The Path To Less - Update 1

So we're 5 days into the new year -- and I'm facing one of the most stressful periods of my work life. External accreditation of the program I run starts tomorrow, internal auditors wrapping up their end-of-year assessment for 2008, goal setting for me and my staff, business travel coming up.... These are among the reasons I have vowed to simplify my life. Task one: quiet the mind. So here's what I (we -- Mrs. Muse and I) have done:

1. Less TV, more reading. Not much less, and not much more, but in increments we are reducing the over-stimulation of the tube and increasing the intellect-stimulation of the written word. I'm working on a biography of James Madison, and learning more about...
2. Meditation. Spending quiet time -- even just ten minutes a day -- listening to myself breathe. I have been doing this during lunch while I'm walking alone in our beautiful north Florida winter weather, and getting some sensible....
3. Exercise. After a light lunch (dietary simplification will be the subject of another post), I have been walking about 3 easy miles, focusing on my breath and the scenery, while avoiding the stress of the work day. I have always (mostly) exercised regularly, but as I will do, often over-did. Last year I did intense workouts that helped me to loose over 30 pounds, which turned out to be too much and did more damage to my health in the end than good. Now I exercise moderately while cooling down the noise in my head. On the weekend, Mrs. Muse and I discovered some near by trails that we hadn't hiked before and enjoyed the outdoors together -- while I indulged in a little photography (my major joy and relaxation). The photo above is the reflection in a small stream in the wetlands along the Bayberry Trail on the campus of the University of North Florida...

So... time well spent, without expense, with my wife (when possible), improving my health and engaging my passion. Off to a pretty good start. Now about that mess in the spare bedroom... well, maybe next time. Stay tuned. Simple.

New Year's Resolution

I am making a New Year's resolution this year. I am doing it here, in public -- so that perhaps I will be a bit more likely to fulfill this little "promise-to-self". It is a one-word resolution -- can't get much more basic than that. One word that has the potential to impact my life, and the lives of those around me in so many ways -- economically, ecologically, politically, physically, artistically, emotionally, spiritually.... One word. Simplify. For 2009 I want to simply, well, simplify. Easy, right? Not!

Voluntary simplicity is nothing new -- in fact I've been studying the philosophy for a number of years. Use less stuff, spend less, pollute less, unclutter your home, your office, your brain... reuse, recycle, relax. Man, do I wish I could relax. At this point in my life -- empty nest, good job, good health, you'd think that might not be so much of a problem. But holy moley is my life at the virtual border of "out of control". When you're 55 and still wondering what you're going to be when you grow up... When you're working 60 hours per week (at least I'm working)... When you always feel like you need to move on to the next thing in order to just keep pace with yourself... When you're doing photography and people seem to like it, but not enough to pay the bills, but you love it more than almost anything... When you realize that the happiest times of your life were when you were on stage performing your own songs, and you want to write more but can't find the time, when the band calls and you have to say no... When you feel guilty for all of the social engagements, gigs, photo safaris, and pleasure trips you have to turn down... Perhaps it's time to ease up, pick a few priorities, narrow the scope. Simplify. Think about what makes you happy and focus on that.   In my fantasy world that would be:

1. Photography
2. Music
3. Writing
4. Reading
5. Work           

In the real world, numbers 5 climbs to the top and the rest shift down one. Food on the table, need for lenses, bandwidth and all that, you see.                                                                                       

SIMPLIFY. A one word promise to myself. Life saving, I think. Sanity saving, certainly. There are plenty of other blogs dedicated to simplicity, uncluttering, Zen living -- and most, if not all written by and targeted to 20 or 30-somethings. Let's see how it goes for a 55+ over-committer.

 I'll let you know how it goes. Weekly updates. Promise.

Simple.

The Ghosts of Slavery in North Florida

Mrs. Muse and I took a Saturday off from the insanity of the holiday season crowds and drove up to Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island for lunch and a little strolling around. Instead of hitting the interstate (I-95) for the 50 mile drive back down to Jacksonville, we decided to take the less traveled and more scenic A-1-A through the marshes and small islands of coastal northeast Florida. On the way toward the Mayport Ferry crossing, we came upon the Kingsley Plantation National Historic Site -- an important piece of regional history that we have never visited in our two decades in the area. The plantation, named for it's second owner, Zephaniah Kingsley was populated by several hundred slaves, along with its owners. The first photo is how I imagine the ghosts of those slaves must view the "master's" house -- remembering their labors in the production of cotton, oranges and indigo.

