Jul 19, 2013

The Fish That Got Away: Nursing Home Robots

 
The wind is up today.
 
 
People go crazy when it's windy.
So do cats in trees.
And Robots in Nursing Homes.
Here's Ralph telling Roger
How big the fish once was.
The one he caught just before he went rusty.
 
 
(Illustration from: The Year I went Rusty, and Other Robot Nursing Home Stories.)
 
 



Here's the photoshoot Negs, just to prove it's true.


 
 
 
My Dark room work is not what it used to be.
 
 




51 comments:

  1. Quite a sad sight! The "rusty" paper only streightens the impact of helplessness and solitude. You've thought of so many details... I hope Roger can speak, too, otherwise it would be a real punishment for him, no matter how nice the stories are...
    I missed so much, but I'm back.... Hope you are O.K., Andrew!

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  2. Hey Ross-ee-cheeka :) Welcome back. Yes Roger can talk, I think he sprechen Robotesian :) That's when he is feeling well oiled.! I have a rock with a hole in it still.:)

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    1. Me, too. Did I send you such a rock? I don't remember...
      The Robotesian cannot sound like French or Russian for sure...:D

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    2. Hey, no , we have holes in rocks here too you know :) It's something to do with bad hailstone storms during the robotiochan era just before the pleo-stene :)

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  3. Only you would've thought this up! Love the Rusty Chroma film. Wonder where I can find me some of that. How could I possibly have missed so many of your recent posts? Glad to see you're back!

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    1. Ahh I have Rusty Chroma film inside my head, that's what I make my memories from, all sepia and dust :) Sorry I haven't been around Linda, I have a new work schedule which means I cannot have fun on the blogersphere very often :(

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  4. Such convincing old rusty guys. Makes me feel like a spring chicken ;)

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    1. thank you Elizabeth, I saw your beautiful work on facebook, I am so envious of your wonderous talent ! So there's two old guys in a bar,both dressed very nicely in pinks and light coloured pastels. One old chap says to the other old chap, "I feel like a young man again!"

      The other one' nods sagely, adjusts his cravate and in a kind of limp wristed motion says "Yes, I wish one would walk past." :)

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  5. yes, today , after Bloggers walk I felt as these guys :)
    I did not know, even robots exaggerate the size of the catch

    You surprise me ,Mr. Finnie ,all the time. That's why I am coming back ....:)

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    1. Heh, you know Art, it's not the size that counts with fish it's how much bait you can chew off before you get caught. So, we have beach inspectors here who measure the size of your fish, but when I see them I pretend I am a tree and stand very still, but it has not worked yet! But IO never have undersized fish because I never catch any. Next time I will pretend I am a rock, that should work :)

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  6. A little oil job and Ralph and Roger will feel as good as new! Love the piece and the story. Ha ha! You make me laugh as always!

    Hope all is well with you. :)

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    1. Ha ha Heidi, yes a little oil goes a long way with those old guys. Fish oil tabs do it for us here in Oz, I saw you posted something recently, glad you are back :)

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  7. Ah, but they seem to be having such a good time - one day maybe all we will have are the stories, and hopefully someone to share them with. Your photo 'proof' is delightful, too.

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    1. Thank you, :) You have such good taste. :) One of my wife's friends always says you need to cram your head full of memoeries now while you can, so you can think about them when you are stuck in the nursing home. I think my memories will be of traffic jams I necer saw, and keys that I saw on keyboards but I never managed to hit. Like the letter " ". I never get that one :)

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  8. What a bizarre concept--robots aging and going to nursing homes. I teach a Science Fiction literature class, and we read Asimov's I, Robot......lots to think about. I like the series of the "negs"--and how four out of the six of them are the exact same pose. Things get a little dull in the nursing home, eh?

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    1. Ahh, not so bizarre :) Must be really interesting teaching Sci Fi! Do you do Bradbury's The Silver Locusts? That always struck me as so poignant when I was a teenager. I used to go to nursing homes and see about five patients as an Optometrist. Afterwards I would feel like sitting down and having a stiff drink though I am a complete teatotaller ;)

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  9. I see you've turned the comments off on your last two posts, which is a shame, because I wanted to comment on both of them. I've been out of town a lot this summer and just now read them. But I'm thinking about what you say about reasons for making images. It SHOWS that you spend so much time making images. These SF ones are brilliant--both in composition/conception and in their colors and execution. But I don't know about working it all out to say "I was here." There's an innate satisfaction in making images, that seems to me to have nothing to do with anyone else even looking at them. But lots to thing about.

    And the robot-rows in the earlier one, morphing into cats at the bottom. They're really cool how it shifts from light on dark to dark on light.

    I guess I'm a little less coherent at this time of the morning than I thought.

    But thanks (always) for posting!

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    1. Thank you again :) Oh I felt guilty so I turned off the comments - I mean I love to hear what people think but I felt it's bad because I couldn't/didn't have enough time to return the kindness. Ah yes you are right there is an innate satisfaction in making images. I'm working on things with a statement at the moment - in Newcastle our artistic community is under siege, we look like loosing our community art studios to the council who would like to sell them to the church who Allegedly would like to knock them down and build 2 0 story apartments on the block.... ...

