Red Tailed Shark & Other Tails

When I was younger the entire family made an exciting journey to Animal Ark.  We stood in front of the dozens of tanks that filled the entire wall and each choose a fish for the newly established family aquarium.  I got a red tailed shark and we enjoyed a rather full aquarium until they all passed on to a watery grave one at a time.   

Later my younger sister and I kept a fish tank in our bed room and would turn on the florescent lights of the tank and sit on our beds listening to the Deep Forrest CD and watching our myriad of goldfish.  The actually cleaning of the fish tank was what eventually did us in.  

Last night I spoke at a Young Women's meeting, and was given two of the fish that were purchased for the center pieces.  I brought them home, not realizing that they were probably having a hard time with the chlorine, water temp, etc.  The smaller one perished in a jar on my kitchen table.  

This morning Kip and I went to Wal-mart, left quickly, went to Animal Ark, and purchased a one gallon bowl, two gold fish, food, etc., and a small $1 castle.  I always wanted a castle.  We assembled everything and after a few traumatic moments (dead fish in toilet, almost dead but still alive fish getting dropped in the sink, etc.) we're able to get all three fish in.  It's still a little cliquish, and I've been asking the two larger, better looking, stronger fish to please go talk to this third little guy who has just been through a great loss.  Names pending.  

Day Two

We slept in, but made it to the Temple by 10:30 to do an endowment session.  (Picture off church website.)

Jumped on the subway and walked down to South Street Sea Port...

Walking up Maiden Lane (Lane?) to find Zeytunas (lunch). 

Trinity Church graveyard.

Wall Street

One of Kip's favorite streets in Greenwich Village.

After dinner at Tre Giovani's we headed back up towards our hotel, and wandered around the Rockerfeller Center before heading home. 

"When we understand the character of God, and know how to come to Him, he begins to unfold the heavens to us, and to tell us all about it.  When we are ready to come to him, he is ready to come to us."

~ Joseph Smith

I was thinking about this quote the other day, and found myself running into an interesting and companionable idea to it on the wall of a school library, next to a picture of a monarch butterfly.  

"How does one become a butterfly?", she asked. 

"You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar." 

~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

In the process of coming to a greater understanding of deity we have to want the spiritual progress more than we want certain aspects of our current situation.  And as hard as these steps are to take, I have found that after my own chrysalis' of life, when I am that much more a loft, that letting go of the caterpillar was more rewarding than I ever could have imagined. 

Day One

We land just after dawn in New York

Both of us were very tired, because we didn't sleep, just stayed up all night watching a movie.  Okay, I think I got about twenty minutes.  We were on the plane with the Murry High School Band...you can imagine the noise. 

We took the air train and subway into the city, dropped our luggage off at the hotel, and wandered around for a few hours until we could check in.  We walked from 48th down to 42 (Kip's first time at Grand Central) and headed back up 5th to one of the many Starbucks.   After a cup of hot chocolate we ambled around central park.  

This was the view from our hotel room.  19th floor.  

We took a nap (oh so tired!) and then headed down the street to Ray's Pizza for lunch. 

After lunch we wandered around the streets around the hotel (5th, Park, Lexington, & all the side streets in between. ) and ended up in central park again.  I had always wanted to find the castle, and never did while I was living there, so we found it! 

On the Bow bridge.

It was a beautiful afternoon.  We did a lot of walking and siting, walking and sitting. 

After stopping by the hotel room quickly, and falling asleep for an hour, we got up, headed down to broadway and ate at Stardust (a 50's diner where aspiring actors sing and dance) which was fun.  Afterward we walked on home and hit the sack.  

Stay tuned for Day Two...dun dun dun! 

New York, New York

We had a fantastic time.  It was so pleasant that (without trying) Kip and I totally forgot about work, school, etc.  Not a single thought.  Both of us are comfortable in the city, the pulse gets into your bones, and even now, as I'm glancing out over an empty park and the morning mountains, I can feel the boom boom boom of moving streets inside my rib cage.  It's going to take a while for it to go away.   

To end my first NY post I dedicate this picture to all of my sisters.  May they find joy...and express their opinion about the hair cut. 

Live @ Radio City Music Hall

Easter Expressions Through Art

Each year Easter brings a new slant for me, and I find myself experiencing a particular aspect in more depth then the rest.  This year I found three things stayed with me through out the week proceeding.  The first was actually the birth of Christ.  I suppose having studied Isaiah 53 would be part of the reason.  

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 

 " For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him."

Isaiah 53:1,2

This particular painting is not a classic, and it's actually fairly recent, but I enjoy it because of the lighting.  I also wonder as to the role of the small shepherd.  (Painting by Joseph Brickey)

The second "image" of Easter was the Jewish Sabbath after all the events of Christ's final mortal days on this earth.  Did the air feel still, hovering, a dying thing?  Which words were spoken? Which were not? I don't know of any paintings of this time.  There are many of the cross, His trial, Gethsemane; are there any pictures of Peter leaning against a corner, holding himself, his face wearing the signs of a bitter cry?  Are there paintings of the women waiting pensively for the sabbath to pass, herbs ready, to prepare the body? 

The most prominent image in my mind, above all else, was early morning, a bright and powerful sun breaking it's softness with tidings and declarations; all heaven quivering on earth's brink, desiring to sing aloud.  Trumpets.  There are many paintings of the morning of resurrection, my favorite is not available yet, and though this isn't a painting from the morning of the resurrection it carries the feeling of Easter morning...

The image of Christ on the cross is not the prominent one for me at this time of year, not because I don't want to remember the suffering, Isaiah presents that in vivid artistry, but the Joy to be had when death (physical death and spiritual death) was conquered, ever defeated, is incomprehensible.  The final word was Christ rising triumphant from the tomb.   As I contemplate all Easter art, word, painting, music...I find the one that seems most significant at this time is singing.  Aloud and en mass.  So,  these two links paint the perfect Easter picture for me, at least this year, in art. 

Christ The Lord Is Risen Today 

Hallelujah Chorus 

X.

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee 

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so ; 

For those, whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow, 

Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. 

...

One short sleep past, we wake eternally, 

And Death shall be no more,  Death, thou shalt die. 

- John Donne 

Do Re Mi...A Must See

Alright...it's Monday.  It's a Monday with promise, seeing as how it is spring break for some of us, but it can start out great for everyone!  Here is how it happens. 

1. Read this blog

2. Follow the instructions

3. Which are to go to this address  http://thegreytree.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/why-not/  

4. {It's Airen's} 

5. And watch the you tube video posted there!  

6.  I promise you will enjoy it!  

Happy Spring Day!