Thursday, December 25, 2008

Season Greetings

I just want to say to everyone Merry Christmas and Season greetings.

I also want to place a notice to whoever. If anyone hears of any co-ops of artist or groups of artist that are open to artist like myself, please pass me along the info. I am wanting to co-op and work with artist and do a few commissions for 2009. Please keep me informed.
Thanks again.
Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus of Nazareth.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Listen to your own voice

I went and bought a voice recorder. You are probably asking why. I asked myself the same thing. I cringe to the sound of my own voice actually. It can be almost unbearable. To me at least. What is with that?
Well I wanted to record my thoughts in my car while driving. I tend to have some of the most inspiring and brilliant ideas that come to mind when I am driving. Why is that? I wish I knew. Just traveling around and listening to the radio or even when it is silent I have ideas popping into my head, and I never have a pen and paper at my disposal. So I thought why not get a voice recorder. I got one of those digital voice recorders, so I wouldn't need to replace and keep buying tapes. But I wonder if I am going to be unhesitant when I grab it and start talking. I don't like hearing my voice really. I feel very uncomfortable when I do. I am hoping this form of stage fright will be overcome over time though.
This isn't so much about information. It's more about remembering at the spare of the moment and taking notes. I know there has to be others that do such. Journalist, can you back me up on this?
Well I am not a journalist. But I am into practice. So how are you with your voice? I think I might ask a few friends.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Down on the farm

Spent this weekend with a friend- Bethany. Was a great time to witness family rituals, time spent eating together, games, bows and arrows and a fire to sit next too.
Was a good time. Envious, and missing those days so long ago spent in ages of my youth where relatives would get together and share stories and play card games and fuss. Oh how I now miss such times. I truly do.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Destiny

Written by Neil Gaiman

There is a man with a book, walking through his garden.

The man is blind.

The Garden is a maze of paths that divide and branch and recombine.

There are statues in the garden . Huge statues. If they move, as some claim they do, it is too slowly to be easily perceived.

Now his path takes him into his dwelling, a place of corridors and halls.

The painting in Destiny's hall show his brothers and sisters as they might wish to be seen (although the wish and the thing are so close in the realm of the Endless that you cannot get a thin-bladed knife between them).

You will spend time in the realm of each of his siblings- you will dream, despair, desire, destroy, delight and otherwise, and eventually, die- but you were his from the very first page, and only he will read how your story comes out, a long time from now.

He is chained to the book, or it is chained to him. It is a book of many pages. It cannot be stolen; he cannot give it away.

It contains your life. Every detail of your life. Everything that has happened to you. Everything that will happen one day.. The things you've forgotten.
The things you do not believe.

It contains everything that has happened, or will happen, to anyone you've ever met.

Anyone you've ever heard of.

Anyone you've never heard of.

The histories and the dreams and triumphs of the dead are there.

The meaning of patterns of the sports of each leopard is written there, along with the truth of the shapes of clouds, and the strange, funny song-lives of the bacteria-folk and the secrets the wind whispers when there is no one there to listen.

Everything is in there, from the beginning of time to the end.

He did not create the path you walk.

But the movements of atoms and galaxies are in his book, and he sees little difference between them.

It is all in his book. One day he will lay it down, when the book is done, and what comes after that is still unwritten.

A page turns.

Destiny continues to walk......

He is holding a book. Inside the book is the Universe.


From the pages of The Sandman: Endless Nights

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Know where to sit?

Luke 14:1-11

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, 'Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?' But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him and sent him away. Then he said to them, "If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a sabbath day?" And they could not reply to this.