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  10. Love them:)How did you thought about it?:)You are a genius:)

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    1. thanks Monica :) ahh oh a genius I wish I was, then I wouldn't do so many silly things :) !

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  11. Well, obviously, I have been way too busy and missed seeing this sooner! I'm so glad you have comments open. I'm finishing one of my book projects up this weekend so I will hopefully be able to post something on my poor little blog. It's very lonely these days ;) I really miss everyone. I'm just working, working, working, trying my best to get done before school starts again. (((HUGS)))

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  12. Hey Karen :) Ah that's wonderfully wonderously splendiferous about the book! Ahh, you feel guilty? Don't! Life is full of give and take and balance and stumbling over and hitting our heads against brick walls - and sometimes we get a little time to ourselves and feel guilty - I think it's because our heads aaare hurting :) me too. Looking forward to checking your work!

    see you hugs from here too :)

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  13. Hola Andrew, hace mucho tiempo que no pasaba por tu territorio,siempre es una agradable sorpresa. Este posteo le ha gustado mucho a mi rodado acompañante (mi sr. esposo, que suele movilizarse en silla de ruedas).
    Un gran saludo cariñoso para ti.
    Antonia

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  14. Hi Andrew, it's been a while since I've played in Blogland, so I'm visiting my followers today. Your story reminds me of a time my brother used my video camera on a fishing trip in the wilderness of Canada. Him and his buddies are on a little fishing boat, camera is on and filming up until they catch the "biggest fish" at that point the camera is either under some blanket, backpack or something. All you hear is the sounds of three guys talking about this major catch! Never did actually see the fish! So to this day we still tease him about his "big catch" Love your art as always! Hope all is well in your world! PS my daughter tells me that Australia has huge spiders!

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  15. But naturally Ralph is going a bit mad-- a damp wind does nothing but harm to rusty joints! Actually I'm feeling pretty rusty myself these days. I did something dreadful to my elbow & wrist, thanks to a garden frenzy, trying to pry up shrub roots with a crow-bar. Whatever was I thinking???? Now it even hurts to pick up a coffee cup, & that, my friend, is a horrifying disability! But of course it could be worse-- luckily I can still draw.

    I imagine when I'm in the nursing home (& at this rate it may be sooner than I think), I'll be exaggerating the size of that fateful shrub. I hope you'll be there documenting my misbehavior with your trusty RustyChrome. (I love those negs & proofs!) :-)

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  16. ha ha haa
    I love this!!
    SO CLEVER :)

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  17. Hey--You haven't posted anything for a LONG time! I was really excited to see your comment on my blog, and I was hoping that meant you had some more work posted. HOW'RE YOU DOING???? I hope that even though you haven't posted anything, you're making lots of art, and that the rest of your life is going so swimmingly that it hardly seems necessary to post anything.

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  18. Hey Mr Finnie, I was just reading your blog when your comment arrived from your visit to my humble effort of a blog. Thank you. This place is a labyrinth. I fear I may get lost. Amazing work. You are clearly committed to image making in extremus, not to mention very good at it.

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  19. i cant believe its been months since my last visit???
    sorry... you know my on-off relationship with blogger :/

    people think im really innocent and sweet and... i mean, i am, but im also badass as hell and hardcore.
    oh and of course, ugly too

    bye

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  20. July??? Your last post was in July? Where have you been? What have you been doing? I miss your wild and wacky illustrations! Thank you very much for your comment on my blog! It's nice to know someone sees them sometimes, though I am quite happy with all the printmaking, all by myself.

    I hope all is well!

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  21. It's been a while since I've visited here (and it seems it's been a while since you've been here too?). It seems the tone has gotten a bit, um, darker, if that's possible. Dark as in deeply thoughtful, deep with a bit of macabre. No pastels and primaries with skin-deep cheeriness. Perhaps you are going through your Saturn Return years too…? Just my cup of tea! :-)

    I wanted to comment on your last post about why we do things here, but maybe comments are full? I have a friend who may be dying of cancer right now, and he has, for as long as I've known him, been like one of those racers: striving to win, to make the deal, to be the greatest and most gloried. He lived on the streets for a while when he was younger, so I guess it makes sense in a way... But it seems to me, that when each of us is facing our version of the end of all that--successful in the world's terms or not-- the only answer to that question about Why We're Here, why we do these things, that weighs more than the proverbial feather on the scale (as Richard Bach has the Messiah point out in his book, "Illusions") is for Fun and/or for Learning. We do it to know ourselves better. Every other reason is just dust in the wind, don't you think?

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  22. What the hell happened?

    I took a little nap, and when I awoke, the future has happened, full of robots and spaceships and, omigosh, retired robots in wheelchairs! Good grief, the robots are old enough to be in nursing homes.

    Double good grief, how wrinkly am I now?

    Well. I am a little confused, but at least I feel refreshed.

