Merry Christmas!

Don't send a lame Holiday eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

Garlic Festival

Here are links to the vids I recorded at the Garlic Festival. In one of 'em, you can hear Nan Patience talking about the turkeys...one of the funniest things I hear all day!

Garlic Man

Garlic Festival Part Deux

AWOL Soldier

Apparently, there are many US soldiers who oppose the war. Here is a message from one who went AWOL, talking about what the people of Iraq are like and why he went AWOL. Not graphic.

A freedom of speech issue?

Here's one for a discussion... What do you think?

Homeless Youth

This issue might be my next theatrical project. It touches me deeply.

My Brilliant New Career

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!
I've been taking some dance lessons...check this out!

Battle of the YouTube MomStars!

Last fall, one of the guys on YouTube held a "contest," the Battle of the YouTube Stars, pitting some "weblebrities" against each other. This spring, another Tuber organized a battle of the YouTube Non-Stars. She paired up a bunch of Tubers with less than 1000 subscribers. It was a lot of fun, and she did another season of it this summer with all new contestants. Well, Now there is the Battle of the YouTube MomStars, organized by TheBennyZone, a twenty-something guy who, as a tribute to his own mom, wanted to celebrate all the moms on YT. Well, I am in that...yep...and I actually won the first round! We are now about to begin the second round. Once all 14 moms (we are paired off so there are 7 battles to vote on) have their video entry in, the voting will begin. We are waiting for 2 more moms. I have added a link over to the right to my channel, where you can watch my entry and other vlogs I have there. I have a series called Backstage Stories" (okay, not a very imaginative title - if you have any ideas, please feel free to share), in which I chronicle assorted behind-the-scenes bloopers from my 25 years in theatre. I respond to other peoples' videos. I now have 80 subscribers! Who'da thunk I'd actually have fans! But it's been great, and through this contest I've met some really interesting and kind people. One of my favorites is MacBraveheart from Scotland. She's in the MomStars, too, and somebody I know you all would like alot.

So, I've probably been spending too much time over there, but the feeling I get must be akin to what explorers feel when discovering a new world. This is the future. I don't believe it's going away. It's become an excellent way to promote your business or talents if you want, too. And it's free! So, I will continue to spend time there, but I am going to try harder to check in here more often, and to post.

If you read my article in LI Pulse about the YouTube gathering in NYC, you will know there is that need to connect in this physical plane of existence. SO - we need to do coffee sometime soon...maybe once Luna settles into her new routine! :)

What Celeb Do You Look Like?

There is a website at which you can upload your photo and it calculates which celebs you look like. The site also can be a tool for charting your family tree. Check out My Heritage. Here are my results:



You can also morph yourself into any one of the celebs you look like. It's quick and rally funny! Just another play on the computer in our "copious spare time!" ;)

"Minority Report" Could Happen

I read a disturbing article in Newsday the other day and have been meaning to post about it. "Homeland Security Exploring Mass-scanning System" describes the federal government's efforts to design a technological means to identify someone who is THINKING of committing a terrorist attack! I don't know if you saw the movie, "Minority Report" with Tom Cruise. It envisioned a future in which, through a combination of science and psychics, they could predict if someone would commit a crime in the future, and arrest them before they did it. I thought it was a pretty laughable movie...that is, until I read this article. Here is an excerpt:

Tools to fight terror?
Federal Homeland Security officials are exploring how technology can help screeners identify people entering the U.S. with "hostile intent" through two different programs:

FUTURE ATTRIBUTE SCREENING TECHNOLOGY (FAST) PROJECT SENSOR FUSION
Seeking a system that could detect deceptive behavior through physiological and behavioral cues including heartbeat, respiration and facial expression. Technologies used could include thermal imaging, infrared cameras and audio and eye-tracking.

PROJECT HOSTILE INTENT
Monitoring facial expressions and other behavioral, speech and physiological cues through video monitors to identify people "involved in possible malicious or deceitful acts" before they commit a crime. Would work in real time and be "non-invasive," without disrupting the flow of passengers.

And did you know this?:
"Behavioral detection is already used by specially trained officers in the Transportation Security Administration - with 273 arrests made as a result since June 2004, said spokesman Christopher White. That detection is done by individuals trained to recognize subtle facial expressions. "We're very encouraged by the program and we plan to expand it," White said."

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I'm still here!

Yeah, I know...I haven't been around her much lately. I've been busy with writing and theatre. We have three productions coming up: "Hate Mail" next weekend. It's a hilarious spin-off from "Love Letters." Then mid-September, we have "300 Stories of Sag Harbor." But Stacy's and my latest and biggest project is "Homofiles." We've been developing this play [and here is some text from the intro letter we've developed] with the goal of significantly raising awareness and understanding of gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgender life as a normative state; exploring how and why discrimination and violence still exists here; and illuminating what sometimes lies beneath the thin veneer of liberality. The play will be monologue-driven and feature several adult actors portraying a multitude of roles. We plan to use the historic success of “Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues” as the inspiration to create a springboard for dialogue among diverse audiences.

The foundation of the play is built on actual interviews we've been conducting with men and women of wide ranging ages and ethnicities. It will give voice to the various dimensions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender life in America.

So yeah, that's what I've been up to. And looking for a real job. Since theatre just doesn't pay. Just in case anyone wondered...

Farewell, Harry

And so, the seventh and final book of the great Harry Potter epic tale, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, arrived this past weekend. My copy, pre-ordered since March, landed in my PO box on Saturday, and I couldn't wait to dive in. I had re-read the previous two books in anticipation, and opened the treasured tome Saturday afternoon, ready to lose myself in Harry's world of magic and adventure, good and evil, honor and mischief, laughter and tears.

