the shape of trees

Tree pose.

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I’ve discovered Artist A Day by adding the app to my iGoogle home page. The site features “New Art Every Day,” delivered right to my desktop.

Today’s new art is called, “Birdcage” by Los Angeles, CA-based artist Tony Hong, who works exclusively in ink. I totally like the theme … a tree after my own heart, if you will.

For anyone in yoga practice, you may relate to this observation: I’ve also discovered that my sense of balance is a little …how you say… timid these days. Practicing tree pose is revealing this to me.

And I think I’ve found a new visual for balance; a little bird(cage) told me.

Murphy’s romance.

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There’s a pivotal scene near the end of one of my favorite movies, Murphy’s Romance, that I think of often. Emma Moriarty (Sally Field) and Murphy Jones (James Garner) dance around a May-December relationship throughout the story, and now –after Emma and her son move to town with nothing, hurting from a failed marriage and money issues; after Murphy spots her and decides right then and there that she’s the one, only she’s got to figure that out; after Emma starts a successful business boarding and training horses (one, of course, is Murphy’s); and after her ex-husband shows up, only to leave town with his young girlfriend after she surprises him with twin sons (phew) … Emma wonders what can happen next.

Emma: “What’ll I do with my life, Murphy? Should I get rid of the ranch, should I die my hair or put an ad in the singles column, what? Give me some advice, Murphy, you’ve lived a long time.”

Murphy: “You want advice? Write Dear Abby. I’m not a life guard and I don’t put up bail and I’m not your damn Dutch uncle.”

And then, Murphy plants a kiss on Emma, a wonderful wet smooch.

Murphy: “Now, if you don’t know how things are, then you’re not as smart as I thought you were.”

James Garner is honored with a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Murphy, and it’s a joy for me to watch how his character romances Emma –a woman any other woman can relate to. When I was in grade school, my teacher once declared I looked just like The Flying Nun (aka, Sally Field) in my class photo (and I must admit, it was true). So I was drawn to the movie because of the cast. But I watch it over and over again because the themes ring true –even now, after 25 years.

“What’ll I do with my life, Murphy?”

“Now, if you don’t know how things are, then you’re not as smart as I thought you were.”

brainywoman advice.

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“The world is waiting for your success!”

“Next time somebody invites you to share your beautiful life with them, don’t look for excuses –just do it! You have something beautiful to tell, because you are amazing!”

-Patricia Anaya, creator of brainywoman.com, author of The Three Powers and a person who makes things happen.

Thanks, Paty … I needed to hear this.

Happy birthday.

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Today is my sister’s 50th birthday. I flew her out to the Pacific Northwest for a week-long celebration!

It’s always fun to see the place where you live through the eyes of someone who’s never seen it before. I spent my 50th birthday atop the Eiffel Tower; she’ll be atop the Space Needle. Taking a ferry, going wine tasting, visiting Pike’s Market and the Bloedel Reserve –hoping at least one day is clear enough for her to see Mt. Rainer, the Olympics and the Cascades- it’s really a renewal for me, too.

It’s beautiful here. And I’m so glad I can give this experience to my sweet, sweet sister.

Happy Birthday, Nancy! oxoxo

Rumi right.

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Every once in a while, my daily reading reveals a gem … a cosmic connection to what’s actually going on in my mind. Here’s an example.

Who makes these changes?
I shoot an arrow right.
It lands left.
I ride after a deer
and find myself chased by a hog.
I plot to get what I want
and end up in prison.
I dig pits to trap others
and fall in.


I should be suspicious


of what I want.






-from A Year With Rumi: Daily Readings by Coleman Barks


20 September

					

		
		
	




			
				


		

				

							
Waiting.
						

													
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I’m on hold. Some days (weeks, months or years, even) are like this.

					

		
		
	




			
				


		

				

							
So peaceful.
						

													
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The hills of Tuscany. Pieve a Salti in the distance. Smelling the Earth and feeling warmth on my skin. Looking forward to a cold beer at the bar. Refreshing.


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Note to self.
						

													
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Lately you’ve been questioning all the things that define you. You’re having trouble sleeping, you’re crying in yoga class, you’re putting it out there just how unsure you are.


And the Universe is listening. Consider these subject lines of recently emails:


“Should You Give Up or Keep Going?”


“‘Creative Thinkering'” reignites your imagination”


“Thank you for applying – position cancelled”


“Music to awaken your soul”


“16 Ways to Feel More Fulfilled at Work”


“Creative people earning a living” … “People do not always make breakthroughs because they refused to quit. Sometimes they make them because they know when to quit” … “Fresh and Savory Tomato Pie” … “Play with Word Meanings to Create Essays” … “Why Google wants goats” … “How Good is Your Idea?” … “A special surprise is included inside” …


Now before you go chalking it all up to menopause mind (a very likely culprit regardless), consider the most intriguing shift in thought you’ve considered all week:


“Fame is simply a better and more effective way to live your life.”


-Jay and Maggie Jessup




Whoa. Never quite looked at fame that way. Where is this going?


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Sense of smell.
						

													
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My husband spent Labor Day weekend unpacking boxes in his man cave, i.e., the garage. “It’s amazing,” he says, “each time I open a box, it smells like Ramona.” Most of the boxes in the garage were packed up several years ago –moved from our home (and my sanctuary) in Ramona, CA. Oh, yes. I remember. A year and a half ago –when I was unpacking boxes- I, too, was brought back to my beloved front yard in San Diego County … and promptly named our new home “Ramona in the Pines” as a tribute.


Antonia’s Flowers perfume brings me back to East Hampton, NY –weekends riding bikes to Georgica Pond, grilling tuna for dinner. One of Antonia Bellanca’s other fragrances –Tiempe Passate –takes me back to Italy and the hills of Panzano, taking cooking classes. It was my first trip abroad.


My first time west of the Mississippi was a camping trip to Canyonlands in Utah, an amazing 14 days experiencing space. For years afterward, I could return there in an instant, just by smelling the scent of sage warming in the sun.


It’s not enough to say that our sense of smell can help with memory (although it’s clear it can). A fragrance can bring back a sense of connection, reminding us of something meaningful.


And finding something meaningful is what it’s all about, isn’t it?


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Re-runs no more.
						

													
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Denis Leary as Tommy Gavin in "Rescue Me."


The summer season is winding down and with it –the summer television season. I’ve really come to look forward to and appreciate the fun, entertaining shows on USA, TNT SyFy and FX. Between Men of a Certain Age, Leverage and In Plain Sight (Sunday), The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles, Alphas and Warehouse 13 (Monday), Covert Affairs and White Collar (Tuesday), Royal Pains and Necessary Roughness, and Rescue Me (Wednesday), Burn Notice and Suits (Thursday), and Haven (Friday) – my DVR is full. (Note: I think USA’s Characters welcome campaign – initiative, really, is one of the best). Add select cooking shows on the weekends … and it appears that I watch TV all summer.


Just like during television’s “regular season.”


Those of you in the TV biz know that a 52-week television season was initiated by the FOX television network years ago, and I think viewers are benefiting- from cable’s creative programming at least. I know I am.


I do miss the rush of watching all the fall season promotion campaigns, though. I used to live for them, write and produce them, in fact. All those hours of viewing half-finished episodes, finding the good stuff, packing it all into 30 seconds.


Contrary to how it appears, I do enjoy things other than television in the summer, like books and barbecues and gardening and enjoying the best weather. Just like during a “regular season.”


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