Lily Is In The House...A "Mockingbird Lane" Update...

It’s official.  The Munster’s clan for the new television production, “Mockingbird Lane”, is now complete. As of my initial post on this ‘reboot’, the role of the family’s matriarch had not been filled. That all changed in mid-June when actress Portia de Rossi was announced as the new, Lily. 

Hmm…don’t know if that’s a good or a bad choice. I haven’t seen her more recent gigs (“Better Off Ted” and “Arrested Development”). I know her for the feature film, “Sirens”, and the TV show, “Ally McBeal”. Both we’re decent performances. However, in this case, de Rossi will be stepping into the shroud of Yvonne de Carlo, a Canadian born beauty whose career spans six decades.

(Yvonne de Carlo)

De Carlo has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for motion pictures, and one for television. She had more than earned her stripes in the “business” by the time ‘The Munsters’ came around. Apparently, when the role of Lily Munster came her way she had been dealing with a very rough patch in her life (her movie career had abruptly ended, and she suffered from depression). On top of all that, she was carrying a heavy debt (she says that the show coming along “saved her”). In 1964, when Yvonne de Carlo was signed to portray Lily Munster, the producers lucked out. She was perfect. I can’t think of how anyone could have done it better. Her gracefulness, her humor…she has been quoted as saying that she was told to “play her just like Donna Reed”. I think that’s what really made the show work. Not just with Lily, but with all of the characters. To them, they were perfectly normal, and went about their lives with that mind-set.

(Fred Gwynne)

Stage and screen actor, Fred Gwynne, stepped into the role of the Munster patriarch, Herman Munster. He and de Carlo were brilliant opposite each other. The new Herman (Jerry O’Connell) has some tall shoes to fill. O’Connell definitely has the humor element, and I think he can play the ‘dark’ card (this new version is supposed to be much darker). When comparing the picture of O’Connell, to the one of Gwynne (sans make-up), I do see a whisper of a resemblance. I don’t know how important that was to the producers, but I like to think that they are going to at least give the original a few nods. ‘The Munsters’ of 1964 are iconic, as silly as that may sound to some.

(Jerry O'Connell)

I know I have a tendency to sound like a broken record on some things, but (here goes…) ‘why fix it if it ain’t broke?” Doesn’t anyone have an original story line to pitch these days? Whenever I see something about a television show, or a movie, being remade…it smells of a little arrogance. “Yeah, it was great the first time around, but I can do it better.” I know, that sounds a tad harsh, and yes, I am speaking as a fan of the original. I obviously haven’t had a one-on-one chat with Fuller to find out exactly what his intentions are. Admittedly, I have read a few bits about some of the newer design elements, how the story is being updated and morphed, and I am a bit intrigued. It’s Fullers comment about “The Real Housewives of Transylvania” that has me a tad worried. I am hoping that ‘Mockingbird Lane’ doesn’t intersect with ‘Wisteria Lane’…for me that could very well spell tragedy.  

(Portia de Rossi)

Portia de Rossi, as Lily Munster. I can’t help but compare her with Yvonne de Carlo, and she’s not measuring up for me. I'm not saying she's not a capable actress, I guess I'm just a stubborn purist on certain levels when it comes to classic shows I dig. Some may be thinking, “Maybe Portia de Rossi fits well in the newer, re-imagined world of ‘The Munsters’?” Yes, I have thought about it from that angle. I think it’s safe to say that I’m going to be a tough nut to crack, when it comes to looking at the new show from a completely open perspective.

So…what will it take? What will have to happen for me to accept…maybe even ‘like’…”Mockingbird Lane”? They are going to have to blow me away. They will have to both keep and change the right things.

Confused? Okay, I’ll put it another way. To make a successful ‘reboot’, changes will have to be significant. Yes, the worlds of make-up and effects have evolved by leaps and bounds since 1964, but just updating the character make-ups, and showing us a more realistic sarcastic raven popping out of the cuckoo clock to say “Nevermore”, isn’t enough. They will have to completely retool the entire Munster family and environs, without…and this is the most important element…without that world losing its soul.

