the end of a (blogging) chapter

I saw this pink cottage a few weeks ago while walking the dog. I just loved it. It made me think, "What if? What if the cultural norm was to have the smallest house possible, instead of the biggest?"Anyway, there's no real connection between that photo and this post, but I had to pick some photo, and I liked it. So, that's that.

Anyway, I've been quite busy.  And I've been thinking. It seems I'm diverting my blogging energy over to Dream Big more and more, and for the next little while, this blog, the one you're reading, is going to take a backseat. It might be the end of "huminbean", it might not, I'm not sure yet. But definitely for the next month, if not longer, there won't be anything posted here.

Blogging actually takes a lot of work. Taking photos, editing them. Writing a first draft, editing that. All of this means sitting at the computer, which I am doing a LOT of these days. I'm really, really glad for the opportunities I'm getting, but it does mean some long hours staring at a screen! I'm trying to reduce that time where I can.

And, the Dream Big blog is actually MORE work than this one, because there is also time involved in lining up interviews, doing the interviews, making notes, etc.

But, I'm really glad that that avenue is opening up. I've got lots of ideas for it, and the only thing holding me back is my human limitations - needing to eat, sleep, have relationships and downtime. (Which, I'm actually really glad for - it's good to have balance.) I can see a bright future for the Dream Big project! I've already been asked to speak at two events in the next month! Little old me! I feel... a little nervous, but also excited. And I feel like this blog, huminbean, which I've been writing for almost 10 years, was a chapter, and now I'm moving on to the next. 

We'll see, we'll see - no-one knows how the future will go. But for now, I've got to focus my time and energy on the Dream Big Cape Breton project. And I hope you join me there.

prize possession

Once again, Blogger sees fit to rotate this photo for me, without any way for me to change it. Hmph!

Oh well. Here it is anyway. Tilt your head maybe? Turn it into a neck stretch? It's always good to stretch your neck.

Last night I went out to a show with my family. Bruce Cockburn has been a part of my life since I was a little girl, as my parents were big fans all through my childhood. "Wondering Where the Lions Are" is on my top ten favorite songs, and reminds me of being a little kid. Here is a post I wrote about that very song, in 2005, which is - OMG! - seven years ago. That's kind of ridiculous. It really doesn't feel like that much time has passed between that day and this day. Time, she flies, hey?

ANYway. So my brother Mat and I took our Mum and her friend out to see Bruce Cockburn play. It was a lovely, lovely concert. Just Bruce by himself on stage. A backdrop of a great big linen cloth with all these shiny little pieces of cloth sewn on, which only looked shiny when lit from a certain angle. Otherwise they looked plain-colored, various neutrals like beige, olive green, brown. Bruce stood at the microphone wearing a black suit jacket, a red tie, and black suit pants tucked into combat boots. An interesting style choice! (Mat and I joked to each other that at the end, after the first encore, when everyone was clapping for a second, he would come out and just go batshit crazy, kicking stuff and freaking out - "No I don't want to play any more songs for you!!", that that's what the combat boots were for. Not funny? Huh .... I guess you had to be there.) His white hair was parted on the side. He wore his signature little round glasses. He was gentle, relaxed, articulate. Responded with good humour when people shouted things from the audience. ("We love you Bruce!" "WOO!" - in the middle of tuning his guitar.)

A variety of acoustic guitars stood behind him, some with vibrant, jade-green soundboards. There were also some great big windchimes hanging on either side of him, and two free-standing tables set up. One had a dulcimer on it, and the other, two metallic gongs. He used these instruments sparingly, little spices to add flavour to the guitar.

Some kind of smoke wafted gently above the stage, playing in the lights. I watched the lazy upward and circular motions of that, as much as I watched the performer. Bruce Cockburn's songs, if you're not familiar with them, are intricate both lyrically and melodically, so it was a rest for the eyes. I would also close my eyes and breathe in and out, and just listen to the rich sound around me. The man is a true poet, who also happens to be a virtuoso guitar player. His smoky voice is haunting.

I had in my purse this cassette tape, which I had brought on a whim to play for Mum in the car on the way there. Halfway through the concert I realized - "I should get him to sign it!" So, I did. When I got up to the table, I said,

"Hi, thanks for the show! I have a tape for you to sign."

"Huh, haven't seen one of these in a while!" He turned it over in his hands.

"I got it at Value Village for a dollar. But I've been a fan of yours since I was a little girl!"

 He opened it up. The case came apart, as it always does.

"Oh don't worry, you didn't break that, it was already broken," I said.

"Where do you play this?" He asked.

"In my car, it's a '97, it only has a tape deck."

"My girlfriend's car is like that," he said. "I've had to pull out some of my old tapes."

"Thank you!" I said, after he signed it and handed it back. The line behind me was long, and it was late.

I wonder what it would sell for on EBay? Actually, probably not much. Definitely not for what it's worth, to me, now.

happy valentine's day

This morning as I fed the cats I noticed the bowl is a heart shape. Perfect for today, the day to celebrate love. And, awwwww, who doesn't love cute kitties??

I woke at 6 when Adam did. I got up and made his coffee and sandwich, as I do every morning. Well, OK, more like every morning I want to get up and do that. But, I know it helps him when I do and plus I get to have a little bit of time with him in the morning, and I like that.

I wrote him a note with a Sharpie - "Will you be my Valentine?" - and tucked it in his lunchbag. "You have a secret note," I said, "And you can't read it until you eat your lunch." "OK, dear," he said. He kissed me and went off to work.

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Show your love for artists: check out LINKwithlove's initiative today to spur change on Pinterest. LINKwithlove's mission is to promote responsible linking, so that artists and other people who create intellectual property get recognition for their work. It might not seem like a big deal, but it can really cause problems for artists when their work is used, modified and sold without their permission. All you have to do today is repin an image to your Pinterest, and that image should be up on the LINKwithlove page soon.

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Also, on a silly note, this is one of my favorite songs, by Outkast. It's called "Happy Valentine's Day." Enjoy!