I forgot to add some notes to my last post and I had another thought about Avatar.

Not many people are sensitive to the world around them these days, unless you are an indigo or a crystal child, so the "I see you" part struck me as something people might not get. Most people seemed to when I saw it, I did not hear any remarks to the contrary, but it got me thinking.

It is a term that means I see directly into your soul, I know what you are doing and I know who you are. I use the term all the time when I am talking to my animals, especially if they are getting into trouble (Like the time I caught my cat with my contact lens case in his mouth!.)  All I have to do is say "I see you!" and look them in the eyes and they know just what I mean!

And it isn't new. Or rather the concept is not new to Fantasy Literature and definitely not to mythology and world culture. The tree of life is a perfect Norse, and almost universal symbol  for the scource of all truth and life. I really liked the Navi's way of connecting to their tree and life around them the way they did. It all "fit" what most enlightened people think of  when it comes to the balance. And on a darker note Remember the Lord of the Rings and the eye? It "saw" everything as a god would, just in an evil way. If you wore the ring or picked up/ uncovered that orb like that "fool of a took!" it knew exactly where you were and what you were doing. Thank goodness in Avatar "seeing" was meant in a much nicer way of balanced knowlege and nature and being able to adapt and respect it.

Anyway I may be gone for a while. It all depends what the week brings me with my civic duty to perform. I am working on my new website (geocities closed and so sadly I had to move it) and I plan on starting a little shop there, perhaps. Maybe the faeries will dance there and bring me some luck. Not all my animations made the trip to and from storage well and are broken, sigh.

As and old friend and I used to say to one another "Till the next"

To quote Kenneth Irons from "Witchblade" --"There are no casual Connections."

Avatar in 3D, I finally saw it. And it will have me thinking for a while.

As a creative intellectual (In humble terms of course) and a writer,  I wasn't surprised when I identified what worked with the movie and the storyline and what I think makes it appeal to the masses. It might even cure a person’s fear of heights if they see it enough times, ha.

I was a bit worried about “blue people” and what S. Weaver would bring with her from those famous roles in the Aliens series, but her character and whole film in general was actually better than I thought it would be. Besides the beautiful array of plants and CG imagery I couldn’t help but draw a few parallels.

1. It reminded me of the “Lifestream” from FF7 and Advent Children.
2. There is in some essence Joseph Campbell’s hero myth put into play, as well as his theory that a society or tribe (or even an individual) without a “modern myth” will only turn to negativity and destruction to fill the void that is left.
3. In this day and age do people really stop to think about what our actions have on the other creatures and life on the planet? Not gung ho environmentalism but actual reverence, appreciation, and spiritual connections. Most of us here know it’s not just about what you can see and touch.
4. It reminded me personally of all the research I did when I was younger about the rainforest and the giant lilly pads a child could literally sit and float on and the pictures of giant toads as big as a domestic cat.
5. If you are a dragon and or “large flying creature” lover this film is great fodder for the imagination. I might even invent some of my own flying creatures now

And then there are the countless stories about people who do great things and are "adopted" into other tribes or societies... I could go on and on but the main reason I think this movie has such wide appeal to young people as well as senior citizens is the story. It's not just a SCI-FI film its a story about a clash between a spiritless industrial world and a world still full of spiritual life and love, and a group of heroes willing to fight for what is really important.

Everyone needs a little creative stimulation once in a while. That's just my take on the parallels.

"Oh! It's so stiiimulating being your hat!" ~Old Fortune Teller's Hat from "Labyrinth"

Ha! I just took an online quiz at Excelle (networking for the career minded woman) and it told me my dream career is "Professional Artist."

"Being able to turn the world upside down with your vision would suit you just right and you'd pull it off in a style all your own. People would "ooh," "ahh," and try to imagine what could possibly go on in that mind of yours. Too bad they'd never come close..."

Wow, guess this bird will have to "wing it."

