London - Day 1

Sunrise Over London by Finijo

I arrived at Heathrow as the sun came up. After 18 long hours, I finally reached my destination via Calgary. Even though it was a long trip, I enjoyed every bit of it thoroughly. From the five hours spent in the Calgary airport, to the in flight movies, to my seat next to the toilet on the plane. Every minute of my trip was an adventure. London Ghosts by Finijo

From Heathrow, I took the Underground Picadilly Line to Russell Square, I walked a couple of blocks to my hotel, the Tavistock in Bloomsbury. It was the perfect location, near the British Museum and everything seemed to be just a quick bus/metro ride or walk from Tavistock Square. After a brisk walk on my first crisp night in London, Andy and I had a lovely dinner at Cosmoba.

Street Art - Ack and Weah

Weah at Dusk (and Sober?) by Finijo

I got out and took some shots of street art around Montrose and on Almeda Rd. at X L Parts. I love that building because it is covered with a variety of artists' work. There are at least 10 artists who have adorned this building with their talent.

Ack! at Dusk by Finijo

I love the colors and it is especially vibrant at dusk and dawn. The trick is getting the shot before the sun goes down. Ack's work is distinct, colorful, and full of humor. Once you are introduced to his characters, you will always recognize a work by Ack. Documenting street art in Houston is one of my favorite things to do - seriously. There is so much happening all the time.

Two Against One by Finijo

If you open your eyes and really look at Houston, you will see that there is an incredibly vibrant art movement afoot. I am always disappointed when people say, "Yeah, I kind of saw it, but I didn't really look at it," when I am describing a new piece I have come across.

Weah's Fire Breather by Finijo

This piece by Weah (like most of his work) is a wonderfully complex figure comprised of organic and geometric shapes. I can see both an Asian and the Aztec influence and it is positively stunning to me.

Weah vs. Ack by Finijo

It's overexposed, but you can see the full work here. Where else do you find a collaborative piece in such disparate styles? I think the juxtaposition of work by these two artists is a wonderful visual analogy of Houston. There is beauty and humor in the mix and I feel very lucky to be in Houston while the artistic energy is flowing so freely. I can't imagine what Houston would be like if it stops.

Eyecon by Eyesore

Eyecon in Orange and Blue by Eyesore

For Karim's birthday, I contacted Eyesore and asked him if he would be willing to do a commissioned piece. He said he would and the result is magnificent. It was a great experience meeting the artist and his daughter. Karim LOVES the finished product and now owns his first piece of original art.

Mixed Media Workshop

Falling In Love With Someone by Finijo

I went to the Mixed Media Workshop at Mariposa Studio this afternoon and the photo above shows what I churned out in about 2 hours. I enjoyed the workshop and Jodie and David Gonzales inspire creativity. Lately, I have been having trouble initiating projects at home, but going to the workshops at Mariposa seems to have jump started my creative juices. I hope some of you decide to join me at Mariposa, because the experience is great for beginners and experienced artists alike. The next workshop is another Chagall and Chardonnay, this Thursday, August 26th.

The piece includes silk flowers, scrap book paper, silver leaf, circuitry from a defunct keyboard, produce netting, a bug trapped in wax from Hurricane Ike, and bees wax.

Symbol

I saw this symbol on Yahoo News today and the title of the article was: Do You Know What This Symbol Means? It was immediately clear to me that this is the symbol for "Your Ass Is Getting Fat." The article mentioned that the symbol is "idiot proof," so I read further and found that it is , in fact, the warning symbol for low tire pressure. I am an idiot :(

All My Friends Are Superheroes

I just finished reading All My Friends are Superheroes by Andrew Kaufman this morning. I just started reading it last night. It is a very short book, 108 pages, and it is wonderful. Kaufman wrote a quirky, funny little book. It is also romantic and a little sad. I would love to see the characters of the book populate a TV series or a series of movies. It wouldn't be like Iron Man or Batman, because the superheroes are all fairly average people who have discovered the thing about them that makes them extraordinary. For some it is a blessing, for others a curse, and for the reader, it is a couple of hours of reading joy.

