The Traveling Lens Closed - Memory Connections

Sometimes a place will imprint in your memory, branding that location by the incidents that occur.

I have no photos of these incidents but I do have the memory, distorted as they may be by time. Taking notes on people I observe is sometimes easier than invading their privacy by taking a picture, and risking offending them.

PARIS, FRANCE

Eiffel Tower, Paris, by DG Hudson

The homeless men in Paris, who appeared pleasant after spending a night above a heating grate, sitting and chatting perhaps about how they would go about gaining a bit of food that day or even where to panhandle.  Some of the homeless beggars under the crowded rue de Rivoli arcades (on the way to the Louvre) used dramatic methods intended to wring compassion from the passing tourists. One heavy woman of an advanced 'certain age' with her hand out, hunched inside her robes and clutched what appeared to be an infant to her bosom. She was not of childbearing age. She grunted only as if the hand said it all. Perhaps her man or her family had sent her there to earn her keep. It made me wary.

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KEY WEST, FLORIDA, USA

Key West Florida, Old Town, by DG Hudson

In Key West two homeless men in their forties got upset when we ran past them and their sauntering gait, to meet our boat for an adventure cruise. They yelled at us, irritated at our impatience, but we kept on walking at a fast clip and didn't look back. We were hurrying to meet a tour, and the homeless men appeared to have just woken up after a hard night's sleep. We made it, but the catamaran wouldn't have waited if we were late. The tour was an all-day trip to the Dry Tortugas, an old pirate stopover. I still cannot understand why our 'passing' those homeless guys on Duval Street triggered such a response. Another incident that made me wary.

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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, USA

Across from Disneyland, the home of fantasy, a man in good clothes told hubs a tale of having spent all his money and needing some to call home. . .but what was the real reason, when he didn't look shabby or homeless? A true bad incident? Or an experienced street beggar who pinpointed tourists? He did get a fiver from hubs, before I came back to see what the delay was.


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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA in the 'burbs

Cityscape view from Stanley Park, by DG Hudson

Nearer to home, in a hospital parking lot, an elderly lady in her seventies dressed as you would expect in suitable clothes claimed to be at the end of her rope, and asked me if I could give her some money. I had just bought a parking lot ticket with my credit card. I don't carry cash, so couldn't help but my instinct was on high alert. Something just didn't ring true. She told me she and her hubs were from out of town and had been mugged. He was in the hospital being cared for, but she had no money to call relatives.

It happened again on another afternoon, when another elderly lady in a grocery parking lot approached me asking for handouts.  There are also many who walk the medians in traffic with cardboard signs asking for assistance in the way of money. All these incidents make me wonder what we are doing to our society.

Neil Gaiman used an elderly homeless lady in his Neverwhere story, but the frequency and variety of these occurrences which I have encountered make me wonder, is this a burgeoning trend of our time period?

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Questions:

What do you think of the flourishing and growing trend of panhandling or begging? Is it prevalent in your city or town? Is society failing its citizens? Does it bother you? This seems to become more visible in the better weather in our area when our homeless population grows.

Please leave a comment if you can to let me know you were here, and I'll get around to your blog soon as I can.  Sorry for the slow blogging schedule, but life intervenes. If you avoid commenting on social problems, I understand.  I just observe and wonder, and use it for my writing.  I always like to know what others think about these issues.

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Sarcophagi Through the Ages

Sarcophagi = mummified remains within
 
Or is that what most of us assume when we hear that term? Intrigued by the variation in the sarcophagi in the Louvre Museum, I found that the use of these elaborate coffins and similar objects have existed for some time and in various civilizations.

The housing of the soul and body for its journey to the next life (or afterlife) as it leaves this plane of existence is a part of many cultures. Over time, methods of dealing with our deceased have evolved as societies change and the world becomes more crowded.

In Egypt, the bodies of royalty and noble persons were prepared and placed in a sarcophagus, a funeral container for a corpse. Usually, the outer layers of the box were carved in stone and displayed above ground. They were sometimes buried as well, in royal tombs.

