Fine Art

Melissa Maiello is an artist to admire. Her work is extraordinary. Not only does Melissa have technical talent in several art media, she has unique artistic vision. Her art focuses on nature and conveys that subject's sublime beauty and tantalizing mystery. 

Artists "see" differently from the rest of us. They literally perceive more reality.  In the words of Aldous Huxley, "the doors of [their] perception" are open wider than ours. Melissa's art invites us to join her in a realm more vibrant than our own. Exploring that space can be a transcendent experience.

When I heard Melissa's art is on display this month at a festival in Babylon I jumped into the Batmobile and went there. The festival is outdoors, always a nice place to enjoy art and especially appropriate for Melissa's work. There are pieces by twenty artists in the show. 

The festival is open until Aug. 9th. Go! Look! Expand your horizons!

Blogging

Those of us who've blogged for a while (I started in 2010) know that blogging became popular 10-15 years ago and... then slowly fizzled out. When personal videos became possible and easy (on mobile devices) the masses gravitated toward them and away from static word-and-picture blogs. It was inevitable since most people can't write and don't like to read. Watching videos on TikTok and Instagram is their first choice.

I'm sad about this for a few reasons. First, I love to write so expressing myself here has always been a delight. Second, I like to connect with others so reading blogs, pondering the writer's experiences and being able to comment is always fun. And third, I find most video content to be shallow whereas blog posts are usually deep and more meaningful. Plus, on blogs we can show off our fancy vocabulary. :)

It was sad to see my favorite blogs -- which at one point numbered over 60 -- disappear. Of those, only a small handful exist today. Most evaporated without warning, like water on the patio during Summer.

I plan to remain here forever and will continue to support like-minded souls doing the same work. If you're reading this and have a blog, link it in the comments so I can join your community.

Recently I posted about a fabulous new book ("The Secret of Secrets," by Dan Brown [2025]). The novel has passages which give me hope about a future return to blogging. Here they are:

"Online, I am a bodiless consciousness…". (p. 656)

"It’s an unusual idea, but I’ve come to believe that our current technological explosion is actually part of a spiritual evolution… a kind of training ground for the existence that, in the end, is our ultimate destiny… a consciousness, untethered from the physical world, and yet connected to all things.” (p. 656)

The idea of consciousness outside human bodies is growing in popularity as it explains many odd phenomena (like the paranormal, mystical and metaphysical). Science and philosophy are examining consciousness with fresh originality. Noetics are pushing back against materialism and opening doors to new concepts and thought. Blogs may be training wheels for something much, much bigger.

Lucky Coins

As a child, I collected coins. I have dozens of silver dollars minted in the 1800s. 

It fascinates me that these objects -- which you can hold in your hand -- existed before computers (1980s), before television (1950s), before cars (1920s) and even before electricity (1880s). They were made when people traveled in horse-carriages and lit gas lamps at night. Coins from then survived until today.

These coins have seen some shit. The entirety of our modern life passed before their eyes.

When I'm out in public, I always carry one of the coins in my pocket. For luck. If you meet me in person, ask and I'll give you the coin. Spreading luck brings good fortune.

"The Secret of Secrets"

Dan Brown is one of the most successful novelists of our age. His fourth book, "The Da Vinci Code" (2003), sold over 81 million copies. Three of his novels have been turned into popular movies.

Last September Brown published a new bestseller, "The Secret of Secrets" (2025). Happily the book centers on a subject that fascinates me: human consciousness. I'm halfway through the novel and loving it.

While many readers will enjoy the book's thrilling vulpine plot, what interests me are Brown's non-fictional descriptions of philosophy (e.g., materialism v. noetic experience), spirituality, mythology and ancient history. These asides are accurate and entralling.

If you want to read something fun this Summer, try this book. You can borrow it for free from the public library or get it delivered from Amazon. I'd enjoy hearing your thoughts on its content.

Waves

A wave never separates from the sea. It seems distinct when viewed and labeled but, remove the label and what is a wave? Water. Always simply water. The same water that flows in the ocean. Only its form has changed. 

We are waves. Not separate from the universe. Not strangers to the world. We are existence itself in beautiful form, here for fleeting moments before returning to the sea.

The Journey

Eight years ago, when I was sprightly and young (59), I roamed the world with enthusiasm.

Those days aren't over. Watch me continue this journey in slightly altered ways. The show hasn't ended.

History

Today is my dad's birthday. 

He grew up in a war-zone during WWII, personally fought in the later Korean war, smoked three packs of unfiltered cigarettes every day and survived a heart attack at 42. After that he gave up smoking and lived into his 90s with almost 40 years of leisurely retirement. 

In the 1950s my father found and married the woman of his dreams, raising two kids with her in a close-knit happy family in leafy suburbs.

Lucky guy.