7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you , "Give this person your place", and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, "Friend, move up higher"; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Goal for 2009

I have a goal already in mind for 2009.
It is.... to throw a killer dance party some place, and have at least 30 people show up and for at least 20 minutes all 30 people have to dance all at the same time. It would make my 2009 so complete.
So keep your eyes and ears peeled for a killer dance party in 2009. :)

**shakes his booty**

Monday, October 27, 2008

Saturday October, 25th


Saturday I went to Findley Market and met up with Maria Southman, an awesome friend :) We then ate at A local restaurant downtown called Tucker's.
It was pretty happening I have to say, and has great food :)

Friday, October 24, 2008

Groupie

I have been nominated as a groupie!!!
LMAO
There is this thing I have been going too called Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art. It's for artist to draw these people who pose and wear costumes. It's a good time to draw and hang out.
Anywho! Last night Alyssa, one of the girls that is with the Dr. Sketchy Cincinnati, decided, got with the others to nominate me as a groupie. LOL which is hilarious to me. So I am suppose to spread the word about Dr. Sketchy's and bring artist.
Sounds like fun.
In return i get free entry to all the Dr. Sketchy gatherings. Woot!

Let's see if I am able to provide.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Growing pains

Last night was a doozy. I spent 2 hours kneeling and cradling back and forth.
No, it wasn't in a hardcore prayer moment. I was experiencing intense agony and pain coming from my intestines. It probably was one of the most painful experience for me. I really believed my stomach was going to blowup and explode.
I found some information about causes and contributors of gas. My diet is going to have to change a bit. I already started taking Probiotics. Which is a type of fiber supplement. I didn't realize there was so many foods that cause such problems with gas. I am not going to go into detail.
I really don't care much for yogurt, but if it is suppose to help my intestines I will have to submit I guess. But it's so freaking annoying to have to adapt to change.
blaaaaaah

Friday, October 3, 2008

praise, rewards, exploited, and medals

I am very conflicted with something. Something that has been bothering for quit some time. For I constantly wonder if I am suppose to socialize and gloat about the good things I do.I just wonder should I tell people, post, announce, and put it on my chest. Am I ? Or Should I? If I am suppose too, then I want to know why I am suppose to tell everyone. I want to know why people should know about what I am doing for a cause of something everyone should be doing. When if they aren’t already doing it what does it prove and not for everyone that isn’t doing it.

Here is another question. Do we need a medal or recognition for something everyone should do or have already done?
Do I shout out the good I have done? Ask for a banner? A tee shirt? What does this do? Does it provide anymore to the good cause, the greater good? Or is it just for me or for the person who does annonce it? Do you deserve or I deserve such praise for something that we can all do?

I believe we should just do it and not say it. Pride doesn’t give to them, it only gives to yourself. So why am I posting this? Because you shouldn’t be reading this for trying to see what I am doing but what your not doing.
Shout not your name, not your glory, not your praise not your recognition, not your reputation.
Lose yourself

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Today's Readings Sept. 21st

Reading 1

Issiah 55, 6-9

Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 145: 2-3, 8-9, 17-18

R. (18a) The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.

Reading II
Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a



Brothers and sisters:
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh,
that means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.
I am caught between the two.
I long to depart this life and be with Christ,
for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh
is more necessary for your benefit.

Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Gospel

Matthew 20: 1-16a


Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
the landowner found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Norwood is happening

It's a Saturday, like most Saturday's around 1, I take a ride on my bike to drop off the documentaries I had during the week.I took a longer ride to look around to see the edges of Norwood. For the ride was pleasant today, people were walking, getting on the bus, running/jogging, walking there dogs. A day of sun and moments to take advantage of. Before long the cool breeze will nip our nose and the sweaters will come out. I got a cone of ice cream from the Norwood Creamery before it closes for the summer. Which was the first time I have gotten to go there. I rode around the Northern parts of Norwood, through the residents and headed back home past the construction for the new Kroger's to be built and found my way back to base camp. aka Home.
I am proud to call Norwood my home. Norwood is a city inside a city if need to known to others. For the past 3 years I have lived in Norwood and learned to know folks around of the residents around St. Elizabeth. Becoming more and more familiar to the people and finding myself comfortable enough to call them my friends. Community is important to me and being at a place that provides a comfortably living is as well.
I am amazed at what I have experienced with Norwood. From starting off in building of a community of friends, and making new friends. I continue to enjoy what Norwood keeps providing me. A central location where I can reach most places at ease from, and where change keeps coming. I feel as many others are being drawn to this flame.
I am excited and looking forward to the future of Norwood as I keep finding my roots keep digging here.For if you look around lately you will know what I am talking about. I don't know enough more than what I see and read with my eyes. But it appears Norwood is growing and doing great things as far as community. I hope I can give back what I have received.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

