View allAll Photos Tagged Leftie
I was walking to the health food store in my east end Toronto neighborhood when I heard a voice cautioning me to “mind your step please.” The voice came from this man who was sitting in the open door of his truck at the curb and the warning was to make sure I wouldn’t trip on the hose running from a tank in the truck, across the sidewalk, and into a restaurant. Noting the splint and arm sling I was sporting from a bicycling accident he said “It doesn’t look like you can afford another injury. What happened to you?” I explained my fractured wrist and smashed up collarbone and last week’s surgery and told him I really appreciated the warning. I heard a genuine concern in his friendly voice and paused to ask what he was pumping. Punctuated by frequent cautions he issued to the flow of pedestrians, he explained he pumps used cooking oil from restaurants and ships it to the U.S. where it is processed into biofuel for a variety of vehicles. Meet Darren.
After chatting for a few minutes I thought to invite Darren to be my first project subject since the accident. He took my card and said he’d be glad to. Although less than ideal, my cell phone was my only option since I can’t hold a camera at present. I took the photos one-handed as a leftie and hoped for the best.
Darren is 49. I commented “You are now on the cusp of greatness” and we shared a laugh. Born and raised in Toronto, both of his parents are from Newfoundland on Canada’s Atlantic coast. When I asked if he had a message to share, he had a definite thought but had trouble finding words for it. “Growing up I was always a follower, not a leader. I always gave people a bit too much benefit of the doubt. I’d say it is important to have real people in your life, not fakes. I also believe in live and let live. Who are we to judge?”
I sensed a sincerity and warmth in Darren and I liked the messages he had to share but it was time for him and me to be on our way. We exchanged contact information and a left-handed handshake. He wished me success in my recovery.
I have greatly missed being on the streets, meeting and photographing strangers so this totally unexpected encounter with friendly Darren was just what the doctor ordered. A special thanks, Darren, for taking the time to meet and join my Human Family project.
This is my 284th submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.
Note: Thank goodness the first photo was acceptable because the two subsequent ones were blurry. Either the autofocus had not found its target or my holding the phone and pressing the button with my no-so-stable left hand was the culprit.
Two more right handed sketches done from the controlled environment of my painting table which is annoyingly perfectly set up for a leftie…
Rather excited by these- painting is definitely a lot easier than drawing with my non dominant hand.
Yesterday afternoon I had a chore afternoon. When I get back from a trip I always seem to have a line of appointments … and catching up with friends!
As per last post I am trying to rest my left hand as much as possible for a week - that means sketching with my right hand. (I just find it too hard to stop sketching altogether. My creative juices need some outlet and I am in a great believer in doing regularly) So yesterday I had two occasions (cafe visits!) for sketching in public using my non dominant hand. It was a lot of fun and surprisingly comfortable. I can't say easy because my ellipses are wonky but as I was working mainly from my shoulder the control of my wrist wasn't an issue. The only other time I tried painting with my right hand I found control of water a real issue(way too much water)… but this did not seem to be an issue at all yesterday. In fact I was getting more dry brush which I like a lot!
Although I draw and write with my left hand, my right hand/arm has the strength and do everything (except for use a needle and thread) with my right…I am not a true leftie. So it is not a total switch for me.
If fact I have been wanting to use my right hand more every since a dinner in Barcelona last July. I was sitting next to Barry Jackson, one of hte instructors in the USK symposium. He was drawing with left and using a water brush with his right at the same time. So I am happy to be more or less forced to try this!
What was interesting is that I had to turn my palette the other way round and of cause my equipment needed to be on my right, and the left hand used to pick up the teacup…but that also felt reasonably comfortable!
And this sketch also in my right hand was done at one of the T2bars - it has taken me nearly a year to get around to have a tea at one of the takeaway tea bars that T2 decided to start when they closed the tearoom… sigh! I do miss that tearoom- the wonderful staff, the environment of the teahouse and all those fancy cups!
Certainly very enjoyable experience and I am looking forward to do some serious painting with my right hand tomorrow at the USK SYD event at QVB - would love to see you if you are free! BTW everyone is welcome at these events - you do not need to have reached a certain 'level' but you do need to have a willingness to have a go, to share and not compare, and be ready to be inspired not overwhelmed… if that all makes sense.
australia.urbansketchers.org/2014/05/usk-syd-even-saturda...