“Mockingbird Lane” is currently filming. We should see the pilot hit televisions around the middle of next year. Aside from a redesigned Munster abode, character costuming and make-ups have been kept under-wraps. (No sneaky photographers have leaked any photos…yet.)

All things considered, my curiosity is definitely peaked…I just hope it doesn’t end in an avalanche.

Luna & Lightning...

(Photo:  Lisa Erin Brown)

Per usual, I took some pictures of the first Full Moon for August, 2012 (there are two this month), just like every other Full Moon during the year. However, I'm going to make a confession. The photos in this post were taken the night before on July 31st. The moon does look pretty full, but it was roughly 24 hours before the Full Moon's peak.

The skies over Savannah had been overcast for at least a week (we even got a couple of afternoon thunderstorms which were very welcome), so there were some interesting things happening with the clouds on Tuesday night. I love the textures and colors I can get during those times, so I took advantage.

(Photo:  Lisa Erin Brown)

When the time of the Full Moon's peak did arrive, I was feeling happy that I had taken the pictures the night before. The official Full Moon in Aquarius, was indeed full...and big. There just wasn't much going on that made the photo op interesting. No clouds of any kind. No trees that had their limbs placed just-so for some creative framing. It was...just there. Like a big shutter-less, gel-less, single Fresnel lamp. Starkly shining down. Bright, but aside from that pretty average. Bummer.
As I stood there trying to decide if I wanted to walk around a little bit more to see if something interesting presented itself...something interesting did. Across the line of parking spaces and driveway in front of the condo building, there is a relatively open area with trees and other buildings to either side. It was while I was making my final scan that I noticed an orange tinged light flashing on the other side of some tall trees. I folded up the tripod and headed over that way to see what it was.  What it was, was amazing.

As I got closer to the area beyond the trees, I noticed a big dark billowy mass of clouds slowly creeping across the sky. It was not headed my way, but it was still relatively close. It hung there ominously, like a cloud mass in a horror film. Now for the beautifully eerie part. Inside the huge mass of clouds were bright orange neon explosions of lightning. The brilliant flashes were sporadic, and varied greatly in size.  Some were in the form of big surges of light, while others were veined with electric shafts of lightning. It was really amazing to see.
The digital camera I currently take pictures with has a video option. I taped the light show for a couple of minutes. The quality of the recording doesn't give the whole picture of what I saw. The outline of the cloud mass isn't discernible, so you can't really experience how "alive" the clouds were from that perspective. The flashes were constant, but through some sections of the video the flashes percolating throughout the cloud were rather low. Hopefully, my description and the flashes I was able to capture will give you enough of an idea of what it was like. The video above is roughly two minutes long.

(Photo:  Lisa Erin Brown)

(Photo:  Lisa Erin Brown)

Happy Lammas/Lughnasadh...August 1st, 2012...

(Pagan/Wiccan Year Wheel)

Today is a seasonal “hump day” called, Lammas. (This day is also called Lugnasadh (Loo-NAS-ah), when the Celtic Sun god, Lugh, is honored.) The name Lammas is derived from the Old English phrase ‘hlaf-masse’, or ‘loaf mass’.  On the Pagan Year Wheel, it is a cross-quarter day, or mid-point between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and the Autumnal Equinox (Mabon). Every year, Lammas takes place on August 1^st in the Northern Hemisphere, and February 1^st in the Southern Hemisphere (when the N. Hemisphere is celebrating one Sabbat, the S. Hemisphere is celebrating the Sabbat straight across from it on the Year Wheel). It signals the beginning of the three autumnal harvests (the other two being Mabon, and Samhain). Acknowledging the end of summer and the approach of autumn, Lammas is a time to honor the Spirit of the Grain Harvest. To give thanks to the Earth for its bounty. It is the time to reap what has been sown by gathering the first harvest. In the early times of Ireland, on August 1^st farmers would cut sheafs of their grain. Their wives would then bake Lammas bread, having the first loaves of the season ready before nightfall. They would then honor the Spirit of the Grain God by eating the bread, celebrating the harvest, and the yearly sacrifices made.

