writing

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

					

		
		
	




			
				


		



			
				


		

				

							
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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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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Red arrow in a white room.
						

													
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While in college, a mystic tells me I remind her of “a red arrow in a white room.” This visual -and the idea behind it– influences me today, especially when it comes to creating my work. I keep thinking about bringing “Red Arrow/White Room” to life with a personal inspiration video.


Structure: visuals, graphics, music and the spoken word. Silence may also work for this project, too. Moments of silence, anyway.


I have a graphic artist friend who is returning to school; she needs a school project (or should I say experiment?) and I can offer up mine to her. She could create the visuals/graphics.


I could do my own music search online to find a suitable piece of music (or many edited together).


Probably use my own voice as voiceover (voice in my head, so to speak).


About 3:00 in length (Three is one of my “numbers”).


My own vision has an ancient wisdom sensibility; it summons the universal mind as it were to evoke a creative call to action for me … and ultimately others searching for creative motivation.


First line: RED ARROW ENTERS WHITE ROOM … What next?


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Orderly conduct.
						

													
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I have a lot of respect for order. It is the order in my life that helps me to recognize opportunity, and act upon the wisdom of uncertainty.




The routine of my day can open up a whole new world of possibility –when I allow myself to see it. Noticing inspiration in the everyday is a practice that gives back when you least expect it.


Which brings me to the subject of deadlines. Surely, deadlines are the stuff of order, and in a professional writer’s world, they are a way to schedule our work. Surely, they’re the blueprint, the drawing, the overview, a place to start; surely, we promote the accomplishment of delivering finished projects “on time and on budget.” Order in motion.


Deadlines are in our world so we can fall into the gap between them, and live lives of extraordinary creation.


Laugh loud and often; the cosmic joke is on us.


Photo op by Kevin


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In the infinity of life…
						

													
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… where I am, all is perfect, whole, and complete. I am one with the Power that created me …


(Most mornings, I repeat this custom version of affirmations from Louise L. Hay. It only takes a minute, filling my heart with possibility.)


I love myself; therefore I behave and think in a loving way toward all people, for I know that which I give out returns to me multiplied. I only attract loving people in my world, for they are a mirror of what I am.


I love myself; therefore, I forgive and totally release the past and all past experiences, and I am free. I have within me all the ingredients for success. I now allow the success formula to flow through me and manifest in my world. Whatever I am guided to do is a success. I learn from every experience, going from success to success and from glory to glory. My pathway is a series of stepping stones to ever greater successes.


I love myself; therefore I work at a job I truly enjoy doing, working with and for people I love and who love me, and earning a good income. My unique talents and abilities flow through me and are expressed in deeply satisfying ways. There are people out there who are always looking for my services. I am always in demand and can pick and choose what I want to do. My work is a joy and a pleasure.


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