Yesterday I also did this quick sketch while waiting in the queue to pick up my visa for Brazil… surrounded my soccer talk! This was done in my left hand but I am holding my pen extremely loosely. I was rather pleased with the lady on the left. You can see my loose style of writing as well. (writing with my right hand would be another adventure totally)
And BTW, I left my sketchbook at home yesterday so bought a few sheets of loose paper to work on for the day.
this is a leftie's heart beat sensor so if u want a right hander hbs flip ur gun and this the pasie:
Yesterday afternoon I had a chore afternoon. When I get back from a trip I always seem to have a line of appointments … and catching up with friends!
As per last post I am trying to rest my left hand as much as possible for a week - that means sketching with my right hand. (I just find it too hard to stop sketching altogether. My creative juices need some outlet and I am in a great believer in doing regularly) So yesterday I had two occasions (cafe visits!) for sketching in public using my non dominant hand. It was a lot of fun and surprisingly comfortable. I can't say easy because my ellipses are wonky but as I was working mainly from my shoulder the control of my wrist wasn't an issue. The only other time I tried painting with my right hand I found control of water a real issue(way too much water)… but this did not seem to be an issue at all yesterday. In fact I was getting more dry brush which I like a lot!
Although I draw and write with my left hand, my right hand/arm has the strength and do everything (except for use a needle and thread) with my right…I am not a true leftie. So it is not a total switch for me.
If fact I have been wanting to use my right hand more every since a dinner in Barcelona last July. I was sitting next to Barry Jackson, one of hte instructors in the USK symposium. He was drawing with left and using a water brush with his right at the same time. So I am happy to be more or less forced to try this!
What was interesting is that I had to turn my palette the other way round and of cause my equipment needed to be on my right, and the left hand used to pick up the teacup…but that also felt reasonably comfortable!
And this sketch also in my right hand was done at one of the T2bars - it has taken me nearly a year to get around to have a tea at one of the takeaway tea bars that T2 decided to start when they closed the tearoom… sigh! I do miss that tearoom- the wonderful staff, the environment of the teahouse and all those fancy cups!
Certainly very enjoyable experience and I am looking forward to do some serious painting with my right hand tomorrow at the USK SYD event at QVB - would love to see you if you are free! BTW everyone is welcome at these events - you do not need to have reached a certain 'level' but you do need to have a willingness to have a go, to share and not compare, and be ready to be inspired not overwhelmed… if that all makes sense.
australia.urbansketchers.org/2014/05/usk-syd-even-saturda...
Yesterday I also did this quick sketch while waiting in the queue to pick up my visa for Brazil… surrounded my soccer talk! This was done in my left hand but I am holding my pen extremely loosely. I was rather pleased with the lady on the left. You can see my loose style of writing as well. (writing with my right hand would be another adventure totally)
And BTW, I left my sketchbook at home yesterday so bought a few sheets of loose paper to work on for the day.
Day 177:
For my birthday this year, David gave me one of his guitars. I believe he
said that this was his first guitar he ever got. I’ve had an interest in learning
and so that’s why he gave me it. I haven’t practiced with it just yet, because
I need it re-stringed and tuned. He’s right-handed and I’m left-handed. Perhaps
on a weekend where I’m not sick, I’ll take it in to have those things done to it.
Today I brought out the baby gummies and let them pluck a couple of strings. :)
I don't quite remember how much homework I had when I was in 1st grade but The Girl came home with over 90 minutes worth of math and reading assignments.
She did try some shortcuts but I caught her doing them and told her the classic, "Do it once and do it right" speech. I don't think she fully grasped the concept of that but either way she ended up being best friends with the eraser end of the pencil.
At one point she wanted to use the calculator on her phone to help with math. I gave her the stink eye.
It's gonna be a long year.
I'm thinking of buying one of these!! being left handed limits choice, but it would only be used for home recording..I like the dark brown finish, most left basses are always bloody black! and it cheap!
This kitty needs some love.
She's pregnant AGAIN I think.
I wish they'd neuter her. She keeps
having kittens and they all end
up dying. If you've been looking at my photostream since the start, you'll know Magic, one of Dash's kittens. I had two
photos up of her. Magic just disappeared. I guess she died.
