Troebia's Diary

[troebia]

What "separates us from the beasts"? What to do beyond the fundamentals of existence?

I would love to discuss these kinds of topics, although I don't have any formal education in philosophy. Almost everything about being human can be confusing and absurd and I don't believe in absolutes...imo there are only our preferences and (sometimes frightful) decisions.

(Is she being chided by a nun? )

There's a synopsis of the story in the link you sent. The seated woman is wearing traditional Hispanic formal dress with the teja headpiece, and since she's all in black she's probably a widow. In Spain today you can still see older women dressed like that in religious processions.

[snoringdog]

Just went and read the whole blurb

and a skillful use of light and shadow.

That's the first thing I noticed.

In this image, Wyeth deftly portrays the tension between Ramona and her rigid and overbearing foster mother, Señora Moreno.

So she *could* be a nun!

[troebia]

So she *could* be a nun!

Actually, possibly only a former nun

[Mental Fairy]

Gosh I wish we were neighbours Troebia.

I have a love for old English Tudor times and would love to have my walls covered with paintings of Tudor times.

My niece has just stopped by (13) today, she love to do oil paintings of nature and animals. However she has recently discovered the art of origami. How complex it can get is somewhat beautiful and an art in itself.

I think we all need to move to a location we all agree on!

[snoringdog]

Hello, sorry for the detour...

..she has recently discovered the art of origami. How complex it can get is somewhat beautiful and an art in itself.

May I suggest this site?

www.origamiusa.org

Lots of links to groups around the world.
They also had a number of Zoom meetings during lockdown.

Some sessions were on theory, and in others the origami creators went thru model folding step-by-step. All levels.

Very welcoming and down to earth group of people, origamians are...

[troebia]

Oils, inks, origami, watercolors, ceramics... There are so many possibilities of expression with rather modest materials. Last year my daughter wanted to make some tea mugs and we did some together at my old pottery wheel and we fired them in my half-abandoned kiln that I put together myself almost 30 years ago. I abandoned pottery after three years of suffering back in the day, and went into IT. Today, there's a slight resurgence of the old craft here (Spain, Europe) since middle-class people are getting tired of the Chinese import stores with cheap low-quality crockery. Some people actually prefer their coffee in a $30 hand-made mug than in a Chinese/IKEA/whatever factory made $3 one. Anyhow, cheers to manual crafts.

[oak]

Troebia, I hope your mental health and tinnitus are going well.

Also, feel free to share photos, if you feel comfortable, of your pottery.

[troebia]

Oak, here's an (unglazed) old piggy bank for you :

IMG_20200229_133650_749.jpg (42.84 KiB) Viewed 32606 times

Tinnitus is not on a suicidal level, but still a bitch. Thinking about it makes it worse, let's talk philosophy instead

[troebia]

Resisting the urge to drink alcohol...resisting the urge to take a Xanax...even masturbating (even if I don't feel like it) would help to take the edge off, briefly. Resisting, although there is no immediate compensation or pleasure to be had in just that. Trying to think about the longer goal, the detox, the health benefits if I hold out...though now having a shot of gin as I write

I realise that my wife is the one putting almost every event in the calendar lately. I have no projects or plans except getting better at painting and getting through one day to the next, which is of course not ideal. A shopping list for the hardware store doesn't really qualify as something inspiring. We have now agreed that her mother has to live at least part time in her apartment in the city, and I'm longing to be able to communicate freely in my own f*cking house with my spouse.

[oak]

Troebia, hi.

Thanks for posting.

I am overwhelmed with grief, so I can’t offer your post the response it deserves, but please know I read every word, and stand by you.