Dreams - Andy Webster / Mike Johnstone (Wed 29 Jun 2016)

kaleidoscope - Vivid - Circular Quay (Tue 14 Jun 2016)

Andy Webster on Dreams:

Feelings which are repressed when awake seem to surface in dreams!

via Always Know Where Your Camera Is! by Mike Johnstone.

Being Open To .. - Streetshooter (Wed 29 Jun 2016)

blue / ball - memories of.. - Macdonaldtown (Wed 29 Jun 2016)

Streetshooter on Being Open:

we need to be observant of our vision and our feelings. The photos are out there if you are open to them. People are out there too and we need to be open to them more then anything else.

via Rest Easy Post by Streetshooter.

Not sure why I made a photo of this, but for some reason I could not pass it without taking a few moments to see the beauty in this banal scene.

On Writing - Sam Esmail / Karl Quinn (Fri 06 Nov 2015)

Our dog, Polly and Me - Tamworth (1964)

Sam Esmail on Writing:

write what you know

via Mr Robot creator Sam Esmail: The revolution will be televised by Karl Quinn.

Often feel I really don't know, what I know, if that can make sense. And, maybe that is what I've been trying to do here the last six and half years - to find out more about myself, what I have experienced, felt, learnt and come to know.

As U2 sing in Beautiful Day:

What you don't know you can feel it somehow.

One of my favourite lyrics ever. It describes who I am and why I behave the way I do, both in life and my random uncomfortable writings.

On Photography - Appearance and Feelings - Susan Lipper / DavidSimonton (Mon 13 Jul 2015)

Self Portrait - Alexandria (Mon 13 Jul 2015)

Susan Lipper on Photography, and Appearance and Feelings:

I photograph to learn both the appearance of things and also my feelings about them

via davidsimonton.tumblr.com by David Simonton.

On Destiny - Chris Horner - Twisted Spoke (Sat 14 Sep 2013)

Bike - GHT / Freedom 2.0 - Madrid (Sat 10 Aug 2013)
Chris Horner (*) talks On Destiny (* | w):

I don’t need any time for this to sink in, I’ve had lots of time to think about it and what this accomplishment would be like, [..] I’ve had lots of time to think about how much I suffered (*) to get here, and the feelings (*) I have now will last a lifetime (*).

via Horner king of Angliru and winner of Vuelta (*) by Twisted Spoke (*).

Congrats to Chris Horner (*) who rolls into Madrid tonight to become the oldest rider to win a modern Grand Tour Cycling Event.

For someone who has assisted so many great riders over the years, he must have known that winning feeling, to stand on the top level of the Podium and to hear his National Anthem, to be the one to receive the accolades.

Everyone at that level in their sport dreams about it and now Chris will be fortunate enough to live it, tonight and for the rest of his life. For one who has pretty much done it his way for most of his career, congrats and enjoy the moment.

The warrior of light is now waking from his dream.

The warrior of light is now waking from his dream.

He thinks:

‘I do not know how to deal with this light that is making me grow.’

The light, however, does not disappear.

The warrior thinks:

‘Changes must be made that I do not feel like making.’

The light remains. Then the eyes and heart of the warrior begin to grow accustomed to the light. It is no longer frightens him and he finally accepts his own Legend, even if this means running risks.

The warrior has been asleep for a long time. It is only natural that he should wake up very gradually.

From the Manual of the Warrior of Light by Paulo Coelho.

Making a few changes in my life and I am happy about that. Does seem a bit like the above.

Yin and Yang- Water - Coral Sea - Kingfisher Bay Resort / Fraser Island (w) (5:47pm Sun 28 Apr 2002)

knowing how powerful it is not to know - Bono / Brooklyn (22 Nov 2004)

Thomas, Grant, Betty, Lynn and Grace - Manahattan bound - I don't know who was more excited - Grace or me (and I was not even going along) - Departure Gate / Sydney International Airport (Sun 19 Dec 2010)
Recently posted a video clip of a U2 Performance of the City of Blinding Light at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in Empire - Fulton Ferry State Park.

In the preamble to the performance, Bono becomes quite nostalgic.

In my previous post back on Sat 16 Apr 2011, I included a snippet of his little talk which I have thought about a lot recently.

