Category Archives: fun

artists don’t retire

When I turned fifteen, half-a-century ago TODAY🎈 — back in the era of Rock’n’Roll🎸 — this is how I thought I would look now! (Rock-Star saving the World with MUSIC🎶 … didn’t quite work out that way😉)

(Only the stuff on the wall is photoshopped!)

You

Beyond the windows of your eyes,

Your soul abides in sunny skies,

Bathing in the light of love

That pours down sweetly from above.

That is the way it’s supposed to be

When a soul is clear and free,

But on the unmapped sea of life

Inner storms bring pain and strife.

High above each storm, a star

Shines to show you who you are:

Not this head and not this hand;

Not the owner of this land;

Not this angry shrunken heart

Feeling like it’s torn apart;

Not the one whose thoughts bring noise

Never knowing peace or joy;

Not the child that fears the night;

Not the man that wants to fight;

Not the woman, alone and sad;

Not those thousand dreams gone bad.

High inside, but within reach,

There waits a pristine, sunlit beach,

That graceful shore of your own spirit –

Listen now, and you will hear it.

Open your hands and feel your breeze

That softly blows through inner trees,

In the Country that’s your own

Where seeds of happiness are sown.

It’s only just a breath away.

Once you reach here, you will stay;

For here is where your life will start,

And soul and joy will never part.

– Edward Saugstad 2008

what time is it? it’s time to groove🎶….

Here’s a new melody/rythmn I played spontaneously in morning meditation today (and some top music stars talking about thoughtless-awareness and the cool-breeze)

“Happy New Year!”from the Canadian/Austrian Saugstads

Brigitte Saugstad Art Exhibition

public opening in Neulengbach, Lower Austria

3 December 2022:

AND ALREADY FIFTEEN YEARS AGO!😃

(Brigitte’s first solo exhibition)

Georgio Pilla, Italian art critic
~Austrian artist Brigitte Saugstad~
(Venice, 16 January 2008)

“This artist, this charming signorina, is here to present her ceramic work.
These pieces are art in its purest form.
She takes nature and transforms it into art.
That alone should give you an idea
of her intellectual and comprehensive capacity.
But she doesnʼt rest there.
She also wants to give us the feeling of joy in form,
and so these pieces were created, beautiful, sometimes white,
sometimes colorful, a little darker a little lighter.
And when she concentrates on her favorite sport,
she gives us the ice princesses, where the body weight defies gravity.
As you can see, the skaters are quite robust,
but their whole being, the whole body, their physical form turns to poetry in her hands.
They simply float in the air, there is no weight,
only music and dance, only pleasure in contact with the frozen earth
or lifting up and away from it.
These ice dancers, when they are in the air, appear to be flying.
It looks like there is no weight holding them down.
She was able to feel this and express it in these wonderful works of art.
Look at these figures that float towards the sky.
It is truly an expression of joy, an expression of happiness, and much more.

Nature is expressed in these beautiful spheres, which are made up of nothing but little field flowers.
Look at the wonderful forms that remind me of seashells and the waves, the song the ocean sings.
We are looking at pure art; we are in the hands of an artist.
Out of a handful of earth, out of a handful of clay, life is created, because these figures are alive.
They live in her and, as they are here in front of us, they should also live in us now and in the future.
We should feel the joy and the lightness of heart that she has given us today.”

Cabella river wonderworld

about Creativity 🌞🌱

In case you’d like to hear Edward talk spontaneously about Creativity for a few minutes (from the SY Cabella Camp!) …

PUBLIC ONLINE INTERVIEW IN CHINA
First video:
“How do you keep the inspiration flowing continuously and bring forth the new ones in your artistic works? Have you ever felt the inspiration exhausted? Can you share the secret of persisting in creation for decades?”

Second video (scroll down):
“Modern people’s creations can easily be displayed, for example, when they are posted on the Internet, they can easily receive affirmation and cyber attacks. For a creator, being criticized may hurt his creativity. How can he protect it?”

