The well is dry—temporarily!  Yes, believe it or not, I’m almost wordless…and exhausted.  Put the finishing touches on the last of my 20 Florence Biennale paintings yesterday, and took them to the photographer’s.  Next week, the whole collection should be online, as well as on exhibit in Toronto.  This will be the first holiday weekend of the summer (Labor Day!), when I’ll, (hopefully) be able to take a day off and relax—ride my bike and give the dogs longer walks.  With a new dog bicycle basket attached (since the beginning of the summer, and unused), I’m anxious to enjoy the great outdoors.  Remember, not only have I been in my studio 24/7, Lev and Sage have too—super-loyal studio assistants.  A lot’s going to be happening over the next few months, and I look forward to keeping you posted more regularly.

 

Everyone’s thrilled to meet and greet a new puppy—like a new baby. But, what about older dogs? Do they still have the same allure? Lev and Sage have kept their great physiques and playful ways and noone suspects they’re 10 and seven years old—except till Lev hoists her chin to reaveal her little grey beard. Lev and Sage can still out-walk and out-bark me. And, better than that, they just seem to know what to do and when, without me having to tell them. Even the things that I didn’t train, they show they’ve picked up along the way (when they want to). They’re used to my irregular routine—that the day might start early and end late (or vice versa), even if they’re not happy about having to hang around the house. They also recognize head-aches and flus as no-walk days—when I need to retire to bed with a couple of live teddybears as nurse-maids. It’s me and them and them and me, special bonds that only get better every day.

Peek in my studio to see beginnings, middles, and endings.  This poem, however, is about more than my artwork—even if it might have caused the thoughts behind the words…

 
Beginnings are good
There’s hope, adventure, anticipation—all that interesting stuff

A new puppy
A new school year
A new pair of shoes
A new relationship

Middles stir indifference, doubt, delay—things we wish to avoid
They drag or they race—dreams held onto or dreams lost

A mid-term exam
A report half-written
An unfinished book
An intermission

And then there’s endings
The ones that come too soon, and the ones that come too late

Vacation over
Plate empty
Verdict given
Timed out

Priorities are different for everyone
And, it’s all in how we handle the lot we’re dealt

There’s so much that we can do, and there’s so much we can’t
Attitude makes a difference, so does effort

Some of us cope better than others
Some of us try harder than others
Some of us understand
And, some of us don’t

If you’ve been there, you’ll know what I’m saying
And if you haven’t, you may have a better idea of what’s ahead

We’re all so different
But we’re all so the same
Life being, too often, a challenging game

There’s winners and losers
No one having a real say about which side they’re on

Then there’s the times when no one wins or loses
Everyone ties

Beginnings, middles, and endings come to us all—eventually
And, like it or not

Some spend longer in each phase
Some are luckier in one phase than another
Some learn from experience
Some never will.

For those who’ve been following this blog’s saga of the 75 brass pots on Toronto’s Yonge Street, in Rosedale/Summerhill (installation and maintenance guesstimate, $1 million), local vendors report interesting developments.  The solitary positioned pot was planted and unplanted several times.  Maybe whoever’s responsible can’t decide what to put inside—or is trying to save money for this summer by not filling/maintaining it permanently?

The foliage that I did manage to capture on camera was still in black containers, sticking out above the soil’s surface, and not very attractive. Another possible reason for why it was removed?

 
My male dog, Sage, is fascinated by walls and lampposts.  I stopped him from leaving his mark on such expensive decorative hardware.  He was too shy to do so on camera anyway!

 
Last week, more pots appeared (less than a dozen), and already the sidewalk’s looking cluttered, even with nothing sticking out of them.

 
And, because the pots were empty, there was a chance to take a closer look at their construction.  Blue styrofoam covers metal sheeting.  As an amateur gardener who’s not much of a "handy woman," I wondered about drainage.

 

Stay tuned to see what might happen next…

A friend lured me from my studio yesterday evening with a ticket for Kooza.  What a gift!  

Both the winter and summer holidays seem to have passed me by (almost) while I remain(ed) in hibernation to complete the Biennale exhibit collection.

