Dreaming of Summer

A photo taken last Summer, I found it again today and it really has set me up in thinking of Summer. For the first time in 3 years I will be in Dallas for 3 weeks in June and July. I hope I can still bear the heat there. In an odd way this photo reminds me of Summer holidays I took with my parents as a kid. Sure, the Mediterranean Sea is a huge change from The Gulf of Mexico, expecially now (Horrible BP oil-spill) and this photo was taken in Menton or Nice, which is perhaps a world away from Corpus Christi Texas, yet and still, as a kid, I imagined I was on the Côte d'Azur. Dreaming of a turquoise sea trimmed with turquoise and yellow umbrellas. Vive l'Eté!

Blurry Paris

Lately I have been having blurry vision. No, there is not cause for alarm, but it seems to only exist in regard that Paris seems blurry to me right now. It is like an old photograph slightly out of focus and with off coloring, yet it is still beautiful. Perhaps it is the time of the year, or that I am a bit tired and feeling slightly sentimental, but whatever it is, it's a nice feeling, like a re-awakening. Today I saw a tiny bluebird, something I have never seen before in my life. It was delightful, full of energy and song. It seemed to know I was interested because it kept flitting about over my head, trying to charm me...it worked. I envied it's energy. My energy has been lackluster for about a few months now. The winter was long and rather barren. School has taken up much of my time. Soon school will be over and I believe it to be a very good thing. I have always been a creator. If I am not making something, drawing something, photographing something, or whatever, I get depressed and I mean wallowing on the floor in severe misery type of depression. I have been fighting it since school has been going on. It is difficult to sit in a classroom for 3 and 4 hours at a time when I could be making something. Then on the weekends, all I want to do is rest, or see a movie, the things we all do in normal life. In a couple of more weeks I get my life back and hopefully I get back to enjoying Paris again. It's happening slowly. These pics are intentionally blurry. I just walked the streets and snapped what I saw without regard to focus or the color. I just wanted to feel Paris in a light, spirited way again. I have been visiting old favorite places and getting familiar again with what makes this city so beautiful. With blurry eyes, I am waking up again.

Institut du Monde Arabe

Paris is one of the few major western cities with a noticable interest in Arab culture. The Institut du Monde Arabe is a beautiful jewel-like building next to the Seine. It's many facets reflect those of Arab culture the world over. And at this time there is an exhibition of the influence of the Arab mystique on the House of Hermés. On the recent passing of Jean-Louis Dumas, former CEO, heir to the Hermés heritage, and the man who created Hermés as we really know it and covet it today. It seems a visit would be a nice way of paying respect.