CLICK: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/NM66yrEY-pkkf1Vm3iz1Mw

HOST’S WEBSITE TEXT:

—The second chakra of the subtle system—

The abdominal chakra is the second chakra of the subtle system. In the body, this chakra provides the energy needed for the liver, spleen, pancreas, intestines and cerebral cortex to function properly. It expresses creativity and execution. This is a very important chakra: it creates all our desires on the left side, while the right channel starts at the location of the abdominal chakra. The main quality of this chakra is creativity, but this chakra also produces fat cells which, upon reaching the brain, are converted into an energy supply that helps the brain to think and process all the information it receives.

The Trait of the Abdominal Chakra is “Creativity”
The origin of all creativity is Love. Without Love, there is no creativity. When Kundalini nourishes this center, people become very creative. All great creative work has vibrations. All works of art that vibrate are held together by time. All work without vibrations is destroyed by nature and forgotten over time.

—Ten Days of Yoga—

(IMAGES – Brigitte Saugstad artworks)

She (Kundalini/Saraswati) teaches us through nature: listen to the sounds of birds, the gurgling of a creek or the thunderous roar of a waterfall, the rustling of the wind over the leaves or the forceful blowing of a canyon.

Look at the many greens in the garden, look at the sky, look at her paintings in the clouds. How many colors she uses when the sun rises over the sea or when the sun sets, enjoy her creations.

The origin of all creativity is love. Without love, there is no creativity. She holds a veena on which she plays the most beautiful music to inspire everyone.

Not only did she teach us beautiful music, but she taught us how to dance, talk, sing, write books, paint, and build. When we meditate, she exposes us to all the knowledge we can grasp.

Ganesha, Ganesha everywhere!

(My wife’s beautiful artworks ☺️)

40 years ago – Christmas 1981🎄📞📺⏳

I’ve enjoyed sixty-three Christmases with family and friends. Most of them were at home in the suburbs just south of Vancouver, and in the charming old heart of Vienna. A few were in rural India. One was in New Jersey, and one in North Carolina.
Although all of these occasions bring back colourful memories of abundance and joy, one of the most memorable happened when I was, internally and externally, quite down and out — at the bottom of a long dive that was about to transform into a steady ascent that is still bringing me higher and higher today.
Forty years ago, Christmas 1981 (before portable telephones, personal computers, The Internet, etc.) I was living in a ‘shack by the railroad track’, on the edge of a wealthy neighbourhood. At this time of my life I used to have my place open to parties with local peers on the weekends. On Monday I would cash-in all the beer bottles to buy a bit of food for the week.
My fridge was always empty (except for all the alcohol from Friday to Sunday). On this occasion I came back to my humble home late Christmas evening and opened the fridge for some reason. I can’t describe to you my utter surprise when I FOUND IT PACKED FULL OF EVERY IMAGINABLE FOOD! Although I tried to find out who did it, none of my many smiling friends would admit to doing the deed. I still don’t know.
When I moved back to Canada twenty years later, a mature married man who had traveled the world and enjoyed undreamed of wonderful experiences, it was about a year before I ran into one of the old crowd (back in the 1970s, a couple hundred teenagers, and then young adults, in North Delta). My heart sprang open and my chest was filled with gravity-defying mirth! Then that same day I ran into three more old buddies in various locations, between ten and thirty kilometers apart, something I consider nothing less than a miracle. (As a result I ended up organizing a reunion that brought about a hundred and fifty of us back together for a nostalgic gathering.)

One thing that life has taught me is that Friendship is the highest form of love (collective consciousness). Even in a family, if the members aren’t ‘friends’, there’s no real bond.
May the whole world become a family of best friends.

Merry Christmas 2021!
Lots of love,
Ed Saugstad

(more here: https://edwardsaugstad.com/reaching-the-top-reloaded/ )

https://goldenganeshart.com/

fresh out of the kiln!

🌈🌞 https://goldenganeshart.com

208 years, Husarentempel in the Vienna Woods (from 1813)

the Austrian Saugstads out and about exploring our neighbourhood again! 🦌🏔🔭🌞

“Happy Valentine’s Day!💗”

https://goldenganeshart.com

https://goldenganeshart.com

Behold! Oh, Ancient Castle in our backyard ⚔️


(my pre-birthday hike)

 

(we ended up walking down the mountain in the night!!!)

“Happiness and Good Fortune, 2021!”

