For the old anniversary of birth, I bought myself a little gift - a book I have wanted for quite a while:  
EAT PRAY LOVE.

Loved the film, now the book will rock me to sleep with its soulful wisdom.

Thankfully in my old age, I've learned to be the ever practical buyer -- $4 total including shipping on Amazon! Not too shabby.

And today's thought from the film as she studies her Italian English translation book:

Sono solo. E 'ok (I'm alone and it's OK)

Into the shining sun

A permanent solution to a temporary problem

Today was a very sad day for my daughter and other children and families in our community. A child, 15 years old, took her own life. This is a child who spent countless hours with mine.

How sad it is for a person to think that there is no way out and nothing else they can do. I try to tell my kids as much as I can that i love them -- today I said it a bunch of times again and also said they are never alone and their family is always here no matter how bad it gets.

I admit, when I woke this morning, i wasn't feeling so great about my current life situation and got down on myself. But when I heard what happened -- I said to myself, today and every day is a good day because I have my children. They are safe and healthy. I am safe and healthy. We are blessed to have each other. I told my kids that too.

I don't know if any of it sunk in at all but I sure hope so.

My heart breaks for Rachel's parents and sister. I couldn't stand to walk in their shoes and I hope I never will.

When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself. ~ Wayne Dyer

Time will change and even reverse many of your present opinions. Refrain, therefore, awhile from setting yourself up as judge of the highest matters.
~Plato

Words that I am seeing in bright red today

Impetuous

-adjective
1. Acting or done quickly and without thought or care; impulsive.
2. Moving forcefully or rapidly: "an impetuous flow of water"


Venom

–noun
1. poison
2. spite; malice: i.e., the venom of hate or jealousy.

lovin this bluesy tune

I will be in the same room as Robert Plant

I'm so F L I P P I N excited to see the dude on stage next week!!! I wonder what is line up with be.

for now, I enjoy this amazing tune (click on link below)
http://www.playlist.com/playlist/additem/66720273

Who am I?

Still working on the eat, pray, love thing

I just sometimes wish I could go to Bali to figure it all out. This life lesson stuff is so tough to bear

I ain't scared of you

Heard this ditty on 88.9 and liked it right away. I think we'll be hearing more from this singer in the future. She is getting a lot of great press for her debut album.

And I thought I heard on World Cafe that she is accompanied by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys and he produced it which is even BETTA!

The wind screams mary

I had to pick a song to sing tonight at Karaoke.

and...

well...

"somewhere a queen is weeping. Somewhere a king has no wife."

Wear your inside out

dreaming of the tenderness...

This song has been in my head all day

Sleepless in Seattle...

A love story of a father and his children

"Biutiful" starring Javier Bardem, seen at the Oriental. Not just another night at the movies, folks.

I am saddened and disturbed by the tragedy in Japan. As one who hasn't experienced this kind of catastrophe, I know I have no clue about the absolute suffering this event has caused. I do hope many lives are saved with the current rescue mission.

The soul needs beauty for a soul mate

...When the soul wants...the soul waits

It doesn't matter about time and space between people. If there is real love, nothing can stop it. And one need not search for it. If it's real, love will find YOU.

Electric blue

David Bowie - you will always be ultra cool to me!

"Sound and Vision"

Believe

How can they look into my eyes
And still they don't believe me ?

Finding light

The fog is lifting and I am beginning to see through to the beauty and light to which I was blinded

For the love of trees

Did I mention I love trees?

What is love?

I've enjoyed the film, "Paper Heart"   regarding the subject of love -- finding it, falling into it, being in it, staying in it, going after it, missing it and really knowing it's the real thing. It is a subject that has left me entirely nonplussed  and begging the question of what is the true, real kind? And do I really believe in it or am I just conditioned socially to think it really exists? By the many interviewed in this film, it sounds like many do.

must have backbone

This caught my attention and I am trying to live by it.

"Stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be."

- Elizabeth Gilbert, writer of "Eat, Pray, Love"

Inspiration

Finally! The inspiration is here! I'm feeling hopeful, alive and UP! Many adventures await!

It's official. I want to meet Jack White.

Five Leaves Left

I heard the haunting voice of Nick Drake today singing with his guitar over the speakers in a Cafe while I started to write a screenplay.

my gypsy heart

Took a drive in the dirty rain
To a place where the wind calls your name

Going on a date

Paying my dues

It seems to happen often during this season -- car issues, expensive repairs, etc. Last year I certainly paid my dues. Sure enough, this week my furnace breaks and I get a flat tire on my car and have discovered my car is going through oil too. Sometimes being a grown up, especially one who is completely on her own in the middle of winter, sucks ass.

But I am the independent woman in my life who can handle it and take on anything so universe, have some more challenges for me? BRING IT. I will rise above.

If I could, you know I would

If I could, through myself, set your spirit free

frost on my windows but a warm heart inside

It's probably about time for this girl to write a gratitude list. Oh, and to get into the Christmas spirit. Yeah...true that. I'd be OK without a white Christmas though seeing as how I have to shovel or snow blow. Yuck.

You played it to the beat

Great new song! Definitely a chick tune.

We could have had it all...
Rolling in the Deep
Your had my heart...Inside of your hand
And you played it...to the beat (Rolling in the deep)

Not your flower

Must quote something I heard recently: "If you're not prepared to risk the thorn, then you don't deserve the rose."

the rose of the day

it is at moments after i have dreamed
of the rare entertainment of your eyes,
when (being fool to fancy) i have deemed

with your peculiar mouth my heart made wise;
at moments when the glassy darkness holds

the genuine apparition of your smile
(it was through tears always)and silence moulds
such strangeness as was mine a little while;

moments when my once more illustrious arms
are filled with fascination, when my breast
wears the intolerant brightness of your charms:

one pierced moment whiter than the rest

-turning from the tremendous lie of sleep
i watch the roses of the day grow deep.

ee cummings

"Happiness is the longing for repetition."
— Milan Kundera

Poem for a fall day

Lincoln Park ménage,
legends like these leaving
laceration on my sentiment
like a lucid lover.

Confines of a bus window cannot
steal away this presence on the brain.
Intimacy resided here,
leaving traces of brilliant affect.

Stately porches among climbing oaks
and sugar maple, wrap my ethos
like a tenderly knitted shawl. Leaves,

like dancing suede-like vestiges,
golden cinnamon, butterscotch topaz,
glowing copper ruby,
croon in high-pitched song along frigid sidewalks.

Grazing the earth like bohemians, they carry
onwards to numerous rows of old white houses
and brownstones. Angry wind

scours the crumbling pavement as
sunlight fades to amber lamps.
Dwelling now in my own deeply felt history and
coming of age, the backpack is
heavy as I journey toward
the brighter truth.
Veracity: I embrace you,
as one holds a fresh day in their heart.