Sarcophagi, Louvre Museum, Paris by DG Hudson

In ancient Egypt, a sarcophagus formed the outer protection for a mummy, usually of royal status.  There could be several layered coffins within, nested for further protection.  Outer and inner layers were decorated with painted or carved representations of the deceased. The intricacy of detail depended on the subject's status and the amount of wealth used in the preparation.

Sarcophagi at the Louvre, Paris by DG Hudson

In Ancient Roman times, metal, plaster or limestone were popular for use in creating sarcophagi.  They were elaborately carved. This existed until the early Christian burial preference for interment underground, which led to the demise of these elaborate coffins. There are many early Christian Sacophagi from the 3rd and 4th centuries which continued the practice with a few changes. See links below.

Carved Sarcophagi at the Louvre, Paris, by DG Hudson

Lack of space in modern times, whether in churches, family burial monuments or in cemeteries, made sarcophagi impractical. However, chest tombs or 'false sarcophagi' became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries in Great Britain. These were empty and bottomless cases placed over an underground burial in outside locations like cemeteries and churchyards. They were not decorated as elaborately as original sarcophagi, but the extra cost of a 'false sarcophagus' as well as the headstone indicated one's social status.

In America during the last part of the 19th century, 'false sarcophagi' made a comeback in cemeteries. This may have been a result of travelers seeing similar objects in Europe. They continued to be popular until the 1950s when easier-to-care-for flat memorials made them obsolete.


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Have you ever seen any sarcophagi, in a museum or otherwise? What do you think of elaborate burial coffins? Do they fascinate you, as they do me? 

Please leave a comment to let me know you stopped by, and I'll reply.  I'm trying to visit other blogs when I can while I juggle life on the side. 

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REFERENCES

Definition:
sarcophagus (plural, sarcophagi; sarcophaguses) is a box-like funeral receptacle for a corpse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcophagus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christian_sarcophagi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Roman_sarcophagi

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Photography Confessions

Photography has always held a certain appeal for me. Influenced by a mother who always had a camera in her hand, I saw the value in trying to capture the moments in our lives that mean more to us in retrospect. As the cameras became better and I became more adept, I learned to see with a 'camera eye'.

A camera lens copies what it sees, not what our human eye ignores. A 'camera eye' discerns what is going to result in a better photograph at the moment the image is taken. The clutter, the poor lighting and the details we may ignore will be there unless we consider composition, lighting and framing. Whether the object is human or not, clutter distracts from the object we are trying to highlight.

Clutter can be excess people, distracting light reflections, or just too much irrelevant 'stuff' in an image. Some clutter you can eliminate, some you cannot, but by changing your position relative to the object, you can often get a better result. And, sometimes, you just need to enjoy the surprising results. 

Repairs to Fort Jefferson, The Dry Tortugas, by DG Hudson

In the image above, Fort Jefferson, on the Dry Tortugas is a fort being restored after suffering the effects of many storms and age.  This image utilizing perspective shows the repaired sections of different colors and the moat surrounding part of the fort. When taking the image, I wanted to show the repair - a slow and tedious job performed by workers who stay on the island for a period of time, 70 miles away from the mainland.

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Pont Neuf, Paris, France by DG Hudson

In this image of the Pont Neuf in Paris, the buildings almost appear to be on the bridge itself rather than in the distance.  I liked the effect which is only marred by the vehicles which were on the bridge at the time.  I was focusing on the bridge construction and noticed the effect afterwards. This is one of my favorite bridges and the oldest in Paris.


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The Eiffel Tower, Paris, by DG Hudson

In the ants-eye view of the Eiffel Tower, you can see the parallel wings of the Trocadero in the distance and a distorted view from beneath the icon of Paris. I wanted to capture the effect of being underneath the structure. The blue building on the left is the entrance to the elevator tram which takes you up to the first level.


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Charlemagne Sculpture, Notre Dame Square, Paris by DG Hudson

Charlemagne and his men in the image above are joined by pigeons who also wanted to be in the photograph. Did I notice the pigeons when taking the image? Not really, I wanted to capture the sculpture in Notre Dame Square. It is a natural image, however, as pigeons hang out here to get a few crumbs from the many visitors who stop for a quick snack and short rest.

