Sunday, December 30, 2007
Saddest Moments for me in 2007:
Losing neighbor Bob Fritsch, February 14th, 2007 to pancreatic cancer.
Losing Halmeoni(Korean for Grandma)-- Up-Young Tae-- to Alzheimer's illness, and old age, June 14th, 2007.
Losing my deeply beloved Theya(Greek for Aunt--she was my Grand Aunt) Helen Hartley, August 14th, 2007, to congestive heart failure.
My Personal, Peace-Filled, Peaceful Moments of 2007:
*The LGBTQ Reading, "My Body Is A Candle Lit By Fire" at Actors' Express where we raised awareness of the plight of gays in Iraq and Iran.Cleo Creech and others read from our "Outside The Green Zone" chapbook.
*Lighting candles at both St. Jude The Apostle, and St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Churches. Candles lit for Peace, for Healing.
*Meditating daily for Peace for my family, for my Hansoo, for my friends, for my community, for the world.
*Romping with my furry babies, "Frisco" and "Louie".They remind me to live "in the moment."
*Beginning a program of doing a walk/run, every day.(After a break to recover from vertigo, I'm back "on track"!)
*Being present at the "Voices Carry " event at The Composition Gallery in September of this year. A wonderful tribute to the late, great Chante' Whitley-Head, by some of the best poets in the po-biz!
*Visiting with my family--all of-- my family-of-origin, in May, at niece Breaz's graduation!
*Beth Gylys' Book Release--I got to play "Bad Girl"!!
* The First Annual Atlanta LGBTQ Literary Festival, October.
*Poetry-At-Tech, just a few weeks ago--sensational work from Katie Chaple, Jon Goode, and Collin Kelley, courtesy of Tom Lux!
*Oh, and the wedding, too!Cold in February as it was!
Post your favorite peace moments here in the Comments!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.
Last year, I resolved to do tasks in a more timely fashion. I said-- if memory serves-- that I would endeavor to perform tasks as if it was for someone ELSE. It seems I perform much better, and more efficiently, when someone else is counting on me. If it's something for me, I tend to drag my feet.
For the most part, this tactic worked.
The only area where I feel disappointed with myself, is in getting my one-woman "Show & Tell" mounted. That will be first priority--getting it up, and on the road, too!
Currently, I am figuring out a cover for my
"Words From Water: Poems".
Hint: It involves water-- and me-- but that's all I'll say right now.
Many thanks to Collin Kelley for his (numerous) suggestions for many of the poems in this collection.I am grateful he'll be making editing suggestions again for me, before I let it go to print!
I'm very excited about my next project, a one-woman piece I've entitled, "The Woman Who Called Herself Vincent", a show I'm writing by researching Edna St. Vincent Millay's very unusual life. A bisexual writer, and a caring, kind, flamboyant, moody(she was apparently manic-depressive)individual who was way ahead of her time, she is quite inspiring. I am so thankful that Franklin Abbott suggested I look at her life as a possibility for building a one-woman show around her.
I will probably submit my "The Book of O: The Orgasm Poems" sometime in 2008, to a few places. Except for when a Founder/Publisher ASKED me to, I've not ever submitted a full collection anywhere before, so perhaps I'll start with that collection. Heck, it's pretty edg-y, and that seems to get publishers intrigued.
MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2008:
A) Continue doing as if the work(writing, acting, what-have-you) I do is for someone ELSE--not just for me-- as it gets accomplished in a more timely fashion.
B) Visit places I've neglected:
(1) Other Houses of Worship(Mosques, Temples, Retreats, etc.)
(2) Feminist Bookstores (Charis Books in Little Five Points)
(3) The Beach
(I feel very calm, and centered when I'm near water--I love the Pacific(Santa Monica, Malibu, Zuma), but the Gulf(Florida, Alabama), and the Atlantic Ocean(Lantana Beach, Delray Beach, Miami) are nice too.... And the Carribbean!)
C) Visit people I've neglected:
(1) See performers I admire, support their work more frequently!
(2) Give more time to friends and family.
D) Continue to strive for Peace.
I can work for Peace at home, at work, in my own life.
If everyone could try and do this:
Use Peaceful, Peace-filled words, and exercise patience, and kindness(even when every fiber of your being tells you NOT to!) when dealing with loved ones, and even those you don't love, or don't know.
This makes Peace in the greater community, a bit more likely.
World Peace IS a Dream, but it is also a possibility....
What are YOUR Resolutions?
And did you KEEP the ones you made, last year?
I'd love to see you Post A Comment!
Here's to health, wealth, and completion of all worthwhile goals, for all of you out there(and me, too!).
Last year, I resolved to do tasks in a more timely fashion. I said-- if memory serves-- that I would endeavor to perform tasks as if it was for someone ELSE. It seems I perform much better, and more efficiently, when someone else is counting on me. If it's something for me, I tend to drag my feet.
For the most part, this tactic worked.
The only area where I feel disappointed with myself, is in getting my one-woman "Show & Tell" mounted. That will be first priority--getting it up, and on the road, too!
Currently, I am figuring out a cover for my
"Words From Water: Poems".
Hint: It involves water-- and me-- but that's all I'll say right now.
Many thanks to Collin Kelley for his (numerous) suggestions for many of the poems in this collection.I am grateful he'll be making editing suggestions again for me, before I let it go to print!
I'm very excited about my next project, a one-woman piece I've entitled, "The Woman Who Called Herself Vincent", a show I'm writing by researching Edna St. Vincent Millay's very unusual life. A bisexual writer, and a caring, kind, flamboyant, moody(she was apparently manic-depressive)individual who was way ahead of her time, she is quite inspiring. I am so thankful that Franklin Abbott suggested I look at her life as a possibility for building a one-woman show around her.
I will probably submit my "The Book of O: The Orgasm Poems" sometime in 2008, to a few places. Except for when a Founder/Publisher ASKED me to, I've not ever submitted a full collection anywhere before, so perhaps I'll start with that collection. Heck, it's pretty edg-y, and that seems to get publishers intrigued.
MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2008:
A) Continue doing as if the work(writing, acting, what-have-you) I do is for someone ELSE--not just for me-- as it gets accomplished in a more timely fashion.
B) Visit places I've neglected:
(1) Other Houses of Worship(Mosques, Temples, Retreats, etc.)
(2) Feminist Bookstores (Charis Books in Little Five Points)
(3) The Beach
(I feel very calm, and centered when I'm near water--I love the Pacific(Santa Monica, Malibu, Zuma), but the Gulf(Florida, Alabama), and the Atlantic Ocean(Lantana Beach, Delray Beach, Miami) are nice too.... And the Carribbean!)
C) Visit people I've neglected:
(1) See performers I admire, support their work more frequently!
(2) Give more time to friends and family.
