2012.06.03 13:00 – Art prizes & memory flashes

The Guardian for this meeting was Aphrodite Macbain. The comments are by Aphrodite Macbain.

Lucinda Lavender: ready for Friday am if I can make ipad work:)
Lucinda Lavender: bye for now:)
Agatha Macbeth: Isn't the lag here wonderful?
Bleu Oleander: I thought it was my shadows
Raffila Millgrove was trying to get a good photo of us all on the train. Am not fast enough
Bruce Mowbray: I'm just clumsy.
Agatha Macbeth grins
Raffila Millgrove: isn't Eliza coming?
Agatha Macbeth: I used to walk, now I can hardly move
Agatha Macbeth: Hope so
Raffila Millgrove: helps to take draw down to 64.. and go very low in graphics generally if you're lagging.
Raffila Millgrove: maybe you already did all that.
Bleu Oleander turns her shadows off :)
Alfred Kelberry: hi :)
Raffila Millgrove: hey boxy.
Agatha Macbeth: Nice jetpack Brucie
Storm Nordwind: Server sees to have 4600 script to run... it's kind of busy!
Agatha Macbeth: Yo Alf
Alfred Kelberry: aww, raffi the cutie :)
Bleu Oleander: boxy!
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, Giant Boxy!
Alfred Kelberry: :)
Agatha Macbeth: Wet Boxy
Storm Nordwind: Boxy has fountain on his head
Storm Nordwind: Clean boxy ;)
Agatha Macbeth: Give that dog a bath
Alfred Kelberry: this is a nice vantage point :)
Alfred Kelberry: how are you today?
Bleu Oleander: from who's angle?
Bleu Oleander: hehe
Storm Nordwind: Aggers, do you have his flea powder? I know he doesn't like it, but still...
Bleu Oleander: ha!
Agatha Macbeth: I'll take a look
Bruce Mowbray ponders cubic fleas.
Bruce Mowbray: Hey Aph!
Alfred Kelberry: aph :)
Agatha Macbeth: wb Aph
Bleu Oleander: hey Aph
Alfred Kelberry: i believe the art opening is today?
Bleu Oleander: just noticed your dress is screaming
Aphrodite Macbain: pubic fleas?
Bleu Oleander: yes boxi
Aphrodite Macbain: yes. I match my art
Bruce Mowbray: You just missed it, Boxy.
Storm Nordwind: It is boxy. We've just had the discussion on it in the Dome
Bleu Oleander: but you can still go there
Aphrodite Macbain: we have been celebrating for an hour
Alfred Kelberry: ah, ok
Bleu Oleander: and enjoy all the great pieces
Bruce Mowbray: Aph did a fine teeter-totter dance for us, too!
Aphrodite Macbain: Go and dance on my teeter totter, & get radared by Storm’s piece,
Alfred Kelberry: who won the art prize?
Bleu Oleander: everyone
Agatha Macbeth: Salvador dali
Bruce Mowbray: Everyone won!
Raffila Millgrove: there was a prize?
Storm Nordwind: You have yet to judge it boxy :)
Bruce Mowbray: and everyone shall have prizes!
Raffila Millgrove: wow.. i might have entered if i could win several thousand linden. hahahahaha
Agatha Macbeth: We DO have a prize, we're all in PaB ;-)
Bleu Oleander: the true reward is the process and the conversations
Alfred Kelberry: there has to be one exhibit chosen :)
Storm Nordwind: Has?
--BELL--
Raffila Millgrove: they are all so different boxy. i have judged art shows etc. i really.. wouldn't know.. how to go about picking any one winner.
Agatha Macbeth: Boxy, you choose your fave and give the artist a bone
Alfred Kelberry: deal :)
Bleu Oleander: we're equal opportunity prizers
Storm Nordwind: Or the artist that gives you the best bones wins
Aphrodite Macbain: Memories -- like the corners of my mind. Misty watercolour memories.....
Agatha Macbeth: Hmm
Aphrodite Macbain: way we werrrrrr
Storm Nordwind: Actually there's still a bone - or a skull - left over by the jellyfish, so you could have that
Bleu Oleander hums along
Aphrodite Macbain: what would we be without memories?
Agatha Macbeth: What would memories be without us?
Bleu Oleander contemplates throwing boxi in with the jelly fish :)
Alfred Kelberry: bleu, opportunities may be equal, but some stuff is better than others. art is difficult to judge though :)
Aphrodite Macbain contemplates throwing Aggers in
Agatha Macbeth: The eye of the beholder
Bleu Oleander: that subjective thing
Agatha Macbeth: Indeed
