Bistro Bijou

[LadynStFreknBed]

interesting... LOL

Well, my story, Artist Dream Ch. 01, posted last night. There are some interesting comments posted already.

In my story, the main character is an artist who paints like I often do. I paint music. I burn a CD of music that matches my current mood, then empty my mind of any expectations of the painting. Then, I just select the colors that I feel represent my current mood and the music. Then, I paint the music.

Jonas Gerard is an artist who does the same thing. Here's a youtube clip of his painting process:

Jonas Gerard Live Painting

I love what I do.. even if readers might find me "odd."

-Sheila

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I suppose you will all be out celebrating tomorrow

 

[unpredictablebijou]

I suppose you will all be out celebrating tomorrow

I'll probably stop in - I can't NOT check in here, even if it means a 25-mile drive to the shop. But yeah, we will be partying.

There's this cool thing that happens at my place on the 4th. We're in a county where there are very few regulations about fireworks, so of course my urban friends like to come out there to blow shit up, since all you can have in town is sparklers and stuff. Last year we blew stuff up for five straight hours and I still had a full bag of mortars and cherry bombs left over.

But more than that, we're at a very high point in the county, so when the townships start doing their displays, we walk out front to the dirt road and go about 50 yards to the top of the hill, and we can see all the township displays at once, in every direction, as well as all the little farm displays which can get pretty impressive as well. One year we counted 30 different displays going off all at once. So we stand out there, on our cool little hill, and watch every town within 15 miles do their big event, all at once. People yell 'oo, look east!', "oo, look over to the southwest!' and you just keep turning round in circles to try to catch it all.

It's a unique thing, out there, and it's why I always end up at my place for the fourth.

Well, that and the grill made out of a 50-gallon metal drum. We can do shishkebab for 2 dozen people and still have room to grill corn on the cob.

I didn't get to have fireworks as a kid so I'm completely juvenile about blowin' shit up on the fourth. But then, I'd probably be that way even without an excuse.

bj

 

[sassynyc]

Well, my story, Artist Dream Ch. 01, posted last night. There are some interesting comments posted already.

In my story, the main character is an artist who paints like I often do. I paint music. I burn a CD of music that matches my current mood, then empty my mind of any expectations of the painting. Then, I just select the colors that I feel represent my current mood and the music. Then, I paint the music.

Jonas Gerard is an artist who does the same thing. Here's a youtube clip of his painting process:

Jonas Gerard Live Painting

I love what I do.. even if readers might find me "odd."

-Sheila

I always associate music with color, and color with the mood I'm in. And of course, music always affects my mood. It's kinda like that triangle symbol for recycling...they're all connected.

And about "weird", don't sweat it. It's a prerequisite for artistic folk. Without other people's definition of weird, we'd have no inspiration. Where do you think our stimuli comes from?

 

[sassynyc]

I didn't get to have fireworks as a kid so I'm completely juvenile about blowin' shit up on the fourth. But then, I'd probably be that way even without an excuse.

bj

You tripped a very weird mental trigger when I saw this. You made me think about this character in a Stephen King novel (maybe The Stand.....can't remember). He was this completely hilarious pyromaniac who got all excited at the sight of anything being blown up or set on fire.

I will now have the image of a mischievous Bj running around, strategicly hiding sticks of dynamite in very wrong places, in the grand tradition of Bugs Bunny putting the hurt to Elmer Fudd.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I've got mixed thoughts about fireworks I used to love them but now I have a dog who is so terrified I have to sedate him on bonfire night or he will try and dig through the floor to escape he's ripped his claws and his front teeth out before now trying desperately to escape and now he is 13 it's not advisable to sedate him because what the medicine does is not stop him from hearing them but stop him doing anything about it so his heart could give out with the stress. It's very worrying what to do for the best

 

[Guest]

I hope it rains tomorrow

I hate fireworks. They scare my kids and animals. Some revelers are complete assholes and light a half a stick of dynamite or do it well before and after Independence day. Other jackasses shoot bottle rockets or other aerials over houses and start fires.

 

[Guest]

You tripped a very weird mental trigger when I saw this. You made me think about this character in a Stephen King novel (maybe The Stand.....can't remember). He was this completely hilarious pyromaniac who got all excited at the sight of anything being blown up or set on fire.