To everyone celebrating, I hope you have a wonderful Lammas day! 

(Picture: Deatharmonic)

Full Moon In Aquarius...August 1, 2012...

("Aquarius", Artist:  Yuxuan Li)

It’s a Full Moon in Aquarius, Wednesday August 1^st, at 11.27 PM/EST. Since Full Moon’s mark a culmination or heightening of things, they can bring with them a swelling of emotions. That is definitely the case here. The Moon’s Aquarian energies this time around, bring a sense of excitement, as well as curiosity and optimism. Aquarius is an air sign, so there might be a tendency to settle into ones emotions and lose oneself, as opposed to moving through them and processing them. Everything is heightened at a Full Moon, reaching an apex. It’s a prime time for those issues that need to be addressed to rise to the surface, and get noticed. The Moon’s gravitational pull on our planet, its effect on the tidal shifts, also puts light on emotional issues. It’s an opportunity to deal with and release emotional and uncomfortable baggage that can be/is weighing you down, and keeps you from reaching goals you have set for yourself. At times, Aquarius can be a bit cerebral, taking things to a place of logic. If you sense any feelings of wanting to go within, it is advisable that you be in touch with your emotions rather than squash them. Tell your brain you’ll have to reschedule.

Now that the rather intense T-Square of Mars, Jupiter, and Pluto has shifted to a mellower vibe, there’s a more than welcome and freeing sense of calm. Jupiter in Gemini and the Full Moon are in harmonious aspect to one another. This provides an optimistic boost to feelings of freedom and growth. There may be an increase in day to day happenings, to the point that you may feel like you have your hands more than full with daily productivity. The Moon is also in harmonious aspect to Uranus in Aries, and Mars in Libra. This ramps up the sense of freedom card, and by adding in Mercury and the Sun (both in Leo) there is a wealth of creative energy. New ideas that promote the type of creativity that takes you outside of the box.  There also might be a bit of drama thrown into the mix, but don’t worry.  The term ‘drama’ gets a bad rap, as not all drama is negative.

This Moon is about our relationships. Our friends, and family. It is about our connection to kindred souls. Those people in our lives that we relate to through similar or mirrored ideals, and interests. It tells us that now is a good time to engage in fellowship with them, as it aids us in feeling a part of the greater collective. The Leo Sun Sextile Jupiter in Gemini, indicates that it’s good for creating some quality time with family and friends. Interaction and conversation injected with plenty of humor will be welcome. Rest, relaxation, and family fun.  Keep it upbeat and positive, and you can’t go wrong.

You may feel a great need to analyze what your place is in the grand scheme, rather than be alone with your thoughts. Go with it. You may find it easier to put your focus on the future rather than focusing on what is in front of your face. It may feel more comfortable to do that, but those things immediately before us are what need our attentions. Aquarius likes to operate in stages. The gradual approach may not be your personal norm, but you can be open to the possibilities of the future as they arise, and work through and experience the emotional issues of the present at the same time. Don’t base your life around ‘what if’s’, and focus on/be at peace with ‘what is’.  Also, in relation to any past issues brought to light in this time of culmination, you may have to make some personal adjustments to get those issues moving again. Mercury is still retrograde, so it is very likely that some old unresolved issues may bubble up.

Jupiter in Gemini and Uranus in Aries complete a Cradle with the lunar axis. The atmosphere is prime for lots of conversations and debates ranging from the lively to the heated. Don’t be surprised if things seem to be getting a tad confrontational at times. There are two Trines in this Cradle: the Moon Trine Jupiter (air), with the Sun Trine Uranus (fire). Truth. Is that what you’re getting from others? Don’t take everything at face value. Do some researching of your own to make sure the “facts” are indeed factual. A Trine between Saturn in Libra, and Venus in Gemini, keeps you in touch with what’s real. It will keep things firmly grounded.

