Ten Days #6

Grateful for those who are there unfailingly; who doesn't gossip, take offence to respectful honesty or act constantly with self interest, who offer the gift of their friendship with humour, grace, strength, kindness, loyalty and empathy.

Also thankful for those individuals i encounter who do not possess these qualities, for the contrast makes the 'good uns' all the more special. 

Mapping

It's been a while since i've made one of these partly as i've had to move all of my mixes onto Mixcloud to ensure decent quality streaming. Feel free to have a listen!

All six volumes are available here

An Cathach Mix #6 by An Cathach on Mixcloud

Just Ask Melanie (0.00)

Overnight- Hudson Mohawk (0.30)

Let It Bleed - Goat (3.11)

Where's Me Jumper? - Sultans of Ping FC (7.01)

Na Cherniy Den - Yanka Dyagileva (10.03)

This Is The Day - The The (12.53)

Marijuana - Chrome Sparks (17.31)

Here Come The Girls - Ernie K.Doe (20.25)

I'm In Love With A German Filmstar - The Passions (23.27)

Q.U.E.E.N Feat.Erykah Badu - Janelle Monae (27.22)

The Taste Of You - Erin McKeown (32.32)

These Boots Are Made For Walkin' - Crispin Hellion Glover (34.18)

Moonage Daydream - David Bowie (37.54)

Get On It - Ruby Goe (42.25)

Want It Back - Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra (45.42)

Toxygene - The Orb (49.49)

Wiseman (Math Rosen Remix) - Frank Ocean (53.17)

The Mighty Sword - The Frames (58.01)

Bliss Like This

As time flies by - seriously, how the heck is it already December?! - I'm taking a moment to stop and review the past twelve months. It has been one of the best and busiest years of my life and as a result i wasn't online, researching or blogging as much. I was however busy throwing myself headfirst into new experiences, meeting new people and gaining new perspectives. The photo above is me wandering barefoot on a beach in one of my favourite places and was taken by one of my favourite people.

Some of the highlights from this year include:

• Gaining some new friends
• Seeing old friends move away, take risks and explore new opportunities.
• Disengaging from negative or toxic individuals.
• Traveling to Ireland for the first time in 3.5 years
• My mum having a successful recovery after major surgery
• Getting engaged to PMV, my loving, respectful and hilarious partner in consciousness/mischief :)
• Getting my Canadian Permanent Residency
• Traveling to new places
• Taking up Bikram Yoga and practicing regularly throughout the week.
• Becoming more self aware and health conscious.
• A new apartment a stones throw from the sea
• Became the delighted owner of some beautiful artwork by Famous Empty Sky and Alice X.Zhang
• Landing a new, bigger and better job that's a ten minute walk from my home with a boss who actually treats me with respect.
• Learning that as i left my 20's behind that I still have the capacity to surprise and challenge myself. That doing so may not always be easy but the results have been more beneficial than i could ever have imagined.

2012 was a year where i made an active effort again to dispel 'that which does not serve me', whether it was negative/toxic individuals or situations; and realised that i have the power and capacity to direct and shape my life. It's a strangely enlightening experience to sit down and work out what in your life (people, habits, situations etc) is beneficial and what makes you feel sad, angry, inferior, manipulated etc.

You may not always choose your circumstances but you can choose how you react to them. I strongly believe that if something is contributing to your stress/upset/unhappiness, you have the power to change it. Do it. Trust me, it may not be easy and it may take time but the results can be astounding.

I'm so grateful to those who are present in my life (be it near or far away) and have found that taking stock of the things I'm thankful for has actually allowed me to focus on the positive which in turn appears to have invited more of the same into my life.

Thank you for reading and stopping by even though i haven't posted much this year.

With love and light,

Green of Eye

Oh Canada!

It's been a bit quiet around these parts for the past few months as I've been busy off line with a variety of projects.  I'm starting to catch up on blog related activity and wanted to start this off with some good news.

Long term readers may remember previous mentions of my efforts to stay in Canada. 

It's taken a long time, stacks of paperwork coupled with lots of tenacity and patience: 

Green of Eye is now a permanent resident.

My heart will always be with my homeland Ireland but my home is now Canada.

Thanks to those of you who sent words of support, advice and humour through the process :)

Normal transmission resuming in 10...9...8...7...

