count your blessings time.

Blessing #1

There is a program that a local radio station is conducting. It is called the Christmas Wishlist by Highveld The idea behind this is that businesses donate goods in order to help people who have had a hard knock in life. This morning an 18 year old girl was the person helped. She was looking at raising R125 000 in order to pay for University. She had lost both parents recently and could not affford this despite being accepted into a very good design school. Standard Bank donated to her all the funds for her fees, meals and everything she would need for the next 3 years.

Generous people who care, this is Blessing #1

Blessing #2

Last night my mother stayed up late with me in effort to finish these damn invitations. Purely anyone who can tolerate me for that long deserves a metal. In this catagory are my incredible friends without whom I would be a blubbering mess of an idiot.

My friends and family is blessing #2

Blessing #3

The Fi. He never fails to make me laugh (even though sometimes its AT him)and to romance me. I am so thankful for him. *sigh*

Blessing #4

I have a job. I do not have a life-threatening illness. I have people around me who support me and those around who don't. I have a place to live. I have food to eat.

Life's big little things is Blessing #4

Blessing #5

Opportunities. There are few people whose pipedreams become reality. I really can obtain my dream. I have so many opportunities to do what I want with my life and that in itself is a HUGE blessing

These Top 5 things are the things that this little South African/ American is thankful for today.

Don't stop reading if you think I am lame.

Busy studying today. I know a certian few of my faithful readers might enjoy the thought behind this joke. If not, stay tuned. Because I will try to be more intertaining after examns. (Why does NOBLOPOMO coordinate with the toughest exams?! ugh!)

Ok so heres the joke:

A teacher was retiring after 30 years of teaching, so each child
decided they wanted to bring her a special retirement present. A
little girl who was the daughter of a fine chocolate dealer brought
her a box full of fine chocolates.

A little boy who was the son of a florist brought her a big bouquet of flowers. Another little boy who was the son of a fine liquor dealer brought her a big box that was sealed, and it had something leaking from the bottom of the box. The teacher said, "I bet I know what this is!"

She tasted some of the juices that were leaking from the box and said, "I bet this is some wine!"
The little boy said, "Nope!" She tasted it again and said "Liquor?" The little boy said, "Nope!" She tasted it again and said, "Beer?" The little boy said, "Nope!" She said, "Well what is it?" The little boy said, "A puppy!"

Fabulous AND Curvy? Not possible.

I know this is a pretty frequent topic of mine that I ramble about. However,I have to say it.

I am a plus-sized woman (considering 'plus-sized is greater than a 14). I am voluptuous. I have hips, a chest and a waist. And I am beautiful.

While I was surfing the net for tips for 'plus-sized' brides I stumbled across this site that frustrated me. It gave suggestions for dresses that suit full figured women and then at the end it said, 'Try to lose weight. Stop sitting around.' Ouch!

I am not lazy. I am not fat. Being curvy-for the zillionth time- is not unattractive. I do not sit around. I want to feel healthy; I want to feel beautiful. I do not need to be a size 6 to do that. Fight the size zero. Screw this stupidity! I'm going out there and I am going to dazzle!

Holzer Art

This is from one of my favourite American conceptual artists, Jenny Holzer. Being a writer at heart I adore the way she used words in her art. No longer is art a picture, but it is something so incredibly broader. Some other Holzer works:


Fabulous! Love it?

And my favourite:
Ok and my other favourite (c'mon these are way too fabulous to just love one or two or three!)
So I have to be honest. I don't actually know the sites where I got these pictures from. I have been compiling her work for a while now and have completely lost the URLs for each pic. But they are awesome. yay!

The Elderly Lady in the Front Pew

I went to a church once- it was a dry, boring, dull baptist church. I was so bored I counted the tiles on the wall, the elderly people with grey hair versus those with obviously coloured treated hair and I even tried to attract the attention of the gentleman across the aisle. The service was nearing a close and the congregation rose to sing. One lady caught my eye. She must have been nearing 90 years old- and was barely able to stand.Her physical appearance was repulsive-soiled and tattered clothes, blotchy bruised skin and no teeth.

I struggled through this haunting sight. It kept me awake, she captured my thoughts and became the warden of my imagination. These are the first words I've written about her. In her repulsiveness I saw her beauty.

The Elderly Lady in the Front Pew

Crumpled twisted hands

Pained fingers straightened

Age spots; torn spots

Lifted in praise

Blue swollen neck veins convulsing

Bulging eyes masked by transparent eyelids closed

Withered; weathered

Teetering on unstable legs-

Captivated in exaltation

A scarred face watching-

Trembling;

Stagnant bruises fester

‘Glorification unravelled…

Grace stained’ meets beauty .