Vanessa is…

 

The utterly glorious Mister Peace tagged me inadvertantly with his “google images” meme.

 

What is this, you ask?

 

Here are the rules:

1) Go to www.Google.com

2) Click on Google images

3) Type in your name and search

4) Repost (w/ a link) the picture of the oddest, craziest, strangest, coolest, oldest, etc. person that shares your name. Post multiples if you find a few you like. (See Below)

5) Pass it on to at least 5 other people.

 

As is my way, I don’t do tags by halves. I find them oddly inspiring. Probably because it’s a chance to wax lyrical about myself to my heart’s content.

So, here we have it.

I’ve always liked my name. Nay, loved my name. Not many people say that about their own name… but I suppose I can credit my parents for having immaculate taste. Mind you, I was almost called Miranda, which is also a lovely name, but my grandmother protested loudly, and I became Vanessa.

I have been told most often throughout my life, is that my name means, “butterfly”.

So, it’s quite understandable that for a long time, I believed that I was some kind of enigmatic butterfly, until I discovered that the name Vanessa, is just the name for a genus of butterly, like these:

I am all of these butterflys, and if that means that my name “means” butterfly, how could I complain? Butterflys are the epitome of delicacy and beauty…

Of course, that also makes me pupa and caterpillar, which strangely thrills me just as much, if not more…

I delved further.

 

Apparently, I am also shoes, which would please me no end if I had a shoe fetish, but then again maybe not, because you’ve got to admit, they’re not very spectaclar shoes…

 

It turns out, I am also a doll. A hot doll, no less. I am ever so pleased.

 

And some beautiful blooms. I can’t think of prettier flowers to carry my name….

 

 

This painting is called “Vanessa”, by Guy Morand. Does this make me his muse by default…?

 

I am also fluffy white cats. Only. No other colour need apply. Apparently.

 

Hey, I’m a computerised chess game! Which is pretty cool. I haven’t played chess since before my grandfather died when I was 9. Nobody has agreed to played with me since. I can’t help but wonder if there is a reason for that…?

 

Girlfriend! I’m a drag queen. Fabulous, darling! (you know it had to be a big photo with that outfit…)

 

And, as is the contrary nature of my being, I am also a strange piece of machinery related to the rotary process, whatever that is….

 

 

A somewhat groovy chair? It works for me. I do work with furniture, after all…

 

I am also Johnny Depp’s gorgeous, French pseudo ex-popstar girlfriend/partner/wife. Go, me!

 

And facial cleanser. I wonder if I could snag an endorsement?

 

 

Ships. Can you believe that all these ships are called “Vanessa”? Me neither. I like it. I love ships. And boats. Water is my element, all over. I dig it.

 

 

 

This one pleases me more than most. I love aeroplanes. A biplane called “Vanessa”. How many people can boast that? I wonder who inspired it?

 

 

But, I think above all, I will always remain a pygmy goat.

 

What is in your name?

 

(Don’t) Follow the rules, people…

 

Tag yourself.

 

 

 

Song of the Day – Turin Brakes – Forever

 

 

 

Lunch With A Lama

I had lunch with the Dalai Lama today.

Well, me and around 500 other people, but who’s quibbling?

His Holiness was in Perth today, passing on his words of wisdom to thousands of followers. There were two free events and a Buisness Leader’s Luncheon. I was at the Luncheon, corporate high-flyer that I am (not).

Tickets were $750 per head.

[pause]

I did not pay $750 for my ticket. My mother is a fan, and she wanted someone to go with. Who was I to say no?

So, as is the wont of my irrepressible, rebellious spirit, I descended upon the venue, loaded with contraband. Ok, not exactly loaded, but “No Cameras Allowed” was not going to stop me trying to get a snap or two. What would be the point of going to such an event if I couldn’t post a photo blog? Hah! I also smuggled in my latest gadget (I’m a bit of a gadget fiend), my Digital Voice Recorder. I’m not sure if that was on the banned-items list or not; I didn’t stop to check…

We were seated at a table (at the back of the room, bugger it), with eight strangers. It was a bit like being on the single’s table at a wedding. Slightly awkward, with some stilted conversation and everyone checking everyone else out. Speaking of checking people out, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many handsome men in suits all in the one place. Humm…

Oh, what were we there for? Ah, yes. Spiritual matters. Right. Moving right along…

There was grass on our table. It wasn’t even in a container. I wanted to eat it.

I couldn’t resist posting a picture of my new toy, and yes I did record his entire message. Oh, and the placemat. I dug the placemat. The whole event was organised by the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce. I’m stilll looking for the connection…

Eating chicken off the Dalai Lama’s face. Brilliant. I thought it was interesting that there was no sign of vegetarian cuisine on the menu. There was only one main course to choose from, and that was chicken. It was pretty good, except half of the room didn’t get to finish their meals because His Holiness arrived on the premises and from that moment it was knives and forks down. If that money hadn’t been going to a good cause, I’d have been pretty cheesed off…

The Lama (I can’t help calling him that…) sat, and talked. And talked. And talked. For over 80 minutes without a break. I feel like I should be ashamed to tell you I fell asleep, but I did nod off. More than once. That was in between looking at his face on the giant screens and feeling an almost uncontrollable urge to run up to one of them and draw a huge pair of pointy ears on him. The man could actually be Yoda. I kid you not.

Do I sound awfully disrespectful? Probably, but it’s not intentional. I have an enormous respect for the man. I am quite in awe of his life story. He is a wonderful ambassador for peace and has inspired millions to lead a more spiritual life. I just found what he was saying to be so very familiar and extremely simplistic. None of it was anything that Jesus didn’t say in the Gospels, but I had to remind myself that he was preaching to a spiritually challenged audience to which these concepts of “kindness”, “compassion” and “forgiveness” meant something different… I thought it was very interesting that in the “question and answer” session after his talk, a man stood up and asked how to ingraine these qualities in himself, because he understood the concepts, but was finding it difficult to keep up the momentum, so to speak. The Dalai Lama didn’t really have a coherent answer.

It’s at this point that I should shut up, because I don’t want to turn this into an “anti” or “pro” any religion rant and I don’t want to offend anyone. It’s also possible it’s too late for that, heh. I’m not anti-Buddhism in any way, I just found his speech, loaded with platitudes and lacking in substance. [shrug]. Although, I do think it’s great that these “Business Leaders” were being addressed, because if anyone needs that kind of message, no matter how simplistic, it is people in charge of other people…

Next! More photos….

There were thankyou’s and blessings and people were getting teary on stage…

Stupid slow shutter speed…

This is His Holiness on his way out, on his way to his next engagement. The hush in the room as he left was such that you could have heard a pin drop. After I took this photo, he passed so close to my table, I could have reached out and touched him. Sweet little Yoda man.

Then it was time for dessert. Yay for chocolate palm trees and pineapple pudding!

Despite any misgivings I’ve given voice to, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m hugely thankful it came my way. Namaste.

Song Of The Day – Queens Of The Stoneage – Go With The Flow