The View Up Here

Freedom This word is thrown around a lot, especially with regards to patriotism and the greatness of the U.S. It also has strong connotations of personal freedom from government control (especially in this election year!). I'm not here to argue with any of that, but I do want to explore another application of the word. Specifically, I'm interested in spiritual freedom. In a basic sense, spiritual freedom can refer to one's ability to choose between options, actions, reactions, and beliefs. But I think there is a more meaningful application of this idea: that of becoming free by trusting that we don't have to control every single freaking detail of our lives, that we can rely on a Higher Power (whatever you want to call that - God, Yeshua, the Universe, human intuition, stillness) to guide us. And here's the thing I'm learning: when I put my faith and trust in that Higher Power, there comes a freedom from worry and stress and anxiety about every moment, direc...

Hildegard von Bingen A mystic, musical composer, abbess, leader, teacher, and many other things. I've been listening to her inspired music. Here's a sample of her prolific work: Here's a brief biography of this sometimes-called "feminist nun" of the Middle Ages.

Instead of lists of 10 things, etc., I'm going to spend some time elaborating on one thing I appreciate per post. Companionship It's so easy to become isolated, especially with teh internets, which fool us into thinking we're connected, we know what's going on, we're having relationships with people, etc. I am eternally grateful for my roommate, Sarah, who has proved more of a companion and friend than I would have expected, given the fact that we'd only ever met each other once, and briefly, before I moved in. We have discovered many similarities and complementary differences between us that allow us to operate in the apartment as a well-oiled machine. Her graciousness, hilarity, artistic soul, and excellent cooking have created such a wonderful living environment for me. I treasure her companionship and the healing that has taken place as a result of her friendship.

Memorial Day Elmira, NY - Woodlawn National Cemetery (Elmira Star-Gazette)     Fallen heroes Rememberance Iced Coffee Clean floors Content kittehs on a hot day Solitude Quiet Skyping with Don Books... so many books My current screenplay revision/draft

Running a day behind here... Wes Anderson movies Impromptu visits by friends Veggie burgers loaded with BBQ sauce and pineapple Catnip 67 degrees at 10 p.m. Fellowship at St. Jude's Episcopal Church The Arclight Cinema in Hollywood Birdsong all day long Mockingbirds at night My linen jacket on a breezy day

This perfect day - sunny, cool, breezy Praying outdoors always feels somehow...more joyful. Being able to serve people through Feed the Hungry at St. Jude's. Today was my first day to do this service, and it was humbling and wonderful.  Owning a passport and having it here with me (thanks to Don!) - which enabled me to get my CA driver's license. My NYS license and SS card weren't enough I.D. (go figure) Being a bona fide resident of California. India Sweets & Spices restaurant. Combo plate at $4.99 and a big ole' cup of masala tea for $1.00. My own hunger, which is to say missing one meal. This reminds me that some people in the world are lucky to eat one meal a day. Finding God's true and lasting peace at long last - a thing I never dreamed really existed. Being loved. The awesome bathtub in this apartment that is a) deep and b) doesn't have an annoying overflow drain half way down the tub (so I get to fill it up!)

One week of appreciation, already. Happy Friday, everyone, and a safe, fun long weekend. Rainy, cool weather to soften the edges and water the world The movement of the Spirit A pot of Tetley tea, properly steeped Sleeping Spaz Brenda SKY FM stream (ambient) Feed the Hungry at St. Jude's Family Promise Peace of mind Stripy socks

I'm feeling a little woozy this morning, just really tired. I have a lot to accomplish today, so here's the quick list: My water bottle Walnuts Hummingbirds and the flowers that feed them Ted Neeley The movie "Cabaret" (if you haven't seen it, do so -  all the music is diegetic, and the story takes place in 1931 Germany - not your stereotypical musical) Spaz's soft and glossy fur  My friend TL Books! Birkenstocks (I know I know but I have flat feet so sue me) Boba tea: What's up, Paleface?

