Blogging

You are what you post ~ writing Part 3

~ Cave_Guy ~ 10 Comments

dragon-attack-color-5566

I did this in 2014 after receiving the “Dragon Loyalty  Award” – I did an illustration instead of the award- This took my music blog in a new direction. I am facing my dragon but not ready to kill him – I mean , what’s the point?  Isn’t the facing the main part? And I don’t have the stomach for it. Nasty business -Dragon Slaying

Great work

I ask you my blogging friends to take a look at your best ever post.

Don’t tell me they are all great or all bad—– just not possible.

Some of them hit a higher mark – some of them strike a chord.

Sometimes we surprise ourselves and exceed our zone.

Then we have a new level to break.

It’s called getting better – and it happens all the time out here.

It’s the product that determines our worth – simple as that – there is no resting.

You are only as good as your last blog.

You can be a writer – you can be a poet or an artist — you can call yourself a photographer – you just need one post to prove it. Most of my blogging friends have already done it many times.

 

lake-george02-invert

I have better images on my blog but this is my favorite. It is sunrise on Lake George “inverted” – A simple thing in Photoshop – The blacks become white and the oranges become blue. Fire turns into ice. There is an “abstract art” emotional feel that I can’t explain, but I like.  — cool and….. more cool.

 

Blogging is Community

Is it because we will never meet? Is that what drives the confidence of thought and discussion?

And would we share if we all got together at a cook out, or would we sip our beers and think it such a long time for the cheese to melt on our burgers — so we could just eat and go?

Would we still connect in real life?

I’d like to think so.

And what is real life anyway? So much communication is done through devices. Is the old way of meeting for coffee considered the old way and quickly becoming obsolete?

Connections I have made here, while sometimes ethereal, have been and continue to be a source of real comfort and strength for me as a human being. I know I move through this world a little easier because I blog.

We all need to be somebody.

Before I stepped on this electronic stage – I wasn’t as much me – Now I am.

This cat is “out of the bag” – and not going back.

wp-world-55

This was my me trying to make sense of this crazy blogging world – It did not get much attention when posted but seems to fit here. I love this world — this is my home.

 

 

 

We are writers! ~non writing part 2

~ Cave_Guy ~ 26 Comments

enimien22

So many intelligent and thoughtful responses to my question on writing – I felt a follow up was in order.

I have come to some conclusions about this crazy act of blogging.

It takes a little guts to just “stand up and spit”  (sorry, Eminem mode)

 We go from the big three things stuck in our head –

  1. I have something to say.
  2. I need to get something off my chest.
  3. I want to connect with like-minded others.

TO:

  1. I said it
  2. It’s gone
  3. Hello

Those three things happen the instant we hit the publish button.

Some of my more cynical readers might say – I’ll give you the first two caveman – but the third? No interaction by hitting publish – no likes, no comments, no nothing.

Wrong – wrong and wrong

The moment your thoughts are out – you have made a connection – You have taken stuff from your brain and published it.

It is out there — you do not own it anymore — anyone that reads it could have a reaction you will never know about. You have no idea

Yes, every blogger ~ even the “much maligned” food blogger* can connect.

Imagine a family that had the “best damn apple blueberry turnover” (recipe from a food blog) – and eating that turnover moved Grandma so much that she finally told everyone where the 36 gold bars were buried on the old family farm — which led to a very generous offer on that property for the current owners…. which made their day because they wanted to move to Nebraska anyway. (why anybody would move to Nebraska is a question that can’t be answered in the limited space of this post!)

Isn’t that a beautiful story – an entire family united together in common greed – it warms the heart.

But we don’t know the situation of each family member.

And we don’t know the good that could come from getting out of debt and thriving instead of surviving.

We don’t know what will happen with a post.

That is both scary and exhilarating.

So keep spitting it out on-line

This requires at least a Part 3

Cheers from the Cave!

 

 

*Yes people – food bloggers are bloggers too – it does not matter what the subject of a blog is – all bloggers are relevant if the content is interesting and the writer is passionate – a food blogger can hit this mark.  In fact -If I, the Cave Guy, started a food web site — do you think it would be boring?

