How was 2014???

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                                                                      This time of year everyone seems to blog and write about the past eleven and seven eights months and how their lives were affected, new events that occurred and all of the juicy bits of gossip that were devoured. I refuse to go through all of that and relive the past events. Sure, it was an up and down year, mostly up, as they all are. So many things happened that I'd rather readers here go back and look at my blog posts to read it for themselves. Therefore, enjoy the past additions to this blog and add any comments to this if you feel I have been in error. :-P

                                                                      Now, what is AHEAD of me are the looming numbers of 2015.  Yep, we all have the luxury and privilege of attending this party as we did make it this far. Many did not. So we raise a glass to 2014 and celebrate the year to come and what it may bring us. Have you made a list out of things YOU want to do, to accomplish or to achieve in the next year? Um...seems we ALL do this every year and somehow manage to get sidetracked by March. Are they always the same with everyone? Lose weight, get healthy, eat better, blah,blah,blah. Gym memberships surge for the first two months, then die out as people tire of the new routine and cease the new year's resolutions. I have a short list of things that I want to accomplish in the upcoming year of twenty and fifteen. Having learned in the past to keep the list short and reachable, this years has not changed a great deal from that in 2014. Hence, it might be as boring as hell to most.



   The first and foremost "activity" that I want to continue on and improve on is...  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Improving my shakuhachi   playing, practice and knowledge. Last year was a big year for me as regards learning and this must continue. hence the new blog         I have started at www.http://shakuhachi-adventures.blogspot.com/




Last year was not the greatest for my running though a delightful reward of concentrating on 5 miles and under for strength,speed and breathing certainly paid off. I ran fewer miles in 2014 but was injury free for most of it. I did have some arthritis and sciatica issues but as those are not injuries, I was pretty happy with the results, especially the races, taking a Masters award at the final race of the year. Taking first over 40's was a tremendously exciting accomplishment for me at the age of 48 yrs old. Ending the year with that and starting a new year with a clean slate.

Number three, or "drei"? get back into my German studies and to where I was a few years ago. Since then I have tried a few other languages, notably, Welsh. And those who have read past posts know I did OK with it and really enjoyed what was learned. but my brain simply had issues with the language. Some people can learn any language, some cannot. Some have issues with certain ones and this is what happened with me. Welsh and I have a friendship still but are no longer partners. And time needs to be spent on a language that I do WELL with and is also a lot more functional for me. German is certainly it as it has been part of my life since age fifteen, in high school. So, while I'm not sure when during the year I will tackle it again, it will happen. 

                                                   There you have it. My New Years list of things to accomplish and work on. Of course, this is in addition to the daily list of mindfulness, reading, writing, running loving and other activities that are part of my routine. I have now two blogs, five Facebook groups and numerous penpals as well as a busy social life. All of these things keep me really happy and busy for sure. Might get into the freelance photography field again as work so this upcoming year is going to be an interesting one indeed!! Stay tuned!!
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Challenges of the heart.

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                                                                 As we travel down this road of life, our hearts can take a beating when the drama and circus of emotions pummel it. From our earliest years of existence, we guard it, train it and "think" with it. A certain Jon Kabat Zinn once mentioned in "Coming to Our Senses" that in every Asian language, the word for "heart" is the same for "mind". While I take him at his word, and contain myself from examining every possible language spoken of, this one line made an impression on me. And I must say that I agree with it. Our hearts and minds are inexplicably linked in all ways. The slightest tug on one can cause the other to feel it's effects, usually with some type of reaction. So, which one do we follow when the time comes for a decision to be made?

                                                                 The last month in my life has been an amazing journey, yet one filled with bumps in the road as well as some highs that made the lows worthwhile. I have gone from losing a vehicle to old age, necessitating her to being scrapped, to some relationship changes that impacted my family. Yet, the things that happened were not all negatives. Even as they happened, the mind grasped the events, dealt with them and then told the heart to just relax. Take it easy and work through this. My Buddhist studies and meditation/mindfulness have been a tremendous help in this regard. My stress level has been super low, even with all of these things happening. Losing my job would normally be a stress filled event. Yet, it really isn't.  It is another transition in life that brings new challenges and opportunities. And even these involve the heart.

                                                                       So, here I stand on the precipice of one year ending and another beginning. Yet, this one is different. The last few years have been busy and exciting, as well as a joy. Yet even though I know that 2015 will also be similar, so many dynamics have changed for me that no doubt it will be different.In the last month I have met so many new people who have changed my life, inspired new modes of thinking and challenged me to think in a clearer way. Not that they themselves have suggested it or sat me down to produce words of wisdom. Far from that. Their actions alone have done this, These...these actions that make me critique my OWN responses so as to better myself, to improve the mind and heart that is involved inside of me. Therefore, I want to thank each and every one of my family, friends, lovers, acquaintances and unknowns who pass through my life. I thank you for helping me to better myself, quite often without your even knowing it. Many DO indeed know that they have affected my life. That they have contributed to the overall joy, passion, pleasure and happiness contained inside this mind and heart is ,well,simply wonderful.                                                                            
                                                                    Rumi said it well....