D) Continue to strive for Peace.
I can work for Peace at home, at work, in my own life.
If everyone could try and do this:
Use Peaceful, Peace-filled words, and exercise patience, and kindness(even when every fiber of your being tells you NOT to!) when dealing with loved ones, and even those you don't love, or don't know.
This makes Peace in the greater community, a bit more likely.
World Peace IS a Dream, but it is also a possibility....
What are YOUR Resolutions?
And did you KEEP the ones you made, last year?
I'd love to see you Post A Comment!
Here's to health, wealth, and completion of all worthwhile goals, for all of you out there(and me, too!).
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Hi kids! Hope you enjoy the new look of Lisa Allender Writes, courtesy of my fabulous friend, writer/soon-to-be-even-more-famous-poet, Collin Kelley!
Scroll down to see just how excited I was to get this baby updated, below(the post I am referring to is December 25th's-- just below the post with Celine Dion's O Holy Night).
Holidays Update:
On a clear Wednesday(last week), Hansoo & I drove about two hours and forty-five minutes to see Rachel & Grace(his nieces, mine too, now!)perform in their church's Christmas program.Both girls sang(no need for songbooks, unlike many of the other children, these two had MEMORIZED all of the songs)both did some acting, and Rachel played the flute, too!
It was a lovely tribute to all the hard work their parents put in, both at home, and in their quaint community of Farragut(near Knoxville).
The Presbyterian Church is predominantly Korean, but all services(including this Christmas pageant, entitled "Stranger In The Manger")are in English.
It was compelling to hear the traditional hymns, sung in English(by most of us), and then, even moreso--- to hear different sounds
(at one point, I said to Hansoo,"I don't understand--am I saying the wrong words?" "No, Lis, the older people are singing in Korean.")in the same moment.
It was especially touching for me. I was a hard-core atheist until only a few years ago(late 2003/early 2004), when I felt moved to pray.
I respect everyone's faith/faith-free attitudes, as I have definitely "been there"...
I wish Richard Dawkins
("The God Delusion"--a strong book, but I criticize the "simplistic" nature of it--Dawkins has too much of an "us" vs. "them" mentality--ironically, the very thing that can be off-putting about overly zealous religious folks!)
could give us just ONE concession, though: Faith is NOT at odds with science!
It is "additional", not a choice of "fantasy" over "reality".I mean, most folks I know who believe in God, or "other", also fully embrace scientific achievements, and of course, believe fully in Evolution.
Darwin's Theory is FACT, people--the Theory of Gravity would never be questioned, and that's as it should be for all of life evolving, too!
I personally find science SUPPORTS a belief in the Transcendental, the Mysterious, and yes--God.
Back to these frenetic, but beloved holidays....I worry about not being "in the spirit" of the holidays, especially when I miss my sweet niece so very much.Breaz and I will get to visit in January(when she can actually get a couple of days "off" from her job), and I cannot wait!I want to get caught up on "life at 19", college, and all the excitement of her young, on-the-brink-of-full-adulthood-life!
It was lovely to see Omma K., and Oppa K.,(Hansoo's Mom and Dad, respectively), and his bro Arthur, and new love, Toni.
My Mom, Demetra joined us Christmas Eve, and we headed for Cho-Won, a great Korean buffet-restaurant in Duluth...
Mom and I did Christmas Midnight Mass just around the corner from my house, at the nearly-bigger-than-belief- St. Brigid's R.C. Church.Their choir was great, even if the incense was a bit thick!
I got to see Uncle Bud for a bit on Christmas Day, and Mom came back over here, that night, too...
My dear sis, Tina, hubby Tom, and my Dad joined Breaz in Florida, and I was sorry to not be able to be there.
Soon, though, soon!
Fun moments:
*Seeing Hansoo's face literaly light up at receiving "The Doggie-Driver", a ridiculous contraption which facilitates "driving" tennis balls for your dog!(He's been doing this sort of thing for our crazy Aussie, "Frisco", for years, using his old golf driver, but this instrument is really unique--a huge, phallic-like head, with equally large balls--hilarious!!I found it at that home-store-- Frontgate-- at Phipps' Plaza)
Too rainy yesterday, but maybe we can run downstairs today, and try hitting a few for "the Frisk".
What about our other dog, you ask?
"Louie" our Golden, has no idea he is a Retreiver, and so, will not fetch....
Both doggies have stockings they have not "opened"(translation: torn to pieces) yet. I , uh, I mean, Santa Claus, filled them with doggie-treats, chew-bones, and tug-toys!
I'll give "Louie" extra times to "run" on-leash, so he won't feel "neglected".
* Receiving a gorgeous framed blown-up-to-8"-by-10" photograph of our family, lakeside, at Tina & Tom's, after Breaz's high-school graduation.
I teared up, of course, remembering her walking so solemny down that aisle, and then irreverently, afterwards--outside the building, as there are apparently "rules" against doing so inside now-- tossing her cap in the air!
*Wearing my pretty "Bordeaux Tapestry Coat" by CAbi.
Hansoo got it for me, after I hosted a CAbi home party here, with pal Coral McGhee showing off her fashion wares, and fashion sense!
I'm planning another CAbi (Carol Anderson by invitation)party here, in February!
*Chowing down on an assortment of pan-jun(my spelling for Korean side-dishes of pickled veggies, hamool pan-jun(Korean thin-pancakes filled with onions, veggies, seafood, etc.), "Omma K.'s" chap-jae(Korean potato-flour-noodles with veggies), and "Korean breaded-Gulf-shrimp!!. Yum!
* My mom's famous fresh cooked crookneck squash with onions.Double yum!
Please take a moment to comment on the new layout of My Blog.
Thank you again to Collin Kelley. Check out HIS blog, by clicking on the Link provided here at My Blog(to your right).
And hey!!--- Take just 60 seconds--ONE MINUTE of your time to "register" here at My Blog-- and then you may make Comments now, and on my future posts, too!
I really appreciate your support!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
I'll be writing about New Year's Resolutions, soon!!!
Scroll down to see just how excited I was to get this baby updated, below(the post I am referring to is December 25th's-- just below the post with Celine Dion's O Holy Night).
Holidays Update:
On a clear Wednesday(last week), Hansoo & I drove about two hours and forty-five minutes to see Rachel & Grace(his nieces, mine too, now!)perform in their church's Christmas program.Both girls sang(no need for songbooks, unlike many of the other children, these two had MEMORIZED all of the songs)both did some acting, and Rachel played the flute, too!
It was a lovely tribute to all the hard work their parents put in, both at home, and in their quaint community of Farragut(near Knoxville).
The Presbyterian Church is predominantly Korean, but all services(including this Christmas pageant, entitled "Stranger In The Manger")are in English.