    I came to see your nice blue socks. Perhaps you are out running with them now. I also came to show you how to properly wear underwear. Not on your head, those simpletons. You must wear them as bolero jackets. If they are small and tight enough, you will shoot out of them like a pea in a peashooter and certainly beat anyone donning blue running socks.

    I've missed your illustrations! And your jolly stories. Hope you've been well and enjoying life immensely. Merry upcoming Christmas to you, too. Please do not keep Santa too long. I know he likes to stay and listen to your tall tales. And for heaven's sake, don't get him drunk.

    Toodles

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  23. Bonjour cher Andrew,

    Je rentre tout juste de Prague et quelle agréable surprise que de te lire !! Tu peux te réjouir de m'avoir et de nous avoir beaucoup manqués !... Tes merveilleux dessins aussi... Comment vas-tu ?...
    Ton petit mot a apporté un large sourire sur mon visage. Je suis folle d'apprendre que tes pieds foulent le sable chaud pendant que moi les miens je les mets sur une bouillotte le soir venu !! sourire !
    Tout comme toi, je ne supporte pas ça du tout, aussi je m'envole le 7 janvier prochain jusqu'au 26 février à l'Île Maurice. Ainsi ma valise ne nécessitera pas de beaucoup de choses, je la remplirai de toiles, de pinceaux et de couleurs...
    Et si l'envie te prend de venir jusque là j'en serais ravie... autrement pour la chaleur française il faudra attendre encore quelques mois !

    A l'aube de ces fêtes de fin d'année, je te souhaite tout plein de bonnes choses afin que tout se réalise, y compris le bonheur...

    Gros bisous à toi ♥

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  24. Eh ! tes robots me font craquer !! Eux aussi ne sont pas immortels et finalement ont une âme...
    gros bisous

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  25. Happy new year dearest Andrew!! Oof if you could have seen the autocorrect here. It would've looked like this...happy née ear. Ha! Hope all is wonderful in your neck if the woods and I wish you a happy and healthy 2014 year of the horse ahead!

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  26. He lives!

    Andrew!

    Hellooooooooooo! I have been thinking of you and wondering how you are doing. In my imagination, you have been working hard on some brilliant and highly anticipated art project and taking massive typing lessons. I see only one of those options is probably true. My, how perceptive you are! I have been trying very hard to hide the darkness that bubbles within, but nothing escapes your eagle eyes, does it. Mwahahahahahahaha.

    Hey, throw us some bones, will ya? It would be nice to see what you've been doing. We miss you.

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  27. wake up, Mr. Finnie!!! You can not make it up to all your friends ! One year waiting.......will we be rewarded?
    your sincerely Nr. 98,961

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  28. Un año... es mucho tiempo pero el cariño es el mismo.


    Besos,
    AOC

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  29. did u get my mail?
    whats your email address seriously

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  30. Happy happy to hear from you dear Andrew!!! I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful support through the years. :) Clink! Cheers to you too! Hope things are well in OZ!!!

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  31. Bonjour cher ami,
    ... Un petit salut du matin...
    Gros bisous ❀ ✺ ❀

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  32. Holy moly, has it really been more than two years since you've touched this blog???? Good grief. Well, you are missed, that's for sure. It's not as lively here without the spin of your yarn.

    Thanks for the book suggestion. I'll look into it! Hope all is well and happy and creative in Oz!

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  33. to be really honest, i am slowly learning that some people are not good for me, no matter how much i love them. I deserve someone who is gentle and kind, because my soul is getting tired, you know?

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  34. hi. are you still here? i thought you were leaving your blog.
    im reading my old comment here...
    "people think im really innocent and sweet, i mean, i am, but im also badass as hell and hardcore.
    oh and of course, ugly too
    bye"

    lol @myself.
    no wonder i'm stupid, i always say stupid things.
    i dont care though. whatever.

    i'm not fine, i'm upset most of the time. how are you?

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  35. Mr. Finnie! Doing well. Hope you are too. I must say, I do sorely miss your art and your tall tales. Had me in stitches sometimes, you did. Hope you're having a criminal amount of fun there in Finnieland.

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  36. HOORAY! What a way to start the new year. A new Finnie post!!! And with an elephant to boot!!!!! That means luck, you know. WAHOOOOO!!! That settles it. It's going to be a magnificent year. Happy 2017 to you and yours!

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  37. hi A. No place to put comment on your recent posts ! Or did you switch it off?? Great work as usual. Blogger is (was) fun! :)

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  38. Salutations! I rather enjoy a long beard. Mine's down to my navel. Oh my goodness, I did not realize you were back to posting! Hooray!!! All is right with the world again. You are as talented and funny as ever. You really make me miss the old days when we all used to blog....ahhh, good times. Blasted, why have you turned off your comments? You're as bad as Ces. Hope to see more of ya.

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  39. Give me a week or two to
    go absolutely cuckoo
    then, when you see your error,
    then, you can flee in terror

    - Absolutely Cuckoo by The Magnetic Fields

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  40. New posts! You know what that means. It means this will be the terrifickest year yet. Happy 2018!

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Hya! Thank you so much for leaving a comment. I appreciate your time and thoughts.