Response from ADL

Tolerance Bridge - Houston, Texas

Fri, August 13, 2010 10:06:22 PM

Re: Your inquiry regarding ADL position on Islamic Community Center at Ground Zero
From: Karen West View Contact
To: "Bernstein, Jodi"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Ms. Bernstein,

I appreciate your response to my inquiry. Before writing my message to the ADL, I read the ADL's complete original statement. I read it again when you sent me the link and must say, while I understand the ADL's position on the subject, I am not in agreement for the reasons that I previously stated.

Again, I do appreciate that you took the time respond.

Karen West

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Bernstein, Jodi"
To: finijo@yahoo.com
Sent: Tue, August 10, 2010 10:56:18 AM
Subject: Your inquiry regarding ADL position on Islamic Community Center at Ground Zero

Dear Ms. West:

On behalf of the Southwest Region of the Anti-Defamation League, thank you for your input regarding ADL’s position on the proposed Islamic Community Center near Ground Zero. As you may have heard, the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission has determined not to designate the site as a landmark, clearing the way for the proposed Islamic Community Center is to be built. In light of this development, it is important for the community – and the extended community of interested parties around the country -- to move forward in a positive way.

If you have not yet read ADL’s full position, we encourage you to read it and the other articles below.

The complete original ADL statement.

Abraham Foxman’s Huffington Post article, The Mosque at Ground Zero

A Wall Street Journal article entitled “WTC Mosque, Meet the Auschwitz Nuns; Pope John Paul offers a model of tolerance for a heated controversy.”

We hope you will continue to keep abreast of ADL news, programs and services at the national website, www.adl.org. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.

Jodi Bernstein
Senior Associate Director
Anti-Defamation League - Southwest Region
4635 Southwest Freeway, Suite 400
Houston, TX 77027
Ph. 713-627-3490 Ext. 124
Fax 713-627-2011
jodi.bernstein@adl.org

Anti-Defamation League Errs

I am absolutely mortified by the stance the ADL has taken against the building of the Islamic cultural center near ground zero in New York City. If ever there was a way to show the terrorists who perpetrated the horror of 9/11, it would be to stand up proudly and show them that we will not only rebuild, but we will do so with tolerance and love. There is no other weapon that will defeat the hate that spawns terrorism - period. After 10 years of fighting, bloodshed, and loss of life, we must face that taking arms will not solve the problem of terrorism. It is time we tried something different, something radical - the use of ideas, tolerance, and understanding.

Blocking the Islamic cultural center is short sighted at the very least, but it is at it's essence an act of religious intolerance. Opposition to the Islamic cultural center is as ludicrous as opposition to a Catholic church near the memorial at the site of the Murrah Federal Building bombing by Timothy McVeigh, based on his Catholic upbringing. Fear is not the way forward, it is the way to stay mired in an untenable position.

Because I cannot put it better myself I am quoting Fareed Zakaria in the article in Newsweek:

The ADL’s mission statement says it seeks “to put an end forever to unjust and
unfair discrimination against and ridicule of any sect or body of citizens.” But
Abraham Foxman, the head of the ADL, explained that we must all respect the
feelings of the 9/11 families, even if they are prejudiced feelings. “Their
anguish entitles them to positions that others would categorize as irrational or
bigoted,” he said. First, the 9/11 families have mixed views on this mosque.
There were, after all, dozens of Muslims killed at the World Trade Center. Do
their feelings count? But more important, does Foxman believe that bigotry is OK
if people think they’re victims? Does the anguish of Palestinians, then, entitle
them to be anti-Semitic?

