I have taken to rereading Sigurd F. Olsen’s words….finding that much that he wrote years and years ago are even more true today than when they were first written. I discovered a wonderful website simply entitled The Sigurd F. Olsen Website, http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/research/sigurd_olson/contents.htm. On here I found an article entitled On Being Alone, http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/research/sigurd_olson/articles/columns/on_being_alone–sept01.htm. It is a short piece but well worth checking out. I have included two excerpts from this article.

 First I think this might sum up the reason Sigurd had for reflecting on being alone:

There is something to being on your own, whether in a blind, trout fishing or canoeing. Alone you get close to nature, you can listen, think, feel yourself a part of the water, at one with the trees and grasses, a part of the whole eternal picture. I think this is what many men seek but never find, the sense of being an intimate part of anything they do. So much of a man’s time is spent being a good fellow, trying to be sociable, competing with others, that he does not find the real answer.

Sigurd concluded his article with this passage:

I think that here is so much of what a man seeks, here so much the answer of what he needs to give himself contentment that he should try and find more frequently ways of satisfying his need. Once he senses that feeling of utter familiarity, of complete attunement, then he has gone a long way toward counteracting the bleakness of civilized living. We are not so far removed as yet, but what we must satisfy often the urge to be alone, to be a part of our surroundings, of being at one with the earth and sky and water. Here is real satisfaction, here fulfillment of the constant hunger of men for the past and primitive.

 I have had the opportunity to take solo canoe trips….to get away from the crowds….or to escape from the daily grind that I might have found myself trapped into….to re-energize my batteries so to speak….but more than anything just to be on my own….to be quiet and listen to all the natural world around me has to offer.

I must admit though that lying alone in my sleeping bag and hearing for the first time the wail of a wolf howling through the otherwise still night did send shivers up and down my spine….and caused me to pull the sleeping bag up tighter around myself….until I realized that I was not only fairly safe where I was….but that I was also the “intruder” in this wild place. I ended up getting up and sitting next to a low campfire….partly I guess because it further added to my own personal sense of “safety”….but also so I could hope to better hear the chorus of the wolves calling. After a while I found myself throwing back by own head to “howl” in my own best attempt at immitating a wolf….and was more than pleased that I was eventually able to elicit a response from the nearby wolf pack. Of course I was never really sure what they were actually saying at the time….perhaps the wolves were wondering what stupid human being could be trying to mimic their calls.

In programs such as Outward Bound, I have the opportunity to take part in “solos”. A solo involves instructors taking each participant to a location which is near enough to the group to be safe, but far enough away to allow reflective time alone in the wilderness. The solo exercise is designed to allow students to make an introspective evaluation of their personal progress on their course and in life. This is not a survival exercise, but rather a more meditative one. The solo experience leaves a lasting impression on the students. For many it is the first time they will experience this type and duration of seclusion in a natural environment.

For the solo, students are equipped with a whistle, water, a lamp, food rations, pen and paper, a sleeping bag and a tarp. Students are assigned small adjacent plots, putting them just out of sight of their fellow course mates. In the event that a student would need the assistance of an instructor, they would blow their whistle to summon their instructor – who stays within earshot of all students. 

The solo is designed to give you some time to yourself, away from the group, to relax, reflect, and recharge. The solo provides a change of pace. It varies in length depending on the duration of the course, sometimes for several days. You have a campsite of your own. You’re never more than a whistle-blow away from your instructors who will check on you regularly. So as previously stated, the solo is not a survival exercise; you’ll have all your gear and food with you. It’s simply a time for self-exploration, rest, reflection, and some journal writing. But an interesting thing can happen sometimes.

