getting ready for new years eve

Super dooper cold in Montreal, dead of winter, time to think about celebrating New Years Eve. Go to a party. Get the glow on, a fuzzy feeling of friendliness, soft around the edges. Try not to drink too much. Just drink enough to feel real good and leave it at that. Dance, sing, smile, a once in a year ritual.

Lohbado went out in one-eyed pursuit of fantasy. Create an image or scene associated with happiness. Attempt to be happy via reviving a set-up one vaguely remembers from a time when one felt good. The moment, when associated with an image, could be turned into a fetish or ritual. Lohbado had a collection of glasses and cups to contain various liquids. The fetish of an old wine glass filled with red wine, sometimes anticipation is more exciting than the satiation.

Lohbado had a sore throat and aching joints, so drank in moderation. When sick, the alcohol could feel like poison; or if you drink enough, maybe it might blot out some of the pain. But then the consequences are even more painful.

Recognize image and ritual as part of a little game of cheering up during the darkness and cold of winter. Enjoy the little scenarios and gadgets of illusion. Do it and see what happens. Hopefully it doesn't hurt too much. Maybe one might have a little fun.

Lohbado the clown along the freeway service road

Lohbado watched snow coming down as he walked along the Decairie Service Road in Montreal.

ready for holiday festivity

Lohbado awoke from strange dreams of being on the tundra, with a dog, which discovered a caribou head. The dog in caribou heaven, Lohbado felt small on the euphoric vastness of the arctic wilderness. The he realized he would have to put on a clean shirt and trousers, pick up a few presents and prepare for winter festivities.

peach pudding

Lohbado woke in a stupor and couldn't remember who he was for a few minutes. A lot of memories swirled around in his mind, along with various images of the countryside, eating dill pickles or peach pudding.

give it a try

Lohbado wrote and performed a new song, Give It A Try, at yesterday's hootenanny at Brasserie Beaubien in Montreal. The song is about going into the world of commercial photography, the various opportunities and dealing with emotional ups and downs. A classic way to find out what happens is to give it a try. One could do corporate head shots, boudoir photography, weddings, whatever you like. One could photograph art deco patterns to chase away the blues and to feel real good. When grant writing, a glass of one's favorite wine or a cup of green tea could help. Grant Riting, a 20th century champion applicator, recommends it.

Vision Quest

Lohbado remembered how in the 1970ies vision quests were popular, Don Juan, Walkabout, the Lost Wanderers on the Plains of Radiation. Put on sunglasses and step into a vivid, hypnotic environment. Follow the holy grail or mystical hallucinations. Tune into microcosmos. Go down on your knees in front of an ant hill. Examine bees up close, bee stinger dust.

In the evening, gaze wide-eyed and open-mouthed in wonder at the milky way spilling across the infinite cosmos. Those were the good old days. Later, when Lohbado grew up, he went in quest of the almighty dollar, without much success.

that's for sure

Years ago, when department stores were popular and one could find junk on sale in the bargain basement, Lohbado overheard a man about 60, who found clip on sunglasses on sale, 3 for the price of 1, approach a man about 70. The younger man couldn't find the checkout counter so asked: "Who do yah pay?" The older man said, "You can pay me." The younger man repeated, "I can pay you?"
The other replied, "Yeah yeah yeah yeah."

Whenever Lohbado heard the expression "a frank discussion", blunt, direct, squarely for sure he thought of this incident which mixed with sounds in a dream-like brain dance.

diary of a Push Button Expert

At the DR (Department of Regulation) PBEs (Push Button Experts) translated material data into intellectual concepts congenial to the Minister of Regulation mandate. Take sight, sound, taste, touch and so on. Hit enter on the PBC (Push Button Console). Hit process. The console generates a representation of reality. Lohbado worked nine years for the department before he was laid off using the leverage of technical specifications. They were concerned when he began tuning into frequencies leaking through the cracks and from around the edges.

look at all the beautiful snow

The first major snowfall of the season happened in Montreal. Walking, biking, driving, it was all a bit of a challenge in the snow. The snow was also quite beautiful.

crank radio with Lohbado

Using image, sound and a little animation Lohbado evokes the experience of cheering up, after an episode of feeling down. He bought the crank radio at the Coop Store in Aupaluk, Nunavik, 2005.

what is your name?

