Glinda and Elphaba met in college!

Did you know that Glinda, the good witch of the north, and Elphaba, the wicked witch of the west, met in college? They were roommates.



I am reading "Wicked" and searching for the land of OZ. A serious note: "Wicked" is one of the best books that I have read this summer.

The Journey Begins Again

I have this feeling stroking the soles of my feet that a new journey is beginning.

As always, photos will be a visual testament to my personal growth, so let the games begin. I have no intention of standing on the sidelines.

Liberace's words kickstart the ride:

I had to dare a little bit. Who am I kidding—I had to dare a lot. Don’t wear one ring, wear five or six. People ask how I can play with all those rings, and I reply, "Very well, thank you."

Harkin Steak Fry 2007: Such Is Life

Oh politics; My friends won't let me swim in apathy, and to be true to self, I realize I need to get involved. There is just so much about politics in America that I don't like.

Such is life!

Sept. 16, 2007

Simple Attention is not so simple

The Tricycle Daily Dharma for Sept. 18, 2007 is something I work on each day. The joy of being completely present and involved in every moment of our own lives is simple and rewarding. This dharma reminds me not to overlook the simple truths of living.

Growth

The secret of beginning a life of deep awareness and sensitivity lies in our willingness to pay attention. Our growth as conscious, awake human beings is marked not so much by grand gestures and visible renunciations as by extending loving attention to the minutest particulars of our lives. Every relationship, every thought, every gesture is blessed with meaning through the wholehearted attention we bring to it. In the complexities of our minds and lives we easily forget the power of attention, yet without attention we live only on the surface of existence. It is just simple attention that allows us truly to listen to the song of a bird, to see deeply the glory of an autumn leaf, to touch the heart of another and be touched. We need to be fully present in order to love a single thing wholeheartedly. We need to be fully awake in this moment if we are to receive and respond to the learning inherent in it.

- Christina Feldman and Jack Kornfield, Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart from Everyday Mind, a Tricycle book edited by Jean Smith

Joy of Liberace in the Kitchen

I want this cookbook: “Joy of Liberace: Retro Recipes from America's Kitchiest Kitchen.”

The cover is enough to make me wish that I had been part of the editorial and graphic design team who put this masterpiece together.

Learn more at the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada:
http://www.liberace.org/

Diamonds and Furs: A Boy’s Best Friend

If I had the national authority and calendar control clout, I would declare today National Liberace Appreciation Day. His outlook on life had so much to teach us!

Liberace in concert:

“Go ahead, try it! Live Dangerously!” [my editorial comment: Not with your sex life!]

Right on Liberace. You are one of my heroes with all your bawdy faults and human wisdom. I love you.

Practice safely.

What embraces you? What abandons you?

I love librarians and always have. Because of this love, I usually form friendships with the librarians in my life.

This passage from the current book that I am reading- “The Tender Bar” by J.R. Moehringer- was recommended by a lovely librarian and touched me when I read it. I crave the sensation of words cuddling and jolting my emotions, and I want to share. Comments solicited.


“While I fear that we’re drawn to what abandons us, and to what seems most likely to abandon us, in the end I believe we’re defined by what embraces us.”

Oh, Iowa

This photo speaks for itself. If you are not familiar with Casey's and fishing worms, welcome to Iowa.