Sunday, April 19, 2009

4/19/09 Root Memories

"Inspiration follows aspiration." – Rabindranath Tagore

About Rabindranath Tagore
Indian poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore, a contemporary of Mahatma Gandhi, was the first Asian to garner a Nobel Prize, which he won in 1913 for literature. He was born in India in 1861, the youngest of 13 children. He wrote poetry, stories, travelogues, dramas, essays, and songs. In the West, he was seen as a mystical figure and his fame faded with time, but his legacy lives on in India, where his work has become part of the fabric of the culture. He died in 1941.


This quote reminds me of how and why I decided to become writer.
But I have a busy day ahead, so I'll fill it in later when I can *ahem* write it at my leisure!

CM
Thinking about Ricky today.
HB old friend!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

4/18/09 Trudging Along...

From: Quote of the Day
"Calmness is the cradle of power." – Josiah Gilbert Holland

About Josiah Gilbert Holland
American writer Josiah Gilbert Holland is best known as the founder of Scribner's Monthly. He was born in 1819 in Massachusetts. He briefly became a doctor but, dissatisfied, turned to teaching. As superintendent, he turned the public schools in Vicksburg, Mississippi, around in less than two years. He began his writing career at age 30. His most famous work is the melodramatic long-form poem, "Bitter Sweet," about New England life and the nature of good and evil. He died in 1881.

This particular quote really sits well with me today. Had I not exhibited calm this week when all hell broke loose, I have no idea how everything would have gone. Funnily, enough, it was a quote from Rudy Giuliani that I'd been thinking of. "When everything around you seems out of control, become the calmest person in the room and you will be the one in control." It helped.

A Word for the day: longueur \long-GUR\, noun:
A dull and tedious passage in a book, play, musical composition, or the like.

Longueur is from French (where it means "length"), ultimately deriving from Latin longus, "long," which is also the source of English long.

Okay, it's Saturday! What day for a daydream! Temps in the 70's and not a cloud in the sky! Hyacinths and Daff's are at the height of their magnificence, and the aroma is sheer delight.

Interesting bit of news: we have a coyote in town. Seems it has been enjoying window shopping on Main Street and has also been seen walking down one of the side streets in our neighborhood (1 block over). We've had calls from the police department to keep the wee ones inside unless accompanied by an adult, (which we do anyway, but still, it's a daunting bit of news, especially when we all want to be outside. So no swings or sandbox without mom or dad until the thing is caught and taken back to its habitat.

Fun bit of news: I bought a mini laptop this afternoon; a little blue Aspire. I went into Staples for a new mouse as the old one had definitely seen better days. It was dying a slow death and I decided, since it doesn't owe me anything, i'd let it rest in peace. I'll give it a very nice burial. As for the new mouse, it's a fast little thing! Really makes a difference. As for the Acer, well, we'll see how it goes. I'd been keeping my eye on it for weeks, and today the price was just too good to pass up. I like that it fits into my bag and the wireless wand keeps me in touch no matter where I am. It's perfect for those times when I have time to be on line and I am not at home. I'll certainly post my "Acered" likes and dislikes as time goes by.

All for now,
CM

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

4/15/09 Just DO It!

outré \oo-TRAY\, adjective: Unconventional; eccentric; bizarre.

Outré comes from French, from the past participle of outer, "to exaggerate, to go beyond," from Latin ultra, "beyond."
* * *

Okay. Decision made. I'm going for the business plan. if ever there was a time to start up this idea I'm convinced it's now! Why I was pussy-footin' around, is beyond me. So here I go! More on that once copyrights and pending patents are in place. Suffice it to say that everyone whose expert advice I've sought in the decision making process has been bowled over by the idea and wants to contribute to the start up to be a part of it. Talk about your affirmation and encouragement! When folks want to hand over their money, it says they have a degree of faith the idea is sound and the person who will pilot the venture, in this case - Moi, is the one to head it all up. Then again, maybe it just means they're all as crazy as I am!

Just for fun and entertainment, I often read Rick Levine's astrological report for my sign. Today's provided a bit of fun and whimsey at our breakfast table, as it read thusly: SCORPIO: Wednesday, Apr 15th, 2009 -- There's no stopping you today because the emotionally restrained Capricorn Moon enables you to conserve your energy while still demonstrating your creative brilliance. You can get away with being totally unconventional now, for even your most radical behavior will somehow appear conservative -- even if it's not. Take a risk and walk on the wild side; you'll be glad you did.

* * *

On another note, Gabriella has given me the go ahead to plan the summer workshops, which delights me to no end, and Publishing Place will grow by leaps and bounds.

My attentions need to be directed to the Novel Workshop and adding more to Chapter eight. It's all good. I'm on fire just now.

