Love for Landscapes

View of the Pacific Ocean from the Getty Villa in Malibu

When I started this blog, I was taking photos of buildings or art works or landscapes merely to provide an interesting view to go alongside my writing. My view of photography was that it was simply an accompaniment, a decoration. Moreover, I see myself more as a writer than as a photographer.

Fifteen months later, I've taken thousands of photos. And I'm starting to really get into it. I'm no longer looking for images that will complement, but, rather, images that will command. Now, I've got a whole lot to learn about taking pictures before I can call myself a "photographer" but I feel like I'm on the right path, perceiving the pictorial potentialities in my environment.

I figured that I would share a few landscape photos that I've taken over the past month. Yeah, they're not fine art, but I'm fond of them. ;-)

Afternoon view of Los Angeles county from Rocketship Park in Torrance

I'm looking forward to developing my technique. In a world so rich with beautiful and interesting sights, it seems a shame to let such images pass by unrecorded, left to fade away in the viewer's memory. Hopefully, I can capture some of these lovely visions, saving them here at Paideia to be appreciated by all those random "web surfers" that find their way to this humble blog.

Needs a Hit of Something Strong

Powerpuff Girls: Bubbles punches Fuzzy Lumpkins

Wow!!! I've been busy, but the past few days have brought with them a total energy crash. At first, I thought it was just the consequence of getting some exercise back into my daily routine. But I think there's something going unwell with my health.

I've had low-grade headaches for the past week. I'm constantly tired. My joints hurt, especially my elbows. Consequently, I've been in a sour mood, very irritable. Certainly, I try to keep a friendly demeanor, but recently it's been slipping a whole lot.

As regards blogging, I'm embarrassed by the lack of new material here at Paideia. I keep on hoping to visit some art galleries or celebrate some notable birth date. It's not like there hasn't been a whole lot of interesting things about which to write. I just haven't had the energy.

A detail of Bill Willingham's cover illustration for The Secret of Bone Hill (1981)

Oh well, maybe next week, after the Memorial Day Weekend, when I'm rested and recovered, or so I hope. ;-)

In the Bleak Midwinter

Christmas Tree ornaments, bulb and lights.

Regular readers of Paideia may have noticed that I've been dealing with a persistent illness for over a month now. It's not something that I've discussed at length here, but I've mentioned it in passing during the Weekly Wraps or when explaining why I didn't stick around longer at an art venue or show. Yet, this illness has made its presence felt by dramatically reducing my writing productivity, as I am constantly feeling fatigued, enervated, and generally debilitated.

This illness has also crashed the blog by keeping me from going out to events about which I would then write. I have missed out on dozens of interesting art show openings in the last month. I haven't even been to Bergamot Station since late October!!! And my Pacific Standard Time explorations have ground to a crawl, although I do hope to have a PST post sometime in the next few days.

Well, why am I going all "drama queen" and writing about my illness today? There are two reasons. First, I want to get this out in the open to explain why I'm not covering the Los Angeles art scene as diligently as I had previously done. Second, I wanted to alert you all to the fact that I might have to reduce my productivity even further, due to extremely overt signs that something is very bad with my health. I hope to get checked up today and, hopefully, given some medication that will fix me up good and fast.

Christmas Tree ornaments, rocking horse and lights.


There are too many exciting and engaging events to miss out on because of some nagging, hacking malaise. ;-)

Flows On In an Endless Song

Image from the video of Enya's Caribbean Blue (1991)


Twenty years ago, Enya's Shepherd Moons album was released. I wasn't familiar with Celtic "New Age" style music, but I immediately became a fan, enchanted by the ethereal beauty of Enya's voice.

My compact disc collection started to swell with Irish music. I'd listen for radio programs that would feature it, such as NPR's "The Thistle & Shamrock" or KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic." This passion for Celtic music soon drifted into an enthusiasm for World Music in general. My musical horizons broadened at a rapid pace.

But at the root of my growing appreciation for exotic sounds was a love for the female voice, a romantic infatuation with sweet lyricism and dreamy melodies. When I imagine the voice of my Muse, she sings like Enya.

Shepherd Moons by Enya was released on November 4, 1991

Let's listen to some music.