(Artist:  David Palladini)

A Sextile between the Full Moon and Aquarius’ ruler, Uranus, is about the promotion of ideas on how to right wrongs within the group/collective. Uranus and Mercury in Leo, are both retrograde. Whether these ideas will actually progress remains to be seen. Mercury in Leo is inconjunct Neptune in Pisces, and this influence says that they may just be exercises in wishful thinking. It’s recommended that you take note of the ideas, and sit on them until after August 7^th, once Mercury has stationed direct.

Mars in Libra Trine Ceres in Gemini, speaks to some rules of thumb I point out in many of these forecasts. Nurturing through communication, and being sure to do it in person. If you aren’t expressing yourself in the flesh, and you convey your message through the written word (e-mail, etc.), there is way too much room for misinterpretation. How often do you rely on the non-verbal cues of others (facial expressions, body language) when they are expressing things to you? The personal approach is always the better way to go. Also, work on those listening skills. “Hearing” others is just as important as others hearing you.

There is always a trouble maker during cycles, and this time it’s Pluto in Capricorn. However, paying attention to your own actions can throw a wrench into the works of the trouble potential. Pluto is inconjunct the Leo Sun, semi-Sextile the Aquarius Full Moon, and Square Uranus in Aries. Play nice. Don’t bend or break any rules. Some more rules of thumb apply here: be respectful and considerate of others. Just showing kindness and respect within the greater collective will make all the difference. After all, the old sayings about ‘what you give-you get back’ are very true.

Take the time to bask in the Moon’s glow, and use its energy to revitalize you.

The following excerpt is from the "Farmer's Almanac":

• Full Sturgeon Moon - August  The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month.  A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon becuase, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze.  It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.

What I'm Watching...Paranormally Speaking...

Paranormal television is a hot business these days. A number of the cable networks are producing most of the shows out there. It seems that every season a new series is added to the ever growing list. Most who have read my blog know about my fascination with the world of the paranormal. Having had my own experiences, I am a believer in the apparitional realm(s). I am a watcher of several of the shows available to viewers, but not all. Most of them are rife with sensationalism, something I have written about before. Some have been so obviously fake that it’s laughable (the British series “Most Haunted” being the first to come to mind). Most employ creepy background music and sound effects that are meant to add to the creep factor. What these background noises actually do is cheese me off because they cover up anything we should be able to attempt to hear when someone says “Did you hear that?!” In the majority of cases, I would say it’s an attempt to create an eerie vibe when there is none to be had. It’s just one of a few tricks of the paranormal TV trade.

If you look online, you’ll encounter those who believe the paranormal encounters on a show are valid, and those that call the investigations fake. Everyone has their opinion. I have my own about the show’s I watch. I tend to revisit the ones that seem to be relatively legit. I say “seem to” because how do you really know unless you are there? EVP’s, apparitions, objects moving…seeing what appears to be an actual paranormal event on television can be compelling. Hearing what is supposedly an actual EVP is fascinating (EVP/electronic voice phenomenon = recording of sounds/voices that aren’t audible to the human ear), but actually being in the moment…feeling what the investigators and witnesses are feeling…seeing paranormal events…the way things are conveyed is the key to a decent paranormally based television show. 

Which ones do I actually watch? Well, that list isn’t very long. There are a few that I watch every now and again when there is nothing else on (“A Haunting”, and “Paranormal State” to name a couple.) Then there is my rather short list of regular ghostly viewings that I watch each week. The four shows I am about to mention are the bulk of what I currently watch.

“Paranormal Witness” is on the SyFy Network, and it is well worth seeing. These stories are not for the faint of heart, as they are beefier and edgier than the majority of what’s out there. The second season of this spooky series premieres on Wednesday, August 8^th, at 10:00PM/EST. I have marked my calendar. “Paranormal Witness” is the first of the two shows on my list that are based on witness testimony and re-enactments. Unlike other re-enactment shows (“The Haunted”, “A Haunting”) the production values are one of the best I have seen on a show of its type. Maybe due to bigger budgets, or better creative resources, each episode of the first season had an unsettling vibe that was so welcome. They use actors instead of witnesses (having the ‘victims’ of the actual events act out what they went through is a recipe for a dull show…they aren’t actors by any stretch, and their faked fear is not effective…at all.) I don’t know about you, but I like my ghost stories to have a certain amount of eerie punch. “Paranormal Witness” doesn’t disappoint. I am pretty confident that the new season will be as good, or maybe even better than the first. I am certain they will re-air the first season leading up to the second season premiere, but you can also find full episodes of this show by visiting the official show site: http://www.syfy.com/paranormalwitness/ If you dig shows of this genre, this one is a must see.