And I would mind Dash but you know how cats are. She'd keep coming back and my cats would get peeved.
Yeah, my cats are soooo antisocial with other kitties. They are fine with humans, and Taz but other cats totally spook them. Don't know why :)
How are you guys?
I've got school, i'm making a yearbook,
going places, preparing, learning french, so I'm caught up in alot. I'll comment for you guys later :)
PS. YAY! I hit 200 photos :)
Tagged like a million times.
I'm NOT gonna rant about how I
always forget to do these facts.
:D
Mehhh.. I can't think of any. I'm lame :P
Okay, here's ONE!
1. I'm a leftie.
Wait, i've got more....
2. My dog eats lemons.
3. I used to have two goldfish, but
they died cause we cleaned the tank
TOO MUCH. O.O
4. Smudge and Skye like my bed.
5. Skye headbutts me :3
got bored with this one so a quick finish. and yes a leftie so yeah might do a left side one day.
time to move on to the next project :)
An extremely simple model with a few after market additions
Comment and notes are welcome
Thank you.
Matthew Taylor
I again ended up at the Golden Ponds Park and Recreation area and wonder what to shoot. I hauled the killer tripod and decided to shoot the blustery breezes in the new spring grass with the longer lens. I slowed this as much as I could. This view is next to pond #2. Many years ago on Shrine Pass near Vail, I tried to slow shoot some Kodachrome of the breezes through the meadow and found that the wind is extremely fickle on a larger scale. I probably need a neutral density filter so i can extend my trials.
In early May the recent snows have increased our snowpack and left us with a greater than !00% sequestered moisture. We have left enough moisture to wring out over the midwest tornado areas. I notice the rightie governor is now talking leftie to FEMA and the rest of the administration. Seems to be weak on stand alone state's rights today. Rick Perry still wants to walk with their own Texas money even though he is mute currently. I remember Texas is a net user of federal money; well over 100% of what they contribute. Perhaps Texas will get theirs today? Any particular reason to Unite the States in a union for shared protection and benefit? I don't suppose this storm has something to do with that 400 ppm CO2 in the world's atmosphere? That's been debunked by the fossil fuel paid scientists. grin. Back to the Jurassic!
The tale in which the Aggie Ring gets the most favourite of his Rolex watches back from the Rolex technical facility in NYC.
“Wake up! Wake up!” the Jersey Shore Fightin’ Texas Aggie Ring cried out as he woke me up this morning.
“What is it?” I asked. I had planned on sleeping in until at least 11:00 a.m. since it’s a Friday.
“The Rolex is back! The Rolex is back!” he excitedly exclaimed.
You see dear reader, we had taken Aggie Ring’s $15,000.00 Deepsea Rolex in for it’s $1,000.00 routine maintenance about 8 weeks ago and the jewelers had received it back from the Rolex offices in NYC. Just remember, It’s ALWAYS a good idea to buy a Rolex. :-)
Some might think $15K is a tad bit much for a simple wristwatch, but it CAN dive down to 12500 feet below sea level. That’s deeper than the Titanic. Who knows, maybe the Aggie Ring and I might dive down there sometime. Maybe we’ll see the body of Jack Dawson who sleeps on the ocean floor after Rose pushed him off the wooden door she was floating on to save herself and her diamond necklace.
Aggie Ring and I drove into Red Bank, New Jersey where the only nearby Rolex dealer is located. I didn’t realize until I procured my first Rolex that very few jewelers are allowed to carry the Rolex line of watches. Aggie Ring was so excited that he had me spend the $1.50 to take the Jersey Parkway. When we arrived Aggie Ring was in such a hurry that he didn’t even feed the parking meter.
The routine maintenance for Aggie Ring’s Rolex only came out to $986.00. A real bargain for Aggie Ring. If only it had been a more affordable $984.00. Aggie Ring doesn’t care for the number “86” too much. But, the cost did include a nice pouch.
As we left the jewelers, it was lightly sprinkling outside. “Darn it all.” I said to Aggie Ring. “Now it’s raining outside.”