I will now have the image of a mischievous Bj running around, strategicly hiding sticks of dynamite in very wrong places, in the grand tradition of Bugs Bunny putting the hurt to Elmer Fudd.

That's my favorite book. And the Trashman (Trashy) was the pyro.

 

[Homburg]

I'll probably stop in - I can't NOT check in here, even if it means a 25-mile drive to the shop. But yeah, we will be partying.

There's this cool thing that happens at my place on the 4th. We're in a county where there are very few regulations about fireworks, so of course my urban friends like to come out there to blow shit up, since all you can have in town is sparklers and stuff. Last year we blew stuff up for five straight hours and I still had a full bag of mortars and cherry bombs left over.

But more than that, we're at a very high point in the county, so when the townships start doing their displays, we walk out front to the dirt road and go about 50 yards to the top of the hill, and we can see all the township displays at once, in every direction, as well as all the little farm displays which can get pretty impressive as well. One year we counted 30 different displays going off all at once. So we stand out there, on our cool little hill, and watch every town within 15 miles do their big event, all at once. People yell 'oo, look east!', "oo, look over to the southwest!' and you just keep turning round in circles to try to catch it all.

It's a unique thing, out there, and it's why I always end up at my place for the fourth.

Well, that and the grill made out of a 50-gallon metal drum. We can do shishkebab for 2 dozen people and still have room to grill corn on the cob.

I didn't get to have fireworks as a kid so I'm completely juvenile about blowin' shit up on the fourth. But then, I'd probably be that way even without an excuse.

bj

You have officially become #2 of places I really wish I could be at tomorrow.

 

[sassynyc]

That's my favorite book. And the Trashman (Trashy) was the pyro.

Trashy....that's him! I'm so glad somebody remembered this. It was driving me batty!

 

[unpredictablebijou]

You have officially become #2 of places I really wish I could be at tomorrow.

Someday perhaps you'll bring the whole tribe out and join us. It's pretty frickin' cool.

And not to spoil my own rep, but just to reassure, our dogs are given a gentle babysitter and stay pretty chill, and we're far enough out that we can see none of our neighbors, so we don't bother anyone. One neighbor is always gone, and the other is having a party way more obnoxious than ours, and both are a quarter of a mile away. I would never behave like that in an urban environment because I believe that the folks who do that are, well, butt heads.

We also start the evening with apologetic offerings to the Fair Folk and the Ten Thousand Things out there, because there are NO entities that enjoy fireworks except for humans. Neither animal nor vegetable, nor even elemental, enjoys a firework. So we're very apologetic and respectful about taking one night a year to blow shit up, since we're unevolved humans who still think that's kwl.

Anyone else having a really weird day today? Cause it's way weird in the shop.

all good though.

bj

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

Anyone else having a really weird day today? Cause it's way weird in the shop.

all good though.

bj

very, very weird.
not all good.

-Sheila

 

[unpredictablebijou]

very, very weird.
not all good.

-Sheila

Well, let me amend that. The people in today have been having weirdness that is not all good. But so far I have been able to assist them, so that's the good part.

keep the faith

bj

 

[Homburg]

Someday perhaps you'll bring the whole tribe out and join us. It's pretty frickin' cool.

bj

Lovely thought

 

[sassynyc]

Anyone else having a really weird day today? Cause it's way weird in the shop.

all good though.

bj

To offset the weirdness of the day, this jam is for you.



I wanted to send you Kiss by Prince, but you know how hard that is to find.
Then I saw a video of Tom Jones cover of the same song. It was garbled, so you wouldn't get the full effect. Suffice it to say, Tom has his place, but should never be allowed to touch a Prince song....ever! It is just 10 kinds of wrong, but damn funny though. Good for a laugh if nothing else. If you get a chance look it up....maybe you'll have better luck than I did.

 

[Homburg]

Just got back from playing in traffic. I guess my uncle was right to tell me that. *shrug* Something fun about 20mph on flat ground riding a mountain bike in traffic. Anyway, this song is in my head. It should be in your head too.

I Desmond Dekker.

 

[normal jean]

...uhhhh....now I'm completely gender-confused...But I still love you beyond words...

the rooster in my AV

I saw him in someone's yard while I was waiting in traffic, stop sign or something, near Danville Virginia. I don't actually have a cock---rooster or otherwise .

