The Music is All Around Us...

All you have to do is listen.

Thanks, Skipper. Two for two. Don't wait another fifteen years for number three, OK?

So depressed.

Could barely drive home last night from writing class. These people are pure genius. I'm a decent writer, but these folks are phenomenal. I end up intimidated and embarrassed by my puny efforts. Ended up stopping for a McDonald's cheeseburger, fries and chocolate shake. Now, I hadn't had dinner, it was 9:30 pm and I was pretty hungry. But I haven't eaten this combo in years. It was purely a comfort food stop.

Things were kind of rough last month. Nothing I want to go into here, except to say that I really appreciate my friends, family and blog visitors who come to facebook or this blog and show me the cheerier parts of my life. Class usually is a dose of pure serotonin, but between my commitment to the campaign of a friend who ran for my school board (top vote getter, wahoo) and grades due at school, I neglected to do the writing assignments last week and walked in with a pitiful piece that I didn't even want to finish. I love these guys, though. They are so kind, bless their hearts. Jack assured me I'm doing fine. Guess it's just my competitive nature raising its ugly head. I think it's time to quit whining and dig deeper. Part of my problem is that some of the deep stuff I have stuffed inside is - well - stuffed inside because I don't want it out there, especially not in this kind of venue.

Onward.

Looking forward to crop with Mom and Sis Saturday. Want to take stitchery to the library one evening each week so I can make progress. I shipped some projects to a friend this week. Once I've heard she received them I'll tell you about them. Of course, I forgot to take pictures. First accomplishments in handwork in almost two years and I forget to photo them before shipping.

I have no brain. Pretty much clouded thinking for the last few weeks. Really need a system to pull the maintenance of my life back in place so I can refocus on the fun.

Holidays are coming. Not even excited.

Hope you are.

It gets better...

Favorite group. Favorite song.

Important message.

Grab the tissue box and join me. Weep for joy and love and hope.

Embrace diversity.

It Gets Better: Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles "True Colors"

Life's an Adventure.

Hard to believe...

that the school year reaches the 25% mark this Thursday. I'm still learning students' names, for pete's sake.

It's been crazy.


First, some bragging. I'm still hitting the gym regularly (most weeks 3-4 times a week for 1.5 hours a pop) and doing WW. Loss is up to 37 pounds on the scale, but I know the fat loss is greater and compensated by muscle development. Under there. Somewhere.

They say when you weight train you get "definition." True. So true. I have muscles. Am particularly proud of my biceps. Nice definition between my new biceps and the packets of fat that still hang below my arms. Sheesh.

It's OK, though. I see evidence that things are shrinking up. Long sleeves that were snug two or three months ago are hanging off me now. My hope is that by going slowly (and 37 pounds in 10 months is plenty slow) the skin will continue to shrink.

My fondest goal right now. Arms.

Artist's Way has been a life-changing experience. Transformational, as I had been advised. With school starting I've run into lots of old friends who have not seen me for several months. "You're different," is what they usually say. One old friend said I look "radiant," and another that I "sparkle".

Sparkle covers it. I feel like a little 4th of July sparkler has been lit inside. Sometimes it sputters, but most of the time it energizes me.

Very cool.

I got my webcam set up on Skype so that I can visit with my son and his wife in Japan. Not as often as I'd hoped (it's hard enough to coordinate our schedules when we're in the same state; halfway around the world is really tough) but it's worth the effort to see them so happy and doing so well.

My principal has been allowing me to attend some inspiring staff development activities. An ESL session with Kate Kinsella and an RtI with Randy Sprick. Both very inspirational but verdict's out whether this burned-out teacher can be re-ignited.

I've had some terrific adventures lately. Took my brother and sister-in-law into Hollywood to see "Opening Night: The Improvised Musical" at a comedy theater called iO West. Best laugh I've had in a long time and well worth the effort. And very easy. Theater is on Hollywood Blvd and Cosmo. Turn onto Cosmo and turn your car over to the valet. Have your ticket validated by security at the door (everybody is carded, which is strangely flattering when you're pushing 60) and it's only $5.00. $10 for Opening Night also gets you the rest of the evening. I don't drink, but rumor has it that the bar is a good one if you do. We'll be doing that again.