What I can (and did) do is to contact the ADL and voice my disappointment in the shameful position they took when they put aside the mission of their organization to pander to fear and hatred. I am not unsympathetic to the pain that 9/11 caused the families, but I do not agree with their stance on this issue. This is the message I sent the ADL:

My father is Jewish and my mother is Catholic. I have been Buddhist for more
than 20 years. In my life and in my home I practice religious tolerance and I
have believed my whole life that the ADL stood for the principles that I was
raised with and that this country was founded on. The stance taken by the ADL
against the building of the Islamic cultural center in New York is wrong. It is
an example of fear based religious intolerance, which I have always believed the
ADL to be fighting. Shame on the ADL for not practicing as it has preached. I
truly hope that this decision will be rectified.

Fareed Zakaria returned both the plaque and the $10,000 honorarium he received from the ADL in 2005 when he was awarded the Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize. Zakaria's return of the award and the money will likely subject him to ridicule and possibly cost him professionally and financially, but he used his First Amendment right to speak his conscience in a very public way. In my small way, I voice my solidarity.

Crowded House Show

This is video that I shot of Neil Finn singing Private Universe at the fantastic Crowded House show at Stubbs in Austin, Texas. Marilyn and I got to meet Neil Finn and even got a photo with him. Then we got to see the band in action and were enthralled with the show. This was Marilyn's first time seeing them live, but I was lucky enough to see them in 1991 when they played Houston. We braved the heat of a sultry August night in Austin and sweat buckets for the wonderful experience of seeing Neil Finn and Crowded House. I would do it again, given the chance.

Neil Finn has been the source of tears twice in my life. The first was on my 16th birthday when I wept silently on an air plane as I was headed to Little Rock to see family and lamented the fact that I would miss the Split Enz show at Numbers that night. The second time I cried was 1996 when I was freshly out of the hospital after being diagnosed with Lupus and heard the news that Crowded House had disbanded. It just made me very sad to think that I would not have the opportunity to see them live again. They were so very good during this show that I was nothing but a grinning fool from the moment we snapped the photo with Neil Finn till I fell asleep that night back at the hotel room.

The Austin Motel

Polkadot Surprise Room 145 by Finijo

We stayed at the Austin Motel when we came to Austin for the Crowded House show at Stubbs. It is truly a funky and strange hotel. Each room is different and each one has a theme. We stayed in the Polkadot Surprise room with wall paper from 1969. The beds had odd turquoise chenille bed spreads and there were multicolored dingle berries on the terry cloth rugs at the foot of each bed.

Yellow Flowers by Finijo

There was original art in the room that was surely purchased at a yard sale or second hand shop, but it added to the, ahem...ambiance. Each and every room is different and spectacularly kitsch. We were relieved to find that the beds were comfortable and welcome after sweating ourselves silly at Stubbs.

Polkadot Bathroom by Finijo

The bathroom is very old fashioned and the towels are the opposite of luxurious, but we truly enjoyed it. The whole place as a very Austin feel to it. Eclectic and leaning towards hippie-esque. You start to get the vibe when you enter the office to check in and smell incense as you peruse the collection of chachkies and odd collectibles that serve as interior design.

Blue Impressionism by Finijo

Marilyn and I both agreed that we would reframe the art in the room and hang it. This painting was the hands down favorite. No telling who the artist is, but we would like to thank him/her for making us smile. The motel set the mood for our visit to Austin and at $100.00 even (they do not accept discounts), we feel like we got our money's worth.

Painted Wood by Finijo

Notice the painted wood dresser and desk resting on the saltillo tile. While you are at it, don't miss the TV from the 1990's and the polkadot tin can trash can. We would definitely stay at the Austin Motel again in the future, but we are thinking that we will spring for one of the suites that overlook the hotel pool next time. Very cool vibe and very nice employees - we enjoyed our stay here.