From time to time Lohbado paused to contemplate his name. So many changes over the years, he could hardly remember. His birth name was Peter Stumps, son of Reverend Stonehenge Stumps a preacher at the Church of the Living Monument, a breakaway sect founded by his grandfather, ex-lumber baron, Reverend Woodlot Stumps in 1919 after he got back from WW1. Lohbado literally means, in Moronovian dialect, "the one who drools through his beard." Lohbado received this name in a gust of wind while standing on a subway platform as the train arrived. A voice said: "Lohbado". After crossing the Plains of Radiation, Lohbado's salivary glands began producing so much saliva, it kept leaking out of his mouth. He produced enough drool to moisturize a vegetable patch in the desert for a year.

welcome to winter in Montreal

Slow but sure, winter gets going, a few episodes of wet snow, temperature drop, wind, a bit of thaw, more wet snow, at the beginning, Lohbado enjoyed the beautiful snow.

thinking connection

Black Friday, Brown Saturday, Pink Sunday, Green Monday, Blue Tuesday, there could be a colorful celebration for each day of the week. Each day would have a special activity. On Brown Saturday, Lohbado contemplated the nature of thinking.  He thought of thinking as a game of join the dots, notice what fits together according to an intension and what doesn't fit.

Close your eyes. Images, representations or reflections from a world swirl through the mind, along with emotions and memories. One notices some things but is oblivious to others. Most of what is happening is barely perceived and will quickly be forgotten. The mind could speculate and notice the endless network of causes and conditions, how things manifest in space and time, the ephemeral nature of human experience. One is born, matures, has ups and downs, gets old, sick, or has an accident and dies.

One could connect with the bigger picture, or stay enclosed within the restrictive boundaries of one's mental horizon, one's set of personal likes, dislikes or indifference. One could go beyond personality sometimes and celebrate the vibrant richness of the moment. In the vision of infinite nature, one doesn't have to be somebody doing something. Maybe the cosmos is a giant art project. What's beyond is unspeakable, inexpressible, unknowable. By virtue of understanding one's limitations one intuits something vast and profound.

release into music

Years ago during a three day storm in the north west region of the plains Lohbado's pickup truck broke down. He did what you're never supposed to do. He left the vehicle in near whiteout conditions and hiked down a road. Panic made him do it. He couldn't bear the thought of shivering in the truck and waiting to be rescued. He was incredibly lucky to stumble into a farm house, just as he was on the verge of collapse. It surprised him how quickly the cold could sap his vital force. The walk lasted maybe half an hour, but in that half an hour, he reached the verge of death.

blood on the thumbs

Lohbado put bandaids on his thumbs before going for a walk. Due to carelessness, within 24 hours he cut both thumbs on sharp plastic objects.

don't cry over spilled milk

Well, sometimes Lohbado got carried away, talked too much, or too loud or messed things up a bit. What can you do? One is a rational animal. The animal part is driven by insatiable appetite. The rational part says, slow down buddy. Not so fast. Think before you leap. The animal part already made the leap. Ok, you spilled milk. No point crying over it. Clean up the mess. Keep going. Do the best you can.

the mystery of oneself

Sometimes Lohbado paused to contemplate himself and his consciousness, the mystery of onseself. From an inner point of view, one feels like a solid person, in control of the situation. From a more panoramic view, one sees nature as filled with infinite forces. One's very existence was the result of desire; a man and woman had sex. Lohbado didn't suddenly decide to exist. He was born. He had no say in the matter. He didn't choose what adults would teach him, until he got older and could select from a menu of courses in university. Even then, he didn't invent what was there.

confessions of Edgar

Edgar invited Lohbado for coffee and confessed his struggles to overcome demon alcohol. He was a good man when sober. Alcohol made him lose control. When the alcohol took over, Edgar did things he couldn't even remember. He hit rock bottom when he woke up in the drunk tank, his face covered in dried blood. He had no idea who he'd been fighting or what it was all about. That's when Edgar decided to seek help to break the addiction. He told Lohbado, nobody is born wanting to be an alcoholic. It's not a question of making bad decisions. Addiction is an overpowering force, beyond the control of one's will.

November cat

A cat and the rich colors of November just before the snow. Of course, as the old saying goes, each person views the world from a personal perspective, from a point of view. One person's dull day could be another person's bright day. The cat's concerns are likely quite different from the concerns of a dog, bird or mouse.

you can't go wrong with sandwiches

shock of first snow and cold wind

First snow, a shock to the system, where's the winter coat, hat and mitts? Bundle up. Face the ice cold wind. Welcome back to winter.

