corner view~summer

Growing up in New York, summer was a time to swim, get lots of sun on my skin, go to the beach and outdoor concerts, stay up late and watch the fireflies, roast marshmallows around the firepit, and eat fresh locally grown corn, peaches and cherries. Now we live in a place that has an endless summer, so for us, for the past ten years, summer has meant something very different.  Every summer we have traveled to a bit cooler weather to see family in beautiful upstate New York.  We have also explored North America -- up and down California, New Mexico, Los Angeles, Florida, Virginia, Chicago, Washington DC, and Toronto to retreat and rest, visit and see old friends.  A few years ago Gary and I got to go to St. Barth's and last summer we took the kids to France and Italy.  Summer is also a time for the girls to perform concerts.  I think Shawn is going to join in on the action later this month.

city of angels part 5

Santa Monica Pier

When Annabel was about four she said, "What if the whole world were a carnival?  Wouldn't that be great!"

city of angels part 4

I have to admit, I am a country girl at heart.  Everyone who knows me knows that.  But there was something about L.A.  Part of it was that we went for a specific reason, so our kids could do an acting boot camp.  And the guy who ran it was great.  But there was more.  Every day was an adventure.  Things flowed easily for us.  We had a lot of good news come to us while we were there.  We "accidentally" found great restaurants - of our favorite cuisines.  I felt so relaxed and happy, even when our second place to stay was really problematic.  I was tapped into something while we were there.  On the city streets, I could feel the magic, I could sense the creativity.  Everywhere we went we met people in the entertainment business -- artists, musicians, film score writers, screenplay writers, authors, actors, singers.

A month before we left for our summer trip Gary said, "Let's go to L.A.  I just feel drawn to going."  Like he knew something I didn't.   

I usually get overwhelmed in cities, and yearn for peace and quiet.  But I loved L.A.  More than I expected to.

city of angels part 3

Shawn fifth from the left, and below.  He got asked to be in back-to-back street acts. 

Lots of interesting things to see, and more surprises, in this city that I haven't explored since I was nineteen.

corner view~noticing

I am in Florida now visiting family.  The U.S. Gulf disaster is suddenly very real.  What I am noticing is how sad and helpless I feel, knowing what is happening.  I pray that a solution can be made to stop the spill sooner than the proposed 60 days.  The spill has been happening for 64 days already!  I pray that the water can be cleaned up successfully.  I pray for all of the people and animals who are suffering, and who have died.  I pray that this disaster will lead to a massive change in human consciousness and behavior regarding greed, laziness, and environmental pollution.  I pray that this will catapult all of us into coming up with solutions to our dependence on oil, and finding and applying more clean energy solutions as soon as possible.

This Gulf nightmare gets me thinking about my own dependence on oil.  Even though I drive a hybrid car, I still use oil in my home (and car).  The oil dependence problem and the negative effects burning oil puts on our environment are so massive they overwhelm me.

A friend sent the email below to me, with the above photo attached (not my work).  I think the words and prayer are poignant.  Not to be naive (perhaps I am), but when I read the prayer it felt good to say it, and in case you didn't know, I believe in miracles and the power of group prayer.   Here is the email:

FYI- Dr. Masaru Emoto is the scientist from Japan who has done research and publications about the characteristics of water. Among other things, his theory is that water physically responds to emotions.

Many people have the predominantly angry emotion when we consider what is happening in the Gulf.
And while justified in that emotion, we may be of greater assistance to our planet and its life forms if we sincerely, powerfully and humbly pray the prayer that Dr. Emoto, himself, has proposed. I am passing this request to people I believe may be willing to participate in this prayer, to set an intention of love and healing that is so large, so overwhelming that we can perform a miracle in the Gulf of Mexico.
We are not powerless. We are powerful.
Our united energy, speaking this prayer daily...multiple times daily... can literally shift the balance of destruction that is happening. We don't have to know how...we just have to recognize that the power of love is greater than any other power active in the Universe today.

Dr. Emoto's suggested prayer:

Let’s give energy of love and gratitude to all the living creatures in Mexico Gulf by praying like this.

To whales, dolphins, pelicans, fishes, shellfishes, planktons, corals, algae and all creatures in the Gulf of Mexico:

I am sorry.  Please forgive me.  Thank you.  I love you.

Let us join together in offering this healing prayer.

This is what we all want to see in the Gulf of Mexico.

Sorry this is a bit of a downer post.  For more views about what others are noticing go to the sidebar here.

city of angels part 2

 

 

Ever since acting boot camp these kids are more dramatic than ever.  So much is material for comedy skits, don't you agree?