My Name's Meaning and History

A couple times people have brought to my attention the History of my name. Brennan Is a common last name and becoming a known first name as well. Here are a few facts about other people and some meanings to the name Brennan that I have come across through the years.

Brennan stands for the following. In German-To Burn (Spelled brennen), English- Firey Sword, Irish-Burning Hills

Years ago my mother made it known to the source how my name was decided. She read a romantic novel while pregnant with me and the guys character name was Brennan. She liked it so much she looked up in a baby name book and found the definition at the was "Heart of flame" So she decided that was it she was naming me Brennan.
Spiritual Meanings- Gift from God and Raven- (Which was in a book Theresa carries around at the Outlet)

A man named Brennan Manning is very well known. Here is some info about him.

In the springtime of Depression-era New York City, Brennan Manning -- christened Richard Francis Xavier -- was born to Emmett and Amy Manning. He grew up in Brooklyn along with his brother, Robert, and sister, Geraldine. After graduating from high school and attending St. John's University (Queens, NY) for two years, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was sent overseas to fight in the Korean War.
Upon his return, Brennan began a program in journalism at the University of Missouri. But he departed after a semester, restlessly searching for something "more" in life. "Maybe the something 'more' is God," an advisor had suggested, triggering Brennan's enrollment in a Catholic seminary in Loretto, Pennsylvania.
In February 1956, while Brennan was meditating on the Stations of the Cross, a powerful experience of the personal love of Jesus Christ sealed the call of God on his life. "At that moment," he later recalled, "the entire Christian life became for me an intimate, heartfelt relationship with Jesus." Four years later, he graduated from St. Francis College (major in philosophy; minor in Latin) I and went on to complete four years of advanced studies in theology. May 1963 marked his graduation from St. Francis Seminary and ordination to the Franciscan priesthood.
Brennan's ministry responsibilities in succeeding years took him from the hallways of academia to the byways of the poor: theology instructor and campus minister at the University of Steubenville; liturgy instructor and spiritual director at St. Francis Seminary; graduate student in creative writing at Columbia University, and in Scripture and liturgy at Catholic University of America; living and working among the poor in Europe and the U.S.
A two-year leave of absence from the Franciscans took Brennan to Spain in the late sixties. He joined the Little Brothers of Jesus of Charles de Foucauld, an Order committed to an uncloistered, contemplative life among the poor -- a lifestyle of days spent in manual labor and nights wrapped in silence and prayer. Among his many and varied assignments, Brennan became an aguador (water carrier), transporting water to rural villages via donkey and buckboard; a mason's assistant, shoveling mud and straw in the blazing Spanish heat; a dishwasher in France; a voluntary prisoner in a Swiss jail, his identity as a priest known only to the warden; a solitary contemplative secluded in a remote cave for six months in the Zaragoza desert.
During his retreat in the isolated cave, Brennan was once again powerfully convicted by the revelation of God's love in the crucified Christ. On a midwinter's night, he received this word from the Lord: "For love of you I left my Father's side. I came to you who ran from me, who fled me, who did not want to hear my name. For love of you I was covered with spit, punched and beaten, and fixed to the wood of the cross." Brennan would later reflect, "Those words are burned into my life. That night, I learned what a wise old Franciscan told me the day I joined the Order -- 'Once you come to know the love of Jesus Christ, nothing else in the world will seem as beautiful or desirable.' "
The early seventies found Brennan back in the U.S. as he and four other priests established an experimental community in the bustling seaport city of Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Seeking to model the primitive life of the Franciscans, the fathers settled in a house on Mississippi Bay and quietly went to work on shrimp boats, ministering to the shrimpers and their families who had drifted out of reach from the church. Next to the community house was a chapel that had been destroyed by Hurricane Camille. The fathers restored it and offered a Friday night liturgy and social event, which soon became a popular gathering and precipitated many families' return to engagement in the local church.
From Alabama, Brennan moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in the mid-seventies and resumed campus ministry at Broward Community College. His successful ministry was harshly interrupted, however, when he suffered a precipitate collapse into alcoholism. Six months of treatment, culminating at the Hazelden treatment center in Minnesota, restored his health and placed him on the road to recovery.
It was at this point in his life that Brennan began writing in earnest. One book soon followed upon another as invitations for him to speak and to lead spiritual retreats multiplied exponentially. Today, Brennan travels widely as he continues to write and preach, encouraging men and women everywhere to accept and embrace the good news of God's unconditional love in Jesus Christ.
His publications include:
Above All
Abba's Child
A Glimpse of Jesus: Stranger to Self Hatred
Journey of the Prodigal
The Wisdom of Tenderness
Ruthless Trust: The Way of the Ragamuffin
The Boy Who Cried Abba: A Parable of Trust and Acceptance
Lion and Lamb: The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus
Signature of Jesus
The Ragamuffin Gospel
Reflections for Ragamuffins: A Daily Devotional
Posers, Fakers and Wannabes
The Rabbi's Heartbeat
The Importance of Being Foolish


