Salvador Dali's Birthdate

He is one of my favourite painters. Because who can come up with this stuff? Really! You have to be incredibly creative to think this stuff up or -well, Salvador Dali!

Dali was a Spanish surrealist painter who lived during the 20th century. His most famous painting is one that you may know as "Melting Clocks", but he actually titled it "The Persistence of Memory".

If you took a first year film class you may have watched Un Chien andalou (1928), one of the best known surrealist films. Dali and the first-time director Luis Buñuel produced the film with Dali co-writing and acting in for the film. The poignant opening scene where an eye is slit with a razor is an indelible scar in my mind. *shudders*Oh dear, and now we move on...

Dali was influenced by Sigmund Freud's writing about the "erotic significance of subconscious imagery", which subsequently influenced his paintings. To access the images of his subconscious, he would cause himself to go into a hallucinatatory state. The paintings in this state are his most well regarded paintings and made him the "world's best-known Surrealist artist". The following are some of my favourite Dali works...

When I was in Madrid, I spent a day in Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sophia where a number of Salvador Dali's works are displayed (and Un Chien andalou is played). It was really neat to see one of my favourite artist's paintings for real! (I saw Picasso's Guernica too!)

In recent Salvador Dali News... Little Ashes, a film about Dali's just came out on May 8th. Robert Pattinson (you may know him as Edward Cullin in Twilight) plays Dali. would like to see it, but perhaps I'll wait till it's on DVD or something

To finish off this post on Dali, here are two amusing quotes by Dali:

"I don't do drugs; I am drugs."

&

"The only difference between myself and a madman is that I am not mad."

Update: After posting this I received an email from someone in the PR dept. at Time Inc. and who is in charge of communications for Life. She stumbled upon my blog post in the press for Salvador Dali for today and suggested that I might appreciate a series of photos of Dali from Life Magazine's website. Have a "look-see"! You'll see what an eccentric character Dali was!

Work Cited: "Salvador Dalí." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 11 May. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/150173/Salvador-Dali>.
All photos and direct quotes will take you to their original site by clicking on them.

Water-Juice

When I was a child, I was my mother's right hand. That's what happens when you're the oldest. I did what I could to help my mum with my siblings. One instance was then Ainsley wouldn't drink water for supper because she wanted juice. But it was the rule to have a glass of juice then if you wanted more to drink, you would get water. But she was putting up a big fight about it this one time, so I told her that this jug of water in the fridge was actually "water-juice". Water-juice looked like water, but tasted like juice. Mom poured her a glass and she drank it. It worked for a while! hehe She was a gullible kid!

So there is this Baby Blue comic that my mother sent me saying it was very much like me as a kid. And this is what prompted me to tell the "water-juice" story...

Bicyclettes on the mind!

I found this and couldn't help but put it up! What a cute bicycle! For those without good balance AND a desire to stay very close! heh hehh

Also, does it look like they're in front of the White House?

Oh dear... Bicycles are on my mind! Hm, I need a basket for mine now... Bookbags on the back are never good in the summer. Especially black ones. I shall go to Talize tomorrow and hope for the perfect one! Orrr maybe I'll go to the really far, ginormous Value Village... I suppose it all depends on the weather. It's raining now. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. I want sunshine again!

Falling in Love with London

As well as falling in love with reading books again, I also plan on falling in love with London. One of the ways that I plan to fall in love with this city is to explore it. There are many, many bike trails and paths by the river throughout the city and I think that they are the key to discovering the beauty that this city holds! :) And so, to aid in my discovery of these paths I intend to employ at least two friends; my camera and a bike!

I have been antsy to ride since the weather became nice! Unfortunately, on the first nice day, I discovered that my bike was not in the shed. It was one of the most anxious feelings I have ever experienced! I consoled myself by pretending that I imagined bringing the bike to London- that it was all "in my head". I attempted to trick myself. As well, I told myself that if I really did bring the bike to London then the person who took it must have needed it more than me. Within a few days the feeling was gone.

There is a plus side to this! It gave me an excuse to seek out the bike I have always wanted: A cruiser! I've always wanted a cruiser bicycle for two reasons; because they are classic and because they are better for my posture (a more upright position while seated). I mentioned to Gen that I was looking for a cruiser which informed her of the name of the bike that she had always wanted! With the name in hand/mind, she searched craiglist and kijiji for a cruiser bicycle and purchased one within hours! I was so-so jealous! But I kept patiently checking the online classifieds for mine.

So here we are two days later and I now have my bike! I toured all over London today! I have yet to name my bicycle, but I think I shall go with Norco (the company name) for now. I will probably to paint him, because black is just too gloomy! But here he is!


So with my trusty "steed" and camera companion I shall explore all the beauties and secrets that are held by London! I will fall in love with this city and come to value all that it offers while enjoying sunny days in between chaotic, busy shifts at the pub!