Reality Stamping

This weekend I decided to finally paint the guest bedroom. We've begun our pre-house-selling initiatives, and the room was slightly darker than desired and a little more teal than would mass-market. So out with the oil-based primer and paint fumes!

Painting is therapeutic. It's arduous, but brings thoughts and sometimes draws out new perspectives.

In this episode of fume-induced philosophy, the world suddenly became clear. Life became simple. The way our minds work became evident.

And it all revolves around color.

See, if I changed the wall color one fraction of a percent in hue tomorrow, would someone notice? Probably not. And the day after? Still unlikely. I concluded that given a long enough timeline, I could change the color on the wall from teal to red and not a soul would notice. In fact, any change could pass as imperceptible.



A back-up point is with kids. You notice how big other kids are getting more than you do your own. Because you see yours everyday. And you don't see others.

So here's what's simple. The mind stamps things as 'reality' and then dismisses them. So, if you see your hair this morning in a mirror, it's only a fraction of an inch longer than yesterday. It's completely imperceptible to you, and your mind stamps it as reality. It's only when you think of your hair during the last family get together do you realize how much it's changed. You reference an old reality stamp.


It was only after ventilating did I realize that this isn't exactly break-through material. But it is a concept. And if we can raise our perception of subtle changes...

So now I'm wondering what I'm not aware of.

New Appreciation

A guy I work told me he'd bought all the sheet music to Siamese Dream back when the CD was released in '93, and that he'd try to find it for me. So today when it was laying on my desk when I walked in, I was real excited.
When I got home tonight, I played the introduction to 'Today,' and was feeling pretty good about it until I got to the actual song. Talk about magic. Your fingers have to bend in ways that make me doubt whether it's really possible to play those notes, let alone shift between them instantly. And to top it off, pick only certain strings, simultaneously ripping off a rather engulfing and tragic sound.
It was like listening to what it was like to see, and then opening your eyes for the first time.
Indescribable.
And it all goes together to draw you in, but soon we all forget about the sound and the song.
It's the aesthetics of decay in a musical setting.

The Duality of Man?

Today I walked into a counseling session, where the counselor was lecturing the counselee about the impression that the counselee portrays, regardless of his awarenes of his portrayal. In other words, people are watching whether you want them to or not. And we work for a company that holds high standards.
One sentence caught my ear though, and though I am sure it went way over this 18 yr old's head, it sure stuck in mine. The counselor was basically saying you have to be one way or another. You can't be a good role model and a rebel at the same time. He said, "It's the duality of man. Like 'Full-Metal Jacket. You have to be one way or another."
Wow. The duality of man. Images of joker wearing a helmet with a peace-sign right next to the "Born to Kill" slogan.
But in some ways, I am finding that we are all kind of dual. That was a major theme in Harry Potter 7. And I'd read a newspaper article arguing that J. K. Rowling's themes were blurring the line between good and evil. But I think it's true: the presence of love does not indicate the absence of hate. That's probably the most obvious of the duality point. Followed closely by 'having courage does not mean that you don't have fear.'
But this theme has been most revealing to me lately. Most on my mind:
Having confidence does not indicate the lack of doubt. Being confident doesn't mean uncertainty is eliminated.
I'd actually say that in trying times, when doubt reign supreme, those are the times where confidence is forged. You know that you may fail. You know that it might hurt. But eventually you learn to trust that you'll adapt at the right moment. Feel the right choice and act upon it. You learn to be confident. Full of fear that you will fail. But confident that you'll figure it all out along the way - emerge victorious.
Anyways... that's what I'm thinking. The duality of man.

Greatness: The Selling Point

Yesterday Alison and I went to see "The Bourne Ultimatum" at the theater.
It was a rip-roaring, action packed adventure that made you want to die your hair a different color and assume alternate identities.
And be real good at beating the snot out of people.
Anyways, that want was evident in AJ, who just completed a personal security detachment course, or PSD, that included evasive driving. At one point, Matt Damon executes a flawless J-turn, or DTS (Department of Transportation Safety) turnaround, and evades his potential captors. AJ leaned forward and smiled at us while pointing at himself, all smug.
That's when the thought occurred to me: Greatness is a good selling point.
The audience wishes to get the training and be a part of it all. And Hollywood sells it like everyone can be Jason Bourne.
Um, ever thought that you'd be one of the hundreds that gain their fame by having their teeth bashed in and lay motionless on the ground?
Chances are if I did that crazy training, I'd be the first fool to get pummeled.
But you have to admit, greatness (or aspirations thereunto pertaining) is a good selling point.

The Infant Guitarist

I've been self-teaching since returning the concert - just strumming to myself while watching Television at night. My Dad sent me two books for beginners, which has helped dramatically.
But last night I played guitar at a friend's house. He's back from Iraq to welcome his first daughter, and we went over for dinner. He's been playing for a long time, and had even taken a college class so he could learn 'Stairway to Heaven.'
He showed me a few things, and described learning the guitar in a way I will not soon forget. He said, "You're right where I was, and the longer you play, the more you'll discover. You'll find that once you learn some chords, you'll learn ways to alter them, and then a whole 'nother room will open for you. And then another room will open when you learn different scales..."
So here I am today, strumming some new things I've learned, thinking to myself "I am in my crib now, finding out that those legs down there are mine." Then "Above me is a mobile spinning slowly." "I am in my room."
In a few months I'll realize that my parents have a house. And in a few years, I'll know that my town is one of many. The hard part has become listening to music, and realizing that there is so much to learn, and that I have to do it step-by-step, and finding the patience and persistence to continue.
As my friend Matt taught me finger-picking, he pointed out that I was using my pinky as an anchor, and as a reference so my other fingers could find a string. I told him that was one thing artists do while painting and drawing; they use their pinkies to gain control. Using a pinky as an anchor removes the wrist, elbow, and shoulder from the variables, and gives us instant accuracy. To which he replied, "Oh, and I thought I just couldn't draw."
The learned point is that there are methods and tricks along the way to skill. And it's a slow ride. The other thought I had was that I wish I would have started guitar in 5Th grade instead of the trombone. But it's never too late. If I don't start now, I'll wish I would have in later years.

Big Lessons

I watched the movie "Big" with Tom Hanks this weekend. I watched all of it, from the opening scene to the credits. It's been since my childhood. Anyways, the movie was great, enthralling, and had a universal message: Live where you are. Be patient with life. Change what you can, but be happy in your realm. I don't think I picked all that up when I was 9. I just wanted to jump on a huge keyboard.
Either way, it rang true, and I needed to post about something and found myself thinking about where I am, where we are, and where to go from here.

The Show

Simply the best thing ever (except for my wife, but she's not a thing)...

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Promotion Last Night

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Originally uploaded by The Piper's Son

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