LIFE IS FINE IN 2009

So here we are at the beginning of another 365 days (ok I cheated, because Ididnt post this on the 1st, so letssplit the difference and call it around 351.5 days) and all I see around me is a whole lot of doom and gloom.

So while we are about to stroll down the long highway that will be 2009, facing the thought of economic recession, increasing unemployment rates, global warming crises and such, lets give our outlook a lift, and embrace denial in 2009 - in an indignant, not ignorant fashion.

In this honor, I present you with a quick few eco(nomically friendly) tips to make life simply fine in 2009.

BECOME A RECESSIONISTA

Transport yourself back to the 1930's - pre depression America. Drape yourself in head to toe black. Drop your hemlines and switch to simple, classic style. Make accessories your statement - not your shoes. And dont spend your precious pennies on the 'it' bag... take a stand and carry a green bag, thefashion item du jour and social-conscience easing alternative.

BOTTLE UP YOUR FEELINGS

And I dont mean in an "I'm going to crack and need to see a shrink immediately" kind of way. Bottle them up metaphorically. Eg: You know that feeling you get when you walk out into a beautiful warm patch of sun and your whole body relaxes and pulses with the glow of its rays? Suddenly you feel free, uninhibited, and undeniably happy? Well, get a metaphorical bottle and pop that glow inside it; those thoughts and feelings, and save them for a rainy day. Who knows when you might need to refer to them. And the big bonus - bottling up your feelings costs nothing!

BRING ON THE BORED GAMES

When the pay cheque is not in, and you cant instantly gratify yourself with the latest blockbuster flick or glossy magazine, get out the board (or really really bored games). There's nothing like a bit of cleaning up in Monopoly by swooping on Mayfair and Park lane to make you feel emotionally richer!

POKE SOMEONE

You know what I am talking about! In this grand era of digital intimacy, be brave. Poke the person you havent spoken to in a while on facebook. Catch up on the latest goings on in other peoples lives. Heck, why not even make an excuse to go out and have an old fashioned chin wag.

Here comes another one just like the other one

THE MODERN MUSE

Call it a circumnavigation of my mind if you wish

So I hate to admit this incredibly cred-stripping fact, but lately I have been developing a penchant for the old art and practice of scrapbooking (I know! I know! Say nothing) And when I talk about scrapbookings, I am talking about the old school rip, clip and paste kind. Not the fancy new make-your-own hardcover book with puff paint and stickered embellishment type.

And what I discovered in this cut and paste frenzy is that there is a great deal to be said, or rather that is currently unsaid about the modern muse. What historically is considered to be (according to dictionary.com and Greek Mythology) "any goddess presiding over particular art" has somehow developed into a far more intangible concept rather than simply a being.

By this I mean that, up to my ears in magazine clippings, yellowing pieces of paper and polaroid pictures, I discovered that the modern muse is in fact, many things. It can be described as a sound, an item, a brand, a thought, a general feeling, words, pictures, music. Get where I am coming from? To attempt to define a muse or something muse-worthy would probably create a chasm of never-ending adjectives. I wonder if this is where the word amusing came from?

So, surrounded by all that I find muse-worthy, I decided it appropriate to start a collection (aka aforementioned scrapbook) of all these things to refer to in future bouts of uninspired thought. This collection includes some of the following oddities:

A spotted and fluffy feather

Several polaroid pictures

Yellowed and curled stickytape

A piece of brown felt

Glossy magazine clippings of Zippora Seven

These things along with many other strange but wonderful items and clippings adhered to blank pages with the assistance of a tube of uhu glue make the perfect one-stop-shop when it comes to inspiration. 

Take the picture I have posted here as an example. Its a photo of Natasha Poly, taking a photo. Not that Natasha is the defining quality that makes this photo something to muse upon. The beauty of this image is the fill-in-the-gaps experience that one gets while viewing it and the interpretations which eventuate as a result. What is she taking a photo of? Who is she? What does she look like? What is she feeling? All these questions simply make me think. On the other side of things, I am involved in a deep and enduring love affair with the muted tones of this picture. It makes me think of buttery cupcake icing, summers at the seaside, and brings back memories of my holiday in New York.

To this end, I have decided that the modern muse is in fact all seeing, all doing, all knowing, nothing saying... kind of god-like or budda-esque if you will. The moern muse is at once intangible, unreachable and indefinable.

TAKING A STYLE CUE FROM...

The talented and gorgeous Clemence Poesy. Her innate sense of style and cool as a cucumber attitude speaks well beyond her 26 years. 

OBAMA WOULD GIVE YOU THE SHIRT OFF HIS BACK

Literally. In case you had missed it, in the time I have been away, Obama hit the big time, and his inauguration on January 20 is set to be a star studded affair to rival that of the recent Golden Globes. Think huge ceremony, guards, salutes, parades, speeches, and one hell of a party. Heck, even Oprah has relocated her show to Washington for the entire week.

One thing is for sure, the man knows how to make a speech, and the world will be watching on Tuesday to see if he can come up with something to rival his incredible acceptance speech (which can be seen in 3 parts on You Tube). Somehow I think he might just be able to articulate somewhat better than his predecessor. So here I give you my favorite Top Five Bushisms as we stick the finger up at the old and usher in the new:

 "I glance at the headlines just to get a flavor for whats moving. I rarely read the stories and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves"

"We need an energy bill that encourages consumption"

"I just want you to know that when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace"

"Rarely is the question is asked: Is our children learning?"

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people and neither do we"

THINGS HAVE CHANGED... BUT SOME THINGS STAY THE SAME...

So I have no excuses. I havent been on here for a long, well, very long time. Nonetheless, while some things have most definately changed, some things like my incessant need to voice my opinion, speak my mind, dream my dreams carry on. So I am back on the blog. Take some time to revisit the old scissorspaperrockblog and relive its history... steeped in incoherent rambling, self indulgent banter and other meaningless waffle and brace yourself for mark 2. Bigger and better than ever, I'm bringing blogging back, and its better than the new black.