Wordless Wednesday

Picasso for Dummies (Yep, you wanna read it!)

I do like to try my hand at lots of creative things, but when it comes to art I just couldn't be more clueless. Nevertheless, I do love going to art galleries and staring at the paintings. I never know what I'm looking at, but it excites and enthralls me all the same. So today, I decided to visit the Art Gallery of Ontario particularly to see the Picasso exhibit. And WOW, oh wow.... 

So, my dear friends, I have decided to tell you about Picasso through the eyes of an Art-Dummy. 

Ready? Okay, GO.

Celestina (The Woman With One Eye) (Barcelona, March 1904) 

I don't know what it is about this painting. It's not exactly pretty, but I kind of fell in love with it. It's from Picasso's Blue Period, 1901-1904. After this, he cheered up a little. He was inspired by theatre and circus, so he ditched the blue and grey tones for warmer pinks and browns- the Rose Period. :)

Violin (Paris, 1915)

Picasso experimented with 'cubism', which apparently is where you try to capture as many views of a 3D object into one image. I thought that was pretty cool. :)

The Acrobat (1930)

This guy is all limbs, and looks pretty rubbery. Picasso painted him to represent the recurring nightmares he had as a kid where his limbs would be stretched and shrunk repeatedly, and the same would happen to everyone around him. Cool, eh? I did not just say 'eh'. I am not becoming Canadian. 

Painting: The Kiss (Mougina, December 28 1969) 

I should be repulsed by the story, but anyhoo. This is of Picasso and his 2nd wife, Jacqueline Roque, who was 45 years his junior. Yuck. Picasso's buddy John Richardson said " Jacqueline had made up her mind fairly early on, I think, that she was going to sacrafice herself on the altar of his art. And sacrafice herself she did." Oh, and Jacqueline inspired more of his work than any other woman in his life. :) 

Pooh & Piglet (Toronto, circa 2010)

And this piece is not a Picasso original, but it also grabbed my attention today. Pooh Bear, you be so gangsta. 

That's all. 

Dear Friday

(My blog is set to Irish time, but it's still Friday here in Canada!)

Dear Zach, painting with you is so much fun, kiddo. We can't tell what the future has in store for you, but I can guarantee you will do something with your wonderful creativity. :)

Dear Mr Caterpillar, little Liam and I had a lot of fun playing with you in the back garden. Liam has been asking for you quite a lot ever since.

Dear Pretty Purple Phone, thanks to you and your wonderful photo-taking abilities, I have become one of those people who takes photos of absolutely everything, including their lunch.

Dear Kina Grannis, I cannot believe you replied to my email!!! Proof that you are one of the sweetest musicians in existence. :)

Dear Ants, Zach was not very impressed at you guys eating his Goldfish crackers. He doesn't like to share food, even if it falls on the ground.

Love always,
Orla

PS~ I would love it if you would check out my newest YouTube video :) And I would love it even more if you could subscribe to me! Thanks :)

PPS~ I just realised I'm wearing the same blazer in the photo with Kina Grannis as I am in the video. Just a random bit of info there for ya. 

So You Wanna Be A Nurse?

Oh my goodness... I had almost forgotten we filmed this. I was chosen as the spokesperson for nursing at my university, and... well the video speaks for itself! Maybe I'll catch one or two of you Irish girls who are searching for the right university or the right course? And of course we get a lot of international students as well, so even if you're not from Ireland this may be of interest to you.

Or I guess you could just laugh at how nervous I am or how shiny my forehead is... :-P

The Man Who Changed The World

Last week, I went with the family I work for to Niagara on the Lake. We stayed in a beautiful house with 15 people for 5 days. It was crazy and wonderful and all that's in between. :) And I got to do a lot of reading by the pool... Yes, I have a pretty tough job. 

One of the books I read was 'How Shakespeare Changed Everything' by Stephen Marche. I sat with my feet dangling in the warm water while the kiddos were swimming, and turned page after page til I was done- what an interesting read! 

An extract... You should really read this, it's long (and I will try to shorten it), but had me in fits of giggles! 

"If you cannot understand my argument, and declare "It's Greek to me," you are quoting Shakespeare; if your lost property is vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have been tongue-tied, hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have knitted your brows, insisted on fair play, slept not one wink, laughed yourself into stitches, had short shrift, cold comfort or too much of a good thing, if you have seen better days or lived in a fool's paradise- why, be that as it may, the more fool you, for it is a foregone conclusion that you are (as good luck would have it) quoting Shakespeare; if you think it is high time and that that is the long and short of it, if you believe that the game is up and the truth will out even if it involves your own flesh and blood, then- to give the devil his due- if the truth were known (for surely you have a tongue in your head) you are quoting Shakespeare; even if you bid me good riddance and send me packing, if you wish I was dead as a doornail, if you think I am an eyesore, a laughing stock, the devil incarnate, bloody-minded or a blinking idiot, then- by Jove! O Lord! Tut tut! For goodness' sake! What the dickens! But me no buts- it is all one to me, for you are quoting Shakespeare." 

Well, I hope I didn't bore you to tears. If you read this whole post, then I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. :) Or maybe I'm just a dork. 

Love & Passion{fruit}

(I am about to share with you a page from my diary. I never do this, but it's so special that I think you should get to read it.) 

July 2nd, 2012

Starbucks, Toronto

I think I am witnessing the beginning of a new relationship. :) I was here a few hours ago reading with a yummy vanilla latté, and I noticed a man and a woman sitting at adjacent tables talking. He is in his late 40s, and has the kindest eyes and a receding hairline. She is younger, though only slightly. She is Asian, with silky hair brushing her shoulders and noticeable laugh lines vouching for her happy personality. They were both sipping the remaining drops of their passion fruit iced teas, their chairs turned awkwardly to face each other. It made me smile. :)

Now, 3 hours later, I have returned for yet another vanilla latté (I guess my secret addiction is out now...), and they are sitting at one table, which is cluttered with empty cups of what was presumably passion fruit iced tea, and I can hear them sharing stories of their college days and hopes for the future. There is something undeniably comforting and heartwarming about witnessing two grown adults reduced to the nervous flirting and chit chat of pre-teens. I love it. 

And... They just left. Together. :)