First I have to get through a cursed week of jury duty in Febuary. It must be where I live because I seem to get called every three years without fail! It cost me my last job and may cost me this one too even though legally they cant fire me. What a mess!

I think I saw George Lucas at the front row table during the last American movie awards show. Sigh, how long has it been since I was a teenager watching the making of "Labyrinth" and wishing I was standing right there with them making some kind of magnificent contribution. Sigh.  Well as that famous children's poet would say "all the magic he has ever seen he has had to make himself!"

~(Leaving a bedragled feather behind in homage to my hero Jim Henson)

Jennifer

Alone then indeed! To quote the movie.

I went to a jewelry makers meeting at someone's house to do some networking and let me say I have had my fair share of rude in sales but never have I seen such rudeness in a creative forum and I came home and cried! I know there are a lot of creative folks here so bear with me and maybe you can relate!

Here where I live, or maybe its just this day and age, it seems you have to take over the whole meeting bragging about all the places and booths you have rented and where. And then look at everyone else like you are the only "business professional" with boxes of over priced pieces stored away you "can't seem to sell" And then they glare at you and interrupt you like "what the heck is this person and that person doing here if they haven't done the same thing and want to complain about it too? " 

You know I think I would have told this guy off if he didn't teach martial arts in his spare time! He didn't want to speak to anyone he just kept running his mouth. So did the others who did not have pieces half as nice as mine and they were charging three times as much in a tourist market where I could have told them years ago that they wouldn't sell!  But they completely ignored me and evey time I spoke I was treated like everything I said was worthless!

None of us are worthless! So I bead and I felt and I rubberstamp and code websites as a hobby instead of dressing in a suit and earning a six figure salary, so what? I am completely self taught and I am proud of it!

I guess that makes me less than human to these people at the meeting. But now that  the economy is forcing me out of my sales job and into forming my own business I wanted to network. Far be it from me to ask advice from someone who is already halfway there and hates coding his own "Useless, waste of time " websites (his exact words) thereby poo pooing one of the strongest things I had to give; website marketing. And I felt like saying excuse me for not being a big wig and bringing something to the table. Just who the heck do you think you are?

Take this! You there! Nipper sticks from the Labyrinth! Attack!

Needless to say, I doubt I will be joining that forum on a permanant basis. It's a shame because the person who put it together is actually quite nice.

So I guess the moral to the story is help a fellow artist out once in a while. It's not a race and art is not about money. Not the important art anyway and money doesn't buy you real friends or happiness!  I'd rather be with the nice folks on "basic art row" than the hoiety toiety "fifth avenue plastic people galleries."

That's what a lone raven gets when she sticks her neck out into the world!

Sheesh!

Wow where did all my time go? I told someone last week that I wish I had an extra week to prepare for Christmas Eve and now it is already here and I still haven't baked a single cookie! I zippity fast wrapped presents tonight and of course found one I forgot after I had alredy put the papper and wrapping tringles away. Every year I swear the faeries must hide all my scissiors and tape! I put the tree up but I haven't had the time to finish any craft projects or paint a gift for one  friend. I need a nice forever off! I can't even park in my own driveway because we had to have it re-poured/fixed so I have to trudge across the road and through the lawn with all my packages and groceries. At least there is no bridge so I don't have to feed a troll, just a hyperative dog and a crazy cat!

Well whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year I wish you Peace on Earth and happiness.

Sometimes the right situation comes in line with the universe and 'the puzzle snaps together.'

I was out shopping tonight and the sales clerks were actually helpful in the electronics store. And then I went to the warehouse store... well parched after buying all that I go the food stand in Costco and what happened I will remember that for a while!

I thought it was usual that there was a young guy and gal working there, and they were having a lot of fun. So he's singing along to a Styx song that was on the intercom.

"Oh yeah I was a backup singer for Aerosmith!"

"Yeah and now you've really gone down. You're working at the food court now!" she teased him. She looked at me and saw me laughing.

