Paris Hilton owes me!

Vacation week is over as fast as it arrived. I love my job - sometimes - but the lack of good weather this summer in Canada makes me feel cheated, thus I do not want to return just yet. I feel I am owed something.
Maybe that is the nature of all of us. Entitlement. I certainly see it in the young people today - oh god I sound like a senior citizen.
The Facebook generation seems to believe that the rest of their connected world (their so called friends) actually want to hear about their every move from "I'm eating lunch now" to "my hair looks tremendous".
This self centered approach to life, oblivious or impartial to the world around them, has resulted in a shift in culture that will sadly permeate our society once this generation is middle aged. One need look no further than celebrity culture where Paris needs a show to select a new Best Friend, and a playboy bunny can have her own show about the trials and tribulations of marrying a millionaire athlete.
Our culture is imploding into 5 billion little black holes where everyone feels entitled to receive but not to give.
Once we socialized by going "out" with a friend, or sitting with hundreds at a movie, or listening to a music album in our living rooms with actual friends. Now, the "personal" generation prefers human isolation - happily provided in their personal music systems (ipods) and online virtual friends.
Kids don't bike over to a friends house to play - they text each other to meet online and play video games (becoming characters who replace all their imagination burdens for them).
Anyone who can step back, take a breath and look at this world from a distance can see whats coming. This cultural isolationism has been predicted in many a science fiction story - but here it is on our doorstep.
My oldest and dearest friend just joined Facebook and Twitter today at age 47. It saddens me in a way, as we were always the last holdouts in resisting the Fads. But somewhere deep inside we instinctively know that this is not a fad. The vehicles (like Facebook) my come and go, but the path has been set for this culture. Perhaps he and I are of a dying generation and simply waxing nostalgic at the notion of finding your BFF the old fashioned way (without the need of a TV show). Of course, back then, we never felt entitled to this privilege, nor did we envision collecting hundreds of "friends" like we collected hockey cards. We were not entitled to the things we saw on TV - we knew we would have to work for everything that we received and very little would simply be given to us (Liberal governments not withstanding).
So I didn't get the summer I wanted! Alas somebody must be to blame. After all, I am owed some relaxation, and sunshine, and fun right?
Back to work on Monday - Damn that Paris Hilton

M

Retirement

This painting is about simplicity. Both the way it was painted, with simple knife and brush strokes, and the message, which reflects my desire for an uncomplicated slide into old age.
The irony remains in the years I have spent pushing myself so hard to achieve my dreams, when all I want now is alone time, warmth, and an uncomplicated schedule of late breakfasts followed by early cocktails.

Cheers to Retirement

Polute the Yellow Brick Road

This is a piece I love dearly. My intention was never to make an environmental statement, far from it. It is intended to point out how us humans consistently strive for more as - the perfect car, home, life, etc. yet we are never satiated when we finally arrive at that place. So the trip continues.
It's a trip of pain and sadness since we can never reach the end and can only add to our growing list of desires and wishes.
Some say this is the human spirit and drives all of our innovations. Others see the sadness and incomplete nature of our emotional condition.
Follow your dreams, but have a look out the side window at the garbage piling up along the way.