Birthday Haiku

9th of September

Forty-One years young

Cards, calls, cake, love, and wishes

Writer discovery

(photo from Gary on Moleskinerie)

This week in one of my many newsletter subscriptions I discovered a very cool link:
http://www.writingtime.net/
Barbara Abercrombie teaches in the Writers program at UCLA Extension, and has published a variety of books and articles. I am reading her current book, "Courage and Craft" which is great so far. She gives little assignments and prompts as well as covering various different forms like essays, fiction, poetry, etc. I already love it and can relate to her.

From Chapter 1- Getting Started:
"I always think what I'm writing in my journal is boring. Even if something happens, I think the way I write about it isn't doing the event justice. But I know from experience that I'll reread what I've written in a few months or years and be surprised by the fact that it isn't boring at all."

This just in

I just saw this (on YAHOO news) and posted part of the article:
By CARA RUBINSKY, Associated Press Writer / Associated Press writers Polly Anderson in New York and John Christoffersen in New Haven contributed to this report.

Author Madeleine L'Engle, whose novel "A Wrinkle in Time" has been enjoyed by generations of schoolchildren and adults since the 1960s, has died, her publicist said Friday. She was 88.
L'Engle died Thursday at a nursing home in Litchfield of natural causes, according to Jennifer Doerr, publicity manager for publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

The Newbery Medal winner wrote more than 60 books, including fantasies, poetry and memoirs, often highlighting spiritual themes and her Christian faith.

Although L'Engle was often labeled a children's author, she disliked that classification. In a 1993 Associated Press interview, she said she did not write down to children.

"In my dreams, I never have an age," she said. "I never write for any age group in mind. When people do, they tend to be tolerant and condescending and they don't write as well as they can write.

"When you underestimate your audience, you're cutting yourself off from your best work."

I'm thinking about...

What George and I will do this weekend

what kind of cake to make for my birthday this Sunday

the approach of my favorite season, Autumn

with all its beauty and delights

pumpkin and butternut squash and apples

colorful leaves, the daylight is different, and air becomes crisper

(also Football season begins)

Keri Smith's creativity and her abundance of ideas http://www.kerismith.com/blog/

(and her cute non-planner datebook!)

writing and submitting for publication

the colors red and brown

corduroy

sunflowers

remembering to take the news reporting with a grain of salt

(you know, because of the influence of the M.I.C. and various equivalents)

learning something new like more French, or photoshop

Our new plan to work towards extended travel/possible re-lo

and it's only 10am ;)

Movie Recommendation

We just rented this great German movie, "The Lives of Others". The story, the actors, the details, will transport you back into this time and place in history before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

This critically-acclaimed, Oscar®-winning film (Best Foreign Language Film, 2006) is the erotic, emotionally-charged experience Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) calls "a nail-biter of a thriller!" Before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, East Germany’s population was closely monitored by the State Secret Police (Stasi). Only a few citizens above suspicion, like renowned pro-Socialist playwright Georg Dreyman, were permitted to lead private lives. But when a corrupt government official falls for Georg’s stunning actress-girlfriend, Christa, an ambitious Stasi policeman is ordered to bug the writer’s apartment to gain incriminating evidence against the rival. Now, what the officer discovers is about to dramatically change their lives - as well as his - in this seductive political thriller Peter Travers (Rolling Stone) proclaims is "the best kind of movie: one you can’t get out of your head."

Importance of Letting Go

I decided it's time to let go of some ideas and beliefs. Those I've revised in my mind and those out of my control. I believe that by letting go of these expectations removes the disappointment factor, consequently inviting the element of surprise. Either way, I think this will help me to make peace in my own heart and to feel positive and motivated to continue living my life the best I can. In the end, I simply want my life to count for God's purposes & using my gifts & talents, to have loved well, and lived well.

1. A dream job.
I don't think I have one!! I have started to resolve that it's okay to have a j-o-b that you are good at, and that supports your lifestyle and needs. My dreams aren't about work anyway. They are about travelling, learning, and continuing to write. Those are thing I will continue do regardless of a job. The fact is, I need income, health insurance and a 401K. It works better for me to get those things met at a decent company.

2. Marriage.
Yes, I always hoped to get married when it's right, but I no longer want to have to persuade or defend that desire. I am happy in my relationship with my Georgie (of six years) and I want to be with him and share our lives and loves.