   Keep the light burning in your heart and you ARE home. Learn to live inside this home ,inside your heart, and make it the seat of everything you do. Just like the physical home we live in, the heart that is our home can be visited by various people, some staying longer than others. Some make a small place in our hearts to stay awhile, becoming a long time resident, while others only camp out a few days. It is WHOM we allow to stay that can prove to be either a disaster or a delight. In 2014, I had the pleasure of allowing some to stay in my home, my heart, and they were most certainly welcome. Some left on good terms and are always welcome back. A few have just recently taken up residence and will hopefully be staying awhile. They know who they are and have already proven themselves to be tenants of the utmost quality, with all the best qualifications. May they enjoy the stay as long as they like and even decorate the place a little. My heart has room for many. <3  There will always be challenges of the heart, no matter how old we are, how experienced or how virtuous a soul we have.

It's all boils down to meeting these challenges and accepting them. I will try my best to continue this
and follow my heart. But this needs to be done with the mind as a travelling companion and resident as well. They back each other up and reinforce our own understanding of how to live a happy life. <3




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Times are a changing!!

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                                                                 Death is a natural and common thing. Fortunately, I don't have to report that there has been a death in the family or of any friends. But, last Saturday one thing died that caused a slight set back, and that was of my six year old desktop computer. The hard drive ceased working and it would not boot up and all. This does not surprise me after the time I have owned it and all the work it has done. I had almost everything on it backed up so that made this an event that was not too tough to deal with. Still, I do NOT have the funds to be shelling out willy-nilly for parts, etc. So, having just sold off my ham radio gear this last week, I was able to afford to go and buy a new tower. Complete. Sure, I could have saved a few dollars in buying parts and pieces, installing them and getting another few years out of it. But for $250, I bought a new machine with more speed and memory than the old model and it's a third smaller in size. A win-win.

OK, I agree that discussing computers on this blog is NOT the most exciting thing, especially since I'm a real cheap skate and don't put out high dollars for computers or parts. Just enough to get me by and do the job. That is what I do and it is the same with most aspects of my buying style. there are exceptions of course, like shakuhachi flutes, fountain pens and other items where quality means more to me. But, this new system will work nicely for awhile and I'm happy it's working well.

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Just before the computer became a deceased soul, Ann and I went to see our tattoo artist friend, Doug Auld, for the year's last bit of ink. We both were giving the other an early Christmas gift in a tattoo and sat at The Parlour  St-Johns in Portland. Ann decided on this design for her tattoo:

             







                      The fairy was a bold design for her and I applaud her for getting it. The colour scheme was well done and blended nicely with the style.






Then it was my turn. I had wanted another shakuhachi related tattoo for awhile and had chosen a komuso a long time ago. So this was what I came up with:

 This particular design was inspired from a work by Japanese artist Sanzo Wada.   It is a more modern work from the 1940's but captures the komuso in their attire. I removed the sword that was attached as I prefer my Buddhist monks to be non-violent and left that off the design. Came out rather well I think.



So no more ink in 2014. Will see what 2015 brings in the way of designs and where I can put them. This komuso took care of the last part of my lower legs.




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                                                         Coming up soon, I will be starting a new blog. This will be under the same address of http://hiroshigeowl.blogspot.com/ but will be completely about one subject. It will be a journey undertaken by myself, showing every post how the road is enjoyed and discovered.
I tried this once back in 2011 and it never really took off. It morphed into this blog, actually.
For sure there will be some who will not want to follow the new blog as much due to less interest in the subject matter. But, I find it will be a pleasure for me and will also provide some accountability in keeping to my studies and tasks. Since the arrival of my new shakuhachi "Hideo" from Perry Yung Flutes, I have not put him down. He has been played EVERY DAY since landing permanently here and will be the primary partner on my travels. Along with him are going to be a few others that grace my home. As I journey with my flutes and dig deeper into the music, history and playing, there is no doubt some wonderful things will be learned. I shall post the link to the new blog soon and then start my "travels". So the new blog is about the shakuhachi and will be entitled  "Shakuhachi Adventures"

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Update: The new blog is underway!!   http://shakuhachi-adventures.blogspot.com/

Ink, ink and more ink!!!

