Today though, is a special day, though Short Stack might not remember that it is. Lulu Belle most assuredly doesn't. Today marks the beginning of our son's ordered life. Today... he starts pre-school. Well, not pre-school exactly. He is, after all, only two and a half but he will be going some place very, very special later this morning and barring catastrophe and calamity, he will be attending three times a week, all day, for the rest of the school year. I, for one, am pensive.

Prior to this, we have always had babysitters watching the kids. Action Girl's and my work schedules are off set enough that we ever really needed a lot of child care. One of us could be home with the kids much of the time and though it means that I don't get to see a whole heck of a lot of my wife, it has sure saved us a bundle of money. The times that we couldn't be home were filled with college girls looking to make a few extra bucks or local moms with broods of their own who somehow manage to keep their sanity when you double their work load by leaving your own kids with them. Weekends have fallen heavily on Grandma and Grandpa, giving me time to attempt work on the pile of construction materials that I've been cunningly arranging into the vague shape of a house.

Today is different, however. On our island there is a place build for the kids of the community. A place that is not quite a day care and not quite a pre-school. It's a fun little hybrid and you need to be at least two and a half to be admitted. Guess who just turned two and a half? Short Stack has been there many times before and likes it. Action Girl is a volunteer on the board and both Short Stack and Lulu Belle have accompanied her there for meetings and functions. Happily, he won't feel like he's someplace scary. To make the transition that much easier (we hope), I shall be accompanying him today and stay the whole morning. It might be a bit of a zoo, but Dad will be there for reassurance.

Boy, do I hope this works.

The one thing that Short Stack hasn't had a lot of experience with is big groups mad up of his peers. He's become completely comfortable wandering through a forrest of adult legs or spending time happily pushing toy trains around and lost in his own imagination. He has a few friends his age who he enjoys playing NEAR but not usually WITH. This will be an eye opening day for him. He will be part of a class. One in the group. Another fuzzy head amongst all the other short folk.

The reason I'm a little worried is because I know my self pretty well. I'm a loner and always have been. That's not to say that I'm stand-offish. I'm not! I've just never been a schmoozer and tend to drift off and away from the party. Action Girl is the same way and actually, it's how we met in the first place. Both of us drifting on the periphery of a big group, noisily having fun. I guess wall flowers can spot each other a mile away. Unfortunately, Short Stack had inherited that gene. I say that it's unfortunate because it can make life a little more difficult at times. I can vividly remember my first day at pre-school. It was only one of two that I ever spent there. I wasn't bad or difficult. I didn't cause trouble or upset the other kids. I was quiet and essentially, made the teachers sad. While the other kids played their games and did their activities, I had quietly sat in the back and simply observed. When the others all funneled outside to play on the swing sets and slides, I had asked if I could just stay in and color. I don't know how the conversation between the pre-school and my parents went, but the upshot was that two days into it, my folks found a different place for me to go where I would be watched by a new mom and her kids. Essentially, people who didn't mind the quiet kid, coloring in the corner.

Actually, I really enjoyed where I went after my two days in self imposed confinement. The little boy whose home I went to became a good friend and I had a blast. The difference was that it was just a little boy and his sister who I had to deal with. No rowdy group or established cliques. I liked the smaller groups much better, and so does Short Stack.

The difference, I'm hoping, will be that he knows a lot of these kids already. Where we live has a pretty tight knit community and the young families tend to seek each other out. The faces with be ones that he has seen before, many of whom he's played with one-on-one with not very long ago. Here's hoping that will help things along.

In the mean time, I need to pack up a miniature lunchbox and get an extra set of clothes ready for him. The activities they have planned for the day can get messy and fun and the food requirements are pretty darned strict. No juice boxes, no candy, no pre-packaged food of any kind. I'll go cut up some fruit and other good to eat stuff and hopefully have it all done before he's up. I can hear him coughing, so I doubt I'll succeed, but that's okay. It's a big day, after all and I'm happy to have him give me his version of "help" to get us both prepared for this next step in our lives.

Till then toodles.

Mardy The Great Mcfly!

My brother spent years hoping that one day, our father would find the time to take him away to a secluded spot and experience the rite of passage of a son fishing with his father.  In retrospect, I think my father thought he had all the time in the world for that one day to happen.  I want to think that he didn't purposely miss out on my brother's life.  It wasn't just the tackle box that sat collecting dust at the top of my brother's closet.  As an adult, my brother's father-in-law finally showed him the "ropes" and to this day, my brother is of course, an avid fisherman.  His bond with Mr. Ross is endless and grounded in a mutual respect that my father will never know with his son.

