Time & ADAY.ORG Project

We all get the same 24 hours in a day but have you noticed that time seems to be flying by more quickly these days?... unless of course you're working some boring job somewhere which then makes time stand still.

Some scientists believe our sense of time varies with age according to our experience. For young children and young adults, time seems slower because their lives are full of firsts... first time 'novel' events that are vivid, full of detail, making the data of memory very dense. As we age and experience these events again and again over time, there's less of an impression being made and time seems to move more quickly... kind of the 'been there', 'done that', theory of 'lets move on' speed of time. This is easily understood when we try to learn new things or acquire a new skill. It seems to take a long time to absorb and process new information, but once it's mastered, we no longer give it a second thought.

While we all experience time at one second to one second, other theorists believe that as we get older. "the current of time seems to carry us along". In the documentary, Through The Wormhole: Does Time Exist?, scientists state that the passage of time seems to increase by the square root of your age. At age 10, you experience time as 1:1, a second goes by in a second. At age 20, it's 1:1.4 and at 60 it's 1:2.44, our perception of time about two and a half times faster. Okay, you lost me at the square root. But I do understand it as it relates to my perceptions of summer. As a child on summer vacation, July and August seemed endless, eternal, but as an adult, these two months zipped by leaving those long 'To Do' lists still undone.

For many years I've been interested in the subject of time, not so much the science but in its record keeping, a record of existence, a way of leaving my 'mark'. For most, this 'mark' or record can only be seen backwards over a long period of time unless you're a Steve Jobs (Apple) or Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) or Sergy Brin and Larry Page (Google) who find their genius and notoriety early in life.

So when I read this first sentence in USATODAY, "If taking and posting one photo a day for an entire year seems like a daunting task, the folks over at ADAY.org have a proposition for you. On May 15, 2012, the Aday project is asking people around the world to pick up a camera and take a few photos to document their daily lives", I was hooked.

ADAY.org is organized by the Swedish non-profit foundation Expression of Humankind. It supports scientific research and education centered around the photographic image and written word.

ADAY's website read "photographing the world on a single day... One day a million views - add yours!"

And so I did.

This image is a view from my bedroom window. Today's weather: 64º, rain, 92% humidity, 62º dew point with thunderstorms expected for most of the day. A good day to stay indoors, finish a few things already started, nothing too complicated, nothing requiring a brain or an ounce of creativity.

Just finished breakfast... a slice of sweet chocolate bread, '365 Organic' strawberry yogurt and coffee. The rain is now heavy and the laziness of the day has me back under the covers to finish watching a DVD previously started last night. This image is of the final scene of the Series Finale, Season 10, of MI-5, a fictional spy drama produced by the BBC. This show now climbs to the top of my all time favorites. I'm missing it already... poor Harry!

The rain has temporarily stopped... a good time to run some errands. This image captures a distorted view of a corner in Jenkintown PA seen through the reflection of the van's passenger side mirror.

This is an image of my Post Office Box... Box 34. I've had this mailbox for many years. There's something nice about the anonymity of not having your exact physical location known, but those were the 'pre Google' days.

"It's my way or the hiway"... just kidding. This is an image of a sign that belongs to the Hiway Theatre in Jenkintown PA. The owners of this movie theatre have changed several times over the years, but thankfully this classic sign remains. It is an exact replica of the original vertical sign that existed from 1940 until the 1980's. The cost to replace the sign was close to $50,000. In 2013, the Hiway will celebrate its 100th Anniversary!

This image is of local traffic in the rain on Old York Road in Abington PA. We're heading north to the Willow Grove Mall to pick up a few saw blades from Sears and then to The Fresh Market for groceries.

This image is of M&Ms and jellybeans beautifully arranged in the candy aisle of The Fresh Market in Horsham PA. This is the final destination of running errands before heading home. And no, I did not get a cart full of candy... just an eyeful of color on what otherwise has been a gray, rainy, rather desaturated day.

The date for online viewing of the work, presented by participants in over 190 countries is projected for May 30th. On that day you can see it here.

And so this is how a record of existence begins, with glimpses, snapshots, thoughts and collections capturing the moments in time that speak to who we are, what, when and why we are.

John Lennon once said, "Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted".

How do you like to 'waste' your time? 

If you could take THE one picture of your day, what would it be?

Have you begun your record of existence?... What does it look like?

While you are pondering your answers, here are a few interesting links:

NPR: Why Does Time Fly By As We Get Older?... with two short videos: one of 'Every Day' with Homer Simpson and another by Maggie Starbard of people collecting memories seen here.

Through The Wormhole: Does Time Exist? The discussion of how time is perceived begins about 11 minutes into the documentary seen here.

And for all of you who remember what time felt like when it was 1:1.4 you might enjoy watching and listening to these: The Rolling Stones here and The Chambers Brothers "Time Has Come Today", the long psychedelic version here.

