Toyen Thursday @ TDD - C&C

[trissie]

Triple Dog Dare!

Pick 3 things
Do them
Post your TaDas!

»»—-Cheers! WTG! Ygg!—-««

Don't think about it. Just do it!
~~ I Triple Dog Dare ya! ~~
Good Morning!
»»————　✼　————««

[trissie]

Toyen (born Marie Čermínová, 1902–1980) was one of the most radical and uncompromising figures of the 20th-century avant-garde. Born in Prague, she permanently severed ties with her biological family at sixteen to pursue an independent life in the city's anarchist and artistic underground. In 1923, she adopted the gender-neutral mononym "Toyen" (likely derived from the French citoyen), formally dropping her gender-inflected Czech surname. Defying the strict patriarchal norms of the era, Toyen frequently dressed in men's clothing, cut her hair short, and spoke exclusively using masculine grammatical forms, completely blurring the lines of gender identity long before it became a mainstream cultural conversation.

In the mid-1920s, Toyen moved to Paris alongside her lifelong artistic partner, Jindřich Štyrský, where they co-founded Artificialism—a unique art movement that served as a poetic, abstract alternative to Cubism and early Surrealism. Upon returning to Prague, her style naturally shifted deeper into the subconscious, leading her to co-found the Surrealist Group of Czechoslovakia in 1934. Her powerful paintings from this era explored dreams, eroticism, and anxiety, catching the attention of André Breton, who declared her work a vital pillar of international Surrealism and praised Prague as the "magical capital of Europe."

During World War II and the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, Surrealism was banned as "degenerate art," forcing Toyen into dangerous secrecy. She stopped exhibiting publicly but continued to create haunting, apocalyptic drawing cycles like The Rifle Range and Hide Yourself, War, which captured the psychological horror of the conflict through desolate symbolism. In a profound act of wartime resistance, Toyen risked her life for four years by sheltering the Jewish surrealist poet Jindřich Heisler inside her tiny Prague apartment, famously hiding him in her bathroom bathtub to evade the Gestapo.

Sensing the onset of totalitarian Communist rule after the war, Toyen and Heisler permanently emigrated back to Paris in 1947. She spent the remainder of her life working closely with the French Surrealists, continuing to publish subversive illustrations and exploring themes of queer desire, erotic freedom, and myth until her death in 1980. Though her legacy was historically marginalized by the geopolitics of the Iron Curtain, recent global retrospectives have rightfully restored Toyen to her status as a pioneering revolutionary of both modern art and gender expression.

https://www.wikiart.org/en/toyen

[trissie]

When you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!' Then get busy and find out how to do it."
—Theodore Roosevelt

[Kittykatt]

Good morning Trissie and thank you for a very interesting start. I had me er heard of Toyen before, but she certainly led a fascinating life!

I need to be up and OTD early today, as I would like to get my errands run early before church, while it's still relatively cool. We're definitely cooling down, the temperature "only" reached 28C yesterday, , but I would still prefer not to be racing around in the heat of the heat. It's parish lunch today, and just a short walk to the community café - maybe we can sit outside? I know they have umbrellas and also a shaded area.

[Kittykatt]

Thursday's short list:
DH WFH
ensure house is tidy and ready for gas engineer before I leave
10.30 am church
Any errands to run?
Can I hoover the car?
Can I use the waterless cleaner in the outside?
12 pm Parish Lunch at the community café
12- 6pm gas engineer to service.boiler,.cooker and fire (DH to cover until I get home)
6-7 pm Waitrose delivery
Unpack groceries and PA
Our supper
Kitties' supper

[helia]

I had never heard of Toyen before. Thanks for the introduction, trissie. Her art reminds me of sci fi. Cool! I hope you're having a good day at payroll.
Enjoy church and lunch afterward, Kitty!

It is sunny today and a little cooler than yesterday. Our forecast high is 74. It's 58 right now.

Yesterday, I had a hard time getting going again after payroll. I'm not sure I did much before getting dinner on the table, tacos and green salad. (Taco meat from the freezer.) After dinner, dh left to go meet with a friend. I did the after dinner clean up and then garbage and recycling. I left some for dh to do; there was a lot of compost (9 bags + the bin) since gardeners have been working on our property this week.