Today, my best friend in the whole world, and potentially, your Destin photographer, made sure that my son didn't have a dusty tackle box at the top of his closet.  Joe has been the most amazing blessing for my children.  My son adores him and the more time that they spend together, the less you can tell them apart.  After purchasing his first rod and reel, the two boys headed off to go fishing in the Beaches of South Walton, rain or shine.  They came back soaking wet, but my son had a smile that stretched from ear to ear, and quite tall tales to tell.  There was a fish that got away, and he was sure of this because he saw the whiskers, and a bit of guilt from the fish that my son was positive got its face ripped off when he pulled on the line too hard.  Regardless of coming home without dinner, my son was not empty handed.  He brought home confidence and hope, and an experience that gave him a glimpse of his manhood. 

As for Joe, I would like to think that his ability to find such beauty in every scene as a photographer is what makes him such an amazing life partner and father.  He must see something in us that is worth all of the trouble.

I know many of you have been searching the web and finding several qualified Destin photography professionals, but I assure you that you Joe's talent lies far beyond his camera skills.  Joe sees life differently, understands the small stuff, magnifies the forgotten and truly cares about the product he delivers.

Something I designed just for kicks. I'm in the verge of revamping my mock shift portfolio (One day I am going to say my "website") for now it's just mock shift portfolio. Adding some purity to my mock site just because I feel like I am totally lacking in that area, just because. Starting with areas of art in:

Sketches and doodles: (Theory of box drawing, still life, self portrait, chalk and charcoal, perspective, human or life art)

3d and 2d design objects in real life as well as digital: (Various molded objects by hand and painted pieces)

Photography: A mixture of concepts, techniques, and photo manipulation

Maybe show case some basic web design skills and motion graphic pieces, but not just yet because I want to be proficient enough in those areas that I can be confident enough to perform such task, some day. But now all I can do is:

Big.

Now in rotation Everly Brothers.

We have heard so many times and in so many ways that each of us is unique.  There is no one else like us anywhere in the universe.

Well, think about it for a moment.  Our genes, how mom and dad raised us, the experiences we've lived through, and our reactions and actions in response to any stimuli we've encountered... soooooo many variables that just can't be duplicated - not in a quadrillion eons.  Each one of us is indeed unique, and therefore special.

Still, being convinced of this is difficult.  Peer pressure growing up created clones who hung out together, belonging.  We so desperately needed this as adolescents and teenagers.  Then it was keeping up with the Joneses in cookie cutter homes and white collar jobs.  Being cast out of any group or clique can be devastating, if our minds are not prepared.  Being totally different and against the 'norm' is a challenge like none other.   The potential for being alone is great.

Yet, the knowledge that you are you, not someone else, is highly rewarding.  Being free to think and act autonomously despite influences and passed judgments, is a natural high in perfection.  Reaching the place where this knowledge thrives is a hard-earned right of passage - a passage that much of this planet's population must find and walk down.  The greatest gifts one can receive?  Strength of mind and spirit, the latter most especially.  Again, if the body and mind are prepared.

This blog, my Ambit, is my contribution to that preparation, both for myself, and for all who enjoy it.  Thoughts for inspiration; images to produce calm and meditation.

Interspersed amongst these will be articles and stories to help with your preparation toward strength of mind and spirit.

For many at Mt. San Jacinto College, graduation is a celebration of obstacles overcome

By GAIL WESSON
The Press-Enterprise

HEMET - Some new graduates of Mt. San Jacinto College describe overcoming obstacles, including doubt and insecurity about whether they were college material, and for others, earning the degree was a matter of persistence and carving out time to take each class.

Amid what Dennis Anderson, the college's interim vice president for instructional services, called some "amazing stories," the Class of 2008 reached their community college goals Friday.

A record 1,046 students received associate degrees or certificates, up from 852 students in 2007. College officials estimated about one-third of them participated in the ceremonies under balmy skies at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre in Hemet.

Diane Boss, 62, started her college education in 1970 and over the years took classes to enhance her job skills for different careers.

She received an associate's degree in business administration but figured she had taken enough units at Mt. San Jacinto and UCR that "I could have had my bachelor's if I focused on just doing one thing," she said by phone earlier this week.

