Hakamonapisai

Up Periscope!

2009-10-05T21:08:00.001-04:00

After a long period of being out of the loop...

Keeping focused on the positive ... It works!!!

A Creative Process

2009-05-27T09:51:00.038-04:00

One night I was sitting by my window with the lights off. As I looked to the backyard I noticed a tree near the fence. There was a slight breeze that caused the tree to sway a little. This motion created an image that stuck in my mind. The motion resembled a movement of a charging horse and the shape of the tree reminded me of a samurai warrior. I did not think much of it at the time and went about my usual evening routine. The next night I just happened to glance out the window and immediately saw the samurai but this time I could see his face. Now every time I saw the tree, even during the daytime when my samurai really just looked like a tree, I started to see more details. I decided to create an artistic exercise based on my samurai tree.

I knew that most of this samurai was in my mind so I knew a photograph of the tree would not do it justice. I decided to make a pastel. I started with a pencil drawing and drew the samurai with as much detail as possible. I then used my pastels to overlay the tree. My objective was not to bring out the exact samurai I saw but leave it open to the viewer and keep the essence of the tree. I also wanted to encompass some of the movement of the tree.

Once finished I took a photograph of the pastel.

ST#1

Now that I had a photograph I could start to explore the inner workings of my "samurai-tree".

Using various filters I discovered that my "samurai-tree" changed. Below are some of my observations.

ST#2

In this version the samurai changed to a woman carrying wood in the night. I can see her dress.

ST#3

In this blue-green version it looks more like a bird.

ST#4

Here I see an Indian Goddess

ST#5

I see the samurai again covered in mud after the battle.

ST#6

Here I see the ocean waves crashing against a big rock.

ST#7

This one is what came closest to the samurai I saw. This is because I saw it most clearly at night in mostly black and green.

ST#8

In this one I see more of a king with royal robes walking on a sunny day in his garden. He is lifting the front of his garb to avoid a puddle.

ST#9

Here I see a large rose in a rain shower.

ST#10

This one looks like a Christmas tree.

ST#11

Here I see less samurai and more Peruvian high priest sitting in judgment.

ST#12

Finally, in this one I see the samurai charging forward into battle, hand stretched out.

Amazingly, after I finished the exercise I found this drawing of a samurai on the web. While my samurai had more amour, a bigger saddle, no bow and arrows, and in some versions has his right arm extended and not his left, it is fairly close.

Here is an actual picture of the tree. As I suspected it looks just like a tree but for the purpose of this exercise I wanted to include a picture of it (actually I see it clearly but I suspect that is because I worked on it so much).

Now, as a further experiment, please pick your favorite one (#ST1 - ST12) and tell me why you like it and what you see?

Keep your creative side alive!

Until the next time.
Carpe Diem

The Wonder Drug Garlic

2009-01-12T14:08:00.007-05:00

I recently observed the anti viral effects of garlic on regular and immune compromised individuals.

Everyone hates getting a cold or the flu. I have found that, at the very first sign of a bug coming on, if you take raw garlic you will not get sick.

This is not for the faint of heart for there are some obvious side effects.

Instructions:

At the first hint of getting sick, press two medium teeth of garlic.
(organic preferred)
Place all content of the teeth into a teaspoon.
Have a glass of water and a piece of bread ready.
Quickly swallow the garlic teeth and drink the water.
Then eat some bread and finish the glass of water.

I also suggest you do it after a meal.
If you do it correctly it is not at all bad.

Now, if you are going to be speaking to people you will need some sort of breath mints. The stronger the better as the garlic will effect your breath.

Secondly, you may experience the Garlic Bomb.
These extremely potent farts are a GRFS9 (the Greco-Roman Fart Scale)
With a mustard gas characteristic, these babies can easily clear a room.
If you are going to be in a meeting, you go at your own risk, unless of course you are the boss.

The medical use of garlic goes back for the last 4000 years.
Evil spirits that caused illness were thought to be chased away by garlic.
Amazon River parasites can be eliminated from the system with raw garlic.
This ancient superfood is very powerful.

Good luck and stay healthy.

Until the next time.
Carpe Diem

Attitudes

2008-11-26T15:56:00.007-05:00

Keep your focus on the positive and drawn in the light.

"A woman sees the the morning as the dawn folds the day.
A way of being surely good to moments gone astray.
Hark the night approaching I hear whispers on the wind.
Never fear the dusking will soon become their sin."

In this time of layoffs and economic uncertainty keep your spirits up.
Any chance you get to focus on the positive take it like a fish to water.
Let that moment carry the next several.

