Sunday, July 29, 2007

Phenomenon (Sunday Scribblings #5)



The way I see it the most amazing phenomenon is the fact that human life is... I think, therefore; I am. Really, what is more wondrous than the ability to imagine, create, love and calculate? And, what about those transitory moments where one can feel the presence of God or when the existence of a higher being cannot be denied due to the sheer amount of synchronicty in the universe occuring in one's life? Moments like those are phenomenal as well. One can debate that those moments don't exist at all but if not at all than how is it that a person can cry out to God, "I've never had a Father" and then open to the exact page in the Bible randomly that says, "Abba, I am your Father"? Or, lock oneself alone in a room at work to pray and ask God for a sign and look up and literally see the word "SIGN" printed in magic marker on the side of a box. Whether it is God or not it cannot be denied that moments like those when woven into a life expanding decades point to the fact that there is something more to the universe than that which can easily be seen, felt, tasted, smelled or touched. One morning I awoke at the cusp of sunrise to the most intense feeling of being loved surrounding me, encompassing me, absorbing me... it was as if the curtain separating man from Creator was lifted momentarily to reveal a small taste of what heaven must be like. Moments like those sustain me in memory when traversing the imperfect world we live in.

(For more phenomenal Sunday Scribblings, click on the link in my sidebar!)

Things That make You Go Hmmm....



You are an Artist

Your appreciation of beauty, ability to think abstractly, and innovativeness make you an ARTIST.

Never one to be tied to a particular way of doing things, you let your imagination guide you in discovering different possibilities.

You would rather seek out new experiences than stick to your everyday habits, taking in as much of the world as possible.

Your eye for beauty and your willingness to consider different perspectives make your creative efforts interesting—even though you may not realize this yourself.

You prefer to think about things before voicing your opinion, considering a wide, diverse range of options.

While there are forms and styles that you prefer, you tend to keep an open mind when it comes to your artistic preferences.

You are curious about things, interested in the "why" more than the “how.”

You have an active imagination that leads you express yourself in a distinct way.

You are balanced in your approach to problem-solving, not letting your emotions hold you up.

You prefer to have time to plan for things, feeling better with a schedule than with keeping plans up in the air until the last minute.

Generally, you believe that you control your life, and that external forces only play a limited role in determining what happens to you.

If you want to be different:

Be more open to risks in your creative efforts, and don't be quick to dismiss the praise of others.

Think about how attention to detail may help you be more sure of yourself.



how you relate to others
You are Considerate

You trust others, care about them, and are slow to judge them, making you CONSIDERATE.

You value your close relationships very much, and are more likely to spend time in small, tightly-knit groups of friends than in large crowds.

You enjoy exploring the world through observation, quietly watching others.

Relating to others so well, and understanding their emotions, leads you to trust people in general, even though you're somewhat shy and reserved at times.

Your belief that people are generally well-intentioned contributes to your sympathy regarding their problems.

Although you may not vocalize it often, you have an awareness of how society affects individuals, and you understand complex causes of people's behavior.

You like to look at all sides of a situation before making a judgment, particularly when that situation involves important things in other people's lives.

Your close friends know you as a good listener.



If you want to be different:

Because other people would benefit immensely from your understanding and insight, you should try to be more outgoing in social situations, even when they make you uncomfortable. Others will want to hear what you have to say!



Well, I certainly found this personality report interesting yet not all that surprising since I always come out being an artist. I went to art school for goodness sake so why the hell am I not creating artwork? I am raising five kids but they are getting older now. I think fear prevents me from creating and the fact that I feel I shouldn't spend time creating artwork knowing that my family is in financial distress. That wouldn't be fair. So, I guess for me it needs to be enough that my personality profile says I am an artist whether or not I am a practicing one.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Reflections of Peaks Island




My soul exhaled the further north I drove. How can it be the sky looks so different within a day's drive of my Pennsylvanian home? Sky and earth kiss on the horizon closing the expanse usually viewed from my spot on the planet. Is this why Maine is called "vacation land"?