THE most exciting thing I'm doing, though, is an 8-week writing workshop with teacher Jack Grapes in Los Angeles. My son recommended him and I'm learning about great teaching as well as how to be a better writer. It's been an unbelievable experience. I hit the Pacific Coast Highway immediately after my staff meeting on Tuesday and drive down the coast to west LA. Takes about 1.5 hours (love the drive, although it will start getting dark soon so it won't quite be the same). Then I get to hear 2.5 hours of the most fantastic student writing ever. It's a thrill and a privilege to be in class with these writers. I don't even care than I'm barely keeping up on the tail end.

I've LOVED the weather the last couple of weeks. Overcast and rainy. Better than Santa Ana winds any time. Just wishing I could tuck inside for a couple of months and sew, stitch and clean my filthy house. Between my writing assignments, working out at the gym and family and friends I seem to run out of steam and time, sometimes at the same time.

That will be about it for now. Looking ahead to yard work, hardscape improvements, house cleaning. Oh, the photos? Nothing special. I just think blogs without pictures can be pretty boring so I added one with one of the Monarchs I released this year. I think over a dozen this year. The milkweed is germinating everywhere and we are just letting it grow. The more milkweed, the more cats we can support. Not a bad-looking plant, either.

Oh, and Christmas is coming to Disneyland. Got there a couple of times for HalloweenTime.

One of my favorite times to be there. OH! And I had a special adventure! I was chosen to be the guest director of the Disneyland Band for their Town Square performance. I got to sit in a director's chair and announce songs in between trading jokes with Toby the bass trombone player. It gave me a chance to tell him that he was my dad's favorite musician in the park, something I've been wanting to do since Dad died last June. For my efforts I got the rare and much coveted Disneyland Band button for my collection.

Sometimes life is just too sweet, isn't it?

I Dare you...

...to stay crabby after watching this video.

Dancing at the Movies - Music Video

Believe it or not...

There has been stitching.

Just the teeniest bit, but it's a start.

I'm not happy with the amount of time I've been spending on facebook playing games. Following news feeds is fine. Chatting with friends is the best. But, for the most part, playing the games feels like a waste when there is SO MUCH out there with which to fill a life. So I went digging through my stash and decided this piece fits my current mood quite nicely.


I finished about half the word "Scatter." Not much, but it's a start!

The End of Summer

It's always a difficult time.

It's been a momentous summer, to say the least. It started with great sadness as my dad died after a quick, horrible experience with pancreatic cancer that spread throughout his body and took, for the last three weeks of his life, his ability to think clearly. He hated that. He died on June 19 and I stayed with my mom for a week after.

Three days after I returned home my older son and his wife moved in for three weeks as they prepared to relocate to Japan. It was a happy, exciting time. It was a sad, stressful time. On the one hand, I can't believe my baby is an ocean away. On the other hand, by all accounts they are settling in nicely and my son seems happier than he has in years. I can't be upset with that!

Shortly after my dad died I took a trip to my favorite Happy Place, Disneyland. A good friend works there and in the course of the afternoon suggested I try Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. To oversimplify, TAW is a personal development system based on daily writing exercises. Also part of the program is a weekly "artist's date." I have embraced the program completely and have found it a source of comfort as well as inspiration. I will always be grateful that this door was opened for me.

As the summer has wound to a close, I have gone overboard with the Artist's Date concept. The AD is supposed to be a two-hour outing. Something to spoil myself. I am well aware that I have taken the idea too far but make no apologies. I had the best three-day vacation and spoiled myself rotten.


On the first day, I started with a trip to the Gene Autry Western Heritage Center in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. I had never been there and can't believe that I have missed it for nearly twenty years. The temporary exhibit that I enjoyed was called "Home Lands - How Women Made the West" tracing women's contributions to the buiding of America's culture of the West starting with Native Americans up through the immigrant experience and into today. There was even an exhibit about the effect on our culture of women + the automobile! Just wonderful.