The second show on my list that’s based on the witness testimony and re-enactment format is “School Spirits”. It can also be found on the SyFy Channel, with the season finale “Frat House Phantom” airing Wednesday, at 10:00 PM/EST. Created by Mark Burnett of “Survivor” fame, and produced by Julie Insogna and Seth Jarett creators of “Celebrity Ghost Stories”, “School Spirits” is based on stories of school hauntings as re-told by students, faculty, and alumni. Here the production values are also of the higher variety. In regards to the structure and content, it is approached with a pen rather than the crayon employed by lesser productions. It is both dramatic and eerie, actors being used in the re-enactments here, as well. As with “Paranormal Witness”, I don’t feel like I have wasted an hour like other shows of the genre. It’s spooky and engaging, two elements that make “School Spirits” a show worth watching. SyFy re-airs episodes here and there, but you can also find full episodes at the site: http://www.syfy.com/schoolspirits/ Recommend it.

(John Zaffis)

Now my regular views switch to the investigative vein, with SyFy’s “Haunted Collector”. Well known in the paranormal field for close to 40 years, lead investigator, John Zaffis, is a researcher, demonologist, and nephew to Ed and Lorraine Warren (the Warrens are best known for their investigative work on the infamous Amityville case). Zaffis and his crew are contacted by people having paranormal troubles, and they investigate. Zaffis has a more unique approach to investigations. His experience is that many hauntings can be attached to specific objects, the theory being if you are able to locate the object and remove it from the site, the hauntings will hopefully cease. Zaffis has consulted all over the world during his years in the paranormal field, and has thousands of haunted items in his eerie museum in Stratford, CT. One famous item is a statue of the Virgin Mary (the hands are missing; they were supposedly melted off during an exorcism) from the Snedeker Case that he worked on with the Warrens. The feature film “The Haunting in Connecticut” (2009) is based on this particular case. I have seen some footage of the inside of Zaffis’ museum, and the collection is quite impressive. Visitors are said to feel eerie energy from the moment they enter the rooms.  I can believe it.

(Zaffis Museum of the Paranormal, Stratford, CT)

(Left to right: John Zaffis, Aimee Zaffis, Chris Zaffis, Jason Gates,
Brian Cano, and Beth Ezzo)

The other members of Zaffis’ team are Chris Zaffis his son (Investigator & Tech), Aimee Zaffis his daughter (Investigator & Researcher), Brian Cano (Tech Specialist), Jesslyn Brown (Investigator), Jason Gates (Investigator & Researcher), and Beth Ezzo (Psychic Investigator). Investigation shows on the whole can annoy me, due to some team members constantly talking, ruining any chances to hear anything. Couple that with injected music and sound effects, and that show will get tossed on my reject pile pretty quickly. Not the case with “Haunted Collector”. The team is always calm, and professional compared to teams on other shows. They always try to find scientific explanations for events before calling them paranormal. Each case ends with an item being located.  Zaffis then adds it to his museum as all clients ask him to. They can always get the item back if removing it from the premises doesn’t help things. Every case so far, it has. “Haunted Collector” is in it’s second season, and airs Wednesday, at 9:00 PM/EST.  You can watch full episodes on the official site: http://www.syfy.com/hauntedcollector/

(Steve DiSchiavi)