“Don’t you understand?” said Aggie Ring. “That’s not rain, it’s the tears of angels. Every time an Aggie Ring gets a Rolex watch, the angels cry tears of joy because there’s one less Aggie Ring without a fancy Rolex. I saw that in a Christmas movie made back in the late 40s.”
I didn’t want to put on the Rolex yet because I didn’t want to embarrass people on the street who didn’t have a Rolex so I drove to one of the many bars in Red Bank, New Jersey. Normally, we would have walked, but the angles were crying and I didn’t want to get their tears of joy all over my leather official issue leather military jacket.
Aggie Ring and I went inside a nice bar that has a stage and live music — most do in this town. We ordered a Cigar City Espresso Stout and sat down to open the little pouch that Aggie Ring’s Rolex came with from the maintenance factory.
We looked at it on the table there next to the beer, basking in the light coming in through the window and I couldn’t help but think, “The angels are probably crying because after spending $15K for a watch, I still have to spend ~$1K every five years for maintenance. I will admit, they had buffed all the scratches out where I was frequently accidentally hitting it against brick walls and other things that had scratched it. It did look absolutely new.
“Come here my precious.” said Aggie Ring to the Rolex. “Put it on.” cried Aggie Ring.
I put the Rolex and Aggie Ring on my left hand (my Aggie Ring’s a leftie and doesn’t like to be worn on my right hand or far away from his Rolex). The feeling was instantly awesome. Aggie Ring and I felt like better people because we were wearing a Rolex. Aggie Ring cried out, “Feels so good!”
Aggie Ring and I both looked around the bar to make sure we were the only ones wearing a Rolex. If there had been anyone else wearing one, Aggie Ring would have had to get his sword out of the trunk and behead them.
On the way home after the stout (which was quite delicious), Aggie Ring had me stop for a haircut. “You can’t go around looking like a slob when you’re wearing a Rolex. Not on this Jersey Shore Aggie Ring’s watch.”
I have to admit, yet again, that Aggie Ring was correct. When you put on a Rolex, you become a better person — taller, smarter, better looking, and skinnier. Everyone should own one or two. :-)
Pages from the last few days… in summary as much as I am loving using watercolour pencils(WCPs) my creative juices just seem to want water to play!
------------
this was my attempt at doing the sketchbook skool homework for the week (I worked from right to left as I am a leftie) and didn't have a great selection of normal coloured pencils - didn't quite achieve Koojse's 'zen state'… instead I went crazy on 3 more versions…
Dodger Stadium opened on April 10, 1962. This photo taken 50 years (to the day) later on April 10, 2012 - Opening Day.
Dodger Stadium
Los Angeles, California
The tale in which the Aggie Ring gets the most favourite of his Rolex watches back from the Rolex technical facility in NYC.
“Wake up! Wake up!” the Jersey Shore Fightin’ Texas Aggie Ring cried out as he woke me up this morning.
“What is it?” I asked. I had planned on sleeping in until at least 11:00 a.m. since it’s a Friday.
“The Rolex is back! The Rolex is back!” he excitedly exclaimed.
You see dear reader, we had taken Aggie Ring’s $15,000.00 Deepsea Rolex in for it’s $1,000.00 routine maintenance about 8 weeks ago and the jewelers had received it back from the Rolex offices in NYC. Just remember, It’s ALWAYS a good idea to buy a Rolex. :-)
Some might think $15K is a tad bit much for a simple wristwatch, but it CAN dive down to 12500 feet below sea level. That’s deeper than the Titanic. Who knows, maybe the Aggie Ring and I might dive down there sometime. Maybe we’ll see the body of Jack Dawson who sleeps on the ocean floor after Rose pushed him off the wooden door she was floating on to save herself and her diamond necklace.
Aggie Ring and I drove into Red Bank, New Jersey where the only nearby Rolex dealer is located. I didn’t realize until I procured my first Rolex that very few jewelers are allowed to carry the Rolex line of watches. Aggie Ring was so excited that he had me spend the $1.50 to take the Jersey Parkway. When we arrived Aggie Ring was in such a hurry that he didn’t even feed the parking meter.
The routine maintenance for Aggie Ring’s Rolex only came out to $986.00. A real bargain for Aggie Ring. If only it had been a more affordable $984.00. Aggie Ring doesn’t care for the number “86” too much. But, the cost did include a nice pouch.