Simply because of its popularity, I resisted the lure of the Harry Potter phenom. Until, that is, just after the third book, Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban, was released in 1999. It was then that I finally decided to see what all the hubub was about, since it WAS a favorite genre, and picked up a paperback of the first book, the Sorceror's Stone (1997). I read the whole book in one day. There are books that are so good that when I put them down, they scream out to me so loudly that I can barely focus on anything else. JK Rowling's book was just that kind of book. As soon as I finished it, I went out and bought the hardcover of the next one, HP and the Chamber of Secrets and then the third, and I gobbled them up. Now I had to wait a year with everyone else for the 4th book, but I also had the films (that's for another blog)!

With the 4th, 5th, and 6th books, I tried valiantly to make them last, but read each within a day or two, not having the willpower to put them down for long. Rowling's writing style is very nearly hypnotic. Simple, yet elegant. Easy, yet challenging. Brilliant. As was the intricate, epic, seven-years long plot, not including background and set-ups from several previous generations. The themes are mythic, Joseph Campbell would have been impressed: the hero's journey, good vs. evil, human weaknesses vs human strengths. Wonderful messages imparted, better than in the lame fairy tales we heard as children. "It's not your abilities that make you who you are, it's the choices you make." - one of my favorites from the first book. I hear it's already required reading in some schools. I think that's just a beginning.

And so, here we are at the final book. All the questions over these last few years, the guessing...when Harry finally stands against his nemesis, who will walk away? Who among Harry's loyal friends will die? Is Snape, the seemingly evil Potions Master really Dumbledore's man? Or do his actions tell the truth? So many more questions, but these are at the front of any HP fan's mind. It is a testament to Rowling's talent that we have come to care so much for these characters. She has created such multi-dimensional, REAL people of them that we feel we have lived the last 7 years of their lives with them. We have grown to love them as our own friends and family.

I finished the final 3 chapters and epilogue this morning. I cried a lot during the last quarter of the book...yes, I am emotionally invested. I believe that Rowling ended the book the best possible way. There were other ways she could have ended it, but I am happy with this ending. And it is an ending, I believe. I hope she doesn't give in to the fans who are already starting up a campaign for more HP books. I myself look to the future for what Rowling has to share with us. I am hopeful that there are more wonderful tales from the mind that dreamed up the World of Harry Potter. In the meantime, I plan to go back to the beginning...

The Good News and the Bad News...

I know, I’ve been gone quite awhile. I feel like I’ve been sick for months! The day after my birthday, right after my second to last post, I had a very weird episode. For some reason, we still don’t know why, my body became dehydrated (despite the three bottles of water I had already drunk) – my heart rate shot up to the 140s (nearly double normal), my blood pressure was nearly inaudible (they eventually got a reading of 90 over 70), I was exhausted and short of breath. Ended up in the hospital for a couple of days. The good news is, turns out my heart is healthy and strong. What most likely happened is that the dehydration triggered a misfire in my heartbeat that started the whole racing heartbeat and low blood pressure. I'm on medication to keep it that way for now...but we still don't know what made me dehydrated. It's a mystery. THEN I came down with a crummy summer cold last week. So this is why I’ve been MIA. I feel like this week I am finally re-entering the world after a long time underground!

The bad news is...here is something scary I recently learned:

INTERNET DOOMSDAY CREEPS CLOSER
Steve Watson, Infowars.net, Monday, June 4, 2007

“Recent proposals in the U.S. Congress are taking a huge swipe at freedom in America once again by aiming to impose multiple different forms of crippling taxation and restriction on users of the internet.

“State and local governments this week resumed a push to lobby Congress for far-reaching changes on two different fronts: gaining the ability to impose sales taxes on Net shopping, and being able to levy new monthly taxes on DSL and other Internet-service connections. One senator is even predicting taxes on e-mail, reports CNet.”

How did I not hear about this until just now? It's bad enough we have to pay to access the Internet, but now they are going to TAX us to get here? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

YouTube...again

Yeah, I don't mean to harp on it, but since LunaChick brought it up, and since I haven't posted in a bit, I thought I'd just touch on it. Sure, YouTube is certainly a world unto itself. I am writing a story for LI Pulse about the upcoming New York City gathering this Saturday - 7/7/7. YouTubers from around the world are flocking to Washington Square Park to meet each other and have fun. I'm looking forward to it, not only to get enough material for more than one article, but to meet some people I've been watching and corresponding with for nearly a year. Yes, YT is a community, with all the good and bad implications that go with that, but it is even more...I interviewed YT-er from Long Island yesterday for the story, and what a great guy. I'd been a subscriber of his for about six months, and he is just a regular guy who happens to be very talented and loves filmmaking. More than just a community, YT is also a venue for people to express themselves creatively. And people are. And some are getting discovered by more traditional media!

Which brings me to the part where LunaChick said she is more of a music person. YT is a great place to discover musicians who are just starting out! Instead of imbedding bulky videos below, I'm posting links to some of the artists I enjoy, and who you might like. Take notice. You may be hearing them on the radio soon enough!

Ysabellabrave - Maryanne has already been signed by Warner's boutique "E" line

The Velvet Hearts - a duo, piano and guitar, with a Randy Newman-ish-voiced singer who do folky-rock originals. Check out "Peace is a Loaded Gun." It's a powerful war protest song; you may want to just listen - the video images are pretty harsh.

TerraNaomi - she is playing the Live Earth concert at Wembley Stadium. ALso got signed to somebody recently.

That's it for now. But you can always go to the Musician Channels and discover someone on your own. :)

Laughing Litter

I DARE you not to laugh out loud!!



But it does make me tired just thinking about having all these at once!

Hip or Dangerous?

And now on a COMPLETELY different note...here's a fun game I must try myelf sometime. From an episode of a web comedy series, The Burg, set in Williamsburg.

Citizen YouTube!