Last night, I finished a Netflix show I had found that I liked. Dept. Q - a Scottish detective show based on a Danish book. Or book series? It ended up being a bit more violent than I like, but it was still enjoyable. It was engaging to follow the mysteries (a couple different lines of crime) as new info was discovered and then to try to figure out what happened and if different crimes were connected - and how. Some plot holes, but generally fun! Several deaths. I found only 1 character even remotely likable at the beginning, but several did grow over the series. It was a bit gritty, but I'm OK with that. I had to replay the dialog in a couple places to understand the words (it was important to understand what was being said) bc of Scottish accents.

Today, I have WW @ 8 a.m. Unfortunately, my weight jumped up this morning - just in time for a weigh in. Still, I'm not going to be too concerned about it and stay the course. I'm exercising more and tracking my food and calories most days. And a "jump up" is lower now than it was 2 weeks ago. It's a slow process.

I might join dd28 at the dog park this morning ~ 10. Then, I have payroll, a check in meeting with AC 11-12. I should probably get a couple things done before then. I'd like to make progress on laundry and do some decluttering before my 4-5pm work out. I might walk to and from the gym for even more activity; it's about a 20 minute walk one way (1 mile-ish). I'm on my own for dinner since dh has his clay class tonight.

Next:
- s2s and self care (or do after WW?)
- 8 - WW
- reclaim kitchen
- darks: w d f pa
- some qt
- make the bed
- fold and p/a sheets
- 15 minutes decluttering: bedroom
- payroll: set up GGT spreadsheet for S5
- dog park outing
- 11-12 payroll: campus academics check in mtg
- lunch
- after lunch clean up
- update lists
- update goodreads
- find new fun (fiction) book to read!
- read in the afternoon? (Sounds heavenly!)
- 3:35 leave to walk to gym
- 4-5 work out
- walk home
- dinner: turkey burger, veggies
- after dinner clean up
- start packing for weekend trip: non-perishable food items (we have a small apartment)
- duolingo
- update health apps
- other things?

TaDas!
- up; weighed self - up a bit
- coffee
- email deletions + organization; weather website

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Thu 8 - WW/ 11-12 payroll: CA ci with AC/ 4-5 work out with G
Fri coffee with AA @______/ 4-4:30 payroll: EPT interview/ Drive to Detroit/ 7 - Dinner reservation
Sat Detroit / 6:30 - Dinner reservation
Sun Drive home/ 3:30 - 6ish CG2 @ AA/ 6 - host dinner for up to 8 people/ 8:15 family zoom call

Mon 1 - zoom call with dbil, dsil, and mother of dniece's friend (re: plans for the girls for the fall)
Tue KS2J get together - a.m. / 1:30 - 2:30 school enrollment appointment for K (dniece's friend who will stay with us for 8 weeks in the fall)/ 6:30 - ? Host dinner crew?
Wed
Thu 8-8:30 WW/ 11-12 payroll: CA ci with AC/ 4-5 work out with AS
Fri Dinner date with dh
Sat
Sun 10 - 12ish Church/ 12:30 - 3:30 church - new member orientation

Menus:
M - potluck here; smoked ribs, rice, marinated veggie salad, watermelon
T - chicken curry stew (fr. freezer), rice, marinated veggies
W - tacoes, green salad
Th - on my own - turkey burger, veggies
F - dinner out with dh
Sa - in Detroit
Sun - host dinner crew? bread, rotisserie chicken, pizza

MAY Brain Dumps
This Week - House
- wash sheets on guest bed
- can I spend some time decluttering in MBR?

This Week - Deskwork
- Writing progress - wip
- figure out another knitting project?

This Week - Errands
- buy pillows

General Brain Dump
- progress decluttering clothes - wip
- new phone eventually

[Lauralind]

Morning all. I had this thought now that I am not going to let stress me out for a couple months. Chatting with dd. So umm while we were talking my cat was a brat. I watched her spray . Ugh. It hasn't stopped I know it. A little less now they are outside so much. But I think the plan is for dsil parents to come down with dd and dsil in July. If all works out. Not sure about the older boys but for sure 3 kids. 16 12 and 10? I think I can borrow dad's rv for the parents to stay in. And maybe the youngest 2? I need my craft room and maybe the office futon.