As we left the jewelers, it was lightly sprinkling outside. “Darn it all.” I said to Aggie Ring. “Now it’s raining outside.”
“Don’t you understand?” said Aggie Ring. “That’s not rain, it’s the tears of angels. Every time an Aggie Ring gets a Rolex watch, the angels cry tears of joy because there’s one less Aggie Ring without a fancy Rolex. I saw that in a Christmas movie made back in the late 40s.”
I didn’t want to put on the Rolex yet because I didn’t want to embarrass people on the street who didn’t have a Rolex so I drove to one of the many bars in Red Bank, New Jersey. Normally, we would have walked, but the angles were crying and I didn’t want to get their tears of joy all over my leather official issue leather military jacket.
Aggie Ring and I went inside a nice bar that has a stage and live music — most do in this town. We ordered a Cigar City Espresso Stout and sat down to open the little pouch that Aggie Ring’s Rolex came with from the maintenance factory.
We looked at it on the table there next to the beer, basking in the light coming in through the window and I couldn’t help but think, “The angels are probably crying because after spending $15K for a watch, I still have to spend ~$1K every five years for maintenance. I will admit, they had buffed all the scratches out where I was frequently accidentally hitting it against brick walls and other things that had scratched it. It did look absolutely new.
“Come here my precious.” said Aggie Ring to the Rolex. “Put it on.” cried Aggie Ring.
I put the Rolex and Aggie Ring on my left hand (my Aggie Ring’s a leftie and doesn’t like to be worn on my right hand or far away from his Rolex). The feeling was instantly awesome. Aggie Ring and I felt like better people because we were wearing a Rolex. Aggie Ring cried out, “Feels so good!”
Aggie Ring and I both looked around the bar to make sure we were the only ones wearing a Rolex. If there had been anyone else wearing one, Aggie Ring would have had to get his sword out of the trunk and behead them.
On the way home after the stout (which was quite delicious), Aggie Ring had me stop for a haircut. “You can’t go around looking like a slob when you’re wearing a Rolex. Not on this Jersey Shore Aggie Ring’s watch.”
I have to admit, yet again, that Aggie Ring was correct. When you put on a Rolex, you become a better person — taller, smarter, better looking, and skinnier. Everyone should own one or two. :-)
I didn't feel like posting a shot I might put in the school paper from this game, so I intentionally took some time in between batters to do some candid portraits of the two team's catchers. They're both looking at their coaches. I was sitting right next to the entrances of each team's dugouts, on the side of the dugout closest to home plate.
The main thing I think this shows from a technical perspective is a difference in lighting. The San Mateo catcher(bottom) doesn't have the sun in her eyes like the player in the first shot, and her eyes are much sharper due to some sort of diffused light probably coming off of the ground or backstop.
But sports are sports, can't choose your lighting in sports. The ump let me have two great spots and let me move between those two shots in between innings(but don't move anywhere else). I did almost get hit in the head by a foul ball this time, but I just learned from that experience that you need to watch out when a leftie's hitting.
It was better than my first time covering a softball game(beginning of the semester)-when it rained and the ump yelled at me and the opposing team's fans yelled at me for blocking their view.
Anyway, this was San Mateo jr college vs Cosumnes River college, playoffs. Hawks(CRC's team) won 5-0 in the first game of a 3 game series. Next two games will be in the following few days.
____________
70-200mm f/4L lens shot wide open, ISO 200, 1/1500 second exposure for the top shot and the bottom for some reason ended up being a 1/250 exposure. Edited in lightroom, combined in CS4.
Naomi Klein argues herein that the actual torture that, of course we "don't do," is actually part of a continuum, in a spectrum that has "economic shock therapy" a.k.a. the economic philosophy of Milton Friedman, as implemented by the IMF and the World Bank, at the other end. (Lucky recipients listed include Iraq, Russia, Poland, Nelson Mandela's ANC, South America . . . ) The imagination has difficulty comprehending how, for example, a folk singer like Victor Jara could have his fingers broken and be tortured for several days before being machine-gunned to death. Klein provides a welcome framework for understanding.
