It's What I Needed February 22, 2012

Ahhhh…my first and hopefully not my last winter vacation.

Days One & Two in New Orleans: New Orleans is well known for its rich culture and for bordering on raunchy. It has a day life of antique shops, galleries, street cars, and steamboat rides. Men still up from the night before drinking liquor openly on the River Walk Park bench overlooking the Mississippi just one bench away from school children on a fieldtrip to the Aquarium.

As night begins to fall in the French Quarter colorful lights spill onto the cobblestones and music is everywhere. The streets start to fill with a melting pot of tourists, musicians, street vendors, men holding bar signs (“Best Po Boy Ever!”), and those unusual individuals dressed in freeform costumes that don’t seem to have any context. Women dancing in doorways. Men dancing in doorways. People strolling from block to block while drinking beer.

New Orleans is a real place as opposed to a tourist make-believe facade. Walking the streets and seeing the Super Dome you can’t help but think of the days following Katrina. I have since revisited pictures of the devistation of Katrina and I am again amazed at the transformation and suffering it caused.

The heavy food and drink compliment the colorful raunchiness of New Orleans. It’s like the pairing of fine wine. Together they are beautifully textural and rich. I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to see the legendary New Orleans.

Cruise Day Three: It was all about getting away from driving, not going to the grocery store, or doing any of those day to day things. Wake up whenever. Walk slowly. Read. Think. Talk. Get back in bed at 10:00am and/or 2:00pm. Eat a lot. Have the cabin curtains wide open to wake up to the sun coming up over the water. Watching old Bonanza episodes more than once and even staying to see how it ends.

The ship had three stops on the itinerary: Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Falmouth, Jamaica. We didn’t do any excursion at any of the stops. The only one that was of interest was a trip to the Mayan ruins which was 8 hours long. I had already seen the Mayan ruins as a child and an 8 hour trip in the heat was not the vacation I had intended. I did manage to step off the boat in Mexico and Jamaica to check out the tourist shopping. I can’t say that I know Grand Cayman or Jamaica at all. I am ok with that. The ship was practically empty at the ports which was great! Swimming, eating, hot tubs, reading, and sleeping all uninterrupted with plenty of legroom.

Coming Home Day Ten: When driving home from the airport I scanned my feelings about going home and going back to work in a few days. I felt ok about it. I was surprised to feel so easy going about my return. I guess I really got what I needed on that vacation. It was not an amazing adventure like hiking the Himalayas. New Orleans was just stimulating enough and then the cruise was pure relaxation. That is exactly what I needed.

20 Things About Me January 17, 2012

    1. I'm the only girl of 4 children.
    2. When I was little I used crying to get attention.  When a peer called me out on it, I stopped.
    3. I was a fast runner (now I am a slow runner)
    4. I wanted to be a cheerleader when I was 10 and under.  I never was.  I only made the pep squad and gave up by 11.
    5. I believed I could do anything if I was willing to take the time to do it.
    6. At one time I didn't want to grow up.
    7. I had a very big imagination.  Oh yeah…and it was entertaining.  I wonder where it went.
    8. I have wanted to be an orphan, a princess, librarian, hippie, teacher, cool, actor, model, singer, painter, illustrator, graphic designer, mother, web designer, web developer, motion designer.
    9. I am introverted most of the time.  I like to be around people some of the time.  I get renewed when I am alone.
    10. I'm an optimist.
    11. I recognized early on that my favorite color would always be changing throughout my life.  I always remembered everyone else's favorite color and related colors to people.  My mother liked red.
    12. I get bored when a parent who's been told their child belongs in the gifted program at school starts believing they are truly gifted and tells me about it every chance they get. Being truly gifted is rare. Try on "ABOVE AVERAGE" and see how that fits but, gifted...no. Your child is not unique or is there a freak epidemic of gifted children? It's not interesting and btw, didn't you learn that it's impolite to brag.
    13. I have a theory about sneezing.  Some people (mostly woman) contain a sneeze so that it hardly makes a sound and I theorize that they repress themselves.  A full, wonderful feeling, sneeze comes from a person who is open to enjoy pleasure.  When I hear a man make a nice healthy sneeze I find it sexy.  From a distance anyway.
    14. It scares me how little some people are paying attention to their driving while they are talking on the phone.  Some people really can't do both.  I hope I am not one of them.
    15. I miss my father.  Since his passing, I realized I really had to be an adult.
    16. I used to have dreams of flying.  I haven't had one in a long, long time.  They gave me confidence.
    17. I used to be very shy.
    18. I love it when I find something so funny that I cry.
    19. I know I share a lot of the same feelings, thoughts, and desires as most people in the world.  I find comfort in that.
    20. I've learned to tolerate dog farts.

Things To Do December 28, 2011

    • Don't let my Domain Name expire again
    • Learn at least 5 new things. Some ideas for things to learn are:
        • The After Effects plug-in Trapcode Particular
        • Videotaping in HD
        • To dance (again) a little
        • To play the cello a little
    • Do something to make the days different from one another.
    • Use a camera to motivate me to go to places I wouldn't normally go just to go
    • Do something philanthropic
    • Run more than last year
    • Be proud that I am aware enough to know that I can't sing (very well)
    • Watch less TV. Quality not quantity. Though we just got the most amazing HD/3D TV I have ever seen and have been watching with a kind of "Wow! Will you look at that?" I'll get over it…I think.
    • Take at least one vacation every year. Something different.
    • Save more money. Don't know how I'll do this AND the one above it.
    • Don't take it all too seriously and go for the journey
    • Let assholes be assholes
    • This sort of goes with the one above. Let go and let everyone make their own way. We are all somewhere in our lives and sometimes it may not be the best place but it's just where we are now. I hope we all continue to move forward. I will let others just be where they are and understand it's their journey.
    • Be true to myself. Try to see beyond my ego.
    • Proudly watch my children still growing up but from a little distance away
I think that's enough for now. Happy this new year and for the year after that and the year after that.