Until the next time.
Carpe Diem

Palin

2008-10-03T11:17:00.000-04:00

What Palin might say to any particular question.

"Maverick is what the essential thing that one determines in the economy that is what America needs to regulate foreign policy that John McCain is on America working Joes that the soccer mom needs to be a maverick. So in closing the regular people like me know that one can be clear that the need is ... Read Morewhat we needed in the future to go and make sure we don't discuss the pass to not repeat that Maverick in the maverick of mavericks of the American people. Go John McCain!"

Until the next time.
Carpe Diem

Master Cleanser/Lemonade Diet 4

2008-09-26T09:53:00.004-04:00

Well, I am 3 days out from breaking the cleanse and I feel great. I went 10 days without eating any solid food and now feel energized and focused. Last night I watched the season premier of The Office and one of the characters was doing the cleanse ( to lose weight, something I discourage since the weight usually just comes right back). They made her make-up look terrible so she looked sick and then she passed out at work. If this had really happened to her I would have told her to make sure she was drinking enough lemonade, increase the maple syrup a little in the mixture and drink more water. The fact that she became so sick with the cleanse only shows that she had a lot of toxins in her system. Additionally, when she went to the hospital they had to give her several bags of saline meaning she was dehydrated: she was not drinking enough. She probably was drinking less because she thought she would lose more weight, wrong. The show portrayed the cleanse as something only crazy people do which is sad because it potentially could help a lot of people. Of course the cleanse is not for everyone and certain medical conditions must be considered but most people can do it. It just takes great will power and the ability to follow the directions. I know it was just a show but sadly in today's culture TV has great power and it would be a shame if it turned some people off to the cleanse.

Until the next time.
Carpe Diem

Master Cleanser/Lemonade Diet 3

2008-09-22T14:54:00.002-04:00

Day 9 of the Master Cleanser and I am doing well. Really looking forward to eating again. It never fails to blow my mind during the cleanse that you don't eat any solid food. Nothing really to report except one more day to go! Yeah Baby YEAH!

Until the next time.
Carpe Diem

Master Cleanser/Lemonade Diet 2

2008-09-19T11:57:00.002-04:00

OK, day 6 and I am feeling great. As always, the most difficult part is getting the salt water flush down every morning, yuck! Another side effect of doing the cleanse is bionic smelling. I can smell everything, good and bad. Since I am the only one in my house doing the cleanse this time there are fabulous food smells that come up from the kitchen. And all of a sudden I am craving KFC which is strange because I never eat there. Anyway, only 4 more days to go.

Until the next time.
Carpe Diem

Master Cleanser/Lemonade Diet

2008-09-15T16:37:00.003-04:00

I am now currently on day 3 of the Master Cleanser. This will be about the 14th time I have done this and so far it is going well. Every cleanse is different for me with some being harder than others. I remember one, number 9 I think, that was so difficult I thought I was doing it wrong. I barely made it the full 10 days. But then I recall cleanse number 12 that was so easy. Now I am sure some of you are wondering, "Why do you do the cleanse?" Besides the obvious answers of detoxing the body and cleaning my insides, I do it to treat my condition. I have my blood work checked about 4 times a year due to kidney issues and have seen my numbers improve with the cleanse. I also feel better over all with more energy and gain a sharper focus. Now, the cleanse is not for everyone and as mentioned, can be very difficult. Watching TV is very hard because of the number of commercials about food. The cravings get really tough around day 5 for me but I always seem to manage. The worst aspect of the cleanse is the salt water flush that is really horrible! Other people use laxative tea but I was not able to handle that. If you are at all curious about trying it, drop me a line and I will share what I know from my experiences. For you nay sayers, my doctor, an old school, well know and respected MD, now thinks that the cleanse has done me a great deal of good based on my blood tests and fully supports me doing it. "And the times they are a changin..."

Until the next time. Carpe Diem.

9/11

2008-09-11T09:58:00.001-04:00

I remember standing in my CEO's office looking south at the towers from 21st and B'way. The North Tower looked like a giant had taken a bite out of it. My mind could not process the image; it looked like a movie to me. "This could not be real." All the others in the office had already gone when I saw the first tower fall. It happened so fast. I had to sit from the shock and was numb with sadness. "So many people and a couple friends in there." When the second tower fell it was like being kicked in gut once you were all ready down from a previous blow. The next few days are a bit of a blur with most of us in the city numb. Union Square became a central gathering point for desperate family members searching for love ones. Several times I was approached by them clutching to photos of their loved ones asking me, "Have you seen this person?" I cried a lot that week. In honor of those who died I say a prayer today. I will not forget you. As for my friends, they made it out alive with gruesome tales of carnage. They were very lucky. Be safe and God Bless you all.