 

[Angeline]

the rooster in my AV

I saw him in someone's yard while I was waiting in traffic, stop sign or something, near Danville Virginia. I don't actually have a cock---rooster or otherwise .

I'm just here to smooch my beautiful NJ. *Kiss, kiss.* Nothing to see here. Move along.

 

[sassynyc]

Just got back from playing in traffic. I guess my uncle was right to tell me that. *shrug* Something fun about 20mph on flat ground riding a mountain bike in traffic. Anyway, this song is in my head. It should be in your head too.

I Desmond Dekker.

suh-weeet

 

[Anschul]

I've got mixed thoughts about fireworks I used to love them but now I have a dog who is so terrified I have to sedate him on bonfire night or he will try and dig through the floor to escape he's ripped his claws and his front teeth out before now trying desperately to escape and now he is 13 it's not advisable to sedate him because what the medicine does is not stop him from hearing them but stop him doing anything about it so his heart could give out with the stress. It's very worrying what to do for the best

I have two dogs here, hunting dogs. One just yawns and looks out the window when the rockets start. The other one jumps and barks and runs in circles and generally makes more noise than the explosions outside. Usually wakes the kids. Some hunting dog. Runs away from water...

the rooster in my AV

I saw him in someone's yard while I was waiting in traffic, stop sign or something, near Danville Virginia. I don't actually have a cock---rooster or otherwise .

Phew...

 

[RhymeSmith]

... Nothing to see here. Move along.

You have GOT to be kidding!

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Just got back from playing in traffic. I guess my uncle was right to tell me that. *shrug* Something fun about 20mph on flat ground riding a mountain bike in traffic. Anyway, this song is in my head. It should be in your head too.

I Desmond Dekker.

Me ears are alight

I have two dogs here, hunting dogs. One just yawns and looks out the window when the rockets start. The other one jumps and barks and runs in circles and generally makes more noise than the explosions outside. Usually wakes the kids. Some hunting dog. Runs away from water...



Phew...

This one learnt to be scared from the old dog I had who got frightened by someone letting a firework off behind him when he was 18 months and going blind at the time (hereditary cataracts). The mongrel I had jack russell x staffie used to love them couldnt keep him in he used to sit on the roof of the shed and go oooooooh at them like a child!

 

[unpredictablebijou]

Just stopped in long enough to say hello - the Shiny Object and I are off to buy food and explosives. Sassy, frickin' loved that song, and you created a beautiful synchronicity - when it came on I was busy building a birthday present for someone, and specifically a gift that needs to be shaken.

The song came on, and I walked over to show loststar what I'd been working on - a tag that, Alice in Wonderland style, says, "SHAKE ME". She fell over.

y'all have a safe, peaceful and beautiful 4th. Keep the faith.

bj

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

hi, guys.
Happy 4th.
I'm just having a quiet evening at home. Well, as quiet as can be on the 4th. We have scattered thunderstorms forecasted for tonight.. so, we'll see.

-Sheila

 

[Anschul]

How I spent my summer vacation!

So, we're planning to leave for Virginia at six this morning, car packed, dogs kenneled, newspapers and mail stopped, police notified, and at four am, young Morgan, seven, wakes up crying and holding her leg, and is blistering hot. Take temperature to discover young angel is running 103.1 (that's 39.5 C for you, Annie). Give her massive dose of acetophenamin, temp holds high. We wait. Put off start until 8:30, keep checking temp, doesn't drop. Call physician (July 4th, right?). Doc says go to ER. So now it's five PM, Morgan is admitted with an infection in her abdomen and left leg, Doc's don't know what is causing it. Take X-rays. Take MRI. Take ultrasound. They rule out Leukemia (thank God!!), but start running IV with antibiotics. IV antibiotics. Could be ten days. Could be Lyme Disease. Could be anything. Bye Bye vacation. Aliza, 9, is pissed. Says sister wrecked her vacation. Ah, siblings!!!
So here we are. Household in boxes. Fridge and cupboards empty. Pots and pans packed up. Meantime, vacation will be spent in Miami Beach, AA and me trading places at the hospital. We'll keep you posted.