one, two, three.

last night I attended a dharma study about returning to the elementary, the simple, and the neccesary - as opposed to the preferential.

how do you all "get back to the basics"?

just something to think about, as we move into this holiday : )

take up a blade of grass and use it as a golden Buddha 16 feet high.

the practice of Zen as a non-intellectual way of life.

Buddhist teaching & meditation practice is seeping into my everyday & my now. This only happened when I stopped reading and started acting… specifically, when I began daily meditation.

Things about Zen Buddhism (as opposed to other branches) I try and hold close:

Everything there is implies everything else. And all those other things… in turn imply each individual object…. (rough sketch: mutual interdependence).

And your life, however short, everything depends on it. If that did not happen, nothing would happen. In this sense, the whole world bears your signature. It would not be the same world… if it weren’t for you (Allan Watts).

A world where there is a you implies there is a me. And a world with a me means a world with a you. You cannot separate me from you or you from me, just as you can’t separate my hands from my feet (me, my understanding).

Zen mentality represented simply:

Student: mountains and hills… are they not all forms of the body of Buddha?

Zen master: yes they are. But it’s a pity to say so.

... which shuts this bird up. Happy Friday to you all!

written for omy!!! oobiedoobieboo.

belated wednesday & thursday,

two sick days : (

caught the california flu which always ALWAYS seems to be circulating this state.

although I am still grateful to live where I do, and not only because I walk around in a postcard, but because my neighbor is a beautiful lady who likes to babysit (dogsit) my baby (dog) while I run errands : )

tick tock tick tock tick...

tock. working overtime. feeling? all of the above.

both images from jennifer daniel's witty, ironic portfolio.

today I would rather...

... be at home reading about Paul Rand & Alvin Lustig.

weekend

weekend
Originally uploaded by robinannmcintosh

today I feel supported.

have a wonderful, relaxing weekend!

indignant.

Herb Lubalin.

How was Herb Lubalin so consistently awesome?!

Today I feel indignant. Like I want to sucker punch all persons in positions of authority.

guilt: the gift that keeps on giving.

While I work my eight to ten hour days, poor Sampson sits in his "house" - aka his bag, alone.

Is it true that dogs don't possess a sense of time passed?

Mum constantly comforts me with this absolving pearl. Personally, I think it smacks of suburban myth.

Any dog lovers, dog knowers, dog experts out there willing to set the record straight?

examination.

hi hi hi : )

Over the past few months I have realized a “back to the basics” strategy is necessary if Little Bird is to survive. I am therefore returning to my blogging roots.... once again I will commit to month long projects – re the days of “ones I love” & “kind acts.”

Organization & structure. Only within predefined limits & constraints does my creativity flourish.

Every day for the rest of November I will post an image - be it mine, an artist’s, another blogger’s… graphic design, photography, painting, whatever. The image will reflect the day I’ve had….

Prepare yourselves for skulls, skeletons, and time clocks.

It’s so very good to be back : ) Off to read what ya’ll have been up to…

October 2008

October 2008
Originally uploaded by robinannmcintosh

weekend.

Augusten Burroughs, "Dry"

Sobriety:

All of a sudden, I feel like an emotional paraplegic. I feel that all of my gains and insights are based on control and denial. I'm worried that I'm so profoundly sick as to appear healthy and together.

Like cubic zirconium, I only look real. I'm an impostor. The fact is, I am not like other people.

Do you have friends like this? I do. I love it/hate it because it 's awesome/sucks. You get me?

The reason I know what we are to each other is because we fight freely and almost constantly, about even the smallest thing. In fact, once we didn't speak for an entire week because he didn't like the way I loaded his dishwasher...I can't decide if we're exact opposites, or somehow exactly the same except for minor cosmetic differences. I do know that all of his friends hate me and all of my friends hate him. We drive each other crazy in ways that nobody else can even touch. We never bore each other. And we both realize what a rare thing this is.