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Do you study your images when you upload them? Have you had surprises, capturing effects you weren't aware of?

Please share in the comments, and let me know you dropped by! Thanks for visiting, I'll respond.  I apologize for the lack of frequent posts, but I'm checking in when I can.

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Christmas Memories with Ornaments 2014

A little whimsy goes a long way in preserving the magic of Christmas, a time when we can suspend our disbelief. This is a short post to wish you happy memories of the season.

A Moose, to represent the cool, cool north rests against a Merry Christmas sign.

Christmas Moose collectible, photo by DG Hudson

 

 

 

Shepherds guard their flocks from wolves and other predators. The Santa Shepherd below guards his 'motley' crew of sheep as well, made by four different crafters.

 

 

Santa Shepherd and Sheep, by DG Hudson

 

 

A mantel Santa gathers with Norwegian wood Santas, a Santa toy that moves, a fancy gift box from Paris, France and a handmade sign, North Pole.

 

 

Shelf Santa with other Collectibles, by DG Hudson

 

 

 

The flexible Santa below keeps company with a felt mouse on the same mantel. All these little Santas remind me to smile and look forward to another year. I collect angels too, since we always had one at the top of our tree during my childhood.

 

Soft Santa for the Mantel, by DG Hudson

 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

May you enjoy your time with family and friends.

 

 

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Please leave a comment to let me know you were here, and I'll respond. Thanks for visiting and always count your blessings. You know what they are.

 

Also, these items were purchases or gifts, crafted by other people.  Photos by DG Hudson, 2014.

 

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Hospital Life, Paramedics and Advocacy - One Viewpoint

What if you or someone you loved ended up in one of these? This is a typical hospital bed.

Creative Commons Image, Public Domain use*

Do Not Assume

Illness or injury could affect you or your loved ones at any time. Being informed is one step in the process of getting quality care. The information in this post is specific to Canadian hospitals, in particular in transition units, but is generally applicable in the US as well, and concerns dealing with staff in hospital care and advocacy for the patient. This does not refer to independently funded, private hospitals, which have different guidelines and rate scales.

Know Your Rights and Advocate for the Patient

Incompetent and autocratic nurses may try to order you out of the room, OR use old practices such as mixing old food with new food for patients on liquid feed solutions. This practice was changed once it was questioned. You have a right to stay in the patient's room if you want to, so state your intention. Some staff do not like being observed in the care they provide, hence they ask the family or loved ones to leave. Your not being there can result in undue roughness, unsuitable comments to or about the patient, or mistreatment of the patient (with no explanations).

Do not be intimidated by doctors or nurses. Shoddy care can result in the spreading of hospital-incubated illnesses. I've seen the result of poor sanitation and not reading a patient's chart. Ask questions. Ask for upgrades in food given to patient - swallowing tests, dietary considerations, OR request more physio, doctors to check ailments, more training for patient, and progress) Keep a journal of patient's progress if stay is prolonged. Record names so you can be specific when making a complaint.

Be Aware

Find out what resources are available when you have a problem with how your patient is being treated. Demand proper treatment by contacting the appropriate personnel. Meet the Nurse practitioner who works with the patients. Social workers are available at hospital locations. They act a liaisons for the patients, family members and the hospital. This is specific to the health industry. Be wary of nurses or care aides trying to teach the patient  (dementia, brain trauma or injury patients) when they aren't qualified. They can cause confusion on the part of patient.

Advocate for the patient, speak up directly to the staff and when that is ignored, go above their level of  responsibility. Some doctors have made inappropriate comments to worried family members, and some senior nurses in particular remember the days when nursing staff ruled the corridors secondly after doctors. They do not like the fact that family can now be in attendance nearly all the time and observe firsthand the care given. 

Finally, if all options are exhausted, there is the formal complaint process. Dealing directly with the specific unit in the care location is preferable.