You may or may not know that many, if not all, candidates running in the next big elections have their own YT accounts, making themselves accessible in ways never before imagined. They will be running the most personal, one-on-one campaigns in history. Here is one more example of how this website is bringing new opportunities to us "common folk." YouTube Debates

"The First Day of My Life"

by Bright Eyes - not a new song. But what a sweet hopeful little ditty, and what a sweet hopeful little video.

Feist

Here is another, more established singer/songwriter, although she still isn't as well-known as she should/will be. She has a different sound and I love her dancing in her videos. You can see all her videos at her YouTube site. Let me know what you think.

Memorial Day

Yesterday morning, Jim and I were hanging back in bed and listening to a radio show from Connecticut on 600AM called the Italian House Party with John LaBarca. It’s this old-timey show with this guy who grew up in Brooklyn in an old world Italian neighborhood with his old world Italian family. He plays anything from Italian opera to Frank Sinatra and it reminds me of my own childhood, even though my grandparents never lived in Brooklyn. When they came over from Sicily, they ended up in New Jersey on a farm. My grandfather grew grapes and made his own wine.

But anyway, Jim enjoys it, too, so we sorta snuggle and talk and listen to this hokey radio show. And since it is Memorial Day weekend, good old John began the show with “Stars and Stripes, Forever.” Boy, I haven’t heard that song in quite a while. When it was over, he got up on his soapbox and basically, the essence of what he was saying was that patriotism has nothing to do with political affiliation. That this weekend, we should try to remember the people throughout our history who have fought for our freedom and to honor them and be grateful. That regardless of how we feel about what our leaders are doing at the moment, this is still our country and it’s the best country in the world.

Umm. Yeah….I mostly feel that way, too, I guess. Yes. Surely, there is a lot wrong here, but I mean, there is a lot wrong everywhere. I really don’t think I’d want to live anywhere else. And there are good things. People tend to forget about the good things. So I will take my buddy John’s advice and take a moment to thank and honor those men and women who have fought for the freedom we enjoy today. I will, however, continue to dream of a future in which all war will be unnecessary.

Reincarnation Station

Wanna have a little fun? Go to Reincarnation Station and take the quiz. Once you complete it, hit "Reincarnate Me" and it will tell you what animal you will come back as. I guess all the answers are animals. BUT you MUST be honest. Answer the questions as truthfully as you can, otherwise you won't have fun with the answer.

Funny, I took the quiz once as myself. I answered as honestly as I could and I got one answer. I then went back and answered all the answers the exact same way, but as a man. Heh heh...as a woman, I came back on a higher level. Hmmm.....I wonder who wrote this thing....

Serious Woodworking Magazine...?

Okay, the below cartoon was in Woodshop News, a magazine for professional woodworkers. It's a cartoon called 60 Grit, Rough humor by Steve Spiro. It happened to be lying open in the bathroom one day and when I glanced down and saw this, well, let's just say I'm glad it was in the bathroom...

I mentioned it to some friends and they made me promise to post it. I don't think one needs to be from any particular generation or have any particular history to be able to laugh at this one!


"Stan always felt paranoid when in possession of a joint."

Terra Naomi

She's a YouTuber, a singer-songwriter who's been picked up by Island Records. Her new CD is being released next month and this is the "official video" of her first single, "Say It's Possible." I've been following her progress since last fall. I predict she is going to be big...you can say you saw her here first...

Terra Naomi

Drunk Driving

This isn't pretty. But if you have any kids who are getting to the age of either driving drunk or having the opportunity to make a decision to get in the car with a drunk driver, this may or may not be something you want them to see. The Scared Straight program was proven to have some value in deterring youth from crime. I think this might have some value in deterring them from driving drunk or even letting a friend drive drunk. I'm sure you'll let me know if you disagree...

See what happens when you don't think!

Judgements

This video says it all...how we make split second judgements about people based on either our ignorance or experience. That old cliche, "you can't judge a book by its cover" is a cliche because it's based in truth. Aren't all cliches? Check this out.

Standing Women Report

Well, I went down to the river yesterday to "stand to save the world" as part of the Standing Women. It was such a beautiful day, I was going to walk the dog down there, but I couldn't find his leash and ended up driving. I didn't expect a crowd, but I thought there would be SOME people. At ten to one, there was no one! I took a seat on a bench facing the river and enjoyed the warmth of the sun on my face. Since I don't sunbathe (haven't since my early 30s), it felt decadently good. There was a cool breeze and birds calling and it just felt good to be outside after being cooped up all week in my office.

I figured, oh well, so it will just be me. It was worth a try. It wasn't mine, but it was a good idea and I was going to see it through. I looked around, and a few minutes later, I noticed a small band of four women and a young boy walking along the boardwalk. I could hear their voices clearly. One of them said that "it's supposed to be behind Sears" and I knew I was not to be alone. I got up and approached them.

"You're here for the Standing Women?" I asked.
"Yes"
"Great! I thought I was going to be the only one!"

Introductions were made and they laid out their lunches on a picnic table. They had heard about it from someone who had emailed them from the city! That must have come from my original email blast. But they also saw it in the paper. One woman brought several bells to share.

On the stroke of 1:00pm (I used my cell phone for correct time), we rang the bells and I struck my chime, and we just stood in silence. I focused my thoughts on words that evoked feelings for me: peace, abundance, health, love, acceptance, friendship, respect...and also the planet enveloped in radiant white light. I was aware of the sun, the breeze, the birds, the "green" smell...that all helped to focus on the good stuff. I only checked the time once before the five minutes were up. When I did, I also looked up and saw our small band of women and one small boy just standing there, separate but together. I wasn't disappointed anymore. At 1:05, I struck my chime. My fellow standers rang their bells, and I turned and saw two other friends who had arrived a bit late. We all talked a little about what we had visioned. We talked about being moms and how we should do this again. I wonder if it had not been Mother's Day, if more people would have come. I wonder if this were more successful in more urban areas. There are still many people who don't "get" positive visualization and the power it can have.

