Remember this thing?

What would Hogle Zoo be without the lion water fountain?

New Friends

There is something great about seeing the boy bond with his new "brothers."  I suppose friendships can carry on to the next generation.

Summer Swimming

Cousins

We are spending the morning at Hogle zoo, and the kids are excited for a train ride.

We know how to wait for a plane in style.

Anything for Amelia!

Sometimes real men buy doll clothing...

Because Rumi is Just So Freaking Awesome!

Are you familiar with Rumi?  If not, then you ought to be.  I won't go on in any detail about the wisdom of this Sufi poet, but I will share one of his poems with you.  

You can thank me later...

Bliss—

    the instant

         spent seated

              on the terrace,

                   me next to you

                       two forms and

                             two faces

                                 with just one soul,

                                      me and you

The chatter of birds

the garden’s murmur

        flowing

     like a fountain of youth

        as we stroll

     through roses,

                                      me and you

The stars of the firmament, bent low to look over us

    Let’s eclipse them, shine like the moon,

                                      me and you

                                      Me and you join,

                                      beyond Me

                                      beyond You

                                           in joy

    happy, released from delire and delusion

                                      Me and you, laughing like this,

    reach dimensions where celestial birds suck sugary cubes

                   Magical! me and you, here,

                       in our corner of earth,

                       but wafting on airs of Iraq and Khorasan,

                                      me and you

    In one form here on earth

    in other forms in paradise

    eternal, sunk in fields of sugar,

                                      me and you
--Translation by Franklin Lewis

My Summer Vacation

For a number of reasons, I completed two courses at Columbia this Summer.  I took an Art Humanities class, and I thought it was great!  For six weeks I would trek up to campus and sit with a lively group of my peers to discuss great works like the Parthenon along with artists like Rembrandt and Pollock.  The classes were long as we met twice a week for three hours each session, but I really enjoyed them, and I made some great friends.

Summer continued, and so did my semester.  The second six week course consisted of Elementary French Level 2.  I thought that this would be a proverbial walk in the park; I was wrong.  Meeting four nights a week for two hours each evening, I quickly discovered that I was in over my head.  While we had many fun and engaging moments of teasing the professor about French culture, we had many more moments of looking at each other in total confusion.  I made some great friends (which is what I love about my school; just about everyone is awesome!) and I learned a little French, but I am very glad that the class is now over.

I suppose my Summer vacation starts now.  I have one week left of work, and then the boy and I are heading to Utah to visit with family, and I am most excited for this trip.  I have a lot of plans.  I want to see my grandparents and listen to their stories.  I want to see my niece and nephews and chase them around the yard.  I want to eat at Cancun Cafe with my mom.  I want to see the many friends that have been so supportive of me.  I want to spend a lot of time with a certain girl.

Yes, a lot of time.

You see, I am completely twitterpated and captivated by a really cute girl.

So as I count down these last few days until I can have a real vacation, I am grateful for new friends, old friends, family, food, and new love.  Life continues to smile upon me, and I love it!

I Will For You

I don't like to admit that other people are right, and I am wrong,
       but I will for you.

I am not very good at opening my heart and sharing my feelings,
       but I will for you.

I have never liked sharing my most delicious cheese dip with other people,
       but I will for you.

I don't like leaning on other people for support and strength,
       but I will for you.

I never thought that I would let my guard down and let someone get close to me,
       but I will for you.

I didn't want to travel down this path again,
       but I will
       for you.

Something Special

I received something special in the mail today.

It was a special something from someone special.

And now I am especially happy.


The End

Another Adventure

I knew that it was going to be a hot Friday here in the city, so the boy and I left early to spend the morning at Coney Island. We had a blast! Between playing in the ocean (actually he only got his feet wet) and having a great lunch at Nathan's, it was a great morning, and we made it home to turn on the air conditioning right before it hit 100 degrees.

We must go back before the Summer is over because there is much more to see and do.

A Lesson Learned

Several years ago a friend shared this song with me, and recently they have proved it to be true.

You know you who are, but you do not know how much you have helped.

Thank you.

Oh Thank Heaven

We explored the northern realms of Central Park today. We saw cool arches, a waterfall, cool playgrounds, and hidden streams. After our adventure, we stopped in at 7-11 for a Summer treat of nachos and a slurpee.

We are living the high life!

Fulfilled

It has been my intention to write a blog about how busy I had been, but I was too busy to write it.  During this time of "busy-ness," I came to the realization that everyone is busy, and I wasn't that special for juggling a child, an education, a job, and a dismal social life.  As I thought more about what I felt underneath the tired, stressed, and lonely feelings, I found something spectacular--a feeling of fulfillment!

While I had initially focused my attention on the tasks that needed to be completed and my time management, I had missed the changes that were going on inside of me.  Over the last several weeks I had the chance to stretch every part of myself, and I like it.  Rather than complain about the loss of personal time, I will be grateful for this chance to grow.