Chagall and Chardonnay

Love Floats by Finijo

I had a good birthday week this year. I treated myself to a workshop at Mariposa Studio, Chagall and Chardonnay. It was great to sit around and paint with a group of strangers who all just wanted to create something. There were all levels of experience and ability in the room and more importantly, everyone had a good time. I will go again when they have the multimedia workshop in August. This is the little painting I produced during the workshop. It's nothing like a Chagall, I think I had some subconscious things to work out through my painting. I am not sure if it's done or not, but it felt good to exercise (and exorcise) my creativity.

156 Gallon Rain Barrel (YAY!!!)

We finally bought a rain barrel - a purchase that has been on our minds for 4 years. I am really excited and can't wait for it to arrive.

I still want two more (smaller and more aesthetically pleasing) for the front of the house, but this is the largest one at a reasonable price we could find. I am very excited. It is collapsible, so if a hurricane comes, we can break it down. It is also 2 - 3 times the size of the rain barrels that I have previously found. I have the perfect place for it under a seam in our roof that turns into a waterfall whenever it rains. It also puts it in close proximity to our patio, which means easier access to water for our vegetables and herbs.

It feels like we are making strides in our efforts to be green. We still use our composter faithfully and I am amazed at how we keep putting food and organic debris into it (for 3 years now) and have never taken anything out of it, yet it still does not get full. The smell is self contained and the critters that live inside are content to live their life of ease and stay put, since they are regularly fed.

These are the specs on the Rain Barrel from the seller and you can find it on Ebay for about $100.00 including shipping.

Going Green has never been so easy!

The 156 Gallon Collapsible Rain Water Barrel is a fantastic way to recycle naturally occurring rainwater for use with your lawn and garden. Place it beneath your downspout to collect water from your roof and gutters, and attach a hose to the bottom to distribute the freshly collected water at your leisure.

Product Features:

* Collapses for storage
* No tools required, assembles in minutes
* Economical and environmentally friendly
* 156 gallon capacity
* Zip open lid for dipping
* Heavy duty UV resistant vinyl
* Easy on-off dual tap spout for use with included clear 6 foot hose, or convert to use with a standard garden hose

Specifications :

* Weight:13 lbs
* Assembled Dimensions: 31.5" Diameter x 47 "H
* Includes
* 156 Gallon Collapsible Rain Barrel
* Carry Bag
* 6 foot clear hose

UPDATE 03/20/11 - I got rid of the rain barrel yesterday during yard maintenance. While it collects beautifully and never leaked a bit, it kept tipping over. My yard is not flat enough where I need it. I would recommend it for someone who is willing to level the ground before setting it up. I am now looking for a hard plastic model and think I will pick one up from Whole Foods for about $120.00.

Plop

Karim's Plop by Finijo

Karim is renovating his new house and I arrived in time to see a worker shoveling cement into the strange downstairs bathroom (it is actually below floor level) through the bathroom window. It actually looks like what I imagine a dinosaur plop would look like. I can't wait to see how the house turns out.

Eclectic Menagerie Park

Armadillo by Finijo

Texas Pipe & Supply is just off 288 South past Almeda Road. The business has sponsored this sculpture park since 1999. The website for the business says the sculptures are done by "a local artist," but they don't list the artist by name.

Long Armadillo by Finijo

My favorite piece is the armadillo. The artist used such incredible detail on this piece from the plates on its back to the expression on the armadillo's face. The statues in this park are on a grand scale and remind me of the roadside attractions that used to be so prevalent when we were kids.

Roadrunner by Finijo

There is a variety of sculpture from animals and insects to rockets and air planes. The picture above depects the roadrunner, a spider and a rocket.

Three Cows by Finijo

Next to a load of pipe is one of the more colorful additions to the park. The three cows on the raised platform look like art cows.

Grasshopper by Finijo

This is a zebra striped grasshopper with a white rhinor and an eagle in the background. I think the reason I enjoy seeing this odd menagerie so much is because it is just so "Texas." You can find odd roadside attractions all over America, but the scale of this project is grand enough to fill the wide open spaces that are Texas.