The Travel Channel’s “Dead Files” is the final show on my short list. This is a paranormal investigation show with a twist. Steve DiSchiavi is a retired homicide detective who conducts the first part of the investigation. He meets with the client to get the explanation of events. He then questions all relevant sources (past owners, neighbors, etc.), and researches past history of a site. Enter the other half of the investigation team, physical medium Amy Allan. Prior to her arrival at the site, her assistant of sorts, Matt Anderson, goes in and removes or covers all pictures so as not to lead Amy in her psychic impressions. Matt then accompanies her in while she walks the site at night.  There is a camera man with them, but Matt video tapes her, as well, asking salient questions as they move through the site. Steve and Amy do not communicate during the investigation, only divulging their findings to each other at the reveal with the client. It is then that Amy gives the client advice as to how to proceed with their situation. I find this show compelling, and find Amy Allan seemingly credible. You can find recaps of the episodes on the official site, but unfortunately it looks as though they do not have full episodes available: http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-shows/the-dead-files I recommend keeping an eye out for re-airs of this one. “Dead Files” regular night is Fridays, at 10:00 PM/EST.

(Amy Allan)

The above are my regular four viewing choices to feed my paranormal TV requirements each week. All are compelling viewing. Do I think all of the stories are true? Do I think all of the investigators are legit? As someone with an open mind, I think anything is possible. As I mentioned, I have had experiences of my own.  Maybe that allows me to look at things with a different perspective. I do think that there are logical scientific explanations for a lot of things, but I also believe that the paranormal does exist. Whatever you feel about the paranormal, I find these shows entertaining. A quality I look for in most everything I watch...don't you? 

Happy Birthday To Me...

Yesterday (Friday, July 27^th) was my birthday. Number 48. As is often the case, the older one gets, the more ‘old age’ jokes are thrown their way. I had a few tossed in my direction, and I have cracked a few myself. In all cases, they are said in the spirit of fun.  There’s always room for that. Well...some of that...

Yeah, that’s me in the picture. New to the world, with not a worry in sight. Whenever I see a baby, I always think about the fact that I was once that size. That we were all once tiny, innocent (in my case 'chubby') people. I still have a couple of my old baby dresses with matching frilly panties. They were hand made, but I don’t know by whom. Every once in a great while I would come across them looking for something else buried in my closet. Wrapped in tissue paper, I would take out the dresses to look at, marveling that I was once small enough to wear them. They are still in incredible condition.  They could probably be worn again. To be a baby again with not one idea or belief stamped into my brain cells. To start from scratch. From time to time, I think we all have wished that we could start over. That we could erase the things we regretted. That we could do the things we valued over again, and maybe by revisiting them make them better. Obviously, we can’t do that. In this life, we forge ahead and make the best of it. We experience things as they come, and the road markers known as ‘Birthdays’ are one of those things.

Birthdays don’t mean the same thing to me as they did when I was young. In those long past days, I loved being presented with a brightly decorated cake, the blazing candle on top promising me a wish. The excitement of being presented with wrapped packages containing surprise goodies. It was my special day. Another path marker on my route to adulthood. I encountered some rough times growing up, so having those special and positive moments that were all about me…well, they meant something.

These days not so much. Do I think of myself as old? Sometimes. I definitely feel ‘old-er’. In the grand scheme, I’m really not old. I suppose one person’s 48 is different than another person’s 48. Mentally, I feel younger than my age. I have a great sense of humor, and dole out my share of silliness. I enjoy playing video games and watching Anime. Watching scary movies, and exploring the world of the metaphysical are also in there.  I am prone to the occasional celebrity crush (any of my friend’s on Facebook who have seen the plentiful photos I post of Chris Hemsworth as “Thor” can verify that…*grin*...actually, I find it all as funny as other people do).

