We're having a staff and faculty art show at school in September, and I was asked to submit a photo. I thought it might be interesting to do something different from my normal shopfronts and miscellaneous street scenes, so I submitted the one above. I took it out the airplane window over Florianópolis, Brazil. I called it "Sky, Land and Sea," because the reason it's interesting -- to me, anyway -- is that it's hard to tell where one begins and another ends. The ambiguity is the essence of the picture.
But yesterday I went to the art classroom to print it for the show, and on the big computer I began seeing little imperfections that I didn't like, and plus it's just so monochromatically BLUE, that I began having doubts. I postponed printing to do a bit more editing, but later this week I'll print it and we'll see how well it turns out. If it looks too murky or otherwise unappealing I may pivot to the woman in the turquoise dress.
That was my nightstand last night. See? You really can take a picture of anything.
My dentist's appointment yesterday went so-so. The hygienist said I had some gum inflammation and hounded me about not doing my interdental brushing every day. (The bugaboo used to be flossing; now it's interdental brushing.) I admitted that I got out of the habit when Dave and I went to South America. But then she asked to see me again in three months and I said no. There is no reason on this planet that I should have to get my teeth cleaned that frequently. I brush every day without fail and my teeth have always been healthy. I used work as an excuse and said I just couldn't miss that much time, and that I'd be back in six months as usual.
Last night we had Olga's follow-up visit with the vet. Her teeth are apparently coming along well and we've been told she can have Dentastix again, which has thrilled her to no end.
I also popped into the high street bookstore and bought the new Thom Gunn biography, which looks interesting. I had a gift card that my co-workers gave me at the end of the last school year that I hadn't yet used, so that paid for most of it. They didn't have the book in stock but they ordered it and I should have it within a day or two. It's fine. I'm still occupied with Barbra.
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| On the sidewalk in West Hampstead (click to enlarge) |
The high school kids are all back in the library -- including the gigantic pack of boisterous boys who are my nemeses. They are now in 11th Grade, and they informed me yesterday that they've moved on from playing "Brawl Stars" because it's "too childish." They appear to be playing some other game on their phones, though, so the boisterousness is not about to abate. Joy!
I rebel against the Hygienist by not going at all!
ReplyDeleteDentist every 6 months is the most I can cope with and 'touch wood' haven't had too many problems recently.
Yeah, it already irks me that I have to have separate appointments to see my hygienist and my dentist -- which means four appointments per year. That seems like a lot.
Delete"often their reactions are a result of fear" because they haven't learned or been taught how to handle real life I expect. Many of today's kids, even raised in loving homes, also aren't learning to handle real life when they spend so much time on their screens and the parents are so busy working to make ends meet.
ReplyDeleteI think he's especially talking about pandemic kids, or those who spent formative years being educated via Zoom while hibernating at home.
DeleteGood for you for saying no. I have never seen a hygienist.
ReplyDeleteAll my life, I've seen a hygienist who cleans my teeth right before the dentist gives me my semi-annual checkups. Usually it's done all in one go. Here in London I need two separate appointments, which is kind of annoying. I need to talk to them about this!
DeleteOh, those bloody boys! Can't you leave them a bowl of M&Ms laced with arsenic? That would teach them for messing with "The Librarian from Hell"!
ReplyDeleteThey drive me crazy, but not THAT crazy.
DeleteI rather like the Sky, Land and Sea photograph myself for the reason you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see how people here have responded to both photos!
DeleteYou may be over thinking the photo -- I'm guessing you're seeing flaws nobody else does.
ReplyDeleteI go to the dentist and hygienist, one visit, once a year. I noticed that I rarely have any issues, so they have given up trying to get me there more often. But they'd love to double their income from me.
There really were a few flaws that I fixed before posting it above -- mainly dust specks from my dirty lens. I was raised with the idea of going to the dentist every six months, but any more than that certainly seems like a money grab.
DeleteI kind of like that second photo for the school, although I loved the mystery of Sky Land Sea.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm on the fence. I might change it.
DeleteThat's an excellent photo, but I like the lady in the turquoise dress too. I don't even know what interdental brushing is - I'll have to go to the Google & see if I, too, should be doing that!
ReplyDeleteBack from Google - I sort of do that now. I have some dental picks that I use at night (and also as toothpicks during the day). I bought a pack of those fancy ones but at the time my gums were too tender to tolerate them so I gave up. I'm in a better place now so maybe I'll try again!
DeleteInterdental brushing is all the thing here. I get the impression that flossing is no longer the preferred between-teeth cleaning method.
DeleteI wish you could display two photos because both of those are so excellent and yet so different which makes the point that photography can be many things. And I like your bedside table photo too, honestly. The magnified green swirls are interesting and cool.