Ten Days #5

 

Setting up camp in the middle of nowhere at 2am in total darkness made for a tired and grumpy Green of Eye. It was worth it, as i discovered upon waking the next morning to blue skies and epic views like the one above.

For many years I swore blind that I'd never entertain the idea of marriage.

 PMV strolled into my life with his boundless compassion, kindness, intelligence, generosity, humour, positivity, creativity and love. Needless to say I've since reevaluated my opinion on the subject and I'm incredibly grateful to have this amazing gent in my life. 

 

A much needed weekend away with good food, 12 year old Jameson, a roaring fire, hot tub and falling asleep to the noise of the Pacific crashing against the cliffs beneath our cottage

You know how every day should start? 

Naked hot tubbing, peach juice, huge breakfast. Not necessarily in that order.

A tattered crackle manicure clutching a seemingly Roman Dirge inspired icecream

Only in Canada: flipflops on snow in May!

Some of the coolest gates i've ever seen which were made by Foggy Mountain Forge.

The pillars of the gates were flanked by dragons and the pièce de résistance? An enormous spider centrepiece.

New shoes inspired by listening to lots of Kate Bush

"It's the red shoes, they can't stop dancing, dancing
And this curve, is your smile
And this cross, is your heart
And this line, is your path"

Cuisle Mo Chroí

“You are beautiful like demolition. Just the thought of you draws my knuckles white. I don’t need a god. I have you and your beautiful mouth, your hands holding onto me, the nails leaving unfelt wounds, your hot breath on my neck. The taste of your saliva. The darkness is ours. The nights belong to us. Everything we do is secret. Nothing we do will ever be understood; we will be feared and kept well away from. It will be the stuff of legend, endless discussion and limitless inspiration for the brave of heart. It’s you and me in this room, on this floor. Beyond life, beyond morality. 

We are gleaming animals painted in moonlit sweat glow. Our eyes turn to jewels and everything we do is an example of spontaneous perfection. I have been waiting all my life to be with you. My heart slams against my ribs when I think of the slaughtered nights I spent all over the world waiting to feel your touch. The time I annihilated while I waited like a man doing a life sentence. Now you’re here and everything we touch explodes, bursts into bloom or burns to ash. History atomizes and negates itself with our every shared breath. I need you like life needs life. I want you bad like a natural disaster. You are all I see. You are the only one I want to know.”

Henry Rollins 

An Cathach Mix #5 by An Cathach on Mixcloud

The Red Queen

Phenomena - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (0.03)
Disparate Youth - Santigold (4.08)
My Man - Regina Spektor (8.49)
Genesis - Grimes (11.36)
No Intention - Dirty Projectors (15.47)
Land Of A Thousand Dances - Wilson Pickett (20.00)
Ray Gun - Thin Lizzy (22.21)

Just Like You Imagined - Nine Inch Nails (25.24)
Triumph Of The Heart - Bjork (29.11)
Making Plans For Nigel - XTC (34.28)
Ghost Train - Electro-Tones (38.38)

The Cult Song - Shannon & The Clams (40.42)
Can't Seem To Make You Mine - The Seeds (43.43)
Swerve - Shabazz Palaces (46.15)
Banned From The Roxy - Crass (51.24)
Shea - Scheer (53.39)
Camel Walk - Southern Culture On The Skids (55.59)
Nosebleed Section - Hilltop Hoods (58.31)
Aquarius - Boards Of Canada (1.02.05)

Sonar Bullets

This week I've been mostly: listening to Grimes and BATS and getting excited at the thought of my upcoming trip to Ireland.

http://batsmusic.tumblr.com/

http://bats.bandcamp.com/

Victory is mine

One dream.
Eleven months of strategizing and ignoring naysayers.
Five and a half months of unemployment.
Countless emails.
Reams of paperwork.
Finally.

Victory is mine:
The ability to continue living and working in Canada.

Quiver

Part 2 in the sporadic mix series

Thank You!

Just found out that this little corner of the internet has been nominated for Best Arts & Culture at Irish Blog Awards 2011.
Thanks to those of you who have the patience to read my ramblings!
Third times a charm eh?!
:)

Precipice

She was 6, had auburn hair and all of the boys in my class were in love with her. She would resolutely declare that she was going to be a teacher when she grew up. I'm not sure what made me envy her more, the admiring looks she drew in the playground or her steadfast determination to do something specific in life. When asked what did i want to be when i grew up, my answer was noncommittal and varied depending on my mood: maybe an artist or a jockey. As each passing year added inches to my legs, one option was crossed off the sparse list.