Notes: Good rappers take brutal honesty about their life – package it to their fans with rhyme and beat –  And connection happens – They don’t know what their music will do —-BUT – connection is made.

Good bloggers take brutal honesty about their life – package it with words and images  to their readers – And connection happens —– etc….etc…etc…

We are more alike than not alike.

I thank everyone for the great comments and will do my best to visit your home on the web and reciprocate — because that is what this is all about!

The Cave began as a “Project”

~ Cave_Guy ~ 31 Comments

 

sid&nancy

A non-writer speaks of writing and influence

If Sid Vicious considered himself a bass player then I will consider myself a writer.

He snarled and spit, he raged, he fell down on his face — but he somehow got the job done (sort of).

[ I know — perhaps the most tragic figure in rock music who put the most brutal spin on Romeo and Juliet ]

BUT – THAT IS FOR ANOTHER BLOG —– THIS IS ABOUT WRITING.

 

I would not be here without my adventures at community college a few short years ago. This blog actually started as a project in a web design class! –  And Still going — Yes, I was forced to create a web presence for a grade! I admit it — I come from academia!!! (jk)

A shout out to my English Professor at the same unnamed institution — who somehow took my mangle of a brain and got it to play nice enough to express myself. More important than that – it gave me the confidence to write.

You think confidence is a small thing?—- It is the key that opens a FULFILLING LIFE!!!! –

So here I am – rock you like a hurricane

Back to this blog:

We all “grunt and sweat under a weary life”

Friggin’  – “Wild Bill Shakeman”  himself or if you need to cite it accurately:

William Shakespeare

“For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,

Th’ oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely

The pangs of despised love, the law’s delay,

The insolence of office, and the spurns

That patient merit of th’ unworthy takes,

When he himself might his quietus make”

Writing should move your mind – it should give you a kick —it should make you think!

When I read Shakespeare, I understand what words can do – I don’t understand how he hits the mark – but I marvel at the deadly precision.

writercircle-1

“They were watching, out there past men’s knowing, where stars are drowning and whales ferry their vast souls through the black and seamless sea.”

Or:

“War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner.”

Cormac McCarthy can flat out write! If you think you are a writer – go read Blood Meridian and then you will quickly realize how far you have to go.

I have far to go———–

So those three would be my biggest influences if I could be so arrogant to claim any.

Sid Vicious – because he just went for it with no restrictions – Shakespeare because he is Shakespeare, and Cormac McCarthy because his words stir my soul.

One more thing:

Keeping this blog going has made me better – every post and every week – I get stronger.

I am a better writer because I write.

That is part of why those of us who are afflicted with this disease don’t stop – there is a certain rush with jamming words together and making it work.

I am sick with this.

I welcome thoughts:

How many of my fellow bloggers consider themselves writers and what do you guys think of writing?

And maybe more important: Why did you step out and start a blog?

Disclaimer:

[ I talk about the sweet spot, I talk about the triumph of great posts — this post may well fall flat on its face like a drunken Sid – I gave it all I got – can do no more – we hit the publish button and wait ]

 

 

“Naked” site active.

~ Cave_Guy ~ 25 Comments

divein

New “naked” incognito site is active.

I know there are two moons in this illustration from my notebook…. so my question to you … Mr. or Ms. typical blogging friend.

Do you want to see my naked thoughts?

I will be brutally honest and tell you: this is not an enticing web address.

This is bare-brutal-raw stuff that oozes from my mind as I deal with the grieving and transition process from losing my soul mate.

I need to get it out — and it is not pretty.  It may not even be that good.

I was hoping for 70% self-wallowing drivel mixed with 30% humor and philosophy.

I thought that was a low enough barrier to hit.

I am running about 95/5 now – so this thing is not road ready.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

The idea is an outlet site for the intense personal stuff – so that the cave can get back to being the cave.