Better to Give December 3, 2011

    Early on I was a rather artsy craftsy kid. I have always had an inclination to create things that are what I think of as useful. One Christmas season around the age of 4 or 5 I decided to create and wrap gifts for all of the members of my family.
    I had to make these gifts with only items I had in my house and that were accessible for someone with limited access and abilities. I had to be able to reach it. It couldn't include cooking, fire, food, or other people's belongings. I created with so much contentment and pride. I came up with ideas unique for each recipient and I remember how I thought about how they could use their gift. They would be happy to have it and I was so happy to make it. I saw my handy work as treasures. The inner world of creating can be so driving and one gets lost in the activity not always seeing what others might see. Like the trash vs. treasure perception. This is especially true of the very young and inexperienced. They just don't have the editor inside nor have they seen enough stuff to compare, contrast, and evaluate at a more sophisticated level.
    The beauty of the pure creative energy of that child is obvious to me now. I still know the joy and drive to create what needs to be created without edit. To be free to just do it regardless.
    I watched in anticipation as the gifts I created were opened and accepted until my oldest brother opened his. He unwrapped the gift and then said, "What is this supposed to be?" as he dropped it to the floor. I didn't foresee that a wadded up painted paper towel was not going to be accepted as a ball. The moment he said it I realized that he was right. I suddenly saw that it was just a wadded up painted paper towel. I tried to tell him that it was a ball. He didn't care. I wouldn't admit it then but I understand and agreed with his point of view. Within moments I was inspired with a new idea of what I'd like to give him for Christmas.
    The critique was valuable for the creative development of that child. Honest opinions given in a constructive way (little more tactfully than my brother's) are very valuable. It sometimes requires more energy and engagement than we may be up for I agree, but it's better to give something useful. Even if it's not a "creative" pursuit, honesty and caring in the evaluation does promote real growth. Just giving empty compliments and blanket encouragement is often not the right thing to do. In other words, don't give children or people you care about meaningless comments that don't promote development in something they care about. Why waste everyone's time or add mental garbage.
    I still see treasures where some may see trash. Of course I now edit better than then. I know better when to standby my creation and when to let it go. Still, I am not always right, but I do see that a wadded up paper towel is not a very good ball. Cheers Brother, oh, and I think you could use a hair cut! What do you say….let me give you a hair cut? ;-)

The Lone Patriot November 12, 2011

    11/11/11 was Veteran's Day and on my way to work I once again saw who I call "The Lone Patriot" paying his respects. He sits on his horse facing the north bound lanes in the morning and the southern lanes in the afternoon with his flag waving in the wind.
    This time I had to take a picture. I have seen him there on 911 and he is very stoic and evokes emotion. I can imagine him silently dressing and preparing his horse for his patriotic stand. He is not in a town or city but out in the country standing on the large medium of a minor highway. The little I know about him is that he may be a Rappahannock Co., Virginia resident. The story is that his wife had been in the Pentagon on 911 and fortunately was not killed. I can only imagine the personal impact of that.
    Americans as a whole are a patriotic bunch.  Having been to just a handful of other countries in my life I am aware of my own pride and appreciation of this country.  I developed an awareness of how much we have and how being surrounded by others with lifelong common experiences connects us. In day to day life, tribal identification is the opposite of what I feel but in times like 911 or earthquakes the common experience even moves me to the group or tribe to protect and stand stronger in numbers.
    My father was in three wars a part of the United States Air Force.  He was a quiet patriot.  Watching him solute and the expression on his face I could see the seriousness and meaning he found in his service. I am proud of his depth of commitment to our country.  I'm proud of his depth of commitment to something larger than himself.
    The Lone Patriots was out there all day.  He puts his patriotism out there as a symbol to remember those lost and those who sacrificed for truly honorable goals.  I don't like violence, war, or blind loyalty.  I always hope for a higher level of handling conflict and that one should think for them self. The Lone Patriot has me thinking today about how and why I feel moved by his stand.  I realize that I truly appreciate the honorable goal and the depth of the commitment to it. I'm moved by his commitment and passion to show his respect, honor, and pride for veterans.

Uninterrupted November 5, 2011

    This may very well be the 10th web design that I have had for robin ferris. I have owned the domain name (robinferriswebdesign) since 2001 when I started my own little web design business. The purpose of my site has shifted through the years into being a place to show what I care about spending my time doing.
    I'm not an authority on anything really. As for what you'll see on these pages, some things are an exploration of interest and others are projects from my job as a Web Designer and Video Creator. I have spent time working, caring for those I care for, and have been interrupted in necessary, rich, and meaningful ways. Today in this spec of cyberspace I'm uninterrupted and free to think, create, and share as it comes.
    Currently I am in the process creating several videos, one for work and one for Fairfax Public Broadcasting. It's a very rewarding feeling seeing your vision come to life. It seems that lately I'm flooded with great ideas. Sometimes I think I am a genius until two days later I wonder, "How could I have thought that was good?". Once I have decided the idea has validity, the idea leads me into places in my head where it just feels so good to play with it, change it,
develop it.
    That place in my head must be like meditation where your consciousness changes. I am aware of what's around me but I'm not engaged with any of it only with the idea.
    Okay so I'll stop talking about hanging out with the ideas in my head and creativity blah, blah, blah, and I thank you for reading and taking a look. I will be writing and creating here uninterrupted.