Labelled a bright student albeit one who only applied herself near exams by my teachers, i was directionless and found myself studying fine art in college as i had no idea what else to do. Art college didn't seem like such a bad idea, it would probably consist of throwing paint at canvasses, chin stroking intellectualism, parties and getting high on shoddily rolled joints right? Two out of four ain't bad.

We bumped into each other in a shop 20 years later, her face lit up in recognition while mine remained blank; scrambling for some clue as to who this friendly stranger was. The auburn hair had been dyed black and the puppy fat had melted from her face. She animatedly spoke of her job - she was now a teacher. Walking away from the conversation i wondered why i've never possessed that drive or really cared about anything. Nagged by my parents for my lack of ambition and direction, who couldn’t understand my tendency to 'float more, steer less' and see where it led me.

For the first time in my life a desire for something emerged. A desire to continue working and living in Canada, a country that has allowed me to blossom as a person. The one i worked so fucking hard to build a life in; like a dog with a bone, determined to continue my personal and professional life here. If I had a dollar for every time someone suggested I marry a Canadian to enable me to do so, I’d be shopping regularly at Holt Renfrew.

Despite being told that the odds of finding a company who would support/ 'sponsor' me were slim to none and that i should just move back to Ireland, i built a website to raise my professional profile, handed out fliers to promote it, utilized Twitter/ Linkedin and numerous websites, emailed strangers (some of them were shockingly supportive), submitted over 500 job applications and made numerous phone calls. Seven months later a job emerged with a progressive company who seemed almost as excited to bring me on board as i was about joining their team. However red tape and bullshit bureaucracy tangled itself around the situation and 'the man'/Service Canada rejected their application for my work permit.

As this is the first time I’ve ever given a shit about anything, how does one know when to walk away and give up on a dream? How many times do you need to bang against a wall before you know that it’s going to crumble or remain standing? I'll find a way or i'll make one.

Lessons

Some things that 2010 taught me:

• Always listen to the little voice within. 99% of my 'good' life choices and decisions have stemmed from listening to this instinctual utterance.

• Also related to this is paying heed to gut instinct. Everyone has instinct for a reason but day to day life tends to divert our attention from it.

• Don't listen to naysayers and don't underestimate the power of being determined. The only one who should make the final decision to do something is you.

• Regardless of their actions and words, don't take it for granted that someone feels the same way about you as you do about them.

• Respect is not instantaneous. It is earned. Ditto with trust.
  

• Don't throw out leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in sauces/casseroles.

• Exercise is important-it helps keep the mind and the body healthy.

• Despite the facade I've constructed of being impervious to other people, I'm sensitive and rather than continuing to see this as a weakness, I've embraced it.

• Keeping the previous statement in mind, i also adhere to the adage of "walk softly but carry a big stick".

• You can have a fancy car, a huge apartment, a wardrobe full of clothing, a number of the latest technological gadgets but at the end of the day; if you don't have your health and your friends, you ain't got jack.

• True friendship is priceless and gratitude for it should be expressed regularly.

Excelsior

"Silent gratitude isn't very much to anyone."
Gertrude Stein

It's been exactly two years since i took a leap of faith. Doing so entailed packing up my life in Ireland, saying goodbye to friends and family and taking my first transatlantic flight in order to move to Canada. It was not an easy decision nor was it one made lightly.

Those 24 months resulted in mourning the death of a close friend, the demise of a relationship, having my heart broken, some health issues, job hunting, numerous house moves, meeting new friends and purging the negative influences around me. Vancouver didn't seem quite so great to begin with: a new city, new continent, culture shock, homesickness and wondering why, despite the people here being polite and friendly, i was finding it so difficult to meet new people. The city won my heart and i gradually built a life for myself.

Friends joked that Canada seemed intent on kicking ass and testing me. Although there have been times where i've wanted to crawl into a corner and give up; with the love and support of my family and friends i weathered the experiences. Although i may look the same as i did on Dec 12th 2008, albeit with more grey hair, i have been forever changed by my time here.

