The Shapes of Clouds

[dotinthesky]

I once saw a ten-minute documentary on Channel 4 about the Cloud Appreciation Society. These people dedicate their lives to cataloguing, observing and searching out the most beautiful clouds in the world. Their eyes are constantly turned heavenwards, judging how exciting their days will be by the amorphous shapes that float above their heads. And the ultimate cloud? The most unique piece of fluff that all cloud enthusiast must experience one day in their life?





I love observing clouds. Maybe it has something to do with me being a Libra (air sign), but also a leftover from when I was a child and I thought I carried the power to create storms with the tips of my fingers. I've had dreams where I'm flying through clouds; I've flown a thousand times over clouds (inside airplanes that took me around the globe); I've taken photos of clouds shaping a sunset, a sunrise, or just the backdrop of a group of friends; I've laid in a dozen beds watching the clouds outside my window; I've judged my days by the clouds I saw outside the kitchen as I ate my breakfast; I've felt hopeless at being stuck at work because there were few clouds in the sky and the sun seemed so inviting. When the clouds are there, I feel hypnotized, emptied out of all my frustration and angst. Maybe the clouds are to blame for my constant daydreaming; their changing shapes reflect my changing moods, my changing desires.

Right now, my colleague has Air's album Talkie Walkie playing (how ironic, huh?) and I can observe the clouds that roam London's Southbank. They are purple with rain, but sparse-looking, like diluted watercolours. If I squint my eyes, I can discern a few shapes, a few "hills" that separate them. A plane now flies through the clouds, heading towards Heathrow. A seagull flies closer, between us and King's College. Do birds care about the clouds too?

Comments

[sarcaustik.livejournal.com]

I once really annoyed the person I was sitting next to on a flight to Switzerland in approximately 1992 by being impressed by small mountains of cloud.

I have "Clouds from Both Sides" stuck in my head now.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I don't know that song. Who sings it?

I always am stuck with the dilemma when flying of sitting by the window (and thus having fluffy clouds to stare at) or sitting by the corridor (and thus having easy access to walks and toilet).

[izzybees]

It's Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell. :)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Oh Joni...

[anastasia-girl.livejournal.com]

Oh, i just lovvvvvve this album. Especially Run and the last track Alone in Kyoto that was also used in Lost in Translation film.

I think the birds in fact shape the clouds with their wings :) We just don't know about it.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

When the birds fly south, their wings push the clouds in the opposite direction?

Yes, this album is lovely; it's a perfect soundtrack for a hot Summer day in the office.

[anastasia-girl.livejournal.com]

well when they fly they kind of stir the air, so the clouds change their form :):) sounds totally stupid!!!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

sounds very poetic!

[pirat-ponton.livejournal.com]

undoubtedly birds appreciate clouds in a way that we can never hope to, given their ability to see in 4-D or whatever

that's a beautiful pic - thanks for sharing!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

You are welcome. There are many more beautiful pics at the Cloud Appreciation Society. Enjoy!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love that too! It's something sadly lost in big cities, but when I'm at my mom's farm, I love to watch them run over the hills.

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

what about Orb's Little Fluffy Clouds? good song...


I rarely get a chance to observe clouds anymore, but I love when I do. Need to trek out to the park on a good cloud day and just hang out under a tree, lettin' the world pass by.

More frequently am I arrested by the site of a beautiful tree. They intrigue me, can keep me watching, can stop me in my tracks. Plants of all sorts make me want to learn their names and how they best grow. Not that I have a garden. you'd think I did, with that last paragraph. I always want one, but never seem to make one.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I hope you get to visit my farm in Brasil one day; we have so many wonderful plants, trees, flowers, but also a great sky that is constantly filled with clouds. You'd love it. :)

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

fabulous! I do, too. Maybe one of those retreats will work out for me some day.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Definetly. Next time I speak to my mom, I'm going to mention it to her!

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

ok! sounds good. then the freakin' price of a ticket needs to come down! too bad it's not in argentina...then my moolah would go farther.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

There are always out of season flights, which are cheaper!

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

ah! bill the retreat as that! (off season, that is)

[izzybees]

OMG I SAW THAT CLOUD ON MY FLIGHT OVER TO DUBLIN!!!

I thought it was a jet stream or something, I was totally blown away.

Now I don't even need to join the CAS! I win! I go directly to Cloud Paradise when I die!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I've never seen anything like that... they are apparently more common in Australia, where all the afficionados have to go at least once a year to try to catch them.

[artysmokes.livejournal.com]

That was dull. You should have written about one of the other suggestions. ;)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Dull is my middle name.

[arual.livejournal.com]

i didn't think it was dull :p I thought it was very lovely in fact.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[myendeavorca.livejournal.com]

Some people actually have conspiracy theories about jet streams/clouds. Like I've said before, i <3 conspiracy theories.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Morning glories are thicker and bigger than your average jet cloud, though.

[hunterjr.livejournal.com]

I could throw myself in those clouds, they look so cute =^.^=
so, you are a Libra? I thought you were a Virgo, because you seem to be so peaceful :D
I'm a Sagittarius ^_^

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Virgos are peaceful?!?! LOL

I like Sagittarians. I wish there were more of them in my life.

[hunterjr.livejournal.com]

well... I guess so :D
I mean, if you don't mess with them, of course!
so, you like Sagittarians! I know why... 'cause we're SO HOT babe! LMAO! just kidding ;)
btw, Kevin's sign is...?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Kevin is a Leo! Leos and Libras are very compatible. :)

[hunterjr.livejournal.com]

lucky you ^_^

viva imagination

[lion-for-real.livejournal.com]

[Libra, hmm? no wonder little Gemini-me digs you so much :)]

here's my proof that pigs can fly:

Libras + Geminis = mucho luv

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I knew Babe would make it to heaven...