On Air

George was invited to be interviewed on a local San Diego station yesterday to talk about his film in the upcoming festival next month. http://sdcjc.lfjcc.org/sdjff/2008/

Monday Haiku

Possibility

Write daily life in new ways
Wherever you are

rainy

The Bay Area is getting pounded by the storm(s)

"Artists to my mind are the real architects of change, and not the political legislators who implement change after the fact."

- William S. Burroughs, famous American poet, novelist & essayist

2008

New Year's LoveNothing changes on New Year's Day.... ~ U2

Quotes courtesy of Anthony Grant:

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."

— Edith Lovejoy

"New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time."

— James Agate

"People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas"

— Not sure who said this one

Happy Birthday Nephew

Happy 12th Birthday Justin!!! (& Hi Katie)
and a Happy New Year to All

soup

Unfortunately I've been sick the past few days... matzoh ball soup (above) helped...

The end of another year
It's been an interesting
insightful year
Took some risks
read a lot of books
thought a lot
wish I wrote as much as I thought
took a couple courses
with writers.com
I tend to do a personal reflection in September
during my birthday and the Jewish new year
and don't make resolutions
but do like to set optimistic intentions
Ali Edwards (http://www.aliedwards.typepad.com/ picks a word or phrase
as a focus for the year, I like to do that
I read a 400 page book in the past week
Hope to get out tomorrow, back on the Barbary Coast Trail we're exploring.
au revoir 2007

Joyeux Noël

God grant you...
the light of Christmas, which is faith;
the warmth of Christmas, which is love;
the radiance of Christmas, which is purity;
the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;
the belief of Christmas, which is truth;
the all of Christmas, which is Christ. Amen
~Wilda English

3 Stories - 1 post

1) Christmas tree in a Vase...
I didn't want to buy a tree this year. So at Andronico's Market I looked through the flower section and found a bouquet of pine and holly. I thought that was clever, so I got it and a red gladiola bunch for some color. I thought it was creative and looks festive. We put a bit of tinsel and one ornament and viola! Christmas in a vase this year.

2) Today on Christmas Eve, day, I went with George to the Blood Center to donate blood for my very first time. I was so pleased to be healthy enough to donate, wasn't sure about the iron, which happened to be fine. However, I was not hydrated enough or something because my vein starting pooping out and I couldn't quite get to the requirement level. That was a bummer but she said I should try again in two months. Oh well, at least I tried and will try again. They really need the blood.

3) Old McDonald had a Farm...
In our recent scrabble match, this was my hand (image above-a,e,i,o,u,a,e)..."Hello, I'd like to buy a consonant." It was a challenging game and Georgie won because, well I got stuck with the Q in the second to last draw. I actually used all my vowel's and had no move for the Q. There will be a rematch very soon.

We are enjoying a beautiful and quiet day here in San Francisco. Our big plans are to go out for Chinese food and attend the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at church tonight. Christmas blessings to you and yours.

p.s. Welcome home Mom & Dad from your trip to the Land Down Under!

A Tuesday Morning in December

A Tuesday Morning in December

Woke up to rain

Got ready for work and ate my favorite cereal, Trader Joes Organic Morning Lite

Walked out with George and umbrella

Caught the train and got a seat today

Thought about how I need to get a start on this week 6 assignment before I get behind again.

I love lists and fragments and just didn’t know where to begin

I remembered from an earlier writing class, we made list of obsessions and I thought maybe I’d do that again because that is a good way to show you what takes precedence at this place and time.

Came into work at 8:30

Checked messages and email

Left at 9:00

Walked in the rain five blocks to catch the 1 California bus

Bus came quick, got on and opened my book

Read the forward and intro to “This I Believe- The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women” short essays from a show on NPR.

At Steiner Street the bus lost power

A heavy set, older woman remarked, “This is what happens when they run everything by computers”, and made a few “I‘m in no mood for this” sighs.

We all got off this bus and hopped on the one behind it, the new driver maneuvered around stranded bus and took us to the intersection of California & Presidio where he announced this was his last stop.