Today's list: My Camry in all its Xtreme glory My roommate's taste in movies My friend Brianne - it's her birthday today! Jobs to apply for My screenplays and novel Morning buns from Fresh n' Easy My former students-turned-friends Suncatchers in my windows Home-made sangria Bananas in the morning

I wrote this list in my journal yesterday, but I forgot to put it up online. I realized that even as I am joyously embracing my new life in L.A., there are some things in Ithaca which I miss, and I felt it was important to acknowledge those and show my appreciation. So here is a special list of things I appreciate in Ithaca, NY: Ithaca Community Acupuncture The pool at my old apartment My Roller Derby family, the excitement of NSOing a bout Walks outside with Spaz My private patio with Mom's patio table, my plants, and coffee in the soft morning sun Cable TV Friends Janet, Kyle and Kasia Yoga  Farmers' Market on a Saturday morning after all the students have left town for the summer Don

Officer Cooper, who didn't ticket me for still having a NYS driver's license, and who gave me one of those "fix it and avoid the fine" tickets for not having a tag on the front of the car Baskin Robbins within 5 minutes of my apartment Enclosed litter box Advil Laundry facilities on the premises The Disabled American Veteran's Thrift Store My awesome roommate who gets excited about solar eclipses like I do The Book of Common Prayer Iced coffee Spaz and Elliott's antics

I'm starting a series with this post that I tremblingly call The Art of Life . As I alluded to in Day 2's list of appreciation, I've been learning to appreciate the art of letting go of expectations. I call it an 'art' because I truly believe it is something that needs to be practiced to be realized. It needs to be applied to be understood. Like learning to paint, all the instruction manuals and inspirational trips to the Louvre and exquisite art supplies and even raw talent won't make you an artist, a painter. Likewise, there are stacks upon stacks of books and articles, free pod-casts, and inspirational lectures by Some Famous Guru, PhD at $100 a head that will try to tell us why we should and how we can let go of expectations. Screw all that. Here's how we do it:  We just do it. Enough molly coddling and over-thinking and whining to your therapist. When you feel yourself getting irritated at anything - yourself for breaking another coffee mug, the c...

1. Paradise Cafe in Glendale 2. Crazy Russian Grocery Store (real name: Golden Farms Market, also in Glendale) 3. Skype 4. Bryon - it's his birthday today! 5. Amazon.com 6. My ceiling fan 7. My mother's antique ruby ring that I now wear 8. Letting go of expectations - of myself, of others, of God 9. Espresso at home 10. Solar eclipses

I admit I was neglecting this blog for weeks, mainly because I wasn't sure what the point was to keeping it up. Most people I know follow me on Facebook and get a fairly decent picture of my life there. But I suppose the blog is more than just the minutiae of every day life, isn't it? So I will attempt to get back to what I started with this format - analysis, rants, musings, and updates on my writing. The 1999 novel is rolling along into revisions with my editor, so that's very exciting. Debut will be at the con this fall here in L.A. I also have to work on publicity and other such perfunctory duties. Into revisions for "Eden" my latest screenplay - that's going much more smoothly once I hammered out the first act re-write. I prayed for the Muse to help me with this first act re-write, because I felt like I was staring into the gaping maw of "I don't know what the fuck to do with this." Literally 30 minutes later, in the shower, it was like ...

I've been a huge blogging slackster lately. This will be both an impetus to get in here more often and a reminder of the many blessings in my life. The format: list 10 things I appreciate every day for 30 days. Thanks to Mrs. Thor for the challenge! Day 1 1. Sunshine every day 2. My MacBook Pro 3. Dark chocolate from Trader Joe's 4. Fellowship at St. Jude's Episcopal Church 5. My sinuses 6. My editor at Powys Media 7. My Kindle 8. Toilet paper 9. My pillows 10. Jesus Christ

Freaking really, Blogger? You had to go and change EVERYTHING? I get lazy about blogging for 2 weeks and this is my punishment? I know I've been absent here. Busy, yes, introspective, yes, the usual, you know. I promise to write more once I've figured out how the fudge I'm supposed to navigate this ENTIRELY NEW interface. In the meantime, here's an article you should read: "Sa Ii Gu" -- The L.A. Riots in Koreatown 20 years later