Halloween Hootenany Brasserie Beaubien Montreal

Another foot stomping get up and dance around or enjoy conversation and good vibes, it all happened last night at the Halloween Hootenany, Brasserie Beaubien, Montreal. more pictures after the jump

Morpheus

click on picture to see video. While crossing the Plains of Radiation after the Apocalyptic War Lohbado encountered Morpheus at a stream. The strange man animated with a torrent of loud talk invited Lohbado to spend the night at a stone farm house, where he could enter the temple of dream.

nobody has it easy

digital painting by Lohbado

Nobody has it easy. It's good to remind oneself of this from time to time, especially when one is inclined to envy others, or is about to spread nasty gossip. On the bright side, without challenges, a person could become superficial, self-satisfied, arrogant or callous. Suffering forces a person to stop and examine the situation. One could begin to have empathy as one realizes nobody has it easy. Everyone wants to be happy and yet experiences a lot of pain and suffering.

do the best you can

digital painting by Lohbado

In the middle of a gathering on the Plains of Radiation, the Chief Nomroh appeared and taught a new song called do the best you can.

in the middle of the moment

click on picture to see video. A moment of food and drink, song and dance, friendly interaction at the Moronovian Tabernacle, a chorus performed a piece from Lumpkins Oratorio called Do the Best you Can. A Chief Nomroh in training discussed the importance of anger management.

the danger of baby talk

Click on picture to see video. Baby talk is a rhetorical device of oversimplification. It simplifies reality into good versus bad, us versus them. Bad tends to be anything that differs or disagree. Good is the way of life of myself and my friends.

late afternoon Lachine Canal

Autumn is really happening, just like it does every year. Eventually it will be winter, then spring and summer again.

bicycle snack

click on picture to see video. Lohbado bolted a milk crate on a bike carrier above the back wheel of his bicycle and carried things in tote bags to maximize carrying capacity while riding about Montreal. A friend riveted a wooden fence on three sides of the milk crate, which is handy for carrying an extra jacket or whatever is necessary. On a typical bike ride, Lohbado brought a snack, a few bottles of water, a few books to read, plus camera, small tripod and field recorder.  As Lohbado got old and ran out of steam, he learned to ride slowly and take plenty of rests.

made out of brick

Rue Saint Patrick Montreal

Warm red brick walls brought back memories of Lohbado's grandmother who lived in the boreal town of Roaring Water. At about the age of six, Lohbado, then known as Peter Stumps. was playing outside a back window when for a few seconds, the brick wall came to life. It became animated and pressed into his body. It became fluid, like a blanket ready to wrap itself around him. He shivered a moment as the dreamlike sensation passed through him. He knew it was more than a brick wall, but couldn't say what. Things were more than things; but he had no idea what that meant, other than a sensation of dreamlike transparency.

relaxing afternoon along Lachine Canal Montreal

reflections on the water in the canal

One of the nice things about riding in Montreal is the wealth of appearances. Various forms pop out from the visual field.  Lohbado often stopped to contemplate or enjoy the visual richness. Worry and anxiety melted away as he enjoyed an autumn afternoon along the canal.

water under the bridge

As Lohbado paused to take more photos during a bike ride along Lachine Canal in Montreal, he thought of the ending of Pier Pasolo Pasolini's Mama Roma. After a mother and her son fail at becoming part of the mainstream, tragedy happens. An observer exclaims something which sounded like "l'acqua qui passa..." or water under the bridge. It's an unintentionally ironic and cruel comment of a man in response to a mother crying out in despair at discovering her son is dead. The mother's cry and the banal comment had a profound effect, like a tragic cry at the end of a Puccini opera as one arrives a few seconds too late at the scene of tragic death. The movie is about the attempt of people born into oppressive poverty and criminality to improve their situation in order to live as good citizens. The forces that keep them oppressed prove too powerful. The boy dies in detention, in the posture of Mantegna's crucified Christ.

Wednesday evening by Lachine Canal Montreal

It's fun to ride along the Lachine Canal in the evening. Lots of people out walking their dogs, jogging, bicycling or relaxing under a clear sky in autumn, Lohbado stopped along the way to take a few pictures.

friendly evening

Thanksgiving weekend is a great time to relax and visit friends.

evening Montreal

Lohbado stopped near Peel Basin to take photos of old industrial buildings and Farine Five Roses just before sunset.

evening in the old port of Montreal

Lohbado rode to the clock tower in old Montreal facing the Jacques Cartier Bridge and enjoyed the bright colours of a sunny evening. October is a great time to visit the old port, since in autumn it's not so crowded.

to forgive

click on picture to see video. To reduce aggression and confusion, first admit nobody is perfect, then forgive oneself and forgive others. Learn to respect and be kind to oneself, then it will be easier to respect and be friendly with others.

view from Jacques Cartier Bridge Montreal

Lohbado rode over Jacques Cartier Bridge the other day and took a few pictures. The path is pretty narrow, so Lohbado hugged the rail to not block the passageway. The view is spectacular.

viaduct in autumn

Lohbado took a few photos of a viaduct while riding the Lachine Canal in Montreal just before sunset. The huge cement forms appeared monumental in the soft golden light. A falcon was nesting at the top of one of the pillars.