I walked another two blocks to my appointment for a routine mammogram, which went fine despite the fact that they crush your boob between two plates then tell you to hold your breath while they take the digital x-ray. Yet, in this position I already couldn’t breathe!

I spent more time getting there than the actual appointment took.

20 minutes later I was across the street waiting to catch the bus back downtown.

I read a few of the essays in my new book. I like what Isabel Allende wrote following the untimely death of her daughter. Her greatest message was about GIVING. “Give, give, give - what is the point of having experience, knowledge, or talent if I don’t give it away? Of having stories if I don’t tell them to others? Of having wealth if I don’t share it?”

Got to my stop and walked five more blocks in the rain

Picked up a coffee at Starbucks

And was back to work by 10:30.

4 Days of Photoshop Training =

Happy Hanukkah

Happy 1st night of Hanukkah!

Today's Devotional

December 4 - Pastor Jon's Devotional ( http://www.joncourson.com/ )

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last ...
Revelation 1:10-11

Why is this repeated? After all, John said the same thing just two verses earlier. I suggest it is because most people don’t struggle with the Alpha or the Omega. They know God looked at creation and declared it good. And they know in the end, in heaven, things will be good. But where people have a hard time is in the middle. They question and struggle with the things going on presently. ‘Why is this happening? Why didn’t God do this? Where was God when that happened?’ they cry.

So what does a pastor, a theologian, a poet do? He whispers in peoples’ ears over and over again: God is in control. God is on the throne. The same God Who did the good work in the beginning is here in the middle, and will come through in the end.

And that’s what we must do. We must whisper over and over in the ears of our teenagers, our friends, our neighbors, ‘God is here, and He’s going to see you through.’

December 1st

(California Sky from airplane window)

I can't believe it is already December! Time is flying again. I am a couple pages away from finishing the Nora Ephron book "I Feel Bad About my Neck", a quick read and so amusing (thanks for letting me borrow it Mom). I really enjoyed it. She mentions things about that aging that I never even thought of (yet) like your neck, for instance and wearing turtlenecks...hmmm.. I guess I ought enjoy my neck while it still looks nice.

It's really cold here today so we are staying in our warm and cozy home for the evening. I did practice a little bit with Photoshop. I could attempt my week 4 writing assignment. I could read a book. But I think I'll take a break first and go lay on the futon, put on PBS for a little while and watch Rick Steves in Europe.

Thanksgiving collage

Thanksgiving Day pictures taken w/new camera... so much better!
Morning in the park, commuting on Muni, Molly, dinner table, and our lovely hosts, the Beckerley's.


So much to be thankful for.

OC Weekend

Lois Drew Birthday Party/ Neighborhood Reunion - the Drew family did a fantastic job!!

Family Visit at Steph's

It was a really nice weekend visit down in the OC. Saw family, old friends and neighbors. Here are a few pics... will write more about it soon.

Weekend Musings

We had a rainy Saturday and a sunny, brisk Sunday this weekend. I picked up Sasha Cagen's book "To Do List". Being a list-maker, I find it interesting and creative. I enjoyed an afternoon at Mr. Pinkwhistle salon having highlights applied, which turned out a nice caramel color. I also went shopping around Union Square for something to wear to a party next weekend, with no success.

At church it is the season where members share their experiences, thoughts, and beliefs about giving (financial pledges). It causes me to ponder about my desire to tithe, give, and serve along with my desire to spend! Balance is required. I've heard it said, by giving to our respective churches (and other charitable causes) we can send our money "ahead", meaning to send it on for use here of course, but with heavenly purpose. I have my spending and selfish weaknesses as confessed before, but I'd like to be more obedient about tithing and serving.

My faith life feels weak and it's so easy to become distracted by the cares of this world. I spent this afternoon at the Westfield Mall, still on my search for new clothes (to no avail). Even though I did not buy anything, as I tried on clothes in stores from H&M to Ann Taylor, I was choosing items that I thought had some style, some sass. Maybe we sometimes BUY into image, to re-create our own and wanting to change our look. This hairdo, that dress, those shoes, this bag, will create the new image. I have even bought a new journal in hopes of writing differently!
I find this curious.