Time to go... Dyan

Astrology, Window Art & Loreal Prystaj

Most people know their Sun sign, which correlates to the day and month they were born. I'm an Aries, a fire sign, but aside from loving to start new things and being impulsive (when I want something I want it now!), little else about me fits the Aries profile. There is absolutely nothing adventurous about me and while I like red, I don't wear it very often. I am much more like my Ascendant sign, Scorpio, a water sign, which was rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of my birth. I come across rather shy and reserved, a bit secretive, empathetic, and can solve most mysteries long before any clues are given.

These two signs help describe the multifaceted aspects of our personalities. The Ascendant sign is our persona. It is the image that faces outward, how the world sees us, that first impression. Our Sun sign is our ego or inner being, who we are when we are not surrounded by others. Together, these signs represent both our public and private selves.

Often this public vs private, inner vs outer aspects of astrology, as strange as it might seem, comes to mind whenever I encounter great window displays, either in the malls, which I don't do often, or while walking the streets of the city.

This happens because I first see the actual physical glass that separates us from the story being told, of mannequins and props and the psychology of merchandise being sold. Then there's the play of reflection, of ourselves and outside structures, on the window's surface, creating a 'reality vs fantasy' world and the barriers between them.

I know some of you are saying..."hey it's a plastic model, just a dress, a purse, a pair of shoes... what reflections... what worlds?" Okay, at times that's all it is, a dress, a purse, some shoes, but there's so much more  when you're talking about great window design like the ones seen last month at Daffy's in Philadelphia, at the corner of 17th and Chestnut Streets, based on the theme of Alice in Wonderland.

The concept for these windows comes from the work of artist Loreal Prystaj.

Here are a few of her images.

I was amazed to learn that Loreal is a student!!! She's attending FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in NYC, loves being in the city, and will be graduating with a BFA degree in 2013. I truly expected her to be someone long into a career of Photography, not one only begun in 2008!

Here is her self portrait along with her thoughts on photography and work.

"Reality is perception, and my perception of the world around me becomes reality through my photography. I find myself creating illusions in my head; I am the only one who knows exactly what is on my mind, and I have become part of my own masterpieces to fulfill my imagination".

"I shoot almost 24/7... mostly personal work, not school work. I do well in school, but care much more about, and make it first priority, to do my own work".

Loreal recently celebrated a birthday. She's an Aries-Taurus Cusp sharing a bit of both signs which explains her great drive and energy towards her work (Aries ruled by Mars), and her appreciation of beauty and a tenacity to see things through to completion (Taurus, an earth sign, ruled by Venus)... great attributes for any artist who works 24/7!

To see more of Loreal's wonderful photography visit her website here.

And for more great window displays from our friends in the UK go here and here and here.

If any of this post has sparked your interest in astrology, try Astrodienst for a free natal chart and daily horoscopes based on your personal birth info here.

And for my favorite horoscope guru, astrologer and quasi-psychologist check out Rob Brezsny of Free Will Astrology who describes what he does as "predicting the present, not forecasting the future". Get your weekly horoscope and his free newsletter here.

So who are YOU? What personality traits do you 'display' or hide within? 

Have you ever purchased an item because you saw it in a store window? What did you buy and was it worth the impulse?

Talk to me... back in two weeks for my next post.

Birthdays & Sixteen Year Old Selves

I love birthdays, anyone's birthday, but especially my own.

This is my birthday month and it has been full of celebration: sweet treats and surprises, being thought of by friends and family, of grand wishes, in person, by mail, and by phone, along with loads of self indulgence. With these celebrations come the making of new memories, reminders of birthdays past and the wish for more... many more.

Surely everyone has a favorite birthday memory.

Mine is of my sixteenth, my sweet sixteenth.

I remember being in H.S. and having this huge crush on a boy a year older than me. He was tall, and good looking and had his own band. He played guitar, was the lead singer, and was completely clueless as to who I was... until that night his band was hired to play at my birthday party and what a party it was! There was a great mix of friends and their dates, plenty of good food and live music to dance to. All went better than expected, including the next day, when L.S.G (lead singer guy) phoned and asked me out for a date. He noticed me!

Maybe he got caught up in the moment, and enjoyed himself at the party, or liked the way I looked in my dress, which now resembles a nightgown, or maybe it was the musk perfume I wore that lured him my way... similar to the affect the Sirens had on Ulysses. I don't know, but what I did learn from that disappointing first, also last, date was 'to always be careful what you wish for'.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if somehow our adult selves could go back in time and impart the wisdom we have now that only comes with age? This is the premise behind Joseph Galliano's book titled 'Dear Me, A Letter to My Sixteen-Year-Old Self' which contains some 75 letters written by celebrities to their younger selves. I particularly like Hugh Jackman's letter along with a few others that you can read in their entirety here and even submit one of your own.