Amazon reviews it like this: "Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine advances a truly unnerving argument: historically, while people were reeling from natural disasters, wars and economic upheavals, savvy politicians and industry leaders nefariously implemented policies that would never have passed during less muddled times. As Klein demonstrates, this reprehensible game of bait-and-switch isn't just some relic from the bad old days. It's alive and well in contemporary society, and coming soon to a disaster area near you.
"At the most chaotic juncture in Iraq'' civil war, a new law is unveiled that will allow Shell and BP to claim the country's vast oil reserves… Immediately following September 11, the Bush Administration quietly outsources the running of the 'War on Terror' to Halliburton and Blackwater… After a tsunami wipes out the coasts of Southeast Asia, the pristine beaches are auctioned off to tourist resorts… New Orleans residents, scattered from Hurricane Katrina, discover that their public housing, hospitals and schools will never be re-opened." Klein not only kicks butt, she names names, notably economist Milton Friedman and his radical Chicago School of the 1950s and 60s which she notes "produced many of the leading neo-conservative and neo-liberal thinkers whose influence is still profound in Washington today." Stand up and take a bow, Donald Rumsfeld.
There's little doubt Klein's book--which arrived to enormous attention and fanfare thanks to her previous missive, the best-selling No Logo, will stir the ire of the right and corporate America. It's also true that Klein's assertions are coherent, comprehensively researched and footnoted, and she makes a very credible case. Even if the world isn't going to hell in a hand-basket just yet, it's nice to know a sharp customer like Klein is bearing witness to the backroom machinations of government and industry in times of turmoil. --Kim Hughes"
Corporate ire? The sky over Miami's financial district is filled with golden parachutes tonight. I strongly recommend this gripping tome. I loved No Logo, but Klein's latest, if anything, is even better. Klein has never sat around armchair-philosophizing. She goes to the source, interviews the villains face-to-face, sneaks into the sweatshops, dodges actual bombs (pp. 326-327: " . . . Outside the window was a ball of lavalike fire . . . Around the corner, the Mount Lebanon Hotel lay in rubble . . .") Before you write her off just because she's a leftie, you'd better do your homework. An excellent, inspiring read.
The guy on camera right always tries to outdo the guy on camera left, haha. Leftie did 45, rightie did 46 lol
The History of New York's Oldest and Best Cheese Shop
Here's the story:
Murray Greenberg (never met him; he died before I got here) was a Jewish Spanish civil war veteran and communist who opened a wholesale butter and egg shop a few doors up Cornelia street in 1940. The old timers tell me that even though he was an old leftie, he was still a street smart capitalist who used to buy cheese cheap and trim it and sell it. In the 70's he sold the shop to his clerk Louis Tudda, an Italian immigrant from Calabria.
The old shop was used like a bodega or a Korean deli is today; not only cheese was sold but cheap oil and tomatoes to the locals, who were predominantly Italian back in '91 when I bought the shop. That's changing now.
I'd left the family supermarket business in '85 to do full service specialty shops in New Jersey, where I was from. When my shop, in Princeton tanked with the crash of '87, I wound up in my brother's old apartment here in the Village (he's a lawyer and he'd moved to L.A.), wondering what to do with my life next. One day, when I was in line at the original shop, I heard Louis say he'd lost his lease and was closing. I made him an offer and moved the shop to the corner of Bleecker, where we stayed 14 years, until November '04, when we moved to our current location at Bleecker and Leroy.
Frankie came with the shop; he lived around here and had been the delivery boy, then a counterman through college, and stayed here when his folks returned to the island of Malta where they were from. Louis himself worked for a year before he went back home. We'd hang out behind the counter selling cheap cheese, mostly commodity stuff bought on deal.
Around ten years ago we got serious about the good stuff, and at first we couldn't sell it. Now we can't keep it in stock! The first line we got in was Neal's Yard Dairy cheese, and boy, did it sit there in the case. The old neighborhood is changing. Zito's bread, older than Murray's even (1920) is gone, and so is the pioneer of all, Balducci's up on 9th St. (Citarella's there now). But the new customers are a lot younger and hipper.
We always had a good staff, though this is by far the best. I'm often grouchy, but everyone else was, and is, really very nice. Go figure. And the business grows each year.