In the end, I left the river that afternoon with a sense of both having done something positive, but also of having not done enough.

For Jeanne

I was doing some spring cleaning today and happened upon a box of old stuff. I found this thing I wrote about my mom three months before she passed away. It was meant to be a tribute to her, one she could read before she died. And yes, I did give it to her. I’d forgotten all about it. I thought it was kind of synchronistic…me finding this now. Not only is Mother’s Day (May 13) approaching, but the anniversary of her death is, too. May 12. Next weekend is going to be rough, so if I’m going to do this, I better do it now…

Whenever I read a tribute to someone, it’s to someone who has died. The other night, I was driving to a rehearsal for a play I’m in and I started thinking about my mother’s situation. About how I was going to dedicate my performance in this play to her. And then I thought about writing a tribute to her before she dies. A way to express my gratitude and love. She was diagnosed as having inoperable cancer January of 1993. They gave her three to six months. Here it is, February of 1994 and Mom is still hanging in there. Am I surprised? Not really. I learned early on that in this struggle of life, I am a survivor. No matter what curve ball comes my way, now matter how awful it gets, I refuse to be beaten. Now I know where I got that quality from. From both my parents, actually. But I think mostly from Mom.

All my life, one thing was very clear to me about my parents. They were not only very much in love, but they were always there for each other. Most marriages have rough patches, but I know my parents had some abnormally difficult times. And they stuck with it because, I suppose, it was worth it to them. They have traveled that road for more than 40 years together. And now, as they are facing the imminent death of one of them, the “finite-ness” of their “couple-ness,” to coin a couple of words, it is ever more clear what a symbiotic relationship they have. And it is ever more clear the strength my mother holds within her.

I remember mom when I was a child. I remember how pretty she was and how gentle and kind and understanding she was. She has never failed to be there for me when I needed her. Now that I am a mother myself, I can say with some certainty that she would disagree with that. But if she were right, the times she failed were not important, because I have no memory of them.

I remember her comforting me when I was sick, or was in any kind of emotional turmoil. Some cruel children would make fun of my skinny, flat-chested adolescent body and painfully shy self. She kept assuring me that I was like her, a “late bloomer.” “Wait until you get a little older,” she’d say. “The boys won’t know what hit ‘em!” She was right, too. Oh, no, I didn’t turn out to be a bombshell or anything like that, but those hormones eventually did work their magic and I did eventually become a woman…wonder of wonders.

During my high school years, she dispensed wisdom, warmth and advice to many of my girlfriends, who found it easier to talk to her than to their own mothers. It was she who advised against fighting with my best friend over a boy. “Boys will come and go in your life, but good friends last a lifetime.” That struck a chord deep inside of me and I and I took that lesson to heart. She gave me my first inkling that there was a “sisterhood” among women, and I liked that. I am still friends with that 4^th grade girl. It is rewarding and comforting to have someone who has known you for over 30 years and still calls you her friend.

You can always confide in her about anything and never feel you are being judged. She has always had a kind of healing aura, loving and nurturing, and completely selfless. She has a highly refined sense of empathy and has always been extra sensitive…you could say she is psychic. She is an “old soul,” as they say, and has been known to predict the future or read your mind.

Some people are givers and some are takers and some are in between. Mom is all giver. A little later in life, she finally learned to take a little, and my sister and brother and I cheer her on. Always a big supporter of her children’s creative side, now she delves more deeply into her own, which was always sort of simmering on the back burner. She makes ceramic figures and paints them. She has painted portraits of the whole family, but her favorite subjects are animals (especially young ones). Her landscapes are my favorite. There is a wistfulness in them, a dreaminess that makes me want to escape into them. And her poetry! It is because of her that all three of her children are so right-brained, I think.

When she was diagnosed as terminal, my sister and I flew from New York to Florida to visit her. It was really hard, but, in keeping with the open communication we always shared, we talked about her death. We decided that we were all very lucky, because none of us had any “issues,” as they say, to deal with. Mom is ready. Of course, she would prefer to stick around a lot longer, but she has lived a good and rewarding life, and she has no unfinished business to hurry up and deal with. And she isn’t afraid of what comes after death. We know she is going to a better place. And no one deserves that more than she does, in my opinion. She faces every day with a sense of humor and a courage that I don’t know if I could ever have. She is just afraid of the pain. Who wouldn’t be? But she knows we will all do anything we can to make sure this doesn’t happen. We will do anything she asks.

My mother has a spirit that is very special. A rare combination of wisdom and innocence, of strength and fragility, that captures most everyone she meets. This world has been blessed by her presence. And I have been especially blessed to have her as my mother. Because much of what I like most about me comes from her. Just having a chance to know her and be loved by her is a gift unlike any other. I don’t know any woman who doesn’t have some complaint about their mother. You see endless magazine articles about the problems between mothers and daughters. I know how lucky I am to have Jeanne as my mother. I love you, Mom, and I’ll miss you. But I will carry you in my heart until we connect again. I know we will.

Standing Women

Standing Women Please stand with us for five minutes of silence on Sunday, May 13, at 1 p.m. in Riverhead on the riverfront behind Main Street towards where Sears used to be to signify your agreement with the statement below. We ask you to invite the men who you care about to join you. We ask that you bring bells to ring at 1 p.m. to signify the beginning of the five minutes of silence and to ring again to signify the end of the period of silence. During the silence, please think about what you individually and we collectively can do to attain this world. If you need to sit rather than stand, please feel free to do so. Afterwards, hopefully you and your loved ones can talk together about how we can bring about this world.