The Good Guys

Paramedics and emergency personnel save the day, IMO, as do the attentive care aides and nurses who show compassion and will discuss the care of the patient, without just wanting to check off 'done' on their patient charts.  Many times when the vocally 'short-staffed' nurses ignored the patient's call bell, it was the care aides that saved the day and treated the patient with more respect. Having a family member there to translate from the patient to the staff what is needed is most valuable in these situations.

In these days of cuts to hospital funding, the family is drawn more and more into doing the job (or assisting) nursing staff at rehab places and in hospital transit units. Waiting for the nurses for assistance with basic requests usually means inattentive care for the patient's most basic needs. Be prepared to devote a certain amount of time to the person in hospital care. Side issues to consider are parking fees, and your own health during a stressful and demanding time. You may have to deal with administration issues concerning the family member, adding to the stress

I saw the difference in how a patient is cared for when no family members were around, as I was in attendance for 5-8 hours a day, all days of the week. I gathered a complete image of care except for the wee hours of the morning. There seems to be little awareness that the aging population is a coming trend.


The Bare Facts: Examples of the Bad


Nurses not reading reports, but asking family members

Too much sedation given without consulting family or family doctor

Suggestions not appropriate: 'The patient could have had a stroke' after too much sedation, OR 'some just let them go-regarding feeding processes

Staff Demands for family to leave the room for any procedures during normal care

Care Aides who try to teach patients and confuse them

Restraints too tight which leave 'embossing on skin', which are used for 'safety'

Staff ignoring the call bells of patients, while they chat or update records at nursing station

Lack of attention to patients at risk, resulting in falls, then blaming the family member

Staff speaking inappropriately to family members or arguing re-requests for patient care

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Have you observed behavior that isn't appropriate in a hospital setting for yourself or a loved one? Do you know who to contact? Have you had an incident with a careless health professional? Do you think our health care industry is in trouble yet? Will health care be adequate to handle the aging population we hear so much about?

Please leave a comment to let me know you were here, and I'll reply. Thanks for dropping by. In this post, I'm referring to the treatments of ailments other than the high profile cancer units, or children's hospitals which seem to do a better job and get more funding. 

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References

* Hospital Bed Image: Creative Commons, Public Domain  This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

The person who associated a work with this deed has dedicated the work to the public domain by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. You can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

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Halloween 2014 - Gothic South Tales

On All Hallows Eve,
Don't look Up, or Within. . .




Abandoned House, USA, WC-PD*

The house in this reminiscing isn't the one above, but was built in the mid-1870s or sometimes after the Civil War in the US. I lived there at one time, when the paint was fresh, and repairs were kept up. Grandmother saw to it with her four young sons. 

Thanks, all you elders of the southern clans, emigrated from Scotland, for continuing the practice of trying to scare each other with tall tales (or were they?). . .The stories that make me think of ghosts and spirits who wander in the night, but seldom in the day. They secret themselves in closets I avoid opening, walk across deserted verandahs and sit in the porch swings after everyone has gone to bed. The tales told by our grandparents on hot summer nights rocking on the front porch were eagerly listened to by the wee children sitting nearby, tired from play.

There are currents that emanate from certain parts of the old house I remember. Some places in that house felt like portals to another realm. The landing is one of the strong places, the under-stairs closet is another, and that one back room with the window always locked. I can't go into the room next to the under-stairs closet. The belongings of a dear member of the family were stored in that room before my family moved into a different house. Spirits that pass unsettled tend to hang around locations familiar to them.

But back to the landing and the stairs. There was a family story about a man, one of the previous owners, who hung himself in the landing halfway up to the second floor. He was devastated by the death of his beloved brother, killed by a rogue lightning strike. He was the last of their family. No other relatives, if there were any, ever came to check into his demise.

Why do I think of these things when I must pass by that very place? I duck my head so I won't imagine the body swinging there, the shoe grazing my shoulder. I dare not look up, the light is too dim. 

At the time of the supposed hanging, a beam ran along the upper ceiling, fifteen feet above the landing, but there was no evidence of how he managed it.  His body was found dangling a couple of days later when a neighbor came to check why the house was so quiet and dark. The police crawled all over the place, but could find no evidence of foul play.

