Sunday, February 26, 2012

Ghent, a Portland-y neighborhood of Norfolk

 [I found an indoor semi-farmers market today, which had fresh-roasted local coffee, second-hand cheap books, produce, fish, a cafe and other assorted goodies: Five Points Farmer's Market]
 [Scenic Wonders of America was published in 1973.]
[In the bookshop, paying was by the honor system.]

[Cafe Stella]
 [I spent hours reading, sipping coffee, and snapping photos of patrons. They sometimes have live music here and I was asking the owner about it when I was about to leave. After a lovely chat, he asked if I had tried the Paczki (Polish Donut) and I said no, so he took one out and gave it to me.]
 [Finally after two hours, a black lady arrived and an Indian man. 
But otherwise it was pretty damn white in there.]










 [This guy was some sort of professor and complaining about the Dim Sum options in Virginia Beach.]


 [And then I saw a chandelier floating in the sky.]



[Moving a few blocks away to meet up with a friend.]
 [The Birch Bar, which has a ton of brews on tap, as well as bottled beers.]
 [It did not taste coconut-y.]


{{THOUGHTS}}

I have some big ideas in the works which if they come to fruition will be amazing, but they are to sit under the covers for now. I have to contemplate and be patient and let the road lay itself out in front of me. No jumping ahead before the asphalt's down...

Hampton Roads (the collective name for Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton) is starting to grow on me more and more over time. Wandering through art & thrift stores, meeting nice locals, I find the area full of decent people and surprisingly enough to do. It's all accessible, and traffic is not bad. I wonder should I stay or should I go.

So with five weeks left of employment, I have some options coming to the surface, and ideas for the future. I plan to stay out East, regardless, but will have to figure on location. I've been asking around for suggestions, and if anyone has opinions, feel free to offer up your advice!  

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Mount Trashmore

Virginia Beach's Mount Trashmore Park is just what it sounds like: a park created from a pile of compacted trash mixed with soil. It's renowned as an ecological feat. Really crazy! I stopped by after work yesterday to have a run. With a temperature of 72, I was not the only one with that idea. One of my friends who grew up here said they used to be able to go swimming and windsurfing in the water, but it's been closed off for a while. 

 [The "Trash Pile" is actually the hill straight ahead.
It seems "Mount" is a bit of a stretch.]

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

[Copying Picasso]

[I love his use of color. Gorgeous.]


I'm taking a community art class through Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art- "Drawn to Experiment," Instructor: Blade Wynne. It's an eight week course, and has included a variety of simple projects which jumpstart creativity. Invariably after my instructor explains what he has in mind for us for the evening, I think to myself, "I don't want to do that. I should just go home!" But then somehow it turns around and I have a good time after all. So far, I have nothing but good things to say for my Wednesday evenings spent amidst paper, pastels and new friends.

Tonight we were told to choose a photo of a painting out of a book and make an interpretation of it. I chose Picasso and drew it sideways (with myself sitting -- usually I prefer to stand). I can see now what was off in my drawing- but art is not about exact copy, it's about interpretation. Of course, learning and practice will improve things...

Monday, February 20, 2012

Sandbar Philosophy

A three-day weekend. Usually means I am in the car. On the road. To some far-off unexplored place. Looking to fill up some spot in my brain that is devoid of information. Geography on the fly. That's the full life. In my mind anyway.

This weekend I was lazy. Just another trip to the Outer Banks. Where I can hide in a cottage by the sea. On a sandbar forty miles out in the ocean. Some parts of the drive you can see water on both sides.

Repose from Virginia Beach. Where the cars exceed 50mph regularly on city streets. Hang on to your wheel, or you're gone. Coming here is like camping in the mountains. Only different.

The beauty of exploring parts of the world. The nomadic life.

Nearly two-thirds way done with my maternity leave coverage job. Reaching out to contacts. Finding prospects in Virginia Beach. Searching for part-time. Flexible. Where I'm needed and free at the same time. Not so different from the type of relationship I seek. It's a general life theme.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

[art class]

Dancing in trees
running along
I can't help but sing 
& wave my arms 
in joy
at my new surroundings
discoveries 
of love & lightness.