It was compelling to hear the traditional hymns, sung in English(by most of us), and then, even moreso--- to hear different sounds
(at one point, I said to Hansoo,"I don't understand--am I saying the wrong words?" "No, Lis, the older people are singing in Korean.")in the same moment.
It was especially touching for me. I was a hard-core atheist until only a few years ago(late 2003/early 2004), when I felt moved to pray.
I respect everyone's faith/faith-free attitudes, as I have definitely "been there"...
I wish Richard Dawkins
("The God Delusion"--a strong book, but I criticize the "simplistic" nature of it--Dawkins has too much of an "us" vs. "them" mentality--ironically, the very thing that can be off-putting about overly zealous religious folks!)
could give us just ONE concession, though: Faith is NOT at odds with science!
It is "additional", not a choice of "fantasy" over "reality".I mean, most folks I know who believe in God, or "other", also fully embrace scientific achievements, and of course, believe fully in Evolution.
Darwin's Theory is FACT, people--the Theory of Gravity would never be questioned, and that's as it should be for all of life evolving, too!
I personally find science SUPPORTS a belief in the Transcendental, the Mysterious, and yes--God.
Back to these frenetic, but beloved holidays....I worry about not being "in the spirit" of the holidays, especially when I miss my sweet niece so very much.Breaz and I will get to visit in January(when she can actually get a couple of days "off" from her job), and I cannot wait!I want to get caught up on "life at 19", college, and all the excitement of her young, on-the-brink-of-full-adulthood-life!
It was lovely to see Omma K., and Oppa K.,(Hansoo's Mom and Dad, respectively), and his bro Arthur, and new love, Toni.
My Mom, Demetra joined us Christmas Eve, and we headed for Cho-Won, a great Korean buffet-restaurant in Duluth...
Mom and I did Christmas Midnight Mass just around the corner from my house, at the nearly-bigger-than-belief- St. Brigid's R.C. Church.Their choir was great, even if the incense was a bit thick!
I got to see Uncle Bud for a bit on Christmas Day, and Mom came back over here, that night, too...
My dear sis, Tina, hubby Tom, and my Dad joined Breaz in Florida, and I was sorry to not be able to be there.
Soon, though, soon!
Fun moments:
*Seeing Hansoo's face literaly light up at receiving "The Doggie-Driver", a ridiculous contraption which facilitates "driving" tennis balls for your dog!(He's been doing this sort of thing for our crazy Aussie, "Frisco", for years, using his old golf driver, but this instrument is really unique--a huge, phallic-like head, with equally large balls--hilarious!!I found it at that home-store-- Frontgate-- at Phipps' Plaza)
Too rainy yesterday, but maybe we can run downstairs today, and try hitting a few for "the Frisk".
What about our other dog, you ask?
"Louie" our Golden, has no idea he is a Retreiver, and so, will not fetch....
Both doggies have stockings they have not "opened"(translation: torn to pieces) yet. I , uh, I mean, Santa Claus, filled them with doggie-treats, chew-bones, and tug-toys!
I'll give "Louie" extra times to "run" on-leash, so he won't feel "neglected".
* Receiving a gorgeous framed blown-up-to-8"-by-10" photograph of our family, lakeside, at Tina & Tom's, after Breaz's high-school graduation.
I teared up, of course, remembering her walking so solemny down that aisle, and then irreverently, afterwards--outside the building, as there are apparently "rules" against doing so inside now-- tossing her cap in the air!
*Wearing my pretty "Bordeaux Tapestry Coat" by CAbi.
Hansoo got it for me, after I hosted a CAbi home party here, with pal Coral McGhee showing off her fashion wares, and fashion sense!
I'm planning another CAbi (Carol Anderson by invitation)party here, in February!
*Chowing down on an assortment of pan-jun(my spelling for Korean side-dishes of pickled veggies, hamool pan-jun(Korean thin-pancakes filled with onions, veggies, seafood, etc.), "Omma K.'s" chap-jae(Korean potato-flour-noodles with veggies), and "Korean breaded-Gulf-shrimp!!. Yum!
* My mom's famous fresh cooked crookneck squash with onions.Double yum!
Please take a moment to comment on the new layout of My Blog.
Thank you again to Collin Kelley. Check out HIS blog, by clicking on the Link provided here at My Blog(to your right).
And hey!!--- Take just 60 seconds--ONE MINUTE of your time to "register" here at My Blog-- and then you may make Comments now, and on my future posts, too!
I really appreciate your support!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
I'll be writing about New Year's Resolutions, soon!!!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
A NEW CHRISTMAS BICYCLE!!!!
Not an ACTUAL bicycle, but I'll explain in a moment...
I spoke with dear friend Collin Kelley tonight.Atlanta weather being what it was, it was impossible to meet for a Christmas evening drink and a hullo...but the chat on the phone was lovely and lively, and as we were chatting, Collin offered "I can update your Blog, Lisa; I'll make it pretty.."
Looks like I've been using quite an outdated template, and in less than 40 minutes, Collin Kelley had the LOOK of my Blog, not to mention the ease with which to post on it, and access it, completely UPGRADED!!
WOW!
In the next few days, you'll see me trying out new things--more postings from YouTube, music, etc., as the old days of "encoding" are kapppoey!YAAAAA!
After a mini-lesson over-the-phone from Collin, I remarked that this new template is like when you're a child, and you go from riding a tricycle, to a bicycle.
And then, I thanked him for my new bike for Christmas!
Expect to see me do a few "wheelie" maneuvers, soon!
Oh--MERRY CHRISTMAS!!and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Not an ACTUAL bicycle, but I'll explain in a moment...
I spoke with dear friend Collin Kelley tonight.Atlanta weather being what it was, it was impossible to meet for a Christmas evening drink and a hullo...but the chat on the phone was lovely and lively, and as we were chatting, Collin offered "I can update your Blog, Lisa; I'll make it pretty.."
Looks like I've been using quite an outdated template, and in less than 40 minutes, Collin Kelley had the LOOK of my Blog, not to mention the ease with which to post on it, and access it, completely UPGRADED!!
WOW!
In the next few days, you'll see me trying out new things--more postings from YouTube, music, etc., as the old days of "encoding" are kapppoey!YAAAAA!
After a mini-lesson over-the-phone from Collin, I remarked that this new template is like when you're a child, and you go from riding a tricycle, to a bicycle.
And then, I thanked him for my new bike for Christmas!
Expect to see me do a few "wheelie" maneuvers, soon!
Oh--MERRY CHRISTMAS!!and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
SAG HOLIDAY GATHERING.
A transformation of the SAG offices in Buckhead occured Friday evening.The lights, a shining Christmas tree, and candles abounded. A huge spread of food and treats and wine, along with the convivial spirit of the actors present, made for a swinging Holiday party.