ReplyDeleteMy dental hygienist has never mentioned a word about interdental brushing. I just get told repeatedly by her and the dentist that I do very good dental hygiene. I am a faithful flosser.
We're all limited to one artwork, sadly! If you're flossing that achieves the same result as interdental brushing, though I get the impression that brushing is supposed to be better.
DeleteI am a water pik devotee.
ReplyDeleteI have never used one of those, but I always wanted one after seeing the commercials on TV as a kid!
Deleteyour hygienist wants you to floss and do interdental brushing? seems a little extreme to me. I floss and brush every day. my hygienist wanted me to use a water pic as well. I flat out told her no, was not going to use a device that sprayed water all over me and the bathroom. just one more thing to have to clean up after.
ReplyDeleteI understand why you like Sky, Land, Sea and it is interesting, meditative I guess, and as you say, very blue. but it doesn't pull me in the way the Lady In The Turquoise Dress does.
No, the interdental brushing is in lieu of flossing. If you floss every day you're a step ahead of me! I've never gotten into the daily flossing habit, though I have tried.
DeleteI like your "blue" photo. I love how land, sea and sky are all blended together in subtle shading.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who told me her dentist told her that brushing for a full 3 minutes would greatly improve her gums. I thought it sounded like a good idea until I actually tried brushing for a full 3 minutes. That's a lot longer than you would think.
That's an interesting declaration made on the sidewalk.
Yeah, three minutes is a long time! I think my electric toothbrush runs a two-minute cycle.
DeleteOh, Steve, they will probably remember their time in the library as their favorite time of the school day. Learn the games, get books about it for the library. My library has really opened up the young adult area to encourage them to visit. The future of libraries may depend on them some day.
ReplyDeleteWell, right now they're playing electronic blackjack, which we're trying to discourage!
DeletePersonally, I prefer the Owl in the Glass picture rather then the all blue one or the lady in the dress! However ... Your pictures, your choice!
ReplyDeleteGet a mouthwash for your gums!
Yeah, I don't do mouthwash. Maybe I should. That owl picture really was spur of the moment! LOL
DeleteI like your first photo. It's vague enough that you are drawn in to take a good look.
ReplyDeleteThat was my hope!
DeleteI go to the dentist once a year. They have tried to encourage me to come more often and I declined. Having my teeth cleaned causes me a lot of stress and I already have enough of that in my life:) I'm supposed to floss daily but rarely do, maybe once or twice a week.
ReplyDeleteAs for the photos, does it have to be a travel photo? You have so many photos to choose from.
Cleanings are never a fun experience. No, the artwork can be anything -- any photo, in my case. I just thought it might be fun to show something from our South America trip. A kind of "what I did last summer" thing.
DeleteI know that sometimes a photo looks better on the computer screen than when printed out, but I really love your "Sky, Land and Sea". (are you not an Oxford comma person?) I hope you'll still use it as your submission.
ReplyDeleteI am not an Oxford comma person! My journalism training drilled it out of me.
DeleteNow I need to look up interdental brushing. A new term to me. I do like the image of the blue. But also the other. You have tons from which to choose, that's for sure! Funny of the boys to inform you their game had changed!
ReplyDeleteYeah, too many to choose from, honestly!
DeleteI do like the sky, land and sea picture. But if I may suggest it, you have dozens of Olga pictures that would capture attention and hearts :)
ReplyDeleteYes, you are a terrible rebel, Steve! lol
I'm sure Olga would appreciate being the center of attention ONCE AGAIN, but she'd like it more if she were physically there, getting pats and treats.
DeleteI love your alternative photo. It looks so well composed and there is so much of interest to see.
ReplyDeleteOK, thanks for the input! I may make a change. We'll see.
DeleteI like the woman in the turquoise dress. She's interesting, and there is a lot to look at. It's very tropical. Happy to hear Olga has things to chew again.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I do like the tropical feel of that photo.
DeleteI have had periodontal issues for some time. I started using a waterpik a number of years ago and it has really helped.
ReplyDeleteOK, good to know! This is the second vote for a Water-Pik!
DeleteI think that you've captured some very poignant pictures around London. You've got an artist's eye, but you've also got a poet's eye. I'm not sure how to phrase it, but some of your photographs are very evocative. Can you just enter the one photo?
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yeah, just one entry per person, sadly. (There's not much space.)
DeleteHigh school boys are usually a long way from growing up.
ReplyDeleteThat's for sure! But they don't realize it at the time.
DeleteI go every six months and in the olden days it was once a year. I can't imagine having to see the dentist separately and I'm retired so I have plenty of time. High school boys, ah yes, I remember them well--and not always fondly.
ReplyDelete