Observations at the bazaar

[mbarker]

Today our church here in Japan held its yearly bazaar, and I was asked to help with the used book sales. Lots of fun, watching people pour over the books and decide what to buy.

Anyway, I fold origami cranes to pass the time. So I've folded a crane, and here's a young mother with a little one - maybe three? - watching me. Since the little one smiled nicely at me, I reached over and showed her how this crane flaps its wings. The smile grew. And, of course, I gave her the crane.

She wrapped her little hand around it and mashed it into a ball.

The mother went into an ecstasy of apologies, which I just shrugged off. No, really, not a problem.

And the little one, of course, had the biggest smile. She was so happy with herself.

Which, after all, was what I intended and enjoyed. The folded crane was ephemeral. I'm not sure whether the happiness was ephemeral or not, but I certainly enjoy it. I'll trade one mashed origami for a big kid's smile anyday.

Comments

[webbiegrrl.livejournal.com]

Hey, Mike, I noticed you haven't friended fellow Barfly Dale rosencrantz23 but he has the MOST amazing paper folding site linked from his LJ here.

Can you believe that stuff? Can you DO that stuff? Are you now going to have to learn how to do that stuff? :-) I read through some of the guy's "explanations" (with pictures even) and I just don't get it at all. And I used to do Origami as a kid but this....this is wayyyyy beyond anything I ever imagined let alone did. Since I'd just read your post here I thought of you when I read Dale's post. LiveJournal, connecting friends of friends with other friends...or just flisted friends ;)

-sry

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

One of my friends at MIT is a master at origami -- she does exhibitions, belongs to groups, and so forth. She says I have a good feeling for paper, whatever that means.

I have done a Kawasaki rose, which apparently is pretty advanced. It's one of these ones where you fold and unfold and fold some more and unfold some more until the paper is all creased, but basically flat. Then you start crumpling it up with your fingers along the crease lines and suddenly it folds itself into a beautiful little rose -- or a monstrous mess! I really didn't enjoy it.

I just do simple little ones like flying cranes or paper boxes, mostly to occupy my fingers when I'm thinking or talking. 15 years ago it was one of the hobbies I used to substitute for smoking. At that point, I would walk out of meetings leaving behind a pile of folded cranes. I'm still likely to leave behind a pile if I've been in a long meeting or a frustrating one.

Could I do those? Probably, I have tried wet folding before. Again, I didn't care for it. But you know, I don't even particularly feel like I have to try it. Just enjoy his expertise, and go ahead with my own things.

Just wondering - how do you know I haven't friended him? I know I don't spend much time with LJ, and don't expect to, so I keep my friends list short. Didn't realize it was visible, though?

Thanks for the pointer! Interesting site.

[webbiegrrl.livejournal.com]

Your friends list, flist, is visible on your profile page and it lists friends, 3, communities, 4, friend of, 11 (meaning 11 people like me have friended you) and member of, 4. I think "friend of" is the one with a checkbox to make visible or not. There's another field, mutual friend, for which you have no entries so it doesn't show up. Or do I have that right?

If you were to friend me back, I'd be a mutual friend--your first--and you would see whether or not the mutual friend field would show up. Give it a try?

-sry

Now that's odd

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

I apparently had never looked that far down in my profile settings - and mutual friends was unchecked, but friends was checked? Bizarre. So now I'm showing both (what the heck, why not?). Looks like Rolanni is the only one right now.

Thanks! There are always other gadgets and gidgets to plink with, aren't there.

Re: Now that's odd

[webbiegrrl.livejournal.com]

Actually, I don't think you can choose to NOT show friends, just mutual friends and/or friend of fields?

And if you'd friend me back, we'd be mutual friends...you should friend back everyone on your friends of list--unless you know and don't like them *smirk*

-sry

Re: Now that's odd

[webbiegrrl.livejournal.com]

ooops, never mind, you just did that (mutual friends)

-sry

Re: Now that's odd

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

my friends page is already too busy. I like to use that page for reading -- if I friend everyone I'll never see the things I want to read.