I arrived with a camera I borrowed, a nifty digital that should've been easy to use.(and it was--most of the time--but, when it failed me, a kind fellow named Dave helped out by shooting the pictures I could not seem to get!)
I got some great shots of Prez Mike P., and his lovely wife, actress/make-up artist Jaye.
The centerpiece of the table was a model of the soon-to-be-built "Two Williams House", which will be an homage to the two Williams in the life of the much-beloved Annette Stillwell. The Habitat-For-Humanity Project will get underway in January. Many SAG members have already signed up to assist in the building and painting of the house, and/or feeding the crew.
Annette, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I especially enjoyed catching up with Yolanda Asher, Paul Armbruster, and Thedra Porter. Allison was kind and encouraging to me--she is Executive Assistant to Executive Director Melissa Goodman(kudos to YOU, Melissa, for all the hard work in decorating the offices, and setting up this lovely event!)
Thank you, Dick Klinger, for the sound advice, too!
The evening wound down with Doug Kaye reading aloud his annual "Holiday Poem".
Once I get permission, I'll post the hilarious poem for all of you at my Blog...
If I am granted permission to let others access the photos from the party, I'll post those details at my blog, too!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, actors, and all others!
A transformation of the SAG offices in Buckhead occured Friday evening.The lights, a shining Christmas tree, and candles abounded. A huge spread of food and treats and wine, along with the convivial spirit of the actors present, made for a swinging Holiday party.
I arrived with a camera I borrowed, a nifty digital that should've been easy to use.(and it was--most of the time--but, when it failed me, a kind fellow named Dave helped out by shooting the pictures I could not seem to get!)
I got some great shots of Prez Mike P., and his lovely wife, actress/make-up artist Jaye.
The centerpiece of the table was a model of the soon-to-be-built "Two Williams House", which will be an homage to the two Williams in the life of the much-beloved Annette Stillwell. The Habitat-For-Humanity Project will get underway in January. Many SAG members have already signed up to assist in the building and painting of the house, and/or feeding the crew.
Annette, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I especially enjoyed catching up with Yolanda Asher, Paul Armbruster, and Thedra Porter. Allison was kind and encouraging to me--she is Executive Assistant to Executive Director Melissa Goodman(kudos to YOU, Melissa, for all the hard work in decorating the offices, and setting up this lovely event!)
Thank you, Dick Klinger, for the sound advice, too!
The evening wound down with Doug Kaye reading aloud his annual "Holiday Poem".
Once I get permission, I'll post the hilarious poem for all of you at my Blog...
If I am granted permission to let others access the photos from the party, I'll post those details at my blog, too!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, actors, and all others!
Friday, December 14, 2007
TIS THE SEASON.
To celebrate hope!
With this in mind, an update on The Death Penalty in the U.S.:
New Jersey has just voted to abolish it in their state!I cannot think of a more profound way to move in the direction of a civilized, peaceful society than this.
The people found guilty of the crime of murder will instead be confined to life in prison, with NO possibility of parole.
I think about all the qualities that are desirable in an individual--kindness, loyalty, truth-seeking, honesty, fairness, hard-working, creativity--and then I think, these qualities are the ones we MUST have in our organizations, our institutions, indeed, our government.
Surely the death penalty will melt away as we discover truth, and search for meaning and value in our lives.
We can have no real truth and beauty, in a society which constantly affirms killing as a "good" or "justified" value.
Here's to the meaning of the Season--Hope. Peace. Love. For all of us. We are all part of this Universe.
To celebrate hope!
With this in mind, an update on The Death Penalty in the U.S.:
New Jersey has just voted to abolish it in their state!I cannot think of a more profound way to move in the direction of a civilized, peaceful society than this.
The people found guilty of the crime of murder will instead be confined to life in prison, with NO possibility of parole.
I think about all the qualities that are desirable in an individual--kindness, loyalty, truth-seeking, honesty, fairness, hard-working, creativity--and then I think, these qualities are the ones we MUST have in our organizations, our institutions, indeed, our government.
Surely the death penalty will melt away as we discover truth, and search for meaning and value in our lives.
We can have no real truth and beauty, in a society which constantly affirms killing as a "good" or "justified" value.
Here's to the meaning of the Season--Hope. Peace. Love. For all of us. We are all part of this Universe.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
December 11th, 1988....
I have a niece! Breanna Shaye is the lovely, lively child born that day to my gorgeous sis, Tina.
She'd wanted a baby for years, and finally got her wish!
I could say right here how I was always over, helping to do diaper-duty, babysitting, etc.,assisting lovely Tina and Mom("Yia-Yia" is Greek for Grandmother) but it isn't true.
Instead, I was out gallivanting around with my then-boyfriend, a handsome, very intelligent Frenchman.
Yia-Yia was there, helping all along, becoming a bright light for both Tina and Breaz. She still is. For all of us.
It wasn't until Breaz was about 3 years old, that I began to realize how special she--indeed, all little children-- truly are!
I've tried to be there for Breaz as she grew up.
We attended the Dogwood Festivals together;The Atlanta Art Fests; The Celtic Fests, The Greek Fests;read our way through many books at various bookstores; we made brownies together;saw plays and puppet shows together("A Child's Christmas in Wales" was our first play).
I volunteered to go to her 3rd-grade class, Ms. Horwood's(She loved the teacher, but said, "Gee, I'd hate to have that name, and be teaching kids our age...")
I read poetry to the children, and then they wrote some, too.
I watched her rollar-blade.
Went roller-skating at the big birthday bashes her Mom, Tina, always threw for her.
And I saw her practice piano. I attended violin recitals.
When we happened upon a tiny dead bird, we held a funeral for it. "Oh, God, bless this bird who died too young. She was a good bird."
Then we dug a small pit, and buried her in a paper-towel.
When she was around ten, I began a tradition of holding a "Summer Camp" at
my house. It was usually just she & I, and occasionally a girlfriend of hers would join us for the last day or two. "Camp Aunt Lisa" would run a week, sometimes a bit longer,(one year I got her for several weeks!)if I could talk Tina into letting her stay.
We'd go swimmming, sometimes fishing, walk and run the "furry babies"(my Aussie-- Frisco, & Golden-- Louie, who grew up, as Breaz grew up!), baked cakes(she surprised me one year with an embellishment on the cake we'd made, which read "I Love Camp Aunt Lisa"), make homemade creamed corn(her favorite!),ate water-chestnuts out of the can(her idea--but they're pretty tasty!),created homemade spaghetti sauce, played jump-rope, listened to Eminem, burned CD's(Hansoo would do her "yearly list"--back when one could burn CD's), did scrubs and facials so our skin would be perfect,did pedicures and manicures and we collected leaves and flowers for "memory boxes", and we wrote--I asked her to keep a journal of just her feelings.