Aphrodite Macbain: As Bleu said- it is more about the conversations that happen around them
Storm Nordwind: Hence the name of the radar exhibit
Bleu Oleander: :)
Raffila Millgrove: art when you judge. the easiest way to do it.. is toss the stuff out.. that you know.. none of you judges.. think is worthy of a 1-3 prize. easiest to dump.. first. and see what's left.
Alfred Kelberry: some say the black square drawing is the pinnacle of art
Bleu Oleander: who is "some"?
Raffila Millgrove: it's easier to say "no" than "yes"...
Raffila Millgrove: whittle down the field.
Agatha Macbeth: Sounds like wikipedia :p
Aphrodite Macbain: why do we have to treat art the way we treat the Olympics?
Bleu Oleander: we don't
Raffila Millgrove: well just speaking here of how it's easiest to judge an art show.
Aphrodite Macbain: why should it be about winning and loosing?
Alfred Kelberry: blue, don't know, but obviously there are passionate admirers :)
Raffila Millgrove: presumably if people Enter an art show.. it's because they Want to be judged. that is the point of one with awards in it.
Bleu Oleander: :)
Raffila Millgrove: if you have an exibit.. which we did. entirely different idea.
Alfred Kelberry: aph, we don't have to. it's just a play :)
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, Kori!
Bleu Oleander: just entered a video contest
Storm Nordwind has never entered an Art show, so doesn't know the motivation
Bleu Oleander: lots of judges
Aphrodite Macbain: No I don’t think it is. I certainly don’t want to be judged
Korel Laloix: Heya
Alfred Kelberry: kori!
Bleu Oleander: very political I think
Agatha Macbeth: Osiyo K
Aphrodite Macbain: I just want to be enjoyed
Bleu Oleander: hi Korel
Korel Laloix smiles
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Kori
Agatha Macbeth looks sideways at Aph
Raffila Millgrove: well then don't enter a show that has awards and will be judged, if you don't want to be judged.
Alfred Kelberry: aph, competition can't be joyful?
Raffila Millgrove: plenty of chances to simply exhibit so others can enjoy your work.
Aphrodite Macbain watches the birds and the penguin at her feet
Bleu Oleander: fun to view it as sharing ... not entering to win
Aphrodite Macbain: hon I soi qui mal y pense Aggers
Agatha Macbeth: Yes, where did they come from?
Bleu Oleander: an opportunity for others to see your work
Bruce Mowbray watches Aph watching the birds at her feet.
Alfred Kelberry: *nods to bleu*
Raffila Millgrove: well that's fine. Then you don't mind when you are judged.
Bleu Oleander: I like to think I don't mind ...
Aphrodite Macbain: yes Raffi- I agree with what you said. Plus the making of the art work for me is really the best part
Raffila Millgrove: if your purpose is to show.... and not compete.. well that's fine.. assuming that all the work submitted will be shown. in some art shows, it's not. depends on the organizers.
Agatha Macbeth: Oh they're Brucie's (referring to the birds not Aph’s feet)
Bleu Oleander: yes, the process is reward in itself
Bruce Mowbray: I don't mind folks judging me -- It's only when their judgments attempt to invalidate me that I mind.
Aphrodite Macbain: What are we being judged ON?
Agatha Macbeth: How cute
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes Bruce- I suppose the worst would be  to be ignored
Raffila Millgrove: this wasn't a judged show. .it's an exhibit.. so there is no criteria for judging.. up to individuals to enjoy sharing their work.
Aphrodite Macbain: exactly
Bleu Oleander: http://uwainsl.blogspot.com/
Bruce Mowbray: The "worst" is to be treated as if you were irrelevant - - and that your experience is not as "valid" as anyone else's experience.
Bleu Oleander: lots of art contests here
Agatha Macbeth: Anyway, I liked everybody's
Bleu Oleander: me too
Alfred Kelberry: it's fun to have a prize though. may be several. what they call it? audience choice award? best this and that :)
Raffila Millgrove: i did too. i liked the diversity.
Raffila Millgrove: many different views.