Almeda Abandoned

Spanish Village on Almeda by Finijo

I shot some urban decay on Almeda next to the Spanish Village Restaurant. There are several gutted buildings along that road that are very attractive to an urbex with a camera. I only wish I was able to actually get inside the building.

Inside the Walls by Finijo

I was able to get this shot only by standing up on some debris and shooting blindly over the wall. I still can't figure out exactly what I am looking at here. The two staircases mirror each other and are interesting, but I have no idea what this chamber is.

Reflective Decay by Finijo

I had to aim through a crack in the padlocked doors to get this shot. I think it is my favorite of the set. Even in the middle of a roofless, gutted building, art can be found. What looks like graffiti is a message to anyone who ventures inside these old walls - Unity.

Daniel Anguilu

Jungle photo by Finijo

I have been taking a lot of photos of the art around Houston's streets over the last few years, and I have found many great artists. Daniel Anguilu's aerosol murals are some of the best I have seen in Houston. Anguilu started as a graffiti artist, but has moved far beyond that beginning with a style that transcends graffiti and puts him into the realm of a fine artist.

Bridge photo by Finijo

I started to notice his work all over Midtown, Montrose, and the East End, and I am compelled to photograph his work wherever I find it. I am struck by the themes in his work as much as his style of painting. I am fascinated by his juxtaposition of the urban scenes built into the animals he paints.

Bridge by Nouveau photo by Finijo

Anguilu uses angular and organic forms to construct the animals in his aerosol murals. In one video made about him, he mentioned an Aztec influence. All of the elements he uses make his style unique and easy to recognize. I am posting a few of his murals here, but there are many more around the city that I haven't had the chance to shoot - yet.

El Derecha De Vivir En Paz photo by Finijo

While driving in Midtown I found this mural on the side of A & S Automotive Repair. I stopped to take pictures and a mechanic came out to talk to me. He handed me a post card for The Next Door Art Gallery showing Daniel Anguilu and advertising his show on January 21, 2010. I was crestfallen when I realized that I had missed the show by three week.

Survivor photo by Finijo

I don't actually know the name of his murals, but I tried to pull the names off of articles on the Internet or from the captions he sometimes includes in his work. This mural (found on the other side of A & S Automotive Repair) has a breast cancer ribbon and depicts what seems to me to be phoenix. There are links below for articles and video talking about this incredible artist and his work.

http://www.menobodyknows.com/nobodyblog/?p=1480

http://www.houstonpress.com/2000-07-20/news/murals-and-the-mind-police/

http://www.latismo.com/daniel-anguilu.html

Erick Going Going Gonzalez

Mural's Demise by Finijo

I was in Midtown today and my heart sank when I saw what has become of Erick's mural. I knew it was supposed to be temporary, but I had hoped that somehow the owner of the building would have a change of heart. This is a link to a video of the artist that I found when I was trying to make sure I was spelling his last name correctly. The cool thing about it (aside from the positive changes the school had on him) is that the photos of him painting and the photos of the mural in the video are all my work. Erick told me he wanted them, but I had no idea what he would be doing with them. I am pleased with how they were used, but wish he had let me know :) .

Armory Art

Houston Armory by Finijo

The Houston Armory is slated to become the Buffalo Soldiers Museum. I am glad that the City of Houston has found a way to reuse this building, instead of just letting it fade away into oblivion, as so often happens.

Armory Detail by Finijo

I love the relief details on the building. Embellishments like these are just not done anymore, and they add so much to the beauty of the building. The remodel is supposed to be done using green building principles. I know the ribbon cutting ceremony was about a year ago, so I hope they get started on construction soon.

Back of the Armory by Finijo

The back of the Armory has been decorated a little more recently. I know it will all disappear when the remodeling is complete and the museum opens, but I enjoyed the splash of color on such a dull surface on such a dreary day.

