I read an interesting article, called “Trickle Theory” (via Photo Matt) this morning. The short and simple version of the article is if you have a seemingly insurmountable task on your to-do list, just start it. Getting even a small amount done will help silence your inner critic that says it can’t be done at all. You’ll build some momentum and maybe even revise your estimate of how much work the task requires. He also suggests taking a break to do something else if the task is one of these long boring ones. The break will stimulate you and leave you refreshed to continue slugging away at it.

Interestingly enough, I’ve found myself doing this recently. I have songs to score for pan and usually I put it off saying it will take too long to get through them. More recently I started telling myself to just start and at least get through the introduction of the song and if it’s still too much then I can do something else. Before I know it I’m saying, “ok, let me just work to the end of the verse“, then it’s “alright, I’ll stop after the chorus“. And on the occasion when I find my progress slowing, I just switch to one of the many other things I always have lying around that I could be doing.

So this approach is workable. Now I just need to apply it to writing my speech for the exhibition opening on Sunday. Just one paragraph, B, just one.

I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of synaesthesia (the linking of senses, e.g. hearing music when looking at paintings). I can only think it would bring about a greater understanding of your art, whatever it is. In that vein I wrote this poem, after seeing this week’s prompt over at Poetry Thursday.

A soft strumming
Pricking through the dark
Spreading brightness
As the music swells

Voices in chorus
Like brush strokes
A rainbow of sound
Filling the air around me

Words washing over
Wrapping me in blue
Surround my heart
In soft comfort

Then slowly a warmth
Churning like red blood
Racing through my veins
Your song is in my soul

Last night I was set to pass through Village Café for the birthday get-together of a friend of a friend. As it turned out, another friend of mine was singing backup for the headline act, Camar, and yet another friend of mine was going to be drumming for someone else. So 3 good reasons to hit Village’s Tuesday Night Live.

The first act was Aluta Continua, a reggae singer backed by a great group of musicians. The words were hard to hear but the music was great. Kudos to the bassist, keyboardist and, of course, the drummer, all of whom really carried the set for me. Following that we heard from M’lonie, who does some catchy dancehall-reggae songs but didn’t grab my attention.

The big hit for the night was the performance of Camar, backed by the talented guys from Airplai. Now as I said above, I was really supporting one of the backup singers, MG, who’ll soon be doing his own thing, but I was won over by Camar. Though he apparently has a dancehall persona (Flavr Unit), last night was about his soulful side. His songs definitely have a sexy groove, and I’m not just saying that because I got serenaded up close in “Butterfly” (the last time I stand in the front row) :mrgreen:. Simple timeless messages - love, beauty, non-violence to women - plus a sultry sound: look out for big things from Camar in the future.

Thom Quinn, over at The QLog, makes a point about striving to have a better than “nice day”. He mentions a friend of his who routinely tells people to have a “Bluetiful Day“. He suggests that we think of “all the wonderful days in your life when you have noticed that there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky…when the sun shone brightly while the outstretched blue sky dared you to smile wide”.

Interestingly, that’s the reason why sky blue is my favourite colour. It’s why the main colour on this site is sky blue. It’s why my bedroom walls are sky blue. The colour makes me think of lying on the beach, staring up at a completely clear blue sky, not a cloud in sight, just perfectly happy. So it seems I was already in touch with how to have a “bluetiful day”.

Whew! There’s something about looking back at the tangible product of a hard day’s work that makes you feel very accomplished. Can’t wait to see the whole thing set up. Check it out next week starting on October 1 at the Philip Sherlock Centre, U.W.I.

Wonders never cease! Having shared with you all, the 30,000 calorie sandwich, the $1000US sundae and then the £85 sandwich, my journey through amazing menu items continues with the world’s most expensive marmalade. How expensive? Well, a single slice of toast would need about £76 worth of marmalade. The entire jar will run you £5000!!

The marmalade was created by jam maker F. Duerr & Sons Ltd. to mark its 125th anniversary and features the following:

• the finest cut Seville oranges
• vintage Dalmore 62 whisky from Whyte & Mackay (valued at £32,000 per bottle)
• topped off with a splash of Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 1996 vintage champagne
• garnished with flakes of 24-carat gold leaf
• encased in a custom-made crystal jar valued at £1,100

Duerr’s initial plan was to make the exclusive marmalade a one-off effort, with the one-kilo jar being auctioned on eBay to raise money for the Manchester Kids charity. They found the taste so spectacular, however, that they are investigating the possibility of incorporating it into their regular product line with slightly less exotic ingredients. Not sure my budget will cover even the cheaper version though. I’ll just have to stick to my plain jam.

I usually advise my friends to not set their hopes too high. I do advocate dreaming and setting goals but too high expectations can lead to disappointment. I manage to follow my own advice sometimes, especially where it comes to people. I’ve learnt not to expect too too much and then people have room to pleasantly surprise me. Of course that’s not the same as not having any standards at all - just saying to be more realistic.

But every now and again, life throws a curve. Something great piques your interest, so much so that in spite of yourself you start hoping, and wishing, and dreaming… Doesn’t always work out the way you’d want.

I’m tired of the sameness –> Looking for something

I still look for you online every day.

(But it’s getting better)

Hours spent chatting in a day:  7 or 8

Hours of sleep lost in a week: about 15

Number of new pains from sitting at desk: 2

Making a new friend: PRICELESS