She later told me she loved keeping a journal, that it made her see she was "alive".That she liked seeing how she felt "back when I was real young."(she said this when she was 11).
I bought her a paint set and canvases. She can really paint!
We took hundreds of photos. Of the dogs. Us. People. Plants.
We videotaped each other...
As I was going up the stairs one day,and she wielded the video-camera,"Gee, Aunt Lisa, you got a J-Lo butt!" she exclaimed, zooming in on my round rear...
"Is that a good thing?"
"Well, she's got a big butt. But on you, it looks okay."
"Thanks, Breaz."
We went bowling(I told her "Gee, this is the only sport I don't suck at." "You're funny Aunt Lisa," she said, adding,"And you don't suck at bowling. You're actually kinda good at it.")
Saw Disney films together(even when she wanted to see "more adult" movies, we saw the Disney stuff).
I watched her cheer at her academy where cheerleading was an actual SKILL that was taught--this was serious stuff, not eyeliner and short skirts. It was gymnastics, and flips, and dance skills, athleticism, and responsibility.
We always finished out the evening with a reading-in-bed. Usually, it was our first favorite, "Curious George". Because it always made us laugh. How Curious George had a name, how the Man in the Yellow Hat, never did.
How it says "little monkey" about thirty times in every "Curious George" episode!
As she entered junior-high school, I saw her less. There was an impending move, as the family(by now, Tina was with dear Tom, a large hunk of man, with a generous heart to match)was headed to Florida....
I recall one afternoon, just days before Christmas, when she was 14--I turned her loose at Humpus Bumpus Books and said "Pick out whatver you want--just keep picking out books until you think you have enough."
It was exciting to see her run directly for Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet", then a full collection of Shakespeare, then on to books of poetry, a nonfiction book on being a teenager, a dark mystery, and finally--she raced to the back of the store, somewhat breathless."Where are you going?" I asked, curious as to why a bona-fide teenager would allow herself to be caught in the kiddie-section.
"I have to find Curious George," she said with a smile.
I understood then,what being a teenager is--one hand is in the Romeo-and-Juliet section, the other hand cuddles Curious George.
If you see this, BREAZ, HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY! It's a good year, but it will only get better, kid.
Aunt Lisa promises.
I have a niece! Breanna Shaye is the lovely, lively child born that day to my gorgeous sis, Tina.
She'd wanted a baby for years, and finally got her wish!
I could say right here how I was always over, helping to do diaper-duty, babysitting, etc.,assisting lovely Tina and Mom("Yia-Yia" is Greek for Grandmother) but it isn't true.
Instead, I was out gallivanting around with my then-boyfriend, a handsome, very intelligent Frenchman.
Yia-Yia was there, helping all along, becoming a bright light for both Tina and Breaz. She still is. For all of us.
It wasn't until Breaz was about 3 years old, that I began to realize how special she--indeed, all little children-- truly are!
I've tried to be there for Breaz as she grew up.
We attended the Dogwood Festivals together;The Atlanta Art Fests; The Celtic Fests, The Greek Fests;read our way through many books at various bookstores; we made brownies together;saw plays and puppet shows together("A Child's Christmas in Wales" was our first play).
I volunteered to go to her 3rd-grade class, Ms. Horwood's(She loved the teacher, but said, "Gee, I'd hate to have that name, and be teaching kids our age...")
I read poetry to the children, and then they wrote some, too.
I watched her rollar-blade.
Went roller-skating at the big birthday bashes her Mom, Tina, always threw for her.
And I saw her practice piano. I attended violin recitals.
When we happened upon a tiny dead bird, we held a funeral for it. "Oh, God, bless this bird who died too young. She was a good bird."
Then we dug a small pit, and buried her in a paper-towel.
When she was around ten, I began a tradition of holding a "Summer Camp" at
my house. It was usually just she & I, and occasionally a girlfriend of hers would join us for the last day or two. "Camp Aunt Lisa" would run a week, sometimes a bit longer,(one year I got her for several weeks!)if I could talk Tina into letting her stay.
We'd go swimmming, sometimes fishing, walk and run the "furry babies"(my Aussie-- Frisco, & Golden-- Louie, who grew up, as Breaz grew up!), baked cakes(she surprised me one year with an embellishment on the cake we'd made, which read "I Love Camp Aunt Lisa"), make homemade creamed corn(her favorite!),ate water-chestnuts out of the can(her idea--but they're pretty tasty!),created homemade spaghetti sauce, played jump-rope, listened to Eminem, burned CD's(Hansoo would do her "yearly list"--back when one could burn CD's), did scrubs and facials so our skin would be perfect,did pedicures and manicures and we collected leaves and flowers for "memory boxes", and we wrote--I asked her to keep a journal of just her feelings.
She later told me she loved keeping a journal, that it made her see she was "alive".That she liked seeing how she felt "back when I was real young."(she said this when she was 11).
I bought her a paint set and canvases. She can really paint!
We took hundreds of photos. Of the dogs. Us. People. Plants.
We videotaped each other...
As I was going up the stairs one day,and she wielded the video-camera,"Gee, Aunt Lisa, you got a J-Lo butt!" she exclaimed, zooming in on my round rear...
"Is that a good thing?"
"Well, she's got a big butt. But on you, it looks okay."
"Thanks, Breaz."
We went bowling(I told her "Gee, this is the only sport I don't suck at." "You're funny Aunt Lisa," she said, adding,"And you don't suck at bowling. You're actually kinda good at it.")
Saw Disney films together(even when she wanted to see "more adult" movies, we saw the Disney stuff).
I watched her cheer at her academy where cheerleading was an actual SKILL that was taught--this was serious stuff, not eyeliner and short skirts. It was gymnastics, and flips, and dance skills, athleticism, and responsibility.
We always finished out the evening with a reading-in-bed. Usually, it was our first favorite, "Curious George". Because it always made us laugh. How Curious George had a name, how the Man in the Yellow Hat, never did.
How it says "little monkey" about thirty times in every "Curious George" episode!
As she entered junior-high school, I saw her less. There was an impending move, as the family(by now, Tina was with dear Tom, a large hunk of man, with a generous heart to match)was headed to Florida....
I recall one afternoon, just days before Christmas, when she was 14--I turned her loose at Humpus Bumpus Books and said "Pick out whatver you want--just keep picking out books until you think you have enough."
It was exciting to see her run directly for Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet", then a full collection of Shakespeare, then on to books of poetry, a nonfiction book on being a teenager, a dark mystery, and finally--she raced to the back of the store, somewhat breathless."Where are you going?" I asked, curious as to why a bona-fide teenager would allow herself to be caught in the kiddie-section.
"I have to find Curious George," she said with a smile.
I understood then,what being a teenager is--one hand is in the Romeo-and-Juliet section, the other hand cuddles Curious George.