Armory Art Detail by Finijo

Upon closer inspection I found some wheat pasting in addition to the spray paint work. The face I love so much by Eyesore, and a fragment of Dual left behind.

Mt. Caramel Missionary Baptist Church

Mt. Caramel Missionary Baptist Church by Finijo

I was driving through Midtown and found a scene that made me a little sad - what is left of the Mt. Caramel Missionary Baptist Church. The steps look almost freshly painted, but there is nothing left of the foundation or the building. The area is fenced off, but the historical marker still stands as testament to the importance that this church once held in the part of town known as Freedman's Town. It looks as though construction may start on rebuilding the church at any time, but there is almost a full lawn of grass that has grown over the site, so perhaps it is not to be. I would hate to think of a Starbucks or another group of townhouses taking its place.

Downtown Perspective

Downtown Perspective by Finijo

I was driving all over the city today for work. It was overcast, but there was something about the day that foretold the coming of Spring. Maybe it was wishful thinking or the way driving in the city makes me feel. I sometimes think I am in the minority in my feeling that driving in downtown Houston is fun.

Vision Auto Glass

Vision Auto Glass by Finijo

I had to replace my window after the freeze, because the little cracks caused by flying rocks spread when I turned on the defrost. I ended up with a three foot crack going across the windshield and I had to get the car inspected at the end of the month.

Wonderful Window by Finijo

The two brothers who own the business came to my home, replaced the window in under an hour and did a great job of it. They were professional and friendly and the cost was a flat $125.00 for the windshield and the labor. If I had known how painless the replacement would be, I would have had it taken care of much sooner. I definitely recommend Vision Auto Glass (the number is on the side of their truck in the photo above).

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way...

Soccer Balls Are Dangerous by Finijo

So...I got hit by a soccer ball on the freeway while I was driving to an appointment today. Yup - a soccer ball flew up over the soccer pitch that I did not know existed just above 288 and I saw it coming. It was ahead of me, but I was doing 60 mph and I saw it arc over the freeway, land and then bounce across three lanes of traffic until it hit my passenger side fender and knocked the mirror out of the casing without breaking the casing.

Steel Belted Tunnel by Finijo

I spent the rest of the day working on getting the mirror fixed and going to different repair shops to see if they had the part. The last time I gave up my work car for repairs, I didn't see it again for 5 weeks. I managed to take some photos while I was waiting for repairmen.

Treadstone by Finijo

Mechanic shops smell like chemical and rubber hell, but they offer up some unique opportunities for photography. I got some strange looks, but it was a fun way to entertain myself amidst the cacophony and medley of unpleasant odors.

Transformers

Transformers I by Finijo

I took these shots while sitting in the Panera Bakery on Post Oak (I think). I liked the way the transformers looked like something from an old science fiction movie and also how they had an abstract feel when viewed through the windows. The fluting and the shape make me think of some type of sacred urn. I took the pictures, so that I could one day try to incorporate the image into an abstract painting. I thought about finding a poem about transformation to add to this post, but I decided to include one of my favorite Buddhist concepts, instead. It is the concept of hendoku iyaku - turning poison into medicine.

Transformers II by Finijo

Changing Poison into Medicine

SGI members often speak of "turning poison into medicine" when they describe how their Buddhist practice has enabled them to transform a difficult, negative or painful situation into something positive.

In its most fundamental sense, "changing poison into medicine" refers to the transformation of deluded impulses into enlightenment. The Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom, attributed to the third-century Indian Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna, compares the Lotus Sutra to "a great physician who changes poison into medicine." This is because the Lotus Sutra opens the possibility of enlightenment to people whose arrogance and complacency had caused them to "scorch the seeds of Buddhahood." In earlier sutras such people had been condemned as being incapable of becoming Buddhas. An important implication of this principle, thus, is that there is no one who is beyond redemption.

In his writing, "On First Hearing the Teaching of the Supreme Vehicle," Nichiren develops this idea, stating that by using the power of the Mystic Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, one can transform the three paths of deluded impulses, karma and suffering into the three virtues of the Buddha, i.e., the Dharma body, wisdom and emancipation.

