Visual Journal

Some recent entries:

Maldives

Climate Connections recently had a podcast on the Maldives, and I was reminded of the azure waters and lovely atolls. Hugs to all my cousins out there. Here are some photos from my visit in 03.

Oscar turns 80

I stayed up way past my bedtime to watch the Oscars last Sunday. Here are 5 random thoughts of the night:

1. I love the red carpet - it's fun to see what people are wearing; even though they might not have eaten for months to look that good.
2. Jon Stewart was an awesome host - love his sense of humor, and I almost fell off my couch when he talked about how usually when we have a black or woman president, some asteroid is about to crash into the planet.
3. Was it just me or was everyone waiting to see who would take a header on the slippery spot?
4. I had only seen one of the films nominated in any category (Juno).
5. Love that so many of the Oscars went to foreigners.
   

Lunar Eclipse

Hope you got out last night to see the last total lunar eclipse until 2010. It was visible from all of NA, and we lucked out with a clear, cold night. Babes and I bundled up and headed outside with hot chocolate to watch the magic. Absolutely stunning.

Imagine what it was like when the moon was the only light at night, and as you looked up it started to get "eaten" - surely you must have felt that you angered the gods in some way.

Recent Reads

1. Bird by Bird
A couple of my book club buddies and I are taking a personal essay class, and this book was recommended by the instructor. I loved it. The author is honest, funny and gives good advice - several of which I have already started to use.

2. Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trip
Absolutely delightful. I have already taken several of these trips, and so many more to go. Wonderfully inspirational - got the travel itch!

Dudus

Caught the nasty bug thats been floating around and been doing a lot of sleeping the past several days. Finally feeling better, and am so excited about that.

4 things to be happy about:
1. Susan and I had an excellent brunch at here:
- always feels like you suddenly landed in Paris
- their hot chocolate is out of this world
2. We attended a concert at Symphony Hall:
- Mozart's Requiem by the Handel and Hayden Society
- wonderful afternoon of music
3. Finally got a chance to visit the Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston:
- it really is quite a beautiful church
- the Mapparium is simply amazing - could send hours in there
4. My parents are in town - been ages since I last saw them.

Happy Valentine's Day

This is a day filled with so many expectations.

So what do you want today?
Have you asked for it?
Or better yet, why not give it to yourself?

Got hand-made cards and dino brownies decorated with frosting and M&Ms from my nephews. Plan on enjoying some of them with lunch today.

TV Shows

Those of you who know me, know that I do not have cable, and I'm aways asking friends to recommend shows they find interesting. Here are a couple that I am currently watching on DVD:

1. Friday Night Lights
I love this show. Stumbled upon it on Amazon and am hooked. I'm currently watching season 1, which I'm told is the best season. I know that states like Texas have passionate high school football fans, and honestly, I have never understood why. I mean, it's high school. This show is so much more than high school and football - love how it is done.

2. Ugly Betty
I have friends who constantly tell me about this show, so I've watched season 1. I really dislike the name of the show - but like that the main character is mexican and looks like she eats once in a while. Very soapish with some interesting twists.

3. House
I have yet to meet a medical show I did not like. I find the guy rude, the women inspid, but love the mystery of solving a case from clues. Am learning about all these diesases I had no idea about. Am in the midst of season 2.

What's your fave show?

Visual Journal

Where does the weekend go? Seems to fly by in the blink of an eye. Winter is back - temps around 9F this morning; wind chill even lower. Ouch.

Some new pages. I find that I like doing the detailed line drawings while listening to a podcast. Something soothing about it.

Grass as a keystone species

Check out this fascinating talk by Michael Pollen.

Recent Reads

1. To Kill A Mocking Bird - what am amazing book!
I love the idea of an entire town reading the same book - we started the one town, one book program last year, and this book is the 2008 choice. Wow! It puts a whole new meaning on the word "classic". I read that this was the only book Harper Lee published - well, one is all she needed to write I guess. How does one follow up that book? Absolutely loved it.

2. The Digital Photography Book
Not as technical as many of the books on photography I usually read - but this is a good refresher.

3. True Colors
I love visual journals, and love the idea of collaborative journals. This book is a fun look at how some women artists interpret color.

