And so it begins...

I Love Saturdays...

...because these are MY days and I dedicate them to paying attention. Saturdays are very quiet for me because I spend them alone, just me, my camera, my legal pad, and my Sharpies.

I'm on a new task today. My girlfriend Elly gave me a beautiful gift for my birthday. Too many times she'd heard me say I wanted to purchase a canvas, some paints and just see what happens. Well, Elly is an artist. Her walls are filled with her artwork and her medium is oil on canvas. Bright, vibrant, moving pieces greet you as you enter every room and her perfect gift to me was a canvas of my own. My only task now is to find something I want to paint and she'll teach me how.

So I'm signing off to go enjoy my Saturday and to find that piece for me. Whether it's a photo I take or a postcard I purchase, I'm really looking forward to our weekends, days or stolen moments of 'Martinis and Art'!

Thank you Elly, for not only giving me the perfect gift but for being a wonderful gift as well.

Ciao...

My Path...

One of the most important lessons I've learned in my lifetime is to pay attention. Another lesson, and just as important, is to get to know the people around me.

So, two women are sitting at a bar... just kidding, kinda.

I was sitting at one of my favorite bars, Nick's in Laguna Beach, and there was a woman sitting next to me reading. Remembering that ever important rule 'get to know the people around me', I introduced myself, asked what she was reading and was presented with a wonderful gift, 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron. This is a powerful, powerful book to help you unleash those creative juices.

Every sentence in this book is a lesson, but one in particular told me to 'explore the things that interests me'. How many times had I said to myself, my friends, that I would love to take up photography. Once I read this particular note, I couldn't just keep saying it. Well, I guess I could but I was already having that experience. My whole purpose for reading this book was to UNLEASH HER! I had a camera, all that was left to do was point and shoot. So I did. And I continue to.

These are simply photos of me actively paying attention. I'm fortunate to live near the ocean and when there's low tide, beautiful ecosystems are unveiled, as in the first photograph. The second, is of a wonderful friend sitting in a spectacular garden. What could make a better combination?

It's a great feeling, in addition to an amazing sense of accomplishment to look around my home and know that my walls and shelves are filled with what I see happening around me everyday. I never go anywhere without my camera. I think what comes out is pretty cool. It doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks because it's for me. It's my therapy, my learning, my path.

What do you keep telling yourself you'd like to experience?