"We are standing for the world’s children and grandchildren, and for the seven generations beyond them.
We dream of a world where all of our children have safe drinking water, clean air to breathe, and enough food to eat.
A world where they have access to a basic education to develop their minds and healthcare to nurture their growing bodies.
A world where they have a warm, safe and loving place to call home.
A world where they don’t live in fear of violence – in their home, in their neighborhood, in their school or in their world.This is the world of which we dream.This is the cause for which we stand."

I can't imagine anyone not choosing this future vision for their children and grandchildren. I believe what sets this event apart from others is that it keys in on the power of many people gathering to focus on the solution rather than the problem or placing blame. Anyone want to help? All you need to do is help spread the word by email or any other way you want. I'm going to send out an email blast. This is not an anti-war protest! This is a "positive future manifestation/visualization." I hope you will join me, either at the river or wherever you happen to be that day at that time!

This is scary for me...I've never done anything like this before. Any support/kind words/handholding would be really appreciated!! :)

Watch out for this one...

There is a dangerous virus being passed around electronically, orally, and by hand.

This virus is called Worm-Overload-Recreational-Killer (WORK). If you receive WORK from any of your colleagues, your boss, or anyone else via any means DO NOT TOUCH IT. This virus will wipe out your private life completely.

If you should come into contact with WORK put your jacket on and take two good friends to the nearest grocery store. Purchase the antidote known as Work-Isolating-Neutralizer-Extract (WINE) or Bothersome-Employer-Elimination-Rebooter (BEER). Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system.

Please share this warning with your friends. If you do not have friends, you have already been infected and WORK is controlling your life.

Meditation

Here is a short video clip from Jack Kornfield that was sent to me from my Sis. "He's a wonderful pundit - psychologist and buddhist monk (and an all-round cool guy) whom I had the pleasure of meditating with, for a week up at Omega," she wrote. "I've also read a couple of his books, both great: 'After the Ecstasy the Laundry' and 'A Path With Heart'. He gives a short but sweet synopsis of how mindfulness meditation can make a difference in your life." This whole website, actually, is pretty interesting. Ebb & Flow is a personal videoblog that focuses on social change and issues of inner peace / outer action. If you have time, let me know what you think...

Freedom of Healthcare Choice

I receive daily empowering and inspirational emails from Anita Pathick Law - I guess you could call her a spiritually-based life coach. Somehow I got on her email list and I stayed on because I liked her messages. Anyway, I got this email today and it was disturbing. Just another example of "Big Brother" trying to take more control over our lives.

"If you are interested in Health Freedom, take vitamins or supplements and/or utilize and/or deliver alternative healing methods, you may want to check into this U.S. Gov't and Big Business effort to take over this industry and read this posting and some replies in its entirety: Health Freedom (and others) in Crisis."

Standing at the Edge

Nancy's perfect, short but sweet tribute to Kurt Vonnegut, one of the greatest American writers, recently gone from us, inspired me to post one of my own.

I've posted some favorite quotes attributed to him below. Some are from his books, and those are noted as such. Norman Mailer hailed him as our generations' Mark Twain. "He was sort of like nobody else," said another fellow author, Gore Vidal. "Kurt was never dull." Indeed.

Asked in a 1974 interview why he was so popular on college campuses, Vonnegut said, "Well, I'm screamingly funny. I really am in the books. And I talk about stuff Billy Graham won't talk about, for instance, you know, is it wrong to kill?" And I think that was the key to his brilliance. He wrote odd and funny stories that challenged you not only to think but to examine life from outside the realm of one's own little world.

Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter could be said to remedy anything.

True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.

Who is more to be pitied, a writer bound and gagged by policemen or one living in perfect freedom who has nothing more to say?

Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand.

Let us devote to unselfishness the frenzy we once gave gold and underpants.

I think that novels that leave out technology misrepresent life as badly as Victorians misrepresented life by leaving out sex. (A Man Without a Country)

Just because some of us can read and write and do a little math, that doesn't mean we deserve to conquer the Universe. (Hocus Pocus)

The waitress brought me another drink. She wanted to light my hurricane lamp again. I wouldn't let her. "Can you see anything in the dark, with your sunglasses on?" she asked me.
"The big show is inside my head," I said (Breakfast of Champions)

We are human only to the extent that our ideas remain humane. (Breakfast of Champions)

I am eternally grateful.. for my knack of finding in great books, some of them very funny books, reason enough to feel honored to be alive, no matter what else might be going on. (Timequake)

I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.

Kurt, you will be missed...the world may be a tiny bit duller without you, but your words live on, helping to keep us standing at the edge.

Spring Cleaning

After what seems like a couple of gloomy rainy days, but what I THINK was really only one day, (right?), the sun is shining! Even though it's still ridiculously cold out, it feels good to have sun shining through my windows, and when I logged on this morning to check out to see what and if my fellow bloggers posted, I just had the urge to "redesign" for the spring. I wish we had more options, though.

The past few weeks, I have been itchin' with an itch that is just not normal. Well, not for me, anyway. As soon as the weather is warm enough for windows to be open, I am doing a serious spring cleaning. I plan on starting three big piles: Keep, Giveaway, Throwaway. I have so much STUFF that I don't use, wear, read, look at, or whatever, and this old house could use some nice empty SPACE. Removing the clutter in my home will perhaps remove the clutter from my brain? I think that is going to be my mantra for the spring..."I need space!"

Feeling Peevish?

One of the nice things about blogging is being able to blow off some steam every once in a while. I really have to start checking in here more often. I mean, I read my regulars every day or so, and post replies, but for some reason I have felt singularly uninspired lately when it comes to topics. But once again, Life of a Lunachick gave me an idea for this post...those adorable little pet peeves. Yeah, you know, those seemingly tiny things other people do that, in the grand scheme of things really have very little impact on your life or the world in general, but for some reason just push that button, YOUR button, and irritate the CARP (that's right, I'm trying to be family-friendly here) outta you?