If you see this, BREAZ, HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY! It's a good year, but it will only get better, kid.
Aunt Lisa promises.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
I took notes on each poet's poem--for each poem read, I jotted down an image or two I found exciting, and I wrote down a few words from the last line of each poem, too.
I was not sure I would "do" anything with them, I just wanted a verbatim reminder of pieces of what I heard.I always regret not having the EXACT words I liked, to read later(of course, if books are available, one can get them, but some of these are new, or not yet in a book!)...
So...
In the new-found "tradition" of Karen Head, and Collin Kelley and others, here is my attempt at a "Found" poem--ALL THESE WORDS ARE FROM THE POEMS OF KATIE CHAPLE, JON GOODE, AND COLLIN KELLEY...ALL OF THE WORDS WERE SAID, ALBEIT IN VERY DIFFERENT CONTEXTS, BY THESE POETS,AT THE POETRY-AT-TECH READING, THIS PAST THURSDAY
So here goes my juxtaposing of these lovely words, into a "Found" poem:
Where lives lust, but here?
Sharp glint of belt buckles,
used to punctuate a man's body,
the taste of him on my lips.
Over the water to elsewhere,
far away from Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.
You remind me of someone I will forget.
Have a great Sunday!
I was not sure I would "do" anything with them, I just wanted a verbatim reminder of pieces of what I heard.I always regret not having the EXACT words I liked, to read later(of course, if books are available, one can get them, but some of these are new, or not yet in a book!)...
So...
In the new-found "tradition" of Karen Head, and Collin Kelley and others, here is my attempt at a "Found" poem--ALL THESE WORDS ARE FROM THE POEMS OF KATIE CHAPLE, JON GOODE, AND COLLIN KELLEY...ALL OF THE WORDS WERE SAID, ALBEIT IN VERY DIFFERENT CONTEXTS, BY THESE POETS,AT THE POETRY-AT-TECH READING, THIS PAST THURSDAY
So here goes my juxtaposing of these lovely words, into a "Found" poem:
Where lives lust, but here?
Sharp glint of belt buckles,
used to punctuate a man's body,
the taste of him on my lips.
Over the water to elsewhere,
far away from Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.
You remind me of someone I will forget.
Have a great Sunday!
Saturday, December 08, 2007
I want to make a kind of a unique post about the amazing time found at Poetry At Tech on Thursday...but that post will be a bit later, as I have a bit of "honing" to do on what I'm working on for that(hint: it's in the word: found)...for now, a brief overview:
I knew the range of poets was great(Katie Chaple, Jon Goode, Collin Kelley), but I had no idea how spirited and lively --how fresh-- all three of the poets' work would be.I suspect it reflects Tom Lux's genius in choosing this particular mix.
Katie Chaple(who I first met at a Publishing Workshop she taught, with Travis Denton at Tech, some months ago)was marvelous, Jon Goode(a stellar spoken-word champ)was his usual strong self, and dear Collin Kelley gave the best reading I've ever seen him do!
One poem of his was deeply, deeply affecting for me personally: "Spring Hill"...Terry Graves, his uncle, was a co-worker of mine, from 1983-1987, and we remained friends long after that....and I met Collin Kelley in 2003....The entire, eerie story of Collin's and my "connection" to one another, is told in one of my early posts to My Blog...
The rest of the evening was marvelous, too. Generous Tom Lux treated a large group of us to dinner at Las Palmeras, a wonderful Cuban restaurant.
It was fun for me to be still, and be quiet--something I seldom do--because I could take in all the wonderful, exuberant conversation going on.I kept hearing "Spain", "Paris" and "Brazil" being bandied about on the far left end of the table, while to the right of me, discussions about vegetariansim, and Gypsee Yo, and New York went on.
At one point in the evening, at our loooong table, with several conversations happening simultaneously, I heard one person say:"I'll have..." just as Collin Kelley answered an obviously different question, with this answer: "Paranoia."
Just before we readied ourselves to get up from the table, I heard someone at the very end of the table murmur"Was it pre-meditated? I heard she was beaten to death..."
I smiled weakly and said "It seems the conversation on the end has taken a rather dark turn.."
Apparently, a man had been accused/convicted of killing his wife, I did not get the details, but it illustrates what a diverse exchange of ideas, gossip, etc., was being encouraged!
And the view from the "party-condo"--spectacular!
I felt like I was falling-in-love with the city of Atlanta, all over again.
The buildings of Atlanta are not all that tall, but sometimes they can appear rather sinister, or foreboding.But not Thursday night.They were simply spears of light.
A dark oak stretched itself across the pale sky, and the conversation went on for hours.
It was great to catch up with Rupert Fike, Kodac Harrison, and Mike Dockins.
Inside the condo,I especially enjoyed the juxtaposition of two guns--rifles, I believe, and a mounted fish, a "target-man" sheet, and hundreds of classic and modern tomes, lit magazines, and photos-- all set in one amazing room--a sort of kinky library.
Definitely a night to remember.Fondly.
I knew the range of poets was great(Katie Chaple, Jon Goode, Collin Kelley), but I had no idea how spirited and lively --how fresh-- all three of the poets' work would be.I suspect it reflects Tom Lux's genius in choosing this particular mix.
Katie Chaple(who I first met at a Publishing Workshop she taught, with Travis Denton at Tech, some months ago)was marvelous, Jon Goode(a stellar spoken-word champ)was his usual strong self, and dear Collin Kelley gave the best reading I've ever seen him do!
One poem of his was deeply, deeply affecting for me personally: "Spring Hill"...Terry Graves, his uncle, was a co-worker of mine, from 1983-1987, and we remained friends long after that....and I met Collin Kelley in 2003....The entire, eerie story of Collin's and my "connection" to one another, is told in one of my early posts to My Blog...
The rest of the evening was marvelous, too. Generous Tom Lux treated a large group of us to dinner at Las Palmeras, a wonderful Cuban restaurant.
It was fun for me to be still, and be quiet--something I seldom do--because I could take in all the wonderful, exuberant conversation going on.I kept hearing "Spain", "Paris" and "Brazil" being bandied about on the far left end of the table, while to the right of me, discussions about vegetariansim, and Gypsee Yo, and New York went on.
At one point in the evening, at our loooong table, with several conversations happening simultaneously, I heard one person say:"I'll have..." just as Collin Kelley answered an obviously different question, with this answer: "Paranoia."
Just before we readied ourselves to get up from the table, I heard someone at the very end of the table murmur"Was it pre-meditated? I heard she was beaten to death..."
I smiled weakly and said "It seems the conversation on the end has taken a rather dark turn.."
Apparently, a man had been accused/convicted of killing his wife, I did not get the details, but it illustrates what a diverse exchange of ideas, gossip, etc., was being encouraged!
