Getting to know a bit more about Tom Robbins

Photo by occerid taken in La Conner. The writing in not by Robbins I believe. I am more interested here by the writing on a wall that makes it looks more like a school exercise book than a wall.

I was looking for some other book covers there might be of Jitterbug Perfume, by Tom Robbins. I came across more than I expected and ther I stumbled upon an article on Tom Robbins that I found interesting. At the end I learned he's been living in an outpost of some sort from Seattle for almost two decades, La Conner.

Then for some reason I ended up @ wikepedia which has an entry for La Conner. I decided I wanted to see some pics of that place. And then there was this interview in the Seattle Weekly, dating back to May 2000. It lead me to read his acceptance speech for the Golden Umbrella Award which made me laughed out loud many times.

Funny, I think I heard Tom Robbins on KRAB, Seattle alternative radio, back in 1979. I used to listen to KRAB via cable in Vancouver. But at the time I didn't know a thing about the guy. Knowing that he is in his 7oth year makes him the more interesting to me. I like people growing old and staying authentic to a vision of the world that is hard to keep up with if you're not thouroughly convinced.

Finding treasures on flickr™

Too cool.
Originally uploaded by phoenixdoula.

We can say that I've been full time on the internet for the last ten years. Should I be ashamed of this? Not if one considers that since my early teens it's been a wish of mine to see this medium taking hold during my lifetime. So I feel pretty comfortable in admitting that I enjoy myself to a point.

I have my periods. I mean it in the sense, I could live without the web, the computers and all that jazz and that I wouldn't mind. Yet, lately, I've decided to invest much more time than in the last year or so and maybe with a different perspective than ever before. The reason of this newly found interest is flickr™. It grows on me.

I find this community of people quite inspiring and quite wildly positive in its day to day labour. For flickr™ is that site where everyone can upload photos. And quite frankly I am at awe in front of some of those photos. I have spent hours lately looking at the way people look at the world, at their world. It is fascinating. In the last days, I've ventured into people's work through their "Explore" button, which allows us to see some pics of the last 7 days and other options.

I am glad I did. It is though that area I made astonishing discoveries, that led me to write lots of comments and add many pictures in my set of Favorites which on can see on my Flickr page. There have also been a certain number of people who've seen my pictures, who've made comments and who've used mine as their favorites. This makes for a dynamic community. It encourages one to delve into one's creative sides... and it make you humble.

P.S. There is a danger though beneath the whole concept of flickr™ and other sites of the like. Excellence and perfection could become ordinary and dull.

Working day up the ladder

Lampdoors
Originally uploaded by Moine Boudeur.

It's great working for someone who's able to not only appreciate someone else's work but also show trust and gentleness. I rarely get coffee from any boss when I worked, even less often with irish cream poured in it just before handing the cup! This 85 years old man is able to gauge my thinking and shares a lot with me. So painting for him is more like fun than work.

Father of six kids my age, having worked hard all his life he knows the person he's got in front of him is of good stock. So we praise each other, which is fun. That gives me good energy for a change from someone, instead of bad vibes I am trying to stay away from lately.

Fortunately, I am rather able to cope with anything because of my background and my continuous serenity. In fact, this must play in my favour, for I have been told at least one other time this summer that I am being treated in a special way­... by another man.

What can I say? Only that I naturally emit good vibes. I am only believing in a minimum of justice towards others and oneself. This justice is only fairness. Even If I say I am no nonsense, I can listen to any nonsense and be sensitive enough to make sense out of it or add my little grain of salt in the midst without bursting but with diplomacy. After all, I had two years in diplomatic circles... And to me to go from diplomacy to painting roofs has not been a fall off the ladder since I have to go up to do it!

Scotstown upon Salmon

Scotstown upon Salmon
Originally uploaded by Moine Boudeur.