Agatha Macbeth: Archie!
Agatha Macbeth: Long time no see

Aphrodite Macbain: welcome back Arch
Bleu Oleander: indeed!
Bruce Mowbray: ARCH

Bruce Mowbray: Where you been, dude!!?
Storm Nordwind: The mage! - Welcome!
Agatha Macbeth: Good to see you again Archie

Arch's responses  will not be in the autolog as he was out of recording range

Agatha Macbeth: Still good to see you, I wondered how you were

Agatha Macbeth: Aww he crashed
Agatha Macbeth: Sunday syndrome

Aphrodite Macbain: but why have a prize?
Storm Nordwind: Who is it fun for boxy?
Alfred Kelberry: storm, me :)
Bruce Mowbray: I felt everyone's exhibit(s) was/are/were wonderful!
Agatha Macbeth: Agreed!!
Raffila Millgrove: I've entered design contest here and won.. it was pretty exciting.
Raffila Millgrove: to have validation on your work by others.
Aphrodite Macbain: we are talking about the motion exhibit in the dome Arch
Raffila Millgrove: that is why i entered. for that valuation by others.
Alfred Kelberry: well done, raffi :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Congrats Raffi
Bleu Oleander: so we expect great entries in future Art of Being projects from you Raffi :))
Aphrodite Macbain: validation?
Raffila Millgrove: but i also entered and lost because i did crap work and i learned something from that too. not to enter if you cannot do your best.
Raffila Millgrove: I thought about withdrawing and i let my friend talk me into not.. and i should have listened to myself. it was not my best work.

Aphrodite Macbain: Come and sit beside me Kori
Aphrodite Macbain pats the blue cushion

Korel Laloix: I am crashing about every five mins... so will just stand over here.. thanks.
Aphrodite Macbain: kk

Korel Laloix: Don't want to rematerialize on top of someone.

Aphrodite Macbain hands Kori a crash helmet
Korel Laloix smiles

Bleu Oleander: must take off
Agatha Macbeth: Aww
Bleu Oleander: bye for now all
Korel Laloix: Ciao.
Agatha Macbeth: Take care Bleu, stay cool
Storm Nordwind waves
Bleu Oleander waves to all
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks Blue, so much

Raffila Millgrove: it wasn't losing that bugged me.. it was that i did crap work and let it stand up under peer pressure. i should have taken down and come back another day.
Alfred Kelberry: raffi, kudus for trying nonetheless
Aphrodite Macbain: memories
Aphrodite Macbain: what would we be with out them?
Aphrodite Macbain tries to imagine what it would be like to have Alzheimer’s

Aphrodite Macbain: and live permanently in the present
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Bruce Mowbray: There are individuals who have no memories -- not any earlier than five minutes before. . . Yet, they interact in "present" ways. . .

--BELL--
Aphrodite Macbain: try and forget in the 90 secs
Alfred Kelberry: it's nice to pet everyone's head and say we're all great and wonderful. but people liked some exhibits more than others. as it usually happens. i don't see why it's a problem to say it out loud and praise those that attracted most attention.
Raffila Millgrove: wow boxy. that is a really interseting comment.
Agatha Macbeth: Raff, I thought only I couldn't spell 'interesting' :p
Raffila Millgrove: hehe. typo city today. no idea why.
Raffila Millgrove: but it was.. interesting.

Aphrodite Macbain: Shall we discuss memory?
Bruce Mowbray: It's those "involuntary memories" that Proust wrote about that are bothersome....
Aphrodite Macbain: why bothersome Bruce?
Bruce Mowbray: They pop in - - and usually got planted by something unpleasant -- and can be un-balancing, if you get my meaning (remembering teeter-totter).
Aphrodite Macbain: Proust was talking about how certain smells or sounds immediately take us back to a time and a place