Next I went into the permanent exhibits which started with a marvelous collection of paintings of the Romantic Era. I was proud that I was able to recognize my Bierstadts without even reading the identification cards!


I loved the way this museum segued from the Romantic era paintings into the West-based entertainments such as Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and from that into the cowboy movies and television shows. They even had the Lone Ranger's costume. A blast from my past!

After the Autry I made my way into Los Angeles to visit Rosedale Cemetery. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles and was the first integrated cemetery. It was an interesting experience to see all the different styles of architecture used on headstones and crypts. I did not stay there long however.

Next I made my way into West Hollywood where I had tickets for a play. First, though, I had dinner at a restaurant called Hugo's. The atmosphere was acceptable and it was convenient to the theater. The sauce on the carbonara was to die for.

The play that I went to see was called Circle of Will. It was set in the time between William Shakespeare's last play and his death six years later. Very cleverly plotted and brilliantly acted, the play was thought-provoking as well as hilarious. I had such a good time! Circle of Will was written by Jack Grapes and Bill Cakmis. Events unfolded to get me to it when my son, who had taken a summer writing workshop in 1996 with Grapes, encouraged me to sign up for a class with him as well. When I contacted Grapes about the class, he encouraged me to see the play. I'm so glad I did, and am really looking forward to the workshop starting in October.

The next day my brother, sister-in-law and I returned to the city for a Lewis Black performance in Disney Hall. I have long wanted to see something in this facility and am a huge fan of Lewis Black.

I wasn't disappointed with Black's performance - he was exactly as he is on every HBO special or Comedy Central appearance - but this was just not the venue. Disney Hall is a place where I'd love to hear a concert of the L.A. Phil or even to hear their fabulous organ. But a one-man stand-up? I just would have preferred something more intimate.

Which I got on Sunday of that weekend. Hang with me through that fabulous day.

I started with my first visit to the Getty Art Museum in Los Angeles. Oh, what a breathtaking place! I truly did not want to go inside to see any of the art. The architecture and landscaping of this place is phenomenal.



I did eventually make my way into the museum to see the domestic arts displays (the palace of Louis XIV, et al.) and an exhibit of late middle ages sketches. Also saw the temporary exhibit of the work of Jean-Leon Gerome.

I didn't really want to leave, but had more adventures ahead of me. After the Getty I traveled down Wilshire Blvd. and made my way into Hollywood. I had tickets to see Toy Story III at the El Capitan Theater on Hollywood Blvd.

Originally opened in the 1920s, the El Capitan has been fully restored and is currently owned by the Disney Corporation. After a delicious chocolate shake at the adjoining soda fountain (how long has it been since I had a REAL chocolate milkshake?) I entered the theater in time to enjoy the pre-movie performance of their award-winning organist. Nothing better than well-played arrangements of Disney songs.

The movie was charming - probably the best of the three Toy Story movies - but I think this will be my last visit to this theater. The experience is fairly expensive and (although this is not the theater's fault) ruined by rude patrons. If I'm going to have a movie ruined by thoughtless patrons who insist on talking through the movie on their cell phones, I'd just as soon do it in a theater where I've only paid $6 for the matinee instead of $30.

The highlight of this day was the two comedy shows I saw at the Second City Comedy Training Center just up the street from the El Capitan. This was the intimate comedy experience I had missed with Lewis Black. Talented young people with such energy and passion for what they were doing! VERY funny, and an inexpensive way to spend an evening. I had a delightful dinner with the same friend who guided me to Artist's Way at a nearby Italian restaurant, then drove Sunset to the Pacific Coast Highway and home.

Since that rather momentous growth experience, I've been pretty much just puttering around trying to wrap my head around returning to work. I have, sorry to say, not been struck with any great ideas to "fix" my teaching issues. But, all things considered, I'm returning in a much happier state of mind than I left school in June and am hopeful that I can carry that happy little spark into the classroom with me.