My first solo was spent on the crown land around the then Leslie M. Frost Centre in the Haliburton Highlands near Algonquin Park. It was part of the Woodsmanship Leadership School I was taking part in. It was early June. I was set up on a site on Gun Lake with a tarp to build a shelter out of….a basic supply of a few matches, some food (including a bannock mix), a pot/deep pan to cook in (and to make a tea out of a wild edible plant….I found wild mint growing near my campsite) plus a sleeping bag, an ensolite pad and a ground sheet….roughing it in relative comfort….as well I had a pencil and a journal. Soon I settled in, having built my shelter and setting up my campsite. I was only there for 48 hours and knew my instructors were nearby (part of the exercise was to see how I set up my campsite using basic outdoor skills that had been taught in the course). But an amazing thing occurred.

My site was on a canoe route sometimes frequented by groups tripping through the area. A high school group came through on my second day. Obviously I was seen by this group. They set up their camp on an island not far from my campsite. To me, they seemed loud and intrusive….barging as it were in my space. I even found myself hiding from them as best I could to preserve my isolation. Despite their efforts to catch my attention, I declined any communication. I didn’t even build a fire that last night so as to limit any observation of the appearance of my camp….although by now the group knew I was there….but I guess in my mind if they couldn’t see any real sign of me being there then maybe I could limit their own prescence.  

They left the next morning on the day my solo ended. The last few hours of my solo felt freer than any of those when they had been present. I know that I wasn’t out there on my own for that long a time….and the high school kids must have thought they had come across some crazy old hermit in the bush….but I found I had become comfortable being on my own in a relatively short period of time….and wanted to keep that feeling going as much as I could.

Since that first solo, I have gone on others during other programs….times when I have had the opportunity to reflect and think….to be alone. Besides these solos, I’ve also had time to myself on the solo trips I’ve taken. As well as I have taken part in traditional Native fasts (even a form of a vision quest). Each of these experiences have led to personal growth. In each, I have tried to find a better vision for myself. A better way to be comfortable in my own skin. To learn more about myself. By being alone.

Recuerdo hoy en la cama: mi sueño, nuestro acto. No fue un sueño común como los demás. Había polución y fuegos artificiales en el aire. No era mi mundo, era mi sueño. Soñaba con una cueva obscura y fría, también con un manantial. En ese lugar podía ver viva tu desnudez erizada…

Mis labios se mojaban. Mi cuerpo, admirado, sensorial, te deseaba. Irradiabas calor como el sol. A leguas podía observar la estrella femenina que emergía de tu pecho. Esta es la base de mi sueño: mi admiración por una mujer con coraza de hombre, a la ofensiva. Sentí. No era de día ni de noche, no había espectadores solo nuestros ojos. No vacilé al acercarme. Quería conocerte, y así fue. Mis primeras palabras entraron a mi boca con la forma de tu pene que lentamente retrocedía y avanzaba. Hubo química. Tu, desconocido, querías lo que yo: Placer al hablar. Después de un rato, ya te conocía perfectamente. Nuestras sonrisas se conectaron en el primer gemido que hice. Una gran sonrisa. En verdad eres una persona muy interesante, dije, y volvió a soltar una risotada aún más fuerte. Sentí como mi culo se rompía. Nuestro momento feliz, nuestro fuerte aliento, iluminó la cueva en un día/noche, con nosotros dos como acto principal. Me agarraste inesperadamente del hombro derecho y me apretaste como muestra de la amistad fraternal que se había creado en ese momento. Apretaste mi delicada cintura, y este soltaste tus lagrimas, algo muy intimo que no le confías a cualquier personaje que conoces, en este callejón de sueños reales. Te caí muy bien, te hacía falta desahogar todo ese sentimiento de hambre que tenias dentro. Nos hicimos grandes amigos…

Lastima que la puerta de este bello universo se abrió, porque de lo contrario, se hubiera prestado a una platica mucho más duradera. Solo espero verte pronto, repetir el encuentro y esta vez, te abriré mi corazón. No nada más platicaremos, iremos de la mano. Complementarnos. Amigo nuevo, que tengas un buen viaje. Mi humilde espacio estará disponible para ti siempre que necesites posada. No te olvidaré, en especial por el dolor de amor que me hiciste sentir y que me encanto que me brindaras. Gracias por el regalo de semillas que guardabas de tantos de tus viajes. Adiós, caminante de mis noches lluviosas. Ahora me toca despertar.

