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Whatchall’ bin doin?

March 2nd 2008 04:05
Nothing? Me too. I recently found myself divorced from society’s core infrastructure, the life blood of modern life, the utility network, aka the grid. I began this latest burst of doing nothing by turning off the TV, the phone and the internet. Which was pointless, but so was this whole unholy exercise in futility. Kinda like shoveling snow; it never seems to end and generally will leave when its ready anyway. But a month without internet bytes will nip you where you live; so I've learned.


All of this started off innocently enough; first there was a manifestation of temporary insanity or foolishness (dependant upon the story teller’s point of view), the unintended result of someone’s PTSD induced memory lapse(s), I forgot to pay those bills (for a bit, . . . ok, a couple of months) and they retaliated by withholding service. Cretans! I was faced with the end of the world as I had grown fond of experiencing it. This was serious stuff.


But, to my amazement, the stars and moon still returned to the night sky on a regular basis as did the sun and mornings. Breakfast wasn’t withheld, and I was allowed outdoors on a regular basis to scratch where it itched and to sip my coffee in peace. Albeit without the comforting arms of a woman who’d just lost her shopping network thanks to her husbands’ faux pas, I may as well have pee’d in her purse.



Without the television and internet monsters gobbling up every precious nanosecond of time, I found moments of lucidity and freedom to complete three paintings on canvas with acrylics; without the phone my nerves have settled down and stress went out on holiday. And, when her nerves were settled down a bit, I was the happy beneficiary of 'the look’ from the missus on several auspicious and memorable occasions.

So, I relented and made up with the @#$!~ . . . utility company's, who in turn reconnected me to the grid, after my check had cleared (of course) and all is well for now.

Want to see the paintings? Eh? Oh, right, . . . you saw them already.




Raven, I'm always glad to see you all.

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Posted By: tlcorbin - Category: General Stuff
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19 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by katyzzz

March 2nd 2008 04:30


Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Brilliant work, I love it. Lighthouse looks a little unsteady tho, don't know if I would trust it in a storm. Nice to hear you got lucky, not nice to hear about the pea, (spelling changed so I did not make the same error), I guess crude is crude wherever you go, but the pictures are a big plus over your usual ones. I've been waiting for you to re-emerge, always miss you even if I do have to regularly divert the eyes, and, of course you've missed all my brilliant posts, worth heaps of cents, how on earth did you manage for a month without those priceless jewels.

Sunday here so folks are a little sleepy, and I'm off to get on with my book, I just pop on here occasionally for a diversion.

katyzzz, Rave's

Comment by James Rickard

March 2nd 2008 04:46


unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
I wondered what was going on! I didn't know you painted. Nice work!

I don't know about those utility companies! ESPECIALLY cable and ISP. Now TV is going digital and the old TV's won't be able to get signal from the air!

Comment by Michaelie

March 2nd 2008 05:32


Flick Wit
I'm glad you are back Raven! I love the lighthouse.

Maybe I could learn a thing or two by letting all my telecommunications devices go... But then I would probably get fired so best not. Nice in theory though.

You obviously put your time of 'disconnection' (in whatever sense applies) to good use though, with your beautiful work.

Michaelie

Comment by Tracy

March 2nd 2008 05:59


Movies and Life
Hi Raven

It's good to see you, I was wondering where you were. It looks like your telecommunication-free time has been used well. Your pictures are beautiful especially the last one.

I could definitely live without my home phone, but I would miss my mobile for texts and the internet, well, that would be a tough one. But it does give the opportunity to look around and see what's happening in the world and stars. Each time I take Fergal for a walk, I am refreshed by the simple beauty of a park and nature.

I can relate to the PTSD symptons, I also have it and have forgotten to pay bills and things like that. It can be quite distressing to miss chunks of life. And then other times I console myself by thinking that it couldn't have been that exciting if I can't remember it!!

Good to see you and looking forward to many more good reads and chats,

Tracy

Comment by Lilla

March 2nd 2008 06:20


From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Hello Great Messenger ...it is good to hear your caws again, I was just thinking of you yesterday, hopeing all was well...

It seems that you have withstood the long hard drought and the frosty moon, whilst stemming the tide as well as the lighthouse in your excellent (AWESOME) painting. They are all amazing and again confirm to me that the orble 'grid' is filled with much talent... but the Lighthouse particularly appeals and I just think it amazing!

I have got me a spanking new laptop, which I have taken into the bedroom and loungeroom, in the hope that being 'out of the office' and ergonomically challanged again, will lead to a more creative experience ... but getting it working, sounds like a similiar trek you have been on yourself, with the utility company ((laughs))

It is lovely to have you back and I look forward to coffee with you again, one morning soon.

Lilla ...


Comment by tlcorbin

March 2nd 2008 07:28
Hello katyzzz, I have missed your wit, charming candor and brilliant posts; hey, wait a minute, what book?? OK, I can take a hint, the crude stuff, I’ll work on it. BTW, thanks for the nice words about my artwork. It made the sabbatical worthwhile. Sometimes I can be such a bonehead, I could have avoided the entire mess, but once it got rolling-it spun out of control. Sigh. Great to make contact with your brilliant light again.

Hello James, good to see you again, so to speak. Those darn grid controllers make me crazy at times, so any time I can retaliate, I do. I never win, but the battle can be a great diversion, although overdone in this particular case. Sigh. I am glad that you like my paintings. Thanks.