Wishing you all the best for the coming year!

Best wishes, Ed and Brigitte

“Merry 2020 Lockdown Christmas!”

Lots of love from Brigitte & Ed.

Here comes 2021! …

Christmas songs:

“Happy Diwali…

…with lots of Love and Light to you and yours!”

https://goldenganeshart.com/ceramic-art/

HANUMAN the Great!

New from Brigitte’s studio …

https://goldenganeshart.com

SELF-ISOLATION/RECREATION, DAY 5

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”

(the wife will find plenty for me to do at home!)

interview of an old Canadian pioneer sahaja yogi

MEDITATE TO REGENERATE ☺️

Christmas Concert Vienna, 2019 — grand finale

😀

my birthday djembe!

😁

New Year. New Decade. New Age?

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Dear Friend!

We’re about to enter the decade that history books will remember as the one that ushered in the END OF KALI YUGA, the Age of Darkness.
As we find ourselves moving more and more beyond duality we will soon discover all the precious treasures in ourselves and others.
 
So, HO-HO-HO! HOLD on to your hat and enjoy the sleigh ride 🛷
HAPPY NEW AGE! 😁 (Optimism is contagious 😉)
 
Lots of love💗
Edward and Brigitte
🌈🌹

Year 2020 will be the last one of the age of materialism…

“The biggest and grandest alignment comes on December 21, 2020 when Jupiter joins Saturn in what’s referred to as the great conjunction. “

“These grand conjunctions come every 20 years, but this meeting has extra gravitas. It marks the end of a 200-year cycle of unions in earth signs that’s brought the age of materialism, banking, capitalism and corporations.”

“December 2020 kicks off a new 200-year cycle of unions in air signs. What that will bring isn’t entirely clear yet, but early indications are that thought, philosophy and truth will prevail. This is going to be a big shift.”

 

an Austrian-Italian wedding!

NON-

STOP

FUN!

sunshine, beauty and friends!

when the Italians get dancing!

Traun Lake!

the Canadian Ice Cream Inspector hard at work!

what we happened to get as the last available hotel room in the whole area – the one guarded by ancient asian angels!

the romantic Spitz Villa in Traunkirchen

homestead upgrades

New photovoltaic sun energy system:

https://www.facebook.com/edward.saugstad/media_set?set=a.10156583248401545&type=3

and, new larch steps to the creek:

https://www.facebook.com/edward.saugstad/media_set?set=a.10156583277136545&type=3

 

(Going up fast – looks like it’ll get above 2000 watts electricity production this morning! ⚡️Ω)

Sir Ed Word Designs Amazon t-shirts

In case you ever wondered if it would be possible to enjoy Brigitte Saugstad‘s beautiful statues wherever you go:
Now you can!
If you live in the USA or Europe, just visit one of the three following Amazon addresses that go to:

Sir Ed Word Designs

Pick your size and colour, and order away 😃

(new designs will be uploaded often!)

for U.K. and Europe:

DANCE AS THOUGH

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07P5ZJZ5K

I CAN DANCE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07P16KS86

HUG ME

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07P7W7VXM

DANCE WITH ME

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PG92H2S

DANCE DANCE WHEREVER YOU MAY BE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PM8YR9L

I LOVE SUMMERTIME

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PPK2TQX

I LOVE MY CRAZY FRIENDS

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PPXZX5W

ALL OF US HIDE A HERO INSIDE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PS6VDL2

(gold sitting Ganesha front/back)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PR7M2P6

CHILL

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PNZ2RWK

(red-white large sitting Ganesha)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NRVQV4W

(white standing Hanuman)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q47QL8P

(white looking up dancing Ganesha)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q4GF693

for the U.S.A:

DANCE AS THOUGH

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P23LKL4

I CAN DANCE

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P9WBYJ1

HUG ME

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PB1L9FN

DANCE WITH ME

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P9DK54T

DANCE DANCE WHEREVER YOU MAY BE

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PGBPKTL

I LOVE SUMMERTIME

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PSVF8QM

I LOVE MY CRAZY FRIENDS

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PPXYH7J

ALL OF US HIDE A HERO INSIDE

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PR25RL1

(gold sitting Ganesha front/back)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PN1521L