Raffila Millgrove: a very different viewpoint.
Agatha Macbeth: I always put inseting or something
Raffila Millgrove: and i am sorry that we don't... address it.. since boxy made it.. before the bell
Agatha Macbeth nods
Aphrodite Macbain: OK. Let's address it
Raffila Millgrove: yes. what do you all think of what boxy said.
Alfred Kelberry: er... :)
Aphrodite Macbain: I thought we had already done so
Raffila Millgrove: i thought.. i want to consider this a bit.. before i reply.
Korel Laloix: What was the comment.. I missed it.
Aphrodite Macbain: I'll send it to you Kori
Alfred Kelberry: i brutally violated the bell actually :)
Alfred Kelberry: kori, wb :)
Korel Laloix: Tanks.
Agatha Macbeth: You'll get seven years
Bruce Mowbray: I have about the same distaste for being patronized (patted on the head) that I have for competing . . .
Agatha Macbeth: Yeh
Raffila Millgrove: it's nice to pet everyone's head and say we're all great and wonderful. but people liked some exhibits more than others. as it usually happens. i don't see why it's a problem to say it out loud and praise those that attracted most attention
Raffila Millgrove: that's what boxy said.
Storm Nordwind: It seems to me that (generally) some people are more attached to their creations than other people. Therefore I tend not to comment comparatively out of compassion for those people.
Alfred Kelberry: i'm being cited... awesome :)
Agatha Macbeth: True, Stormy
Aphrodite Macbain: I sent the quote to Kori
Agatha Macbeth: People's creations are a part of themselves
Bruce Mowbray: This is a site for citing and for sighting, Aph.
Raffila Millgrove: well others are arriving so i thought maybe to put back into the chat.. as i had such trouble scrolling to it.
Aphrodite Macbain: sighs
Alfred Kelberry: storm, i imagine the members of pab who cultivate detachment would not be much affected by it :)
Storm Nordwind: I think it would be hazardous for me to make any such assumption boxy :)
Alfred Kelberry: give it a try one day :)
Raffila Millgrove: maybe that's the risk boxy.. you don't know for sure.. how attached the creator is.. to his work. maybe he will feel personally attacked or devalued.. as bruce mentioned..
Storm Nordwind: I did boxy. I grew out of it.
Raffila Millgrove: bruce said he doesn't want to feel devalued.
Agatha Macbeth: I value him a lot
Raffila Millgrove: thru his work i mean.. i wonder if Bruce.. would you feel.. personally put down.. if your work.. wasn't praised?
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes, are we judging Bruce when we judge his art work?
Bruce Mowbray has memories of both having won and having "lost" -- and winning is not always better.
Raffila Millgrove: i am guessing he wouldn't. but it is a guess.
Aphrodite Macbain: Hint: Bruce’s thoughts are described above

Aphrodite Macbain: I suggest that the only person who is concerned about who the winner is the person who wants to win
Alfred Kelberry: aph, another angle of this is, those who are not concerned are afraid to lose :)
Aphrodite Macbain: that doesn't make sense to me Boxy. If they are not concerned, why would they be afraid?

Alfred Kelberry: aph, i just mirror your assumption. both of them are rather special cases.
Storm Nordwind is indifferent to competition

Korel Laloix: I find it interesting how much some people dislike competition.

Bruce Mowbray: Bruce feels validated virtually every time he comes in-world --- to PaB, anyway. It's not about being "valued," but about feeling validated. . . (but maybe that is just a sign of my own insecurity. . . who knows.)
Bruce Mowbray: I detest competition . . .
Agatha Macbeth smiles and hugs Brucie
Raffila Millgrove: gee. i love competition.
Korel Laloix: I love it as well.
Raffila Millgrove: this wasn't one of course.
Aphrodite Macbain: Trouble is we can’t seem to separate ourselves from our products.
Bruce Mowbray: Competition gives me a false identity . . . and false "powers" and forces me to falsely identify others, as well.

Aphrodite Macbain: Just because everyone doesn’t like our work, it doesn't mean we are devalued
Bruce Mowbray huggies Aggers right back!
Korel Laloix: But there are some things that I will never compete at.. because I know the result before or it does not interest me.
Agatha Macbeth: :)
Alfred Kelberry: kori :)
Aphrodite Macbain: What does having a competition serve Boxy?
Raffila Millgrove: i don't want to compete where I am not particularly good at something.. but that doesn't mean i don't like to do the thing.. i just don't want to put it up as "good" when i know it's not that hot. but i enjoy myself in the doing it part.
Aphrodite Macbain is unable to see art as a competitive arena.
Korel Laloix: I will comment that having a competition on something that is completely subjective is a bit problematic.
Agatha Macbeth agrees
Aphrodite Macbain: It (art) is not about winning and loosing but communicating, sharing, celebrating

Korel Laloix: But even the communication is subjective.

Aphrodite Macbain: true Kori
Aphrodite Macbain: but it is not competitive

Korel Laloix: When I look at Picasso.. what is communicated to me is very different than most art critics.