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                                                        After leaving the religious group I belonged to most of my life, in 2008, I set out as a free man to do things that were forbidden to that organization. Oh my, so many things that I desired and yet couldn't do because some older fellas on the east coast deemed themselves holier than anyone else and that I MUST follow their interpretation of Biblical law. Um....no. This was NOT happening any longer. So, one of the first things I did that was on the list of taboo acts, was to get a tattoo. I'd always wanted one and was quite nervous about doing so. Would it hurt? Would it "mark" me as an outcast or a rebel. The usual mind fuck that occurs when one leaves a system they have been part of after 35+ years of a life. I set out to find a small design and to look for a place to have it done.  After searching quite a few places, Pearl District Tattoo was chosen.

    
                                                         What impressed me most was the attitude and care of the two artists working there, Doug Auld and Tony Harris. ( Tony at left, Doug at right) They didn't treat me like a piece of garbage off the street who was looking for a cheap and crappy bit of flash ink. I was a customer, sure, but also a newbie who needed some help along the way when getting my first tattoo. So, I made an appointment in November of 2009 with a design to show my love of running: A small figure running that I named my own Pheidippides. This was the resulting tattoo on my right ankle...

Sure, it was small and not too detailed. But, it was a perfect first tattoo and gave me an idea of what they felt like and how long it took to get one.
Well, that first experience at Pearl District tattoo was the catalyst that started it all for me. I would never visit another tattoo artist as Doug Auld was to be the only one who would ink this fella. Never been tempted to go to another artist.

Eventually the shop closed down and Tony left to go back home to the midwest/east and Doug moved on to a different location, eventually ending up at The Parlour-St. Johns, in Portland. I followed for sure.

What follows now, are a few photos of the various tattoos I have had inked on my canvas over the last six years. These are not all of them but until I get a folder with them all together, it is a representation of what I have.

 And, of course, the last one inked is the erotic shunga piece here . A delightful bit of art on my hip!!!







 This gives an idea of the extent of the ink work I have had done in the short six years. I want to get a nice full body shot of all my ink but have not done so as yet. Hopefully I can get that soon and post it. I'm very proud of all of my ink and love each and every one, no matter what. I WILL be getting more ink and have no idea how far I will go with it. it is part of my journey through life and I'm loving every step I take and road I travel.
Not much of a blog post this time but I felt like showing the ink a bit and getting my artists name out there as he is superb!!!  So, here it is....Doug Auld. The Parlour, St Johns in Portland ,Oregon.  :-)

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Life's BIG and little changes.

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                                                December has arrived and with it...lots of changes. The weather, my employment situation and also relationships with various friends and confidants. Sure, they always come and go over the span of a lifetime, a decade or even a few short months. A recent study concluded that the average person keeps a close friend for seven years. Hmm. Well, OK, I can see that happening. This has happened to us all and while I prefer to keep life long friends, for some of us this is just not possible with constant moving around the country. But, the last six years have been really stable for me and I can count many who have been there for me and remain so. Some others, not as much. As December begins, I start a new chapter in my life with some challenges and also some very positive vistas on the horizon. I shall do my best to remain vigilant and happy!!!!


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                                                     Last Sunday was the final race of the year for these legs. The Hot Buttered Run 5K is a race I have enjoyed for three years now and it seems to only get better as time goes on. After working hard the last three months on my 5K speeds and trying to lower them enough to do well, I was hoping for a morning with good weather and no problems with the sciatica and the arthritis. It was for sure a cold one at 30°!! But, the sun was out and the course was ready for us. There were 546 runners in this race and I knew I had stiff competition as there were 21 in my age group and some I knew as faster than I was. but I was determined to get out of the gate quickly and maintain that first mile. I had few go past me, and of those who did, only one was in my age bracket.
At the 1.8 mile I passed him and never looked back. At the end I sprinted with a 16 yr old to the finish, beating him. But, as he was chip timed as faster, I lost a place by one. Didn't bother me as I ran well enough to take Masters. This was the second I had ever earned, though the first, over three years ago, was a small race and the leader had an injury. So I never felt that win as a real one. THIS...this is a win I really am happy about and will look back on proudly!!

 

 Darhl, Shari and me in the morning sunlight!!

This was a photo Ann captured of that sprint at the end of the race. What fun to put on the jets at the end!!!   She was a great photographer and is doing so well at shooting the races!!

 I simply LOVE the races and my running family!!!






















 So kudos to Brian Davis and Energy Events for another great
year of running events and fun!! Looking forward to 2015 to be even better!!!