This is what Bono said in full:

Look at this. That is wild. What a sight. Wow look at that. [Bono pointing to the Brooklyn Bridge]

Sometimes you forget why it was that you wanted to be in a band. So going into this we reminded ourselves of why we wanted to be in a band.

We listened to the albums that excited us when we wanted to be in a band [..] the music and what it felt like to arrive here in the United States. To come over the [Brooklyn] Bridge into Manhattan. Snow was on the ground. It was:

"an amazing magical time in our lives when we did not know how powerful it was not to know".

This is a song about innocence, naivety and it is called "City of Blinding Lights".

The chorus is set in New York City looking at Brooklyn.

I feel that these words are quite profound and the feelings he is trying to describe are universal and generic. They can be applied to not only rock and roll superstars, but mere mortals like myself who progress through life little steps at a time.

I have always recognised the importance of acknowledging your past and to reflect on your past (though it might be painful at times) - it is something I have spent a bit of time on lately. It will help you understand who you have been, who you are now and where you are heading.

Here is the video again ..

City of Blinding Lights / U2 - Empire - Fulton Ferry State Park / Brooklyn Bridge / Brooklyn Bridge / New York (22 Nov 2004 - youtube)
Bono's words make me think of some similar words that have captured my imagination, these words coming from Ken Burns (e) a little bit earlier in that year of 2004 at his 2004 Yale Commencement Speech:

As you pursue your goals in life, that is to say your future, pursue your past. Let it be your guide. Insist on having a past and then you will have a future. [..]

Insist on heroes. And be one. [..]

Travel. Do not get stuck in one place. [..]
Whatever you do, walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.

Ken Burns - 2004 Commencement Yale Class Day Speech (as pdf)

I drift back a little back into my past - 1990. Jenny and I had been going out for about six months and she encouraged and inspired me to achieve one of my Dream's - to run the New York City Marathon ..

Geoff - New York City Marathon - Nov 1990 - Brooklyn (picasa)
I look into my eyes above and I see an innocence, naivety, wonder and hope that Bono talks about above through his own experiences as musician. It all seemed to be in front of us back then and it was.

Jenny and I (and of course Joanne) had an amazing life together and though Jenny is not a part of our physical lives anymore, I would like to think that Jo and I have continued to live an amazing, wonderful and fulfilling life in Jenny's absence. It is my hope that I still have a touch of the same innocence and naivety, that I can see above, as I move forward in my life.

Street Band - 1990 New York City Marathon - Sun 04 Nov 1990
This post is dedicated to my niece Grace and nephew Thomas. To travel and spend time in Manhattan as you did for Christmas 2010 will be a formative experience for you. Use the experience to help guide you as you progress through your life.

Now that's a Snowball - Grace and Thomas (my niece and nephew) - Central Park / Manhattan (Mon 27 Dec 2010)

More Than a Feeling by Boston (youtube)

More Than a Feeling by Boston - Gaints Stadium (17 Jun 1979)
Heard this song while stuck in traffic on the way to training tonight. Had not heard it for years. Made me laugh. Last week I tried to describe a feeling and failed. Would not even know where to start to describe more than a feeling. Let's see what Boston can make of it ..

Some Random Memories to follow in the next post ...

More than a Feeling Lyrics

I woke up this morning and the sun was gone
Turned on some music to start my day
I lost myself in a familiar song
I closed my eyes and I slipped away

It's more than a feeling
More than a feeling
When I hear that old song they used to play
More than a feeling
And I begin dreaming
More than a feeling
'Til I see Mary Ann walk away
I see my Mary Ann walkin' away

So many people have come and gone
Their faces fade as the years go by
Yet I still recall as I wander on
As clear as the sun in the summer sky

It's more than a feeling
More than a feeling
When I hear that old song they used to play
More than a feeling
And I begin dreaming
More than a feeling
'Til I see Mary Ann walk away
I see my Maria Ann walkin' away

When I'm tired and thinking cold
I hide in my music, forget the day
And dream of a girl I used to know
I closed my eyes and she slipped away
She slipped away

It's more than a feeling
More than a feeling
When I hear that old song they used to play
More than a feeling
And I begin dreaming
More than a feeling
'Til I see Mary Ann walk away

I woke up this morning and the sun was gone
Turned on some music to start my day
I lost myself in a familiar song

A high quality recording is here ..

More Than a Feeling by Boston