I've got to up my house keeper skills... every corner of the house needs to be thoroughly decluttered. Move furniture and make sure no cat messes hiding. Defur... and decide but I think I'm going to convince dh for sure we should take dad's sectional couch from downstairs and get rid of the worst one. It's acceptable most of the time for our living standards. Not when I need every sleeping space I can get. There's ideas that dh brother and family might come too. Someone might have to bring a tent...

Means I gotta stop squandering my days off to nothing productive. Dd is going to be past 7 months pregnant when they come. Depends on her energy. Her mil is really good and I am sure she will help with food. How much?? Need an actual plan. We want to go explore lakes and fish? And such. So not constantly hang out here. But still... no I am not going to let the non hosting anxiety stop me in my tracks.

I felt pretty productive yesterday but it sure doesn't look it. Most of it is just severe decluttering and pupa. Find homes for some random stuff. I need a toy shelf for dgs toys. Start with the closet so I can fit more in it. Actually get ds 27 to decide what of his stuff he wants. Outside looks great especially once I plant those too many flowers. Inside does not show what Outside does. Hmmm weekly one zone a week?

Yikes I could go on and on and do nothing about it.

Properly finish my qt and shower. Get ready for work. And routine. Should help a bit.

[L.Ann]

Morning kittykatt and Trissie. The earlier wake up time made for a less than productive evening.
Little Bit went to a private church 4 year old program, KitKat. She “graduated” last week and will go to the public school for kindergarten in late August.

I got side tracked so hi Laura and helian

I need to find my list.

1-marine museum
2-errands

Menus
Thursday-fajita spiced shrimp and farro bowls
Friday-eat at party
Saturday-spicy bang bang chicken spinach salad
Sunday-firecracker turkey meatloaves w/ zucchini and broccoli

Events
Thursday-Little Bit 7:40-5, museum class for Little Bit@10:15, bocce for DD33 4:30-5:30
Friday- Little Bit 7:40-5, bday party for DD33’s friend@5:30, gather stuff for hazardous waste disposal tomorrow


Weekly House Blessing-mop bathroom
Detailed cleaning of dining room- scrub floor
Detailed cleaning of kitchen-wash cabinets, wash window, scrub floor, clean stove, clean oven, clean freezer
Death book-update DD33’s pages
Phone calls-
Extra stuff-


Accomplishments
-stretching and knee exercises
-breakfast for dog and me
-diet sites
-dress and pick up bedroom
-meds and temp for DD33
-start laundry
-walk
-pick up Little Bit
-figure out DD33’s transport issue
-feed birds
-reboot laundry
-snacks for Little Bit

[kitkat]

Good morning:)
Thank you for the start, trissie! Were you already familiar wih Toyen? (This is the first time I heard of her... Very interesting)
Glad to hear temperatures are dropping, Kittykatt.
LAnn - thanks for explaining. Does that mean LittleBit is with you for the summer?
helia - that little gain must be muscle... We fluctuate, depending on so many factors. (hydration, hormones, digestion...)


I'm late but have already
fed/took out pup
took my meds,
dropped off pup
watered all annuals outside
got cake ready for the oven.

Next:
check on laundry
start making sauce for the cake (never got to it yesterday)
clear/clean counters

PUPAs main
adv laundry
clean machine

[Doggedly]

Thank you for the start, trissie. I was interested to learn about Toyen--talk about being ahead of your time! And her work deserves to be remembered like Dali's.

I know what you mean about the heat, Kittykatt. 28 C is a normal summer temperature here, but you won't find me running arounnd in it, LOL. The difference is that by now, most of us have air conditioning, at least a portable air condition to cool one of our rooms.

That is a very interesting insight, helia. Science fiction is used to express things about society that you don't want to name directly to avoid going to jail or being cancelled, and I can see that in her paintings. I don't think that I would have thought of it in those terms.
I'll have to keep my eyes open for Dept. Q. I always watch TV with the closed captioning on, so I'll be all right with the accents,

Looks like you have a busy time ahead, Lauralind. I hope that you find some time to relax and let things go in all that, for your health.

Hi, L.Ann. Enjoy your time with Little Bit.

I have no accomplishments to list, other than giving Germane her heart pill. Yet.

--I see that kitkat has posted, and has already lapped me.