So he claims "oh but I always wanted to learn to yodel!"

"What?"

"You know! Yo-del!"

And he looks at me and says "You know what yodeling is don't you?"

A vision of the animated movie "Hoodwinked" and fancy suspenders poped into my head and I said

"Sure! Yodelaaaheee hoo! Schnitzel!" And all three of us laughed hysterically! We would have continued it if the girl before me hadn't  wanted the reciept for her large pizza.

geez i hope i run into them again lol!

We had several days of rain here in the south back in October and I had almost forgotten I had these on my camera. After the last day of rain these mysteriously popped up all over the side lawn and I snapped pictures of a few of them. The faeries had been having quite the bash I think! They were very sturdy too and when the grass cutter came several days later to (sadly) mow them away they were quite hard to chop through. I will always keep these pictures to remember them.

My apoligies for not blogging sooner. I have been so sick I was scared to find out what was wrong with me.

I have been out of the social loop for so long I did not even know I was drowning until i found out some information today that  proverbiably grabbed me by the hair and pulled me up out of the goo to get some air. I thought that I was the only one that felt like the state of affairs in the world today and invisible somethings were literally crushing me and sapping my soul. But it is happening everywhere, even to some of the folks I talk to here. I am still trying to keep some hope inside me. But as if that were not enough I can't get the meds I need to keep myself going.

I am hoping I have found an old fashioned pharmacy locally that will be able to compound the medicine I need. But it all depends on what standards they use. Here in the US as well as other parts of the world our governments and the drug companies are working together to deprive us of freedom of choice and the ability to get the medicines we need. I never thought it would happen here in this country of all places. I hate to sound so depressing . I just want everyone to be happy and free again. I refuse to give in.

Never stop fighting the tide.

The Chatraven

Well, for those who keep track I have been away because of a horrible stomach flu along with a sore throat that has still not gone away and I have been absolutely miserable. Couple that with a manager who scheduled me for an extra 7 hours work on Sunday without prior notice, or an ounce of compassion. So instead of starting to get better I end up getting even sicker and put on antibiotics. But that's sales for you. 

Hopefully if they do not cancel the two web design classes I will be taking at the technical school. If i can find a job doing that  I can make enough money to persue more creative things. I haven't abandoned them, I just got punched out of the ring for a week and a half! UGH!

Nothing is easy but nothing is supposed to be. I happened to run across the results of a "what's your Spirit type" poll I took years ago that said "You serve the will of a higher power, one that has called to you since birth. Although your life and path are a hard one, your rewards are great."  Hmm I guess we rediscover things we had forgotten about at the right times in our lives sometimes.

Most of you know those times when you get a muse, you are listening to music or looking at a piece of art and something forms in your mind that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with what you are looking at, it just gave you a big idea.

Well I have been tossing around this idea ever since I started writing my short stories and well sometimes things come out and proverbialy bite you on the nose when you need that cosmic push to start working on something.

Sunday I had a terrible day at work and my whole body fell like it was going to fall apart when we happened to pull behind an unusual looking mini van. Plastered all across the back window were giant Autobot and Decepticon logos with the words "Transformers, Roll Out!"  I nearly died laughing with a feeling of glee I hadn't felt in months! And above all I wish I could meet the people who were driving that van so I could make friends with them!  Maybe I will find them loading grocieries at the store one day or something  hehe. "Gee are you the Transformers people?" I know that must sound terrible to folks that didn't grow up with these icons from the 80's cartoon but we all need something to keep the concrete and digital jungle from eating us alive.

So after that  I said to myself 'get over your troubles girl, who cares about formatting documents and size 2 standards and mean bosses and spoiled, nasty customers. The things that really matter in life wil prevail.'

I'm thinking that I will push my drawing skills to the edge now. I want to be able to draw these characters and one day animate them in 3d. If my determination doesn't wane I may share my fellow fae friends.

Faerie wishes and tons of glitter from your resident chatraven