Yep, I'm right with you, Lunachick, with the word "irregardless." NO such word, never has been, and I wish I could say never will be. But this world we live in bends to the popular masses, so it may someday be, simply due to "popular" use. And by popular use I mean consistent misuse. Ugh. Although at this moment, an example escapes me. Please feel free to post one.

The first of my two main peeves: there is a grammatical error that I see and hear ALL the time, but it really only makes me want to scream when I read it in a newspaper or hear someone who should know better screw up the use of "I" and "me." It's not all that hard to remember! I don't know why this is, but whenever I hear someone say something like, "The president wanted to be sure he gave the books to the vice-president and I," ARGH!!!!! I am assuming the people who regularly read this know the proper use, but for those who don't, I feel compelled (if you think that's a strong word, you don't know me) to explain. Just take out the "vice-president and" and use whatever fits. Would you say, "The president wanted to be sure he gave the books to I?" NO.

The second thing that bugs me is when people say "I could care less." Huh? When people use that phrase, they use it when they are trying to make the point that they don't care. The correct phrase it "I couldn't care less." If you could care less, that means you care SOME, because you have room to care even less.

Okay, all that being said (and satisfying as it was)...generally, in recent years, I've lived my life in pursuit of letting go - of not "sweating the small stuff." And generally, I've been pretty successful. I don't go nuts, I don't scream, I don't rant and rail when these buttons are pushed. I actually have gotten to a place now where these things really don't get to me the way they once did...the way I presented them above. Usually, when faced with one of these "button pushers," I now sort of inwardly roll my eyes and picture it rolling off my back, just letting it go, and that feeling of wanting to scream is gone. Usually. And that feels just as good as screaming. I wonder what Yoda would say... [see The Greatest Philosopher]

What's a Feminist to Do?

I know, it's been a while since I've posted. Been getting some gentle nudging...but it's been a while since I've really had anything to write about, plus I've been super busy. I recently had the opportunity to attend an introductory class at The S Factor in Roslyn for an article I wrote about them/it. It is a fitness program based on the art of striptease and pole dancing. And before I go any further, let me make this very clear - it IS an art, and it requires enormous skill and control over one's body, which must be strong and limber. If I learned anything in that class, it was that.

When I was younger, I went to a moderately nice strip club with my mate (at his request, and which turned out to be something I really didn't care to share with him, but hey, I tried). What struck me so strongly was the surprising realization that the women were in power there; they held all the cards. They loved seeing women come in, and they behaved almost as though we were sharing a private joke that the men weren't in on. When I took the intro class at the S Factor, something clicked for me, and my respect for these women "kicked up a notch."

Let me also say that I am sitting here three days later, STILL sore all over. When I got there, the instructor welcomed us into a high ceilinged room with four poles. There were no lights at all, just a few candles, no mirrors at all, and the atmosphere was very friendly and safe. The exercises themselves were Yoga and Pilates based, but done very slowly and sinuously. Which means a lot more work for muscles that aren't used to it. After about an hour, we learned how to walk a slow, sexy walk, sort of dragging the top of our toes on the floor as we moved that foot forward. I found that wasn't easy either, trying to do that, sway my hips and keep my balance all at once...you've seen those dancers in movies (or perhaps in real life) walk out on stage and up to the pole with that slow, liquid walk, eyes half shut, touching their own bodies, and then rolling around on the floor, hanging off the pole...I'll bet you've made a judgement - she's on something, some drug or booze. Admit it. Hey, I have. Well, I can now tell you, from the perspective of experience, that walk would be difficult at best, and everything else she does up there would be pretty near impossible unless she were stone cold sober. Especially the pole tricks! Strength, coordination, flexibility, and stamina - all necessary.

ANYWAY, beyond the obvious physical benefits, this fitness program is perfect for any woman who has never connected with her sexual self, and just as perfect for someone who needs to "get her sexy back." They swear you learn to love your body, no matter what it looks like. Who can't use that!! But, as a feminist, thinking about this in terms away from personal gain...placing it into the public arena...this once again sparked that internal debate in me: strip clubs - good or bad?

Like I said before, it's quite apparent that these women have the upper hand (if they want it). So, for the "small picture" I think it's great. The woman is in control, gets to be the sexual creature she is, makes good money, provides a service, and everyone is happy. But the big picture, that one I'm not too sure about. For the big picture, do they allow men to continue to see women as "things," without feelings, without humanity? Have men been able to evolve by now to know better? Do these kind of activities really dehumanize women in men's eyes? Do they promote violence against women? I wonder...

Sisters

I just wanted to give a shout out to my sister...I've added her new blogsite to my Links section - "Lady Guru." Karen is a very talented artist, in more ways than one. Check out her blog if you have a moment...you may find it different and interesting. Artsy-fartsy runs in the family :)

Vision Statement

Have you heard of The Secret? How about manifestation technology? I'm sure you've heard of positive visualization. These are all pretty much the same things, but basically, it boils down to creating your own reality through the untapped power of the brain. We have the ability to make something happen simply by believing it.

Whether you buy into this or not, the concept is nothing if not provocative. If you have about 15 minutes, get a cup of tea or coffee and click to this link. Watch both video clips. Myself? I buy it. I just think that, sadly, it's easier for most people to poo-poo this idea and sit and complain about the way things are than to admit this could work, go ahead and imagine what it would be like if things were better and focus all their/our energy on that.

Malcolm Cohan

I'd really like to hear what you think after you watch these.

If this really grabbed you like it did me, you can go to this link below, click on "friends" and you can see the videos that people made in response to Malcolm's suggestion.