"I never really had the opportunity to just go to school. I always worked full time," said Boss, an administrative associate for the college's fundraising foundation. She took career-oriented classes, and as her career changed so did her classes. She earned a public relations certificate at UCR and a fundraising certificate at Mt. San Jacinto.

The country-western dancer and kayaker, who lives in the country south of Hemet, will take a break next semester before setting more college goals, she said.

Among those who did not participate in the cap and gown ceremonies was Anthony Carbajal 20, who chose to work his pizza restaurant job to earn money for expenses to transfer to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He plans to major in business with a minor in communications. He earned a management certificate at Mt. San Jacinto.

"I'm trying to save up money. I'm trying to pick up shifts," he said by phone earlier in the week.

Carbajal echoed remarks made by graduation speaker Julian Alcazar, thanking their mothers for support and describing learning obstacles. Alcazar took advantage of math tutors, and Carbajal got help in math and English at the college's Learning Resource Center.

Carbajal credits counselors, faculty and tutors with influencing his college success. "I've just grown so much at Mt. San Jacinto. Leaving high school, I just wasn't ready for college," said the Murrieta High School graduate. "I worked my way up, and they helped me achieve confidence."

California Secretary of Education David Long in his commencement address talked about the importance of setting priorities in 840 months, the average person's lifespan. Long is a former superintendent and county schools chief in Riverside County.

In an emotional moment during the ceremonies, the college awarded an associate's degree in computer information systems posthumously to Timothy Waters, 51, of Hemet, who battled a brain tumor and died within a day of completing his last college assignment March 13. His only son, Brad Waters, accepted the degree on his behalf.

Reach Gail Wesson at 951-763-3455 or gwesson@PE.com

Watch Video here.

So, yeah, that  happened ...

Do YOU have an, umm, interesting prom pic you want to share (or equally humiliating story)? We'd love to see 'em!

Опитах се да покажа на Х, че трябва да направи съзнателен избор. За съжаление, той непрекъснато прави избори, продиктувани от ирационални страхове, от стремежа да си спести неудобството и болката. Когато човек е воден от тези съображения, възможностите му за избор се стесняват, страховете му да не се сблъска с нещо извън смаляващия се кръг на възможностите расте, а животът му става все по-ограничен и посредствен.

Мисля, че това не е типично само за Х. Това е резултат от цялостната ни култура, инфантилната култура на удобството и незабавното задоволяване на желанията. Хората очакват, че като правят живота си все по-удобен и безболезнен, незабавно задоволяващ желанията, ще станат по-щастливи. Напротив. Те стават все по-soft, все по-неспособни да отложат удоволствието, все по-нетърпящи неудобства. Т.е. човечеството се движи не напред към зрелостта, а към инфантилното, бебешкото състояние.

Има една подробност, обаче – растящите капризи и раздразнителност се облекчават с непрекъснато нарастващо удобство и скорост на задоволяване на желанията, но това струва пари (примерно). Въпросът е кой ще плаща сметката.

В България хората се радват на дълго детство на издръжка на родителите си. Вярва се, че излизането от него бележи края на “най-хубавите години”. То е като изгонване от Рая. След това някои се опитват да си възвърнат Рая като изкарват сами пари, но ... хората продължават да страдат, защото не искат да пораснат.

Да, хората бачкат здраво в определени периоди, с огромно отвращение, за да заплатят за удоволствията си. И колкото по-голямо е отвращението, толкова по-голяма се очаква да бъде наградата. След което наградата никога не изглежда достатъчно голяма; удовлетворението не настъпва никога.

А ако хората умееха да дават истински, те щяха да могат да се отпуснат в каквото и да е и да са щастливи да вършат дори работата, която не е предназначена за кеф, понеже са се впуснали в нея като в игра. Вместо това, те обикновено са заети с роптаене срещу неудобството и опити да го ограничат, да дадат по-малко, да платят по-ниска цена – което е част от поведението им на купувачи – всеки търси най-добрата сделка и гледа да не се мине да плати и стотинка повече.

По този начин се определят и взаимоотношенията между хората. Те подхождат един към друг като консуматори, които са твърде заети да пресмятат, да сравняват, да внимават да не дадат повече, отколкото ще получат.