CHILL

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PSF54HK

(red-white large sitting Ganesha)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NRVQLG2

(white standing Hanuman)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q6HCGY2

(white looking up dancing Ganesha)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q4FZF6W

for Germany and Austria

TANZ ALS OB

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07NX9CPF4

ICH KANN TANZEN

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07NYBJCHS

UMARME MICH

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PSPVJTM

TANZ MIT MIR

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PG91SXM

(DANCE DANCE -wordless)

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PN78YS1

I LIEBE SOMMER

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PSVT25L

I LIEBE MEINE LUSTIGEN FREUNDINNEN

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PR2F43N

HELD

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PMTMBQG

(gold sitting Ganesha front/back)

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PN15SKY

CHILL

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PR845BJ

(red-white large sitting Ganesha)

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PZFB5BF

(white standing Hanuman)

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07Q47RQXY

(white looking up dancing Ganesha)

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07Q8VRCVF

 

Prime Minister Atkinson – 2019

.

Rowan, do us all an unforgettable favour and run for the office of prime minister of the UK
(and, for God’s sake, win — PLEASE WIN!)

Truth is stranger than fiction!:

We’re briefly interrupting global corruption for some good will and valuable comedy entertainment 😉

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48007487?fbclid=IwAR3mNyoPg_KklB-WIEQFmEjOIcUgcreithMqyERQ90_M6dNRztvloM4oq8M

.

.

40 Year Challenge

(on my birthday, today)

‘Sir Ed Word’ with his Self-realisation 2019

‘Ed the Head’ with his elf-realisation 1979

(I survived the ‘60s, the ’70s, the ‘80s, the ’90s, the ‘00s and — so far — the 2000-teens!)

the Art of Birthdaying!

Brigitte Saugstad exhibiting at the annual ArtInnsbruck art fair, 16-20 January 2019

MORE PHOTOS AT:

https://www.facebook.com/edward.saugstad/media_set?set=a.10156147997386545&type=3

 

(Everything Is Not About ME!)

I Left My Heart In the Centre of the World

“Happy Diwali 2018!”
Festival of Light
🌞💗🌞💗🌞💗🌞
(benevolent grace in Greece)

If the ancient waters and coastlines could speak, what amazing tales they could tell us!

Have you ever spontaneously flown somewhere, not knowing what to expect but feeling a rare thrill rising in your heart? When my wife first heard that many of our friends were booked to fly to Greece to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Light, she took out her smart-phone and booked two seats for us.

I’d never been down to that fabled peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea, but my first impression was similar to that of India, an ancient world that I’ve had the privilege of visiting many times. This initial intuition that began when my wife came home and announced that we would soon be going there, was boosted when we eventually boarded an airliner half full of laughing, singing, childlike Indian women, all of whom had also strongly felt the calling.

My first impressions there were that everything was familiar. It was easy to get around in, like any other Western country. The freeways were almost empty and everyone seemed to drive slowly, which was very relaxing  (although it did occur to Brigitte and me that maybe due to the economic hardships the locals are experiencing, not many can afford to speed, or even to drive). Then a massive wall of dark grey-purple cloud rose up and washed the landscape clean with a brief rain. We found it to be a significant welcome for all the pilgrims showing up that weekend, and I was reminded of the ancient demigods who were believed to inhabit this land in prehistory. (Human beings, in particular one or two ‘poets’, long ago wrote perverted interpretations of these titans’ lives on Earth, lowering them to the level of incest and murder, ideas unfortunately still generally accepted today.)

My wife’s favourite thing in life is to wake up early near a beach and go for a long walk and foot-soak there. We were sheltered near the scenic end of a bay, and because it was outside of the busy summer season, there was hardly anyone around. In Greece, even the stray dogs and cats seem at peace as they stretch out beside strangers and give the impression of being completely fulfilled (when actually they’re cleverly making friends to get something to eat!). Every morning our hearts would stretch out to the distant islands and mysterious waters so our souls could consume the vast beauty and deep history around us. We attended colourful Diwali functions, enjoyed ourselves immensely with many new and old friends, and even ascended the ancient inland hills to the Centre of the World, the Navel of Creation! (Weeks later, Brigitte hasn’t lost the inspiring heart-boost that she still rides on daily.)