Some days I must admit I make my life a bit hard. Yet considering my options for the time being, I guess I can live with the situation for another while. Not having to work full time to make ends meet is in itself a luxury these days. It was my wish after all to have as much time for myself as feasible, for I don't built-up energy from nothing and as other people if I had to work 40 hours a week I would probably crashed in the sofa and watch TV, though it's only in my wildest nigthmares I would do that. There are still enough options out there not to end up a coach potatoe.

This morning I finished up painting at the garage and after dinner started the house. In between I saw Maude who really wish I come to put down walls and so many more things in her new house. I am not too enthusiastic about going to work in N D des Bois. I left that village last summer and went back too often since for work or for this or that. And I am not too sure I wish to undertake a whole house renovation. It will never end. Especially since I have to redo my own little place in the bush before winter hits us on the chin like last fall.

I want to read... I want to write. Incidentally, I took out quite many books out of the library about a month ago and end up having time to only read one. Mind you, the one I am reading gives me much pleasure. It's a novel by Tom Robbins, recommended by someone on Flickr^™: Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas. I must say I am delighted.

Oh! It's the eleven of that month today. Hmmm... I guess I am interested only by some aspects of that date. I think it would be interesting to know what people were doing that day, because most people remember exactly what they were doing. It's one of the rarest day when most people remember what they were doing precisely. It could be a sort of documentary except that there has to be some good script to hold it together, though I would not want to hear a word about WTC. (I don't even want to hear, read, see the infamous 3 digits. It makes me sick.) There would have to be some converging moment. I don't know. Something like "that day, people did their usual stuff and yet they didn't." And that could also be the title: That Day.

The old couple I work for seems happy to see me do the paint job as well as some other chores. They're great. He insisted on me taking a break and having a yogurt and two homemade blueberry muffins. He gave a little box of blueberries and yogurt to bring home. We get along well. It's rare I don't get along with people, except those with whom I don't get along with!!! I am a no nonsense guy. And I don't shut up and endure. I like discussing what and I am doing with the people I am working for. Usually we agree on things because I am really not asking for much. I am low-key. I do the job efficiently. Once I am pretty sure I know what's asked, they can go to Florida if they wish so and be sure it's gonna be done as they wish without worrying about it or theft, damage or anything.
That is why I guess I am not going back in the so-called labour market. Been there, done that. I've been through quite a bit of insanities. It is now beyond my scope or perhaps below.

Natural fern fence (detail)

Natural fern fence (detail)
Originally uploaded by Moine Boudeur.

I left my hotel room not quite early this morning. I was wearing a red long sleeve Tommy Jeans shirt but I had to remove it, for the temperature allowed me to ride my bike only with bermudas and a camisole on. When I came back tonight I had a scarf and a coat on! The temperature dropped dramatically in the afternoon making the trip back coldish.

I put the heat on at my cabin in the bush so the cats wouldn't be cold... I was going to La Patrie to paint the little office of a garage. I previously washed it out a couple of days ago, for after more than ten years the walls were kinda dirty. One can imagine they would be in a house, the situation being ever more dramatic in a garage where oil, gas fumes, paint add up to whatever dust there is. The soapy water quickly turned black in its little container and a 5-gallon bucket of pure water also turned black during the rinsing stage. I really had to work hard convincing the owner he had to put some colours in that little room, which had years ago been painted pale yellow to beige. After a couple of days of arm twisting he finally gave in and came with a royal blue and a pale greenish beige. It does wonder now. People who have seen the result are quite astonished! I shall take a picture shortly.
On top of being satisfied with all the work I put in there, he gave my name to an 85 year old man who was looking for someone to paint his house, mainly the roof made of shingles, rough stuff to paint. So I went to visit the man who at that venerable age is in such a good shape I hope that I would be so good looking when I get there! If ever... At any rate, I was told he was doing the work himself, climbing a ladder to the roof. I told him, I would do it, would that be only so he would not climb that ladder of his, considering his venerable age. The work will be quite long since I have to paint the whole wooden roof and the walls. But it's going to be rather fun and easy even more so that he and his wife are nice people. I am not working for nasty people anyway...