Peaks Island, Maine is my unwell kept secret. Craggy rocks jut into this tamed portion of the Atlantic creating a natural jungle gym for children and adults alike. Shifting shades of blue grace the sea and sky gently persuading me to meditate and live in the moment, breathing in the glory of God and nature. Life abounds underfoot in every crevice and in the air. The path to the beach is laden with wild roses, sea grass, and the most unusual orange dandelions growing between the rocks leading to the sand.

A short paved road lined with faded summer cottages and year round Victorian homes weaves it's way slowly into the woods revealing my beloved rustic cabin, Lantern Lodge. Lantern Lodge with it's hundred year old history has lessons to teach sojourners who rest within it's walls and I am no exception. The simplicity of one pan to cook in, dishes handwashed, and beds made without the clutter of modern civilization impart a sense of peace that is not lost on me. My eyes were opened to a way of living that I knew existed but have never attained. Peaceful living means living with less objects, less modernization, and more natural exercise, more freedom.

Freedom to enjoy my family. Freedom to paint, draw and write. Freedom to inhale deeply.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

MAKES LIFE BETTER

And, here's his second entry so far...

GOTTA' HAVE IT

So proud mama moment...
Here is the first of two Heinz commercials my son and his friend made for the Heinz commercial competition!

Monday, July 23, 2007

Glimpse Into My World


I am in the process of printing out the fairy tale I started writing last year for Nanowrimo. I wrote over 50,000 words last year but am not finished telling the story. I am printing it out in the hope to reread what's there, edit the crappy parts out and finish
the darn thing if for no other reason than to leave my kids and future grandkids with their own bedtime story.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Wicked! (Sunday Scribblings)

Wicked is every nasty thought you have but don't act upon unless you are truly evil. Those delicious musings of your ex-husband getting into a car accident as he glances over at the curb and sees you kissing a Johnny Depp look alike. Or, what about the ones you used to think about as a child when you didn't get what you wanted..."I hate you Mommy!" "I wish Jackie would accidentally get hit in the nose by the ball when she swings the bat!" Perhaps you think wicked thoughts at work imagining what it would look like if Mr. Abernathy really did get the project shoved up his a**. Even darker yet may be your wicked dreams where your subconscious has full reign and characters do get fatally wounded or scary monsters chase you throughout the empty black night.

But, not me, I'm not like that...

Thursday Thirteen #5?

Huh.. I guess I don't feel like doing a Thursday Thirteen afterall.

Please someone tell me a job I can do from home.

Or, someone tell me I can actually make money creating artwork.

Or, just say hi.

Saturday, July 7, 2007

I'm here, I'm back...

but experiencing major computer problems with all laptops in the house. Right now, I am using the kids Imac which means that I am resorting to drastic measures since I abhor sitting at a desk using a big ole computer when I have a nice small laptop. Currently, I have some reflections on Peaks Island that I'd like to post but I feel that I need to tweak them more before I do so. I really want to be able to share how I feel and when I write it down the second half falls flat, oh so very flat.

Life is a tremendous strain financially right now. Dear God, you say you help those bent beneath their loads so yet again, I ask you to help my husband! How many times does a person have to ask before there is an answer? That's what I really want to know and perhaps there is an answer and I am not seeing it. It's hard for me since I usually get literal responses from God.
Hmmph!

Amp, I found out on someone elses blog that the language Rodrigo speaks is Portuguese. I knew it wasn't Spanish but I couldn't figure out what it was. I think I can thank Ianqui or someone for that new info. (Obviously, I am entertained by the mundane)

Do you ever get a phrase in your head, not a song, but a phrase of writing that just won't leave? Well, I have one. It's in the reflections I am writing of Peaks Island. The phrase is "shifting shades of blue". I think the alliteration of shifting shades is what is keeping it going around in circles. Anyhow, once I get everything out of my head and into words perhaps the phrase will leave as well.

blah blah blah.