To sit in the "grand chapiteau" was a thrill and delight—gave me a chance to marvel at real performance artistry—so much talent, skill development, surprise, and wonder.  Memories of childhood and attending Billy Smart’s Circus in Liverpool!

From the three child gymnasts to the trapeze artists, to the unicycle couple, to the high wire quartet, to spinning wheelers, to the juggler, to the balancer, to the seesaw and stilt men, I was gasping and gulping.  Then, in between there was the stuffed dog—and I won’t tell you what he did…or about the fun audience participation opportunities with the clowns.

My Biennale creations feel small compared to what the Cirque’s performers accomplish night after night.  Humbled and energized, I’m ready to get back to my studio and approach the finale of the Biennale project with revived gusto.

Almost perfect was more than perfect for me—a real treat and reminder.  The (thankfully stopped) fall on the last stilt stunt drew attention to the fragility of everyone and thing and the life-saving importance of seamless teamwork and camaraderie.

Please don’t poach/steal DocSusan’s sharings.

My post, Painting and Perseverance, seems to be the most popular one on this blog (so far). Therefore, I’m sure many of you will identify with what I’m about to discuss…

My artwork (visual and written) takes hours to develop. That means, what’s posted here doesn’t come cheaply or painlessly. My time, effort, imagination, and resourcefulness have value. And, poachers know that, even if they claim ignorance and innocence.

This popular copyrighted image has been on tour—without permission or supervision. I’m delighted that it has a wider audience in a variety of locations like this one. But, credit needs to be given where credit is due—to its originator, MOI!

 
The wonder and dedication with which I created this painting will always be mine—part of its spirit, value, and specialness (perhaps why it appeals to so many others). Lazy others’ quick mouse clicks can’t be compared in any way—and don’t transfer ownership or authority over it.

This is a gentle reminder to respect the contents of the DocSusan website and blog. Please enjoy viewing them, and send links to others so they can enjoy them (directly) too. Please don’t simply click, drag and repost or reproduce, in your own or another’s name or anonymously. You will be found out—eventually!

If you like my images or written entries, please know better than to take without asking. It’s clearly stated throughout the website and blog that permission needs to be sought to (re)use them in any form. And, if it’s granted, you should give proper credit to the source—direct links to their originator and the DocSusan website and blog. This is only FAIR and reasonable.

Also, please remember that many of my creations are available for sale. Purchase requests are gladly received at blogs@docsusan.com.

THANK YOU for your understanding, cooperation, and support!

 
Please click the link: http://www.docsusan.com/blogger. 

Everything is posted there—all old entries as well as new ones. (New entries will continue to appear here for the next little while.)

I hope you’ll enjoy visiting this location, and please stay tuned for other developments with DocSusan’s blog. 

The DocSusan website remains http://docsusan.com/.  No significant changes there, for the moment!

 

We enjoy daily outings, but don’t manage to get to the countryside or parks often enough—perhaps why I know that city dog-walking, in Toronto, can have unexpected inconveniences…

Stroll along St.Clair’s south side, from Avenue to Yonge, and if you have canine companions you’ll likely be carrying their poop all the way. I did until a rubber container appeared outside a vacated office building/construction site, chained to a post.  Thank you to the kind person who thought to put it there!

Then there’s the stretch from St. Clair to Cottingham on the east side of Avenue, where you’ll see just one (over-stuffed) "litter-only" bin next to the Cottingham bus stop.

 

Take a look at all the recycling items inside…

And, on the subject of Avenue, did you ever notice some of the lamp posts there?  It’s nice that they have decorative banners attached up top, announcing the newest show in town. 

 

But, what about down below?  How sturdy is their infrastructure (something we’re now starting to worry about since the Minnesota bridge collapse)?  This one looks like it could take a tumble (flimsy naked iron rod revealed on the right hand side)!

 

On certain Toronto streets, there’s a paucity of public garbage containers.  And, even if they were there, Councillor Paula Fletcher, it seems, would prefer they remain poop-free.  In April, 07, her push for Torontonians to "poop, scoop, and carry" received significant attention.

Is it fair to focus garbage issues on relationships with (wo)man’s best friends?  The suggestion to walk poop home to your "green bin" or leave it somewhere en route, and remember to go back and retrieve it later is impractical and unrealistic.  I’ve tried it!