I just recently got told about Saint Brennan. Which I never knew. I could not find anything about him, but there is a Church named after him in Dorchester, MA

There is also a Restaurant named Brennan
http://www.brennansneworleans.com/ma_bkfasttradition.html

As far as my last name. Bradford is a very common last name.
So it's probably something another Bradford might find interesting to know. A Bradford is a type of Pear Tree.
Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford') is a beautiful spring-flowering tree that has gained popularity in the past 20 years and is frequently seen in nearly every city within its growing range. The species is a native of China; the cultivar 'Bradford' is adapted to the entire state of South Carolina.
The Bradford pear grows 30 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide. It has a narrower and more erect canopy than the species.
GROWTH RATE
A rapid grower (12 to 15 feet increase in height over an 8- to 10-year period), it has a short to moderate life span (25 to 30 years).
LANDSCAPE USE
The Bradford pear may be grown as a specimen, screen or street tree. When considering this tree for use in a design, be mindful of its short-to-moderate life span, requiring replacement in about 25 years. It can be used in urban settings because of its tolerance to pollution.
The Bradford pear grows best in full sun but will tolerate part shade. It requires low-to-medium fertility. It tolerates most soil types and conditions, including occasional wet soils or drought.
PROBLEMS
Disease resistance means that infections are few, do not progress very far or do not occur. This cultivar is resistant to most pests including fire blight, a common problem of the species. (For more information on fire blight of fruit trees, refer to HGIC 2208, Fire Blight of Fruit Trees . It is relatively free of insect problems. It does, however, suffer from severe branch splitting, especially in older trees (15+ years). The narrow branching angles cause trees to split in half, especially when subjected to ice and storm conditions. Pruning to correct this problem is difficult, but attempts to improve branch angles and structure should be done in winter or early spring, before growth begins.

Which is interesting, I have always like Trees. I use to climb one in my mother's back yard. I like drawing trees a lot. I love the symbol of trees. You know what I think I will go out side and Hug my brother tree.

A Bradford is a type of cow. Which I didn't learn until 1999. I actually like cows. They taste really good. :D also they are very nourishing. And one embarrassing fact. I owned a pair of Cow shorts and wore them to School once. LOL which I look back and tell myself I can't believe I wore those. LOL I wonder if anybody remembers that.