Full of fun, photos, art, and music along with the witty banter you all have come to know and love.

I like that guy too! In fact, I am that guy! I need to let that guy live and breathe and dance again.

Right now I am both guys at once.

And I don’t think it is fair to you, my web friends, to slog over the same ground – just plowing and re-plowing – with no planting and no reaping anywhere on the horizon.  Grief is like that.

The new site is tucked away in a dark corner on WordPress – I am not going to add a link here.

If you are smart and know me — you can probably find it — but then again, maybe not. (there are a crap load of web sites out here folks!)

Some of the posts will be password protected because of sensitivity (at least right now). This is ground that I am not willing to let a casual passerby waltz in the door and see.

An example of what I mean  — The Groundhog Day post is Cave material — Walking on Ice is best on the new site and would not need a password.

My giant big picture hope is that the new site can be polished into something that will help others going through similar loss. Because I think it is needed— All —  I mean all grief sites are heavy religious behemoths that always make you feel worse. That is a friggin’ crime and injustice to humanity!!!

So if you are brave enough to splash in this water with me —Please email me from the gmail address on this page and I will send you the link.

Thank you my friends (and I did use a cartoon double for my butt shot, I mean,… hey!, I got a reputation to preserve….right?)

Cheers from the Cave!

 

 

 

 

 

Night Swimming – under the radar

~ Cave_Guy ~ 35 Comments

nightswiming

I am thinking of going anonymous with a hidden blog so I can swim a little further out – there is stuff I can’t share with my friends – there is stuff I can’t share with anybody I know. (or more accurately: anybody that knows me)

When I say can’t~

I guess I can.

No – don’t think so.

What stuff we talking about cave guy? – you are a free sharer on your blog and on your Facebook. Some might say a nauseating over-purveyor of pics and sayings and all kinds of crap.

No – I am not.

Because I am conscious of the audience – on Facebook there are lots of kids —including my kids.

And on WordPress there are lots of … well everybody …. including an occasional visit from my mom.

Does that limit me or is the censorship a curb that keeps my insanity digestible?

So a question to my anonymous friends out there.

What do you think?

Does it help you to keep a veil between you and us?

I am not talking about “coming out” but “going in”.

Like a skinny dip in the pool at night with no one watching. (see- should I even say that? A bit edgy don’t you think, but then again —at my age and physique coupled with my pedestrian appearance – is anybody really going to be intrigued?)

Note:

This picture was taken at daybreak last February at the infinity pool in Cancun! Loved that trip!

 

Groundhog Day – My Favorite Holiday

~ Cave_Guy ~ 23 Comments

cave-groundhog

Groundhog day (German-Penn) evolved from Candlemas Day (Christian) – which evolved from Imbolc (Celtic) —-  which evolved from a few cave guys knowing they were passing the mid-point of winter and needing to jump around and do something.

“Stoke up the fire  – it’s ON!!!”

“If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,

There’ll be twa winters in the year.”

This is an old Scottish poem about February 2nd – Twa means 2  

Basically saying that if the sun is shining on this day then winter will be longer.

candlemas

Candlemas – A mass of candles – all the candles in the church were fired up to help bring light and hope to winter wary folk. There is also a 40 days after this or the other with the virgin Mary and some other mumbo jumbo to help validate it.

– which make me a wee bit suspicious.

 Because they needed to add more validation – they were trying extra hard to secure a claim.

 

bridget

On the left is the Saint Brigit and on the right is the Celtic goddess Brigid – Notice anything similar in these incredible hastily done illustrations?

Thig an nathair as an toll
Là donn Brìde,
Ged robh trì troighean dhen t-sneachd
Air leac an làir.
The serpent will come from the hole
On the brown Day of Bríde,
Though there should be three feet of snow
On the flat surface of the ground.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid

They both carry the fire of spring.

The ancient pagan festival of Imbolc in honor of this goddess of early spring is celebrated on February 2nd (it includes a little weather prognostication) – Christianity kept her fire and made her the Irish Patron Saint Brigit who has her day on February 1st.