Visual Journal

Found that I did not create much in terms of art in Jan - not sure why - maybe just needed time away from my supplies. I've decided to try something new - 2 books of very different sizes and materials. The smaller one is a 2008 calendar - got it for $2 at B&N - clearance once the holiday rush is over. The nice thing is that I can create 2 page spreads, and am less inclined to worry about messing up "good paper".

Podcasts

The great news is that we moved our company to Acton, which makes my commute about 10-15mins on back roads - I love it!

The problem (if one can call it that) is that it is too short a time to really get into a book. So I've started listening to podcasts more. A couple that I regularly subscribe to are:
1. On Point with Tom Asbrook (NPR)
2. Fresh Air (NPR)
3. The Connected Generation
4. The Accidental Creative
5. Education with John Merrow

I'm always looking for new ones, so added several more that I have not had a chance to listen to yet. What's your fave podcast?

Super bowl 42

Oh what a game! Even though the Pats lost, it was a great game until the end - and that is what made it fun to watch. Some really good football - though Brady was not hot yesterday - was his ankle bothering him more than he let on? Either way, the Giants deserved to win the game - they simply played better football.

It's funny how quickly the dynasty story got squashed. I think there was simply too much pressure to be perfect. What does the rest of the season matter, if you cannot win the games that really count? Well, it's 6 weeks to baseball right? :-)

Classic Americana

Quote of The Day

Live each day as if it is your last
But learn each day as if you will love forever
- M. Gandhi

Snubbing

Is it just me or has the political circus been going on for years? Thank goodness we are finally in an election year. I happened to catch "World News Tonight" last night (don't get me started on why they have World in the title), and could only watch in disbelief as I was informed that B.Obama snubbed H.Clinton - I mean they have frame by frame shots showing how it all went down. Anyone else catch this?

Seriously, we are talking about how a presidential candidate snubbed another presidential candidate. Are we still in high school?

Happy Books

Okay, a topic I heard at my last book club was that so many of the books that are read in book clubs are so very depressing. :-)

The thing is that so many of what I consider happy books are chick lit, and while they can be tasty like popcorn, there is not much to discuss. I find that I love many books that might be considered depressing, but I'm okay with being depressed for a good story. :-)

So, here's my question, can you recommend any happy books?

Postcards

Know how you travel to interesting places and they have the most horrendous postcards for sale? No? Well, it happens to me all the time. I'm constantly on the lookout for great postcards and find myself often shaking my head. Those of you who have received postcards from me, just know that those were the cream of the crop!

No-more. I've decided that it's time to make my own postcards - I mean how hard can it be? I can use my own photos and artwork to create unique cards designed by moi. Been looking at various places that make them, and finally decided to order 2 sets from MPIX.

Pros:
1. I love them!
2. The pearl paper is wonderful (they also offer linen & text stock)
3. I got them in about 2 days
4. They're having a 50% sale under the end of Jan, and 5x7s cost me $.40ea (not including S&H)
5. Incredibly easy to use

Cons:
1. Can only order sets of 24 - of the same image. Would love to be able to create different cards in the same batch
2. Cheapest S&H is USPS priority mail - but it is lovely when they get to you so fast

Bad postcards no more!

*
If you are a postcard fan, check out this site. I've gotten fun cards from people around the world.
PS: I love getting postcards in the mail.

Recent Reads

1. Barefoot
First book that I've read by the author. Liked that it was set in Nantucket - lovely island nearby. This book got rave reviews - not sure I would agree - it's a fast read, but more in the chick lit genre - which I do not read alot.
The story is about 3 women who escape to the island for a summer to take time out from various problems they are facing - fighting cancer, cheating husbands, illicit affairs, and small town living.

2. Possible Side Effects
I listened to the audio book during my commute this month, and really think that the reason I enjoyed it was because it was an audio book. Not sure that I would have made it through reading the book. The short stories are funny, some clever, and sad. The author does process a lot of angst in the pages, but I enjoyed it. If you do read it, call me after you get to story where a woman friend throws something at college guys who were annoying her. I audibly gasped when I heard it - wow!