The View Up Here

Gonna do this for awhile. The group Zero 7 is not a Christian band, but I've loved their music for ages, and now I read the lyrics with a different spin on them. For example, this song, "Spinning." It's an apt description of the longing I believe we all have to be set free by God's love (however you name that or think of that to exist in the universe). It certainly describes my own powerful experience of Redemption. "Spinning" by Zero 7 Was it loneliness that brought you here Broken and weak Was it tiredness that made you sleep Have you lost your will to speak Was the earth spinning round Were you falling through the ground As the world came tumbling down You prayed to God what have we done Free me from these chains I need to change my way Heal these broken wings I need to fly far away, far away, far away Was it emptiness that made you weep No more secrets to keep Was it bitterness that gave you time To forgive your sins Was the ear...

...even if I didn't post for a few days. Things got busy here the last couple of days. Good stuff, more to follow on that. For now, a few things I appreciate: The Metro. Yes, there is some form of public transport in L.A., and while not perfect, it is still a damn sight better than trying to drive into and park downtown.  Central Market. Awesome market downtown with the cheapest produce anywhere, ever. TL - my friend who introduced me to my roommate, and who will go to sad little movies Snow White or Joan of Arc? You decide. like " Snow White and the Huntsman " and joyously deconstruct it with me afterward (i.e.the many many ways and levels in which this film failed (despite Chris Hemsworth)). Blackberries and vanilla yogurt. Netflix's policy of instantly replacing a defective DVD, even before they get the defective disc back. The Bradbury Building . I was in it this afternoon. Photos to come (eventually - don't pressurize me!) Being greeted by ki...

The Peace Garden at Holy Spirit Retreat Center Today was another sunny in the 70s day in the L.A. area. I took a short drive over to the Holy Spirit Retreat Center (a.k.a. " the best kept secret in Encino ") so I could walk and meditate in the Peace Garden. The garden isn't very big, but it is restful, with roses, succulent plants, resounding wind chimes, and sandy paths that wind through wooded and open areas. Later I visited a friend of mine who works there (Sr. Linda, who I met when I started attending the Centering Prayer group at HSRC). Such a warm, pleasant, smart lady. I'm pleased to know her and receive spiritual counseling from her on occasion. Nuns are awesome. Today was just the sort of day when it's a crime to stay inside all afternoon. I'm grateful for the Peace Garden for when I need to soak in some solitary outdoors time not interrupted by the sound of traffic (nor requiring any hiking).

I took a day off from blogging yesterday. I've been dealing with what I can only imagine is a histamine reaction. I suppose I should see a Doctor about it. I've got itchy patches on my face and neck. Hrrrm. Today, I'll do a list of appreciation. Tomorrow, I'll be back with more eloquence and verbosity. Trader Joe's all-natural lotion with aloe Mystics of the Christian Tradition by Steven Fanning My fuzzy red blanket on a cool, overcast morning Lattes made at home Clean bedding minus all the cat hair Fixing my rosary with tweezers (i.e. MacGuyvering my rosary) The power of my public library card Roses Movies with Tom Hiddleston in them Burt's Bees lipbalm, aka " my lipshit "

Alone Time When you're a little kid, no one uses the phrase 'alone time.' More like 'go to your room!' or 'you're grounded' or 'we don't want to play Battlestar Galactica with you.'  (Okay, chances are, no one's ever said the latter to you, but I heard almost that exact phrase when I was little. That says a lot, actually). My point, and I have one, is that when we're little, we hate being alone. We want to be with the grown-ups past bedtime, we don't want to take a nap, we don't want any down time. We fight down time and sleep and all the things that now, in our middle years, we would give our left kidney to have built into our day. Imagine, every day at 1:30, business shuts down so everyone can take a 30 minute nap!  What a beautiful world it would be. This weekend, my roommate is in SanFran visiting her sister, so I have the place to myself. And it's nice to have the alone time. Not that I don't spend hours a d...

My Family Today is my sister-in-law's birthday, and in 3 days it will be my niece's birthday, which is also my father's birthday. Seems like a good time to ruminate upon the gifts of family: They all still have the South Shore accent, while mine just pops up now and then They get my silly sense of humor (they share it, in fact) I remember my parents by interacting with them I see myself in them They love me even when I do stoopid stuff They support me even when I do crazy-awesome stuff that no one else gets (like, oh, say, move to Korea or California!) I can be myself around them, and they are totally authentic around me We all love ice cream and it usually plays a significant part in any get-together We all know how to make The Sauce, and it plays a prominent part in any get-together I miss them After Sunday dinner was usually a trip with Dad to the DQ

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

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'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