Saturday, October 4, 2008

The Constant Hustle


My daily life can best be expressed as a constant hustle. Either creating or promoting, I seek to find a niche for myself. However, I find that what interests most is the personal: anecdotes that tell of a self-styled bohemian existence. In celebration of this, and in gratitude to Hadley and Tangobaby, here's a bit more....

1. I live in Portland, Oregon. Today is a particularly Portland day: grey, dark and rainy, but lusciously green, perpetually forested. I love it here. The rain is most romantic--like strolling through an Impressionist painting. It is on these dreary days I am creatively prone and rather productive.

2. I love to go to old cemeteries. In Oregon there are random Pioneer cemeteries throughout both the cities and countrysides and I find nothing more relaxing than walking through the decaying stones, each telling a history all its own.

3. I spent my honeymoon in Paris, London and traveling through Morocco. Looking through the pictures this morning provoked a yearning for adventure to the exotic. Backpacking through cities and ruins, I want to explore places unknown and wander through cultures foreign.

4. I do not drive. I walk or take the bus. This affords me the opportunity to create specific routines on my outings. Each and every day I pass by a handmade sign nailed to a street lamp. Its painted words read, "Loafe in the grass with me." No matter my mood, I smile and give a wink to Walt and a nod to Portland.

5. I love buffets. I like to have an unlimited amount of exactly what I want. Rather telling, I must say.

6. I love Masterpiece Theatre on PBS. But I am unhappy with their new format. I don't really need to hear Allan Cummings or Gillian Anderson wax historical. Plus, a modernized theme song? Please. And the new Mystery format also sucks; only snippets of Edward Gorey's drawings and the original music remain. A travesty indeed.

7. I need to get out more. I am comfortable to remain in my house, putter around my studio and only go to the dog park for socialization. Maybe a concert this week. Or a dinner party. We'll see.

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17 comments:

Anonymous said...

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Come and visit my site sometime, and please comment. If you do, I will do the same thanks,
and take care.
Jesse

LeaKarts said...

I always love your anecdotes, especially when they are preceded by one of your lovely paintings :)

Unknown said...

So nice to read more about you :) Number 1 sounds a lot like Boston but only right at this moment, any day now it will be gray & rainy but flaming colors of red, orange & yellow in the trees.

We did something "unconventional" for our honeymoon too. The blog I just wrote about Oughterrard was all based on our honeymoon in Ireland :) Would love to hear more about your time in Paris, Morocco & London, what a cool adventure :)

Cindy said...

i really enjoyed reading more about you. i'm a homebody and definitely relate to no. 7.

heidi said...

I thoroughly enjoyed this! Am in total agreement on the Rain, buffets and old cemeteries :-)

tangobaby said...

This post was a total gift to me today. You have no idea.

Thank you, sweet Octavine. I enjoyed your world greatly.

Di Overton said...

Ooh another person who likes old cemeteries though I only like them in the daylight.

Hoi Polloi said...

I am in London currently! It is rather a Portland day here right now. This has been a hard trip, due to a hard relationship, but I am looking forward to the next leg of my trip which will be Ireland. I will post on how it goes.

please sir said...

Wow - I love all your little moments. I agree - we are all so busy, it's good to remember who you are.

gillberk said...

The accusation that it is all style and no substance is a charge that Hustle is inherently guilty of. Not that this is a bad thing, you understand. Hustle has a wonderful sense of bold, uninhibited kitschness and an energetic élan that would put Sir Steve Redgrave to shame. Visually it is lush, verdant and daring, and though it is neither particularly original nor imaginative, it catches and caresses the eye and deserves to be admired for the sleek, stylistic beast that it is.
---------
gillberk

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blognusantara said...

frankly I have to look up my dictionary for the word "hustle" :)

anyway,nice painting.
it's simple in colors and presentation yet as a whole pleasing to the eyes.



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Hadley Makes said...

Oh, I love Portland too. You made me miss it! I'd love to be the bathing beauty in your painting, lounging about with girlfriends before going out for coffee in that fabulous city.

I totally agree with your views on the new Masterpiece Theater and Mystery formats. Perhaps we should write to the BBC...

Laura in Paris said...

I can totally relate to #7 ...

Renz Creations and Costumes said...

Great site! Your site helps and gives me get more ideas for class. Thanks.

Exchange links, perhaps?
http://brightartclass.blogspot.com/

Mary-Laure said...

Yet another divine image, full of grace and elegance.

This Makes My Day said...

Hi Cara,

Thank you for your comment on my post about heaven on earth.
I read your post and it's very interesting reading about what gives you inspiration. On some point we are similar. Although I'm not an artist like you I like rainy days too create things, write and design. I also like to stay at home, thinking, reading, meditating etc.

I like the painting you used for this post, very elegant and stylish. Have a very good day my friend.

megha said...

hi how are you matey?



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