* * *

The launch of Helen's Place proved a grand success over Easter, and I'm so overjoyed. I feel like my old self for the first time since she passed away in November! It's wonderful knowing she's smiling down on it with the notion she inspired this and I can see her blushing and shaking her head at having her name attached to this lovely outreach program! For those of us who will always miss her, I suppose it's a way of having her near...

CM

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

4/14/09 What? Where?

OMGosh, the past 24 hours has been a wild ride of emotional torment and surprise revelations. Can't articulate it all just yet as I am still processing it, but will try to write it out tomorrow. (In part, I'm still not sure exactly what happened.)

CM

Friday, April 10, 2009

4/10/09 All Things Considered...

April 10, 2009

"The be-all and end-all of life should not be to get rich, but to enrich the world." – Bertie Charles Forbes

Bertie Charles Forbes, known as B.C. Forbes, is remembered as the founder of the long-running Forbes magazine, aimed at investors. He was born in 1884 in Scotland. He worked as a reporter for a Dundee newspaper until 1901, when he moved to South Africa and founded a newspaper there; but he stayed just three years before moving to the United States, where he became a financial editor and columnist. His sons Bruce and Malcolm succeeded him as editors-in-chief of Forbes. He died in 1954.

* * *


I've been online this morning searching out a new Nanny for the K family. I'm figuring on making it an expedient and smooth transition. I also hope S & C won't be too upset over the switch if I can be involved in helping solve their dilemma. The ubber good news is I think I've found somebody wonderful for them.

As to writing, I am going to have to channel my energies first into organizing channeling my energies. LOL I have so many projects going, they're starting to run together. Can't have that because then nothing gets my full hundred per.

Behind the Wall muses are over their snit and speaking to me again. Max has offered me his work: Mists of the Mind. He's lost interest in working out the revision, and he knew how much I enjoyed it. So he emailed me the other night to ask if I wanted it. At first I thought he was joking. After some back and forth, however, I realized he was quite serious, so I jumped on it. Currently, I'm going through the muse/writer intro process. Hopefully, we'll get along... uh, if my timidity doesn't put them off.

Further, I'm working on no less than three children stories, and business writing - as in job descriptions and brochure publishing, Letters of Introduction, Resume's, Curriculum Vitaes, and Letters of recommendation. I'm truly swamped!

It doesn't sound like much, but each thing is so important in its own right, it takes me forever to craft and edit each one. Oh, and then there are the daily reviews for WDC and Mainstream (Mainstream has been suffering, and indeed, it is my guilt over that, that has inspired me to compartmentalize my subjects, responsibilities, and assignments.) Hopefully the better organization will ease the burden and make for more polished products in all arenas.

* * *


Easter is Sunday, and that means the family will all be together. *sigh* It's funny. Even though I was so sad when everyone went off to start their own lives, when we all get together, it's, well, it's so wild and crazy (to coin a phrase) that when it's over and the quiet comes, I can't, for the life of me fathom how I lived my every day with such bedlam around me. Say, you don't suppose this means I've gotten used to my oldest four not being here anymore? Naaaaaaaaaaaaah...!

CM

Thursday, April 9, 2009

4/9/09 To Own Thine Self, Be True!

April 09, 2009

"I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is, after all, to matter: to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all." – Leo Rosten


Nothing special today. Still anguishing over the job situation... I'm not at all sure that the way CD wants me to handle all this is indeed responsible or compassionate. She serves an every-man-for-himself mentality. That is something I have never subscribed to. I was not raised that way, in spite of the years I spent in foster care. I never adopted that train of thought, but rather, I gleaned my lessons from Ronnie, who sacrificed himself on a daily basis to keep me free from harm.

I realize we must put away the things of childhood, but back then, I was convinced (and I guess I still am) he was an angel sent to me. I know it's naive, but I want to be that to others. I want to be the angel who made a difference in a family, to a child, to my friends...

How, then, can I remain true to myself if I turn around at this point in time and act otherwise. How then, can I suddenly become so self serving? There is no glory is manipulating others to serve my need for an income. I just don't think I could ever find happiness again if I use others, if I act like that now when things are bad for everyone. It's not who I am and not who I want to be.

CM

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

4/8/2009 Muse Abuse... or The mystery of the Wandering Muse!

Quote of the Day
"Passion, though a bad regulator, is a powerful spring." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

About Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson helped spark the transcendentalist movement with the essay Nature, which described his belief in the spiritual essence of humanity and the natural world. He was born in Boston in 1803. He was a Unitarian minister until he resigned in 1832 to become a philosopher and writer. He suffered the untimely deaths of many of his loved ones: three brothers, his first wife at age 20, and his eldest son at age five. Emerson died in 1882.


I chose this quote today because I've been concerned about having seemingly lost my passion for the story I had been living and breathing for this past three years. It's dried up. Gonzo. Kaput!

Yesterday, in lamenting its apparent demise to a friend, I became confused over how it all started in the first place, and I referred back to my online novel journal to jog my memory. I read how the story so vividly came to life in my head, that it awoke me form my sleep and sent me running to my keyboard in the pre-dawn quiet. What an exciting, exhilarating, inspiring moment of enlightenment, and, yes, renewed passion I experienced while tip-toeing through the memories!