Here's mine...

And if this idea of a future self going back in time to guide a younger self intrigues you, here is a book of fiction called 'Q' by Evan J. Mandery. It's a bit of a quirky love story with lots of twists and turns. See it here.

And so as April, birthdays, and discussion of younger selves come to an end, I leave you with these thoughts...

Do you have a favorite birthday memory?...or if you could, what would you tell your sixteen year-old self?

Please share your thoughts with me by clicking on the word 'comment' below 'this' post. A dialogue box will open. Be sure to click on the small arrow first to identify yourself by choosing name/url, then type your name, (you don't need a url) or anonymous if you'd like to keep us guessing.

And if you'd like to find out more about your birthday go here, then scroll down the page and enter your birth month, day, and year.

May all your birthdays be memorable.

Color: Pantone & Tarts

I love color.

I mean I really, really, love color.

When asked for my favorite, I usually stare into deep space and mutter something like... "Wow... gee... hmmm... I love soooo many colors." How do I choose just one, as in one piece of candy, when I'm standing in the middle of a whole candy factory?

How about two? It's hard to imagine a life without Black & White, the 'Boss' of hues that add punch and contrast to all other colors. But choosing them excludes the warm tones of oranges and pinks, trendy lime green, the cool shades of blues and violets, some fully saturated and others high key.

One? Two? How about infinite color favorites, with the exception of Beige, that whitish, grayish, orangish, brownish pigment which some call cream and I call the ultimate color of indecision.

Okay... final answer... my favorite color is... any color 'with attitude'.

Here are a few pieces by Emilie de Griottes, a food photographer and graphic designer with a great attitude about color, calling these works Pantone Tarts... Pantone, referring to the colors designers use, and tarts as in delicious desserts.

To view Emilie de Griotte's site go here... 

And to go with the Pantone Tarts, here are some Pantone Mugs for your coffee or tea...

Click here to discover Pantone's 'Color of the Year 2012'... It's sizzling! If you love this color, Revlon has a lipstick, Colorburst Lip Butter, called 'Tutti Frutti' which is a close match to the declared 'color of the year'... smooch! 

For more Pantone products go here. I particularly like the Pantone notebooks and I'm absolutely crazy about the box of 100 Pantone postcards I saw here. They look too precious to write on or send through the mail. Maybe I can part with a few... beige ones.

Do you have a favorite color?... a color you think you look good in?... or one you are obsessed with? Please share your color musings by clicking on the word 'comment' below. I hope it won't take you as long to decide on a color as it did me.

Sweet Beginnings, Middles and Endings

I like things in 3's...morning, noon, night, / days, months, years, / past, present, future...nice complete packages. Good things come in 3's, or is it, good things come to those who wait? No matter, both apply. I've been waiting to start this blog for a long time and here I begin with my very, very, very first post...sweet!

Beginnings

Michael and I just finished lunch at 'Plate' (great name for a restaurant) in Ardmore. It was only a month ago that I noticed these big white letters on the windows of Sweet Green, a little cafe across the street from where we're standing now.

 Intrigued, I got closer

and closer

They were resolutions!...an entire window full of sticky notes written by patrons, all proclaiming their hopes and desires for 2012. Personally, I no longer make New Year's resolutions, not that I don't have my own crazy rituals, but I do share with others the great sense of optimism and anticipation that comes with the start of each new year and for the promise that lies ahead. 

Here's one that shares my view...

While I didn't write it, I've colored it, and started to make it happen.

Middles

Middle of the day...my middle (waistline)...we're off for dessert. Chocolate cookies, cakes and pie, my favorite sweet is frozen yogurt. Philly has a number of places...Tutti Fruitti, Kiwi, Phileo, Yogurt City, Scoop Deville and Sweet Endings. The Main Line has a few that I know of...Kiwi, Whirled Peace, and this place...

Oh so fun it is! Grab a cup. It's all self-serve. You control the taps (handles). You control which flavors, how much and how many. When it comes to toppings and hot fudge sauce, that's where I lose control...double yum!

Not only are these places fun but cute as well.

So fun has hot green walls and hot pink chairs, neon colored plastic spoons and cute little characters like this about the place.

Word is a frozen yogurt place is coming soon to my neighborhood, in Jenkintown, at Noble Square. It will be called U-Swirl and since we have zero frozen yogurt places in the area, I am swirling with delight.

Endings

After a day of eating and fun, I chose to flake in my favorite spot...in front of the computer. I found this playful site called Contact Sheet where you can create a ransom note of your own. Try it here. Here's mine...

It worked!...a perfect ending to a perfect day.

Before exiting, I leave you with this question...

Are you hoping to begin something new?...already in the middle of something?...or just looking to wrap up loose ends? Share one or all of your 3's.

May all your beginnings, middles and endings be sweet ones.