Butterfly

There are times that I just want to escape. Day to day hassles like work, finances, angry co-workers, haters, rude, anonymous critics who feel the need to troll around telling everyone else what is what, etc, etc.

You know where I'm coming from.

I sketched this butterfly, and then airbrushed it on the computer, while trying to rid my mind of the poisons of recent stress. I love butterflies. They flit from place to place until they get bored, and decide to be somewhere else. They find only the things necessary to get by in life. They are a symbol of freedom and beauty and everything good about our planet. I wish I was a butterfly some days.

After a hard nights work, I come home and find a rude comment on this site in my email box. This site where I showcase things I enjoy in life. Where I show the world what is important and beautiful to me. Where I show the world how I escape those dramas at work.

The commenter, Anonymous of course, decided it was necessary to tell me that my background and fonts were making it difficult for them to read. Not only that, but that I apparently don't have my priorities right, because the content is more important that the "window dressing" as they called it. I rejected the comment to be posted, because frankly, this is my site, and I will choose what content is on it.

But I will address it, so here's my take on things...

This "window dressing" as you call it? Is my sweat and labor, as much as the posts are. I created what was aesthetically pleasing to my eye. I spent hours trying to pick a background that I enjoyed, and a font to go with it, that I thought would compliment it, as well as be functional. I pored over color codes and tried out gazillions, to find that one, that looked nice, and could be read over my choice of background. I spent hours deciphering what all those codes meant, and how to apply them to my site so I could author my own design, instead of using the typical cookie cutter templates.

If someone enjoys something I have created, enjoys my artwork, or my photos, then I am happy. I'm happy to have brightened their day even in the slightest. I'm happy to have touched them in some way, and I would love to hear it. If someone is willing to share their creations with me, I am very pleased that they have taken the time to show me, and felt I was worthy to share with. I love seeing other's work, and creativity, and seeing what others are proud of.

Now if you, Mr or Mrs Anonymous, would have had the guts to show me your work, your site, your sweat and labor, we could have talked. But I have no time for your version of "constructive" criticism.

My artwork, photography, thoughts, and designs, are not here for you to criticize. As valuable as you seem to think your opinion is, it is worthless to me. I don't want it, didn't ask for it, and don't need it. I do what I do for me. Not you.

So please, be my guest, and place your cursor up in the top right hand corner of this page, and hit next. It will do both of us a world of good.

Ce n'est pas si?

Maligne Lake

This photo is a composition of three of my favorite things. Water, mountains and clouds. I love this photo. Every element has it's own personality, and is doing what it does best.

The clouds are angry, and in motion, but at the very tips, they are so serene, and peaceful. You know that at any second they could just wash over you in a torrent, and wipe out everything in their path. But at the same time, they can be a relief from the hot sun, or they could become a gentle rain that cools the earth and settles the dust. They provide water and nourishment to every living creature, and they could just pack up and move on at any second. No two clouds are ever the same, and they never stick around long enough to be fully appreciated.

The mountains are what they are. The strength of a millenia, wrapped up in a gargantuan monument of time. They are so peaceful, yet so brooding and moody. I love travelling through the mountains. If you ever have a bad day, that's the place to go. Nothing can make our day to day problems more insignificant than the sight of a whole range of these massive giants off in the distance. You know that no matter what happens, they will always be there. The universe will go on, with or without you, and you know that it is filled with beautiful things. We just have to take the time to look at them, and appreciate their beauty and strength.

The water is our source of life, and this water is an amazing deep shade of green. Even in the settling dusk, the water is a gorgeous dark emerald. Our string of mountain lakes along the Rockies never ceases to amaze me. We in our comfortable cities, with our brown rivers, cannot begin to imagine what the water is like at the source. This particular lake is fed by three or four glaciers around the lake, and is a rather chilly -4 degrees celcius in the middle of summer. Basically you would succomb to hypothermia in approximately 12 minutes if you were to take a dip. Ouch.

If you look off in the distance at the lower left corner of the photograph, you will see one of those glaciers nestled between two mountains. I'm unsure of the name, so please don't ask, but picture four Empire State buildings side by side. Yep, that tiny chunk of ice is that big. Now imagine how many Empire State buildings would fill one of those mountains beside it?