Here is an interesting fact a family member told me in April 2007.
The First Bradford's came to the United States were missionaries.
Also, the family Bradford line is related to William Bradford. Here is some facts about William Bradford.
William BradfordWilliam Bradford was born in 1590 and came to North America on the ship Mayflower, landing in Plymouth, Massachussets in 1620. He left a son in the Netherlands where his sect had been refugees, and his son's mother, his wife Dorothy, died on the passage. But he later married again, to Alice Southworth, who arrived at Plymouth in 1623 aboard the ship Little James. Bradford became governor of Plymouth early on and remained so nearly until his death in 1657 (300 years almost to the month before I was born), and wrote the first great account of the settling of North America by Europeans, the great journal Of Plymouth Plantation. Alice and William had three children in New England and now have many descendants.Here is part of Bradford's account of the Pilgrims' arrival, edited a bit for readability:"Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees & blessed ye God of heaven, who had brought them over ye vast & furious ocean, and delivered them from all ye perils & miseries thereof, again to set their feet on ye firm and stable earth, their proper element. And no marvel if they were thus joyful, seeing wise Seneca was so affected with sailing a few miles on ye coast of his own Italy, as he affirmed, that he [would] rather remain twenty years on his way by land, then pass by sea to any place in a short time, so tedious & dreadful was ye same unto him."But here I cannot but stay and make a pause, and stand half amazed at this poor peoples' present condition; and so I think will the reader too, when he well consider[s] ye same. Being thus past ye vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their preparation..., they had now no friends to welcome them, nor inns to entertain or refresh their weather-beaten bodies, no houses or much less towns to repair to, to seek for succor [...] What could not sustain them but ye spirit of God & his grace? May not & ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: 'Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto ye Lord, and he heard their voice, and looked on their adversity….' "And so I should say, I guess, according to his instructions—he was my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather.
More Info @
http://www.apuritansmind.com/PuritanArticles/IainMurraySpiritualCharacteristics.htm
For the longest time I believe he signed the Decleration of indenpence. But it appears he wasn't around to see that. I have no clue where I got that info.

Just to add to this. Another new fact. I currently am living on Slane Ave. Yes, Slane is spelled S L A N E.
As in Hill of Slane. If you know a little bit about history. Then you would know the story of Hill of Slane has to do with St. Patrick. Well, St. Patrick had a pilgrimage with St. Brennan. St. Brennan traveled to North America, when.. I don't know when. So that's just a brief history lesson.

So, those are the few things I have learned about my name. If anybody learns anything else please let me know.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Is that Normal

I was wondering the other day if people think it is abnormal to talk or change when you speak to different friends or different indiviuals. Like when it comes to a close friend calling me, I will talk and act different with them compared to another friend. Or sometimes someone I don’t really know has a different body language or voice attitude my own character changes it appears. I see that in others at times too.
So is that normal?

If anyone has some thoughts about this. Please share.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

New Year 2008

Out with the old in with the new. Year that is. I had an enjoying year for 2007. Got to do a bit of everything. I didn't really accomplish much but the experience and fun was a enough to satisfy me. I have been reinviting myself, so to speak. My art, my way of eating, my daily routines have changed. Even last year I started listening more to life, people and media. For years I ignored a lot of that. But I am more and more interested about the whys and why not. I have been most my life. But I never felt like I was ever getting answers from anyone. So, I believe that is what 2008 will be one of my goals. Answers.

It is interesting that with the group doing the art with the Outlet decided the next project would be focused on "Questions". Which was interesting that Dyah has brought that up since I am trying to find more answers. So, it apears that listening and asking will be something to try out more. I am worried about the things to come. There is a sense or a hint of trouble lurking in the wind. I never like when my instincts talk to me. Especially when a lot of
times they have been right. So, close to being right it scares me. I collected up some items I have had around for awhile and going to donate them to use for the next project. It's not much but it will start it off so they will try to look around for found objects. I am excited about others looking at other object or trash or useless things becoming art. That kind of art is fun to me. I can't wait to see what comes out of the stuff.

Yep
I am going to finish this up by just letting it be known that 2008 is
going to probably be less exciting than 2007. But who knows what
2008 might bring.