13 Peace Out
1. I got a new Van Gogh calendar in our Christmas Eve neighborhood Yankee Swap. I knew I needed a calendar and was determined not to get taken in by pretty wrapping and end up with something I couldn’t use, so I stole (part of the rules) from someone else for the first time.
2. It changed hands more than once, got taken from me, and then Joe got it back. Later, my daughter-in-law told me she brought it and that she would have just given it to me for Christmas if she knew I liked Van Gogh so much. “Yeah, but it was so much more fun to work for it,” I responded.
3. The next day I opened the calendar to The Postman and said to Joe, “I don’t think I can look at this guy for a whole month.” I’m going to miss last year’s Chagall calendar.
4. One good thing about coming down with a nasty cold is that you see how productive you were before the cold when you didn’t think you were being productive at all.
5. I think Van Gogh’s postman looked like Captain Fred from Yellow Submarine.
6. I’m looking forward to seeing the Yoko Ono Imagine Peace show Featuring John & Yoko’s Year of Peace at the Taubman Museum with friends this weekend. I got the above photo off the Yoko Ono Imagine Peace Facebook page.
7. Read a 2005 blog post about how Yoko Ono was an influence in finding my voice HERE.
8. On my 60th birthday I had dinner with a man who was at John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-in for Peace. The Bed-in was a honeymoon performance art event that gave birth to the song Give Peace a Chance.
9. I can never write, type, or say “number 9” without thinking of the Beatles song of the same name.
10. Today, I’m having my own kind of bed-in (see #4).
11. It turns out that Van Gogh painted more than one portrait of the same postman and in the other ones he painted flowers in the background, like THIS, which I would be happy to look at for a month.
12. See my 2011 Halloween costume “I’m a little bit Yoko Ono and a little Bride of Frankenstein HERE.
13. I’m kind of jaded and rarely say “Peace on Earth Goodwill to Men” anymore at Christmastime, but I still frequently quote Elvis Costello: “What’s so Funny Bout Peace Love and Understanding?”
Last minute bonus: Watch my 5 year-old grandson perform Yellow Submarine on the piano while his 3 year old brother dances HERE.
___________________Thirteen Thursday
January 9th, 2014 1:32 am
here we call item one -Bad Santa; Santa giveth Santa taketh….call me greedy or childish am not fond of the whole t’ing , so I puff my chest and look mean, but to no avail.
Had a Van Gogh calender one year. The last couple and this year as well it is Maude Lewis. There is something about here paintings and here life’s story which gives peace this time of year and for what follows.
Happy New Year to ya, looking forward to another year of inspiration from you and all things Floyd.
January 9th, 2014 3:06 am
I like Van Gogh, but other than “Starry night” or his sunflowers, I think there are very few paintings by him I could look at for an entire month. I think I’ll stick with the “Timeless Visions” (famous landmarks) calendar I received — this month is the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
I’ve also been sick with a cold and you’re right–about the only good thing is seeing how productive you actually were prior to being ill. On the other hand, I’ve already finished three books this year.
My T13
January 9th, 2014 5:06 am
we call it dirty santa
January 9th, 2014 6:41 am
It sounds like you were playing The White Elephant Game—-we plat that every New Years!! Great Fun.
AFI, (The American Film Institute) has a Calendar every year and that’s what I hang in my Kitchen…..It is printed up months before and sent to you as a complimentary gift if you are a member…..January 2014 is a BEAUTIFUL color photo of Peter O’Toole as Lawrence…..So nice, considering he just passed on….!
I’m not sure I could live with too many Van Gogh’s for a year—well, it would depend on what the pictures were, of course.
A VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU, MY DEARS….And feel better very very soon!
January 9th, 2014 7:39 am
Nothing gives me greater hope for the potential future of humanity than seeing children, like your grands, who actually know Beatles music. john would be smiling.
A week ago, in a supermarket, I heard a young mother, pushing her very young child along in the cart, offer “All we are saying…” and the child finishing the phrase.
On these cold days, during these hard times, this old man can still smile.
January 9th, 2014 8:40 am
my calendars are not as pretty this year A blogger often makes a super one and shares I’m praying
January 9th, 2014 10:28 am
haven’t thought about John and Yoko for a while –
I’ll finish this morning’s work with you tube videos playing in the background. Thanks for the memory jog
January 9th, 2014 10:54 am
I have a calendar that I was given by the bank that I thought I would use in my office, but I see now that it is too small; I can barely see the dates. So I must hunt for something larger.
Feel better; being ill is no fun!
January 9th, 2014 10:56 am
Kudos on your 60th B day. You look really young for your age and your blog thoughts tell me you’ve a really interesting life. Thanks for the inspiration.
http://otherworlddiner.blogspot.com/2014/01/yep-its-freezing-or-revenge-of-polar.html
January 9th, 2014 1:43 pm
Usually I get 3 or 4 calendars for the New Year–this year, nothing. Good thoughts. My TT is up–http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2014/01/thursday-thirteenwhere-our-friends-are.html
January 9th, 2014 2:03 pm
Oh, gee I took the “long and winding road “and I did not end up being the 9th commenter! I was painting in my studio… I love artsy calendars or literary ones or…
Very creative post involving one of my favorite bands/songs.
Hope u feel better soon. My GEM also has a nasty cold.
P.S. Pleaase use the first TT13 “soulcrayons link.” I tried to also set up a different blog at wordpress but it’s in a state of flux. Therefore,the 2nd TT13 link with my name doesnn’t connect.
January 9th, 2014 2:04 pm
Or use the link on your sidebar to my typepad blog of SoulCrayons. Thanks, Colleen. Happy belated BD. SW VA agrees w / you. You do look so youthful!
January 9th, 2014 3:30 pm
I like pretty calendars too.
Last year mine was a collection of rusty old pickup trucks. I bought it for Oz and wondered if I’d enjoy looking at it for an entire year. It turned out I did.
This year I have a have a calendar by artist Debra Jordon Bryan: http://www.debrajordanbryan.com.
I KNOW I’ll enjoy 12 months of this.
Happy 2014.
January 9th, 2014 3:44 pm
I checked it out but it isn’t my style. I did like every page of the Chagall calendar: http://www.teneues.com/shop-int/teneues-calendars/fine-art/chagall-2013.html
January 9th, 2014 5:10 pm
Your Yankee Swap sounds like what we call Dirty Santa, and I’ve never gotten anything I like from that game. LOL. Oh and #8 – SO COOL! Happy Thursday! Hope you feel better soon.
January 9th, 2014 8:21 pm
I really like calendars too! Remember when we used to make our own!
I have a nice cape cod one this year!
I wish I could see your Van Gogh one!
January 9th, 2014 10:48 pm
I miss my calendar from last year.
happy new year. peace out,
January 10th, 2014 2:16 pm
I hope you enjoy the show at the Taubman, I was very moved when I visited it. I love that song, #13! Farmers Supply has/had some very nice nature calendars, that’s what I’m using this year. Happy New Year! Get well soon!