During the day I am an employee.  I work hard to pay the rent, buy the groceries, and pay Alma Mater her tuition.  I finish my job each day with a sore body and sweaty clothes, but I also finish each day knowing that I made an honest dollar.  Having spent a lot of time recently as unemployed, I will happily pursue my vocation.

In the evening I am a student.  Monday through Thursday I spend two hours a night in class learning French.  I spend my lunch break writing flashcards.  I study before class as I change into clean clothes, and I study after class as I get into bed.  Columbia has high expectations of their foreign language learners, and I hope to make the cut.

Every second that I breathe, I am a father.  I think about my little boy when I wake up and wonder what new things he will learn.  My heart smiles when I hear his voice on the phone or at the end of my hallway, and while I miss him when he is gone, I love that he is making new friends.  My favorite part of the day is listening to him while he rambles on about the people he saw and what car he rode in.

My body is tired, my mind if sore, and my heart is full.

I am not busy, I am blessed.

I am not failing, I am fulfilled.

Lunchtime!

This week's adventure was to Chinatown!  We had a small delay getting there due to an emergency call from work, but we eventually found our way downtown.  Little Man made some new friends in the park and enjoyed seeing all of the cool toys on display (every store in the entire neighborhood had the same toys , but we still had to stop at each one to look).  We saw live lobsters and crabs, and the merchants even held up a few large fish for him to look at.  We had lunch at Wo Hop restaurant, but it was the upstairs one and not the basement which apparently has great reviews.  The food still tasted great to us.  We found a flashlight for the boy then jumped on a train to come home for a nap.  

Fifteen Dollars Worth of Fun

The boy and I had a great morning in the city.  After stretching our legs here in Morningside Heights, we jumped on a bus and went to the American Folk Art Museum.  We got in for free with my student id and looked at some really cool quilts.  Seeing the different patterns and feeling the amount of dedication put into each one inspired me to learn the craft.  It might be some time before I can have the space and energy to learn quilting, but I think that it would be a great hobby.

We ate lunch at the Halal cart right across from the museum and got a platter full of chicken and rice for six dollars.  We shared the platter right while enjoying the hordes of people milling around 6th avenue on their lunch breaks.  After a small walk up to Central Park, we shared a Cherry Garcia ice cream bar for only four bucks.  As I type this I realize that for those outside of NYC it may seem like an expensive treat, but for us, it was cheap and tasty.  We ate the ice cream near the carousel and then took a ride afterwards for five dollars. It was a blast!

After that Little Man was showing signs of needing a nap, so we hopped on the bus and enjoyed some cold air on the ride back up to the neighborhood.  

Not a bad start to our fourth of July weekend.

I like my street;

it is a fantastic place to watch the sunset.

The Steps

Cool people hang on out the steps of Low Library; awesome people hang out on the steps of Low Library with us!

Something Simple

In an attempt to understand classical art as a form in itself and not as a specific time period, one must determine the most important characteristics belonging to this genre.  Perhaps the most important trait is the visualization of the ideal in relation to a mundane life.  Taking the ordinary and creating something extraordinary is the quintessential mark of classicism.  Symmetry within the work and the use of parallel lines are also dependent qualities of classical art.  “Primary Light Group: Red, Green, Blue” by Jo Baer presents a simple representation of classical work that incorporates these three requirements.  Through the simple application of paint on canvas, this minimalist painter captures the elegant style of classicism.

           

Upon first look at Baer’s work, an initial indifference sets in; as with much of minimalist art, the meaning can be overshadowed by the simplicity of the composition.  This is art?  Anyone can do this!  However, with some time to ponder upon the installation of the three panels, the connection to the classical becomes apparent and the importance of the artist’s vision is shown.  The ideal is portrayed through the use of color.  Though just a small strip of color around the border, the three primary light colors are displayed indicating the importance they play in one’s ability to visualize anything.  Red, green, and blue combine in various ways to bring the visual world to life.  The three large canvases also hold a symmetrical balance in their composition.  Rather than viewing the three pieces as individual works of art, they are brought together in one piece that has no intersecting lines.  The use of parallel lines creates a balance similar to many classical works.  Finally, the three canvases give the appearance of columns through the use of these parallel lines.  Arranged in a horizontal fashion, they become a representation of three columns that provide support to an important roof of the visual spectrum. 

           

Similar to the Parthenon, Baer’s works creates an illusion of openness while maintaining distinct boundaries.  The Parthenon with its rows of columns and interior walls portrayed the openness needed to worship, and communicate with, Athena while also setting limits of where the common man could not go.  “Primary Light Group” also keeps this balance; the openness of the white canvas allows the imagination to fill in the gap and create new pictures, but the borders are clearly marked by each of the primary colors and black frame—keeping the viewer within certain limits. 

