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.