Coming up. Tomorrow is a long-delayed scrapbooking date with my Mom and sister. Monday I take my Mom to Disneyland to enjoy a day with the oh-so-talented Ragtime Michael.

And on Tuesday I will spend the day with my terrific sister-in-law. We were hoping to see the Autry women exhibit again but it ends tomorrow. We will, however, travel some great distance to a cottage garden nursery that we sincerely HOPE is still in business. At the least, we will enjoy each others' company for the duration of the trip.

I have to report back to work Monday, August 30 with students arriving Wednesday, September 1.

And the cycle begins again.

Everything is Looking Up

Have a busy, fun end of summer ahead.

My oldest and his wife are getting settled in Fuji-shi. They haven't actually SEEN the mountain yet, but their camera is at the ready for that momentous day. In the meantime they are getting settled in. They have a two-bedroom apartment. At 6'4", my son has to duck to go through interior doors. The bedding and refrigerator had to be replaced and a great deal of leftover belongings from the previous tenant dealt with, but it sounds like things are coming together. It seems that the staff at his new school appreciates his willingness to pitch in. He says he is feeling better than he has in a "long, long time."

I've been fairly lazy. I've done a little weeding (not much) and have harvested lots of sweet pea, scabiosa and Apricot Chiffon poppy seed.

The joke around here is that Monday must be Disneyland day. Ha. Ha. I went two Mondays in a row. On the first day I treated myself to all of what they call "the dark rides," the rides that we used to enjoy when I was really little. I enjoyed noticing a lot of details that I didn't remember from before, like Mr. Toad's hands.
Of course, this area went through a major renovation in 1983 and so a lot of what I'm seeing is different than it was when I was a kid. Like this elephant stack on the Dumbo ride,

and I was noticing for the first time the wavy glass on the Pinocchio ride (although, to be honest, it might have been like that when I was little, too, and I wouldn't have paid attention).
I think the last time I rode the carousel was when my youngest was not quite two (which would make it 27 years ago). I was debating whether to get in line or not when the "calliope" started to play "Once Upon a Dream." Since the carousel has a Sleeping Beauty theme, it seemed like some kind of direction so I got on and enjoyed the ride.
And, no, I still need to lose more weight before I will challenge my knees to get me up on a carousel horse. The bench worked just fine.

If I can find it again, I'll post a video of what I call the water dance at Pixie Hollow. I heard some kids call it a water jump this week, but since the jumping is choreographed to music, I'll stick with my dance label. Just a fun fountain that I find relaxing and happy.

I know most people think of the rides when they think of Disneyland, but if I am lucky enough to hit a day when Ragtime Michael is at the keyboard, I settle in for an afternoon and evening of some amazing piano. The man has the gift, no doubt about it.

We've had some wildlife excitement around here. About 15 years ago, my mother's neighbor gave me two clutches of baby desert tortoises that she had hatched. A little over a week ago I was in the back yard collecting seed and looked down into the tortoise pen to find...
I was so EXCITED! My son is into reptiles and so we think we have them safely incubating under lights in the kitchen. Apparently you can't candle tortoise eggs like you can chicken eggs so we don't really know if they're viable or not, but we're hopeful. Every baby animal is cute, but tiny baby tortoises are really cute since they are just tiny replicas - right down to the claws - of the adults.

Now that the Japan-bound are there, we are back into the process of re-arranging the spare room into a combination music room and sewing room. Where did all this stuff come from!?! It's taking forever. Considering that I've been flinging stuff for five years now, it's proving to be very difficult getting rid of what has now survived two or three rounds of making stuff go away (the Rescue Mission loves me).

I have a lot of great "field trips" in the works in the next couple of weeks, but rather than take time to write about what I WANT to do, I'll wait until I can write about what I did.

Hope summer is going well for you, friends. Most of you will be jealous to hear that my part of SoCA is experiencing an amazingly cool summer; I've been puttering around comfortably all day today in a sweatshirt. Do not envy me, as we are all sure this means 100+ temps at Christmas.

Eeeeuuuwwwww.