They say that Zeus, king of the demigods, in order to determine the centre of the world, sent two great eagles flying, one from each extreme, east and west. They met in the place that was later named Delphi. A most magical place! I really felt like I was back in India where everything began thousands of years ago, not in young Europe any more. There’s even a natural free-standing stone in the original centre of the sacred grounds, recognizable as the Hindu child-god, Ganesha, emitting amazing vibrations (light and cool).

All two-hundred-and-fifty of us felt light and joyous, many reminded of the old tours of central India that we used to go on in the nineteen-eighties. In contrast to the great subtle significance of this location, Brigitte pointed out that the manmade history was just full of ego. Pompous conquerers would display statues of their officers there to show the gods and all the world how very important they were. Even down in the so-called civilized nation-state of Athens, such a great, benevolent genius (I would go so far as to say divine messenger) like Socrates was killed by men-on-ego. And here we are, thousands of years later, repeating the same patterns in our heads, hearts and actions.

Descending back down to the twenty-first century at the end of the day, I remembered how, as a twelve-year-old child in Canada in 1970, I had suddenly been overwhelmed to write a long Social Studies essay on the Greek gods, accompanied by a hand-drawn wall mural; and in Art class I passionately attempted to carve a plaster-of-Paris bust of Socrates. I didn’t know what overcame me at that time, but now I guess it was personal insight into a higher realm of existence. Forty-eight years later I’ve breathed those essential airs and walked upon the very roots of legend that send the restless mind up into soothing meditation.

If you’ve never been to Greece, go there soon — with an open mind and heart.

Best wishes (pure desires),
Ed

Delphi:
The eternal watch of Pallas Athena

Ed initializes time warp
“Beam us up!”

One eagle from the West …

… and one from the East

Ganesha!

 

“HAPPY DIWALI!”
******************

more photos here:

https://www.facebook.com/edward.saugstad/media_set?set=a.10156077110191545&type=3

improv in the ancient Italian valley

Ed Saugstad TV interview and garden-party

.

In which Sir Ed Word appears on local television

… and the Party commences!

.

what goes on in the head of Ed? -1

https://www.amazon.com/Oakee-Doakee-Hate-Edward-Saugstad/dp/0955150361/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1526822119&sr=8-7&keywords=edward+saugstad

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I have become the hollow drum

36 years ago today I crossed an essential threshold and embarked on an epic journey …

into enlightenment.

Almost every day since the 20th of April, 1982, I’ve been able to attain clarity, and briefly glimpse blissful Reality through the instrument of my central nervous system, and the state of thoughtless awareness.

The upward spiral unfolds, with wonderful surprises arising just around every curve.

More than anything else, I wish this for you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(for full-size headphones or bass intense speaker system!)

In separation have I suffered long,
But now am glorified in the eternal bliss of Union.

And from my core,
That once was small,
The sound of Light
Expands to all.

Never will I shrink again
Into a ball of doubt and pain.
Forever forth, in inner sky,
I spread my wings and upward fly.

All Life pulsates within my breast.

I have become
The hollow drum.

~Ed Saugstad
20 April 2018

 

 

—special thanks to Linda Dzus (wife of one of my old best buddies, Doug) who took this amazing photo in their neighbourhood on Mayne Island, British Columbia, the oasis that I briefly took refuge in after attaining self-realisation, 36 years ago—

“Happy Easter 2018!”

“Happy Springtime!”
“Happy Easter!”
lots of love,
e&b

💐
(welcome back from the winter sleep)

http://brigittesaugstad.com

to GIF or not to GIF?…

.

Good citizens: kick out corruption from high places — and score big time!

(oh, no! Ed just figured out how to quickly make GIF files from video clips via Final Cut Pro and Photoshop! 😳)

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Merry Christmas! (the Evolution of Eddie)

I was born into the realm of the Wild West when Elvis was king, at the height of social freedoms which were slipping steadily down into the mists of abandon. Unlimited alcohol and tobacco consumption were a household norm for many families, with few or no suspicions about their ill effects — gross and subtle.