It is with immeasurable love and gratitude that i raise a glass to my family and friends in Ireland who are holding out amid the economic shit storm that the Irish government and bankers have brought upon the country. Not a day goes by that i don't think about you lot!

Brad, Jen, Weldon, Shahriar and my friends in Canada who have been there over the past 2 years, you've become my second family and i love you dearly.

Excelsior!

Orbiting

To answer the few of you who emailed to enquire where I've disappeared to, my involvement with blogs over the past 2 months has mainly consisted of reading other peoples. My own lies untended and with a hefty stack of half written posts in my draft folder.

Never one to understand doing something for the sake of doing it, I've realised/accepted the reoccurring patterns between my blogging and my creative process in the 'real' world. It can't be forced. Ideas spring forth, i capture them, the work is completed but only when my heart is in it.

Life has been chaotic and at times confusing over the past few months. These changes has stirred things up, brought amazing people into my life and reawakened parts of me which have lain dormant for many years. As a result I've taken a few steps back from other areas and will be resuming shortly.

For now I'm taking pleasure in the simple things:

Listening to Crass at top volume

Devouring two new books: 'Just Kids' by Patti Smith and 'Voudon Gnosis' by David Beth.

Giving Swain Corvus a head scratch whilst watching 'The Walking Dead'.

The smell wafting from my kitchen with lemon roasted chicken in the oven.

Listening to WGH rhapsodize about cricket over a few drinks.

Sending positive thoughts after hearing bad news about an old flame and hoping that he gets the help he so badly needs.

Ten Days

Ten days filled with amazing people, sights, sounds, smells, tastes and experiences.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast;
Man never Is, but always To be blest:
The soul, uneasy and confin'd from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life to come.

Alexander Pope
An Essay on Man, Epistle I, 1733

Lucid

"I love my grey hairs. I've earned each one.”

He sat waiting outside a café whilst thumbing through a book, I rushed flustered and breathless into a firm handshake. A face that threw me for a loop, open and sun speckled, inquisitive blue eyes, greying temples and an easy smile. Gentle voice with umm’s and quiet laughter.

Breeze blowing across the park bench as Canada turned 143. With chai tea warming my palms I stole glances, teeth glimmering as he spoke of Indonesia, language, history, insects, music and life experiences. I felt like a child bestowed with a secret as he showed me a city garden hidden by a thicket of green.

The city splayed as we walked.
13 hours spent spinning stories and revelations regarding lack of inner images.

An insatiable curiosity about the world
Hesitancy

A hug farewell.

Never one to leave a sentiment unspoken,

believing honesty to be the only policy .
Over analysing the 'why's' and 'how’s' and 'what’s'.

Walking away disappointed as Ms Emma Goldman returns home.

Image: SoulStealer

Cotton

2 years on (a mere zygote compared to it's namesake!) and although i may not post as regularly as i would hope, i am grateful for the opportunities, experiences and people that this site has brought into my life.

Thanks to those who read, email, comment and inspire on a daily basis!

Image: KushTush

Gynic/Andric

"What is the most beautiful in virile men is something feminine;
what is most beautiful in feminine women is something masculine."

Susan Sontag

One For You & One For Me

Who is 'Green of Eye, Sharp of Claw'?

Green eyed Irish woman living in Canada.
Lover of cake.
Imbiber of scotch.
Scribe of words.

Enthralled with the idea of making a difference in the world. Pursuer of stimulation and inspiration; whether it's in the form of art, films, literature, fashion, music, culture, people or places. My interests are numerous and constantly changing. I started An Cathach in July 2008 in an effort to stop driving my friends crazy with a constant slew of "you need to check this film/band/artist out" emails :)

Likes

Music, clear communication, sarcasm, making lists, stuffed olives, people, good food, gigs, photography, jaffa cakes, esoterica, whiskey, vinyl, lying in tall grass, baking, dipping my fingers into wax, reading in bed, chai tea, sleep, fire spinning/poi, vintage clothing, non violent communication(NVC), red lipstick, bikram yoga, arguing and debate, art, playing the piano and harp, talking to strange dogs on the street, tattoos, shoes, storms, strolling in the rain and mythology.

Dislikes

Dishonesty, greed, mind games, velvet, the item that passes for cheese in North America, people with expectations who issues demands rather than requests, parsnips and chewing with an open mouth.