               As mentioned above, the last few months have been a roller coaster of events. First, my Ford Escort "Tilly" died on me and had to be scrapped. Then, my job at Lingonberries Market came to end. Actually, that was this week, so a bit later than last month. These events sure added to the ups and downs of the season and now, I sit poised on the edge of December. This is usually a busy month for me with so many things happening. But, this year is different as a change of situations, relationships and circumstances has leaped into the mixture. This will give me time to pause, to reflect and to look to what I might now do with my time and life. One thing is for certain: I will still take each day as it comes, enjoying, no, savouring every bite and experience I can.  As December will be a month of no work, time will be made to relax a wee bit and plan for the future. In January, I will have come to some decisions and then will blog here about them. For now, the shakuhachi practice as well as reading of books I meant to cover over the summer, will be done. Perhaps more blogging!

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Last few weeks...

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                                   The last three weeks of my life have been simply amazing. For the most part, the events contained in the short 21 days have been positive and a blessing that enrich my existence.
Sure, for every few great events there usually follows one that is negative or not so great. But....we take the good with the bad and try to dwell on the things that make us happy.

                                    The last post detailed birthday number forty eight, and the year ahead. Since then, I've had a race, some new ink and a new addition to the family. Yep. That's right. Stay tuned.

                                     On Saturday last I had the privilege of running the Clark County Running Club's Turkey Trot 5K down at Marine Park in Vancouver. These races are always well attended as there are turkeys given away to lucky names picked. This race was no exception as at least a hundred turned out in the cold drizzle. Yet that rain went away at the most perfect time for our race!! This took us along the waterfront to Wintler Park and back. As I was unsure of how my legs would feel after a lot of work days and some sciatica issues that morning, I decided that as I had another race in a week, the Hot Buttered Run, I would go out slower and see what happened. Yeah, right. As if I could ever go out slow on a shorter race. Nope. Here are some photos from the race:

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                                                                    A lot of fun was this race and I ran much better than I expected. My time was 21:59 at a 7:05/mi pace. If I can only do the same at next week's race, I shall be supremely happy. A very nice Saturday 5k race for sure and thanks to Russ and CCRC for this.

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                                                                    The next day, on Sunday, I traveled to The Parlour in St Johns, Portland, to receive some new ink on my filling up canvas of a body. This was no ordinary tattoo though.As many know, I'm an admirer of Japanese art, especially woodblock prints from the 16th-20th centuries. During this time period there were many artists of renown who also produced shunga, or erotic art. No, this was not porn for them but art, in rich detail and superb colours, showing the Japanese side of sexuality and human living. And, as I'm also a student and researcher of human sexuality, these elements of art and sex combine to make for some stunning works. So, what better way to celebrate sexuality and art than to have one of these shunga pieces tattooed on my body.
Sure, this would be provocative, taboo to some, and a real dare to ink.

                                                           Really? Why?  Seems the West, especially the United States, has a lingering problem with sexuality in almost any form unless through Hollywood or religion. neither of those being reality in my opinion . And I don't like either of those two in their portrayal of love and sex. Not a bit. Other cultures seem to have a much better understanding and acceptance of sexuality that does not make it a dirty or disgusting thing, or only for reproduction. Yet another reason I like this Asian form of art. So...I searched for quite awhile in hopes of finding the piece I wanted. Alas, I could not find one that did it for me in all aspects. I DID find two though, that if combined would be a wonderful example of shunga . These are the two pieces that I settled on:

If one has not viewed shunga before and is a bit timid with sexuality, it can be a bit daunting to look at. Yet this writer sees such beauty in it!!!!

   The piece to the left is contemporary but done in the style of Ukiyo-E artists. This one is by Senju Horimatsu . I decided that I'd rather have the lovers kissing instead of the way either had them positioned. And I knew this would be detailed work. Notice the tattoos on the man's legs and arm. Amazing.  Here is the completed tattoo, which is on my left hip.

                                           
                                           Simply stunning work!!! Thanks so much, Doug!!

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                                                   Now,  about this addition to the family. Well, after the Seattle Shakuhachi Matsuri in October, I realized that my need for a better instrument was crucial to me learning this beloved flute. So, I looked at selling a few things, got some funds together, and contacted Perry Yung at Yung Flutes in New York. He had a Japanese made Tozan style 1.8 shakuhachi, that was harvested and made in the mid-late 60's. This flute had incredible sound and was within my budget. Finally, an advanced flute for my studies!!!! I paid for the beauty and received it a week later after a detour to visit Hawaii. What a delightful addition to the "family" this shakuhachi is!!!

The root end of this flute is beautiful as is the whole thing!!!

The photo at left is the flute, now named "Hideo", next to my Earth model flute (also from Perry Yung) .

  There it is. A wonderful addition to my household and one I plan on keeping a very long time, if not for the rest of my life. Superb!!!!!






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