These days I can barely keep up on all the new stuff that's going on: we have a kitchen, a new web site, mail order, a gift catalog, a classroom and cheese caves. It's not quite anarchy but it's certainly not corporate. It's the Village: artists, folkies, poets, creative types have made this their home for over a century. Our shop in Grand Central even has the feel of it.
The main thing is to let the customers see our passion, that's what it's all about. Turn them on to whatever we've got going. Taste it yourself. My Grandpa, whose own store is in a picture above the dairy case (ca. 1925), and an immigrant (Russian Jewish) himself, always said, in that sort of accent of his, 'go on, take a taste.' Nothing's changed, I suppose. We tell them, 'here, take a taste.'
--Rob
The end of the favorite Italian glass ring... also seen here
I've had 3 subway mishaps so far in 2007. Please... let this be the last:
1) early February: Late for an event at the MOMA (Doug Aitken: sleepwalkers) , running up the E Train subway escalator... slip... and end up with two separate trips to get my left hand x-rayed for possible fractures. Outcome: No broken bones but hand takes months to heal. What's worse... I'm a leftie.
2) late February: While reading the free newspaper on the 1 Train, walk off the train, leaving behind leather bag full of personal financial documents. Outcome: Good Samaritan turns my bag in to the MTA Lost and Found which ends up back in my hands months later. Miracles do happen.
3) June: While rocking out to Iggy Pop and stepping lively down the steps to the 1 Train, my stiletto heel gets caught in the opposite pant leg and I go down like I've been lassoed and yanked at the ankles. Do a belly flop from three steps up and land right up against the subway booth down below - with my feet still connected to each other. Outcome: My beautiful Italian glass ring is dead - succombing to concrete, velocity and body weight. But thank god my Nikon which was in my bag (same bag as mentioned above) was spared.
Lessons Learned. May the NYC subway gods be with me.
Yesterday afternoon I had a chore afternoon. When I get back from a trip I always seem to have a line of appointments … and catching up with friends!
As per last post I am trying to rest my left hand as much as possible for a week - that means sketching with my right hand. (I just find it too hard to stop sketching altogether. My creative juices need some outlet and I am in a great believer in doing regularly) So yesterday I had two occasions (cafe visits!) for sketching in public using my non dominant hand. It was a lot of fun and surprisingly comfortable. I can't say easy because my ellipses are wonky but as I was working mainly from my shoulder the control of my wrist wasn't an issue. The only other time I tried painting with my right hand I found control of water a real issue(way too much water)… but this did not seem to be an issue at all yesterday. In fact I was getting more dry brush which I like a lot!
Although I draw and write with my left hand, my right hand/arm has the strength and do everything (except for use a needle and thread) with my right…I am not a true leftie. So it is not a total switch for me.
If fact I have been wanting to use my right hand more every since a dinner in Barcelona last July. I was sitting next to Barry Jackson, one of hte instructors in the USK symposium. He was drawing with left and using a water brush with his right at the same time. So I am happy to be more or less forced to try this!
What was interesting is that I had to turn my palette the other way round and of cause my equipment needed to be on my right, and the left hand used to pick up the teacup…but that also felt reasonably comfortable!
And this sketch also in my right hand was done at one of the T2bars - it has taken me nearly a year to get around to have a tea at one of the takeaway tea bars that T2 decided to start when they closed the tearoom… sigh! I do miss that tearoom- the wonderful staff, the environment of the teahouse and all those fancy cups!
Certainly very enjoyable experience and I am looking forward to do some serious painting with my right hand tomorrow at the USK SYD event at QVB - would love to see you if you are free! BTW everyone is welcome at these events - you do not need to have reached a certain 'level' but you do need to have a willingness to have a go, to share and not compare, and be ready to be inspired not overwhelmed… if that all makes sense.
australia.urbansketchers.org/2014/05/usk-syd-even-saturda...
Yesterday I also did this quick sketch while waiting in the queue to pick up my visa for Brazil… surrounded my soccer talk! This was done in my left hand but I am holding my pen extremely loosely. I was rather pleased with the lady on the left. You can see my loose style of writing as well. (writing with my right hand would be another adventure totally)
And BTW, I left my sketchbook at home yesterday so bought a few sheets of loose paper to work on for the day.
The tale in which the Aggie Ring gets the most favourite of his Rolex watches back from the Rolex technical facility in NYC.