I am totally OK with the practice of stamping  new traditions on old ones – this one is very cool because aside from replacing the wild hair with a halo – they keep the entire package together.

Anyway- moving on to my debilitated history mixed with folklore.

 

The groundhog or ~ ah ~ hedgehog or bear or badgerhog7

Somehow a rodent got in the mix—-blame it on the Romans – blame it on an over zealous priest or wizard – blame it on what you want – there are a few different theories.

But at the base of it all – It’s a simple evolution of the “sunny weather or cloudy weather” theme — turning into “see my shadow” because that is far more poetic.

The hedgehog is in the mix—can also substitute a badger or bear in a pinch, if that is what you have lying around the house.

The Germans later settled in Pennsylvania and found no hedgehogs —but lots and lots of groundhogs.

So here we go with a very sketchy explanation of how we arrive at  Punxsutawney Phil.

Disclaimer: I cannot defend my last few statements with any reference material whatsoever – please believe or not believe at you own risk.

Taking liberties from “see my shadow” to “I am a rodent that can only tell the guy with the tallest black hat what the future holds” — is all Punxsutawney shabby theater —and take it from this blogger – Well worth the trip!

me-sign

 From an old English poem:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.

http://www.groundhog.org/about/history/

The basic theme is always the same —- a nice sunny day  – be careful! Don’t to be lulled.

And a cloudy stormy day  — take heed – spring may arrive sooner than you think.

Either way – Winter is coming to an end and we are looking forward to the next season.

This is the turning point – we are on the way out of the darkness and the cold.

I love this day.

Happy Groundhog day to all!

[All accidental illustrations done by me, if you would like to use any (really can’t think why) just ask me]

 

 

 

 

Dodo

~ Cave_Guy ~ 11 Comments

dodo1

The Dodo

I followed this blog from Mauritius because it seemed such a cool and exotic place — in the middle of nowhere — out past Madagascar (which seems like the true edge of exotic).  — No — keep going, there is more.

I looked and looked and gave up trying to re-find this blog that I am pretty sure I still follow —- sadly— I can’t get back. So this country in the middle of nowhere has a blog on it that is lost to me right now.

If you see this, nice blog person – please click me a like or something and I will visit.

Anyway

I just finished “A Short History of Nearly Everything” by Bill Bryson (excellent book! — A cave 5 star rating!). And it has a bit about Mauritius because that was the home of the infamous extinct dodo bird.

So – I did a sketch.

I wanted to show the respect I have for this animal — not cool that it got screwed over.

Sailors just clubbed everything in the 1600’s — I know there were no resorts that served cold drinks with fancy straws in them at that time… but …. Seriously—– you just wipe this creature off the face of the earth?

And to add insult to injury – you gave it a name that makes it sound stupid.

This is not cool.

This bird was just chillin’ on a nice exotic location. It was not bothering anyone.

Why does history have to be so cruel?

This is my part to right that wrong.

I aim to make it more detailed and add color.

I also want to make it look respectable.

I feel some connection to this bird that is based on absolutely nothing – but is there nonetheless.

Feeling a little Anarchy with my nomination

~ Cave_Guy ~ 4 Comments

Thanks to my blogging friend Apple Pie for the nomination

https://wordpress.com/read/post/id/41733692/9114

I needed a little kick start to get the cave rumbling. One quote a day for three days – I can do that!

There are no limits to where our brains can take us. We are, if there be a God, God’s gracious creation.

John Lydon

I believe we are “all that” as this quote says – but I respect the “questioning everything” of the punk mentality. Artists don’t always know where it comes from but none hesitate to create with it.

He does wade in some deep waters

I like him because he just steps boldly and gets on with it – that it what it is all about.

This is not everyone’s cup of tea.

But so what

You cannot please everyone.

(Always a bad sign when you have to go to France to get respect)

But whatever

Here he is now:

http://live.philharmoniedeparis.fr/Concert/1010110/public-image-limited.html

And we remember fondly the youthful exuberance:

It always warms the heart

I have to go – the kettle is boiling and I need another cuppa

Cheers!