Physically, I don’t have crow’s feet creased into the outer corners of my eyes, and my brow is unfurrowed. I don’t sport the wattle under my chin that some of my age have. I feel I can safely say that I look a bit younger than my age. (I wanted to post a picture of myself here, which is COMPLETELY out of character for me. I dislike having my picture taken for any reason. Posting my picture on my bio was hard enough for me to do, so the idea of posting a picture of my visage in a blog post…I think “repellant” would be a fitting word. Throwing caution to the wind, I decided to go against my grain and post one. This one’s from several years ago, but I haven’t changed, really.  Plus, I recently got a hair trim, and I have decided that it makes me resemble Professor Snape a bit too much for comfort.) As far as the rest of my frame, I do have problems with my right hand and wrist, and my right knee. Often, trying to put my hand to use can be painful (an annoying thing for someone who likes to create with their hands). All of the time, bending my leg or walking is tricky and hurts. I’m also prone to headaches, and insufferable and tediously long bouts of insomnia. I have Graves’ Disease (hyper-thyroidism), and Rheumatoid Arthritis. In some respects, my body not only feels like it’s falling apart, it is falling apart. I’m not complaining, really, as that solves nothing. I accept my condition (albeit reluctantly) as one can only do what the doctor tells them to do. After that, you just have to figure out what you can do on a day to day basis, and figure out the best way to try and do everything else. Do I feel old? I have my moments. My body is starting to fall apart, and I’m not ready for that to happen. After all, I’m still young. I’ve got a bit more living to do tucked up my sleeve. “You are as young as you feel.” It all depends on one’s mental make-up. That’s what truly affects a person’s core.

My Birthday was a low-key one, which I prefer these days. Glenn, is ill. I have my usual ailments, and a monster of a headache that’s been raging around my skull for going on two-weeks. Aside from braving a quick trip to the grocery store to replenish some essentials, I avoided the heat and humidity by staying inside. I did get some cool prezzies from Glenn. Two neat books about Steampunk design, and a pair of Steampunk themed goggles. My dad and step-mum sent me a lovely card. A number of my Facebook friends filled my Timeline with Birthday wishes. All things considered, it was a good Birthday. Not what my young self would have liked, but completely fine with my adult self.

Happy Birthday to me…

Stormy Weather & Introspection...

(Photo:  Lisa Erin Brown)

The sky deeply rumbles, the scent of impending rain hanging heavily on the breeze. Any time I hear the approach of my favorite mood of Gaia's, I immediately go to the camera, followed immediately by the front door. Those cracks and rumbles booming in the near distance are letting me know that lightning is striking, and rain is falling. Somewhere. Hopefully, close by. I can be having the worst day imaginable, but inject some stormy weather into the mix and my frown will turn upside down in no time. The photo above is the first thing I saw after going outside and looking up. My first thought was of a naturally occurring Yin-Yang. The light meeting the dark. The positive meeting the negative. Duality.

(Photo:  Lisa Erin Brown)

Here on the coast, I get to witness the approach of storms in interesting ways. I have caught the distinct edge of more than one storm pulling itself from inland like a dark fluffy blanket being laid over the marsh. In some ways the weather patterns on the coast can make one feel like you are living on the edge of a shelf. I suppose that's not completely off the mark since the coast kind of drops off as it meets the wide watery expanse of the Atlantic. The sky here is big and blue much like the Atlantic. However, I find the sky is much more interesting. It's moods, it's changes, are more easily witnessed. I enjoy the sky immensely. Some of my favorite things reside in the sky. The Stars. The Moon. The clouds. It is the clouds that called me outside.

(Photo:  Lisa Erin Brown)

I have one specific vantage point of the marshland that I never tire of photographing. I have caught each mood of Mother Earth from that one spot, and each time is as magical as the last. It encapsulates what I love most about the place I live. The trees, the moss, the marsh. It is a corner of the outside world that I craved for so long.  Living in a vast city like Los Angeles can wear on someone from a more beucolic place. Finally, I returned to the Deep South, and the flora and fauna I grew up around. I missed so much of the nature here. And rain...boy, did I miss the rain. Lightning and thunder so angry it shakes a structure to it's very foundation. Heavy rain rhythmically falling in sheets and waves, lulling me into an unequalled state of calm. I have a short list that contains my personal forms of therapy.  Photography is one, as is hanging out in graveyards snapping pictures. The other therapeutic form at the top of my list is rain.