VisionStatement

And now, on the positive side of humanity

Okay, this seems pretty bizarre, but here is an article I ran across online about how we may be able to help people who have lost not only a digit, but even a limb. I call that amazing and wonderful. It may seem frivolous, but I'm sure it sounds like a gift from heaven to that person who has lost a finger or limb in an accident. The way they do it? Okay, I guess it's fair game for one of those debates we've been talking about...

Science Finds New Way to Regrow Fingers!

Buttons

Wow, that last topic really pushed some peoples' buttons...which brings me to another topic that I discussed with a friend on the way to a concert this afternoon. I was on my way to Sag Harbor to get some Sunday cultchuh...classical music and original compositions by a composer friend.

Anyway, we talked about this topic below, the media, and the buttons it pushed, which led our conversation to how it has often been noted that one should never discuss politics and religion (especially when you don't know the other people's leanings). My friend said that her boyfriend recently bemoaned the dwindling opportunity for people to do just that without practically coming to blows, and I agree with him. I was raised in a loud Italian family that argued and debated ideas at dinnertime. Maybe it wasn't so great for the digestion, but what it did give me was the ability to listen to other people's opinions with an open mind and, if not respect those opinions, then certainly respect the right of that person to HAVE and VOICE those opinions. It's not really a problem for me to discuss a potentially volatile topic and walk away agreeing to disagree. I don't become enraged when I can't make you change your mind and agree with me, and I don't hate you for not agreeing with me. Okay, so MAYBE you'd annoy me some...I'm not saying I'm perfect here. I'm just saying that's the way I am, coming from my background. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that if we never discuss important things in life, if we never share our opinions and concerns and beliefs, and more importantly, if we never LISTEN to others' opinions and concerns and beliefs, how can we ever begin moving towards understanding others and ourselves, which is the first step, I think, towards tolerance, and ultimately peace. Okay, am I just talking out of me arse here?

ANYWAY, so, here is another question... if everyone could learn to join together in a heated debate and still walk away, if not friends, at least agreeing to disagree, would peace be more easily reached on a global level? I guess the easy answer would be yes, but is that even possible anymore? Are we too far gone for that?

As for here in this blogdom, I enjoy reading everyone's opinions and personal takes on issues. It certainly has given me perspectives I otherwise may not have had, and I learn alot, so thanks for letting me be a part of the neighborhood!

About A Boy...and the Media

Once again, Lunachick has posted an eloquent rant on one of the (many) things that are currently wrong with society, this time related to the parents of the Missouri boy missing for missing for 4 years who was recently found. His parents brought him on Oprah. I responded to her site. You can read her post at the link here:

Life of a Lunachick

Lunachick wrote: We live in a society where the media rules.

I wrote" The media rules? Does a bear **** in the woods?

Now I would like to pose a two-part question: If the media rules...
1) Who gave them their power?
2) How did it happen?

Tawk amongst yahselves...

(Late) Valentine to My Young "Sisters"

St. Valentine's Day vs St. Gregor's Day

Another interesting post on YouTube, but instead of imbedding it here, I will just put the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f2-ET0y_vc

It is from a young woman from, as she says, Slovenia. She compares her country's holiday, St. Gregor's Day, which celebrates the days getting longer again in the spring, and it is also the "day the birds get married." And just 4 years ago, no one ever heard about St. Valentine's Day there. And how absurd it is to have one day to tell someone you love them. And spend money. And how American it is. You Tube. Live Video. Revver. They really are making this world smaller. And expanding our ability to see ourselves from the outside on a one-to-one basis. A real global community.

That being said, I don't think that anything to do with remembering to be aware of love can be a bad thing. :)

Forgiveness

Carrying around a grudge can really drag us down. It gets heavier with time. After a while, we get used to the weight, almost dependent on it. But when we allow ourselves to let go of that grudge, that anger, our load (and lordy knows we all have a load to carry around in this life) is suddenly lighter. It might be weird, it might even be uncomfortable at first. But believe me...in the long run, it's WAY better. And yes, I am speaking from experience (said the old woman).

This beautiful "subtitled" music video says it all. I defy you not to cry.


This Picture

WASH your cat??

Cute and funny video on how to wash a cat for my cat-loving friends out there. The note attached to it at the site reads:
Instructional Video on how to wash a cat. The cat is stuffed folks. Relax, I wouldn't hurt my babies. And PS, If you've never owned a persian then you are not aware they get crap stuck in their fur and can't get it out alone.

Kitty Bath

Recipe For Peace

Here is another YouTube 15 Seconds contest entry. Ah, if only 'twere this easy.

Another Shout Out

I have to point the way to yet another blog post. Back At the Ranch, my buddy Nancy's blog, is always a good one to visit, but she just posted a really well-written post, the subject being "Greatness." Check it out. http://www.nancyswett.com/blog/

Uh Oh. Religion.

Got proof?

I love this guy! Whether you agree with him or not, he sure talks perty. And a most of the time, I think he makes a lot of sense. And...he has a knack for sparking some great debates. I've been watching his videos for about 8 months now, and just when I think I have him figured out, he surprises me. But I'm curious...what do YOU think? Oh, and make sure you watch it to the end...he weighs in on the whole Saddam hanging/death penalty issue.

Fifteen Seconds

My Fave website has this contest running now in cooperation with cbs.com. Make a video - if you had 15 seconds to tell the world WHATEVER YOU WANT - what would it be. Of course, it has to be g-rated for tv. But there are some really cool entries. I am going to post a couple of MY favorites here each week. Here are two:



and my favorite little "talking" cat, Loki, did this one on racisim that is just perfection:

See Life of a LunaChick's "Bizzaro-World"

http://debcahill.blogspot.com/

Wow! We totally agree here! ;) Although the subject of the death penalty is riddled with controversy. I myself have never been able to take a real stand on it. On the one hand, I don't think I could ever bring myself to kill anyone, yet I now know with certainty that if anyone tried to physically harm or kill me or children, grandson, husband, heck, anyone I love dearly, I would fight back with no thought as to whether the result of that fighting would be the death of my/our attacker. Not a glimmer of a thought, before or after. But I really don't think I could sit on a jury and hand down a death sentence to someone no matter how heinous a crime, as I pretty much don't believe I or anyone else have the right to decide who lives or dies. My faith leans towards Buddism, and karma. Which has always been helpful in my own healing, since I could always take comfort in the belief that "what goes around, comes around."