The Gruntled Blogger

~ Cave_Guy ~ 27 Comments

gruntle-3

The opposite of disgruntled has to be gruntled  (at least, as far as I can tell) – I was thinking of this and trying to make myself gruntled.

Can you just do that?

Sort of like “making yourself” a blogger.

There is no license needed to be gruntled, no test to take, no initiation fee or any period of time when you are on grundle probation. (to see if you have what it takes)

You just do it.

You accept where and what you are and choose to make the best of it.

Like making yourself a blogger – (what, that again?)

Yea! – That again … because in the next couple weeks or so– unless I do something to completely screw it up – I should hit the blogging milestone of 1000 followers.

So I made a chart to show what it feels like to be at this cusp of greatness!

wp-chart

It means that this little minnow of a blog has grown up to be a medium size and completely legal sport fish in this bizarre world.

If you hook into this blog, you can expect a nice little tussle on the end of the line and a good picture to take before you release me back in the water.

So many little minnow blogs never grow up and make it – and that is sad.

Half the blogs that follow me probably don’t exist anymore – and that is sad.

Sad because all you have to do is keep posting until you find your voice.

“What if I don’t have a voice?”

You do, and you will find it if you keep posting.

So thanks for staying with me through all the rants, photos, drawings and not-quite-legal music captures.

It means a ton to hit this milestone even if half of you are already gone.

Come back and try again.

There are no rules saying you can’t – most of us fail miserably the first time – this blog is my second attempt after 6 months with a horrible one and 3 followers.

Thanks for making me a respectable sized fish in this web ocean.

I really do enjoy each like, follow, and comment.

Even if I may appear a tad snarky and disgruntled at times.

My name is Wayne and I am gruntled. [polite applause]

Cheers from the cave.

Space Cowboy 5-play

~ Cave_Guy ~ 10 Comments

wayne-spaceman

After I visited Geoff @ https://1001albumsin10years.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/odyssey-to-2001-top-5-space-tunes/ and briefly chastised him for leaving out Flock of Seagulls with his post —-I thought: “Hey, I got a blog, why not riff off what my Canadian friend is doing and write my own post?”—-and then I saw https://gigisrantsandraves.wordpress.com/2015/05/31/supernova-and-an-unexpected-universefrom-astronomy-picture-of-the-daybeautiful/  over @ Rethinking Life with a cool galaxy pic and thought: “Hey, why not put yourself in space and go for it? – you blogging fool you!”

So here we go!  Space 5-play

  1. Flock of Seagulls –Space Age Love Song

This one sounds spacey more that is spacey – like if I was flying between galaxies test driving a new star cruiser – I would crank this up and drink some tang.

  1. After the Gold Rush – Neil Young —sung by Dolly Pardon and friends.

The abstract imagery of Neil Young’s song writing allows for many interpretations – The core of the sci-fi genre is us getting off this earth and into the stars – sometimes with aliens helping us. Yeah,…mostly they are trying to make us extinct, but sometimes, as in this song, they are our friends.

  1. Space Boogie – Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck always gets forgotten – too jazzy to be rock – too rock to be jazzy. Fusion? Is that what they used to call it? You are not forgotten on the cave my friend. (Using friend for dramatic effect-I have never met the man or seen the man in concert – but he seems like he would be ok and drink a sensible mid-range beer like a Sam Adams or Newcastle Brown Ale).

  1. Rocket Man – Sir Elton John – hit by William Shatner with phaser not set to stun.

Does not matter how much it has been played – as a serious chronicler of popular music I am contractually obligated to include it. It is a great song (even after this fiasco) – which makes the task not difficult

  1. Space Oddity – David Bowie

David Bowie is a space cadet with no equal and this was written at the birth of the space age. We saw the brilliance and he saw the isolation. He was/is ahead of his time.

I challenge all the other bloggers out there to do a space themed blog!

This could be the start of something good.

And as always.

Cheers from the cave!