Machuca

Machuca, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

So I have so many thoughts after Costa Rica. It was a mind blowing experience, "fur sure."

What is on my mind right now is many things that entered my brain after reading Jill Bolte's book, "my stroke of insight." She suffered a hemmorage on the left side of her brain, effectively shutting down all logic functions. Interestingly, it also shut down ego and all notions of past and future. She could only live in the divinity of the present moment. Some quote that struck me from this book are as follows:

“ …to experience pain may not be a choice, but to suffer is a cognitive decision.”

“The easiest way I have found to humble myself back into a state of peaceful grace is through the act of gratitude.”

“I must be willing to give up what I am in order to become what I will be.” - from Einstein

The image was from some cooling water dips at Machuca, or as Stephen likes to call it... EDEN; and it was an amazing garden.

baidaba

Costa Rica Candy, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

I just landed back from Costa Rica. There is so much to share of that rich, rich land; namely being astounded at the black gold soil that grows abundance, including this amazing fruit called baidaba (bahdeh-bah) - which tastes like warm sugary ice cream. This was ONE of 21 NEW fruit experiences to be had this weekend. My flickr account shows all my tastings, including the Amazing Fruit.

sneaks

May2009, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

glorious weekend in leavenworth, washington. It's a faux little town that attempts to create a stage set of Bavaria. Shy of success by the very fact that mc D's and Sbux must droop icicles from the eaves of their retail facades. I mean really, how many icicle eaves Mc D's do you see in Munich? I digress.

So there is something about just wearing clothing you can wreck (e.g. those things you sport at a camp site). I think that is what is meant by casual clothing... those items of clothing you can stain, rip, stretch, etc, and they just look better and better.

I've got a pair of jeans that are just about there.
Oddly, once they get to this magical state... it seems like they can only hold it for a little while before you are forced to turn them into cleaning rags. However, their state of appropriate"ness" still lasts longer than fancy duds. And darn it... they feel really good around a camp fire with flowing bottles of aged wine.

Kids

Longbranch 2009, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

I shot this kid playing in the ditch at Longbranch. Its amazing how you give a kid nothing and they make the world out of it. But you give a kid some programmed, i.e. a game, robot, puzzle - meaning something prescribed for a specific use or ONE solution - and it occupies them for minutes. Give them a ditch, static object, cardboard box and the enjoyment is hours (maybe days).

We prescribe too much for kids and ourselves. Everything is so structured, we/they are carted off to piano, karate, soccer, club, etc. etc. The genius and brilliance is the child IS FOUND when the child (and we) are given nothing but an imagination and free time to explore it. This is where true creativity and learning happen.

I often turn myself into a child weekly to stimulate my own wonder, explore my universe THEN it's amazing what surfaces. The ingredients are imagination (we all have it) and time. Simplify life by getting rid of the busy and I'm amazed at how much more I get to experience. Just like a pendulum, when it's at infinite speed (swinging back and forth so fast, faster, fastest) its at complete and TOTAL REST.