What's worse, it's Halloween and that's when the veils thin between this world and the other realms, when spirits become able to visit those they left behind. I hear my cat's meow and pick her up and cuddle her. That helps somewhat, but she seems apprehensive too. I'm sure cats sense those from the other side. I close the curtains and the blinds, so I won't see anything in the windows and I don't look at mirrors on this night, especially in this house.

All Hallows' Eve is not remembered at it once was, but it still owns power. This house structure still stands, but it's been renovated, so most wouldn't recognize it. But, I can tell and it's over the same plot of ground.  I wonder if the new owners have cleansed the spirits from the place, or if they can. . .

Partly based on true events, partly not.  I won't say which. . .

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How about you? Visited any haunted houses? Or remembered stories told by our parents and grandparents? Do you have a costume for Halloween? What was your favorite costume?

Please leave a comment to let me know you were here, and I'll respond. Thanks for dropping by! .

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For more ghostly tales, see The Rainforest Writing Blog for the monthly challenge of WEP, aka Write...Edit...Publish.

Last year's Halloween offering - http://dghudson.blogspot.ca/2013_10_01_archive.html

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*WC-PD NOTE:
http://abnf.co/Ohio.htm Photo credit, free use image, used to set the mood. Not the actual house, as the real place on which this story is based has been renovated extensively and has a new owner.

For a Canadian flavor in haunting, peruse this list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_reportedly_haunted_locations_in_Canada

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The Louvre - Sculpture Confirms An Era

Bigger than life and meant to impress. . ..at the Louvre Museum, Paris.




Antiquities, Louvre Museum, by DG Hudson

Sculpture and massive stone monuments confirm man has existed for centuries, even perhaps many thousands of years. Just as some museums feature bones of reptilian dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures to show Earth inhabitants long ago, it gives man a sense of security to know that even though dynasties and empires thrived and fell, their art survived.  Proof of existence.

Why so large? Monolithic size could be seen from a distance and implied greatness on the part of the person who commissioned the sculpture. Perhaps the image above was to adorn an entrance to a temple, tomb or royal building.

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Sentinels on Guard
Sphinx styled





Sentries in the Louvre, by DG Hudson

Repetitive patterns such as the sentries imply order and make for interesting images. The work would have been done with ancient techniques yet they achieved such regularity. The workers were probably many and had no choice in assisting. In modern times, we speculate and study records to learn how such art came to be.

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A Parade of Man and Horse

An Antiquity Globe with Circular Pattern, The Louvre, Paris, by DG Hudson

All images were found in the Antiquities section of the Louvre Museum. I didn't specify which historical areas as displays may change and my purpose was to see as much as I could of such a treasure trove of history and art.
 
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Art with Inscriptions

These creations of Antiquity document a time when objects were made to last. When man destroys these icons of existence, what do they prove except their own destructive tendencies and lack of understanding of history and its consequences. Museums protect our history and keep it alive for future generations.  To see it firsthand is to learn.  To learn is to broaden your mind.

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Do you enjoy history or museums whether anthropology or art? Do you like sculpture? Modern (Picasso or Zadkine) or Antiquity or all sculpture? If you're not a fan of sculpture or 'old' art, you can say that, too.

Hope you enjoyed this peek into the Antiquities at the Louvre Museum. Please leave a comment to let me know you were here. I'll respond, and thanks for dropping by!

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Additional Posts

The Louvre Museum from the A to Z Blog Challenge
http://dghudson-rainwriting.blogspot.ca/2012/04/l-louvre-museum-to-z-blog-challenge.html

Paris Posts (a page of links to posts and images)
http://dghudson-rainwriting.blogspot.ca/p/paris-posts.html 

More Louvre Museum statuary
http://dghudson-rainwriting.blogspot.ca/2012/03/statuary-at-louvre-study-in-stone.html

PARIS - Antiquities and Bastet at the Louvre
http://dghudson.blogspot.ca/2014/01/paris-antiquities-at-louvre.html