Bruce Mowbray: As long as the "frame" for competing is well defined, obvious, and agreed upon, I'm all right with it. (As in chess and/or boxing.) It's when the frames shift and folks identify me outside the frame by my identity inside the frame that I don't like it.

Alfred Kelberry: aph, my point is not a competition, but a will to praise those who did great without a worry that others may get upset or whatnot

--BELL--

Bruce Mowbray: Bye bye and hugs, aggers!
Agatha Macbeth waves and slips out quietly
Storm Nordwind waves
Aphrodite Macbain: whispers goodbye

Korel Laloix: ciao bella

Raffila Millgrove: that is why i found his comment interesting. Because he wasn't saying it was a competition but.. expressing that idea to praise pieces... that were very good. course that's where the problem comes.. into it. why i hestitated.. what's "very good" in this context? they aren't comparable.
Aphrodite Macbain: Shall we sit quietly during the bell?

Aphrodite Macbain: I find that if people come up and praise my work individually, that is enough.
Aphrodite Macbain: It is when a group is judging and selecting one individual that I become uncomfortable. Feels very hierarchical

Bruce Mowbray notes that looking at Aph's dress stirs up memories of Aph's art.
Bruce Mowbray: Good memories, too!
Aphrodite Macbain: as long as you don’t look up my dress
Storm Nordwind: o_O
Bruce Mowbray: I promise not to, if you don't look under my helmet.
Aphrodite Macbain: sorry
Aphrodite Macbain blushes
Bruce Mowbray: hehhhhheeeee!
Aphrodite Macbain: giggles

Bruce Mowbray: BTW, this helmet brings up fine memories of a play . . .
Bruce Mowbray: that Aph wrote....
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)

Aphrodite Macbain: I like the fact that Storm and Blue put in more than one piece, purely because the subject inspired them, not to win a competition
Bruce Mowbray: and their exhibits inspired the rest of us!
Aphrodite Macbain: I was inspired by their pieces
Korel Laloix: They made up for my laziness.
Bruce Mowbray: snap!
Aphrodite Macbain: grins

Bruce Mowbray: Hey, Zon!
Zon Kwan: heya

Aphrodite Macbain: I guess we can discuss memory another time, if I remember to….
Bruce Mowbray: all week, Aph.
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Bruce Mowbray: If we can remember to do so.
Aphrodite Macbain: snap
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: I feel that having a good memory enhances our lives
Aphrodite Macbain: I feel very un-enhanced
Korel Laloix: Un-enhanced?

Aphrodite Macbain:  see above Kori

Korel Laloix smiles

Palace: an aide memoir

Bruce Mowbray: Have you tried the ancient memory "trick" called the "Palace"?

Aphrodite Macbain: no
Storm Nordwind: Describe it to us Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: Well, you take items in sequence from a scene that you know well -- like you own home.
Bruce Mowbray: Each of those items becomes a memory trigger for something else...
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Bruce Mowbray: and usually is associated with a strong visualization....
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Bruce Mowbray: So, you can memorize a whole lot - in sequence - this way.
Bruce Mowbray: I did it with public school classes... and we memorized a list of items (50 items) -- backwards and forwards.
Bruce Mowbray: and the kids used it to memorize all of the Presidents, in order.

Aphrodite Macbain: U mean it can be a method for remembering objects in your home?
Aphrodite Macbain: associate something with the word...
Bruce Mowbray: yes.

Bruce Mowbray: You use the objects (well-known) and those become triggers for memorizing other things. Like -- first I come to the outside door.. (entryway).

Aphrodite Macbain: It is similar to a technique I learned in remembering people's names I was introduced to
Aphrodite Macbain: You attach a story to each name
Bruce Mowbray: and I visualize . . . (yes, a story)..
Zon Kwan: can u give an example
Aphrodite Macbain: Bruce?
Bruce Mowbray: I could visualize opening that door and a lion leaps out at me with the thing I want to remember riding its back).
Bruce Mowbray: like that with each item...
Bruce Mowbray: Then you can return in reverse order --- and name everything, in reserve order.
Zon Kwan: hm..how can i remember what the lion has?
Bruce Mowbray listens.
Bruce Mowbray: The visualization helps you remember, Zon.

