I was seeking a balance between "the informal heat of the expression of the moment" and "the carefully selected memorabilia of the past".

I concluded:
"If I don't give a damn about [these entries], I can be sure you dear readers won't, either."

It's not that I don't 'give a damn', but I feel much of the ancient archives no longer merit a public airing. I still have the digital archives perserved on computer, DVD and external hard drive, and that is sufficient.

With this decision, closing out aztriad.com has proved much easier for me. I will not be bringing all the old "Weighty Matters" entries over to my new domain. However, I've preserved the best of these pieces in The Essential Joan and in The Book of Life.

Changes...
     
The "Weighty Matters" index screen as seen on an old 800x600 pixel monitor,
the "Weighty Matters" index screen as seen on an 1014x768 pixel monitor,
and the current "Tasting Life Twice" index screen, on the 1014x768 pixel monitor.

The new computer has 1600x900 pixels! As far as I know, I don't yet have a means of obtaining a screen capture on it!

Note of January 2, 2010:
But, oh, those checks look awful tiny on its long, wide screen! So I enlarged the 'chekback' by 150%, to have more of the original effect I was going for back in the day of the 800x600 monitor:

Note of February 15, 2010:

I have Photoshop now!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010
"A Bit of Progress"
6:06am

I'm pausing for a moment to rejoice in a bit of progress: the Photo Galleries have at last been sorted out. I weeded out the less spectacular, such as the ones of tiny blurry Christmas scenes in Tucson done with the old camera and a sad little three picture set of Yuma's Gem and Mineral show. But I did keep quite a few of the sets with tiny pictures as they told an interesting story. I'm pleased. Yes, I still want to work on the late Nineteenth century art at the Met, and someday gather together all my Calder photos, but at least everything is now in the right place.

I love this quote found while reading through old journal entries:

"At the outset of every work of art there is the will to isolate a moment out of the merciless flow of life and make it accessible to others."

----Joseph Conrad

Photography certainly does that. One of my favorite photo sets is of my visit to Tucson's Gem and Mineral Show in 1999. Eleven years ago, a digital camera was unusual. I'm glad I recorded this event with words as well as photos.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010
"A Bit More Progress"
8:18pm

The Figurative Art Gallery is done!

I still have the intuitives to sort out, and I'd like to place the best line drawings, whether figurative or intuitive, into a gallery of their own. Then there's the 'critter gallery' and the 'portrait gallery', but those aren't in such bad shape, so they can wait until I sort out the remaining journal messes.

Julia wonders at my persistence in all this. Maybe I am somewhat obsessed, but I need to be to get anything done...

It's at this time of year I'm glad to be living in Yuma. I hear via the internet and radio of the wicked cold weather others endure. But for now, our days reach the 70's:

71F (22C)

I look forward to exploring the East Wetlands Park this weekend, and its "350 acres [which] have been restored, ranging from riparian habitat to back water channel excavation and wetlands creation". And there's an antique show I want to catch. I'm ready for the weekend, already!

Saturday, January 9, 2010
"New Acquisition, New Digital Gallery"
6:51pm

I made note of the small ad I'd seen regarding an antique show at the convention center. I missed last year's and I did not want to miss this years. Not very long after it opened, Julia and I were there. 'Antique' music from the 1930's provided aural stimulation to accompany the visual feast. We made our way around the outer circumferance first, and then worked towards the center displays. I kept in mind a nice Ganesh statue, and thought I'd return to it when we'd seen everything.

The dealer had a very attractive display...

When we got home, after a disagreeable meal with some nasty jalapeno peppers, I resumed web work. Last night I sorted out the intuitives and this morning I got busy on the linear pieces:

I am happy to report:

The Linear Art Gallery is done!

I am also happy to report the meal-caused turbulence has settled down to a low roar.

There's Ganesh, amid a background of walnut bag and snack box...
(We have a slight storage problem, as the sewing machine table is being used for a food shelf...)