Shock stopped Lohbado in his tracks. He gazed in a mirror at various finite concepts about himself, various disguises, or facets of a personality which drifted in and out of focus. His existence was sparked over 60 years ago during a moment of passion, a sperm and egg, then 9 months gestation followed by the trauma of birth. His mother took good care of him until he was old enough to stumble into the world and join fellow travellers along the broad highway of existence from birth to death.

Hootenanny Brasserie Beaubien Montreal

Every other Sunday from 4 to 8 pm wonderful music and friendliness can be enjoyed at Brasserie Beaubien in Montreal, on Rue Beaubien near Saint Dominique. It began four years ago as a way to beat the winter blues, to hang out with friends and to play music. more photos after the jump.

autumn dance

On a back porch Malina did an autumn dance within a video frame.

resting gently

During a radio show with friends, a meditation jingo surfaced, resting gently, which sounded like the name of a gentleman named Reston Gentry.

heat and luminosity

acrylic on book pages

November brings the last warm golden earth tones as the light becomes more somber before snow season. Time change happens this weekend. It takes adjustment to not fall asleep or feel drowsy from more time indoors. Read a book. Lohbado created a collection of painted books. Two shapes on facing pages, maybe with special glasses they could appear in 3D. Heat and luminosity in the heart and mind to burn away depressive inertia, worry or whatever sinks one deeper into confusion. As things quieten down, Lohbado daydreamed about camping trips, of sitting up late watching red embers, before extinguishing the fire and crawling into a tent.

at the temple of art

acrylic on wood

At the temple of art, Lohbado confessed his foolish words, foolish thoughts and foolish behaviour. He vowed to do better next time. Do the best you can. The Chief Nomroh handed Lohbado a classical guitar and told him to play. Lohbado hadn't played classical guitar since about 1976. He wasn't sure if his fingers were up to the challenge. After six months of joint pain and stiffness, his body began to melt into place. The spirit of music took over. As he played, it felt like heartache, sorrow and pain were being washed from his nervous system.

Bob de Cat

Bob loves tuna and is affectionate, but can be unpredictable. Bob will bite or snap if you're not careful.

divided and multiplied situation

Raking through the past, fantasizing about the future, drifting like a feather from moment to moment, Lohbado paused to be here now and burst out laughing. The instant vanished the moment he looked at it. As he gazed into the mirror, time slowed down enough for him to see his face evolving from one microsecond to the next. He felt transparent, like in a dream

push button mutates

Push button mutates escaped from the Department and wandered across the plains in search of meaning. What does it mean? What is going on? They lost face long ago. Nothing left to prove, do a little soul searching if you wish. Have a look. Who are you? What is the significance of your name? What is the nature of self? A floating bundle of atoms, or molecules, somehow a personality is in there, a set of obsessions, concerns, hopes, fears, lots of emotions and opinions. Each button will trigger a verbal or musical sample. Push a bunch of buttons to activate a musical event.

phone booth poem with a dog

Welcome to the Club Morono Tabernacle, where Lohbado attempts to do a poem, although it never sounds quite right. It's an approximation ending in an evening dance. According to the Digestive Model, anxiety, loneliness and malaise can be eaten, digested and rendered into art.

overpowering force

An overpowering force in the psyche, thoughts out of control, a roaring waterfall of thought, it often came during the night, sometimes in a dream. Lohbado rose from the bed. Take a deep breath. Move around. Relax. It's an adventure, to awaken in a storm of pointless, claustrophobic thought. Ha ha, cha cha, yeah yeah, ah hem. Yes So. Ah so, yes really? Ok, oh ho. Ah choo! Is there a moral to the story? Do you have another reassuring platitude? Sure, sure, lots of them. Lots of platitudes, help yourself. A real smorgasbord. To feel naked, in a car crash, pieces of broken glass and blood all over the place. Sink deeper into darkness and confusion while coloured lights flash, Letters, words. Why the letter A? Where is the car taking you? Relax. Eat a bowl of yoghurt then lie on the sofa until sunrise.

dream streets

Lohbado dreamed he awoke as Snow White and split into two beings, male and female. Two sides of Lohbado passed on the street without recognizing each other.

happy dog

Lohbado stumbled across photos of a dog taken back in 2006 when he was in the Ungava Bay region of the far north. The above dog was in dog paradise, to run free across the tundra on an autumn afternoon just before the snow began and to discover a caribou head.