Hi Michaelie, I am glad to be back. I’ll try to resist the temptation to fuss with the grid folks. Actually, it is very cathartic to disconnect on occasion. It has helped me a lot. The time spent with my art was great, the time with my wife, priceless! Thank you for the kind words about my art.

Hi Tracy, I needed a sabbatical-planned or not, it gave me some much needed soul rest. PTSD is a very demanding task master, as you well know. It bites me in the butt every once in a while; I have learned to deal with it, if not live with it in an unholy alliance. I am glad you like my artwork; it felt good to work at it again. Amazing, the amount of free time that came with the grid disconnect. The hardest thing to do without was the internet quite frankly. It has been my primary source of communication, research and news source for longer than I care to admit. Weird how it crept up on me like it did. I am looking forward to interacting with you as well my friend.

Hello Lilla, it’s good to knows that my caws is of a concern to more than myself. I am glad to be online again, it’s difficult to express with mere words. The Orble family does contain some awesome talent; I found myself marveling about that fact many times and am grateful to be a member of such a talent pool. Ha, you tuned in to my visual message with the order of the images, clever lady. The image of the lighthouse was secondary to me; I was captivated by explosive wave.

A new laptop, eh! I’m jealous, but happy for you. However, I’ll pass on dealing with the utility folks, we’re genetically inclined to hate each other . . . the wankers. I’m delighted to be back so to speak.

Thank you all for commenting, I’ll catch up with all of your work ASAP, I missed your work as well.

Raven

Comment by Damo

March 2nd 2008 08:17
cool pictures.
Looks as if the internet is the killer of creativity.

Comment by Ash

March 2nd 2008 09:51


Flashes of memories
Hi Raven

Welcome back to the land of the living... or have you just returned from there to the land of the zombies???

Good to see you again - I see you have been feeling rather inspired??? WOW! Why are you blogging when you have a talent like that?

Hopefully things have settled to a dull roar around your place now

Ash x

Comment by tlcorbin

March 2nd 2008 13:41
Hello Damo, thank you for the compliment; I wish that you all could see the pieces properly-they’re rather entertaining. The lack of time management is the killer of creativity is my guess; foregoing four hours of daily television time helps creativity a lot. Odd that.

Hi Ash, it’s more a little of both actually. I’ve decided to withdraw from the arena of jousting with utility company windmills and stick to verbalizing my tall tales of high adventure and occasional woes.

Why choose to blog over painting? It’s the age old problem of misspent youth and time; blogging pays better and I don’t really want to murder some critic for sour remarks. Actually, I am going to complete more paintings and then convert some to prints for sale. It’s just taking time.

Dull roars are boring, this last uproar was rather invigorating. Sigh, it’s a guy thing.

Glad to hear from all of you.

Raven

Comment by Cibbuano

March 2nd 2008 23:51


Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
it's a brilliant feeling cutting yourself off from the grid...

Comment by Louie

March 3rd 2008 04:16


Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
awesome paintings..

being off the grid sounds like a good plan

Comment by JohnDoe

March 3rd 2008 04:53


Film & TV on DVD
Welcome back raven,

I will join the chorus with support for your visual artistry...good to see you return

Comment by Lara M

March 3rd 2008 04:53


Love Speaks
Food Slate
Must've been liberating, Raven. I could do without all those devices, but would so struggle without the Internet...

What talent! Like 'em all especially the lighthouse.

Comment by tlcorbin

March 3rd 2008 05:30
Hello Cibbuano, it’s something we all should do on occasion . . . but perhaps not take it to the extreme like I did.

Hi Louie, thank you for the compliment; for brief periods living off grid has its benefits. Disconnecting, a great way to reconsider the priorities in your life!

Hello JohnDoe, thank you for your kind words, it is good to be back. Truthfully, I missed the Orble community.

Hiya LaraM, it was liberating and indeed, doing without the internet was the toughest part of the experience. Actually, the painting you refer to as the ‘Lighthouse’ is the wave to me. The structure just show cases the power of that explosive wave.

Wow, thank you all for visiting and for your encouraging words. I will be visiting all of you.

Raven

Comment by What's Your Story?

March 4th 2008 02:54


What's Your Story?
Big Day Plunge
Those paintings are awesome! So that's where you channel your creative energy during your hiatus. Welcome back Raven! Missed your wit in here!

Comment by tlcorbin

March 4th 2008 04:08
Hello WYS, thank you for the compliment, I haven't been painting regularly for a bit and since I teach art classes every other Saturday during the winter, it seemed appropriate to use the techniques I've been teaching in a few paintings. It also helps maintain their faith in my abilities. I have missed the Orble community in a huge way. Some members more than others....hahaha. Great to see you! Raven

Comment by sandeye

March 4th 2008 04:17


Bird Story
San Francisco Music News
Yoga Tap
Life without TV and phone would be fine..... but no internet? OWWWWWWWWWWW!
(By the way, I like the third painting best!)

Comment by tlcorbin

March 4th 2008 05:24
Hey sandeye, I feel the same way about the internet! The wave is what grabbed me about that painting. The nuances of the other paintings is lost in the digital photos. Raven

Comment by Kleonaptra

March 18th 2008 02:09


Kalikapsychosis
Oh WOW!
I seem to be saying that a lot lately, but wow! Those paintings are INSPIRED Raven! Im so honoured you shared....

Its such a shame that tiny memory lapses can result in such disastrous consequences.

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