It's All In Perception..

It's raining out there!  It's been raining all day.  First day of rain in ages.  That's not a complaint; i love the rain.  Today.  But if we have no sunshine until Thanksgiving, i'll begin to dislike it a little.  The leaves are just starting to turn in places.  It's odd, because some of the trees in our neighborhood have completely changed into their brightly colored autumn outfits.  However, two streets over, they've only changed a little.  Like on those days in early fall when we don't know how to dress to go out in the morning.  A short sleeved blouse because it'll warm up later on.  A turtleneck sweater to stave off morning chill, but definitely a cotton one.. not a wool one?  Because the wool will be too hot as the day wears on.  Maybe a light jacket because it might rain?  You know what i mean.  Anyway, the rain has been restful and relaxing this afternoon and evening.  I feel cozy with S and our four kitties.  I love the sound of rain on our roof.  Yes, there are times when i like pouring rain, and times when i enjoy it not-so-much.  I had this quote on mind off and on today...

     'There is no truth.  There is only perception.' ---  Gustave Flaubert

I find i agree with that statement most of the time.  So many things are subjective, and often, one person's truth is not the same as another's.  It's true with fine art, with music, with writings, and especially i've noticed in the last few months; it's true in politics.  Now this is not a political post.  I've said i won't write posts like that here on bloggie anymore.  :)  I'll not advocate for one side or one party, or one candidate over another.  I was just thinking how different our political beliefs are.  And we vote for one candidate and not another for such a variety of reasons.  There's endless analysis over who won a certain debate.. when.. really.. these things are subjective.  I want to think my candidate won.  But lately, there's so much animosity in the political world, i've had to detach myself.  And though i don't understand the views of  'the other side', i respect others' right to have views that differ from mine.  It's all in perception.  Oh i still roll my eyes and shake my head and think to myself, how can a person THINK that way?  He/she must not know the facts.  Or the truth.  But what is the truth, truly?  lol.  So i've let it all go.  I'll vote for whom i choose, then it'll be over.  And even if 'my' candidate loses, the truth is, the world will be fine.  Well maybe not fine.  But it won't be any worse just because my side lost.  See what i mean?  My perception of the glass is that it's half full.  Not half empty.  I love classical music because it speaks to me.  Others love classic rock and roll because it strikes a particular chord in them.  I would rather watch National Geographic Channel than Dancing with the Stars.  It's all good.  I'd rather watch Antiques Roadshow, and a couple of friends of mine would rather watch Hawaii 5-O.  Or Hawaii 5-0?  I'm not sure.  lol again.  That's what i mean by perception.  And it's one of the things that makes our world such a fun, fascinating place.  I mean if we all agreed, and had the same perceptions of all things all the time, how absolutely deadly dull would that be?

So it's movie time for S and me this Friday night.  It'll be a Hitchcock, but we haven't made a certain choice yet.  We'll see.  Our perceptions of which one we want are different!  :)  How about that? And speaking of how we perceive things...

What do you perceive Tennessee is thinking in this photo?  He seems to be scowling at me.  Hmm...

Goodnight now.. i'll be back soon.  M

A Royal Find? :)

So i know i've talked before on this page about how much archaeology and history fascinate me.  There are times i think i should have been an archaeologist, but time has passed.. and i'm satisfied and happy with my life the way it is!  But one of my favorite hobbies.. if i can call it a hobby.. is armchair archaeology.  I'll bet you didn't know there is such a thing?  LOL.  I love Archaeology Magazine.  I prefer it to Vogue or Martha Stewart Living.  The photos in it are just as beautiful, though they are of piles of dirt, ruined buildings, and 'digging' tools!  And the articles!  Oh my pounding heart!  True stories of cave paintings,  ancient artifacts,  Bronze Age gold jewelry,  present day finds in the Egyptian Pyramids, and bog bodies in Ireland and Scotland.  They go on and on.  It feels, in a sense, that i can go back in time.  Way back in time, without digging in the desert sand and in the swamps myself.  :)  Reading archaeology articles feeds my desire for more knowledge about our history as humans.. how certain customs or mores developed in our world.  Endlessly enthralling.  Just Sunday evening, i spent five hours, that's right, five hours, watching 'Alien Deep with Bob Ballard' on the National Geographic channel.  He's a geologist/oceanographer who sails around the world on his explorer ship the Nautilus, (with his crew,) and searches the ocean deep for wrecks from our distant past.  I was in heaven.  The first episode was the most interesting of all.  They found a wreck of a cargo ship that was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 300 years before the time of Alexander the Great.  My mouth watered.  :)  More so than it does when i'm just about to take a first bite of a piece of delicious apple pie a la mode!

