Hootenanny of Impending Doom and Stephanie's Birthday

Sunday, November 29, 2015 at Brasserie Beaubien was a hootenany, a musical social event, where one is invited to sing along, to perform at to have a drink. Thanks to the effort of Randy and Dana, a second season of hootenany is really happening, a cheerful way to meet the winter and to sing off those blues.

Moronovian Romance

The Moronovian Encyclopedia of Romance contains a long chapter on breakup. Sometimes during breakup a character's vanity is wounded, or the person feels heart break and rejection. Sometimes the change was long overdue. Maybe both partners were getting on each others nerves, but stayed together out of habit, or because breaking up was too much hassle. Eventually, something happens to act as a catalyst. Maybe one person becomes jealous and increasingly tries to control the other until things intensify to breaking point.

an expression of the infinite

Dr. Jane Wormsly told Lohbado that she identified with infinite nature. Lohbado thought of their last conversation about the importance of having a sense of humour and how painful it is to deal with someone with a big ego. There's nothing worse than an angry person acting on wounded vanity and insisting on revenge. It's so tiresome. It would be so easy to let go, relax, be friendly.

a glass of brandy

Sometimes a glass of brandy works like magic. The stress and worry of the day dissolved. Recurring thoughts, images playing over and over again, regrets about minor gaffs, uncertainties, the first sip of brandy burned a hole through the hypnotic bubble of mental turmoil. Waves of relaxation washed through his mind as Lohbado slowly enjoyed the rose-gold beverage.

Granny in the nursing home

The above cartoon is in response to a recent article in New York Times about force feeding of certain elderly people. Tube feeding is used as a cost cutting measure. It's cheaper than hiring someone to spoon feed the elderly person, like in the old days. Lohbado, as a high school student had a part time job back in the early 1970ies, working at a nursing home as an aide. He used to spoon feed elderly people who had lost the ability to feed themselves. It's hard to believe that tubes are now being shoved up the nose and down the throat, a painful, cruel procedure.

street art

Lohbado did a lot of art while out and about. All it takes is a camera, pen and sketchbook. This is a workable solution if you're on a tight budget and find it oppressive in your damp, crowded basement apartment. With age, Lohbado required more energy to get things done. He no longer had the stamina to approach people and take their picture. Instead, he could sketch people and record some of the things he heard.

Plateau Montreal Images

Walking up Rue Saint Laurent in Montreal, just about everywhere you look there's something interesting to see.

Montreal murals

While riding up Saint-Laurent, Lohbado paused to take photos of murals along the way. It's getting a bit cold to be out snapping away. He could easily have spent an hour there, enjoying the visual richness of the scene. Lohbado planned to go back in warmer weather to enjoy the scene in greater detail. The murals are from the Montreal mural festival. For now, he was content to take pictures, not to mention, being attentive to motorists. After being hit by a car last week, Lohbado no longer trusted motorists. A moment of distraction, or for whatever cause, a motorist could kill or seriously maim someone on a bike. Anyway, it was nice to be out riding and to discover so many interesting sights and sounds.

boring pictures

Boring pictures require some skill. There are various levels of boring pictures. There’s the sloppy composition, unfocused, overexposed highlights, underexposed shadows. On a higher level, boring pictures take on a certain style. Boring picture style could involve taking well thought out compositions, in focus with adequate exposure. There’s something restful about plain shapes, clear competent images without drama. Photography as discipline involves taking many photos that one knows won’t be masterpieces. Abandon ideas of fruition or applause. Take pictures and don’t think too much, other than about what relates to the task. Critical chatter could be a hindrance. It’s useless to ask: is this going to be a good photo or a boring photo? Is this fascinating or dull? The Lohbado approach is about process. The process of taking photos increases one’s visual awareness and enjoyment.

Santa Claus Parade

It's time to give serious thought to Christmas shopping. That's what Lohbado learned when he stumbled upon the Santa Claus Parade on Saint-Catherine in Montreal. He arrived just as it was starting. The endless prelude of publicity vehicles inspired Lohbado to leave. He headed elsewhere to take photos. He could have stayed and taken predictable parade photos. Maybe next year. But then, there's no real need, since thousands of cameras, especially cell phone cameras, were recording every second.

origin of moronovian universe

Absolute origin is an impossibility, although one could speak of relative beginning, as in beginning of the video or beginning of a new year. The impossibility of origin implies existence of the infinite, as in infinite regress. 
The nature shots are from Kangirsuk, Nunavik from a few years ago. I didn't get the name of the French folk singer. It's a recording from a house party in Kangirsuk, about 2006.

now what do we do?

manekin

Aaahhh! ... now what do we do? Lohbado dreamed of going far away to gaze out the window at greenery and unpolluted sky. Of course, even if you were able to get away, to barricade yourself in a room on the second story of a farm house, thoughts would still occur, momentum of the mind. There's no escaping it. Better relax, lighten up a bit, go for a walk, eat a plate of spaghetti. Don't take yourself so seriously.

bike accident

Lohbado got hit by a car. The motorist didn’t see Lohbado riding down the bike trail. The driver decided to turn right. The driver cut across the bike path and smashed into the rear wheel of Lohbado’s bike. Lohbado flew in one direction, the bike flew in another. Lohbado was fine, a bit bruised, but ok. The rear wheel of the bike was warped and the carrier frame bent. He had to struggle home, a half hour walk, with a damaged bike. The bike should be ready to ride on Thursday. It’s a question of adjusting the spokes with a spoke wrench, a time-consuming process requiring plenty of patience. Meanwhile, walking is the way to stay in shape.

inner discussion

Mind tied up in knots, unfocused, drowsy, Lohbado realized he'd been lost in thought. He put on his coat and went out for a walk.

Engagement Party at the Irish Embassy Bar and Grill Montreal

infinite dream

Shock waves spread throughout the planet due to events which are hard to understand.

dream world

Even if the world is upside down, a person's gotta keep going. Life is definitely not a bowl of cherries, but there's no choice but to keep going...  might as well smile and enjoy the moment. Lower consciousness beings dissolve into hell. Those who are confident and strong can be kind, friendly and reasonable. Victory belongs to those who know how to love one another.

moronovian meditation

Lohbado Bardo

According to instructions from the Chief Nomroh, Lohbado must not be afraid to interact with people in the dreaming universe under the infinite sky. Sometimes it's scary out in the jungle of the world. Lohbado felt torn with physical and psychological hunger, the urge to acquire more, to consume and then the need to void, release, let go and clean up. Sometimes the process could be quite tiresome. Sometimes it makes sense to sit quietly for a while.