And the view from the "party-condo"--spectacular!
I felt like I was falling-in-love with the city of Atlanta, all over again.
The buildings of Atlanta are not all that tall, but sometimes they can appear rather sinister, or foreboding.But not Thursday night.They were simply spears of light.
A dark oak stretched itself across the pale sky, and the conversation went on for hours.
It was great to catch up with Rupert Fike, Kodac Harrison, and Mike Dockins.
Inside the condo,I especially enjoyed the juxtaposition of two guns--rifles, I believe, and a mounted fish, a "target-man" sheet, and hundreds of classic and modern tomes, lit magazines, and photos-- all set in one amazing room--a sort of kinky library.
Definitely a night to remember.Fondly.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Thinking about years past, and Christmases past, and my lovely, intelligent, very independent niece, Breaz.....
Here's a poem that was generated during a Cecilia Woloch Workshop, held at her dear friend Eve's, just a few years ago.
(I've attended a couple of other Workshops that Cecilia has held there, and I learned a great deal there... This "What I Believe" is an exercise.
I had to pull out one word, but that's not much revision, and I feel like the poem works.)
From December, 2003, Workshop at Eve's house, with Cecilia:
What I Believe
I believe in tall women with long hair. I believe in science.
Fried green tomatoes for lunch.
I believe in my father’s smoky voice, I hear it at night, when I’m alone.
My fiance’ is away; he’s on a plane, and I believe he’ll still curse at me when he returns. He’ll tell me this is all foolish, that there is no point to this, but I believe poetry is the only point. It’s the bubbles in the pot, boiling, roiling…
I believe in my niece’s laughter; I remember how at 11, I saw her pirouetting—she was pirouetting to Eminem---and I thought, ”This is perfection. This is beauty.”
I believe in friends I’ve known for 20-plus years; I believe in God, for the first time in nearly 20 years….
I believe in physics, in Richard Feynman, and wish I’d been able to go to strip clubs with him, and hear this physicist play his bongo drums.
I believe Shakespeare’s sonnets are aphrodisiacs, and so are fresh figs.
I believe love would be a lot easier, if only heterosexual men were gay.
I believe no matter what I write, or what you think you understand me to say, there’ll still be a huge space between us. I believe that doesn’t matter. At all.
I believe that communion we all look for---at church, at the theatre, it’s here, for the taking---this communion with each other….
I believe my fiance’ understands. Sometimes.
Other times, I’m alone. That saying, “Being alone is not the same as being lonely” is true.
I love walking in museums alone. That’s where I went, what I did. When everyone else went to their houses of worship, I prayed there---after 9/11, I saw more art, went to more plays, read more poetry, wrote more poetry….
I believe in all those female singers—in the 1970’s, they called them folk singers.
I believe in Joan Baez’s “Diamonds and Rust”.
And, if you don’t know it, we can never be intimate.
I believe in only dating a man who has at least one sister; I believe in dating women who are confident, literate, beautiful. I think there are very few men who are all of that.
There are many animals I believe should be pets. Pigs, because they’re smart—they have the mentality of a three-year-old child. A rabbit—just because they’re cute.
I believe I need to live to be 100, or so, because I have a lot of things I still want to do.
A post-script to this:
I began to enjoy, and cultivated quite an interest in Eminem, due to Breaz's "ballet" while listening to his music.
And the bongo drums mentioned in the "What I Believe" poem?
Well, I'm wanting a set of bongoes. And lessons. I just signed up at Live Journal last night, and asked for help in learning to play them.Anyone out there who can give me instruction?
REMEMBER:
Poetry At Tech tomorrow, 4:00 P.M. for a great seat, Collin Kelley, Katie Chaple, Jon Goode.
Clary Theatre, on-campus at Georgia Tech!!!!!See ya'll there!!
http://www.collinkelley.blogspot.com
Here's a poem that was generated during a Cecilia Woloch Workshop, held at her dear friend Eve's, just a few years ago.
(I've attended a couple of other Workshops that Cecilia has held there, and I learned a great deal there... This "What I Believe" is an exercise.
I had to pull out one word, but that's not much revision, and I feel like the poem works.)
From December, 2003, Workshop at Eve's house, with Cecilia:
What I Believe
I believe in tall women with long hair. I believe in science.
Fried green tomatoes for lunch.
I believe in my father’s smoky voice, I hear it at night, when I’m alone.
My fiance’ is away; he’s on a plane, and I believe he’ll still curse at me when he returns. He’ll tell me this is all foolish, that there is no point to this, but I believe poetry is the only point. It’s the bubbles in the pot, boiling, roiling…
I believe in my niece’s laughter; I remember how at 11, I saw her pirouetting—she was pirouetting to Eminem---and I thought, ”This is perfection. This is beauty.”
I believe in friends I’ve known for 20-plus years; I believe in God, for the first time in nearly 20 years….
I believe in physics, in Richard Feynman, and wish I’d been able to go to strip clubs with him, and hear this physicist play his bongo drums.
I believe Shakespeare’s sonnets are aphrodisiacs, and so are fresh figs.
I believe love would be a lot easier, if only heterosexual men were gay.
I believe no matter what I write, or what you think you understand me to say, there’ll still be a huge space between us. I believe that doesn’t matter. At all.
I believe that communion we all look for---at church, at the theatre, it’s here, for the taking---this communion with each other….
I believe my fiance’ understands. Sometimes.
Other times, I’m alone. That saying, “Being alone is not the same as being lonely” is true.
I love walking in museums alone. That’s where I went, what I did. When everyone else went to their houses of worship, I prayed there---after 9/11, I saw more art, went to more plays, read more poetry, wrote more poetry….
I believe in all those female singers—in the 1970’s, they called them folk singers.
I believe in Joan Baez’s “Diamonds and Rust”.
And, if you don’t know it, we can never be intimate.
I believe in only dating a man who has at least one sister; I believe in dating women who are confident, literate, beautiful. I think there are very few men who are all of that.
There are many animals I believe should be pets. Pigs, because they’re smart—they have the mentality of a three-year-old child. A rabbit—just because they’re cute.
I believe I need to live to be 100, or so, because I have a lot of things I still want to do.
A post-script to this:
I began to enjoy, and cultivated quite an interest in Eminem, due to Breaz's "ballet" while listening to his music.
And the bongo drums mentioned in the "What I Believe" poem?
Well, I'm wanting a set of bongoes. And lessons. I just signed up at Live Journal last night, and asked for help in learning to play them.Anyone out there who can give me instruction?
REMEMBER:
Poetry At Tech tomorrow, 4:00 P.M. for a great seat, Collin Kelley, Katie Chaple, Jon Goode.
Clary Theatre, on-campus at Georgia Tech!!!!!See ya'll there!!
http://www.collinkelley.blogspot.com
Monday, December 03, 2007
Well, yesterday was productive, fun, uplifting!