It was indeed passion that stirred the cup of inspiration on that warm summer evening back in 2006, and gave birth to Logan and Cassie et al. And it was indeed passion that caused them to quiet in my mind and appear to run off perhaps to take up residence with someone else's muse. Now, albeit faintly, I can hear them chuckling. "You shouldn't have taken us for granted. If you behave, we'll come back and tell you the rest of the story..."

I'm deciding... LOL

CM

Thursday, April 2, 2009

4/2/2009 Happy Days are Here Again?

Quote of the Day
"I have learned, as a rule of thumb, never to ask whether you can do something. Say, instead, that you are doing it. Then fasten your seat belt. The most remarkable things follow." – Julia Cameron

About Julia Cameron
American author Julia Cameron has become an icon in the creative community for her best-selling self-help book, The Artist's Way, which guides people through a series of simple but profound exercises to awaken their creativity. She grew up in Chicago and has been writing seriously since age 18. In addition to her 28 books, she has written plays, screenplays, and songs. She was married to film director Martin Scorsese and has one daughter. She currently lives in New York.



Well, this appears to be an affirmation that at least one of my ideas is a go! LOL

Oh hush! I did not need this to tell me that, but it's nice to open one's email first thing in the morning, all sleepy-eyed and groggy and read such a lovely, positive thought to start the day!


As if that's not enough, new neighbor, Jim Cramer, was on Morning Joe telling us all the worst is over and the Depression was short lived. Phew! I am so glad to know this!

CM

Monday, March 30, 2009

3/30/2009 Well, duh!

This is from: Quote of the Day
"It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something." – Franklin D. Roosevelt

About President Roosevelt:
Four-term American president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, known as FDR, pulled America out of the Great Depression and led the country during World War II. He was born in New York in 1882. His political career halted when a bout of polio paralyzed him from the waist down, but after learning to walk with leg braces, he became governor of New York and then president of the United States. His New Deal initiatives included Social Security, jobs programs, and collective bargaining. He died in 1945.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

3/28/2009 Odds and Ends!

As always, or most always, I am writing about yesterday because I write in the morning.

Said farewell to Barb as I was leaving for work, and she for the Paramus Container Store to meet up with Joan. She was planning to meet up with another friend who is also her accountant, Annette, I think, and concluding her journey back to P-Town by stopping at Paul and Al's to help celebrate Paul's birthday.

I was sorry to see our visit end, but glad to get back to normal - and gladder that I wasn't the one doing the driving for a change. Had a very productive day with SJ and O, as he is coming around nicely. Hysterics and bad behavior are being replaced slow and sure by fun and frolic and good behavior. It's good for everyone and most satisfying for me. (Who wouldn't savor being the catalyst for positive change in a situation?)

At 4pm I left telling Steve Sr., that I needed to get home to welcome Soph back from her trip to Disney World. What I left out was that she was not scheduled to arrive until around 10pm. I did that because I had a week's worth of chores to whip into shape before Soph and CD arrived.

Walked into the house with clear motivation and mission - like a tornado, if you must know. By 4:30 I was ironing full-tilt. I managed to wrap up all the laundry for the week (including my own - and the guest room bedding washed, ironed, and bed made) by 8pm. It was exhilarating to work that hard, that fast! LOL

Later, I phoned what I refer to as an eyore-friend to confirm a weekend get-together and she unceremoniously regaled me, for over an hour, with a new-improved reprise of her favorite chant from the 80's: the my-life-sucks-but-I'd-rather-complain-about-it-than-actually-do-anything-about-it chant.

Not for nothing, but I'm having a rough go of it too. Uh, so is everyone I know, at least in some capacity. I have sympathy for anyone and everyone who is being victimized by this scandalous mess we're in -- except for those who refuse to do anything to make their lives better. To work as hard as they have to in order to manage their situation. We're ALL doing things we don't want to do. Poppy-cock! Enough about this.

Today, I'm going to stay home and have some peace and quiet. Enjoyed the week with Barb here, but it took a lot out of me. (In a good way, but I am tired.)

Blast! I am out of my heart meds. Called the doctor to refill my prescriptions. I'll have to venture out to collect them. Pfffffffft! LOL

Say, I've got a great idea! While, I'm off to the pharmacist, why not read this interesting article (by Matt Taibbi) that I received from a friend of mine. The Big Takeover. You owe it to yourselves to give it a look-see. Taibbi writes for Rolling Stone and is a frequent guest on Bill Maher and Jon Stewart. That my Republican friend is the one who forwarded it speaks volumes. This piece of writing is a major examination of what has gone wrong in the economy and really explains the situation in very understandable terms.

It's long. Take a bathroom break and get a beverage.



All for now.
CM