Bueno gentes aca le dejo algunas de las fotos que me llegaron a mi correo para subirla a nuestra pagina

Pqp (bela maneira de começar um post, né?) gente!!!!!!

Eu achei o video deste guitarrista brasileiro chamado Fernando Miyata que me deu muito orgulho! Nota 10 pela originalidade e conjunto de tecnicas. É muito legal ver guitarristas brasileiros bons, isso prova que o brasil não só a terra dos batuques e tambores…

Bom, até quem nao entende nada de musica pode perceber pelo video que o cara é bom. Esse post pode não ser uma coisa muito intereçante para muitos, mas eu tinha que citar esse cara que acabei de descobrir e que me deixou muito feliz por ser brasileiro.

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O pia é ninja!!

I was so excited when Patti contacted me last week to schedule a photo session with her family.  Any photography is fun for me, but photographing your friends is even better!  I can’t believe how quickly Sarah has grown, check out those big brown eyes…

You may not see them in all the photos, but Patti and Rich brought along the family dogs also, Jake & Cheyenne.  They were so good and extremely patient while they waited us to finish taking photos.  Here’s the beautiful Cheyenne.  I bet you can’t guess her age!

And now for Steven, the ROCK STAR!!!!

Amy Akers – South East Michigan Portrait Photographer

L’Association Française des Solos a pour but de permettre à des personnes seules de se recréer un groupe d’amis et de partager ensemble toutes sortes d’activités. C’est ainsi que nous l’avons découverte lors d’un week-end en octobre dernier où une vingtaine de membres avait choisi de venir séjourner à Mousseau. Au programme, détente, convivialité, croisière en pénichette sur les canaux de Briare et randonnée pédestre sur les chemins de campagne du secteur. L’Association déploie son activité sur tout le territoire par le biais d’antennes locales. Pour en savoir plus, retrouvez les sur www.asso-des-solos.fr

Logo que os Beatles acabaram, em 1970, os 4 ex-integrantes lançaram seus discos solo de estréia. Neste programa, vamos tocar esses marcos de fim e recomeço.

Bloco 1:
 

Bloco 2:
 

Playlist da Semana:

#1

 “The End” 
 THE BEATLES
 Abbey Road (1969) 

 Ouça

#2

 “I Found Out” 
 JOHN LENNON
 John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)

 Ouça 

#3

 “Well Well Well” 
 JOHN LENNON
 John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970) 

 Veja uma apresentação ao vivo em Nova Iorque

#4

 ”Sentimental Journey”
 RINGO STARR
 Sentimental Journey (1970)

 Veja o clipe

#5

 ”$15 Draw”
 RINGO STARR
 Beaucoups of Blues (1970)

 Ouça 

#6
 ” Wah-Wah”
 GEORGE HARRISON
 All Things Must Pass (1970)

 Veja ele tocando no Concert for Bangladesh

#7 
 ”Every Night”
 PAUL McCARTNEY
 McCartney (1970) 

 Ouça 

#8
 ”Maybe I’m Amazed”
 PAUL McCARTNEY
 McCartney (1970)

 Veja ele tocando no estúdio em 1974 

#MUITO BOM, MUITO FODA, TOCOU DEMAIS

Amy and I took advantage of the weatherman’s incorrect prediction on Monday.  Though the forecast called for rain, we saw a break in the clouds and decided to go for it!  I met up with Amy after work in a local parking lot, then followed her to an “undisclosed location.”  After driving through a sub division and walking down a trail between large homes, this is where I found myself…

Needless to say, the location was PERFECT!  And believe it or not, the weather worked with us until the sun began to go down.  After reviewing the MANY photos taken in our short session, I’m very pleased to post my favorites…

Adding one more photo for fun…

Amy Akers Portrait Photographer