This can be understood to mean that any unfavorable situation can be changed into a source of value. More fundamentally, it is by challenging and overcoming painful circumstances that we grow as human beings.

How we respond to life's inevitable sufferings is the key. Negative, painful experiences are often necessary to motivate us. One Buddhist scripture describes illness as awakening the desire to seek the truth. Likewise, people have been inspired to a lifetime commitment to peace and justice by their experience of war and injustice.

The process of changing poison into medicine begins when we approach difficult experiences as an opportunity to reflect on ourselves and to strengthen and develop our courage and compassion. The more we are able to do this, the more we are able to grow in vitality and wisdom and realize a truly expansive state of life.

Suffering can thus serve as a springboard for a deeper experience of happiness. From the perspective of Buddhism, inherent in all negative experiences is this profound positive potential. However, if we are defeated by suffering or respond to challenging circumstances in negative and destructive ways, the original "poison" is not transformed but remains poison.

Buddhism teaches that suffering derives from karma, the causes that we ourselves have created. The Buddhist teaching of karma is one of personal responsibility. It is therefore our responsibility to transform sufferings into value-creating experiences. The Buddhist view of karma is not fixed or fatalistic--even the most deeply entrenched karmic patterns can be transformed.

By taking a difficult situation--illness, unemployment, bereavement, betrayal--and using it as an opportunity to deepen our sense of personal responsibility, we can gain and develop the kind of self-knowledge from which benefit flows. Buddhism teaches that self-knowledge ultimately is awareness of our own infinite potential, our capacity for inner strength, wisdom and compassion. This infinite potential is referred to as our "Buddha nature."

The original meaning of the phrase "to turn poison into medicine" relates to this level of self-knowledge.

In the "Belief and Understanding" chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Subhuti and others of the Buddha's long-time disciples respond to the prophecy that another disciple, Shariputra, will attain the ultimate enlightenment. The disciples admit that they had long ago given up on becoming Buddhas themselves, but that on hearing the teaching of the Lotus Sutra they renounced their earlier stance of resignation and spiritual laziness. "[T]heir minds were moved as seldom before and danced for joy." Nagarjuna and T'ien-t'ai (538--597) therefore compare the Buddha to a good doctor capable of turning poison (the laziness and resignation of the aged disciples) into medicine (a sincere aspiration for the ultimate enlightenment of Buddhahood).

This teaching of the possibility of profound trans-formation makes Buddhism a deeply optimistic philosophy. This optimism propels Buddhists as they seek to transform the negative and destructive tendencies within their lives as well as those in society and the world at large.

[Courtesy, January 2002 SGI Quarterly]

Lunar New Year Festival

For Marilyn's birthday, we went to the Lunar New Year festival at Tien Tao Temple and David and Katie met us there. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and I got some good photos and video at the temple. When Dave and I went the last time, we didn't explore as much as we might have, so it was good to get a chance to see the secondary temple and the memorial to those who died during and after the Vietnam war. After the festival, we went to lunch at Kim Son and on to the Martin Zet: Necessity exhibit at The Station Museum. This was a very good Sunday.

Sammy's Third Birthday

Sammy had his third birthday and the whole family turned out for the occasion. Like Ada, he is a Dora the Explorer fan and his party was themed appropriately for him. I think the singing of Happy Birthday was unpleasant for him...perhaps we were not in key. After his birthday party, we met up with Mom and Dad for Marilyn's birthday dinner. It was a very busy, but lovely day.

Thaw

Thaw by Finijo

A trip to the Arboretum signifies what may be a thaw from the deep freeze. I can't be certain if the warmth will be sustained, as winter is an unpredictable season bringing a biting and fickle chill to the air. Still, it was surprising and good to feel that familiar warmth.

X Marks the Spot by Finijo