My first eight years took me along an often bumpy road, with the scary shadows of evermore chaos lurking just around the next bend. But there was also love. I grew up with some delightfully humorous and caring souls. My best memories still shine from those joyous occasions when we, once a year, exchanged presents, had fun together, and temporarily forgot all our fears and worries: Christmas Days!

Just before my eighth Christmas in 1965, my Dad returned home, sober, after a four year absence. From that time on, everything seemed to get more prosperous and abundant — including the number of siblings. Within another three years we would be eight brothers and sisters celebrating at home together!
I was then blessed to live through a period of wealth and wellbeing that most children in the world will never know. Looking back at my long climb as a human being, I recognize how very lucky I’ve been this time around.

May the liberating Innocence, that we call Luck, fill the hearts of good people, everywhere.

Wishing you and yours Love and Light at this special time,
your friend in this abundant moment,
Ed

(We were, oldest to youngest: Dad, Mom, Darlene, Cheryl, Rick, Ed, Glenn, David, Allan and Don. Christmases were also celebrated at Nana and Grandpa’s place, Mom’s Finnish parents. Almost half-a-century later we would be three more, Tia, Karen and Cliff, senior siblings divided from us by Dad’s first divorce.)

https://www.facebook.com/edward.saugstad/media_set?set=a.10155257909416545.1073741890.583641544&type=3

Darlene, Eddie, Rick and Cheryl

Darlene, Eddie, Rick and Cheryl

Rick, Eddie, Darlene, Grandpa, Glenn and Cheryl

David and Glenn, Darlene, Rick, Cheryl and Eddie

Darlene, Eddie, Rick, Glenn and Cheryl

Rick, Mom, Nana, Glenn, Eddie, Darlene and Cheryl, Grandpa and David

Rick, Cheryl, Eddie, Glenn, Darlene and David

Eddie’s haircut, May 1965
(a month before the end of grade one, and still half a year before that special Christmas that marked the end of Dad’s long drunken absence)

Glenn, David and Eddie

Darlene, Mom, Cheryl, Rick, Eddie, Glenn and David

David, Glenn and Eddie

Cheryl and Darlene, Glenn, Eddie, Rick and David

Darlene, Rick and Cheryl (the ‘Big Kids’) and Eddie, Glenn and David (the ‘Little Kids’)

Cheryl, Glenn and David

Darlene, Mom and Dad, Eddie, Nana, Rick, Cheryl, David and Glenn

Eddie, Rick, Darlene, Dad, Allan, Mom, Cheryl, Glenn and David

Eddie, Rick, Darlene, Dad, Allan, Mom, Cheryl, Glenn and David

Rick, Allan, Mom and Nana

Allan and Cheryl

Glenn, David and Eddie

Allan, Glenn, Eddie, Don and David

Darlene, Dad, Eddie, Don and Rick

Rick, Cheryl, Darlene and Eddie, Dad with David, Mom with Don, Allan and Glenn

Glenn, Eddie, David, Allan and little Don

FUN CHAOS!

Eddie (Ed the Head) and Don

Allan, Glenn, Ed and Don

🎄Merry Christmas!🎁 (the Evolution of Eddie)

I was born into the realm of the Wild West when Elvis was king, at the height of social freedoms which were slipping steadily down into the mists of abandon. Unlimited alcohol and tobacco consumption were a household norm for many families, with few or no suspicions about their ill effects — gross and subtle.

My first eight years took me along an often bumpy road, with the scary shadows of evermore chaos lurking just around the next bend. But there was also love. I grew up with some delightfully humorous and caring souls. My best memories still shine from those joyous occasions when we, once a year, exchanged presents, had fun together, and temporarily forgot all our fears and worries: Christmas Days!

Just before my eighth Christmas in 1965, my Dad returned home, sober, after a four year absence. From that time on, everything seemed to get more prosperous and abundant — including the number of siblings. Within another three years we would be eight brothers and sisters celebrating at home together!
I was then blessed to live through a period of wealth and wellbeing that most children in the world will never know. Looking back at my long climb as a human being, I recognize how very lucky I’ve been this time around.

May the liberating Innocence, that we call Luck, fill the hearts of good people, everywhere.