Anyway.. there's one particular archaeological discovery i want to talk about here.  A body has been discovered under a car park in Leicester, England that may or may not be that of Richard III, the last Yorkist King of England!  DNA tests are being done (and compared to a descendant) to determine whether or not it is indeed he.  And if it is Richard III, where should he be buried?  He's entitled to a Royal burial at Westminster Abbey, but when he was still living all those years ago; he stated a desire to be buried at York Minster.  I've always been enthralled by stories of the Lancasters and the Yorks and the War of the Roses.  I've read fictional, well researched novels about them and history books about that era of English history.  The white rose and the red.  :)  I'm posting an article here from the UK Guardian that spells out more details  of this find if you'd like to read.  I read this piece and i felt transported to the 15th century.  On one hand, i know that these events occurred over 500 years ago, but these were real people we can never know.  In a way it feels as though i'm watching a film.. or the Shakespeare play, Richard III!  I see, in my mind's eye, the scenes playing out.  Of their family lives, the battles in which they fought..  Here's the piece for you to see..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2012/sep/18/blogpost-richard-lll-york-minster-leicester-university-bosworth-archaeology

Did you find that as interesting as i do?  And it was a skeleton the archaeologists found.. not a body.  I think i've read so many murder mysteries in my time, that i prefer that term.  LOL  And just for fun, i want to include a piece of music written in the 15th century in England.  Hope you love this too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK16e-Emrms

Did that put you in a 15th Century Yorkshire mood?  I think it's beautiful in a haunting kind of way.

Time to close for now.  It's time for our four fabulous felines to eat their supper!  First of course...

Serene and gorgeous!  I'll return soon. Hope you're all having a fantastic week.   M

Cooler Temps, and a Cool Archaeological Find!

Yay!  The temperature has dropped about twenty degrees since i wrote here last!  And i adore this weather.  Autumn is definitely in the air.  Its delicious, crisp scent is out there.  I'm not sure if i'm ready for summer to end, but fall doesn't need my permission to arrive.. now does it?  :)  Really.. i suppose i might be jumping the gun a little.  It IS still August, and the temperature could be back to the high eighties tomorrow!  Oooo, perish the thought!  I love summertime, but i prefer the temperature to be around 72.  With clear blue sky.  None of that white, humid sky.  And a gentle breeze to whisper through the Douglas Firs.  Cool enough to make air conditioning unnecessary, and for our windows to be left open for lovely fresh air to make its way through our home.  I don't ask for much.  Just a little perfection is all.  LOL.  Though i try to be satisfied always, and find something positive in all things.  Well, maybe not all things.  This past week, i became too wrapped up in all the negative, toxic goings on in our political world.  I found myself needing another break.  I don't want to get into it here; though one day pretty soon, i might feel it necessary to talk about it.  Just to get a little excess stuff of my chest.  I found myself changing the TV channel to Spongebob Squarepants more than once.  He's positive ALL the time, that Spongebob!  Yes indeed he is.  He laughs at everything.  And his laughter is contagious.  I still don't get the pineapple under the sea thing, but that's okay.  It's a cartoon for goodness' sake!  :)  And i got back into my meditation routine, which had been, shall i say, lacking some in the last few weeks.  Now i remember why i practice in the first place.  And the cooler temps made it more comfortable to do it outdoors.  Love the feeling of peace i have.  The breeze rustling through the trees, the water falling in the pond.  Happiness.  I also, as much as i love my Atlantic and Harper's magazines, had to close them for a couple of days and turn to Vogue, (the September issue!)  :D and Vanity Fair.  This month's issue of VF has Princess Kate Middleton on the cover.  I know that's not her official title, but you know who i mean.  But i'll save my love of those two glossies for another post.  A post all its own!  So i guess i had a little cooling off period this week in more ways than one.  And today is a lovely, cooler day also.  Temp is around 73.  Now that's close to perfection!

Anyway, one thing i love to read, no matter what's going on in the political environment, and regardless of the outdoor temperature, is my Archaeology Magazine.  I learn so many cool things about the (way back) history of our world!  I found this one article that i thought you might enjoy, so i decided to share.  Actually i found many i want to share, but the others can wait for their own entries here!  This article is from the mag ScienceNow, and i found it in the online news section of Archaeology Magazine.  It's about remnants of a black drink that were found in some ancient 'cups' around the location of the ancient American city of Cahokia.  Phew.  This city was located not far from what is now St. Louis, MO.  Were these remnants some kind of cacao drink or some kind of black ritual tea?  Well, tests and experiments were done, and you can read about them here.  Fascinating.  (And the article is short, but full of fun and interesting info.)  :)  I eat this stuff up with a spoon, just like hot fudge sauce off a hot fudge sundae.  Articles like this just make me want more knowledge of our human history and prehistory!  Here it is..

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/08/starbucks-of-ancient-america.html?ref=hp

It's getting to be Saturday evening, and a lovely evening it is.  The light is just sparkling out there!  So, offline i go for now.  But of course, first...

Yes.  We have gorgeous, beautifully scented roses this late in the summer!  Bye for now.  I'll be back sooner this time around.  M