To those people who in my life who feel this might be giving up or compromising, please understand that it is really just a new and improved perspective. I don't want to continue hoping for things that unlikely, I'd rather just hope for that which I can work towards. I am choosing to set those expectations free and let the weights go. Free myself up to live in the present and live the best I can each day, open to its gifts, challenges, or even surprises. That's all we really have anyway.

2 reasons I still watch Giant's Baseball...

Rich Aurilia and Barry Bonds. Otherwise why bother with a team that is fighting for last place?

Happy Anniversary AUGUST 28

Happy 47th wedding-anniversary!

Congratulations Mom & Dad

You should be proud (I am)!

Happy Birthday Simone

This was the only picture I could find...

I wish you a very happy birthday, Simone!!

May you be surrounded with beauty, love, and joy.

God bless you.

Love to you and cutie-pie, Ocean

rant and rave

(photo of Baked Macaroni dinner - yum!)
I was glad to go back to work last week. It's also nice to catch up with old co-workers. Friday I made my heart-healthy pumpkin bread, man we can't get enough. It's seriously too good! (not to boast)
Yesterday I went to Somarts w/George (and Trader Joes!) for a performance he was documenting. I heard a few nice poems.

We left around 5ish and headed back to Muni. OMG, I think we waited at least 40 minutes before an N train showed up, and it was PACKED, of course. So we wait another 10-or-15 minutes for the next N. I am all for public transportation and choose not to own a car. But transit here can stress you out and piss you off sometimes!!! I think it's inexcusable really. How does a city that encourages the people to use Public Transit, consistently decline in reliability? An occasional delay is one thing but to add another hour-plus to your commute just plain sucks. Poor George rarely even has to take muni and at least 50 percent or more of the time he experiences extreme delays. *sigh* Okay... time to write a letter to someone in charge.

So we finally got home.... prepared a tasty dinner, (as shown) and watched Star Trek at 9:00. I love that show.
Today we did a major house cleaning. It only took an hour or so because this place is pretty small. And now we reap the rewards of a shiny, spotless home. The weather hasn't cleared up, overcast all day so far. But we are listening to the INXS folder on the IPOD and that makes me happy no matter what. :)
I'm hungry now and it's time for some left-overs.

My Sister

Happy Birthday Steph!!

Hope you did something special with your family

and had some cake

to celebrate while on your vacation in Atlantis.

I wish you:

good health-physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually

time for simple joys of your own

more flexibility and freedom w/your work

grace to continue being the wonderful

sister, daughter, wife, mother, aunt, friend...

that you already are.

Lots of love.

Last day being unemployed for awhile

So this morning was sunny and we walked to the Japanese Tea Garden during the free hour. Today is my last day off before going back to work for awhile. Even though I don't feel like I actually did all that much, the time went by fast! It's been so different to have these unplanned, unstructured days. My online writing class is ending this week, it's been such a good group! Everyone has been great about posting comments & feedback on eachother's pieces.

In September I like to set new goals (the time of my birthday and the Jewish New Year). Here's a little early brainstorming:

1) New research project: Learn about making 'transitions abroad' (which is atually the name of an informative website!) and utilize my contacts.
2) Lose 10 pounds, again (fess up and go back to Weight Watchers...? what have you decided Cathy?)
3) Find out how to get blogging gigs - and get one!
4) Continue & make progress with the soul-search.
5) Find some Health Insurance .... affordable & usable, does it exist? Huge issue, ugh.

That's a start.

My Dad

Happy Birthday Dad ~

This photo is from last year when we all spent your birthday in Alaska.
You continue to be an example to me in many ways:
The simple pleasures you enjoy like puzzles and sports
You are often the life of the party
with your entertaining skills and humor
especially at family gatherings
You are a trend setter (with your jokes/'teeth')
You truly 'don't sweat the small stuff'
You are generous
Thanks for being a great father
Thanks for the youthful genes
that run in the entire family
(However; I could do without the hereditary high cholesterol)
xoxo, Daughter No. 1

Multimedia message

Dahlia show at the Country Fair Bldg./GG Park (from cellphone)

What a beautiful afternoon! (translation= sunny day, warm, blue sky) We took a nice stroll through the park about 20 blocks up and 20 back. We are pretty sure we saw Mayor Newsom at the park with a gathering that included a kids jumpy and a BBQ/food. After this post, I will move on from the dahlia pictures for awhile.