Wishing you and yours Love and Light at this special time,
your friend in this abundant moment,
Ed

(We were, oldest to youngest: Dad, Mom, Darlene, Cheryl, Rick, Ed, Glenn, David, Allan and Don. Christmases were also celebrated at Nana and Grandpa’s place, Mom’s Finnish parents. Almost half-a-century later we would be three more, Tia, Karen and Cliff, senior siblings divided from us by Dad’s first divorce.)

https://www.facebook.com/edward.saugstad/media_set?set=a.10155257909416545.1073741890.583641544&type=3

Darlene, Eddie, Rick and Cheryl

Darlene, Eddie, Rick and Cheryl

Rick, Eddie, Darlene, Grandpa, Glenn and Cheryl

David and Glenn, Darlene, Rick, Cheryl and Eddie

Darlene, Eddie, Rick, Glenn and Cheryl

Rick, Mom, Nana, Glenn, Eddie, Darlene and Cheryl, Grandpa and David

Rick, Cheryl, Eddie, Glenn, Darlene and David

Eddie’s haircut, May 1965
(a month before the end of grade one, and still half a year before that special Christmas that marked the end of Dad’s long drunken absence)

Glenn, David and Eddie

Darlene, Mom, Cheryl, Rick, Eddie, Glenn and David

David, Glenn and Eddie

Cheryl and Darlene, Glenn, Eddie, Rick and David

Darlene, Rick and Cheryl (the ‘Big Kids’) and Eddie, Glenn and David (the ‘Little Kids’)

Cheryl, Glenn and David

Darlene, Mom and Dad, Eddie, Nana, Rick, Cheryl, David and Glenn

Eddie, Rick, Darlene, Dad, Allan, Mom, Cheryl, Glenn and David

Eddie, Rick, Darlene, Dad, Allan, Mom, Cheryl, Glenn and David

Rick, Allan, Mom and Nana

Allan and Cheryl

Glenn, David and Eddie

Allan, Glenn, Eddie, Don and David

Darlene, Dad, Eddie, Don and Rick

Rick, Cheryl, Darlene and Eddie, Dad with David, Mom with Don, Allan and Glenn

Glenn, Eddie, David, Allan and little Don

FUN CHAOS!

Eddie (Ed the Head) and Don

Allan, Glenn, Ed and Don

“Happy Diwali 2017!”

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“Happy Diwali 2017!”
may collective consciousness rise and shine

(and don’t fear ogres — they may turn out to be your friends or relations!)

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the Broccoli Blues

“Oh dear! Who let Ed into the kitchen?”

life is a stage

Life is a stage —
Act your part
With all your heart

ladies and gentlemen: Rachelle Jeanty!!!!

Here’s a dear Canadian friend of ours, Rachelle, putting the P (POWER) into the meaning of PERFORMANCE!

whole-world

merry Christmas (again) from the Vienna Woods!

ed-brigitte-in-christmas-video-collage

the video 📽:

vibrating ancient enclaves of Vienna

dancing robots

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here’s a little futuristic musical sketch i doodled last friday afternoon (and afterwards added some video clips to)

wishing you a fine day!

Ed:-)

R2D2 and C3Po and music

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WARMING UP AND COOLING DOWN

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happy Eddie — and friends — in his new attic sound-studio!

😀

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MOUSIE DANCE PARTY!

😉

Mousie Dance Party!

the name’s Blond, Ed Blond

I’m considering applying for the job of playing James Bond in the upcoming movies. What do you think my chances are of being accepted for the position? Too old? Too tall? Too non-violent? Too silly? Too Canadian? ….

The name’s Blond, Ed Blond….

ED BLOND AND THE QUEEN

groovin’ at the Palais Coburg in Vienna

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“The name’s Bond, Sir Ed Word Bond.”

"The name's Bond, Sir Ed Word Bond."

 

 

Merry Christmas 2015!

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😉

see original at:

https://youtu.be/k9scrHkxIyQ

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Ed’s next video~diary, March-Oct 2015

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Welcome on my journey.

Sit back and enjoy….

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Ed in Paradise

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me and my VLD

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If the world ends, don’t bother me

I’ll be enjoying under a tree with my VLD

(Very Large Drum)

Edward's Bear Necessities

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