           

Both the Parthenon and “Primary Light Group” attempt to capture the ideal through less than perfect mediums.  The Parthenon was built as a house to the goddess Athena.  The inherent irony is that common earthly material could be used to create a home for a celestial god exists within its design.  Baer’s work is plagued with this same irony; she used pigment based paints of oil and synthetic polymer to capture the image of light.  Can light be captured, and can a celestial power be housed on earth?  Light and deity as the ideal are attempted to be portrayed in the best forms available to the artists.  Despite the imperfections in their portrayals, the Parthenon and “Primary Light Group” both elevate the ideal through simple expression.  The concept of “nude but not naked” can be used to describe the white canvas and the sculptures of the meotopes on the Parthenon friezes.  While Baer’s canvas may be white, it is not blank.  The beauty is found through the portrayal of the ideal form.

The obvious difference between these two classical pieces is that one is a work done on canvas, and the other is an architectural and historical artifact.  Comparing the two on this basis alone is an unfair look at classical art since both come from different eras and cultures, but the themes they both present are harmonious.  In keeping with one of the main themes, both subjects display great symmetry.  Oddly enough, the Parthenon only appears symmetrical through the use of creative design in which there are slight curves in the structure to undo the natural perception of asymmetry that occurs with large scale buildings.  The symmetry of the “Primary Light Group” is real and repeated.  Each of the three colors has its own canvas that is presented as a square on the wall.  This repetition of frames adds to the symmetry of the paintings.  Each border becomes a part of the continuous horizontal line while the vertical borders also balance the work.

           

Not only do the pieces resemble columns, but they also recreate the triglyphs found on the Parthenon’s friezes.  Creating a break from the initial understanding of the work, the natural separation between the canvases allows for the viewer to look at the art in a separate way just as the triglyph separated one meotope from another.  With precision spacing, Baer’s work becomes a cycle of viewing; just as one could walk around the Parthenon and understand the story told through different angles, “Primary Light Group” also allows for many interpretations.  If the three paintings were too close together the individual canvases would blur into one, and if they were spaced too far apart, the sense of connection would be lost.

 Although classical art may be seen as an ancient genre, modern artists are still influenced by the core themes that have transcended time.  Through an elevation of the ideal, the use of parallel lines, and the symmetrical composition of her work, Jo Baer’s “Primary Light Group: Red, Green, Blue” stands as a great example of classical art in the modern age.

"Just when I thought I was out..."

I officially started my life in pest control when I was 21.  In 2000, I had just returned home from a LDS mission in the Philippines, and I needed a job.  I called my uncle and started work the next day.  He owned the company that my grandfather had started, and it seemed like a great way to pay for school.

I liked it.  It wasn't too hard, and I enjoyed working with my customers.  I found satisfaction in helping people get rid of their bug problems and sharing my "bug knowledge."  I worked as a technician, manager, owner, and salesman with various companies in various states.

Eventually I wanted to try something new.  I was tired of the office politics found in large companies.  I was tired of wearing a degrading uniform.  I was tired of not being fulfilled in my career.  Although I considered being a technician honest work, there were many people who felt I was at the bottom of the social order.  Through condescending words, humiliating tasks, and repeated threats, I was constantly reminded of my status.  After working nine years as an "exterminator" (I really hate that term) I decided to finish my formal education and start a new path.

I excel in academia.  I love attending class, writing papers, learning new thoughts and perspectives, meeting intelligent peers who challenge me in many ways to become a better student.  After my acceptance to Columbia, I felt certain that I was a new man and that my technician days were just a stepping stone on the path of life.

But then I needed a job.  I searched for seven months to find something, anything, that wasn't pest control.  Nothing was offered.  With a resume that showed close to eleven years of killing bugs, companies saw me as nothing more than the bug guy.  It was not easy looking for a job and explaining to potential employers that I intended to attend school full-time until I graduated.  I saw their faces change as they read my resume and came across my history.  I needed a job that would value my vast experience, be close to school, allow me to finish my degree, provide health insurance, and still give me the time to be a dad.  This was my prayer.  This was my intention that I gave to the Universe.

In an attempt to broaden my networking, I talked to my building superintendent last week to see if she knew of any job opportunities within Columbia that I could apply to.  She didn't, but she did make another call.  She called the pest control company that has the contract for all off-campus University Housing in my neighborhood.  They were interested, and I hesitantly sent them my resume because I wasn't too sure that I wanted back into the pest control world.  Something amazing happened.  Not only were they interested in me, but I was offered a job without a formal interview and started work a few days later based on my experience that they valued.  As they have a large contract with Columbia, I am one of four men working full-time here in my neighborhood.  They provide health insurance even if I do not work a 40 hour week, and they will schedule all of my work around my classes.  I can walk to work, kill some bugs, walk to class, walk back to work, and then walk home at the end of my day to spend time with my boy.  They have been great to me.  They plan to use me for the "high profile" calls that they get which means that I will get to know some very important members of the Columbia community.  With a little luck, I might get a couple of great letters of recommendation for graduate school from some influential people because of this job.

Despite my initial indifference to a life that I thought I had left behind, I was blessed to find a connection that allows me to be a full-time dad and a full-time student.  I am grateful for this opportunity.  I know that it will not be easy, but I never liked taking the easy road.