Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Collecting veils & thinking about ..... about .... about ....

Attention, young ladies age 21 and over: Applications sought from bright, attractive young ladies seeking to expand their horizons. Earn college credits while studying the history of motion pictures abroad. Scholarships available; also loans with very low interest rates and easy repayment plan. Must be single and unattached. Must bring your own personal veils.

This is sort of a "state of the blog speech"

As I have mentioned about a thousand times before, when January snow and cold hits, sometimes, I might go south for a couple of weeks; sometimes, I might go on a reading binge; sometimes, well, I won't tell you everything. This year, I went abloggin' (however a word of that approximation might be spelled) and roamed the sea of blogs.

I am not certain if doing this has served any purpose or not. I am no less restless today than I was a bit more than two months ago when I began to write. While it might not remain winter, neither is it July, which certainly explains some of my restlessness. A few questions I came here with have been answered, I think, but the heavy duty ones persist. If I'm lucky, those, too, will be resolved six months or a year from now.

Being here in "blogland" has been mostly enjoyable. I've only had one troll, and sure cannot cry about having had it rough in that respect. I have been surprised and pleased by the degree of good manners and consideration I have encountered. I've been involved in a few misunderstandings, but we all engage in them every day.

The few bloggers I have followed, I have done so by intent and for specific reason. I liked what you wrote or your topics or your guts or your enthusiasm or your effort to help people or the place you were traveling. There probably are a few other reasons, but there was a definite reason or two or three for each.

Nothing has changed my tentative jump off from sometime in July. Nothing has changed my initial jump location as being into Greece for a few weeks. After that? Unless something does change in his regard, I am thinking southern France near the Mediterranean, if not actually on it (ok, beside it, on the beach). From there, another map will have to be drawn. The world certainly has gotten geographically smaller in the past decade or two, hasn't it? A hop, skip and a jump, here we go and there we are.

Despite my "advertisement" above, I decided some time back that I am not looking for anyone to actually accompany me. Selfish me, I want to experience Greece without distraction. My more recent thought has been about the possibilities if I actually do settle in for a year or two. Then, I will want a "magic girl" to visit me, or maybe to hang out with me a while and see if anything develops.

I do have three or four other things on my mind, but they seem determined to stay there. I'm out of sync today. My fingers frequently replace my brain, and they are not doing so right now. I have said in the past that my fingers do my thinking for me. (Imagine my difficulties the two times I've had an arm and hand in a cast.)

Also, winter is moving away, and my mind and body reverse themselves between winter and summer. My body is coming out of hibernation for use during the warm weather months, and my mind is going toward its stagnant period to get some rest while I collect wind, water and sun on my face.

Music Note: Listening to Jimi Hendrix ....
Specifically, "Electric Ladyland" ....
Some lines from: "All Along the Watchtower," written by Bob Dylan:

There are many here among us
who feel that life is but a joke
But you and I, we've been through that
and this is not our fate
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late

All along the watchtower
Princes kept the view
While all the women came and went
Barefoot servants, too

Outside in the cold distance
A wildcat did growl
Two riders were approaching
And the wind began to howl

14 comments:

TheChicGeek said...

Love the picture, Fram :)
I hope you blog about your adventures in your travels...I'm sure we'd all love to hear. Greece is a good starting point, I think. Thank goodness spring is on it's way :)
The "State of The Blog" sounds good!
Have a Happy Day!

Piper .. said...

Hey, Greece is a wonderful place to begin! Hope to hear lots of fabulous stories along the way..
So when do you start?

Katy said...

Yes, great picture! It makes me think of Lawrence of Arabia or the 1,001 Nights.

Enjoyed your 'state of the blog' report too. Your summer (and beyond) sound like a wonderful treasure in the making. Are you into planning specifics yet or are you still in the pre-planning thinking stage?

I suffer occasionally from 'dyslexic fingers' as well... :-)

Natalie said...

Traveling alone, without “distraction” – smartest thing to do. I have done that many times, never regretted.
Meine Lieben Henrik Schliemann! Go for the locals!!!

P.S. Let your fingers do the talking more often, Philosopher… brain is nice, but did you ever think that our brain is too manipulative to let other body parts to do their own thinking?!!!!
Hha! Made me wonder what my body parts are up to!)
Maybe it is your Soul speaks through your fingers…

Fram Actual said...

Posting much written material probably won't be practical for me during the initial couple of weeks, Kelly, but emails would be simple and occasional photos might work.

After the initial couple of weeks, it'll probably be just the opposite. I'll be lonesome.

Fram Actual said...

Piper, you mean for a visit, right? Your trip home, I mean. Keep us posted.

All I know right now is that my trip will begin sometime during the second half of the summer. This is more complicated than an ordinary vacation.

Fram Actual said...

Very preliminary, Katy. Internet research, passport renewal, a few phone calls, a meeting with realtors and similar odds and ends so far.

1,001 Nights. One of my "heroes," Richard Burton, did a translation. I have begun to write my blog about him on more than one occasion, but never been able to finish it. One of my wishes is to visit his Arabian "tent" in St. Mary Magdalen's churchyard. Part of me carries the name Abu Ian, you know.

Fram Actual said...

I am feeling overwhelmed, Natalie. Too many thoughts, not enough fingers.

My companions will be the same as those of Schliemann, Natalie. The works of Homer. But, you already knew that, didn't you? And, yes, the locals are friendly there, are they not?

When on the move, I prefer to be alone. When I make camp, I prefer company.

I am not certain if the soul resides in the fingers, but more is there than mere digits. I think, at times, I can be asleep while they continue to pound the keyboard, and the resulting work will make more sense than most things I produce consciously.

Natalie said...

The Islanders are playing Minnesota now. Are you watching? Or packing!?!?

Fram Actual said...

Neither, right now, Natalie. I'm writing this note to you.

TheChicGeek said...

Nah, you won't be lonesome. I have great confidence in your social abilities :)

Fram Actual said...

Yes, you're right, Kelly. I am good in that regard. Money and looks help, too. My modesty and humility, no doubt, also enter the picture.

But, there's still the language barrier.

Angie said...

I think you are making the right choice. I was just reminded lately that traveling companions can be annoying and expensive. Want to lose a friend? Take a road trip with him or her.

I prefer traveling by myself, you get to do whatever you want when you want to do it without having to accommodate someone else

Fram Actual said...

Yes, that seems to be a growing consensus, Chocobo. Live and learn.

Somewhere along the line, it began to dawn on me that the entire intent of this trip is to satisfy personal questions more than to enjoy the scenery. I want to have advice and assistance at certain elements, but I want the evenings and nights to myself to reflect and to think.

Something special ....