Каква е моята алтернатива? Алтернативата на човека който от малък мечтае да порасне. Това е желанието да ставаш все по-могъщ – знаещ и можещ. Нямам предвид манията на Тигъра. Искам да разбирам света и себе си, да виждам моделите, които ни движат, да живея в хармония с вселенските акони, а не да господствам над всичко. Искам да еволюирам, да стигна до съвършенството, т.е. да открия щастието в себе си и да видя дали има нещо отвъд. И все пак живея в свят, в който повечето хора вървят в обратната посока.

Може би винаги е било така – масите са вървели по посока на удобството. Имало е индивиди, които са вървели обратно на течението. Те са пробивали в неизвестността, създавали са временни неудобства и хаос, и ако са имали късмет, масите са решавали, че новооткритото ще направи живота им по-удобен и са инвестирали в него. Ако са смятали, че няма да доведе до такава полза, са отхвърляли откритието, а понякога да наказвали откривателя. След време човечеството е преоткривало някои отхвърлени идеи, понеже е стигало до етап на развитие, в който може да ги оцени. А как е стигало дотам? Благодарение на плуващите срещу течението, на ходещите по ръба на хаоса.

Мисля, че желанието да пробиеш в неизвестното е нещо, с което се раждаме. След това започваме да осъзнаваме, че морето е дълбоко, но много от нас не се научават да плуват, а си остават на брега, където са останали родителите им и повечето им познати и приятели.

Липсват модели – мъдри възрастни, които са направили своите пътувания, които могат да хванат младите за ръка и да ги поведат към техния right of passage, да им покажат и други светове, да ги блъснат във водата.

Аз искам да направя своето пътешествие и като се върна, да разкажа за него. Всъщност пътешествието не е само едно. Качвала съм се на лодката и съм пътувала и съм се връщала, и съм разказвала. Може би ще направя още много пътувания – все по-надалече, в различни посоки, ще добавям още и още острови на картата – някои го правят под формата на романи. Интересно докъде ще стигна.

Може би прекарвам твърде много време на брега, за да оправдавам пътуванията си. Все пак се налага – нали трябва да осигуря екипировка и supplies – и това ме свързва с хората, не само споделянето на моите открития. Може да е досадно, но за да пътувам, се налага да се уча да надхитрявам хората от време на време. Например да ги заблуждавам, че не съм чак толкова различна, понеже е рано да им покажа колко са подобни на мен.

Животът е като игра. Пътешественикът понякога е и трикстер. Може би това ме отличава от героите на Пауло Коельо – доколкото си ги спомням, на тях никога не им се е налагало да хитруват.

Животът е весел. И все пак ми е тъжно за децата, които стареят на брега.

Ако те кефя, гласувай за мен тук.

If you'd like to hear David's acceptance speech just watch this video taken by Beth (who was also very pleased to be at the ceremonies in Calgary!)

David took part in the 5th annual JUNO cup while he was in Calgary playing on the NHL team as their goalie - also a thrill!

Last, but not least, David was part of the first ever presentation of classical music at JUNOfest. David was honoured to narrate for JUNO nominee, cellist Matt Haimovitz for his performance of "After Reading Shakespear"

The awards will take place on Saturday, December 1 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Québec Canada

for more information on the Canadian Folk Music Awards, check out their site at http://www.canadianfolkmusicawards.ca/cfma/

Right of passage is David Francey's much anticipated, all new, all original material CD. The first since Waking Hour in 2004. An exquisite new CD!

Join us for the CD release party at Hugh's Room in Toronto, March 2 and 3

Right of Passage is an intimate recording of thirteen original David Francey songs, backed by a stellar cast of musicians. Craig Werth, Geoff Somers, Shane Simpson and Julia Davie joined David at Signal Path Studio in the beautiful town of Almonte, Ontario. The time spent in the studio was joyful. The sessions were filled with excitement as the new songs were captured one by one.
Right of Passage reflects the passion and emotion with which David views his world - a world where he and his pal "laughed [their] words in steady streams", where he dreamt of his wife while sitting "under a sky of hodden grey" and where a smile "filled the emptiness".
We are very proud that Right of Passage is truly home-made. The songs and music are by David. Many of the practices took place in our home. The recording was done less than an hour from our home. Our daughter Julia is singing harmony on two songs. Our daughter Amy did a beautiful job on the artwork for the CD. Our son Colin was extremely patient through the whole process. Many of the photos are by David or myself (Beth)...and the CD is on our label, Laker Music, run out of our home! How's that for an indie label! Made in Canada!

You can order your copy directly from us online at Laker Music. Liner notes and more available for Right of Passage