There is no doubt of the amazing northeast Florida rural beauty of the place. This next photo is the view across Ft. George inlet (the plantation stands on Ft. George Island) that is seen from behind the main house looking east. Still much as it was in the early to mid 19th century, the trip back to the site is traveled on a one lane unimproved dirt road through heavy tropical vegetation -- literally a drive back in time. Walking among the ancient cypress and palm trees I could sense that the spirits of the earlier inhabitants of that piece of beautiful, yet sad land were still there. The black slaves of 150 years ago live in small tabby built shacks about a half mile back from the scenic spot shown above. Here is what remains of those less-than adequate residences...

"Tabby" is a mix of oyster shells (taken from the waste and burial middens made by the Timaquan Indians -- the island's original inhabitants -- and ground limestone. Holes for ventilation, dirt floors and empty windows provided quarter for up to 300 African slaves, most of whom were first or second generation and still spoke their native African languages. In the twentieth century these important historical remnants have been heavily vandalized by visitors who found the soft tabby walls easy to carve (as seen in the final photo below).

I have always had a strong sense of history and a special interest in archaeology, but something about this place affected me more deeply, more strongly than the usual visit to an historical site. I could so easily visualize the children of slaves running through the trees, the pain, anger and sweat of black laborers, the arrogance of those who would be so brazen as to believe that they could own another human being as property. This was a place worth visiting, and one I will certainly return to -- to feel, to meditate in and on -- to record visually and to interpret -- and to be among the ghosts of the families who occupied those beautiful acres in pain and in vanity not all that long ago...

Magic?

I'm trying out a photoshop plug-in by Topaz Labs called "Topaz Adjust". It gives the user a variety of interesting adjustment options that can create some interesting effects. Here are a few examples... (Click on the photos to view them in larger sizes and get more information about them on my Flickr photostream).

Florida Off-Road Vehicle

A Florida Scrub Jay

Central Florida Sunset

Florida, Nature's Way...

What may be the opposite of Disney World (see previous post)? A weekend of primitive camping with family and friends, six miles deep into the Seminole State Forest. Not another human in sight,we camped in a stand of live oaks near a pine wood and a small pond. I saw more deer than people, and more pine warblers than cars. There was sign that at least one black near was near at night, but we never did spot one.

It was a bit cold for Florida -- 40ish at night. but our fire provided plenty of warmth. We could hear the occasional car from the road six miles to our south and a few planes overhead. Other than that the stillness and quite was amazing. Of course we made a bit of our own noise with a guitar at the campfire and a choir of smoke choked voices (cleansed with a pretty fine bottle of wine, or two, or three....)

The photo at right is the road in to our camp, roughly five mile from civilization. The one immediately below is the pine woods at about 3:00 p.m. as the autumn sun rides low... The rest speak for themselves, I think.

A Light in the Forest

A Pine Warbler making an effort to understand my attempt at bird sounds

My brother-in-law reading fireside

Well, it was the weekend of the Ohio State Michigan game, afterall...Go BUCKS!

Disney, My Way

I have mixed opinions about Walt Disney World and Epcot and their associated resort developments in central Florida. The naturalist in me, which is clearly the stronger part, mourns for the disastrous destruction of central Florida wetlands habitat on land that was virtually stolen from its owners and politically maneuvered into a public policy exempt tax district allowing the entertainment megalith to do as it pleased (and pleases). On the other hand I really like to see kids smile.

I attended a conference there this week -- and without actually entering any of the theme parks, decided to photograph Disney my way. No mice. No rodents of any kind. I wanted to find the art in the sprawl of buildings, fake waterways, and contrived money-sucking entertainment venues. 

Here's for starters -- will add more to this post over the next few days...

Palms and balconies reflected in the water between the Disney Swan and Dolphin hotels

The Disney Dolphin, after dark

Real Bird, Fake Beach...

Election Night in America

Short and sweet...

Here's to hope. The possibility of a better tomorrow.

I'm an American -- and there's nothing wrong with that.

Let the healing begin.