“Wake up! Wake up!” the Jersey Shore Fightin’ Texas Aggie Ring cried out as he woke me up this morning.
“What is it?” I asked. I had planned on sleeping in until at least 11:00 a.m. since it’s a Friday.
“The Rolex is back! The Rolex is back!” he excitedly exclaimed.
You see dear reader, we had taken Aggie Ring’s $15,000.00 Deepsea Rolex in for it’s $1,000.00 routine maintenance about 8 weeks ago and the jewelers had received it back from the Rolex offices in NYC. Just remember, It’s ALWAYS a good idea to buy a Rolex. :-)
Some might think $15K is a tad bit much for a simple wristwatch, but it CAN dive down to 12500 feet below sea level. That’s deeper than the Titanic. Who knows, maybe the Aggie Ring and I might dive down there sometime. Maybe we’ll see the body of Jack Dawson who sleeps on the ocean floor after Rose pushed him off the wooden door she was floating on to save herself and her diamond necklace.
Aggie Ring and I drove into Red Bank, New Jersey where the only nearby Rolex dealer is located. I didn’t realize until I procured my first Rolex that very few jewelers are allowed to carry the Rolex line of watches. Aggie Ring was so excited that he had me spend the $1.50 to take the Jersey Parkway. When we arrived Aggie Ring was in such a hurry that he didn’t even feed the parking meter.
The routine maintenance for Aggie Ring’s Rolex only came out to $986.00. A real bargain for Aggie Ring. If only it had been a more affordable $984.00. Aggie Ring doesn’t care for the number “86” too much. But, the cost did include a nice pouch.
As we left the jewelers, it was lightly sprinkling outside. “Darn it all.” I said to Aggie Ring. “Now it’s raining outside.”
“Don’t you understand?” said Aggie Ring. “That’s not rain, it’s the tears of angels. Every time an Aggie Ring gets a Rolex watch, the angels cry tears of joy because there’s one less Aggie Ring without a fancy Rolex. I saw that in a Christmas movie made back in the late 40s.”
I didn’t want to put on the Rolex yet because I didn’t want to embarrass people on the street who didn’t have a Rolex so I drove to one of the many bars in Red Bank, New Jersey. Normally, we would have walked, but the angles were crying and I didn’t want to get their tears of joy all over my leather official issue leather military jacket.
Aggie Ring and I went inside a nice bar that has a stage and live music — most do in this town. We ordered a Cigar City Espresso Stout and sat down to open the little pouch that Aggie Ring’s Rolex came with from the maintenance factory.
We looked at it on the table there next to the beer, basking in the light coming in through the window and I couldn’t help but think, “The angels are probably crying because after spending $15K for a watch, I still have to spend ~$1K every five years for maintenance. I will admit, they had buffed all the scratches out where I was frequently accidentally hitting it against brick walls and other things that had scratched it. It did look absolutely new.
“Come here my precious.” said Aggie Ring to the Rolex. “Put it on.” cried Aggie Ring.
I put the Rolex and Aggie Ring on my left hand (my Aggie Ring’s a leftie and doesn’t like to be worn on my right hand or far away from his Rolex). The feeling was instantly awesome. Aggie Ring and I felt like better people because we were wearing a Rolex. Aggie Ring cried out, “Feels so good!”
Aggie Ring and I both looked around the bar to make sure we were the only ones wearing a Rolex. If there had been anyone else wearing one, Aggie Ring would have had to get his sword out of the trunk and behead them.
On the way home after the stout (which was quite delicious), Aggie Ring had me stop for a haircut. “You can’t go around looking like a slob when you’re wearing a Rolex. Not on this Jersey Shore Aggie Ring’s watch.”
I have to admit, yet again, that Aggie Ring was correct. When you put on a Rolex, you become a better person — taller, smarter, better looking, and skinnier. Everyone should own one or two. :-)
I couldn't remember any family sayings that we got from books, but I did remember that my dad always said "Rightie Tightie, Leftie Loosie" when teaching us how to use tools. It was a perfect says for this photo of a friend of mine.
Dear Lizzy striped paper, Amy Tangerine all other papers, die cuts and chipboard, Simple Stories orange phrase stickers, Authentique black phrase stickers and misc black alphabet stickers.