Review ~ Second Life Cafe

I went to a “Second Life Café” exhibit/installation over the weekend. I am familiar with the popular virtual world of Second Life, though I have never participated as of yet. The room had tables and chairs set up, a table with coffee, tea, wine, and some snacks. Plants and flowers were placed around adding their colorful beauty. Among a couple other multimedia installations, I watched the large main screen viewing the artist and avatar Cecil, going around various places and interacting with other avatars. In this café setting, the sound system let us hear “Cecil” as he navigated around Second Life having conversations, listening to music in different areas from museums to discos, as well as, poetry readings.

Cecil had an impromptu conversation with a female avatar, who when asked what her experience has been like, she said, “Talking with people here feels more human than real life sometimes. You cut through the chase and get to the good stuff quicker.” There is quite a creative community in there ranging from poets, painters, sculpture artists, designers, singers, filmmakers, and more.

I sat at a table with a glass of white wine and a blank page. It was an inspiring environment to do some writing. Listening to interesting and creative people interacting through their avatars, watching Cecil go through the Virtual Louvre with its beautiful paintings and sculptures inside. Hearing different languages spoken as he approached international communities, like a Brazilian crowd in a dance club. It’s also a fun and safe way to experiment and try on other styles and characteristics of our personalities. There is loads of possibility.

I glimpsed the educational value and artistic experimentation that is available here. As the Real World moves more towards the Virtual World, I can imagine how this technology will change some of our daily activities and/or interactions. It’s only going to continually improve in quality and perhaps necessity at some point. It’s just important to keep a healthy balance between both worlds.

Cecil's blog ~ http://cecilhirvi.blogspot.com/

Brian or Britney?

At my office yesterday:

"It's amazing how long it takes to complete
something you're not working on."
~ R.D. Clyde

Wisdom from Dennis Palumbo:
"Writing begets writing; not writing begets not writing."

Today's Author Event

I saw Maira Kalman speak today. She's quite a talented and interesting woman, also the sort of person who is all over the place, making associations and often digressing. She has her hands in a variety of creative aspects from writing, painting, drawing/sketching, photographing, to music. Her new book “The Principles of Uncertainty” displays her various art forms throughout the narrative which covers one year of her life, asking questions and navigating her way.

Simply, asking what wonderful or beautiful thing you notice in this day, operating from a place of balance between freedom and structure, this made feel like wanting to be more ‘EXPANSIVE'. I haven’t been doing creative work lately, it’s just in my head, no action whatsoever. It’s time to get back to the page and just practice. Thinking is not writing. Writing IS writing. There are also art supplies and collage materials waiting too long to be used.

She mentioned finding material everywhere, just walking down the street in New York. I think a good way to begin is to be open and attentive through our senses each day. Paying attention to daily life here in the city, to what and who I see, noticing the smells, picking up bits of dialogue, which can all amount to any number of ideas or associations. Then taking out a pen and writing down some thoughts or notes. It’s just that simple.

From Amazon:
Maira Kalman paints her highly personal worldview in an inimitable combination of image and text. The Principles of Uncertainty is an irresistible invitation to experience life through the psyche of Maira Kalman, one of this country's most beloved artists. The result is a book that is part personal narrative, part documentary, part travelogue, part chapbook, and all Kalman.

Her brilliant, whimsical paintings, ideas, and images-which initially appear random-ultimately form an intricately interconnected worldview, an idiosyncratic inner monologue. Kalman contends with some existential questions-What is identity? What is happiness? Why do we fight wars? And then, of course, death, love, and candy (not necessarily in that order).

The tremendous success of Kalman's 2005 illustrated edition of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style established her as an original, inspirational voice, and the quirky, hilarious, heartbreaking style of The Principles of Uncertainty reveals Maira Kalman for what she truly is: a national treasure.