I attended the first meeting for next year's Atlanta's LGBTQ Literary Festival, and was delighted to see a diverse mix of orientation, and opinion!We are actively looking for LGBTQ people of color(African-American, Asian, Latino/Hispanic) to add to this diversity.
Franklin Abbott had us assemble at the lovely Ponce Library, which has hosted several GLBTQ Readings.
I was impressed by some of the suggestions(big shout-out to Megan Volpert, who was specific, and compelling in her enthusiasms) thrown around, and you can be sure that next year's Fest--it'll be in October, 2008--the specific weekend will be decided and announced in late January-- will be rockin'!!
Afterwards, I headed with Collin Kelley to EATS, a wonderful little place to catch a nice bowl of pasta, a plate of meat(their Jerk Chicken is wondrous!)-and-three, or veggies.
I opted for the cheese-filled spinach ravioli with marinara sauce.And a salad.And I got a brownie, which I polished off later, while watching fav show,"Dexter".
Collin Kelley continues to inspire me. I think we forget to thank the people who are supportive, but always careful in that support. I always know with Collin where I stand with him--in terms of my writing, my feelings, the feedback I need.
Others should know this guy will tell ya like he sees it--and you'll be the better for it!
(Special Note to Collin: I'm going to try to get a full night's(say, 6 hours or more!) sleep. Tonight. Thank you!)
It's a DREARY day here in the suburbs.The rain(which we still desperately need) is falling, the cold is colder than yesterday, and the wind is unrelenting.
I seem to have a sore throat, and had planned to trundle out to Working Title Playwright's' meeting tonight, but I won't if I don't feel better.
WTP is a marvelous organization, which helps new playwrights get their work honed, and HEARD. They have actors availabble to bring the work "to life".
I'll become more active soon, if they'll have me!
Stay inside where it's warm, kids, and drink some hot cocoa. I am.
I attended the first meeting for next year's Atlanta's LGBTQ Literary Festival, and was delighted to see a diverse mix of orientation, and opinion!We are actively looking for LGBTQ people of color(African-American, Asian, Latino/Hispanic) to add to this diversity.
Franklin Abbott had us assemble at the lovely Ponce Library, which has hosted several GLBTQ Readings.
I was impressed by some of the suggestions(big shout-out to Megan Volpert, who was specific, and compelling in her enthusiasms) thrown around, and you can be sure that next year's Fest--it'll be in October, 2008--the specific weekend will be decided and announced in late January-- will be rockin'!!
Afterwards, I headed with Collin Kelley to EATS, a wonderful little place to catch a nice bowl of pasta, a plate of meat(their Jerk Chicken is wondrous!)-and-three, or veggies.
I opted for the cheese-filled spinach ravioli with marinara sauce.And a salad.And I got a brownie, which I polished off later, while watching fav show,"Dexter".
Collin Kelley continues to inspire me. I think we forget to thank the people who are supportive, but always careful in that support. I always know with Collin where I stand with him--in terms of my writing, my feelings, the feedback I need.
Others should know this guy will tell ya like he sees it--and you'll be the better for it!
(Special Note to Collin: I'm going to try to get a full night's(say, 6 hours or more!) sleep. Tonight. Thank you!)
It's a DREARY day here in the suburbs.The rain(which we still desperately need) is falling, the cold is colder than yesterday, and the wind is unrelenting.
I seem to have a sore throat, and had planned to trundle out to Working Title Playwright's' meeting tonight, but I won't if I don't feel better.
WTP is a marvelous organization, which helps new playwrights get their work honed, and HEARD. They have actors availabble to bring the work "to life".
I'll become more active soon, if they'll have me!
Stay inside where it's warm, kids, and drink some hot cocoa. I am.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
PLEDGE YOUR DONATION TO WPBA, CHANNEL 30.
On Thursday evening, I gathered with fellow SAG/AFTRA/AEA performers, and we handled the phones for the telethon to raise monetary support for fabulous local station, Public Broadcasting Atlanta, Channel 30.
We were treated to a royal spread of food, courtesy of Whole Foods Market.
It surely was fun hearing folks put their money where their eyes are, in pledging support for WPBA!If you missed the special, it's a Rolling Stone Magazine tribute, using actual archived photos from the magazine, and several interviews and musical performances.Look for it over the next few weeks, as it will be rebroadcast!
Special Thanks to Doug Kaye who set this up for us to volunteer our time and talent for such a wonderful, worthwhile cause
(some of my favorite shows are on WPBA.Shows like "In The Life"--about LGBTQ in the USA and "Rick Steve's Europe", a great travel/education show).
Big shouts-out to executive producer/producer/director of
"Rolling Stone Magazine: Voice of Our Generation", Bob Marty.
The staff at WPBA, Channel 30 were wonderful. Especially helpful, Kevin Skellie!
Thanks to all who gave of their time!
Now, get ready for COLLIN KELLEY AT POETRY AT TECH!! This Thursday, 4:30 P.M. at the Clary Theatre, Georgia Tech campus....arrive EARLY for a great seat!!
That's it for Saturday...
Hansoo & I will be hunting for a tree(we always do "real") tonight or tomorrow.
Special Prayers & Meditations for dear friend, Vim, whose Mother is healing in Intensive Care, after two operations.
On Thursday evening, I gathered with fellow SAG/AFTRA/AEA performers, and we handled the phones for the telethon to raise monetary support for fabulous local station, Public Broadcasting Atlanta, Channel 30.
We were treated to a royal spread of food, courtesy of Whole Foods Market.
It surely was fun hearing folks put their money where their eyes are, in pledging support for WPBA!If you missed the special, it's a Rolling Stone Magazine tribute, using actual archived photos from the magazine, and several interviews and musical performances.Look for it over the next few weeks, as it will be rebroadcast!
Special Thanks to Doug Kaye who set this up for us to volunteer our time and talent for such a wonderful, worthwhile cause
(some of my favorite shows are on WPBA.Shows like "In The Life"--about LGBTQ in the USA and "Rick Steve's Europe", a great travel/education show).
Big shouts-out to executive producer/producer/director of
"Rolling Stone Magazine: Voice of Our Generation", Bob Marty.
The staff at WPBA, Channel 30 were wonderful. Especially helpful, Kevin Skellie!
Thanks to all who gave of their time!
Now, get ready for COLLIN KELLEY AT POETRY AT TECH!! This Thursday, 4:30 P.M. at the Clary Theatre, Georgia Tech campus....arrive EARLY for a great seat!!
That's it for Saturday...
Hansoo & I will be hunting for a tree(we always do "real") tonight or tomorrow.
Special Prayers & Meditations for dear friend, Vim, whose Mother is healing in Intensive Care, after two operations.
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