Montreal walks for mental health

October 15 interested individuals and mental health organizations participated in a walk in Montreal to raise awareness about mental health and to reduce stigma associated with mental illness. Mayor Denis Coderre addressed the crowd gathered at Philips Square. There's a public concern that greater resources be allocated towards helping people who suffer mental illness. The crowd of nearly a thousand people walked towards Rue de Bleury, back along Boulevard de Maissoneuve towards Rue de la Montagne and back to Philips Square, where members of Donald Berman Up House did a dance performance and invited everyone to join in. more photos below the jump

sound and smell of garbage truck

Garbage day, put out the garbage first thing in the morning and hope the squirrels don't rip into the sacks. As a vegetarian, Lohbado rarely created trash that would interest animals. They tend to go for sacks with left over chicken dinner and stuff like that. They also love peanut butter. The truck arrives in a burst of noise, creaking metal, engines, a punchy smell. Lohbado had some experience, years ago, hauling trash and driving garbage and recycling trucks. Dumpsters and garbage trucks have a special, vivid odour that could knock you off your feet if you're unprepared. Fortunately, the nostrils soon adapt. One gets used to the smell and focuses on getting the job done. Memories flooded Lohbado's mind as he walked past a garbage truck and inhaled the aroma, sort of like a mix of skunk, tomato juice and ammonia, a damp, steamy visceral overpowering sensation. Breathe it in, then exhale fresh air. Praise be to sanitation engineers, the athletes who take away garbage on garbage day.

inner organ dance

ink on pages of Lohbado sketchbook

Just about everyone experiences anxiety or worry sometimes. It does wonders to inner organs, especially if it becomes chronic. Lohbado woke in the night, his stomach churning, heart aching. He jumped out of bed and did an inner organ dance. It feels good to move around. As blood circulates and muscles warm up, the wave of panic subsides. The situation becomes manageable. Eventually one can go back to bed.

karate kick, a video poem

A friend demonstrated a karate kick. Lohbado edited it into a video poem.

sudden flash

water colour from Lohbado sketchbook

A gust of wind blew the wet pages. Lohbado put a weight on the book while the right page dried and recorded the event of a sudden wind gust on the left page, a flash, a red circle, sort of like lipstick. That night Lohbado dreamed he was driving an old truck. The breaks failed. The truck glided to a stop in front of a book. Someone got out and gave him a kiss to assure him his life was not a disaster. Lohbado woke up. He reflected on the nature of order and disorder, how things surge up out of chaos, intensify. There might be a flash of insight or inspiration, then the waves subside.

happy hootenanny

Hootenanny's 4th season began at Brasserie Beaubien in September. During the Hootenanny, the audience was introduced to a new music project about public transit. Above are a few photos of the group doing songs about STM Montreal bus routes. They hope to write and perform original songs for each route. They did a lively foot stomping performance.

pillow specialist

water colour from Lohbado's sketchbook

Lohbado sat at a table in a small park along a busy street while a woman sat across the table and talked on a cell phone to her specialist. Lohbado did a water colour and thought about an article he read recently about microbes and bacteria inside spaceships. They congregate on table tops and toilet seats. That could be a problem for space travellers. Lohbado wondered about microbes on his pillow. The woman interrupted his reverie by gazing into his face. Lohbado took off his sun glasses and gazed into her eyes. She exclaimed in surprise: "Oh my goodness, you're a gentleman. With your glasses on you looked like a druggie."

morning raga walk

A sunny autumn morning, Lohbado went for a morning walk during Montreal mayor election season.

morning raga walk

A sunny autumn morning, Lohbado went for a morning walk during Montreal mayor election season.

back yard nature garden

A wonderful gesture, to allow one's back yard to return to nature; a variety of wild flowers and plants take over. A microcosmos of insects and tiny creatures can flourish in such a place.

weird weather

watercolors from Lohbado's sketchbook

A mini heat wave at the end of September, first time in this northern land it ever happened in Lohbado's experience. Lohbado spent the final hot day in various parks as wind intensified and rain clouds rolled in. A downpour happened, but not so severe as forecasted, thank goodness.Today the temperatures dropped back to seasonal normal in Montreal.

Anxiety and malaise

            Lohbado went to La Bibliothèque nationale du Québec to continue research on the Mornovian Mysteries. He sat outside to eat his lunch and listened to someone’s story of a troubled past and turmoil. The conversation made Lohbado contemplate the connection of poverty, violence, addiction and mental illness. Poverty and misfortune increases one’s desperation. This leads to a state of chronic malaise, anxiety and panic. more story and pictures after the jump