(Photo:  Lisa Erin Brown)

I have been doing quite a bit of introspection over the last few weeks. Trying to push my re-set button in constructive ways. Mentally and emotionally, I have needed to take stock for a long time. Negativity has held more of my energy than I would like. Yes, it has come in fits and starts, but it has had more of an effect on me than I care to admit. It's not a characteristic state for me by any stretch, but it has visited me frequently. Mostly in the form of stress.

Now is the time for some changes. My chief source of stress is almost at its conclusion, so that will be extremely welcome. I am feeling the need to make some strides on my own though. Do some reassessing and readjusting of my head, mainly. The unconscious mind is a funny thing. More funny-strange, than funny-haha. Well, as it is applied to what I'm talking about. Stress and worry can eat away at the core, turning someone into a shadow of their former self. In a way, it's like becoming a prisoner of your own mind. Worrying about the things you can't change or control to the point of derailing your ability to cope and guide the things you do have control over. The result? Feeling like a poor reproduction of the person you once were.

(Photo:  Lisa Erin Brown)

Sounds a tad dramatic, I know. Sad to say that on several levels, that's how I've been feeling. Time for a change though. The most used description of times like this are when people say they are "starting a new life". That phrase has never made sense to me. Yes, I know what it means, but we can't "start a new life" (if only it were that easy). The best we can do is what I have been feeling the need to do...hit the re-set button. Rejuvenate.  Breath life back into life.

One of the main culprits in this bothersome funk is the quashing of my creativity. I am a vastly creative person and not being able to release it in my usual ways has had a definite effect on my mental state. Roughly six or seven years ago, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. As someone who uses their hands a lot (drawing, painting, sewing, etc.), dealing with the restrictive illness has been tough. I have projects already begun that I have wanted to complete, but not being able to get the necessary usage out of my hands has been...well, for lack of a better word, infuriating. It has been a long infuriating and frustrating ride to this point, with not being able to create with my hands. I think I would have gone absolutely bonkers if it hadn't been for my newly discovered creative streak of the last few years, photography. Capturing images in creative ways. Yes, I plan to invest in a better camera as soon as I'm able, but if it weren't for this small digital camera...well, like I said...bonkers...squared!

(Photo:  Lisa Erin Brown)

Now that I have lived with my RA stiffness and pains for awhile, I have figured out ways to side-step the effects. I can start to work on new ways to achieve what I easily produced before. It will still take time, but time is the one constant in everything we do. Everything takes the requisite amount of time.

A book is waiting in my cerebral wings, so to speak. Typing is something I can do. That's why my blog has been my second saving grace. Sharing whatever I want to share. Creating my posts from found and researched information on topics of interest to me (and I hope to others), and creating posts from the wellspring of my own psyche. The compounding daily stresses can also act as a locked and bolted door that blocks the pathways of written words. "Writer's Block". I have been plagued with a bit of that, too. That's all changing though. I'm creating a new head space. One that functions in a stronger capacity. One that functions in a more positive way. Hitting that re-set button. That's what it's all about.

The sky continues to grumble. Looking out across the marsh, I can see the dark malformed puffs of clouds moving across the sky. I have always wanted to set-up the tripod and film the moving clouds. To record just how quickly they move when the weather is 'off'. Gaia is dealing with her own stresses at the moment, with droughts, floods, fires, all kinds of natural dangers. Stormy, angry weather...she has her moods, too. I think she's entitled.

This time of the year brings weeks of forecasts predicting the "possibility" of scattered thunderstorms. That's the weather peoples' way of saying "we don't know what's going to happen, but it could rain". There is a storm friendly breeze blowing, and the grey clouds are moving in. I caught the blazing orange flash of a couple of lightning bolts out of the corner of my eye. Things definitely look as though they are primed for the "bottom to fall out" of the sky. There wouldn't be any complaints made, by me or anyone else.  We sure do need it.

Will it rain today? No one can say with certainty. Whenever Mother Earth decides to fulfill her promises of rain, I'll be here. Pushing the re-set button.

(Photo:  Lisa Erin Brown)