Meeting Mary & Dr Shaffer

Aphrodite Macbain: or,  let's say you are introduced to a Mary

Aphrodite Macbain: and you shake her hand, repeat her name (so you hear it as well) and imagine she has a very peaceful face like the Virgin Mary
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, that's the idea, Aph!
Zon Kwan: i got that..resemblance
Aphrodite Macbain: It could be dangerous though. You could end up calling her Virgin
Zon Kwan: but pure visualisation is new
Bruce Mowbray: I kept forgetting the name of my primary care physician (Dr. Shaffer)....
Bruce Mowbray: Then I associated his name with shaving . . .
Bruce Mowbray: and never have forgotten it since.
Storm Nordwind: http://i.imgur.com/zqaYd.gif

Aphrodite Macbain: lol Storm
Aphrodite Macbain: trick is to connect the idea of shaving with your doctor

Raffila Millgrove: excuse me.. i have someone waiting on me.. have to run along. hugs to you all.
Storm Nordwind: Bye Raffi
Aphrodite Macbain: bye Raffi
Aphrodite Macbain wonders whether Raffi is in a restaurant
--BELL--
Bruce Mowbray: (for more on the "Memory Palace" :http://www.ted.com/talks/joshua_foer...ne_can_do.html

Venice

Aphrodite Macbain: I am very disappointed. No one except Wol is interested or able to join me in Venice.
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, I do so wish I could be there, Aph.
Aphrodite Macbain: :-(
Aphrodite Macbain: Me too
Bruce Mowbray: You will really enjoy meeting and being with Wol, though.
Aphrodite Macbain: RU sure can’t come Boxy?
Bruce Mowbray has fine memories of Venice....
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes. He can show me around the architecture biennale
Bruce Mowbray: remembers intentionally getting lost there....
Aphrodite Macbain: smiles
Aphrodite Macbain: nice place to get lost in
Bruce Mowbray: remember wanting to get away from the tour group.
Bruce Mowbray: so got lost....
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: discovered a plaza where the Communist party headquarters was....
Aphrodite Macbain: where did u loose your self?
Aphrodite Macbain: and...?
Bruce Mowbray: Just wandered through town, across bridges, and down lanes... until all I knew was the way back to the Grand Canal. where our hotel was.
Bruce Mowbray: right beside St. Mark's Square.
Bruce Mowbray: but, I was actually LOST . . .
Bruce Mowbray: except that I knew how to get back, eventually.
Bruce Mowbray: (memory, again).
Aphrodite Macbain: Cool Bruce. Storm, have you been to Venice
Storm Nordwind: No. Firenzi yes. Venice no.

Storm Nordwind: A very long flight and a lot of money to get there.
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, Florence is also great.....
Aphrodite Macbain: wish you could come too.
Bruce Mowbray: (fine memories!!)
Aphrodite Macbain: indeed. I'm trying to make memories for one bit of Italy at a time.
Bruce Mowbray: Ahhh!
Aphrodite Macbain: Next year it will be the south - and Sicily and Malta
Bruce Mowbray: Don't miss Sorrento!
Bruce Mowbray: near Naples...
Aphrodite Macbain: Ah the Amalfi coast...
Aphrodite Macbain: yes and Pompeii
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, that's an exciting drive, too.
Aphrodite Macbain: I'll bet.
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: (No thanks!)
Bruce Mowbray: We drove it in a tour bus.
Bruce Mowbray: (OH.... dear.).
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm going to explore areas around Venice the Veneto: Verona, Padua, Vicenza
Bruce Mowbray: I remember going swimming in the Mediterranean every time we stopped.
Aphrodite Macbain: nice
Bruce Mowbray: yes, I was young then and could get away with that.
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm taking the train and a boat along the canal from Venice to Padua
Bruce Mowbray: wonderful!
Bruce Mowbray: How long will you be over there, Aph?
Aphrodite Macbain: Taking my paint brushes
Aphrodite Macbain: 3 weeks
Bruce Mowbray: Oh, that's great.
Aphrodite Macbain: Wish all Pabbers could come
Bruce Mowbray: In spirit, my dear.
Aphrodite Macbain: I must run now.
Bruce Mowbray: I must be adieu-ing and ciao-ing.
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes you will all be in my memory and also in my computer
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks, everyone!
Aphrodite Macbain: ciao and adieuuuuu
Aphrodite Macbain: By Bruce
Storm Nordwind: Bye!
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye Storm. Hugs to you. Bye Boxy (away)
Storm Nordwind: Bye guys!