But, yes, hmm, a "botched" execution. Please. I get what you mean, Lunachick, about any execution being "painful," since the time leading up to it would be, well, I can't even imagine. But if they wanted an even remotely "humane" execution, they wouldn't have selected hanging in the first place! I always thought injection was pretty humane. I mean, that's what they do with animals when they put them down. But (despite my personal beliefs) that just seems too good for some people when you weigh their crimes. Especially those who commit horrible crimes against the weak and helpless, like children or the infirm.

Okay, now I'm working myself up. Anyway, check out Lunachick's post. She is very good at expressing herself, and on this issue, she says it best.

My Wish

Okay, well, I've been thinking on this a lot. Every time I came up with something, I thought of something that needed to happen first for that wish to happen. Like Lunachick - money could be eliminated, but greed needed to be eliminated first. Someone else said Peace on earth. But something else needed to happen before that. And i guess, in a fantasy world, we don't deed to worry about such things, but I think I went right to the source. For all the crappy things to disappear, one thing, I think, needs to happen first. Unfortunately, while I happen to be a "dopeless hope fiend," I'm not too confident this will ever happen, but if I could wish for one thing in three words or less, it would be "enlightenment for humanity." I believe all goo things would stem from that. And I'm not talking religion. Okay, sticks, stones, cards, and letters, bring 'em on. :)

"Say It's Possible"

People from around the world filmed themselves and sent their videos to Terra Naomi, a singer songwriter who posts on YouTube. She asked everyone to answer the question "what would you do/want if anything were possible?" in three words or less. "This project is a true reflection of what we can do together." And the song is beautiful.

How would you answer?

Happy New Year 2007

Well, despite our best efforts, 2007 has arrived. I've been thinking a lot about this fresh, new year spread out before us. For me, the dawning of January first has always been like opening a brand new notebook on the first day of school. The clean, unmarked white pages just waiting to be written on, full of potential, full of what I might write on them. What I could create from nothing but my own imagination.

So, here I sit at my keyboard. I had my usual breakfast. I have my brand new Christmas iPod nano on with headphones listening to my songs on shuffle - having just finished a Nellie McKay song, who Nancy and I discovered around the same time, each on our own, and now Cousteau is singing She Don't Hear Your Prayer (if you haven't discovered them yet, DO look 'em up - you'll thank me - two words UNIQUE and FLUGLEHORN). Jack just left the room. My cat. The one peering out at you at the top of this page. My house is in a holiday shambles and I am about to tackle it this afternoon.

But it's raining and gloomy outside. How inhospitable 2007 is being right off the bat. I mean, at least welcome us with a little sunshine. And if there must be precipitation, Baby New Year, you could at least convince Mother Nature to give us a little SNOW! Just enough to go with that wilting Christmas tree in my living room that now has to stay up until the next dry day. I could put on Christmas music and pretend I'm having a white one.

Ah, now Elton is crooning Your Song in my ears. What a sweet and simple song. I'd forgotten the beauty of listening to music with headphones...the nuances you catch.

Apparently this is turning out to be a streamofconsciousness post. Oooh. Sunshine of Your Love by Cream. Okay...before your time? Eric Clapton on the upswing. Huh, also apparently, I will be updating you on the soundtrack.

Anyway, back to new years. Do you have any resolutions? I'd given up resolutions long ago. I call them goals. Less intimidating. My life has been kind of divided into many, many sections, but most recently, it's before the assault 2 years ago (BA) and after (AA). Here are some of mine.

1) To get organized again. I was so organized BA. It's time to reclaim some things. Organization is one of 'em.
2) Lose this damn weight I gained AA. MyMan and I are off on a low-carb, lower cal diet. I sure hope this works. I've got at least 40 lbs to lose. Also, to walk the dog every day for both our sakes.
**soundtrack alert - Billy Holiday - Embraceable You
3) We are downgrading our television service to save $$. SO - I plan to read more, and I'm actually going to try to knit again. This should be interesting.
4) Work on that book (this one is on every year's goal list - I didn't want it to feel left out)
5) Get some query letters out to some mags
6) Have D&ME shows in at least three venues every month by next January
7) Spend just a tiny bit less time watching youtube. Maybe. But it's so FASCINATING.
8) Mediate at least 5 minutes every day

Okay...those are the only goals I care to share. I have others, but they are only for me and myman.

ooh ooh - now it's Shivaree doing Good Night Moon. Have you ever heard this group? Check them out!

I got some buttons from Northern Sun that speak for or to me. Here are some: "Did you ever stop to think and forget to start?" ""Optimistic - even in the face of reality" "Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult" "Stay in the moment- Damn, it's gone" Well-behaved women seldom make history - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich" and a favorite - "Another dopeless hope fiend"

This is fun...just writing whatever comes into my head. I have no idea how fun it will be to read. But it's probably all just a ploy to put off cleaning. Which makes me think I've got to get going. We actually stayed up until 3am last night. Got up at the ungodly hour of 10am and time's awastin'. So I will leave you with a question and a wish:

We all wish for world peace in the year - that's (should be) a given. What do you hope for yourself?

I wish for you all a safe, healthy, joyous, low-stress, prosperous, peaceful, fulfilling, productive, lesson-filled, love-filled, happy 2007. Pay it forward.