Toronto has other garbage problems…  Brimming blue and grey boxes, placed outside private residences the night before recycling collections, appear to invite interesting responses.  Not only is evidence of neighbors’ drinking, eating, and other (not-so) personal habits displayed for all to see, but growing numbers of career-rummagers are finding original ways to make a quick buck from them.

Then there’s "regular garbage".  How many residents keep all the rules?  Some are still seen dumping in public receptacles, even ladies from nice homes.  They’ll sneak out early in the morning or later at night, not to be noticed.  And, those who don’t wish to wait two weeks for the next recycling pick-up, stuff everything together as they did before, for the alternate week’s general trash collection. 

No matter how diligent some of us try to be, green bins are often seen to be more popular with raccoons than humans—easy to push over and open in a quiet alley.

 

By the way, if you want to read more about racoons, the National Post’s feature article, The Other Torontonians by Robert Fulford (from July 21,07) is entertaining.

Let’s be realistic—and honest.  Standards are set very high these days by what we think is true, but actually isn’t.  Magazine touch-ups are an obvious way to recognize how what’s raw and real gets distorted and embellished. 

Lindsay Lohan is an over-played but obvious example. First, let’s take a look at her Elle (September 2007) cover photo, which is only the latest in a series of magazine cover photos.  Then, let’s take a look at her July 24 (07) police mug shot.  Show business would have her appear one way. The law clearly shows her another way…  

How has Lohan gone from that to this or this to that?  Is it fair to blame someone/thing else? Is it even fair to blame her, or her family, friends, and entourage? Is it our business, anyway? Not really—except if she’s a danger to others, which is highly likely with an arrest for drunk driving and cocaine possession.  But, then again, DUI, is no big deal these days—or so it seems for young celebrities.

Paris Hilton, after her promises to stop partying after her DUI jail time, was soon back to her frivolities. Then there’s her off-on "best friend," Nicole Richie, also up for DUI jail time.  Apparently, a boyfriend and pregnancy are the "two major influences" that will break the "bad ‘pattern’" in her life.  Imminent motherhood, she believes, will make her more responsible.  But, shouldn’t she be more responsible first, in order to merit being a mother?  A tad confusing! Or, maybe, not.  We’ve all heard about Britney Spears, and seen how she defends her motherhood foibles.

Sadly, in a society where decent role models don’t seem to get the news coverage they deserve and appropriate consequences are sorely lacking, anything seems to go and be acceptable.  No press is bad press, especially when it can generate $$$$$.

Some people are seen to have it all, and squander what they have.  Others have very little, but are genuine—turn out better human beings, no limelight necessary.

Why would we want to emulate images/icons that are contrived and fleeting—represent actualities that only exist on a glossy page, offering glimpses of what might never be possible or sustainable?

The "too good to be true" is around us everywhere.  Sometimes, we ignore it.  Other times, we’re ready to be taken in by it.  It all depends on how vulnerable (and/or gullible) we are. Self-esteem, need, greed, and fear can cloud judgment, as does peer pressure and bullying.  So, finding ways to keep things in perspective—not relying on perception being reality—is important. Be aware:

1.  Promises are only as good as those who make them.
2.  What happens quickly can unhappen more quickly.
3.  Even it’s free now, you’ll be paying for it later (and probably a lot more).
4.  The easier it is, the less value and longevity it might have.
5.  Telling the truth might get you into trouble.  Not telling it can get others into trouble.  And, when others are in trouble, you may no longer call the shots—they will.
6.  Just because you’re sure of yourself, it doesn’t mean others are sure of you.  And, when you’re sure of others, you might not be sure of yourself.

We all want to think the best, dream of a better tomorrow, and have hope for the future.  It’s a natural survival instinct!  However, what’s more important is to know where, how, and when to draw the line—not be taken in by ourselves, as well as others.  Regardless, we never know how long we have, or how forces beyond our control might change everything in an instant.  Take, for instance, the bridge collapse in Minnesota—a sad reminder and wake-up call, like most unexpected tragedies, to stop dwelling on the superficial (and those who are impressed by it).