Following the Dream

2008-08-01T14:53:00.006-04:00

I have a couple of friends that each, in their own right, is doing what they love to do. This is something to be applauded and admired. One is a cartoonist/artist and the other a game designer. Both obsess over what they do, always doing a quick sketch or playing a game and both recently have achieved new levels of success. I am so very happy for them. They have worked very hard to get what they have won and keep pushing forward. They represent the fact that you can follow your dreams and make it work. My hat is off to them both and if you know me, you know that I often wear a hat which at this very moment is off in salute.

Cheers!

The Historic Fart

2008-07-16T18:06:00.006-04:00

Circa 1978
My brother Peter was in the basement when I heard him call, "come quick, hurry, now!"
I flew down the stairs as fast as I could run, jumping several steps due to the urgency of my older brother's plea. My mind was a torrent of thoughts. Was it a mouse, a bat, a turkey, maybe even fireworks? As I hit the landing I sprinted around the corner and down the hall towards the room where Peter was calling. Then, as if running into a field of mustard gas I hit what seemed like a solid wall of invisible shit. Being a little winded I took several deep breaths of the noxious gas and fell to my knees thinking I was going to vomit. "Ha ha ha ha...." was what I heard from the room ahead. "What a masterpiece, isn't it?" After crawling out of the "danger zone" and sitting for a few minutes Peter suggested we get some more people as the potency was not diminishing. One by one we lured the unsuspecting victims of our family down with even visitors not being spared the onslaught. Without fear of exaggeration, I can safely say the smell lasted over an hour and provided great laughs at the various responses. You would have thought my sister had caught fire. Some of the victims exclaimed,"Oh my God! That is not normal. You should see a doctor!" Even the next day there was still the faintest hint. So potent was that flatulation that 30 years later those who were unfortunate enough to encounter the deadly beast still recall it with great disgust and respect. It has come to be know in my circle as "The Fart." This is a true account save for changing my brother's name to protect the innocent or rather the not innocent.

Until the next time.

BBQ

2008-07-02T20:27:00.004-04:00

Love the BBQ! I do but am a bit of a purist when it comes to the flame. Granted it is more work but I strongly prefer cooking over a wood fire. I also am a big fan of the Weber grill design. Put the two together and you get perfection. The best hamburger I ever had was one I cooked using that combo. The reason they work so well together is that you can control the flame with the lid of the Weber while optimizing the smoke. You need to stay on top of the fire while you are cooking. If you leave the lid on too long the fire will die and if you leave it off too long the food will burn.

Different types of wood give you different flavors. Now, if you can't find any wood or just don't want to deal with a wood fire, you can always get wood chips from the store. My favorite is hickory. Soak them for at least a half hour and then throw them on the coals. The coals should be white hot and totally ready. This is a good simulation of a wood fire since it gives you all that good smoke flavor.

One minor draw back to both methods is that you end up smelling like a wood fire. Not an unpleasant smell but not one you want lingering around. Humm, time for a shower... see post on robes.

Until the next time.
Carpe Diem

Origins of Hakamonapisai

2008-06-30T12:26:00.000-04:00

The name "Hakamonapisai" comes from an old silly commercial for AT&T (I think?) where they were pitching that you would not be charged if you happened to dial a wrong number. In the commercial someone is trying to dial Frankfurt and they get a beach in Figi. A guy at a beach side hut answers the phone says,"Hakamonapisai" or something like that. I could never understand what he said so it became a sort of joke and how I answer the phone from time to time.

Bath Robes

2008-06-29T19:44:00.000-04:00

Like many guys, I enjoy a good shower or bath. About seven months ago I stumbled into a method of drying myself off that is not only very efficient and fast but feels great. I had always been a fan of the terrycloth robes. They are great because they are very absorbent and dry off any areas that might have been missed by the standard towel. Then my wonderful wife bought me a very soft microfiber plush robe. Now while not nearly as absorbent as the terrycloth robe, it was exponentially softer. I was facing a dilemma because I assumed that I had to get rid of one, with the logical choice being the older terrycloth robe. Then I noticed something that my wife was doing. She had always used her terrycloth robe as her primary dryer, using the regular bath towel for her hair. This gave me an idea, so I decided to forgo my usual drying with the regular bath towel and go straight to the terrycloth robe. Drying was quick and thorough. I even dried my head by just pulling the robe over top my shoulders. I then hung up the terrycloth robe, inside out to dry and slipped into my microfiber plush robe. It felt wonderful. Eureka! I found my new drying method. Of course, you do need two robes for this method but I highly recommend it. Until the next time.