Hello Dahlia

When you look out the bedroom window upon waking and the sky is clear, you know it's going to be a beautiful day here! And indeed it was. I went to the park 3 times today, twice with George. First a morning walk with coffee and little nosh to the botanical garden and a brief stroll in the Japanese Tea Garden during the free hour. Then I went back around 11ish to get a little sun, then we just went to the Shakespeare Garden around 2:30 to have some lunch and white wine there.

I took these pics the other day. See how bloomin' the Dahlia Garden is in August?! I can't get over the explosive colors here!



That white palace building behind the dahlias is the Conservatory of Flowers.

Successful cousins

Mindy, Betsy, & Jaye at Madeline's Bat-Mitzvah
I have many first and second cousins on my dad's side.These are three of my cousins who I admire for their creativity and success. Mindy is a well-known party planner with many celebrity weddings under her belt http://www.mindyweiss.com/. Betsy is a writer and has had two children's books published http://books.google.com/books?as_auth=Betsy+R+Rosenthal&ots=kbtm4pzh-g&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title . Jaye is in the fashion biz with her hip boutique in LA "Intuition" http://www.shopintuition.com/. I usually only see them at Bar/Bat Mitzvah's, weddings, and the occasional holiday, but they are always really cool and down-to-earth and hard to believe they all have pretty grown-up kids. Youthful appearances also run in the family.

7 Things I learned during my self-imposed summer break

1) In San Francisco, don’t count on Temp/Recruiter Agencies to keep you busy. My initial plan was to ‘temp’ at various companies to see what else is out there, you know, get some exposure. The reality has been that I had two calls in three months from my agencies, and one was for an interview for a 2-month temp gig that I wasn’t able to go to because of such short notice. I’ve done far better on my own with: a) previous employers contract jobs, b) responding to jobs on Craigslist and getting interviews.

2) Other than going to the gym most days, unless I have an appointment or some sort of plans, I tend to piss the day away and I don’t even watch TV during the day! And, the weather has not been all that nice here especially in our neighborhood otherwise I’d have been at the park more days. I learned that some structure works better for me.

3) I could work from home part-time when I figure out how to start being a freelance writer, and I’d love to get a blogging job(s)!

4) I haven’t been motivated to cook as much, which isn’t the smartest thing when you temporarily have no income. We’ve picked up burritos and Chinese a tad more frequently.

5) I also learned that I especially enjoy the luxury of going out to breakfast on a weekday. George and I have been going to our neighborhood coffee shop Howard’s lately. We usually sit at a table by the window that looks out across the street where our Muni train stop is. As we enjoy the ‘weekday special’ (eggs, bacon or sausage, hash brown potatoes, toast) and coffee, we notice nearly everyone has expressionless faces on the train. A look I remember all too well.

6) Not working is overrated unless you have more things you enjoy to fill your time without the worries of health insurance or money, but flexible hours and days are appealing to me.

7) Since I begin a three-month contract job next week, I hope to find ways to have a variety of income sources. Aside from said contract job, something fun part-time, and get something going on my own as stated in no. 3.

Sight Intoxication

Dahlia Garden Fall, 2006

After dinner this evening George and I took a walk to the Dahlia Garden behind the Conservatory of Flowers. They are usually in full bloom during September & October, so you can imagine our surprise when we saw an array of color in mid-August. I love dahlias with their vibrant colors and unique textures (makes up for their lack of fragrance). This is one of my favorite places in Golden Gate Park.

13 years

Happy Anniversary Steph & James!

13 years, 2 kids, 1 dog, all sorts of amphibians later.... still going strong. Have a great time on your vacation to Atlantis. Take lots of pictures to show us. I think I snagged this picture from mom because it shows the date! Say hi to Justin & Katie from their favorite Aunt Anni & George.

xoxo

The Late Bloomer's Revolution

This is my current read. Amy is very funny but her stories are also heartfelt. I definitely recommend this book.

In quick succession, Amy Cohen lost her job writing sitcoms, her boyfriend (with whom she's been talking marriage), and her mom, after a long bout with cancer. Not exactly the stuff humor thrives on, is it? But filtered through Amy's worldview, there's comedy in the most unexpected places. In this unforgettable, engaging memoir, she recounts her (seemingly) never-ending search for love, her evolving relationship with her widowed dad, and her own almost unintentional growth as she stumbles through life. - from http://www.byamycohen.com/index.html